LAST TIME-

"How long was I out?" Troy asked, his eyes scanning the room again.

"A day," Chad replied, "you sleep for too long captain."

"Yeah, well, I was tired."

"I would be tired to," Jason laughed out from his chair, mid spin, "running off to fight the bad guys, saving the girl." Jason's face pled, he realized his mistake to late.

Troy inhaled sharply, his blue eyes growing wide.

"Where's Gabriella?"

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Troy's eyes flashed with annoyance and confusion. Why weren't they answering him? It wasn't a hard question, Troy thought. It was actually rather easy. He was waiting for them to say that she was fine, possibly even in the next room over, waiting for him to wake up. When the silence had exceeded thirty seconds, he asked again, his voice stronger, more demanding.

"Where's Gabriella?" he then realized, as he looked to their faces, that that was the wrong question to be asking, "Is she ok?" he whispered, correcting himself, his blue eyes closing in anticipation.

Chad was the one to break the silence; Jason had gotten up from his chair and was now leaning against the wall to the left of the hospital bed.

"Yes," Chad answered, before Troy could say anything, he continued, "but she might not be tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. She has so much damage, Troy, I don't see how anyone," he stopped to take a breath, his eyes closing, "It's going to take time, lots of time. You both are going to have to do PT, you more than her because of basketball, but still, the main point is time."

Troy relaxed. She was going to be ok. His heart resumed its regular beat, which had been off ever since he had laid eyes on her in the kitchen. He felt the last remnants of the adrenalin exiting his veins; he had no need for it now. His muscles relaxed and he took a carefree breath, the first one he had had in days.

His body sank back into the uncomfortable bed as he tried to move his fingers on his right hand. They curved inward, touching his palm. Or at least they looked like they were touching his palm, but for some reason he couldn't feel it. His eyes scrunched together in confusion as he sat up straighter, staring intently at his right arm. Now that he thought about it, he couldn't feel the salmon colored ace bandage either.

"What, is this?" he asked in confusion to his friends. His eyes searched Chad's face, but he had turned it away.

"Your nerves were severed in that arm," the dark boy answered after a moment of silence, "when your elbow was relocated. You won't have any feeling in it anymore."

A loud crash brought Troy out of his stupor, his head whipping to where Jason was standing. The brown haired boy's right arm was halfway embedded in the cheap plaster hospital wall. His forehead resting against the wall above the hole his fist had created.

"What the hell, Jason!" Chad yelled in surprise as he sprung out of his chair and ran to his friend.

Try froze, his chest tightening. Jason was crying. He could hear the soft sobs from his bed.

Then the situation hit him like a ton of bricks. It had been bad, really bad, Troy realized. He mentally cursed himself for the pain he had caused his friends and, oh god, he had completely forgotten about his parents. He was almost thankful for being unconscious for the past day and a half. He would have preferred unconsciousness to sitting in a hospital waiting room, not sure whether your best friend or son was going to live through the night. God. The pain and suffering he had caused his parents and friends made him sick to his stomach.

"This shouldn't have happened," Jason whispered out, the end of his tears rolling over his cheeks.

He slowly pulled his closed fist out of the wall as a doctor and nurse ran into the room. His knuckles were bleeding and there were tiny gashes all over the surface of his closed fist. The doctor stepped forward and placed a hand on Chad's shoulder as he peered at Jason's hand.

"What happened Chad?" the doctor asked. It was wired, him addressing Chad by first name already. It just showed Troy that Chad, and everyone else for that matter, had spent most of their time at the hospital. The doctor looked no older than twenty-seven, his bright green eyes and dark brown hair adding to the youth.

"Well, Dr. Dav-."

"Andrew," the doctor cut him off.

"Andrew, " Chad continued, "he punched the wall."

"I can see that." Andrew replied with a smile, which then turned into a grim frown as he surveyed Jason's tears. "Amy, can you go and take care of Jason's hand for me while I talk with Chad and Troy." The blond nurse beside him smiled and started to lead Jason, who was cradling his injured fist, out the door, "Get him some hot chocolate too while your at it." he called over his shoulder, the nurse nodding her head.

"So, Troy," Andrew turned to the blue eyed boy, "how are you feeling?"

Troy contemplated the question before answering.

"Alright," he shrugged out as Andrew eyed him suspiciously.

"Which means?" Andrew asked.

"Like hammered shit," Troy answered as he watched Chad smile.

"That's what I thought," Andrew laughed out, "And I'm sorry to say that you might feel like that for a while. But it'll get better, I can promise you that much." Andrew advanced forward towards Troy's right arm, his masculine hand reaching out. "To the next order of business. I can safely assume, by the state of Jason, that you have figured out that you have no feeling in this arm, am I correct?"

"Yeah," Troy answered, his eyes shifting down to his arm.

"I will tell you the truth, Troy," Andrews voice had suddenly gotten serious, "I don't think you ever will. Maybe here and there, maybe the feeling will come and go, but it will never really come back."

"I'm ok with that," Troy answered, as he looked into Chad's pained eyes, trying to comfort his best friend, "I'd rather have no feeling then no arm, right?"

Andrew smiled, his eyes filled with what Troy thought to be pride, "You are an extraordinary young man Troy, don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise."

Troy returned the smile. He liked this doctor.

Andrew turned to go as brown hair and a priceless smile found its way into Troy's mind. His sharp intake of breath made Andrew stop and turn; his face showing that he knew what Troy was about to ask.

"Troy, I can't let you," the young doctor's face was full of sadness

"But I need to know she's ok," he persisted.

"She's fine," he assured.

"In your standards, yes, but I need to make sure. See her with my own eyes. It's the only way I'll believe it's true. I need to make sure, for myself. She can't really be ok if I'm not with her." His voice was soft and pleading. He would have gotten on his hands and knees if he could have. Anything to let him see her.

"Andrew," Chad's voice was also pleading.

"I know, Chad," Andrew replied, running his hand through his hair, then he threw his hands up in surrender, "Ok. I give."

"Thank you!" Troy exclaimed, his heart beating faster in anticipation.

"Chad put your clothes over in the corner," Andrew said, giving a sidelong glance to the curly haired boy, "I think he knew I would cave all along."

"You would," Chad smiled out, the dimples in his cheeks reaching the corners of his eyes.

"Whatever," Andrew shrugged out as he turned, his hand waving over his shoulder as he left the room, "Try not to jar that elbow too much Troy."

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

It had been quite difficult, getting dressed. Luckily, Chad had stayed and helped, quickly replying 'no homo' before doing anything. He had also found a sling underneath the bead, and that supported Troy's arm perfectly.

He had never really gotten hurt, like really hurt, Troy thought as he stood in the elevator, Chad beside him. His bare feet were freezing on the cold floor. Socks and shoes were the one thing Chad had forgotten and Troy had to shift back and forth on his feet to keep warm.

"Are my parents here?" he asked as the elevator came to a stop.

"No," Chad replied, "Andrew talked them into going home and getting some sleep."

"Good," Troy said as he stepped out of the elevator, "Ryan, Sharpay, Taylor? They here?"

"Ryan went home and told his parents what happened, we left kind of in a hurry, he thought he should go fill them in," he answered, "But Sharpay and Taylor are here. They've been with Miss. Montez for the past day and a half."

They turned a corner and found Taylor and Sharpay sitting on a bench, a room door to their right. Taylor let out a small squeaky when they approached and Sharpay's eyes grew wide.

"Hey," Troy waved out, a small smile on his face.

Before he knew it, Taylor's arms were around him, not to tight, but strong, assuring herself that he was safe, that he was there. He hugged her back as he looked over her shoulder at Sharpay. The blond hair was flung to the side as she turned her head, a small black and purple bruise showing on her cheek. His eyes softened as she spoke.

"Don't ever do that again, Bolton," her voice was commanding, but the smile was thankful that he was up and walking. He advanced forward and hugged her too. He felt her stiffen, but then relax and huge him back.

"Thank you for taking care of her," he whispered out through her long blond hair.

"Anytime," she answered as they pulled away, "just be there next time."

"Lets hope theirs not a next time, I sure wouldn't be able to handle it," a new voice broke through the four friends. Miss. Montez was exiting the hospital room, her eyes heavy with lack of sleep. She looks so much better standing up and walking around then unconscious on the floor, he thought to himself as he smiled.

"How are you kid?" she asked as they advanced towards each other and hugged.

"Alright," he replied with a small smile. She sighed and looked to the others.

"I'm going to go and get something to eat," she announced, eyeing Taylor, Chad and Sharpay.

"Oh, right," Chad fumbled out, "I'll go with you." He nudged Taylor, whose eyes went wide. She nodded as Sharpay rolled her eyes.

"Let's not make it obvious, guys," she said sarcastically as she walked past them and towards the elevator. The other three turned to go, leaving Troy, alone, in front of Gabriella's hospital room.

His hand found the cold chrome doorknob, turning slowly, his heart stopping. Her room was bright, the lights overhead making Troy's eyes hurt. Her bed was leaning against the far wall, and EKG monitor and IV drip rolled next to it. There was a chair on the other side and as Troy looked around, he heard the steady beat of her heart.

His vision blurred as he remembered to breath. Letting it out slowly, his heart started again as he made his way towards the chair. His eyes softened as he found her. There was a plastic breathing mask over her face, it fogging up as she breathed. Her right leg was elevated and there was a large gauze pad on her right cheek. There where probably rolls and rolls of ace bandage's wrapped around her ribs and chest, but he didn't have to see them to know that they were there.

His hand hesitantly found hers and he let out a breath as he found it warm. Besides a couple severe injuries, she was gong to be fine

Then the helplessness hit him. Sitting there, beside her, he could do nothing but sit by and watch her get better or worse. Her condition was completely out of his hands and he hated that. He loved control; not having it was killing him.

"…ow…"

His head shot up, tears coming to his wide blue eyes, "What?"

"…ow…" Gabriella mumbled again, twitching her hand slightly. He looked down. His knuckles where white, clasped around her small hand. He immediately let go and offered a sympathetic smile.

"Don't let go, just loosen," she whispered out as her eyes opened half way. His heart skipped a beat as her eyes found his. He threaded his hand back through her as he smiled, his eyes watering.

"Don't do that," she said, her voice stronger.

"What?" he asked.

"Cry," she smiled out.

His head jerked back, she was already making fun of him!

"I wasn't about to cry," he denied

"Yeah, you where," she smiled at him as she took the breathing mask off her face. He shifted forward to replace it, but her glare froze him. He put his hands up in surrender and leaned back to a safer position. His eyes softened as he heard her loud breaths. They were caught between a pant and gasps, but he saw the determination in her eyes and knew he could do nothing to stop her.

"Don't you ever do that again," he whispered out as his hand found her bandaged cheek. Her confused eyes made him smile turn sad, "Pretend like you weren't going to wake up."

She held back tears as she looked at him. Her face shifted to his sling, and the tears escaped.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her chocolate eyes downcast.

He straightened, "I think it's only fair that if I cant say that, then you can't either. Do we have an agreement?"

She sniffed and nodded her head. He nodded as well and looked her over again.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

She shifted a little, trying to get a feel of what worked and what didn't.

"I can't feel my right knee or below, I have a headache, and my chest feels like I was run over by a Mac truck. Other than that, I'm fine." She paused and looked him in the face, "You?"

"I certainly have nothing that can beat that, but I'm close," he smiled out proudly as she eyed him suspiciously, "the doctors say I'll have no feeling in my right arm."

What?" she inhaled, her eyes going wide.

"Nerve damage or something like that," he shrugged out

"Troy!" she half yelled at him, a coughing fit attacking her only moments after. He watched as she laid back and gulped in air. When she got her breathing under control she glared at him. "How can you be so calm? What about Basketball?"

"I'll be fine. Andrew, our doctor, has a friend that's really good in dislocation and PT; he said he'd get me back mid season. It's going to take time though, for both of us."

"How can you be so sure?" she asked in a whisper.

He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to hers, a small smile crossing his lips as she closed her eyes and smiled as well.

"Because," he paused and waited until she opened her eyes again, just to make sure, "as long as you're fine, I'm fine."

A/N: One more chapter to go!! I'm kinda sad, but i think I'll write another one, we'll see, who knows. I don't know how I'll make a sequel to this cause I'm tying up all the lose ends in the next chapter. Possibly another HSM story? I could go back and finish my first one that i only have one chapter in. Again, who knows. There is also the matter of Free Time. How much or little i have of it.

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