Zach didn't know why he was going to the hospital. Ethan was unconscious, and if he were awake Zach doubted Ethan would want to see him. Truth be told, neither Cambias knew what to make of their relationship. Ethan hated him, and when Zach was honest with himself he knew he had a big hand in that. While he thought he was doing the best thing at the time, even he had to admit his reasoning was faulty at best. Yes, Ethan hated him, yet he threw himself in front of Garrett's bullet, without thinking twice. Zach was looking into Ethan's eyes when he did it, and there was no thought. He saw Ethan's eyes go wide, as if responding to some kind of sight that alarmed him. Next thing Zach knew he was on the floor with Ethan on top of him. Kendall was screaming, and he had guessed Simone was too shocked to scream. Zach had patted Ethan on the back, trying to get the boy to move. He was trying to ignore the sound of the gunshot, did not want to think of the logical follow through. However, the warm stickiness he felt on his hand seeping from Ethan's back let him know that the bullet may have missed his mark – him, but it hit a target.
The same impulse that made Ethan jump in front of him was what made Zach jump in his car and follow the ambulance. Simone had jumped in after Ethan's tall form on the stretcher, and the look in the young lady's eyes when she looked at Zach told him if he tried to pull father's privilege he would wind up in worse shape than his son. Kendall looked numb as she followed Zach to his car. The fact that they were going to the hospital was a given, as neither questioned the other. Zach wiped his hand on the towel he left in the car during the winter months to take snow off the windshield to remove the blood – Ethan's blood. Partially his blood.
"He'll be okay," Kendall whispered, grabbing his hand. Zach looked at her oddly, and Kendall did not understand why until she looked down. She and Zach both had the blood on their hands.
"What do we care, hmmm, stepmother?" Zach asked, starting the engine. Kendall cringed as if slapped, but she knew what he was getting at. They had tried to destroy Ethan themselves once.
"Zach, Ethan knew what he was doing. He chose to help you, to save you." Kendall wiped her hands on the towel and jacked up the heater. Zach remained intent on the road, his eyes bright and wild.
"Well, it seems my son is a decent human being after all. Now, if I had been right, he would have been a bastard and I would be dead. I was wrong, and now…" Zach did not complete the sentence, but hit the gas. Kendall gasped slightly, clutching the center console.
"Zach, Ethan is going to be okay. He's strong. " Kendall spoke into the darkness. Her husband's face did not even register that he heard her. Kendall sunk into her seat and sighed. Nothing was going to hit Zach until he knew what was happening.
Simone arranged the blankets on Ethan, trying to see some sign of life from her lover. Nothing. She knew from the EMTs that his heart was still beating, but he just seemed unnaturally still to her. She touched his hand, and it was still warm, letting her know that her Ethan was still there. But for how long she wondered to herself. She knew Zach had wanted to go into the ambulance, but she was going to be damned if the last voice Ethan heard would have been his. She hated Zach for what he did to Ethan, but now her hatred was intensified. If Zach had not messed with the Dragon, or had warned everyone of what he knew, Ethan would not have been there when Zach was shot at. Now, Zach walked away unscathed with Kendall trotting behind, and Ethan lay there shot and possibly dying. That thought repeated itself in Simone's head, raising in volume as they took Ethan into the ER and would not let her follow. That thought, the feeling of powerlessness, and the sight of an uninjured Zach Slater entering the waiting area brought out the anger in Simone. So much so that she did not realize she had punched Zach in the gut until she felt the pain in her hand.
"You Son of a Bitch!" she screamed out. She felt hands on her pulling her back. Zach kind of stood there, no physical reaction. It was the look in his eyes that made Simone stop. That look wanted her to hit him, told of pain Zach himself could not express. Suddenly, Simone felt her anger drain, and with that anger went her energy. The same arms that held her back were suddenly holding her up as the room swirled around her.
"Simone, calm down" Tad's voice entered her ears as she struggled to keep her breathing calm. Stay calm, she told herself. Stay calm. Her breathing obeyed, but her heart couldn't. Then, her eyes rested on Kendall. The look of concern on Kendall's face just seemed wrong to Simone. Her anger flared again.
"What's the matter Kendall? Sorry you didn't get to shoot this one yourself?" Simone yelled. Kendall looked up at Simone, her eyes flaring,
"Ethan lied to me." Kendall responded, but the looks on the faces of the people around her let her know that the part of her who felt she sounded childish was right.
"Oh, and lying to Kendall is enough to get you a death sentence? But Kendall can lie to whoever she wants?" Simone retorted, but her body was losing energy. Ironically, it was Zach's face that bothered her the most. She wanted desperately to hate him, but found that she couldn't. Unlike Kendall's little show of bravado, Zach looked defeated. Still, Simone couldn't resist one last dig.
:"You should be in that room right now" she barked, pointing at Zach. Zach looked at Simone, exhaled deeply, and for the first time since he came to Pine Valley he did not have that smug exterior. For the first time he actually looked old enough to be Ethan's father.
"Little lady. You're right." Zach replied, as he walked to the sunporch.