Hold on Tight

14. Protection

Troy sat in the waiting room with his head in his hands tiredly. It had been two hours and the doctor had just told him that they stabilized Gabriella. Unfortunately she was treated a little late and the allergic reaction spread causing some damage to her lungs. She was going to be okay as long as she got some rest and stayed away from mushrooms. Troy waited patiently until they said he could see her.

"Troy!" Lucy yelled running up to him.

"Luc, I told you that you didn't need to come. Gabriella's fine." Troy said sighing.

"I know but I just wanted to come for a little while, to keep you company." Lucy sat down next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. As much as Troy knew she was only trying to be nice he just didn't want it right now. How was he supposed to truly care and worry for Gabriella when Lucy was around, he could already tell she was realizing that him and Gabriella's relationship was greater than she thought. Lately he hasn't been very interested in his current girlfriend, it seems every time Gabriella comes back into his life she's the only one he can think about. Troy shook his head trying to stop thinking about the subject, he couldn't handle another rejection. With Lucy, he was safe.

"I'm going to go talk to the doctors." Troy said standing up after kissing Lucy's hand gently. She nodded and watched him leave.

"Excuse me?" Troy said walking up to Gabriella's doctor. "May I go see Gabriella now?"

"Uh, I think she needs some rest." Troy gave him a pleading look and the doctor smiled. "Be very quiet Mr. Bolton." Troy grinned and started walking towards Gabriella's room. "Ms. Montez is a very lucky woman." The doctor yelled.

Troy spun around and nodded. "Yeah, she's always been strong."

The doctor shook his head and laughed lightly. "Although that may be true, I meant she is very lucky to have a boyfriend who cares so much for her." Before Troy could rebut the doctor walked away looking at the clipboard in his hands. Troy smiled slightly and continued down the hall.

Meanwhile...

Gabriella breathed deeply and winced from the pain in her mouth. She switched to breathing through her nose. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, opening them again upon hearing a noise. She squinted trying to make out the figure walking towards her bed. "Troy? Is that you?" She asked hoarsely. No reply. "Can you please turn on the light? I can't see anything." The person came to her bedside holding something big and white in his right hand. "T-troy?" The un-identified man leaned over her bed to look her in the eyes and Gabriella gasped. "David? What are you doing he-" Before she could finish a pillow was thrust on top of her face. She squealed and kicked, trying to inhale some air, feeling she was running out. The longer the pillow stayed on top of her face and the harder it was pushed the more weak Gabriella felt underneath it. She soon couldn't find the strength to move her body, and she gasped for air.

Troy opened the door and popped his head inside. His eyebrows furrowed as he found vision difficult. He saw someone standing by Gabriella's bedside, thinking it was just another friend. He turned on the light and his eyes went wide. David turned around quickly and ran towards Troy, knocking him down harshly and running out of the room. Troy got to his feet quickly and went to chase after him, but stopped when he looked down the hall and David had disappeared. "Somebody call the police!" Troy yelled. A nurse nodded her head with a confused expression before Troy ran into Gabriella's room finding her breathing deeply whilst sobbing. "Ella, are you okay?" Troy said standing beside her bed and stroking her cheek soothingly.

"He tried to…oh Troy. I was so scared." Gabriella's voice sounded terrible. To add on to the hoarseness of the allergic reaction now she was trembling, her whole body shaking with fear. Troy leaned down and pulled her into his arms, cradling her back and forth for comfort as she cried into his chest.

"Don't worry Gabriella. I would never let anything happen to you. I'll protect you…always." Troy felt a pain in his heart as he re played what he had seen. He couldn't bear to think about what would have happened if he hadn't walked in. His poor Gabriella, today just wasn't her day. He was going to kill that son of a bitch…

Troy Bolton would hunt down and injure the man who hurt Gabriella Montez.

Oh man, I know that was sad, poor Gabi right?! I know it was short, the next one will be longer, and this chapter was kind of a filler. 12 reviews for the next chapter! Tell me what you thought; don't just say 'loved it can't wait for the next one' that bugs the shit out of me. Was it too much, do you think Troy is finally accepting his feelings for Gabriella again? Tell me in your reviews please! (: