feel the noise } { of compulsion and dark returns

[hasperkynipples]

[Although while Elena was a stealth ninja during her surprise birthday visit to see Ben, the evil paparazzi still managed to catch a picture of her that was good enough to put on the front page. Klaus didn’t care if she was Katherine or Elena, seizing the opportunity to try and grab her before things went bad. He tries to get to the airport but misses her plane and Jeremy is already scrambling to try and call his sister and do damage control.

It’s too late, though. Klaus gets a hold of Ben, and while on the phone with Elena, compels Ben to forget everything, and not let anything keep him from going to New York for these music awards that coming weekend, and if someone stops him or keeps him from it, to kill them. or else is he is not in NY by Sunday at midnight, to kill himself. And Elena needs to be at the same place - alone - before then.

Elena begs Klaus to let him go, says she’ll go to New Orleans right away if that’s what he wants, but he refuses, saying if she’s going to meet with him it needs to be in New York. Elena agrees, before high tailing it out of the very safe bunker that Buffy had taken her and Olivia to and going off the grid, save a text message of warning to Sam and Dean, saying they need to make sure Ben gets to New York.]

Sam: [text] What will happen if he doesn't go?

Elena: [texts back] Klaus compelled him to kill himself. Ditching my phone. [and that's the last they'll hear from her until later]

Sam: Dean... [he passes Dean the phone]

Ben: [tries to sneak a peek] Guys, what's going on?

Dean: [uses his elbow between the phone and Ben and when he sees what's on it, he nearly throws the phone against the wall] Guess we're going to New York.

Ben: Um... Why do I have a bad feeling about this?

Dean: Just do what you need to do with your managers. We need to call Buffy.

Ben: I have a concert tonight... and another one in Michigan Thursday...

Dean: Postpone the ones after that, then. Or reschedule.

Ben: Dean, the business doesn't work like that.

Dean: Well, we need to find some way to make it happen because apparently Klaus compelled you to kill yourself if you don't.

Ben: Well, I'm going to New York on Friday and plan to be there until Monday. I'm performing at the awards.

Dean: Then that should be within the window. We shouldn't have a problem.

Ben: [looks between Sam and Dean] Are you guys going to be with me until then?

Dean: I'm sure as hell not going anywhere until Elena tells us she has some kind of plan, which, if I'm judging by this text: she does, but she's not sharing.

Sam: [rubbing at his eyes] He's my ride. Sorry, kid, you're stuck with us.

Ben: [sighs and reaches for his phone] let me get you guys a room then.

Dean: [nods, exhaling slowly, before gesturing tipping his head towards another corner of the room and for Sam to follow him]

Sam: [puts a hand on Ben's shoulder and squeezes, then goes to follow Dean] What?

Dean: You know more about Buffy's operation than I do. Does she have any allies in New York at all?

Sam: [tries to think] I remember a name.... Flack. Not sure who or what the person is, but I think they were some cops who came onto a case once that teamed up with them.

Dean: Think Elena would go to him for help if she were in the wind?

Sam: When it comes to Klaus, from what I gather she doesn't want anyone interfering who could get hurt.

Dean: So maybe we shouldn't be thinking about Buffy's connections - we should be thinking about hers. [there's a beat] Call Jeremy. See if he knows of anyone that may be in New York that she might go to.

Sam: [goes to call Jeremy. They are going to talk for awhile since Klaus showed up there first and he and Tyler are recovering from trying to keep Klaus from tearing apart the house]

Caroline: [only instead of Jeremy answering Caroline picks up] Jeremy Gilbert's phone.

Sam: [blinks] Well, hello female not Jeremy.

Caroline: Sorry. Jeremy's ... passed out. This is Caroline, he asked me to watch his phone.

Sam: Is he okay?

Ben: [is watching Sam but standing up, concerned]

Caroline: Yeah, he's fine. He's just not a vampire or a hybrid so when a crazy psychopath Original goes charging through the house he usually needs a little recovery time. I can take messages, though.

Sam: Crap, Klaus was there. Caroline, this is Sam. I... work with Elena and Buffy.

Caroline: Oh! Buffy's boyfriend. Hi, I'm from Mystic Falls too.

Sam: [blushing just a bit.] Yeah, so you're one of Elena's friends. Um, I'm trying to figure out if Elena has any friends in New York she would lay low with…

Caroline: New York? [there's an awkward beat] Well ... Stefan is in New York. With Klaus's sister.

Sam: So she's going to a city that has a Salvatore and Klaus' sister in it. [he is giving Dean a look because what was their life lately]

Caroline: If it helps, Stefan is the good Salvatore and Rebekah hates Klaus as much as we do?

Sam: Okay, that's actually better. Are you on good terms with them?

Caroline: With Stefan, yeah. Rebekah ... is a little more touch and go?

Sam: Call and tell them what's going down. [puts his hand over the phone receiver] Ben, what hotel do you stay at in New York?

Ben: Um... [is looking in his phone] I'm at the New York Palace this time.

Caroline: I'm on it. If anything, Stefan might be where she's heading. It's like, the last place anyone would look for her right now.

Sam: Dean and I are going to be sticking with Ben so we will be in New York on Friday. Give Stefan my number and tell him to text me if Elena shows up there.

Caroline: Will do. Be careful.

Sam: You too. And Caroline? Thank you.

Caroline: It's what I'm here for.

Sam: [hangs up and walks back over] Well, looks like you're going to be starting a vervain diet, Ben.

Ben: I don't need a diet.

Dean: Yes, you do.

Ben: I'm not eating leather, guys.

Dean: It's not leather, it's an herb. We get it concentrated, you mix it in your coffee and you can barely taste it.

Ben: Oh. Well, in that case... [sighs and just puts his head in his hands] How bad is this going to suck?

Dean: Klaus owns New Orleans. Hunters won't even go in there anymore because they only come out in body bags. If he gets Elena there, then ... we may never see her again.

Ben: [his shoulders just sag] She just came out to celebrate my birthday with me, guys.

Dean: Hey, this isn't your fault. And it's not hers either. It just ... is what it is. But I don't think Elena intends to go down without a fight which means she probably has a plan.

Ben: I'll get you both plane tickets to New York with me on Friday from Michigan. Is Olivia okay?

Sam: Yeah, she's with Buffy. You can text her if you want. She's probably worrying herself sick. Of having Buffy teach her how to use a sword. One or the other. Maybe both.

Dean: Probably both.

Ben: And Jeremy was okay?

Sam: Yeah. Klaus went there first looking for her, thinking you two were living together. The house is still standing from what I gathered.

Ben: [nods, pacing a bit before he goes and just punches the wall hard]

Dean: [doesn't really blame him. he'd probably be doing the same right about now] He doesn't have her yet, okay? And we're not going to let him.

Ben: You don't even know what he did to me? How are you going to be able to help both of us?!

Dean: Look, we all got our jobs, alright? Our job is you. Buffy and Alaric are already handling Elena. Everything's going to be fine.

Ben: [slides to the floor against the wall, holding his head in his hands] What am I even going to tell my mom?

Dean: Let's hold off on that until it's over.

Sam: I'm going to go get us some coffee. I think there was a Starbucks in the lobby. You guys okay until I get back?

Dean: [nods] We'll be okay.

Sam: [heads out, pulling out his cell phone as he goes and speed dialing Buffy]

Buffy: [picks up on the second ring] Sam?

Sam: Tell me you have a magical solution for all of this...

Buffy: [she exhales slowly, closing her eyes as she leans back against the wall] I wish I did. Bonnie said she heard of a witch who knew how to break compulsion but she doesn't know where she is.

Sam: I talked to Caroline and she's going to call Stefan Salvatore and give him a heads up on what's going down. Hopefully he can find her before anyone else.

Buffy: If Elena's with Stefan she'll be safe. He's been on the wagon a while.

Sam: I... wasn't actually worried about that.

Buffy: ... Oh. Well. I'm assuming she has a plan? I'm going to let Stefan determine whether or not it's a smart one.

Sam: Elena texted me that Klaus has compelled Ben to kill himself if anyone prevents him from going to New York to meet them there. He obviously doesn't want to draw attention because he's planning this around Ben's schedule. [the bastard] So Dean and I are going to stick with him and head to New York. Didn't you have friends there? Flack or something?