Chapter 20: The Gathering

Part 1

Three days later.

Elena was lying on her hospital bed. She felt terrible. She had heard people say the treatment for cancer was a bitch, but she didn't how much that was true…until now. She felt her stomach turn and climbed out of bed.

If it hadn't been for her sore limps she would've run to the bathroom, but now she had to settle for shuffling as fast as her body allowed her to. Once arrived she dropped on her knees and aimed for the toilet.

It seemed an eternity had passed when she withdrew herself from the toilet and jerked off some toilet paper to clean her face. Last time she had been in a situation like this was when she had a hangover and Damon was there to comfort her.

She sought support against the wall and helped herself stand. She walked to the sink, opened the tap and washed her mouth. She loosened her hair and as she did so she felt something silkish on her hands.

She withdrew her hands and saw brown wisps around her fingers. She brought her hand back and went through her hair. Wisp after wisp fell on her hands and Elena started crying. She sank down on the floor again and leaned against the cupboard.

The door opened and Damon entered her room. He looked from Elena's empty bed to the open bathroom door. He walked towards it and found Elena on the floor. She hid her face, but her shoulders were shaking and he could hear her sob. He noticed the hair next to her and bent through his knees.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked gently and he caressed her hair.

"Don't look at me. I look awful" Elena sobbed and she pulled away.

"Don't be silly" Damon commented softly and he turned Elena's head to face her. He dried her tears with his thumbs. "You look stunning"

"You say that just to make me feel better" Elena said tired. She let Damon pull her up and she let her head rest on his shoulder. "But I love you for it, anyway"

Part 2

Damon and Elena were lying on the bed, Elena's head resting on Damon's chest. "I believe we've been here before" Elena mumbled.

"Hmm" Damon confirmed. "Do you remember what you said back then?"

Elena relegated on the bed and closed her eyes. "I said I wouldn't leave you, that I would stay with you until the very end"

Elena felt a teardrop on her head, but she didn't look up. "Promise me you won't leave now either"

"I promise" Elena whispered and she pinched Damon's hand. She knew it was a lie. She knew that no matter how much medication she was taking, the cancer had already won.

She could literally feel her body shutting down. Though doctor Meredith Fell really did the best she could, they had just been too late. They should've never listened to Bonnie.

"We still have options" Damon said hoarse. "If I give you some of my blood…"

"We've been through that, Damon" Elena replied, but there was no anger in her voice. "I'm not drinking your blood"

"But you could heal" Damon protested.

"According to Caroline vampire blood only heals injuries, no diseases" Elena commented.

"It's worth a shot" Damon tried to convince her.

"No, it's not. I won't risk becoming a vampire" Elena refused.

Damon sat up and looked angry at his sick girlfriend. "But you will risk dying?"

"Maybe it's just my time" Elena suggested casual.

"You're eighteen, for crying out loud!" Damon exclaimed. He got off the bed. "You're selfish, do you know that? I know it must be hard to hear this from me, the most selfish person on the planet, but right now you're selfish. You have a fair chance to conquer this. Your brother needs you, your friends need you…I need you. All it takes is for you to accept my blood, but you'd rather die. Why is that, exactly?"

Elena had started crying during Damon's outburst. The medication made her extra emotional.

"Is it so hard for you to understand I don't want to be a vampire? That maybe one day I want to have a family, grow old with the man I love?"

"None of those things is going to happen, if you're dead, Elena!" Damon snarled. "And exactly how were you planning to have a family? I can't make babies! Are you going to hump into bed with Matt so he can loan you his seed?"

Elena slapped him hard in the face.

"I'm not drinking your blood, Damon" she replied soft, but determined.

"Fine" Damon grunted and he walked towards the door. "I'll go find myself a stake. If you can't see a reason to live, then I can't either. I'm not spending an eternity without you"

Part 3

Elena had pulled up the sheets. She was getting cold. After Damon had left she'd started crying again and her face was wet from tears. Was this one of the many side effects chemo had? Or was this part of the cancer?

"Hi, there" a small voice said from the end of the bed.

"Go away" Elena said with heavy voice. "I don't want anyone to see me like this" She added as she tried to dry her eyes.

"I know, which is why I brought this" Caroline said secretive and she lifted a bag. She walked towards the bed. "I'm going to make you all pretty again. Now, make some room"

Elena sat up slowly, so Caroline could sink down on the bed. She searched in the bag. "We have lip gloss, nail polish, mascara, some eyeliner, make a choice"

Elena shrugged, not in the least caring.

"Okay, then I will choose myself" Caroline continued, trying to be cheerful for Elena's sake. "We'll start with your nails"

She opened the vial and dabbed the brush in it. She took Elena's hand and began to polish her nails.

"For the record, this was Stefan's idea" she said casual.

"I should've known. This is so typical Stefan" Elena mumbled.

"Elena, if I had known Bonnie was going to try and hurt you, I would've never told you about that tea. I believed she was trying to make amends and I wanted to give her a second chance, because I thought she deserved it, but…she fooled me again" she apologized breathless, suddenly all emotional.

Elena frowned. "Caroline, hey,…I'm not blaming you. I'm not blaming Bonnie, either. This is just something that had to happen. No one could've foreseen this. We just have to hope that I'll get better"

Caroline looked Elena straight in the eye. "You don't think you will, do you? Tell me the truth"

Elena, who wasn't wearing her vervain necklace and didn't drink vervain tea, because it would mix with the meds, answered in all honesty. "No, I don't. I think I'm going to die. I feel weaker every day. I believe it's a matter of days. Then I'll be dead"

When Elena woke from her trance Caroline was gone.

Part 4

Damon walked through the aisles of the hospital when he bumped into someone.

"Aaah, hot coffee" Bonnie groaned. She had two paper cups of coffee in her hand, only now there was not much left of it.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see how Elena's doing. Caroline said she wasn't feeling very well and then Jeremy told me you brought her here" Bonnie explained a little out of breath. "I thought she might like some coffee, but actually I'm not sure she's allowed to drink it. Well, I guess it doesn't really matter anymore"

"No, I mean, what are you doing here?" Damon repeated his question sharply. When he saw Bonnie's confused expression, he continued. "You're the reason Elena's here in the first place"

"What?"

"If you hadn't come up with that ridiculous crap of tea curing cancer, she'd be okay right now" Damon snapped.

"I didn't force her to drink it. She had a choice and she chose to trust me" Bonnie replied in defense.

"And you failed her again" Damon pointed out.

Bonnie closed her eyes and prayed for patience. "Damon" she said when she opened them up again. "I swear I only had good intentions. I've learned my lesson. You think I was on a vacation? I went to a shrink to get over my problems with you. I was doing fine with Caroline, Elena didn't seem to be so angry anymore, Jeremy talks to me again. Even you cared enough to tell me to be careful. Why would I want to risk any of that?"

Damon thought about and realized she had a point.

"Fine, then" he gave in reluctantly. He told her where she could find his girlfriend. "I'll get some more coffee"

Part 5

Jeremy entered the building and walked straight to the training room. He found Veronica, talking with someone on the phone.

"Jack, you're going to be so proud of me" she said with a slightly trembling voice. "I promise that when you get here there will only be humans left"

Jack said something in return.

"Of course I'm careful. I'm not going to fall for anyone. They took away the only person I ever cared about and they will pay for it. And anyone who's trying to stop me, will go down with them…I have to hang. I will see you real soon"

She hung up, turned around and gasped, almost dropping her phone.

"What are you doing here? I wasn't expecting anyone" she faltered. Jeremy had caught her off guard and she hoped he hadn't heard too much.

"You're the one who said we're training all day long" Jeremy pointed out.

"Yeah, well" Veronica panted. "I suddenly figured that you all have jobs and…and school, you know?"

"School's over now" Jeremy reminded her.

"It is?" Veronica asked confused.

"I was sort of hoping I could stay here and practice a bit" Jeremy said slowly. "My sister Elena is having chemo. It's a really difficult time right now"

"I imagine" Veronica replied and Jeremy detected a whiff of compassion. "Okay, you can stay here. I'll go home"

Jeremy waited until he heard the door close.

"Jenna, can you hear me?" he called.

"Loud and clear, captain J" Jenna joked and she appeared next to him. She was holding a collection of letters, tied together with a piece of rope. "I've done some reading" she said, pleased with herself and waved the collection. She handed it to Jeremy, who put it in his inside pocket.

"Who's Jack?" Jeremy asked curious.

"Ahh, Jack" Jenna commented. "Good old Jack…Honestly, I have no idea, but she calls him every day and then tells him how it's going. I'm starting to think he's her boss or something"

Jeremy shook his head. "Veronica doesn't have a boss. She acts on her own" he replied convinced.

Veronica opened the door of the building again. She realized she'd forgotten her letters. She wasn't going anywhere without them. She walked towards her private room when she heard Jeremy talking. At first she thought he was on the phone with someone, but when she heard her own name, she became curious and came closer. Close enough to see he wasn't on the phone.

So, he was either talking to himself…or to a ghost. Veronica was so furious she forgot about her letters, she headed straight back outside and slammed the door.

"What was that?" Jeremy startled. He looked concerned at Jenna. "Do you think…?"

"I think so, yes" Jenna nodded dark.

Part 6

"How are you holding up?" Bonnie carefully tried to make a conversation. Elena rewarded her with a furious don't ask stupid questions look. "You know, I've been trying to communicate with the spirits. Maybe I can persuade them to help you"

"No, thank you. I think you've done enough already" Elena replied cold.

Bonnie looked down and thought about leaving for a second, but then lectured herself. No more running, no more hiding. It was time to own up to her mistakes.

"Elena" Bonnie started, looking up again. "There's something I've wanted to tell you ever since I was released from the tomb" She paused to take a deep breath. "I'm sorry…I'm not sure why I waited this long to say it. I think I was trying to give you space, wait until you're ready"

Elena raised her eyebrows. "You think I'm ready now? You think I want to hear your pathetic apologies now?" she snapped.

"There's not much time left. If I don't say it now, I'll never get the chance" Bonnie explained.

"Oh, so this isn't about me. It's about you, getting a clear conscience before it's too late" Elena snarled. She coughed and when she looked at her hands she noticed blood.

"Oh my God" Bonnie said breathless and she looked feral at the blood. "You…you want me to get a doctor?"

Elena coughed some more, but shook her head. She lied down on the pillow and closed her eyes. Bonnie believed that was her cue to leave, but when Elena heard the bed creak, she muttered: "Wait"

Bonnie sat down again and Elena slowly opened her eyes.

"Am I selfish for not wanting to become a vampire?" she shot her question. She knew Bonnie was going to give her an honest answer. She owed her that.

"What I think is irrelevant" Bonnie said after a while. "But if you want to hear my opinion, I'd say that you've done everything you could to be with Damon. Too much to give it all up now" She stood and left the room, leaving Elena to think about that.

Part 7

"Veronica, wait up!" Jeremy yelled as Veronica opened the door of her car. She took a deep breath and tried to keep a straight face.

"What?"

Jeremy scratched the back of his head, searching for words. "Did you hear me talking inside? Because I was just talking to myself" he lied. He tried to read Veronica's face to see if she was buying it.

"Of course you were" Veronica replied in a serious tone. She stepped in and after she inserted the key in the ignition she looked back at Jeremy. "You need a ride?" she offered.

"Actually, I was going…" Jeremy started, but Veronica cut him off.

"Come on, Jer, you can't be serious about that" she scoffed. "You shouldn't be alone in a time like this. If you want I can take you to your sister" She noticed Jeremy's hesitation. "Okay, your call"

"Wait" Jeremy said just in time. He walked around the car and got in at the passenger's side.

When Veronica parked her car in the parking lot of the hospital and they got out, they saw Bonnie walking out of the hospital.

"Isn't that your friend?" Veronica asked, acting innocent. Jeremy nodded and signaled at Bonnie. She noticed and headed towards them.

"Hello, Jeremy" Bonnie smiled. She pretended not to see Veronica. "Ehm…visiting hour's over. They're not letting anyone in"

"Oh" was all Jeremy could come up with.

"Okay" Veronica clapped her hand. "Moment of spontaneity. Why don't we all crash at my place? We can call Matt and Keith and wait there until there's news from Elena"

Jeremy and Bonnie traded glances.

"What? You don't trust me? Why would I want hurt you, guys? I'm just trying to make this town a safer place. Isn't that what you used to do, when you were still a witch?" Veronica shot at Bonnie. "Keeping the vampires in check?"

Bonnie looked away. How long was everyone going to remind her of that?

"Alright, we'll go with you" Jeremy gave in with a look at Bonnie. "But no more past references, okay?"

"Sure, no problem" Veronica replied casual. "Now, who wants to drive shotgun?"

Part 8

Though visiting hour was long over, it didn't stop Stefan from sneaking into Elena's bedroom. Elena had fallen asleep shortly after Bonnie had left. Stefan had expected Damon to be in the room, but Elena happened to be alone.

Stefan walked to the bed and sank down on it. Elena, sensing his stare, opened her eyes and frowned.

"Stefan?" she asked sleepy.

"It's okay. Go back to sleep" Stefan hushed, regretting he woke her.

"No" Elena moaned and she sat up difficult. "I'm up" She cast him a faint, tired smile. "I'm glad you came"

"I had to come and see you, but I didn't want to bother anyone" Stefan explained. "Where's Damon? I figured he'd be here"

Elena shrugged. "He's wandering around the hospital somewhere…Probably getting drunk" she mumbled, pretending not to care, but Stefan knew better.

"What happened?" Stefan asked.

"Why? What makes you think something happened?" Elena shrugged again, but cautiously looking away from her ex-boyfriend.

"Elena, don't insult me" Stefan replied calm.

"Okay" Elena sighed, giving in. "Damon is mad at me, because I refuse to drink his blood"

Elena had expected half and half for Stefan to be furious. Damon feeding Elena his blood had always been a nerve from the past. But this time he stayed rather calm.

"I was wondering when that was going to happen" was all he said.

"You're not mad at him?" Elena asked, a little surprised and also a bit disappointed. Wasn't anyone on her side?

"Mad? Because he tries to save the woman he loves? Elena, if I were in his shoes, I'd probably be forcing you to drink right now" Stefan answered. "This time we don't have an elixir to bring you back to life. If you die now, it's for good"

"Yeah, I know that" Elena snapped irritated. "You'll all have to let me go, eventually"

"Are you ready to let any of us go?" Stefan fired back. "Jeremy? Caroline? Bonnie? Damon? Letting go goes both ways, Elena. If you die, we'll lose you, but you'll lose all of us. Are you ready for that?"

Elena understood that Stefan meant well, nevertheless she turned her back on him. Stefan stood and walked out of the room.

Why didn't anyone understand where she was coming from? Was she such a bad person for wanting to die, for wanting to give up?

Part 9

Matt, Keith, Bonnie, Jeremy and Veronica were sitting around the kitchen table. Veronica had given each a cup of coffee, in order to stay awake.

"Thank you" Jeremy said uncomfortable. "You don't really know Elena. It's not like you owe her anything"

Veronica cast him a grin that didn't reach her eyes. "Anything for my soldiers" she replied charming.

"How's that going?" Matt asked, trying to keep a conversation. "Do you need anyone else in your…army?"

"Why? Interested?" Veronica returned, raising her eyebrows. "For now the training's canceled" She turned to Jeremy. "Until your sister's recovered"

Jeremy blinked, taken aback a little. "Thanks. That's…really thoughtful of you"

"Hmm" Veronica smirked and she stood. "You all must be hungry. I've got some deep-fried pizzas in the basement. I'll go get them"

Her guests declined her offer, claiming they couldn't eat right now.

"Nonsense" Veronica insisted. "You have to eat something" She walked away to the basement.

Keith leaned forward to the others. "If we're ever going to escape, we should do it now"

"Keith's right. I don't trust this" Bonnie sided with Keith.

The four of them stood and wanted to leave, when Veronica returned. Not with pizzas, though, but with her crossbow.

"Leaving so soon?" she asked, acting offended.

"What are you doing?" Jeremy asked, backing away. He covered for the others. "Go through the backdoor" he hissed. Keith ran to the backdoor, but found it locked.

"Oh, you guys are not going anywhere" Veronica said mischievous and she looked at Keith, Bonnie and Matt. She turned back to Jeremy. "You on the other hand" She fired and shot an arrow in Jeremy's leg. He screamed and collapsed.

"Get up" Veronica commanded. Jeremy held his leg with both hands and cried. "Get up or I'll shoot the girl"

Knowing Veronica would perform her threat, Jeremy scribbled up difficult. Veronica grabbed his arm.

"Everything you need is in this house" she said to the other three. "There's food, hot water, there's television. Make yourselves at home, but don't think about getting out, because you can't"

She dragged Jeremy to the front door. "We're going for a ride"

Part 10

Evening fell and Stefan walked out of the hospital. There was no one outside, at first sight. Stefan headed to the parking lot when he heard a whoosh and turned around. No one was there. He turned around again and faced Rachel.

"Rachel, hi, I was wondering when I'd see you again" he said calm.

"I'm sorry, Stefan, but I have to do this" Rachel plead apologetic.

"Do what? Stefan asked suspicious. Then he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. Three of Veronica's minions had snuck up on him. Stefan turned around and grabbed the vervain stabber by his throat. Stefan snarled and the minions cried from fear. It was the first time they saw a vampire in his true form.

One of them searched in their pockets and conjured a small bag of vervain herbs. Stefan, unable to watch all three at the same time, didn't see him coming. The minion rubbed the vervain in Stefan's eyes and Stefan, blinded by pain, fell on his knees. Rachel grabbed his head and snapped his neck.

"Is he dead?" the vervain stabber asked trembling.

"For now" Rachel replied.

Caroline walked out of the Grill. After her visit to Elena and her bumping into Bonnie in the hospital she had needed a drink. Lots of drinks. She understood Elena's point of view, but didn't Elena understand theirs?

Caroline wasn't ready to lose her best friend. She wanted Elena to fight for her life. After all, Caroline had fought too. It hadn't been easy, but with Stefan's help she made it through and she came out better than before.

But Elena wouldn't even give it a chance. She could always stake herself if she really didn't like being a vampire. Caught up in her thoughts Caroline stepped in her car, but the moment her skin touched the upholstery she shrieked. Someone had rubbed her seats with vervain.

"Yep, vervain's a bitch" a female voice said from behind Caroline. Caroline turned around and looked at an unfamiliar girl. She grabbed her throat, but withdrew her hands immediately. The girl showed Caroline a bottle.

"Vervain oil. Really good for the skin. If you're human, at least" She aimed the bottle at Caroline and squeezed. A gush of vervain oil spouted on Caroline's face and Caroline screamed.

The girl conjured a chain and chained Caroline's hands.

Katherine was pacing up and down the Boarding House.

"Will you relax, please?" Rebekah requested annoyed.

"He should've been here by now" Katherine said nervous, referring to Stefan.

"Maybe he's found someone better" Rebekah teased. Katherine was too concerned to notice.

The door opened and Derek rushed inside.

"Katherine, you have to come with me" he said agitated. "It's Veronica. She's going crazy. She has Stefan"

"Stefan?" she repeated horrified. "I'll come with you"

"Me too" Rebekah said determined.

"No" Derek replied quickly. "You should gather your friends. Damon, Tyler, Caroline and prepare them"

Rebekah nodded in agreement and Katherine went with him. Once outside she felt a sharp pain in both her sides. When she pulled the stakes out they were replaced by two others.

Derek realized they would never get Katherine to the van, so they decided to bring the van to her. Struggling and throwing around punches, Katherine tried to escape. But with a new stake entering her body within seconds, she eventually had to give up.

Inside Elijah covered Rebekah's mouth. As much as she disliked Katherine, she'd wanted to come to her assistance when she heard the screams.

"If you go now" Elijah whispered in her ear. "they'll know what you are and we'll have lost our only trump"

Tyler was having dinner with his mother, mayor Carol Lockwood. Tyler had been trying to talk to Caroline ever since Veronica broke up with him. He wanted to try and make everything alright with her.

"Something wrong, sweetie?" Carol asked worried.

Tyler shook his head. "Can I be excused?" he asked and Carol nodded. Tyler walked to his room, when his phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Tyler, hey, it's me" Veronica said with a heavy voice. She sounded like she had been crying. "I've been thinking. I think I made a mistake breaking up with you. I can't stop thinking about you. I miss you all the time"

"Ronnie, I'm sorry, but you were pretty clear" Tyler commented a little annoyed. He hated these hot and cold kind of girls.

"I know you must hate me right now, but can we at least talk about it?" Veronica asked tearful.

Tyler glanced at the door. If he was quick his mother wouldn't have to find out.

"Alright then. I'll come over" Tyler sighed indulgent.

"Thank you, Tyler" Veronica sobbed and she hung up.

Tyler walked to the window, opened it and jumped. The moment his feet hit the ground, a rope was wrapped around them and he lost his balance.

He tried to get up and fight his attackers, when one of them held a stake against his heart. "I know this won't kill you" he started. "But if you try to resist this stake will go inside your girlfriend's undead heart. And by girlfriend I mean Caroline Forbes" He gave Tyler proof that they had Caroline and Tyler went with them.