(A/N) The part in italics is a dream sequence

Chapter 21: 'Relax' Said the Night Man

"Whassamatter?" Cody said sleepily as Kurt shook him. He looked out the window, it was still dark outside. Cody's head snapped back down to his pillow. "The sun's not even up yet!" He said, his voice half muffled by the pillow.

"Come on, we're going to see Zack." Kurt said.

At the mention of his brother's name, Cody snapped awake. "What do you mean?" He asked curiously.

"You can thank Rob for this one," Kurt said. "He arranged for us to fly over and see Zack. After we land, we'll take a ferry over."

"Really?" Cody said, he pinched himself to make sure he was awake.

"Yea, so come on let's go," Kurt said. He turned away but turned around again, and looked at Cody curiously. "Why are you already dressed?"

"Cody"

Cody turned around and saw his dad, Carey, Riley, and Rhuben walked towards him. He backed away from the rail and smiled as the land in front of the ferry boat got bigger and bigger.

"We're almost at the port, Zack's going to be fine" he said happily. He then noticed that looks on their faces. "What?"

"Honey, even though Zack is going to be fine, there are going to be harder things for us" Carey said as she ran her fingers through her son's hair.

"What does that mean?" Cody asked softly. Rhuben stepped forward and hugged Cody.

"It means that Zack's going to have to go to group therapy, be put on suicide watch, and possibly be put into a mental institution." Rhuben replied. Cody shrugged, looking at his feet.

"As long as he's fine," he replied softly. "This was my fault anyway. I don't care what I have to do, just so I can be sure that he's ok. Everything will go back to normal. Except one thing."

"The fact that you'll be going back to Boston," Riley agreed with a nod. She turned to Kurt. "It was fun getting to know your family. Now I see where they got all of their quirks. And from hanging around you a lot, it also shows where Zack got his obsession for girls."

"I can say the same thing, but that's the reason why he thinks I married him" Carey joked and everyone laughed. Nervous, laughter.

"Excuse me, Miss. Martin,"

Carey turned and saw Dr. Weaver walking up to them, with a clipboard in his hands. "No need to worry, your son is fine. I just wanted to tell you that we're going to be in the city in just a half an hour. I called a doctor who is already at the hospital, and they should immediately admit Zack as soon as he gets there."

"Thank you, doctor." Carey replied gratefully.

"Its no problem, I hope he's better soon."

He was lying in the hospital bed, so peacefully; it was as if he was dead already. Needles poked out of his skin, and monitors beeped. Cody didn't know what to do. All he could say was, "Zack," and then Cody put his head in his hands, and cried.

Zack was walking down a long corridor. It was dark, with dim lights from an unknown source flashing on as he passed a certain door, and flickered off as he kept walking. He stopped and looked at each of the doors, and through the tiny windows, he saw his memories.

In one room, he was eight, and he had to read a composition aloud in class. All of those eyes staring at him, doubtful, expecting eyes. The words of George Washington dried up in his throat, and he made a joke instead. He heard laughter, and was sent to the principles office. Cody went along with him.

He was twelve, and Cody was trying to climb up after him, who was already at the highest branch of the large tree in their front yard. Cody wanted to prove himself to his brother, and to himself, but instead he lost his footing, and he fell hard. He had to get stitches on his knee. Zack was there to help him.

Zack was fourteen, and was dancing with one of the prettiest girls at his school. He kept looking over her shoulder, looking at the president of the Drama Club standing by the punch table. He smiled at Cody, and Cody had smiled back.

The scenes in the room began to get more obscure, and started to have nothing to do with his memories. In one room, a herd of wild horses were galloping in a wide circle. In another room, John Lennon, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis, were playing cards. Apparently, Elvis was cheating, or so Marilyn accused him of doing.

Zack tried to open all the doors, but they were all locked. Suddenly, a bright light shined up from above, vaguely showing that the hallway had ended, and the vastness of where he was. Zack blinked, and people appeared in front of him.

Zack opened his eyes.

Cody was crying.

He hated it when he saw his brother cry. It scared him. Cody was gripping a hand, his hand, his hand, and Cody was crying because of him.

Am I dead? Zack wondered. Is this Hell?

Cody was crying because of him. Cody didn't hate him, and Zack was not going to leave him alone.

The humming of the fluorescent lights wasn't as loud as before, and the muffled word was cleared.

It was his name, "Zack, Zack, Zack," being spoken out of the shaking mouth of his brother in between sobs. It hurt for Zack to move. It hurt for him to breathe, but he managed to say one word.

"-Ody."

He was trying to say Cody, but it was hard to open his mouth too much, it being dry, and his cracked lips made it hurt.

Cody understood anyway.

He let out a cry, and his grip on Zack's hand tightened. He shouted Zack's name, and pulled him up into a hug. It hurt, but Zack hugged his little brother back, making sure to be careful of the IV jutting out of his arm.

"Am...orree. . ." Zack muttered, or tried to, anyway, but Cody shook his head and cradled Zack's head. Cody sat on the edge of the hospital bed and rested his head on top of Zack's. He stared out the window with fresh tears in his eyes, these ones created out of joy.

It hurt, as everything seemed to do, but Zack cried with Cody, and both brothers watched the sunrise through the window.

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