Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 88
There was no question that the bone was broken. The question was how badly.
Sally carefully examined the screen stationed just over Heero's damaged thigh. The blue-and-black image of the x-ray revealed all. It was a clean single fracture. Luckily, the muscular tendons surrounding the protrusion were not entirely shredded. A full leg cast would be needed as well as several months of healing.
Fortunately, it was not a career-ending injury. Come mid-spring training, Heero would be able to return in full health... though that would do little to make him feel better about having to sit out the rest of the Super Bowl.
Briefly glancing at the cabinet beside her, she silently toyed with the notion of trying her medical vice. A clean break like this would be easy to set. But she was not as experiences in such a practice that she felt comfortable with the notion.
Pushing the x-ray screen aside, the braided therapist moved towards the quarterback's head where he lay on the examination table and smiled reassuringly, "You are going to play again. I see no reason why this would delay you from starting next season."
His cobalt eyes staring up at the ceiling, Heero gave a shallow nod. He felt numb everywhere. While the pain medication Sally had given him worked miraculously, he knew the numbness was a result of that.
In an instant, everything that he had worked for had been taken away from him. For years, he had strived to reach it to the Super Bowl and he would only have enjoyed barely half of the experience. Already, he could hear the reassurances of 'There's always next year' that he and his teammates heard after every disappointing season.
Damn it, he wanted this to be that year.
Out of the corner of his eye, Heero had caught that quick glance that Sally made to the side. Now that everyone knew of her background as a doctor, there was no doubt to some of the specialty services she could provide.
Risks were involved. He understood that. But what in life did not come with risks?
Slowly turning his head so that their eyes could meet, the quarterback requested simply, "Set it."
Eyes widening with a sharp gasp, Sally shook her head in disbelief that she heard her patient correctly.
* * * * * *
Meanwhile...
Anxiously waiting in the hallway, Duo paced back and forth before the closed door. At the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching, he turned to see Zechs, Howard, Brian and Terry ran up to him. Panting heavily, the head coach frowned, "No official word on the damage yet?"
Shaking his head, the braided athlete sighed, "No. Not yet." His own frown deepened as he inquired, "Aren't you supposed to be at the sideline?"
Howard answered, "There's been a delay so that the officials can look over the footage of the tackle from every angle. With all of the tension between us and San Francisco, they're not overlooking the possibility that the break was intentional. We have some time before the game will be started again, so we wanted to see how Yuy's holding up."
Duo's stomach churned. Once his initial shock over what happened to his lover subsided, he began wondering how much of an 'accident' it was. There was very little that Treize would do to win. Suggesting to his players to cause an injury was not necessarily out of the question. But... without the proof, there was little that could be done if it had been intentional.
Left unsaid was the fact that if the officials had not found any evidence of foul play by now, they most likely would not ever find it.
"Will you be returning for the rest of this possession?" Zechs questioned. He hated putting the pressure on his star running back's shoulders, but he needed an answer and soon. At any minute, he could be getting the call that they needed to get the game going again.
Violet eyes widening, Duo looked from the door to his coaches and back again. Staring at the closed door, he stated, "I'd rather be here for Heero. There's no question he's out of the game and it'll be pretty hard for him to take."
Swallowing roughly, Terry Fellows looked became as pale as Brian Austin already was. Now it was a given that they would both be taking over for the rest of the second half. During the regular season, they were able to handle the pressure so much more. But now...
All of a sudden, they were reverting back to the scared back-up players that they had been at the start of the season.
Picking up on their tension, Duo rested a hand on either of their shoulders and leaned close. "Listen to me," he told them quietly, "There is not a person watching out there that thinks you can do this." Struck by that harsh reality, the second-stringers started. "Prove those bastards wrong," the running back gritted before releasing them and pulling back.
Both Brian and Terry smirked at that, nodding their heads firmly. Zechs and Howard had small smiles on their own faces. Much as they would love to have Duo on the field at the very least, they understood his wish to be with Heero at that moment. And in the end, their back-up players deserved as much the right to have their moment in the Super Bowl.
Through the head coach's headset, Trent's voice advised of the officials return from the observation camera. Focusing on Brian and Terry, he announced, "We have to go. They're about to start the game again." Heads high and a determination in their eyes, the two athletes followed after him down the long corridor to the field.
Sighing deeply, Howard suddenly threw his arms tightly around the running back. "It's a goddamn shame what happened. You give our best to Heero, kid," he managed brokenly. Duo grinned sadly as he returned the embrace. Not trusting his own voice at the moment, he just nodded when they pulled apart. Clearing his throat, the offensive team's coach quickly headed after the others.
* * * * * *
Tim frowned following the announcement chirped into his earpiece. Looking into the camera on him, he stated, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have official word that Heero Yuy's leg was broken in the midst of the tackle. Therefore, he will not be returning to the game. One can only imagine his disappointment in having his Super Bowl run cut short."
Shaking his head in regret, Adam added, "That disappointment would most likely be matched by his teammates'. Yuy was one of the reasons they have been able to keep up with San Francisco through this game. Now that Brian Austin will be filling in, there is no doubt that the Cougars are in the best position to win this championship.
"It has also come to our attention that Duo Maxwell will be out for the little time that is left in this quarter to be with Yuy. Of course that means Terry Fellows will be taking over his role for the remainder of this possession. While no one want to see such a devastating thing happen to any athlete, I doubt that there is not some little part in the Cougars that could not be happier over this scenario."
* * * * * *
Treize was having a time to keep from outright smiling over the situation. His men had carried out their mission flawlessly and taken out one of the biggest thorns in their side. When Maxwell did return to the game for the second half, he would not be able to rally himself or the team enough to pull off a miracle that would win the game.
Finally, victory was his.
All attention fell on the lead official as he ran to the center of the field. His voice echoing through the speaker system, he announced, "After much careful review of the footage from the last play, we cannot find any proof of foul play on San Francisco's part." There was a rumbling from the crown, neither in support or anger of the call. It just was what it was.
"We will commence the game at the spot where the ball was marked down. It is second down and seven for Pittsburgh," the referee called before brining his whistle to his lips and blowing it loudly. Running to the side, he allowed room for the players to take their new marks.
Brian and Terry ran into the scene for a quick huddle with their teammates. Without a hint of nerves, the quarterback pointed to Chang and Bolton. Yelling over the building roar from the crowd, he said, "You've both broken past those blockers before! I don't care what it takes. You find a way to do it again!"
Taken aback, Wufei and John blinked in shock along with the others. Narrowed eyes taking in everyone circled around him, Austin ordered his line of protection, "Nobody pushes us around! Not even the Cougars! If those linemen try it, you push back harder! Those bastards are going to pay dearly for taking Yuy out!"
Every fiber in Trowa burned with grit and determination as his face burned with seething rage directed at the San Francisco players. He nodded firmly along with his fellow guards.
Satisfied that everyone was with him, Brian shouted, "The order is throw, run, throw! Let's shock the fuck out of these sons of bitches and score on three plays!" A wild wave of shouts and hollers rose from his teammates. "Are you all with me?" the quarterback cried.
The others yelled as one, "Yea!" Throwing their hands atop one another in the center of their circle, they screamed, "Break!"
* * * * * *
The door to the therapist's office opened as a weary Sally appeared. Her eyes settling on Duo, she closed the door behind her and begged, "Would you please come in and talk some sense into your partner?" Blinking, tilting his braided head, the running back followed her into the room.
Still lying on his back on the examination table, Heero looked over to see his teammate entering. "Would you please talk some sense into her?" he all but pleaded, the frustration evident in his tone. It was a pleasant surprise to Duo to see that the quarterback was no longer in pain.
Only all the more confused as to what was going on, the American sat himself beside the table. Taking up Heero's hand and squeezing it, he said patiently, "Before I can talk sense into anyone here, I need to know what's going on first."
Placing fingers on her temples to take the edge off her growing stress headache, Sally took a deep and calming breath. Slowly meeting the violet eyes on her, she informed, "The break in Heero's leg is clean enough that I could possibly set it back into place. I still have equipment from my private practice that would get the job done."
Quickly holding a hand out when the running back's jaw dropped in surprise, she warned, "It has been some time since I've had the chance to do such a thing. And even when I was a full-fledged doctor, I only had to use the vice on a couple of occasions. Setting a bone back into place is very touch-and-go. One slip or error in judgment and I would cause more harm than good."
Shaking her head, the therapist focused back on her patient and continued, "Even if it did work, that leg would have to be splinted and treated with care. You cannot likely do that while playing such a violent sport."
Folding his arms, Heero glared at her. "Risks or not, I still want you to try it," he stated. "Duo is the one who needs his legs in tact. I need my arm, which is perfectly fine. I can get by while nursing the injury."
With an exasperated sigh, Sally turned to meet her braided friend's violet eyes. "Do you see what I'm up against here?" she laughed without merriment. "I am sure that you understand the dangers involved here. Please tell me that I am not the only voice of reason here."
His cobalt eyes falling on his lover, the quarterback implored, "You know how long and hard we've worked to get here. And I know that if you were in my shoes, you would be setting your broken leg on your own if you could. Don't let me miss this chance. It's worth the risk to me."
The breath left Duo's lungs in a rush as he slouched heavily in his seat. More than understanding of both arguments, he was torn as to what was the best call. While the last thing he wanted was for Heero to come out of this worse off than before, he knew that sitting out without trying would have been even more difficult for his lover to deal with.
A long silence fell as Sally and Heero watched and waited. Rubbing his chin in thought, Duo finally raised his head to the therapist and nodded firmly, "Set it."
Gasping, the young woman's eyes widened. Staring from one pair of eyes to the other that now faces her, her mouth opened and closed a few times. Face reddening and eyes narrowing, she growled, "Men." Knowing better than to argue further, she moved to the cabinet to remove the steel vice as the lovers glanced to each other with proud smirks.
Very carefully, Sally raised and lowered the injured leg onto one cold, steep prong of the vice. The other prong was secured just above the top of the leg, right at the point of the break. Sweat beaded on her brow as her heart began to race.
Gathering up a towel, she wrapped the edge into a ball and handed it over to her patient, instructing, "Bear down on that when I press the trigger. Whatever you do, do not move that leg an inch." Heero nodded and sunk his teeth into the cotton.
Duo leaned in close to wrap his arms around his lover's shoulder. Cradling the quarterback's head against his shoulder, he closed his own eyes tightly.
Hand trembling, Sally took hold of the clamp that would trigger the two clamps to close in on each other. More for her sake than anything, she muttered, "One... two... three." Biting her lip, she pulled the clamp release.
The next instant was shattered by a sickening crack and a muffled cry of pain.
* * * * * *
Gingerly hobbling into the locker room with a wooden brace taped to the side of his right calf, Heero moved to the bench before his locker with an arm around Duo and Sally's shoulders. The therapist wiped her brow with the back of her hand and sighed in relief once the team captain was seated. "I'll be back with some ice for those bruises that you both have."
On her way to the door, she peered over her shoulder. Unable to help the small smirk of admiration on her face, she quickly headed out.
Alone at last, the running back knelt before his partner and smiled lovingly, "I'm proud of you. And you were right... I would have done the same thing, myself."
Returning the grin, Heero bent down to place a kiss on his lover's forehead. "Thank you for supporting me in there," he whispered. As he wrapped his arms around the other athlete's neck, his eye caught the cloth bracelet on around his right wrist.
"Oh God," the quarterback gasped. "The kids. If they saw what happened back there..."
Duo was already on his feet and heading for the white phone hanging on the wall. "I'll call up to the owner's box to let them know that we're all right." No sooner had he picked up the receiver and dialled the extension was there an explosion of cheers and shouts from the crowd loud enough to reach them.
Both players looked up and to each other at the sound in confusion to what it meant for their team. After two rings, Dorothy's breathless voice greeted, "Catalonia. I certainly hope that there is a good reason for the call at this time."
Chuckling deeply, Duo replied, "Well, I would hope my relaying that Heero's quite well is important enough."
The sharp gasp rang through the line and the owner cried, "Duo! You mean it? Heero is okay? How badly was he injured?"
Before she continued with the questions, the running back cut her off with a reassured, "Yes, he's fine. I'll go over the details later, but I wanted to pass the news on so that you could let the kids know in case they saw what happened."
"Of course," Dorothy answered. "That's wonderful news, Duo. All the youngest of your lot know is that he was taken away to be looked at, but I hadn't gone much further with an explanation. I'll be sure to tell them the news. It does not matter that he won't be able to play the rest of the game. All that matters is his health."
Giggling, she went on before her friend could stop her on that last note, "You're missing quite the event out here. I don't know what kind of a pep talk you gave Austin and Fellows, but thanks to them the score is now tied."
Nearly dropping the receiver in his hand, the running back held onto the fall with his free hand to stay upright. "W-what!?" he managed. "So that's what just happened out there just now?"
The owner's smile was clear in her tone as she responded, "Yes. I think that Pittsburgh can hear this crowd from here after that last showing. They looked like seasoned professionals out there. You would be quite proud of them."
Already about to burst from that pride, Duo laughed, "That's awesome! Damn, I wish that I could have seen Treize and Alex's faces. Aw, hell, they'll probably be re-airing that footage for months! How much time is left in the quarter?"
"Just a little over three minutes," Dorothy informed. "I am sure that you'll hear all of the details when your teammates join you down there for halftime. You will all have a lot to celebrate during the break." There was a pause before she asked, "Do you think that you will be returning for the second half?"
Smirking, the running back nodded, "We'll be there."
On the young woman's line, there was a choking sound before she repeated, "'We'? But... but I thought that Heero's leg was broken."
Duo winced, "Yea, uh, his coming back was one of the little details that I was going to tell you about."
There was a long pause before Dorothy sighed, "Again with the not warning people before making announcements like this."
TBC...
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