Chapter Thirty Five: Daddy Issues
Caroline leaves her house out and locks the door. She turns around to find Tyler waiting by her car. "Hey. How's it going?"
"We need to talk." He says.
"Yeah, we do. Listen…I've been thinking about it, and I don't want to over analyze. It was just one kiss, but Matt's still kind of in the picture. We can't go there, Tyler."
"Fine."
"Great. That's settled." She goes to open her car.
"What happened to my uncle Mason?"
She turns around. "What?"
"He's dead, and I want you to tell me what happened."
"I…I don't…"
"Then let me tell you; Stefan and his brother Damon killed him, because Stefan and Damon are vampires, just like you."
"Who told you that?"
"Is it true?"
"Let me explain."
"Did you know he was dead this whole time?"
"Please…"
"Did you know?!" He yells. She nods, and Tyler pushes her angrily against the car.
"I'm sorry, Tyler. I'm sorry."
"I trusted you!" He lets her go and storms away, leaving Caroline stunned and upset.
Trinity stands from the ground. "I have to go." Katherine stands as well and cups her face, kissing her. "Really." She says, but Katherine kisses her again. "I guess I can stay a bit longer."
Katherine smiles into the next kiss as she begins to lift Trinity's shirt.
Damon is in his bathroom, in the shower. He's listening to the news, and walks into his bedroom to watch. "The authorities believe last night's assailant may also be related to the missing campers and Park ranger who have yet to be found, as well as 25 year old Jessica Koenig, reported missing this morning. The sheriff department says investigations are pending and no further comment will be made." The reporter says.
At the Gilbert house, John is in the kitchen, watching the same news channel on TV when he sees Elena walk in. "Good morning."
"What are you doing here?" She asks.
"Coffee?" He holds up a mug.
She shakes her head. "We're not doing that. We did that last night. No more avoiding. Why are you here?"
"I'm here to protect you. That's all I can say for the moment."
"What do you mean that's all you can say?"
"I'll tell you more when I'm convinced I can trust you."
Jenna and Alaric enter the room. "I'm late." She tells him.
"That's what you get for hitting the snooze three times!" Alaric chuckles.
She sees John. "What the hell?"
"Good morning to you, Jenna. Alaric…" He greets.
"It's okay I'm confused, right? Because we were not expecting you, like, ever." She says.
"Well, I got in late last night. Elena let me in."
"You know, I'm probably just gonna take off." Alaric shares a look with Elena before leaving.
"I'm still confused here." Jenna says.
"I decided to come back and stay for a while."
"Not here, you're not."
"Actually, you can't stop me from living here." He tells her.
"Actually I can, as legal guardian."
"Yeah, about that…Elena, you want me to explain the situation, or would you like to do the honors?" He asks.
Jenna looks between them. "Okay, what's going on?"
"I'm sorry, Jenna. I should have told you earlier, but-" Elena starts but John interrupts her.
"I'm Elena's biological father. There, now you know." He walks away, leaving Elena alone to deal with a confused Jenna.
"What?!" Jenna asks.
Damon and Trinity are in Stefan's bedroom. "You brought back John Gilbert? That was your big 'Save Elena' move?" Damon asks him.
"I went to go look for Isobel, and I get John instead. He said he can help us, and we're desperate."
"We're not that desperate, Stefan." Trinity says.
Damon nods in agreement. "The guy tried to barbecue us!"
"Damon, Bonnie's new witch friend is working with Elijah, so we have to assume that the moonstone was never destroyed. Elena is putting all of her faith into some deal that she made with Elijah to keep everyone safe. I mean, do you trust Elijah? I don't trust him. He's an Original, he can't be trusted. It's not like we can just go up and kill him, because apparently, he can't die!"
"I'm still waiting for the part where John Gilbert is the answer." Trinity says.
"He knew about the sacrifice, Isobel told him. He said he knew of a way to keep Elena safe."
"And how do we do that?" Damon asks.
"He's not talking. At least not to me anyway."
"Great work Stefan. Top notch. As if I didn't have enough problems."
"Hey, I'm sorry about Rose."
Damon shrugs. "Whatever. I knew the woman for 5 minutes."
"And you cared about her after 5 minutes." Trinity says.
"I wonder what that means?" Stefan asks.
Damon rolls his eyes. "It means I care, Stefan. It means I'm changing, evolving into a man capable of greatness. Better watch your back, because I may just have to go get a hero-hairdo of my own, and steal your thunder." He leaves. Trinity shakes her head and follows after him.
Stefan's phone buzzes and he checks it, seeing that it's a message from Caroline.
"So what's on the to-do list today?" Trinity asks Damon.
"I'm gonna find John and kill him."
"Alright."
He looks at her. "You're not going to give me a lecture? 'No Damon, you can't do that?'"
She shakes her head. "I agree with you. I don't see how John being here can help. His idea of protecting Elena is ridding all supernatural from her life, i.e. us."
"Well then, it looks like you're my sidekick today."
At the Lockwood mansion, the doorbell rings. "I got it, Mom." Tyler opens the door, seeing its Jules and lets her in.
Stefan walks into Caroline's house. "What's wrong?" He asks.
"Tyler knows about you and Damon. He knows that Damon killed Mason. I didn't say a word." She tells him.
Stefan nods. "It's that woman, Jules. She had a run-in with Damon."
"Tyler was so upset. The look on his face, he was so betrayed."
"Wow, this is bad."
"You're not gonna tell Damon, are you?"
He shakes his head. "No! He already wants to kill him. He thinks all werewolves should die, and he's not wrong to think that, Caroline. I mean, what if Tyler tries to retaliate? He has every right to. He could get himself killed."
"Well, we're not gonna let that happen. We have to get to him and reason with him before he does something stupid. You have to talk to him. Just try to explain, you know? You always know the right things to say, okay? He and I…we're friends."
"I was right, wasn't I?" Jules asks. "Your little vampire friend, she was lying."
"What do you want?" He asks.
"I want you to understand that a vampire will never be your friend. It's our nature to be enemies."
"You know how stupid that sounds?"
"You need to leave here, it's not safe."
"I can't just run away with you. I don't even know you. My mom would freak. My life is here."
"Your old life. Your new life is just beginning. You have so much to learn."
"Like what?"
"How to survive. You've triggered the curse, Tyler. It's important you learn what it means to be a lycanthrope. We live by a code of loyalty; we take care of each other. It's my duty and honor to help you. Please let me."
Elena lets Damon and Trinity in. He looks around. "Where's John?"
"He's not here, he left." She tells him as she closes the door. "I don't know where he went. He just blew in, announced to Jenna that he's my dad, and then took off."
"That's public knowledge now?"
"Apparently?"
"Are you okay?" Trinity asks her.
"Yeah. Jenna's head spinning, but I'm okay."
"He said what he was doing here?" He asks.
"No. You know, Stefan thinks that he's telling the truth about wanting to help me." Elena says.
"Do you believe him?"
She shakes her head. "No, I don't believe him for a second."
"Neither do we." Trinity says.
"What are we gonna do?"
"Kill him." Damon says and turns to leave.
"Damon…" Elena sighs.
He turns around. "I'm joking." He pauses. "Okay, I'm a little serious."
"Damon!"
"I'm not gonna hurt him, Elena. I'm the good guy now, remember?"
"What does that mean?"
"I'm gonna have a civil conversation with your father." He and Trinity leave.
"Wait, I'm coming with you!" Elena says, following them.
Tyler is on the computer in his dad's office when he sees Stefan is in the room. He tries to leave, but Stefan stops him. "I'm not gonna hurt you, I just want to talk."
"Then why did you break in?" Tyler asks.
"Would you have let me in otherwise?"
Carol walks downstairs and gets ready to leave. "Tyler?" She calls.
Tyler tries to run, but Stefan stops him and pushes him against a table, his face changes. "Shh. Not a word."
"Tyler? I'm leaving for the memorial." She says before leaving.
Jules arrives at a RV and knocks on the door. "Brady?" She opens the door but sees no one there. She turns around to see him stand behind her. She smiles and kisses him. "This is a hard place to find."
"You told me to stay under the radar." He says.
"Thanks for coming."
"Are you sure these vamps killed Mason?"
"Positive. You have to be careful."
"I'm not afraid of a vampire."
"I know, baby, but I want the boy more than I want vengeance."
"I say let's get both." He kisses her.
Stefan releases Tyler. "Maybe we're getting off on the wrong foot here."
"What happened to Mason?" He asks.
"Tyler, there's a lot for us to talk about." He tries to leave but Stefan catches him. "I wouldn't do that. Without a full moon, you're no match for me."
In the Town Square, John joins Carol Lockwood at the memorial.
"It's good to have you back, John. We could really use you." She tells him.
"And the council? What are they doing?"
"Damon Salvatore is leading the council now. Talk to him. Excuse me." A woman arrives to talk to Carol. She leaves.
Jeremy walks by, and John stops him. "Jeremy, there you are."
"Looks like I slept through the homecoming."
"You didn't miss much. Let's say that no one's happy to see me would be an understatement."
"Look, things are different now. You can't come around and start up with all this anti-vampire stuff." He says.
"I have no intention of doing that. How's that ring been treating you?"
"Look, if this is what you came for, just take it and go." He hands him the ring, but John doesn't take it.
"What kind of a man would I be if I took that from you? You want to go grab some lunch?"
"I think I'll pass." He says and watches as John walks away. He sees Bonnie and smiles.
Jonas approaches Bonnie on the street. "Hello, Bonnie."
"I don't have anything to say to you, Dr. Martin, or your son." She tells him.
"You must be feeling very confused about us."
"There's nothing confusing about it. I trusted Luka, and he betrayed me. Elena told me you were both working for Elijah, so don't lie about it."
"I won't, but that doesn't mean we're not also looking out for you."
"Spare me the witch loyalty crap."
"You might not want to believe this, but Elijah is a man of his word. You can trust that he'll keep his end of the deal with Elena to keep you and your friends protected."
"You're right, I don't believe it."
Jeremy approaches them. "Is there a problem here?"
"Not at all." Bonnie says, and she and Jeremy leave, arm in arm.
"What was that about?" He asks.
"More lies."
At the Grill, Jenna and Alaric are talking at a table while they eat lunch.
"I can't believe it. Elena is my sister's husband's brother's daughter and her mother is my boyfriend's deceased wife. You can't make this stuff up." She says.
"It's definitely a little overwhelming."
"I can't believe that they kept it a secret. How is it even possible to keep a secret like that?"
John enters the Grill and joins them. "Hey you two. Do you think I can join you?"
"Do you have to?" Jenna asks.
"I guess I don't have to, but might as well. Look who's here." John turns his head and sees Elena, Damon, and Trinity.
Elena turns to Damon. "We just need answers. Please don't do anything stupid."
"Yeah, but stupid is so much more fun." He says.
"Damon, I mean it. All I'm asking is that you try to keep it together. Be the better man."
"Okay then."
Trinity looks at Damon. 'Whipped.' She mouths.
He rolls his eyes and walks up to John. "John, buddy, how have you been?"
"I've been alright, Damon. It's good to see you."
"Look, about Caroline, no matter what her flaws are, when push comes to shove, you're gonna want that girl on your side. She's your friend, stop being a dick to her." Stefan tells Tyler.
"I thought vampires hated werewolves."
"That's some sort of leftover idea from another time. It doesn't have to be that way anymore. We go to the same school, we have the same friends. We keep the same secrets. This can work, Tyler. I mean, it's your home, it's my home too. I want this to work."
Tyler's phone rings. They stare at each other for a moment, before Tyler slips past Stefan and answers it. It's Jules. "Help, help!"
Stefan grabs the phone and throws it on the desk. "Who's number was that?" He asks but Tyler remains silent. "Damn it Tyler! I'm trying to save your life, can't you see that?"
Jules hangs up. She looks at Brady with a worried look on her face. "We have a problem."
At the Grill, John is lighting a candle for the victims. Damon and Trinity join him.
"So, John. Rumor has it that you know a lot, and won't say anything." Damon says.
"How do I know you can be trusted, Damon? Originals can compel vampires. And, according to Stefan, that's why Katherine's still in the tomb, because an Original has compelled her to stay there."
"Only because all of the vervain had left her system." Trinity says.
Damon smirks. "Stefan and I, on the other hand, are chock full."
John looks at him, shocked. "You guys are drinking vervain?"
"It's an acquired taste." He pauses. "I don't see that magic little ring on your stitched finger, so if you know something about Klaus, you better start talking, or I will kill you in your sleep."
"I can do a pretty good animal attack." Trinity adds.
"Is that any way to convince me that you and I are on the same side? First, I need to know that I can trust you, Damon, that I can count on you. Then we'll talk." He leaves.
Trinity looks at Damon. "I say we torture him and he decides which is more important, his trust or his life."
"Why couldn't you have been this fun when I first met you?" He asks.
Meanwhile, Caroline is in the parking lot.
Matt approaches her. "Hey! Hey!"
"Hey."
"I haven't seen you." He says.
"I'm not avoiding you, I swear."
"Yeah, you're avoiding me a little."
"Okay, maybe a little." She admits.
"Can we talk later? I mean, I'm heading to work right now, but maybe after, to clear some of this weirdness?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'd really like that. I'll just swing by when you're closing?"
"Sounds good."
"Okay, bye." She watches him walk away. Caroline goes to her car and senses that someone's behind her.
"Excuse me, Caroline right?" Jules asks.
"Yeah."
"I'm looking for Tyler. You haven't seen him, have you?"
She shakes her head. "No, not since earlier. Sorry."
"I know you're lying."
"Really? How? Is that one of your little wolf tricks?"
"Actually, it is."
"Well, I have a trick too." Her face changes and she turns around, but Jules sprays her with vervain. Caroline yells in pain and turns around again only for Brady to shoot her in the head.
Caroline wakes up in a cage in Brady's RV. She screams a little as she digs the bullet out of her head. She tries to unlock the cage, but sees Brady and stops.
"I see you got the bullet out. That was nasty. I got lots of wooden bullets, other toys. It's gonna be a long night, sweet pea." He shoots her and she screams.
"You want to be friends, great, we're friends. Will you go now?" Tyler asks.
"I don't know what else to say to you Tyler. I came back to this town because I wanted a life, I wanted to exist where I could have friends and where I could build a family. I have that here, we can both have that." Stefan says before his phone rings. He sees that its Caroline and picks up. "Hey. Is everything okay?"
"That depends. How badly do you want to keep her alive?"
"Who is this?"
"Ask your brother. Where's Tyler?"
"Jules? Where's Caroline?"
"You made a mistake, Stefan. I'm gonna give you a chance to fix it."
"Where is she?"
"Right here. Want proof?"
Jules joins Caroline and Brady. "He needs proof."
He shoots Caroline and she screams.
"What's happening?" Tyler asks, seeing the dark look on his face.
"Hurt her again and you're dead." Stefan growls.
"I hurt her again, and she's dead. Bring Tyler to me, the clearing by Wickery Falls. You have 20 minutes until she dies." She hangs up.
Damon is at the bar when Jenna joins him. She's with a woman. "So, my friend wants to meet you. Damon Salvatore, this is…"
He looks at her. "I know you. The news lady."
The woman nods. "Yeah, Andie Star. Nice to meet you. Can I buy you a drink, Damon?" She asks. Elena and Trinity watch them.
"My glass is all full, Andie. Thank you." He returns to the two girls.
"You totally blew her off." Elena says.
"I'm steering clear of all women at the moment."
"You didn't have to be rude." Trinity tells him.
"Trust me; it's in the best interest of women everywhere."
Elena's phone rings and she answers it. "Stefan? What is it?" She looks at Damon and Trinity.
They regroup in the restroom.
"Why am I just finding out about this now?" Damon asks.
"Stefan was worried that you-" Elena starts.
"That I'll what? That I'd kill him? Of course, it's what's need to happen."
"No, Damon, not Tyler. Do whatever you need to do to get Caroline back but just leave Tyler out of it, okay?" Elena says, Trinity nodding in agreement.
"Why? He's a werewolf, he needs to die. I'm willing to kill him, it's win-win."
She touches his arm. "Damon please, okay? Too many people are dead."
"You need to stop doing that." He tells her.
"Doing what?"
"Assuming that I'll play the good guy because it's you who's asking."
"Be the better man, Damon."
John enters the room and looks at them.
"Do you mind?" Trinity says.
"What's going on?" He asks.
"Nothing." Elena says.
"It doesn't look like nothing."
"Well guess what John, trust works both ways. Get out." Trinity tells him.
Elena sighs. "Look, we don't have time for this. We need to get Caroline back."
"We don't need to do anything. We'll-" He motions between him and Trinity. "take care of it." He turns around and looks at John. "First dad duty; ground your daughter. Keep her here." He and Trinity leave.
"I'm coming with you." Elena tries to follow but John stops her.
"No, no, no, no, no. I'm with Damon on this one." He says and she tries to step around him. "No, stop, stop. You're not going anywhere. Just tell me what's going on."
Brady watches as Caroline cries. "So, How many vampires are there in this town anyway?" She doesn't answer, so he shoots her with a squirt gun filled with vervain. She screams. "No?"
"Why are you doing this to me?! Why are you doing this? Why?" She cries.
"You're a vampire. Why not?" She screams again when he shoots a wooden dart into her neck. "I'm sorry, what was that?"
"Let me out!"
"Excuse me? What was that?"
"Let me out!"
Brady leaves to join Jules outside. "Get it out of your system?" She asks.
He shakes his head. "No, I'm just getting started."
"Brady, let's be smart about this. I just want the boy. It's our duty to help him, it's who we are."
"You want to talk duty and honor? These are vampires. They cross one of us, they cross all of us. That's who we are."
Elena storms out of the restroom, but John stops her. "You're not leaving this restaurant."
"You can't tell me what to do." She tells him.
"Yes I can. You want to know why? Because I'm here to make sure you stay safe."
"I've got that covered."
"Are you talking about the deal that you made with Elijah? Do you really think he's gonna keep his promise to you? Putting your faith in him was a dumb move."
"Are you saying I should put my faith in you? After everything that you did to Damon, Stefan, and Trinity?"
"We've had our differences, and I've made mistakes, but you and I, we're family."
"You don't get to use that word. That word is off-limits to you!"
He sighs. "Fine, but it doesn't change the facts."
"You're right. Facts are facts, so listen up; you may be my father, but I'm never going to be your daughter, you got that?" She leaves.
Jules is alone. Suddenly she hears something. "I know you're out there."
Stefan walks out of the woods with Tyler. "Where's Caroline?"
"Locked up tight."
"Let her go, and I'll release Tyler. It doesn't have to get any messier than it already has. I'm not your enemy, Jules."
"It's a little late to be waving the white flag, don't you think?"
"You need to leave town. No one else has to get hurt."
"I'm not leaving without Tyler."
"Tyler is free to make his own decisions, as soon as you release Caroline."
Damon and Trinity arrive. "My brother the peacemaker. Since Stefan got here before me I'm gonna let him try it his way before I resort to my way, which is a little bloodier. So give us Caroline."
"Let go of Tyler." She says.
"Give us Caroline. Without a full moon it's not an even fight and you know it. We will take you."
"I'm not so sure about that, tough guy." She whistles, and the rest of her pack walks out of their hiding places, all holding stakes and cross-bows. "Let's try this again. Give us Tyler."
Trinity looks at Tyler. "You heard her. Go. Get over there." He walks over to Jules.
"Which one of you killed Mason?" Brady asks.
"Uh, that'd be me." Damon raises his hand.
"Boys, make sure that one suffers."
Damon looks at Stefan. "We can take them."
"I don't know about that."
"Well then…" He rushes over Jules, but she flips onto the top of the RV. Tyler has gone inside. One of the werewolves tries to burn Stefan, but he takes the flamethrower from him and burns two werewolves with it. One of the werewolves jumps on Damon, but he rips his heart out before he gets to him. Trinity sinks her claws into a werewolf's stomach and disembowels him before moving on to another.
Inside the RV, Tyler sees Caroline in the cage. "Tyler, there's a latch on the door and I can't get to it." He hesitates. "Tyler?"
Outside, Stefan kills a werewolf. Another throws a stake at him but he catches it.
"Tyler, please!" Caroline begs. "Tyler?"
He finally walks toward the cage and opens it for her.
Stefan fights with one of the werewolves and drive his stake through his body. Another shoots an arrow at him, but he catches it and throws it in his neck. The werewolf falls on the ground. Trinity snaps a werewolf's neck and tosses his body to the ground before shoving her claws through another's neck. Another goes behind Stefan and drives a stake through his back. Stefan falls on the ground. Damon fights with Brady, but Jules arrives and shoots him with a wooden bullet. He falls to the ground.
Tyler opens the cage so Caroline can leave, but Jules catches her, pushes her against the RV and puts a gun to her back. Tyler sees Caroline being held at gunpoint, but he doesn't do anything. Brady grabs a stake and is about to kill Damon, but suddenly, all of the werewolves who are still alive, except Tyler, begin to scream in pain. They all grab their hands in their hands and fall to their knees.
"What's happening?" Caroline asks.
"What the hell is going on?" Tyler looks around.
Jonas Martin appears. He's casting a spell on the werewolves to give them all repeated aneurysms. Damon and Stefan get up from the ground. "Elijah made a promise to Elena. I'm here to see it's upheld. You need to go. Get out of here. Now." They leave. Jonas look at Tyler. "When your friends awaken, give them a message; They need to get the hell out of this town." He tells him before leaving as well.
Stefan walks Caroline to her doorstep. "So is your mom home?"
"No, she's at work." She tells him.
"I can come in, if you want me to."
"I'm fine, Stefan."
"You don't have to pretend with me. Anybody would be upset after what you went through tonight."
"I'm okay. I'm not girly little Caroline anymore, I can handle myself."
"Sure you can."
"I just really want to go shower so…"
"Okay."
"Goodnight." She says.
"Goodnight."
She walks inside and closes the door.
At the boarding house, Damon opens the door to find John on the front step. "What do you want?"
"We didn't finish our conversation."
"I'll bite." He reluctantly allows John into the house.
"I've been thinking. Personal feelings aside Damon, I think you and Stefan and Trinity will do all you can to protect Elena."
"I agree with that statement."
"So I come bearing gifts." He opens a folded cloth, which holds a silver dagger and a jar full of ash.
"What is that?"
"This is how you kill an Original. In this vial is ash from a white oak tree that dates back to the genesis of the Originals. The dagger must be dipped into the ash, and then plunged into their heart."
Damon takes the dagger. "How do you know all this, John?"
"Isobel. She's very good at finding out things. But, of course, you know that."
"Where is Isobel?"
"Let's just say if she accomplishes what she's attempting, Klaus will never set foot in Mystic Falls. Where Elena's concerned, you and I are on the same side." He leaves.
Caroline is in her bedroom and is looking at her wounds. Her phone rings, it's Matt. "Hi."
"Hey. Did something happened?"
"Oh my…I'm so sorry Matt."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Something came up with Bonnie and she needed me, a friend thing. You understand?"
Matt turns his head and sees Bonnie and Jeremy laughing at a table. "Yeah, so you're with her right now?"
"Yeah. So I'm not gonna make it tonight, but can I see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah, sure. I hope everything works out. Goodnight." He hangs up.
Caroline hears knocking on the door and opens it, seeing Tyler.
"Are you okay?" He asks.
"I'm fine."
"I had no idea they would come for you."
"Do you know what they did to me?" She asks.
"I'm sorry, but it's crazy now, okay? I don't know who to trust. You lied to me."
"I lied to protect my friends. I lied to protect you. Don't you get that?"
"Caroline…"
"You just stood there when they were going to kill us. You just stood there! You didn't do anything!"
"I didn't know what to do!"
"You help your friend, that's what you do."
"I'm sorry."
She shakes her head. "No, it's too late, because we're not friends anymore. And what happened to me tonight; that will never happen again. So, you take that back to your little werewolf pack and you get the hell out of my house!" She slams the door in his face.
Elena takes a bottle of water in the fridge and when she closes it, John is waiting for her on the other side of the door. "I'm sorry about earlier." He says.
"Enough, already." She sighs. "I don't want you here and I can't make that anymore clear."
"I didn't come here to fight with you, Elena."
"Yeah, I know, you're here to protect me. Got it, get in line."
"I thought you might want this. It was you mother's." He hands her a bracelet.
"Isobel?"
"No, your mother, Miranda. I remember her wearing it when she was young. I found it in a box, with some things that your dad left me. Here, it's yours now."
"Miranda and Grayson were your parents, Elena, and I know I'm nothing to you. You have no reason to believe me or trust me. I've done so many horrible things, but when you lost your parents, I lost my brother, my family. I lost my way. I know that I probably won't ever make things right with you, but I'm gonna do everything I can to protect you and protect this family." He leaves.
Tears stream down her face. She turns and sees Stefan. She rushes into his arms.
"Elena."
"Are you okay?" She asks.
"I'm fine."
"Did you hear that? I don't believe him, Stefan. I just don't. What happened tonight? How's Caroline?"
"I could use your help…"
Tyler knocks on the door of the RV. Jules let him in, and he joins her and Brady. "Hey, come on in." She says.
"I'm sorry about your friends." He sits down. "It's not always like this, is it?"
"No. Is it Brady?" She asks.
"No, man. You're living in vampire country, that's all. It's way better than this."
"Mason didn't tell me anything about it. He was gone. Dead I guess, before he could help me." Tyler says.
"I don't get what Mason was even doing here in the first place."
"His brother died. You know that, Brady." Jules says.
"Why was he stupid enough to stay and get himself killed?"
"Because of this rock he was trying to find." Tyler says.
Brady looks at him, confused. "What rock?"
"A moonstone."
Brady gives Jules a knowing look.
"I had no idea." She says.
"What?" Tyler asks.
Brady looks at him. "A moonstone? Did he find it?"
"Yeah." He nods.
"Where is it now?"
Tyler shrugs. "I couldn't tell you."
"What about that girl that was with the vampires?" Jules asks. "What is she?"
"Trinity?" He asks. "I've barely spoken to her. She hangs out with them a lot."
"She not a vampire." Brady tells him.
"She's a werewolf too?"
"We don't know what she is." Jules says. "And that could be a problem."
Stefan knocks on the door and Caroline opens it. "What's going on?" She asks.
"I was a bit worried about you, after everything you went through tonight."
"I'm fine."
"Good. But, just in case, I brought some back up."
Elena and Bonnie appear behind him. "We're gonna slumber it!" Elena smiles.
"We haven't done it in ages." Bonnie says.
Caroline cries. The girls all hug each other. Elena looks at Stefan, and mouths 'I love you'. He mouths 'I love you' as well.
Damon is taking a bubble bath with Andie Star.
"I can't believe you called me. I thought I was being way top forward when I had Jenna give you my number." She says.
"I like a woman who knows what she wants." He says.
"Thank you! So, what do you want Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome?
"I'm not that tall." He pauses. "I need a distraction."
"You can booty-call me anytime you want."
"You see, the thing is, Miss Sexy-Reporter-Girl, I have a problem I need help with. It's really messing with my mind."
"Oh, tell me about it."
"I'm in love with a woman I can never have."
"I knew it. I know how to pick them. So, why can't you have her? She's with another man, I assume?"
"Yeah, but that's not the point. The point is, I'm in love with her, and that drives me crazy. I'm not in control."
"You don't trust yourself around her?"
"I don't trust myself around anyone, Andie. I'm bad, Andie. I do things. I kill people." A look of fear crosses her face before he compels her. "Don't be afraid, you're okay."
"Why do you kill people?"
"Because I like it. It's in my nature, it's who I am. But then, I have to stay together to protect her, and she wants me to be the better man, which means I can't be who I am. Do you see the problem I'm having, Andie?"
"Well, maybe this is who you are now. Love does that Damon, it changes us."
"Just stop talking. Just kiss me, be my distraction." He kisses her. After a moment, Damon lunges forward and bites her on the neck and feeds on her.
In the tomb, Katherine is sitting on the ground, but she gets up when she hears a noise. She sees John.
"I know you were expecting someone else." He says.
Her shoulders slump in disappointment, expecting Trinity. "I sent Stefan to find Isobel."
"She got your message. She was busy, so she sent me instead."
"Does Stefan know that you're here right now?"
"No. No one does. This is between you, me, and Isobel."
"I want out of this tomb, John."
"I'm already on it."
Later that night, Trinity walks into the tomb.
Katherine looks up from the laptop. "I thought you weren't coming."
"Well there's never a dull day in Mystic Falls." She says as she sits down next to her, kissing her cheek before trailing a few kisses to her lips.
Katherine closes the laptop and looks at her. "What happened?"
"Got in a fight with a pack of werewolves."
"What?!"
"They kidnapped Caroline. We kicked ass until Elijah's witch came to save us."
"How come every time you leave here, you come back with a story about your near death experience?"
Trinity scoffs. "I would hardly call that a near death experience." She says before her face sobers.
"What?" Katherine asks.
"I killed people today."
"You've done that before."
"I've killed vampires in a vicious rage but tonight…I was in control. I knew exactly what I was doing."
"Trinity…if you hadn't killed them, they would've killed you and everyone you care about."
"I know." She nods. "But what about their families? With vampire's I can assume that all their families are dead. No one to miss them. But there's gonna be people who are wondering where their sons are, their brothers…"
"You can't think like that." Katherine tells her. "What about your family? They were standing between you and the people you consider family. There was nothing else for you to do." She says thinking of her own situation and her betrayal to Trinity. She pulls Trinity into her arms. "That's war. That's life. There's nothing you could change about it. You can only make your choice; kill or be killed."