USWNT 2.0

1

That was it. The moment Kelley feared the most was actually happening. When she heard Tobin's terrified voice on the phone, she knew it had something to do with Allie. Something had happened to her.

- K-Kel.... Her father came back from jail..., Tobin tried to articulate between two sobs. He-he... had a gun...

Kelley's heart seemed to stop beating in her chest.

- H-he shot her...

The brunette hung up the phone, before throwing it across the room. She couldn't breath anymore, so she just fell on the ground, shaking with all of her body. Her family, with who she was living for a while - until the Olympics - immediately came into the room. Her brother Jerry pulled her into a tight hug, while their parents were looking at them with all the patience they could gather. When Kelley told them one of her teammates was shot earlier today, they nodded ; they knew Allie wasn't just a regular teammate for her. Her dad immediately booked a last-minute plane ticket, and Jerry drove her to the airport. She was heading to Portland, when Allie was now between life and death.

Once on the plane, she was trying her best not to cry. She was playing with the golden bracelet Allie gave her on their way back from the hotel to the airport, where she last saw her. The little heart seemed so weak right now, like if it could break into million pieces at any moment. She can't die. I can't live without her. Kelley buried her face on her sweaty hands.

She can't die.

***

Everything was falling apart.

Tobin was there first, along with some of her Thorns teammates, such as Dagny and Lindsey, who were living in Portland right now. She was still shaking ; she saw Allie getting shot. They were at her place, in order to talk about stupid stuffs like best friends do, when someone knocked on her door. She went to open it, and an huge man came in, closing the door behind him. Tobin was able to guess who he was by the terrified expression on Allie's face. He then took a gun out of his pocket, and didn't hesitate. Tobin only remembered Allie falling on the ground, the sound of her screams rising into the sky and beyond. The man was already gone when Tobin called the ambulance. Allie fainted several minutes afterwards, and never woke up.

The three Thorns were sitting on the waiting room. Tobin was a mess. When she called Alex, and then Kelley earlier, she was trying to speak clearly. But now, she was just resting her head on Lindsey's shoulder, while Dagny was trying to comfort her by caressing her back slowly. But neither of them could tell her that Allie was going to make it. She was in the IR right now, and not even one single doctor was able to tell them anything.

The national team was informed of the news, and every single person claimed to take a flight to Portland, in order to support Tobin and most of all Allie. Ali, Alex and Ash were the first ones to get here in the middle of the night, because they were able to jump on the first plane they found. The remaining members of the team would come in the morning. Alex immediately pulled Tobin into a tight hug, and couldn't hold her tears anymore. Both of them deeply cared about Allie ; she was their ride or die, their best friends for years now.

Alex let go of her, wiping her tears.

- Where did the bullet go ? she asked her friend.

- R-right in the chest..., Dagny answered.

Tobin couldn't speak anymore. Ash placed a small kiss on her forehead, while Ali was comforting Alex. The goalkeeper couldn't help but think about Kelley ; if her friends were reacting so strongly, how would she react at the sight of her dying "girlfriend" ? She'll be broken, Ash thought. It might sound very egoist, but she was glad Ali wasn't the one shot. Because she wouldn't know how to stay strong in front of adversity.

They sat back on their chairs. Dagny fell asleep on Lindsey's shoulder, and the tall midfielder imitated her. Alex couldn't help but feel nostalgic.

- I miss the Thorns Family, she said in a low voice.

Tobin, whose eyes were focused on the floor, didn't answer, and Alex assumed it was too soon for her to talk. She knew the girl by heart ; she needed to know Allie was okay before actually speaking. Alex just pulled Tobin closer to her, and place a small kiss on her forehead. Tobin, on the other hand, felt better with Alex around, but was fighting her growing tears.

Ash took Ali's hand in hers.

- Guys, Al's a fighter, the blonde said in a confident tone. She won't give up without a fight.

- Well, sometimes death is just too strong, Tobin muttered in a cold tone.

The silence was king again, and they just all looked at the ceiling. They all knew only a miracle could save Allie's life right now.