CHAPTER 5: Breakdowns

Over the next couple of weeks life at the Tipton had settled back to a normal routine. Angela would normally hang around either the boys or Maddie when school was not in session. When it was, she and Carey usually took care of whatever needed to be taken care of either in the suite or Carey's act. Angela had been very musically talented as a teenager and with practice on Zack's guitair she regained enough of her skills that allowed her to accompany Carey some nights. She would never sing though and that suprised both Carey and the boys because they all knew that Angela had an amazing singing voice. Carey even felt that Angela was a better singer than herself but as usual the younger woman was content to stay in the background and let someone else be the center of attention. There was the one time that she had convinced Maddie, who she found out was an excellent singer, to join her in a duet. After they were done the crowd, which normally responded with polite applause, cheered loudly for the two.

"That was awesome!" Zack said enthusiastically with Cody nodding agreement.

"You two might put me out of a job." Carey joked. Both of them blushed. After a quick meal, Carey went back on stage to finish off the night and the others headed back to the Martins' suite. As they walked by the front door, Angela froze with a look of horror on her face. The others gathered around her and asked her what was wrong.

"It's him." she said in a horrified whisper causing the rest of the group to look toward the door. A large man walked in dressed in an expensive suite with his dark hair slicked back and bright blue eyes. They judged him to be about 50 or so.

"Who?" Maddie asked wrapping her arm around Angela's shoulder. Zack and Cody also moved closer to her.

"My dad." Angela said with a shaky breath. The man walked by them and gave Angela a confused glance as he made his way to the front desk. Zack and Cody didn't remeber Angela's father very well because they had been so young.

"Ang," Zack said taking her face in his hands and directing her eyes to his. "it's ok, that's not him." Zack didn't know that for certain but wanted to calm the young woman down. Angela didn't seem to hear. She stared into his eyes and just trembled as tears ran down her face.

"Please don't let him get me." she sounded like a frightened child. Maddie directed Angela towards the elevator and they all headed back to the family's suite. Zack slipped the keycard in and opened the door. As Maddie guided Angela to the couch Cody went to the sink to get her a drink while Maddie and Zack sat down on either side of the frightened young woman. Angela finally buried her face in her hands and sobbed loudly.

"I'm sorry. I thought that was him and I just go so scared. I just don't want him to hurt any of you." She continued rambling for a few minutes as Zack and Maddie tried their best to calm and comfort her. Cody set the glass down on the table in front of the couch and knelt down in front of her. He exchanged concerned looks with Zack and Maddie then looked up at Angela who was hugging her knees to her chest. This was not the girl he had remembered when he was little. Angela had been one of the strongest, bravest people he ever knew. To see her like this made him ache inside.

Eventually, Angela calmed down, Maddie went home, and everyone went to bed. After several hours of tossing and turning Angela gave up on sleep and quietly made her way to the living area of the suite to watch television. She had just settled into a program she liked when she heard someone approaching from the boys' room. Cody dressed in pajamas and a robe came out rubbing his eyes sleepily. Angela gave the boy a grin.

"I didn't wake you up with the TV did I sweetie?"

"No, I just couldn't sleep."

"C'mere." she said reaching for him. Cody sat down beside Angela and snuggled his head on to her chest as she laid back against the cushions and kissed him on top of the head. Her strong, steady heartbeat lulled him toward sleep.

After a couple of hours Cody's eyes snapped open in alarm. He really didn't know why he had been awoken. He looked up at Angela's face. She appeared to be sleeping peacefully. Cody glanced around to see if anything was out of place in the suite but couldn't find anything. Finally he gave up and rested his head back onto Angela's chest and closed his eyes. Just before he was about to drift off again, his eyes once more snapped.open. This time he knew what had startled him. He kept his ear over Angela's heart and listened intently

THUMP-THUMP...THUMP-THUMP...THUMP-THUMP...thump...THUMP-THUMP

Cody's eyes went wide. Her heart had just skipped a beat. After about 20 minutes, it skipped again, this time causing Angela to inhale sharply before the beat continued. From that point on, Cody had a very fitful sleep. Every so often he would start awake, listen to Angela's heartbeat and fall back to sleep.

A/N Sorry if this took a little too long. I was having trouble deciding on what came next. Thanks to everyone who has enjoyed the story so far.