Previously on The Vampire Diaries:
How long since you had human blood?
Since I threatened to drive Elena off the bridge.
You're not gonna survive cold-turkey, you never do.
Go on, have a bite.
What are you doing?
- Stefan? - Elena.
Someone drove this stake through his heart.
- I'd know if I were killing people. - Had blackouts? Instances of lost time?
You wear a ring that lets you cheat death, Ric.
How many times can you die before it changes you?
What are you looking for?
I don't know. A tumor. Vascular anomalies.
Anything physical that might explain his behavior.
If it's medical, I can treat it.
And if it's not?
Well, then we'll deal with that too.
When did you suspect him?
That it was Alaric who was killing all of those people.
It was after he told me about his ring. I remembered a story...
my grandmother told me about Samantha Gilbert and her secret journal.
I don't know if you know this, but we Fells are notorious busybodies.
But then why did you protect him?
Because I'm a doctor.
I don't like to see someone hurt by something they have no control over.
And because when he and I first met, I felt like...
I don't know, I just kind of wanna help him.
Everything all right in there?
Yeah.
Everything's okay.
Meredith says everything's normal.
Well, everything is normal because there is nothing wrong with me.
I didn't kill Brian Walters, I didn't kill Bill Forbes...
and I sure as hell didn't shove a hunting knife into my stomach.
Or I did, and I've gone insane just like your ancestor who...
wore that ring.
I'm gonna call Bonnie. The rings were made by a Bennett witch.
So maybe a witch can reverse the damage.
Take it.
I don't want it anymore.
You ready to ditch this house of horrors?
Ooh, you look terrible.
Yeah. Let me check out of here.
I'll take him out for chicken soup, make sure he doesn't kill anybody.
What is wrong with you?
How could you just go out feeding with Stefan like some vampire pub crawl'?
Right. I thought we were talking about Alaric, but we're talking about Stefan.
You stood there and let him feed on an innocent girl.
I didn't let him do anything. If you wanna get nitpicky about it, I made him.
Why would you do that?
We're vampires. We need human blood to survive.
- We're predators, not puppies. - Stefan found a way around it before.
Stefan built himself a delusional wagon...
which he's repeatedly fallen off of. What he needs to learn is control.
He was able to manage when he was drinking my blood...
small amounts every single day.
Ah, yes. Back when you two were in love and it was all rainbows and unicorns.
I'm just saying...
maybe you're not the right person to be teaching Stefan about self-control.
- Hey. - Hey.
I totally lucked out. The hospital just had a blood drive...
so I got some O negatives, some A's...
and my personal favorite, B positive.
I, uh, made her a daylight ring.
She's been standing out there all morning.
I don't think she's taking this very well.
Well, it's only been a few days since she turned.
Your mom's still adjusting.
Miss Wilson?
Why don't you come inside? Have something to drink.
I can't feel it anymore. My garden, it's gone.
I can't feel anything.
I don't understand.
Witches have a connection to the earth.
We can literally feel nature.
Life.
When Abby became a vampire, she lost it.
I don't know how to help her.
Rebekah's up to something.
She's been snooping around places she shouldn't be.
Tell me again, why are we here?
The world can't stop just because you're an accidental psycho-killer.
Do you have any tact whatsoever?
Alaric, I'm glad you're here. Did you bring the sign?
The restored Wickery Bridge sign.
The History Department promised you would have it today.
No, I don't have the sign, actually. It slipped my mind.
I've been busy.
Well, it's not an emergency.
We'll just, um, unveil it when the bridge is complete.
- Get me out of here. - My pleasure.
I'm gonna stick around for a bit.
Wickery Bridge was built last century...
with the expansion of Mystic Falls.
- Who is that? - A blast from the past.
Replacing the original wooden support structure...
to meet modern safety standards.
And our beautification phase will be underway in the spring.
So give yourselves a hand.
Damon Salvatore, my favorite student.
Sage, my hottest teacher. What are you doing here?
Just passing through.
Oh, come on, no one just passes through Mystic Falls.
Look what the cat dragged in.
Easy there, Rebekah. You know, she used to beat men for sport.
- She always was quite common. - Rebekah. What a happy surprise.
- What are you doing here? - I heard Finn was freed...
from that casket your rageaholic brother Klaus carted him around in.
Ooh, Finn, you just missed him.
He left town and didn't tell a soul where he was going.
He probably went looking for me.
Or, quite possibly, he forgot all about you.
- I doubt that. - No?
Because he didn't seem to mention you.
Sorry you came all this way for nothing.
Have a nice life.
God, I hate that elitist Original bitch.
- Hi. - Hey.
I'm sorry, Damon told Alaric that there was no one home, otherwise I...
I just got home.
I just came by to pick up this book that you found on my ancestor Samantha.
It's fine.
Uh, how are you doing? Damon said that you were...
Yeah, I'm, uh, okay. Did you get everything you need?
Yeah.
Well, if there's anything I can do to help...
You don't have to read that, you know?
I can just tell you what happened.
Samantha Gilbert was committed to an insane asylum.
She tried to give herself a lobotomy with a knitting needle...
and bled to death on the ﬂoor of her cell.
If the same thing is happening to Alaric, then there's nothing you can do.
Okay, well...
I'm gonna let you get back to, um, whatever it was you were doing.
Finn? Really? - He's my one true love.
He turned me so we could be together forever.
Then Klaus daggered him and locked him away...
and I've been waiting ever since.
Please don't tell me you and Rebekah are friends.
- Not unless you count hate-sex. - Good.
Her and Klaus treated me like some peasant whore.
She's just lurking around because she wants something from me.
- Can't figure out what it is, though. - Why don't you get inside her head?
Because it's impossible. She's too strong.
- Bet I could get in. - She's an Original. Not gonna happen.
Have you forgotten everything I taught you?
Rebekah may be an Original, but she's a girl.
You find her weakness and exploit it, and I'll walk right in.
That is, if you want my help.
Anyone ever tell you you're sexy when you're bitchy?
We're talking now, are we? You were quite rude the other day.
Using me to help you with Stefan, then shooing me away like a stray dog.
Oh, that was brother business. You can't hold that against me.
Besides, I really did appreciate your help, even if I didn't show it.
- You were mean. - You like mean.
No, I don't.
No? You didn't get a thrill back there pushing Sage down?
Crushing her dreams of true love?
- Maybe a little. - See? Mean.
Can Sage and I interest you in a drink back at the house?
Not a chance in hell.
You know what they say, two's company, three is a party.
Fine.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Haven't seen you up at the house.
Abby's been asking for you.
I've been pretty busy.
- Hey! Hey! Stay away from me. - Easy.
I was just gonna help you carry the firewood up.
- You're scared of her. - She's a vampire.
She needs to feel connected to the people she loves.
- She needs to feel normal. - She's not normal. None of this is.
Abby didn't choose this. This was forced on her.
She could've let herself die, but she didn't.
She's trying to make this work...
so she can be there for you and for Bonnie, so...
So just get over yourself. Okay?
Hey. What's going on?
Bonnie's not returning any of my calls.
Sorry. She's still mad
And, seriously, Abby's transition has been a little rough...
- ...so she's got a lot on her mind. - I know and I get it...
but something really terrible is happening to Ric...
and I really need her help.
I really don't think you should be looking through that stuff.
Well, it's the truth. Restraining orders and all.
- My life in a series of police reports. - You don't strike me as an angry guy.
Which sounds weird given everything, but you don't.
Yeah, well, I was stupid when I was younger.
But listen, it's not like these guys didn't have it coming.
I mean, this guy here broke a beer bottle over a bartender's head.
This guy hit his girlfriend.
And this guy... Okay, this guy was just a douche.
Everyone needs to find a way to deal with their dark side.
Some people meditate.
I became a vampire hunter.
- Mm, semi-retired. - Hmm.
There's something not in these reports that I need to tell you about.
Okay. Ominous. Shoot.
Your cousin, Logan Fell, the one who was vampire-slayed...
I did the slaying.
The vampire thing, it's not my fight.
I use their blood for what I need, and leave the judgment to everyone else.
Although, I have kind of been wondering why you never drove...
a stake through Damon's heart.
I tried once. He killed me.
Yeah. Yeah, it figures.
The thing that started all this ring stuff was me being angry enough...
to think I could take on a vampire in the first place.
Oh, come on. Slow down, brother.
Whoa.
Control, remember? Doesn't matter whether it's blonds or blood bags.
Same principles apply.
- What'd you say to Elena this morning? - Oh, you're stress-eating.
Sublimating. You two deserve each other with all your pining and moping.
- I asked you a question. - I told her what she knows.
You're a vampire and you drink human blood. And to get over it.
Which is the same thing I'm telling you. Own it. Live it. Love it.
Stop being ashamed of who you are.
Do me a favor, Damon.
Next time you talk to Elena, leave me out of it, okay?
Gladly. Now, unless you're interested in a Sage-Rebekah sex sandwich...
I suggest you make yourself... scarce.
Who are you again?
The guy who lives out back. You know, the one you're not related to.
Right.
- Caroline and I had a little talk. - Sounds like Caroline lectured you.
Maybe, but I needed it.
Abby's always been there for me. Now it's my turn.
- Thought I could build a fire. - Please.
Maybe it'll distract everyone from my crappy cooking.
Jamie.
I'm so sorry, Abby.
I'm sorry about everything.
No! - Abby!
Remember this song?
All right, Miss Master Seductress, where's our victim?
Patience. Between her craving for affection...
and her pathological fear of being left alone...
our little get-together is too tempting to resist.
Finn's gone, you know.
I choose to believe otherwise.
He strung you along for 900 years, didn't bother to call. He's gone.
The Damon I knew was holding out for someone too.
Yes, he was. Hope's a bitch, Sage.
Get out while you can.
The sweet chime of desperation.
I stole it from Nik, who stole it from a queen.
I'm not sure which one.
Well, this is depressing. What happened to the party?
It just arrived.
How about a duet?
What about her?
I don't want her.
I want you.
- You have to drink these, it'll help. - I almost killed him.
Caroline said this happens a lot at first when you're new.
No. I should just go right now. Before I hurt Jamie again. Or you.
The only way you're gonna hurt me is if you leave.
Don't give up on us. Not again.
We can make this work.
He's fine.
Nothing a little vampire blood can't cure.
Thank you.
Now I need a favor.
I want you to have this.
This is a list of my bank accounts, passwords, where to find my will...
and how to contact my family. In case this doesn't go my way.
No, don't think like that.
I need to know that you and Jeremy are gonna be okay.
We're all gonna be fine.
- Caroline? - Abby thinks Bonnie can...
reverse the damage with a spell.
The same thing happens with witches who become obsessed with dark magic.
They lose control, start acting out their darkest impulses.
Thank you so much.
I'm gonna hang back here with Abby, but Bonnie's leaving now, so...
Um, hold on.
I need a personal effect of Alaric's. Something he wore before the ring.
Okay. Uh, yeah, I'll get it. Um...
Bonnie, I'm so sorry for everything. Thank you for doing this.
Be ready to do the spell as soon as I get there, we have to work fast.
I'll see you soon.
Good news? Bad news?
Bonnie thinks that she can help you with a spell.
- It's worth a try. - But she needs something you wore...
before you put on the ring. Something personal.
Well, there's, uh...
Maybe my wedding ring. It's at the loft.
Okay, yeah. Um, that's a good idea.
I think it's better if you stay here with me.
Oh, you and your tranquilizers.
It's in the dresser by the kitchen.
It's in an aspirin bottle, probably covered in cobwebs.
Okay.
What?
I take it back. Your plan is amazing.
Heh, I told you if you got her comfortable enough she's an open book.
What, are you gonna torture me or you gonna tell me what's she up to?
I'd rather show you.
A white oak tree. There must have been a new tree to replace the old.
It probably got cut down.
Do you happen to know who kept the milling legers during that period?
There's another tree.
Milling records?
Our family made one of its many fortunes selling lumber.
That's why Rebekah's been digging around about this stuff.
If that tree was milled by our yard, the ledgers will say where it was shipped.
The business archives should be around here somewhere.
Get upstairs. Make sure you keep her distracted.
You gotta be kidding me.
Missed you at the house.
Alaric told me you'd be here.
You made yourself perfectly clear this morning, Stefan.
You don't wanna be around me.
I'm not trying to hurt you, Elena.
I just can't be who you want me to be right now.
I'm not in control.
So then what are you doing here?
Well, I, uh, did a little more digging on Samantha Gilbert.
Founding families were good about destroying their records...
but I found a couple of newspaper articles.
Seems she killed two people while she was in the institution.
- A nurse and a guard. - So she was a psychopath. I get it.
She was under suicide watch.
No personal effects. No jewelry.
Wait, so you're saying that the violent behavior can still happen...
even if the person isn't wearing the ring?
Still with me?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm still with you.
I'm half dead too. Neither one of us has slept in two days.
Don't worry, I've got coffee on.
Rebekah just left.
Happy, I hope.
- You find what you were looking for? - Yup.
In 1912, the Salvatore Milling Company chopped down a forest.
Its most valuable wood came from an old white oak tree...
that was used to make the Wickery Bridge.
These aren't public record, so Rebekah's gonna chase her tail for a long time.
So all the wood stripped from the underside of that bridge...
- ...is a weapon that could kill an Original. - Yup.
You see how this could be a problem for me, right?
Why?
Because of your true love, Finn? Let me tell you something.
I met the guy, you're not gonna miss him.
I will rip your head off in two seconds if you take one more step.
All right, let's make a deal. You help me kill Rebekah...
I consider Finn untouchable. You guys walk into the sunset together.
Is that a promise?
Yes. It's a promise.
What if Bonnie's spell doesn't work? What are you gonna do with him?
I'm gonna keep looking until we can find something that'll help him.
You don't know how long this has been going on. Might be too late.
It's my family's ring that's doing this to him. It's my responsibility to fix it.
You can't put that on yourself. Not everyone is your responsibility.
- Not everyone can be saved. - Heh.
Are we talking about Alaric here? Or are we talking about you?
Because I wasn't planning on giving up on either of you.
What is that?
Pictures of his victims.
Sage, let's go. We have Originals to kill.
Sage.
"Jeremy, if anything happens to me, carry on my work.
You have the other ring, let the ring make you strong.
The Council must be cleansed before the work can begin."
It's a Founder's Council roster.
Looks like some sort of hit list.
- No, Alaric didn't write this. - Who else would have written it, Elena?
I have to get back.
Looking for something?
I don't know where anything is in this house. Heh.
I'm sorry, I can't remember, do you take cream?
No cream.
I was gonna make sandwiches. I'm starving.
Can I ask you a question?
No mustard. I hate mustard.
Do you ever feel remorse?
Sorry?
Well...
you are a Council member...
and the Council was formed to protect the people of this town from vampires.
Yet here you all are just looking the other way...
ignoring your responsibilities.
Like you and your vampire blood.
So I'm asking you...
do you ever feel remorse?
Because you should.
Your grand plans always seem to get ruined, don't they?
Sorry to disappoint you...
again.
You set me up.
No. I'm just looking out for myself.
I told you I'd save your creepy boyfriend.
You lied to me, Damon.
The Originals are linked. If one dies, they all die.
If I could get inside her head, don't you think I'd be able to get inside yours?
- I should end you. - I'm 900 years old, Damon...
you're not capable of ending me.
You think I would risk Finn's life for one of your petty revenge fantasies?
Let me tell you something, your long-lost love has a suicide wish.
When Mama Witch linked them in a spell, he's the one that volunteered to die.
He wouldn't do that.
He didn't wanna live. Not for you, not for anyone.
He doesn't love you, Sage.
And when I do find another way to kill those Originals, I'll start with Finn.
Hey, there.
Hi. Where's Meredith?
She got called, uh, in to the hospital for a last-minute surgery.
But she'll be back later.
What happened?
Oh, I broke a coffee cup and sliced my hand open trying to pick up the pieces.
But, uh, I'll live. Heh.
Did Stefan catch up with you?
No.
Did you get my ring?
I couldn't find it.
Yeah, well, my place is a bit of a disaster. Heh.
I guess I'll, uh, just have to go get it.
- No, don't hurt him. - I'm trying not to.
Elena, I need you to come upstairs with me.
Why?
I'm gonna need your help.
Meredith. Hey.
You're gonna be okay.
What the hell are you doing here?
Just making sure the witch didn't turn you into a toad or a block of salt.
Huh?
Bonnie did a little spell. It's nothing to worry about.
Just something to keep the killer in you at bay.
Did something happen?
Let's say you've got an alter ego hell bent on killing Council members.
So we're gonna pack up some stuff, we're gonna go to the loft for a little bit.
You know, it's like house arrest lite.
Wait, where's Meredith?
She'll be fine, Ric.
Hey.
You okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
Abby says all the dying and coming back to life...
chipped away at Alaric's psyche...
making it easier for the darkness to take hold.
These herbs are the binding element of the spell.
He needs to take them twice a day. I'll get you more.
Abby and I are gonna work on the garden.
How is she doing?
The transition's been hard, but I think she'll be okay.
Eventually.
I'm gonna go back and stay with her for a while.
It'll give us a chance to work things through.
I'm sorry, Bonnie, I didn't want this to happen.
If there was anything that I could do to make it different, I...
I know.
Please say that you forgive me.
Of course I do.
Am I even doing this right?
- Yeah, heh, you're doing fine. - Okay, heh.
Hey, um, thanks for helping out with Abby.
Bonnie's really lucky to have a friend like you.
Well, I went through the same thing once...
with my dad.
But it didn't really work out, so...
You know. Ha, ha.
Well, when Bonnie gets back, she can snap her fingers...
or wave her hands, or whatever, and make the herbs bloom, heh.
L think Abby's up.
What are you doing?
You're leaving.
- Are you kidding me? - I have to.
- I don't know how to do this. - Do what? Be a vampire or a parent?
Because I can help you be a vampire. I can teach you self-control...
but being a parent, that's all you.
Bonnie grew up without a mom because you ran away once.
You have an eternity to make up for it, and you're gonna throw that away?
- She's better off without me. - No, she's not.
No one is better off without their parents.
She wants to make this work.
Please.
Just stay.
Tell them I'm sorry.
Hello? - Hey, stranger.
You checking up on me?
Do you need checking up on?
Well, I'm not flunking any of my classes. Yet.
And I got a dog.
Hey, have you talked to Alaric lately?
Uh. no. Why?
Is everything okay?
Yeah. Everything's fine. Um...
I just wanted to hear your voice.
Okay. Hey, can I call you later?
I'm actually on my way out with some friends.
Yeah, um, of course, Jer. Go out, go have fun, and, um...
I just miss you.
Yeah. Yeah, I miss you too.
Little early in the day for you, isn't it?
Just having a little toast.
To what?
Control.
If you're happy, I'm happy.
Why you in such a good mood?
Sage double-crossed you, the tree's a pile of ash...
Alaric's got a psychopathic alter ego.
You know, Stefan, I'm a philanthropist.
I make the world a better place. Restoring bridges, landmarks...
and historical signs made of the same white oak as the Wickery Bridge.
They think all the wood burned.
I sold my rage. Ooh, you should've seen me.
- We have a weapon. - Game's back on, brother.
Let's go kill some Originals.