Finally Breathing

~ Chapter 27 ~

Christen's POV

Yesterday's game was incredible. The thrill of getting back on the pitch in a major tournament was one that never ceased to amaze me; the red, white and blue fanbase screaming with full force while they cheered for the pride of our country. Being a soccer player was everything to me, just so that I could live for these moments. Seeing our family together was even better. Every time the US created a chance I looked over to Sky, her face a picture of joy as she took in the stadium's atmosphere. It was magical, my girlfriend beside me as we pushed for the win, the win which our daughter clinched in the dying moments of the game.

The day was incredible, a community bringing the stadium together, whether Swedish fans or the US fans. That was until the 37th minute. 

-Flashback-

Boy it was hot. The squad were fatiguing, fast. The first half had been energetic to say the least, each team chasing the ball for a shot at goal. It was scrappy, the athleticism of the US fairly matched against the strength and accuracy brought by the Swedes. 

Becky had just punted a looping ball towards me, a strong pair of hands on my back as we jumped for the header to flick the ball on to our respective teams. So far the US hadn't held back on the offence, each ball up field being successful as we found each other. The intricacy of play was at a standard I had never seen before, all thanks to Jill and Dawn's rigorous training schedule. All we were missing was a goal.

I looked to the clock. 35 minutes played. I headed the ball on to Tobin, sprinting towards the box as she squared it out to me on the edge of the D. My vision towards goal was blocked by a Swedish defensive player, her back turned as she awaited the block. Instead I played the ball towards Alex, she outstretched foot reaching the ball as it was tapped just wide of the left post. I clapped her for her efforts and began jogging back towards the half way line.

As I was doing so a soft hand clapped my back. I felt a sharp pain trickle through my arm, the blood pounding as it rushed through my veins. I looked over to see Tobin standing beside me, trying to convey some sort of message as she dragged me back into position. As much as I wanted to listen I just couldn't, my vision blurring as I put a hand towards my head in confusion. 

Play restarted, as did my consciousness as it cleared.

-End of flashback-

Tobin's POV

I was lounging on a couch in the hotel's corridor, Sky draped across my lap. She was tapping on her phone, occasionally scrolling as she kept in touch with her friends. Tegan and Casey were planning on flying out to France for our final group game against Scotland, little did Sky know. I wasn't planning on telling her any time soon; I wanted her to look up into the family and friends stand and see them. She deserved a surprise, especially since the goal that put us in good stead to win the group yesterday. Besides that I wanted to see her and Casey together, because while I may be slightly absent minded, I was not dumb enough to miss the shared love between the two of them.

Today was a recovery day and tomorrow an off day before we began training again for our fixture against England in five days time, which meant a light gym session this morning before the dreaded obligatory ice bath this afternoon, coupled with a short hydrotherapy session to shake off an annoying ankle injury I sustained a while back at club level. 

Sky shifted slightly on my lap, putting her phone carefully on the floor next to her before burying her head in my lap and drifting off to sleep.

About twenty minutes passed before I heard footsteps as my girlfriend appeared around the corner, a slight smile forming as she saw the position we were lying in. 

"I'm going out Tobs." she stated sheepishly, "Do you need anything?" 

"No, thanks though Chris." I smiled back, blowing her a kiss from across the hallway.

"Can we come?" A voice came from under me, slightly muffled as she readjusted herself to sit beside me.

I shared a look with Chris before bursting out laughing.

"Sky," I panted, "Your hair." 

To be honest she did look funny, her usually perfect  chestnut brown hair strewn across her forehead, the right side coming over to the left with the back looking like she had turned it into a zombie's hair cut.

She reached up to feel it, patting it down as she separated the strands.

"Oh right thanks." She giggled, wandering off to find a mirror.

"Can we come though Mom?" She asked before disappearing round the corner.

Chris looked at me, pleading for help behind her brown eyes.

"Not right now Sky. I need to fix your hair, and I also need help pranking Mal. Kelley, Sonnet and Pinoe are in on it too." I stated, silently hoping she would agree to stay. Chris clearly needed to do something important, and I knew better than to ask what it was in front of our daughter.

"Okay yeah that's fine mom." Sky finally said after contemplating it for a bit, "Pranking is kind of fun anyway."

I sighed as she rounded the corner, turning to Chris and engulfing her in a hug.

"Bye Chris. Stay safe." 

"Bye Toby. See you later."

Christen's POV

Phew. Thank god Tobin understood me otherwise I would be in big trouble with Sky right now.

I was with Dawn all morning, doing small exercises to try and understand the root of my problems from the game yesterday, even though it seemed like she was fairly set in the vision that they were futile attempts to explain what could only be explained by scans and x-rays. I spoke to the physios during the second half, showing them the newly found cuts and bruises that I had acquired during the game, as well as telling them about nearly passing out from a light tap to the shoulder. They were blunt with me, as they usually are. It wasn't good news, which was why I was on my way to the hospital.

While it was ordinary for athletes to sustain small injuries throughout a game it definitely wasn't ordinary for them to appear after a short time frame such as an hour, let alone half an hour. They were concerned for my general health, deadly certain that this wasn't linked to a sporting injury of the past. It seemed like they had an idea of what the problem was, although I didn't want to ask as I surveyed their faces, serious as they had spoken to Jill outside the gym this morning.

Before long I had reached the hospital, Dawn stood waiting for me at the front desk.

"Ready Christen?" She asked me, inclining her head slightly.

"Sure."