Authors Note: So this is the whole first chapter. I hope that you like it. The second chapter is almost finished and will be up within the next couple days. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
The frigid November air felt suffocating. In one swift moment clenched the lungs of the hundreds of Panther fans gathered here on this Friday Night. Her eyes shifted from right to left, all around her the people were standing still, holding their breath afraid to think, to say, or to move.
Her mother's hand clamped onto her arm in nervousness just as it had been the previous year but then it was two months earlier in September. And it was Jason Street.
She couldn't think. Her mind had gone completely blank trying to rack itself. Nothing could have prepared herself for this exact moment. She felt queasy, her stomach deciding to flip itself relentlessly.
They had just finally gotten themselves to a good point in their relationship. Plans already in motion for what was an ideal setting for tonight. It was just her. It was just him. Be them against the world or in this case, Dillon.
In a matter of seconds it all came to a crashing halt. No angel of mercy looking upon them.
Her legs felt weak wanting to crumble beneath her. The adrenaline pumping through her veins wouldn't let her. It coursed through her body, pushing her mother's arm away, sending herself down the row of people blocking her way to the aisle. Running as fast as she could down the bleachers she found herself on the field.
Tami's voice boomed, "Julie!" It was too late.
Her face was scrunched in confusion as she watched motionless at her daughter running towards the field in complete distraught.
The moments from over the past couple months flashing brightly in her mind. Both of their actions clear as day to her. Tami's eyes caught her husband's down at the field as he watched his daughter run towards him.
The horror and realization now catching onto him to as it had his wife. Their eye communication perfected from years of practice.
Eric was hit with a wave of nostalgia as collected images of Jason Street from only a year ago in a similar situation. He had managed the circumstances as he did then. Except the young brunette Jason had been dating never came running out. She stood helplessly at the sidelines.
Eric stood up, moving slightly away from Tim, his arm catching his daughter just as her knees finally gave out. He honestly had no words to say but he had to say something.
"Jules, you can't." his voice hesitate. "You can't go near him. They got to do their job."
Julies frightened eyes had finally found their way to his. They were strangely calm clouded with a layer of watered tears. Behind the blockage his helmet created she could see his face was pale and wary. Unlike his best friend, Tim was conscious. He knew exactly what was going on and could sense the fear of everyone in the stands. The fear in her.
Tim took it in stride. Just looking for a momentary fix as the numbing pain took over his body.
"Little Taylor don't be so blue." His only words, mouth dry.
Julie felt tears build into her eyes hoping they wouldn't fall. She wanted to be strong for him but it was becoming harder and harder. The panic of not knowing what was wrong was the only thing she could focus on.
Her voice small and shaky, "Don't be stupid Tim."
His stupid shit eating grin standing out like a sore thumb. Julie could not believe this. He's lying on the ground unable to move and he's smirking.
He was saying comments that shouldn't matter but do. All she wanted to do was fall apart.
This wasn't funny. This was horrendous. This was worst case scenario. This should have been his worst nightmare.
Instead of it being his, it's hers.
The grip onto her father's arm tightened as she watched the paramedic's arriving. The medical assistants that were previously occupying the space next to Tim moved out of their way.
There were three bodies; two men and a woman, a manly one at that. She watched as they lifted Tim's limp body onto a flat panel admitting them to further put him onto the stretcher.
The urge to ride with him to the hospital came fleeting but she was completely unsure of what to do. Julie's face was over written with desperation as she looked up at her father's face.
Eric's face bounced back and forth between Julie's terrified face and the paramedics that were leaving the field. His lips pursed together in a harsh line, his jaw clearly clenched at the overall tragedy.
Without protest, Eric dropped his arms from around his daughter letting her go. He nodded his head to reassure her that it was okay that she went. Whether he liked it or not, someone needed to be with that damn boy other than Billy until he was able to get there.
Julie was unable to read past her father's worried glances but she could not dwell on it. She stood on her tippy toes placing a quick kiss on his cheek she whispered, "Thank you." His hand swiped over his jaw as he stood there watching her retreating figure.
The whole crowd had found their breath again sending a wave of whispers about the whole situation. The coach's daughter caught in a lack luster love with Tim Riggins. Turning back toward his players, their latched hands, his body tensed once more.
Tim Riggins was broken. His daughter was burdened.
Those were the assumptions.
The game must go on.
That's fact.
This would be the first time she's been inside of an ambulance other than the short trip in third grade. A whole day dedicated to the learning experience of what it's like to be a local hero. The chance lasting only five minutes to get in, look around, and get out so the next class can have a turn.
To say she wasn't excited was an understatement. The enthusiasm that bubbled in the pit of her stomach seeing all the new items inside of these machines that were foreign. All knowing that she'd never actually do it again. Saddening knowing how once she was so naïve. It was full of all bad energy.
She knew now what she didn't know then. She had other views, ones that were opened up.
She desired new experiences especially if they were educational. She fed off the power of having knowledge. Always being one step ahead of the next person because of her own thoughts. As she grew older, her head was always in the books. She wanted to make something of herself. Make a name. Not just a legacy her parents brought. Her mind was the answer.
Except in this exact moment her mind has no answers at all.
She's surprised that it hasn't shut down on her going into a systematic breakdown due to an excessive amount of stress in such little time. But even she knew this wasn't as traumatic as she was making it. Nonetheless she felt not differently.
The silence held no justice. Her vexed eyes never left his broken ones.
Things always happened for a reason. Some fair, some not. He tried not to hold grudges on the despair of fate believing there was something better out there. He walked through life with his head held high no matter what tagged along with his name.
He was human. He was allowed these small clarifications that it wasn't all meant to be against him but underneath him. He was better than that.
His heart was heavy. Heavy with the disappointment and fear that became his realization, that became his now.
He hadn't spoken of it. The way she was looking at him said it all.
The guilt he felt when Jason was paralyzed was what she was feeling for him now. As he learned the hard way that if there was nothing that could have prevented it from happening to Jason, there was nothing that she could have prevented him from his own downfall.
He didn't know exactly what was going on. He only had to hope for hope because there was a chance he was going to be just fine. He could still feel like legs, his arms, and his throbbing numb torso.
Instead of keeping his mind on it, he turned his attention once again towards his blonde other half.
He could be upfront with her. Hit the issue head on. Be honest as he always was. It was what they learned to do. Say it before it became too much to bare. Maybe just this once he'd use his filter without sarcasm. He wouldn't be Tim Riggins if he did.
The first time he tried to talk nothing came out. It sounded like a croak his mouth was so dry. He cleared his throat trying to hack up some type of saliva.
Once slick he spoke,"There wasn't anything you could have done."
"I know." She replied meek and measly.
"We both know that ain't true Jules."
"I know." She repeated.
Her small fragile hand reached out for his large rough hand that lay stiffly against his side. It was hot and clammy, reminding her of all the times she had ripped her hand away from his because of it. It always gave her a gross disgusted feeling but this time she was going to fight against it.
Out of mind it would be no force in opposition to her gesture.
Her hand had a slight tremble. One that even if he tried he couldn't disregard.
Julie in this moment tried to hide how she was feeling. She needed to be strong for him when he couldn't be strong for himself.
Protect him. Protect him. Protect him. It's all she tried to drill in.
"You don't deserve this. This is the one thing you truly love and it could all be taken away from you."
A small smile appeared and went away just as fast upon his lips. If she had blinked, she would have missed it.
"It's this stupid game. Why did you have to be a fullback? That's like the most dangerous position there is. You get smashed left and right. Every time I see your body it's bruised and beaten. Why do you have to be so stupid and inconsiderate? You do have people who care about you that really don't – "
Tim cut Julie off mid way through her rant before it got to out of control. He could sense the paramedic sitting next to her awkwardly was getting more uncomfortable than he already was. This had made him uncomfortable apparently not fazing the blonde one all that much.
"Take a breather. It's simple and I like simple. Make sure the other people don't get smash taken down. It's what I do." He paused not sure where else to take the conversation.
He wasn't one for many words unless he had a couple knocked back, obviously beside the point.
"It distresses me. I get to hit people without the trouble that follows."
Julie wanted to hate him for being so stubborn and stuck in his own ways but she didn't. It was every flaw that she loved.
"I like you simple. I just don't like you hurt. What if you end up like Jason?"
"You'll be my nurse. Make sure you wear your converse." He answered trying to be as lighthearted as he could be.
He wanted her mind elsewhere. Not what could be? Not when the answers of what was to come being so unclear.
Julie sighed glancing down at her feet which were incased inside her black and white converse, "Tim, don't joke. I'm being serious."
He raised both his eyebrows up and down, "So was I."