Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created in Glee. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is being intended. However, all original characters belong to me.

A/N: This story takes place a day or so after "Sexy" everything up until that point is cannon. First I would like to say, is it just me or does Brittany seem to be one of the few glee kids that is actually mature? Everything she did in "Sexy" proves that she understands a lot more than what everyone thinks she does. For this story I'm going to try and write this story like an episode of glee the best that I can. It will be setup like a side character story arc.

Anyways, just got the story idea working off the notion that she is much smarter and more mature than she lets on.

Title: Broken

Rating: T – language

Summary: There is a new faculty member at McKinley High School, she says she is there to help the students, but will her being at the school expose a heavy secret that has been weighing on Brittany for quite some time?

Chapter 1

The cafeteria was full, as it always was. The bell signaling the day's next period had rung only moments ago. Mercedes sat homework out quickly running through her notes for her history class her hand absentmindedly grabbing at chips. Mike sat across from her at the round table. He poked at what the lunch staff was calling chicken for today while Tina sitting next to him swirled a piece of raw broccoli in a plastic cup of ranch dressing. Artie rolled himself over to the empty area of the table, placing his tray atop it.

Over in the lunch line stood Quinn, Lauren, and Puck each twirled the cups of jell-o and pudding attempting to make the most important decision for their school day 'what to eat for lunch' each grabbed what they needed sliding their trays along to the checkout.

"Artie," asked Mike.

"Hmm?" Artie tapped at his soda before popping it open, he took a sip.

"Have you seen Brittany? She never showed up this morning." Mike lifted a piece chicken. He looked at the frayed piece perplexed. "The three of us were going go to test out some choreography ideas for regionals before school started," he stated pointing from him to Tina. "I don't think this chicken is real." He placed it back on his place taking hold of his apple instead.

"Oh?" Artie paused. "Yeah her car is being serviced, so her Aunt drove her to school today." Artie fettled with his 'side salad'.

"Her aunt, why would her Aunt drive her to school," asked Tina.

"She and Bethany are staying with their Aunt and Uncle while their parents are out of town." He was met with quizzical looks. Artie shrugged. "They aren't allowed to be alone in the house together for long periods of time, something about not making good choices and dying the poodle pink and purple." Artie began to mix his spaghetti and sauce together. "She also works at the school, over in the personnel building."

The table was quiet. "Wait. Our Brittany, our lovable Brittany, has a family member working over in personnel. Does anyone else see a problem with that?" Mercedes shut her history textbook then placed her notebook in her bag.

"What up my peeps." Puck slid into a free seat at the table letting his backpack fall to the floor.

Lauren sat beside Puck as Quinn sat beside her she opened her bottled water and took a swig.

The group shrugged. "Artie was just telling us about how Brittany's aunt works for the school district." Mercedes' voice still had a tone of shock in it.

"Brittany has family that work for the school. Scary – very scary," stated Lauren pulling at her sandwich.

MR. SHUESTER SWAGGERED over to his usual table for a quick lunch. He had a good amount of work to do for both Glee Club and his senior Spanish class. Mrs. Pillsbury-Howel sat in her normal seat gloves covering her hands as she opened her Tupperware enclosed lunch. "Hey Emma, how has your day been?"

"Oh it's been great actually. I have spent most the morning showing my fill in around the school. She doesn't come over here often which is just so sad she would help so much with the kids."

"You're going to have a fill in, how long?" He sat at his seat, dumping the contents of the brown paper back onto the table. He riffled through the pile taking hold of the smashed sandwich. He began to undo the cellophane.

"A few weeks, I have a good number of unused sick days so Carl and I are going to go on a couple's retreat. It is said to help bring couples closer together." She pit into the corner of her ham sandwich. "I asked her a few days back, but she couldn't stop buy till today. She starts tomorrow."

"That – that's great Emma – I'm happy for you."

The lounge door swung open as a woman with long wavy loose honey blond curls walked in. She wore a perfectly trimmed black pencil skirt with a soft colored loose blouse. Mrs. Pillsbury-Howl motioned to the woman large smile on her face. "Oh, oh Will. This is Dr. Cynthia Kerklaan. She's who will be filling in for me while I'm away. The board wants to see if having two councilors in the building will help with the students' issues something about needing someone on staff for the children who is an actual therapist."

"Is that really necessary? Emma you're great with the kids here."

Cynthia took a seat beside Mrs. Pillsbury-Howl. A thin wired gold bracelet clinked against her wrist as she held out a perfectly manicured hand, Mr. Shuester shook it. She smiled. "Will Shuester right." He nodded his head puzzled look crossing his face. "You don't remember me do you?" Cynthia laughed. "Well I was two years ahead of you here at McKinley. So it's understandable." Will only stared in confusion. She grinned large.

His eyes went wide. "Cynthia… Cynthia… Oh wait, no – no it can't be your Cyndi P? I never thought you would be back here. Didn't you go to North Western?"

Mrs. Pillsbury-Howel smiled she clapped her hands together excitedly. "This is fantastic you two know each other."

"Oh yeah, she helped with Glee Club when I had joined. She played the piano for our practices." Mr. Shuester could only smile he ran a hand through his hair, "Small world."

Cynthia screwed open the top of her green tea. "I met my husband there, and we both found jobs in Texas, the parents at the school I was a part of in Dallas – were just – just too much. It was like speaking with thousands of pageant mothers in one sitting. I missed Lima's small town fill." She bit into her Banana. "So, we moved back. I just got lucky with my job."

"What do you do exactly?"

"For the last three years I have been in charge of counseling for the whole district. My daughter is in fifth grade now, and our son just entered kindergarten. I work more with the elementary and intermediate." She placed the peel of the banana atop her paper bag. "I would love to work with the high school but until Coach Sylvester pulled that stunt with the cannon the parents didn't seem to think, anything obscure was going on at the school. I didn't really push for it but then my niece had called me the other night. She helped me realize that I needed to push to be a part of the high school rather than wait for Principal Figgen's to ask."

…

Cynthia sat at her desk, radio on filling the room with ambient sounds of classic rock and classical music. Her fingers typed quickly as she revised a presentation and responded to a few e-mails. Then her Blackberry began to ring, vibrating atop the dark maple stained wood. Eyes still focused on the monitor screen attached to her laptop, she answered her cell phone, "Cynthia speaking."

There was a pause on the other side of the line just a second too long. Cynthia smiled, she knew who it was. "Hi Cyndi, I did what you suggested yesterday," said the female voice animatedly.

"You did? Good, how did it go?"

"I got her to agree to talk to an adult."

"Would you like me for to stop by, you know I'll come by any time you or any of your friends need to talk." She turned back to her computer for a moment. She noticed the new e-mail reading, 'temporary fill in, please consider'.

"I know, well, I mean, I would have asked if we could talk to you. But, you see she has this thing where she has a hard time talking or making any sort of coherent thought when she is around you, cause you know, you're hot." Cynthia was happy this conversation was taking place over the phone because whenever this reasoning came into play she couldn't help but laugh just a bit. "Something about you looking like how I'm going to look when I get old – er, I don't know you just make her nervous." Cynthia laughed softly.

Cynthia smiled, she adored he r niece. "It's alright, if you don't talk with me. It won't hurt my feelings. Have you found anyone else?"

The voice over the phone huffed. "See that's where I'm having problems. She said we could talk if I found an adult, but I think she only said that because she doesn't think I will find someone who we can talk too," she groaned. "Why are people so frustrating?"

"It's always the people we care about who frustrate you the most. Artie has aggravated you too just as much." Cynthia paused. "What about Mrs. Pillsbury-Howel, you could talk to her. She is your guidance councilor after all."

"No, I mean she is nice and everything, but sometimes I think I know more about what a relationship is than she does and that's kinda scary, because I'm like seventeen and she's like almost your age." There was an abnormally long pause, and most would hang up. However Cynthia knew her niece was just lost in thought. "Oh wait, Miss Holiday. We could talk to Miss Holiday."

"Who's that?"

"She's a substitute, I know she isn't like a real teacher or anything, but she is really nice. And, in Glee Club she asked us what we would like to learn, and she cares about us like you do Cyndi."

She placed her finger over the bottom of cell. "Your father is fixing dinner. I'm on the phone with your cousin." The little girl nodded skipping off down the hall. Cynthia released the receiver end of the cell to answer the teenage girl. "There you go, if you feel like she would give you good advice, and that she will take the time to listen to you, then go right ahead, ask he."

There was another long pause.

"I need to go, mom says dinner is ready. Thanks Cyndi you're the best."

"You're welcome sweetheart. If you want to talk about anything else you give me a call. I will see you in a few days."

…

"You have a niece here at the high school," asked Mrs. Pillsbury-Howl curiously.

Cynthia nodded. "My niece, she's in your Glee Club, Will." Cyndi ripped at her peanut butter sandwich. "She speaks very highly of you, you know."

"Really, who would that be," asked Mr. Shuester. "No one has ever mentioned you." He took a bite from his sandwich. "Not that knowing you wouldn't be worth anything most of our time is spent working on our song assignments, so normally I never hear much about their personal lives–"

Cynthia laughed. "It's alright. My niece is Brittany Peirce."

Mr. Shuester sat mouth slightly agape in shock.

I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Let me know what you think.