A/N: Sorry I haven't been on in a while because I had too much school work and cross country was taking up my time in the afternoon. But now I'm caught up so you can enjoy this chapter.

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Chapter 8-Jeremiah Martin

"Jerry!"

"Jeremiah!"

Zack helped Cody sit up from the couch and they made their way over to their 'little brother'. They felt his face and pulled their hands back as if they just got burnt. Zack ran to the phone while Cody muttered soothing words to him, like "Don't worry. Everything will be ok," and, "You'll be all right. We're here with you." Jeremiah's eye lids seemed to twitch, so Cody guessed he was experiencing rapid eye movement, so he must be dreaming. He made weird whimpering sounds under his breath as he jerked his head from side to side.

The paramedics showed up a couple of minutes later, followed by Mr. Moseby and Maddie. Zack and Cody started talking in unison about what happened as Jeremiah was put onto a stretcher and got an oxygen mask applied to his face. Zack and Cody tried to get to him but Maddie held them back as Carey told her to watch them. Then she, Mr. Moseby, the paramedics, and Jeremiah left the room as Zack and Cody continued to scream for Jeremiah.

"He's going to die! He's sick! Something's wrong with him! I just know it!" Cody wailed as he burst out crying.

"Cody, calm down. Nothing's going to happen to him. They're going to treat him and make him all better. You'll see. He'll be fine," Maddie reassured him as he ruffled his hair as Cody clung to her.

"What if Cody's right?" Zack asked in a hushed voice as he pressed his forehead against the cool window and stared down the street as the flashing lights form the ambulance faded off into the distance. "What if something from his old past caught up with him and got him sick?"

"Then the doctors will figure out what's wrong and treat it," Maddie responded as she glanced at the boy. She then looked back and forth between the sad looking twins and started to think. A slow smile formed on her face as she gently rocked Cody back and forth, "Tell you what, if you two do your homework, I'll go take you to see Jeremiah later. I know how badly you guys want to see him."

"He almost killed you, Maddie. I don't want to see him ever again!" Zack said in monotone as he still looked out the window without blinking. "I hate him!"

"Zack," Cody started.

"Don't 'Zack' me, Cody! He almost hurt one of my friends. I won't be able to forgive that."

"But Zack-"

"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Maddie's POV-

Cody's lower lip started to tremble as Zack slammed the door to their bedroom shut in his twin's face. He sighed and dropped down onto the couch and lay down to rest his head on the pillow. I knew that I didn't have to ask him about whether his homework was done; he always did it earlier that day so he would have time to do other work for fun. But Zack, I knew that he was too upset to do any work. I was fine, nothing bad happened to me. But why was he making such a big deal out of it?

"Zack? Can I come in?" I asked as I knocked on the door. I received a muffled reply so I opened the door anyway. Zack was lying on his bed, a pillow underneath his chin. He had a scowl on his face and he seemed to ignore her. "Zack, what's wrong?

"Everything, that's what, everything has changed since he came along!" He responded without looking at me.

"No it's not. I know you don't hate Jeremiah."

"Yes I do!"

"You can't hate him if you were out in the storm earlier looking for him," I pointed out as I sat down on the bed next to him.

"That was just for Cody's sake. I wanted to make him happy, You know how he is when he's sad."

I stared at Zack with a hard look in my eyes. He averted his gaze so he wouldn't have to look at me. He still had that angry look on his face, which made him look kind of cute. 'Whoa, Maddie! Did you just think Zack was cute? Slow down, girl.' I thought to myself as I turned my head away incase he saw me staring at him. I sighed and said as I stood, "Do your homework anyway. Cody wants to go and see him and I can't leave you here by yourself."

"You could always stay with me," he said, immediately perking up.

"Nice try, kid. But you're coming anyway," I laughed as I ruffled his hair. 'It's so soft. And that look of hope in his eyes…WAIT! Stop thinking about him like that. He's just a kid. Three years younger than I am. Only fourteen years old!' I thought as I silently closed the door behind myself.

"Something bothering you?"

Cody's voice made me jump as if I was a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. I quickly shook my head, my hair flying into my face, hiding the blush that was appearing on my cheeks. I sat down next to him and watched tv with him as we waited for Zack to finish his homework.

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In The Hospital

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I sat in a chair next to Jeremiah's bed and stared at him in misery. I knew I didn't know him that well but he still was like a little brother to me. Like another Zack and Cody, but smaller and cuter. I couldn't stand being in that room with him as he stayed there as still as a corpse. It was too scary. I left the room but paused when I saw Zack stating into the room. I placed a hand on his shoulder and he stiffened under my touch,

"I don't want to talk about it!" He stated before I could open my mouth. I rubbed his shoulder and rested my head on top of his.

"I know. Let's just…go take a walk," I suggested as I gave his shoulder a squeeze. He just sighed and let me lead him away from his brother's room. We walked side by side in silence as we passed by different rooms with sick kids. We left the hospital and made our way around the city. I bought him a soft pretzel as we sat down on a bench. "You'll have to forgive him eventually."

"No I don't."

"I'm fine Zack/"

"Maddie, it could've been you in that hospital bed. I can never forget that."

"But he's your brother Zack. Haven't you ever heard of the saying forgive and forget? He needs help right now and you and Cody are the only ones who can give it to him…why do you care about me so much?"

"Why are you asking me that?" He suddenly asked as he turned towards me. His bluish green eyes stared at me in confusion as if I said something he didn't understand. "You know how much you mean to me. I can't let anything happen to you. I could never forgive myself. You're the most beautiful woman in the world and I don't want you to leave me yet."

'He's just so…sweet.' I thought as tears started to form in my eyes and a smile formed on my lips. I wiped away my tears and blinked once I saw that Zack was smiling too. I couldn't help but stare at him as time stood still for us. I nervously hooked some of my blond hair behind my ear and cleared my throat.

"Maddie…" Zack muttered as he gazed at me intently.

"Y-yes?" I asked nervously.

He didn't respond but started to lean towards me. I was about to say something but stopped as he placed his hand on mine and held it. That's when everything changed and I started to lean towards him too. 'He's going to kiss me…and I actually want him to.' I thought as I slowly closed my eyes and continued to lean forward. I hesitated a little, but finally pressed my lips against his in a sweet kiss. His lips were warm and softer than I expected. I reached out and cupped his cheek with my hand. We broke away and stared at each other as heat rose to my cheeks. Zack smiled as he whispered, "Whoa." I giggled as I held a hand in front of my mouth. A blush rose to his cheeks as he turned his head in embarrassment.

"Maddie…how do you feel about me?" He asked as he turned his head back around.

"I think…that you're the sweetest boy I have ever met," I responded as I gave him a quick peck on the lips.

"Sweeeet," He said as he grinned. I laughed and slapped him playfully on the arm.

"I'm betting your mother is worried. Let's go back to the hospital."

Zack jumped up and grabbed my hand. I smiled at the way his hand fit in mine as we started to run back. Once we got back we made our way to Jeremiah's room but Zack suddenly stopped and I crashed into him. He started to laugh and I held a hand over my mouth. Cody suddenly whirled around as he blushed in embarrassment and licked his lip nervously,

"Wha-wha-wha-wha…what're you guys doing here?" He asked as he ran his hand through his hair nervously as he bit his bottom lip.

"I could ask you the same question but I know enough," Zack laughed as he pulled me along the hallway. Cody's eyes widened when he saw us holding hands so I shook my head to let him know I'll tell him later. I knew he had something to tell me anyway.

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With Cody (Cody's POV)

-A few minutes before

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I was sitting in the waiting room of the hospital with my hands in my la and I glanced down at the floor. I wouldn't look up just incase I saw a doctor standing there and he came to bring me bad news about Jeremiah. I was scared for him. He's only seven and he's in the hospital with strangers poking and prodding him. He must be freaked.

I sighed heavily as I slowly lifted my head. What I saw was what I didn't expect. Crystal was walking in wit a bouquet of flowers in her hand. She talked to the person at the front desk and nodded when he pointed. She bowed and ran off down the hall. Being curious, I decided to follow her. She made her way up to the fifth floor where she stopped and knocked on the door. She opened it and closed it behind her, but not all of the way so I could listen.

"Hi Aaron. How're you feeling today?" She asked him in a kind voice.

"Better. My head doesn't hurt anymore. They say I'll be released tomorrow if nothing bad happens."

"That's great. I got you a new book and some flowers."

"What kind?"

"Violets. And the book is about Harry Potter,"

"I love those books. Could you read it to me?"

"Don't you want to try first?"

"But I love it when you read to me. You remind me of mommy."

"Ok. Just for you."

I listened as Crystal read to the young boy as he interrupted with questions. I felt something in my heart stir as I listened to her calm voice. As if she were soothing the boy after something bad had happened to him. I knew I should be with Jeremiah, but I couldn't leave. She had me in some sort of trance. As I pressed my ear against the door it was suddenly flung open and I was sent flying into the room,

"Who's there?" Aaron asked in alarm.

"It's ok Air, it's just my friend," Crystal said as she glared at me form the floor. She yanked my collar so I was standing and she shoved me into the hallway. "What're you doing here?"

"Jeremiah's sick," I responded with a shrug.

"So why aren't you with him?"

"Because I saw you come in and I wanted to know what you were doing?"

"I'm visiting a friend, Cody. That's all you need to know."

"What's wrong with him? I mean. Something had to have happened for him to be in here."

"I don't want to talk about it Cody!"

"Crystal. Please, tell me!" I said as I grabbed her arm before she could go back inside the room. She stopped and rested with her head on the door frame. She sighed and responded, "He's blind. He gets very bad headaches occasionally. So bad he has to come here once every other week to get himself checked out. I feel sorry for him and scared for him because the doctors say he may have a brain tumor. He doesn't know what's wrong but I don't want to tell him. I don't want to see him scared." Her shoulders started to shake as a tear slipped down her cheek as she turned to face me. "I don't want him to die. He's so young and so happy to be around and I don't want that to be taken away from him."

"I know how you feel. Jeremiah is really sick and we don't know if he's going to make it or not. No one will tell Zack or I anything but I know that he'll pull through. Aaron will do the same," I said as I kissed her cheek lightly. She smiled a little and turned towards the door.

"I have to go."

"Wait." I turned her around once more and pressed my lips against hers. She shyly kissed me back as I smiled against her mouth. I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around her waist as she circled my neck. I suddenly heard laughing. I broke away and turned around only to blush when I saw Zack laughing with Maddie.

"Wha-wha-wha-wha…what're you guys doing here?" I asked as I ran my hand through my hair nervously as I bit my bottom lip. Crystal silently backed away into Aaron's room and shut the door quietly.

"I could ask you the same question but I know enough," Zack laughed as he pulled Maddie along the hallway. My eyes widened when I saw them holding hands. Maddie shook her head to let me know that she'll tell me later.

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In Jeremiah's Room

(Normal POV)

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Carey was sitting next to Jeremiah with his small hand in hers. She used her thumb to rub the back of it as she constantly wiped tears from her eyes. She stared at his small face as he laid there still. He didn't move; except for his chest moving up and down. At least he was breathing. A doctor entering the room startled her but she turned to face him.

"There is some confusion in what this man's name is. Is he Jeremiah McGwire? Or Jeremiah Martin?"

Before Carey could open her mouth to say anything she felt Jeremiah's small hand grasp hers. She turned and saw him stirring. He opened his tired eyes slowly and looked around the room. He gazed at the doctor for what seemed like eternity until he opened his mouth and said, "My name is…Jeremiah…Martin."

Next Chapter:

Chapter 9-The Note