CHAPTER 25: DISCOVERIES AND APOLOGIES
Robert and Maria pulled into the hospital right behind the ambulance.
"You get out, I'll go park the car," Robert said. Maria nodded and got out of the car. She walked up to Gabi who was staring blankly as Troy was wheeled off. She wrapped her arm around her daughter and led her into the hospital.
"Are you Mr. Bolton's guardian," a nurse asked walking up to Maria.
"Yes, that's me," she replied.
"Great, I need you to fill these out," the nurse said handing her a clipboard with pieces of paper on it.
"Ok." Maria and Gabriella sat next to each other in the waiting room and Maria began to fill out the forms. Gabriella looked over and saw that her mom was filling out all of Troy's info easily.
"How do you know this stuff?" Gabriella asked confused at how she knew Troy's exact weight, allergies, etc.
"I'm a mother Gabi. Troy might not be my biological son, but it's still my job to know these things," Maria replied and Gabriella couldn't help but smile. A few minutes later Maria got up to give the nurse the papers and Robert walked in.
"Did they take him in," Robert asked and Gabriella just nodded. Robert sighed and sat across from her. "I'm sorry Bella…"
"Don't apologize to me, I'm not the one being hooked up to IVs right now," she shot back.
"I know," he sighed. "But you deserve an apology. And I want you to know that I take full responsibility for all of this, and you are right. I over reacted and I shouldn't have worked Troy that hard. I'm really sorry Bella."
"I know you are. But what would've happened if he didn't pass out today? Would you still be waking him up at 5:30 in the morning?" Gabriella asked and he sighed before bowing his head.
"I should have listened to you, I know. I've learned my lesson," he replied.
"Good," she shot back. Just then Maria walked over.
"Why did he even listened to me," Robert groaned to himself, burying his head in his hands.
"Cause he loves and respects you," Maria replied.
"Well I definitely don't deserve his respect," Robert replied. Before they could say anything else a doctor walked in.
"Troy Bolton." The three of them all stood up. "I'm Dr. Ruiz."
"I'm Robert Montez, this is my wife Maria and daughter Gabriella. How is he?"
"He's fine. We are still running tests. But early results show that is blood pressure was low and according to the statement from the EMT Troy had been over exerting himself for the past week…"
"It was me. I was working him to hard," Robert interrupted and the doctor nodded.
"What was he doing?"
"A lot of running and just standard basketball drills," Robert replied.
"And how was his diet?" Dr. Ruiz asked.
"Fine. Normal," Maria replied.
"Well we are getting blood to the lab, and I will have some more answers for you when the results come back, and if the come back like I think they will I think this is just a case of exaughstion," Dr. Ruiz said and the nodded.
"When can we see him?" Gabriella asked.
"As soon as he wakes up," he replied and she nodded.
"Thank you Doctor," Maria said.
"Just doing my job," he replied before walking out. They Montez family sat back down and Robert sighed, throwing his head back. Gabriella looked at her Dad and sighed as well. She was so mad, but knew that he was even more mad. Just like when he had forgotten her birthday.
"Dad," she said quietly and Maria and Robert looked at her. "Troy will forgive you."
"I put him in the hospital Bella."
"I know. But like mom said, he loves and respects you." Gabriella replied. Robert slightly smiled and nodded.
"Is there a chance you will forgive me," Robert asked Gabriella.
"We'll see," she replied and he smiled slightly.
A half an hour later Dr. Ruiz walked back into the waiting room.
"Any news," Robert asked shooting up, leading Gabriella and Maria to stand up too.
"He's awake, you can see him now," he replied and they smiled before making their way into Troy's room. They all tensed a little bit when they saw him, for he was hooked up to multiple machines.
"Troy!" Gabriella exclaimed running over to him and hugging him.
"Hey Ella," he smiled weakly.
"How are you feeling?" Maria asked.
"Okay," he replied. "They said I fainted why I was playing. Why?"
"Cause I've been working you too hard," Robert said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry. I thought maybe the more basketball, the less time you would have for Gabriella, and I just went over board. I'm so sorry Troy. I hate myself for doing this to you. Can you forgive me?"
"Can me and Gabi be together?" Troy asked back. Robert took a deep breath.
"Well I guess better you than some random guy," Robert said and they smiled.
"Thank you Daddy!" Gabriella exclaimed before hugging him and kissing him on the cheek, which made him smile wide.
"You're welcome. But…"
"If I hurt her, you'll kill me," Troy finished.
"Good job Troy," Robert said and they all laughed.
"Well that usually isn't a sound you hear in hospitals," Dr. Ruiz said, walking in. "I've got the results back from the lab…"
"Are they what you thought they would be," Maria asked.
"Yes. Except one," he replied and they all froze. Gabriella squeezed Troy's hand. "I assumed he passed out from low blood sugar, and I'm correct but I didn't expect his levels to be this low. Especially considering he had no change in his diet. I want to run a few more tests…"
"Diabetes?" Maria asked in shock.
"I highly doubt it, but I want to run some tests anyways, just to make sure," he replied and they nodded. "I have to go talk to the nurse, if there is anything you need just let someone know." They thanked him and he walked out. They looked at Troy to see he was now a little frightened.
"There is nothing to be worried about Troy, they do these things just in case," Maria said in a reassuring tone, stroking his head like any loving mother would do. He just nodded and squeezed Gabriella's hand. Just then a nurse walked in.
"Excuse me, visiting hours are over. Dr. Ruiz wont be getting the results back until tomorrow morning, so you might as well go home and get some rest. But because Troy is a minor an adult can stay the night," she said.
"I'll stay," Robert said immediately and Maria nodded.
"Feel better babe," Gabriella said and kissed his cheek.
"Goodnight sweetie," Maria said and kissed his forehead. They both then said goodbye to Robert, who was very surprised when Gabriella hugged him before leaving. Meanwhile Robert sat down in the chair that was in the hospital room.
"Robert…" Troy said from the bed.
"Hmm?"
"Will I still be able to play?"
"What are you talking about?" he asked in shock.
"If I have Diabetes," Troy replied.
"Troy you don't…"
"I know but what if I do?" Troy asked back, obviously scared. Robert got up and sat on the side of the bed.
"Then so what. Adam Morrison has diabetes," Robert said.
"He was 2006 NCAA Player of the Year," Troy added.
"He sure was," Robert smiled, leading Troy to smile slightly as well. "It will be okay Troy. I promise."
"I know."
THE NEXT MORNING
The Montez family was sitting in Troy's room waiting anxiously for the results. They had allowed Gabriella to miss the morning so she could go to the hospital. Finally Dr. Ruiz came in.
"Good morning," he said.
"Good morning," they all replied.
"How you feelin' Troy?" he asked.
"Better," Troy replied.
"Good."
"So what do the tests say?" Maria asked. Troy squeezed Gabriella's hand.
"Well good news he doesn't have diabetes," he replied and they all let out a sigh of relief.
"However, the tests show he does have hypoglycemia."
"What's that?" Troy asked nervously had Gabriella stroked his knuckles with her thumb.
"It means you have low blood sugar. It is the reason as to why you fainted," he replied and Robert let out a little sigh now knowing it wasn't one hundred percent his fault.
"So what do you do for it?" Maria asked.
"He'll just take a pill with breakfast every morning. It's really not that big of a deal," Dr. Ruiz said.
"Well thank you doctor. How much longer does he have to stay here for?" Robert asked.
"Just a few more hours. I just need to make sure his body reacts like it should to the medicine," Dr. Ruiz replied and they nodded.
"What about basketball?" Troy asked.
"As long as you take it easy, you should be okay to play by Monday (it's Friday)," he replied.
"Ok," Robert replied.
AN HOUR LATER
"Dude, have you seen Troy today?" Mike asked Brett as they walked into their history class and took their seats.
"No, why?" Brett asked confused.
"I dunno, I haven't seen him either, do you think he's sick or something?" Mike asked.
"Maybe. I talked to Gabs last night who said he was asleep at 8:30 cause coach had worked him so hard," Brett replied.
"Damn," Mike said shaking his head.
"Yeah." Just then the bell rang and the teacher started the class.
Fifteen minutes later a voice rang through the schools PA system.
"WOULD THE BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM PLEASE REPORT TO THE GYM. I REPEAT WOULD THE BOYS VARSITY BASKETBALL TEAM PLEASE REPORT TO THE GYM IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU."
Mike and Brett looked at each other confused, while the rest of the class looked at them.
"You heard her. Go," the teacher said and they grabbed their stuff and left the room.
"What the hell is going on?" Mike asked.
"I have no idea," Brett replied. Five minutes later they walked into the gym to see a bunch of the guys sitting on the bleachers with Robert standing in front of them.
"What's going on coach?" Brett asked as they walked in.
"I'll tell you in a second," Robert replied. "Take a seat." They sat down on the bleachers and Robert looked around. "Is this everyone?"
"We're missing Troy," Jeff replied and Robert sighed.
"I know. Troy isnt here today."
"Why not?" Brett asked confused.
"He's in the hospital," Robert replied reluctantly.
"What?!" multiple exclaimed while the others just sat their in shock.
"Yes," he sighed.
"Is he okay?" Brett asked.
"He is going to be fine. They just discovered he is hypoglycemic," Robert replied.
"What does that mean?" Jeff asked.
"It means he has low blood sugar," Mike replied.
"Yes," Robert said.
"How did he end up there in the first place," Brett asked and Robert sighed.
"I was working him too hard. If it was any of you, everything would've been fine, but because of his hypoglycemia he fainted. Hypoglycemic or not, I'm very well aware of the fact that I worked him too hard, and I know I worked you all a little too hard as well, and for that I apologize," he said sincerely and they nodded. "I'm canceling practice today. You are all free to come by the house after school to see him if you want."
"Ok," they all replied.
"Thanks guys. Now get back to class," Robert said and they all did as told.
LATER THAT NIGHT
Maria walked up beside Robert who was standing at the top of the stairs and looked down to the kids in the living room. Brett, Mike, Chad, Taylor, Ashley, Troy and Gabriella were all sitting around laughing about something. She then followed Robert's gaze to Troy and Gabriella who were snuggled up to one another on the couch.
"They're good together," she said placing her head on Robert's shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Yeah. They are," he replied and Maria smiled. "But I am imposing and open door rule."
"Ok," she laughed.
PLEASE REVIEW! Oh my god I cant believe I actually broke 600! I love you all!! I hope you don't mind this all happened in one chapter, but I wanted to move on and get into some more fun stuff for a while.