There is a little foul language at the very beginning of the chapter. Don't like, don't read. I've given you warning, and it only lasts for a little bit.

'Where'd Kelsi go?' Troy questioned as he shuffled back up to the gathered group.

Ryan and Sharpay exchanged uneasy glances, unsure how to tell him the truth, 'Uh she…she went in to see Gabriella,'

Troy's face crumpled and he stared back at them disbelievingly, 'She…Taylor's already done?'

'Apparently she just walked out,' Ryan shrugged, 'She just couldn't take it. You were gone when the nurse offered someone else to go in so Kels took it,'

'Oh…' Troy murmured, 'I see…'

Before Troy could say anything else a loud yell erupted from across the room.

'BOLTON!'

Troy turned slightly, only to see Chad, red faced, fuming, his eyes mad and dangerous as he stormed across the room towards Troy.

'Hi Chad, what's u-'

Troy's words died in his throat as Chad reached him, swinging his arm back to punch Troy across the face. He groaned, stumbling back heavily and Sharpay screamed. He recovered, clutching his smarting jaw.

'Hey what the he-'

Chad swung back again, clobbering him across the nose this time. Instinctually Troy retaliated, aiming for Chad.

The competition only fuelled Chad's anger and he slammed his full body weight against Troy, aiming for his face again.

Kelsi shrieked, suddenly appearing in the midst of it all. Chad and Troy wrestled for domination, throwing punches, shouldering one another and attempting to throw the other to the ground.

'Stop! Stop! Stop!' Sharpay squealed, 'Stop it!'

Troy was barely aware of Ryan's half-manic pleas to calm down, only conscious of Chad's thirst for his blood. Troy's fist connected with Chad's cheekbone and both men went tumbling to the ground.

Still fighting, they crashed into furniture, knocking over stacks of paperwork and potted plants. Nurses yelped as both men kicked and beat at one another's extremities, wrestling, trying to gain some form of control. Chad continued to lash out, rolling above Troy so he was in power.

'It's. All. ' he seethed, punctuating each word with a blow, 'Your. Fucking. Fault.'

Troy writhed beneath Chad, lashing out for his face again.

'You. Ruin. Fucking. Everything!' Chad bellowed, still punching, 'It's. All. Your. Fucking. Fault!'

Troy suddenly went limp, his vision clearing, the will to fight draining out of him. He wasn't…

'You! Destroy! Everything! All! Your! Fault! You! Killed! Her!'

There was no more reason to fight. As Chad dealt severe blows to wherever he could reach, Troy didn't even bother to defend himself, completely dumbstruck. Maybe he was right…

'STOP IT!'

Ryan's voice suddenly bellowed over the top of it all, uncharacteristically loud, as physically dragged Chad off Troy.

Troy watched helplessly as Chad was tossed unceremoniously toward his fiancée who had come out of hiding in the commotion. Ryan then turned to Troy, hauling him to his feet.

'Get him out of here,' Ryan ordered severely to Taylor, 'Get him the hell out of here!'

Ryan's voice was so rarely serious and angry that no one dared to disobey. Taylor glared pointedly at Troy before grabbing her fiancé's arm, dragging him from the waiting room.

Ryan looked back at Troy, shaking his head disbelievingly, 'I…I…I just can't believe…'

Troy barely heard his words as he stared at the floor blankly. Chad had said…

The blonde man clenched his fist, still shaking his head. Zeke appeared at Troy's side, holding out a set of car keys, breaking Troy from his reverie.

'Look man. It's the green SVU,' Zeke advised in a low voice, 'Get out of here for a while. Get out of Chad's face, get out of the hospital, go for a shower,'

Troy began to protest blandly but Zeke silenced him with his hand, 'Seriously dude. Unless you want that to happen again… Just go take a breather,'

Wordlessly, Troy accepted the keys and wandered from the waiting room absently without another sound.

His feet moved without direction as he shuffled from the room, his mind racing with overflowing thoughts. Chad had said… he…

Somehow he managed to make it into the parking lot without breaking his neck. He circled the parking lot vaguely until he finally located Zeke's company SVU nestled in amongst two silver sports car. Still blank and numb, Troy unlocked the car, hoisting himself inside.

How could he be leaving at a time like this? What about Gabriella? What if she woke up while he was gone?

And then his mind was back at Chad's words and his stomach wrenched. He jammed the key in the ignition and the engine roared to life. Unsteadily he backed it out of the parking lot and onto the open road.

As Troy drove his mind filled with thoughts again. All your fault. All your fault. All your fault…

His vision blurred with tears and he stared forward determinedly. All your fault. All your fault…

He pressed down on the gas pedal, pushing the car faster towards his parent's house. ALL YOUR FAULT!

God only knew how but Troy managed to navigate his way to his parent's house without killing himself. The car screeched up to the curb and he leapt out, tears stinging eyes furiously. He slammed the car dor, not even bothering to lock it behind him.

Incomprehensible emotions swelled inside of him and his head swum. What did he do? What did he do?

He broke into a feverish sprint toward the house, flinging the door open and thundering through the hall. Was he even conscious any more?

He stumbled up the stairs, choked and gasping for air. He tripped over his own feet. He felt suffocated by the feelings, threatening to tumble out, almost buckling under the pressure to cry out.

He fell into the bathroom, the door clattering noisily behind him as he kicked it shut. He collapsed bonelessly against the counter and he gasped weakly. It was all his fault. He had killed her…

And then the first sob escaped. His body hitched abruptly and he tensed, almost bracing himself for what was to come. Then he could stop them. They poured from his heart, racking his entire frame. He fell against the counter, crying out noisily. He had killed her. It was all his fault. He had done all this to her. It was all his fault. What had he done? What had he done?

'Troy?'

His mother, obviously disturbed by the noise appeared in the bathroom doorway. Upon assessing her son's state, she wordlessly swept into the room, shutting the door behind her. She pulled her grown son away from the bench, sealing him into a tight embrace. Gently she eased him down to the floor and they leant against the bathtub. Troy shook violently with sobs and he buried his face in his mother's shoulder.

'I killed her!' he sobbed, 'It's all my fault!'

Lucille's heart constricted painfully and she stroked her son's matted blonde hair, 'Baby, you didn't kill her. It's not your fault; the truck driver was drunk, there was nothing you could have done!'

'But I made her get in the car with me!' he yelled, his throat raw and painful, 'She wasn't supposed to be in the car with me! I offered her a ride home!'

'Baby…'

'I made her get in the car! She could have been at home with Sharpay, curled up safely. But I made her get into the car! I didn't want to say goodbye, so I made her get into the car! It's my fault that she's like this!'

Troy convulsed with each violent cry. Everything he had been feeling, the reality of it all was crushing on him. It was all his fault. All. His. Fault.

'Stop!'

Lucille grabbed her son's face, pulling it away from her shoulder so she could see him. Troy shook harder with anguish and Lucille shook her head.

'Troy!' she barked.

He stopped momentarily, his eyes, devoid of life, lifting up to hers. He looked at her hollow and empty and her heart wrenched again.

'This is not your fault Troy,' she insisted quietly, 'You did not kill her. Gabriella will be fine,'

'But I…'

'You didn't make her get in the car. You didn't make the truck driver drink. You didn't make this happen. You cannot control everything Troy. This is not your fault,'

Troy blinked blearily at her, his eyes still welling with tears.

'Sweetheart,' she sighed, kissing his forehead, 'You can't do this to yourself. If there ever was a time when Gabriella would need you, this is it, ok? You can't do this, just think of her,'

He nodded shakily, a silvery tear slithering down his cheek. He buried his head back into the crook of his mother's neck, shaking his head.

'It's not right,' he cried softly, 'It shouldn't be like this. It…it just shouldn't be like this at all… what if she isn't all right? What if she doesn't wake up?'

Lucille remained silent, just rubbing her hand in circles around her son's back. She didn't have the answers. She wished she did, but there was nothing in this moment that she could do for her son. She pulled him a little tighter, her grown son's limbs pressed against her body, as she rocked him back and forth gently. That was the best she could do for now.

Taylor snapped and snarled and Chad the whole way back to his parent's house. She yelled at him, berated him, shrieking, making sure he knew exactly what he had done wrong.

'What the hell is wrong with you!' Taylor shrieked loudly, 'What the hell is wrong with your retarded brain that you decided to punch Troy Bolton? Actually physically punch Troy Bolton? What the hell is wrong with you?'

Chad was too weary to bother replying. She just wanted to fight with him.

'You are such a moron! What the hell is wrong you? What could be so…so tragic that you decided to become a Neanderthal? What the hell is wrong with you?'

'You!' Chad snapped, 'You are what the hell is wrong with me! You're standing with one foot out the door, you've got iron bars around your heart!'

Taylor ruffled indignantly, anger swelling in her eyes, 'How dare you! You brought this on yourself!'

Chad shrugged, 'Maybe I was the one who punched Troy, but you're the one who started it all. You're the one who decided that you had had enough, you were going to shut me out!'

Taylor rolled her eyes, 'All the same,' she muttered, 'You and Troy. Same peas in the pod. It's never your fault,'

Chad couldn't help the spike of anger flashing through his system. He punched the dashboard, hissing viciously.

'Enough!' he bellowed, 'Ever since, ever since Troy left Gabriella you have been in a relationship with Troy. Never mind me, Chad, the one who you're with, the one who you supposedly love, but you've been with Troy and his ghost that haunted all your memories. I've had enough Taylor! I'm the one who's here, still loving you after so many god damn years and you can't even bring yourself to stop and think about me! I'm not leaving Taylor! Can't you understand that! I'm not leaving!'

Taylor fell silent, her face still contorted with suppressed rage and she pressed harder on the accelerator in stony silence.

Chad flopped back against the car seat, sighing wearily. He had said it…

As soon as they screeched to a halt Taylor threw herself out of the car, slamming the car door when they pulled up and huffed her way up the stairs.
As they had reached the guest bedroom, Taylor had grimaced at him, pointedly turning her back, dismissing him. He disappeared into the shower wondering if she'd still be there when he came back.
His mind was still swimming. Taylor had been toying with her engagement ring and then he had seen red. All he had known was that Troy was the catalyst. Everything had been fine before he came back and now…

Now Gabriella was in a coma.

Uneasily, Chad stepped out of his shower, wrapping a plump cream towel around his hips. He grabbed another towel off the rack, rubbing down his hair as he turned to survey himself in the mirror. A dark purplish swelling was forming around his right eye and he had a cut on his cheekbone. This was not good…
Gently he stepped out of the bathroom and into the guest bedroom. He felt the faintest twinge of surprise when he saw Taylor sitting primly on the edge of the bed, still waiting for him.
He hated that he was surprised. He hated that he had expected her to be gone by now…

'Uh…hey,' he said uncomfortably, ringing his hair out.

'Hey,' she replied, her voice vaguely wooden, 'How was your shower?'

She sat before him, her cocktail dress and heels long discarded. She had cleared her face of all her make up and now sat on the corner of the bed in baggy jeans and a tank top.

He took another hesitant step toward her, unsure of her reaction, 'It…it was fine,'

When she didn't flinch, he eased himself down onto the bed beside her.

'Are you okay?' she asked quietly.

'Yeah,' Chad replied, hating the awkward, stilted manner in which they were talking, 'I'm…fine.'

Fine. Everything was fine. Gabriella wasn't in hospital. Bolton wasn't mysteriously back. Taylor wasn't on the verge of breaking up with him. Everything was fine.
They lapsed into an uncomfortable silence, Taylor picked at threads on the duvet beneath her. Gingerly Chad moved to stand up and get changed. He may as well do something. As he lifted himself from the mattress his weight shifted, putting all the pressure on his left hand. A shot of pain burst up his arm like hot barbed wire and he grunted in surprise.

Taylor looked up alarmed, 'Your hand?'

Wincing, Chad nodded, 'Yeah…I must have bruised it or something,'

'Well it's no surprise,' she snapped.

Chad grimaced, moving to walk away; he wasn't getting into this with her again.

'Stop!' she called, her voice gentler this time, 'Let me take a look at your hand,'

Chad flopped back down onto the bed, extending his left hand. It was swollen and angry from the severe lashings he had served Troy.

Gently she probed his skin, her slender fingers tracing the outline of the bruises and grazes, sighing softly as she did.

'I don't think you've broken any bones,' she said quietly, 'But it looks pretty sore,'

She got herself up from the bed and wandered into the adjoining bathroom.

'I'll just do this for precautionary measures,' she called, her voice muffled through the door, 'And I think you should probably let your hand rest for a while,'

She reappeared, first aid kit in hand.

Taylor lowered herself back down onto the bed, pulling his hand into her lap. She produced a bandage from the depths of the box and then set about working on his hand.

'Me? Was this really all about me?' she sighed, as she gently swathed his hand in bandages, 'What on earth were you thinking?'

Chad suddenly felt foolish under Taylor's soft and concerned tones. He had physically beaten Troy up. In all their years of friendship they had never fought like that before. Why had he let that happen?

'I…I just…Tay. You know how I feel, I've said…everything'

Taylor looked dropped her eyes to the ground, 'Chad… I… I don't think you understand.'

'I do Taylor!' he cried exasperatedly, 'I do understand because for five years, it has been my life. I can't say yes to Chad's proposal because he's going to leave me. I can't move in with Chad because he's joined a basketball team. That has been my life Taylor!'

Shame flooded her face and she bit her lip, 'I…I'm sorry. I didn't realize…'

'Look, Tay, this hasn't been easy on any of us,' Chad stated, 'Seeing him was the last thing that either of us thought would ever happen. And I know that seeing him reminded me of what happened after he left the first time…' he stammered, 'I thought…'

'Thought what?'

He shook his head, taking a deep breath, 'I thought I was losing you again,'

Taylor pinned his bandage in place, before looking up at him pensively.

'You thought what?'

'I thought…with you taking the engagement ring off and shutting me out…I just thought,'

Her eyes widened with incredulity, 'You thought I was going to break up with you?'

'Well…after last time…'

Taylor sighed, raking a hand over her face, 'Chad, last time was…last time was different. Troy, Troy the romantic of our group had left Gabriella high and dry. Last time I was so confused. Gabriella was lost. She had no idea how it had happened or why it had happened. One day she was planning a wedding and the next she was lying on her bathroom floor with a bottle of Malibu,'

'But this time…with all the pulling away and shutting me down…'

She shook her head, 'Gabriella's in hospital Chad. My best friend is in hospital and there's nothing I can do to save her. Nothing's normal at the moment,'

'So you're not going to end things?'

Taylor smiled sadly, 'No. Of course not. I wouldn't dream of doing that!'

She reached out for his good hand, lacing it with hers. The cool, sharp edges of the diamond on her finger dug into the flesh of his palm but he found the sensation oddly comforting.

'We need it other Chad,' she sighed, squeezing his hand, 'More than ever now,'

'I know, it's just…'

'I'm sorry,' she apologized candidly, 'I'm sorry that I brushed you off, I'm sorry that I didn't let you in. My head was just a little… I won't do it again. You're Chad. My Chad and I know that. And I love you,'

He offered her a crooked smile, 'You promise?'

'I promise,' she replied.

Chad leant forward, pressing a kiss into his fiancée's hair. She shuffled up to lean against him and he wrapped an arm around her.

They were going to be okay. He knew that now. They had so much ahead of them, so much that their future could hold, if they could fight together for Gabriella.

And with that, a weight lifted off Chad's shoulders and despite the worst of circumstances, despite the fact that he knew it was wrong; he smiled.

Eventually Troy's cries slowed. Lucille didn't know how long; she lost track of time, but eventually his shakes turned into shudders and his shudders turned into quiet sniffles. He cried into his mother's shoulder softly, clinging tightly to her damp shirt until eventually his anguish silenced itself.
Now he was empty, all his tears cried, all his emotions spent. He sat on the bathroom floor, holding his mother tightly, silence, ringing in the air around them.
Lucille wished she knew what to say. She wished she could do something, anything to make her son want to go on. Make him believe that it wasn't his fault. She hated feeling so helpless, so powerless when her son was in such agony. Why couldn't she do anything for him?
Troy released his grip on his mother, lifting his soggy face from her shoulder. His hair was matted, thick with tears and days without showering. His eyes, usually so vibrant and beautiful enough to make the girls of the world swoon were bloodshot, empty and dark. His lips were chapped, his skin was pale and he looked haggard and old. He didn't look like America's Choice anymore. He was a man on the verge of losing his whole life.

'I'm sorry,' he croaked out hoarsely.

'Oh baby,' Lucille sighed, stroking his clammy cheek, 'It's okay. You did nothing wrong…'

His hollow eyes flickered down at himself and then he looked back up at her sorrowfully, 'I didn't mean to…'

'It's okay,' she insisted, 'I'm here for you. I understand,'

She pressed a kiss to his forehead gently, wishing she could convey to him everything she felt.

'It'll be okay,' she promised.

'But Gabriella…'

'But Gabriella will wake up,' Lucille promised confidently, 'Gabriella will wake up and she'll ask for you okay?'

Troy's eyes flickered with something that she prayed was hope. He shook his head morosely.

'She will,' Lucille promised, 'She'll ask a nurse to call for you and do you want her to see you like this?'

Troy looked down at himself and shame filled his face.

'Honey, for Gabriella's sake, go for a shower, have something to eat, get into some fresh clothes. Gabriella wouldn't want to see you like this,'

Lucille pushed herself up off the floor then, turning to offer her son some help. Troy accepted, allowing her to pull him to his feet. When he stood beside her, towering over her, he swept her into a crushing hug.

'Thankyou,' he murmured huskily, 'Thank you so much,'

Lucille squeezed his hand, 'It's okay baby,'

With that they let go and she swept from the bathroom, closing the door behind her. Troy turned to prop himself up against the bathroom counter, surveying his ghoulish, broken form in the mirror.
His mother was right. He needed to pull himself back together for her sake. He had to believe that she'd be calling for him soon.

Kelsi didn't move for many minutes. After her husband had thrown himself between two brawling basketball players, after Chad had been dragged away with Taylor, after Troy had been banished from the hospital by Ryan. After it all had happened.
Her mind swum with images that just didn't add up in her mind. Chad. Troy. Fight. Scream. Blood.
Nothing seemed right. Everything was back to front, mixed up and it all formed as nonsense in her mind.
Numbly, she wandered back to where she had been sitting before the commotion. Gabriella lay, still unchanging, in her bed. Kelsi's heart instantly slowed and the crazy stream of thoughts halted. She had to keep everything together. This made sense.

Gently she gathered Gabriella's cool hands in hers.
'Gabi,' she whispered, leaning forward to prop her chin on the prickly uncomfortable blankets, 'I want to tell you my secret. I hope that, if nothing else does it'll give you a bit more of a reason to live,'
Gabriella's machines beeped methodically in response. Kelsi squeezed her hand, smiling bravely.

'I'm pregnant,' she whispered.

It was the first time she'd said it out loud, for even her own voice to hear. Since she'd peed on a stick hours before she was supposed to fly out of London, she didn't think it had really sunk in. Tears pricked her eyes and she couldn't help the giddy smile that grew on her lips.

'I'm pregnant Gabs,' she murmured, leaning back in her chair, 'I'm having a baby,'

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to imagine what would have been Gabriella's response.

"Oh my God sweetie! That's amazing! Congratulations!'

She imagined Gabriella, throwing her slender arms around her, pulling her into a tight, proud hug and somehow it made her feel better.

'Gabi, listen. I don't want you to be the aunt that I tell my baby about, ok? I don't want you to be just a photograph and ten years down the road have them not knowing who you are at all. I want you to be the godmother. I want you to be there, with me, with them for everything. I want you to be cool Aunt Gabriella who lets them eat ice cream for breakfast or whatever. I want you to be there,'

Kelsi fell silent, a strange mixture of emotions bubbling in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to smile, to shout out to the whole world her wonderful news. She wanted everyone to know.
And then she wanted to cry. Her heart ached and the corners of her mouth twitched down dangerously. She wanted Gabriella to be there, to tell her in person just how excited she was. She wanted her friend back.

'Gabi,' she said, her voice wavering softly, 'I just hope that helps. If you're trying to make your decision about whether to go into the light or whatever…I just hope that helps you make your choice. Because…if that doesn't make you want to fight, I don't know what will,'

She leant back in her seat, her confession leaving her drained and limp. She had no more to say right now. She took peace in the quiet silence and the oddly comforting, methodical beeps of the machine's keeping Gabriella alive. It was nice.
And then the silence was wrecked. Machine's shrieked and screamed with alarm, alarms whooped and whirled. Gabriella began to shake in her bed, twitching and convulsing, her head tossing from side to side.
Kelsi leapt out of her seat, petrified and a storm of nurses and doctors burst into the room. Immediately they surrounded Gabriella, shouting out orders for drugs and different instruments.
Shocked and frozen Kelsi stood, huddled up against the wall, listening to the sounds of Gabriella's machines, and the constant thumping of her body against the mattress.

And then she heard the most terrifying sound of all. The one, constant, tortuous sound that no one ever wants to hear.

'She's flat lining!'

'Ok, Gabs, your turn, spill,'

Gabriella choked on the sip of Coke in her mouth. Suddenly, without warning she had become the centre of the slumber party's attention. Four pairs of eyes were trained on her, filled with expectancy and anticipation.

'Yeah Gabs, spill!' Sharpay insisted, 'With a glorious man like yours…there has to be something to spill,'

Gabriella spluttered for a few more moments, choking on the fizzy soda burning her throat.

'E-excuse me?'

'Come on…' Martha begged, 'I'm the only single one here! You have to share!'

'Share what?'

'The details…come on something juicy!'

Gabriella shook her head insistently, her pigtails bobbing as she did, 'There's…there's nothing to spill,'

Taylor snorted derisively, 'You expect me to believe you? I've seen the way he looks at you!'

Self consciously, Gabriella toyed with the T around her neck. Her branding, the mark that made her his property.

Gabriella shrugged, 'We…we make out…that's kind of all,'

Kelsi leaned forward imploring, 'Gabs, no one will say anything. Troy will never have to know what you say,'

She threw her hands up, 'I'm tell the truth! That's all we do!'

The group stared at her, as reality was beginning to sink in. That's all they did…

Sharpay pouted, looking genuinely disappointed, 'No juicy details? You just…make out?'

Gabriella frowned defensively, 'Troy's a gentleman… which is more I can say about your boyfriend Tay!'

Taylor shrugged bashfully, 'I'm not gonna deny it,'

'So…that's all you do? You kiss?' Sharpay pressed, concern furrowing her brow, 'What…what a waste of fine man,'

Taylor turned to Kelsi, 'Tell me you're not letting yours waste away!'

Sharpay shrieked shrilly before Kelsi could answer, clapping her hands over her ears, 'Don't! Don't! Don't! That's my baby brother you're talking about!'

Gabriella leant back on her hands, giggling. Slowly, the world before her began to flicker and reality took over. Present time. Darkness. Nothing. She had been so close to…something real.

Somewhere, far away, muffled and echoed Gabriella heard one thing.

'She's flatlining!'

And then it was all over.

Troy stepped out of the shower five minutes later. He yanked his towel off the hook, wrapping it snugly about his hips. His mother was right. He was pulling himself back together for Gabriella. Everything would be fine.

He felt a little better already, smelling clean of soap and shampoo, rather than a bar, and blood and death. He was going to be okay. He stepped out of the bathroom, padding his way down the hall until he reached his bedroom. He entered, and began to root through his suitcase.

He was Troy Bolton. He would be okay, Gabriella would be okay, everything would be okay.

He buttoned a pair of jeans on his hips securely. The nurses would be calling for him soon, telling him Gabriella had woken up and wanted to see him. Everything would change for the better.

As he tugged his polo shirt over his head, the phone began to ring downstairs as if on cue. He wished that his heart didn't leap like it did, but he couldn't help it. Maybe it was her.

He dashed down the stairs, excitement pumping through his veins. It was her. It was her. He'd see her soon.

He yanked the phone off the receiver, 'Hello?'

'Mr Bolton?'

'Yes, you're speaking to him,'

'This is Dr Meyers, the…'

'Yes, yes, I remember, the brain surgeon,' Troy replied, his heart pounding in anticipation. He was dragging this out…

'I'm sorry to inform you but Ms Montez started having a seizure about twenty minutes ago. She flat lined but…'

Troy felt like the floor had been cut out from underneath him. He felt like his stomach was plummeting and he'd never catch up with it.

'She what?'

'She flat lined. Her heart stopped for a few moments but now…'

'Is she fine?'

'She is now but…'

Troy slammed down the phone. That was all he needed to know. He needed to get the to hospital. Now.

I'd be lying if I told you losing you was something I could handle…

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