[ he cares about her. he's seen or known or heard what damon is like. she gets that. she can't stop getting that; with caroline, with bonnie, with stefan and virtually everyone.
(she doesn't believe that, that he's not thinking about himself too. he's hurt, and she doesn't think it bleeds into his concern for her, but it's obvious it's there. she has no right to try to comfort him, and she won't.)
her lips thin, she shakes her head once to the side. the thing is, she's not going to explain this to sam. to anyone; she doesn't owe it to any bad feelings and she doesn't have to owe it to herself. her life is dangerous and it's here to stay. she chooses it; she wants it. wants it as much as anyone can being surrounded by it.
and she wants damon. dangerous, passionate, vicious damon who'd just as easily rip someone's heart out with his bare hands than tell her he loves her. (sometimes that's one and the same.) ]