I'm Right Here by Rose Haze

Disclaimer: I do not own The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

Author's Note: This chapter is short—it's the shortest one in the whole story. And to be honest with you, I don't really like it all that much…but hopefully you will like it, lol. The review responses are at the bottom.

"I am very brave generally, he went on in a low voice: only today I happen to have a headache" – Lewis Carroll

Chapter Six

The Return of the Headache

The walk to Cody's room was a long one. They took the elevator up eight floors than walked down a long, narrow hallway. The hallway was lined with closed doors. The group stopped in front of one of them and Dr. Harrison began to speak.

"Even though Cody is in a coma, he can still hear you. Like I told you earlier, he's responding slightly to pain and sound, so only say positive things to him. When Cody does experience pain, he may moan and mumble, but that does not necessarily mean that he's waking up." he paused, "This will be hard for you to see. The incision was made behind his left ear, and we had to shave some of his hair. He's covered in bandages and tubes. He's hooked up to an IV, a respirator, and a heart monitor. And on top of that, he is covered with bruises and lacerations. In other words, not a pretty sight...do you think you are ready to see him?"

Kurt, Carey, and Zack each nodded their heads and somberly followed Dr. Harrison into Cody's room.

The first thing that Zack noticed when he entered the room was all of the equipment. Everything looked scary, but he knew that the machines were what were keeping his brother alive. He shakily approached the bed.

Nothing—not the hours of thinking in the waiting room, not the x-rays, and not even Dr. Harrison's warning could have prepared Zack for what he saw when he looked at Cody, or the feelings he felt.

A mask was covering Cody's mouth and nose and there was a long, thick tube protruding from it. A thick white bandage was wrapped around his head. There was blood on his hair, sticking the strands together and painting them red. The skin around his eyes was dark purple, and a thin line of stitches rand down from his left temple to his cheekbone.

All of the sudden, Zack's headache returned with a vengeance. He hurried out of the room, trying not do draw attention to himself. Once he was in the hallway he hurried over to a bench a few feet away. He pressed his hands against his forehead. It hurt so bad.(1) He felt like he had been run over by a train...or a car

Zack thought back to earlier that day—when the headache struck for the first time. It happened minutes before Mrs. King called and told them about Cody.

Zack smiled in spite of his physical and emotional pain. Could it be that he felt Cody's pain (or at least a portion of it) the moment he was hit? The timing would have been right...

He sat there for a few moments, and the pain in his head began to ebb away. Uneasiness in the pit of his stomach replaced it.

'It was horrible seeing Cody like that,' he thought sadly, 'but I have to go back. I have to be there for him. But how can I be with him if every time I am near him I get that terrible headache?'

...to be continued...

(1)It should be "It hurt so badly" but I defied grammar and wrote "bad" because I thought it sounded better...and more twelve-year-old-boy-ish.

Responses:

Ladybug1- Thanks again for the e-mail. I really appreciate all of the advice and input you have been giving me for my story.

MaohPrincess – Thanks! I got the idea for the story after watching the episode where Cody went to math camp. I liked the whole missing each other between him and Zack. Than my fanfic-writer brain kicked in and said "what if they missed each other for a more serious reason?" And that's where the coma idea came in.

Crimson Mystery- Nice username! Woohoo for the crimson people. Thanks for reviewing my story!

Solitaire's Mornie- If you send me a link, I would love to post on your forum:) I've been posting on imdb and zonesprouse, but I don't think the imdb people appreciate my blunt and slightly sarcastic personality. And I don't appreciate the (lack of) personalities of the teeny-boppers ate zonesprouse, lol… so I need a forum where I can be accepted, lol! Thanks so much for your reviews!

Kaoticjellybean- Thanks for the review!

Snowfrog5152- Thank you! I love answering everyone's reviews:) Glad you liked the chapter!

Swimmergirl000121- Thank you! I'm glad you love it, lol.

Optimisticgirl94- yes, drama is fun, lol. Thanks for everything you said in the review!

Mikkelson&Tolosa4ever- Yeah, the story's sad. And it's going to get sadder :evil grin: Thanks for the review.

I-Luv-Ashley-Tisdale- Don't feel relieved so soon, lol. The Carey/Kurt/Samantha thing will be a big part of the story, so I'm glad you like it. Thanks so much for the review—and all of the other reviews for that matter.

Kal's Gal- Thanks for reviewing:)

Black Wolf Demons- Thanks for the awesome (your word, lol) review!