Jason heard the scream from across the training complex. Everyone around him turned, desperately trying to see who was hurt.
Slowly, groups of players moved towards the pitching mound. Jason ran over and found Alex already there, trying to clear space around Russel. Fuck.
Russel, the team's captain, was writhing on the ground. He held his shoulder tightly and his face was red.
"Everybody move aside, give him space," Alex spoke firmly and directed everyone out of the area.
Slowly, players went back to running drills. Adrenaline was coursing through Jason and, for the first time since the night at the club, Jason wasn't completely distracted by Alex's presence.
"What happened?" Jason asked, frowning.
Alex was massaging the joint and assessing Russel quietly. She looked up at Jason and shook her head.
This injury did not bode well for the rest of the camp, let alone the season and the team's chances at winning any championships. Jason was worried for the team and himself: he needed this season to go well if he had any hope at a full time job here.
Slowly, Russel rose to his feet. Jason and Alex supported him and walked back into the training facility. Behind them, players and coaching staff clapped in support of Russel.
The gym was empty; the team would be in the field for the rest of the day. Alex unlocked the door to one of the offices and came back with some bandages and supplies.
"How are you feeling, Russel?" she asked.
He shook his head. He was pale and shaking.
Behind Russel, Jason leaned in to Alex's ear and tried to avoid the rush of her scent. "Do you think we need to go to the hospital? He doesn't look very good."
Alex shook her head. Out of Russel's earshot, she murmured, "Just do what I say."
Alex slowly manipulated Russel's shoulder, periodically telling him to breathe or relax. She deftly wrapped the joint with a bandage and asked him to move into certain positions.
Jason lost track of how long she was working on Russel. After what felt like forever, she looked up and asked, "Does the facility have a sauna?"
Jason grabbed his key ring and opened a door off the washrooms at the back of the gym.
"Nobody really uses them much anymore, but we do have a few."
Alex turned to Russel and said, "Do 20 minutes in here then go home and rest it. Ice tonight, okay? I'll text you a list of stretches to do in the morning before you come in."
Russel was smiling and his colour had returned. "Thank you so much," he said to Alex.
Alex and Jason were alone in the gym. He tried to look her in the eye but found himself staring at the floor. God, she was distracting.
Now that the adrenaline had worn off he couldn't stop thinking about how she sounded when she came, how she felt in bed beside him. He'd wanted nothing other than to slide himself inside her. In the rush of today he'd forgotten, and now he was painfully aware of these urges.
"Do you think he's going to be okay?" Jason asked quietly.
Alex was writing on a clipboard. "I'm not sure. I've seen injuries like this before... sometimes the player is fine in a day or two, sometimes they're out for a season. All we can really do it wait."
She sat on a bench near a squat rack and stretched her arms. As she exhaled she rolled her neck and Jason could see the swell of her veins. After a few moments she continued writing on her clipboard, documenting the care she had given Russel. Jason watched her focus, the slight furrow of her brow, and felt himself grow warmer. Against his better judgment he sat beside her.
"I think everyone is done for the day now except for Russel," he said, looking at the clock.
Alex looked at him and blushed slightly. "Yeah, I think you're right."
They both sat in heavy silence for a moment. Neither of them moved.
"Jason, I --" Alex started to speak but stopped suddenly, standing up from the bench. Russel had returned to the gym.
