I have no idea how long this chapter is LOL! But it seemed long to write...I have a couple a notes for all my reviewers/readers though:

1. I'm sorry that I haven't been updating as fast as I was before. The reason? I had nearly ALL of OLCBYH written before I posted it here. I'd been working on it for about 4 more months before.

2. (THIS IS NOT DIRECTED AT ANYONE IN PARTICULAR!) Please do not steal my story ideas. PLEASE. I work very hard on writing this and I do not appreciate my stories being taken.

Okay here's Chapter 5 already:)

Chapter 5:

Zack was pacing the hospital waiting room when Carey came bursting through the doors, a worried and anxious look upon her face. Zack sighed with a grimace, he knew he should've told her why he needed her to drive halfway across town to the hospital to pick him up. But he knew he'd been way too worried about Martha at that point.

Zack watched as she made her way, pushing a few nurses aside with a muttered "Excuse me…" When Carey finally reached him she pulled him close to her, swallowing him in a deep hug.

"Are you okay, honey?" She asked franticly.

Zack nodded, "I'm fine, Mom. But…" his voice trailed of as he glanced around the hospital nervously. He'd always hated hospitals but the two months he'd spent there made it so much worse.

"But what, sweetheart?" Carey asked him softly. She was confused. If Zack was fine, why had he needed her to pick him up at the hospital, of all places?

"M-m-martha had a stroke," he told her, glancing up tearfully. Carey gasped quietly and embraced him once more.

"Oh my God…is she going to be okay?"

Zack shook his head, "They wouldn't tell me. And they wouldn't lemme see her. All they told me was she had a stroke."

"She's had a stroke, son…she's had a stroke, son." Was all Zack had heard for the past hour.

"I'm so sorry, Zack." Carey told him; Zack merely nodded.

"Why don't we go home and have the hospital call us if there's any news…would that be okay?" Zack nodded again and they headed to the receptionist's desk.

Zack was silent the entire drive back to the Tipton, struggling to fight back tears. How could this happen? Why was this happening? Was he being punished? He'd asked that last question so often in the past six months he wasn't so sure he wanted the answer anymore.

Carey reached over and patted his arm sympathetically and told him Martha'd be fine. Zack wasn't so sure.

Cody bombarded them with questions the minute they opened the front door. Zack's response was to shake his head and walk to their room, sharply slamming the door behind him.

Cody turned to their mother with wide, curious eyes, "What's going on?"

Carey sighed and set her purse on the table, "Maybe you should go talk to him…" she said absently, digging through her purse- searching for nothing.

"Okay…" Cody said confused, "but what…"

"Cody, please." Carey interjected, "Just…" She sighed again. "I'm gunna go get ready for my show." She kissed his forehead softly and headed to the bathroom.

"But, Mom!" Cody spun around just in time to see the door close. He sighed and walked into their room.

Zack was lying on his bed, staring at the wall- a position which kept his back to the world and out of reality. It wasn't long before he was interrupted.

"Zack…?" He heard his younger brother's voice break the heavy silence. "What's going on?"

"Martha had a stroke," he said, or attempted to. The words came out as more of a whisper.

"Oh…I'm sorry."

Silence.

"Do you wanna talk about it?

Zack shrugged, but sat up and faced his brother's innocent face. Cody looked so calm sitting there the way he was. Zack secretly wished that that expression would stay there all the time, but he knew that it wouldn't last. There were many things that could and had and would tear it off.

"I miss her already." He said softly, casting his eyes downwards.

"It's okay to miss her."

"No it's not! I shouldn't have to miss her! This is so unfair! This sucks!" Zack screamed relentlessly.

"Yeah…" Cody agreed awkwardly.

"Why?" Zack continued, "Why is this happening? Why'd it have to happen now of all times? Why!" He yelled until his yells turned to whimpers and Cody held him once more as he cried.

Reviews Please!

Fig