Chapter Twelve-
'You Can't Always Get What You Want...'
"How many?"
"Thirty-seven today. And it's only eleven am." Tay replied.
Zac stared at another 'Get Well Soon' teddy bear. "I'm sure there are far worse people out there who need these more than I do."
"Give them away then."
"I will, don't worry." Zac mumbled.
"You want anything?" Tay asked.
This was getting old. "No Nurse I don't. I said no five minutes ago and if I wanted something I can get it myself."
"I'm not allowed to fuss over you?" Taylor asked, trying to sound hurt.
"No." Zac replied.
"Well you're going home soon so don't expect anything then."
"I don't. I am mobile, you know. I'm not on the 'fatal' list."
You were a few nights ago... Taylor thought sadly.
"Have you even been home yet?" Zac asked.
"Yeah, a few times. You were in and out all the time so you didn't notice." Taylor paused. "And why did you keep on calling me Jenny McCarthy?"
Zac laughed. "I don't know where that came from. Just be glad you're hot enough to get confused with her."
Taylor laughed.
"Anyway, where's everyone else today?"
"Ike's coming soon with everyone but mom and dad are too tired. Their shift was all day yesterday and last night."
"Ah. Cool." Zac smiled. He wondered how many times he would have to thank Ike before they were even.
"Still don't remember how it happened?" Tay asked.
"Not a clue."
"Oh. Okay." Taylor replied, disappointed.
Zac noticed. "Stop pouting. I'll figure it out soon enough. Just be glad Ike found me."
That's the thing. How did he find you...? Tay asked himself.
"Anyway, it doesn't matter. I'm Okay now so you can stop worrying."
"I'm just looking out for the well-being of my favourite drummer." Tay smiled.
"I'm sure Ringo will appreciate it." Zac replied.
"Okay... Second. But a close second."
"Thanks." Zac picked up a big black teddy bear. "I think I'll keep this one."
"Cool." Taylor picked up a few more. "I'll give these out to the children's ward or something."
"Hurry, I'll be drowning in them soon!"
"I guess now is not a good time to give you more then, huh?" Ike asked, holding Zo�.
Zac laughed. "How you been Ike?"
"Bored."
"Where's trouble?" Taylor asked, dropping the bears.
Like a que four other siblings came bundling in, aiming for Zac.
Zac felt the pressure. "Hi guys!"
"We missed you!" Mackie yelled.
"Missed you too guys!" Zac yelled.
"How's your head?" Jessie asked.
"Sore, but Okay. You brought any food?"
Avie held up a bag. "Chinese."
"Oh I love you guys." Zac grinned, making room for it on his bedside table.
"Hospital food not up to rock star standards?" Dr. Jimmy asked, walking in.
"No offence." Zac smiled.
"Hey, none taken. You're a lot more perky compared to yesterday. Feeling any better?" He read off the chart.
"Yep. Can I go home soon?"
"Sorry, another day at least."
"Damn." Zac grumbled.
"We'll keep you company." Jessica said.
"Thanks guys." Zac answered. "But you don't have to stay here all the time. I'll be Okay."
"After that food, have some more rest, it'll do you good." Dr. Jimmy said.
"Fine." Zac said, distracted by food.
"If that's all then I'll be off."
Taylor thought for a second then walked out after him. "Hey, wait."
"Yes?" The doctor turned back.
"Will he be all right? Like, for certain?"
"A little woozy now and then but basically fine if he keeps resting. Why?"
Tay swallowed, looking around to make sure Zac wouldn't hear them. "Would the blow to the head... Will it have..."
"What?" Dr. Jimmy asked, sounding impatient. But there was still some care in his voice. They must be taught to do that.
"Can it in any way caused a slight amnesia? He says he can't remember anything about that night."
The doctor thought for a second. "The likes aren't much as the blow wasn't connected to the nerve system. If it was a blow to the back of the head or around the neck, then amnesia is possible. But the chances are pretty slim." The doctor sighed. "Maybe he's scared to tell you?"
"I don't think so..." Taylor started. "He's not exactly a woss."
"Well give him time. Is that all?"
"Yeah, thanks."
"Pleasure." The doctor walked off.
Tay walked back in to one of the regular Britney Spears fights between Zac and Avery. Everything seemed Okay. Still Zac and Ike had been giving eachother weird looks all day...
"Tay tell mom and dad I'm staying over the night, Okay?" Ike said as everybody started to get ready to go.
"How come?" Taylor asked.
"Just in case, he might..." Ike tried to whisper.
"I can still hear you guys." Zac observed. "I wont die during the night, you know."
"We're being cautious, Okay?" Taylor replied.
"How old am I guys?"
"You have the maturity of a two years old..." Zac glared at Ike. "But you're fourteen. Why?"
"Then treat me like one. I don't need a babysitter."
"I'm staying Zac, and that's final."
"You'll only just sneak out to Melissa's during the night or invite her over."
Ike raised his eyebrows. That clinched it. He really doesn't remember a thing...
"I wont. Stop whining."
"Fine. But you're renting the porno."
"Ha ha wise-guy." Ike replied. "See you guys later?"
"Yeah, bye Ike." Tay, Jessie, Avie, Mackie and Zo� left and Ike was alone with Zac.
Might as well find out for certain before I let anything out... Ike thought.
"Zac, what do you remember about that night?"
Zac thought. "Hmmm, not much."
"What's the last time you remember?"
"I don't know. Ike, does it matter?" Zac asked, annoyed.
"I just wanna know."
"What happened, happened. I'm fine, I have sixty seven billion thankyous' down and fifty billion gazillion to go and we're all Okay."
"You don't care to know how it happened?"
Zac thought for a second. "Not really, I just wanna get on with my life. I doubt the fact that it was a psycho-freak if I only banged my head and nothing else."
"It was a big bang though." Ike observed.
"Was it?" Zac felt his head a little. "Nobody filled that in when I woke up this morning. How bad?"
"Concussion bad." Ike said sadly.
"But I'm fine now, right?" Zac asked slowly.
"Yeah, almost."
"So there's nothing to worry about, thanks to you." Zac smiled.
"Would you stop thanking me?"
"Nope." Zac was enjoying this. "You're totally my hero Ike."
"I wouldn't say that." Ike replied.
"But you are!"
"Zac, shutup. I'm not a hero." Ike felt a hunger rising. He sighed. "I'm going to grab a soda. Want anything?"
Zac looked at the time. "Going hunting already? It's only ten."
Ike turned around slowly. Did he mean what he thought he meant? "What?"
"Ike, I may not remember what happened to me. But I wouldn't forget a secret like that."
Isaac felt immense happiness. He wasn't alone again. Zac had been there all the time, and would be, just like he promised. "Why didn't you tell me you remembered?"
"Because everyone was there, I couldn't say then. A promise is a promise."
"She mustn't had gotten that far when she was wiping your memory..." Ike started.
"What? Who?"
"Melissa." He saw Zac's face and sighed. "Get comfy and I'll fill in the gaps."
Ten minutes late it seemed to make sense. Even though Zac still couldn't remember anything about it.
"So... You haven't spoken to her?"
"Nope. And I don't want to."
"Why not?"
"She could have killed you Zac!"
"I guess." He didn't like that idea. Melissa wasn't one to hurt others or go psycho for no good reason. Well, during the day anyway. "What about Mikey?"
"She changed his memory. Something about a mugger in the park and he ran to get help and found her."
"Oh. So that's the story I go with?"
"Yeah, I suppose."
Zac sighed. "You still hungry?"
"Very." Ike replied.
"Back back!" Zac joked, putting his fingers into a 'cross'. He saw Ike flinch a little. "Oops, sorry."
"'s Okay. It feels funny."
"Like what?"
Ike shrugged. "Like a head rush, I think? Anyway just keep all religious symbols out the room thankyou."
"I can't believe I never noticed you haven't worn your cross." Zac observed.
"I told Tay I lost it last plane-trip." Isaac started for the door. "I'll try and be quick."
"Yeah. And remember your promise!" Zac yelled after him.
"Blah blah blah..." Ike replied and set about getting somebody quick and easy...
"How was he?" Mikey asked quickly as soon as the general chit chat was over. This phone call was an important one.
"He's fine, stop worrying." Taylor replied, staring at the carpet patterns in the hallway.
"He'd better be." Mikey said sadly. "Once I'm not grounded I'll visit him and check. Did you thank Ike for me?"
"Yeah, about ten times." Taylor replied.
"Did Zac say anything today about me?"
"Uh, thankyou and see him soon. He said he missed you."
Mikey paused. "He'd been unconscious for days and he missed me?"
"Don't ask." Taylor smiled. He stopped. "Did you know the guy that did that?"
"Nope, never seen him in my life. It was just some homeless psycho."
"Then why wont Zac tell me about it?" Taylor asked out loud.
"He's only been awake for a day Taylor, give him a chance to recover." Mikey replied. "Besides I don't think he'll want to remember."
"I guess." Taylor sighed.
"Has Ike said anything about Melissa?"
"No, why?"
"I was just wondering if he saw her at all."
"I think he's been too worried. For once making out wont help in life and he's a little disturbed by that."
"I hope she's Okay."
Taylor had heard about it. "Yeah."
"Did you tell Ike?"
"Not yet. I forgot."
"Well tell him. She may need him."
Taylor was puzzled. "Since when did you care about Isaac's love life?"
"If you wont do something about it, who will?"
Taylor laughed. "I'll talk to you later. And Zac will be home soon so you can see him."
"How soon?"
"A week, maybe less? Shall I tell him to get better quicker?"
"Yeah, and if he doesn't that Nirvana CD is mine for keeps."
"Bye Mikey."
"Bye." Mikey hang up.
So did Taylor but slower. Something was up. It was troubling him. Trouble was he didn't know what 'it' was. He just knew there was something strange going on. Stranger than usual anyway...
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