The awkward petting was more endearing than not, and Elijah found himself smiling despite himself, even as he eased back a bit, watching Ric with an intent gaze.

"I don't know," he said quietly. "If we can keep him from waking, put him somewhere he can't be found, then...we can stay. If someone goes back and wakes him..." He frowned. "He's spent a thousand years trying to hunt us all down, kill us, Ric. And he can."

That last was said softly, a confession his very fear had probably rendered unnecessary, but he felt it needed saying for explanation, a piece of vulnerability in thanks for Ric stopping Damon and Katherine.