Disclaimer- I obviously own TVD, because I'm LJ Smith. That's why I'm writing a fanfic xDDD.

Summary- An AU to "As I lay dying." obv. Instead of Stefan going to find the cure, Caroline goes and Stefan stays with Damon. Brotherly love, not slash/incest. OOC is likely.

Stefan sighed softly as he looked around at the group of people assembled in the cemetery. His eyebrows knitted together when he realized his brother was no longer standing with them. He quickly looked around, and noticed Damon leaning against a fence several yards away.

He walked over.

"Damon?" He said softly, noticing that his brother's icy blue eyes were closed and he looked exhausted.

A shuddering sigh escaped him. "It's my fault, Stef. Everything." He opened his eyes, and Stefan was startled to see deep sadness and regret in them. "I just... I screwed everything up." A tear rolled down his cheek.

Stefan stepped closer to him, frowning. "Damon, it isn't your fault. And anyway, even if it was, there's time to try and make it up to everyone." He spoke in a soothing whisper.

Damon shook his head. "There isn't time, Stef. That's the thing. I don't have the time." He put his hand over his eyes. Stefan stiffened.

"What are you talking about?" His voice was barely audible. Fear pounded in every corner of his consciousness.

And Damon just sighed.

So Stefan grabbed his arm, pulling it away so he could look into his brother's eyes.

Damon's reaction was unexpected, to say the least.

He hissed in pain and shook his head violently. "Let go!" He croaked. His breath sped up. Stefan immediately released his arm and stared at him in astonishment.

"Damon...?" He blinked as his brother sank down against the fence, sitting on the ground with his knees pulled up against his chest. Stefan took a deep breath and sat next to him, grabbing his arm again, but this time being careful not to touch the area near his elbow.

"Stef, just leave it." Damon whispered faintly.

Stefan shook his head. "Damon, I know something's wrong. What happened?" He looked his brother in the eye. Damon shook his head. "Damon... Please tell me. Please." He couldn't say this plea any louder than a faint whisper.

Damon shuddered. "I'll tell you later. I'm going home." He whispered. He stood, but swayed slightly on his feet. Stefan's eyes widened and he shot up to steady his brother. Damon shook his head. "Nothing." He said softly.

And then he walked off.

Stefan took a deep breath, and walked back to the others. He stood next to Elena and hugged her. "I'm going home, okay? I'll see you later." He whispered in her ear.

Stefan stormed into the boarding house. "Damon! I know you're here. You owe me an explanation." He shouted. He turned into the living room. Damon lay sprawled on the couch, and turned his head to look at his little brother.

"I was sleeping." He mutters. "You woke me up." Then he flinched as pain shot through him, radiating from his left arm. He let his eyes slip closed.

Stefan glared at him, and then was at his side in a flash. "I could care less if I woke you up! You owe me an explanation!" He shouts.

Damon cringes. "Stop yelling." He whispers weakly. He puts his hand over his eyes as the room starts spinning.

Stefan's glare turns into a concerned look, and he sits next to his brother. "Damon... Please. Tell me what's wrong." He murmurs. Damon starts shivering, though the heat in the room is almost stifling. Stefan bites his lip. "Please, Damon." He says gently.

Damon nods, and manages to sit up. He takes a deep breath. "I don't want to talk about it... It'll be easier if I just show you..." He whispers faintly. His hand shakes as he reaches for his sleeve. Stefan grabs his hand, -as gently as possible- and then pulls up his sleeve for him.

And then he just stares.

His eyes flick up from the large red-purple mark on his brother's arm to the icy blue eyes he knows so well... now glimmering with fear and pain.

"No... No, Damon." He whispers numbly. Damon closes his eyes and nods.

Stefan chokes and pulls his brother into a hug. Damon's head rests against his chest, already hot with the fever. Stefan strokes his hair gently, sobbing. It takes him a while to realize that he isn't the only one crying. He is struck with a stabbing protectiveness... A need to reassure his dying brother. "Damon, w-we'll figure something out. A cure. Something..." He tightens his grip on Damon's shivering body, pulling him closer... Afraid to let go.

Damon shakes his head weakly... He can't figure out why he's so weak already, but guesses it must have something to do with the overpowering exhaustion threatening to drag him under. "There is no cure, Stefan." He mumbles.

"There has to be."

The steel in his younger brother's voice makes Damon frown. "There isn't, Stef." He whispers. He can feel Stefan shake his head.

"You'll be okay, Damon. I'll make sure of it. Please believe me." He replies.

Damon sighs and pulls away from his brother. "Just don't try, Stef. Better to accept the truth now." He says coldly.

And then the pain starts again. He stamps it down, and then takes a shuddery breath. "I'm tired." He whispers. He gets up and starts to walk to his room, but has to stop at the bottom of the stairs, gasping for air as the pain becomes unbearable. Stefan rushes to him, holding him close.

Tears trickle down his cheeks as his brother trembles in his arms. "Shh, Damon. I'm here." He whispers gently. He picks his brother up and carries him to his room.

Thoughts? Review!