Saving U(S)

Chapter Fifteen

Julie paced back and forth in the waiting room. She wasn't allowed in the radiation room while they were working on Christen, and if was driving her crazy not knowing how she was.

Carli was sitting in one of the chairs texting on her phone.

"Geez, chill Jay," she said, looking up from her pink iPhone 5c. "You're driving me nuts pacing like that!"

"Well, I don't know what to do!" Julie exclaimed, putting a hand to her forehead. "It's like I'm so excited and scared and frustrated and nervous and... Well, I don't know what!"

She stopped in the middle of the room.

"Car, I really don't know what to do," she sighed. "This is something I've never experienced before!" Then, more quietly. "It's driving me insane."

Carli got up and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"It'll be fine, Jay. The doctors know what they're doing, and Christen is strong. Everything will be fine."

"How can you know that Car?!" Julie almost exploded. "How can you know everything will be fine?! Christen is dying!"

"Julie, calm down!"

"I can't, Carli! I can't!"

Julie sank into one of the chairs and put her face in her hands.

"I'm scared, Carli," she moaned. "I'm really scared."

"Hey," Carli knelt in front of Julie and took her hands away from her face. "Hey, Jay. Look at me."

Julie looked Carli in the eye, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I'm here for you, baby. The whole team is here for you. We love Christen, and we want her to win, we really, really do. But.."

Carli searched her mind, trying to find the right way to say it.

"But, we need to be strong for her," she finished. "We need to be a team. And teams always help one another, right?"

Julie nodded, wordlessly.

"Good girl," Carli smiled, patting her knee and ruffling her hair. "You'll be fine."

A/N: I'm not shipping Julie and Carli; it's more of a mother/daughter thing. Ok I'm done.

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Morgan gulped and stared at the ground as she and Kling were escorted out of the building and through the crowd of paparazzi.

"Don't make eye contact," Kling whispered in her ear. "Don't say anything, don't answer their questions. Just keep your head down and keep walking."

"I am," Morgan hissed so fiercely it surprised the defender.

"Just trying to help," Kling muttered under her breath.

"Morgan!" a reporter called out. "What can you say about your irrational behavior in the Channel 5 news station?"

Before Morgan could even contemplate the question, the officer behind her jerked her in the other direction.

"You have the right to remain silent," he reminded her.

Morgan clenched her jaw.

"Morgan! Is it true that Megan Rapinoe is headed to a correctional facility as we speak?" the same reporter asked.

"Keep walking," the officer growled, pushing Morgan along.

Kling shot a death glare at the man. She hate how he was handling Morgan, with such arrogant force. It was undeserved and unfair.

They stopped in front of a cruiser with lights flashing red and blue.

"Get in," he commanded Morgan and Kling.

Kling slid in next to her friend, trying to flash a confident smile.

"We'll be fine," she lied.

Morgan turned away from her.

Kling sighed as cruiser rolled out. This was not looking good.

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"Kelley... I..."

Hope swallowed nervously and stared at the ground.

"Hope...?"

Kelley gently tugged at her sleeve.

"Are you okay? D-did you not want to.. Get married? Cause we don't have to, I just thought, that, maybe, well- I don't know..."

"Kelley.. I.. I don't know what to say.."

"Hope.. i-it was just a thought..."

"No, Kelley, it's not that.. I, uh.. I just need some time.. to think.."

Kelley watched Hope go back inside the hospital, tears brimming in the defender's eyes.

She doesn't want me.. a bitter voice spoke in the back of her head. She doesn't want to get married..

Kelley sat down on one of the benches, watching the lilies sway gently in the breeze. They were so beautiful.

She looked up. The sky was starting to cloud, rain was coming this way.

"I should go inside," Kelley said out loud to no one in particular.

After a moment, she stood from the bench, wiping the tears away, and took a deep breath.

"Okay. Whoo. Your good."

Once inside, she spotted Hope sitting at a table, staring at her phone.

Uncertainly, Kelley sat down across from her.

"Hey, Hope?" she asked softly, her voice cracking.

Hope looked up, surprised.

"Oh.. Hey, Kels.."

"Hope, I-I'm sorry," Kelley whispered, staring at the table. "I just thought.. Well, maybe-"

"Hey," Hope stopped her, taking her hand. "It's not you. I.. I'm just not sure that I'm ready for you... I mean, you know how I am.. You know what I did to Alex..."

She paused, and Kelley thought she saw the momentary glint of a tear.

"I just don't think you want to marry someone like me."

"You're right."

Hope looked up, honestly shocked and hurt.

"What?"

"You're right," Kelley repeated. "I don't want to marry someone like you. I want to marry you. Hope, I love you. Marriage isn't for people who get along just fine. There's going to be bumps, there's going to be some hurt feelings, but the thing about marriage is that it's a learning experience. Each hardship will bring us closer. I think we'd do just fine."

Hope let out a shaky breath.

"Thank god for you, Kelley O'Hara," she sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Helping me maintain my sanity."

"Soon to be Kelley Solo, right?"

Hope cracked a smile.

"Maybe," she thought. "Or maybe I'll be Hope O'Hara."

Kelley giggled.

"We'll figure it out, though, right?" Hope stroked Kelley's hand with her thumb. "We always do."

Kelley went over and sat on Hope's lap.

"We always do," she agreed. She pressed her lips against Hope's. "Fiancée."

"Fiancée," Hope grinned. She couldn't contain her excitement. They were getting married!