Chapter 21 – Coming Around

Cody's world was spinning out of control as he stumbled his way down the hallway and into the nearest bathroom. Whoever thought communal bathrooms were a smart idea needed their heads examined. Speaking of he felt like someone had used his as a bowling ball. Holding onto his head with one hand and his stomach with the other he fought back the urge to double over. Between an overwhelming need to relieve the contents in his stomach and the effort of keeping his head from exploding all over the floor he slowly kneeled and readied himself for what was to come. He supposed he shouldn't be so surprised, hadn't he and Dr. Mercer spoken about side effects, minor and major. It wasn't like he didn't know what these pills would do to him. It was one of the lesser of the aggressive therapies they had discussed before beginning.

Conversion Therapy was the wave of the future, an effective way of changing sexual behavior. If Cody had to guess he'd say that the good Doctor had read that directly out of a medical journal. A sudden shift occurred and he was thrust into a bout of vomiting.

When the sensation eased a few minutes later he was able to take a breath and with it came a longing for Zack. An image appeared and he remembered how caring and attentive he could be in times like this.

He recalled their encounter in the garden two weeks earlier and wondered why he hadn't seen him since. Sure he told him to back off but in truth he didn't expect him to listen so willingly. The instant image of Amber and their possible life together and his stomach lurched once more. He supposed he got his answer.

He forced his mind to go blank.

What was he doing, he had to stop this. These pills, they were pointless unless he could force himself to forget.

As another more violent bout began he heard a voice outside the stall door.

"Is everything okay in there?" Cody couldn't control the groan that left his lips. "Are you alright?"

That voice, he knew that voice. It seemed somehow familiar, the orderly, Matt, Mark…no Mike. That was it Mike. He wanted to cry out but he knew that it would be pointless. These people around here would just as soon walk right through you as too look at you. More often than not, they treated you like you were a disease they must contain before you contaminated the rest of humanity. He could hear a slight knocking on the door as his vomiting increased. Only this time he had nothing left to release. The painful feeling continued as his body rocked with each convulsion. Soon his eyes glazed over. Just as he was about to pass out the stall door was kicked open and a man rushed toward him.

In his confusion he cried out.

"Zack!"

"I want him out of there, now!"

"You don't get it," Mitch tried to make his cousin understand the ramifications. "It would be kidnapping, he needs…"

"He needs me. Seeing him lying on that damn bathroom floor scared the hell out of me. It took everything I had not to throw him over my shoulder and head for the nearest exit."

"Then why didn't you," Mel quietly asked.

"Because as much as I hate that place, he needed medical care more than he needed me," Zack took a small deep breath. "It's filled with doctors. I won't risk his health or his life."

"Even if they're the ones causing this."

"Are they?"

Zack turned to Tom in answer and realized what an idiot he'd been. All these months, all this time trying to believe that his mother had changed. He thought about the constant warnings that Cody had given him.

Why hadn't he listened to them?

Why couldn't he see it?

There were so many red flags.

Why hadn't he done something then?

He thought back on the days when it was simpler and they were a family and maybe he was being a bit selfish but he wanted some small part of that back. Instead he should have dragged Cody away to a place where they were safe and she couldn't follow.

As if reading his thoughts Mel sat down beside him and wrapped a comforting arm around his shoulders. "Zack honey, don't beat yourself up. This isn't your fault. You were trying to do your best with the information you had in front of you. That's all anyone can do. You thought you were doing the right thing by diffusing the situation. You couldn't have known."

"Codes knew. He warned me over and over. Those dreams he had. All the signs pointed to something stirring. Why didn't I trust him enough to believe in him? I just thought he was being paranoid, but now…if I lose him…if I lose him I don't think I could live with myself."

"You won't lose him."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because we won't let you." She said with so much determination that Zack couldn't help but believe her. "You love Cody and deep down even if he's a bit confused at the moment, he loves you too."

Mel pulled her nephew to her in a motherly embrace and quietly wished with all her heart she could fix this for him. "Is he alright now?"

"For the time being."

The next morning Cody awoke to a bright rush of sunlight, a splitting headache, and a strong sense of déjà vu. Waking up in these hospital beds was becoming routine. Even his eighties styled room with the popcorn ceilings, dark brown paneling and shaggy carpet two buildings over would have been a welcome site.

"Cody," Cody looked over as the door to his room slid open and Theo walked in. "Hey man."

"Just what I needed," if Theo noted the sarcasm in his tone he didn't mention it. "What are you doing here?"

"Question is what are you doing here."

"Recovering, what does it look like."

"You've been doing that a lot lately. Don't you think it's probably a good idea to drop the new routine, you know stick with the old. Preferably the one that doesn't make you sick."

"When I want your opinion I'll ask for it." Cody felt a slight dip at the foot of his bed and controlled the urge to kick Theo off. "You may leave now."

"Can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Zack asked me to check up on you."

Cody sat up a little too quickly and held onto the mattress for support as the world spun around him. When his bout with dizziness subsided the door opened once more and a nurse walked in.

"Theo aren't you supposed to be in your room?"

"Can't a guy check up on the health of a good friend?"

Mrs. Parsons looked from one to the other in question and finally relinquished. "Alright, ten minutes. But then I want you out of here. Do you understand me young man?"

"Completely."

"Good," as she headed toward the door she paused for a moment and eyed them once more. "And boys, don't make me regret this." With that said she left without further comment.

"You know bro I don't think she trusts us."

"I'm not your bro and she doesn't."

"Fair enough."

"Theo," Cody urged trying to get back to the topic on hand. "You were saying."

"So why do you keep taking these things?"

"About Zack, Theo, tell me about Zack."

"Oh right, he just wanted to make sure that you were alright. He heard about your situation and the fact that you passed out and needed some reassurance that you were okay."

"He asked you to keep an eye on me?" Cody asked in somewhat disbelief.

"Yeah."

"You, he asked you."

"You know what Martin that hurts. Here I am being a good upstanding guy trying to do my best and you thwart me at every turn. Dude your giving me a complex."

"Well dude, since we are bro's and all, would you mind being honest with me," Cody spit back.

"Oh so now we're bros."

"Theo!"

"Alright, don't get your panties in a bunch." Theo thought about what Zack had told him about Carey's manipulations regarding Cody's care and knew he needed to fudge the truth a bit.

"Getting information out of you is like pulling teeth." Cody's agitation was beginning to show. "Theo pay attention, when did you talk to Zack?"

"Zack was worried about you and he contacted me wanting some Intel. That's all there is too it."

"Seriously, how did he find out in the first place?"

"Don't ask me. Your brother and I don't exactly share our secrets."

"So that's all," Cody didn't buy it, but taking into consideration that his head was pounding, his stomach was growling and Nurse Parson's would be making an appearance soon, he figured his best course of action would be to let the matter drop for the time being. "Alright here's the deal. For now I'll pretend that I believe you. But once I recover, I want the whole story."

"Boys," as predicted Nurse Parsons was back and standing in the doorway. "I believe we had an agreement."

"That's my cue."

Theo took off with the nurse on his heels which left Cody to his own thoughts.

Zack was keeping an eye on him. When, how, more importantly why. Zack had Amber, surely he had enough to do. Wasn't all his time spent with her, wasn't that the reason he hadn't seen him since that morning on the grass. The more he thought about it the angrier he became. Was that all he had become to him, a fast lay, an afterthought. All those months that they'd been separated not once had he tried to contact him. Suddenly he shows up for one last fuck and disappears again like nothing happened.

And Theo, why Theo of all people.

Cody thought for a moment.

A picture formed and he tried to shut out the memory of his mistake. He still hated himself for letting that day happen. The second it was over he regretted it tenfold. He was so hurt, so angry. Somewhere deep down he knew it was wrong but he wanted to prove that he could hurt Zack as much as Zack had hurt him. But the only thing that accomplished was regret.

Then another thought took shape. Did Zack know, and if he did is that why he stayed away.

Nothing made sense.

He had to find out the truth and the sooner the better.

"So when can I take him home?" Carey's impatience was wearing thin as she spoke with the insufferable doctor. "I need to get him out of there before my family can get to him." How did they find him, she took every precaution to prevent that from happening.

Dr. Mercer was finished. He was tired of the veiled threats and manipulations that Mrs. Martin hurled at him on a daily basis regarding her son. It was evident early on that Cody's welfare was not her first priority. A fact that now sickened him considering that he adhered to her early whims. Knowing Cody now, and knowing what his mother was like, he finally understood the rift that had been created between them and the mistrust he had for the woman.

"May I be frank with you."

"Fine, what."

"Cody is an adult and what you are asking me to do is to be a co-conspirator to kidnapping. And if that is in fact the case then my answer is no. I work here and I will not jeopardize my job and reputation in order for you to continue with your damaging schemes."

"Damaging." Carey could feel her blood pressure rise. "I pay good money for you to care for Cody."

"Exactly and that money is being spent on Cody, but he is here of his free choosing and I will not put him in harm's way."

"I am his mother and I will be there soon to collect my son."

"Absolutely, if he wants to leave here willingly with you than he is welcome to do so. But I warn you, if he doesn't, than I have no qualms about taking the necessary precautions to prevent that from happening. And if I have to call the police to assure that I will."

"Do you make it a habit of threatening all your benefactors?"

"Have a nice day." Carey heard the line go dead.

By the time she arrived at the airport, she was fuming.

AN: Um…Yeah!