Gabriella, Haylie, and Charli were at Gabriella's Mother's house visiting. and Gabriella and her mother were looking at a catalogue of designs. "Mom, You got to help me with this wedding design... I am freaking out." her mother sighed, turning the stove on high cool, "Well, maybe you should ask sharpay what she wants, I mean it's her wedding." Haylie and Charli were running around the house tagging each other. "I don't know.. I.. I want it to be a suprise for her." Her mother smiled, "It'll come to you." she took a sip of her coffee, "I'll be in the bathroom." she stood up walking to the bathroom down the hall. Gabriella sighed running a hand through her hair. and Haylie bumping into the stove making the stove turn up very high.

TGTGTGTGTG

Troy and some workers had just got off their lunch break, and were headed back to work on some more building. Troy walked over to his tool box, and began taking his hammer and nails and started to climb the roof. "Be careful up there Troy." Troy nodded, "I konw John." he climbed to the top, hammering in the nails. he couldn't help but feel something is about to go wrong, but maybe he is just worried about Gabriella and his two girls. then he heard sirens go off, he looked up to see the fire department heading to Gabriella's mother's house.

His heart started hammering in his chest, "no..." he murmured, "John!" he yelled, climbing down the ladder and jumping from third to last rung. "Take over for me...I gotta go!" John looked at Troy, watching as his figure disappeared in the disappeared in the distance. "Sure man.." he muttered, "whatever..." he climbed the ladder, and started hammering in nails.

TGTGTGTGTG

"Girls!" Gabriella yelled, "Come here!" Haylie went into her mother's arms, seeing the soft out line of her with out stretched arms through the smoke. Gabriella looked at Haylie, well, felt her face. "Haylie, where's Charli? Where's your sister?" Haylie cried, "I-I don't know...she was right behind me mommy!" Gabriella hugged Haylie to her chest, "MOM!" she called through the smoke, before coughing violently because smoke had gotten into her lungs. "Ch-Charli!" she called, "mother!" "Gabi!" her mother's voice called, it was hoarse, "I'm here..follow my voice!" Gabriella lead Haylie out of the living room, getting down on their knees. "Follow me sweetie..." she said, "stay close." the sound of sirens were deafening. "Charli!"

TGTGTGTG

His feet pounded on the ground, his heart was in rhythm with each quickening step. He just hoped he wasn't too late; fire trucks and ambulances were gathering around the house. Stretchers were being prepared to carry the injured or worse...no! he wouldn't think like that. Gabriella and her mother would get the girls to safety. Nothing would happen to them. Nothing would...he saw the flames. Large and angry; like they came hell itself. He gulped, the flashback to his childhood home coming to his memory. Tears stung his eyes. He had to get in there.

The Fireman got the big hose, rushing towards the home and spraying it down. The police officer went to his car, "Were gonna need some more back up." he said into the walkie talkie. Troy's heart pounded, rushing pass the police, the paramadics, and the fireman. the Cop rushed after him, dropping his walkie talkie, "Son! Son! you can't go in there!" Troy struggled to get released from his grasp, "You don't understand! my family is in there!" The cop pulled him back, "You have to stay back!" "No!" he screamed. The cop looked at him, "Son, We can't risk losing you too.. just let us do our job." then there was screams heard from inside, the house close to caving in.

Troy pushed passed the officer, running toward the front door of the house, neighbors that gathered to watch the fire and the fireman tried to stop him but he just pushed them away as he ran inside. "Brie!" he said, coughing as the smoke instantly went into his lungs, "BRIE!" he crawled on the floor, as the smoke was rising. He heard crying, and coughing, "T-Troy..." a hacking cough. He crawled toward a corner of a wall; it was clogged with smoke, he felt around for body parts, finding Gabriella's hand, squeezing tightly as she squeezed back. "Brie.." he said, pulling her close, Haylie huddled into his chest.

He kissed her forehead. "where's Charli?" Gabriella sniffled, "I don't know! She was in the kitchen before this started!" Troy's heart hammered in his chest, "Okay, the door is opened..just follow the light pouring in..." he turned to Anita, "can you move?" she coughed, "a little, I'll just follow them." Troy nodded, "Go...I'll find Charli." Gabriella grabbed his arm, "the house is going to cave in!" "I don't care...I'm going to find our little girl!" Gabriella kissed his lips, but he pushed away, "Now's not the time I'm sorry.. now go!" the fire seemed to roar in his ears. As they crawled out, Troy crawled toward the kitchen, coughing into his arm and his began to water, "CHARLI!" he called, "Charli, come on! it's daddy!" He saw the source of the fire, it had devoured the whole kitchen, he strained his ears, trying to listen closely for Charli's cries or screams. He heard faint breathing. It had to be her.

Charli was coughing, losing breath. "da...da." he crawled over to her, a piece of wood falling on him. he hissed, It would leave nothing but a small scar. he went over to her. she was coughing, and her face was black. "da..da.." he nodded, "yes, it's daddy, come here baby, I'm getting you out of here, Hold on to daddy.." Charli's eyes were closing, "Daddy.. it too hot... me don't feel good." he shook his head, "come here, hold onto daddy, daddy won't let anything happen to you baby doll." Charli held onto her father, and he crawled towards the open door. he began coughing, Gabriella began crying, "Charli!" she held her close to her, Anita held Haylie in her arms. "Miss, you have to let her go.." Gabriella shook her head, "No! She's my baby! No!"

The paramedic sighed, still trying to take Charli from Gabriella's arms. "Miss...please, let us do our job." Gabriella had tears strolling down her face. Troy coughed, his face was black with soot, but not as black as Charli's was. "Brie...let...them have a look at her at least." Gabriella sniffled, wanting to kiss Charli on the cheek, but when she saw her baby girl's face, her eyes closed and she was barely breathing. "Charli!" she yelled, "Troy! She's not breathing!" His eyes went wide, crawling over to her. "Charli..." he whispered, taking the three year old from his wife. "Charli...come on...it's daddy..."-his voice cracked with emotion-"wake up for daddy." no stirring. Tears stung his eyes.

The Paramedics took her from Troy, "We have to take her now son, she could die if we don't.. she could be losing her heart rate." Troy nodded giving Charli to the paramedic. "Please, take care of my baby girl." They layed her on the Strecher. Troy held Gabriella in his arms, "Come here." he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her forhead, "shh..It's okay." she began sobbing in his chest. They had Charli strapped down on the stretcher, and began hooking up breathing tubes, and wires to her. "her her heart is irregular, we have to get her to the hospital fast." they put her into the ambulance, and Troy held Gabriella in, with Anita afterwards and then Haylie and him.

They all sat around as Paramedics took care of Charli. they check the rest of them for anything else, but they were all fine. Anita held Haylie in her arms, as Gabriella held Charli's hand rubbing it gently. tears streaming down her cheeks. "Oh baby, please be alright.. mommy could never live witrh herself for letting this happen to you.. this is all my fault.." she whispered.

Troy rubbed her shoulder, she sobbed. "Troy ..I-I'm scared.." he sighed, fighting the urge to sob out loud himself. "I know..I know..." Charli's breathing was low and unsteady, a paramedic had to move between Gabriella and her. "What are -what are you doing?" Troy asked, his voice cracking, the paramedic talked quickly, "attaching a heart moniter." Gabriella's eyes widened, "You don't think that she'll actually di-" Troy squeezed her shoulder and the paramedic sighed, "I know there's no such thing as a lost cause." The distraught couple looked at him, "I'll keep working on her until we get to the hospital...I swear it."

TGTGTGTG

When they got to the hospital, the paramedic was true to his word, he kept working on Charli until the doctor said he couldn't. Gabriella and Troy were in the waiting room now, awaiting the news. Maria had taken Haylie to the cafeteria, it was sure to be a less tense air. "Troy...I'm frightened...what-what if-" Troy grabbed her shoulder's gently, kneeling in front of her. "Brie, listen to me, do not say 'what if' please...don't say those words." Gabriella sniffled, "is-is this what you've been afraid of? For the last few days?" Troy looked at her, she sighed, grabbing his hand, "it's not hard to guess when you're having night mares, Troy...you scream."

He sighed, looking down at her hands, "I..I just don't want anything bad to happen.." Gabriella cupped his cheeks, "I'm afraid Troy, I'm very afraid, for us, for Charli.. I'm I have no idea what's gonna happen, I'm scared of losing her-" Troy crashed his lips onto hers, pulling away, "Please.. please don't think like that, we won't.. we can't lose charli.. she's gonna make it Brie.. she is.. I promise.." Gabriella looked at him, wrapping her arms around him, and resting her head on his shoulder. he rubbed her back, she sighed, "I'm sorry.." he looked at her, "for what?" she bit her lip, "For scaring you like this, I..I don't know why your having nightmares Troy, and I'm scared for you, I'm worried about you.."

He sighed, resting his chin on her shoulder and rubbing her back soothingly. "I just...I have them because...I'm scared too." Gabriella tightened her hold on him, tears slowly cascading down her face. "Troy..." she whispered, "I love you...and I love our girls..." he hugged her tighter, "I know... I love all of you too." when they pulled away, Gabriella looked at the white clock on the wall, "What's taking them so long?" Troy shook his head, sitting in the chair next to her. Nothing much left to do but ...just waiting.

TGTGTGTG

(Dream)

The flames licked at his skin, he felt the smoke invade his lungs as he coughed violently. "Brie!" he yelled, but the roaring of the hellfire seemed to drown out his voice. It was like the Devil himself came to take this house to hell with him. "Brie! Haylie! Charli!" he yelled again, crawling on the floor. He squinted his eyes to see through the smoke, he saw a hand and two little hands next to that..."No..." he whispered, grasping them all. "No...NO!" he yelled, the roof coming down.

(Abrupt End Of Dream)

"NO!" Troy yelled, sitting bone straight in the chair, Gabriella had leaned against the wall with her head leaning over the side. She was still, so still, with her eyes twitching. Troy felt sweat line his forehead and his muscles twitch. He heard shoes clicking on the floor and he stood up, not wanting to wake Gabriella up. "Uh..." the doctor said, "are you okay, Mr Bolton?" Troy swallowed, nodding quickly, "Y-Yeah..just...is everything all right?" The doctor sighed, "we were able to stablize Charli, but her system...sometimes when a child-especially this young-goes through something as traumatic as a fire...their system temporarily shuts down to heal itself." Troy feared the worst, "wh-what do you mean?" "I mean, your daughter is in a coma."

"Wh-wh-wh..." there was a lump in his throat that he couldn't swallow no matter how he tried. The doctor sighed, "I'm sorry Mr Bolton..perhaps you and your wife and other daughter-" "Can I see her?" his voice cracked, the doctor sighed, "she's in ICU right now-" "I don't care...I want to see her." The doctor nodded, "sure...of course...this way."

he shook Gabriella, "Brie, Wake up.." he whispered, she rubbed her eyes, and looked at him, "Troy, what's going on?" he sighed, "come on, were going to see Charli." Gabriella nodded instantly, taking the blanket, and wrapping it around herself. The doctor led them to the ICU department, and showed them were Charli was laying. She layed on the bed in the glass room. Gabriella began to have tears, locking her elbow with Troy's. "Troy.. she's.. she looks so weak.." she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Troy just stared at his little girl, lifting Gabriella's hand, and kissing it. The doctor sighed, "We don't know when she will wake up, or if she will wake up." Troy closed his eyes, how could he let this happen. Gabriella sighed, hugging Troy, "Troy.. I.. " she began sobbing into his chest. Troy sighed, holding her close, and kissing her forhead, "It's alright..it's alright...shh.." The machines and wire attached to her just kept beeping. she was breathing irregular, but at least she was breathing. Gabriella looked away from Charli, "I..I can't see her like this Troy.. I..I just can't.. It's.. it's too painful.. I.. I need to go check on Haylie.. are you coming with me?" she sniffled.

Troy looked at her, "I'm-I'm gonna stay here for a while...okay?" Gabriella nodded, tears stinging her eyes. "I'm-it's just painful..." Troy nodded, cupping her cheeks, "it's fine, I understand." Gabriella bit her lip, hugging the blanket around her shoulders tighter. Troy sighed, walking into the room and sitting next to the bed and grabbing Charli's tiny hand. "Charli"-his voice cracked; seemed to be doing that a lot lately-"it's daddy...I'm sorry baby girl...I'm sorry that this happened to you..." tears stung his eyes, and he wiped the back of his hand on them. "Just...we need you. We all need you baby girl." The machines were the loudest thing in the room, Troy's voice was as quiet as Charli's breathing.

He squeezed her hand again, not saying anything. The doors opening made him look up to see a petite nurse walk in. Dark skinned, "Hello, I'm Taylor McKessie, I'm assigned to her room." Troy nodded, not saying as he looked back at the little girl laying so still on the bed. He sighed, his breath coming out shaky as he stroked her hair, "come on Charli...please...wake up."

Taylor sighed, "She can hear you..you know?" Troy bit his lip looking at her, tears shimmering in his eyes. "W-what?" Taylor nodded, "She can hear you, when your in a coma, your mostly in a black world.. you can't move, you can't talk.. but she can hear you, talking to her helps alot of the times, and will help her through her coma.." Troy looked at her, "How do you know this?" Taylor sighed, "When I was three, I went through the same exact thing she did.. I was in a fire, and was in a coma for about 2 weeks.. my dad, just kept speaking to me, and I finally pulled through.." There was silence, "It's just a suggestion, It could work.."

Troy nodded, "Thanks." she smiled leaning over Charli's bed, and sitting her up gently, and putting a clean pillow under her. "Do you need anything sir?" he shook his head, "No, all I want is for her to wake up." Taytlor nodded, "I'll pray for her." Troy nodded solemnly, "Thank you.." Taylor nodded, "well," she said standing up and flipping the covers over. Troy looked at her, Taylor smirked, "her muscles need to be exercised...they turn stiff if they're not." Troy nodded, watching as she moved her ankles in slow rotations and then bent her legs at the knees. It was about a three minute process.

Troy just stared at her, her breaths puffing up and down of her chest, and her eyes closed shut. he sighed, grabbing her small three year old hand. Taylor left to give the crying father and the small child in coma some privacy. Troy's voice cracked once more, he needed to stop doing that, "Charli... please wake up for daddy... please.. that's all I want is to see your beautiful brown eyes..." he stroked her hair. Charli was staring at him, but her eyes were closed, remaing stiff as before.

Troy sighed, "Baby.. I'll.. I'm going to buy you whatever you want and treat you like a princess when you get home." "Daddy." he thought he heard charli's voice, but then heard it again from the doorframe, and not from charli's lips. he turned to see seven year old Haylie walk in. he smiled sadly, "Come here baby girl." he reached his arms out for her. came over and he lifted her onto his lap. he held her tightly but closely.

She rubbed her nose. "Has she woke up yet?" Troy sighed, playing with her hair, "No baby girl, she hasen't.." she sighed, "Daddy, I'm sorry." "for what baby?" "for doing this to charli." he shook his head, "you didn't do this to charli.. your a good big sister haylie.." Haylie nodded hugging her father, "Can you tell me the story of grandpa and grandma now?"

"S...sure baby girl." Haylie leaned her head on Troy's shoulder, Troy looked at Charli; he was holding Charli's hand still as he spoke. "I-I was no more than Charli's age or close to your age...but, my parents they"-he sucked in a breath-"they died in a fire...just like the one-" his voice cracked and he turned his head. Haylie wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his neck and shoulder. "You don't have to finish daddy...it's scary for you." Troy smiled sadly, "yeah it is." "Mommy told me that..."

Troy sighed, kissing the top of her head. "Where is your mommy?" Haylie pointed outside the door, where Gabriella was leaning against the wall with the blanket wrapped around her shoulders, her face in her hands. Troy's heart broke seeing that. "Hayl, you stay with your sister all right?" the seven year old nodded, "Okay daddy...can I talk to her? Can she hear me?" Troy tousled her hair, "yes she can...just talk to her." his voice was hoarse and quiet.

Troy walked over to Gabriella. she looked up at him, "Hey.." she whispered, "hey." he sat down next to her, kissing her lips, and wrapping his arm around her. Gabriella covered herself more up, laying her head on his shoulder. "I..I just keep praying that's she's gonna be alright.. I can't stand to see her this way, especially it being close to christmas." Troy rubbed his hand down his face, "Don't remind me that it's close to christmas." Gabriella sighed, "I'm scared.. I'm so scared for her..." Troy sighed, rubbing her shoulder, "It's gonna be okay Brie.. she's gonna make it, the nurse told me all we need to do is talk to her, and she will be okay.." Gabriella sniffled, "I..I just can't go talk to her right now.. it's..it's too painful... please don't hate me for it Troy.."

Troy wrapped his arms around her, "Baby, Baby, No, I will not ever hate you.. I understand completey, I have no idea how I'm able to hold myself together going in there and holding her." Gabriella sniffled, "Cause your stronger then me.." "No," he tilted her chin, kissing her lips, "Were stronger together.." Gabriella nodded, "I..I'm kind of tired Troy.. I.. I'm gonna lay down."

He nodded, kissing her forehead. "Okay...you want your mom to take you home?" Gabriella nodded, "yeah...you'll stay here with Charli?" Troy bit his lip and nodded, "I'll never leave her side-you take Haylie home and both of you get some rest." Gabriella nodded, hugging Troy one last time, and kissing his cheek. Troy kissed her sweetly on the lips, "I love you...I'll see you tomorrow." Gabriella smiled sadly, "I'll be here...first thing."