A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I'd just like to cover myself by saying that I am in no way a doctor or any kind of medical expert at all, so if my hospital details are a little sketchy, it's because it's all based off of ER reruns and Google. Blame them ;).

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

By the time Cody pulled into his driveway it was nine forty five—three hours later than his shift had specified. With a sigh he parked it in the garage, closed the door, and got out his keys.

The little neighborhood was a nice one; mostly single workers who commuted from Chicago each day. The houses were small, but more than enough space for one person and Cody had allowed his mother to come in and help him decorate.

When he walked into the house his golden retriever, Buster, greeted him with a sweeping feathery tail and an eager tongue that licked his hands as he set down his white coat and I.D. card on the kitchen counter. He let the dog out to go to the bathroom and then sunk down into his couch, pressing the voicemail button.

The machine informed him that he had two unheard messages. He waited for the beep, and listened to the voice that followed.

"Hey, Cody, it's Allison. I had a lot of fun going out to eat lunch with you today, and I just wanted to apologize about having to leave so soon. Duty calls, right? Anyway, I've got these two tickets to see this concert Friday night. Let me know if you want to come. I'll talk to you tomorrow-my treat. Bye." Click.

He smiled and pressed nine to save. Next unheard message…

"Uh, hey, Cody," Cody frowned slightly and turned up the volume. Now, there was a voice he hadn't heard in a while. "It's Zack. Um. I'm running kind of low on cash…I need, well, kind of a lot. For rent and stuff. It's cool if you can't…I mean, I know it's asking for a lot but I don't want to be evicted, you know?" A nervous laugh. "So just give me a call back when you get this…And, uh, congrats on getting that job. You've gotta be one hell of a doctor." A pause. "Um…Okay. I'll let you go. Just…You know what? Forget it. I don't know why I called. I'm fine. See you at Thanksgiving. Enjoy the summer."

Cody listened to the message over again before saving it and picking up the cordless phone. Typical Zack. Big dreams, big heart, big city…Little paycheck. Cody had no doubt he had the talent to make it big, but would he find his chance? He took out a small card from his billfold and looked up Zack's apartment phone number.

It rang three times before the machine picked it up with, "This is Charlie, Zack, and Seth. We're probably screening your call. Don't take it personally. Later!"

Cody raised a brow and waited for the beep. When it sounded he cleared his throat and glanced at his watch. "Hey, Zack, it's Cody. It's five to ten on Wednesday night and I'm returning your call from earlier today. Listen, if you need money just let me know. It's no problem. I'd be glad to fund the next big writer-,"

-Suddenly there was a click and Cody stopped talking. "You Zack's brother?"

He blinked. "Uh, yeah," he said hesitantly. "Who is this?"

"This is Seth."

Cody had no idea who that was. "Is Zack there?"

A hesitant pause. Cody could hear loud voices in the background and he frowned deeper. "…Can he call you back?" Seth sounded a little concerned, and Cody furrowed his brow.

"Is he okay?"

"Uh, yeah…" Seth sounded a little dubious and Cody grew more worried.

"Why can't he come to the phone, then? Is he there?"

"Look," said the guy named Seth, lowering his voice. "We had kind of a rough day. Muggers and crap like that. Can he call you back, like, later?"

Cody sighed and scratched Buster's belly. "Okay, can you give him my cell? I'm really only home nights and some Sundays."

"Yeah, yeah," Seth sounded preoccupied and his voice grew a bit faint, as though the reception was fading.

Cody said the number out loud, repeating it twice to make sure the numbers got through. "I can try to get the money there soon. When's the rent due?"

"What?" Seth sounded surprised. "Why?"

Cody raised a brow. "Zack called and started to ask for some money earlier…?"

"Why would he need money?"

Cody stifled a yawn. "Because you're behind on your rent, right?"

"Not at all!" Seth protested. "The three of us all have jobs. We make rent no problem. We all went out to dinner because we had the extra money. And Zack's got that-that jar of cash in his room for emergencies, anyway."

Cody frowned and tossed a rubber ball for Buster to fetch. "Look, I don't know. Maybe it was for something else. Just have him call me back, okay?"

He hung up after saying goodbye and massaged his temples as he lay back on the couch. He hadn't spoken to Zack lately, though he'd heard through emails and calls with his mother that his twin had gotten a job working for the Times. Cody was proud of him, but more than a little concerned. Zack had a history of making stupid decisions…And now life with three friends in a New York City apartment?

He shook his head and went into the kitchen, planning to pour a glass of wine and heat up some leftover spaghetti before turning in for the night. It had been a long day…He would complete his intern training in another month, and then he'd have to pass his exams before becoming a doctor-in-training at St. Rose.

Buster sat handsomely and whined pathetically. Cody squatted in front of him and gave him a little hug. "Good boy," he murmured, cuddling the dog. "Did you have a good walk today with Lily?"

The dog huffed as if to say that yes, he did indeed enjoy his midday walk with the neighbor girl who Cody paid to keep his lonesome pooch company. He'd considered a few times going to the Humane Society to adopt a friend for Buster, but each time he got up to do such a thing he was paged by Dr. Walker or the other hospital workers to help out with some emergency at work.

On his way upstairs once he'd finished his dinner he tapped some fish food into the little glass bowl where his goldfish swam. Buster followed loyally at his feet and padded into the master bedroom.

Cody was just changing into his pajama pants when his beeper cried out and he hurried out of the closet to glance at the words. He reread the name several times before it registered as Allison and it took him a moment to remember he should call her. Why did he always lose his mind when it came to her? Why?

She answered on the first ring. "Cody! Thank God."

"What's up?" he asked her, halfway through loosening his tie.

"There was a bus accident. This woman's pregnant—but she needs to have surgery and we're short-handed. She's going into labor!"

Cody ripped off his pajama bottoms and replaced them with the first pair of pants he could reach—blue jeans. "Okay," he said. "I can be there in fifteen minutes. Fill me in—a bus accident? Were there any other survivors?"

"Seven: four were taken in with head trauma, two had to be resuscitated, and one's in the OR right now. We've only got Dr. Walker, Dr. Carey, and Dr. Sharret and then me and four nurses. We need you!"
He gave an apologetic chew toy to Buster before yanking on his white coat and getting into his car. "Fifteen minutes, okay? Where do you want me to go?"

There was a pause as Allison said something quickly to someone in the background. "Right now we need you in trauma room four, but that could change. Call me as soon as you get into the parking lot."

"Got it," said Cody, backing out of the driveway and nearly speeding out onto the main road. "I'll see you soon. And good luck!"

"Thanks!"

He disconnected the call and turned on the news, hoping to get a feed into the emergency. His favorite news station failed to disappoint, brining in clear detail the horror Cody was soon going to have to face. And not only face, but help fix. Major catastrophes like this didn't happen too often, but when they did Cody was depended upon like he was a seasoned doctor and there was no room for mistakes.

He was busy running through his game plan to help Dr. Walker and the other team of medical professionals when his cell phone began to ring. Thinking it was Allison he answered on the first ring, not even bothering to check the ID.

"Cody Martin," he said urgently, glaring at a red light as it took longer than he wanted to turn green.

"Hey, it's me,"

Cody swore mentally. He didn't have time for this now! "Zack," he said, trying to sound calm. "How are you?" He'd just find out if anything was wrong with his brother and then when he learned that nothing was he'd end the call and focus, focus, focus on the problem at hand.

"I'm okay, I guess," said Zack, though his tone said otherwise. He was nearly whispering, as though he didn't want this conversation to be heard by any of his roommates. "Look, I told you I needed money for rent, but I kind of lied."

Cody accelerated to five over and narrowly avoided a hitchhiking raccoon. "Look, Zack, I'm really busy right now, okay? There's an emergency over at the hospital and I have to be there soon." He sped through a flickering yellow.

"Oh," Zack's voice sounded a little hurt. "Yeah. Okay. No problem. Just…Um…I didn't want to bother mom, you know?"

"Bother mom with what?" Cody pressed. He didn't have time for guessing games, dammit! Zack wasn't a doctor. He didn't understand the responsibilities of the medical field! He didn't understand responsibility period, actually.

Zack must've sensed Cody's impending impatience because he finally gave a straight answer. "I've been having these headaches…And they're really bad…I'm having trouble concentrating at work, and I need some money for Aspirin."

Cody lacked the time to feel concerned for someone who wasn't currently bleeding to death on an unattended examination table. "No problem. I'll send them tomorrow. Is that it?"

"Well, yeah-,"

"-Okay. I have to go then. Talk to you later." Cody snapped the phone shut, cutting off Zack's bye. He pulled into the parking lot of the hospital and dialed Allison's number. She picked up on the first ring.

"You're here?"

"I'm just walking in," said Zack, locking up his car and running through the swinging doors as he flashed security his ID badge. He ducked into the elevator and selected the floor's button. "Still need me in trauma four?"

"No. We-we lost the patient." Allison's voice sounded tired and heavy. "We've got three patients in trauma two. That's where we need you."

Zack left the elevator and sped down the halls. "I'm there," he said, panting and putting away the phone. Allison appeared in the flesh as she waved him into a room. He followed her hastily inside and did what he was told to do upon entering.

For five minutes they worked diligently on a thirty-something man, but despite their best efforts he flat lined and was unable to be revived. Cody sighed and wiped the bloody gloves on the yellow covering over his coat.

"Good job, guys," said Dr. Walker heavily. "Time of death?"

Allison looked at her watch. "Eleven fifteen," she said lowly.

"Okay," said Dr. Walker, turning to a nurse wearing pink scrubs. "Did he have any family out in the waiting room?"
She nodded and disconnected the machine. "His wife and daughters," she said. "I can go tell them, if you want-,"

"-No," said Dr. Walker sadly. He turned to Cody. "Do you think you can do this?" Cody looked at him, mouth hanging open slightly. He'd never been made to tell family members anything regarding patients, though he'd watched it been done hundreds of times. This was a test he'd been waiting to have to have to take.

"I think so, sir," he managed, voice thick. Allison looked at him sympathetically and he tried to appear sure of himself. "What was his name?"

"David Bradley."

Cody nodded and blew out his breath before leaving the room and heading grimly down the hall. In the other rooms other survivors were being cared for and he ducked out of the way as more gurneys were sped down where he'd come from. Numbly, he walked into the waiting room, looking at the tearful people and trying to appear strong, though inside he felt like he was crumbling with guilt and responsibility.

"Family of David Bradley?" He spoke out, surprised by how cool and professional his voice sounded. And that was a good thing. Wasn't it?

A woman and two little girls stood and he tried on a tiny smile as he walked over, sitting across from them as they resat themselves. "We did all we could and I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but we were unable to save your husband."

And as he watched her reaction he reminded himself that if he was going to be a doctor, going to be this miracle worker, he would have to get used to unhappy endings. Endings like this.

And it alarmed him as he realized that, though he'd only been at the hospital for two and a half months, he already was.

To Be Continued

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