Saving U(S)

Chapter Eleven

"HOPE! HOPE! IT'S OKAY!! HOPE!! IT'S OKAY!! IT'S ME!! WAKE UP!!"

"Kelley! Stop shaking her!" A-Rod tried to pry the defenders hands from Hope's shoulders. "She's gone!"

"No! She's awake!!" Kelley protested. She broke away. "She-she's really awake...!"

A-Rod released her grip on Kelley and gasped as she saw Hope's eyes flutter open.

"Oh god," A-Rod whispered, tears coming to her eyes. "Oh.. God..."

"HOPE!" Kelley nearly screamed, throwing her arms around the keeper and hopping into her bed. "Hope, oh god, I-I thought we had lost you, and oh, Jesus, I don't know what I would've done!! Oh, Hope.. I love you so much..."

"I love you, too, Kelley," Hope rasped, her voice hoarse. "What's going on?"

By this point the doctors had entered the room, gasping and checking their clipboards.

"I-it can't be," one said, putting his hand to his mouth.

"Impossible...!" another marveled.

"Oh, Hope."

Kelley buried her face in Hope's chest.

"Please don't scare me like that ever, ever again."

Hope smiled weakly.

"Of course not," she responded, touching Kelley's head lightly, stroking her hair. "You're not getting rid of me that easy."

Kelley chuckled softly.

"I need to call Jill," A-Rod said out loud to no one in particular. She exited.

One by one, the doctors slowly drifted out of the room, murmuring in amazement and confusion.

Kelley snuggled up against the large keeper, pulling the covers up over them.

"I want to always wake up to you," she whispered.

"Don't worry," Hope whispered back. "You always will."

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"Well, that's a relief," Christen sighed into Julie, who was holding her against her chest. "At least one of us won't die."

Julie swallowed hard, still in disbelief that the young striker might not live to see 27. It killed her inside.

"You're not going to die," Julie tried to lie. Maybe lying to herself would make all of it less painful...

"Jules, no, it's fine," Christen murmured. "I'm not afraid anymore. No, well not too afraid, anyway."

Julie laid Christen back on the bed, brushing the stray hairs out of Christen's eyes.

"I love you, Christen Press," she said softly, gently squeezing her thigh.

"I love you too, JJ," Christen replied with a smile. "But don't sound so sad. There's still a chance that I'll make it."

Julie considered this for a moment, but, secretly, she doubted it.

"I sure hope you will," she finally said. "I won't rest until you do."

"Figuratively, I'm hoping," Christen said. "You need your sleep. You're exhausted."

Julie laughed.

"Just a little," she admitted.

"I just hope I can see Tobin before I go," Christen whispered, sleep starting to overtake her.

"You will," she heard Julie say. "You and Tobin will both be fine."

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"UGH!!" Alex screamed, slamming her fist on the hotel desk.

Servando quickly rushed over to his wife and wrapped her in a hug.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, it's okay," he assured her, stroking her hair. "It's okay, Alex. We'll find her."

"I-it's," Alex stuttered. She pulled back.

"It's not that, Servando."

"Then what is it?" he questioned. He sat down on the edge of the bed. "You can tell me anything 'Lex."

Lex.

Alex cringed at the nickname Tobin had usually called her. It killed her to hear Servando using it, especially with what she needed to tell him.

"Servando..." she started. "I love you so much.."

"I know babe," Servando got up and hugged her. "I love you, too."

"... But I need to tell you something..."

"Like I said, you can tell me anything..."

"It's going to hurt you so much..."

"Alex, I love you. Nothing could come in between us..."

"There's a reason why I didn't want you coming here..."

Servando stepped back and looked into Alex's teary eyes.

"What?" he asked, his voice rough.

"I- I.. I'm so sorry," Alex whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Alex...?"

"Servando..."

Silence hung heavily in the air as Servando stared at his wife. Alex was
sobbing now, but he didn't know if he should go and comfort her. He was torn.

"Alex, please," Servando said, firm, but gentle. "Tell me what's going on."

"I-I can't!!"

Alex pushed past him, out the door in seconds, leaving Servando confused and alone.

"What's going on?" he asked himself. "Did I do something wrong?"

Servando shook his head and hurried out the door after Alex. He needed to find her. He needed to know what was going on.