Disclaimer: I do not own The Suite Life of Zack and Cody so please do not sue me.
A/N: Well, this is a rather quick update from the last one. I really enjoyed writing this chapter, and I hope you enjoy reading it. I only got a few reviews, but I got many people adding this story to their favorites. Feedback keeps me writing! Chapter 12 is about 1/4th of the way through!
High Tides
Chapter 11: Rage
Gosh, how could I be so stupid? I feel like a complete and total idiot. Then again, it's not my fault Maddie had to start her period when she came aboard the S.S. Tipton, so I shouldn't have to be receiving all the torture that comes along with her moodiness. She should spread it out amongst everyone. I shouldn't get all the blame for the misery. Sighing, I finally force myself out of the comfort of the cool water of the swimming pool. I've been swimming around for the past hour and a half, and I get the nagging feeling that no matter how long I stay out here, I still won't be able to go into Maddie's room.
As my feet touch the rough surface of the pool deck, I glance from side to side to see if anyone I know is still hanging around; that would be a negative. Groping for the towel that Maddie nicely left for me, I dry my body of the chlorine water, making sure that I don't drip when I walk. I know they have showers here at the pool, but I really feel uncomfortable using them. I had a bad experience when Woody opened the shower I was in.
I know I should probably go to her room, to ask if everything is okay, to make sure she is not upset. But, what if she has another menstrual moment on me? I don't know if I can handle that. Leaving the pool deck, I find myself out on the sky deck. A smile creeps upon my lips; this was where I was merely three nights ago, awaiting the arrival of Maddie. Well, three nights ago I didn't know it was Maddie who was going to be aboard, but still. The smile feels permanent, if only for the moment.
"Zack?" the familiar voice of my brother chimes. Okay, now this is getting really eerie.
"Yeah, what is it bro?" I inquire back, not needing to turn my head to know that it's him.
"Maddie's been needing to talk to you." he simply states, as if it was normal news. I quirk an eyebrow. What does she need to talk to me about? I guess Cody can read my body language because he continues. "She has been yelling over and over about how you took off your Holter monitor. She doesn't sound too happy."
"Crap. I was hoping she'd forgotten about that."
"Guess not." was his response. "Well, I gotta go. Bailey and I will be having dinner together tonight. I need to put on my best pants."
Not wanting to ask, I merely wave my hand as if to shoo him off. Apparently, he gets the hint because I do not hear anymore about him and Bailey. Sighing, I glance back out into the ocean. I really don't want to go meet a mad Maddie in her room. But, I guess I really don't have any choice. Lugging my feet, I force myself to walk the familiar way back to Maddie's room. It's going to become so habitual these next two weeks that I don't know what I'll do when she leaves.
Approaching the door, I take a quick breath before knocking on it. It doesn't take a second for her to open the door; it's as if she was standing there waiting for me.
"I am not very happy with you mister." she growls, pulling me in forcefully by the arm. If it didn't hurt so damn bad, then I might have been turned on. Rubbing my feeble arm, I wait for her to continue her rampage on me. I get the feeling that it is just beginning. "What in the world possessed you to take off your Holter monitor? Doctor Peter's said that had to be left on for a full twenty-four hours! Now you're going to have to go back to the infirmary to get it reset. Ugh! You're trying to drive me insane aren't you?"
"I'm sorry." I state, as she stops for a breath.
"And another thing!" she begins, but pauses once more. Confusion is on her brow and she takes a seat on the bed. "You're sorry? Do you think that just saying you're sorry is going to make everything better? Because it's not Zack, I have been frantic for the past hour, and what have you been doing? Probably having a lot of fun I presume!"
"Maddie, please." I say. I approach her cautiously, knowing that she's on the breaking point, and gently place my hands on her shoulders. "I haven't been having any fun to be honest with you. All I've been thinking about is you being mad at me earlier at the pool."
"Zack, that is trivial compared to your Holter monitor." she says. Her eyes are welling up with tears. Oh gosh, not the waterworks again. "I don't want you to be in danger. Now, will you please come with me to the infirmary? Maybe the Holter monitor registered enough data that they will be able to tell what's going on with your heart."
"Yeah, I'll go." I sigh. I am not going to argue with her anymore. She smiles feebly up at me before taking my hands in hers for a moment.
"Thank you, Zack."
"You're welcome."
"Now, let's go." She uses my hands as leverage to pull her body weight off the bed. Unfortunately, I did not realize this, and it sends both of us toppling to the ground below. Of course, she's laying on top of me...laughing her head off. "Oh, sorry Zack!"
It's really hard for me to forgive her right now. She's in a very seductive position, her legs straddling my body and she's smiling down at me. Gosh, this woman seriously has no idea what she does to me. Groaning lightly, in some attempt for her to get off of me, I push myself up with my elbows and am face to face with the brown eyed beauty. Her smile is starting to fade as her lips delicately part. I feel my body give itself a small boost and - while I wish for something romantic - I bump noses and chins with Maddie.
"Ouch." we both say in unison. She finally gets off me and cradles her nose in her hand.
"That really hurt Zack! What were you thinking?" she asks angrily. "Is it bleeding?"
"No, it's not bleeding. You're fine." I state. Ignoring what condition my nose might be in, I head toward the door of the dreadful room that I am forcibly sharing with Maddie for a week. "Now, before we get into any other fiascos, how about we get to the infirmary before I change my mind?"
"That might be a good idea." Maddie agrees, letting her nose go quickly. She practically skips out of the room with me in follow. I feel her hand take a hold of mine, as if I am just a little kid who has no sense of direction whatsoever. "You're sticking next to me kid. I'm not going to lose you again, especially right now. You did grab the Holter monitor didn't you?"
"I didn't know I was supposed to." I say with a shrug of my shoulders. She groans angrily and lets go of my hand momentarily to go back to her room. Not even a minute later, she's stalking back down the hall toward me. I'm not sure whether I should be turned on or scared half to death. Considering I don't have a boner, I'm going with scared half to death. She grasps my hand again and practically forces me down the hallway. I have a feeling I have upset her one too many times in one day.
"Hurry it up. Doctor Peters might not be there if we don't. His shift is over in five minutes. I think he'll make an exception for you though."
"I should feel so overjoyed that he'll make an exception for me." I reply half-heartedly. All this crap with my stupid heart is so ridiculous. If I had a heart problem, why wasn't it recognized when I was a young kid? I mean, I have never had any previous problems that I know of. Now I gotta go back to the infirmary for what feels like the umpteenth time to check what this Holter monitor thing did (or didn't do) to me. I really can't remember what the doctor was saying it did...
"Zack, it's this way." I hear Maddie's voice as she gently tugs on my wrists to pull me in the right direction. Back down this familiar hallway again, how exciting. Approaching the infirmary door, she leads me in and we are faced with the same nurse who attended to me previously. "Hi ma'am, I was needing to speak with Doctor Peters, my cousin - Zack Martin - needs to see him, it's urgent."
"I'll see if there is anyone with him right now. If there is, would you mind seeing Doctor Stephens?" the nurse asks. Maddie bites her lip nervously before answering,
"Not at all."
"One moment." The nurse leaves the reception desk and goes into the back of the infirmary. I would prefer to see the same doctor, I don't need every single doctor on deck being worried about me. Holding my breath, I watch as the nurse comes back to the reception desk. "Doctor Peters is currently with a patient. You're going to have to see Doctor Stephens today. I'll be sure to give her your chart. You can go ahead and sit in the examination room."
"Her?" Maddie and I say in unison. Blinking rapidly, she pushes me down the hallway in pursuit of the nurse. I wonder what this Doctor Stephens looks like now...
"She will be with you momentarily." the nurse says, opening the door. "Does the presence of your cousin bother you?"
"No, she's fine." I respond. I give Maddie a smile before sitting down on the examination table. The nurse rolls her eyes and finally leaves me and Maddie alone in the room. "You got that Holter thing?"
"Of course I do. I sure hope this Doctor Stephens knows what she's doing. I would have much preferred Doctor Peters." Maddie states. She crosses her arms over her chest in anger. Is she acting...jealous in a way of this woman? Man, that is hot! I grin at her again, making sure she sees me. "What are you smiling about over there?"
"Nothing." I say, "Just you."
Maddie opens her mouth for a retort, but the door handle jiggles slightly. I stare hopefully at the door as it finally opens to reveal Doctor Stephens.
Wow. She is hot! She has shoulder length red locks curling around her face, these beautiful green eyes, and a rocking bod. She smiles at me and sits in the nearest chair. Gosh! Even her lips are luscious! I wouldn't mind Doctor Stephens being my permanent doctor to be quite honest with you.
"Zachary Martin?" she inquires, her lips playing at a subtle smile. I merely nod in response. "I see that your records show that you might have some type of heart problems. Additionally, you were given a Holter monitor to help us identify your heart rate over a long period of time, is that still attached?"
"No, that's what we came here about. I took it off yesterday when I went swimming." I say. Now I feel kind of embarrassed.
"Do you have the Holter monitor with you?" she asks. I watch her like a hawk, she pushes her hair over her shoulders. Gosh, I never knew I was attracted to red-heads. "Mr. Martin?"
"Uh, yeah. My fr-cousin has it. Maddie, will you give Doctor Stephens the monitor?"
"Here." Maddie harshly shoves the ridiculous monitor into the gorgeous doctor's hands.
"Well, we will see if there is enough data on this to give us a better idea of what may be the cause of your heart thickening. For all I know, I could possibly see if any symptoms you carry match up with a specific disease." Doctor Stephens slowly examines the Holter monitor before pressing a few buttons on it. "This should only take a few moments, all the data is right in the Holter monitor."
Sitting in this room is really making me nauseous. I really do not understand why, I'm sitting next to two beautiful women, I should be the luckiest guy in the world right now. Closing my eyes for a second, I feel warm, it's really nice. My ears won't stop ringing, damn. I open my eyes again, yet the lights above obscure my vision. Stupid room...
"Zack, Zack, can you hear me?" Maddie's voice chimes in my ears. Groggily, I open my eyes. Where the hell am I? Maddie and Doctor Stephens are both over my face, blocking my view to see exactly where I am. I grunt in response to my blonde-haired friend and she curtly pulls on my arm. "Oh good, he's awake. What happened Doctor Stephens?"
"I am unsure. With a thickening of the left ventricle, it could be anything. I'm quite worried about you Zack," she places a cool hand on my forehead. I am seriously melting in a pool of water. I have no idea what just happened, but whatever it was thank God it did. Hot red-head touching me. "I would prefer he be monitored at all times until we reach France in the next few days. Would you mind if he stayed in the infirmary until then, Maddie? I would hate for him to unexpectedly faint without a doctor to ensure his safety."
"Actually, I do mind. I made a promise to Zack that I would take care of him. I am certain I can do that for two more days." Maddie states matter-of-factly.
"Well, alright then." the red-headed bombshell says. With a flick of her hair, she picks my chart back up. "The Holter monitor has proved to be effective. We have received enough data from it for it to be useful when the cardiologist boards the ship. You are free to go, but take good care of him Maddie."
"Don't worry Doctor Stephens, I will." Maddie states. Wow, she is fierce! I push myself off the examination table and leave the room with my defensive blonde. As much as I find red-heads attractive, there is just something about Maddie when she is all fired up. "You ready?"
"Sure am." I say with a smile. Things are already looking up.