The first few sessions passed with a strained atmosphere. Taylor tried to initiate small talk, her voice gentle, but Travis's responses were often short, laced with irritation. Taylor noticed that Travis avoided looking at himself in the mirror during physical therapy. It triggered a memory—of someone else who couldn't face themselves, who slowly slipped away until there was nothing left. She shook the thought off, focusing on the task at hand.
Taylor moved to adjust the position of Travis's knee as he lay back on the therapy bed. She decided to try something lighter this time while hoping to make some conversation.
"You know, I've been on the hunt for the best barbecue in the city. Got any recommendations?"
Travis blinked slowly, still staring at the ceiling. "No."
Taylor tilted her head, not giving up. "Come on, not even a place you used to hit up with your teammates after a big game?"
"No," Travis replied, a little more forceful this time.
Taylor frowned but kept her voice upbeat. "I guess I'll just have to find it on my own, huh?"
No response. Just the steady, rhythmic sound of Travis's breathing.
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When Travis misses a therapy appointment without any explanation, it immediately brings Taylor back to a time when she overlooked the signs. Taylor fears Travis is heading down the same path and resolves to reach out to him before it's too late.
As Taylor guided Travis through his routine, she tried again, this time shifting the conversation to a different topic.
"So, I finally watched The Godfather for the first time last weekend. Can't believe it took me this long. You a fan?"
Travis's gaze didn't shift from the window. His response came slow, deliberate. "No."
Taylor's smile faltered, but she pushed forward, refusing to let his resistance shut her down. "Really? Not even Part II? Most people say that one's even better than the first."
Nothing. Travis's hands rested loosely at his sides, his mind clearly elsewhere.
She bit her lip, mentally preparing for the next attempt.
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Taylor bent down to adjust the brace on Travis's leg, speaking up in what she hoped was a conversational tone.
"Your brother seems pretty great. I heard you guys were close. Do you have any good sibling stories?"
Travis sighed, his head leaning back against the chair. His tone was clipped, barely masking the frustration. "Not in the mood for small talk doc."
Taylor paused, her hands momentarily still as she waited for him to say something more. When it became clear he wouldn't, she pressed on.
"I bet you two got into some trouble growing up," she added, hoping to at least pull a smile from him.
"I said no, alright?" Travis snapped, his voice sharper than before. He immediately looked away, his fists clenching slightly, as if regretting the outburst.
Taylor paused, her hands still on his leg as she considered her next words. "I get it, Travis. This is hard. But you're not alone in this."
The silence that followed was thick, but Taylor noticed the way Travis's shoulders seemed to sag just a bit, the fight in him dimming but not gone.
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During a session with resistance bands, Taylor decided to take another approach. She had heard through Jason that Travis loved traveling with teammates during the off-season, so she tested the waters.
"If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?"
Travis didn't answer right away. He stared at the floor, his brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't engage. "Nowhere."
Taylor adjusted her grip on the band. "Not even a secluded beach or somewhere quiet?"
His voice was flat, emotionless. "No."
Taylor sighed softly, mentally preparing herself for the next attempt. "You're a tough crowd, you know that?"
He didn't even blink.
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One day after work, Taylor was supposed to have a girls' night with Selena and Blake. They shared some laughs and talked about each other's work, family, and love lives. But even as the conversation flowed around her, Taylor felt herself drifting, her thoughts pulling her back to the hospital, to Travis, and to a past she didn't want to revisit.
Selena and Blake noticed that Taylor was a bit off, exchanging glances but not saying anything at first.
Selena suddenly exclaimed, "So, Benny asked me out today!"
Blake almost choked on her wine. "No way, that chef guy you've been crushing on for months?"
Selena shrugged, smiling.
Blake leaned in eagerly. "Girl! Okay, when's the date? I need all the details, right Tay?"
Blake turned to Taylor, who was staring into space, lost in thought. Blake glanced at Selena in confusion, then sighed. "Tay?"
Taylor didn't respond, so Selena tried again, flicking her hand in front of Taylor's face. The gesture snapped Taylor back to reality. "Huh? Sorry, what?" she said, taking a sip of her wine.
Blake moved to sit next to Taylor, concern in her eyes. "Alright, Tay, what's going on with you? You've been out of it the whole evening. What happened?"
Taylor brushed it off, "It's nothing, Blake. Just had a few long days at work."
Selena chimed in, "Trust me, we know what your long days at work look like, and it's definitely not this."
Taylor sighed, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her. "Seriously, guys, you're making a big deal out of nothing. I'm fine, just need some sleep."
Blake wasn't convinced. "Why aren't you sleeping, Tay?"
Taylor's frustration bubbled up. "Blake, I said I'm fine. I'm not a kid."
Selena leaned forward, her tone gentle but firm. "You're not telling us something, Taylor. We know it, and you know it too."
Taylor's defenses crumbled slightly, her voice softening. "I just... I took on a case, an individual one, after a really, really long time. It's just getting to be a bit much to handle."
Blake's eyebrows shot up. "But you don't take patients anymore," she stated, more a fact than a question.
Taylor nodded, her voice low. "I made an exception for this guy. His brother and mother almost begged me. I couldn't say no."
Selena and Blake exchanged a glance, understanding dawning. They realized why this case was affecting Taylor so deeply, but before they could voice it, Taylor interrupted their thoughts. "It's not like that," she insisted, her tone almost pleading. "I'm fine."
They sighed, letting the subject drop for now. Blake said softly, "Look, Tay, we're not pushing it further because we know you don't want to talk about it. But we're just worried about you. We don't want you to go through that again."
Taylor forced a smile, her heart warmed by their concern. "I love you guys so much. And I promise, I'll take care of myself. Don't worry."
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I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can) - A Tayvis Story
Fanfiction"Please, talk to me," Taylor had begged, pacing the room, her heart pounding with fear. "Let me come over. We can get through this together." But he had refused, his words sharp, cutting. "No, Taylor. You can't fix this. You can't fix me." xxxxxxxxx...
