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Chapter Twenty-four (Long Chapter Ahead)
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The refs issued a temporary suspension of the game until the conflict was resolved and all players were okay-ed by their respective team doctors. Kate was first to retire from the scene, pushing past her lost and confused teammates. Nika, previously held back by Aubrey, goes to wipe the blood from her nose with her finger. Everybody eventually returned to their locker rooms, barred to their assigned cubbies as they awaited their turn for a quick check-up with Ariana in the make-shift office they had turned from a training room.
Which brings us here, Ariana wordlessly picking through her kit of supplies. She had her back turned against Nika, who sat grimacing in pain at the fragility of her fractured nose.
"I'm sorry," the Croatian's voice rung, tearing through the tense moment of silence. She sniffled, blood drying on her upper lip. Her fingers tugged at the hem of her bloodied jersey, eyeing the table Ariana had set up on.
"Don't," the younger started, her voice shaking. She sterilized her hands, putting on a pair of latex gloves. Grabbing the bottle of alcohol and bag of ice Simms grabbed upon Ariana's instruction. She refused to meet Nika's eyes, setting the bottle down beside her on the weight bench. Her hand gently guided Nika's neck forward, adjusting for her to sit leaning forward. She unscrewed the bottle of alcohol, dabbing a cotton swab into the sloshing liquid before grabbing the side of her face.
Her nose immediately scrunched when the swab met the gashed bridge of her nose. The scar previously there had re-opened, and her nose was beginning to swell despite the measures Ariana had done to prevent it.
"Focus your eyes on mine. Try and count the number of eyelashes I have on each eye." She instructed, pointing at her eyes.
Without hesitation, Nika stared up at the doctor through her lashes, blood smeared across her skin. She really begun numbering each eyelash, before they fell to admire the divine markings in Ariana's eyes. It helped, to be fair, Ariana was distraction enough per usual. Her fingers entangled themselves into the bottom of her jersey, keeping them from grabbing the doctor's waist. When Ariana discarded the bloody swab, she turned around to grab some ointment from her kit.
"I am," the Croatian began again, tilting her head in attempts to catch the tiniest glimpse of Ariana's expression. "Sorry, I mean."
"We're not talking about this right now, Nika. I have thirteen other girls to get through and only thirty minutes to do so." Ariana sighed.
"I wasn't going to let her lay a finger on you."
The doctor turned back, closing her eyes , "I had it under control. Kate isn't a violent person."
