McFoord One-Shots

Play Through it - Pt 3

The next couple of weeks were tough on both girls, Katie shut her self out for a while, really struggling without football, Caitlin felt lost without Katie and didn't know how to help her. Although now here they were, sitting in the parking lot of Katie's first proper training back since her injury. Caitlin smiled as she placed a comforting hand on Katie's thigh, "You excited" Caitlin asked smiling, Katie hesitated, "Uh..yeh" she spoke unconvincingly, Caitlin gave her a confused look, Katie had been counting down the days for this moment, and now she didn't even seem excited. "What's wrong" she asked as she placed her hand on Katie's face to make her look at her, Katie sighed, "nothing, let's just go" she said as she got out of the car and walked towards the centre. Caitlin was used to Katie shutting her out by now, but as she followed Katie in she couldn't help but feel worried.

When Katie got to the changing rooms she got changed before walking straight out to the pitch, talking to no one. Beth who noticed immediately walked up to Caitlin, "Isn't she training with us today" Beth asked confused, Caitlin sighed, "Yeh she is" she spoke as she continued to get ready, "I thought she'd be a bit more keen" Beth said as she took as seat next to Caitlin, "Yeh me too, I don't know what's up with her, she doesn't talk to me" Caitlin admitted quietly, "She's probably just nervous, I know I was when I came back" Beth smiled as she put her comforting hand on Caitlin shoulder, "I just wish she would talk to me though, instead of shutting me out" Caitlin replied as she looked up to blink away the tears that were threatening to fall, "This is how she process her emotions, just be there for her, she does appreciate it" Beth said as she held out her hand for Caitlin's take before they walked out to the field. They both walked up to Katie, "You ready" Beth asked as she wrapped an arm around her, Katie looked at Caitlin noticing her teary eyes instantly, "Are you okay" Katie asked completely ignoring Beth's question, Caitlin looked down, Beth patted Katie's back before walking over to another group, leaving the two to talk "What's wrong" Katie asked as she stepped closer to Caitlin who was now wiping her lose tears that fell, "I'm worried about you" Caitlin admitted quietly, Katie just looked at her, "Why, I'm okay" Katie said as she wiped Caitlin's tears, "Your not, I know that, and I hate that you don't talk to me" Caitlin said her voice cracking as more tears started to fall out of frustration, Katie sighed as she walked Caitlin back inside, Caitlin wiped her tears, "Katie we have to train" she said angrily, trying to go back out to the pitch "No, this is more important" she said sitting down before patting the seat next to her, Caitlin slowly sat down, before Katie started. "I um, I don't think I'm ready to come back yet, I wanted it so bad, but I can't even make it through a rehab training on my own, I'm afraid if I tell them they'll think I'm weak or lying, because I should be back, I just..I don't know why it still hurts" Katie admitted quietly as she voice cracked and her eyes became glassy, Caitlin moved her body closer as she wrapped her arms around her, "No one thinks your weak, not even close, there's no time limit on an injury, everyone's body is different, I'm proud of you for listening to your body, don't rush yourself back, come back when your ready" Caitlin said as she wiped Katie's tears and kissed the top of her head, "I'm worried about telling Renae" Katie than said into Caitlin's shoulder, Caitlin smiled slightly at Katie opening up, "What if I went and got her now, I could stay with you while you told her" Caitlin asked, Katie looked up and smiled before nodding slowly, "I'll be back then" Caitlin said as she kissed Katie's head again and walked back out to the pitch over to Renae, "Caitlin, there you are, where's Katie isn't she supposed to be back out here today" Renae asked, Caitlin sighed, "Um that's actually what I wanted to talk to you about, would you mind?" Caitlin asked as Renae nodded and smiled before following Caitlin inside. Caitlin walked to the room Katie was in and sat beside her, Renae looked at the two confused, "How can I help girls" Renae asked smiling, Katie took a deep shaky breath, "I um, I don't think I'm ready to return to trainings and games yet" Katie said quickly and quietly as she picked at the skin around her fingers, Caitlin grabbed Katie's hand to stop her, "That's no worries at all, I'll have a talk to your physio and get another plan set for the next few weeks, than we'll go from there" Renae said smiling before standing up and patting Katie's back and walking back out to the pitch, both girls sat in silence before Katie spoke, "Thankyou, for everything" she said quietly, Caitlin smiled and squeezed Katie's hand, "You don't need to thank me, you would do the same, I love you so much" Caitlin said as she kissed Katie's lips softly, "I love you too" Katie replied after she pulled away.

The next few weeks Katie continued her rehabs until her body felt up to training, it was hard but with Caitlin by her side through it all, she got through and could finally return to games, stronger than before.