The Balls in Our Courts [F.SxO.CxT.S]

Chapter Nineteen

A/N: Thank you for your lovely support!

Polly helped Amelia up the stairs. The young girl was shaking, and looked discombobulated and in pain. She'd just spent a night in a hospital in Leeds under observation for a concussion. Then from Leeds to Birmingham was a tiring train ride. "There ya' go, one step at a time," Polly cooed, hands resting on the girl's back to brace her. Her face looked like a bruised melon. Her nose was really busted, swollen, and both eyes fashioned a raccoon look. As soon as Mr. De Luca heard about Amelia's unfortunate incident, he had his driver take him straight to Birmingham. He was waiting in her room, sitting on a desk chair.

"I ruined my sponsorship," she said, regrettably, but the aging Italian frowned and gently touched her cheek. Polly lingered at the door. "I'm sorry. I bet you want to take everything back, huh? I failed everyone." It hurt to sob. Despite that, little tears fell from her eyes.

"Why do you think that?" he scolded her not unkindly. "Hm? Dante says you are brilliant at practice. Accidents happen, hm? I will tell Mr. Shelby, anything you need during your healing process is on me." He helped Polly get the girl in bed and hoist her up.

"Tommy isn't happy," Polly sighed. "But it doesn't take much to upset him. He isn't angry at you, dear. Just the situation is all-"

"A situation that was hardly your fault," De Luca corrected and pulled out a cherry flavored sucker, giving it to her. "Now, don't eat too many sweets. I think Pastine would be a good, warm meal." Polly narrowed her eyes wondering if they just walked into a restaurant named Polly's Restaurant. She couldn't help, but ask what Pastine was. "Oh, it is Italian comfort food at best...small bits of pasta with milk and cheese-"

"I'll make her a piece of toast," Polly said, pursing her lips, pausing a second to give De Luca a look. When she walked away, he humored how such a sweet girl could live with such harsh people. Tommy knocked, more as a courtesy than a practice because he walked in, the local doctor behind him. De Luca took his hat and bowed his head, and said his goodbyes.

Tommy watched him leave before allowing the doctor to enter, explaining that he wanted a second opinion. Second opinion? She was bloody concussed! The family doctor hummed and used the vanity stool as a seat. Tommy waited at the door frame, studying the examination. "Alright, open your eyes-yes, her eyes are severely dilated," he hummed, flashing the tiny flashlight in her eyes.

"Nooo," she whined, squeezing them tightly shut, putting her hands up in protest.

"Now, now," the doctor hummed, pulling back. He tilted his glasses, giving her quite the look. Defeated, she allowed him to flash that awful thing in her eyes just for him to say, "she has a severe concussion. I'm surprised they allowed her home so quickly." Gently, he felt around her face, mumbling about fractures. "No facial fractures, however. Bruises will take a good month to heal, but it's very important to rest." He dug into his pocket for a prescription pad.