The Captain's Heart

twenty

1st February 2022 – nine days old.

She lets out a groan as her left hand blindly reaches out onto to search for phone which is vibrating on the bedside table. Her hand finally settles on the phone as she pulls it over and selects to answer the call without even looking at who's phoning.

'Hello?' She asks groggily.

'Oh fuck... I forgot about the time difference. I'm sorry, go back to sleep.' Imogen says, her voice shaky and filled with emotion causing the blonde who immediately open her eyes.

'Immy? What's going on? Are you okay?' Leah asks.

'Mm... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to wake you, Le. Go back to sleep, I'll speak to you later.' Imogen replies as Leah keeps the phone pressed to her ear and props herself up on her elbow.

'It's fine, Immy. What's happened? Are you crying?' Leah asks.

'I went down during the game. The uh- The defender from the other team proper took me out and I can't walk. I had to get stretchered off.' Imogen replies.

'Fuck... What've you done? What hurts?' Leah asks moving herself into a sitting position and glancing over at Rory who is fast asleep in her moses basket.

'Everything... My ankle is the worse but it's not really my ankle, it's a bit higher up. They've said something about a potential fracture, maybe alongside a sprain. I don't know. They've said a lot.' Imogen replies causing the blonde to sigh.

'Oh, Immy... Do you have someone there with you? Are Steph and Caitlin still on the pitch?' Leah asks softly.

'Mm-hmm... The game is nearly finished. I just- I didn't know who else to phone.' Imogen replies.

'I'm glad you phoned me, Ims... What can I do? Do you want me just to talk to you to distract you or do you want me just to listen?' Leah asks.

'Distract me please.' Imogen replies quietly.

'Rory shit on me yesterday. I mean literally shit on me. I had just got her changed into this cute little white sleepsuit and she shit right through it...' Leah says smiling as she hears Imogen chuckle softly.

'No she didn't.' Imogen replies laughing.

'I swear done for such a tiny baby, she shits a whole ton. I nearly threw up.' Leah says. The conversation continues for another fifteen minutes before the Aussie lets out a small sigh.

'I'll let you get back to sleep, Le... Thank you for distracting me.' Imogen says softly causing the blonde to smile.

'Anytime... Let me know you're okay, yeah?' Leah says.

'Mm... I will do. See you soon?' Imogen replies.

'So soon, Immy.' Leah says softly.

****

'Did you have your mumma up all night? She looks absolutely shattered today.' David says smiling down at Rory who is cradled in his arms.

'She actually didn't. She's such a great sleeper.' Leah replies.

'So what's got you so tired then? Are you not sleeping?' David asks.

'Mm... Imogen phoned me in the early hours of the morning; she got injured during their match and was a bit emotional so I spent some time talking her down.' Leah replies causing David to smile.

'She seems nice... Is she okay?' David asks causing the blonde to sigh.

'I don't know. She said they'd said something about a potential fracture or maybe a sprain but I've not heard from her since we came off the phone at around 3 this morning.' Leah replies.

'Are you two, you know?' David asks causing Leah to shake her head.

'No, we're just friends.' Leah replies.

'Are you sure? Would you like to be more than friends?' David asks and Leah shrugs her shoulders.

'I've got a lot going on with Rory just now and I just- I don't want to lose Imogen as a friend.' Leah replies.

'Who says you're going to lose Imogen as a friend though?' David asks.

'Look at how things turned out with Jordan, dad... I'm not doing that again, I'm not going through that again.' Leah replies shaking her head.

'Things with Jordan were so different though. Jordan was your first proper love, Leah. You fell hard for her and that always makes the break up so much harder... Things with this Imogen girl could work out so differently if you just gave it a chance.' David says sitting own next to his daughter and draping his arm around her shoulders pulling her into his side.

'The thought of going there again, of getting into a relationship and putting my heart on the line terrifies me.' Leah admits and David nods his head.

'That's perfectly normal but you deserve to be loved. You deserve to be happy and if Imogen is going to make you happy and love you then I think you should give her the chance.' David says.

'I don't even know if she likes me like that.' Leah mumbles.

'If you're the person she's phoning when she gets injured during a match then I'd say she feels the exact same way you do, love... I'm not saying jump right in with both feet; you do have a lot going on having just had Rory, there's a lot of life changes happening for you but what I am saying is doing completely write it off because you're scared. If something was to naturally happen between you both, don't push her away because your past experiences.' David says and Leah nods her head.

'Okay.' Leah almost whispers.

****

'No matter what happens in life, if mumma eventually meets someone, I hope you know you'll always be my number one girl...' Leah says softly as she stares down at Rory who is lying on the bed having just had a bath and been changed into a fresh sleepsuit.

'You're going to meet so many of your wonderful aunties in a few days when they're all back at training; we'll go into London Colney and see everyone. Some of them are a little bit crazy and so loud but they all love you to pieces and I know that you're going to love them so much.' Leah explains running her finger down Rory's cheek as the baby stares wide-eyed up at her. Despite only being nine days old, Rory is becoming so alert when she's awake and is constantly staring at Leah with wide eyes as if she's taking in her surroundings.

'You have made mumma so happy, sweet girl. You are the little piece that I've always been missing but just didn't realise it.' Leah says smiling. Leaning down, she lifts Rory into her arms before lying back against the pillows and resting Rory against her chest before pressing a kiss to the top of the little girl's head. It's a little before 7pm and after a day spent with her dad, she's ready for an early night but when her phone vibrates to signal a new text message she can't help but immediately reach for it.

From Imogen:
I'm heading home. Getting on a flight soon. Will be back in London tomorrow Xx

To Imogen:
What? Why? Is it your leg? Have they said what it is? xx

From Imogen:
They think it's just a high ankle sprain but they've said I should come back to Arsenal for scans and stuff Xx

To Imogen:
What time does your flight get in at? I can pick you up from the airport if you let me know the details xx

From Imogen:
8:15. It's fine. You're still recovering from having Rory and it'll be late. I don't want you being out that late with the baby Xx

To Imogen:
I'll see you tomorrow, at the airport. Send me the details and have a safe flight xx