Hello, all. Well I'd just like to let you know that this chapter isn't entirely finished. There's one more small little bit to be added. But I'm just going to go ahead and post that with Chapter 4. Because I've kept you all waiting too long. And I'm going to be swamped from now until June 1st. So enjoy, and please leave reviews :)

P.S. oh yeah, reviews for OLCBYH Revised Edition are also needed :)

the third chapter.

"Into each life some rain must fall, some days must be dark and dreary."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

september thirtieth two thousand seven.

one week later.

"Hey, Buddy."

Cody slowly turned away from the large picture window in the Martins' suite. Zack was standing behind him, an eager smile plastered on his face, baseball in hand.

"You wanna come with me to the park?"

Cody shifted anxiously. He really didn't.

"C'mon, Buddy," Zack urged gently, eyes pleading, "It'll be fun."

Cody leaned against the desk in front of the window. He really really didn't want to go. He hadn't wanted to go anywhere since he'd been home, except, perhaps, the hospital, but Carey hadn't let him. She wanted him to 'settle.'

"I dunno…" He mumbled, digging his shoe into the plush carpet.

"C'mon, Cody. Just for a little while. We'll go and throw the ball around…?" Zack trailed off, watching his younger brother expectantly.

Cody didn't want to look up at his brother, but he couldn't help it.

"I-I…" He really wasn't sure what to say.

"C'mon, Buddy. You've been sitting around this place for a week like a slug, c'mon."

Cody shrugged limply. He wasn't sure he'd been acting like a slug; maybe a turtle.

"C'mon, just for a little while."

Cody looked up again at his brother. Zack wanted him to come with him as much as Cody didn't. Cody bit his tongue. He had a feeling he was going to regret this.

"Fine," He mumbled.

"Try to catch this one, Buddy!"

Cody squinted at his brother from across the lawn. They were playing catch in the park. And, so far, Cody hadn't caught very many. Apart from having to try to balance on basically one leg, he'd never been exactly good at any type of sport which yes, included baseball. His cane lay uselessly on the ground. He could hardly catch with two hands, let alone one.

Cody staggered, trying to keep balanced but also trying not to put too much of his weight on his bad leg, as Zack wound up and threw the ball in his direction. Cody scowled as the ball landed behind him, and just a tad to the right.

Zack frowned sympathetically as he watched his younger brother limp off to get the ball. This probably wasn't the best choice of things to do. He should've picked something Cody liked to do. But that would require doing something educational, and there was no way he was going to do something like that. Besides, Zack reassured himself, Cody needed to be outside, not cooped up in a suite doing math equations.

Cody tried to put on a slightly perkier face as he knelt to pick up the ball. Zack was obviously enjoying this. But Cody was not. His knee was starting to act up again and all he really wanted to do was go home and sleep. But, he didn't want to disappoint his older brother. And he was sure his brother had had enough disappointment for a while.

Cody was about to toss the ball back to his brother, when he felt the slightest drop of water touch his face. He glanced upwards, only to feel more rain hit his face. Cody tensed. Rain.

"Damnit!" Kurt yelled, shattering the silence that had fallen over the two yet again. Cody jumped, startled, cringing slightly.

"What's uhh what's wrong?"

"Cody?"

Kurt turned to look at his son, clearly flustered, "This rain's getting too thick. I can't see anything."

Cody felt his heart rate pick up, "Wha-what do you mean too thick?"

"Cody, buddy?!"

Kurt pointed out the windshield, "That's what I mean."

Cody gripped the edge of the seat with both hands. You couldn't make out much of anything outside. The rain was pouring down in sheets and covering everything. The only things, perhaps, that you could see were the bright street lights, but even those were blurred by the water.

"CODY!"

The car splashed through a puddle, spraying even more water up on the sides of the car.

Kurt leaned forward in his seat, both hands gripped tightly on the wheel.

Cody shut his eyes.

"CODY! BUDDY!"

Hiss eyes flew open just in time to spot two large yellow circles of light coming at them; coming at them fast.

"DAD!" Cody screamed, "Dad, move!"

The car didn't move.

Cody screamed again.

Zack was shaking him gently, a look of concern on his face.

"Buddy, are you okay?"

Cody stared distantly across the lawn, eyes filling up with soft tears.

"I wanna go home," He whispered hoarsely.

"Are you sure? 'Cause we could just-"

"JUST TAKE ME HOME, ZACK!" He yelled, a few tears streaming down his face, "TAKE ME HOME!"

to be continued...

Review Replies

(chapter two)

whobringsforththewind: Thank you so much! Yes, I'll try to update soon.

hundredandthree-xo: THANKS, DANGIT :)

WKDVIP2: I don't know about you, but I sure would.

smallvillegirl92: Aw, yes I loved the end as well :)

applextree: Thank you so much!