18. Under Control

Brayden and Damon entered Stefan's room, they saw him doing pull ups, with his music on full blast.

"Could you turn it up a little bit?" Damon asked sarcastically, "It's not annoying yet".

"Sorry" Stefan said, but made no effort in turning the music off.

Brayden rolled his eyes at his brother, he walked over to the music station and turned the music, causing Stefan to glare at him.

"When are you going back to school?" Damon asked, as Stefan started doing push ups.

"Soon" Stefan replied.

"Oh, come on, just drink already" Damon said, kneeling by Stefan with his glass of blood in his hand, "Come on, this self-detox, it's not natural".

"Get that away from me, please?" Stefan said.

"How long did it take you to wean yourself off of it after you last indulged?" Damon asked, but Stefan stayed silent, "That's not good".

"I'll be fine, it just takes a little bit of time" Stefan replied.

"I don't get it, you don't have to kill to survive, that's what blood banks are for" Damon said, "We haven't hunted a human in--god, way too long".

"Oh, I'm impressed" Stefan said sarcastically.

"It's completely self-serving" Damon said, "Trying to get the town off the trail of vampires, which is not very easy considering there's an entire tomb of them running around".

"What are we planning on doing about that?" Stefan asked.

"It's better if you stay out of it Stefan" Brayden replied, finally speaking, "Wether you admit it or not, you're not in the right space of mind right now".

"There's nothing wrong with a healthy diet of human blood from a blood bank" Damon said, "You're not actually killing anyone".

"I have my reasons" Stefan stated.

"Well, what are those holier-than-thou reasons?" Damon asked, "Cause you know we've never actually discussed that".

"Damon, let it go" Brayden said.

"Why?" Damon asked, "Don't you want to know the story, I know I'd love to".

"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?" Stefan asked Damon, "Just watching me struggle?".

"Very much so" Damon replied.

"I hate to break it to you, Damon, but I actually have it under complete control" Stefan said.

"You do?" Damon asked, Stefan nodded, "Oh, well, then you should just carry on making the rest of us vampires look bad, have a great day, Stef".

"Anything you want to say?" Stefan asked Brayden, after seeing him not leave with Damon.

Brayden sighed, "Look Stefan, I know me and Damon both have tried to get you to drink human blood, we were trying to torture you, we never really excepted you to actually drink human blood, and I know this is the first time you've had human blood since she left", Stefan clenched his fist hearing Brayden mention her, "And if you're struggling, I need you to know that I will help you through this".

"Why?" Stefan asked confused.

"Because you're my little brother, you're my responsibility" Brayden replied, grabbing the glass of blood Damon left behind to tempt Stefan, and walking out the door.

***

"The corner's office has officially ruled Vicki Donovan's death a drug overdose" Liz told the council, "Her family has been notified, the truth will stay in this room, and we can put this behind us".

"Thank you, sheriff" Mayor Lockwood said, "And now to a more pressing issue, John Gilbert has asked to say a few words", Brayden and Damon exchanged a confused look, they didn't know there was another Gilbert, "Welcome back, John, good to see you".

"Thank you, mayor" John said, "Hello, everyone, it's wonderful to see you, I wish it were under better circumstances as a founding-family member, I find it's my duty to report some very distressing news".

"He's a Gilbert?" Damon asked Liz.

"Elena's uncle, his name's John, but I call him jackass" Liz replied.

"I can see why" Brayden said, already not liking John.

"A hospital blood bank in the neighboring county of Amherst has reported several break-in over the past two weeks" John informed, "Seven hunters, four campers and two state employees have been reported missing as well, all of this within a 75-mile radius of Mystic Falls".

"Okay, okay, no need to get alarmed right at this moment" Mayor Lockwood said.

"Meaning he doesn't wanna cancel the Founder's Day kick off party" Liz told the twins

"This town has way too many events" Brayden mumbled, making Liz chuckle.

"You think all of your problems are over, but I'm here to tell you, nothing's been solved" John said.

Damon and Brayden looked at other, both the twins realised John Gilbert was going to be a problem.

***

Elena opened the front door, to see Damon and Brayden standing there, after the Founder's meeting Elena called Brayden saying she needed to speak to him and Damon about Stefan, that was the only reason Brayden agreed to meet her.

"Oh, good, you're here" Elena said, letting the twins in.

"Make this quick, your presence suffocates me" Brayden said, causing Elena to simply shake her head at him, at this point she was getting used to his everyday insults, and she knew no matter what she says, Brayden wasn't going to stop, so she let him be.

"Let's talk upstairs" Elena said.

Damon saw Jeremy sitting in the kitchen, eating his cereal, "No, Elena, I will not go to your bedroom with you".

Brayden rolled his eyes at his twin and just followed Elena up.

"Did you know that your uncle's been kicking it with the Founder's Council?" Damon asked, as he and Brayden entered Elena's room.

"What?" Elena asked shocked.

"Yep" Damon replied.

"Perfect, we'll just add it to the growing list of how everything's falling apart" Elena said.

"What happened there?" Brayden asked, pointing to the broken lamp.

"Nothing" Elena replied, not wanting to tell the twins that Stefan crashed there when he lost control while making out with her, "Look, guys, I'm worried about Stefan, he says that everything's okay, but he's clearly struggling, how long is it going to take before he's back to normal?".

"A few days, give or take" Damon replied.

"It's been a few days" Elena said.

"Give, then, I don't know" Damon said, "What's the big deal?".

"He's not himself" Elena replied.

"Has it ever occurred to you that you might not know the real Stefan?" Brayden asked.

"I know Stefan, Brayden" Elena snapped, "And his not like this, his not you and Damon".

"That's what you think" Brayden said, "But deep down, his just like us, maybe even worse, we're vampires Elena, and when we are exposed to blood we lose it, that's exactly what's happening to Stefan, and you need to be patient with him, but if you can't do that, then maybe you shouldn't be with him".

"Brayden--".

"I've said what I wanted to say" Brayden said, walking out of Elena's room.

"Protective Brayden, coming through" Damon mumbled, following Brayden out, leaving behind a shocked Elena.

***

Brayden's Look^

"Oh, god, I shouldn't be here" Stefan said, as he, Brayden and Damon entered the Founder's Day kickoff party.

"Come on, don't be a downer, it's a party for founding families" Damon said, "That would be us, it would be rude to skip it".

"I really liked you a whole lot better when you hated everybody" Stefan said.

"Oh, I still do, I just love that they love me" Damon said.

"Asshole" Brayden mumbled, he then turned to his younger brother, "You okay?".

"I'm good, I'm fine" Stefan replied.

"No cravings, no urges?" Damon asked, "Is that whiskey you've been drinking all day doing its job? We are who we are, Stefan, pretending doesn't change that".

"For once in your life, shut up" Brayden told his twin, "And for the love of god Stefan, don't listen to Damon, he has the worst advice in this world.

"It's inevitable" Damon said.

"Not tonight" Brayden said.

Stefan gave Brayden a grateful nod, "I'm gonna go find Elena".

"Don't embarrass me, young man" Damon called out, as Stefan walked out.

"I'm going to go find Caroline" Brayden informed.

"Same applies to you" Damon said.

"Don't be your usual self" Brayden warned, walking away to find his girlfriend.

***

Caroline was in the ballroom, watching all the couples around her dance, while very impatiently waiting for Brayden to arrive.

Suddenly, a hand was wrapped around her waist, and someone placed a light kiss on Caroline's neck, Caroline didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"Why's a beautiful girl like you standing all alone?" Brayden asked.

"Waiting for her very late boyfriend to arrive" Caroline replied, turning around and facing Brayden.

"Your boyfriend is an idiot for making you wait for him" Brayden said.

"Completely agreed" Caroline said, playing along.

"What can he do to make it up to his amazing girlfriend?" Brayden asked.

"Kiss her" Caroline replied.

Brayden smiled, "Gladly" he said, placing his hand on the back of Caroline's neck and pulling her into a kiss.

"Definitely made up for it a little bit" Caroline whispered.

Brayden chuckled, "Well, the night has just started, I'll make it up to you fully before this night ends".

Caroline smiled, "I believe you".

Brayden smiled, his smile dropped when he spotted Stefan by the bar, with Elena.

"Is he okay?" Caroline asked, following Brayden's eye of sight and seeing Stefan.

"No" Brayden replied, "He thinks his okay, but I'm afraid his going to let his bloodlust take control of him".

"He will be fine, specially if he has you by his side" Caroline said.

"I'm trying Caroline, but I'm not good at this, me and Damon never had to help Stefan, it was always Fae" Brayden said.

"Are you ever going to tell me who Fae is?" Caroline asked.

"One day" Brayden replied, "She's a subject I haven't touched in about thirty years, none of us have, her topic makes all three of us lose it, Stefan more then me and Damon".

"I understand" Caroline said, "I can wait for when you're ready".

Brayden gave Caroline a grateful smile, "Thank you for understanding".

Caroline gave Brayden a small smile, "By the way, you're wrong", Brayden looked at Caroline in confusion, "If anyone's going to help Stefan through his tough times, it's going to be his brothers, because deep down all three of you care immensely for each other, even if you fight like rabid animals".

Brayden chuckled, "Rabid animals?" he asked, "Seriously?".

"Yeap" Caroline replied.

"You're unbelievable" Brayden said.

"Thank you" Caroline said.

Both Caroline and Brayden looked at each other in confusion when the slow song, changed into a upbeat party song.

"How did this happen?" Caroline asked confused.

"I believe that's the doings of my drunk brother" Brayden replied, seeing Stefan by the DJ.

"Well, we should take advantage of this" Caroline said, "Dance with me, Brayden Salvatore?".

"I thought you would never ask, Caroline Forbes" Brayden teased, leading Caroline towards the dance floor, where Stefan was dancing with Kelly Donovan.

As Caroline and Brayden were busy in each other's company, they failed to see Damon and Elena look at them, one with a smirk, the other with a frown.

***

"Two bourbons" Damon told the bartender, "Where's your girlfriend?".

"She went to talk to her mom" Brayden replied, taking a sip of his drink.

"Have you two noticed what your brother's been up to?" Elena asked, standing on the other side of Brayden.

"No, I'm trying to enjoy a blissful night with my girlfriend" Brayden snapped, downing his drink.

"And I've been preoccupied with yours" Damon replied.

"What?" Brayden asked confused.

"Jeremy's been asking about Vicki Donovan's death" Damon replied.

"He knows that her death was ruled an overdose" Elena said.

"Really? Oh, but, sheriff, someone buried her, who would do that?" Damon mimicked, "I know, I know, me and my brother, I mean, I could compel him, but he's wearing vervain".

"No" Elena and Brayden said.

"I don't want you to compel him" Elena said.

"If he keeps asking questions--".

"He has a right to ask questions Damon" Brayden snapped, "His own sister has kept him in the dark, the girl he loved was found buried, his confused, and he wants answers, you can't blame him for asking questions", Brayden turned to a shocked Elena, "For once in your life Elena, be a decent human being, tell your brother the truth, not knowing is going to put him in very dangerous situations, situations that might end up killing him".

***

"Brayden, where are you taking me?" Caroline asked confused.

"Just come with me" Brayden replied, leading Caroline towards the balcony, "Look up".

Caroline looked up at the dark night, "What am I looking at?" she asked confused.

"At the stars" Brayden replied, "I feel a bit guilty for not talking about Fae, so I decided to tell you something else about me".

"What?" Caroline asked, eager to know more about Brayden.

"Unlike a lot of vampires, I don't like remembering what I was like when I was human, I like who I am now, I like being immortal, being fast, being strong, but there's one thing that I stayed true to since I was a human" Brayden replied, looking up at the stars.

"Which is what?" Caroline asked.

"My love for stars" Brayden replied, "When I was little, I would go on the roof of our house and lay there and stare at the stars for hours, I knew if my father found me, I would be in a lot of trouble, but I never cared, stars always gave me a sense of peace, throughout the centuries the whole world has changed, but every night whenever I look up at the sky, it didn't matter what century I was in, or where I was, or who I was with, stars were always there".

"Did your father ever find you?" Caroline asked curiously.

"Once" Brayden replied, "God, he was so angry".

"Why?" Caroline asked confused.

"My father didn't like it when his sons were happy" Brayden replied, the bitter tone not missed by Caroline.

"Did you stop going on the roof after you got caught?" Caroline asked.

"Of course not" Brayden replied, "I just learnt how to be sneakier".

"I like the sun" Caroline said suddenly.

"The sun?" Brayden asked, amused.

Caroline nodded, "I like how warm the sun feels on the skin, I like how when the sun is out the whole world is full of light".

"That means, you're my sun" Brayden realised.

"What?" Caroline asked confused.

"You light my dark world" Brayden replied.

"Does that mean you're my star?" Caroline asked.

"And how is that?" Brayden asked, pulling Caroline closer to him.

"Whenever I'm with you, I'm happy, I'm at peace" Caroline replied.

Brayden smiled, he leaned forward and was about to kiss Caroline, when John Gilbert came and interrupted the couple.

"Caroline" John said, causing Caroline to separate from Brayden, "Your mother's looking for you".

"My mom?" Caroline asked confused, as far as she remembered she already talked to her.

"Yeah, she has something important to tell you" John replied.

Brayden could immediately tell John was lying, but nonetheless, he nodded at Caroline, "Go".

Caroline looked between John and Brayden, she could sense the tension between them, but nonetheless, she walked away, knowing Brayden had this under control.

"Brayden, right?" John asked.

"John" Brayden greeted, giving John a small nod.

"We didn't get to meet at the council meeting" John said.

"I'm antisocial" Brayden said, "I keep to myself".

"And to your twin brother?" John asked.

"Twin brother, huh?" Brayden asked, "For someone who just came to town, you sure know a lot".

"I haven't been away that long" John replied, "How long have you been in town?".

"Way too long" Brayden replied, giving John a mock smile.

John nodded, "So what do you think, Brayden? You know this vampire problem is real, right? It's a potential bloodbath".

"It's a bit too twilighty for me" Brayden replied.

"Oh, I think it's like 1864 all over again" John said, "Vampires running amuck, guess we're just gonna have to hunt them down, throw them in a church, and burn them to ash".

"I wish you luck with that" Brayden said.

"But there's a lot more to the story" John said, "You see, it seems that there was a tomb under the church, where the vampires were hidden away, waiting for someone come along and set them free, but then you already knew that, didn't you?".

"Yes I did, John" Brayden replied, "Didn't you know? I'm the one who freed them".

"Oh, I know" John replied.

"You Gilbert's are the most stupidest people I've ever met" Brayden said, "Do you realise I can kill you in one second, right?".

"I ingest vervain" John replied smugly.

Brayden smirked, "Vervain isn't going to stop me from shoving my hand into your chest and ripping your heart, but since I don't want to ruin this suit, I'll just have to go with this".

Before John could react, Brayden had snapped his neck and thrown him over the balcony.

"Stupid, annoying, idiotic humans" Brayden mumbled, going back into the party to find his brothers.

***

"Brothers" Brayden greeted Damon and Stefan, "I have some news for you two, want to start with the good one or the bad one?".

"Actually, I don't want any news, Brayden" Stefan replied.

"Well suck it up little bro, because I'm still going to tell you" Brayden said, "The bad news is that the council is back in vampire mode, and the good news is I snapped your girlfriend's uncle's neck in half, he had the audacity to talk shit to me".

"What?" Stefan asked shocked.

"You killed who now?" Damon asked, more amused then shocked.

"John Gilbert" Brayden replied, snatching Stefan's drink, "Officially, my favorite party of the year".

Before his brothers could grill him anymore, Brayden walked away from them with a smug smile on his face.

***

"You killed Elena's uncle?" Caroline asked shocked, standing next to the twins.

"I had to" Brayden defended, "He pissed me off".

"So you kill everyone who pisses you off?" Caroline asked.

"Yes" Brayden replied simply.

While Caroline and Brayden were arguing with each other, Damon's eyes landed on the front door, through which a very much alive John Gilbert walked in.

"Brayden" Damon said, "I thought you said you killed John Gilbert".

"I did" Brayden snapped, "Haven't you been listening to me?".

"Then who the hell is that?" Damon snapped back, pointing to an alive John.

"Oh my god" Caroline whispered shocked.

"Dammit!" Brayden snapped, as John looked at the twins and smirked.

***

"Thank you all for joining us tonight" Mayor Lockwood said, addressing the crowd, "In just a few moments, we will officially begin the countdown to our Founder's Day celebration, and it's a very special one this year, the 150th birthday of our town, and I would like to welcome back one of our town's favorite sons to do the honors of ringing our official charter bell, John Gilbert, would you please join me up here?".

"Is he going to expose you guys?" Caroline asked worried.

"We don't know" Damon replied, while Brayden simply glared at John.

"One hundred and fifty years of community, prosperity, family" John said, looking at the twins, "We take care of each other, we look after each other, we protect each other, it's good to be home".

"He needs to die" Brayden said.

"I know" Damon said, "But the question is how?".

Brayden's eyes fell on John's hands, where a familiar ring resided.

"Come with me" Brayden told Damon, he grabbed Caroline's hand and went over to where Alaric was standing, "Look at the dickhead's right hand".

"Whose?" Alaric asked confused.

"John" Brayden replied, "Look at John's right hand".

"Well, his ring looks like mine" Alaric realised.

"Yeah, and that'd be a big coincidence if he didn't just come back from the dead five minutes ago" Damon said, "Where the hell did you get that ring?".

"Isobel, my wife" Alaric replied.

"Who gave birth to Elena, under the medical care of the esteemed Dr. Grayson Gilbert, John's brother" Damon said.

"You think John has a connection to Elena's mom?" Caroline asked.

"I think John has a connection to way to many people for my liking" Brayden replied.

***

"Going somewhere?" Damon asked, as he, Brayden and Alaric followed John out.

"I never like to be the last one to leave a party" John replied, "It's too desperate, are you two here to kill me or are you two gonna let Mr. Saltzman do your dirty work?".

"Okay, you obviously know who I am" Alaric replied.

"I do" John said, "Alaric Saltzman, the high school history teacher with a secret".

"You know, for someone who just came in town, you sure know a lot" Damon said.

"More then you can imagine, Damon" John said, "My knowledge of this town goes beyond anything that any of you know, so if you were planning on some clever high-speed-snatch-ring-vamp-kill move, know that if I die, everything I know goes to the council, including a fascinating little tale of the original Salvatore brothers and their present-day return to Mystic Falls".

Brayden suddenly started chuckling, confusing John, "You Gilberts are such idiots, you really think if you expose us, we, or more specifically me, won't kill the rest of you Gilbert clan? The great thing about me being a vampire, and you and the rest of the council being humans, is that it won't take me less then a second to rip your heads off, I wonder, can your ring, stich your head back to your body?".

"How'd you get the ring anyways?" Alaric asked, interrupting Brayden and John's glaring competition,

"I inherited one, my brother Gray, the other" John replied, "This was his, and I wouldn't have given mine to Isobel had I known she'd hand it over to a another guy".

"So you did know her" Damon realised.

"Who do you think sent her your way when she wanted to become a vampire?" John asked.

"You sent Isobel to us?" Brayden asked shocked.

"Guilty" John replied, "Why, did you think someone else sent her? Maybe Katherine or Kaitlynn Pierce?".

"How do you know about Katherine?" Damon asked shocked.

"How do I know anything Damon?" John asked.

"What the hell do you want?" Brayden asked, stepping closer to John.

"So many questions" John mocked, "It's a pleasure meeting you, Ric, I've heard so much about you".

"We can snatch his ring and kill him" Brayden said, trying to walk towards John who was now walking away from the trio.

"Brayden stop" Damon said, holding his brother back.

"He needs to die Damon!" Brayden snapped.

"I know" Damon snapped back, "Trust me I know, but we can't risk getting exposed".

"I can" Brayden said, struggling in Damon's grip.

"Think rationally" Damon snapped, "He knows about Katherine and Kaitlynn, don't you want to know how?".

Brayden looked at Damon and sighed, "After we find out everything he knows, he dies".

"Deal" Damon said.

***

Stefan entered the living room where his two older brothers were sitting.

"We have problem, Stefan" Damon said, "And when I say problem, I mean global crisis".

"Are you okay?" Brayden asked, seeing Stefan's agitated face.

"You don't look so good" Damon observed.

"It's effecting you, isn't it?" Brayden asked, "Your hunger is starting to control you again".

"It's different this time, isn't it?" Damon asked, "The need is too strong".

"All these years, you should have learnt how to control your bloodlust, but you spent years running away from it" Brayden said, standing up and passing a glass of bourbon to his younger brother, he patted his arm, "You'll be fine, one way or another".

Both Damon and Brayden left the room, completely missing Stefan downing the blood Damon had poured for himself.

***

Presenting 1x18 of The Vampire Diaries . . .

How was the chapter?

Thoughts on Brayden wanting to help Stefan with his bloodlust?

Thoughts on Brayden telling Elena to tell Jeremy the truth?

Thought on Brayden telling Caroline about his love for stars?

Thoughts on John threatening the twins?