Untouched Waters

Chapter Thirteen

A/N: There's no other way to say this than to just say it...I'm soo sorry its been months since I've updated!! I feel horrible about it. Between writer's block and the real world, I've not felt like writing. So, I'm sorry in advance if this chapter isn't up to my usual standards. I'm trying to get back in the swing of things. I'll try and do a chapter a week from here on out. Possibly two chapters a week.

Oh and a big THANK YOU to everyone who has stuck with me on this. Its good to know you're still interested. :)

Previously:...

"His...his dad hit him?"

"Its terrible to hear, but yes, he did. The police came and arrested his father and took his mother in as well. Seems she dished out a couple of smacks as well."

"But...but he's ok? He's not hurt?" Troy was terrified.

"A bruised cheek and a sprained wrist from where he tried to stop himself from falling. Other than that, I was told he would be fine. He's at St. Mary's Hospital if you wanted to see him."

Trot never replied, he just hung up his phone and made a mad dash for the door. He stopped long enough to explain what had happened to his mother.

"I'm coming with you, Troy."

"What? Mom, you don't have to do that."

"Yes, I do. You're upset and in no condition to drive. Give me your keys and I'll get us both to that hospital in one piece." She reached her hand out for the keys. Troy knew better than to try and argue with his mother, so he handed the keys to her.

"Let's go!" He shouted.

Halfway to the hospital Troy realized he had yet to call Sharpay. Pulling out his cell phone, he dialed her number. She answered after only two rings.

"Troy!" He could hear the smile in her voice. "How did things go with your Mom? Are you still there? Oh, no! Is something wrong? Oh God, your Dad didn't come home did he?" Troy chuckled at as he listened to Sharpay rattle on.

"Pay. Sharpay, stop, no listen. I need to you stop talking and listen to me, ok?"

"But Troy, how did things..."

"No, Sharpay, stop. Take a breath and listen, ok? This isn't about me. I'm calling about Chad."

"Oh, well, he's not here right now, babe." Troy sighed.

"Sharpay, I know that. I'm calling because I need you to listen to me for a minute. About Chad..."

"What about him?" She asked.

"Pay, if you'll be quiet for one damn minute I'll tell you!" He nearly yelled at her. He could hear Sharpay's small gasp on the other end of the line.

"Troy, I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. I was just asking." Looking to his Mother, Troy held out the phone.

"Please, Mom. Before I bite her head off again." Nodding her head, Katherine took the phone and spoke.

"Hello, Sharpay, sweetie. This is Troy's Mom."

"Oh, hello Mrs. Bolton." She spoke quietly when she answered.

"Dear, Troy didn't mean to yell. He's just, well, stressed at the moment."

"Oh."

"He asked me to tell you what he needed to so he didn't yell at you again. Now, don't freak out of me, ok? But we are on our way to the hospital." She heard Sharpay's gasp.

"Its Chad. He went to his parents house to tell them the truth about everything. When Troy tried to call his cell phone a few hours later, Chad didn't answer. So, he tried his parents house. A neighbor picked up and informed Troy that Chad had been taken to the hospital. Seems his father thought it would be a good idea to smack his son around a bit."

"Oh God, no." Katherine could hear the tears in her voice.

"But he's ok. A sprained wrist and some bruising but he's going to be fine. Can you meet us at the hospital? I'm sure Chad would want both of you there with him."

"Oh, so Troy told you about us?" She asked, meekly.

"He did, dear, but we can talk about that later. Can you drive yourself or should I come by and get you. I'm driving Troy. He's too upset to even try to drive right now."

"I can drive myself. I'll meet you both there." Sharpay hung up before Katherine could say another thing.

"She's going to meet us there." She spoke, never taking her eyes off of the road.

"Thanks, Mom. She, uh, wasn't mad or anything, was she? At me, I mean. For yelling." Troy stumbled over his words.

"No, baby. She's worried about Chad, just like you are. Now, we're almost there and you need to make sure you're calm. It wouldn't do if Chad were to see you upset. I'm sure he's going to need you and Sharpay to be there for him. He must be devastated at his parents reactions."

The rest of the car ride was silent.

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

Looking down at his bandaged wrist, Chad sighed. He had been in the ER for over two hours now. He was bored and ready to leave, but the doctors were refusing to let him leave alone. Something about hospital policy and not being able to drive yourself home. Sighing one more time, Chad leaned back onto the hospital bed, his mind going back to a few hours ago.

He couldn't believe how his parents, his father especially, had reacted. He knew they were going to be upset. That much he had expected. But for his father to physically harm him, it just blew Chad's mind. Granted, he had never had a really good relationship with his father to begin with, but that wasn't the point.

And for his own mother to sit back and say nothing, well, next to nothing, he just couldn't believe it. He was just glad they knew the truth and he would never have to put up with them again. As far as he was concerned, he was damned lucky. If that was how they wanted to react and treat him, then he didn't need them in his life.

The longer he sat there the more he really thought about it. They were, after all, his parents. Maybe someday he would try and help them to understand, but for now, he was content not with not having anything to do with either of them.

It was hearing someone scream his name that brought Chad out of his thoughts. It only took seconds for Chad to realized just who had screamed his name. Smirking, he made his way out from where he has been placed.

Looking around the curtain, Chad tried not to laugh. But it wasn't everyday he saw his girlfriend make someone cry.

"That poor nurse. She never stood a chance." He said to himself.

"I will not ask again! Where is Chad Danforth?" She screamed once more at the station nurse.

Stuttering, the nurse tried to answer Sharpay.

"Like I told...told you, Miss...you, you ha..have to be fam..family."

"Family! Hello, who do you think put him here? It was his family. Now, I will NOT ask again!"

Before Chad could make his presence known, he saw Troy and, oh God, Mrs. Bolton rounding the corner.

"Pay!" Troy nearly yelled. Sharpay stepped away from the nurse and ran into Troy's arms.

"Oh, Troy! I've been trying to find out something about Chad, but this woman won't tell me anything. She says only family can know. I tried to tell her it was his family that did this, but she won't listen!" Sharpay pouted.

Troy could only smile. He has spotted Chad as soon as he'd come around the corner. Glancing up at Chad, he smiled. Looking back to Sharpay, he spoke.

"Well, Pay, if you'd have only looked a little beyond the desk, you'd have seen what you were looking for."

Whipping around, Sharpay finally spotted Chad. Moving out of Troy's arms, she ran into Chad's awaiting ones. Making sure to keep his sore wrist out of the way, he held onto Sharpay.

"Oh, Chad! Are you ok? I was soo worried about you! Troy called me and told me what happened. I'm so sorry." Chad listened as Sharpay rambled on.

"I know this might be hard to believe, but I'm ok. My wrist is sore and I have a headache, but I'm fine." He smiled as Sharpay let out a breath she must have been holding for a while. Ever so gently Sharpay pulled Chad into a massive hug.

"I was so worried." She whispered, almost as if to herself.

"I know, babe. I'm sorry I worried you." Chad just held on tighter.

Across the room, Troy stood with his mother, watching as Sharpay held onto Chad for dear life. Dropping the smile that was on his face, Troy turned to walk out, back into the waiting room.

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Troy saw his that his mom had followed him.

"Troy, baby, what's wrong?" She asked.

"Nothing, mom."

"Troy Bolton, don't you lie to me now. Why didn't you go over and see how Chad was?"

"He and Sharpay looked fine. I didn't want to bother them."

"Troy..."

"Why do you think I didn't go over to them? As far as everyone in that room was concerned, Sharpay is the loving girlfriend, glad that her boyfriend was ok. I'm just the friend."

"Oh, baby. I'm sorry. But there's nothing wrong with you seeing how Chad is. You and he are friends..." Troy interrupted before she could say anymore.

"No, mom, we aren't just friends. We're lovers and I can't even hug him in public with Sharpay for the fear of someone seeing us. Do you have any idea how that feels?" Despite himself, Troy could feel tears starting to form in his eyes.

"Troy, I didn't mean it that way. I know you and he are together and I'm fine with that. Just because Sharpay happens to be part of your relationship doesn't mean you can't show it in public. Surely the three of you have been out together."

"That's just it, mom. We haven't. Its not everyday you see a triad couple walking down the street. We have no idea how people with take it."

"Who cares what other people think. The three of you are happy together, aren't you?" She asked.

"Yes, we are. Very happy, actually."

"Then don't let the fear of other people stop you from showing it. I'm fine with it and I take it Sharpay's parents are as well?"

"Oddly enough, yes, they are."

"Then what is there to worry about? You have me and Sharpay's parents, you have Chad and Sharpay, what more could you want? Nothing else should matter."

"I wish it was that simple, mom." With that, Troy turned and walked the rest of the way out to the waiting room. His mother, however, sighed and started walking in the opposite direction, back towards where they had left Chad and Sharpay.

Upon seeing her, Sharpay made her way back over to Troy's mother.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Bolton, but have you seen Troy? He was just here."

"He's out in the waiting room, dear."

"Oh. Is something wrong?"

"You could say that." Sharpay was slightly scared by the way Troy's mother was talking.

"Um, what? What's wrong, I mean? Chad's fine. Thank goodness his father hits like a girl. Its only his wrist that's hurt. Oh and a small bump on his head."

"That's good to hear, dear. Where is Chad, by the way."

"Oh, he's back in with the doctor. He's trying to get him to release him. Do you think maybe you could help? Being an adult and all they might listen to you more than either of us."

Smiling at Sharpay, Katherine said she would speak with the doctor right away.

"Thanks. Uh, I think I'll go find Troy now."

"Yes, I think that might be best. He needs someone to talk to at the moment. You might be able to help him more than I can."

Smiling at Sharpay once more, Katherine made her way back to the nurses station.

As soon as she entered the waiting room, Sharpay spotted Troy. He was standing by one of the window's, just looking out. Walking up behind him, he placed her arms around his waist. She must have surprised him because he jumped when she did.

"Sorry, babe. Didn't mean to scare you." She placed a small kiss on his lips. When he didn't respond, she pulled back.

"Troy, is something wrong?" She asked, slightly confused.

"How's Chad?" He asked, intentionally not answering her question.

"He's fine, but its obvious you're not. So, I ask again, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Sharpay. I'm just tired. Ready to go home." He sighed and turned back to look out the window.

"Troy Bolton, don't you stand there and lie to my face. Now, tell me what's wrong."

"Its not that big of a deal, Sharpay. Just drop it. This is not the place to discuss it." He spoke to her, never making eye contact.

"Oh! Don't you dare get that attitude with me! Now is not the time for you to go into one of your pouting sessions. We are at the damn hospital, with Chad! I would think of all times you would want to be there for him."

Turning back around sharply, Troy snapped.

"Of course I want to be there for him! But how can I? You were all over him. Everyone in this damn place thinks your his girlfriend now. Its not like I can just walk up to him and throw my arms around him too! What would people say if they saw that?"

Sharpay got it now. She understood what was wrong with Troy. She was slightly agitated with him for thinking that way.

"You have every right to hug him, hell, hold him and kiss him for all I care! He's your boyfriend. Who cares what everyone else thinks. Its none of their damn business."

"Pay, its not that simple. They've already seen you with him. What will they think if I walk up and kiss him the same way they just saw you do."

"Again I say, who cares! He needs you right now. He needs both of us. His father just put him in the hospital and he's hurting. Screw what everyone else thinks."

"But Sharpay..."

"No, Troy. Don't you get it. I don't care what everyone else thinks. You shouldn't either. You love us, we love you, to hell with everyone else. Now, how about you come back with me while your mom tries to get Chad released. He's asking for you, ya know."

"Really?" He asked, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"Really. He was worried about how things went with your mom as well. I didn't know what to tell him, but seeing as she's here with you, I'm hoping things went well." She offered up a small smile.

When Troy returned her smile, he let out a small breath she didn't know she'd been holding.

"Yeah, Pay, she's fine with it. She said she didn't quite understand it but that if we were all happy together, then she was happy for us."

"Oh, Troy, I'm so happy for you. But what about your dad?"

"Right now, he's not important. Mom's here with us and that's all I care about." Taking Sharpay's hand in his, he pulled her to him. They made their way back to Chad hand in hand with smiles on their faces.

HSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSMHSM

Behind the small curtain where Chad sat, he was trying his best not to laugh at the scene before him. For the last few minutes, Mrs. Bolton had been having a very interesting conversation with Chad's doctor, who was still refusing to let him leave.

"...don't see why you think you can keep him here. He's already spoken with the police. You've checked him over, fixed him up and gave him strict orders not to overwork his wrist." At this point, Chad let a small chuckle escape, accidentally of course.

"As I've said before, Mrs. Bolton, you are of no relation to the patient, therefore I can not let you sign him out. Its policy, you see." The small doctor actually smirked at her.

"And as I've told you, sir, Chad is of legal age. He should be able to sign himself out. If not and a adult is needed, I'm right here. I can make sure he gets home fine. I am after all, capable of driving him home."

"Listen, lady..." That was as far as the doctor got.

"Oh no, you listen to me you little pip-squeak, Chad is leaving with me, right now actually and you are going to sign the damn papers so he can. There is no real reason to hold him here any longer." At this point, she was almost completely in his face.

"Am I making myself clear?" She asked, nicely and with a smile on her face.

Gulping, he answered her.

"Yes, ma'am. Right away." He practically ran from the room.

Turning to face Chad, Katherine saw a highly amused look on his face.

"I think he was about to cry." Chad said.

"Yes, well. I asked him nicely once. I was not about to do it again. After all, you're practically my son as it is. Family my ass. Who was he to say that you and I weren't family. He was just being difficult."

"Uh, so I take it Troy told you. About us, I mean." Chad was looking anywhere but at Katherine.

"That he did, dear."

Looking up, Chad took his chances.

"And you're ok with it?"

Smiling, Katherine placed a small kiss on Chad's forehead.

"I'm perfectly ok with it." Chad couldn't help but smile. After everything he'd been through tonight, things were finally starting to look up.

"Now, how about we get you outta here. I'm be you're sick of this place, aren't you?"

"Absolutely."

The first thing Chad was when Mrs. Bolton pulled the curtain back was Troy and Sharpay, standing by the nurses station, waiting for him. He couldn't help but smile. Looking back to Katherine, she nodded her head in his direction and smiled once more.

That was all Chad needed before he began making his way towards Troy and Sharpay.

Knowing what was going to happen, Sharpay stepped away from Troy. Looking at her with an odd expression, Troy turned back just in time to get and arm full of Chad. Smiling he pulled the dark skinned boy closer.

"Oh God, Chad. I was so scared." He whispered, not letting go.

"I was too. But I'm fine. He didn't hurt me." Chad spoke back.

While Sharpay stood watching, the nurse from before spoke up.

"Uh, isn't that a little much for your friend to hug your boyfriend?" She asked, her voice with a slight tone to it.

Sharpay rolled her eyes.

"Nope. Not at all. After all, that's what boyfriends do." Sharpay smirked at the shocked expression on her face.

"But, I thought..."

"Yeah and that was your first mistake." Sharpay turned her attention back to her boys.

They were still holding onto one another. Making her way over to them, she cleared her throat.

"Ok, boys. Don't forget about me."

Pulling apart, Chad and Troy smiled before pulling her into their hug. After a few more moments, they pulled apart. That's when Troy noticed that people were watching them.

"Troy, we don't care if they look. You shouldn't either." It was Chad who spoke.

Without responding back, Troy pulled Sharpay into a very passionate kiss. Seconds later, he turned to Chad, a smirk on his face. He then proceeded to kiss Chad just like he had kiss Sharpay seconds ago.

There were a few gasps heard throughout the room, but neither Chad, Sharpay or Troy paid any mind to them. After everything they'd been through today, this was exactly what they needed.

"Ready to go, kids?" Katherine asked, smiling at all three of them.

Without looking back, they made their way out of the hospital towards Sharpay's and Katherine's cars. After little discussion, it was decided that for now Mrs. Bolton would go home. It was late and they could leave all conversations for tomorrow.

Kissing each of them on the head, she smiled and got into her car. They watched as she pulled out of the parking lot before piling into Sharpay's car and making their way home as well.

Sharpay drove while Troy and Chad sat in the backseat. When she glanced back in her mirror she smiled at the sight before her.

Chad was already asleep, having leaned over on Troy's shoulder. Troy's arms were protectively wrapped around the smaller boy. Both had smiles on their faces.

Seeing her boys happy made Sharpay smile. Right now, she couldn't have been happier.

A/N: So, how was it? Honestly?! I haven't written in a while and I'm not sure if I'm entirely happy with this chapter. Hopefully the next will be better. They only way to let me know is to review. If you liked it or not, I just wanna know. I'll have more up soon. Until then. :)