Knocked Out

               The last thing Julie can remember is going up for a header during the second half of their home game against Portland. The Red Stars were battling hard and needed a goal to start their comeback. In the current moment, she was trying to figure out why Danny was holding her to the ground. The defender could see that Danny was speaking, but she couldn't figure out what she was saying.

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All Christen could do was watch as the scene in front of her unfolded like a terrible car wreck. The forward was holding up on the edge of the 18-yard box, prepared to pounce on any loose balls. She saw Julie rise to meet Vanessa's curving corner. A split second later Allie Long jumped in attempt to block the blonde and clear the ball. Christen stared, horrified as the two blondes knocked heads with a loud crack and crumpled to the ground. A high pitched, screeching shriek had torn from her chest as her brain attempted to process what she just witnessed.

In the time it took for the forward's brain to process what happened and yell at her feet to move, midfielder Danielle Colaprico was the first one to reach Julie. Allie is rolling around on the ground, cursing quietly as she holds her head. The Chicago defender isn't moving. The brunette dropped to her knees and put a hand on Julie's chest to ensure she is in fact breathing. Forward Sofia Huerta, seeing Danny's actions, yelled for the medic as Sinclair helped her teammate up and off to the side. The last of the Red Star's three amigas, Arin Gilliland organized the team into a protective circle around their down player and the center referee. Christen crashed through everyone to reach her girlfriend's side. She cupped the blonde's face gently whilst doing her best to hold back tears.

"Please JJ wake up for me. Let me see those gorgeous blue eyes again. Please baby I need you. Look at me." Christen's voice grew more desperate with each word she spoke to Julie. Her heart raced every second that her eyes remained shut. Alyssa Naeher stepped into the circle and drew Christen's attention away by taking the forward's free hand and placing it on her chest.

"Come on Chris mimic my breaths Jules is going to need you calm when she wakes up. She will need her Christen." Alyssa knew she couldn't tear her friend away but that Christen needed to stay calm if she wanted others to let her stay with Julie.

During the time that Christen is returning her breathing to semi-normal levels by matching Alyssa's breaths, those big blue eyes open and land on Danny. Julie for the life of her cannot figure out why Danny is fuming. A warm hand cups her face and her eyes dart to meet the warm, brown, tear filled eyes of her Christen. The blonde starts to panic when she still cannot hear what her girlfriend is telling her coupled with the fear covering Christen's face. Before she can attempt to sit up and reassure the forward that everything will be alright, the medics have finally made it onto the field and start loading her onto a backboard. They shine bright lights into her eyes as she struggles to keep they open. Good lord her head is pounding, she thinks. Her eyes give her only glimpses of Christen ripping off the captain's band and giving it to.... who is that.... if only she could get a closer look.

The forward doesn't stop while the paramedics wheel Julie down the tunnel to their ambulance. She rips off the captain's band and tosses it at Vanessa. Coach Rory, she thinks is yelling at her just to go, that the team will be right behind them, but she honestly isn't sure and quite frankly Christen doesn't give a damn. Sprinting down the empty tunnel, Christen catches up to her paramedics as they are loading her girlfriend into the ambulance. When she is secure, one of the men extends his hand to pull Christen inside. As soon as she is seated, she takes the limp hand of her girlfriend and refuses to let go as they stabilize her and start some fluids. Christen keeps her head bowed, quietly praying to any higher power who will listen.