25

Because we just reached the 14k reads and you're all hating on Elle, i thought i drop a second chapter today as an apology haha. Btw please bleep curse words in the comments like sh*t or f*ck so I can answer. Otherwise your comments get unter review and I can comment back!!!

Sighing, Elle turned off her cell phone alarm when it rang at four. She had to shower today before the workday would start, but even though they had finished earlier than usual yesterday, Elle didn't feel well-rested.

Actually, her body had quickly gotten used to the lack of sleep and had done well with the maximum four hours and a few cups of coffee, but today was somehow different.

Groaning, she got up from the couch in the player's lounge that she shared in turn with Michael, who was the other one who stayed here every night and worked late while they sent the others home to their families. The one who didn't get the couch slept in one of the treatment rooms on a treatment couch, which wasn't the most comfortable, but at least fairly soft.

As Elle stood under the shower, which was part of the Lounch's bathroom and currently full of Michael and her toiletries, she felt every muscle in her body tense. Maybe she would get Michael to give her a massage so she wasn't all cramped up anymore.

After the shower, she was already definitely feeling better. In record speed, she tied her wet hair into a bun, mascaraed her eyelashes, brushed her teeth, and got ready for the day before leaving the bathroom.

"finally! Thought I was going to be late because you weren't getting ready" Michael got up from the couch he had just been sitting on, tossing Elle an apple and granola bar, her breakfast, before disappearing into the bathroom. A moment later, he yanked the door open again. "Left coffee is yours" already the door was closed again.

Absently mumbling a thank you, which Michael wouldn't hear anyway, Elle took a bite of the apple and grabbed her coffee while rummaging through her phone. She texted her mom and Celine like she did every morning, replied to a few emails, and checked the necessities until Michael came back out of the bathroom and she'd eaten her breakfast.

They cleaned up the lounch a bit, deposited the bedding and their things in the small broom closet, and walked together to the daily pre-meeting.

She then followed Paul and Michael to the workout room, where she had the first part of the day's endurance training with parts of the defense teams.

Since not everyone could fit on the sports devices in a training room at the same time, they divided the group. Michael and Paul would go with one part to the next room, while Todd and Elle would stay with the other part.

"come on guys, pick up the pace a little bit, let's go. Don't fall asleep" Elle spurred the players on as they went through the commanded exercise in front of her. "Listen to the young lady! Faster" Todd clapped his hands as he grinned at Elle. Both were having a little too much fun challenging the boys.

Nearby, Joe was once again in the treatment room with Nick. He had felt a strange twinge in his knee during practice yesterday, so for safety's sake, he was taken out of practice today and sent for a checkup.

"Looks good, actually. Maybe just slow down a little bit. I'm with you on your strength training anyway, you just don't get that challenging of exercises that put stress on your knee, ok?" Nick shared as he checked Joe's knee through. Joe was about to nod when suddenly Nick walkie-talkie rushed out.

"Nick? Nick, can you hear me?" Joe recognized Todd's voice, which sounded quite agitated. quickly, Nick pulled the walkie-talkie from its cradle. "Todd, I hear you. What's going on?" he answered. "Elle...I don't know what's going on. Hurry, get over here! 216" Todd sounded totally distressed.

Nick and Joe exchanged startled glances before both sprinted out of the room at the same moment. The door to 216 was wide open when Joe arrived with a small head start on Nick and immediately barged in.

Startled, he found Elle twitching on the floor, eyes wide open, gasping for air, while Todd sat totally helpless at her side. 

"What happened?" Joe asked in shock, dropping down beside Todd. "I...don't know. It happened so fast. We were practicing normally and all of a sudden....she gasped for air, collapsed, and just mumbled Nick's name. I immediately sent the players into the next room and called Nick."

Elle gasped for air as she tried to make out the muffled voices around her while blood rushed in her ears. Her field of vision was blurry, she could only make out outlines, but they blended together. Her chest constricted more and more, breathing became more and more difficult. Her heart raced at an abnormal pace that she felt the beats in all parts of her body. Alternating shivers of warmth and cold coursed through her body.

Finally she was aware of Nick's voice beside her, very close to her ear, at least she thought so. "Elle, did you bring your medication?" "Backpack..." she gasped. "Big pocket" "small bag" each word was a big challenge for her. "Hang in there" she heard Nick's voice again.

"Todd, Joe, put her on the treatment couch.  I'm going to go get her meds. Todd, go after and continue training the boys. Joe, you stay with her" Nick parted before storming out of the room.

With Todd's help, Joe lifted Elle's twitching body and carefully laid her on the couch, whereupon Todd immediately disappeared.

Joe took Elle's hand in his and squeezed it tightly as he ran his hand over her face. "Everything's going to be okay, okay? Do you hear me, Elle? It's going to be okay."

Elle's breathing quickened even more as her vision cleared and she recognized Joe looking at her with concern. "Careful, Elle, you're almost hyperventilating" he stroked her forehead and his cold hand felt like a dream on her glowing forehead.

Elle tried to steady her breathing, but for every normal breath, three quick ones followed. "Okay, okay, shhh. Look at me, Elle" Joe turned Elle's head so she was staring into his blue eyes.

"We're breathing together, ok? Breathe with me. One...." Joe took a deep breath and Elle complied. She fought her body's urge to expel the air immediately and felt her lungs fill with air. "...And out" Joe exhaled loudly and Elle followed his lead.

By the time Nick arrived with Elle's medication a moment later, at least her breathing had calmed down. She quickly swallowed the small pill with the water Joe handed her and laid her head back on the couch, sighing.

It took a few silence-filled minutes of the men pacing nervously up and down the room while Elle kept her eyes closed, waiting for the sedative to kick in, until her heartbeat gradually slowed and returned to a somewhat normal pace. The pressure in her chest also gradually weakened. Her body was back under her control, her ears completely functional again. Breathing slowly and deeply, she opened her eyes.

Nick was immediately at her side, looking at her with concern. "Over?" he asked, to which Elle just nodded. "Ok, good" he sighed in relief before turning to Joe. "Will you help me take her to my office?" Joe nodded immediately, while Elle shook her head vigorously and tried to sit up slowly, both men giving her immediate assistance.

"Nick, I don't have time to talk. I have to work" slight dizziness briefly blocked her field of vision before she could clearly see Nick again, who was not at all pleased with her statement.

"Elle, I'm not asking you to come into my office. That's an order from your supervisor" his voice sounded serious and Elle lowered her head and nodded. "alright" she mumbled and let herself slide off the couch, whereupon Joe immediately put his arm around her waist supportively while she held onto his shoulder.