Breakfast In Bed

Trouble at FCKC

A yawn escaped Becky's lips when she ended her FaceTime call with Alyssa. The USWNT players had been back with their club teams for a week. The season openers were fast approaching. It always took her a few days to adjust to being alone in their bed, but she had finally started sleeping well. FCKC was looking hungry, and with A-rod and Syd both back up top they would be dangerous again. This could be the year they add their 3rd star. Well, it might have been before a wrench got thrown in their plans.

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At practice earlier that day, the team was ending with a small field scrimmage. Amy had gotten fed in by Desiree behind Yael and Becky, firing a shot from inside the 18-yard box towards the upper left corner. Barnie dove and stretched for the shot. She managed to palm the rocket shot over the bar but landed awkwardly on her left foot. She fell to the ground, gloved fist hammering into the dirt in frustration as she clutched it.

The veterans of the team all let out a sharp breath. The rookies held their breath. Yael was the first one to respond, running over and placing a loving hand on the Barnie's back. Leaning down, she whispered the question that was on everyone's mind.

"Nicole, did your knee pop?"

All she got in response as a slight nod of the goalkeeper's head. Yael raised her hand and gestured quickly for the medical staff to come over. Becky ran over to Barnie's other side and knelt. She brushed some of her escaped hair from the goalkeeper's face and saw the tears streaming. Vlatko kept the rest of the team back, not wanting to crowd the injured woman.

"Hey, hey roomie we don't know how bad it is. It could be just a strain. Don't get in your own head." Becky was doing her best to keep her long-time housemate positive.

"I know what I felt Becks." Barnie choked out. "Trust me. Talk to Vlatko. I'm done for the season. He needs to trade for someone."

"Alright...alright." Becky agreed to keep the woman calm. They could handle the future when they knew how bad the injury was.

It took the medical staff and Cat Parkhill combined to get Barnie up and carried to the inside of the practice locker room. She couldn't put any pressure on her left leg. Yael looked distraught, torn between following her or staying and attempting to finish practice.

"We have things here. It would be good to have someone with her to keep us updated on what's going on and I can't leave practice. Cat will come back because we need another keeper." Becky told her fellow center back. "Go on. Vlatko will understand."

That was all the convincing she needed. Her long legs made short work of the distance to the practice locker room. With Nicole taken care of, Becky approached her coach. They needed to figure out how they were going to finish practice.

"This is not good." Vlatko gave voice to what Becky already knew. "She has been carrying injuries since last season. Even if this is a strain, I would not want to rush her back."

"I know." Becky sighed and ran her hands over her fly away baby hairs, her brain running in multiple directions.

"We will finish light today. I know that everyone is worried about her." He continued. "I will discuss with Cat and you my next steps within the coming days. But today, we need to gather the team and refocus."

"I agree." Becky cracked her neck then turned to face the field. Everyone was still scattered from where they had clustered when Barnie went down, talking amongst themselves. She let out a shrill whistle to get the team's attention and gestured for them to circle around. Before she addressed them, the captain waited for Cat to rejoin them from the locker room. Vlatko spoke first upon her return. "I know this is injury was the furthest thing from all of our minds with our season opener approaching. But we must remain focused. Our medical staff will make sure that Nicole gets the very best of care. Her injury doesn't change that we have a game next weekend. We must focus and make every practice count."