(A/N): First and foremost, this story was CO-AUTHORED by me ((KelsiLovesLucas)) and MissZacEfron. The chapters are written by both of us. We each wrote half of every chapter so enjoy!

Dedications: We would both like to dedicate this story to Mrs. Radcliffe-Efron

Disclaimer: We own nothing!

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Chapter Nine: Love And Hope

RECAP

Vanessa just sat on her bed, waiting for whatever was about to happen. She couldn't scream for help. Zac, where are you? Vanessa thought as her father got closer and closer to her. Vanessa closed her eyes and expected the worst...

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Vanessa braced herself for what her father was going to do. She expected him to hit her, to kick her, to yell at her. Instead, when she opened her eyes, she found him just standing above her. He was smiling. She didn't like that smile. It couldn't mean anything good. In a way, it looked familiar. When had she seen that evil smile on his face before? Then, she remembered. He'd had that look right before he had raped her a few years earlier. She couldn't believe that this was happening again!

"Not so tough without all your little friends, are you?" His voice was like a dentist drill. She didn't want to be here. Anywhere but here. Vanessa closed her eyes and tried to imagine herself somewhere else. She thought of Zac and found herself imaging a wedding. Her wedding. She started to smile but then opened her eyes and remembered that was just a fantasy and this was the reality of her life. She could never escape this. "I told you not to tell anyone." Her father growled. Vanessa knew that she had it coming. Yet, she still was immobilized. It was as though her father had cast a spell on her and she couldn't move or speak. He was standing right above her. "I think I need to teach you a few things about listening to your elders." He cackled. Then, he pushed her back on her bed and pulled out a knife. He pointed it at her throat. Vanessa suddenly found her voice again though she still couldn't move.

"HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME!" She screamed at the top of her lungs. Her father quickly covered her mouth but it was too late. Her screams had been heard. Momentarily, there was pounding at the door.

"Vanessa? Vanessa, open the door!" Lucas' voice rang out from the other side of the door. Vanessa winced as her father poked her with the knife. "Vanessa, are you okay? What's going on? Ness, let me in!" Lucas continued pounding on the door.

"Tell him that everything's fine and to go away." Vanessa's father hissed into her ear. She shook her head. "All right. Tell him everything's fine and to go away or I'll open the door and I'll kill him." Greg Hudgens threatened. Vanessa's eyes widened. She nodded and he released his grip on her mouth.

"I'm fine, Lucas. Just a dream. Go back to bed." She called reluctantly. Lucas was quiet for a moment.

"Just open the door. I wanna be sure that you're all right." Lucas insisted.

"No, I'm fine. Just go away!" She shouted back to him.

"Vanessa, open the door now." Lucas ordered. She started crying silently and her father gave her a look that told her she needed to get rid of the boy outside the door.

"I'm fine! Just go away Lucas!" Vanessa shouted angrily through sobs.

"What the heck is going on? You're not fine! Open the door! Let me in!" Lucas shouted back. Corbin heard Lucas and stepped into the hall.

"Dude, what's going on?" Corbin asked.

"I don't know. Something's not right. I can't get her to open the door." Lucas replied. "Vanessa, let me in!" Lucas said. He banged on the door again. Vanessa's father moved towards the door.

"Lucas! Run! He's in here and he's going to kill you!" Vanessa screamed quickly. She saw her dad spin around and glare at her. Lucas started pounding on the door and Corbin did the same. Zac ran out into the hall.

"Zac, he's in there!" Corbin told him. Zac ran to Ashley's room to ask for the spare key to Vanessa's room while Lucas and Corbin continued trying to get the door open somehow.

"You're gonna pay for telling them that." Her father said as he pulled his knife back out. Vanessa jumped off of her bed and tried to run for the door. Her father caught her by the waist and pulled her close to him. Vanessa kept squirming around in hopes that he couldn't cut her throat if she kept moving. It worked. He tried to cut her throat but instead made a deep cut in her cheek. She cried out in pain and slid from his arms. Vanessa was now standing at the door, trying to undo the deadbolt lock. Her hands were shaking. Right before she got it unlocked, her father grabbed her again and threw her down on the bed. Vanessa screamed.

"Vanessa!" Corbin shouted. Zac came running back with the key. He unlocked the door and started to open it... only to have it be stopped by the deadbolt.

"Help!" Vanessa screamed. Her father was sitting on her stomach, holding the knife in his hand. "Please, don't! Why are you doing this? Please stop!" Vanessa cried to her father. "Daddy, please!" She whimpered.

"Shut up! You're nothing but a stupid little girl and that's all you ever will be. Sad, isn't it? Your friends couldn't even save you in the end." He sneered. Vanessa was crying as he cut her shirt open.

Zac, Lucas and Corbin all were slamming themselves into the door, trying to break the deadbolt. Ashley, Monique and Olesya were standing in the hall, crying and watching helplessly as the boys tried to get into the room. Vanessa was screaming inside and the three girls had to look away to try and block out her cries for help.

Vanessa lay on her bed with her father still sitting on her stomach. He held the knife against her throat. "Finally, all my troubles will be gone!" He whispered. Vanessa's eyes widened as he started to slide the knife slowly across her throat. He had cut her and she was bleeding. Before he made it to the center of her throat, though, there was a loud crash. Her father looked over and saw Lucas, Zac and Corbin lying on the floor. They had broken the door down. Greg got off of Vanessa and ran to the window. He had opened it and climbed out onto the balcony and down the fire escape by the time the three actors stood up. Zac ran over to Vanessa on her bed.

"Oh, my... Vanessa!" Zac whispered. He started crying. Everyone else ran over to her.

"Let's get her to a hospital." Lucas said quickly. He picked her up and ran out of the room, Zac and the rest of the gang close behind him.

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The gang rushed into the Hospital with Vanessa in Lucas's arms.

"What do we have here?" The Nurse at the front desk shouted at Lucas. Zac stepped up and decided to tell the Nurse.

"My Girlfriend, her dad tried to kill her." Zac said removing the towels they were using to apply pressure.

"Oh My Goodness." the 60 year old Nurse yells. The Nurse grabbed Lucas's arm and drug him down a long hall with corridors.

A few minutes later Lucas came out with no expression on his face. The entire games rushed over to him.

"How is she?"

"What room is she in?"

"Can we go see her?"

Lucas was bombarded with tons of questions. "HOLD ON!" Lucas shouted. All the doctors and Nurses in the hallway gave Lucas a death-defying glare. Zac took a deep breath and then started talking.

Where is my girlfriend?" Zac asked

"They took her into the OR to give her stitches to her cheek and neck." Lucas said

"If I would have stayed with her after I checked her room, NONE of this would have happened." Corbin said punching his fist into the wall.

"If we ALL would have stayed, then none of this would have happened." Zac said sliding down the wall. The girls couldn't even talk they were in too much of a shock. Just then the Doctor walked in.

"Ms.Hudgens?" the Doctor asked. The gang quickly walked over to him.

"Is she okay?" Zac asked slowly

"I've got good and bad news." he said "I'll start with the good. Her cuts look like they will heal without any bad scars. The bad news is, she is in a coma," the Doctor said with a solemn look on his face.

"Wi… wi… will she wake up?" Ashley got the courage to ask not wanting a certain answer.

"Her brain is responding to everything, she just needs to break out of it." he said

"How long?" Corbin asked

"Maybe a week, maybe sooner if a miracle happens." he said "I'm very sorry, I'll be back, I have to tend to more patients. You may go in her room, it is A215," the Doctor said giving them all a sympathetic look and walking away.

Zac started walking towards her hospital room. He stopped when he noticed no one was coming with him. He turned around and was about to say something when Lucas spoke up." You go first, we'll come in a little bit." He said.

Zac didn't even say anything he just walked away. When Zac reached her room, Zac just stopped and looked in. Seeing her limp body laying there brought back the memory of him running into her suite and seeing her lying there in her own blood and a huge cut halfway around the front of her neck, and the huge gash on her cheek. Zac kept moving, he opened the door and walked slowly over to the side of her bed and took her hand.

"Nessa, I'm here babe, I'm never going to leave you, but you need to wake up. I need you, we all need you Nessa. I have always loved you, please wake up." Zac said squeezing her hand. "I called the police, I told them about your dad and what he did to you and Monique. They are looking for him. When they find him I'm going to kill him with my bare hands, but I'm sure Corbin will stop me. I know you might hate me for telling the police, but it was for you baby" he said.

"Never, will she EVER hate you Zac. She loves you" Corbin said walking into the room with Monique. Zac walked over to them and they all shared a hug.

"Why? Why did this have to happen to Nessa?" Monique asked, starting to cry.

"I don't know. God, if she" Zac was stopped by Ashley

"Don't even say it Zac. You know she is going to be okay." Ashley said

Zac started slamming his fist into the wall. Corbin ran up to him and went in front of Zac.

"Zac stop it. Nessa needs you to be strong for her. QUIT" Corbin said yelling the last part. Lucas and Olesya walked into the room and everyone gathered around Nessa's bed. They all got a chair and sat around her bed. Zac sat on one side, holding her hand. Ashley sat on the other side holding her hand.

"I remember when I met Vanessa on the first day on set." Monique said "I knew that everyone would love her!" she said. Everyone just nodded and gave light smiles.

"Remember when I was late on my cue on purpose in 'We're All In This Together' and you guys kissed like 3 times?" Corbin said

"On Purpose?" Zac asked eyeing Corbin

"Z... Z... Zac" a familiar voice whispered. Everyone whipped their heads towards Vanessa.

"I'll go get the Doctor" Lucas said running out.

Zac just stared at Vanessa thinking it was a dream. He snapped out a few seconds later when the Doctor came in.

"Ms.Hudgens, I'm very happy to see you up. It is awesome," the Doctor said.

"When do I get to go home?" she asked

"Well...Your tests all came out clear. You can go home today if you promise me to lay low for a few days." he said. Vanessa kept nodding her head in response. She looked at all her friends and started to cry. Ashley noticed first and walked back to Nessa.

"Hey girl, what's wrong?" Ashley asked. This caught everyone's attention and they all walked back over to Vanessa.

"I thought I would never see you guys again. You guys are amazing." Vanessa said smiling. Zac walked over to Vanessa, bent down, and kissed her real gently on the lips.

"Mmmm… I missed those." Vanessa said.

"Me too baby" Zac said

"Okay, so do you want to stay here or go back?" Zac asked

"Go back." Vanessa said plainly and with a worried face.

"Don't worry Nessa, everything's going to be fine." Ashley said helping her up.

As the gang piled into the van, Zac got a call on his cell phone.

"Hello?" Zac said

"Hello, is this Mr. Efron?" the caller asked

"Yes..."Zac said

"This is the Salt Lake City Police Department, Officer Barrett, and I just wanted to tell you Greg Hudgens has been arrested under raping Vanessa Hudgens and Monique Coleman. He turned himself in. He has also been arrested for abuse of his daughter, Vanessa." Officer Barrett said.

"Okay, Thank you." Zac said smiling

"Have a good day Mr. Efron," He said.

"You too Officer Barrett, and thank you for everything." Zac said

"My pleasure, good bye" he said and hung up.

"Officer Barrett?" Vanessa asked

"Nessa, your dad confessed to raping you and Monique and abusing you and he has been arrested." Zac told Vanessa and the gang. Nessa couldn't talk, She just smiled, but deep down she wished this had happened a long long time ago.

The entire cast was going to have a sleepover in Vanessa's suite. Before they went to the hotel they went to the Grocery Store to pick some snacks and drinks up. Vanessa decided to stay in the van with Monique and Ashley while the boys went in to buy the food.

"I'll be right back, kay Ness." Zac said

"Okay." Vanessa said a little uneasy

"Don't worry. Do you want anything?" Zac asked

"Mmmm...Cookie dough ice cream!" Vanessa said excitedly thinking about eating her ice cream.

"Okay, we'll be back girls." Zac said kissing Vanessa passionately

"MHMMM." Monique clearing her throat to get Zac out.

"Okay, I love you Ness." Zac said closing the door and clicking the lock button.

The three girls sad there in quiet until Vanessa broke the silence. Monique, I'm really sorry about what my Dad did to you. I never wanted any of this to happen. I wanted to come back out here for the third time and wanted all of this to go away. I never thought he would come out here. I'm sorry, and I hope you can forgive me." Vanessa said. By the time Vanessa was done, tears were pouring down all three girls cheeks.

"V, I'm sorry about what happened to both of us, but I NEVER in my right mind would blame you. He is crazy and needs help. Oh come here" Monique, Vanessa and Ashley all hugged.

"Best friends forever and always." Ashley said

"Always and forever!" Vanessa whispered to herself.

A few minutes later the boys got back in the van. Lucas was driving and Ashley was in the front seat. Zac was on one side of Vanessa and Corbin was on the other. Monique was next to Corbin. Vanessa's head was in the crook of Zac's neck.

"Baby, do you feel okay?" Zac asked running his fingers through Vanessa's curly hair.

"My throat hurts, and I'm cold." Vanessa said with her eyes drooping. Zac reached in the back of the van and got two blankets from back there. He put one over Vanessa and himself and gave Corbin the other one.

"Alright were almost to the hotel," he said.

"Does she have a fever?" Corbin asked. Zac leaned down to press his lips to her forehead.

"She's a little warm," he said

"Mkay. We have medicine back at the hotel." Corbin said

Soon enough they were at the hotel. Zac looked down to see an asleep Vanessa wrapped up in his arms. Zac scooted out of the van and picked her up. The gang made their way up to Vanessa's suite. Lucas was carrying four bags of food and Corbin was only carrying the case of Diet Pepsi.

Ashley got Vanessa's extra key card out of her purse and opened the door. Olesya was already inside, watching 'The Suite Life of Zack and Cody." Lucas started pulling everything out of the bags while Zac and Corbin laid on the bed. Zac lay Vanessa down gently. Once she was out of Zac's arms, her eyes shot open.

"It's okay baby, I'm right here." Zac cooed to Nessa. Vanessa smiled weakly and sat up. Corbin brought over her ice cream.

"Mmm...Thank you Corbin!" Vanessa said before she dug in.

"Anything for my little sis." Corbin said kissing her forehead and sitting on the bed on the other side of Vanessa.

Two hours after everyone had gotten to the hotel, Vanessa started to yawn.

"Are you tired?" Zac asked

"Mhhmmm.."Vanessa hummed

"Here go to bed." Zac said pushing a sleeping Corbin off the bed.

"Will you lay with me?" she asked

"I sure will." Zac said

"Well I'm gonna go back to bed if you don't mind." Corbin said from the floor.

"Me too" Monique said

"Me three." Lucas, Ashley, and Olesya said at the same time.

"Goodnight." was the last thing Vanessa said before she drifted off into a wonderful sleep, which she hadn't done in a long long time.

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KelsiLovesLucas: Okay, there's a little bit of Zanessa fluffiness. Think everything is okay now? I wouldn't be so sure… we might have a few surprises up our sleeves. Then again, we might not. You'll just have to wait and find out! Now, it's time to review! Thanks to everyone who reviewed in the past, especially those of you who have stuck with us from the very beginning of this story. Thanks to Christine Glen Haven for reviewing for every single chapter! Go review now! Come on good little cute little mousey… click the button. Good wittle mousey! Wow, you have trained that mousey very well! Click the button in the corner and type nice things about our story. See ya next chapter! God bless all of you, KelsiLovesLucas

MissZacEfron- Okay! So there is a little bit of Zanessa romance! Don't worry there will be MUCH more to come! Hehe! If you get my hint! HAHA! Okay so I'm really happy… We got 10 reviews for chapter Eight! You guys are getting there! Keep up the awesome work of R&Ring. Okay, so… this chapter is really long. I think I can speak for Kelsi and I! We had fun writing it. That part was a little emotional. ((I cried writing it)) but the ending was sweet! The chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream is my favorite so I had to put it in there ((Sorry, Vanessa, if you really don't like chocolate chip cookie dough)). Okay, so go over and click the magic button. Let's see if we can get 85 reviews with chapter nine… that's only 15 reviews. I know you guys can do it! If you do, I might do something special! Okay, so enough said from me ((I have a bigmouth- sorry)) So, I will talk to you guys next chapter! Much love to all of our readers and reviewers! God bless, MissZacEfron