A/N: I'm going to the World Cup in a month AHHHH!
"You have a mildly displaced clean break of your fibula," Dr Harrison said as he held JJ's X-rays up to the lightbox. "It's a fairly difficult bone to break in the way that you fell, so that alone has spared you from a more severe injury"
Turning back to JJ and her dad with an encouraging smile, he picked up his clipboard. "We'll need to realign the bone again to allow it to heal properly. Seeing as you're a high level athlete, the most beneficial course of action would be to insert two screws into the bone to hold it perfectly together. With that, the bone should be fully healed within eight to twelve weeks"
JJ nodded understandingly, watching tiredly as her dad stepped forward to read over the forms for the required surgery.
A few signatures, and then she was being prepared for surgery.
Her whole body felt heavy, but the first thing JJ registered as she started to come round was the fact that the pain in her leg had reduced to a dull ache.
As she started to wake up more, she was aware of someone gently stroking the top of her head. Fighting the grogginess, she managed to open her eyes, finding Will standing beside her bed with a smile on his face.
"Hey you. Was wondering when you were gonna wake up," he said softly. "You've got a killer cast by the way"
"Means you won't get any for like two months," JJ mumbled. Will turned red, giving an awkward cough.
"You know your dad is standing right behind me," he said as Michael started to laugh.
Too groggy to be embarrassed, JJ managed a weak smile, reaching up to tousle Will's hair.
"It's ok," she whispered, making Will laugh.
"You're really out of it right now," he said with a chuckle as Michael moved around to the other side of JJ's bed. By now, Sandy, who had joined them while JJ was in surgery, was standing at the end.
"How's the leg?" Michael asked.
"Sore," JJ mumbled, draping one arm up above her head as she looked down at her cast.
It went from her toes to just above her knee, effectively immobilising her entire leg below her hip.
"Oh great," she groaned, flopping back and casting her gaze up to the ceiling.
"This one is only for six weeks. After that, you'll have an evaluation and hopefully get a shorter cast," Sandy said gently, placing a hand on JJ's uninjured leg.
Michael smiled. "Don't worry peanut. You've got plenty of time to get back to the gym"
JJ had spent three nights in hospital before being discharged. She'd been released with a wheelchair, which was she was to use as her sole method of getting around for at least two weeks to allow the bones to start knitting together. Then, she was allowed to start using crutches, but only if she could get around on them with ease.
Getting home had been a challenge, as JJ's leg couldn't bend in the cast. It had taken two nurses and her dad to help her into the car. And then, upon arriving home, it was all up to her dad. After a lot of careful manoeuvring, he had managed to get her inside the house and onto the couch. It had involved a few bumps and a lot of laughter, but finally, JJ was comfortable.
While her mom fussed about making her something to eat, JJ opened up FaceTime on her phone, going into Aly's contact, and starting a call. It was less than twenty seconds before she answered.
"Hey my crazy friend. What's new with you?" Aly answered with a yawn from beneath a mountain of covers.
JJ smiled. "Not much, just thought I'd check in with the nap queen"
"Why aren't you at the gym, I thought you were still training"
"About that...," JJ trailed off, switching the camera on her phone to show Aly her cast.
Aly bolted upright with a gasp. "Shit, JJ, what happened?"
"Did a full in off the end of the beam. Landed with my legs still tucked beneath me and broke my leg," JJ replied.
"Oh my god, when did you do that?"
"Friday morning. I've been in hospital all weekend, I only got home like half an hour ago"
"Oh man. How long are you out for?"
"Won't be back in training until around March the doctor reckons, but it could be earlier or later. We're just taking it week by week. It wasn't a bad break, like it broke clean through, but it wasn't majorly out of line or anything, and I didn't break my tibia, otherwise I could've been out for anywhere between three and six months"
"Lucky break... no pun intended"
JJ laughed.
"I'll have to come down and sign your cast!"
"Yes you will!" JJ chuckled.
"What did Nick say?"
"He was like 'you could've just broken the beam instead of your leg, I wouldn't have been mad'"
Aly giggled. "Typical Nick. Do any of the other girls know yet?"
"Simone called me yesterday, I can't remember what she called for, but I told her afterwards. Other than her, I don't think anyone else knows, unless she's told them. Nick was going to contact Marta this morning and let her know what happened, but I'm not sure if he has"
"Well, I'm sure you'll be back on your feet in no time. In the meantime, you can be personal cheerleader as I drag my tired butt to the gym every day starting next year"
"I'm all over it. I'll get myself some pom poms and everything," JJ giggled. "Give me an A! Give me an L! Give me a Y! Gooooooo ALY!"
Aly laughed. "Now I see why you're a gymnast and not a cheerleader"
Sandy walked over, handing JJ a bowl of stir fried noodles and vegetables, one of JJ's favourite easy lunches.
"Hi Aly," she said warmly, sitting down beside JJ. "Keeping an eye on my walking accident?"
"Hahaha hi Sandy! As always, since I am older"
"By two months!" JJ exclaimed, making Aly and her mom laugh.
"Still"
"You know, it's funny, way back at the beginning of the year, when I took Will to the gym with me, he asked me if I was really an Olympic Champion or just a very lucky disaster"
Aly and Sandy burst out laughing.
"If I've ever heard a more accurate description of you, I'll eat my own leg"
"Thanks for the moral support Mom"
"You really are an anomaly to me JJ, but I love you," Aly added.
"I love you too," Sandy added, kissing the top of JJ's head and giving her a squeeze. "You're my favourite Olympic champion"
"I thought I was your favourite," Aly joked, making Sandy chuckle.
"You're a close second, Aly,"
"Is all this love just because I broke my leg?" JJ asked dryly.
"Maybe," Aly teased.
"I'll leave you two to it," Sandy said warmly, waving to Aly before rising up and leaving the room once more.
"So are you going to go back to training this year?"
"Yeah," JJ replied with a smile. "A broken leg won't stop me, trust me. I was really upset about it on Friday, but, like... it's not even November yet. I have plenty of time to rebuild the strength and get back into it. Nick and I were going to upgrade my vault for 2014, but now I think we're just going to add it back in as a DTY so I can get used to do doing the all-around again, and we'll upgrade it in 2015"
"Are you still going to do a second vault?"
JJ nodded. "I'd definitely like to. We'll start training it next year for sure"
"I'm excited, I can't wait to see you compete next year!"
JJ smiled. "Well, I'll be out there hoping that in 2015... you'll be with me"
Holding her fist up for a pretend fist bump, Aly grinned. "I'll be with you for sure"