The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things

Summary: 'Take me home to my real mommy! Please! Take me home!' The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it? What do you do when you're forced to live with strangers? Zack and Cody meet the brother they never knew they had, Jeremiah McGwire, now known as Jeremiah Martin. He is really distant and violent. He doesn't trust anyone has lived a bad life. Soon he learns that he has to trust his family if he wants to survive this cruel world called life.

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Ch.1-Jeremiah McGwire

Carey's POV-

"Mom, what's wrong?" Fourteen-year-old Cody Martin asked me in a worried voice. His twin, Zack Martin, looked up from his pancakes and paused with his fork half in and half out of his mouth. I was staring off into space, which is what I've been doing for the past couple of days. But my hand, which was holding onto the syrup, was half raised but syrup still poured out of it so my pancakes were drowning. Zack shook my arm which brought me out of my day dream with a confused look in my eyes.

"What's wrong boys?" I asked as if I just realized the room was on fire. My exchanged confused glances and looked back at me.

"We're asking you what's wrong. Lately you've been distant and quiet and you're starting to scare me," Zack responded.

I hesitated about what she was going to say, but stopped myself. 'They're not ready yet. I'll tell them soon.' I put on a smile and responded, "Everything's fine. You boys need to get ready for school"

"Yes mam," They responded in unison as they got up from the table and put their bowls into the sink. I watched as the boys got ready for school I gave them both lunches and a kiss on the top of the head. I had a faint smiled, although it was kind of sad, on my face. I'd have to tell them later today. A while later I left her suite and went down into the lobby where Mr. Moseby, the manager, was talking to Maddie Fitzpatrick, the Candy Counter girl.

"Moseby. Maddie. If the boys get back here before I do, tell them I'm out getting something and I'll be home soon," I told them as I rushed out of the revolving doors. I got into my car and started my long drive to the Mental Institute. Why am I going there? It's a long story, but I have time.

A while ago, I was pregnant with my twin sons Zack and Cody. My ex-husband Kurt was really happy that we were having two kids instead of one. After they were born I figured my life would be great. Having a little family together with the love of my life and nothing would go wrong. Of course, like usual, I was the one who was wrong. Kurt got into a band left me with the twins weeks at a time until the weeks turned to months, which turned to years. From then on all Kurt and I did was argue. I knew it hurt my sons but I couldn't help it. He just makes me mad sometimes. Then we finally got divorced when Zack and Cody were seven. We took time off of our normal lives to stay with my mother. Then I met Kurt again. We had this little thing and guess what? I wound up pregnant with another son. How is it that Zack and Cody never found out? Because I made sure that I wasn't at my mother's house for the next nine months. That hurt my sons the most but I had to do something about it. I didn't want Kurt to know that I had another son. I couldn't handle two on my own that well and I knew I couldn't handle a third one. So, once he was born, I set him up for adoption. I had named him Aaron Martin. But this girl, Sarah, changed his name to Jeremiah McGwire. For the next seven years he lived a horrible life of drugs, abuse, and torture. Eventually he ended up having to go to a Mental Institute because people thought he was crazy and telling lies about his life. That's where I come in. Turns out the Institute he was checked into was the one in Boston. I was going to see him and hopefully adopt him so he could become my son again; that is if he wanted to. But I had to tell Zack and Cody first. They would be so mad about me not telling them but they'll come to love him as a real brother…I hope.

Once I pulled into the parking lot I was greeted by Dr. Johnson. He was the one in charge of Jeremiah and he has all ready met with me. This time I would watch Jeremiah and see how he reacts to other people. He lead me to a room with a two-way mirror; I could see Jeremiah but he couldn't see me. He was very cute and I could tell her was related to Zack and Cody. He was supposed to have blond hair but it was dyed black. His greenish-blue eyes were very distant as he sat on a couch and stared at his hands. He would smile time to time and he would get dimples in both cheeks. He had Cody's face and Zack's freckles. He also had Cody's mole near the bottom of his chin. He was wearing a very dirt black button down shirt over black jeans and black socks. He had bandages wrapped around his wrists and his black hair fell into his eyes. (1) He seemed very jumpy; whenever he heard a small sound his head would immediately snap in that direction. His eyes would shift back and forth and then after a few minutes he would relax.

"I'm going to send in a nurse to try and make him eat. Watch what he does," Dr. Johnson said to me. I nodded slightly as he pushed a button. A woman came in wearing a white uniform and holding onto a tray. Jeremiah backed away from her with an angry look on his face. Their voices floated into the room once Dr. Johnson pushed a button.

"Hello Jeremiah. How're you feeling today?" She asked.

"Go away!" Jeremiah spat.

"Why don't you try eating some lunch?"

"I don't want it! I want my mommy! Where is she? WHERE?"

"She's not here anymore Jeremiah. Try and eat something."

"NO!" He yelled as he picked up the tray and threw it at the wall. The food splattered against the wall as the plate cracked. He then started to pick up random toys and also threw those around the room shrieking and yelling and screaming. Dr. Johnson turned off the sound and faced me with a sigh.

"Are you sure you still want to take this violent boy back?" He asked.

"I'm sure. He's my son. I know I can change him. Zack and Cody can too," I replied in a steady voice. I watched as Jeremiah walked over to an easel picked up a pencil, an started to draw furiously. The pencil strokes started to form shading. Soon it resembled a person. After a lot of mad scratches Jeremiah put down the pencil and tilted his head in confusion as he stared at the piece of paper. I stared too. It was a picture of me. But he has never met me before. How could he have drawn me so easily? It wasn't from memory.

"Mom?" He whispered as he ran a hand across the picture. He stepped away from it, got into bed, ad fell asleep immediately.

"You can come back tomorrow to sign your papers. Right now I need for you to speak to some people then you can leave. I hope you have a nice day," Dr. Johnson said with a small smile. I gave him my thanks and left. I need it wasn't going to be easy.

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"Hi mommy! Where have you been all day?" Cody asked as he ran over and hugged me once I entered our suite. Zack was sitting at the kitchen table with books and papers on his half, a pencil was in his hand and he had a bored look on his face. I hugged Cody back and ruffled his hair. Zack looked at me from his book and from the look of his eyes he could tell what was wrong.

"Sit by me boys. I have something really important to tell you," I said as I sat down on the couch and patted both sides. Zack and Cody sat next to me; Zack resting his head against my shoulder and Cody laying down in my lap. I ran a hadn through Cody's soft hair as I tired to find a way to start my story.

"Back when you guys were seven, Cody, you remember how you said you felt something strange in my tummy?" I started. He nodded silently as I continued. "Well, what it was, was a baby. I was pregnant at the time. I didn't want you to know so I left you with Grandma while I stayed somewhere for the next nine months trying to get this baby as healthy as he could be." I could feel Zack stiffen against my shoulder but he didn't say anything. "After he was born I had to give him up for adoption. I couldn't take care of you two and another baby by myself so I had to. But I named him before I gave him up. He is Aaron Martin. Unfortunately he got adopted by a lady named Sarah McGwire and she changed his name to Jeremiah McGwire. She was one of those careless moms who did drugs, drank, went to strip joints, stayed at drug dens and truck stops. She brought Aaron into her world of abuse and deceit. She told him never to trust anyone but herself. They eventually went crazy and were sent to a Mental Institute. That's where I met him recently. I'm going to try and get him back. You'll have a new brother."

Zack and Cody were silent for a while as they took all of the information in. Finally Cody said, "Mom, you said tat you couldn't take care of us and Jeremiah-"

"Aaron," I corrected.

"-Aaron by yourself. We could've helped. Then he wouldn't of had to live that awful life."

"I know. And I regret it but I'm making up for it by adopting him…if you want me to."

"Adopt him mom. He deserves a good life," Zack muttered against my shoulder.

"That was real sweet Zack," I said as I kissed his head and he smiled a little. "Ok. I'll adopt him tomorrow and you'll finally have a new brother."

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I let Zack and Cody take the day off the next day so they could meet their brother. I warned him about his temper but Cody said that they would take care of it. Always looks on the Brightside, that kid. Today Zack actually behaved. He didn't back talk, complain, or whine like he usually does. I guess the thought of having a little brother excited him. Having another son excited me. Once we pulled up Dr. Johnson greeted me and I introduced him to Zack and Cody.

"What's up?" Zack asked as he slapped the man's hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Cody said politely as he shook his hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you to. Come. I want to show you Jeremiah," Dr. Johnson said as he motioned of us to come with him. We followed him to the room where I saw Jeremiah yesterday. He had his back to us and was holding onto something tightly as we walked in. "Jeremiah," Dr. Johnson said. Jeremiah slowly turned to face us. Zack and Cody shifted nervously as he stared at them. He slowly reached out a hand. Zack nudged Cody and Cody slowly reached his out. Once they touched Jeremiah intertwined his fingers with Cody's; Cody did the same. Jeremiah reached out his other hand to Zack and they did the same.

"I've never seen anything like this. He usually doesn't interact with other people this easily," Dr. Johnson said in amazement. Jeremiah then let go of their hands and moved across the room. He sat down on the couch and glared at his hands. "Jeremiah, these nice people are going to take you home with them. You'll be happy with them."

"NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!" He suddenly yelled as he picked up pillows and started to toss the around the room. Cody ducked before it hit him and it hit Zack in the face. He laughed until he got hit. Jeremiah seemed to freeze once he heard Cody's laugh. Dr. Johnson took the opportunity to take his hand and lead him over to me. I took his small hand in mine as he looked down at the ground.

"Good luck with him," was all Dr. Johnson said as he left the room.

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A/N: So what'd you think of the first chapter? (1) If you want to know what he looks like e-mail me and I'll send you a picture. Don't forget to review!

Next Chapter: Chapter 2: Welcome To the Tipton, Where Jeremiah Is Neat