feel the noise } { of daggers and victory dances

[braveandstupid]

[Elena arrives in New York at Stefan’s front door and promptly cries her eyes out. But that’s okay because they have a plan in place to get Klaus out of their lives once and for all. As promised, she arrives at the place Klaus indicated, and waits patiently to try and find him.]

Klaus: [intercepts her in the lobby while Ben is upstairs with the Winchesters.] And you are looking as beautiful as ever, my dear.

Elena: [grits her teeth and straightens her shoulders] I got here. Let's not make me sick in the process.

Klaus: And yet, still lacking in refinement. Come, I have a car waiting.

Elena: I'm not going with you.

Klaus: Oh no, you are. You see, I have this. [he held up his phone, with Ben's number and a message already typed and ready to send, his finger hovering over the button] See, after we hung up and your precious prince was sleeping, I realized that I was giving you far too many days to plan something. So I added a few other helpful suggestions to his to-do list. If he sees this message, that gun he had stashed under his pillow will find a few familiar targets in that room. You wouldn't want him to suffer with the knowledge of killing his own father, would you?

Elena: [the emotions flicker in her eyes for only a moment, before she sets her jaw again] You can't keep doing this. You can't just keep using people for your own ends, and it's going to stop. Now.

Klaus: I agree. That is why I want you to meet my friend in Chinatown. He has a solution that we are going to test and see if with a DNA sample from you, if he can synthesize your blood and see if it will work on making a hybrid. If it does, you will never need worry that I will come haunting you for your blood again.

Elena: [she blinks, surprised for a moment, before shaking her head] No. No more hybrids. No more using my blood to turn people into slaves.

Klaus: [tilts his head, that smile still on his face] You do not have much choice in the matter, my dear. Unless you are willing to sacrifice the lives of your friends.

Elena: [she smiles, the edges of it a little manic, but it's a smile all the same] Actually, this time I do. [her eyes then dart to the column behind him] Stefan now!

Stefan: [and with that there's a vampire rushing forward to hold him in place, arms coming up under his arms and locking his fingers behind his neck] I've got him, do it.

Elena: [with that Elena draws the dagger, the one Stefan and Bonnie have been working on in secret with an iron blades and the same magic as the one's he's used on his siblings over and over again. she shifts it in her hand, gripping the hand tightly, before rushing forward to drive it into his chest]

Klaus: [ is staked. But not before he has had a second to send the text to Ben. The look of betrayal is evident on his face as he feels his body weakening and falling back into Stefan's arms]

Elena: [but the thing about daggering Originals is that it breaks compulsion! So even if the text is sent, Ben isn't shooting anyone. Elena on the other hand, watches as Klaus desiccates in Stefan's arms and there's a part of her that just sags in relief. She drops to her knees and start laughing, the relief evident on her face] We did it. We ... actually did it. [She then looks back at Stefan] Do you feel ... ?

Stefan: [he laughs a bit before shaking his head] Fine. I feel fine. [he tips his head to the side towards the elevator] Go. He's probably waiting for you.

Elena: [reaches across, hugging him tightly for a moment, before making a run for the elevator.]

Ben: [in the room, Ben had got the text and the compulsion had kicked in for all of five seconds before Klaus was daggered. It was enough time for him to pull the gun on Sam who had been closer and not suspecting it. The shot had just grazed his shoulder and then Ben's mind was clear again and he dropped the gun, moving to the opposite side of the room, scared of it]

Dean: [his gun was out on instinct because someone was shooting at his brother but when Ben drops the gun, he frowns] What the hell was that?

Ben: I don't know. I just... I swear I didn't mean to do it! Sam?

Sam: [is sitting on the floor, gripping his shoulder] Just a graze. Good thing you can't aim.

Dean: [runs a hand over his face before gesturing for Ben to give him the phone] Give me that.

Ben: [tosses it at him. There is a message from an unknown number that says YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO]

Dean: [grits his teeth] Bastard put another layer of compulsion in there.

Ben: [is in a corner, sliding down] I didn't mean to do it, Dean, I swear.

Dean: No, man, this isn't your fault. [he's about to continue when there's a knock on the door. He raises his gun, before moving to check the peephole. After a second his shoulders relax and he pulls the door open to see Elena standing there, a look of absolute glee on her face. She also looks like she's about to cry. There's a lot of complicated emotions going on here.]

Ben: Elena? [is scrambling to his feet]

Elena: [yeah she's running right for him and wrapping him in a tight hug] It's done. He's gone.

Ben: [hugs her tightly, burying his face into her neck]

Sam: He's dead? [holding his shoulder like it's nothing]

Elena: [she shakes her head a bit, not breaking the hug but talking over Ben's shoulder] Daggered. Bonnie managed to make one just like the ones he used on his siblings.

Sam: So you're now going to put him in a concrete coffin and drop him into the deepest ocean, right?

Elena: [pauses before shaking her head] No. We're giving him back to Elijah and Rebekah. Rebekah will make sure he stays daggered for at least a century enough for me to have a life and end the doppelganger line for good.

Sam: [blinks, because that means no kids for Elena. He knows that much and looks at Dean]

Ben: As long as you're safe, that's what matters.

Dean: [glances back at him and shrugs. It's not his choice.]

Elena: [had kind of made peace with the fact that she wouldn't have biological children a long time ago. Doesn't mean she can't adopt though. She pulls back as Ben speaks, enough so that she can look at him] Are you okay?

Ben: Kinda freaking out. I shot Sam.

Elena: [winces] Sorry. He must have managed to send the text before I daggered him.

Ben: What if he has more tricks in my head?

Elena: [she shakes her head] Once an Original is daggered, the compulsion breaks. You're free.

Ben: [nods slowly] Okay.

Elena: [looks up at him with a bright smile] We're both free. I still can't believe he's gone.

Sam: Why don't we leave you two and go.... somewhere?

Dean: [catches the drift and nods] Yeah, we should go stitch you up. You kids ... [waves hand]

Ben: I'm really sorry, Sam.

Sam: It wasn't you, Ben. Just remember that, okay?

Ben: [nods] Thanks, Dad.

Dean: [nods in agreement before he and Sam head back to their room]

Ben: [looks at Elena, and finally lets her see how freaked out all of this has made him] Elena, what the hell?

Elena: [her face softens a bit] I'm sorry, Ben. I'm so, so sorry, for all of this. But it's over now.

Ben: I could have killed Sam. I don't even know what he did to me! I don't remember any of it, and is that what any of the vampires can do to me?

Elena: [her face softens a bit as she nods] Yeah. That's what they do. That's why we had you on vervain.

Ben: He took it off. I couldn't even find it at all in the hotel room. Dean has me drinking this stuff in my coffee now.

Elena: Good. That's good. If it's in your bloodstream it'll make it harder for them to compel you and feed from you.

Ben: Good, because I don't want to ever go through this again.

Elena: You won't. [her hand comes up to brush against the side of his face gently] I won't let it happen again.

Ben: This means though that you can... not worry so much about us being together now?

Elena: [she nods, a smile probably brighter than he's ever seen it crossing her face] No more Klaus, no more looking over my shoulder, none of it. I'm free.

Ben: So even the press?

Elena: [gives a bit of a shrug] Anyone else who comes at me, I can take it.

Ben: Good... because I still need a date for tomorrow and if you're in town and don't have to go to school Monday... [ he doesn't want to be alone more, but he's trying not to show it]

Elena: [her brow furrows a bit, slightly thrown] Tomorrow?

Ben: Music awards. I'm up for two and performing.

Elena: [her eyes widen a bit at that because she wasn't quite expecting that jump] I ... I can stay, but I'm ... that wasn't quite what I was expecting when you said "press."

Ben: You don't have to talk to them. These are actually a lot calmer than the bastards on the street.

Elena: [her head ducks a bit] I don't even have anything to wear.

Ben: Elena, we're in New York and I'm rich. That isn't a problem.

Elena: [a little awkward about it] I ... you really want me to go to an award show?

Ben: Of course. Elena, if I could have you on tour with me, I'd be the happiest person ever

Elena: I'm just ... still riding my big win right now, I'm not sure I ... [a beat] Can I sleep on it?

Ben: [nods] Sure.

Elena: [it's a lot to go from avoiding the press to being the girl on his arm in one night. She smiles a bit and inches closer] Besides, I kind of liked being just yours.

Ben: Well, they will never take you from me. [he pulls her closer]

Elena: [grins as she slides her arms around his neck] Good.

Ben: Stay with me tonight?

Elena: There is nowhere else I want to be.

Ben: [pulls her close, just holding her and burying his head in her neck]

Elena: [leans into him, turning her head to the side and pressing a kiss against his temple. After all he's been through, she doesn't blame him for being upset.]

Ben: [he feels horrible being the weak one in this moment, but when he saw himself holding the gun and Sam bleeding] I could have killed him.

Elena: But you didn't. Sam's going to be fine.

Ben: But I could have. What if I had? What if the next time it's that Damon guy doing it to me?

Elena: Listen to me. Damon is not going to do this to you. Because you'll be on vervain, and he won't come near me again now that Klaus is gone.

Ben: [nods]

Elena: [she smiles a bit, running her fingers through his hair] It'll be just you and me.

Ben: I'm going to like that.

Elena: Good. [there's a beat as something occurs to her, and she pulls back a bit] But before it's just you and me, there's something I have to do. I just ... have to make a quick phone call.

Ben: Sure. I um... I’m going to just sit here while you do that.

Elena: [nods, and then gives him an apologetic smile] Can I borrow your phone? [because she ditched hers]

Ben: It's on the bed. Dean took it from me.

Elena: [turns and grabs it, dialing in Tyler's number as she moves to the other side of the room. It's not much privacy, but it's something, and he should know what happened too. He's the other person who was terrorized by Klaus as much as she was.]

Tyler: [is dealing with Jeremy and fixing up Ben's place when the phone rings. He looks at the caller ID] Hey Ben, you don't mind if your living room is a different color, right? Care is trying out her decorating skills on your house.

Elena: I will ask him about that later. [there's a beat] Hey.

Tyler: Elena? What are you... is Ben okay?

Elena: Yeah, he's fine. We're all okay. [there's a beat] Bonnie's plan, with the dagger. It worked.

Tyler: Seriously? It worked?

Elena: Yeah. He's gone.

Tyler: [and there was much rejoicing as he literally shouts across the house that Klaus is gone for good]

Elena: [laughs a bit as she leans back against the wall] I just ... thought you should know.

Tyler: Oh, you know I do. I just wish I coulda been there to help, and not playing nursemaid to your brother.

Jeremy: [in the background] hey!

Elena: [laughs more before shaking her head] Yeah, can I speak to that brother, actually?

Tyler: Sure. And I owe you drinks when I see you next time. [and he tosses the phone onto Jeremy's chest as he goes to grab Caroline and twirls her around a bit]

Caroline: [will happily go with him while Elena waits for Jeremy to come onto the line]

Jeremy: Hey, wassup?

Elena: Hey. How're you doing?

Jeremy: Well, I broke my arm and got a concussion. How about you?

Elena: I'm okay. Stefan helped so we manage to catch him by surprise fast enough so that no one got hurt.

Jeremy: Well, I'm glad it worked. Maybe we can all breathe easier. You sure Elijah and Rebekah are going to keep their words?

Elena: [she nods] I think they both need a break from him. This is the best way to do it. And he definitely owes Rebekah a couple centuries of dagger karma.

Jeremy: Good. Maybe I can relax a bit then.

Elena: Me too.

Jeremy: ..... Okay, tell Ben he may want to replace his kitchen counters from the sounds in the back room.

Elena: [a half-laugh] I'll let him know. I'll see you soon.

Jeremy: Yeah, see you soon.