CHAPTER TEN: the new deal

—(••÷[ ᏰᏒᎧᏖᏂᏋᏒ ᏗᏁᎴ ᏕᎥᏕᏖᏋᏒ ]÷••)—

JENSEN GILBERT HAD AN OVERWHELMING FEELING OF FEAR AND PARANOIA. He would go into his siblings rooms, making sure they were alive, checking for a pulse. And would call the others, sometimes fearing the most and driving down to their place to check on them.

A few times, this had caused him to be attacked. Caroline had immediately started to apologize frantically, while Jensen was asking if she was okay.

Bonnie had almost lit him on fire.

He sat in the Grill, next to Elena. Bonnie sat in front of the two.

"I feel like I'm going crazy. Totally paranoid all the time," Elena says.

"You have a right to be. Klaus is still out there and he knows you tried to kill him," Bonnie reasoned.

"Why hasn't he made a move? There has been no sign of him. Nothing. Just my slow spiral into insanity."

"Join the club. Every time I close my eyes, I have that nightmare. On repeat."

"The same dream?" Jensen asked.

"Yeah! Four coffins, Klaus is in one of them. It's weird," Bonnie frowned. "Are you okay?"

"What if it's not just some dream? What if it's like...you know...witch dream?" Elena questioned.

"It's just stress. I'll figure it out. Jensen, how are you?"

"Me? I'm fine," he says, despite the fact the he continued to look up and around his surroundings.

Elena frowned, reaching to place her hand over his, to try and comfort him, but he jumped. Jensen let out a breathe when seeing Elena. Elena slowly moved her hand, taking his hand in her's and beginning to smooth little patterns onto the back of his hand.

"And what about Stefan? Has there been any sign of him?" Bonnie questioned.

"He betrayed us Bonnie. The Stefan that we know is gone."

"He had to do it for some reason," Jensen says. "Klaus gave him his freedom but it had to be something added."

"How is Damon handling it?" Bonnie asked.

"Damon is...Damon."
—(••÷[ ᏰᏒᎧᏖᏂᏋᏒ ᏗᏁᎴ ᏕᎥᏕᏖᏋᏒ ]÷••)—

Apparently, Jeremy had been fired from the Grill. Both Jensen and Elena called him. He didn't answered either. "Jeremy, the minute that you get this call me!" Elena left the message, then hung up. "Unbelievable!"

"You are feisty when you are mad," Damon says.

"It's not that I'm mad. I'm just-I'm worried."

"But why? He lost his job at the Grill. He can survive, Elena."

"But, he's been like..." Jensen paused, searching for the word. "spiraling. Ever since Bonnie broke up with him, he is moody, he is not really talking to anyone."

Damon shrugged. "It's typical teenager."

"Who's seeing ghosts and has lost everyone that he cares about," Elena says.

"Not everyone. He still has you two," Damon shoots a dart. He goes to the dartboard and retrieves his darts.

"You okay?" Elena asked the dark-haired vampire.

"What makes you think I'm not okay?"

"Well, you're daydrunk. It's not exactly your most attractive look."

Damon hummed. "What is my most attractive look?" Damon moves closer towards her.

"Ah, ah- I'm not saying you have any attractive looks. I'm saying this is my least favorite one..."

"Especially, since you make dumb-ass, serial killer decisions when your this drunk," Jensen points out.

"Noted. See if I can make any improvements."

"Don't mind me," Klaus suddenly says, making the three turn around

"Klaus," Elena breaths out in surprise.

Damon steps in front of the twins "You gonna do this in the Grill? In front of everyone? It's a little beneath you, don't you think?"

"I don't know what you are talking about. I just came down to my local pub to grab a drink with a mate," Klaus turned back. "Get a round in, would you Tony?" Klaus smiles, seeing that Elena is shocked.

"I'm surprised you stuck around town long enough for happy hour," Damon says

"My sister seems to be missing. Need to sort that out."

"Cute blonde bombshell, psycho. Shouldn't be too hard to find."

"Truth is I've grown to rather like your little town. Think I might fancy a home here." Klaus took the darts out of Damon's hand. "Oh I imagine you're wondering how does this is affect you. The answer is: not in the slightest. As long as I get what I want and everyone behaves themselves you can go on living your little lives however you choose. You have my word."

Elena takes a step closer to Klaus. "What more could you possibly want?"

"Well for starters, you can tell me where I might find Stefan."

Damon stepped closer to Klaus, blocking the twins from him. "Stefan skipped town the second he saved your ass."

"Well you see that is a shame," Klaus throws a dart and gets a bulls-eye. "Your brother stole from me. I need him found so I can take back what's mine."

"That sounds like a Klaus and Stefan problem," Elena says.
"How is that our problem?" Jensen asked.

Klaus moves toward the twins, but Damon steps in between them. Klaus smirks. "Ha. Well this is me broadening the scope, sweetheart."
—(••÷[ ᏰᏒᎧᏖᏂᏋᏒ ᏗᏁᎴ ᏕᎥᏕᏖᏋᏒ ]÷••)—

They had gone back to the Gilbert residence, Jensen muttering threats and complains about the original hybrid. Elena was setting up the table as Jensen helped Alaric in chopping up peppers.

"So, you're ready?" Alaric questioned.

"Vampires, hybrids and originals," Elenan answered. "No problem. My rebellious brother. I'm worried."

"Proof that you're still human."

The front door opens. Jeremy enters the house,  and goes to the fridge.

"Just in time! We're cooking," Elena announced.

"Sorry, just passing through." Jeremy quickly says.

"Ah, well I thought we would all stay in, have a meal together like a typical, atypical family." Alaric spoke, seeing the look on the twin's faces.

"Why?"

"Maybe because you got fired and you didn't tell anyone," Jensen says, crossing his arms as he looks at Jeremy. He knew he had the 'disappointed face'. Two years ago Elena said that made her feel more embarrassed/ashamed than when their parents would do it.

Jeremy sighed. " look, can we do this later? I made plans with Tyler. He's right outside."

"Oh wait!" Alaric spoke. "When did you start hanging out with Tyler Lockwood?"

"I don't know...Does it matter?"

"Yeah, Jeremy! It matters." Elena brought her voice to a whisper. "He was sired by Klaus. He's dangerous."

"He can still hear you. He is right outside. Besides you of all people are gonna lecture me on who I can and can't hang out with?"

"We are just worried," Jensen speaks, going to explain the situation when Elena spoke up;

"What is with the attitude?"

"Yeah, whatever, this is lame. Tyler is waiting." He starts to leave, but Elena blocks his way.

"Oh, no no! You're not going anywhere, especially not with Tyler."

Jeremy looks at Alaric and Jesen for help.

"I'm with her on this, Jer. Sorry." Alaric tells him.

"He's our friend too. But, he can't- he's not in control of himself," Jensen says, trying to explain the reasoning and

"All right, fine. You want me to stay in? Let's all stay in then." Jeremy says, before he shouts out; "Yo, Tyler! Come on in!"

"Jeremy...!" Elena yelled

Tyler opens the door and comes in.
—(••÷[ ᏰᏒᎧᏖᏂᏋᏒ ᏗᏁᎴ ᏕᎥᏕᏖᏋᏒ ]÷••)—

Jeremy gives Tyler a glass of water.

"Thanks," Tyler thanks the human.

"This is weird. Klaus has hybrids stalking me and now you're just sitting in our kitchen," Elena muttered.

"Look, maybe I should go." Tyler says, hesitating.

"Oh, stay. You're not doing anything." Jeremy

"Unless you have to, you know, check in with your hybrid master," Elena speaks.

Tyler laughs. "It's not like that Elena."

Alaric sits down at the tea. "Tell me Tyler...What is the difference between being sired and being compelled?"

"Compulsion-that's just mind control-like hypnosis. And being sired is...it's like faith. You do something because you believe it's the right thing."

"So you believe that serving Klaus is the right thing?" Elena questioned.

"I don't serve him. Klaus released me from a curse that was ruining my life. I owe him for that."

"What if he asked you to jump off a bridge?" Alaric asked.

"He wouldn't! And even if he did I'd be fine. I'm a hybrid."

"But what if he asked to put yourself in another type of danger?" Jensen questioned. "One that
Could hurt you."

"He wouldn't."

"Okay, so what if he asked you to rip your own heart out?" Elena questioned.

"Again, he wouldn't," Tyler sighed.

"What if he did?"

"I don't know! Then I'd rip out my heart!"

Elena, Jeremy, and Alaric look taken aback. Jensen stares at Tyler, concerned.

Tyler scoffed, throwing his hands onto the air. "You guys sound like Caroline, getting all freaked out over something you don't understand."

"You're right Tyler I don't understand. Klaus has terrorized every single one of us and you're just blindly loyal to him," Elena says.

"You're over-thinking it. I can still make my own decisions."
—(••÷[ ᏰᏒᎧᏖᏂᏋᏒ ᏗᏁᎴ ᏕᎥᏕᏖᏋᏒ ]÷••)—

Jeremy had received a call, it being relatively quick. He had gone to the kitchen to answer it, and when be returned to the table Elena questioned him about it.  "What was that about?"

"It was nothing," Jeremy dismissed.

"I got to go. Umm, thanks for the food offer, but..." Tyler looks to his watch.

"Next time," Alaric offered.

Tyler points to him, standing up from his seat before he leaves.

Alaric stands up from his seat, heading towards the kitchen. "That was illuminating."

Elena followed him. "So, Tyler Lockwood is a lunatic who has access to our house."

"I mean this whole sire bond thing is...wild. I don't even think Tyler is fully aware of what little reason lies behind what he's saying. It's this weird cult logic."

"Yeah." Jensen agreed. "Jer, I get that you two are-" he started, turning around bug Jeremy is gone. "Jeremy?"

Jeremy's protection ring is lying in the middle of his plate on the table.

"That's his ring," Alaric realized.

Elena picks it up. "Where did he go?"

The three glance towards the living room, walking over into it as they begin to search the house for the younger one. Jensen opened the front door, looking confused for a moment when seeinh Jeremy. "Jeremy? What is he doing?"

Suddenly, a car comes whipping around the corner and speeds towards Jeremy. The three are immediately running. All three yelling his name as they race to him.

"Oh my god! Jeremy!!"
"Jeremy!!"
"Jeremy move!"

Alaric was the first one to reach Jeremy, Jensen only a few steps behind him. Alaric pushes Jeremy out of the way at the last second and is hit by the car instead.  Jensen yelled, running over to Alaeric's body. Elena runs over to Alaric's body as Jensenturns him over. The car pulls up next to them. Tony, the hybrid, is in the car. "There I go again. Bumping into people..."

Jensen glared at the hybrid. He was going to poison the hybrid with vervain and wolves-bane. Tony drives away. Elena checks Alaric's hand to make sure his ring was on. Jensen checked Dr Alaric's pulse. Jeremy gets up and runs over to them.

"He's gonna be alright. Are you all right?" Elena questioned her little brother.

"I don't understand," Jeremy answered, looking at Alaric's body.

"Who was that on the phone earlier?" Elena asked.

"It was Klaus!"

"You were compelled, Jeremy! We've gotta get him inside- help me!"

Jensen brings his arms under Alaric's arms, lifting him to stand. "Should he be standing?" Jensen asked. "Elena, Jeremy, grab his legs." he told his siblings
—(••÷[ ᏰᏒᎧᏖᏂᏋᏒ ᏗᏁᎴ ᏕᎥᏕᏖᏋᏒ ]÷••)—

Jensen, Elena, and Jeremy all waited in the living room; they had placed Alaric on the couch. Damon walked into the living room. "How is he?"

"He's dead, but he had his ring. Klaus's hybrid hit him. Now we just wait," Elena informed.

Damon turned to Jeremy. "Jeremy, why aren't you wearing vervain? Where is your bracelet?"

Jeremy looked down at his wrist. "I don't know."

Elena sighed. "It was Tyler! It had to have been. That's why he was hanging out with you. To get you off the vervain."

"We should probably start to drink it," Jensen points out. "I drink it, whenever I remember."

"Klaus is trying to send us a message. He wants us to find Stefan who stole his coffins full of his dead family members," Damon said.

"Coffins?"

"Yep! So all we have to do is find four coffins and voilà! No one else on your family's Christmas list needs to die!" Damon says, sarcastically.

Jeremy stands up. "Wait- that's your big plan? To steal back four dead originals so this evil hybrid doesn't kill me and everyone else we know?"

"You got a better idea?"

"Yeah! Let's get the hell outta here! Pack our bags and go!"

"I'm not even sure that would work. Katherine spent five hundred years running from Klaus," Jensen spoke.

"Hey, Jeremy, calm down." Elena says.

"No, no!! I'm not gonna calm down, Elena! This happens every time, no matter what we do! Get on my case about school and work...Who cares? None of us are gonna make it out of this town alive," He leaves.

"He said he wants his family back." Jensen spoke.

"No! No!!! I know what you're thinking. The answer is no!" Damon immediately tells the doppelganger.

"If we give him Rebekah..." Elena speaker.

"Yeah, then Klaus undaggers her, first thing she does is kill you! Frying pan, fire. Not an option!"

"Klaus's coffins...How many did you say they were?" Elena asked.

"So, we undagger Elijah," Jensen says at the same time.
—(••÷[ ᏰᏒᎧᏖᏂᏋᏒ ᏗᏁᎴ ᏕᎥᏕᏖᏋᏒ ]÷••)—

Elena has called Bonnie. Which she had given them the location go to the old which house.

"I thought Bonnie said this place lost all its mojo," Damom says.

"The dead witches were angry at her for bringing Jeremy back to life. I guess now they have something they want her to know," Elena explained

"I hate witches. So fickle...Passive-aggressive..."Damon says as they enter the house.

"Stefan?" Elena called out.

"Come on, Stef. Olly olly oxen free." Damon ends up walking into the light, his skin starts to burn. "Aaah. Ow. Ugh."  He rushes to a shadowy corner. "Really?! Still?!"

"Not that it isn't funny to watch you in pain," Jensen speaks. "-because trust me, it is-but what is wrong? Why are you burning?"

Damon glared at Jensen, giving him a sarcastic smile. "Witchy spirits aren't a big fan. And they use their juju to screw with my daylight ring!"

"Then wait outside," Elena told the vampire.

"Elena...!"

"I'm not leaving until I know if he's here."
She goes further into the house; Damon rushes out. "Stefan?"

"Stefan!" Jensen called out.

"Go away! You shouldn't be here Elena, Jensen," Stefam ordered.

"Stefan, I need your help. Bonnie said that you would be here," Elena told the vampire.

"Well, Bonnie sucks at keeping secrets."

"Listen, we need to give Klaus his family back." Jensen tells him.

"Oh, really? Is that what I need to do?"

"Klaus compelled Jeremy to stand in front of speeding car. Don't you get it? Stefan, he's not gonna stop until he gets what he wants," Elena explained.

"Elena, stop talking. I'm not giving Klaus anything."

"Are you insane?" Jensen snapped. "I don't give a damn about your pride. He's gonna kill Jeremy."

"Not really my problem."

Jensen reacted before Elena, who stared in shock. Jensen punched Stefan across the face. Elena the slapped Stefan. "And you can go to hell!"

The twins leave the house.

"That didn't go over well," Damon says.

"Don't even start, Damon!" Elena yelled.

"Let me talk to him!"

"You can't get in! The witches won't let you!"

"Here. Take my car keys. You go deal with your brother, I'll deal with mine." He gives the keys to Elena, and then rushes into the house.

Jensen glanced back and forth at the two. Jensen takes the keys from Elena's hands. "We need to talk."
—(••÷[ ᏰᏒᎧᏖᏂᏋᏒ ᏗᏁᎴ ᏕᎥᏕᏖᏋᏒ ]÷••)—

"Are you crazy?" Elena asked when Jensen had questioned her about what was going on between her and Damon. "Nothing."

"I'm your twin," Jensen tells her. "I know when your lying and there's something up with you."

Elena walked into the Gilbert residence, seeing Alaric had gotten up. Jensen dropped the conversation. "Ric, hey! When did you return to the living?"

"Oh just a few minutes ago." Alaric was hunched over slightly, rolling his shoulders. "How is Jeremy?"

"Hating me. Hating life." Elena informed. "Hating the fact that we can't even have a family dinner without somebody dying before dessert. Are you okay?"

Alaric coughs violently into his hand, and sees there's blood on it. "Something's wrong! The ring!" He collapses on the floor, moaning.

"Ric, hey." Jensen grabbed Alaric as Elena called an ambulance.
—(••÷[ ᏰᏒᎧᏖᏂᏋᏒ ᏗᏁᎴ ᏕᎥᏕᏖᏋᏒ ]÷••)—

Elena opens the front door, letting the paramedics in.

"What happened?" one of the paramedics asked, gesturing for Jensen to back up.

"He got hit by a car and...he's coughing up blood," Elena informed, panicked

"Get his vitals."
"Pulse pretty weak. Looks like internal bleeding. We gotta get him outta here."

"Let's move!"

"Let's not and say we did." a voice suddenly appeared from the porch, which caused everyone to turn. "Why don't you two meet us at the hospital?" Tony compled the paramedics.

"What?"
"No!"
The twins yelled.

The two paramedics start to leave. Elena shakes her head. "No, no, no, wait. No wait! You have to help him!! What are you doing?"

"You can still save his life, Elena. Here, take my blood," Tony raises and offers her his wrist. "I can't get in. You're gonna have to invite me."

"No. Why are you doing this?" Elena asked.

"Klaus asked for his family. You didn't deliver."

"Stefan has them!" Jensen yelled. "We can't force him give them back."

Ric starts coughing again. Both twins are immediately at his side. "Ric! Oh my god! I'm right here."

"He's gonna die. Might want to invite me in, Jensen, Elena."

Suddenly, Tony is hit in the back with an arrow and falls to the ground; Elena runs to the door and sees Jeremy with the crossbow. Jensen begins to lift up Alaric.

"Jeremy!" Elena says in shock.

"He's not dead yet." Jeremy enters the house and passes by Elena.

"Where are you going?" Elena asked.

He takes a meat cleaver and goes out of the house again.

"What are you doing?" Elena asked.

Jeremy cuts Tony's head off. Elena screamed, turning her head away. "Now he's dead." Jeremy pants out, he stands up. "We've gotta get Alaric to the hospital now." Jeremy drops the knife and goes back in the house.

Elena stands there in shock.
—(••÷[ ᏰᏒᎧᏖᏂᏋᏒ ᏗᏁᎴ ᏕᎥᏕᏖᏋᏒ ]÷••)—

They had managed to get Alaric to the hospital, Jensen having carried the teacher into the hospital. Jensen had wanted to be at the house when Elena gave Rebekah back to Klaus, but, stayed waiting with Jeremy for Alaric to wake up.

—(••÷[ ᏰᏒᎧᏖᏂᏋᏒ ᏗᏁᎴ ᏕᎥᏕᏖᏋᏒ ]÷••)—

The three males walk out of the hospital.

"So the ring brought you back to life, but it didn't heal you. Does that mean it's broken?" Jeremy questioned.

"I don't know. It's never happened like that before. I guess I have Damon's blood to thank for the fact that I'm still walking." Alaric replied.

"He said to say you owe him a drink."

"Of course he did." Jensen scoffed.

"That's funny. I'd rather have head trauma. Hey, Jeremy...you okay?" Alaric asked.

"Why wouldn't I be? I shot a hybrid in the back and chopped his head off with a meat cleaver. Typical Sunday, huh?"

"You can talk to me about this stuff. You know that, right?"

"Or me," Jensen offered.

"What could you tell me that I don't already know? This is the way things are. It sucks but...I just gotta get used to it," Jeremy then walks away.
—(••÷[ ᏰᏒᎧᏖᏂᏋᏒ ᏗᏁᎴ ᏕᎥᏕᏖᏋᏒ ]÷••)—

Jensen didn't like this. He hated the idea. But, he also thought that it was the only way to protect Jeremy.

He coolant be there when Damon compled Jeremy to leave.
—(••÷[ ᏰᏒᎧᏖᏂᏋᏒ ᏗᏁᎴ ᏕᎥᏕᏖᏋᏒ ]÷••)—

Jensen had spent the night helping Jeremy pack, and then the rest of the night, the two had spent watching movies.

—(••÷[ ᏰᏒᎧᏖᏂᏋᏒ ᏗᏁᎴ ᏕᎥᏕᏖᏋᏒ ]÷••)—

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