-1Title: Action and Reaction

Rating: Teen

Summary: Troy rushes to Sharpay's side, only to meet resistance from her parents. Meanwhile, a face from the past resurfaces at the most inappropriate time.

Notes: I usually take about a week to put out chapters, as I have a tendency to have more then one fic out a time. But, this morning I just happened to catch an episode of "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody", in which Zac Effron appeared--and then his character made out with Maddie, and I churned this puppy out in a coupe of hours.

Warnings: A bit of sexual innuendo.

Disclaimer: I own it like I own Santa.

Chapter Three: Faces

Troy had never been especially fond of large cities. They were loud, in constant motion, packed to the brim in population, terribly hard to navigate, and above all else, dangerous. Troy instead like the quiet, calm, simplicity of the country. It was yet another thing that made him so different from Sharpay, another thing that separated them. She loved New York, while he was finding Fresno too large.

When he flew out to New York it was for her alone. In the beginning it was a serious task to hail a cab. It was a maddening process in his opinion, one Sharpay did flawlessly with natural grace. She claimed it was because he wasn't nearly as forceful as he needed to be, but she liked that about him. She told him constantly it was his sincerity, his empathy, his utter gentleness that made him so desirable. She felt she could bare her soul to him without judgment, which translated into the ultimate form of attraction. So she didn't mind so much that she had to hail all their cabs, so long as he smiled and held her hand.

Then once he graduated cab hailing, he found trouble with the overall layout of the city. Sharpay lived on the outskirts of the city, because as she explained, it was really only the place she could afford to live on her own, without a room mate. However, she worked deep in the city, and certainly shopped there, which meant every day Troy was there, they were deep into the heart of New York. He usually found himself turned around in a matter of minutes. She said she liked it when he depended on her, said it made her feel needed.

Most off all, he detested the sounds, especially when he tried to sleep. Even away from the busier parts of the city, he tossed and turned. Sprawled across Sharpay's pull out bed, he fidgeted all through the night, and into the morning. Half a year later they'd started sleeping in the same bed, and having her in his arms helped, just not nearly enough.

He struggled through his time in highly populated areas, but Sharpay was alive in the city, like she'd never been before. She was happy in the city, and that kept him content enough.

Now he promised himself never again. The city he'd so disliked had hurt her, the one who possibly loved the lights and the sounds better then anyone else. It was threatening to take her away from him. For that he could never grow to love the city like she had, even given adequate time. He could never love something that could so callously threaten everything in the world that mattered to him, the one person he held so dear.

They, he and Ryan, rushed the hospital like professional linebackers, nearly trampling several people. They halted at the front desk, spoke briefly to the nurse stationed there, and were on the move again, shortly after with Sharpay's floor and room number. The elevator ride seemed to stretch on forever, stopping numerous times on several different floors. Finally they arrived at their destination on the third floor. ICU.

Ryan moved ahead, and Troy allowed him. Ryan needed to be first, Troy realized. The male needed someone walking behind him, preventing him from running from the coming confrontation. Ryan was silently asking for support, and Troy was answering.

Standing in the doorway, Sharpay's form was blocked by Mr. and Mrs. Evans. Ryan's shoulders seemed to sag in relief, and Troy briefly felt the same. As desperate as he'd been to get to her side, he was just as desperately afraid of what he'd find.

Troy could only recall seeing Mr. and Mrs. Evans infrequently during high school. They never, ever attended any of the required school meetings together, and when one was present, there was always, what Troy could best describe as a cold vibe. They didn't show for any of the musicales, which now made sense to Troy, but at the beginning had been troubling.

Mr. Evans, from what Troy could see, was tall and stiff. As he talked to his wife, a side profile became visible and even from a distance Troy could see the lines and creases in the older male's face. He looked angry, and just further back he saw Mrs. Evans, looking just as somber and stiff. Her mouth pressed into what he could easily call a scowl, hardly the look of a grieving mother.

"They'll blame you," Ryan whispered fiercely to him. "Or they'll blame me, or her car, or the way she drives, or her first drama instructor, or anyone else they can think of. He'll say you corrupted her, his precious baby. She'll be convinced I drove Sharpay to rebellion through my own, and of course we'll both be responsible for supporting her and the theater, which brought her to New York, and ultimately led to the crash. Just watch, we'll be to blame for everything, but never them."

Troy nodded, pushing Ryan through the doorway gently.

"Mom," Ryan said, clearing this throat, "Dad."

Troy greeted, "Mr. and Mrs. Evans."

And there she was, laying prone--deathly still. Troy froze, blanched white as he peered at her. The monitor near her head beeped steadily, comfortingly, and otherwise he might have believed the love of his life to have perished. For having been involved in a horrible car accident, she remained pristine looking, aside from a large, purple bruise spreading over her right cheekbone. Her arms were folded gracefully over his stomach and Troy had to remind himself strongly that she only appeared to be mildly unscathed. Ryan had said she was bleeding internally.

Ryan also paled, folding his arms into a self hug. "How is she?" He asked, eyes softening as he took in the sight of his sister, his twin. The person who'd always been by his side, who'd always supported him, and the only person who'd ever wanted him to be happy.

Mr. Evans moved to his wife's side and embraced her. "You shouldn't have come." His features shifted towards disgust as he scanned Troy. "And you shouldn't have brought company."

"What was I supposed to do?" Ryan demanded. "You called me nearly a day after she'd been in a car accident. You told me she was hurt, hurt really bad. You thought what, I'd just sit around and wait for you to call again? She's my sister. I love her." He ground his teeth together. "And you know damn well who Troy is and how much he means to Sharpay."

"Don't you use that tone and language," Mrs. Evans snapped.

"Then don't treat me like I don't deserve to be here."

Mr. Evan's suit wrinkled when he embraced his wife tighter. "You don't, Ryan. Only family is allowed, and you left this family a long time ago."

"I didn't want to go to your stupid college," Ryan said, voice raising. "I didn't want what daddy wanted, and unless you missed the past two years, neither did Sharpay."

With the adults in the room successfully distracted, Troy slipped around to Sharpay's side and took her cool, delicate hand in his own. Careful of the IV line, he curled his fingers around hers, clinging to her life. Behind him the storm raged.

"You corrupted her," Mr. Evans continued. "She could have been a lawyer or a judge, but instead you sucked her into your obsession. You convinced her that she belonged in the theater, and now she's in a coma!"

Troy's head snapped up at that. His gaze bore over her flaxen face, searching frantically for a sign of acknowledgment of life. A coma? She was in a coma?

"A coma?" Ryan echoed back. His eyes flew to her form, then to Troy's troubled gaze.

"You and that boy," Mrs. Evans punctuated her words with jabs of her finger towards Troy. "Corrupted my little girl."

Troy shot forward, his grip still firm on Sharpay's hand. "You're wrong," he tried.

"Don't you speak to my wife like that," Mr. Evans warned. "You've been seeing Sharpay socially for several months, feeding her lies and corrupting her. You've been urging her to continue with this lifestyle and you're the reason she's here, instead of Princeton."

Anger welled deep in Troy and then shot to the surface. "Sharpay isn't at Princeton because she doesn't want to be there. She's doing what she loves, and I love her, so I'm going to support her chosen lifestyle. You're upset she doesn't want to follow in your footsteps, but it isn't who she is. She's beautiful and artistic, and independent. She isn't in New York because of Ryan or myself, but because it's where she wants to be." Flushed from his anger Troy receded slightly. "I love her," he urged. "I love her, and it hurts me more than anything to see her here, but it isn't my fault, and I won't take the blame for it."

Ryan moved to stand at Troy's side, his own hand resting on her bedspread. "You've always wanted us to be miniatures of yourselves. You want us to be obedient, dependent, and perfect, but we aren't. Sharpay tried to make you happy. She went to Princeton for a semester and hated it. Instead of making herself unhappy, she chose to follower her heart, and you're disrespecting my sister by insinuating that what she truly desires in life, isn't good enough. If you took the time to get to know your daughter you'd see what a truly wonderful person she is." His eyes were moist as he fitted the starchy blanket between his fingers. "Now tell me and Troy how bad it is, because we love her much more than you do."

Mrs. Evans choked on what seemed to be a sob, but Troy was far from optimistic Ryan had broken through to her.

"How dare you," she said, hand flying to her mouth. "How dare you insinuate that I don't love my daughter."

"Out," Mr. Evan's ordered, gesturing towards the door. "Get out now."

"I won't," Troy challenged. "I won't leave. I love her."

"What do you know about love? You're too young."

Sharpay's hand fell from his grasp as he stood. He rounded the bed quickly and planted himself directly in front of Sharpay's parents.

"I know I'd die for her," he said, voice falling deep. "I know that's what love is. I'd die for her, trade her life for mine. I'd give her anything she wanted, do anything just to see her smile. I can't speak for Sharpay, I wouldn't ever speak for her, but I know that what I'd do for her is limitless. I believe that when you feel that way towards a person, unconditionally, it's love."

"Only family members are allowed in here," Mrs. Evans retaliated. "If you don't leave now I'll personally call the hospital police and have you removed.

Distraught, Troy turned back to Ryan, unsure of his next course of action.

Ryan hugged him as strongly as he could managed. "It's okay," he said, leading Troy closer to Sharpay's bed. His voice was just loud enough for Troy to hear when he said, "Why don't you go get a cup of coffee or something. I'll stay, find out how she's doing and come a find you." He sensed Troy's reluctance but reassured, "I know my parents, Troy. They'll be here for a day, tops. I wouldn't be surprised if one or both of them left tonight."

Breathing deeply Troy nodded. He leaned over Sharpay's form to press a chaste kiss to her forehead. He told her, "I'm here, Sharpay. I'm here." Then drew back, feeling cold. "I'll be in the cafeteria," he informed Ryan.

It was quite possibly the hardest thing he'd ever done, walking away from her. She looked so young and vulnerable and he just wanted to hold her and tell her she'd be fine. He wanted to tell her he loved her, because he suddenly felt as if he hadn't said it enough in the past. Surely she knew it, but he wanted her to hear it. She made him feel whole. When he was with her, it just felt right, like she was his soul mate. He couldn't lose her now, because he couldn't imagine his life without the feeling of completeness.

He grabbed a cup of black coffee and ham sandwich. He wasn't particularly hungry, his appetite having gone after seeing Sharpay, but she'd want him to eat. She told him constantly he didn't eat enough. She worried for his health, and she'd have loads to say about his personal neglect when she came out of her--of her coma.

He wasn't quite sure how long he'd been sitting on the hard, plastic chair. He scratched at his chin, feeling the stubble. Shaving was the last of his priorities.

As the hours stretched on he managed to drag himself to the nearest payphone. He called his boss and his roommate first, indicating he wasn't sure when he'd be back. His boss said he understood and gave him the week off. Andy asked if Troy needed him to fly over for support. Troy leaned heavily against the payphone and laughed into the mouthpiece. He was lucky to have a friend like Andy.

He called his parents lastly. He'd been careful not to indulge his mother too much with her questions. His mother and father knew he'd been seeing Sharpay for a while, but they'd never met, despite his mother's pestering. He held back from his parents only because he didn't want to overwhelm either them or Sharpay, but they deserved to know he'd be out of contact for a while. They needed to understand where he had to be.

Back at the table his coffee was long cold, still partially full. He gripped it with tight, cramped hands. The coffee tasted like poison, the sandwich ash.

A shadow fell over his table and he looked up hopefully. He was ready for news from Ryan.

The chilly coffee sloshed to one side as he jumped to his feet. His mouth fell open, his knees unlocked and he fell back down, hard on the chair. With his eyes wide he drew in the sight in front of him, then finally managed, "Gabriella?"