A/N I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!

That next evening at dinner Lucille said "A lady I work with just got a new puppy and I was going to pick up a small toy or something for her. Do you guys want to come with me to Petco?"

"Sure." Gabriella answered.

"Ok." Troy nodded.

They finished up their dinner and headed out. They arrived at the store and went inside. A lady was sitting on the side with red husky laying on the floor. Gabriella felt drawn to them.

"Mom, Gabriella and I are going to look at the animals." Troy said catching her stare.

"Ok."

Lucille went off and Troy and Gabriella went over to the dog and the lady.

"Hello." The lady greeted nicely.

"Hi. Is he for sale?" Gabriella asked.

"She actually, and yes. Are you interested?"

Gabriella wanted to say yes but she knew the Bolton's would never allow it.

"I'd love to but I can't. I'm sorry. Can I still play with her?" Gabriella asked.

"Sure. Just be careful she was rescued from an abusive home so she doesn't take to strangers too well."

Gabriella got on her knees in front of the dog. That must be why she felt so drawn to her. They were both victims of abuse. She put her hand out palm face up and let the dog smell her. The dog sniffed her and then licked her hand. Gabriella giggled and pet the dog on the head.

"You poor thing. How could any treat such a sweet animal like that?"

The dog felt just as drawn to Gabriella as she was to her.

"You and I are so much alike you know." Gabriella said to the dog not caring who else heard.

"I was abused too. I know what it's like."

The dog whimpered.

"I'm sorry you had to go through something like that."

The dog gave her a small lick. Gabriella laid down and rested her head gently on the dogs back. The dog laid her head back at the floor enjoying Gabriella's touch.

Troy smiled. "I don't think we will be able to leave here without that dog unless Gabriella is in tears."

"I agree. You know she is free. You need to buy the food and collar and everything but the dog is free."

"Really?"

The lady nodded.

"I'll go talk to my mom about it. Can you have her on hold or something?"

"I don't think your friend will let anyone else touch her." The lady laughed.

Troy nodded. "Brie I'm going to talk to mom will you be ok here by yourself?"

Gabriella nodded. Troy walked off. Gabriella turned her head so she was still laying on the dog but she could see the lady.

"What happen to her?"

"She was taken from her home after only a few weeks and then from then on she was abused. I'm surprised she takes to you as well as she does. Most of the time she is scared of people."

"It's hard to be scared of someone who has been through the same thing."

"You were abused."

"Since the day I was born."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"The Bolton's took me in and now they are my family. I'd love to do that for this little sweetheart."

"Well maybe you can. Your friend just went to speak with his mother."

Gabriella just nodded. Gabriella turned and nuzzled her face in the dog's fur. The dog lifted her head back up and licked Gabriella's ear. Gabriella giggled pulling back.

"Hey, stop that. It tickles."

The dog smiled at her.

"You're such a good girl."

Just then Troy and Lucille came back over.

"Please mom. I need her and she needs me." Gabriella begged.

"If it helps, I've never seen her take to a human the way she has taken to Gabriella." The lady said.

Lucille sighed. She knew if she said no Gabriella would be in tears. She also knew how well Gabriella had been progressing over the past few months.

"I'll make you a deal Gabriella we can take her but you need to continue to open up and trust people ok?" Lucille said.

Gabriella nodded.

"Why don't you go pick out a nice collar and leash for her?" Lucille suggested. Gabriella stood up and the dog did too.

"I don't think she will need a leash." The Lady laughed.

"Can she come with me?" Gabriella asked.

"Sure."

"Thank you."

Gabriella looked at the dog. "Come on girl. Follow me."

Gabriella started walking and the dog followed right by her side.

"Will she be scared of us?" Troy asked.

"She might. But once she gets more comfortable I'm sure she will trust you."

Troy nodded.

Gabriella came back over with a blight blue collar in her hand. The dog was still by her side.

"I got a matching leash just in case we need it."

"Ok. Troy why don't you and Gabriella go get a tag made."

"Ok."

Troy and Gabriella walked over to the tag machine with the dog following behind.

"Ok what are you going to name her?" Troy asked.

"Ginger."

"Hmmm Ginger Bolton I like it."

Troy put in all the information and then hit print. Once the tag popped out Troy attached it to the collar.

Gabriella looked at the dog. "What do you think girl do you like Ginger?"

The dog nodded. Gabriella smiled and pet his head.

"She is really cute." Troy said.

Gabriella nodded. "She's mine now."

"You're going to care for her like I've done for you."

"Yep and I'm going to help her heal just like you did for me."

"Is she scared of me?"

"I don't think so. But I can check."

Gabriella got down on her knee and the dog sat. Troy got down next to Gabriella.

"Ginger this is Troy. He is very nice and he won't hurt you." Gabriella turned to Troy. "Troy put your hand out palm face up and let her sniff you."

Troy did as he was told. Ginger sniffed Troy's hand then gave it a small lick.

"She likes you."

"Good. Welcome to the family Ginger."

The dog smiled. "Let's go pay." Gabriella said.

She, Troy and Ginger met Lucille at the checkout.

"So what did you pick for a name?" Lucille asked.

"Ginger."

"Good name. I've got all the paperwork for her. Now all we have to do in get her licensed and take her to the vet then she will be ours."

"Ok."

The Bolton's paid for their stuff and went back into the car. Ginger followed by their side the whole time. Once they got home Lucille said "Why don't you take her out back. I'm sure she wants to run around a bit."

"Ok. Come on Ginger."

Gabriella ran out the door and into the backyard Ginger followed happily behind her. Troy watched as she chased Ginger and then she let Ginger chase her as she laughed hysterically. Troy hadn't seen her this happy is a very long time. Ginger just had this big smile as his tongue hung out of his mouth happily. Lucille went inside to tell Jack. Troy smiled watching his girlfriend. They ran around until it got dark. Then everyone went inside. Gabriella got Ginger some water in her new engraved water bowl. Lucille poured some dog food into the other bowl. Ginger drank and ate happily.

"After she eats you might want to take her out to use the bathroom." Lucille said.

"Ok. Mom, is dad ok with this?"

"Yes. He and I both agree that you deserve it. Just remember our deal."

"I will."

It was an easy deal. All she had to do was act normal just not talk about Greg and what he did. It was working so far. She didn't think she'd ever have to speak of Greg again. A little later Ginger went over to the door and started to whine.

"Someone has to go out. I'll be back." Gabriella said. She went over to Ginger and opened the door and walked out. They walked down the street as Ginger sniffed trying to find a good spot to stop.

Gabriella followed happy to be with Ginger. After Ginger did her business Gabriella cleaned it up and headed back to the house. As she was walking a man walked over to her.

"Cute dog." He said.

"Thanks."

The man reached out to pet Ginger but she pulled back.

"Rude dog."

"She isn't good with strangers."

"Well then why take her out?"

"So she can sniff and go to the bathroom."

"Well she doesn't need to be outside if she is scared."

"She was abused she doesn't trust well."

"Oh please. There is no such thing as abuse. It's called discipline."

"Beating someone until they bleed is not discipline it's abuse."

"I think that dog deserved it. Anyone who is "abused" deserved everything they got. If they misbehave the owner or parents has the right to hit them."

"No they don't. They have the right to punish them but no right to beat them and insult them."

"If a child is ugly then a parent has to tell the kids the truth. Since when did this become about human abuse?"

Before Gabriella could answer the man laughed. "Oh I get you were abused too weren't you? Your father or mother beat you"

Gabriella nodded.

"Like I said you deserved it."

"I didn't!"

"Let me guess you called the cops on them?"

"No my neighbors heard screaming and they called the cops."

"Did you deny the abuse?"

"I couldn't. They came as my father was abusing me."

"Did you tell them you deserved it or try to stop them?"

"No…"

"So then it's your fault that everything happen to him isn't it?"

Gabriella couldn't answer. Could everything that happen really be her fault? Could she be the reason Greg won't leave her alone? Could she be the reason her mother was murdered? Could she be the reason all those other men were murdered. Could all this really be her fault?

"I thought so. So it's like I said you deserve everything you get. So does that dumb dog."

"Ginger isn't dumb."

"All dogs are dumb. They aren't good for anything."

"Don't say that!"

"Don't yell at me!"

Ginger growled. She could tell this man was making Gabriella uncomfortable. The man slapped Ginger. Ginger whimpered and pulled back. Gabriella pushed the man.

"Don't hit her!"

Then to Gabriella's surprise the man slapped her too.

"Don't push me. You and your dumb dog deserve all the abuse you get."

Then the man walked over. Gabriella looked at Ginger. "Come on let's go home."

Gabriella walked in just as the Bolton's sat down to have some ice cream.

"Gabriella just in time. Come join us." Lucille said.

Gabriella threw the doggie bag away and sat down. Ginger laid down under the table by Gabriella's feet. Gabriella couldn't eat. She couldn't get that man's voice out of her head. Could all the past events really be because of her?

"Gabriella is your ice cream ok?" Jack asked.

"Yeah I'm just not hungry."

"Are you ok?"

"Yes."

Troy looked at Gabriella and gasped. "Gabriella what happen to your face?"

There was a big red mark in the shape of a hand on her cheek. Gabriella froze. What should she tell them? What would they do after they found out?

A/N Next chapter Troy finds out what is really going on with Gabriella. Also I need you guys to do me a favor and take my poll so I know how many filler chapters you guys want. So please go vote or pm me. Thanks for your input.