Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
~DEX~
Idon’t why I promised her that everything would be alright before I even laid a hand on her, assessed her knee or checked for swelling. I only knew two things; one, it was Amelia that was lying there bawling like that, and two, that she was in a lot of pain.
“I’m going to check out your knee,” I tell her, leaning over her and moving her hand away. I can feel the team closing in around me. I tell everyone to give us some space, but no one is moving. I find Mac in the crowd and call to her, “Mac! Can you back everyone up?”
She nods vigorously and I can see the worry written all over her face. But she guides the team away from Amelia and tells them to stand back.
Coach Watts jogs out onto the field. “What’s the prognosis?”
I sigh. “I have no idea. But she’s swelling already, so that is not a good sign. I need to get her off this field to really examine her.”
Watts nods and gets up to talk to the ref who is standing nearby.
I look around and then back to Amelia. Her face is tear-stricken, and the tears keep on coming.
I hate this. There’s an ache building in my chest because I know she is in so much pain.
The last hit that she took didn’t take her out like this. And I keep hearing her call for me.
She called for me.
It makes me think she needed me and not just because I am the trainer but because she was hurt and I am the one who can comfort her.
God, I hope I can fix it. I don’t want to be the one who has to tell her that something in that knee is hurt to the point that it will take her out for the rest of the season and playoffs.
Although from what I can tell, it’s a definite possibility.
I look around the field and see that Lucas isn’t coming with the cart.
Before I took off to the field, I radioed to him that we had an injured player, and she would have to be taken off by the cart.
Normally, it’s at the field but it was used to transport an elderly person to the parking lot. I can’t wait anymore.
“Fuck it,” I say to no one. “Amelia, I’m going to pick you up now, okay? I’m taking you to the training room, so I can see this knee better and we can get some ice on it immediately.”
Slowly and carefully, I lift her up off of the turf. I hear someone shout my name, but I don’t give a fuck. She’s getting off this field and onto my table. Amelia is still quietly sobbing as I carry her.
“It’s going to be okay, Amelia, I’ve got you.” I move briskly across the field, feeling the whole stadium’s eyes on me as we go into the tunnel and into my training room.
“Langley! Wait for the cart!” I hear who I think is Coach Watts screaming after me.
But I don’t care. I don’t stop moving across the field. I need to get her to my table so that she can stretch out, place some ice on it and try to get her comfortable enough to move it around.
“It hurts so bad,” she moans in my arms.
It’s not the type of moan that I like to hear from women because this one pains me. I’m worried something is torn inside that knee. It would make sense given the screams and the agonized look on her face.
“We are almost there, and I can look and see if I can give you something to take the edge off of that pain.”
“You’re not a doctor,” she reminds me, choking out the words. Her hair is all sweaty and matted from playing. But her brow is drawn tight, in pain and her hands have never let her knee. She keeps holding it.
I look down into her vulnerable brown eyes, and I feel my own heart breaking for this poor girl. Her face is contorted in pain. I’d do anything to make that go away right now.
“I’m a physician’s assistant. I can prescribe you medication,” I tell her.
“No, you’re a sports trainer.” She grins at me to lighten the moment.
“Yeah, well, I’m a bit more than that. I’m a physician’s assistant who loves sports, and this is what I chose to do.”
“Well, then it’s good your here because I need something.”
“I’m sure you do.”
We make it into the training room. Thank god the lights are on a motion sensor, and I don’t have to try and maneuver a free hand to do it myself. I place her gently on the table.
“Do me a favor and try to relax. I know you’re in pain, but it’s going to be easier to examine you if you’re not all tensed up.”
“How is she?” Coach Andie comes rushing into the training room.
“I don’t know yet. I got her here,” I snap. I look over and see her bristle from the sharp response. “I’m sorry,” I say quickly. “I’m really worried about her.”
“We all are,” she replies softly. “Do you have any contacts over at BayCare?”
My brow furrows. “What’s BayCare?”
“The local orthopedic hospital,” she says lowly.
“Oh, sorry, I haven’t looked up the hospitals here yet.” Embarrassment flushes through me. I should have done that sooner.
“No, you’re good. I came here to see if I could help at all.” I look and find Andie’s eyes are frantically searching Amelia.
“I’m good.”
I slip into business mode and begin getting her an ice wrap so that I can maybe get some of that swelling down to see what we are dealing with.
On my first glance I can see that her knee has turned red in color and has already become swollen.
I think that this means that there is definitely something torn in there.
I need to be sure. I place the ice wrap over her knee.
“Just take deep breaths in and out,” I tell Amelia. I fight the urge to bend down and kiss her forehead.
Amelia looks up at my green eyes, hers filled with tears, and she nods and sniffles.
I head over to my medicine cabinet, punch in my code and open it.
Thankfully, because I’m a PA, I was able to have this here.
It’s locked so that Lucas cannot access it because he doesn’t have the right credentials.
I pull out the prescription ibuprofen and head back over the table.
Andie has already fetched her a bottle of water from the fridge.
“Thanks.” I take it and turn towards Amelia.
“Okay, honey, I’m going to need you to swallow these.
Then I’m going to check out the knee and see how bad it is.
” She nods, her eyes looking at me, and I can see the question that is on her mind.
The same one that any athlete in her position would be thinking: How bad is it?
When will we know how long until I can play again?
I’ve seen that look on many faces of professional football players who had worse or lesser injures than Amelia right now.
Either way, whatever message I have to deliver is not one that I’m looking forward to.
“I’ll let you know what we’re dealing with as soon as I move this knee around a bit, okay?” Another small nod from her.
There’s a loud roar of the crowd coming from the stadium.
The noises that can be heard in here aren’t many unless the crowd is going wild, apparently.
I’m normally out on that field watching the girls and praying that I’m not needed.
But tonight, I was and by the last player I’d ever hoped would be on my table like this.
“You’re going to be okay, but let me move this a bit, okay?” I tell her, my hand on her leg just below the knee. I instantly feel her tense at my touch. “You’ve gotta keep this relaxed, or else it’s going to hurt a lot worse.”
“Dex,” my name spills from her lips and it sounds so strained. It kills me.
“It’s going to be alright.” I tell her because it will be. I’m going to get her the best care.
“What’s the prognosis?” Coach Watts comes barreling into the room.
“We don’t know yet,” Andie tells him.
“How do you not know that yet?” Watts asks, sounding more than a little annoyed with me.
“Because I’m trying to get her comfortable in here before I start moving that knee around.
” I step away from Amelia and head over to where he’s standing.
I go toe-to-toe to him. “I am not going to dive right into putting her in more pain. Look at her face, that is one scared girl on that table and that knee hurts like a bitch right now. So, yeah, I’m taking my sweet time getting that knee moved around. ”
He stares at me. I see him inhale and exhale. He might be counting to ten for all I fucking know. I don’t know the guy that well to be sure. I hope I haven’t caught myself on his bad side for this.
“Okay,” he sighs deeply and scrubs a hand down his face. “I get it. I’m nervous because she’s my first injury on this team. She’s the best center back I’ve got. I kinda need her to be okay.”
I nod. “I get it. But standing here, hovering and questioning my process is not going to make things any easier for her.”
“Got it. I’ll go address the team.” He moves towards the door and stops, pausing to look at Andie. “Let me know when you know something.”
She nods slowly. “I will.”
“Let’s move that knee and see what we are dealing with.
” I approach the table and see the fear in her eyes.
“It’s going to be okay.” I shake my head and say.
“No, let’s be honest, it’s going to fucking hurt.
But I have to do it. We have to see if this requires an ortho doctor’s visit or just a brace. ”
“Thanks for not sugarcoating this on my account,” she replies, her voice trembling.
“I never saw the point in bullshitting my athletes when they ask how much this is going to hurt.”
I place my hands on the sides of her knee, our eyes lock and she nods.
Slowly, I move the knee, the first thing I hear is her moaning in pain, then I feel the popping in there and notice how stiff it is.
The leg will not extend the whole way. It’s like it’s locked in place.
It’s then I stop and put my hands on the table on either side of her leg.
I close and open my eyes a few times, thinking of the best way to deliver this news to her. God, I hate that it has to be me.
Her season is fucked. How do you say that to someone whose whole world is soccer? It’s apparent from all the soccer pictures, collectables and awards that are in her bedroom and the main living areas.
“Just say it.” Her words sound like they are full of tears.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, unsure why this news is so hard for me.
“Dex,” Andie says gently.
“Yeah, well, I think that your meniscus is torn. I think it’s an outer tear, which may not require surgery. It could heal on its own, but I’m sorry to have to say this to you Amelia, you have no idea how sorry, but your season is officially over.”
I let the words sink in. While I’ve never had to give season-ending news in the NFL, I knew enough to wait and let them sit with news. Let it sink in before I begin rambling again.
Andie looks at me and points to the door. I nod. I move to the cabinets and pull out a hinged knee brace that Amelia will need to wear.
“Are you sure?” A shaky voice says from my table.
“Yeah, Amelia, I’m pretty sure. I’d want to get you an MRI but yeah, I think it will show that it’s a torn meniscus. The doctor can say for sure if you’ll need surgery, but if I’m right on the location, you shouldn’t. Just rest, ice and eventually some physical therapy.”
That’s when it happens.
That’s when she crumbles.
Amelia’s hands hide her face as she sobs. I’m moving before I even realize it. I take her in my arms and press her gently against my chest. I stroke the long blonde ponytail and make soft cooing sounds.
“This isn’t fair,” she finally says.
“I know. It never is.”
“That stupid fucking girl, if only she hadn’t taken me out so hard,” she sniffles.
“I know. I hope she got a card for that,. The bitch had one coming.”
That makes her laugh. “Stop, no calling her that.”
“You’re right, sorry. Just anything to hear you laugh right now.”
A throat-clearing behind me causes me to stop and remove my arms from her body.
“I wanted to see how she was,” August says from the doorway. There’s a curious smile on his face, and I hope he doesn’t say any more about how he found us.
“I think she may have torn her meniscus, it’s an outer tear so no surgery, maybe.
But her season is done, August.” I delver the news straight.
No sense in beating around the bush about it.
I’ve also found through the sports psychology classes that I took that giving it to everyone straight and repeating it the same way helps them accept it.
That’s what I need from her now.
“Fuck me. I’m so sorry, Amelia.” August comes into the room. “Please rest assured the team will take care of everything that you require. All the doctors, the care and the PT. I promise we’ll handle this all.”
“Thank you,” she sniffles.
“It’s the least we can do for one of my favorite players,” he replies, winking at her.
“I’m sure you say that to all the girls.” She rolls her eyes at his remark.
“Let me know if you need anything,” August says, getting ready to exit.
“Wait, August. I don’t have any contacts over at BayCare. Can you get me an appointment for her for first thing in the morning?”
“You got it. I know people over there.” He pulls out his phone. “I’ll be in touch as soon as I have something for you.”
“Thanks. I want the best that they have, and we’ll need an MRI. Let’s get all that done tomorrow, please. The sooner we know what we’re dealing with, the better.”
“You got it,” he repeats, then taps the doorframe and leaves.
I turn back to Amelia. “I’m here every step of the way for this. I’ve got you.”
I pull her into another hug and stroke her back lightly while she breaks down again.