Damon couldn’t hold back a wince. That was the kind of cough that terrified people in his time, before modern medicine when pneumonia meant a sure death for the weak and the very young. Things had changed a great deal over the years and now such ailments usually only meant that you were stuck in bed for a while, but Damon felt entitled to his worried thoughts. Gently, he nudged Elena along on a path to her bedroom.
“Take your tea with you. You’re on bed-rest.” He smirked a little but was completely serious. The citizens of Lawrence, even unwilling ones like Damon and Elena, were stuck within the city limits anyway. It wasn’t like they were needed in some kind of battle, so it couldn’t hurt to peel Elena away from real life and force her to rest. Yes, force. When Damon wanted something he made it happen and now he wanted her to heal.
She must have felt lousy, he thought, looking her up and down. Damon stepped ahead of her and pulled back the covers of her bed to help her into bed.