G Force

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Take it all as fiction, but please enjoy! All the Military information I give is my interpretation of what I have researched so just for legality sake view it as fiction.

AN: Thank you so much for all the great reviews last chapter. I hope yall like this one.

Also, Thank you to everyone who read the first chapter of my new story An Apple A Day :)



Chapter 28

Troy had insisted on staying and Gabriella would have been lying had she said she didn't appreciate his presence. She knew he needed to get to the hanger even if he assured her that his presence was not required. The selfish side of her was grateful that he was so damn stubborn and refused to leave her side. She needed him. She needed to soak up as much of his strength and persona as possible. However, the part that loved him unconditionally and with every part of her being knew he was so close to completion that she didn't want to hinder his graduation.

After a few hours of just a little small talk and a great deal of being wrapped in each other's arms Troy conceded to knowing that he needed to run some flights. He reluctantly kissed Gabriella goodbye and promised to return once he was done.

Gabriella remained in bed about half an hour after Troy left formulating what she was going to do for the next couple days and putting it into action. She knew that she was falling apart and she wanted nothing more than to pull herself together. Being stuck in a rut of angst and confusion was paying its toll on her mind and body. She wanted to gather herself. She wanted to move on with her life. The life she dreamt about for years. A life with the man she loved…Troy.

While the pain was still at the surface and forgetting was nowhere near the horizon she was determined to attempt the only thing she figured would lead her down that path and she was prepared to take the unknown ramifications as they came.

Troy had promised to come by the second his flight was complete. Part of her couldn't wait and wanted to see him, but another part. The part that knew what was best didn't because if he returned before she had a chance to leave he would insist on accompanying her. It may not make sense, but this was something she had to face alone. This was to be the final test of her strength and if she could come out with little scars then she knew facing the rest of her life would be something enjoyable. Something she would wake up and thank the heavens for. The way one should see every sun break, every moon. The way she wished she was able see life for as long as she could remember. She had come close the moment she let Troy Bolton into her life, but she wanted a little more. She wanted to be happy. Truly happy. Not only for herself, but for Troy.

Gabriella changed into a pair of skinny jeans and a loose ivory strapped shirt. She ran her fingers through her curls and then padded on a little blush to give her pale face a sense of life and color. Upon her decision she had collected herself mildly. She was more scared than anything. Scared that this final hail Mary would be unsuccessful. However, a twinge in her gut was urging her on and feeding her a sense of strength that it all would work out and her gut was one to never lead her astray.

Light mulling around in the kitchen picked at her ears. Her father was home. She hadn't seen him sense before she had read the letter. She knew he was waiting for her to come to him in her own time. Something she actually appreciated of him. He had a sense of knowing when to approach her and when not to.

She lightly opened the door of her bedroom and treaded down the hall to the kitchen. She took a deep silent breath as she entered the white space, "Hi"

Greg lifted his head from the sandwich he was making and his eyes widen quickly at the site of her. He hadn't expected to see her. He cleared his throat, "um…Hi"

Gabriella traced the line of the tiles with the tip of her flat as she gnawed on her bottom lip, "do you have a minute?"

Greg nodded his head, "of course…yes…um please…have a seat"

Gabriella pulled the chair out and took a seat. She sat silently staring at him.

Greg fidgeted in his chair waiting for whatever was to come.

"I read the letter" she blurted out.

Greg dipped his head in acknowledgment.

Gabriella shook her head, "I don't know what to say Dad…I just…I can't believe it was the both of you…and I don't understand why you let me direct all hate and resentment at you."

"Gabriella, I know I haven't been a perfect father and I have strung you and your mother around from state after state. From the moment you developed that fiery personality of yours I knew you were going to have an issue with me and the life I made for us…yes, it killed me every minute, every hour of every day that we never had the relationship I always saw having with my daughter, but I was content knowing that you had a loving and trusting relationship in your mother…I know that I should have put more effort to help you understand, to be there for you and I will forever regret that I didn't…I know we should have been honest with you, but I just couldn't risk destroying that consistent person you had in your mother away from you."

Gabriella sighed, "but, you knew what was in the letter. You knew that this was going to come out someday and you knew that it would tear me up inside."

Greg closed his eyes to gather the right formulation of words, "yes…I did…we did. Your mother loved you so much Gabriella and she insisted on you knowing the truth with the possibility that your view of her might change, but as she told me in that sweet loving voice of hers" he said as a smile twisted his lips, "she believed in you. She knew you and she knew that in time you would understand. Maybe not fully, but on some level you would. I guess, she believed that your heart was big enough to forgive and comprehend. Something that I never knew, which is why I was such a coward in being upfront with you about the proposition we made to Troy… and Gabriella, for that, I will be sorry for the rest of my life. I'm sorry that I didn't take the time to get to know you the way I should have. Had I, our lives may have turned out differently and you wouldn't have had to cry yourself to sleep in anguish last night…I'm sorry my love, but please know how much I love you and how much your mother loved you."

Gabriella sat quiet, her eyes flooded with tears. She knew he was trying, really trying to help her understand, to help her move forward. He had made mistakes in his life and he was trying to right them and since her mother wasn't here to defend herself he was taking on that as well.

She had blamed him for so long and now she was blaming her mother, but the realization that she was just as much a part of the lack of communication and lack relationship development as them was finally sinking in. She had been so blind and stubborn. It was so easy to point the finger at someone else than to take a step back and look at what you were doing. Yes, their keeping such things as the situation with Troy were inappropriate and should have been disclosed, but now, she was finally going to take some responsibility for her part.

"I should have made an effort to Dad…I was an angry, rebellious and a terribly vocal teen. I know I wasn't the easiest to manage."

Greg gave her a grin, "but that's who you are Gabriella. It's what's made you who you are today and I know I wouldn't change that for anything in the world."

Gabriella smiled, "yeah" she said under her breath as she stared down at her fingers that were picking at her cuticles.

"I know I don't have to right to ask this, but I would really like to get to know you Gabriella. Try to mend what has transpired over the years."

Gabriella picked up her head and her eyes bore into the ones that now mirrored hers, " We can try…but I can't promise anything right now Dad…I still have so much to come to terms with."

Greg nodded, "I understand"

Gabriella picked her hand up from her lap and reached across the table to cover his, "but, I going to give it my best effort"

Greg let out a sigh of relief as he smiled at her, "thank you"

Gabriella nodded, "um…I'm going to be leaving for a few days"

Greg stared at his daughter for a moment, "are you going to…um"

"Yes…I think it will put a lot into perspective. I know it sounds crazy, but I just can't help but feel that way"

"I think you're right…when do you leave?"

"My flight leaves in a few hours"


Gabriella was in her room placing the last of her clothes into her wheeled carry-on when her balcony doors slowly swung open. She looked at the clock. He was early.

Troy looked at her actions with horror and quickly approached her, "you're going somewhere?"

Gabriella let out a ragged sigh, "yes"

Troy traced her features with scrutiny trying to gather some sense of a joke or understanding, "why?"

Gabriella pulled the zipper around the bag closing it, "I have to"

Troy shook his head, confusion and fright adorning every part of his body, "I don't understand"

Gabriella sighed as she grasped his hand in hers, "I'll be back in a few days. I just have to do this Troy…please understand"

Troy continued to shake his head, "no…where are you going?"

Gabriella wet her lips, "Florida"

Troy felt like he swallowed a large rock that was forcing a sickening sinking feeling to his stomach, "Florida?"

Gabriella nodded, "back to where we used to live"

Recognition and reason hit him. He ran his hand down the side of her face, "I'll come with you"

Gabriella shook her head, "no….this is something I have to do alone Troy…and you have completion marks in two days. You can't leave"

"Fuck it…I don't care…you're more important."

"No Troy…I have to go by myself…please understand that. This is something I have to do on my own, for me."

"You should have told me"

Gabriella smiled, "I was trying to avoid this."

"So, me coming here and finding you nowhere to be found would have been better?"

"No…but my father would have clued you in. I knew you would have understood"

"Would I?"

Gabriella smooth finger traced his jaw, "yes…you love me and I trust in that."

Something about the sudden calmness of her voice was comforting, yet concerning. He knew she was a strong force, but he couldn't help but think she was about to walk into a firing squad of emotion.

"Gabriella, I'm worried about you"

Gabriella smiled up at him, "I know…but I have to do this Troy"

"But you don't have to be alone. I'll go with you…You've processed a lot over the past 24 hours baby…I don't think you are ready for this…I couldn't bear it if this doesn't go well"

Gabriella took a deep breath, "I know…I'm scared to, but something is telling me that I have to go. That I have to do this and I have to go it alone. I know it sounds crazy and it doesn't make sense, but it does to me. It's like a self defining moment Troy"

Troy closed his eyes, "Gabriella" he choked out.

"I haven't been to her grave since we put her in the ground and even then I bolted the moment I could. Grieving, coming to terms with anything was something that hardly took place. This is my chance. If I want to move forward, if I want a future then I need to do this."

Troy wrapped his arms around her shoulders as his scared deep blue pools pierced hers, "that's what has me scared. You've been through so much. It pains me to think of you hurting and facing this without anyone."

"But it's my choice Troy. I've made up my mind. I'm doing this. It may not make sense to you, but what's important is that it makes sense to me…and I need you to trust and believe in that"

Troy rested his forehead against hers as he closed his eyes tight, "why does this feel like goodbye?"

Gabriella ran her tiny hand down his face in a comforting caress, "look at me Troy"

Troy's eyes slowly fluttered open.

"It's not goodbye…okay?"

Troy remained still for a moment, but finally nodded.

"I love you…I love you so very much and that's why I'm doing this…I want that happy life and future with you Troy, but if I don't go then I don't know if I can have it"

Troy swallowed. He felt nauseous. Her words were evoking an extreme unease to course his blood stream.

"Promise me one thing?" he asked as his eyes searched hers.

"Anything"

"If at any moment you feel like it's too much you will call me"

Gabriella nodded, "okay…I promise"

Troy wrapped his arms tight around her neck as his hand moved to cup the base of her curls, "God I love you"

Gabriella felt tears filling her eyes and slowly beginning to fall down her cheeks. She lifted her head from his chest, "now…you have to promise me something…I want you to kill it at your final grading."

Troy mustered a smile, "I will baby….for you…I will"

He brought his thumb to trace the contours of her face ending over the plumpness of her luscious lips. He looked into her eyes and then down at the crimson skin of her mouth. He closed his eyes and pressed his lips soundly to hers. His tongue lightly coxed her lips to part and swept into the warm sweet cavern. He pulled her body to flush against his as his lips and tongue moved in a more hungry and needy state. His fingers tangled tightly in her trestles as their lips moved in a harmony of love and promise.

They reluctantly pulled apart. He ran his tongue over the remnants of her on his lips, "call me when you get there?"

Gabriella nodded.

"I love you" he whispered as tears pricked his eyes.

Gabriella stared into the emotional sapphire eyes and she knew she had to come home. She knew it before, but looking into his beautiful orbs at this moment she knew without a doubt there was no other option.

"I love you too"