Thank you for all of the reviews and suggesting something should happen to Gabriella. I have taken in your suggestions, and hope this chapter turns out alright. I will also clear a few more things up, like why Troy got shot, by bad. Should have cleared that up in the last chapter.
Well, I am going to stop yapping. Roll the...film?
P.S. I do not have a beta, all mistakes are mine.
Gabriella jumped from her place and ran over to the clear glass window. Placing her hand on it and looking in, she could see the doctors frantically passing numerous tools to each other. Although she couldn't hear a word, she could tell that they were trying to bring him back to life. She waited and watched for what seemed a lifetime, tears slipping unnoticed down her face. Reaching up a hand to clear her vision, she continued to look on. She felt a hand on he shoulder and turned around, it was her mom. Letting go of everything, she collapsed into her mothers arm. Just then the loud, steady beeping stopped. Ms. Montez held her daugther tightly, wishing she didn't have to go through this.
"Gabbi, come on, lets go sit down." Gabriella just nodded, allowing herself to be led back to the chairs by her mom. Finally trusting herself to speak, she looked up at her mom.
"Is Troy going to die?" Ms. Montez decided it was best to answer with the truth.
"I don't know. Maybe, and maybe not. We'll just have to wait and see." Gabriella nodded, looking through the window and into the room where Troy's life hung in the balance.
They waited for hours, Troy flat-lining twice more, but just for a few minutes this time. By the time they were moving him out of the operating room, Gabriella was half asleep, leaning up against her mom. Mr. and Mrs. Bolten cam out as well, motioning for Gabriella and her mom to follow them. They got up, walking a little behind so to give the Boltens' some room. When they arrived to where they were going, the doctors place Troy's by many other people that had been recently operated on. Walking over to them, he smiled a small, sad smile.
"Well, the operation went as well as could be expected."
"So, Troy's going to be OK?" Mrs.Bolten asked, leaning heavily on her husband.
"Uhh...Well, it is to early to tell. Granted, the operation went well, but there is bad news. As you know, Troy flat-lined a couple of times during the operation." He waited for the Boltens' to acknowledge this before going on. "The last two were just for a few minutes, so they were nothing to worry about. However, the first one. Troy's brain was deprived of oxygen for almost forty-five minutes." The doctor took a deep breath before telling the parents the news. "He might never wake up. He could be permanently brain damaged." Mrs. Bolten took in a deep breath and started crying again. "The chances are slim that he will ever wake up."
"What odds are we working with here?" Mr. Bolten asked, he looked on the edge of a nervous breakdown.
"There is a 90 chance that he will never regain conciseness." Gabriella started crying as well. Ms. Montez held her in her arms, knowing she had to be strong for Gabriella, now more than ever. "Sir, we ask everyone this.If Troy does not wake up in a matter of days, and shows no response, would you like us to take him off of the ventilator?"
"What does that mean?" Ms. Bolten asked, looking fearfully up at her husband.
"The ventilator is basically doing all of Troy's breathing for him. Now, in a few days, one of two scenarios will happen. One, Troy will not be able to breathe on his own and he will die peacefully. Two, Troy will be able to breathe on his own, and he will no longer need the ventilator."
"If he can't breathe on his own, will you put it back?" Mr. Bolten asked.
"Only if you want us to." He seemed t think about this for a minute, then looked at the doctor again.
"OK. But I want to be here, and I want it put back in if he can't breathe on his own yet. I still have one question, though."
"I would be happy to help you with anything I can." The doctor replied.
"Why was he shot in the first place?"
"Your son was in an accident involving multiple victims. Your son was just an innocent boy in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am very sorry."
"What happened to the other people?" Ms. Montez asked from her place in the background.
"I am sorry, that is confidential information, however I can tell you that there were three, and not all of them were as lucky as Troy." She nodded, going back to being silent so the Boltens' could talk with the doctor. Gabriella was silently crying in the corner. The three talked for a while longer, then Mrs. Bolten went to sit at Troy's side. Ms. Montez placed a hand on Gabriella's shoulder, motioning for her to move out of the Boltens' hearing range so they could talk.
"Gabbi, we should really get you home. It has been a long day and you need some rest." Gabriella was just about to argue, wanting to stay with Troy. "No buts. Nothing is going to happen in the few hours we will be gone. I will ask Mrs. Bolten to call us if anything does. Your not helping Troy by wearing yourself down." Gabriella sighed in defeat, she knew her mom was right, she needed some rest. She sighed and gave in.
"Fine, you win. But can I come back int he morning?"
"Yes, you may. I will personally bring you myself."
Gabriella held her breath. Today was the day. If Troy couldn't breathe on his own yet, it was unlikely that he would ever be able to. If he could then it was only a matter of time before he was out of the hospital. He had been moved to the ICU on his second day out of surgery, and seemed to be getting better. But it wouldn't matter if his body was healthy, it was his brain they were worried about. Gabriella tried to tell herself that there was still a chance that he was just fine ,but it wasn't working. She knew that there was only a one in ten chance that he would live. The Boltens were also waiting beside Troy's bed. A doctor in a white coat walked over to them and smiled a little.
"Hi, I am Dr. Amegio. What we are going to do first is take him off of the ventilator. It should take him about ten seconds. If he does not take a breath on his own after that, we will have to put him back on it quickly. Unless you don't want us to." he looked at them, as if waiting for an answer. Mr. Bolten shook his head.
"No, I want him on it again if this doesn't work." The doctor nodded and reached out, unhooking the tube that went to Troy's mouth. The tube was still in his mouth, but the machine was no longer working for him. They all stared at the monitor, willing it to tell them Troy was going to be OK. Ten...nine...eight...seven...six...
"How much longer?" Mrs. Bolten asked.
"Just a little," The doctor replied. Four...three...two...one... "It didn't work. I am very sorry." He took the tube and reconnected it to the one that was in Troy's mouth. Mrs. Bolten was crying again, and Mr. Bolten, despite his attempts to be strong for her, was crying with her. Gabriella turned and ran out of the room. Ms. Montez decided to follow her, make sure she didn't do anything drastic. She found her in the women's bathroom in the ICU. Kneeling down beside her, she wrapped her arms around Gabriella.
"Gabbi, sweetie. Are you OK?"
"No, I don't know. I..." her whole body was shaking with sobs as she tried to speak. "I...guess I just made m-myself believe t-that Troy was g-going to be fine."
"Shh...come on, it'll be OK. He isn't gone yet, and Troy is pretty stubborn. Remember the time he cimbed up your balcony just to see you?" Gabriella nodded, smiling sadly. "Come on, lets go back. You need to say good-bye to Troy, we are going to go home. You have been here for over ten hours." Gabriella nodded and allowed her mom to help her up.
Gabriella sat on her bathroom floor, pressed tightly up against the wall. The razor clutched tightly in her hand. It had been a whole week. Troy hadn't shown any signs of waking up. It was all her fault. If it wasn't for her Troy would be fine. It was her fault that Troy and his dad had started fighting, it was her fault he ran away, and now it was her fault he was dying. She couldn't stand it. The doctors thought that it was unlikely that Troy would ever wake up again, she couldn't live with that, knowing she was the cause of his death.
Pressing the razor hard to her wrist, she pulled back.
Ms. Montez quietly made lunch. Gabriella hadn't spoke a word since coming home from the hospital that day. She had a huge pile of homework accumulating in her room, and she was avoiding everyone. God, this was so hard for everyone, especially for the Boltens' and Gabriella. She had never had any real friends, much less anyone she cared for like she cared for Troy. Ms. Montez placed the sandwiches on the table, knowing that Gabriella probably wouldn't come down, and she would have to bring it upstairs. She decided to try anyway.
"Gabriella! It's time to come down for lunch!" No answer. Not like she had expected one. Waiting a few more minutes, she put a few of the sandwiches on a plate and started walking upstairs. Knocking on the door, she also got no answer.
"Gabbi, come on, open up." Still no answer. Ms. Montez was getting scared. Gabriella had been silent for a week, but she was never this bad. Opening the door, Ms. Montez let herself into the room. On Gabriella's bed side table was the huge stack of homework. After Troy was hurt, Ms. Montez had sent Gabriella back to school, buthad taken her out once she saw how bad her daugther was doing. Thank goodness for spring break. Beside the homework was a picture. It was one of Gabriella and Troy. Gabriella was wearing a light blue, longsleve shirt with a shite shawl over it, and Troy was wearing his normal blue jeans and a black shirt. They were sitting on the lawn in the huge pile of leaves they had raked up. The picture had been taken only a little before Troy had left. Gabriella was nowhere to be seen.
Walking over to the balcony door, she looked out. Nope. Ms. Montez was just about to give up when she heard a small whimper from Gabriella's private bathroom. Walking over, she twisted the doorknob. She yelled, dropping the sandwiches. The plate fell to the floor, shattering all over.
The ambulance pulled up to the hospital, three other doctors met them at the E.R. entrance.
"Sixteen-year-old female, attempt suicide..." The voices drowned out as the doctors quickly moved Gabriella into the E.R. Ms. Montez followed as they moved her Gabriella into one of the rooms, doctors accumulated around Gabriella until she couldn't see anymore.
(Quick flash into Gabriella's P.O.V)
She could hear them. No, she hadn't wanted this. She had wanted to go, die. they shouted things above her that she didn't understand, frantically moving around her. Slowly, she allowed the darkness to take over her.
Weeeell, that's all for now! Please review! Man, I got a ton for my last chapter, hope I get more!
Yes, you may kill me if you like. Believe me, this will start looking up soon...I think. Anyway, this one turned out OK, at least I think. Now I am going to stop typing because my fingers are frozen solid. Despite the heaters in this house, it is cold!
Review!