Sokeefe vs. the Matrix

Chapter 10

(This is 1-800-KATE here. I just came on to Elly's account to post the next chapter! I don't know about you guys, but I am SO hooked on this story!)

Keefe's POV

After the devastating loss of the game, Keefe came out of the dugout with a solemn face. He turned towards his beautiful girlfriend with tears building up in his eyes. She reached towards him with outstretched arms and gave him a hug. He didn't release her grasp until he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Good game," said Fitz from behind him.
Keefe studied him for a moment. Same teal eyes, brown hair. There was nothing different about him. Was all of that just a dream?
"Oh, uh, yeah, you too."
They stared at each other for a few seconds. "Is everything okay?" Fitz finally asked.
"Oh, yeah. I'm just disappointed that we lost," Keefe lied.
Foster looked as if she was about to say something, then stopped herself. She gave him a look that said, "Not right now. We will question him later."
"Yeah, me too," Fitz said.
The awkward silence had begun again. Normally they had so much to talk about after the games, but today was different. "Well, I better be getting home. Mom will want to know how things went," Keefe said, taking Foster's hand. His mom had been asleep when he'd left, from working her job as a nurse all night. She'd be worried.
He pulled Foster along next to him towards their neighborhood.
"What was that all about?" he asked her with a frown when they were out of hearing range of Fitz and the team. "I wanted to question him. Something really suspicious is going on here, and I want to find out what."
"I know, Keefe. I want to too! But... I know this sounds bad. But what happens if he really did almost do those things? Then what? We're in the presence of an almost murderer, with no way of protecting ourselves. So, while of course we want to find out, we have to keep away until we have more information. Don't you think?"
Keefe sighed. He really hated it when she was right about something he didn't want to be true. But... she was right. "Fine. But as soon as we have more information and know it's... know we're good to go, we go."

"Agreed, Keefe. Now... can we go home? My head's hurting. I'd really like to sit down right now."
"Of course. You okay?"
"Yeah. I think I just need some rest."
"Alright. Let's go."

***
As they were walking further and further, Keefe felt Foster's palms start sweating, and she slumped further and further, before her knees buckled. Keefe caught her quickly, the only reason being that he had felt it coming. He'd known it was going to happen soon, but he'd wanted Foster to feel strong, which he knew was one of her biggest insecurities.
"Foster? You good?"
"No- not really," she said, shivering.
"Okay, well, get on my back. Let's get you on my back."
Foster reluctantly climbed onto his back. About ten minutes into the walk, Foster fell asleep on his shoulders. Keefe smiled. A memory started playing in the back of his mind.
It was a warm summer's evening. He and Foster, still only friends at the time, walked through the park. A warm breeze flew through his hair, but Foster's was in a beautiful braid her biological mother had taught her when she was young before they died.
"Hey, Sophie?" Keefe had asked.
"Since when do you call me 'Sophie'?" she teased.
"Okay, Foster." She smiled. "Um, I- I was wondering... Would you like to maybe- um- go out with me?"
Foster's eyes light up with delight. "Keefe Sencen, I have been waiting for you to say those words my entire life."
As he was finally walking towards her driveway, she woke up. "Keefe?"
"Hey," he said warmly. "Are you feeling alright?"
She slid off of his shoulders and winced in pain. "Not really, but I will be. I will ask Edaline for some medicine when I get inside."
"Do you want me to walk you in?" Keefe asked, worried.
"If you don't mind," Foster said. Her eyes were full of tears. Keefe put his hand up to her face and brushed her hair away from her beautiful eyes. He smiled and took her hand.Once they walked inside, Keefe went to find Edaline and Sophie laid down on the couch.
"Mrs. Ruewen?" he called as he walked into the kitchen to look for her.
Edaline quickly popped out of the pantry. "Keefe? I wasn't expecting to see you here. Where is Sophie?"
"She had a really bad headache while we were walking back, so I thought I could try and help. She said she was going to ask for medicine?"
Edaline smiled. "Thank you. Let me go grab some. Why don't you head back to Sophie? I know that would make her feel better."
"Thanks, Mrs. Ruewen. I think I'll do that." Edaline turned back to the pantry and Keefe entered the living room again, sitting beside Foster.
"You alright?" he asked her worriedly. Her face was unusually pink and her eyes kept darting around frantically. But when he sat next to her, they settled on him.
"I'm fine," she said. But her voice was breathless and her breath heavy. "I just," gulp, "want some medicine."
Keefe nodded, trying to keep the lump in his throat away. It was almost physically painful to see her like this. How did he know the feeling so well? He wished he didn't.
"It's alright, Foster. Edaline's getting you some medicine right now, and you should be good after that."
"Okay," Foster replied weakly, laying back on the couch.
Three minutes and a few heart-wrenching moans later, Edaline still hadn't appeared. Keefe tried not to be impatient, but Foster's pain was hard to see.
"Excuse me for a sec, Foster," he said, standing and going into the kitchen once more.
There was Edaline. In the pantry.
"Miss Ruewen? Is everything alright?" Keefe asked. Why hadn't she come?
"Of course, Keefe! Everything's fine. Why do you ask?"
"Um... are you coming? Sophie needs medicine really badly. Like, asap."
"Oh. Of course! I'm sorry, I forgot. I'll be there in a minute!"
"Okay," Keefe paused for a moment. He had a feeling that she would not be there in a minute. "What if I just get it?"Edaline paused what she was doing for a moment. Keefe knew that normally Edaline would freak out if Foster wasn't feeling well, but right now she was... different, somehow. "That would be lovely, dear. Just ask Sophie where it is." She gave him a motion that said, "Run along now!"
He walked back to the Living Room. "Is she coming?" she asked wearily.
"She's busy. Where do you keep the medicine?" he asked her softly.
"In the bathroom, the cupboard above the sink."
Keefe nodded and went to grab it. He passed by Edaline on his way. She was still in the pantry, not looking up from her phone for even a second as he passed by her.
Shaking his head to clear the confusion, he grabbed the medicine from the cabinet and went back to Foster. "Hey, Foster." He stroked her hair.
She just smiled back at him. She tried to prop herself up, but she groaned as she could hardly move. Keefe handed her the medicine, and she chewed it. He sat on the floor with his head against the couch cushion. He grabbed her hand. "You know I love you, right?"
"Of course," she whispered.
Slowly, slowly, slowly, they fell asleep.