Disclaimer: Sadly, we don't own TSL, but we own the plot and our made-up characters.
A/N: DMBfan helped me write this chapter because xfilesguy123 had a family emergancy. Hope you enjoy!
Carey, Cody, and Max all stood before the door that opened up to Zack's room. It was as if each person was gathering all the courage they had just to face him. They knew he wouldn't look like the Zack they all knew and loved. Carey reached for the doorknob as Cody and Max each sucked in a deep breath. Cody didn't want to see Zack like this again. It was hard enough the first time, and he knew it would only be worse. He felt bad for Max for having to see it too. She was not one to get queasy but it being Zack and all can make a big difference. Cody remembered feeling sick the first time he saw Zack after the shooting. He could only imagine what Max was feeling. Cody was right about one thing. Zack looked worse. A lot worse. There was that tube in his mouth again with a plastic support between his lips. The worst part though was that Zack looked almost dead. Before it looked like he was just sleeping, but now his face was paler, giving off a white hue. The tube coming from his navel didn't look good either. There was a yellowish fluid coming out of it. There was also blood mixed in.
"Cody. Earth to Cody." Suddenly there was a hand waving in front of Cody's face. He snapped his head back as he came back to earth to see Carey standing in front of him.
"Huh?"
"I asked you if you wanted to talk to Zack," Carey said.
"No, you can talk to him for a minute if you want. I'm gonna go sit in the hall for a while," he said. He could tell there was something wrong with Max. He needed to talk to her. As he walked out of the room he grabbed her by her arm. Cody couldn't help noticing that she wouldn't look him in the eye.
"What's wrong, Max?" Max turned herself to face Cody. That's when he saw the tears glistening in her eyes.
"Are you okay?" Cody took no time at all to put his arm around his friend's shoulder.
"Yeah. I'm okay. You don't think I'm crying do you? 'Cause if you do, I just have something in my eye. I think it's an eyelash or something," Max retorted quickly.
"Max, it's okay to cry."
"No it's not! You're his brother! You're the one that should be crying! Not me!"
"It's okay to cry once in a while. You don't always need to be this...this tough girl! Just be what you want to be and don't worry about what people think. You can always cry in front of me."
"Thanks, Cody. I guess it's nice to have a friend like that."
"Like what?"
"With Zack, it's all fun and games. I could never be emotional with him."
"Uh..."
Things were starting to feel awkward between the two so it was lucky when Carey stepped out of the room. Her face was red and puffy. Cody could tell she had been crying. She looked at Max who tried to cover her face.
"You guys can go in now. I've had my privacy." The two looked at each other as Carey walked away to the waiting room. Then they reached out and held hands. They were going to do this together. They stepped into the room. Zack still looked dead. A chair was already sitting by the bed so Cody only needed to grab one more before sitting down next to Max. They didn't say anything as they stared at Zack. It was too unbelievable. Zack was usually so strong and active. It hurt to see him in this condition.
Tommy Santini rubbed his eyes as he listened to the news report regarding Zack Martin. Mikey Vernio shook his head as he poured himself another drink.
"It's messed up, Tommy," said Mikey. Tommy nodded.
"Vinny wants me to order a hit on the kid. Shit, Mikey, I can't do that," moaned Tommy. Mikey shrugged.
"It's either that or cap Richie and I. You want I do myself in?" asked Mikey. Tommy shook his head.
"I have to do it. There's no other choice. I can't kill you and Richie," concluded Tommy. Mikey poured himself a shot.
"Whatever, Tommy. You're the boss," said Mikey, downing his shot. Tommy's brother and right hand man, Tony, walked into the club.
"How'd it go?" asked Tommy.
"Everything's taken care of," answered Tony. "Well, almost everything." Suddenly Tony drew his gun and shot Mikey in the head. Blood splattered all over the bar and Tommy.
"Damnit, Tony," exclaimed Tommy, standing up.
"Sorry, Tommy," apologized Tony. Tommy wiped the blood off his face.
"Well, at least the loose ends are tied up. I don't have to order a hit on a young boy," said Tommy. "Get this son of a bitch out of here." Tony whistled and soon two more of Tommy's guys, Sonny and Rocco, walked into the club from the back.
"Help me take this guy down to the bay," ordered Tony.
"Holy shit. You whacked Mikey?" asked Sonny.
"You want to be the one to cap the thirteen-year-old?" asked Tommy. Sonny shrugged and went to help Tony and Paulie move the body. Jimmy Meretti, the owner of the club, walked in at that moment. He pulled Tommy aside.
"Vinny's outside. He wants to talk to you," said Jimmy, whispering.
"What about?" questioned Tommy, now starting to get worried.
"I don't know," replied Jimmy. Tommy sighed and walked out to the parking lot. Vinny was sitting in the back of a tan Toyota. His driver, Gino, waved to Tommy. Tommy nodded back and stood by Vinny's door. Vinny rolled the window down.
"Mikey and Richie get taken care of?" asked Vinny. Tommy nodded.
"Good. I got some other things that need taking care of. That no good pizza parlor downtown is causing shit again. Have Paulie go knock some skulls around."
"Why Paulie?" asked Tommy.
"Because Paulie has a talent for hurting people. Also, a waiter just robbed Vic's restaurant. This is not gong unpunished. Have Sonny and Tony go track that prick down and take care of him. Also you need to threaten those construction workers again. Bastards are threatening a strike. And don't forget to divide up Mikey and Richie's territories."
"Is that all?" asked Tommy. Vinny sighed.
"No. Listen, Tommy, I hate to be the one to tell you this. Orders just came in from Chicago. The kid is getting whacked anyway. I gave the order this morning." Tommy started breathing hard. Rage was building up inside of him.
"I just killed two of my guys. I watched as Tony blew Mikey's fucking head off. What the hell, Uncle Vin?"
"Don't even start to raise your voice at me. This comes directly from the Chicago families. I'm sorry, Tommy. They were going to order Richie and Mikey to be whacked anyway. They want no loose ends. The kid's being taken out. I'll handle it. I'll be in touch." Vinny rolled his window back up. Gino drove off, leaving Tommy standing in the parking lot. He couldn't let this happen. He wasn't going to stand by and watch as some poor innocent little boy got whacked. He had to act fast. If he didn't, Zack Martin was a corpse.
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