05. The Killer

"Fae!" Brayden yelled, barging into the heretics room.

Fae, who was on her bed reading a book, rolled her eyes at Brayden's behavior, "Do you not have any manners?" she asked, "You're supposed to knock before you enter a lady's room".

"Where's the lady?" Brayden teased.

Fae sighed, "How Caroline tolerates you is beyond me" she said.

"The same way Stefan tolerates you" Brayden retorted, "Speaking of which, where is he?".

"Who?" Fae asked, her eyes glued to her book, making Brayden roll his eyes in annoyance, he then speeded over to Fae and snatched the book from Fae's hands, "Hey!" she complained.

"Your boyfriend isn't home" Brayden said, throwing Fae's book to the side while ignoring her complaining, "And he's not answering my calls, and he's not shacking it up with you, this wouldn't have been worrying if we didn't have hunter on the loose, but we do, so where is he?".

"I don't know" Fae replied, suddenly concerned, "This morning he received a call from someone and then he left saying he had something important to do".

"Whose call was it?" Brayden asked, wondering what his younger brother was up to.

"I have no idea" Fae admitted, "Before I could ask him any question, he left the room, telling me not to worry and that he'll see me soon".

"Hmm" Brayden said, he looked to the side table and grabbed Fae's phone.

"What are you doing with my phone?" Fae asked confused.

"Calling Stefan" Brayden replied, dialing his brother's number, "He always dodges me and Damon but he can't physically dodge your call".

Brayden and Fae looked at Fae's phone and waited for Stefan to pick up, but to their concern, he didn't answer.

"Stefan just dodged your call" Brayden said, "This could mean two things, one, he's mad at you, which isn't possible because he doesn't know how to that, which means my second theory is probably right that--".

"That something's gone wrong" Fae finished.

"Yeap" Brayden said, as both him and Fae exchanged worried looks.

***

While the groups was wondering where Stefan had gone to, all of them received a text from Jeremy's phone, only thing was it wasn't a text from Jeremy it was a text from Connor, informing everyone that he had hostages in the Grill and he wasn't going to let them go till the vampires surrendered themselves to him, which is why Damon, Brayden, Elena and Fae were currently at the Lockwood's mansion, talking about how to tackle this situation.

"So we each take a different entrance, hit him at the same time" Damon suggested.

"That's an horrible idea" Brayden said.

"Do you have a better one?" Damon challenged, just as Stefan entered the room.

"Stefan" Fae whispered, running over to the youngest Salvatore who immediately pulled her into a hug.

"About freaking time you showed up" an annoyed Brayden said.

"Where the hell have you been?" Damon asked.

"Coming up with a plan" Stefan informed.

"We have a plan" Damon retorted.

"A stupid plan" Brayden added.

"But nonetheless it's a plan" Damon said.

"My plan is better" Brayden said.

"Which is what?" Damon asked.

"To eat Connor for dinner" Brayden replied.

"That's not a plan we need to be careful, Connor has Jeremy and who knows how many hostages" Stefan said.

"Okay, so then I'll do a open heart surgery on him" Brayden said.

"Meaning he will rip his heart out" Damon clarified.

"Brayden's right" Elena said, "Connor's strong but he's not gonna be able to take all of us".

"I called in the hybrids to help too" Tyler informed.

"My magic is ready to kick Connor's ass" Fae said.

"My mom put squad cars blocking the streets, they're saying it's a faulty gas main" Caroline said, entering the room with Kaitlynn.

"We're ready to attack this son of a bitch" Kaitlynn informed, as she stood next to Damon, while Caroline went over to Brayden.

"Good, great" Damon said, "No cops, no witnesses, no reason to wait around".

"Alright, hold on, you're not all going" Stefan protested.

"He shot me like nine times" Tyler reminded, "If we're killing him, I want in".

"He's got Jeremy, I'm going" Elena stated.

"Listen, nobody's going anywhere until I figure out what we're walking into" Stefan snapped.

"Until you do what now?" Brayden asked, getting frustrated with Stefan's weird behavior, "First of all you disappear to god knows where and when you come back you decide you get to call the shots? Yeah not happening baby brother".

"Brayden, this guy is known for setting traps right, we'd be pretty dumb to walk into one especially if he has werewolf venom" Stefan tried to make the group understand.

"And how do you know that he does?" Fae asked, Stefan's behavior seeming off to her.

"He's had it before" Stefan reminded.

"Fine" an annoyed Damon said, "Fine, you wanna take some time to do recon? You get one hour".

"No more then a hour" Brayden told Stefan, as he and Damon walked out the room both worried that if they stayed any longer they would just snap Stefan's neck and go fight Connor on their own.

***

While the others went to the boarding house to wait for Stefan, Brayden decided to go to Alaric's apartment and grab some of his weapons and Elena volunteered to come with him, confusing everyone but they just assumed she it was because she was worried about her brother and didn't want to sit idle.

"Who's he talking to?" a confused Elena asked, looking out the window and seeing Stefan walk over to the Grill while on the phone with someone.

"Probably Fae" Brayden replied, going through one of Alaric's drawer and pulling out a familiar map.

"What is that?" Elena asked, walking over to Brayden as he laid the map down onto the table.

"The best chance we have on ambushing Connor" Brayden replied, "This is a map Alaric made of the underground tunnels that go through Mystic Falls".

"Like the ones in the Lockwood cellar" Elena realised.

Brayden nodded, he then took his phone out and dialed someone, "Where are you?" he asked, confusing Elena, as far as she knew no one else was supposed to be here other then her and Brayden.

"Right behind you".

Both Brayden and Elena turned, and immediately Elena frowned seeing Caroline standing there.

"You are so impatient, you know that?" Caroline told Brayden.

"I'm not impatient, I just don't like staying away from you" Brayden stated.

Caroline playfully rolled her eyes at her boyfriend, "Did you find the map?" she asked.

Brayden pointed towards the map on the table, "Found it".

"Caroline, what are you doing here?" a confused Elena asked.

"Brayden called me" Caroline informed.

"Why?" Elena asked.

"Because she is more useful then you" Brayden stated, making Elena look at him with a hurt expression, while Caroline lightly slapped his arm.

"Play nice" Caroline whispered.

"Impossible" Brayden whispered back, just as his phone started ringing, realising it was Stefan doing a three way call with him and Damon, Brayden picked up, "Talk".

"I could only make out the voices" Stefan informed.

"How many hostages?" Damon asked from his side.

"Three, but guys, it's Matt and April Young" Stefan replied.

"What?" Elena asked shocked.

Brayden sighed, "Why is it that trouble always seems to find those two idiots?" he asked.

"We have to do something to save them, and that to before Connor does something" Caroline said.

"I just need a little more time" Stefan said.

"Well, the clock's ticking, brother" Damon reminded.

"You know, I could do without the color commentary" Stefan snapped, hanging up on his brothers.

"Bray--".

"I've got it, don't worry" Brayden interrupted Damon, the twins not trusting Stefan to have this.

"Call me if you need back up" Damon said.

"I've got back up" Brayden said, glancing at Caroline, "I'll call you if I need extra back up".

"I'm going in these tunnels" Elena told Brayden, after he hung up on Damon.

"Not happening" Brayden said, grabbing Elena's hand and stopping her from walking away, "You're not going to save the hostages, you're going to get them killed".

"Brayden, I can offer to trade myself in exchange for the hostages" Elena suggested.

"Elena, that's a bad idea" Caroline said, "Even if he takes the deal, then you become the hostage, and if he figures you out, then you're dead".

"Don't treat me like I can't handle myself, Caroline" Elena snapped.

"Watch how you talk to her" Brayden warned, glaring at Elena.

Elena looked at Brayden, "Alaric trained me" she said.

"And?" Brayden asked, "That doesn't give you a license to take on a professional killer, Elena", Brayden speeded over to grab Alaric's crossbow from the bed, he then held it towards Elena, "See how easy it was for me to surprise you, if I was a hunter, you'd be dead".

Elena speeded over to Brayden, she shoved the crossbow from his hand and pushed him onto the bed, while straddling him she held the crossbow to his chest, "Head shot's no good, it has to be the heart, so now you're dead".

Brayden snatched the crossbow from Elena's hand and then shoved her on to the ground, he then stood up and looked towards Caroline, who was frowning at what she just saw, "I didn't do anything" he immediately defended.

Caroline looked at Brayden and gave him a small smile, "I know Brayden" she assured, "Believe it or not, for the first time, it's not your actions I'm worried about".

Caroline looked towards Elena, who stood up and was looking at Brayden, the look in her eyes was a look Caroline recognised, it was the same look she gave Brayden everytime she looked at him, it was the look of love, and that worried Caroline immensely.

***

"All right, Stefan's going to be here soon" Brayden told Elena and Caroline, "Soon this will be over".

"Will it?" Elena asked, "I mean, haven't we already been here before with Jeremy? Isn't this why we sent him to Denver?".

"Don't say we" Brayden said, "Don't involve me in that, I had nothing to do with you convincing Damon to compel Jeremy to leave, and trust me, if I knew what you were planning, I would have never let you".

"You'd rather Jeremy stay in a town where his life is always on the risk?" a shocked Elena asked.

"No, I'd rather Jeremy have free will and have the privilege to take his own decision without his annoying sister trying to act like his mother" Brayden snapped.

"I--", before Elena could defend herself, the apartment front door opened and Stefan walked in.

"Did you find the tunnel map?" Stefan asked Brayden.

"Found it" Brayden said, showing Stefan his phone, having taken a photo of the map, "It was where he kept all his weapons, anyways, let's go, we have a hunter to kill".

"Not yet" Stefan said, confusing everyone present, "Klaus is sending one of his men, he'll take the front, you and I can take the tunnels".

"We're seriously teaming up with Klaus now?" Brayden asked, hating this idea.

"Connor has werewolf venom, we need someone to draw his fire" Stefan replied, "The hybrids are immune, so they're our best bet".

"Why the hell are you so sure that Connor has werewolf venom?" Brayden asked, looking at his brother in suspicion, "And why the hell did you involve Klaus, Stefan?".

Stefan turned his back to Brayden and stealthily grabbed one of Alaric's vervain dart, "Stop being so paranoid, Brayden".

"I'll stop being paranoid when you start being honest" Brayden retorted, "Why the hell did you involve Klaus in all this? Please don't tell me he has compelled you again".

"I am telling you the truth, this is the best way to get everyone out" a frustrated Stefan snapped, turning and facing Brayden.

"Guys stop" Caroline said, "Right now is not the time for you guys to be fighting".

"Caroline's right, we're wasting time" Elena said.

"You know what Stefan, screw you and your plan, I'm gonna go and kill Connor myself" Brayden said, glaring at his brother, he walked past Stefan but before he could get out the door, Stefan stabbed him with vervain dart and after making sure no one saw him take his daylight ring off, Stefan placed Brayden on to the couch.

"Stefan!" Elena yelled, shocked at what Stefan had just did.

"Brayden!" Caroline yelled, running over to an now unconscious Brayden, she then glared at Stefan, "What the hell is wrong with you?!".

"Brayden had the right idea with the tunnels" Stefan said, ignoring Caroline's question and grabbing Brayden's phone, "But I'm not gonna go in there if I can't count on him to do it my way".

"If you can't count on him?" Elena asked, "You just vervained him".

"Because Brayden's instinct is to kill first, save people later, and I can't have him risk everyone's lives" Stefan defended.

"That's not true" Caroline snapped, "Brayden cares about people's lives, just because he doesn't show it, doesn't mean his heartless to let people die".

"I need you to trust me on this one Caroline" Stefan pleaded, "I know what I'm doing".

Caroline looked at Stefan, she saw nothing but a desperation for her to understand and trust her, she then sighed, "If you don't want Brayden to interfere in your plan, then go now, because once he wakes up, I won't be able to stop him from going after Connor".

Stefan gave Caroline a grateful nod and then speeded away, leaving behind Caroline and Elena to wait for Brayden to wake up, Caroline already knowing that once he wakes up, he was going to be extremely angry at his brother.

***

"Stefan, call me, there was an explosion at the Grill, I need to know what's happening" a panicked Elena said into her phone, leaving Stefan a voicemail.

Meanwhile, Caroline sat by an unconscious Brayden, who was finally waking up from the vervain.

"Ugh" Brayden groaned.

"Hey" Caroline whispered, as Brayden slowly opened his eyes, "How you feeling? Are you able to get up".

"I'm going to kill him" Brayden mumbled, slowly adjusting to being wake, "I'm going to kill Stefan", Brayden tried sitting up, but while doing so his hand ended up in the sunlight and to his, Elena and Caroline's shock, the sunlight burned him.

"He took your ring?" Elena asked shocked, as Caroline shut the blinds properly, making sure no sunlight was peeking in, "Why would he do that?".

"Because he isn't with us, he's with Klaus" Brayden snapped, as Caroline helped him sit.

"Klaus?" Caroline asked, confused as to why Stefan would work with Klaus.

"Add it up Caroline, him stalling us, getting the hybrids to work for him and then taking my ring" Brayden listed, "Stefan's either made a deal with Klaus, or that dickhead has compelled my brother".

"Then I need to get in there" Elena stated.

"Elena, wait" Caroline called, as Brayden slowly stood up, "You can't just go in there, that hunter is extremely dangerous".

"So am I, Caroline!" Elena yelled.

Brayden shook his head at the doppelganger's stupidity, he then looked at Caroline, "If she wants to die, then let her, she's not our problem".

"Brayden" Caroline warned.

"What?" Brayden asked, "I didn't say anything wrong Caroline, Elena is the one who is stupid enough to think she's going to be able to take Connor on, so I say we let her try it out and watch as she fails".

"I'm not going to fail" Elena defended, hurt that Brayden had no faith in her.

"Oh trust me, you're going to fail" Brayden said, "And it's going to be hilarious to watch".

Caroline looked between Elena and Brayden, "I'll go with Elena" she finally said.

"Absolutely not" Brayden said, immediately hating the idea.

"Brayden, you're right if we leave Elena by herself then she's going to get herself killed, but you've trained me, you've taught me how to protect myself, I can help her" Caroline said.

Brayden shook his head, "Nope" he said, "Not happening".

"I'm not backing down from this decision, Brayden" Caroline said, "So you might as well agree, because I'm going either way".

"Seriously?" a frustrated Brayden asked.

"Seriously" Caroline replied.

Brayden groaned in annoyance, he then glared at Elena, "If you screw up and Caroline get's hurt, you're dead" he said, before Elena could say anything Brayden looked back at Caroline, he stepped towards her and cupped her face in his hands, "Be smart" he instructed, "He might know you're a vampire, so just play it cool, get as close as you can without him knowing your intentions, and then kill him or capture him, the choice is yours, but I would personally prefer if you kill him".

Caroline nodded in understanding, she then placed her hands on Brayden's face and kissed him, "Be back soon" she whispered.

"Be safe" Brayden said.

"Always" Caroline said, and with that both Elena and Caroline walked out of Alaric's apartment, leaving Brayden behind to figure out a way to get out of this apartment without being burned to death.

***

"Good work, brother" Damon said, blocking Stefan's way as he tried to take Connor out of the tunnels.

"What are you doing here?" Stefan asked confused.

"I called him" Brayden said, walking next to Damon, while glaring at his younger brother, "Told him all about what you've been up to with Klaus and his hybrids".

"It's over guys, I have him" Stefan said, not wanting his brothers to end up killing Connor.

"Yeah, no it's not" Brayden snapped, "I literally punched through a basement of a boiler room, which then led into a septic tank before I finally got into these tunnels, so I'm not leaving until I killed that stupid hunter, I need something good to come out of this torture".

"I'm taking him with me" Stefan said.

"That's the thing you're not, I don't know what you're up to or what Klaus has over you but even if me and Bray have to go through you, we're gonna kill him" Damon stated.

Both Brayden and Damon took one step towards their brother and Connor, "Better back off" Stefan warned his brothers.

"And why's that?" Brayden challenged, "Because your bestie Klaus wants him alive?".

"This has nothing to do with Klaus, you two are just going to have to trust me on that" Stefan assured.

"Don't want to, don't have to, not gonna" Damon retorted, "Now give him to us, brother".

Realising his brothers aren't going to stop till Connor's dead, Stefan turned to the hunter, "Run as fast as you can" he said, pushing Connor in the opposite direction of the twins.

Brayden tried to speed after Connor, but Stefan grabbed him by his collars and slammed him against the rock walls, "You're not gonna kill him" Stefan snapped.

Brayden punched Stefan over to Damon who then kicked him and held him against the wall, "Why are you protecting him?!" Damon asked, "Tell us", when Stefan stayed quiet, Damon shoved his hand into his chest, "Tell us!".

"Klaus will kill anyone who knows" Stefan snapped.

"So it's something juicy" Brayden realised, "Spill it Stefan or god so help me".

"Spill it!" Damon yelled.

"Connor's tattoo is the key to the cure" Stefan finally revealed.

"The cure for what exactly?" a confused Brayden asked.

"A cure for vampirism" Stefan informed.

"Klaus told you there's a cure for vampirism?" a shocked Damon asked.

"Yeah" Stefan replied, "And if Connor dies, then we'll lose it forever, I know it's crazy, but it's hope for her".

"For who?" Brayden asked confused.

"For Fae" Stefan replied.

"You want the cure for Fae?" Brayden asked.

Stefan nodded, "She might not say it out loud but she hates being a vampire, and after everything she's done for me, for us, this is something I want to do for her".

After Stefan's revelation, Damon finally pulled his hand out of Stefan's chest, he then exchanged a look with his twin, both brothers not knowing how to feel about this cure for vampirisim, it was obvious to everyone that Damon and Brayden loved everything about being a vampire, they would never turn back into humans but the thing that scared them was what if Kaitlynn and Caroline wanted to turn human? What were they supposed to do then?

***

While Damon and Brayden were trying to make sense of what Stefan told them, Brayden received a call from Caroline, who told her that Elena had killed Connor.

The three Salvatore brothers left the tunnels and walked into the woods to see Elena digging up a grave for Connor, Caroline was trying to stop her and was offering her help but Elena refused, saying she killed Connor and she was the one who needed to bury him.

"Elena" Stefan called, startling the already panicked doppelganger.

"I need to bury him, I killed him" Elena cried, continuing digging Connor's grave, "I should--I should bury him".

Stefan looked towards his brothers, both of them shrugged, letting Stefan know they had no idea what to do, Stefan sighed and took small step towards a sobbing Elena, "Hey" he whispered, trying to take the shovel off of her, "Hey, come on--".

"Don't!" Elena yelled, shoving Stefan away from him, "Me and Caroline heard you talking to him", Brayden looked towards Caroline, who nodded at him, letting him know it was true, "Making some secret deal with Klaus? You said you were gonna protect Jeremy", Elena pointed towards Connor's dead body, "Keep me from this, you said that I could trust you, Stefan", Elena then looked towards Brayden, "I trusted you, Brayden! But none of you helped me".

Caroline looked at Brayden, who looked like he was ready to burst, she shook her head, telling Brayden not to be mean, this was not the time.

Brayden sighed, he looked between Caroline and Elena, he then stepped towards Elena, "Look Elena, it's not as it seems, things have gotten really complicated".

"No, it's not complicated, Brayden" Elena snapped, making Brayden clench his fingers into a fist, Caroline seeing this, subtly stood behind him and without anyone noticing, laced her fingers with his, immediately getting rid of Brayden's frustration, "You wanna know why? Because he's dead now, you told me to kill him, so I did".

"Okay technically I said you have two options, but I preferred you killed him" Brayden defended, making his brothers and Caroline shake their heads at him.

"I killed someone, Brayden!" Elena yelled, "I killed some--.

The brothers and Caroline watched as Elena suddenly started sobbing loudly, neither of them knew what to do to help her, they didn't know if they could help the doppelganger.

***

"Remind me again, why I was the one who dropped Elena off and not you two?" an annoyed Brayden asked, entering Stefan's room where both his brothers were.

"Because she was clinging on to you like if you didn't drop her off then she would die" Damon replied.

"And that would be so bad because?" Brayden asked.

"Brayden, don't be mean to her today" Stefan warned.

"Hey, I reeled in all my frustrations because of Caroline, but she's no longer here which means I can't keep it in anymore" Brayden snapped.

"Someone please call blondie" Damon mumbled, shaking his head at his twin's antics.

"I mean how can she blame all this on me and Stefan?" Brayden asked, pacing back and forth while his brothers sat on Stefan's bed and watched him, "And she said she trusts me?! What I help her once and suddenly we're besties?! I'd rather rip my heart out".

"Are you done?" Stefan asked.

"No" Brayden replied.

"You figure out how to tell Klaus you lost a hunter and a hybrid?" Damon asked Stefan, before Brayden could start his rant again.

"He's on a plane, which means I get to live for another six hours" Stefan replied, both the brothers ignoring Brayden's glare.

"Oh that's great, let's talk about that asshole instead of listening to my sorrows?!" Brayden snapped, grabbing Stefan's bottle of bourbon and pouring himself a drink and downing it in one go.

Damon once again ignored Brayden's dramatics, "I got your back when you know he comes to murder you" he told Stefan, "And once Brayden gets his Elena hatred out of his system, he will also help keep Klaus away".

"Thanks" Stefan said, "And thanks for not saying anything to the girls".

"About what?" Damon asked, "A cure that we don't have, can't find and probably doesn't exist? You're welcome".

"I don't know about Kaitlynn or Caroline, but Fae doesn't need to know that her one chance of being human is gone" Stefan said.

"A rumored chance" Brayden corrected.

"I believe him guys, you two didn't hear Klaus's story" Stefan said, "I believe every word he said".

"Well, me and Bray will remain skeptic for now" Damon retorted, Brayden nodded.

"So Stefan, what's your next move in getting something for your lady love that probably doesn't exist?" Brayden asked.

"Well, he said there was a Brotherhood of the Five, which means there are other hunters out there" Stefan informed, "And I'm just gonna keep looking until I find one".

"Sure, Stefan, since you asked we'd be happy to go on a suicide mission with you for a potentially non-existent cure, no problem" Damon said.

"Why do you always drag me into your things?" Brayden asked Damon, he then turned to Stefan, "But he is right".

Stefan chuckled, "Yet, a couple hours ago both of you were ready to rip my heart out".

"Because you were bring a pain in the ass" Damon defended.

"Let me ask you something" Brayden told Damon, "What happens if we find the cure and Kaitlynn decides to be human?".

Damon looked at Brayden, "What happens if Caroline decides to be human?".

Brayden sighed, "I'd love her either way".

"But would you turn human for her?" Stefan asked, "I would for Fae, but would you two for Caroline and Kaitlynn?".

Brayden and Damon looked at Stefan then at each other, neither of them knew the answer to this question, this wasn't about being human, this was now about if they loved their girls enough to give up something they've love and been over a century.

***

Presenting 4x05 of They Don't Know About Us!

How was the chapter?

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