As Katie and Caitlin drove hand in hand to Stanford bridge, Katie turned to Caitlin, as if to examine her, she'd been nestling a niggle in her calf for a while now, well that's what Caitlin called it, she hated being injured, but Katie knew this "niggle" was more than that, and it worried her a bit. "How's your calf feeling" Katie asked as she rested her hand on Caitlin's thigh, "Yeh good" Caitlin replied not looking up, Katie sighed, "don't lie to me" Katie said sternly as she looked Caitlin in the eyes, "I can feel it, but it's manageable" Caitlin sighed, Katie didn't look away, "are you sure you should play" Katie asked softly, Caitlin scoffed, "there's no way I'm missing Chelsea because of a little bit of a sore calf" Caitlin said shaking her head, Katie still didn't look away, "you and me both know it's more than a little bit sore" Katie replied removing her hand from Caitlin's though annoyed. Caitlin looked at her, " if it gets bad I'll come off, until then, I'm playing this game" Caitlin said sternly as to which Katie slowly nodded.
When the warm ups came around Katie watched Caitlin like a hawk, she was in pain, not to the blind eye, but clear as day to Katie. "You're in pain" Katie said as she walked up behind Caitlin, "It's bearable" Caitlin replied as she ran away, Katie just sighed. When the warm up finished, Katie followed Caitlin in, "go get it checked quickly" Katie said as she sat next to Caitlin who was secretly massaging her calf, "What no" Caitlin replied knowing she won't get to play if she did, "So you know it's bad than" Katie said crossing her arms as she watched Caitlin wince at her own massaging, "yeh, it's bad, which means one little game isn't going to do any more damage" Caitlin replied looking up at Katie, "What kind of logic is that" Katie replied half smiling at Caitlin's words, "the logic that is going to get me on the field" Caitlin replied as she stood up to re do her hair, "Fine, but promise me you'll come off if it's unbearable" Katie asked, although she doubted Caitlin would ever let herself come off, "yeh promise" Caitlin said smiling.
As the game began Caitlin tried to keep her cool, although deep down her calf was pulling tightly at every little step, every kick felt like she'd just been stabbed in the calf, she'd never felt this type of pain before. At one point she did a long kick up the wing, winching as she landed, Katie watched as Caitlin limped past her, "You need to go off" Katie said sternly, Caitlin just shook her head, it was the 39th minute, 6 minutes until halftime, she could wait til then. As the ball came back to her she dribbled past two Chelsea players before handing it off to Alessia, normally Caitlin would run down the wing to receive the next pass, but she didn't, and Instead, Alessia passed the ball through straight to the other team, she looked back at Caitlin who was standing still, Caitlin put up her hand as if to say sorry, before finally sitting down. She wasn't playing her best, she knew that, she'd wasted chances because she quite frankly couldn't run after them, her pain was unbearable and she was letting the team down staying on. As the ref called the medics over, Katie ran past her, "Is it just your calf" Katie asked worried something else might've happened, Caitlin smiled and nodded, "Yeh I'm all good" Caitlin replied as she watched Katie run off to the team huddle.
At half time Katie walked up to Caitlin sitting beside her, "Did you get it checked" Katie asked worried, Caitlin nodded, "a complete tear" she said quietly, "how long are you out" Katie asked again, Caitlin shrugged, "depends on how well my rehab goes they said, could be a week, could be 10" Caitlin replied with her head down, Katie wrapped her arm around her, "You'll be back before you know it" Katie said softly into Caitlin's ear, "I think I care more about missing this game than anything else" Caitlin mumbled to Katie who smiled and kissed her lips swiftly so no one would see, "I'm proud of you for coming off" Katie said quietly, Caitlin couldn't help but smile at Katie's words, she nodded slowly as she leaned into Katie touch.
After half time Caitlin sat on the bench covered in blankets, the chilly air around her suffocating her from her thoughts that were eating her alive. She hated being on the bench, especially for big games like Chelsea. Renae walked up to Caitlin, sitting beside her, "just got the news, I'm sure that's extremely painful Caitlin, I wouldn't of played you if I knew it was to that extent" Renae said as she side hugged Caitlin, "It's not that bad, only got painful towards the end, I really wanted to play today" Caitlin said staring at the field before her, "You'll be back out there in no time, don't rush the recovery, let it come naturally" Renae said as she squeezed Caitlin's shoulder and walked away, Caitlin slumped herself back in her chair, her hoodie covering her face as she continued watch the game. In the 70th minute a penalty got given to Chelsea, Caitlin watched as this spiked Katie's anger, she knew nothing was stopping her from taking that out on the ref, Caitlin winced as she saw a red card go up. Katie hadn't seen it yet, but when she did Caitlin saw the hurt that quickly sprung across her face, although almost immediately it was replaced by anger, as she walked off she had words to the other refs before aggressively kicking a ball in her way. Caitlin flinched at the sound, she watched as Katie got taken inside, following swiftly behind. When she got inside she was met with a red face, angry Katie, pacing back and forth in the change room with one of the staff trying to calm her down, when the staff member saw Caitlin at the door she smiled before leaving the two alone. Katie didn't look, her eyes fixated on the floor as she walked back and forth, kicking things that got in her way. Caitlin slowly approached her, wrapping her arms comfortably around her from the side, "you need to calm down Katie. I know this sucks and you didn't deserve it, but being angry after it's already happened isn't going to change anything" Caitlin said slowly into Katie's ear, Katie went to say something back, presumably argue her point, but as she opened her mouth her voice broke, and her eyes filled with tears, Caitlin tighten her grip as she sat katie down, "Hey, your okay, it's just you and me, your allowed to cry" Caitlin than said as she watched Katie use all her might to hold back the tears threatening to fall, finally Katie gave in as she leaned into Caitlin's chest and broke down. Caitlin held her tight as she rubbed comforting circles on her back, "I didn't mean it, how was that a red, I didn't do anything, everyone's going to hate me" Katie replayed over and over in between cries, Caitlin just held her tight, "No ones going to hate you kates, it was a bad call" Caitlin said in hopes of calming Katie down, although it only made her more angry, "You have to say that, your my girlfriend I let the team down and you know it, I'm so stupid" Katie continued to put herself down, breaking Caitlin's heart, "No" Caitlin said finely as she cupped Katie's face with her hands to make her look at her, Katie finally looked up with teary eyes, "I'm not talking to you as your girlfriend, I'm talking as a teammate, You made a mistake, you got caught up in the game, and you had every right to be mad at the call, it was horrendous, your not stupid, your passionate about the game you love, you didn't let the team down, the penalty was already given, you couldn't change that, the girls won't be mad at you, I know your disappointed, and it's okay to be, I'm here for you kates, I love you" Caitlin said slowly and sternly, Katie looked at her, her eyes still watery as she played back the last 10 minutes in her head, her anger finally fading as she leaned into Caitlin's embrace "Not sure you say that to your teammate" Katie said softly, Caitlin smiled at she kissed Katie's head, "I loved you when you were just a teammate" Caitlin said smiling making Katie's heart flatter, "I going to miss 2 games cait" Katie said quietly, Caitlin brushed her fingers through Katie's hair, "You were likely to be rested for Bristol anyway kates, your exhausted, maybe having 2 games off isn't a bad thing" Caitlin replied quietly, Katie shook her head, "I'm missing the man city game" Katie mumbled angrily, "Me too" Caitlin said quietly making Katie realise how selfish she was being, she made a decision that led to her missing out on 1 maybe 2 games, and here Caitlin was comforting her, when shes just found out she'll be out for up to 10 weeks, because of an injury she couldn't control "I'm so sorry cait, you don't deserve that" Katie said quietly as she felt guilty, Caitlin smiled, "It's life kates, I don't think you deserved your red either, but that's out of our control" Caitlin said softly as she kissed Katie's lips, soon after both girls heard the final whistle, Caitlin went to stand up, "I'm not going out there" Katie mumbled, Caitlin squeezed her hand, "I don't expect you to, go have a shower and by the time I'm back we can leave" Caitlin replied giving Katie a kiss before walking out to the field. Renae walked up to her, "How mad is she" Renae asked Caitlin who hesitated, "More upset" Caitlin said making Renae sigh, "Don't let her beat herself up" Renae said smiling as she walked away, Caitlin nodded before walking up to Beth and Alessia, "How's McCabe" Beth asked as she wrapped and arm around Caitlin, "Not great" Caitlin said smiling as she hugged Alessia. "What about you, how's the calf holding up" Alessia asked gesturing to the ice on Caitlin's calf, Caitlin just looked at her, "Not great" she said again slightly smiling, "Looks like we'll be on the bench together for a bit" Caitlin than said making the two girls laugh, "You really can't get away from each other can you" Beth joked as she nudged Caitlin.
After thanking the fans, Caitlin walked slowly in with Beth and less, Katie had showered and was sitting in her cubby with her head down, the team had walked in, no one said a word to Katie, worried she was still angry, Caitlin went and sat beside her, "You ready to go" she asked softly, Katie looked up finally, she looked around the room, feeling guilty, "They don't blame you Kates, just apologies and everyone will move on" Caitlin said smiling as she pulled Katie up, "I'm sorry for letting the team down, I should be able to control my emotions and not lose my shit, I know I need to be better, I'll change the way I act on the pitch, sorry" Katie said just loud enough for the team to hear, a few girls nodded whilst others walked over to Katie, "You didn't let the team down, don't blame yourself" Leah Williamson said as she hugged Katie, "It was a rough call Katie, you'll be back, we don't want you to change" Beth than said as she joined the hug, a few others said encouraging words to Katie who was clearly beating herself up, Caitlin smiled as she watched her team comfort Katie. As Caitlin and Katie were walking out Renae stopped them, "I heard you apology...I didn't like it" Renae said making Katie look up confused and a little hurt, she didn't know how else to apologise to the team, just as Caitlin was about to go off a Renae and stick up for Katie, Renae spoke again, "The way you act on the pitch makes Arsenal who we are, the last thing I want you to take out of todays game is that you need to change, or be better, your one of a kind McCabe, the call was rough today. And yeh your a hot head who sometimes gets ahead of herself, but that makes you the fiery player I want in my starting 11, the player I want to captain the girls with Kim and Leah, your a leader Katie. Don't beat yourself up, and definitely do not change the way you play" Renae said sternly, Katie smiled slightly as she nodded, "thank you" she said quietly as Renae hugged her, "Anytime Katie, I want to see you back in training on Monday with more fire in your stomach than ever" Renae said as she walked away. Caitlin looked to Katie whose body was way less tense since apologising to the girls and talking to Renae, she wrapped an arm around her, holding her tight, "I love you kates" Caitlin said softly as she rested her head on Katie's shoulder, "I love you too, thank you for today cait" Katie said as they approached there car, Katie turned her head to kiss Caitlin's lips softly. Caitlin smiled as she pulled away before the two drove home.
They snuggled up together on the couch that night, Katie had got Caitlin ice for her calf and pillows to keep her leg elevated, she gave her pain relief, before making her favourite dinner. The two ate as they watched a movie Caitlin had picked out, although Caitlin knew Katie wasn't watching, instead she was sat scrolling on her phone, reading every single hate comment made about her, believing every one. Caitlin sighed as she grabbed Katie's phone, "You can't believe them" Caitlin said to Katie who had teary eyes, "But there all right, I'm a terrible person who can't control their emotions " Katie mumbled back, Caitlin moved her body closer, "Yeh okay they watched you get a red card for a silly, avoidable thing, but they don't know you outside of football, you are the furthest thing from terrible person and it breaks my heart that you think that because of all these people. Katie your going though something really hard, getting a red card is heartbreaking for anyone, you just played a really physically and mentally draining game, but despite all that you still came home and looked after me, made sure I was okay, made me dinner, you always put others first, when you yelled at the ref who were you looking out for, kim, and the team, your the most selfless person I know and I love that about you, if these people can't see that, then there not worth listening to anything else about, don't let them get to your head, promise me that, okay" Caitlin said softly as she wiped some of Katie's stray tears. Katie nodded slowly as she leaned into Caitlin's side, "I don't deserve you cait" Katie said quietly, Caitlin kissed her forehead gently, "you deserve so much more, and I'm going to remind you that every time you forget, I love you kates, so fricken much" Caitlin replied as Katie lifted up her head for Caitlin to kiss her lips softly, when she pulled away Katie snuggled into her chest, "I love you too" Katie said quietly as the days events finally caught up to the two and soon they were sound asleep snuggling on the couch..
A/N- just a disclaimer at the time I didn't know Caitlin's injury yet, so the torn calf is completely made up, hope you enjoy x
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McFoord One-Shots
FanfictionMcfoord stories ,all made up. Feel free to send through your ideas and I'll try to get them out x
