Hey everyone. Here's the next chapter. Both of us wrote this one so you'll notice a change in writing style. Please review. It would make us happy.

Chapter 2 Zack and Cody

Cody stayed with Zack for a long time after he fell asleep. Carey went down to the lobby to make some phone calls to their school and the Tipton.

In the hospital room, Zack slept peacefully. The doctors told them that they would start prepping him for surgery at five o'clock.

Cody sighed and sat back in his chair. He drummed his fingers against the metal bar on Zack's bed and thought about everything he told him. He furrowed his eyebrows and clenched his teeth as he recalled the events that landed Zack in the hospital.

'I'm going to kill Drew,' he thought silently, rocking back and forth. He stared at the floor, 'I'm going to make sure he suffers as much as he made Zack suffer.'

"Don't do anything stupid."

Cody jumped and looked at Zack.

"What do you mean?"

"You're thinking about doing something crazy," he said. His voice sounded weak and soft, "I can tell."

Cody pushed Zack's hair back and rubbed his forehead, "I'm just thinking about what I'm going to do to get back at Drew."

Zack sat up slightly, alarmed, "I knew it. Cody, just let it go."

"Are you kidding me? Zack, he could have killed you."

Zack lay down against the pillows, "Mom said she would call the school. Let them deal with it. I—I don't want anything to happen to you."

He averted his eyes thinking about how under normal circumstances he would be the one planning a payback on Drew for hurting Cody. Now it was the other way around.

"We don't have to talk about that right now," Cody said slowly, sensing Zack's discomfort, "All that matters right now is that you get better." He paused, "How are you feeling, by the way?"

Zack shrugged, "Everything still hurts," he said tearfully, "I'm trying not to think about it."
"Well the doctors will be here to prep you for surgery in about twenty minutes," Cody said, "Is there anything I can do until then?"

"Just stay here," he whispered, closing his eyes.

"I don't have anywhere else to be," Cody reminded him.

Zack opened one bleary eye—the one that wasn't practically swollen shut—"and if you did?"

Cody smiled at him, "I'd be here anyway."

Zack returned the smile, "Thanks Cody."

Cody kissed his cheek, "Get some rest," he whispered, "You need to build your strength up for the operation."

Zack was asleep before Carey returned to the room.

"He's still sleeping?" she stated more than asked.

"He was awake for a minute," Cody told her. He shifted positions in his seat so he was facing her, "He's going to be okay, right?"

Carey smoothed his hair, "Of course he is," she told him, "I'm afraid that the bullies at school may have done more emotional damage than physical. He's really going to need us right now."

Cody nodded in agreement.

'He must have a lot of emotional damage if it's even more than how they physically hurt him,' he thought.

Carey sat down beside him and they stared helplessly at Zack. It was not long before Jake came back into the room. Zack was just starting to wake up again.

"It's time to start prepping for surgery," he told them, "Are you ready, Zack?"

Suddenly nervous tears sprung to Zack's eyes, "I guess so," he replied hoarsely.

"Don't be scared, Zack," Cody said, giving Zack's unbroken arm a comforting squeeze, "We'll be waiting for you when it's over."

Zack nodded and said goodbye to his mom and Cody. He tried to put on a brave face, but on the inside he was nervous and scared.

Jake had arranged for Dr. Ellen Walker, one of the best craniofacial surgeons at the hospital, to operate on Zack. She met with Zack right outside the OR doors.

"Hi Zack. My names Ellen. I'm going to be fixing your ear," said Ellen.

"Hi," said Zack nervously.

"Don't be nervous. This is going to be a very simple produce," said Ellen. Zack nodded.

"Do you have any questions before we head into the operating room?" asked Ellen.

"How long is it going to take?" asked Zack nervously.

"Let me see your ear and I'll let you know," said Ellen. Zack tilted his head so Ellen could take the bandage of his ear and survey the damage. Zack winced as Ellen slowly took the bandage off. Zack's ear was covered in blood and puss. There was considerable damage to it.

"It will probably take about two hours to fix your ear," said Ellen. Zack nodded. He let out a nervous sigh as he was wheeled into the operating room. A nurse helped him onto the operating table. Zack winced as an IV was put in his hand.

"You're going to start to feel sleepy now, Zack," said Ellen. Zack's vision was fading in and out. The drugs were working. A gas mask was held over his face. Zack fell into a deep sleep. His mouth was forced opened and a tube was put down his throat. After that his head was turned to the side. Robin let out a sigh and began to fix Zack's ear. Meanwhile, all that Carey and Cody could do is wait.