Friday, 20th October 2022

Jamie dove for the ball and felt it; he was hit in the face like a lorry on the M5. He rolled, eyes squeezed shut as he felt instantly sick. He didn't move, he knew not to move, he could feel a hand on his thigh, a broad accent asking him if he was okay…not one of his teammates so obviously Pargetter who he'd been up against. Jamie didn't know how to talk; all he was aware of was the pain.

"Jamie," Dani's voice.

"Jamie," Sam's voice.

"Jamie," Issac came in too, voice too loud.

He tried to say something, but he felt very far away from everyone else. He just needed a minute.

"Wait," he mumbled out.

"For what?" Dani asked.

"He needs time," Sam told him, resting a hand gently on Jamie's thigh. "The medic is coming, you're bleeding from the nose, Jamie, but you take as much time as you need."

Jamie breathed, lying down, knowing if he sat up he'd feel nauseous.

"Jamie, can you hear me," a medic's voice in his ear.

"Yes," Jamie said. "Need a minute."

"Feel nauseous and like the world is distant?"

"Yes."

"It's the shock," the medic said. "Breathe and drop your arm."

Jamie took the advice. Letting the medic look at him, and then press at his nose.

"Don't think it's broken, looks like you were mainly hit across your forehead, we'll stretcher you off, best if you don't try and stand."

"Mmmmm."

It was all a bit of a blur as the medic called the stretcher out and the crowd went wild. Jamie was rolled onto the stretcher, and then they carried him off the field and into the warmer, quiet air of the building.

"Gotta call me mum," Jamie told the medic.

"What?"

"She's pregnant, gotta call her and tell her it's okay, can't worry her 'cause she's geriatric."

"A geriatric pregnancy?" the medic asked.

"Yeah, stress is bad."

"It is, do you know her number?"

Jamie moved his head to nod and wanted to throw up again. "Yes." He rattled off the number and moments later his mother's voice through the speaker.

"Mummy," Jamie said.

"Jamie, baby, are you okay?"

"Might have a broken nose but just fine," Jamie told her.

"They carried you out on a stretcher," Georgie said. "Simon's getting the car and we're heading down."

"You don't need to," Jamie said, knowing there was no point. "There's a bed at Platypus Green."

"We'll be there in four hours."

"Tell Simon not to rush."

"Where is your medic?" Georgie asked.

The medic took over and spoke, Jamie closed his eyes and tried very hard not to think about throwing up.

"She sounds wonderful," the medic said. "We're going to get you on your feet, slowly."

"Can I just stay here for a bit?" Jamie asked.

"I can check him out on the floor," Gina said, one of the Richmond medics, her voice soothing.

"I'm on the floor?" Jamie asked.

"Yes."

"Yeah, yeah, get me up onto the treatment bed," Jamie said, reaching out for something to hold onto.

A couple of sets of hands helped Jamie stand, turning him and helping him prop his backside on the table and then to lie down. Someone placed a warm blanket over him. Gina came closer and started cleaning the blood from his face gently.

"You've stopped bleeding," she told him. "That's a good sign."

"Good," Jamie said, opening his eyes and finding the lights dimmed.

"Can you keep them open?" Gina asked.

Jamie told her he'd try and felt that cold, shock of surprise sluggishly ebbing away.

"I'm going to manipulate it now," Gina told him.

Jamie looked at her and braced himself. It hurt, but it was a sharp, specific hurt.

"Not broken," Gina said. "But we're going to send you to the hospital in case. I reviewed the footage, he came into contact with your sinus arch so they'll need to check for brain trauma as well as any breaks, we're just waiting on the patient transfer."

"How's the match?" Jamie asked.

"Still tied."

Five minutes later, the ambulance workers walked in, transferred him to their bed and wheeled him down to the ambulance. He let the ambulance noises wash over him until he arrived at the hospital and was moved across to a hospital bed.

"Jamie," Ruth's soft voice roused Jamie. "What have you done?"

"I'm not too sure," Jamie told her, looking up at her with the attempt at a smile. She started checking him out and he followed her directions without much energy.

"I bet Roy's made my phone die from exhaustion trying to check on you, I'd better call him."

"Match is still happening," Jamie told her.

Ruth smiled at him. "We're taking you back for a CT scan."

"Gina didn't think it was broken," Jamie told her.

"Neither do I," Ruth told him. "We still need to check."

Ruth checked a few things and then made some notes on his chart.

"Mummy's driving down, can you call her if you get a chance and tell her I'm okay. I spoke to her but with the baby and all."

"Baby?" Ruth asked, freezing.

Jamie opened his eyes. "Yeah, she weren't telling anyone in case something went wrong, she and Simon have tried on and off over the years. Simon wanted to have kids but Mummy said I was enough for her, but she has always loved babies, so I knew she wanted one. I helped them out with the doctors and whatever, but it just never worked out. Then they stopped trying."

"And fell pregnant," Ruth said. "It happens sometimes. I'll call her on my break."

"Thanks, Ruth."

"How far along is she?"

"Just shy of seven months."

"Christmas baby?"

Jamie smiled. "Can't wait to be a big brother. It's the only thing that really makes me wish I still lived in Manchester. I miss Mummy but we can talk on the phone all the time and she's so close and I can get there in an hour by plane if something happens."

"She's not on a plane is she?"

"No, Simon's driving."

"Good, I'll check back in with you, lie here quietly, we'll be back to get you for your tests soon."

"Thanks, Ruth."

"Dr O'Sullivan?" someone asked. Ruth patted his cheek and walked towards the younger doctor.

Jamie was taken for a CT scan, then back to the same bed, some blood was taken, and then he was left alone for a while, long enough for his legs to feel like they needed a stretch. He chanced it, while no one was looking, to stand up, holding onto the bed but found he was able to stand easily. He walked to the wall and back.

"What the fuck are you doing, Tartt?"

Jamie twirled, groaning at the movement, to find Roy standing at the doorway, glaring at him. Roy started moving, straight at Jamie, Jamie held his ground but Roy collected him up and took him back to bed.

"Stay there, where's Ruth?"

Jamie shrugged. "I haven't seen her in a little while."

"She told me she was going to keep an eye on you," Roy growled, aggressively tucking the blanket around Jamie. "I'll be back."

He stalked off, looking for someone to harass until he could find his sister. Jamie noticed his bag was sitting on the chair next to the bed. Jamie kept an eye on the way Roy had gone, as he snuck out of bed to collect the bag and tuck it next to him on the bed. He found his phone and saw the long line of notifications from the team. He ignored them to call his mum.

"Jamie."

"Hi Mummy, are you okay?"

"We're almost halfway there," Georgie told him. "Where are you?"

"At the hospital."

"Tartt!" Roy growled from the end of the bed.

Jamie looked up at Roy. "What?"

"You had to get out of bed to get that."

"I wanted to call Mummy."

"I called her after the game," Roy said.

Jamie smiled and then groaned as it pulled on his nose. "Thanks, Coach."

"And Ruth called me too," Georgie told him. "And you had the medic call me, how are you?"

"I asked her too."

"She told me not to worry."

"Exactly," Jamie told her. "I'm calling to tell you not to worry too."

Georgie laughed. "I'm not worrying, but I'm not going to be happy until I've kissed the tip of your nose."

Jamie sighed and sank into the bed. "And Simon's not rushing, right?"

"He's not rushing," Georgie reassured him.

"I'll see you soon, love you, Mummy."

"Love you, my sexy little baby," Georgie told him before hanging up.

"You're not supposed to get out of bed," Roy told him, sitting in the chair beside the bed.

"How was the match?" Jamie asked.

"We drew."

"They've taken me for a CT scan, just waiting for the results."

"Ruth told me it should be another fifteen minutes."

"That's good, so I can get out of here soon?"

"There's no rush, they should keep you in for observation."

Jamie gaped at him. "It's just a nose."

"It's your nose," Roy argued.

Jamie felt something warm in his chest and had to remind himself that this wasn't a relationship; not really, and as much as Roy liked him, the other man didn't love him like Jamie loved Roy. Roy was here as a coach, worried about his best player.

"Jamie?" Ruth said, moving the privacy curtain to the side. "Finished terrorising the nurses, Roy?"

"I didn't terrorise anyone," Roy growled.

Ruth caught Jamie's eyes and rolled hers to the heavens.

"You don't have a concussion and nothing is broken, you've got a very bruised nose and forehead. You'll have two very nice black eyes in the morning. Take some paracetamol for the pain and if your headache gets any worse or you start to feel nauseous come straight back."

"Shouldn't he be kept in overnight for observation?"

"Won't you be there to observe him tonight?"

"Yes, but I don't know what to watch for? What if he throws a clot in the night."

Ruth sighed and rolled her eyes. "He's very unlikely to throw a clot when nothing is broken, but if you watch for slurred speech, headaches, or him throwing up you should be fine."

"I really think he should be kept for observation."

"I really think I'm the doctor."

"Then come to dinner with Phoebe and check up on him."

"Only if you make something good."

"Mum's coming too," Jamie said. "I told her she could sleep in your spare room, I hope that's alright."

"They're always welcome to stay," Roy told him. "Are they flying or driving?"

"Driving," Jamie said. "Mummy's sharing her location with us, but we can let her know to come straight to your house."

Ruth frowned at him.

"I'll call her when we get you settled." Roy turned back to Ruth. "Can he go up the stairs, does he need to be woken up through the night?"

"He has a bad bruise."

"To the face!" Roy grit out.

Ruth took a deep breath and smiled at Roy. "I'll write you something up."

Roy deflated. "Thank you."

Ruth stepped forward, sliding under Roy's defences to wrap him in a hug, he gripped her back without looking like he was even thinking about it. She stood up and whispered something in his ear and then stepped away.

"I'll get to work on the paperwork, be back soon."

"Thanks, Ruth," Jamie said.

"You're welcome."

"When can I go back to playing, do you think?" Jamie asked.

"There's no fucking rush," Roy told them. "See how you're doing in the week."

"Good idea," Ruth offered and then turned and left them.

"Tell me about the game," Jamie said.

Roy shook his head and pressed Jamie back down into the bed. "Lie down, and rest." He tucked the blanket up around Jamie.

"I'm okay."

"They had to stretcher you off," Roy reminded him.

"I was just so surprised by it all I think," Jamie said. "Made me feel all funky."

"Exactly."

"And I'm going to regret not cooling down properly tomorrow."

Roy made a noise.

"I'm looking forward to seeing Mummy though," Jamie said.

"How is she?"

"I keep telling her to take my room apart for the baby instead putting them into the smaller room, but she doesn't want me to feel like it's not my home anymore."

"It's nice that she kept it."

"When did you stop having a room at home."

"Nine," Roy told him.

"What?" Jamie asked, sitting up swiftly. He groaned and laid back down.

"They needed the room for Ruth, so I just slept on the pullout couch when I came home after that."

"What? You can't be serious," Jamie told him.

Roy shrugged and pressed on Jamie's shoulder. "It's not a big deal, I was only home twice a year and started buying properties as soon as I signed my first real contract."

"And never had a home again until Platypus Green."

"Grandad was gone, it didn't really feel like home there."

"People do make a home," Jamie said. "Mummy keeps Manchester alive for me even now that I don't live there anymore. I'd quite like a little place in the country for when I retire, make a little garden and grow veggies, have a sheep or two to keep the grass down, maybe some chickens, and far enough away from town to lie down on the grass in summer and see some stars."

"That sounds amazing," Roy told him. "I love Platypus Green because of the-"

"Hi," Ruth said, coming back. "Here you go, Roy."

Roy took the piece of paper and read it. Jamie peered at it.

"You have better writing that Roy," Jamie pointed out.

Roy flipped him off without stopping reading.

"Okay," Roy said. "I'll be able to keep a good eye on him from the chair in the bedroom."

"What?" Jamie asked.

"Don't be an idiot," Ruth said. "Just sleep next to him like you normally do."

"How can I tell if he stops breathing if I'm asleep."

"I have a patient whose wife throws her leg over her husbands to make sure he stays alive in the night. But also…he only has a bruised face and so long as he sleeps on his side or back and doesn't block his face…Jamie, sleep on your side if you can and don't block your mouth in case the swelling impacts more on your nasal passages in the night, you will be fine."

"He could stop breathing?" Roy asked.

"No," Ruth said, taking a long, deep breath in and then grabbing her brother's shoulders. "Jamie is going to be okay, just have a normal night, I'll be there for dinner at 7 with Phoebe."

Roy grumbled and then nodded at a look Jamie couldn't see that Ruth levelled on him.

"We can go?" Roy asked.

"Yes," Ruth said. "Get out of my hospital."

"Do you want us to get Phoebe from Jean?" Jamie asked. "Save you some money."

"We shouldn't delay getting you home and comfortable," Roy said.

"I think I'll have a bath," Jamie said. "See if I can reverse some of the damage to my muscles from not having a proper warm down."

"Then we definitely shouldn't get her," Roy said. "I can't watch you in the bath and her."

Jamie laughed and then groaned. "She'll watch herself and you don't need to watch me in the bath."

"Tell him," Roy said, looking at Ruth.

"Phoebe can definitely look after herself downstairs for the time you're in the bath."

"Not that part," Jamie argued.

"Let him look after you," Ruth said, smiling at Jamie. "He won't stop until he's sure you're okay, it's just how he shows he cares."

"I knew I was your best friend," Jamie forced himself to say.

Ruth frowned at him.

"Where's the wheelchair?" Roy asked, voice quiet.

"I can walk."

"He can walk," Ruth told him.

Jamie threw off the blanket and stood up before Roy could stop him. He grabbed his bag and stood next to Roy.

"Come on, Roy, take me to get Phoebe and home for a nice hot bath."

Roy took a moment to look at him and then nodded. They walked out of the hospital and saw a photographer near the entrance.

"Fuck," Roy grumbled.

"You go first," Jamie said, "and grab the car. When you're gone, I'll let them get a photo and you can take me back to your house."

"You're right," Roy said, looking at Jamie for a moment and then heading for the exit. "I'll get the car and take you home."

Roy drove them back to Platypus Green after picking up Phoebe, along with the rock painting kit she'd been in the middle of.

"I haven't started on the mosaic pots for the kitchen window," Phoebe told them as they walked into the house.

"Next time you stay over," Jamie said. "We'll get set up and I can help you if you like."

"And Uncle Roy can make one too," Phoebe agreed.

"Yes," Roy agreed. "I can't wait."

"And it can't be black," Jamie told him.

Roy glared at him.

"I'm going up to have a bath and call Mummy," Jamie said, heading straight for the stairs.

"I'll set Pheobe up and join you," Roy said. "Do not get into the bath without me being there."

"Are you having a bath together?" Phoebe asked.

"No," Roy said. "I'm just going to watch him and make sure he doesn't drown."

"Like you had to when I was really little?"

"Yes," Jamie said. "Just like if I was still a sexy little baby."

Roy growled at him and Jamie laughed as he started for the stairs.

Jamie started the bath running as he called his mum.

"Jamie?"

"I'm at the house," he said. "Nothing's broken and no concussion. Roy's brought me to the house and-"

"The house?"

Jamie sat down. "I'm trying to remember it's not my home, it's Roy's house."

"It can be both," Georgie told him.

"Come straight here, Roy's going to make dinner and Ruth's coming by to check on me. I'm just going to have a hot bath because I didn't do any warm down routine and I'm trying to protect my muscles as well as I can."

"Go for a walk around the block," Georgie said. "I know you can't run but if it really is just a badly bruised face, a walk should be okay."

"Roy won't even let me have a bath alone, he's coming up when Phoebe is settled to watch me to make sure I don't drown…Ruth told me to just let him look after me. There's no way I can sneak out for a walk, but I should be okay to head to the trainer tomorrow for a good massage and that will help."

"We've hit some traffic," Georgie said. "So that's added some time, plenty for you to have a bath and I can take over watching you breathe when I get there."

"Thanks, Mummy, see you soon."

"See you soon, my sexy little baby."

Jamie added some Epsom salts and a bath bomb to the water, before switching the cold tap on as well. He pulled up Isaac's contact and called him.

"Jamie!"

"Hi, Isaac."

"Are you okay, mate?"

"Badly bruised face, so millions of hearts across the globe are probably sobbing now that the photos are out but nothing's broken and no concussion."

"Are you home?" Isaac asked.

"Yeah, Roy came to collect me from the hospital which was lucky, I didn't have to get an uber or something."

"He left straight after the game," Isaac told him.

"He needed to check on his best player," Jamie said with a laugh. "Can you let the team know I'm okay?"

"Will do, take care, Jamie."

Jamie stopped the water and stripped off. He looked down at his chest to see he had blood down to his belly button. He didn't want to sit in that. He went over to the shower and stepped inside, watching as the blood started washing away.

"What are you doing?" Roy asked a moment later, surprising Jamie.

Jamie turned and looked at him. Roy's eyes dropped down to the blood on Jamie's chest and his face grew stony. "I didn't want to get blood in the bath."

Roy nodded, yanking off his clothes and stepping into the shower.

"Roy?"

Roy kissed Jamie, hungry but gentle and then pulled back. He reached out for body wash and a sponge and started washing Jamie's chest. It wasn't until the smell hit him that Jamie realised Roy had grabbed his own body wash and not Jamie's one. Roy washed his chest gently, moving onto his arms and neck.

"Is it anywhere else?"

"It?"

"Blood."

"I don't think so, head wounds bleed so much," Jamie told him. "Gina cleaned my face up at the Dogtrack so I didn't really notice it."

Roy made a noise and lifted Jamie's face; hands soft on the younger man's cheeks. "I think it's all gone."

Jamie nodded. "Thank you."

Roy pressed a kiss to the corner of Jamie's mouth and then his cheek and finally the corner of his left eye. "It's bruising."

"And the other one is starting to swell," Jamie said. "I can see it in my periphery."

"Yes," Roy said, pressing a kiss to that eyelid too.

"Can I even take paracetamol?" Jamie asked. "Can't remember the last time I needed to take some."

Roy nodded. "It's fine, I'll track the dosages and times and we'll submit it to the head of medical. Let me get you some."

"I'll get into the bath," Jamie told him, turning the shower off.

"I should probably have a proper shower now I'm all wet," Roy told him.

"Or you could come into the bath with me and act as a nice hairy pillow."

"Okay," Roy agreed. He dried his hands off, collected a glass and some osteo paracetamol from the cupboard. He pressed them into Jamie's hand and watched as he drank them before Roy put the glass back on the sink and climbed into the bath carefully. Jamie climbed in in front of him and rested his body back into Roy's.

Jamie let out a long, happy groan at the heat sinking into his muscles. "Mummy suggested I go for a walk."

"Tomorrow."

"What's Phoebe doing?"

"Watching TV and painting rocks with Cruyff."

"Good, Mummy's stuck in traffic and I called Isaac to let the team know I'm okay."

"Good, that should stop them all calling you."

"I actually do feel tired," Jamie said, sinking into Roy a little more solidly.

Roy's arms wrapped around Jamie. "Just rest your eyes and I'll keep you safe."

Jamie nodded. "You always do."

Roy kissed Jamie's shoulder and then the spot behind the younger man's ear. Jamie didn't sleep but he did let himself go limp as though he was, trusting Roy to keep him from slipping into the water. When the water cooled, he felt Roy pull the plug and then add more hot water but he didn't feel like reacting so he let himself go with it.

The water was just cooling again when there was a knock on the door.

"Jamie?"

Jamie roused himself. "Mummy?"

"Are you decent in there?" she asked.

"No," Roy growled out.

Georgie laughed from the other side of the door.

"We'll get out of the bath and be downstairs in a few minutes," Jamie said.

Roy reached out for body wash again and started washing Jamie down, letting the soap wash off in the water. Jamie scooted forward when he was done. Roy cleaned himself as Jamie poured some clean water over himself and then stepped out of the bath and helped Roy to stand as well. They dried off, and Roy stopped him before he left the bedroom. Jamie looked at him.

Roy kissed Jamie gently. "How does it feel?"

"Better now," Jamie told him, tucking himself in for a hug that Roy returned tightly.

Roy readjusted his knee and Jamie pressed a kiss to the soft hair in front of his face, and then pulled back. He kissed Roy and walked into the bedroom; ready to go downstairs and see his mummy.

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