SEASON ONE — EPISODE SEVENTEEN
"𝙛𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙚𝙨"

‧˚꒰🍷꒱༘‧—

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'✦ ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹ BROOKE STOOD BEHIND A TREE, a wooden stake tucked in the hidden pocket inside of her jacket and a tranquilliser filled with vervain pushed into the back pocket of her jeans. She watched from afar as Alaric knocked on the front door of the house filled with vampires, just waiting for her signal.

Luckily, she'd found the unlocked back door which led to the basement, and she could only hope and pray Stefan was down there. The front door opened and the man from the other night answered, only causing her stomach to turn with anxiety.

Then, Alaric disappeared into the house and that was when she knew it was time. She slipped through the gap in the trees with ease and made her way through the pouring rain, her hair becoming completely drenched after the space of a second. Her footsteps were light, she was the best person for the job and Damon could never argue with that fact.

Brooke climbed over the railing to the backyard's porch and, using her talents of agility, thanks to cheerleading, she managed to slip down into the cellar without a trace and without being seen. There was a gate at the bottom of the stairwell and she slowly opened it, wincing when it made the slightest squeak.

She managed to make it through to a wooden door with a foggy window, to which she looked through seeing nothing but a concrete floor. Her eyes scanned her surroundings as she twisted the doorknob with expectations it would be locked — which it was.

And just a moment later, her foot connected with the door and it flew open with only the tiniest hint of sound. She sped down the hallways until she heard the faint sound of heavy metal music, supposedly playing from headphones and when she peaked her head around the corner, her green eyes landed on a vampire sat, typing on a phone. His head was bopping and she knew he couldn't hear a thing with such loud music blasting into her ears.

Her eyes scanned her surroundings for the second time, supposedly thinking up what to do when the man's head snapped in her direction... He'd seen her, and she was clearly terrified. She gasped, hiding behind the wall again in hopes he'd convince himself he was imagining things until the sound of scuffed shoes were heard, and she knew he was coming towards her.

Quickly, but not so smartly, she lifted her hands in the air and turned, appearing from behind the corner. She was surrendering, not literally but convincingly enough for the stupid vampire to fall for it. She smiled just a little, her eyes widening, "I'm sorry, I was just looking for my aunt, she lives here but a random man answered the door. So, I came around the back." She explained, putting on a higher—pitched voice and when his hardened gaze softened, she knew he'd fallen for her trick.

"Your aunt?" He asked, raising a brow as he took a step forwards, his eyes trailing up and down her body subconsciously, causing a lump to form in her throat. But, nonetheless, she nodded, her smile widening.

"Yep! I usually come over on Saturdays to bake cookies with her, but I have no idea what's going on." She pretended to be confused, putting on an innocent facade, one he was falling for. And, once he took a step forwards, a grin on his lips as he stared at her mesmerisingly as if he hadn't touched a woman in over a hundred years, Damon appeared from behind a wall, stabbing a tranquilliser into the man's neck, causing him to fall to the ground.

"Well played." Damon sent her a nod, to which she ignored, rushing down the hallway to find Stefan. She checked every room, every corner of the entire basement until the final room at the end of the final hallway, which she barged into, her eyes landing on Stefan's hanging body.

He was shirtless, blood smeared over his body and ropes tied around his ankles and wrists, which were then tied to the ceiling to keep him constantly hanging. Another dark—skinned vampire was sat in a chair opposite Stefan, also tied up with a wooden stake submerged into his thigh.

"Oh, my God." Brooke winced, immediately rushing over to the Salvatore.

"Brooke—" Stefan managed to speak through groans of pain, tears streaks down his face, though they weren't actually tears... "You need to leave." He practically begged, just about managing to lift his head enough to look at her drenched frame, but she rolled her eyes, her hands hovering over his bare abs, unsure of what to do.

"Shut up, I'm gonna get you down." Brooke told him, glancing in the other vampire's direction momentarily before she made her way over to the back of the room, pulling on the vervain—covered ropes, causing Stefan to drop to the floor, his body limp. Then, she rushed back over to her best—friend and pulled a pocket knife from the inside of her jacket, kneeling down beside him to cut off the ropes.

Once they were off, she slipped the knife back into her pocket and placed her arm under Stefan's torso, helping him up off of the ground, "Wait—" He spoke up and she nodded, leaning him against a wall.

"I know." Brooke smiled in the slightest, her breathing heavy as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, jogging over to the unknown man to free him off his ropes. With a few strong tugs, she managed to pull the stake from out of his leg and swiftly untied his ropes just enough to make it easier for him to get free, "You better not fucking kill me after this." She warned him, looking into his eyes for just a moment before standing up straight, finding herself back at Stefan's side.

"That would be betrayal, I'm not that kind of person." He replied, his voice formal and mature, causing the corners of Brooke's lips to upturn just a tad.

"Good." She nodded curtly before helping a tumbling Stefan out of the cellar and down the long hallways. His groans of pain with every step he took only broke her heart more and more, she never wanted nor needed him to ever feel such agony, "Can you make it to the car?" She asked as they exited the house, making their way into the dark woods, the sky now a deep shade of midnight blue in contrast to the baby blue colour it was just an hour ago.

"Uh—" Stefan struggled with every fast step he took until accidentally, he tripped on a rock hidden between the grass blades, pulling Brooke down with him, "Fuck, I'm sorry." He muttered between coughs, but when he didn't hear a reply, he looked over in her direction, noticing her eyes down on her hand, a bloodied wound spread across her palm.

"It's okay." She rushed out, wiping her hand on the grass before pushing herself up, helping Stefan up as well, "We need to go, Stef. Come on, you can do it." She smiled softly, though it wasn't exactly a happy moment and Stefan nodded, shaking his head, shaking the thoughts of licking the blood off of her hand because he knew, and everyone else knew, that she'd let him do it to save his life in a heartbeat.

"Where the hell is this car?" Brooke snapped at herself, her eyes scanning the woods as they approached an opening and coincidentally, she saw Damon's convertible sat just a bit away, hidden between another set of trees, "It's just over there." She told him, helping him across the opening with struggle.

Her legs were becoming weak, her arms too, under the weight of his heavy body, but she was managing just long enough to help him into the car. Brooke did have her driver's license, she just hadn't driven a car in so long and she wasn't exactly confident about driving again. But, if it was to save Stefan's life, of course she'd push through the fears and sacrifice anything.

Brooke rounded the car as quickly as she could once Stefan was safe in the passenger seat with his seatbelt on and she climbed into the driver's side, her fingers reaching up to the key which was supposed to be in the ignition, where Damon had purposefully left it. But, instead of a key, there was a bent piece of a twig, causing her eyes to widen with shock.

"Shit." She muttered, pulling the twig out of the ignition.

"What?" Stefan groaned, looking over in her direction but just as she locked eyes with him, the window behind his head shattered into pieces and the Salvatore brother was pulled out of the now broken window.

Her gasp was louder than the entire ordeal and she could feel the tears spilling down her cheeks as she heard the vampire beating Stefan to the pulp. She climbed out of the car, the man too engrossed in what he was doing to notice her, to notice the wooden stake clutched in her hand.

"This is for Bethanne." He muttered, a log held high up in the air and just as he was about to submerge it into Stefan's heart after already stabbing the Salvatore with a completely different stick, a tranquilliser was pierced through the man's back, causing the log to fall from his hand and his legs to give way.

Stefan practically screamed, his pain overbearing and Brooke sobbed, kneeling down beside him, clearly panicked and terrified. She gulped, swallowing back her tears, knowing she had to stay strong so he had a chance, "It's gonna be okay, Stef. Just listen to my voice, okay?" She watched as he weakly nodded through pained groans and she placed her hands around the stick submerged into the centre of his chest, "When you get home safe, I'm gonna run you a hot bath and make you the most delicious steak ever." She explained whilst pulling the stick out with a grunt, throwing it onto the grass beside Stefan's body.

All she got in return was wheezing, her eyes locked onto his face and it looked as if he couldn't breathe, as if the pain was too strong for him to even stay alive. That was when the panic really set in.

"Stefan, did you hear me? Stef?" Her hands hovered, trembling over his stomach, which was now covered in a jacket she'd pulled onto his body before they left the cellar. She cried as she thought up what to do, unzipping his jacket to hopefully help him breathe but she knew that wouldn't help in the slightest, "Stefan!"

Then, his eyes fluttered closed and she couldn't be more terror—stricken.

"Stefan, you better open your eyes right now or I'll actually kill you!" She sobbed and the sound of grunting was heard behind her, so her eyes trailed over her shoulder to Frederick, who was slowly regaining his strength, "Stefan, come on." She whispered, tapping at his cheek and suddenly, her eyes widened with realisation when she saw blood smeared across his cheek from the wound in her palm.

Without fully thinking it through, she pressed her bloodied palm up to his mouth, causing his head to move, alerting her that it was working. But, Stefan was reluctant, "Brooke, go, please." He whispered, slowly regaining his own strength but Brooke was stubborn, especially when it came to those she adored most.

"Shut up, I can't lose you." She pleaded, attempting to put her hand against his mouth again but he shook his head, his eyes opening. He moved his face away, tears in his eyes as he stared up at her.

"No, no. You need to go." He groaned, his eyebrows scrunched together, clearly fighting the urge to give in but with that small smile that appeared upon her lips, a smile of reassurance which told him everything was going to be okay.

"I trust you, Stef." She told him with watered orbs, holding her wrist close to mouth and with one pained look in her direction, he hesitantly opened his mouth wide, biting into her delicate wrist. A part of her was glad that she hadn't worn bracelets on that wrist that day, trying to distract herself for the sharp pain flowing through her wrist as he sucked on her blood.

She could feel his sharp fangs penetrated into her skin,  his fingers wrapped around her arms, strong yet gentle in order not to break her bones. Brooke felt herself becoming dizzy the more he sucked the life out of her, her eyes squeezed closed as the wind blew through her dried hair, the rain now thankfully nowhere to be found.

His fangs exited the newly created holes in her skin, but it only lasted a moment before he sunk his teeth back into her skin, causing her to let out a gasp. Then, suddenly, he let go, gently pushing her arm away from his face, "Go. Go!" He yelled, ushering her away and without hesitation, she quickly stood, burying her bloodied arm under her sleeve.

She rushed behind a tree nearby, waiting expectantly for Stefan to end Frederick's life, her ears open, listening in. Brooke could hear the sound of grunting, as if they were fighting and as she peaked her head around the corner, she saw Stefan repeatedly stabbing Frederick in the heart with a long, thing stick.

Her eyes widened and without any thought, she ran over, wind blowing through her hair. She placed her ring—covered hand on Stefan's upper—arm and, it was like magic, as if Bonnie was stood right there.

Everything stopped and Stefan froze, the stick and Frederick dropping to the muddied ground below. His darkened eyes softened as he looked over at her. Stefan Salvatore's deep green eyes connected with Brooke Elliot's bright sage eyes and that was the moment they clicked more than ever.

Like a programmed robot, Brooke's hand reached up to his dirtied cheek, her thumb brushing over his cheekbone momentarily as they stared into each other's eyes, fireworks setting off around them.

Swiftly, they both wrapped their arms around each other as tightly as humanly possible, both best—friends in tears as they stood in the middle of the woods.

With anybody else, Stefan would've had an outburst, but with her and only her, he felt at peace, as if he didn't have to fight anymore — and with human blood flowing through his system, he now saw that as a weakness, a weakness he wanted more than anything.

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BACK AT THE SALVATORE BOARDING HOUSE, Brooke was stood in the kitchen, flipping a steak in a pan on the stove, humming to the Nirvana song she was listening to earlier that day when Stefan strolled into the room, drying his wet hair with a towel after having that hot bath she'd promised.

She looked at him over her shoulder with a small smile, watching as he sat down at the island, placing the towel down on the counter, "Have all of the wounds healed yet?" Brooke asked as the steak sizzled in the pan and Stefan nodded.

"Mostly, that bath helped. Thank you, Brooke." He replied with a smile and her eyebrows scrunched together with a shake of her head.

"No need to thank me—"

"No, no. I need to thank you. You saved me tonight, you could've been killed." He explained, standing up from the island and rounding the counter, stopping just a few metres away from her. Her nose scrunched up in the cutest way possible as she stared over at him and when she shook her head for the second time, his mouth opened again, "You're the most selfless person I've ever met in my 160 years, Brooke. I love you."

His words sent a pang to Brooke's heart, her eyes locked onto his and her cheeks blushing just slightly in reply. She smiled softly, glancing down at her hands momentarily before looking back over at him, "I love you, Stefan Salvatore." She replied but like all heartwarming moments, this one was ruined as well.

Her phone began to ring loudly in her leather jacket, which was in the pocket of her leather jacket hung over the pantry door across the kitchen. But, before she had the chance to even turn towards the direction of her jacket, Stefan had already sped over and back, her cell held out towards her.

"It's like you're on drugs, it's scary." Brooke joked, though it wasn't entirely funny, and Stefan chuckled as she took her cell from his hand, accepting the call and pressing it to her ear, "Hello?"

"Brooke?" Matt's cracking voice was heard down the other line and Brooke's look of amusement quickly turned to one of concern.

"Mattie, are you okay?" She asked, locking eyes with Stefan momentarily, who looked just as worried as she did.

"Brooke... Vicki— She's— I need you." He stuttered out, clearly in shock and in tears, and she nodded, locking in.

"I'll be right there, okay? Hang in there." She told him, hearing a sniffle in reply down the line before she ended the call and quickly turned off the stove. Then, she turned to Stefan, who almost instantly nodded, knowing exactly what she was going to ask for.

As they made their way towards Stefan's car, he spoke up, "Yeah, Elena just messaged me telling me they found Vicki's body. Shit." Stefan cursed himself as he stuffed his phone back in his pocket and Brooke stopped, feeling tears brimming her eyes. But, just as fast as she paused, she continued, sending Stefan a tight—lipped smile when he opened the door for her.

The car ride was short, at least three minutes and Brooke didn't wait for nobody as she climbed out of the car, not giving a single thought towards anybody else in the Donovan household. The Lockwoods were there, so were the Forbes, the Gilberts and even a few others, but all Brooke could think about was her best—friend since birth.

Elena was sat at the top of the stairs and she immediately stood when she saw Brooke rushing around the corner, Stefan trailing behind, "He's in the bedroom." Elena told her, to which she nodded, squeezing past her.

"Brooke?" Matt stood from his bed, slipping past Caroline and out of the room and he paused in the doorway, tears in his reddened eyes. Brooke stopped at the top of the stairs, tears brimming her own bright green eyes as she watched him break down and for the second time that night, she rushed into her best—friend's arms.

"It'll all be okay, Mattie. Shh." She muttered words of compassion to him as she ran her fingers through his dirty—blond hair, allowing him to cry into her shoulder. Brooke cried as well, though her tears were less intense, trying to stay strong for her best—friend.

And that night, when everybody had gone home, Brooke stayed by Matt's side for every second. She helped him eat, sleep, even use the bathroom, all things he was reluctant to do. She was the only person who kept him from completely losing himself.

Brooke Elliot was everyone's saviour, whether she liked it or not and maybe that was a weakness, but she didn't care. If she could be there to save the lives of the people she loves most, she'd be there in a heartbeat.

Only now, it was Elena's turn to help Stefan, but Brooke wasn't so sure the Gilbert would be able to manage.

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