Chapter 21
There's nothing else we can do...
They all barged in the room. Sharpay and Ryan sat beside Gabriella, looking as innocent as possible.
"What? What's wrong?" Sharpay said standing up.
The two nurses rushed to Gabriella's side.
"You all need to leave!" The small nurse demanded. Gabriella's heart rate was incredibly low.
"What the fuck did you do to her!!!" Troy snatched Ryan up by the collar of his shirt.
Upon hearing Troy's voice, Gabriella's heart picked up. Troy's attention was grabbed away with the new rhythm of the machine.
He let go of Ryan's shirt giving him a shove. "Get out of here, and never come back!" Troy directed to Ryan.
"HEY! Everyone get out!" The nurse yelled. The gang, including Sharpay and Ryan left the room, all gathering in the hall.
Everyone was exhausted from this rollercoaster ride. Taylor began to cry, giving into her sorrow. She truly thought this was the end. Gabriella had hit rock bottom, and Taylor could only imagine what she'd been through, she was silently preparing for her best friends death.
Troy refused to leave the room despite the nurses many attempts to get him to leave.
"There's nothing else we can do…It's up to Gabriella now." The blond freckled women said pressing a few buttons on nameless machine.
Troy walked up to Gabriella taking her hand.
"Gabi. Sweetie. I don't know what just happened. But I want you to please listen to me. You have to come back to me. I can't take much more of this. I can't see you like this. I need you Gabi, our baby needs you. You can't just give up, no way, I'm not letting you. Just like you've always said, 'I'm right behind you supporting you, and if you fall I'll be there to catch you, and guide you back to where you need to go.'" Troy willed him self to contain his tears, he had to be strong. He grabbed her hand with a strong grasp, imagining his strength being move into her body. "Gabi, I'm right here, Catching you when you fall, please come out if this, so we can get back to where we need to be." Troy kept trying. he encouraged her for a half hour before she showed a sign that she was hearing him. First a twitch. Then her heart becoming a stable stronger rhythm. Then she open her eyes and started to struggle to breath on her own. She was fighting the tube. Panicking. Troy swiftly opened the door. His friends still waiting outside. He shouted for help. The blonde, who Troy had nicknames freckles, came running.
"What is it?" She ran holding her stethoscope that was draped around the back of her neck, preventing it from falling.
"She's awake!" Troy said, not realizing a smile crossed his face. His friends broke out in cheer, Sharpay and Ryan joined in, both of them secretly annoyed and pissed that their plan didn't work.
Gabriella didn't know what was happening, all she knew is that she couldn't breath right. The nurse came running over to her. Gabriella noticed her badge, it read Karis.
"Ok honey…" Karis said couching Gabriella. She smelt of heavy rose lotion. "I need you to calm down ok?"
Gabriella knotted. Still, fright and panic in her eyes. "Ok I'm going to start pulling on your breathing tube, it will be real fast ok? So on three I want you to cough…ok ready? One…two…three"
Gabriella coughed as the tube was swiftly pulled from her throat. Her chest burned and airway burned. Her mouth was dry.
She looked over a saw Troy standing next to her. Tears immediately filled her eyes. She went to speak, but no words came out. Her voice was gone. Both Troy and Gabriella were confused.
"Don't worry, it's just from the tube, just try to keep talking, your voice will be back soon. I'm going to get you some ice chips to help, then we'll try water…ok?" Karis was sweet. Almost to sweet. Gabriella noted.
"Samantha and I'll call the doctor and see what we can get rid of so you can get all those cords off of you." Karis sat as she exited the room. Only to be greeted by six eager teenagers.
"She's ok, just give them a moment. Then go in." Karis said sternly then headed to the nurses station to page the Doctor and get Samantha. (the other nurse)
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"Oh God Gabi." Troy took her hand repeatedly kissing her it. She slightly smiled at him. Taking her other hand and rubbing his back.
He looked up at her. She looked to her stomach. Then placed her hand on the soft flat surface. She gave Troy a questioning and pleading look.
"Yes Gabi, the baby is fine." Troy smiled, reaching up to her kissing her cheek.
"Gabriella, I'm so sorry. I should have ---"
She placed a finger over his lips, hushing him. She shook her head.
She cleared her throat in attempt to talk.
"Please Troy…." She managed to talk above a whisper. "I'm here now, please take me home."
Troy took her in his arms.
"I want to baby, but I can't take you until they say it's ok."
Gabriella looked down in disappointment. Wanting so badly to leave this place. She'd been through so much, the last thing she wanted was to be under a microscope.
Troy was quiet for a moment, he knew what she was thinking. He looked at her, so grateful to have her back
"What happened?" Gabriella said softly, her voice slowly returning. It was horse and cracked but it was there.
"You don't remember?" Troy said concerned.
Gabriella looked at her hands. Yes. She remembered everything, it was coming to her in a series of horrifying images.
"Did they find him?" She said softly Knowing the answer.
"I'm so sorry Gabi…" Troy was defeated.
There was a soft knock on the door, then emerged Olivia and Elliot.
"Troy? Gabriella?" Olivia said softly approaching them, she carefully sat on Gabriella's bed.
Elliot stood behind Troy.
Gabriella looked at Olivia
"Gabriella, I know this is hard, but we really need to know what went on in that school." Olivia was trying to be as compassionate as possible, but she still had a job to do.
Gabriella took a long breath.
Troy noticed her discomfort.
"Gabi…" He took her hand. "You don't have to, if your not ready." He said lovingly. Not really sure if he, himself was ready to hear about what happened.
Elliot gave Troy a disapproving look.
"Hey Troy, why don't we step out?" Elliot said sternly, it wasn't a question. It was more of a demanded suggestion.
Troy looked at Gabriella, who seems relieved that Troy didn't have to hear this. But he would eventually.
Troy and Elliot left the room quietly. The gang was still outside the room waiting for any news. So Elliot suggested they go for a walk.
"No, I'm good right here, I'm not leaving this floor." Troy said simply throwing Ryan and Sharpay a suspecting look. The two backed down.
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Gabriella took a deep breath, searching Olivia's eyes for support.
"I…" She began.
(A/N ba ba ba booommmm….. Poor Gabi. But I'll be nice really soon…I don't want to give it away but everyone has been really concerned about the Baby. Yes! Gabriella and Troy will have a healthy baby.)