A/N: Most of this is HSMandChelseaFCfan's work purely because my dog was put to sleep yesterday and I didn't want to disappoint you guys with a rubbish chapter. We got a puppy today and she's gorgeous. She's a cairn terrier crossed with a jack russell. Guess what she's called? Kelsi (I swear my sister thought of the name). My family wouldn't let me call her Gabby or Sharpay :P

Don't own HSM

Chapter 22 - Suspected

Maria looked at Troy in shock. Gone? Why would Gabriella, her daughter who was usually so full life, have gone? It just didn't make sense. There had to be something seriously bothering Gabriella to have made her resort to feeling like she had no other option but to disappear like this.

Turning when Devon reappeared back in the room, after she'd told him to go fetch some ice while she helped Troy up, Maria snapped her attention back to Troy."Devon, hold the ice on Troy's ankle." The young boy nodded, grateful he had a job to do in order to help. "Troy, what do you mean she's gone?"

Troy sighed as he felt his heart tug at the memory as he explained. "I left her upstairs earlier on to have a bath to help her relax. But she wasn't in her room or her bathroom when I went back up. I went to check her balcony and found it was unlocked. Brie never leaves it unlocked."

Aidan, who'd entered the room seconds after Maria found Troy at the bottom of the stairs, stood up. "Are you sure you looked everywhere? She could have been getting something from another room."

Troy glared at him through his tears as he heard the anger in Aidan's voice. "I'm positive. She's gone."

"I'm calling the police." Before Troy or Aidan could protest, Maria had disappeared from the room.

Ignoring the fact Devon was there, Aidan turned on Troy again. "I swear if anything has happened to her, Troy, I'll never forgive you. You must have done something to make her go. You were the last one to see her."

Troy rolled his eyes and rubbed his forehead tiredly. "I could say the same thing to you." He muttered.

***

Troy and the Montez's were sat in the main room after Maria had let the Police in. "Could we possibly speak to you Mr and Mrs Montez alone?" The officer asked.

Maria and Aidan nodded and said they would go into the kitchen as Maria gave Troy a look. "It's fine. I'll watch him." Troy told her before she spoke knowing she was worried about Devon getting too scared and upset.

She nodded. "Thanks, Troy."

Devon turned to Troy. "Is Gavvy going to be ok?"

As much as Aidan and Maria would want Devon protected, Troy knew he wasn't a stupid kid and had already started trying to figure out everything. "She'll be fine. This is Gabby we're talking about. She is more sensible than you and I combined."

Devon grinned. "And she knows every place possible and how to get home." He went silent for a few minutes seeing the false smile on the blue eyed boy's face. "I hope she comes home soon. I don't like it when everyone is sad."

"Me too, Big D. Me too. Hey, come here." The small boy moved as he positioned the ice so it wouldn't fall off Troy's foot before moving up next to him. "How about you find something for us to watch on TV because I could do with a cheer up?"

Not long after, the kitchen door opened and Maria walked out in floods of tears with Aidan keeping his arm around his wife. Troy rolled his eyes and wanted to gag at the sight. How could someone who supposedly loved his family more than anything act like the perfect father and husband when he was the reason that his Bella was gone?

Aidan, the man he despised so much at this minute, spoke up. "They want to talk to you, Troy."

***

This was ridiculous. Shouldn't he be out there looking for the love of his life rather than sitting here, wasting his time repeating everything that had happened all over again? He tapped the island counter impatiently and refrained from glaring at the two police officers sitting across from him.

"So can you tell us what happened when you followed Gabriella upstairs?" Officer Dalton asked calmly.

Troy closed his eyes as he recalled the evening's events once again. "Gabriella went upstairs because she was upset so I followed her to see if she was okay. We talked and she said she was feeling better. I then told her to have a bath to try and relax herself and that was the last I saw of her." He looked down intently at the counter at the thought of Gabriella running away.

The officers scribbled what he was saying down. "What did you talk about?"

Sighing, Troy knew he couldn't tell them because it wasn't his place. And he still couldn't say what they were talking about when Aidan wasn't a part of the conversation. How do you tell two police officers that he was sleeping with the girl that was currently missing? "I can't say. It's private."

The officer's looked at each other before Officer Dalton spoke again, the younger of the police officers, Officer Gray, stayed silently. "Troy, we need to know what was said between the two of you because it could help us find Gabriella."

Troy could feel his anger rising. He was doing this for Gabriella because he knew that she didn't want her mom or Devon hurt and if he told them now, he knew it would be even worse than it was already. "I'm sorry but I can't. It's not my place to say."

"Ok, well what happened when you left the room?" Officer Dalton questioned.

"I came downstairs for a while before Maria asked me to go and fetch Gabriella for dinner. I went upstairs and she wasn't in her room or her bathroom. I walked back into her room and found her French doors unlocked when they never are. I then came back to tell Maria after I looked everywhere else and still couldn't find her. Then I fell sown the stairs and sprained my ankle." Troy finished explaining, tears welling up in his eyes.

The Police officers nodded. "Ok. That's it for now but we may need to speak to you again."

Troy waited for Maria to come back and help him back into the main room but wasn't surprised when another familiar face appeared. He smiled weakly but otherwise failed to acknowledge Chad.

"Hey, bro. Heard you might need some help with that ankle."

Troy gave Chad a grateful smile. "It's fine." Troy winced as he put his foot down and tried to place pressure on it. He gripped the counter edge and sighed impatiently, feeling so helpless.

Chad shook his head and wrapped his arm around Troy, helping him into the lounge. "The whole gang's here. Maria called Tay who called me and the message got around."

"Ok, we've got everything I think from all of you. Do you have any recent pictures we can use? Normally we don't start looking until a person has been missing for over twenty four hours but something doesn't seem to be adding up from what we've been told." Officer Dalton explained as Troy held onto Chad for support.

Aidan nodded while Maria went to find a picture. "What can we do?"

Officer Dalton flipped his notepad shut and sighed. "We suggest people go look for her. Try friend's houses, local hangouts etc. Troy, we'd like you to stay here with Officer Gray."

Troy exchanged a confused look with Maria. "Why? I want to be out there looking for my gir-best friend." Troy quickly covered up.

Sharpay interrupted before anyone spoke. "I'm with Troy. One of my best friends is out there, and you want to stop one more person from helping us find her. The more of us there is the more chances we have of finding her quicker." Sharpay was in tears as Zeke wrapped his arms around.

Officer Dalton gave Troy a stern look, ignoring the blonde who'd yelled at him. "We need you to stay here in case we need to ask you anything else."

Troy furrowed his brow at the look Officer Dalton gave him. He knew what they were thinking. He was the last person to see Gabriella and the closest person to Gabriella. The police thought he was connected to her disappearance. It wasn't an alien storyline. Stories of boyfriends kidnapping their girlfriends were all over the news. But, wasn't it obvious that he would fly to Mars and back if it meant Gabriella was safe?

"I'll stay with you."

Everyone looked at Sharpay in surprise as she spoke from her position in Zeke's arms. Troy just nodded, knowing that if he wanted anyone staying with him, it'd be Sharpay since she knew the truth about him and Gabriella. Plus, looking at the state of Sharpay, she was in no fit state to be out there looking for Gabriella.

Sharpay sat down next to Troy on the couch as Taylor organised who was going with who and who would cover what areas. "She'll be ok." Sharpay whispered as she squeezed Troy's hand with her own freshly manicured fingers.

"I hope so. I really hope so." He muttered as he leaned his head back onto the couch.

***

It had been an hour since everyone had left and Troy had just come back downstairs after putting Devon to bed. Officer Gray was in the kitchen talking to someone while Sharpay was curled up on the couch, tears still rolling down her face as she worried about her close friend.

Troy sat down at the opposite end of the couch and sighed as he stared at his lap. His breathing was shaky and he felt tears well in his eyes. "She was the first person who I really opened up to since my parents died."

Sharpay sat up and looked at Troy, her brown eyes dull. Her mascara had run and she stretched her arms behind her head. "Yeah?"

Troy smiled sadly. "Yeah. I feel bad for saying this but when I'm with Gabriella, it's almost as though everything that happened to my parents didn't and I forget all the pain." He whispered, lifting his head to look into her eyes.

Sharpay moved closer to Troy and held his hand in a friendly way to let him know she was listening and there if he wanted her. "Do you miss them?"

"More than anything. Well, except Bella right this minute." He blushed slightly and coughed. "I know most people wouldn't probably admit to this but my parents were like my best friends. My dad was always there whenever I was fancied a game of basketball just like a mate. And my Mom." He sighed in remembrance. "My Mom was the best. She knew instantly what was wrong and knew even if it was something little. Her hugs reassured me and reminded me that no matter what happened, I always had them. They loved me for me and nothing else mattered."

Sharpay's brown eyes took in Troy's whole demeanor. Ever since Troy had arrived in Albuquerque, she couldn't remember a time when he hadn't looked this down. It was obvious just how much Gabriella meant to him and the love he held for her. "They sound like they were really awesome."

Troy nodded. "They really were. I just know my mom would have adored Gabriella and my dad. Well, my dad probably would have treated her like a daughter and threatened to kill me if I screw up or hurt her."

Sharpay laughed. "Well your Dad would have been talking sense. You know all of us would do the same if you ever hurt Gabs."

"I would never ever hurt her." He exclaimed. "I love her way too much to ever do anything that would make her leave me. I've lost way too many people I love already that I don't know if I would survive if I lost Gabriella too. She's like the light at the end of a dark tunnel I've been stuck in emotionally since they died. And Gabriella is the reason I started to believe that there are things worth living for again." He took a deep breath at the knowledge of letting all his emotions out.

Sharpay pulled Troy into a hug. "They'll find her. I just know it. I promise we'll get her back. Just don't give up on her, Troy. She obviously needs you more than anyone right now."

***

(A/N: This is me)

Sharpay was sleeping peacefully on Troy's shoulder and he sighed as he channel surfed, attempting – and failing – to find something to take something off of Gabriella and his parents. He wished she would've talked to him. They could've arranged for her to sleep at Sharpay's house for a few days until she calmed down. But, she felt so afraid of hurting Maria and Devon that she thought the only option was to leave their lives.

He moved slightly to try to get rid of his cramp but Sharpay simply groaned and shifted closer to him. He felt so helpless. With a messed up ankle and the police wanting him to stay in the house, there was literally nothing he could do. He had already tried her cell phone but it was switched off which was really wrong. She never turned it off.

"Troy, you okay?" Officer Gray asked as he entered the room with two cups of coffee. He offered one to Troy who took it gratefully with his free hand.

"Not really." He muttered before he took a sip. "But, what can I do? I've got a messed up ankle and I'm not allowed to leave the house."

"That wasn't my decision." Officer Gray admitted, clearly more relaxed than Officer Dalton. Not that he wasn't eager to find Gabriella, he just wanted her to be safe.

Troy nodded. "I know. It still sucks, though. I mean, you all think I had something to do with it, don't you? I'd much rather you be frank than beat around the bush."

"We don't suspect you, we just know you know something." Officer Gray explained softly. "We need as much information as possible."

Troy sighed as Sharpay dropped a lone tear onto his shoulder. "I don't know anything that could tell us where she went, I swear."

"But you do know something?" The policeman pressed.

Troy nodded sadly. "Yeah. But, I swear I can't tell you. If I could, then I would."

"You and Gabriella are close, huh?" He murmured.

Troy raised his eyebrows at the question. "Oh, yeah. Definitely close."

Officer Gray nodded slightly. "So, if we were to find her, do think she'd want to see you?"

"I don't know anymore." Troy muttered. "But I hope so. I hope so with all my heart."

***

(A/N: This is HSMandChelseaFCfan again)

Maria, Aidan and the rest of the gang had come back not long ago after failing but headed back out a few minutes ago with their cars so they could start searching greater distances knowing Gabriella was well and truly gone from Albuquerque.

Troy was lying on the couch trying to get some rest. How was he meant to rest though when the love of his life, his Bella, was out there and he had no idea where she was? Rolling over, Troy looked up at the ceiling when something hit him; his mind going into overdrive as he remembered a conversation that could help him. Bolting up, Troy whispered. "I know where she is."