Chapter 10 – Something's happened?
The Martins had been talking nonstop for a couple of hours and had finally made a bit of a head way. All voiced their concerns and their worries over the child's welfare. A child that hadn't even been born yet, a child that Zack wasn't too sure he was ready for, but would welcome.
"I think under the circumstances guardianship is the best way to handle this." Carey advised.
"Guardianship?"
"I take over the care of my grandchild, until you are of age and Maddie has finished college," she told him. "At that time you will both discuss what you want to do."
"That seems fair to me," Zack stated.
The blond girl nodded as well, as she grabbed her coat.
"Okay then that is what we will do, but in the meantime I think we should head over to Maddie's and discuss this with her parents as well."
"I agree," Kurt replied.
Carey walked over and put a compassionate hand on the young girls shoulder. "Are you ready for this?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied with a slight smile.
Just as everyone was preparing to leave, Zack suddenly slumped down into a chair looking pale with fear. The small group rushed over to his side in order to check on him.
"Zack honey, what's wrong?" Carey asked her son, the look on his face bordered on terrified, which caused her to worry.
"Zack talk to me buddy," Kurt added just as concerned as his mother. Placing a hand on each side of his face, Kurt rubbed his cheeks hoping to gain his attention.
"Are you hurting…do you need us to call an ambulance?" he asked just as a feeling of dread began to form in his stomach. "Zack say something!"
Zack looked into his father's eyes and whispered, "Cody's in trouble."
"Turn your face to the wall," the young mugger growled. "Don't make me tell you twice."
"Dude, come on we have their wallets," his partner said in a rush. "Let's just go."
"Shut the hell up," the first man shouted. "We'll go when I say we will, and not a minute before."
"Look at this guy's ID, and tell me what you see?"
The second man took out the ID card from its leather binding and looked it over. "I don't see anything," he stated confused.
"You idiot, must I explain everything to you?"
"What!"
"Check out the address, pee brain!" he shouted rolling his eyes in frustration.
"He lives at the Tipton?"
"Yes, he lives at a god damn hotel," the first man shouted. "Now what does that tell you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You don't have to do this?" Cody chimed in receiving a kick to the back of the knee for his efforts. Forcing him to double over in pain.
"Shut the hell up, I wasn't talking to you."
"And you," he added pointing over to the other guy. "If you weren't my brother, I swear to God I would have gotten rid of you years ago," he cursed once more before yanking the wallet out of his hand. "It means…he must be loaded."
"Oh yeah!" his eyes went wide as the realization donned on him.
"Which means I bet he has a bit more stashed away," he smiled sadistically. "Or his parents do?"
"What are you planning on doing to us?" Barbara whimpered in fear.
The first guy smiled and leaned into her ear. "I think we should have a little talk, maybe get some things straight."
"What things?"
"Your boyfriend for one; he lives in a hotel, which means he must have a lot of money, right?"
"No you have it all wrong," Cody tried to reason. "My mom works in the hotel and we live there rent free."
"Don't bullshit me," he shouted. "I know you."
"You don't know me."
"No, but I know your kind," he sneered. "High and mighty, think you're better than everyone else…yeah…I know your kind."
"I'm not like that," he replied. "Let us go, we won't say a word."
"I'll let you go," he stated as a matter of fact. "But she stays."
"What!" Cody shouted. "Hell no!"
"Turn around one more time and I put a bullet in her brain," he sneered.
"Alright, what do you want me to do?"
"Cody no," Barbara cried just before the man struck her in the face with the butt of his gun.
Something inside him snapped when he saw Barbara double over and hit the ground. Cody furiously turned around and tackled the man. He didn't know if it was out of anger or fear, but he continued to struggle for control of the weapon. Adrenaline pumped through his body, pushing him to fight back.
He was now in full survival mode and therefore didn't realize it when a bullet hit him. But as soon as the gunshot ricocheted off the walls the two armed muggers started running, leaving the two individuals lying on the ground.
Barbara was unconscious and Cody leaned over her to try and deduce the damage. They were soon surrounded by a few spectators who were then followed by a couple of police officers. In his mind Cody thought that this was a fitting end to a very long day.
Kurt and Carey looked at one another, this had only happened a handful of times, but each time it did, the boys were spot on. If Zack said something was wrong with Cody, then something was definitely wrong.
"Zack do you know what's wrong?"
"No but I know something's up," he stated alarmed as he dialed Cody's phone number just too get his voicemail. Frustrated he slammed his phone shut and started pacing. His gut reaction told him something was seriously wrong. But what, he had no idea. Come on Codes, give me a hint?
Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his upper arm and instinctively his hand flew to that spot. It hurt him like hell, feeling as if a fire cracker had exploded….or a gunshot, he thought. Suddenly a fear like no other gripped him and he flew over to the phone.
"What's happened," Carey asked her son. "I know that look."
Zack didn't want to alarm his mother so he didn't say why, but he had a gut feeling that his brother had been shot. And if that was the case, than he would have been sent to a nearby hospital. Picking up the phone book he searched for the three major hospitals.
But before he could dial a number the phone rang. Zack picked it up on the second ring and greeted the caller with an air of urgency.
"Hello is this, the Martin residence?" The female voice on the other end asked.
"Yes it is, can I help you?"
"May I please speak to Mrs. Carey Martin?" the woman asked.
"May I ask who's speaking?"
"My name is Nurse Kelly, and I am calling from Boston general," Zack instinctively knew that this call was about his brother.
"Hang on," he replied as he handed his mother the phone.
"This is Mrs. Martin," she told the nurse.
"Do you have a son named Cody Martin?"
"Yes. Is he alright?" Carey asked.
"We need you to come down to the hospital as soon as you can."
"Thank you for the phone call, we're on our way."
Carey hung up the phone and looked over to the other three occupants in the room. "That was Boston General, we need to get down there."
"Cody?" Zack asked her a bit panicked.
"Yes, but she won't tell me what happened."
"He was shot," Zack stated, and without another word walked out of the suite with his parents and Maddie following behind.
The hospital was swarming with staff and patients when they finally made it to the registration desk. They thanked the receptionist before they were directed down the corridor toward a closed curtain. Pulling it back they were welcomed by a smiling Cody sitting up in bed, and a nurse standing next to him cleaning up his wound.
"Hi guys?" he said smiling.
"Oh, thank God," Carey cried walking over and taking him in a strong embrace. "You scared the hell out of us, what happened?"
"Yah, Codester you almost gave us each a heart attack," Kurt added.
"Touché...don't ever do that again." Zack said relieved. "We can't make it without you."
Zack had to fight the urge to call him baby and give him a very thorough kiss. He knew this wasn't the time or the place. Still he apparently held on to him a bit too long, because Kurt took and yanked him back by his belt in order to give the nurse some room to finish.
Cody had obviously caught the jest of what he was thinking, because he grabbed onto two of his fingers and didn't let go. Making Zack chuckle and their parents smile, for this was something they had done when they were kids and one wanted to know the other one was nearby.
Just then a doctor stepped into the small area and smiled, introducing himself to the family. "Hi, I'm Dr. Griffith and I'm the one who treated Cody." The Martin family each took turns introducing themselves.
"So what exactly happened?" Carey asked the doctor.
"Well thankfully your son only came in with a minor flesh wound. And we were able to treat it, bandage it and hopefully keep any infection away."
The Martin family eyed the doctor like he was speaking another language. "I'm sorry, a flesh wound?"
"Haven't told them yet?" he smiled asking his patient.
"No haven't gotten to that part yet."
"Well it turns out your son is a hero," he told them. "There was a mugging and he fought with one of the muggers to keep him and his companion safe."
"By the way how is Barbara doing?" Cody asked him.
"She has a minor concussion, but otherwise doing quite well," he stated. "She's been asking to see you; I guess she needs to verify that you're alright, for herself."
"I'll go as soon as I'm done here," he smiled.
"That's fine," the doctor replied closing his chart. "Now as for you, young man, the wound will take a couple of weeks to heal and will be very sore the next few days. I want you to keep it clean and keep it bandaged. I recommend making an appointment with your primary doctor in about a week or so to check on the progress. Any questions?"
"No I think that pretty much sums it up." He smiled thanking him for all his help.
"Okay, then you're free to go, as soon as your parents sign the release forms."
As soon as the doctor left he returned his attention to his family, and was greeted with disapproving frowns. When he raised his eyebrow in question, he wasn't surprised to hear his mothers next statement.
"You fought with a mugger?" Carey asked with a stern expression on her face.
Cody gave them a cheesy smile and hopped off the table. "Well time to go and see Barbara."
The rest of the day went by without incident. Maddie was dropped off alone at her insistence. She wanted the chance to talk to her parents on her own first, which no one questioned. Her reasoning made sense to everyone involved and Cody was more than happy to see her go.
Before he left the hospital he had spent a short time with Barbara to make sure she was okay, which she was and he promised he'd call her in the morning to make sure they were treating her well.
On the way home Carey decided to pick up a few things from the grocery store and Cody had begged to be dropped off at the hotel. After all it had been quite a trying day for him.
Carey didn't have to be asked twice, and she and Kurt pulled away from the curb after making sure the twins walked in through the rotating doors safe and sound. Waving goodnight to everyone the boys hopped on the elevator and watched as the doors closed shut.
As soon as they were back in the suite, the trials of the day took their toll and they both realized how tired they were. Not even bothering to stop and throw on their pajamas they kicked off their shoes and collapsed into bed.
"God what a day," Cody grumbled pulling his twin toward him so that Zack was cocooned in his arms, his back to his front. "Between Maddie catching us, revealing she's pregnant and the mugging, I'm ready for a long hibernation."
"Same here," Zack replied. "You know we will have to talk about the baby sometime soon. I know you aren't ready, but he or she will be a big part of my life, I want to make sure you're ready for that too."
"I know," he whispered. "Soon, okay?"
"Okay, Soon!"
A minute later they fell asleep to the soft echo of their breathing, leaving their troubles behind them.
AN: Okay as promised here is chapter 10. I hope you enjoy it!
Please read and review! :)