Disclaimer: Again, I own nothing.

A/N: First of all, I'm really sorry about the long wait on the update. Hey, that rhymes, he he. Second of all, I have an excuse. I was on a vacation with no interent access. Third of all, I worked really hard on this chapter to make it longer. I think i succeeded. I think it's one of my best chapters.Hope you enjoy!

Oh! By the way, anything initalics are Zack's thoughts in this chapter. There is only one part where the italics are Cody's thoughts, but you can figure out where. Okay. On with the story.

Zack was sitting on his bed watching Cody sleep. He had been doing it for the last hour or so. Thoughts were streaming through his head. Maybe we shouldn't tell mom about Joel. If we do, Joel will find Cody and kill him. But then again, if we don't tell he'll still probably kill Cody. What did Joel mean when he said Cody would pay? Why did Cody have to tell me? He just got himself in a lot of trouble. But if I was in his shoes, wouldn't I want to tell someone, too? I probably would have cracked a lot sooner. Cody always has been better at the silent treatment. Then a stirring was heard as Cody shifted. As soon as his eyes were open Zack said, "We can't tell mom. You're already in too much trouble as it is."

"I know. I dreamed that Joel kidnapped you and mom because I told mom. I don't want that to happen. I think I made a big mistake telling you," Cody said, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. He had a headache and his nose was stuffed up from all the crying.

"So what do we do?" asked Zack.

"I don't know, but I don't think we should talk about this here."

"Why not?"

"Because I think the room is bugged or something. Joel knew I told you everything. We were right here in this room. He couldn't have found out unless he heard the conversation."

"Good point. Where should we go?"

Cody thought about it for a minute. It was a little after 7:30 p.m. The park would be empty by now. So that's where Zack and Cody decided to go. It took them aa half hour to get there and when they finally did they each took a seat on a swing.

"I love swinging. It's so peaceful," said Cody after he got going on his swing.

"Yeah, but we need to talk about Joel. If we aren't back at the hotel by nine, mom's going to start worrying so we need to hurry."

"So what do you think Joel will do to me?"

"To be honest, I have no idea."

"He said he would kill me and you and mom if I ever told anyone. Do you think he was telling the truth?"

Zack just stared wide-eyed at Cody for a few seconds. "Cody. Maybe we should tell mom. We have nothing to lose. In fact, I think we could gain a lot by telling mom if everything goes right."

"And if everything doesn't turn out okay, we're all dead. You know, we could probably get into the wittness protection program."

"But. We'd have to move away from the Tipton. And we wouldn't ever get to see anyone again. I don't want to live like that."

"I don't either, but I don't want to live like this! I don't think you understand how scared I am! Not knowingif someone might just come grab me off the streets and shoot me. I don't know how much more of this I can take."

"Look, if anyone can understand you, it's me."

"No, Zack, you don't understand. You can sit there all day and say you know what's going on in my head and what I'm feeling, but the fact is, you don't. You have no idea, and if you did-" Cody stopped.

"If I did what?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, Cody. You can tell me."

"I know I can, but I'm not going to. I'm ending this conversation, and I never want to talk about Joel again. I'm going to forget about him. I'm going to live my life like nothing happened and I'll finally be happy for the first time since this whole damn thing started. In fact, I'm going to start right now."

"What are you gonna do?" Zack was suprised when Cody swore. He hadn't even known Cody knew what swear-words were!

"I'm going to go slide down that slide. And I'm going to scream all the way down," Cody laughed.

He's crazy. Zack thought. The slide was just one of those big plastic ones that kind of swirl down. It was nothing fast. Just a regualr old slide. The only cool thing about it was that it stood about 30 feet high, and was the biggest slide in the park. Zack watched Cody climb up, smiling ear to ear. He waited for Cody to start screaming, but it never came. He waited...and waited...and waited.

Cody was just about to go down the slide when he was suddenly grabbed from behind and a hand was quickly placed over his mouth. He tried to scream with all his might, but the hand muffled everything. He watched as Zack called out his name, and came closer and closer to the slide. When Zack started climbing the steps to the slide, Cody tried to break free of Joel's grasp. Joel didn't want Cody to break free so he slammed his gun into the back of his head. Cody's last thoughts before falling into darkness was "So much forbeing happy."

"Cody? Are you coming down or did you just get scared?" Zack tried to laugh. He almost knew that an answer wouldn't come. "Cody? Are you there?" Zack walked briskly towards the slide. When he called Cody's name a third time he broke out into a run. "Cody? Cody? Where are you?" He reached the slide and started to make his way up the steep steps. When he reached the top he met his worst fear right in the eye. Cody wasn't on the slide. At first, Zack thought that he had just missed him go down and Cody was waiting for him at the bottom, but then he saw a dark figure running through the park holding a limp person in his arms. Zack had no doubt in his mind that it was Joel that was running and it was Cody in his arms.

"Cody!" Zack wasted no time sliding down the slide. He started running to catch up to Joel, but he was too far behind. Joel was nowhere in sight by the time Zack reached the monkey bars. Zack slid down to the ground and sobbed. He looked at his watch, 9:27. Carey would be worrying by now. Zack slowly made his way home. How could I have let Cody get kidnapped? I was watching him the whole time! Before he knew it, he was outside room 706. Home. He took his room key out and opened the door. He was immediatly greeted by a firm hug.

"Zack! Where were you? Where's Cody?" asked a very worried Carey.

"I was at the park. Cody was with me, but-" Zack couldn't bring himself to go on.

"But what? Where's Cody?" Carey was dreading the words that would come out of Zack's mouth. Tears silently streamed down her cheeks.

"Something happened. Cody's gone. Someone took him."

"No. No. No. Are you sure. Maybe he left the park and is down in the lobby or the kitchen or something!"

"Mom. He's gone. I saw someone take him. I tried to catch him, but he was too far ahead. I couldn't get there."

There was nothing silent about the tears that were shed from Carey that night. Many neighbors came to ask if everything was okay. Zack shooed them away. Finally, he just stopped answering the door. It was time to tell his mom about Joel. He had waited to long already.

So? How'd you like it? I thought it was pretty good if I do say so myself. lol. Please review!