deercountry | ( the dog days are over )

( stefan does as she asks, moving slowly to the end of the bed. there's a little pain but it's minor so he doesn't say anything. he moves until his legs hang off the bed and makes a face. )

God, these hospital gowns are terrible.

( he doesn't wear shorts beside his boxer briefs for a reason. no one needs to see his legs in public. )

They're not even flattering for the most attractive of us.

[ her. that's her.

katherine slinks off the bed and stands before him, holding out her hands for him. he might as well make the most of her caring nature while he can. she wiggles her fingers and smiles at him. ]

Let's get you dressed, my poor baby.

( this is a different side of her and while he hates the reasons she's having to show it off, he likes seeing it. he reaches for her hands and then gets up.

his legs don't wobble which is a good sign. )

Do I just have my gross clothes from when this happened?

Yes, unfortunately.

[ katherine pierce will never give up the opportunity to try and have stefan naked... or tease him about being naked. right now isn't exactly the time nor place for that kind of nudity.

gently letting go of his hands, she bends down and tugs out a big plastic bag. placing it on the bed, she rummages through it and produces said gross clothes. all of his clothes are neatly folded. ]

I suppose even those are better than what I have on.

( a scrap piece of cloth would be better than a damn hospital gown. sighing, he starts to pull the gown off, wincing just a bit as it pulls at his healing back. )

I'll take the gross clothes if it means I get to leave.

And then you can take them off when we get home.

[ while she may be keeping to her usual party line, it's not said with as much gusto as it usually is. when they get home, he's going straight to bed. she'll happily carry him and tuck him in so tightly he can't budge. ]

Only if you remain on your best behaviour.

I pinky swore, didn't I? What kind of man would I be if I broke that?

( a terrible man, that's who. he shakes his head and starts pulling on his boxer briefs before reaching to gently tug his jeans on. )

I think if I tried to break that, you'd put me out and never let me back in.

It's true. I take my pinky promises very, very seriously.

[ and it's one of the only promises she has kept in her long life. katherine doesn't just offer a pinky promise to just about anyone.

she sits on the edge of the bed and watches him slowly dress. ]

I'd even read your journals aloud to make you regret ever going back on a pinky swear.

You don't know where my journals are.

( stefan inhales and then pulls his shirt on, grimacing not at the pain but the way his shirt feels. this shirt is going in the trash when they get home. )

And now you're never going to know.

Why not?

[ she watches his hands and the way he moves. if he's lying about feeling better, she wants to know. it'll be easy to know. but, so far, she thinks he's telling the truth—he's more than ready to go home and he feels a lot better.

tilting her head to the side, she pouts and smiles. ] Don't you love me?

You know that I do but it's not very nice to threaten to read my journals. I'll show you those when I'm ready.

( he finally finishes dressing, having saved his boots for last before he stands up. he looks terrible, he knows, because the clothes look terrible but he's more than ready to go. )

Do we have to check out or anything or can we just go?

We can go.

[ that's not entirely right, but katherine doesn't need to tell him that. she'll deal with check out later. the most important thing is that they need to go home.

she looks around the room with a playful furrow to her brows. ]

Did you want to steal anything? Take home a souvenir?

No, that's okay. I'd rather not have reminders of this place.

( so, he's just going to start walking to the door, leaving his gown and the blankets haphazardly on the bed. he wants out of here. )

Let's go before they want to run some tests or something.

I'll be running a few tests when we get home.

[ coming up beside him, she snakes an arm around his waist and tugs him closely to her. resting her hand against his hip, she doesn't let him walk any faster than her—and that's at a slow pace. ]

All of them will be with you in bed.

( he'd been wondering if she'd try and keep him slow and she does. he doesn't protest or nudge her away since he knows if he tries, she'll make him stay here.

so, he walks with her, feeling weakness in his legs that he knows is more from the humanity than anything. )

What kind of tests will those be?

Oh, you know.

[ she sighs heavily and waves her other hand, the one that isn't on his hip. slowly, they make their way through the corridor, moving at a pace that's excruciatingly slow for a vampire. ]

Fluff your pillows. Make sure you're drinking enough water. Maybe even give you a little bowl of fruit. [ she shrugs, pursing her lips. ] I'd even consider wearing the nurse's uniform if you were on your best behaviour.

Those sound like better tests than what they'd do here.

( he doesn't want someone sticking him with needles and taking his temperature. he's fine, he's going to survive. he can go survive in his own bed. )

Don't wear the nurse's uniform. I'd want to do things and I can't do that right now.

( see, he's behaving. )

[ she chuckles low in her throat, ducking her head with a proud smile. oh, she's definitely going to wear it now. while katherine is a kind and considerate nurse, she also wants to ensure stefan makes the right choice when it comes to his health... and how else can she tell if he has all his wits about him if she doesn't put him through rigorous tests? ]

You're not supposed to enjoy them, Stef. They're meant to help prove you're healing.

[ he's meant to enjoy her tests. ]

I don't have to enjoy them but I don't want to get riled up when you won't let me do anything.

( do you see his problem, katherine? do you? )

And that's what's going to happen if I see you in a nurse's uniform.

[ she doesn't see any problem whatsoever. ]

I don't know what you're even talking about, Stefan.

[ although, it's clear by her smile that she very much does. katherine pinches his hip as they walk through the doors of the hospital and venture into the carpark. the car's still parked where she had haphazardly left it. ]

Are you assuming ill intent on my behalf?

You're a liar. A very pretty one but a liar all the same.

( he laughs at the pinch and blinks a bit at finally being outside. he focuses easily enough, looking for the car. )

Is my car a mess now too?

Not as bad as the last time.

[ when he had been shot and falling asleep and she had lost a shoe in her bid to try and keep him awake and alert. she's grateful that this had been somewhat easier, even though the gunshot wound had been a lot easier to deal with than unknown poison.

she hadn't bothered to lock his car. opening the passenger door, she gently helps him inside. ]

In you go, Miss Daisy.

( stefan rolls his eyes at her and then shakes his head before he settles carefully into the car. he winces when the seat presses against his back but it's a dull ache and nothing like it was before. )

Don't go too fast in my car. I know how you drive.

( be nice to his car, katherine. )

I drive very well, thank you.

[ slamming his car door on purpose, she strides to the driver's side and slips in. making a show of buckling her seatbelt in, she sits straight and turns on the car. she jerks it and smiles at him pleasantly.

that was on purpose. ]

If the car goes too fast, it's not my fault.

Right, of course.

( stefan shifts a bit, getting himself comfortable and sliding down until he can rest easily in the car. he loves his car but it's not always easy to fit someone with legs like this.

he sighs and closes his eyes. )

Nothing's ever your fault. My mistake.

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