Chapter 638: In the Locker Room
Saturday, March 11th, Afternoon
She walked behind the girls as the first half came to an end. Before heading to the passage, she looked at the scoreboard, Northwest Guilford 16 to Tree Hill 21. They were leading but barely; she quickly did the math on how the lead could be surmounted.
Ashlyn walked into the locker room and went to the coach's office. She put her clipboard down on the desk and sighed. Ashlyn looked through the blinds to see Jade Loyal walk into the trainer's room with the trainer.
"She'll be fine," Coach Sinclair said.
"Did we push her to come back too early, Kiera?" Ashlyn asked.
"They told us she was good to go," Coach Sinclair said.
Ashlyn sighed, "I don't, well, I don't …" she said.
Coach Sinclair nodded and put her hand on Ashlyn's shoulder. "I know; I was there all three times," she said.
"I know, Kiera, it doesn't make it easier," Ashlyn said.
"Never said it did," Coach Sinclair said.
"I need to check on Jade," Ashlyn said.
"Go check on your player," Coach Sinclair said.
Ashlyn nodded and left the office. She walked by the girls sitting in their lockers; Ashlyn looked them over and nodded to several. Finally, she came to the trainer's room and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" The Trainer asked.
"Coach Pierce-Scott," Ashlyn said.
"Enter," the trainer said.
Ashlyn entered the trainer's room and saw Jade sitting on the exam table. The trainer examined Jade's hand; Ashlyn looked her over and closed the door.
"How are you doing, Jade?" Ashlyn asked.
"I'm doing good, Coach," Jade said.
"And the hand?" Ashlyn asked.
"It feels fine," Jade said and then winced.
"Jade?" Ashlyn asked.
"It doesn't quite feel right," Jade said.
"Well?" Ashlyn asked.
"Something isn't right about it," the trainer said.
"What about her return?" Ashlyn asked.
"I can play," Jade said.
"I'm not sure," the trainer said.
"Coach, it's the championship game; I have to play," Jade said.
"You're best to wait until the doc gets here," Ashlyn said.
"Doc?" the trainer asked.
"Coach Scott called in a favor," Ashlyn said, just as there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" the trainer asked.
"Doctor Perry," called back.
"Enter," the trainer said.
"Perry? She's good," the trainer said.
"The best," Ashlyn said.
The door opened, and Doctor Ashton Perry, MD, walked in. She closed the door behind her. Ashlyn looked at her childhood friend.
"Thanks for having a look, AP," Ashlyn said.
"You're welcome, Ash," Ashton said and then looked at Jade, "Hi, Jade, what seems to be bothering you?"
"It's nothing, just my hand; I should be good to play," Jade said.
"I think it's a fracture," the trainer said.
Ashton nodded. She looked at Jade, "I'll be the judge of if you can play," Ashton said, grabbed some gloves, and put them on, "Which hand?"
Jade held out her hand. Ashton looked at the trainer, who shook their head. Ashton looked at Jade and shook her head; Jade changed hands. Ashlyn watched as Ashton examined Jade's hand and wrist. She nodded and looked at Ashlyn with sorrow in her eyes. Finally, she looked at Jade.
"On a scale of one to ten, ten being kill me now, how does this feel," Ashton said and probed something.
Jade bit her lower lip but tried to pull her hand away.
"That tells me everything I need to know," Ashton said.
"What do you think?" Ashlyn asked.
"Based on the condition of her hand, but I can't be sure without an X-Ray, I think it wasn't the foot that caused it but the landing," Ashton said.
"What is it?" Jade asked.
"I think you have a boxer fracture; your range of motion in your pinky and ring fingers, plus the misalignment of your pinky, indicate that. You probably aggravated it playing today," Ashton said.
There was a knock on the door. Everyone got silent and looked at the door.
"Who is it?" the trainer asked.
"Coach Scott," was the answer.
Coach Scott and Coach Sinclair walked into the room. Ashton looked at Coach Scott.
"Well?" Coach Scott asked.
"Can't be sure without X-Rays, but I'm pretty sure she has a boxer's fracture," Ashton said.
"So, Jade, how do you feel?" Coach Scott asked.
"I can go, Coach," Jade said.
"She had a high pain tolerance," Ashton said.
"What do you think?" Coach Scott asked.
"I wouldn't let her play," the trainer said.
"AP?" Coach Scott asked.
"We need to stabilize it and prevent any more damage, so no basketball," Ashton said.
"It's the championship game, and I'm a starter," Jade said.
"There is more to life than basketball Jade, and you're a junior; better to save the hand," Coach Scott said.
"But it's the championship game, Coach," Jade said.
"No, your health is more important, Jade," Coach Scott said.
"Coach Pierce-Scott?" Jade asked.
Ashlyn shook her head, "Coach Scott is right," she said.
"You've been here before," Jade said.
"Jade, you've already played more minutes and scored more points than I did in my championship game," Ashlyn said.
"Coach," jade said.
Ashlyn shook her head, "It's better to take care of your body, they'll always be more games," she said.
Coach Scott nodded, "Who's up next?" he asked mindlessly.
"Cammie," Ashlyn said.
"Looks like Cory will be getting minutes," Coach Sinclair said.
Coach Scott nodded, "Or Eva," he said, "Well, let's tell them."
Coach Scott and Coach Sinclair started to leave. Ashlyn looked at Jade with a mournful look. She squeezed Jade's uninjured hand and started to head after the other coaches.
"I'm going to have to reset the bone and splint it; you should go to the ER after the game," Ashton said as Ashlyn left the room.
