Kindred Spirits

Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to Disney or High School Musical. The only thing I own are any of the characters that aren't related to the movie.

Author's Notes: The story follows during an eleven year time period leading up to the timeframe of when the movie takes place. This is my first Troy/Gabriella story. I hope you guys read and I would appreciate some feedback.

Summary: They were once orphans until they were adopted and parted ways. Now 11 years later, fate brings them back together but will they remember each other?

Chapter 1: Have You Seen the Rain?

Los Angeles General Hospital: Children's Ward

"How's he doing?" Dr. Russell asked as he was checking up on a young boy who was just reeled into the children's ward.

"The boy's vital signs seem to be stabilizing and there's no internal injuries except for the broken arm and the bruises," one of the nurses stated, "There was signs of fractured ribs but they're healing."

"What about the parents?"

"I'm sorry Dr. Russell…but the boy's parents didn't survive," the nurse sighed, "They were killed in the impact during the pileup on highway 23. It was a miracle that this young boy survived. According to the accident report, the boy doesn't have any other relatives in the city and he'll end up in the care of the state of California."

"There's a social worker from St. Luke's Children Group Home tending to a case right now with a deceased cancer patient who passed away a few hours ago," Dr. Russell sighed, "Her daughter has been arranged to go into the care of the attendants at St. Luke's…we'll probably have to arrange for the boy to go with them too once he checks out."

"Doctor…the boy is waking up." A young five year old with brown hair and blue eyes begin to stir as he woke up and found himself wrapped with a bandaged over his forehead and around his arms. He was put a children's hospital set of pajamas as he looked around and was confused by his surroundings.

"Where…Where am I?" the five year old boy asked, "Who…Who are you?"

"It's okay son you're safe," Dr. Russell replied, "You're at the hospital and you were involved in a really bad car accident…but you are very lucky to survive. My name is Dr. Russell and is your name Troy?"

"Yes sir," Troy shyly said, "My head hurts…are you a doctor?"

"I am a doctor and you will be okay I promise you Troy."

"What about mommy and daddy?" Troy asked, "Where are mommy and daddy? Are they here at the hospital doctor? Are they okay? I want my mommy and daddy!"

"This is hard to tell you this Troy…but I'm sorry," Dr. Russell sighed, "Your parents…they didn't make it I'm so sorry Troy…but your parents died in the car accident."

"No…no…this is not true!" Troy started tearing up crying, "Mommy and daddy aren't dead! You stop lying to me! Mommy and daddy can't be dead! I want my mommy! I want my daddy! I want my mommy! I want my daddy!"

"I know it's hard to believe this Troy but your parents are gone," the nurse replied trying to counsel the little weeping boy. He was distraught and upset to face the fact that his parents are dead and he had to face life alone without them, "It will be alright don't worry…you just let it out, just let it out."

"Mommy and daddy promised they won't leave me," Troy cried, "Why did they leave me? I'm all alone now without mommy and daddy! I want them back!"

"Nurse Kelly…just let the boy be," Dr. Russell replied to the nurse, "Troy needs some time alone he's just too young to understand the concept of death. Kids have their own way of coping…it's grateful he'll make a recovery, but he needs time to fully heal."

"Mommy, daddy…I love you so much," Troy cried, "I miss you so much…I love you but why did you have to leave me alone?"

The Waiting Room…

"I don't want to go! Why did mommy have to die? I thought mommy was going to be alright you lied to me! I want my mommy back!" A young five year old girl with black hair and brown eyes wearing a white dress and black dress shoes was crying in the waiting room while a social worker in her late twenties tried to counsel the young girl sitting across from her in the room.

"Gabriella I know it's hard to accept that your mommy is not here I'm so sorry," Paige the social worker replied, "I made a promise to your mommy I will look after you."

"Then bring my mommy back!" Gabriella yelled crying, "Mommy said she will get better!"

"I know your mommy would have wanted to get better and she did everything she could but in the end," Paige sighed, "In the end…her body just gave up. Remember that your mommy loved you very much until she died…she wouldn't have ever forgotten about you."

"What…what will happen to me now?" Gabriella asked, "Will…I live with my daddy?"

"If that were only possible sweetie but we don't know where he is," Paige replied trying to counsel the little girl, "We arrived for some nice people to look after you at St. Luke's and they will treat with care and kindness. I promise they will look after you…it was arranged by your mom if in case of any circumstances."

"Am I…going to live with strangers now?"

"It's a children's group home for kids…they are very nice people until we can arrange for proper housing Gabriella it's just temporary."

"Mommy…she did this before she died? She knew and she was going to leave alone with strange people I don't know! I don't want to go! I want my mommy back! I want to go home with mommy! I don't want to go with any strangers! You can't make me go!"

"I know it's difficult Gabriella but everything will be fine I promise you," Paige tried to assure her attempting to give her a hug, "I know it's scary but you'll be fine you have to trust me!"

"I won't go! I want mommy back! Why would mommy leave me alone?" Gabriella yelled crying and running out of the waiting room, "Mommy…why did you have to go?"

"Gabriella! Gabriella come back!" Paige yelled as Dr. Russell came into the room, "Is something the matter doctor?"

"Ms. Carter I was wondering if it was possible if you arrange to take one more patient with you along with the girl to St. Luke's?" Dr. Russell asked, "I take it the young girl is upset."

"It's hard for children to face the world alone without their parents," Paige sighed, "I don't know how they can cope with the facts of life and death at such a young age."

"I know that feeling," Dr. Russell sighed, "My recent patient the young boy Troy who survived the pileup accident on Highway 23 woke up to find out his parents are dead. How did that young girl take the news?"

"Gabriella…is not doing too good and just ran off," Paige replied, "I see…you want to talk about your patient Troy. Don't worry doctor…we'll arrange for him to stay at St. Luke's also after he makes a full recovery. I'll call the group home and I need to find Gabriella also."

"I assure you Ms. Carter she'll need some time alone," Dr. Russell assured her, "It's raining outside and kids at this time of grief need to be alone to let out everything they're feeling."

A few hours later...

About four hours passed since Troy heard the news about his parents' deatt. He just laid in bed staring at the teddy bear one of the nurses left for him on his nightstand table next to his bed. Troy kept crying about the fact he would be alone and never see his parents again that he decided to get out of his hospital bed and began to walk down the hallways in the children's ward with the teddy bear in hand.

He heard the rain outside and it kept him awake that he had difficulty sleeping. As he came towards a corridor, he began to hear crying coming from the stairwell. Troy slowly opened the door to the stairwell as he begin to climb up following the crying until he spotted a girl with black hair and brown around his age sitting on the stairs crying.

"Are you alright?" Troy slowly asked the girl, "Why…why are you crying?"

"My mommy died and she left me alone and now I have to go live in this place with all these strange people I don't know," Gabriella said crying, "I want my mommy back! I don't want to be alone anymore and I want to go home with my mommy…but she's gone!"

"My mommy and daddy are gone too," Troy sighed as he began to tear up too, "They died in a car accident the doctor man told me…I woke up and found mommy and daddy gone. People cry and they say when it rains people cry more."

"You have a lot of bandages on you…are you hurt?"

"They said I was in a car accident and I lived…but mommy and daddy didn't but I'm good. I feel alone without my mommy and daddy around that I don't get to go home to all my toys and all my favorite things."

"What is your name?"

"My name…my name is Troy what about you? What is your name?" Troy asked.

"I'm…I'm Gabriella…but mommy calls me Gabi for short. Can you call me Gabi?"

"Okay it's nice to meet you Gabi," Troy slowly smiled as the two sat on the stairs, "What happens now? Are you going away? I don't want to be alone."

"I don't know…but I don't want to be alone," Gabriella sighed as she grabbed his arm, "Will you…will you stay with me? I don't want to be alone and I'm scared of the thunder."

"Boys aren't suppose to be scared…but I am sometimes too. I will stay with you Gabi don't worry I promise…so we don't have to be alone and scared of the thunder." Troy just sat there with his new friend Gabriella as they heard the thunderstorm outside. She clutched onto the teddy bear Troy had in his hand and held the other arm of the bear. They sat and watched through the window the rain outside.

"I miss my mommy and daddy," Troy sighed looking out at the window, "I don't know where they went or where they are. They told me I have to be strong no matter what."

"You look strong…because you're not scared of the thunder like me," Gabriella said, "Does this mean I'm not alone anymore."

"Don't worry…you're not alone," Troy slowly smiled, "You're with me…and I'm not alone too because you're brave."

L