deercountry | ( the dog days are over )

I had no idea.

( no, he did. of course he knows. he smiles back at her and nods. )

But I kind of like you too so it works out.

[ she chuckles and shakes her head. ]

You're lucky I like you so much. Who needs fifty cars?

[ as she pulls up into the drive, she doesn't bother to store the car away in the garage. what's most important is storing him away inside. cutting the engine, she turns to face him, giving him a very sharp once-over. ]

What are you looking at me like that for?

( you're making him nervous, katherine. )

You're not carrying me. I can walk.

Hm.

[ she shakes her head and smiles at him, though it's not out of pure amusement. does he think he can walk? as if. katherine's pretty sure he's still human and that means he doesn't have all of his faculties. ]

Wait there.

[ she tugs the keys out and opens the driver's door. speeding over to his side, she opens his door and holds her hand out. ]

Come on, Miss Daisy. You're home.

I don't want to be carried.

( he reaches out to take her hand and lifts himself out of the car, struggling a bit but finding that his legs were pretty steady. he blows out a breath. )

If we walk slow, I'll be fine.

( he needs to walk on his own, though. )

And by the time we reach the house, you'll be one hundred and eighty.

[ no offence, but you're a little on the slow side, stef. it's a kindness that she even let him walk from his hospital bed to the car.

she smiles at him and squeezes his hand gently, but doesn't tug him away from the car just yet. ]

You don't want to be carried by me? You can milk this, you know.

[ pull a katherine. ]

Please, let me try and walk.

( can they compromise on that? he wants to walk but if he can't make it, he'll let her carry him. he just needs to try. )

Just a few steps to show that I can do it.

Only a few.

[ like three. ]

And then I'm carrying you the rest of the way.

[ katherine doesn't crowd stefan, but she doesn't let him go, either. he's human and weak and his usually muscular legs look a bit like chicken bones right now.

but he has every invitation to walk. he just has to take it. ]

Fine.

( it's the best compromise he's going to get and he appreciates that. he sighs and gets onto his feet before he takes a few slow steps. )

See, I can do it. I'm good.

Uh huh.

[ katherine trails behind him, her arms crossed against her chest. he's walking slow, practically not even moving. by the time they reach the porch steps, it'll be two years later. ]

Keep going.

I'm taking it slow.

( and he does take a few steps, feeling the weakness in his legs but fighting through it. he hates this. how did he survive being a human before? )

Stop watching me like you're expecting me to fall over.

Admit that you need help and I'll stop waiting for the inevitable.

[ she's not going to stop watching him like he's about to fall over. she thinks he is. hearing his heartbeat and the slow movement of his steps is proof enough he's about to keel over. and she'd much rather he keel over into bed rather than the driveway. ]

You need to not push yourself, Stefan.

I have admitted it. You're here with me, aren't you? I didn't try and leave the hospital. I need help. I just don't want to be an invalid.

( he makes a face and keeps walking. )

I'm fine.

You're not an invalid when you're still recovering from a very significant injury.

[ she purses her lips and looks at him sternly. ]

Instead of worrying, you should be milking it. [ she loops her arm with his and tugs him closer. he's not walking to the front door on his own anymore. she gently teases, ] You're not doing the whole being injured thing right, Stefan. It'd make me feel better if you were.

I'm not my brother.

( he'd be the dramatic one when it came to injuries, stefan knows. he sighs and does slow himself down, leaning on her a bit. )

But I don't need to milk it. I just need to get past it.

[ pleased that stefan's finally trusting himself and subsequently her, she wraps her arm comfortably around his waist and tucks her hand into his hip. she keeps their pace set slow. ]

You can get past it by letting me help you.

That's what I'm doing.

( he's trying to, at least. )

But I need to do some things on my own too.

You can do that when we're inside. Like lie down, rest, close your eyes.

[ but in typical katherine fashion, she does need stefan to do one thing... use his keys to open the door she locked and didn't bring her own keys for. ]

And... [ she smiles sweetly and innocently at him. ] maybe use your keys to open the door?

Did you not bring your keys?

( he laughs and stops walking, reaching into his pocket to pull the keys out. he passes them to her. )

You can get it.

Why would I bring them when I have you?

[ she scrunches up her face incredulously. honestly, stefan… katherine may not be hopeless when it comes to cunning and outmanoeuvring others, but she is absolutely utterly hopeless when it comes to domesticity.

taking his keys, she ensures that he's leaning against her as she makes a show of struggling to open the door. ]

This is why I need you. I can't open locks.

Your ability to suddenly forget how to do simple things when you want me to do them is amazing.

( he laughs and then reaches for the keys to turn the lock and open the door. how amazing was he? )

Do I get a reward for opening the door for you?

Yes.

[ she ensures her arm is wrapped tightly around him as she begins to walk and expects him to walk with her. ]

I will lead you to bed and fluff your pillow. How does that sound?

Will you stay in there with me for awhile?

( not that he thought she'd leave but he wants to make sure. )

I don't think I'm going to sleep but I'd like you to be there.

[ katherine smiles. it's nice to be needed. it's more than nice to be wanted. ]

I will gladly miss out on a shoe sale I was very much looking forward to just to be with you.

[ she scrunches up her nose and pauses momentarily as she furrows her brows. second guessing what she's said, she narrows her eyes at him. ]

Don't repeat that.

Who would I repeat that to anyway?

( stefan laughs because seriously. it's not like he has that many friends. )

I'll tell Aleksander and he will be so shocked.

( the dog days are over )

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