RECAP: The Vampire Diaries 4x16 - "Bring it On"

Last time we saw Elena, her entire world had come crashing down in one fell swoop and as a result, she turned off her humanity rather than suffer through the pain. So let's do a math problem. What does a vampire - morals - conscience = ? Give up? A whole lot of shit for everyone.

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When the Humanity is Away, the Elena Will Play:
   It's been a few days now since Elena shut off the only part of her that was still human. Stefan thinks it may be best if Elena returns to school while he and Damon search for Katherine who is still missing with the cure.
   Back at school, Elena comes across a flyer for a cheerleading competition. She asks Caroline, the captain of the team, to have her back on the squad. She says it might be fun tossing people up in the air and waving pom-poms around. Uh huh...right.. Caroline says of course and isn't the least bit suspicious, especially since all she can think about is Tyler. In fact, she still calls him and leaves him updating messages even though she knows he won't answer or return her calls. Why do I get the feeling that these messages are going to end up in the wrong person's hands and cause a big mess? I digress.. To be on the safe side, Stefan and Caroline ask Damon to command that Elena not feed on the trip. Good plan.

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   Now on the team, Elena joins Caroline and the squad at the cheerleading competition. Even Stefan is there. Normal enough right? Well Elena has to go and fuck it up once more when she follows a cheerleader from a different school on to an empty bus, sucks her blood...and steals her blue ribbon? Elena returns to the gymnasium and runs into Caroline who realizes what has happened when she she spots the victim cheerleader rocking a scarf and lacking a blue ribbon that happens to be in Elena's hair. Wait, didn't Damon sire Elena not to feed at the competition? Looks like the sire bond isn't working now that her humanity has been shut off. Apparently her sire bond stems from her humanity and love for Damon and without that, Damon doesn't have much control over little Elena. 
   Caroline and Stefan are concerned about Elena but they don't have much time for that since the Mystic Falls cheerleading squad is up next. During the routine, Elena assists in launching Caroline up into the air but steps back and allows her body to come crashing down on to the ground. Good thing Caroline isn't human. While the crowd gathers around Caroline, Elena makes her escape outside. Stefan finds her and applauds her plan. She only wanted to be a cheerleader again so she could attend the competition outside of Mystic Falls to feed on people who haven't been consuming vervain. What a clever girl. Stefan walks her to his motorcycle and suggests they take the party someplace more private, like an off-highway pub to feed. A large gymnasium could leave too many witnesses. Elena is suspicious but accepts. As Stefan tosses her his bike helmet, he attacks her with a needle full of vervain and knocks her out. 

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   Elena awakens in Stefan's bed back in Mystic Falls. She makes it very clear to him that he can't control her anymore when she texts the entire school to his house for a party. The house is swarming with under aged drinkers and Elena couldn't be happier. Stefan calls Caroline over to help him watch over Elena at the party. After watching Elena happily dance on a table, Caroline encourages Stefan to try and have some fun for a change like Elena and let loose. I'm pretty sure we can all agree that you two deserve a little fun. 
   The party is a success up until Caroline's mother, the sheriff, arrives. She bumps into Elena and asks for Stefan. When Elena responds with a snarky attitude, the sheriff threatens to shut the party down. This doesn't fly with Elena who grabs the sheriff and slams her against the door. Caroline rushes to her mother's defense and Elena runs away into the night. 

Looking for Answers:
   Haley, the young werewolf traitor, has been on the run since her true loyalty was revealed to be with Catherine. She asks Klaus to meet her at a truck stop far from town and asks for his protection. In return, she will give him information about Catherine. Klaus keeps his end of the bargain when a vampire attacks Haley at the truck stop. Klaus grabs him and bites him and lets the vampire run off to it's death. Klaus takes Haley back to his mansion and has Damon and Rebekah go off to question the dying vampire. 
   At the mansion, Klaus wines and dines Haley and asks her what Catherine promised her for her help in locating the cure. Haley tells him that Catherine had promised to help her find her real parents. Poor Haley has been an orphan all her life and has never known where she came from.

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   Damon and Rebekah investigate the truck stop Klaus and Haley had been at but find no sign of the injured vamp. Damon puts his smarts to the test and decides to check the local hospital. They look through the blood bank room and find no vampire and no blood bags. Hmm, strange. Next best idea? Set a trap. Damon bites a hospital employee and has her walk around the parking lot till the vampire bites the bait, literally. Doesn't take long for the dying vampire to catch the scent of fresh blood. Damon grabs the vampire and realizes it's an old friend of his named Will. Will begs for help so Damon does what Damon does, he rips his friends heart out to put him out of his misery.
   Rebekah calls Klaus and informs him that they have killed the dying vampire that is after Haley. He let's Haley know and gives her the option to stay with him in the mansion or to go roam free. Perhaps it was the wine or perhaps it was their chat over a dark and twisted painting Klaus had created, but somehow...Haley and Klaus end up having crazy wild sex. Klaley anyone? Yeah, didn't think so..

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   After their crazy romping in the sack, Klaus notices a distinct birth mark in the shape of a crescent moon on the back of Haley's shoulder. He points out that all his life he has seen a small handful of people baring that mark. They were all from the same blood line. A werewolf clan that thrived in Louisiana. Could this be the family Haley has been looking for? Could Klaus really know her family's whereabouts? She wastes no time and begs for more information.








The Ambush and the Letter:

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   Stefan and Caroline search for Elena who has run away into the woods. They split up to cover more ground. Out of nowhere, Elena ambushes Caroline and a fight ensues between the two best friends. Elena has clearly won considering she received extra training with Alaric before he passed away. Just as Elena is about to stab Caroline in the back with a tree branch, Stefan and Damon interfere. 
   Damon harbors Elena up in his room to keep her away from Caroline. As he searches through old photos, and stumbles upon one of him and Will, he tries to lecture Elena into having more self control. Elena puts the charm on and tries to get Damon to admit he prefers her this way. 

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   Caroline is still shook up since her best friend nearly killed her. She receives a text message from Matt asking her to come over to Tyler's home. When she arrives, she discovers she is unable to enter until Matt gives her permission. He hands her a letter from Tyler that reads, he won't be coming back home while Klaus is out looking to kill him. He left Matt the deed to the home so that it can protect them in ways he cannot anymore. Oh, and he will always love Caroline. Just like that, it finally sinks in for Caroline. Tyler won't be coming back. 
   Stefan calls Damon, after receiving a phone call from the sheriff, explaining six blood banks within a 30 mile radius of Mystic Falls have reported missing blood bags. Someone is collecting blood and Stefan has a hunch it may be Silus who possibly followed them off the island. The first immortal has been blood free for over 2,000 years so he must be hella thirsty. Damon tells Stefan that he is too busy to discuss his suspicions and ends the conversation. We find him with Elena in the car heading to the city that never sleeps, New York City!

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