me and him - an nick daicos story

part forty six - fucking idiot

A/N- (Since I've has so much time on my hands, I added more effort so it's going to be a lot better story line now, DWWW. Also changed some formating, of calls, messages, NICKNAMESSSS, just 100% better quality, since I kinda feel off for a bit #authorsblock BUT WE BACK BABY)

1 month later-

The plane's gentle hum did little to quiet my racing thoughts as I stared out the window at the clouds below. Perth. The last time I was on a plane for a game, things were supposed to be different. My season had started with so much promise, but it all went to hell fast. The knee injury had been the first blow a bad tackle that took me out for weeks. Just when I was starting to feel like myself again, the concussion hit. I still remember the sickening thud, the dizziness that followed, and the way the lights seemed too bright as I tried to get up. That was it season over. The doctors told me to take it easy, rest, and not rush back.

"Take it easy." I could practically hear their voices echoing in my head, and it still pissed me off. As if they had any idea how much it killed me to watch my team from the sidelines, to see them fight while I sat there useless. But that was then. This time was supposed to be different. I had put in the work grueling hours in rehab, strengthening my knee, building up my resilience, and getting my head right. I was ready, or at least I hoped I was.

I turned my attention away from the window and glanced at my phone. There was a text from Nick waiting for me.

Nick: "Good luck today, G. Wish I could be there. Smash it out there, yeah?"

I couldn't help but smile. Nick had been my rock through all of this. He knew better than anyone how much last season's abrupt end had gutted me. We talked about it late at night, lying in bed with the city lights flickering outside the window. He'd rub my back while I vented, listened when I needed to cry, and reminded me over and over that I'd come back stronger.

I tapped out a quick reply.

Me: "Thanks, babe. I'll give it everything I've got. Miss you already."

I hit send and sighed. Nick was still in Melbourne, getting ready to head to Sydney for the Swans game. As much as I hated being away from him, I knew we both had jobs to do. He understood what it meant to be an athlete, the pressure, the highs, and the brutal lows. And right now, all I could think about was proving to everyone hell, to myself that I wasn't just some player who couldn't catch a break. But I'm going to show Fremantle what I was made of.

By the time we landed in Perth, I was more than ready to get off the plane. My legs ached to move, to stretch out after being cramped in a seat for hours. We grabbed our bags and headed straight for the hotel, a mix of chatter and laughter filling the bus as we made our way through the city. The team felt good. We were in sync, and there was a sense of determination in the air. This was more than just a pre-season match, it was a statement. We were ready to show the league that Collingwood was a force to be reckoned with.

Game day came fast. I pulled on my boots, feeling the familiar weight of the jersey as I adjusted it on my shoulders. The locker room was buzzing with energy, but I kept to myself, focusing on the task ahead. My knee twinged slightly as I stood, a reminder of the past, but I shook it off. I was ready.

We hit the field, the roar of the crowd washing over us like a wave. Fremantle had a strong side, but we were here to make our mark. The whistle blew, and we were off. The first half was brutal, bodies colliding, the ball moving fast across the field. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through me as I chased down every play, my knee holding up, my mind sharp.

Midway through the second half, I saw my chance. The ball was loose, and I sprinted forward, my focus narrowing to just that moment. I didn't see the Fremantle player coming from the side until it was too late. There was a sharp pain, and then I was on the ground. My knee buckled underneath me, and I knew. The pain was immediate, searing through my leg like fire. I screamed, clutching my knee, trying to will the pain away, but it was relentless.

The medics were on me in seconds, their faces a blur as they tried to calm me down, to assess the damage. I barely heard them. All I could think about was that I had just come back, just gotten to a point where I felt like myself again, and now this? I was being lifted onto a stretcher, the stadium lights blinding as I was carried off the field.

Back in the locker room, the reality of what had just happened started to sink in. The pain was still there, throbbing in my knee, but the shock was beginning to wear off, leaving behind a hollow sense of dread. I couldn't believe it. After everything I'd been through last season, after all the work I'd put in to get back on the field, it was happening again.

A doctor came in, his expression grim as he examined my knee. "It looks like an ACL tear, Georgia," he said softly. "We'll need to get you in for scans, but it's not looking good."

I just stared at him not even caring he called me Georgia I just felt, numb. An ACL tear. The words echoed in my head, almost meaningless in the face of the shock and disbelief. This was supposed to be my comeback, my chance to prove that I wasn't just some player who couldn't catch a break. But now, it felt like the universe had other plans, which is to end my season once again.

My phone buzzed on the bench next to me, and I picked it up with trembling hands. It was Nick, calling from Melbourne. I didn't even know how to start the conversation, how to tell him that my season might be over before it even began.

"Georgie?" His voice was full of concern.

"Nick..." I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "I think I've done my ACL."

There was silence on the other end, the weight of my words hanging in the air. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, full of the pain I felt in my chest. "Fuck, Georgie... I'm so sorry."

"I don't know what to do," I admitted, tears welling up in my eyes. "I just... I can't believe this is happening."

"I wish I was there with you," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "But listen to me, G. You're strong. You've come back from worse. I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but you'll get through this. We'll get through this."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me, the tears spilling over now. "I just... I worked so hard to get back here, Nick. I don't know if I can do it again."

"You can," he said firmly. "And you will. You've got me, and you've got your team. We'll do whatever it takes."

I closed my eyes, letting his words wash over me. It didn't make the pain go away, didn't change the reality of what had just happened, but it helped. Just knowing he was there, even from a distance, made me feel a little less alone.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. The team doctor arranged for scans, and I was scheduled to fly back to Melbourne the next day. As I sat in the hotel room that night, my knee wrapped in ice, I couldn't help but think about the road ahead. Another long recovery, more time on the sidelines, more fucking setbacks. It was overwhelming, but I knew one thing for sure I wasn't done yet. Not by a long shot.

But for now, all I could do was take it one day at a time.

-

A/N- I KNOW I SAID MONDAY, but I just went crazy and started writing. HOPEFULLY YOU LIKE THE NEW FORMATING OF MY WRITING, I've been working on changing how I write for a while and this seems a lot less all over the place. please let me know if you like the new format cause if not i will happily go back to the old one. it would mean the world if you could comment and suggestions ideas you may have for me and it would also mean so much if you could vote as well. let get to 17k viewssssss!!!!! as i always say i love you all so much and enjoy readinggg lovelies!!! 💋