De Aquila had paid off a nurse at the hospital to call him the very second Troy left Ella alone and she had come through, calling him early in the morning, which was a good thing because it was cutting it close and Ella would be out of the hospital soon, before Julian could even talk to her.
But he could today, so that's all that mattered. He took a deep breath, glancing in Ella's room, smiling softly when he saw her sitting up. She was even more beautiful than before. She... was... God, she was perfect. It's why Bolton didn't deserve her. He was the reason she wasn't perfect anymore. She was perfect before he showed back up - and now she was going to get better. Especially since Julian knew she had no idea who she was, who Bolton was.
He pushed the door open, stopping there in the doorway and smiling softly. "Ella, my beautiful girl, I've been waiting to see those beautiful brown eyes and here they are.."
He was going to act as if he had no idea her memory was gone. Shutting the door, he walked over and hugged her tightly before sitting on the bed next to her.
"I would have come sooner but I was out of the country and nobody told me... not a single soul called. You think they would. We are getting married, my beautiful pet! I'm so happy you're okay. When I heard you were shot - oh, my heart, it broke!"
Julian grabbed her face, smiling softly at her. He knew she thought she was with Bolton, but Julian was going to convince her otherwise.
Gabriella was glad to be going home. She didn't know where home was or what it looked like, but she was glad to be leaving the hospital. Troy had brought Tori around a few times, and she had told Gabriella how excited she was she was coming home. Gabriella tried to act excited too, but she was too nervous she wasn't going to be a good enough mother for her.
Gabriella had been in the bed, looking out the window. Troy hadn't left that long ago, and one of the nurses had been in to help give her a bath, which was awkward to say the least. She much preferred Troy helping me with her baths, but he wasn't around, and Gabriella wanted to be all ready to go by the time Troy got back.
The nurse had helped her dress in a lavender dress that Troy had left for her and she had even helped do her hair and makeup. Gabriella had told her she didn't have to, but she insisted she help me. She had been alone in the room for about 5 minutes when the door opened and a man walked in. He sat down on the bed, hugging her and she was confused beyond belief.
"Ummm," she started slowly, pulling back more from him. "I don't... I don't know know who you are." Shelooked at the door, hoping Troy would get back soon before looking back at the man. "My name is Gabriella, not Ella. And you are?" She didn't know why she was asking who he was when he didn't know her name and she didn't know him, but she asked anyway.
Julian scrunched up his face, his eyes wide. "Ella. Ella Leigh. That's your stage name. I just..." He rubbed my face, standing up. "You don't... remember me?"
He put his hand to his chest, closing his eyes. He was going to play this up, act just like the concerned husband. In reality, the fact she didn't remember was a good thing for him. He opened his eyes, stepping forward toward her again.
"I'm your fiancé, Julian... Nobody told you about me? I can't believe you don't remember me.."
Gabriella shook her head... "I... ummm... My fiancé?" She shook her head more, feeling a little uneasy. "Ummm, Troy Bolton is my..." She shook her head again. "My fiancé?"
Her head felt like it was spinning around like - she didn't know - a carousel, is that what those things are called? She couldn't remember ever being on one and wasn't completely sure that's what they were called, but she couldn't help but feel like that was the right comparison.
"I don't... really?"
"What?" he said quickly, sitting back on the bed with her. "Troy... he's not... no.. Troy is my coach. You dated a while back. He never got over you. You told him it was over and he never took no for an answer. You had to run away from home because he wouldn't stop. And a few months ago at your high school reunion he was there and he went crazy on you and me, and ever since then he's been bothering you again. He's obsessed with you."
Gabriella looked down at her hands that were wringing each other tightly. She didn't know whether or not to believe this man or not, but he seemed sincere. He seemed genuinely upset that no one had told him about her. Maybe he was telling her the truth. Looking up at him, she swallowed softly.
"I'm... I'm sorry no one told you about me. I'm alright though."
Julian reached my hand up, gently touching her cheek. "I'm so glad you are. I would've died without you."
He sighed, pulling his wallet from his pocket, flipping it open and showing her the picture of the two fo them kissing at the Santa Monica Pier from a few month ago. "See, I know this isn't much but this... is us... a few months ago at the pier. We had a picnic and took a long walk. It's right after you said you'd marry me. You don't remember any of this? You really think you are marrying Troy?"
Gabriella nodded slowly. "Well... He said we were together. We have a daughter together."
She took the wallet out of his hand, looking at the picture. It was them. This man... Julian and her. She swallowed, looking back up at him.
"We're... we're getting married?"
It was a lot to take in, but Troy had never shown her pictures of him and her. Maybe Julian was telling me the truth. She gave him a soft smile, but then looked down at her hand and back up at him.
"Why don't I have a ring?"
"Because it didn't fit. We were getting it fitted for you. The one I bought was too big for your pretty finger." He smiled. "As for Troy and his daughter, the little girl has attachment to you because of Troy. He's so insane he's convinced the poor girl your her mother. You aren't." Julian shook his head. "I should have never left you alone! I knew better! This is all my fault!" Julian's face fell, his eyes sad.
Gabriella reached out, taking his hand. She could see how badly he was hurting. Pulling him closer to her, she smiled up at him.
"It's ok. You're here now." She smiled a little more brightly. "I'm cleared to go home... Did you... Can you take me home?"
Julian couldn't believe how easy this was. He lifted his head, his smile growing. "Yes! God yes!"
He kissed her lips gently. Thankful she had left a lot of her stuff at his place. It would be there when she got home and she'd never be wiser.
"Let me get the nurse with your release papers." He gave her a kiss on her lips. "I love you, Ella. I promise Troy will never bother you again!"
Gabriella smiled, nodding her head. He said I love you... But Gabriella couldn't say it back. She didn't know if she did. Maybe she could learn to love him. She thought she could learn to love Troy... and that actually seemed like it could come really easily to her, but could Julian really be right about him? She kept my her on her face.
"Alright. I'll be here. Not going any place."
"Good."
He smiled and walked out of the room and demanded for her release papers. It took a second, most were confused by him being the one to escort her out but gave it anyways. He turned, walking back into the room and handing her the clip board.
"Just sign this and we can go." He glanced over his shoulder, looking at the lady who brought in a wheel chair. "Thanks." He turned back to Ella, pushing the chair toward her. "Your chariot awaits, beautiful."
Gabriella bit her lip, having only signed a G. She didn't know how to spell Gabriella. She couldn't remember what Troy had said her last name was. So, she just signed a G, hoping that was good enough for them. Turning, she smoothed the skirt on her dress down and took Julian's hand to help her up. She turned slowly toward the seat, still kind of weak. She could walk on her own, but she still felt light headed when she did.
"I'm ready. Lets go."
"Yes, m'lady!"
He smiled, pushing her out of the room and toward the elevator. He pressed the down button and waited till the doors slid open and pushed her inside. Pressing the button for the ground floor, he watched as the doors shut, catching sight of Bolton walking toward Ella's empty room as the doors closed. Julian smirked. Just in the nick of time.
Gabriella looked up at Julian as the doors closed. "Can we get some real food. Something ... I don't know, pasta, Italian, something like that? Something real? I'm starving." She knew it was morning and usually places only served breakfast at this time, but she didn't care.
"We can. I know this place by my house that serves lunch and dinner 24 hours a day." He kissed her head, pushing her out of the elevator as it opened. Once outside,he flagged down a taxi. Helping her stand, he wrapped an arm tight around her waist and helped her into the car before running around and getting in on the other end, shutting his door and telling the driver where to go.
Troy came off the elevator, carrying two coffees and a bag of donuts toward Gabriella's room. However when he came to an empty room, even the guard gone, his heart dropped. "Gabriella?" Did she have some sort of set back? Tests that Troy didn't know about? He turned quickly and stopped a nurse.
"Where's Gabriella?"
She glance at the empty room and raised her eyebrow. "She's gone. I thought you knew. She signed her release papers and everything."
Troy felt sick to his stomach and had to set down the stuff because it was trembling in his fingers. He was scared of this - of her running and having no clue who she was.
"Where.. where's her guard?"
The nurse shrugged. "I thought the man who asked for her release papers was her guard."
Troy took in a shaky breath. At least she wasn't alone. However when André came out of the elevator, stopping in mid munch on a bagel, Troy knew something was wrong.
"You're here..." Troy said slowly. "Where the fuck is Gabriella?!"
André's eyes widened. "I.."
Troy growled in anger, pulling out his phone to call Dominick. "You fucking idiot!" Troy yelled at the guard. "What does 24-hour watch mean to your stupid ass?!"
He lowered his head, not saying a word. Troy turned his back to the idiot and waited for Dominick to answer.
Dominick parked his jeep and ran into the hospital, taking the stairs instead of the elevator coming up to the floor Gabriella was on and running out of the stair well and down the hall toward her room. Troy looked pissed and André wasn't in sight, and as Dominick got closer to the room, he noticed Gabriella wasn't in the room.
"Troy... Everything alright?"
"No it's not!" Troy grunted, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I told André to go home because he was a waste of skin! A fucking bag of stupid bones! I leave to go shower and get Gabriella and myself breakfast and the idiot is gone when I get back! And guess who ELSE was gone?! Gabriella! She doesn't fucking know who she is! Some guy walked in here and took her out of here! Probably feeding her some bullshit lie! And now I have no fucking idea where she is!"
Dominick knew André was upset, and Dominick was still trying to get his head around the fact that André had left his post and that Gabriella was now gone. They had all trusted him more than that. But Troy was right. It was Dominick's job to protect Gabriella, and he should care more about her than to let someone else watch over her.
"I will find her, Troy."
It was the least he could do since it was his fault she was gone. He had to think about who would even have reason to come in here and take Gabriella.
"Okay... sorry. I'm on edge. I don't blame you.. anymore than I blame myself. I blame André and I don't want him to watch her ever again. Okay? I know I'm not your boss per se but André stays away." Troy scrubbed my face, stopping the nurse. "What did this man look like?"
She held the chart against her chest. "Eh, tall, handsome, dark skin, dark hair, hispanic, I presume, dark eyes. He gave me the creeps slightly, had an air about him."
Troy's eyes grew dark and he looked over to Dominick. "De Aquila. It has to be him."
Dominick nodded. "Who else could it be?" He took a step back. "We can take my car if you want? Go get her back. I have no doubt you are right and that he has lied to her to take advantage of her. After the way she left things with him."
"Yes! Let's go." Troy headed for the elevator as fast as his feet could go. "I swear to God, I'm going to fucking kill him!" he hissed as they stepped in the elevator. "It's one thing to fuck with my job, but for him to fuck with Gabriella, to take advantage of how she's feeling, I will fucking murder him. I swear it."
De Aquila had gone to the association and brought up his concerns to them about Troy not being dedicated to his job, and oddly enough they had listenened to him. Troy was on administrative leave until they could have a hearing to determine if he should continue on as player/coach. Chad had taken over all responsibilities of coach and assured Troy that nothing would keep him from finishing out the season with him, and even then some. Troy appreciated his support, but right now none of that mattered. De Aquila had taken Gabriella from him, and he was seeing red.
Dominick understood how Troy was feeling. He and Temperance hadn't been together that long, but if anyone ever did anything to her... Dominick closed his eyes as they stepped into the elevator
"We will get her back, Troy. I promise you."
And they would. Dominick had let both of them down and he wasn't going to rest until she was home with Troy where she belongs.
"I trust you, Dominick."
When the elevator doors slowly opened, Troy moved quickly out to the parking garage with him. They went straight to his car and left to go to Luis' place. He was going to kill the bastard with his bare hands.
Dominick hopped in my jeep after using the remote to unlock the doors so Troy could get in the passenger side. Dominick slid the keys in the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot heading to De Aquila's place. He'd been there before when Gabriella had been with him, so he knew how to get there.
Savannah Hodgens looked at the blood work again she had drawn up earlier that day. Something had been bugging her all day that she had missed something. She had no clue what it could be. Sitting back in the seat at her desk, she looked over the information. Then it struck her like a bolt of lightning. How could she have missed that? Standing, she took the paperwork with her, running to the elevator to head down to the fourth floor. Gabriella Montez should know she's pregnant. Even if she can't remember how she got pregnant, she still needed to know she was going to have a baby.
"Troy, I should have been at the hospital. I am sorry I was not. I swear to you, I would not have let De Aquila take her. I swear it."
"I believe you." Troy told him, staring out the window, his jaw locked in anger. "Don't worry about it. Just get me to that fucker's place."
Dominick nodded, driving in silence the rest of the way. It wasn't far. He parked in front of the building and got out with Troy. Dominick knew the doorman., his name was Esteban.
"We need to see Julian De Aquila, Esteban. Let us up."
Dominick wasn't asking nicely like he usually would. They had to get Gabriella back and the sooner the better. There was no telling what that man was going to do with her.
"Julian De Aquila is not here, Cavallari."
Dominck blinked, shaking his head. "What? He's not?" He looked over at Troy and back at Esteban.
"I haven't seen him since he left a few hours ago."
Now what? Domincik turned to look at Troy. "You have his number?" Dominick had it when she was with him, but he hadn't needed it anymore, so he had deleted it, but Troy was his coach, so he could have it.
"No. Is there any place Gabriella would love to go? Like with him? Or anything you can remember?"
Dominick shook my head and they headed back to his landrover. "I don't know. She loved all the shops around here, and De Aquila would go with her occasionally. I guess there's Luigi's. Italian restaurant around the corner?"
Dominick shrugged. He really didn't know. They liked to keep a low profile when they were together, so there wasn't a whole lot of places they really went together.
"We'll start there and go to every single place you can think of." Habit was what was going to lead me to De Aquila and Gabriella, Troy was sure of it.
Dominick pulled the car down the road and around the corner, parking in the parking lot around behind the building. Getting out, he headed with Troy inside the restaurant. "They usually sat in a table in the back."
"So... Can you tell me about myself? I don't... I don't know a lot, and if what you're saying is true, what everyone has told me has probably been a lie."
"Everyone?" Julian asked, taking one of her hands in his. "What do you mean everyone?" he kissed the top of her hand. "I'll tell you anything you want to know."
"Temperance... she's my... my sister? And Taylor? She's my manager and best friend? And then there was Chad, who, I'm really not sure who he is. I think he's married to Taylor. And there's Dominick, who I think is some sort of bodyguard or something. I don't really know, but he was always standing outside my door. Him and some guy named Andy? Andrew?" She shook her head. "And then there's Troy and Tori. And you said she's not mine?" She kinda looked like her, or how she saw herself in the mirror, but that could just be her mind playing tricks on her. "Why would I have a bodyguard outside my door?"
"Jesus, I can't believe those people." Julian muttered, sighing heavily. "When you were in high school you left. Your family, everyone hated you for it. They were mean to you and when you got famous they wanted a hand in the pot. They bugged you for a job, and you were nice enough to give Taylor a position, but you told her not to speak to you that you weren't friends anymore because they made their choice years ago. Chad is married to Taylor. He's Troy's assistant coach as well. Then Dominick is your bodyguard, but he's an ass to you too. I told him I was going to fire him the second I got home from my trip. You're an actress but you were retiring soon so we could get married and start a family. I can't believe they all took advantage of you when I was gone! I just can't believe this! Demons! The whole lot of them! They want your money so they're fine with a crazy man getting his hands on you. Bastards."
Gabriella turned her head down, looking at her hand in his. She supposed what he was saying was true. It did kind of make sense, but when he said family, her stomach did this weird turn. Did she even want a family? She didn't know how to be a mother, and She knew being a mother to Tori would have been difficult, that's why I had asked Taylor and Troy to help her. But she didn't need their help, not if what Julian said was true.
"I guess I have no need for what I do anymore anyway, considering I don't remember." She looked back up at him. "What is it you do?"
"I'm a star player for an NBA team. The LA Lakers." Julian smiled. "And you and I met a few years ago while you were working. You had a smile that lit up the entire room. I was smitten from the very second I saw you. You didn't want a relationship, after what happened with Troy, but we kept bumping into each other and you took it as fate and asked me out right then and there, well, I sorta bugged you and then you asked me out." Julian chuckled.
"We've been together ever since. We live together. We have since a few months after we started dating. I proposed not too long ago and our wedding was set for next month, but I got called away on family business and had to leave quickly and then I couldn't get home. God, I did everything imaginable, finally I had to hire a private jet. I'm sorry it took me so long." Lifting her hand, he kissed her knuckles. "I know you say you don't remember me, but I'll help you remember. I swear it. And I swear nobody will ever take advantage of you again."
Julian smiled softly, getting out of the car when they pulled up to the café. He helped her out, holding her in his arms to help her walk inside. Gabriella didn't feel altogether uncomfortable in Julian's arms. They didn't feel like Troy's arms, but she figured she'd get used to it. They walked into the café and the hostess walked up to them, looking them over weirdly.
"Ella? I thought you..." She paused briefly and then continued after looking at Julian. "I thought you died..."
Gabriella gave a smile, the best she could fake. "No. I'm still alive. Can we get a table?"
The hostess almost tripped over herself after looking at Julian again before grabbing two menus and turning back to them. "Follow me." She turned around and led them toward the back to a quiet corner table.
"We use to come here all the time," Julian told her. "Her name is Brittany. The waitress. She always takes care of us." Julian smiled, helping her sit at the table before sitting down next to her. "Two waters for now please. She needs something to drink."
Brittany nodded and scurried away, obviously overwhelmed with all of this. If she read the magazine rags she knew all about what was going on right now and how odd this scene was. Gabriella smiled, thanking him shortly for ordering the water. She did need something to drink. Picking up the menu, she looked across the table at him.
"What do I usually order?... I don't even know what would taste good."
"You order this," he said, opening the menu and pointing to number four. "The Chicken Alfredo. You said it reminded you of home." Julian smiled. "Do you think that sounds good?"
Gabriella's smile faded from her face. "No." She shook her head. "Nothing to remind me of anything like that. Something new please." She looked over the menu. "What about... Is the lasagna any good?"
"It's what I get every single time I come here. It's wonderful. Is there anything else you'd like? Soup? Salad?" Julian rubbed her arm. "I'm so glad you trust me. You must know in your heart somewhere that I love you more than anyone in this world ever could."
Smiling softly up at him, she bit her lip. She wasn't sure how much she did trust him, but he had a picture of the two of them together, and the hostess had called her Ella, just like he had. Maybe he was right. "I guess a salad? Italian dressing would be good."
Julian nodded, waving the waitress over. They ordered their food and she left the table in a hurry to go gossip, most likely. Julian took a sip of the water she left behind.
"What else would you like to know?"
Gabriella looked up at Julian, but her eyes immediately went behind him. "Troy..." He wasn't what she wanted to talk about, but he was there and he was coming straight toward the table. He didn't look happy. Gripping at the table cloth, she didn't know what to do or where to go.
Julian turned his head, his eyes following her line of sight. His shoulders tensed, his fingers curling in the napkin by his hand. There was a steak knife tucked in it. "Don't worry about him," Julian tried to soothe her, sliding out of his seat and reaching Troy before he got close. "Get out of here." Troy shoved Julian's hands, glaring hard at him.
"Do not touch me again or I'll kill you."
If Troy thought his threats scared Julian, even a little, he was wrong. "Don't bother her." Julian warned, pushing him again. "She doesn't want anything to do with you!"
"Bullshit! What did you say to her?!" Troy growled, shoving him again.
Julian shoved back and Troy wasn't about to hold back any more. His fist went flying, colliding with the side of Julian's face. Julian tripped back, crashing into a table. It flipped over, sending him and everything on it to the floor. Troy reached down, grabbing his shirt and tugging him up only to hit him again.
"Dominick! Get her out of here!" Troy yelled, punching Julian again. Julian kneed Troy hard in the gut, sending him to the floor.
"Don't you touch her!" Julian yelled, punching Troy hard in the face. The room spun and dimmed around Troy a little but he was able to focus enough, kicking him in the side and jumping back on top of him, sending another hard fist to the jaw.
Gabriella screamed, standing up quickly and stepping back from the table as it crashed down. She held her head. It was really starting to hurt. The bodyguard ran over to me and she backed away from him, holding her hands up to him.
"No! I'm not going anywhere! No! Help! Help!"
She didn't know what to do. She didn't know what to do, but s couldn't just let Troy and Julian beat each other up.
Dominick came up to Gabriella. She looked confused and scared. "It is ok, Gabriella. I am not going to hurt you. You can trust me. I am your friend."
She shook her head, backing away more from him.
"No," she said, stumbling backward. "No."
She looked like she was going to cry. She took another step back and started to fall. Dominick reached forward and pulled her into his arms. "I've got her, Troy!" She felt limp, and Dominick could tell she had passed out.
I went to send another fist into Julian's face but felt something tug oddly at my chest. Troy turned to look back at Gabriella, his heart dropping when he saw her, limp in Dominick's arms.
"Gabriella!"
Troy began to stand, but Julian bashed him in the back of the head with something and knocked him out cold. Julian stood, kicking Troy aside, walking over and snatching a knife off the ground that had been in the napkin.
"Let her fucking go!" Julian snapped at the bodyguard, holding the knife up to him. "Give her to me!" Julian was not letting him leave with her. "You might wanna check on your friend and let me take my fiancée to the hospital!"
Dominick had promised Troy he would do anything to get Gabriella back, but he didn't know what to do at the moment. "Are you going to come at me with that knife while I am holding Gabriella in my arms?" He shook his head. "I highly doubt it. Now. We are going to go." Dominick didn't know how he was going to get Gabriella AND Troy out, especially with them both out cold, but he would figure it out.
"Can I get some help here?" he called out to the restaurant staff who was just standing around like lumps on logs. They didn't want to get involved, but they had two people passed out here, and Dominick was only one person. A man Dominick was sure he was the manager came over slowly to me to help him with Troy, leaning down to wake him. "Do not worry," Dominick told him. "This man will not do anything foolish."
"Fine, I have to do this the hard way I guess."
Julian said, putting the knife down and glancing around. He grabbed a bottle of wine off another table, smashing it hard at Dominick's head. Before he went down, Julian caught Gabriella and tossed the broken bottle, lifting her into his arms.
"I win," he smirked and headed toward the doors. He wasn't letting anyone take his spot in her life. He'd run to Mexico if he had to. "Tell the police they can find me down the street and I'll answer all and any questions," he yelled before walking out and flagging down a cab. One pulled over instantly and he got in and it driving away.