Chapter 16- Emergency

It had been two and half weeks since we had gotten home from New Mexico. Playoffs had started and were under way as I sat in front of the TV with the Laker's preshow on the television; there was not any exciting interviews or talk. Therefore, Taylor and I sat there drinking wine and talking about anything and everything.

"I can't believe how bad they are playing against them." Taylor said as yesterdays highlights came across the screen. The guys had beat New Orleans in six games. Liam and I had attended two out of the six games. Now they were playing Dallas and have lost the first two games at home, so we did not have much hope for them after that. They all seemed to be stumbling across the court and cannot work together. Troy came home in a pissy mood and yesterday he did not even say goodbye.

Liam and I did not attend either Dallas game due to him being very cranky. At two months old, he was starting to get bigger each day. I yawned softly as I Liam had been awake a lot more in the middle of the night that he usually has. He sounded like he had a slight cough because he would cough every now and then but not continually.

"So you never told me how Sharpay's parent's dinner went." Taylor said as she sipped on a glass of wine I had provided her. Since Taylor moved into there own seven bedroom house just a few blocks away she came over here for every basketball game if she didn't fly there to watch or go to the stadium. She attended all of the home New Orleans games to watch Chad shine.

"It went better than we all thought."

"Really, Sharpay said it went okay but she was still deathly scared."

"Well who wouldn't be but it kind of went down like this,"

Flashback

I sat down on the white chairs as Sharpay fiddled with her fingers nervously. "Sharpay!" her dad called out, she jumped from the noise but recovered quickly to stand up and greet him. The pianist was playing in the background with a soft melody.

"Hey daddy," she said, he enflamed her into a hug while her mom stood by patiently. I stood up as to greet them both. "Hey well if it isn't Gabi post baby!" her mom said, I walked over to give her a quick hug. "How is the little guy?" she asked, "Wonderful," I gave her a small smile.

"That is fantastic." Her mom said as we all sat down, "Your meal has already been ordered Mr. Evens." A waiter said coming up to them. "Thanks," he said giving him one of his famous smiles. "Beer, wine, Shar do you want you're…" her mom began to say, "Uhm mom we need to talk." The words left her mouth in a quick haze.

"Talk about what honey?" her dad asked, the waiter sat down a glass of wine in front of me. Sharpay gave me a pleading glance while I started to grab for my wine. "I really can't drink…," she mumbled as the waiter began to pour her some red wine. The music stopped and Sharpay began to sweat a little.

"Well why?" her mom asked her, Sharpay pursed her lips together, "Please do not freak out okay, I have already had enough freaking out." She told them, her dads eyes got very concerned while her mother listened intently. "I'm pregnant." Her lips shook with her hands.

Both of her parents had the look of shock on there face as she told them, "Your what?"

"Pregnant. I have known for a little while and I'm not quite sure who the father is." I took another long drink of my wine knowing this was going to get intense. "What do you mean? Is it not Zekes?" Her dad was not a huge fan of Zeke nor do I think he ever will be but at that moment, I think he was. Zeke was a great guy but somewhere the two didn't get along.

"It is a fifty-fifty shot of being his." She said to them, she looked at me for help, "When they broke up," I started for her as I set the glass down. "I went to a club and it just kind of happened, I never cheated on Zeke thought because we ended the relationship or were on a break. I don't know what you want to call it."

"Does Zeke know?"

"Yes,"

"About everything?"

"Yes." Sharpay repeated, "But Zeke is going to stay with me if it's his or not." Her mom let her hand fall onto her chest. "That's so sweet! I am going to be a grandma!" she cheered I giggled as the mood quickly changed.

End of Flashback

"Wow, nothing like your experience." She said I nodded my head, "Exactly." I said as I took a sip of wine, I let my eyes fall close but Taylor spoke up again. I was tired and I really did not want to be down here watching my boyfriend lose yet another basketball game but I was because I was that girlfriend.

"Have you ever emailed your mom back?" she asked me, I shook my head. "Yea, I did the other day while I was lying in a beach chair at Lava Springs. I was relaxed when I sent it to her." I grabbed my phone so she could read it. I scrolled through the sent messages before coming upon the one I wrote to my mom.

I read over it once before I gave it to Taylor,

Mom,

I know. I am waiting on the ring myself but I cannot help but not love him. He makes me laugh and he is so sweet with Liam and everybody else. The way he is with fans and it is just amazing. I want to talk to you sometime but right now, I think it needs to wait. I need Troy around before we can do that because I am scared. I do not want to be scared of my own mom but I am.

Liam is now over six weeks old and I cannot believe how big he is getting. I felt like just the other day he was a little baby.

Hope to talk to you soon.

Love

Gabi

"That's good, has she sent anything back?"

"Nope, she is probably all pissy with me now, I just wish we could put everything behide us and start over."

"I would have to have my mom like that,"

"But you have to remember Taylor this was right around my dad's death anniversary and Sam said that she is all tense every single time it comes around. Therefore, I caught her at a weak moment, which set her off. I blame myself sometimes; if I would have waited a little longer then maybe it wouldn't have been as bad."

She nodded her head, "Yea, I kind of forgot about that. How many years has it been?" she asked me, it was always a tough question for me to answer. My dad's death hurt a lot, "It will be six years on June 23rd," I told her as I saw it was about two months away. It was my junior year of high school when he died, unexpected.

"That has to hurt knowing it's been so long,"

"Well I am glad Troy was around, that was right there around that time too."

"That was your guys first summer together," she murmured, "I think that's what made us fall in love," I admitted as I took another sip of wine. She gave me a smile, as if she knew what was about to happen, because Liam's cry surrounded throughout the house.

"Oh my," I said sighing, "He hasn't stopped crying in the past twenty four hours!" I felt frustrated, every time I tried to feed him, he would cry even harder and if he did eat, he threw up. I worried slightly something could be wrong but his forehead never felt feverish.

As I climbed up the stairs the crying sounded frustrated, tired but he would not sleep. I looked at my watch on my wrist to see it was almost 8 pm, on a good night he would be asleep but the past two days have not been a good night. He would cry for hours on end but would settle down every now and then. He did not seem colicky since he was not eating much.

I pushed open the door, I walked over to his crib to see his face red, and he was sweating. "Gabi the game is starting!" Taylor yelled up to me, I felt too panicked to car. His little hands look ice cold, almost blueish; I felt a shill scream rise from my throat as I began to panic.

"Gabi are you okay?" Taylor called, "Taylor! Something's wrong with Liam!" I yelled as I bent over to pick him up. His cry became more forceful and loud. I let his headrest on my shoulder as I grabbed a blanket to throw over him. I heard Taylor coming up the stairs, "Whats wrong with him?" she asked as soon as she stepped into the room, "I don't know but when I got in here he was sweating, his face is really red, and he feels very warm." I told her trying not to panic.

"Go check his temperature," she said guiding me out of the room towards the bathroom across the hall. I grabbed the ear thermometer out of the cabinet and turned it on. I quickly waited for it to turn on and it was ready to go. We had does this a dozen times before to get practice so we did not have to do it the other way?

I placed it in his ear while I waited for it to beep, he cried and I felt the panic rising in my stomach. Taylor stood nervously at the side. Once it beeped, I pulled it back for my eyes to widen. "I need my cell phone," I mumbled as I held Liam close to me. What I just saw was high. I know its high for me but that is high for a baby.

I picked up my cell phone and Dr. Natasha was on speed dial. It rang a few times before she answered laughing, "Hello?"

"Dr. Anderson, its Gabi Liam's mom." I said trying to take a deep breath as Liam cried harder, "He is okay Gabi?", she asked quickly changing modes, "I can hear his cry through the phone,"

"His temp is over 103, I mean just few hours ago he was fine and…" I started to ramble but she stopped me, "Whoa, you are saying it's over 103 correct?" she asked me, "Yes, I don't know what to do," I cried

"Just get him to the ER okay? I will call saying you are on your way, since the Dr. Office is closed but we would just send him there." She said in a calm mode, I reached over for my car keys but then remembered I needed a diaper bag. "Tay, can you go grab me the backpack sitting upstairs." I whispered to her as I felt hot tears hit my eyes. "I am going to hang up now, just get to the hospital okay?" she told me, I nodded trying to calm down so I could be there for Liam. I hung up with her as soon as Taylor came back down the stairs. "We are going to the hospital," I said hanging on to Liam; I kissed his forehead, which was way to warm.

I got to the car and I opened the door beginning to buckle Liam in. He fussed and cried cringing as I buckled him, I gave Taylor the keys. "Here you drive; my hands are shaking way to bad." I mumbled as I climbed into the back with Liam. I grabbed my phone debating if I should send Troy a text message telling him to call me. I did not want him to freak out on me and come flying home.

The car backed out of the driveway, "I should text Troy right?" She pursed her lips together as she shut the garage door. "You know how he is going to react. Just tell him to call you after the game," she said, I nodded and I quickly sent him a text message.

Call me ASAP after the game. Love you. Brie ox

I sighed as I stuffed the phone into the department of the bag. I tried to calm down Liam any other way I would but nothing was working. I felt tears burn my eyes some more as I felt so helpless. Once we pulled into the hospital, Taylor parked in the ER section to let me out.

"I'll text you where we are!" I yelled as I grabbed the car seat and the diaper bag. Liam's crying did not stop, "Alright, ill see you in a minute." I walked into the doors of the hospital and I walked straight to the counter. "Liam Bolton," I told the nurse who was standing there, "They are waiting for you, follow me." She said as Liam's scream pinched my ears.

I followed her back to a room where a doctor and nurse were waiting. "We are going to have you take him out of the car seat okay?" the doctor said to me, "I'm here," I turned around to see Dr. Anderson walking into the room, "You came?" I asked her, "Gabi, we really need to check over Liam okay?" she said to me, I nodded my head and I got him out of his car seat.

Once I got him out Dr. Anderson took him from me, "We are going to have you wait in the waiting room okay? So you don't have to watch this," I felt tears heat my eyes, "Let me kiss him first," I said as I pushed through the doctors, "I am sorry buddy," I whispered to him as I kissed his temple. His forehead so warm and his cry so scared. I let my hand brush over his forehead before I gave him one last kiss.

I pulled back and I rubbed his tummy before I walked away. The nurse lead me back to the family area, I set down my stuff as tears fell down my face. I texted Taylor telling her where I was then I looked at the Laker score, I had missed the first quarter and half. It had been that long since I had known about Liam.

The Lakers were already losing which if Troy called me they would lose even worse. I could not tell him tonight but I was going to have to convince him to stay. I let my head drop into my hands as the thought of Liam crying without me there was killing me. Tears rolled down my cheeks, there are times where I wish Troy would magical appear but this time he would not.

"Hey," Taylor said sliding into a chair next to me; she wrapped her arms around me giving me hug as I cried into her shoulder. "This is my entire fault Taylor," I cried, maybe my mom was right. I was not ready for this and she knew it.

"This is not your fault," Taylor told me as the thoughts swam through my head.

"I have been dragging him on planes and to the Laker stadium! This is my fault," I said my hands shaking as I tried to wipe my cheeks off. "Don't think about that Gabi, he would have gotten sick just from sitting in that house. You would not know that, he has had all the shots he could have. You did everything you could to protect him," she told me as I wiped the corners of my makeup off.

"I should have known something was wrong, I mean the not eating, not sleeping, always crying."

"He was just colicky a few weeks ago Gabi and still kind of is."

"But he would eat and sleep every now and then. He also never threw up as he did this morning. I checked him for a fever earlier but none was evident." I told her as I wiped at the corner of my eyes some more. I looked at the Laker scoreboard to see it was halftime. I still had two quarters to go before I could even talk to Troy.

I buried my head into my hands, letting tears fall from my cheek. My phone began to vibrate and I looked to see it was Troy calling me. I groaned softly knowing I could not answer it. "Taylor he is calling me,"

"Ignore it and then tell him that you wanted to talk after the game." I nodded to her as I ignored that call and texted him.

I said after the game.

I let the phone drop in my lap as I rubbed my temples.

Troy's POV

I chewed on my fingernail as I listened to the ringtone. I could feel the stress in the text message she sent me wanting to talk after the game. "Alright guys, we are sucking out there." I turned to see Coach Phil talking to us. I held up on finger as the ringing came to a stop and her voicemail come up.

"Yea thanks for the support coach!" Ron said pumping a fist, the guys around me laughed and I gave a nervous smile. "Don't take it personally Ron, but you guys are like legit sucking."

"Damn, coach is on fire tonight! Using the word legit!" Luke piped in

He continued once he saw my phone leave my ear. I prayed everything was okay while I got another text message from her.

I said after the game.

I sighed softly as I sent her a text message back, is everything okay?

I put my phone into my gym bag and I listened to coach but my mind was filled with possibilities. "Dude you look distracted. Our team is already falling apart; we really don't need you falling apart."

I looked as Coach started to write on the board, "I know that Chad but Gabi sent me a text to call her after the game. When I tried to call her now she would not pick up. Then she texted me again saying I said after the game." I whispered to him

"Don't read into it, maybe since we are on a bad loosing streak she has something special planned she can't do in ten minutes." He said as he eyed coach, he turned around beginning to explain what we needed to do to pull out a win tonight.

"Bolton!" Coach yelled as I starred off into space, "Hm?" I asked looking at him, "Pay attention!" he snapped, and I ran my fingers through my sticky hair. "Yes Sir," I mumbled

I tapped my leg against the ground as the warning bell rung to get back out on the court, "Come on Lakers, let's get this night started now. If we don't win we are going to be knocked out of these playoffs."

"We would still have tomorrow Coach,"

"Yes but that would mean winning four in a row, do you want to do that?" he asked us, the group was silent, "Now lets get out there and kick some Laker ass!" He fired us up as we stood up in a circle. We put our hands up and then yelled Lakers. As they, all filed out I looked at my cell phone.

No missed messages Come on Brie, what is wrong?

Gabi's POV

I paced through the room, as it had been an hour since I had seen my son. Taylor and I waited and waited, I looked at the doors waiting for somebody to come through. Tears slipped down my cheeks some more as they were on and off since, I had seen him.

"That game is officially over," Taylor announced, I took a deep breath as I tried to prepare myself for the phone call that was about to happen. "How am I going to do it?" I asked Taylor my voice trembling, "Just tell him everything is okay,"

"I don't know if everything is okay Taylor! He could be dead back there but how in the world would I know?" I sat back down in the chair as I rubbed my eyes. "He is not dead," Taylor, said rolling her eyes, "They are trying to figure out what is wrong with him. Once they know they will tell you." She rubbed my back and my phone officially began to vibrate. "They lost," she informed me, I bit my lip. "Okay," That makes this ten times harder than if they won.

I stood up from where I was standing I grabbed my phone; I went over to sit next to the window. I looked at Troy picture before I clicked answer. "Hey," I said trying to sound normal as possible but with all the tears my voice shook and my chin trembled.

Troy being Troy he saw through it quickly, "Whats wrong? What happened?" he asked quickly, I let a sob escape my throat as I looked over Los Angles. "Gabi seriously, what the hell is wrong?" he asked. "I don't know what happened Troy; we were all fine except he was acting different."

"Who was acting different?" he asked me, "I swear if you keep my hanging here any longer I-" I interrupted him as he was speaking.

"Liam, Liam was acting different. Not sleeping, crying like crazy, not eating flushed face every now and then." I mumbled into the phone my tears making my hands shake. "What happened to Liam Gabi?" he yelled through the phone. His voice was uneven and scared. I knew once I said Liam to him that he would freak out on me.

"He is in the hospital Troy. We were getting ready to watch the game when he started cry, when I went up to check on him he was all red faced, sweating like crazy, and he had a fast heart rate, his hands looked almost blue. It like he couldn't breath or something"

"What? You are telling me Liam is in the hospital and you waited until now to tell me?" he asked me, "Yes, I am so sorry Troy, I don't know what I did wrong I just didn't I…" Troy took a deep breath, "Calm down Brie, take a deep breath, just take a deep breathe and relax." I tried to follow his instructions, "I will be there in a few hours,"

"No," I told him quickly as I was in the middle of breathing, "You stay and play tomorrows game. It is the last one there anyways. You will be home tomorrow night no matter what is going on Troy, it doesn't matter if you lose or win"

He was quiet for several minutes and those minutes were an awkward silence. "Fine, I will stay,"

"Really? That easy?" I said trying to swipe away the tears, he sighed, "Yea, I am just going to listen to you even though I really don't like him in the hospital and you all panicked. I am not going to fight because I need you to relax." My chin shook, "He would rather you play Troy, he wont remember this." I said trembling, "I know he won't remember it but I know you will. I just don't want you to be like oh well Troy didn't show up to this…," he said if I was some dramatic girl, "Troy,"

"Fine but what's wrong with him?" I asked

"He had a fever over 103," I whispered to him, "They took him back in the emergency room and I havent seen him since." Troy did not say anything as I sobbed softly into the phone that it was all my fault. "It's not your fault," he finally said to me.

"It feels like my fault Troy, it just I could have totally known before. I am a bad mom Troy, just like my mom said!" I closed my eyes tightly and this is the moment I wanted him to be here with me but I was pushing him to stay in Texas.

"You could have done nothing to prevent this Brie, I promise you, and you could have done nothing. You might have been able to stop it a little sooner but it's not your fault," I wiped at my eyes as I looked out at the city once again. "You have to stay in Texas Troy, if you guys win I won't fight you on it tomorrow but stay for tomorrow's game. After that I don't care what you do," I whispered to him, "I can't hang up the phone knowing you and Liam are both in pain." He told me

"Get dressed and back to your hotel room. Once you are settled call me back, hopefully I will know what's going on between then." Truthfully, I did not want to hang up with him either. I wanted him to talk to me softly as if he were here.

I could feel that he was trying hard to avoid saying this, "Fine but if you hear something sooner please call me, I don't want to be hanging out in suspense" he whispered, I nodded my head, "I promise."

"I love you and stay strong for him."

"I will and I love you too." We both stayed on the line for another minute before Troy had the guts to say bye and hang up the phone. I sighed softly and Taylor gave me the look, "It will all in the end be okay."

"But right now," I said looking at her, "It isn't."

Troy's POV

I could not believe what she just told me. I felt my head hang and my body suddenly felt extremely tired. I sat down in the chair that they offered me to sit in and I felt dizzy. I dropped my head into my hands, "Dude you okay?" Chad asked me, I did not even know if I could respond. My words all seemed grumbled inside my brain.

"I don't think so," I told him, I leaned back as I looked at the keychain Gabi got me a while back with pictures of her and Liam on it. "What happened dude? Did you call Gabi?" I nodded my head and I grabbed a shirt in my locker to wear back to the hotel. My arms moved in a slow tired way, as if they were sore.

"Yup." I told him as I stripped my jersey tossing it into the locker. Chad began to change as I did, "And? What did she want?"

I pursed my lips together trying to keep myself together, "Liam is in the hospital," I told him, Chad's eyes popped a little, "What?" he asked me, "Since when?"

"Since maybe the beginning of the game, I don't know exactly because Gabi was in high stress mode. She was mumbling and crying. She was all freaked out; I did not even know what to tell her. I just started making up bullshit to calm her down. She kept repeating that she was a bad mom and I didn't know how to react, of course Gabi is no way a bad mom, that was one I didn't make up just she was stressed."

"Well probably Troy! Her kid is in the hospital, you are in Texas, and the only support she has is Taylor! We all know Gabs would do anything for Liam, she has to be the best mom I know" I chewed on my lip as I changed my shorts. "She said she wants me to stay for tomorrow's game since we are coming home tomorrow either way."

"Well we are probably going to lose anyways so you know what I would want you to also or we are going to win so we fly back home." Chad said, "One last NBA game in our rookie season."

"I was hoping it would be more exciting, championship exciting." I told him, "Now all you want is for it to be over?" he asked me, I nodded my head, "I just want to get home to him to make sure he is okay. She said he was crying… I want to get home to make sure she is okay" I started to get choked up and I shook my head. "I am hoping as we talk she is talking to a doctor. So when I call her when we get back to the hotel I know exactly what is wrong with him, I can't do this anymore."

I stuffed all of my stuff into my gym bag as I tossed it over my shoulder. Tonight was a straight back to the hotel, lights out at eleven. We were under strict orders tonight since we had lost the first three games. I looked at my stuff in the locker that would stay there overnight since we played here tomorrow at one. "What do you mean you can't do this anymore?" Chad asked me in a panic.

"I don't want to be away from my son any longer. I do not want to leave Gabi alone with him for three or four days by herself. Both of my cousins have already moved out as they got money from parents, a bank loan, and they both have jobs. I mean as soon as people come in they go out." I told him as we walked towards the bus.

"So are you going to play next season?" Chad asked me with a concerned look, I shrugged my shoulders, "I am under contract, so unless I retire from basketball at age twenty three…" I said to him, "True."

Chad and I were quiet as we made our way to the outside world where the sky was dark and the moon lit up the street.

"He will be okay," Chad said as we walked towards the bus door, "We'll see,"

We all boarded the bus and I felt exhausted, usually after games I was ready to party or hang out talk to Gabi. I was ready to crash in a bed and fall asleep for hours. Maybe it was because of the intense basketball schedule I have been living. Practice twelve hours a day, games every other day and never seeing Liam or Brie. I was ready for South Carolina, the days on the beach, sleeping in, and hanging with my two favorite people.

I leaned my head against the window of the bus and I let my eyes fall to a close. "Bolton, up we are talking." Coach said, I opened my eyes and I looked at the bus full of guys. I sighed as Coach began to lecture us.

I bounced my leg as the two-hour mark hit, "What the hell is taking so long?" I asked looking at Taylor, "Honey, I am sure they are just looking at every angle or waiting for tests results."

"Can I at least sit with him?" I begged it was killing me; I needed to be with him. My heart would not slow down and I felt scared and alone. I know I have Taylor and all but, she is not holding me or singing in my ear. Troy would be pacing or begging to see him or holding me. I looked closely at the two doors waiting for them to swing up; when they did, it was always a nurse to lead somebody out to the waiting area.

There were five people in the room at ten o clock that night. Taylor and I, a worried mom, and another young woman, I sighed as I let my head fall into my hands for the millionth time that night. My hair was falling out of the ponytail it was in and my eyes were red from all the tears that had been cried that night.

"Liam Bolton?" a nurse called, I looked up as I missed the doors opening. I picked up the backpack while Taylor picked up his car seat that needed to go back to the car. Tears moistened my eyes as I walked closer to her; finally, I was going to get to talk to somebody!

"How is he?" I asked her wiping at the corner of my eyes. The nurse has blonde hair with green eyes, her smile nice and happy. "Well he is doing better then when you last saw him. He will be in the NICU until his temperature comes down but the doctor will explain more about everything that happened." She said waving her hand, she lead us back behide all the doors to see the NICU lying ahead.

"Now, Liam is in the 'sick' NICU so there arent any preemies in here." She told us, "I know, Liam was in there with the preemies." I told her as I tried to keep myself together until I saw him. She used her key card to get into the door and it buzzed. She pushed it open and then she looked at the car seat and Taylor.

"Visiting hours are closed," she said to her, "And we can't have the car seat in here." I felt my support system dropping, "Can she please stay for a little while?" I asked, "His dad is out of town and she is all I have right now." I pleaded with the nurse, she pursed her lips together, "Fine but the car seat needs to stay out here." I smiled at the nurse and Taylor sat down the car seat, "I will put it in the nurse's station once I guide you to Dr. Anderson." She said as she let us both into the room. We both washed our hands thoroughly and we were checked for any signs of being sick or feverish. If I was denied access, I might have freaked.

"Alright, follow me." She said we walked about half way back into the room to see Dr. Anderson reading over some charts of his and then setting them back down. I looked at his sleeping, quiet body, as we got closer. I felt tears of joy knowing he was okay.

"Dr. Anderson, the mother." The nurse said, Dr. Anderson turned around and then gave me a small smile. "How are you holding up?" she asked me, "I am a train wreck especially without Troy being here right now but I am just ready to hear about how he is doing." I said as I felt it hit me even harder.

"Well what Liam has he would have gotten anyway, now it came when he was young plus him being a preemie, that's why it got worse." I looked at her and I felt confused, "So what's wrong with him?" I asked

"He has RSV, Respiratory syncytial virus. It is a very common virus to run through younger children. Some cases can look just like a cold or you could have Liam here who spikes a temp, can barely breath, and just doesn't feel well." I let my hand cover my mouth as I suddenly felt like the worse mom in the world. The way his hand looked, it looked like he could not breathe.

"It's a virus where it blocks your airways which can be very scary in young children. It can be scary in anybody,"

"So what do we do?" I asked as I felt a tear fall onto my hand, "We don't have anything we can do, the only thing we can do is to monitor him." She said sighing, "I wish we could do more but we really can't. We had Liam on a breathing machine for a while before we brought you back. Once he started to breath better we brought you back now he may have to go back on it due to the fact that he isn't better yet."

I looked at his small body; he was in a blue hat and a diaper. I wanted to reach in and touch him, hold him but I could not or at least I did not know if I could. All I wanted was to hold him and kiss on him.

"He was also very dehydrated which was not good at all, so we put in an IV through his hand. Once we take it out which won't be for a few days he will probably not move that hand very much." I pursed my lips together and looked at him a little longer. I looked at her, "I feel like such a bad mom," I told her, "I didn't even see any of those signs, and I mean he was crying like a mad man, he threw up once but I mean it felt normal with him being colicky." I wiped away a few tears

"It's normal; it's hard to tell what your children need when all they can do is cry." She sat down her clipboard and gave me a quick hug, "And you don't have anybody else to bounce off what's wrong with him. From what I got Troy is working long hours," I nodded my head, "He is and I told him to stay down in Texas. He is coming home tomorrow either way."

Taylor rubbed my back softly, "So he will get better?" I asked her, she gave me a grin, "Of course he will! This is a very small thing but so is he, so we are just keeping an eye on him. He will be in here until his temp goes down and he doesn't need the breathing machine." She said, "So it could be a day or two,"

I nodded, "I can touch him right," I asked looking at her as she began to walk away from me, "Go right on ahead alright but if gets fussy you might want to pull back." I nodded my head, "Thank you," I told her

"I am just doing my job now do yours," she winked before walking out of the room. I sighed softly as I sat down in the rocking chair next to his crib. "Now that Liam is okay I am going to take your car back to your house, sleep there tonight and I'll be back nine am sharp tomorrow morning with some coffee." I stood up giving her a hug.

"Thank you so much for being there for me. I have no idea what I would have done alone."

"I don't think we want to find out." She said pulling back, I giggled softly as my phone began to vibrate. "Troy is calling me, he is probably worried sick if I know him, all I can think about was when I was in the hospital getting my appendix taken out and he was in Arizona for the weekend." Taylor started laughing before she spoke.

"Talk to him, I am going to call Chad and tell him to keep an eye on Troy. Not to let him board a plane without telling anybody." I laughing knowing Troy would. "Thanks, I appreciate it."

She waved goodbye and blew a kiss to Liam before walking out of the NICU. I pulled my cell phone out to stop the ringing so the sleeping babies would not wake up.

"Hey," I whispered softly into the phone, "Have you talked to a doctor?" he asked quickly, "Yes, I am sitting with him right now. He is sleeping but I think they gave him some stuff to kill the fever which made him sleepy." I told him, "Did they figure out what's wrong with him?"

I sighed and I reached into the incubator so my hand could touch his soft chest, "Yea, he has He has RSV, Respiratory syncytial virus which blocks his airways." Troy was quiet over the line for a moment, "They say every baby gets RSV if we know it or not, it could be as simple as a cold or like Liam." I told him quietly, "So no matter what this would have happened?" he asked

"Maybe but not to this condition if he was older, since I didn't see any of the warning signs on it and I was a bad mom…"

"Hey, I never want to hear those words out of your mouth again Gabriella," Troy said sternly, I felt a tense feeling run down my spin. "I have heard them too many times tonight already, I am postive you are probably the best mom out there. You have to deal with me being away constantly and Liam isn't the easiest baby I have ever met, stubborn as hell just like us Brie; he cries twenty four seven it feels like." I felt a small giggle escape my mouth.

"You are always worried about him and this one slipped through that mommy radar you have. You have been busy with the playoffs season, Sharpay, Liam, and helping Taylor with her wedding since it's not far off."

"I know but I should have caught on since he wasn't eating like he normally does, I knew I just never put it together of him being sick. He did not sleep a lot because he would cry but it was more of a hurt, tired cry. I just, I never…" I let the sentence trail on, "Do not blame you," he told me, "Fine," I whispered

"So what are they going to do to help him get better? Will you guys be back at home tomorrow?" Troy asked, "No. Liam is here for 2-3 days even if he gets better. They want to monitor him and they said he was dehydrated so he has an IV also." I let my hand stroke up to his face. I touched his little head and all I wanted to do was hold him.

"Besides that they really can't do anything. It just goes away on its own but since of the spiked fever; they want him to stay because I guess it just isn't good."

"Well I think I would feel better with him in there so I know you are not stressing about him. You will relax if he is in the hospital, if you were at home you would not take your eyes off him for a second. I would end up at the hospital because you are the one who passed out of no sleep." I smiled softly as I rocked back in the chair.

"Oh well, I think I feel safer here right now. He is under the watchful eye." I felt my eyes growing heavy as I looked around the room. Moms and Dad were spread out, some on cots; some were in the plain chairs.

"Miss would you like a blanket?" a nurse asked me, I nodded my head, "Thank you," I told her as I accepted it. I threw it over my body, "Well, I will call tomorrow morning okay?" Troy said to me, "To catch up on his progress."

"Good," I told him, as I felt sleepy, for being in one of the most uncomfortable chairs I was ready to sleep. "I love you," I shifted a little as he said those three words. "I love you too." I whispered back, we both said goodnight and hung up the phone. I put mine on vibrate and I set it in my lap. I pulled my feet onto the footrest and I let my eyes fall shut to the even breathing of my baby.

"They freaked me out last night," I told Taylor, it was three in the afternoon our time, while it was five in Texas. The game was over three hours ago and they lost worse they have to them all season. 86-122. Troy I heard was not playing worth the shit out there, Kobe was holding together the team by himself. I had no TV to watch it on since I was in the NICU with Liam the entire time.

"How?" she asked me, "Alarms started to go off around his crib and I didn't hear the first set but then they grew louder, voices started to grow louder and it was chaos. I finally woke up from it and they were standing there putting the breathing machine thing back on Liam. I completely freaked out which was the last thing they wanted me to do." I explained to her, "I started crying and flipping out. They explained to me that he was just having a little more trouble breathing so they were going to help him a little," I looked over at Liam who had been awake for a little while.

"I still have yet to hold him and the only way he has gotten any food is the IV." I told her as I let my hand drift inside; I reached for the hand without the IV and rubbed it with my thumb.

"What did Troy say when he found out?"

"I thought he stopped breathing, like no joke, I was concerned for him." I told her as I took a drink of the bottled water they had provided me. It was Friday and basketball season was officially over for Troy except for a banquet that he was going to miss due to South Carolina.

"Troy told his parents they could move up South Carolina because basketball is over. So now, we are going the May 1 through May 14. Then we are in New Mexico which you will be there too from the 15th to 28th" I told her, "Then we have 3 days back until your wedding day!" I said excited, she giggled while her cheeks blushed.

"I am going to be Mrs. Chad Danforth," she said sighing, "I love it. I can't wait to go to the Caribbean's!"

I gave her a smile as a nurse came closer to us, "Gabi, they are having a little trouble bring Liam's temp down, the last time we checked it was 101.9," she said, I nodded my head and bit down on my lip. "We are going to give him some more meds which will make him sleepy but we didn't know if you wanted to hold him for a few minutes."

"Yes, please!" I answered as if I was begging, she gave me a smile and I adjusted in the chair I had. She carefully got Liam out and then gave him to me. I felt ten times better holding him in my hands. His blue eyes stirred open and he looked at me, "Hey buddy," I said as I kissed his forehead, which did feel warm but not as warm as it did.

"He looks a little better Gabs," Taylor commented, I was too happy to tell her I know or thanks or anything else. I put my finger closer to his hand and he wrapped his hand around my finger. I grinned and his eyes looked a little paler but they were still a vibrant blue.

"God, he is so beautiful," I murmured, "I hope Chad and I can have a kid just like Liam. He has to be the most perfect child," I snorted, "He is my problem child, I can already feel it." I told her as I started laughing, "No, he is a perfect little boy who wants and needs his parents. He can only have you half the time, he does not get Troy but I think once Troy is around with leaving all day. He will be a lot better."

"Like no more midnight feedings?" I questioned, "I doubt that, he will always do that." She giggled, "That's Troy's child don't you know?"

"And if you have Chad's child you will be in even more trouble!" I said letting another giggle escape through my throat. I rocked with Liam in my arms as he started to fall asleep on his own. He had woken up crying twice last night but all I could do was sit

There and watch. They checked him for a few more things and did more tests to make sure everything else was normal.

"I guess I would be but I have already had the experience once." She said winking at me, I giggled and Liam curled up to my chest. "He is so precious." Taylor said letting her hand stroke the top of his head. I gave her a brief smile before the nurse came back over.

"Alright, lets put Mr. Liam back in," she said, I pouted a little as she took him away from me. I let go of his hand while he was settled in the thing. She then started to push medication through the thing.

"I feel like Troy is lying to me when he says I am not a bad mom," I told Taylor as the nurse walked away. "Gabi you are not a bad mom you don't beat your child, you don't yell at him for crying, you don't look at him. You are there for him 110%." She said to me, "You should really listen to her Brie,"

I knew I should not be shocked he would be here already but I was, "Troy," I breathed, I got up from the chair and enflamed him into a hug. He strong arms squeezed me tighter to his chest. "Its over," he mumbled softly, "I know,"

He pulled back his head and then kissed me on the lips. The lust and romance in the kiss was overpowering as I gave into, his hand supported my back.

"I am just going to go…" Taylor started to say but Chad himself cut her off, "What go home and see me?" he asked, Taylor gave a soft grin as she went leaping into his arms. "Where's little guy?" Troy asked as he came back for air, I pulled on his hand and over to Liam who was asleep.

Troy's hand quickly went in to touch his breathing chest; I bit on my lip and leaned into Troy. "So how pissed was coach?" I asked him, he shrugged his shoulders, "Not that happy but you know I am." He told me, he sat down into the chair and I fell onto his lap. His arms wrapped around me loosely as I leaned back.

"Damn, he looks so small again in there." Chad said as he touched Liam for a moment before he turned to look at Troy and I. "They are having trouble bring the fever back down to its regular spot or whatever." I told them, "When can I hold him?" Troy asked, I shrugged my shoulders, "I just finished for the first time when you walked in."

"It was for like three minutes," Taylor told him, "When he is sleeping they won't let us hold him." I informed him; he rubbed my lower back with his rough hands. "This is not how I pictured my home returning," Troy said into my ear, I giggled, "Well I wish it wasn't, trust me." I said resting my head on his shoulder.

"Well since Troy is here, Chad and I are going to bust out." Taylor said picking up her purse, "Troy and you could use some alone time." Taylor said winking at me, "Yea, we get so much alone time." Troy said looking around the room at the ten other people who were running around the room.

"Have fun," Chad said ruffling my hair, "Thanks," I told them both as they began to walk off hand in hand. "I can not believe I don't have to get up tomorrow morning and play basketball all day." Troy told me, "I know but you will probably not get the best sleep of your life." I told him as I stood up, I looked at Liam sleeping and my stomach growled.

"You wanna go get some food?" I asked him, "I am starving; Liam will be an asleep for a little while and…"

Troy looked over at Liam before reaching his hand in and letting it run down his little body. "Yea, let's go get something to eat really fast." He said giving me an uplifting smile. I let my hand run through my tasseled hair. Troy got up then looked at a nurse close by.

"We are going to grab some food downstairs really quick. We should be back up shortly but keep an eye on him." Troy instructed her, "Troy," I said sharply, I gave the nurse a smile, "Sorry," I said pushing Troy out of the room. "Do not tell that lady how to do her job." I said as we escaped the NICU.

"Sorry," he apologized, "I just don't want anything to happen to him,"

"He has been under great care the past twenty-four hours. I am not concerned." I told him, "I would be if something kept happening over and over. Dr. Anderson has seen him twice today saying he was on the track to getting better." I told him as he gripped my hand.

"I am just…"

"I know, I havent left his side all morning Troy. I havent left that room since I walked in last night. Taylor brought me coffee and a bagel earlier. It's been intense." I said as we walked into the elevator that took us down to the cafeteria. Troy pulled out a chair for me, "I will go get us some food," he said kissing the top of my head. I gave him a smile as he walked up to grab food.

He had on a pair of jeans from American Eagle with a plain grey t-shirt with some lettering in the corner. His pair of flip-flops noticeable under his jeans, he reached out to grab a tray from the guy in front of him. His jeans dipped down to see his Nike Pro underwear he had on. A grin appeared over my face as he slide the tray in front of me.

"Looks better than it sounds," I said to him, "Of course it does," he gave me a soft kiss on the lips before he took a seat across from me.

"Ready to become a dad full time?"

"I am ready to be the best,"

Two Days Later

Troy pushed the door open to our warm inviting house. After a three-day stay at the hospital, Liam was finally released to come home. They got his fever to come down just hours after giving him that medication and it stayed away. He became rehydrated again and was taking a bottle just as he used to, every three hours.

"It's so nice to finally be home," Troy said as Oreo came crashing down the hall. Troy was still in the same jeans he was two days ago at the hospital. Chad and Taylor brought him and me a few changes of clothes. It was just a little past noon as we walked through the doors. "I am going to go put Liam in his crib then we can do some relaxing." Troy said planting a soft kiss onto my lips.

I nodded letting a small yawn escape through my lips, I had not had the best nights of sleep in a while. I was tired, beyond tired. I felt my eyelids droop as I tossed the bags onto the floor, my feet shuffling to the couch. Oreo followed me nipping at my heels, "Oreo," I muttered trying to get her to back off I collapsed onto the couch.

Oreo then jumped onto my lap, licking my face as a greeting. "Did you miss me?" I asked her, she wagged her tail and I petted her head. She jumped down then went racing down the hallway and up the stairs to find Troy. I let my eyes close and I sunk into the couch.

As it felt like only seconds was probably minutes when Troy picked me up bridal style. "Come on you need some rest upstairs in a bed." He said, I yawned again before I rested my head onto his shoulder. I closed my eyes again and I let Troy just carry me up and away.

He pushed open the bedroom door and walked over to our bed before placing me down on my back. I did not let go of him but he tried to pull back. "I am going to go take a quick shower baby," he said, I shook my head, "No, just lay with me." I whispered to him as I opened me eyes.

"But I stink." He said, I smiled and I tried pulling him down but he was to strong. "So do I just lay with me?" I requested, he sighed before lying down on the bed with me. I rolled up into a ball at his side. He let a yawn through his lips as I did my own. He kissed my forehead, "Maybe this isn't a bad idea," troy muttered as he quickly was to falling asleep.

"Is the baby monitor on?" I asked him, "Mhm, I made sure before I lay down." He said wrapping his hands around my waist. "Good,"

"We made it through the first hospital visit," Troy told me as I began to drift off into dreamland. "And we will make it through the rest…as a family." I said letting my eyes open, I saw Troy's soft grin. "I like the sound of that." He told me, "Good because we are a family even if you won't make me officially part of it."

"I know," he told me; I rolled my eyes before relaxing. "Sleep," Troy, told me, "I love you,"

"I love you too."

After four long days of panic, emergencies, and hospitals, I was done with it. I finally let my body relax to the max and I fell asleep.

Heyy Hey! This is your Friday Present and since its Zanessa Day! Yayyy! :D 3 Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Next chapter they are going to be in South Carolina! Yay! Finally, I promise you all, it will be very intersting and exciting. You will all L O V E it! :D Now, I will be reintroduing ALL of Troys family in the first chapter, it will get confusing but I will try to make it clear. I have a chart to keep it all staraight for me! Hahaa(: Anyways has everybody started school yet? I am almost done with my 3rd week! Yah! :D

Well Love you all! Lets to get to 370 with reviews? Think we can do it? :D

Please Review!

Xoxox

Jo