Saved By Carli

VI

Sage's POV

Today the team was heading to Cincinnati to play New Zealand again, so after breakfast we have to be down at the buses so we can get to the airport on time. Once everything is loaded on the bus we head to the airport. I sit next to Mal again and we talk for a bit till she gets a phone call. Looking up I see Tobin, Christen, Alex, and Carli all smiling at me. Well I guess Carli knows I like Mal. I hope they don't say anything because I don't want to be embarrassed.

We soon arrive at Denver airport and unload the bus. Once inside the airport we head to check in and get our tickets. After passing through security we walk toward the gate where our plane is.

The girls get hounded by a bunch of people. I didn't know there would be this many people here to see us off. Seeing all the people freaks me out and now I can't breath, move, or talk. Well here comes the big panic attack. Please let one of the team see me. Please...

- - - - -

Ali's POV

"Ash" I tap her arm to get her attention. "I think something is wrong with Sage. She's just standing there and it looks like she's breathing really hard." Ash looks at Sage and starts running toward her so I follow quickly behind her.

When we get to her she can't move, can't talk, her eyes are looking everywhere and her hand is twitching. Ash just pulls her into a big hug and starts talking to her. "Hey Sage your okay. Just breath alright. I got you." After a while she begins to calm down and is able to speak.

"Thank you" Sage says mumbling and looking down.

"Hey it's nothing to be ashamed of sweetheart. Do you need anything?" I say lifting her chin so she looks at me.

"Um is it possible to go to the plane right now?"

"Of course let's go."

"Wait two things first. One can we stop and get a drink my throat is parched and the second thing is kinda a strange request" Sage says.

Ash chuckles. "Of course we can and theres nothing you can't ask us Sage. Well somethings, but you get my point."

"Okay um can I hold hands with you two. It helps me to calm down and not have another panic attack, which is what just happened."

"Of course Sage." I say giving her my hand to hold as Ash does the same. "Well lets go get a drink and snacks for the plane ride then head to the plane."

Walking to the plane we stop at one of those Hudson News stores and get food and drinks to take. We then head to the plane and I stand with Sage while Ash talk to the gate agent about letting us on early. They agree and we head to our seats and Sage sits in between me and Ash.

I can tell Ash wants to talk about what went on, but she doesn't know what to say. I talk first, "Sweetie can you tell us what happened?" She nods.

"Yeah um it's hard for me to do big crowds so I had a panic attack and luckily you noticed or I'd still be stuck there. When I have a panic attack I freeze to one spot and can't move no matter how hard I try and then I just start looking around which is my way of trying to get someone's attention so they can help me and my breathing gets really rapid and heavy. So thank you for noticing."

"You okay now though right?" Ash asks.

She nods. "Yeah, but I'm gonna steal your girlfriend for the flight so I can sleep on someones shoulder and cuddle with someone to remain calm." She says with a smirk.

Ash narrows her eyes then replies. "Because I like you and I don't want Carli to get mad I will let you get away with that." Sage chuckles and cuddles up into me and falls asleep quickly.

"Well that was scary" I say and Ash nods. "Poor kid. Hopefully this stops soon."

The girls make their way onto the plane and are surprised to see us three sitting there. When Carli gets on she looks relieved which then turns to confusion which then turns to sadness and she stops to talk to us.

"Hey is she okay I couldn't find her till one of the girls called and said she was on the plane." Carli says and puts her hand on her daughters knee carefully as not to wake her up.

"She's good now, but she had a panic attack in the middle of the airport due to the crowd and I noticed and got Ash's attention and we went to help her out. Eventually she calmed down and asked to get a drink and food then come to the plane to get away from the crowd. Oh she also asked to hold are hands, which we obliged, because she says it helps her calm down and not have a panic attack. We've been on the plane ever since."

"Shit...okay well thank you for helping her out. I owe you guys big time." She looks at Ash who is looking down and hasn't said a word since Carli got here. "Hey Ash you alright?"

Ash looks up at Carli, "It was scary to see her have a panic attack. She looked so helpless. I didn't know what to do so I just did what I saw you do at the park and it helped a bit. I just didn't want her to feel alone." Her voice got shaky at the end.

Carli moves over to talk to Ash and grabs her hand. "Ash, it's okay. I know how your feeling. I feel the same way every time and it breaks my heart, but what makes it better is the feeling you helped her and when she hugs you back like her life depended on it. Ash I can't thank you enough for helping her today. Words can't describe how much I love you two for helping her. She's so lucky to have you and Ali." She hugs Ash, wipes the tears off her face, and turns to me, "Are you okay with her sitting with you two?" I nod. "Okay well then I'm gonna go find my seat and if y'all need anything don't hesitate to ask." Carli goes to stand up but turns to us one last time and says, "Thank you so much again. I don't know what I would do without you two."

When she leaves to find her seat I reach over to Ash and take her hand and look at her. I stroke her hand and she turns to look a me. Her eyes are red and puffy. She really does care for Sage, she loves this kid as do I. She's already impacted us so much and I'm so glad she is apart of our life.

Sage wakes up for a minute to get a drink and turns to look out the window but instead she see's Ash. She turns to Ash and cuddles with her for a little bit then says, "Ash I'm sorry this caused you pain, but you helped me more than you'll ever know. Thank you so much. I love you Ash. I love you too Ali."

"We love you to Sage." I say. Sage then leans into Ash and falls asleep soon.

Soon after Ash falls asleep with her arms around Sage. I take a quick picture because this is cute and I fall asleep not soon after.

- - - - -

Carli's POV

We land in Cincinnati and disembark the plane. When I get into the airport I see Sage talking with a few of the girls so I walk up to Ali, "Hey how was the rest of the flight?"

"Good. She woke up during the flight and cuddled with Ash, I will show you the picture I took later." We both look at Sage who's laughing and smiling with some of the girls causing both of us to smile.

"Well I really can't thank you two enough. I just hope this stuff subsides sometime. Oh how's Ash doing?" I say.

"She's good. When Sage woke up she talked to Ash and thanked her which calmed her down and they fell asleep in each other's arms." Ali says as Ash walks up.

"Thats good. Well I'm gonna go talk to her." I hug them both and walk toward Sage. She sees me walking toward her and she smiles at me. I walk up to her and hug her and kiss her head. We just stand there till it's time to head to the hotel. We are walking at the back of the group so I decide now is a good time to talk to her

"Hey you okay?" I ask

"Better now. I didn't mean to scare you. I just can't do big crowds."

"It's okay. I'm just lucky Ash and Ali saw you."

"Yeah......I didn't know how big of an impact I had on them till I saw Ash had been crying." She says looking at me.

"Yeah you've had quite the impact on all of us."

We reach baggage claim and get our bags and load them on the bus and head for the hotel. Once we got there we got room assignments which where the same as in Denver. We have an easy practice for an hour then we have the rest of the day off so most of us stay in our rooms till dinner. After dinner everyone pretty much goes to their room and falls asleep.