Katherine felt a little sorry for Nicky, sorry that her last days on this earth were spent tied to a chair, she could now see how uncomfortable it must have been, the rope cutting into her wrists and the hardwood made for a very uncomfortable experience. Stefan was pacing in front of her chewing on a fingernail and throwing frequent glances at the clock on his phone. "How are you alive?" he demanded stopping in front of her, "i saw your dead body, how are you here?", Katherine let a smug smile spread across her face "the body died i didn't" she said matter of factly. Stefan went back to pacing faster this time until again he stopped "you used the passenger magic?" He asked Katherine nodded, "then is this Elena?" he asked gesturing to Katherines body. Katherine nodded and let her smile grow bigger, Stefans eyes filled with rage he grabbed a piece of cloth and shoved it into her mouth gagging her, before he could do anything else the buzzing of his phone drew his attention. "The others are here" he said his tone becoming ominous, they sat in silence until the others arrived but Stefan kept up his steading pacing only stopped when Damon burst into the room "WHERE IS SHE?" he shouted eyes frantically scanning the room until they landed on Katherine. Damon grabbed the nearest chair and smashed it against the wall, wooden debris fell to the floor and he grabbed the nearest largest piece and charged towards Katherine his improvised wooden stake raised ready to strike.
Stefan quickly jumped in front of his brother and slammed a fist into his chest knocking him to the ground, "what are you doing Stefan?" asked Bonnie as she knelt down to help her friend. "Its Elenas body" he explained offering Damon a hand back to his feet. Damon smacked away that hand and scrambled to his feet "okay, Bonnie suck Katherine the bitchy ghost out of her and we can get out of here". Bonnie rolled her eyes "it's Traveler magic Damon, it's very complicated and dangerous i can't do anything without risking Elena as well" Damon cursed and threw his makeshift stake at the wall embedding through a painting of a scenic beach. "Well what are we going to do?" he demanded but nobody answered, Katherine cleared her throat immediately drawing the attention of the room "well i'm no expert but i think in these situations the first step is to try and make a deal".
Nadia sat by Katherines bedside, before he left Lawrence had told her Katherine might not wake up straight away but reassured her that the spell had been a success, Nadia was relieved, all the running and sleepless night were over from now on it would be just her and Katherine. Nadias train of thought was interrupted by her phone buzzing loudly on the bedside table, she didn't recognise the number so she dismissed the call but the called immediately called again. Nadia groaned and begrudgingly answered
whoever this is this better be important or im going to kill you
Cut the crap Nadia
Damon what a pleasure, what do you want?
World peace, a full liquor cabinet and ELENA BACK YOU PSYCHO BITCH
Nadia frowned and looked over to the bed, she was certain she took the right one, the girl was wearing the same clothes Katherine had been, her hair was in Katherine's style, she definitely took the right bodies. She decided to play along.
Well Damon what do i get in return?
You give us Elena you take Katherine far away from us
Prove you have her
Fine.
After a moments a new voice came over the line.
I'm fine they haven't hurt me
How are you there? I'm looking at you right now
The spell worked just not the way we expected
You got put into Nicky instead of Elena?
Yup
Okay put Damon back on
Nadia gave him an address she knew they wouldn't be disturbed and hung up the phone, She looked over at Elena and sighed, "why is nothing ever easy when it involves you". She walked over to the sleeping girl and pinched her nose cutting off her air. After a few moments Elena jolted awake gasping for air "oh good you're awake" Nadia smirked and grabbed the back of Elenas neck, ignoring her hostages cries of pain Nadia dragged her out onto street. Once in public Nadia released Elenas neck "what are you doing? Where Katherine?" Elena demanded rubbing her sore neck. "Relax, we going to where she is right now" Nadia said hailing a passing taxi, "just keep your mouth shut and do what i say and you'll arrive alive" a taxi pulled up to the curb and Nadia quickly locked eyes with the driver drawing him into her compulsion. "Now get in" Nadia ordered, Elena eyes Nadia and the taxi suspiciously but she climbed into the car not wanting to anger Nadia, Nadia climbed in after her and gave the address to the driver.
It was a short drive to the location Nadia has picked, the location was a warehouse recently abandoned, Nadia had noticed it the day she and Katherine arrived, she was considering it for a potential safe house but it would be good for a hostage exchange. After dismissing the taxi Nadia lead Elena inside, the warehouse was truly abandoned, a large empty room with only a few pallets left behind to indicate a previous occupation. "Where is she?" Elena asked as she frantically looked around the room searching for anything that could be Katherine, Nadia sat down on the pallets and pulled out her phone "they should be here any second". Elena frowned "they?" before she could learn anymore and loud sound of a door opening echoed off the walls, Nadia dashed over to where Elena stood and grabbed her arm pulling it back into a painful hold "don't say a word" Nadia ordered and pulled a gag from her pocket and jammed it into Elena mouth muffling her protests.
Footsteps reverberated through the warehouse as Katherine and her captors came closer, Elena strained against Nadia hold but her grip was iron clad, struggling only achieved more muffled cries of pain. The group stopped a few feet away "well this is a pleasant surprise" said Damon "you actually kept your word", Katherine was tightly bound in rope and like Elena she had a gag preventing any speech. "We send them across at the same time once you got her leave, we don't want to fight" Nadia said ignoring Damons taunt, Stefan nodded and shot Damon a look before undoing the rope around Katherines feet. Damon sighed and pushed Katherine towards Nadia, who did the same releasing Elena and pushed her towards her eager friends. Elena pulled the gag from her mouth and shot Nadia a dirty look before continuing forward.
Completely ignoring everyone in the room Katherine and Elena quickened their pace, the rope holding Katherine prevented her from running but Elena was free, she ran over the the helpless Katherine. Her eyes were wet with tears, she was finally face to face with Katherine, the torrent of happiness overwhelmed her she threw her arms around Katherine and held her tightly. it felt right like the universe made sense again, having Katherine back in her arms filled a hole she didn't know she had, she felt whole again. Elena could feel Katherine desperately straining at her binds, She quickly let go Katherine and began to untie the knot, it was stubborn but failing to undo the knot wasn't an option right now, the need to have Katherine arms embrace felt like suffocation. Once the knot was out the way Katherine ropes were thrown to the floor, Katherine pulled the gag from her mouth and grabbed Elena, Katherine knew that a few moment ago it had been her body but everything about her felt like Elena, the skin under her hand the arms around her, even the smell that filled Katherine nose was Elena. They held on tightly to each other, both wanting to see the others face, to hear them speak, to kiss their lips but neither was willing to let the other go not again not yet. But they did only slightly, just enough to be face to face, "Elena?" Katherine asked pleading for it to be true, Elena nodded "i never thought i'd see you again" Katherine whispered she was struggling to hold back her tears but her emotion was clear in her voice. "I know" said Elena struggling to her own emotions under control, Katherine face was filled with emotion but also a serious urgency was present, "Elena, i love you" she said cradling Elenas cheek in her hand "i need you to know that, those are the only word i've wanted to say since i you were taken from me". Elena leaned into Katherine's hand and left a light kiss on her palm, Feeling Elenas lips again sent waves through Katherines body, "I love you Katherine" Elena said holding Katherine tightly against her and kissed her.