Chapter 17-Peace?

"Bye mom," Jeremiah said as he hugged Carey and left the suite with Zack and Cody. She didn't make a sound and didn't move from the table as the doors closed. She just uttered a sigh and stared off into space.

"What's wrong with her?" Zack asked as they rode the elevator down to the lobby.

"Separation syndrome is my guess," Cody responded. There was silence and he turned to see Zack staring at hi,.

"He means mom can't stand to feel separated from Kurt," Jeremiah explained. "Which don't make no sense considering they were divorced an' all."

"Maybe, she can't stand to feel separated from him in a spiritual way."

"That could be it."

"But, because of this, our mom doesn't sing anymore. She's going to lose her job, and then we'll have to move away! And I can't leave my future wife!" Zack said as they crossed through the lobby and pushed the revolving doors until it spit them outside.

"This can't happen," Cody whispered in disbelief. "We can't leave the Tipton. It's our home! And we did a lot of amazing stuff in there! Like, save Liberty Park, helped Chef Palo keep his job, had an awesome Christmas here." He paused and burst into hysterical crying. "We can't let this happen! We have to find a way to stay here! We have to stay!"

"Cody, calm down," Jeremiah said softly as he pushed his black hair out of his eyes. "Let's just go to school. I'll figure everything out. I promise. Just calm down, ok?"

"Ok. We'll see you later Jer," Cody said as he hugged his little brother and kissed the top of his head. "C'mon Zack." They stepped onto their skateboards and skateboarded off. Instead of walking towards the school Jeremiah walked in the opposite direction, to the heart of Boston. He searched the buildings until he stopped at one. He pulled a card out of his pocket and read the address. Confirming it, he walked inside and pushed past people. He knew what he had to do and he wouldn't stop until everything was right again.

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-At Revolution High-

"Hey guys. We're sorry about your loss," Max said softly as she and Tapeworm walked up to the twins at their locker.

"Thanks, Max. That means a lot to us. But, we have to move on if we want to make it in life. If we stopped to grieve for everything that died, Cody would still be seven," Zack said, trying to make a joke. Cody smiled slightly as he closed his locker.

"What're you two doing back? I thought you left for good. I even threw a party for myself," Drew said as he walked up with a smug look on his face.

"Just because our dad died doesn't mean we're leaving the school," Zack said coolly as Cody just looked on quietly.

"Oh you're dad died? Well, he's lucky then."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Max demanded.

"It means at least someone got away from the clones, but he's gone forever so he doesn't have to see you two anymore," Drew replied as he turned to Zack and Cody again. "I wish that would happen to me…no. I wish that could happen to you two instead so I won't be the ones dead and forgotten!"

Cody had tears streaming down his face, but they weren't of sadness, they were of anger. Drew crossed the line that time and Cody wanted him to know that. Uttering a cry, Cody threw his books at one of Drew's friends and charged at Drew. Cody caught him off guard and knocked him over. Drew retaliated by kicking him hard in the stomach. He hit a locker but didn't let it faze him as he knocked Drew over again.

"Cody! Stop it!" Zack cried as he tried to pull his brother away, only to get elbowed in the lip. "Oh no you didn't go there!" Zack dove onto Drew and started to help Cody fight him. Everyone else in the Drew Crew jumped in the fight to help Drew as Tapeworm and Max ran off as on lookers cheered for Zack and Cody.

"You take back everything you said about my father you…you…BASTARD!" Cody yelled. He was suddenly grasped by his upper arm and yanked upwards and away from Drew. Zack was pulled back by the hood on his sweatshirt as he swung his fists and kicked out with his feet, hoping to hit someone.

"Zackary Martin! I've told you a thousand times never to fight in school! And Cody Martin! I can't understand what would lead you to this behavior! My star student! I think a call to your mother is appropriate! To my office! March!" Principal Anderson said as he shoved the boys a little so they could start walking. As they walked down the hallway in silence Zack's and Cody's arms bumped until Zack took Cody's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"You'll be fine. We'll be fine. Nothing bad will happen. I promise," Zack said in a hushed voice so only Cody could hear. Cody nodded slightly as he squeezed his brother's hand back.

"Everything went down hill since dad died," Cody whispered back.

"Don't say that!"

"But it's true. Mom got distant and depressed and she won't do anything anymore. We have to. I mean, it's not all bad. We can spend more time with Jer, it's just going to get complicated if mom doesn't sing and we don't get any money!"

"We'll get through this. Together."

"You can't promise me something this big."

"I won't have to promise. I just have to believe that you'll trust me. We will get through this, Codes. We will."

"I trust you Zack."

Zack and Cody sat in the principal's office as he gave them a stern talking to. Zack zoned him out while Cody had his head bent and he was nodding and wiping tears from his cheeks with the back of his hands. They spent twenty minutes in the office before someone came to get them, but it wasn't Carey. It was Maddie.

"Where's mom?" Cody asked as they walked down the school steps with their backpacks on their backs and their skateboards under their arms.

"She's at your suite. She didn't want to be bothered so she asked me to come and get you guys. We need to stop at the elementary school to get Jeremiah then I will take you all home," Maddie responded as pulled out of the school's parking lot. They rolled up to the elementary school five minutes later and Cody went in to get Jeremiah. He came back out after ten minutes shouting, "Jeremiah's not here!"

"What!?" Zack shrieked.

"The teacher said he never came to school today!" Cody responded as he jumped into the car.

"He could be anywhere in Boston by now!" Maddie said as she waited for Cody to buckle up before she started up the car.

Cody sat thoughtfully for a couple of seconds before he suddenly shouted, "Turn left up here!"

"Why?" Zack asked.

"Because I know where Jeremiah is."

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"I knew I'd find you here," Cody said softly as he walked up behind Jeremiah. He didn't reply as he stared at the gravestone in front of him.

Kurt Thomas Martin

Beloved Father and Husband

May you rest in peace

1974-2006

Zack choked back a sob that suddenly tried to force it's way out of his mouth as Cody hugged Jeremiah and Jeremiah hugged him back tightly. Maddie put a hand on his shoulder and he leaned into her, burying his face into her side so no one would see his tears. Jeremiah suddenly shuddered and whispered, "We have to go!"

"What?" Zack asked.

"We have to go! NOW!"

"But why?" Maddie tried to ask.

"Just get in the car! Hurry ! We have to leave!"

As Maddie placed a hand on the car door a shot rang out and they all dove to the ground and covered their heads. Jeremiah's eyes seemed to glaze over as his jaw slackened and words tumbled out of his mouth: "You can't get away from me. I will get you. You will be mine. And no one can stop me!"