Chapter 20 – The White Oak Tree

The girl's night at Caroline's got off to a bit of a rocky start. The girls minus Meredith had gone shopping together the day before but when you added in all the events of the day no one knew quite how to act. Sabrina was late getting there and found the girls standing around in awkward silence.

"Girls, this is a girl's night out sleepover. Get your acts together and tell me what you do at one of these things?" Sabrina said. "I may have never experienced this before but I know this isn't how it is usually done."

Bonnie gasped, "You haven't done this before?"

Sabrina shook her head, she had mainly said that in hopes of getting them to snap out of the awkward silence but she really hadn't experienced this before. "Nope."

"I haven't either," Rebekah spoke up.

"Me either." Sage said.

Caroline bounced up and down with a big grin on her face. "We are going to have to do it up good then!"

The rest of the night passed quickly and the girls had fun hanging with each other. By the end of the night Rebekah, Sage, and Sabrina could no longer say that hadn't experienced a girl's night sleepover before. Bonnie, Caroline, Elena, and Meredith learned a lot about Sage, Rebekah, and Sabrina and vice versa.

By the time the next morning came around the girls weren't quite best friends all around, but they did understand where the others came from a bit better. They headed over to the Salvatores' at the appointed time arriving at the same time as Finn, Elijah, Niklaus, and Kol.

Everyone gather in the Salvatores' parlor to brainstorm on how to combat Alaric's problem.
After rehashing what was learned the day before the floor was opened for ideas. Several thought were thrown around and tossed out by one side or the other.

Finally Elena asked, "Is there any way to reach his alter ego and retrain him?"

Sabrina nodded, "There just might be a way but we'd need a full moon."

"There's one in a week," Bonnie said. "Alaric should be fine until then as long as he keeps taking the herbs.

"Bonnie, I would need you and another witch or two, know any who would be interested? Would you be willing to help?" Sabrina asked.

Bonnie nodded, "Yes, of course. Also my mother and a cousin may be willing to help. I'll ask them."

Sabrina nodded, "Good, why don't you ask them and meet me at the mansion. We can study my Grimoire there." She paused, "I would suggest your place but I'll need Kol."

Bonnie nodded, "Of course. The mansion won't be a problem, as long as we aren't interrupted."

"You won't be." Kol assured her.

"Elijah and I won't be there, we have some errands to run," Niklaus spoke up.

Finn glanced between the two of them sensing something was up that they hadn't told him but didn't press the issue. "Sage and I are going out for a couple hours, we'll be back later this afternoon." Sage looked surprised at the news but didn't ask what her husband had planned.

"I'm going to the mansion, join me Care?" Elena spoke up. "I need to have Matt come over and fill him in." She yawned, "And I need a nap."

Caroline agreed saying she'd stop at the Mystic Grill on her way to the mansion. Rebekah perked up and asked Caroline if she could come with her. Elena smirked at this and said she might as well go with them.

Everyone dispersed leaving Damon and Stefan alone. "Well then," Damon said. "What are we going to do now?"

Stefan smiled slowly, "Now we figure out how to save Elena from the Originals."

Damon studied his brother carefully, "And just how are we going to do that?"

Stefan smirked, "Well as we know the ashes of the white oak tree on the daggers neutralizes the Originals, so it would make sense that a white oak stake will kill them."

Damon frowned, "Possibly, but where are you going to find that? I'm sure they got rid of it."

"I've been studying the pictures Elena and Alaric brought back from the tunnels. There's a picture of a tree being set on fire, which would support your theory, the originals burned it."

"Which would be where the ash comes from."

"Further support for the theory." Stefan said. "Here's the kicker though, there's another picture of the tree later in the sequence which would suggest that the tree grew back."

Damon grinned, "Which means that it could still be out there."

Stefan nodded, "And since we haven't seen it, it must have been cut down. And if it was cut down guess where the records would be for such a tree?"

"City Hall?"

Stefan shook his head, "No, much closer to home. The sawmill was owned by the..."

"...Salvatores." Damon grinned.

At the mayor's house Elijah and Niklaus were asking the Mayor, Carol Lockwood, about the history of the trees. Elijah told her that his research had uncovered a mention of an old tree that meant something to the people. He wondered if there might be any record of such a tree.

"Back before they worked the Lockwood women would keep records of the trees. I'm sure they are somewhere, in the boxes in the basement maybe." Carol told them.

"If you don't mind can we look for it?" Elijah asked.

Carol shook her head, "Sure, go on down. Third door on the left, I'll be up here if you need anything." She pointed the way then stopped, "Um, Klaus, I was wondering. Have you heard anything from Tyler?"

Niklaus shook his head, "I'm sorry I haven't. I'll let you know if I do, but I think Caroline will before I do."

Carol nodded, "You're probably right."

"He'll be fine, Carol." Elijah reassured her.

"I'm sure you're right." She said sadly.

"Would it help if I asked some friends to keep an eye out for him?" Niklaus asked.

Carol nodded and voiced her thanks, the wandered off to presumedly get some work done. Elijah studied her as she walked away.

"If you want any chance of a relationship with Elena and Caroline, you have to fix this." Elijah told Niklaus.

"I know, but how do I do that?" Niklaus asked.

"Start with finding him, then give him his freedom." Elijah told him.

Niklaus nodded, and pulled out his phone. He texted one of his hybrids and asked them to look for Tyler. He instructed them not to engage, just locate, then he turned back to Elijah. "Let's find us a tree, big brother."

Elijah and Niklaus made their way to the basement where they were confronted with a mound of boxes. "Well, this will be fun." Niklaus mumbled as they got started.