Hey! So sorry it took me FOREVER to post a new chapter. But we're back! And now that summer is here, I hope to be able to finish the story for you awesome guys! Thank you for reading and enjoy the new addition to Troy and Gabriella's story!
The boys rushed out to Chad's car, all thoughts of dinner thrown out. Pulling out of the driveway, Chad drove as fast as the speed limit would allow to the next neighborhood.
Troy leaned his head against the passenger seat. "Nonono this can't be happening."
Chad turned off the Bolton's street and glanced at his friend. "Troy, she's probably just feeling a little crummy."
"You think so? What did Taylor say?"
Chad gulped. "More than crummy."
"What's going on?!" Troy slammed his fist down on the center console.
His friend gripped the steering wheel, his face hardening. "Troy, she just said we need to get her to the hospital as fast as possible! That's all! Now can I please drive here?"
Troy ran his hands down his face and groaned. "Sorry."
"I know you're stressed, man. But you have to keep it together." They arrived at the McKessie house as Chad was speaking. He parked the car and looked at his best friend square in the face. "She's having your baby."
They both whipped off their seatbelts and bolted out of the car at the same time, racing to the door where Taylor was already waiting.
"She's in the living room," was all she had to say.
Chad stayed with her as his friend dashed off in search of Gabriella. "How is she?"
Taylor shut the door and faced him. "Her water broke. She's having that baby."
Chad's mouth dropped and followed her into the living room. "But it's three months early!"
As Troy rounded the corner, the sight before him made his heart break. Gabriella was doubled over on the couch, Mrs. McKessie sitting beside her, rubbing her back.
When she saw Troy, Gabriella reached for him, her face streaked with tears.
He bent to gather her up, holding her to his chest. "Oh Gabriella, baby what's wrong? What happened?"
Gabriella sniffled into his shoulder. "I'm having the baby."
Troy froze. "What?"
She pulled back. "We have to go, Troy."
He stared at her, then slowly nodded. "Okay," he said softly.
Troy stood to pull her up, and he helped her outside as Chad pulled the car around.
Taylor turned to her mom, a question on her face.
Mrs. McKessie nodded. "Go. Go on."
They arrived under the ER awning ten minutes later. Gabriella doubled over again in the back seat as Chad ran to get a wheelchair.
Troy put his arm around her, placing his hand on her stomach in an attempt to soothe her. "Shh, everything's going to be okay."
She leaned her head on his shoulder. "You promise?"
Before Troy could answer, Chad opened their door. "It's go time," he said as Troy got out. The boys helped Gabriella into the wheelchair as Taylor held it steady, then the four of them pushed through the doors into the cold sterile emergency room.
As Troy approached the check-in desk, Chad and Taylor took Gabriella to a seating row to wait. The room was almost empty… not many patients with injuries waiting for a doctor. Still, the Albuquerque hospital wasn't known for being fast in the ER.
Gabriella's contractions had ceased for the time being. "Chad?" she murmured.
Chad put a hand on her knee. "What's up, Gabster?"
"Can I have some water?" Her eyes were half-closed in tiredness.
"Sure." Chad jumped up to go to the water fountain.
Troy walked over with a clipboard full of paperwork. "Taylor, help me." He handed her some of the papers. "The nurse said to fill in everything we know for the time being," he said as Taylor glanced over her portion.
"Well, you know more than me," she responded, dumping a couple pages on his lap. "I don't know what her medical history is."
Chad returned with a cup of water, placing it in Gabriella's hands. He plopped down next to Troy, glancing over his shoulder. "Yikes," he commented.
Troy tapped his pen against his knee. "I think I'm done." He gathered up Taylor's papers as well and went to turn them in.
Just then, another contraction washed over Gabriella. Stars filled her vision and she cried out. Troy whipped around, but Chad was already on it. He snatch the trembling cup from her hands and knelt in front of her. "That's it, Gabriella. Breathe. Breathe."
But it wasn't working. She was frantic as tears streamed down her cheeks. She bowed her head, crying.
Chad tried again. He took her hands in his own and squeezed, tilting his head to look into her face. "Gabriella. Hey, look at me."
She did.
Chad raised his eyebrows. "Okay. Take a deep breath. Take it now."
Gabriella obeyed, inhaling deeply.
He ordered her to repeat, and stayed with her through the whole contraction, holding her hands.
Troy slid back into his seat, instantly wrapping his arms around her. At the touch, Gabriella began to cry softly, this time in relief that the pain was over for now. Troy kissed her hair and glanced at Chad over her head. 'Thank you," he mouthed. Chad nodded and returned to his seat.
A doctor appeared in the doorway. "Gabriella Montez?" She walked over to the little group as Troy stood. "Hi, I'm Dr Rydel. We're going to take her back for ultrasounds and examination."
Troy shook her hand. "We're ready."
Gabriella reached for his arm. "No, no," she whispered.
Troy crouched next to her. "Come on, baby. It's time."
Dr Rydel grabbed the wheelchair. "We're gonna take good care of you, don't worry."
Taylor stood to press a quick kiss to her best friend's cheek. "We'll come visit you," she promised.
Gabriella was wheeled down a long corridor, Troy walking beside her and holding her hand. Tears had sprung to her eyes again and he noticed.
"Gabriella?"
She shook her head.
Pushing the wheelchair around a corner, Dr Rydel glanced at him. "Is she having a contraction?"
Troy nodded. "Yeah."
"Good. We're almost to the scanning room."
Gabriella closed her eyes and tried to take a deep shaky breath.
They stopped in front of a white door labeled for all kinds of scanning and exams. Another doctor opened the door to usher them in. Troy tried to follow, but the other doctor gently stopped him. "I'm sorry," he said. "Only patients."
"Troy!" Gabriella reached for him, a soft sob attached to the end of the word.
Troy had tried to push through to her, but the door was being closed. "Gabriella! Gab—"
The door shut and he was left in the sterile empty hallway. He closed his eyes, his brow furrowing as he dropped his head back. He ran a hand down his face as he leaned against the wall next to the door. Gabriella's cried slipped through, burrowing in his brain as he tried not to think about the pain she was going through without him by her side. He slid down the wall, eyes still closed, trying to shut out the sounds.
A few moments passed before he heard a voice. "She yours in there?"
Troy opened his eyes to see an older doctor standing over him. "Yeah," he sighed.
The doctor sat next to him. "First time?" Troy nodded, watching him closely, unsure of what to do in his predicament.
The man sighed. "I remember going through the same thing as a young man."
"Oh really?"
"Yup. My wife got pregnant when we were really young. I was so nervous."
Troy turned towards him. "What did you do?"
"Well, everything turned out okay. She ended up having to have a C-section…"
Troy winced.
"I know. I don't think that will happen to you two, though." The doctor looked him up and down. "You're nervous about being a young father."
Troy nodded and ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah… I don't know what to do, what with college and everything."
The doctor clapped him on the shoulder. "Why don't you go back to the waiting room. She'll be in there for a while, and then you can go see her when she's settled in her room."
Troy stood, the doctor following suit. "I'll do that. Thank you sir."
The other man left, leaving Troy standing in the hallway, wishing he could be in there with Gabriella. Knowing that everything was out of his hands now made him unsure of everything. He didn't know what to do next, how to help, or what he was even supposed to do. Taking one last look at the door, he made his way down the hall back to his friends.
R&R!
xx
Annie