I choose me.

Part 35: I have to know he's okay

Speed. Block. Devastate. Speed. Block. Devastate. Music pulsed in her ears and Mulligan was in front of her, taping her hands. She watched him, so happy he'd come to Vegas, Murphy had come with him. No one talked to her, Crawford was behind his camera and Susan, Tyree and Murphy were on the couch talking. Once her hands were wrapped he grabbed her arm and shoulder, stretching her out. The past few months had been intense. When they got back from Hawaii she dialed in her diet, eating for power and strength, it was a struggle but Crawford had joined her for support, so that made it easier. They'd spend one whole day a week cooking and meal prepping. He'd been so good, she still worked out but it took a backseat to her training. Her sessions were longer and more intense, Susan had been coming to Anytime with her as well, then there was deep stretching and muscle recovery therapy. Crawford had to force her to do daily beach runs, which she hated, but it was good for her conditioning. Olivia was tight and lean and ready, she hoped. There was a lot riding on this 'final fight'. She knew Fred and Fitz were in the crowd, they'd gotten her a new fighting outfit and Beats sent her a new blue pair of headphones. She gave her other pair to a random teenager at the gym who was always in there busting his ass.

Her mind was guarded like a prison, distracting thoughts tried to burrow in, but she closed her eyes and pushed them out. Benny, Kevin and Mark were there, she tried not to think of the brief fight her and Crawford had had;

"So we're leaving the next morning right?" He asked her after their beach run, both sprawled out on the wet sand.

"I'd like to stay and watch the fights." She'd told him tensely. Tyree was doing the opening MMA-exhibition and Benny was closing the boxing line-up.

"Then let's watch Tyree and go." His face had become hard.

"Please, let's just watch the whole line up."

"I don't want to see him, I'm not sure why you do."

"I need to make sure he's okay after." It had been over a year since his last fight, but she knew the damage was still there, Crawford got up and shook the sand off of him.

"What if he isn't, what will you do?" She threw sand out in front of her.

"I don't know, I don't even want to talk to him, I just need to see he'll be okay." It was her most honest answer.

"I don't like it."

"I know"

"Stop thinking, I can see it" Mulligan lifted an ear of her headphones and spoke. She smiled and lay back on the table, relaxed as he pushed her leg toward her head. Herself and Tyree did light striking combos.

Olivia didn't hear what the ref said, she just stared at the big Russian girl and when the bell rang they went at it . Both were strong, but Victoria was big, Olivia got downed three times in the first five rounds.

"She's wiping the floor with you, you got to knock her out or you're going to lose." Mulligan snapped while Susan ran a cold rag over her face, she was bruised and her head felt fuzzy, she had to win.

"Get an upper body combo and finish with a knee or kick to the head." Susan squeezed her shoulder hard as the bell dinged again.

Last round, she felt like a slug, no energy, swollen eyes, sweat pooling under her. The crowd was insane. "It's now or never kid." The two beaten women danced around each other, both drained. Olivia took in deep gulping breaths and willed her body to do one last burst. Victoria dropped her long arms for a split second and Olivia took it, she threw a couple of knees into her middle then a hit to the face and a final leg kick out that connected with her jaw and she was down, not moving as the clock ticked.