A/N: I know I have another story "There Can Be Miracles" and that one I am still working on, but this story popped into mind and I just had to write. I hope you enjoy the read!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody".

Move Along – chapter one: Reason And Forgiveness

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Mr. and Mrs. Martin, but Cody's prognosis is brain damage. The trauma to his head was blunt and caused sufficient damage."

Carey broke into tears and collapsed against her ex-husband.

"When can we see him?"

"In an hour or two once he's out of recovery. I will come and get you."

"Thank you, Dr. Stevens," spoke Kurt.

The doctor left and continued on his rounds. Kurt, meanwhile, tried to calm Carey and his own inner rage as he stared at the source that was at fault for Cody's dire, current condition. Zack sat slumped, expressionless, his eyes wide in shock. He pressed his palm against his forehead and smacked himself repeatedly. Then he began running his fingers through his shoulder-length, blonde hair.

"Zack, why did you do this? What ever possessed you into crushing a rock against your brother's head?"

"I just snapped, mom. You know how Cody's been acting lately," Zack attempted to bring a point across, but failed miserably.

"You two are sixteen-year-old teenage boys, all that Cody's done has been teenage rebellion. What you did today was intolerable and unforgivable."

"But mom…"

"No buts, Zack. You've completely ruined your twin brother's life; do you realize that? Do you even understand how terrible brain damage is and what the everlasting results are?" Kurt questioned his son.

"Yes," Zack responded doubtfully.

"It's a fate worse than death for families and friends affected by it," Carey answered.

Zack stared at the floor with guilt and grief glistening in his eyes. "I'm sorry," the guilt tore at his heart and a lone tear trickled down his cheek soon trailed by a flood of tears.

Carey broke free from Kurt and walked over to her son. "I hope you do realize the true extent of damage you have just caused this family. Remember the once bright, strait-A student, and the caring, loving brother you had just hours ago? Well make sure to cherish those memories because that person is now gone forever."

Zack kept quiet as he and his parents awaited the declaration for them to be allowed to go and see Cody.


Two hours went by, and finally the Martin family found themselves surrounding Cody's hospital bed. He appeared so small and fragile underneath those bedcovers. None of the family realized just how long Cody would stay in his coma. The days drug on, turning into weeks. Zack was back at school, but suffered throughout the day as guilt tugged at his heart. He was the reason Cody was ill, if only he hadn't allowed his temper to get the better of him. Zack found himself in study hall and knew what he had to do, write a letter to his brother. Maybe that would arouse Cody? After all, six weeks had gone by, and Christmas was only three weeks away. Cody had to be with them for Christmas. Zack was in Cody's room in no time, alone favourably, and read his letter aloud.

"Hiya, buddy. It's me, Zack. Listen, buddy, I am so sorry for lashing out and hurting you. I don't know what came over me. I never meant for you to get hurt like that. You need to wake up. Christmas is coming up, and you can't be alone for the holiday lost in your own little world. I know when you wake up you won't be the same," Zack choked on those words, "But I'll help bring you back to your old life. I'll help you become Cody Nicholas Martin once more. I, Zackary James Martin, love you, little brother."

Zack gasped when he felt the faintest squeeze on his hand. "Cody?" whispered Zack in disbelief.

"Aa."

"Cody, come on, wake up."

"M n way."

"Open your eyes, buddy."

Slowly, Cody opened his eyes.

"Welcome back, little bro."

Cody squeezed his eyes shut; the light was blinding him.

"Are you okay, Cody?" asked Zack, concerned.

"Ith urt."

"What?" The nonsense coming out of his twin brother's mouth was incomprehensible, though Zack thought he understood everything Cody was saying.

"Ith urt!" Cody said in the strongest and loudest voice he could muster.

"Does the light hurt you?"

Cody nodded vigorously. Zack immediately closed the blinds.

"Better?"

"Yeah," Cody answered with an articulate word.

"Hey you just said yeah. That's great!"

"Mm, da?"

For some reason that was comprehensible to Zack. He could actually understand everything his twin brother was attempting to speak.

"I'll go get mom and dad, all right, Cody? But first, I'm getting Dr. Stevens."

Zack shortly returned with the doctor.

"Hi, Cody. I'm Dr. Stevens. It's wonderful to see you awake. You've been in a coma for six weeks."

"Wuh?" Cody's breathing became irregular.

"Calm down, Cody. Another plus Zack told me is that you're speaking."

"Bu n'un undands."

"However, we can't understand what you're saying. Due to the blunt head trauma you received, you are suffering from severe brain damage. Can you understand what we're saying?"

Cody nodded, "Bu Aa kow wuh eh aying."

"Doctor, you're wrong about something. I understand what Cody's saying. He said what, but no one understands, and but Zack knows what I'm saying. And I do, Dr. Stevens. It's probably because I'm his twin brother."

"That's very true. It's your twin telepathy. You should be grateful you've got that. Now your brother has a way to communicate with people, through you. I'll go get your parents, you stay with him."

"Thanks. So you hear that, buddy? It's a good thing we're twins. God, Cody, I am so sorry."

"Er ighting, yuh nad wame."

"I know we were fighting, but I am to blame. I'm the one who hit you."

"Eh rogive yuh."

"Thank you, Cody."

"What are you thanking him for, Zack?"

"He forgives me, mom."

"Da ere?"

"Where's dad, mom?"

"Right here, son. Hi Codes, glad to see you up."

"Ow ong beh ere?"

"He's been here since the day you got hurt."

"Eh wan alk em."

"What did he say, Zack?"

"He wants to talk to you."

"I'm right here, Cody." Kurt said grabbing his son's hand while Carey held Cody's other hand.

"N Mm."

"He wants to talk to both of you. I'll be the translator."

"Doe wame Aa. Weh bo er ighting."

"Don't blame Zack. We both were fighting."

"But honey, he smashed a rock against your head," Carey pointed out.

"Dat wa ong, buh I gave em. Yuh shud oo."

"That was wrong, but I forgave him. You should too."

"We will," promised Carey. "But it will take time."

"We will," added Kurt, "eventually."

"Eh yired. Sweedt."

"He's tired and wants to go to sleep."

"Sweet dreams, baby." Cody felt his mother kiss him on the forehead.

"See ya later, buddy," he heard his father say.

"Goodnight, Codesters," Zack said.

In no time at all, Cody fell asleep. When he awoke, Dr. Stevens was in his room alongside his family.

"Cody, can you spell cat?"

Cody looked puzzled, shaking his head negatively.

"Do you know the alphabet?"

"No," another word he could say properly.

"Do you know how to write?"

Cody shook his head, frustrated.

"Calm down, buddy, I'll teach you how to do all that," promised Zack.

"Can you walk?"

"Yeah."

"Thank you for answering my questions, Cody. Now if you will excuse us all for a second, we're going to step outside for a couple minutes.

Cody nodded in affirmative.

"So as you can see, Cody needs to relearn basic knowledge. Even when he does relearn, do no expect him to ever return to his previous intelligence. If he learns up to eighth grade level math that's stretching it and it will be a blessing if he does, same goes for vocabulary and English," Dr. Stevens finished.

"When can he come home?"

"End of the week. Come Friday, he should be stable enough to go home to familiar surroundings."

Zack re-entered the room to find his brother in tears.

"What's wrong, Cody?"

"Eh stup. Eh hacole."

"You're not stupid, Cody. In time, everything will come back to you. And do not EVER think you are a hassle. That's the last thing you are and ever will be."

"Ur smar twed na," joked Cody.

"Just temporarily. Now you get to see how it is in my shoes. Guess what? You get to come home in three days, isn't that great?"

"Yeah."

"We're gonna go get some dinner and head home, but we'll be back first thing tomorrow morning." Zack leaned down and ruffled his brother's hair, "Love ya, buddy."

"Wuv, Aa."

All the Martins knew that the time to come was gong to be extremely difficult. Patience would be tested as they tried to re-teach Cody pre-school level, basic knowledge all over again.

A/N: Well, what did you think? Let me know in your review! The second chapter is almost complete so that should be out VERY soon! Will review all who review me. Please REVIEW! Thanks, - - Stacey - -