everyonelives | hey it's good to be back home again

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hey it's good to be back home again

[It's been a while since Stefan has been back in Mystic Falls, but he wasn't going to miss the twins graduation. He knew that coming home was going to be complicated. He was bringing his girlfriend to meet people. He was bracing himself for Damon's judgement about him dating a vampire slayer the entire ride from the airport.

What he hadn't expected, was getting ambushed at a gas station while filling up his car by a hunter.

According to Damon, there haven't been hunters in Mystic Falls in years. They knew that the school would be a beacon, but they also took precautions for that to protect the kids. Most hunters understood that they were trying to reduce deaths, rather than concentrate them. This isn't to say that Mystic Falls is perfect, but they're doing better than they used to.

Stefan doesn't kill him. He's caught off guard enough that he doesn't immediately go for the kill, and Buffy catches the hunter off guard enough that the guy decides to retreat and regroup rather than push his luck against a slayer and a vampire. This isn't, unfortunately, before he manages to plug Stefan with a few wooden bullets. And those hurt like a mother.]

Gotta love coming home.

[He groans as he sinks back against the car, trying to keep an eye on their surroundings, before glancing down at the bleeding holes in his shirt.]

I liked this shirt.

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( A name he hardly likes hearing. A face he barely sees except for on parents weekends. There was the one and only time he and Hayley took Hope to the grill. He was on his best behavior. Still treated Damon like the other Salvatore.

Followed Damon into the kitchen. There was stabbing. (Damon got stabbed. His mouth always gets him in trouble.)

But, his kid's still there. And Ric's girls. )

I'm conferencing in Stefan, stay on the line.

( He walks back in and tells the day manager he's taking off early. Call if there are emergencies and the only emergency that counts is the building being on fire. And even then.

He knows Stefan and Buffy must be sitting down with Ric, Jo, and the girls. If not on their way over there. He calls anyway. )

[They are, in fact, about to sit down to dinner. As the rest of the party moves ahead of them, Stefan hangs back to answer the phone.]

Is something on fire?

[He's assuming it's some kind of emergency.]

Not yet, brother. Elena's on the line. Tell him what you told me.

( And then Stefan and Elena and him can decide on who to tell what.

Buffy chats with Jo, taking their wine glasses with them to the table. She does look back to see Stefan on the phone, but she stays at the table. )

["I got some information while I was looking into what happened with you. Apparently there's an army of hunters getting ready to descend on Mystic Falls. We think they might be going for the school."

Stefan's eyebrows go up, before he raises a hand to get Ric's attention and gestures for him to come over, away from the girls.]

Hold on, let me get Ric.

Keep the girls out of it. No reason to ruin their big days. Yet.

( Alaric makes a face, excuses himself and joins Stefan.

"Stefan?" )

Put us on speaker.

[They step outside of the restaurant, and Stefan does as requested.]

Damon and Elena think that hunters are going to come after the school.

[To catch Ric up with the rest of the group.]

A hunter tried to get the drop on me last night on my way here. They think he might be part of it.

[The canary in the proverbial coal mine.]

( Immediately, Ric's suspicions go up, looking from Stefan to the phone.

"And you think they're targeting the Salvatore school?" )

Elena thinks. I'm still playing catch up. You found all this out at the gas station?

["I had some help." Elena sounds reticient to share all the details, but she knows she has to. "I happened to run into some old friends, and they gave me a heads up that there's this army of hunters, radicalized by this woman named Tamara Monroe. They've been trying to shut down cells, but their information says they're looking to converge on Mystic Falls. With graduation coming up, it seems like it's the only thing that makes sense."

Stefan tips his head back before nodding.]

It would explain why what happened to me was such an attack of opportunity. He wasn't expecting to find me, but he took the chance when he did.

Yeah, a fat one.

( It's a dumb hunter's move. )

Sounds like the organized hunters have one bad apple. Tipped us off.

( Alaric again glances to Stefan and then back to the restaurant. Through the doors he sees his girls laughing with Buffy and Jo.

"What happened to him? After he tried to get the jump on Stefan." And to Stefan. "Was Buffy with you?" )

Buffy was. She fended him off and he took off. Elena was going to see what she could find at the gas station.

["I tried to get a look at where he went or a license plate, but the cameras didn't have a good angle." There's the sound of her pulling over, so she can focus more on the conversation than driving. "I can go back and see if there's a better angle at one of the other stores?"]

Maybe from that, you could get the license plate. Do you need me to meet you?

( Alaric just waits for an answer from Elena or Stefan. But, something occurs to him.

"What do we do about graduation." )

[Elena weighs her options and realizes that Dean and Sam might still be there and she probably shouldn't bring another vampire to a hunter fight. "No, I've got it. I'll let you know what I find."

Stefan glances over to Ric and shrugs.]

I think having a graduation loaded with supernatural creatures is a prime target. But cancelling might tip them off that we know.

( "What about moving it. If they're planning anything the school might already be compromised. Here I thought all we'd have to worry about were formerly fictional monsters."

Alaric sighs, Damon pouts - luckily, nobody can see Damon pouting. )

Elena, anything goes wrong, anything. You call us in.

( He's also graduated - to letting Elena make her own adult decisions. )

["I'll be okay, Damon." And that's not a protest so much as a reminder that she's a big girl and she can take care of herself. Also she semi-trusts Sam and Dean.]

If we do move it, let's keep it quiet. We don't want the hunters to get word of it.

( "I'll call Caroline. See what our options are. Elena, be careful." She'll always be family to him, even if he has a family of his own.

Damon, now out the door with his jacket. )

So, I'm not needed anywhere, then.

( He's not waiting for a response, though. )

I'll be at the Grill. See if any new faces come through. Not like there's a graduation going on right outside of town.

( And CLICK. )

[Elena and Stefan say their goodbyes, and she turns around and heads back to the strip. As she pulls into the parking lot in front of the mechanic, she sees two familiar men coming out the front door. She stops, making eye contact with the two of them before waving. Again.

Hi, boys.]

( Dean just looks at Sam. Look who's back. They make their way over to her driver's side door. Dean leans against the top, bending down. )

Quick turnaround.

We had more questions.

[She looks over to the mechanic's storefront, before back to Dean again.]

Did you find anything?

Make, model, and license plate. If we tell you we have this handled, you're not going to just turn back around and go back to Mystic Falls, are you?

( Gotta try. These are dangerous people. )

[She shakes her head.]

My nieces go to that school. I'm not going back until I know more.

[She's not going to let anything happen to Lizzie and Josie.]

Plus, the Original Hybrid is kind of on his way here, and I'd rather not having him contributing to the mess if I can help it.

[If she has to deploy Klaus, she'd rather it be in a controlled, productive direction.]

( He just -- blankly looks at Sam. )

Whatever walking Prius is on his way here, agree that we need to keep this locked down.

We should find a place we can let Sammy here plug in and do his hackery. In the meantime, you and me. We should probably catch up.

( He looks back to Sam. )

Elena and me will meet you when you crack the VIN.

[Sam nods, before holding out his hands for the keys. He's assuming you're getting in that chic little car and going with Elena.

Elena nods as she unlocks the doors.]

Yeah, sure. I saw a diner not too far from here.

Go easy on the brakes. And watch for bike messengers.

( But, Sam gets his hot little hands on the keys to Baby. He gets a very, very stern warning look before Dean heads around to the other side and gets into Elena's car. )

[Sam pulls off one way and Dean and Elena go the other, pulling back onto the highway and heading towards the diner that she had passed a few minutes earlier.

She swallows, her fingers gripping the wheel and does her best to keep her eyes on the road.]

So. What'd you want to catch up on?

Our twenty year gap. The Ripper of Monterey. Katherine Pierce.

( Take your pick. )

I am sorry about your parents. I heard what happened.

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