Book Two: Aquiver (A. Saltzman)

Chapter Seventy

At the Grill, Alaric is at the bar. He takes a bottle of whiskey from the waitress. She tries to take it back, but he won't let her. He is already intoxicated. He walks away from the bar and drops into a booth. He pours out the whiskey into a glass waiting for it. He sets down the bottle and reaches for the glass. A hand settles over the top of it causing him to frown, he follows the arm to find Diana. She gives him a sad smile. His eyes find her baby bump, his eyes sadden, he reaches out and touches the bump, curling his hand around it slightly then lifts his eyes to her face.

"What are you doing here?" he asks her softly.

"Come on," She tells him as she pushes the glass away from him.

"Where are we going?" he asks her as she helps him to his feet.

"You need to sleep this off if we're going to have a serious conversation tomorrow," She tells him as she curls her arm around his back to keep him upright.

.............

Diana drops Alaric onto the Gilbert couch, he groans and turns onto his back to watch her. She grabs his ankle and unlaces his boot, one, then the other before she sets them aside. He touches the bottom of her coat, playing with the tog that hangs there, as she moves slightly to grab a blanket from the armchair. His phone rings and he groans as he covers his eyes. Diana sighs a little and digs in his jacket pocket for the device. She pulls it out and glances at the caller id before she then answers it.

"Stefan" She greets.

"Diana?" He asks. "Where's Alaric?" Diana glances to where Alaric is falling asleep on her couch, she sighs.

"Out of action for the night" She answers. "What's going on?"

"Urm..."

"Just tell me, Stefan, I'm really not in the mood"

"Okay" He assures her. "Damon's dying," Stefan admits.

"Is this about the werewolf bite?" She asks him, he seems quiet for a moment.

"Yeah" He answers eventually.

"What do you need?" She asks him as she looks down at Alaric.

..................

At the Salvatore Boarding House, in the cell, Damon is looking at his werewolf bite, Diana arrives at the cellar door window.

"Well, that looks bad." Diana comments.

"Well...It feels wonderful" He teases back, she smirks. "My subconscious is haunting me, Watchdog" he looks at her. "Please tell me you have something for that." Diana puts a glass of scotch and Damon's ring on the door window sill.

"Double-shot." She pours Damon more scotch.

"That's good." He gets up and takes his ring. "Oh good." He takes the glass. "So my brother sent you for suicide watch?"

"He's just trying to help."

"He's doing what he always does, trying to right the wrongs of the past," Damon screams and bends forward in pain. "You should want me dead. I'm the reason Jenna got killed."

"I don't blame you for Jenna." Diana counters.

"Oh, sure you do. Let's not forget I tried to turn your sister into a vampire. You must really hate me for that one."

"Okay, give me your glass. We're not having this conversation until we can both get drunk" Damon gets closer and grabs Diana's neck through the door window.

"Kill me. Please."

"Screw you." She injects vervain into Damon with a dart. He falls on the floor.