CHAPTER ONE: pilot

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BRODRICK CORNELIUS GILBERT HAD A SECRET. One that only family members knew, and old 'friends'. He was adopted. He wasn't born a Gilbert. But, instead, when Grayson was playing at a park, he had been the one to notice the young boy, wondering, towards the park. With multiple bruises and cuts, while wearing a clothing that was much too big for him.  The shirt, was practically down to his feet, only an inch or two above his ankles.

It was clear that the t-shirt was stolen, most likely from someone who liked to hand-wash their clothes, and let it dry in the sun.

Grayson pointed out to his parents, the lost boy.  Who immediately, offered to take him to the hospital. 

The boy, turned out to be only six,  and after discovering that they couldn't find him anywhere in the data base, as if he showed up all of a sudden, and no one (despite the description of him being released) showed that they knew who he was. 

He was put into the foster care system, and Grayson visited him, multiple times. Until, Grayson's parents decided to adopt him, naming him; Brodrick Cornelius Grayson.  

John didn't really seem to care. Or, never showed it. But, when Grayson's friends had been bullying Brodrick, John ended up in three fights the same week.  All with one of the guys that had been mocking Brodrick.

No one knew where Brodie came from. He barely knew himself. The only time he recalled something from his past, it was confusing. It came to him in flashes, mostly in his dreams.

He hated it. Hated not recalling his past.
Hated that, it was all a confusing mess in his dreams. This, almost unnatural amount of brightness. An unfamiliar face, sending him a pitying look, as if he had done something. As if he failed the unknown man. And then he was falling.

And falling. He waked up, every single time, beside he hits the ground. He knows why, the fear of dying. The way his mind didn't know what came in the afterlife.

"Hey, Brod," A voice calls out, as he startled awake.

"I'm fine. Eli-" he began, but stopped. It wasn't Elijah's voice. It took him a moment to recall that, he no longer was with Elijah.

It was Jenna's voice. It took a second for him to remember. To remember he was back in Mystic Falls, that his older brother and sister in-law were dead. "Jenna," he corrected, half-way through saying the wrong name. "I'll be up in a second."

He could practically hear her frown. "Well, I made coffee," she lets made known, before pausing. "Do you want me to make something for breakfast?"

"No. No thanks. I'll make myself something. I'll make dinner for tonight," he added, getting up off the bed and headed pulled in a tank-top, before headed towards the door. He pulled it open, to see Jenna standing there.

The two walked down the stairs, although Jenna was ahead, saying how she was going to go out and look for a job.

Brodie was also looking for a job, so far the only one offered, was his of position in Mystic Falls Grill.

Brodie still had plenty of norms left from his old job, Elijah never let him pay for anything. Elijah had always paid, quicker than Brodie was able to move.

"Don't you have a big presentation today?" Elena asked Jenna, who was questioning if Jeremy or her needed anything.

"I'm meeting with my thesis advisor at...now. Crap!" Jenna pulls her hair from its bun.

"Then go. We'll be fine," Elena tells her aunt.

"I'll take them to school. Call your advisor now as say you're stuck in traffic," Brodie tells Jenna, who begins to run out the door.

"You okay?" Elena asked Jeremy.

"Don't start," Jeremy dismissed.

Brodie eyed his nephew, deciding he would speak to him later, when Elena wasn't in the room. "Lunch money?" He took two twenties out, figuring they could ask him if they need any more. Plus, he didn't carry cash often.

"No, thanks. Jenna-" Elena begins, only Jeremy takes both the twenties from his uncle, and walks out the door. Elena sighed. "Jenna already gave him money."

Brodie huffed. "He better not use it on drugs or alcohol. He's not getting any money from either of us next week." He would just have to tell Jenna to not give Jeremy any more money.

"Goodbye, uncle Brod," Elena smiled as she quickly hugged him, and exited the house.

Brodie began to clean up the kitchen, when opening the fridge to put the coffee creamer back, examined the fridge to see what to cook. The fridge, mostly empty. Had a few drinks, packages of sliced ham, cheese and bologna.   And a few condiments. 

He sighed, throwing his head back. Although he had time, he didn't like that what immediately came to mind, he couldn't do. 

Brodie walked back to his room, his phone was ringing. He walked over to the nightstand it was placed on, unplugging it and looking at the name. It was Elijah. He accepted the call, smiling brightly at the voice that came through.

"Brodrick, how are you?"

Brodrick furrowed his brows, a bit confused. That, Elijah sounded a bit worried. "Um, I'm fine, Eli, how are you?"

"Have you noticed... any off behavior? From those around you.  Anyone you don't know paying attention to you?  Just, any out of the ordinary behavior."

"You meme aside form you? Seriously, are you alright? Do you want me to come back for the week? You're worrying me."  Brodrick frowned.

Elijah couldn't tell him the truth. It would put him in even more danger. Although, the man simply being back in Mystic Falls, was completely a danger on its own.   "No. It's nothing to worry about."

"Elijah-" Brodie began. Although it wasn't that Elijah didn't call. But, he never sounded the way he did, when he does.  Elijah never sounds worried. 

"Brodrick," Elijah interrupted, now sounding a bit calm. Like, he was going to calm down Brodie. "It is nothing. I was just worried. You haven't called."

Brodie felt a sense of guilt. "I'm sorry." He says, sadly. "It's just, with everything, like, Jenna and I are still searching for jobs in Mystic falls, and, I've never, ever taken care of a kid, much less two teenagers-"

"Broderick. Brodie," Elijah called, when hearing how the other tried to frantically explain. "I understand, i was just worried."

Brodie let out a small sigh of relief. "Oh, sorry for making you worry."
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Brodie had spoken to Elijah for an hour, before he said that he had to go, since he was looking for a job while Elena and Jeremy were in school.

Once Brodie had taken a shower, and gotten ready, he left to search for a job.
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"BrodRick," Elizabeth Forbes spoke, as if surprised to see him. It had taken her some time to remember that he returned to Mystic Falls. Because of the death of his brother.

The man gave her a smile, after having (literally) bumped into her, she questioned him in what was doing. Or, well, how he was doing.

"As well as I could be," he answered.

The woman frowned at his answer, of course knowing that he wouldn't be fine. But, to see how he was trying not to answer it in a sad matter, only made her feel just that. Sad. Because, Broderick was always trying to dismiss his own pain, to help others. Liz remembered when they were kids, how he would try and help others. Even though he was struggling himself. Struggling to recall where he really came from.

Liz had tried to did it out, when becoming a cop, just to help him, since he had always wanted to know, but, was unable to.  Just as before, it was like he never existed, like he just appeared from nowhere. (People assumed that whoever his brother parents were kept his existence a secret that thought the entire pregnancy, never left the house. And birthed him at home. When he got to a certain age, left him and he had taken care of himself until he was found)

"Really, I'm just looking for a job." Broderick spoke. "Really, the one ones I've seen, so far, are to work at the Mystic Grill, or the library."

Elizabeth made a face, thinking of any places with an opening. But, honestly, the two placed that he had named, where the only ones coming to mind. So, she told him that she would keep an eye out, and call him about whatever place.
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Brodie had gone to the grocery store, deciding to gather some items, since it was his turn to buy the groceries. He and Jenna rotated with whose turn it was to buy the groceries.
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"How was the job search?" Jenna asked Brodie, once walking into the house, and seeing him in the kitchen.

"Don't ask," Brodie sighed, as he gathered up the ingredients for the lasagna.

Jenna laughed, walking over to him, by his side. "Need any help?"

"You want to grab the cheese?" He questioned.

Jenna walked over to the fridge, staring at it momentarily. "You restocked it."

"Yeah."

"You reorganized it," Jenna continued.

"Yeah. But, the cheese is still in the same drawer," he shrugged.
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Elena had taken a plate of the lasagna, saying that she enjoyed it. But, that she was going to go out with Bonnie and Caroline, meet them at the Grill.

"Seriously, uncle B it was the best thing you've ever cooked," Elena smiled.

"You say that everytime I cook something," Brodie says.

"Because, every time you cook, it's better."

"Is it actually better? Or is it because you didn't have to make it?"  He grins.

"I'm not getting you that dessert you like so much," Elena says, fake seriousness. As she turned around.

"Can you get me two pieces?" Brodie calls out.

"Of what?" Elena pretends confusion. As a smile is bright on her face.  An actual one, not the fake one that she puts up.   Then repeats herself, saying how she was going to the Grill with Bonnie.

"Okay. Have fun," Jenna says, but paused. "Wait, I got this. Don't stay out to late, it's a school night ."

"No underage drinking," Brodie says next.

Elena laughed. "Well done, aunt Jenna, Uncle B."

"I brought that drink you like," Brodie tells Jenna. 

"Thanks," the woman smiled, heading towards the fridge.

"It's actually in the cup board. Last time Jeremy drank it all before you got it, when he saw it in the fridge."

Jenna smiles brightly, pecking him on the cheek. He pretended to wipe off the kiss.
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"Brodie, you're phone is ringing," Jenna held his phone in her hand, looking down at the contact name. But, there was no picture to go with the contact. Simply a name; "Elijah."

Brodie quickly took his phone from her grasp. He accepted the call, pressing the phone to his ear. "Hey, Eli."

"Broderick," the voice called back.

"Who is Elijah?" Jenna mouthed, question.

Brodie waved her off, turning his back to her. He continued to pour the apple juice into the blender.  "How are you?" Brodie knew that the other had a brother, who was always getting into trouble. Although, shockingly, Brodie didn't recall anytime where Elijah mentioned the man's name. "Your brother cause you anymore trouble?"

"No more than usual."

Granted, Brodie didn't know the usual trouble that Elijah's brother got into, he rising even know the name. (And he wasn't sure if Elijah mentioned it, and hid he had, Brodie didn't want to ask the name, because it's possible Elijah has told him).

Brodie hums. "Want to switch brothers? John is a dick."

"My brother is much worst than yours," Elijah says.

"How do you know? My brother could be the biggest asshole on the planet."

"He is," Jenna muttered, arms crossed.

"Just a hint," Elijah spoke.
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"So, Elijah," Jenna had practically ran to Brodie's room, once he was off the phone.

"Get out, I'm changing," Brodie spoke, lazily, in a dismissing manner.   He shrugged off his t-shirt, moving to put over a faded marvel shirt. Elena had brought it for him, years ago.  When it started to fade, he began to use it as a sleeping shirt.

"Don't change the subject," Jenna smiled brightly, teasingly. 

"Seriously, J, I just want to put on pajamas and go to sleep."

"You like him!"

"No! He's just a friend," Brodie tried to dismiss. 

"Oh come on! Brodie I know when you like someone!" Jenna says.

"Can't hear you, I'm sleeping," Brodie moved to his bed, despite not having his pajama pants on.

"You're an insomniac. You're not tired."

"Can't hear you. Sleeping."
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Broderick hadn't fallen asleep when he said that he would. He had found a playlist of music, that was supposed to help you fall asleep. But, it didn't help. Nor, did the scented pillow mist or body lotion, that Jenna got him.

He turned, reaching over his nightstand and grabbing his phone. He momentarily stared at the name, deciding if he should call or not. It wasn't like Elijah was asleep. And if he was, he would immediately wake up to answer.

Broderick didn't want to bother him. So, he out his phone back down, faced down and huffed as he dropped back down onto his bed.

He refuted to go downstairs, after the first time, and Jenna was still there, as if she knew. And began to tease him.

He lied in saying he wanted to make sure the stove was off.
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He and Jenna had been called, apparently a young woman; Vicki Donovan has been attacked.
Brodie offers to drive, since, when being called, the woman had fallen asleep.

"You guys okay?" Brodie questioned Elena and Jeremy.

Jeremy didn't answer, instead pulling open the back door and entering the car. Elena gave a forced smile. "Yeah. I'm fine."

Brodie frowned, but he didn't say anything, and instead, drove off. When they got home, before the two teens could separate and lock themselves into their rooms, he had said that he had made smoothies.
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"There's a boy outside our window," Brodie speaks.

Elena had bene walking down the stairs, hearing him. "He's from my school. I'll see what it is."

Brodie narrows his eyes, as the boy walked up the stairs, and to the door. Elena opened the door.

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