Chapter 3

Again, I don't own these characters except the ones I create.

Realizing that he had promised Arwin he would destroy the time machine, Cody realized he had to make it look like he had. So, looking around Arwin's workshop, he gathered several pieces of scrap metal and wires to make it look like he had. Of course, he realized he couldn't just carry the time machine back up through the lobby and back into the suite. So, he decided to hide it, and come back and get it later.

Returning back to their suite, Zack looked up at him, taking a break from his video game.

"Is it destroyed?"

Cody nodded. "Yeah. I even broke some pieces in case Arwin ever got the urge to try to rebuild it..."

Zack paused. "Are you sure you didn't see something in the future that freaked you out?"

Cody shook his head. He hated lying, but he had to do this on his own. If he had been responsible for Bailey's death, he couldn't let anyone know. And that's when it dawned on him that he wouldn't be able to go back to the future while he was still on spring break. There was too great a chance that Zack or Arwin or even his Mom would walk in on him. He decided he would wait till he got back on the ship. There were enough places on it that he could hide and no one would be the wiser.

The rest of their time on spring break, Cody kept to himself. He didn't mean to be so anti-social, but he had a lot weighing on his mind. And even when he was around other people, he often didn't pay attention. And this caused some to get angry.

"Didn't you hear what I just said?"

Cody looked up and realized he must have been having a conversation with Barbara. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

Barbara sighed. "I was telling you about Bob and my breakup..."

Cody nodded absent mindedly. "Sounds good..."

"Cody Martin!"

Cody looked up again. "Huh?"

Barbara was smiling at him. "Does it sound good because you wanted me back?"

Cody shook his head. "Wait a minute...What?"

"I always knew we'd get back together someday!"

"Whoa...whoa...whoa! That's not what I said at all...I'm sorry, I was just thinking about something else..."

Barbara paused. "Something or someone else?"

Cody sighed. "Bailey..."

Barbara frowned. "What is so special about her anyways?"

Cody looked off into the distance. "Everything...and I completely blew it..."

Barbara huffed and stomped Cody's foot before storming off.

Cody was confused. "What was that all about?" Cody shrugged his shoulders and went back to thinking about what he should do. The one thing he knew he should do was hit the ship's library and do as much research as he could on the space time continuum. With that as a starting point, Cody was able to relax a little.

The night before they were due to board the boat again, Cody sneaked back down into Arwin's workshop and packed up the time machine as carefully as he could. And once he was back in his cabin on the boat, he hid it in his closet as best as he could. In face, he put it in his safe so no one would accidentally come upon it. And immediately, he headed for the ship's library.

On the skydeck, Zack met up with Maya to enjoy a smoothie. Soon, they were joined by Woody, Addison, Bailey and London. Woody sighed when he saw Zack.

"So, you guys are back already..."

Zack nodded. "Yeah..."

Woody shrugged. "I thought I saw Cody's stuff, but I have yet to see him yet..."

Addison spoke up. "I saw him. He had a very serious look on his face, and he looked like he was on a mission."

Zack sighed. "I was afraid of that. He hasn't been the same since we..." He paused wondering whether or not he should tell everyone about what happened. Especially around London. She could make a comment to her Dad, and Wilfred Tipton could make Arwin's life pure hell.

Maya spoke up. "Since you what?"

Zack figured why not though. It was a cool story, and London would probably forget about it as soon as she heard it. So, he gathered everyone in tightly.

"Okay, what I'm about to tell you doesn't leave this group..." Everyone nodded and Zack continued. "As you know, Arwin is an inventor, and he showed us this time machine he built..."

Bailey rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right..."

"Its true. He had Cody and I test it. Cody was skeptical too until I pushed a button and it transported us to the year 2040..."

Maya was shocked. "Yeah? What was it like?"

Zack grinned. "Get this, the Cubs actually win a World Series!"

Woody spoke up. "What about the Indians...or the Browns...or the Cavs?"

Zack shrugged. "I was going to look up stuff or buy a sports almanac, but Cody wouldn't let me..." He mocked Cody. "Something about disrupting the space time continuum and causing the universe to implode upon itself..."

Woody rolled his eyes. "Leave it to Cody to ruin the fun..."

Bailey just stared at him. "Or thank him for trying to do the right thing! I have no desire for my existence to be nullified..."

Zack sighed. "Anyways, I was about to check some stuff out when Cody dragged me out of the Boston Public Library..."

"Why did he do that?"

Zack shrugged. "No clue. He says we shouldn't find out anything about our futures, but..."

"But what?"

"I get the feeling he did...and I get the feeling that whatever he found out wasn't good."

Bailey paused. "Well, did you ask him?"

Zack nodded. "Yeah, but every time I did, he would shake his head and look away. And ever since we got back, it seems like his mind is a million miles away..."

Woody paused. "Why not just use the time machine to go back and find out what he found out?"

"Not a bad idea, but the time machine is destroyed. Cody did that himself..."

Bailey just shook her head. "I can't believe I sat here and listened to this. How do we know this isn't a story you made up like the one about being on a spaceship and having to save the world?"

Zack glared at her. "Go ask Cody if you don't believe me!"

Bailey glared back. "Fine! I will!"

Bailey got up and walked off.

Back in Cody's cabin, he had the time machine back out. After reviewing everything he could find, he knew if he just observed, there wasn't a chance to affect anything. He knew there was a chance he would have to watch Bailey die. Once he knew what happened though, he would try to explain to Bailey what happened so she could avoid it. Cody sighed. He would, but that would require her actually talking to him. But this was important enough that he would find a way to make her listen.

Cody was adjusting the time machine to set it for the exact date and location he needed. But before he could press the button, he heard a knock at the door. Rolling his eyes, he threw Blankee over the time machine to hide it before he opened the door. And he found Bailey standing there.

"Bailey?"

"Zack said Arwin made a time machine and you two went into the future, is that true?"

Cody paused. "Well, yeah...but..."

Bailey cut him off. "So, its true? You actually went into the future?"

"Yeah, but I destroyed it. It was too powerful to have around...too much of a temptation to change the future..."

Bailey paused. "I can actually see that..."

"Look, Bailey, there is something I need to talk to you about..."

Bailey rolled her eyes. "No thank you. I said what I needed to say, so I'm leaving..." And with that she stormed out of the room."

Cody sighed. "Maybe I should go back and tell myself not to do that stupid play..." He focused and uncovered the time machine. "Time awaits..."

Cody pressed the button, and his body disappeared again like it had before. But this time, as soon as he disappeared, Bailey stormed back in the room.

"And another thing..." She stopped when she realized he wasn't in there. She paused to look around when she noticed the time machine sitting on his desk.

"What the feathers?"

And that's when Bailey noticed a piece of folded paper sitting next to it. She reached down and unfolded it and read what it said.

"Cody Mitchell Martin, September 23, 1993 – March 14, 2014. Mr. Martin, a student at Yale University, was found dead in his dorm room in New Haven, Connecticut. Authorities are deeming it a suicide as there was a note found saying 'This is all my fault. I am so sorry. I hope everyone can forgive me, but I can't go on.' Mr. Martin is survived by his mother, father and brother."

Bailey gasped as the read it. "Cody committed suicide? Oh my gosh! That has to be why he was so withdrawn..." She paused and began to shake her head. "I know I'm mad at him...but I don't want him to die! Just the thought of that..." Bailey began to shudder. She collected herself and looked back down at the machine in front of her. She noticed one of the displays said March 11, 2014. It suddenly dawned on her.

"He never destroyed it..."

To be Continued...

Author's Note: I'm glad everyone is enjoying this story. Its done, and it has 6 chapters. The rest of the ride will get pretty bumpy. On another note, I encourage everyone to keep voting for the Suite Life Spirit Awards. I thank all of those who have voted and encourage those who haven't yet to do so. And I am especially honored to receive nominations from Cole and Dylan Sprouse themselves. I know I feel honored and humbled to know they read and enjoy my stories.