A/N: sorry if this chapter seems a bit heavy on the plot aspect, but there's only a few chapters left so it was important to build up to the final scenes...more Delena coming up next chapter, I promise :)

It was the following day, and everyone was gathered at Alaric's house once again.

"I really hope you're not all getting used to skipping school," Alaric said at one point. "Because as soon as this is over, I'm not taking any excuses."

"Killjoy," Damon's voice called from another room.

Elena laughed to herself as she focused on helping Bonnie mix together the ingredients for the spell. Unlike most of the other ones Bonnie had performed, this spell was more complicated than murmuring a few phrases. Since the plan involved both Elena and Tyler being "dead" for a certain period of time, this spell involved making potions.

It wasn't something that Bonnie had ever attempted before, but there were quite a few potion recipes in her spellbook. Thankfully, Isobel had researched witchcraft in addition to vampires and werewolves, so she was also of some help.

Unlike Stefan, who seemed more than a little uncomfortable with the idea of Elena drinking the potion.

Then there was Damon.

Bonnie scowled to herself as she remembered the events from last night. They had all spent the greater part of the night figuring out how the plan was going to work. At one point, Bonnie had gone to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Lo and behold, Damon had been waiting for her by the sink.

"What do you want?" Bonnie asked coolly. It hadn't escaped her thoughts that Katherine being in Mystic Falls was indirectly Damon's fault. If he hadn't been attracted to such a sadistic psychopath in the first place…

"And here I was, thinking we were on the path to friendship," Damon responded sarcastically. He stepped closer to her, and Bonnie involuntarily backed up into the countertop.

"You don't scare me," she warned. "I can very easily cause you pain…"

"No need to tire yourself on my account," Damon replied casually. "I just wanted to have a little chat with my favorite witch."

Bonnie crossed her arms in an attempt to put more space between herself and Damon. "What do you want?" she repeated.

"I just wanted you to know that we're all putting our lives into your hands," Damon said slowly, his voice low. "You may have betrayed us last time, but I can accept your vendetta against vampires. But this time your little potion involves humans. Like Elena. If you even THINK about using this as an opportunity to get revenge on me and Stefan, then I swear I will—"

"You really think I would hurt my best friend?" Bonnie interrupted, anger flaring in her veins. She could feel her power bubbling to the surface, and a knowing look from Damon showed her that he knew what was happening.

"Tsk tsk tsk. Still haven't gotten a handle on your emotions, have you? I warned you before…that'll just make you easy bait for Katherine…"

"I can handle myself," Bonnie retorted, her voice cold. "And don't you dare accuse me of sabotaging this plan to get revenge! I would never hurt Elena, and I would never hurt Tyler. This isn't about you, Damon. It's about getting rid of Katherine."

Damon nodded then, and backed away slightly. "Glad to see we're on the same page, witch."

"Right back at you, vampire."

"Bonnie?"

She jumped and looked at Elena, who was gazing at her in concern. "Are you okay? You looked like you were in another world…"

"I'm fine," Bonnie tried to smile. "I just hope the potion works."

"We have complete faith in you," Elena answered, looking up as Damon entered the room.

"We sure do," Damon put in, "After all, we wouldn't want anything to go wrong now, would we?"

"No, of course not," Bonnie snapped. Wasn't Damon the one that had murdered about half the humans in Mystic Falls? What was his deal, anyway?

As these thoughts ran through her head, Bonnie happened to glance up. Damon was hovering above Elena, his signature smirk in place. Elena laughed at whatever he had said, and playfully swatted his arm. He smiled slightly in return and whispered something in Elena's ear.

Oh god, Bonnie realized, her stomach churning uncomfortably at the thought, It's true…Damon really is in love with Elena…

"How's the potion coming along?" Isobel asked, walking into the room with Alaric. "Almost ready?"

"Yeah, I think so," Bonnie said, shaking her head to clear it. "I hope I've done everything right..."

"I'm sure you did," Isobel dismissed, "Katherine always spoke very highly of Emily Bennett. She was very powerful, and I have no doubt that you are, too."

"Hello, Stefan," Damon suddenly said, turning towards the front door. Stefan walked in a moment later, looking bemused to see everyone staring in his direction.

"I talked to Tyler's pack. They've agreed to be at the meeting point in about an hour. Tyler said he'll drop by soon to pick up the potion."

"Did you talk to Katherine?"

"I told her that we had talked and decided that if killing Tyler was the only way to get rid of her and to ensure Jeremy's safety, then we would do it."

"She bought it?"

"Yeah...but she was pretty adamant about Damon being the one to actually kill Tyler. She doesn't want anyone else to be a part of it, or even to be nearby when it happens."

"That's weird," Elena replied, glancing at Damon.

Damon shrugged in response, "Who knows. Katherine's mind works in mysterious ways."

Alaric and Isobel exchanged a knowing look, and Bonnie stared at them suspiciously. "Okay," she announced, sitting back on her heels. "The potion should be done. Shall we run through the plan one more time before we leave?"

Stefan sighed, looking agitated. "Are you sure this potion is safe, Bonnie? There won't be any...lasting effects will there?"

"I only know what the book tells me...it just says to use this spell to mimic the effects of death."

Damon crossed his arms, still not looking happy. He lifted his head slightly, "I believe Tyler is here."

Sure enough, Tyler knocked on the door a second later. "Is the potion ready?"

"It is," Bonnie said, hopping up to hand him a small goblet. She handed an identical one to Elena. "It's best if you both drink it at the same time, so you'll both be affected within the same time period."

"Okay," Elena took a deep breath, looking nervous. She unscrewed the cap and lifted the goblet to her lips.

Tyler did the same. "Here goes nothing," he announced before slinging the whole thing back in one gulp. Elena quickly tossed the contents back as well, causing Stefan to raise an eyebrow.

Damon, however, smirked. "That's right, Elena. Just pretend it's a shot...we all know how capable you are of consuming alcohol..."

Elena ignored him, but she and Tyler both made a face. "Damn," Tyler coughed, "This shit burns."

"How do you feel?" Bonnie asked worriedly.

"I don't feel any different," Elena said after a minute. "So that a good thing, I guess? What about you, Ty—" she broke off, alarmed.

Tyler's eyes had dilated, the pupils becoming dark, the irises a glowing yellow. He yelled in pain and Bonnie stumbled forward, shocked.

Tyler dropped to the floor, writhing with agony.

Before their eyes, he transformed.

"Everyone get back!" Alaric shouted, pulling Isobel to his side. Bonnie couldn't bring herself to move, and Stefan leapt towards her, shielding her from Tyler. Damon vamped out, crouching in front of Elena.

But he need not have bothered.

Tyler the werewolf hissed at them, baring its teeth. As the wolf took a step towards Damon, it suddenly paused, the eyes widening in a very human-esque way.

Then it fell.

And didn't move again.

*bonnie's spells never do seem to go right, do they? ;)