It had been a week since Jack had confessed his 'love' for Bobby and no one except Cody had realized any difference between them, because Jack never showed any emotions and Bobby never went further in his attraction to Jack, because he feared the adverse effect of trying to do something when Jack wasn't ready. Cody on the other hand was happy and at the same time confused because he didn't know if they were dating or if Jack just simply loved Bobby. Cody was such a carefree spirit these days but felt as if he was growing apart from the others because he couldn't ignore the fact that they all were pretty messed up in the head and yet they were ignoring it as if it didn't exist. Cody didn't want to buy into a life where people would ignore things like this because they were too hard to deal with. Cody was tired of being afraid and he was tired of playing the victim. Mostly he was tired of letting the memories of his past rule how he acted in the present. He needed closure and he needed it now, because he wouldn't be able to relax and allow himself to get help if he didn't have closure. He also knew he wouldn't be able to get closure unless his brother was able to admit what had happened to them and tell people. Cody knew that up until now Zack would deny the fact that they were even abused let alone hurt in anyway. He thought that everything that had happened to them was nothing but a dream.
Cody knew it wasn't a dream, Cody knew that it was very much real, and Cody knew that what had happened to them what they were forced to do was still haunting both of them. Even if Zack wasn't ready to admit the fact that he was still affected by the memories, and denied their existence. Cody had to get himself help as well as help for his pathetically delusional brother. Cody knew that Zack had always been the strong one, and that Zack had always protected Cody no matter what. Cody didn't want to be protected any more, and Cody wanted to be the one doing the protecting. He wasn't weak like he was before and he wasn't as subservient as he was before either. He was new person, or rather, wanting to become a new person and get a fresh start, but he wouldn't be able to start over if his brother wasn't able to accept reality. This made him angry, this made him so angry that he contemplated hurting his brother just to make him realize, just to make him wake up and face reality, but he knew that he would never do such a thing. Cody wasn't a violent person and no matter how hard he imagined hurting someone he could never possibly lay a hand on another person violently.
Cody sighed as these thoughts were spiraling around in his head as he sat alone in his room. He was hugging his knees, because he liked when Jack did it and was looking out the window. It was raining again and Cody couldn't believe how much it had rained since they got here. Cody heard a knock on his door and he looked at the clock and realized it was early morning, and this made Cody also realize how little sleep he had gotten the night before. There was another knock on the door a more aggressive one, "Cody? Cody, are you in there?" Cody could hear his brother yell from the other side of the door.
"Yeah, I'm here," Cody responded getting out of bed still in his pajamas. He didn't feel like getting dressed today, "I'm coming out," Cody murmured as he opened the door to be confronted with Zack, Lilly, Bobby, and Jack. He sighed and exited his room and Zack couldn't help but notice how depressed his little brother was.
"Cody, are you alright? I mean you're in your pajamas and you looked like you haven't slept," Zack said wrapping an arm around Cody who shook him off.
"I'm fine! I didn't get much sleep, but I'm glad you at least accepted that reality," Cody said angrily leaving Zack very confused as to what had had done.
They decided to go have breakfast in a new place today, and this place was near the pool and had an awesome view of the ocean. However, seeing as they didn't know it was raining once again when they reached this new restaurant they were disappointed to see it was raining. Jack was the only one who didn't seem annoyed by the fact it was raining once again. They all sat down around a booth by the window because Jack basically dragged Bobby over to the table because he wanted to watch the rain. Everyone else took this action as normal activity for the both of them, but Cody was the only one who knew that Jack had feelings for Bobby. Normally knowing a secret like that would make him so happy and make him seem superior, but after the realization that he would never get better until his brother realized that what had happened to them was real, and it was still affecting their lives.
Jack looked at Cody and looked at him as if he was analyzing what he was feeling, because Cody might be able to fool everyone else, but it'd be a cold day in hell before he would be able to fool Jack. Jack could see the pain in Cody's eyes and Jack figured that Cody had either remembered something really painful or realized something that involved Zack. He couldn't trust Cody enough to talk to him, because he had issues of his own, but he knew that Cody was putting on a good façade, but not good enough to fool the very bright Jack. Cody saw Jack starting at him and wondered if Jack knew what he was thinking, but realized that was a ridiculous thought because Jack wouldn't even talk to him. Why would he care what he thought? Then again Jack did see him as a friend and maybe this would invoke some sense of care in Jack's mind. Cody almost chuckled at the thought of Jack caring about someone else besides Bobby, because as he knew Jack was in love with Bobby, and Bobby liked Jack but Cody couldn't tell if Bobby loved him. He wondered if they would start dating, and he wondered what it was like to date a guy.
"Earth to Cody!" Lilly said snapping her fingers in front of Cody's face making him snap to reality. Cody realized that the waitress was there, "What do you want to drink, dork?"
"Oh sorry, I'll have a hot chocolate please. No coffee right Jack?" Cody asked Jack who nodded back as a response and the waitress wrote it down and walked away.
"Cody, it isn't like you to zone out like that, are you sure you're okay?" Lilly asked and she was genuinely concerned.
"We're you're friends, you can tell us anything Cody," Bobby said smiling and Cody realized they were all his friends and they all really did care about him.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Cody said as he began to cry and they all looked worried and confused.
"Sorry for what Codes? You haven't done anything wrong," Zack said looking at his baby brother with such concern.
"I'm not strong like the rest of you. I keep having these terrible nightmares and I honestly can't forget. I've never had friends before, and people have never cared about me. At school Zack was the star and I faded into the crowd, and then when everything started to happen I didn't have anyone. I just became a shadow that no one cared about, invisible to the world. Zack had people to talk to, he had everything, and I just wanted a friend a single friend, but no one would be my friend. Everyone ignored me and called me some freak. They thought I was gay because I didn't do sports and liked cooking. I was so alone and I'm sorry because I won't ever get better," Cody confessed as he cried louder and Zack felt incredibly guilty, because even though he knew it wasn't his fault he felt as if he had let his brother down.
"Cody, I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry, because I didn't know you felt that way. Cody if you wanted friends, my friends did like you, but you were so quiet. The things that happened to us were done by awful people and you have to let it go, you can't let it hurt you anymore. I went through the same things you did, and I didn't have everything. Even though I had friends and people who I could talk to do you honestly think I told them what was going on? No, I was scared!" Zack said back as his eyes began to tear up. Jack sat there shock, because right before him a breakthrough was happening and he didn't feel anything, nothing at all.
"Oh don't give me that bullshit, Zack! Don't pretend that you've gotten over what has happened to you! Even at the foster home I heard your screams from the nightmares!" Cody said and then he turned to Jack who couldn't believe he was going to be dragged into this, "Jack do you even hear Zack scream during the night?" Cody asked Jack who honestly didn't want to answer, but he slowly nodded. "See Zack, don't pretend like you're not affected by the memories, don't pretend like it didn't happen, and don't sit there and act like you didn't have it better!" Cody yelled back and everyone else at the table thought this was getting a little bit out of hand.
"Okay, I understand that this is a very emotional argument, trust me I do, but I think it would be better for group, because I think security has just shown up," Bobby said as he pointed two were four large men in white uniforms stood in the doorway and they walked over to their table.
"Is there an issue here?" The African American one asked looking at Zack as if blaming him for all the disruptions.
"No sir, we were just debating about which Harry Potter movie was the best. Cody thought the second part of the last book was the best, but Zack was debating the forth one was the best. We mean no harm, and we'll try to keep it down," Lilly lied so eloquently, and they could all tell they didn't honestly believe it, but they really didn't have any choice so they left without saying another word, and as they did Mr. Sacred walked in looking happy as ever and stopped at their table.
"Oh hello Lillian, how are you enjoying your stay here?" Mr. Sacred said as Lilly's cheeks flushed when he used her real name.
"Uh fine sir," Lilly said avoiding his eye sight and Mr. Sacred frowned as he sat next to Zack and Zack moved over making more room.
"Lillian, did you tell them I was your uncle?" Mr. Sacred said and Lilly's softly shook her head and he gasped, "Oh Lillian your mother would be displeased of this."
"My mother wouldn't care and you know it," Lilly said and Mr. Sacred couldn't really disagree with her knowing who her parents are.
"Yes well that might be true, but you should at least introduce me to your new friends. Of course I've already met Bobby and Jack," Mr. Sacred said smiling at both Jack and Bobby.
"This is Zack and this is Cody," Lilly said introducing them.
"Ah yes, the twins from Boston if I'm not mistaken," Mr. Sacred said and they both nodded in unison, "Ah good, I hope you don't mind if I join all of you for some breakfast."
"Of course not, Mr. Sacred," Bobby said smiling.
"Bobby, your mother is doing a great job running this ship. I actually came here to tell you as well as Jack something," Mr. Sacred said softly.
"What is it?" Bobby responded and Mr. Sacred's face changed from one of happiness and one of dismay. He sighed loudly and was trying to contemplate ways that he could put this delicately.
"Jack, as a part of therapy we have to, um, make you face a situation," Mr. Sacred said and Lilly's eyes widened as she knew exactly where he was going with this. She crossed her arms and leaned back ready for the repercussions that were going to ensue, "And, um, I'm very, very sorry to put you through this, but you're parents are coming, and don't worry everything will be very safe," Mr. Sacred said and Jack's eyes widened with disbelief. He couldn't believe what he was hearing and he wanted to believe that this was a sick joke. He didn't understand how this was going to help him. He didn't understand how putting he through his worst possible fear was going to cure him. He began to violently shake his head as he began to panic. Bobby was also shocked by this revelation and couldn't believe that they would put Jack through that. Jack wanted to scream, but the voice wouldn't escape his mouth and for once he had actually released his grip on Bobby. He basically climbed over Lilly as he ran towards the door and out of the restaurant.
"What the hell, Uncle? Why are we still doing that treatment, you know that it was only 30 percent effective," Lilly said yelling at her uncle.
"Yes I know Lillian, but his case is special and we thought that it was the only way for him to start making progress if he saw that his parents couldn't hurt him anymore," Mr. Sacred said sorrowfully now regretting what he had done, "Maybe it wasn't such a good idea after all."
"No, no it isn't such a good idea, because none of us know what his parents did to him, and for all we know the things they did to him was so bad that seeing him might awaken those memories and completely cut him off from any contact with anyone," Bobby said and Mr. Sacred hadn't considered that.
"Well, I am going to go cancel this procedure. Problem is his parents are on the ship and if they see him before we can find him something bad might happen," Mr. Sacred.
"Wait, wait his parents are currently on the ship now and you JUST told him? Oh my god, what if they try to take him? Escaping this boat would be easy if they went to the forbidden area," Zack realized as all of their eyes widened.
"Oh god, oh god, oh my fucking god, I just realized that Jack's mother did carry in a large bag. This was her plan to begin with," Mr. Sacred said as they all gasped.
"I honestly can't believe you are in charge," Cole murmured to himself crossing his arms with disbelief of what's happening.
"Uncle, you and I will go find his parents, and Cole, Zack, and Bobby will go find Jack alright?" Lilly said and they all agreed as they ran off just as the waitress returned very confused.
Jack had to get away, and Jack had to get away fast. He didn't want to be anywhere near his parents and the idea of being anywhere near his parents not only sickened him, but angered him to the point of insanity. He didn't want to see their faces, because he couldn't understand their logic. They were the ones who had given him life, but instead of being the ones to protect his life they were the ones who made it a living hell. He couldn't understand how parents could be cruel enough to abuse their children instead of supporting them. He didn't even think these people were parents he thought they were some sort of evil devil spawns who purposely wanted to make children's lives hell, and he wouldn't let his life become any more difficult by being near them. He didn't care if it would help him, because he honestly rather be insane than be sane while having these awful memories of what his parents did to him. He completely cut off his memories trying not to remember something right now, because it would only make the whole thing worse instead of better.
Jack turned down a hallway and ran through an open door entering what seemed to be a kitchen. Before he left he grabbed a large knife, not because he wanted to hurt himself, but so he would have a weapon if something bad were to happen. He exited the kitchen and ran down another hallway, and he didn't honestly know where he was but he knew he had to keep running or he would be in a lot of trouble. He found himself in a large room that looked a lot like the waiting room he had been in before. There was a large window and Jack could see the rain outside. He also saw the door on the opposite side of the room and he ran towards it.
Meanwhile, Lilly and her uncle ran through the hallways quickly trying to avoid patrons and patients as they knew exactly where they were going. Lilly prayed that Jack was alright and that his parents hadn't gotten to him, because if they had she would never be able to forgive herself or even look at Jack again without feeling some level of guilt. They were heading to the entrance hall of the facility, a place Lilly had been to many times before, and as they were running Mr. Sacred had a hard time keeping up with an obviously more athletic girl like Lilly, but somehow they were both able to enter the office easily and when they looked around the waiting room they didn't see any parents there. Lilly panicked and hoped that the receptionist had told them to go home or something, but to make sure they weren't still on the ship she went over to the desk. The woman looked at her as if she was crazy.
"Lillian, what's wrong? Did something happen?" The lady behind the counter asked and Lilly quickly shook her head.
"Jack's parents, where are they?" Lilly asked and the woman looked absolutely confused and looked up at Mr. Sacred.
"His parents? A male nurse came in here and said that you, Mr. Sacred, had said it was alright for them to find Jack in the waiting room," The woman said smiling.
"What? I never allowed such a thing. Which male nurse was it?" He asked and the woman looked at her clip board.
"New guy, his name was Nathan I think. He was a big guy," The woman said and Lilly looked at her uncle with wide eyes.
"They had someone working on the inside, Uncle! We were tricked!" Lilly yelled and her uncle couldn't believe this was actually happening.
"Oh god, Jenny this is a red alert. Unauthorized and possibly violent parents onboard the ship, and please make sure if anyone finds Jack that they don't let him run off and make sure he's safe," Mr. Sacred said as he left the office with Lilly following behind her.
Bobby ran through the hallways confused as to what was going on, because he couldn't believe that Mr. Sacred was stupid enough to let parents on board with a large bag that was big enough to store a child in. Jack was in serious danger and he had to find him before his parents did. Bobby had promised Jack that he would protect him, and he would even fight Jack's parents just to protect him. Cody and Zack followed behind as they were also worried about Jack, but Zack couldn't stop thinking about what Cody had said. He knew he was trying to forget that what happened actually happened, and he was trying to pretend it never happened because he wanted to be happy again. He didn't want to be hurt by the memories and the dreams anymore, but he didn't want people know what he had done, because it would not only make people look at him differently, but make him look differently at himself. He knew what he did was only him trying to do what was best to survive, but other people wouldn't think that. He couldn't imagine what Blaze would say.
Meanwhile Jack stopped in the large waiting room with another large window. He stopped because he was exhausted from running and he had to rest. He sat down on the couch and watched the rain just like he always had, and he didn't even hear the footsteps behind him over his breathing.
"Joe, look, our baby still loves to watch the rain," Candy said as Jack was startled by her voice and he stood up pointing the knife at her and his father.
"Oh look Candy, Jack has a knife, because he thinks he's a man now and he has the capability of hurting his own dad," Joe said smiling.
"Men don't use knives anymore, Jack," Candy said smiling as she turned to her husband.
"Your mother is right; men use guns," Joe said as he pulled out a pistol from his pants and pointed it at Jack, "Now put down the knife, and get in the bag Jack. We made a whole lot of money off of you, and people seem to love you. Like Nathan, he loves you and wants to continue to love you so get in the bag!" His father yelled and Jack dropped the knife. He had nowhere to run. The door burst open and Jack thought he was saved and looked to see Nathan holding Cody and Zack in his arms, and Jack sighed.
"Found these two lurking by the door," Nathan said as he smelled them, "They're little cuties aren't they?" Nathan said kissing Cody.
"Ah, three for the price of one, sadly your friends can't help you baby," Candy said.
"Forgetting something, you big asshole?" Bobby yelled as he had a gun in his hands pointed at Jack's father and Jack's father smiled.
"One step and Jack is dead," Joe said as they stared at each other.
A/N: Cliffhanger time, brilliant. Please advertise this! Please, please, please. As well as my other stories too!