because the lives of the wicked should be made brief

[somanyadjectives]

Comments

[cholesterol]

( Sam's right. There's no perfect way to rip this bandaid off or to transition to the topic at hand.

His voice goes cold, all jeer from the edges of his eyes melting away, face going pale. )

When?

[imnot_likeyou]

Ten minutes ago? Maybe twenty? She managed to warn us, but they had David with them and he had a door so they could be anywhere by now. I already called Cas, but he couldn't sense her so wherever they are, it's likely warded for angels.

[He sets his jaw, sifting to try and find some good news in all of this.]

Odds are they're not going to make their big move until the solstice, so we have time to find her. And ... I may have an idea of who to ask.

[It's just ... probably going to suck.]

[cholesterol]

David. ( Dean thought the project on the board was to wipe out their literal-rentals. ) Well, spit it out, Sam.

( He's already doing math in his head. He can be back there by the morning. He did this drive once. His eyes fall on Ben, the son he promised not to let down again. And here he is. Feeling like he's going to pull the rug out from him. Maybe his mom can stay longer. He doesn't want her in this crossfire. )

[imnot_likeyou]

[The silence stretches because he doesn't want to say it, but he's also doing the math of their supposed allies on the board. Ezra's gone, who knows where Rusty is - he's probably compromised too. This option isn't any more trustworthy but at least she's beholden in some respects to Bonnie Bennett.]

Bela.

[And he'll just let that sit there for however long Dean needs to process it.]

[cholesterol]

( His eyes narrow. Nostrils flair. He brings the phone down and makes a frustrated, grunting gutteral noise in his throat that most likely gets at least his mother's attention as he turns away so that he's not facing them anymore. )

And why is Bela our only option.

[imnot_likeyou]

Because she does business with the Colony. She probably knows where their headquarters is. Ezra is gone, Rusty is in the wind and even then he might not know where to go.

[And this is the kicker, the why she maybe can be trusted with this particular project.]

And she's supposed to be helping Bonnie and Bonnie would want her to help Elena. Hell, maybe even Elijah will want to help Elena. I don't want to call her either, but she might be the best option we've got.

[cholesterol]

I'll call you back.

( He hangs up with another grunt, turns and fights the urge to kick the small waist basket over.

Collecting himself, barely, he makes his way back over to Ben and his mom. )

That was Sam, business we're involved in -- involved Elena. And, I have to go. Can your mom or -- Dick pick you up?

( It's abrupt, and he -- hates this, his fucking heart is breaking inside, but, he can't be here when she's there and Bela will be involved. To his mom: )

You should stay. I don't know how bad this is gonna get and I need someone on the outside.

[acdc_rules]

["I'll take Ben back to the house. Keep an eye on things."

Do a quick sweep for hex bags, just to be on the safe side. Ben and Lisa don't seem the type to let a lot of strangers into their homes but you never know.

Ben's been wanting for the excuse Dean would need to leave, but he didn't expect this. Mary seems to be taking this fairly seriously, and she knows more than he does - and he will be pressing her for information later - but Ben does like Elena so he can't help but be a little concerned.]

Is Elena okay?

[cholesterol]

( He gestures for Ben to follow him, phone in his other hand. He walks them a few feet away from the table. He rubs at his jaw and lets out a shaky breath. He lets Ben step out in front of him and then does his best. Cause this hurts. )

I can't say nothing was gonna drag me away from you ( except for Wild Horses, probably a lost reference on his son ) because, as always, ( he can't have nice things. ) nothing I say sticks. I swear if it was anything else, I have people that can handle these things. But -- Elena's mixed up in this witch crusade and those witches took her. From her work. That was Sam. So, I gotta go. But, Ben. I'm coming back.

( He hastens to add. )

It's not good. And, if this were some run of the mill freaking case, I don't know what I would do, but we've spent months on this. ( And maybe they brought this on themselves. And Ben thinks so, too. ) Mom'll take good care of you. But, ( He points to Ben. ) you make sure she buys the buy. Promise me. She's the best shot around and spry for a former corpse, but she cooks for shit.

[acdc_rules]

[Ben doesn't comment one way or another on whether or not Dean is coming back. He's not the little kid anymore who needs to hear it, and honestly whether or not he comes back - or at least keeps in touch - is going to be the test in and of itself.

He does like Elena though and he does want her to be safe. And Dean is really good at coming for people who need him, so he's not going to ask him to stop now.]

I think we'll manage. Rudy can tag in, worse comes to worse.

[He shifts uncomfortably.]

Be safe, okay?

fucking. buys the "pie," was the line before

[cholesterol]

( Of course Rudy can cook.

He can't leave it like this, though. It's him and when push shoves to shit, he pulls people in close and holds them like life depends on it. So, Ben may not love it, but, one hand brings him nearer as Dean throws his arm still holding his phone around him. He just needs the minute. )

[acdc_rules]

[It's uncomfortable, at first, but Ben doesn't fight him. Eventually, he'll reach up and clap him gently on the back. He holds it for as long as he can stand before pulling back.

It'll get easier, but it's only been a few weeks and it still feels a little weird. But he's trying.]

Don't drive too crazy.

[cholesterol]

( Maybe he remembers his dad's life or death. He doesn't do in between. )

Yeah, I'll try. Look after mom. She likes you.

( And, because there's nothing else he can say, he retreats, heading further away from the tables, back to the parking lot. He slams his Baby's door behind him before dialing Sam's number again and starting the ignition. )

[imnot_likeyou]

[Sam is back at the bunker at this point, where Buffy and Stefan have arrived and been filled in, and they were in the process of breaking the news to the rest of the Gilberts.

They're not taking it well.

But when Dean calls, he steps away to answer.]

Yeah?

[cholesterol]

I'm on my way back.

( It'll be hours. )

Mom's staying with Ben, Bobby might have to get her a flight. ( Or, Lisa will make up the guest room. She's nice like that. He sighs. ) So, Bela.

[imnot_likeyou]

Do you want me to make the call?

[She may gloat significantly less if it's Sam. Or she at least won't waste time trying to antagonize him to death.]

[cholesterol]

No. ( He speeds out of the parking lot. ) It's Elena, Sam. Let me. I'm gonna have to one of these days right? Six degrees of my girlfriend? ( Elena - Bonnie - Bela. ) It'll take me all night to get back, but rally everyone for a morning briefing.

( And maybe Bela. )

I'll call you back. Try to -- ( Fuck. ) Her parents know? And Jeremy? ( A beat. ) Weren't Stefan and Buffy getting there tonight? Another full house?

[imnot_likeyou]

Yeah, they had just arrived when we got back, and they're in to help. We just have to know where to go.

[So the sooner they get that info from Bela, the better.]

Drive safe. And don't let her get the better of you.

[Because even when she's being helpful, Bela is an asshole.]

[cholesterol]

( He ends the call, gives himself a stubborn minute as he weighs the zero options they have with all the witches all the board. It takes him another minute, because he saved her in his phone under an unkind name "Traitorous Bitch," and he reminds himself what that unkind name is.

A long, suffering, guttural sigh and he's connecting the call betweent hem. )

[enjoythe_ride]

[Bela, Elijah and Rusty are having dinner at the Abattoir when her phone rings. Normally she doesn't answer business calls over dinner, but things are winding down, the men retreating for drinks so she gathers her wine glass as she places her phone to the ear.

The unknown number isn't out of the ordinary in terms of referrals, so she doesn't think anything of it as she answers.]

Hello?

[cholesterol]

The Colony took Elena. We need to know where and how long we have.

( He treats it like business, choosing not to swipe, snipe, or insult. It won't help Elena and she's the priority. Getting her back. He and Bela can do that another time. But, this can't wait. )

[enjoythe_ride]

[Any witty retort is swallowed in the face of what he actually says, because she doesn't know enough but she knows any spell that deals with the doppelganger is bad. She shifts Dean to speaker, and calls out after her dinner guest.]

Rusty! They took the doppelganger.

[And while they're waiting for Rusty to join the call:]

I'm going to guess they're aiming for the solstice, so I'll say you have roughly ... eighteen hours east coast time. Where are you?

[cholesterol]

Tearing out of Battle Creek, Michigan.

( Leaving behind a part of his heart and he doesn't even know if he's allowed to think like that. But, he fucking cares. He'll get back to Ben. He'll get Elena and get back to Ben. ) Sam and everyone else are -- ( Fuck, can he trust her. ) They're together in Kansas.

[enjoythe_ride]

Don't go back to Sam.

[She keeps barreling forward before he can interrupt her and accuse her of trying to lessen his numbers:]

You'd just be wasting time - you need to go to Baltimore. I'll send you and Sam both the address.

[Rusty joins them in the room, and before Bela can issue any order in his direction. "Are you sure it's the Inner Circle that took her? A lot of people could have use for a doppelganger."]

[cholesterol]

Sam's sure. Is this Rusty?

( When he gets off the phone, he'll tell Sam to get things in gear. )