I don't own anything.

A/N: Alright guys it's almost time for thanksgiving and I decided to go ahead and give you all a double post since I won't be posting next weekend. First off I want to thank my reviews from last week; chaylorlover101, AyaneC, lilmissmonique, Staraquarius94, HelloLish, Sciencefreak2007, PhantomGroupie91, baby2ludaris, Phelycia, LunaSolTierra, and Angel. Thank you guys…I hope everything enjoys these updates and please remember to Review.

Chapter Seven

Lillian watched slowly as Taylor walked out of the house, before slowly heading back towards the kitchen. Jack looked up from his playful banter with Joy as she entered. Immediately noticing the look of utter shock on his wife's face he stood up. "Joy you stay here and finish your food alright." He said, Joy paused in the midst of lifting her fork full of French toast up to her lips and nodded her head.

"Okay Mr. Jack." Joy replied, Jack smiled down at her and brushed his hand over her hair before heading over to his wife.

"Where's Taylor?" he asked popping his head out into the hallway. Lillian walked inside the kitchen and silently went over to the sink and started washing dishes her mind still playing over Taylor's words, Jack watched her for a moment before going over to his wife and grabbing her hands while pleading. "Honey please tell me what's wrong?" Lillian's shoulders came up before she dropped them in defeat.

"Taylor said that Dr. Ramos believes that Troy tried to commit suicide last night." She tried to whisper but her voice choked on the word suicide. Jack rubbed his hands up and down her arms in a soothing gesture before he whispered in her ear.

"Troy didn't do it…he wouldn't do that." Lillian sighed and looked over her shoulder at Joy who was still preoccupied with eating her breakfast. Shaking her head, she lowered it towards her chest brokenly.

"I just can't help but think that maybe they're right. I mean he should have known better than to try to go down those damn stairs by himself." She snapped as she tossed the wash cloth she had down into the sink in a small fit of rage. Bracing her hands against the side of the sink, she closed her eyes tightly and took several deep breaths. "I know we haven't been there for him lately…and I just feel guilty and maybe he feels like he has nothing to live for." Jack shook his head in shock over her words before answering.

"Lill, that's all in your head baby…we've been there for him day in and day out. And what happened last night was an accident it wasn't an attempted suicide. I promise you that sweetie, Troy would never…and I mean this, he would never do something like that."

"I know but I can't get the picture out of my mind….I can't stop picturing him lying there at the bottom of the stairs out of my mind." Jack sensing that his wife needed his comfort, he immediately wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him holding her tightly. Bending his head, he whispered in her ear.

"Baby…everything is okay…everything is going to be okay, our son is okay sweetie." He said soothingly, as he held his wife tightly in his arms. Joy watched silently as the elderly couple she had met talked among herself. She had just finished eating her breakfast and the need to explore the huge house was calling to her. Keeping a close eye on the elderly couple she quickly climbed down the stool and made her quick exit from the kitchen making sure that they didn't see her leave. Pushing the swinging door opened she slipped out of the kitchen and made her way into the hallway. As she wandered into the massive hallway she froze as she stared up at the huge staircase that led to the dark unknown at the top of the stairs. "Momma was right…this place is huge." She mused to herself aloud as she moved to go up the stairs; however she stopped as she saw some movement from the room directly across from her, looking inside as best as she could she saw a head of brown hair sitting on top of the sofa. Almost immediately the bug of curiosity bit her and she headed towards the room without so much as a second thought.

Lying on the sofa, Troy wondered where everyone had gone. Ever since his blindness, he found himself hating the silence that seemed to have come hand in hand with his blindness as the days went by. Sighing he laid his head back on the armrest of the sofa and tried to relax. Just as he was about to try and get some sleep the silence surrounding him was broken by the sound of soft footsteps coming into the living room. His brow immediately knitted up in confused because he wasn't sure if his mind was playing tricks on him seeing as how no one had said anything yet. No longer able to deal with the silence he frowned deeply. "Who's there?" he grunted out as he struggled to sit up as best as he could using his one good arm. He heard a small squeak of what he could only determine was out of surprise coming from the left side of the sofa. He sat in silence for a few moments before the sound of a soft child's voice answered back.

"I sorry…I…I was just…" the voice trailed off and Troy could hear the faint sounds of crying in her voice. Instantly he felt guilt wash over him, clearing his throat he spoke up quickly hoping he could calm the child down.

"It's okay…I shouldn't have scared you…um who are you by the way." he asked softly trying his best to put the child at ease he finally pushed himself up into a full out sitting position every time he put unwanted pressure on his broken arm.

"My name is Joy…my mommy dropped me off."

"Your mommy?" he froze as he realized who he was talking too. It was Taylor's daughter. Trying his best to smile, he turned his head towards the direction where he had heard Joy's voice. "I'm Troy…did I scare you." Joy watched him silently for a moment before shaking her head.

"Yeah." She answered meekly and he could still hear the fright in her voice. Gulping he held out his hand hoping that this small gesture would help her not be afraid of him anymore.

"I'm sorry Joy…I didn't mean to scare you." He stated honestly, Joy wiped her eyes and looked at him the strange man who had his hand out, taking cautious steps forward she placed her small hand inside of his larger one. Once Troy felt the touch of her hand, he smiled glad that she had at least trusted him enough to shake his hand. "It's nice to you, Joy." He said keeping his head down scared to lift his head up because he feared he would embarrass himself by turning his head in the wrong direction. However dispute his attempt, Joy noticed anyway and immediately voiced her concern in fear that the man didn't like her.

"Why you not looking at me?" Troy sighed, he had been caught there wasn't anything he could do now. Slowly he removed his hand from hers. Lifting the hand to hoped he pointed at his eyes.

"I can't see you." He replied softly. "I hurt my head and well I can't see anybody." Joy gasped in shock and covered her mouth with her hands. Lowering them she walked over to the side of the sofa and pulled Troy's arm down resting her tiny hands there as she peered up at his eyes.

"That's awful Mister Troy." Cracking a smile at the name she had given him, he slowly nodded his head.

"That it is, Joy that it is." Joy continued to look up at him thoughtfully before she clasped his hand tightly causing Troy to jump slightly in surprise before she said.

"Maybe you can wish it back…my friend Xavier said it works." She said firmly, Troy tried to smile but he was pretty sure it came out as more of a grimace then anything else. Oh how he wished it was that easy. If only all of life's problems could be solved by simply wishing them away. He was pretty sure that he would make several large changes to his current life, which would make it extremely different from the life he was bitterly living now. If he could wish all his problems away, Taylor would still be with him, and he would still be able to see. Leaning back against the sofa he sighed.

"I'm not quite sure that I can solve all my problems by wishing them away." He stated sorrowfully. Joy watched him silently; she hated it when people were sad. Shaking her head she thought back to what Xavier had told her about wishing. She was pretty sure that whatever Mister Troy wanted to wish for was probably big.

"Is it a big wish?" she asked, Troy smirked and shrugged his shoulders while nodding his head.

"Well let's see…I want to gain my sight back so I don't think wishing is going to work cause me getting my sight back is a pretty big wish." Joy shook her head in disbelief, what Xavier told her had to be true, especially since she was going to get a daddy.

"It has to work Mister Troy." She exclaimed, Troy couldn't help but smile at her strong belief in the power of wishes. Oh to be a kid again. He thought to himself with a shake of his head. Carefully he reached out and patted her hand that was still lying on his arm.

"I'm sorry but I think my wish is a little too big."

"I'm making a big wish too, Mister Troy…it has to work…you just need…you need help." She stated firmly leaving no room for argument. Troy chuckled at the route the conversation was headed in and sighed.

"So you have a big wish too, huh?" he asked with a chuckle as he silently wished he had an ounce of her hopeful spirit but anything that he could have hoped for died along time ago. "And what type of big wish would that be?" Joy looked over at him before saying.

"I can't tell you…only my friends Xavier and C.J. know and that's because they are helping me wish…it's a really really big huge wish, Mister Troy." She stated seriously as if she talking about the ins and outs of brain surgery.

"Well my wish would be really really huge as well, Joy." He said with a broken sigh. "And I'm quite sure that no amount of wishing will make it what I want happen." He stated wondering why it seemed so easy to talk to this little girl, why it was so easy to talk to Taylor's daughter.

"Nuh uh…my friend said it's magic and magic works." Troy was silently for a moment as her stated washed over him; with a sigh he shook his head.

"Magic may work for good people then…but it won't work for me." Troy said softly as he lowered his head. Joy looked up at him; he didn't seem like a bad person. Even though he had scared her greatly when she had first entered, but now he wasn't so scary. Besides she was pretty sure he wasn't a bad person cause her mom wouldn't be around bad people.

"You're not bad." Troy looked up at her words and smiled thankful that someone in his life could say that without laughing.

"And how do you know that, Ms. Joy." She giggled at the name he had given her before patting him on the arm.

"Cause my mommy would never help a bad person." She said with a bright smile. "She told me that she only helps good people that need her help to get better, so you're good." She stated with conviction. Troy couldn't helped but be warmed by her words, a smile instantly spread across his face.

"Well I'm glad to hear that. So what are you doing in here…I'm sure my parents were watching you…seeing as how I can't do that since it's impossible." He said with a chuckle laughing at his own sad humor.

"You mean those old people?" she asked instantly.

"Those old people are my parents…and don't let my mom hear you say that." He said with a smile. "She might get you." Joy looked him over in awe before whispering.

"Those old people are your parents?"

"Yes they are my parents…I'm not as young as you, and that just means the older I get the older my parents get." Joy thought this over for a moment before saying.

"My mommy doesn't get older."

"I'm sure Taylor would just love to hear that." He mused with a bright smile. "But I'm sure when you get older you'll see first hand at what I mean…now what were you doing." Joy lowered her hands from his arm.

"I was exploring…like Dara."

"Exploring what?" he asked in confusion.

"I was going to explore this big…big…really big house." Troy chuckled at her words, it didn't take a genius to hear the awe in her voice as she talked about his home. Shaking his head he reached out and grabbed her hand.

"Well you shouldn't wander off all by yourself…I'm pretty sure you could get lost." Joy's eyes widen in shock.

"Really?"

"Of course, when I first bought this house I used to get lost all the time." He said with a playful smile. "Now how about you stay in here and watch television or something." Joy jumped with happiness at the idea of watching television but stopped short when she realized that her new friend Mister Troy wouldn't be able to enjoy it with her.

"But you can't watch television."

"Oh that doesn't matter, you just enjoy yourself." He said, Joy looked at him and shook her head in refusal, even though Troy couldn't see her gesture he took the silence in the room as a rejection to his initial idea that the little girl could watch some television.

"I want you to have fun too."

"I'll have fun…don't worry about me." He said softly. Joy didn't reply as she tried to think of a way for Troy to have fun with her. Suddenly she got an idea, and smile brightly as she rushed out of the room. Troy nervously called out her name hoping she hadn't gone and gotten into something dangerous. "Joy!" he called out quickly while wondering where his mother and father were. Moments later he heard her soft footsteps again and sighed. "Joy don't wander off like that without telling me where you're going."

"I sorry Mister Troy…but I went to go and get my bag."

"Your bag why?"

"So that I can read to you, that way me and you can have fun." She stated proudly, Troy smile at the gesture and sighed.

"Alright that sounds fine."

"Can I get up on the sofa?" she asked, Troy slowly lowered his ankle onto the floor and patted the cushion next to him once he was situated.

"Alright so what are we reading?" Joy looked at the cover of her book as she settled down beside Troy leaning into his side. Troy slowly draped his good arm around the back of the sofa as she cleared her throat.

"We are going to read the Lion King." Troy smiled at the name of the book and leaned back with a sigh.

"Good that's one of my favorites."

Opening her office door with a sigh Taylor quickly took off her jacket and tossed it onto the sofa that lined the left wall of her spacious office the process was immediately repeated with her purse. Stalking over to her desk, she pulled out her chair and settled down with a sigh. Propping her head up on her hands as she tried her best to relax, however she found it difficult to shake the feelings she had gotten this morning when Carlos told her that he believed Troy had tried to take his own life. Remembering the conversation she had had with Troy soon after that conversation the guilt she had felt back at the house immediately resurfaced. She knew she had hurt Troy for even hinting that she agreed with Carlos. However she had to admit to herself…she had to admit that for a moment…just for a small amount of time she had actually believed that Carlos was right. With a broken sigh, she lowered her head down into her hands and closed her eyes tightly. She didn't even look up as a knock sounded at her door. "Come in." she called out finally looking up as the door swung open revealing Julian Banks. He paused in the doorway for a moment before asking.

"Are you alright?" he asked noticing the slightly distressed look on her face; Taylor nodded her head as she slowly lowered her hands from her face.

"I'm fine…just a little tired that's all." She replied softly with a small smile as she pointed at the two chairs positioned in front of her desk. "Please have a seat, Jules." Smirking at the nickname, Julian nodded his head while closing the door before entering the room and going over to one of the chairs and sitting down. Taylor nervously watched as he studied her for a brief moment before saying.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Julian just a little stressed out is all." She replied with a sofa smile as she sat up even more in her chair hoping that Julian wouldn't catch on to her initial nervousness that she was sure was pouring off her in waves. "So what brings you by?" Julian looked down at his pant legs for a moment before picking up an imagery piece of lint and flicking it off to the side. Once he was done, he brushed his hands over his pants and then looked at her.

"I was just wondering about the case…how is going…is Mr. Bolton giving you any problems." Taylor smiled and shook her head.

"The case is going just fine; by the way that's why I'm here this morning. Troy has requested to change his initial plan and he wants me to become his in-house nurse. He doesn't want to make a mistake and injure himself…so I'm filling out the necessary paperwork to make that happen." Julian just nodded his head at her answer before sighing, Taylor could tell that he was dying to ask her something else however before she could ask him what that was he spoke up.

"Um…have you started on the rehabilitation exercises yet?" Taylor looked down at her desk and shook her head. No she hadn't started them yet…all she had Troy had done was talk since she took over his case. Now she knew how much she was allowing Troy to get to her and leave it to Julian to figure out all out and present it to her after the morning she had just had. Julian's eyes narrowed at the shake of her head and the silence. He leaned forward and pressed her. "And why not?"

"Well we've talked but Troy has been a little stubborn, however I am quite certain that we will start the exercises this week of that I promise, Julian." Crossing his arms over his chest, Julian's eyes narrowed at her for a brief moment before shaking his head.

"You know I would like to add something else as well…I'm pretty sure that you've been as stubborn as Troy and on that note the only thing I have to say is that I hope that isn't the only reason you haven't started by now."

"I'm sorry, but I gave Troy some extra time…he hasn't been ready to start, and sometimes you can't force people to start their exercises before they're ready, because they might end up hurting themselves and damaging themselves further and I'm not willing to risk that not with any of my patients. Now I might be a little slower with him, but it's at a pace that both he and I are comfortable with."

"Still regardless of what pace you and Troy want to work with…you should have started on something with him I can somewhat understand you and him needing to go at a slower pace, but this is your job Taylor, and if working with Troy is to much for the both of you than the best thing would be for you and him to work with someone else."

"That won't be necessary, Julian…I can handle this."

"So far…I'm not truly convinced of that fact." He replied shortly as he stood shaking his head. "I'm trying to understand where you're coming from alright…and that might take me sometime but until then, Taylor could you at least try to get started on his therapy." Taylor nodded her head for a moment before replying.

"I will when he's ready." Julian looked at her for a brief moment before nodding his head and sighing.

"Alright then…you have a week to get him ready. Look I have some patients to look in on, so if I don't see you before you go well um…bye." He stated softly as he hopped up from the chair. Taylor watched as he moved to leave the room, opening the door he paused and looked back at her. "Oh and Taylor." She jerked her head up from the paperwork she had picked up a moment ago.

"Yes." Julian looked her in the eye for a moment before saying.

"Next time a patient of mine does something to injure themselves…cal me and tell me, I hate having to snoop around for information regarding my own patients." Taylor looked at him in shock. "And just for the record I wouldn't have drugged Troy out on anti-depressants."

"How did you know?"

"Don't you know if you catch Carlos in his office and you close the blinds and stare at him long enough he'll break down and tell you any and everything that you want to know. Just a bit of information for the future." He said with a chuckle as he closed the door and left the office. Taylor continued to look at the door her shock written out all over her face, after a few moments she slowly shook her head and gathered some papers up while muttering to herself.

"Note to self, Carlos can not be trusted with any secrets."

After filling out all the necessary paper work for Troy's case, Taylor decided it was time to head back to Troy's house so she could pick up her daughter before they headed home to get things together for the temporary move over to Troy's. As she drove down the street she sighed as her cell phone went off, carefully reaching down she picked it up. "Hello?"

"What's going on…why wasn't Joy at the daycare center this morning, is everything okay. You know I've been calling you non-stop all day, Taylor girl you better answer me." Taylor inwardly groaned as Sharpay snapped at her. She had totally forgotten about informing Sharpay and Gabriella about what happened especially after they didn't pick up their phones that morning, and once she was at the office as usual her phone was off.

"I'm sorry, there was an emergency and-."

"With Troy?"

"Um, yes there was an emergency…he ended up hurting himself pretty badly and well I was called in and when you didn't pick up I um took Joy with me over to his house." She replied "And you know when I'm working the phone is off unless I'm using it."

"So what are you doing now?"

"I'm going to pick her up…Troy's parents watched her today for me…and then I'm going home to pack us some clothes because until I feel that Troy can handle being on his own Joy and I will be staying with him."

"You can't be serious…Joy can stay with us, she doesn't need to be around him."

"I…you know I don't like having Joy away from me, and you know the same can be said for Joy. Wherever I go she goes…she's my daughter."

"So you don't trust your friends to look after her."

"That's not what I mean Shar…it's just that I don't like her being away from me for an extended amount of time, and with Troy's parents there she can be watched while he and I go through his exercises."

"I think he hurt himself on purpose…he must have known you'd come and stay with him." She replied sharply. "You know I have half a mind to go and call your father and brother I'm sure they would just love to see Troy again."

"You do that and I would never forgive." Taylor replied back, shuddering at the thought of her father and older brother getting their hands on Troy blind or not she knew the outcome for Troy would be absolutely horrible.

"Oh please do you think I want to go to jail for being an accomplice to murder…I have a son to raise." She said with a chuckle. "But seriously do you think it's wise to have Joy there with you."

"I want my daughter with me…I'm her mother and nothing is going to happen to my daughter as long as I'm there for her."

"Alright if you say so…so what type of accident did Bolton have?"

"He broke his arm and sprained his ankle."

"Ouch…sounds bad." Sharpay deadpanned, Taylor just shook her head for a moment and wondered what would happen to any woman that dared to break Xavier's heart in the future, because she knew first hand how Sharpay was regarding her friends and husband and she could only imagine the wrath that a girl could evoke by hurting Sharpay's son. "You won't be staying there long will you?"

"I'm trying to make the stay as short as possible."

"Good…I really don't think you or Joy need to be there, cause I still don't trust him especially after the way he-."

"It's the past, Sharpay."

"Yeah, but I know for a fact that you've never forgiven him for breaking your heart I know that it's…that it's the past, but it still hurts you." Sharpay stated knowingly. Taylor grew silent as she thought that over, deep down she knew it to be true she just wasn't ready to admit it yet. Besides she wanted to present herself a woman that wasn't going to allow the past to influence her present life, and that was one of the reasons she took the case in the first place.

"Sharpay this is just a job, nothing is going to happen."

"Oh you say that now…" she trailed off leaving the rest to Taylor's imagination. With a sigh Taylor spoke up.

"It's just a job."

"You're not convincing me of that…you're just trying to convince yourself." Sharpay replied knowingly. "Look I know you hate talking about what happened between you two, but I know and so does Gabriella and we both agree that this case…it could be emotionally harmful to you. You've overcome so much since, and now you're putting yourself back into another painful situation again.

"I'll be fine, Sharpay."

"I don't know about that, Taylor. I seriously don't know about that." She whispered soberly, Taylor pulled into Troy's driveway and turned her car off. Lowering her head she rested it against the steering wheel with a sigh.

"Sharpay I know you're concerned about me but-."

"I love you like a sister girl…you're one my sisters and I just don't want to see you hurt alright."

"I know and I understand…look I gotta go, but I'll call you later." She said, Sharpay sighed.

"Alright call me if you or Joy need anything."

"I will…bye Shar."

"Bye Taylor." Hanging up the phone she quickly headed inside, entering the hallway and heard her daughter giggling and it seemed to be coming from the living room. Walking towards the sound she paused in the doorway as she saw her daughter sitting on the sofa next to Troy. Joy appeared to be reading him a book. Taylor watched silently as Joy spoke and Troy tilted his head to the side and laughed outright.

"She's been reading to him non-stop ever since you left." Taylor jerked around and saw Lillian standing slightly behind her. However Lillian's glaze was on Troy and Joy. "It's really sweet; she didn't want to watch television because she said that Troy wouldn't have any fun." It was at that moment that Lillian looked over at Taylor. "And to be completely truthful I've never seen him this happy since the accident." Taylor looked back in the room and watched. She wasn't so sure how she felt about the scene she had walked in on. Joy and Troy were in there providing the perfect picture of a precious father…daughter scene. Taylor felt her heart seized in her chest as she thought about Louis.

"Joy and I we have to head home to get some things together before we come here to stay." She whispered never taking her eyes off her daughter and Troy. Lillian watched her silently before nodding her head.

"Alright then…I think that Troy is really going to enjoy you guys being here…he needs someone here besides me and Jack."

"Where is Jack by the way?"

"He went out to the store to pick up some groceries." Lillian replied as she continued to study Taylor's face. She wondered what the younger woman was thinking; however before she could voice her concerns Taylor seemed to snap out of her trance. She turned and looked at Lillian.

"I better go and get Joy." Lillian just nodded as Taylor walked into the living room. Once Joy saw her mother she smiled even brighter.

"Hiya mama…guess what I read all these book to Mister Troy…didn't I." Troy chuckled.

"That she did…I think I could take a pop quiz on all Disney movies and pass with flying colors." Troy said with a chuckle. Taylor smiled and walked over to Joy.

"That's nice…Joy, sweetie you and mama have to head back home so we can get our clothes and other things so we can stay here for a little while." Joy beamed as she touched Troy's hand. He slowly lowered his head in her direction.

"Yes."

"Did you hear? Mama said we were staying here."

"That's great."

"Yeah that means I can read to you and we can play and stuff." She stated excitedly, as Troy just nodded his head with a smile. Unable to take the confusing scene a moment longer Taylor crossed the room and picked her daughter up. "Mama?"

"Say goodbye to Mister Troy, so we can head home and get our stuff and come back." Joy quickly turned her attention towards Troy and smiled.

"Bye Mister Troy…me and mama have to go home to get stuff but we'll be back."

"And I'll be here." He said with a chuckle, as Taylor quickly exited the room. She quickly made her way pass Lillian stating that she, should probably hurry so that they would be back before nightfall. Once they left, Lillian entered the living room and watched Troy for a moment before speaking up.

"That Joy sure is precious." Lillian said as she tried to get her son to say something however Troy just slowly nodded his head and sighed, he was blind but it didn't take a genius to know that Taylor had gotten her child and high tailed it out of there the moment she saw him and Joy together reading. It hurt to know she didn't want him anywhere near her child but then again who would blame her especially once they learned of his past with her. Troy shook his head and sighed brokenly.

"Yeah…she is."