Chapter 10 – Just Another Visit

tiger002 – Thank you for reviewing and offering your feedback. In response to some of your comments, and in defense for myself (yes, I'm one of those people, I hate 'em too) there's only so much you can write about somebody feeling despair and anger. It's gotten to the point where I'm running out of synonyms for certain words and phrases which makes it extremely hard to write for me. I don't want to sound like a broken record, you know? And yes, I can tell when I'm burnt out writing when paragraphs that aren't dialogue start becoming two or three lines instead of a solid four or five or six.

I've been listening to Avenged Sevenfold's new album, Nightmare, pretty much the entire day (Fiction is just finishing) And I suddenly feel the need to pay homage to a fantastic drummer and one of the greatest musicians the world has ever seen. RIP Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan. I won't forget your final words in 'Fiction' that go "I hope it was worth it, out on the highway. I know you'll find your own way when I'm not with you."

I'm done rambling, on to Chapter 10…

Disclaimer: I do not own the Suite Life series or any characters from the shows.

Their second visit to Arbour had not been as eventful as the first. It had become just another visit, like the ones over the past six months had been. They got into Cody's car, drove off, and went in. It hadn't taken long for the woman at the front desk to begin recognizing them. They showed up at the facility everyday at around eleven o'clock and, upon seeing them, she would dispatch the nurses to transport Carey to the visiting room without prompt.

This time, as the twins entered the building, she took at chance at small talk, "Hey Zack, Cody. How are you two today?"

Cody looked at his brother who had been strangely quiet the entire way down as if giving him 'the floor'. When he didn't even look up to meet Cody's eye contact he answered the question, "We're fine, thanks, Rosy. Did you call for Carey?"

"Of course I did, Cody." She too, looked over at Zack with a confused look on her face. While she had come to know Zack as the quiet, secluded one from their first couple visits, that impression had been soon laid to rest. He had, in fact, begun to wear his confident smirks and walk in his almost cocky manner. He had called her everything but her name including Red, Beautiful, and Gorgeous, and he had been daring enough to tell her that he was the man of her dreams.

Rosy smiled, remembering how he had done all of this. She smiled wider as she remembered thinking how easy it was to look at him. She remembered how she had actually thought about how charming he was in his own way. She had even responded at times calling him Hot Stuff and Stud just to try and show him how ridiculous he was being. He clearly received the message but had never given up.

Today he was being quiet though. His head was hung and he refused to make eye contact with anyone, even as he mumbled replies to Cody's questions. He seemed to have reverted back to his old self and her nurse's instinct told her that something was wrong. Of course, it probably didn't take much to notice something was off with the boy. His body was slumped and seemed to have shrunk and his hair was messy, not that it had ever been proper when she saw him.

When he finally did look her in the eyes she understood why his head had been down. His eyes were red and puffy, he had clearly been crying. She had only caught a glimpse of his eyes before they headed down the hall but she looked after him for a few seconds before she finally sat back down at her desk and continued with her magazine.

In the visiting room, the twins arrived at about the same time their mother did. They all found an unoccupied corner of the large room and took to it. Carey had sensed Zack's distress too. He hadn't said a word, hadn't even looked at her. When they were all settled into their corner she put a hand on his shoulder and was taken aback when she saw his face.

Not only was it clear he had been crying, but his face was puffy in spots and darker colored. He also had various cuts all over his face, including a lip that was still ever so slightly swollen.

"Zack, what happened?"

His reply was nothing more than a mumble, "I got jumped by some guys the other day."

"Oh my god," Carey was surprised that her own child had been the victim of an attack, "Did they take anything."

Zack shrugged. He couldn't understand why she asked that question but it seemed that all mothers asked the most unnecessary questions in any situation. "No."

She scrunched up her face in disbelief. He had been attacked but had nothing stolen? It didn't make any sense, "Well what exactly happened?"

His eyes flicked towards the doorway before finding the floor, "They just came out of nowhere and started beating on me."

Cody's head snapped around so quickly he may have given himself whiplash if it had been any faster. The story Zack had just given was much different than the one he'd heard. He could tell Zack had picked up on his mistake too as his lips pursed together in thought. There was something on his mind and Cody needed to know what it was. Cody knew that if he was acting this way that Zack would do anything to get it out of him so that he could then help, and Cody felt the least he could do for his brother was to return the hypothetical favor.

Carey had sensed Cody's confusion and they shared a look before they continued along with their conversation.

"So Mom, how've you been in this place?"

She sighed, eager to move away from such dire topics, "I'm fine. This place isn't all bad really. Heck, I've even got a group of friends I sit with at meals."

Cody paused in case Zack wanted to make a comment. When he didn't Cody continued, "That's good to hear."

"Something on your mind, Cody?" She smiled kindly. It was a motherly smile, the kind she had given so many times before. But this time it felt different on her face.

"Yeah. I found something weird in Uncle Tim's garage the other day."

Carey raised an eyebrow, "Don't keep me waiting."

He laughed, "He had… it was so weird… he had a microwave in his garage. He's scared of those things."

Carey shrugged, "I don't know, Cody. He's a weird guy, that's for sure. He's a very weird guy."

Cody shook his head and agreed, but he didn't know what he was exactly agreeing with.


At the house Tim Martin sat in his kitchen, a package in his hands. The items he had ordered had arrived. It hadn't been hard finding them. It had been hard answering what he needed them for but if there was anything he knew how to do, it was create a lie on his feet. It seemed as if the thrill of the possibility of getting caught motivated him to craft the perfect lie. He shrugged. He needed to open this in The Room in case the twins returned unexpectedly.

When he entered The Room he locked the door behind him and sat in the single chair that was located there. From his pocket he dug out his old, trusty pocketknife and opened the package with care. He smiled as he dumped the contents out on the table and began putting them in their places on the table. He now had everything he needed.


I'm going to be completely honest and say this chapter was sort of a filler chapter. I'm officially completely burnt out for writing today and it's plainly obvious. Now you have a true cliffhanger to ponder as I take my day off writing tomorrow (maybe). I had fun messing with you all with the microwave in the garage thing. Even though this chapter was filler there's some very, very crucial details hidden within it. The next chapter will be a very important one, probably the most important chaper in this story. Zack is going to tell Cody what really happened (oh, we all know he's lying about getting jumped)

I'm so tired so here's to a good night (raises my bottle of water)