Unknown - Driven_589066

the net to line up her shot and the roar of every fan in the house as the ball dropped right through the net at the buzzer.

Cat’s world went into complete slow motion as her eyes drifted to the scoreboard and she saw that the Badger’s now had a two-point lead. It was going to

be a hard lead to keep and a hard game to win.

She turned to leave the court for halftime her eyes fell on Dylan who was patting each player on the back, but her hers were firmly on Cat and the player

knew the smile was for her.

In the locker room, Cat lay down on the floor immediately and used a bench to stretch her leg muscles. The rest of the team took their own places around

the room, stretching, taking in fluid to re-hydrate bodies that were tired and worn already.

“That was a beautiful first half ladies. I am very proud of all of you,” Dylan praised as she and the assistant coaches took their places in the center of the

room. “The second half is going to be tough, but if you play it the way you played this one, we’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. How are you all doing? Is

there anything I should know about?”

Cat managed to hold in the snort that threatened to bubble up. Dylan asked this question at every half time, expecting someone with a potential injury to

speak up. To date no one had ever admitted there was anything wrong and Cat wondered how long it would be, if ever, that she would just stop asking.

“Hodges?”

“Yes Coach?”

“I noticed you’re fighting cramps out there. You okay?”

“Right as rain Coach. They’re just running me around like mad.”

“You’re sure?”

Cat opened her eyes to find Dylan bent over at the waist looking down at her. She smiled and nodded. “I promise.”

“Tippens,” Dylan turned to the tall Australian center affectionately known as Roo. “How’s the wrist?”

“No worries, Coach. I’m good.”

“I don’t want to risk it if it’s bothering you.”

Tippens shook her head and sipped from a paper cup holding Gatorade. Dylan nodded and made a couple of notes in the book in her hands.

“The one thing you have to watch out there is Sorenson. She’s been looking for the opportunity to hit all of you at your weakest spots, foul or not. I don’t

think she cares and now that they’re down by two I expect her to try something. IF that happens, don’t be baited into a fight with the refs. Let me handle

it.”

The entire room answered in the unison that Dylan was looking for. “Yes Coach.”

“Then let’s get back out there and give them a fight. I don’t need to tell you what this game means, but I will tell you, win or lose, I’m proud as hell of you.

This team has really come together this season and we’ve come further than a lot of our critics like at the moment. So go give them a good show.”

Catherine took the ball and put it into play, shooting to Mackey who began a hard charge down court. Cat moved up from behind and was getting her

bearings when a warning whistle sounded and all movement stopped. She looked for the referee making the call and found that Chaney had been called for

a foul against a guard.

“Shit!” Cat groaned as she trotted down the court to find out what was going on and she could see that Chaney was about to go off.

“That b…” Chaney was getting ready to charge when Cat put her hand in her chest.

“Stop!” Cat ducked so she could put her face in Chaney’s. “Just stop. If there’s a problem, Coach will handle it.”

Before Chaney could say anything else the whistle blew and the ball was back in play and the Nitro had control.

“Shit,” Cat mumbled, running into play. “It’s going to be a long 20 minutes.”

Dylan paced as was quite normal for the coach. She always managed to sweat almost as much as the players just from working a rut into the floor. Her

attention was fairly evenly divided between the players but most of her attention was on Cat, not because of their relationship but because she could see

the player favoring her right leg.

“Fuck,” Dylan breathed as she called for a time out.

As the team made its way to the bench, she gestured for Cat to take a seat and tapped her replacement. After giving them a few words and a new play she

sent them back onto the court and resumed pacing. Cat shot daggers at her back from the bench, then she picked up a towel and rubbed down her face,

leaving it buried in the soft material so she wouldn’t be tempted to mouth something inappropriate when Dylan turned around.

She was startled when she felt hands on her leg. Peeking out from behind the towel she found the team doctor checking her out. “I’m fine.”

“That’s not how it looked out there.”

“Why won’t anyone listen to me?”

“Cat we’re concerned about you.” The doctor tapped Cat’s leg to get her attention. “Win or lose here tonight Cat, we still need you for the rest of the

season. You’ve scored 15 points tonight; you’ve done your share. We can’t risk you injuring this leg. Let us take care of you.”

Cat looked over to Dylan who was yelling to the players from the sideline. She considered the doctor’s words as she thought of the legs under the neatly

pressed slacks and the scars on the knee that kept the best player in the league from ever taking the court again. “All right.”

The doctor retrieved a cold pack from her medic bag and wrapped it in a towel, which was wrapped around Cat’s leg. “Just rest and we’ll do some therapy

after the game.”

Cat nodded and accepted the cup of water that was offered. Now that she was off the leg it was starting to throb and she knew while she wasn’t seriously

hurt, all the quick movements she had been required to make tonight had irritated her calf and knee. They had a three-day break before the next game and

if she behaved herself then this strain wouldn’t be an issue.

Dylan took a moment to sit on the bench next to Cat, she figured she would give the player a chance to rant a bit and get it out of her system. She wanted

it over and done with so it wouldn’t interfere with their weekend. She hadn’t spent an obscene amount of money for a bungalow with a private beach in the

Caribbean for nothing.

“Nice call Coach.” Cat whispered as they watched Chaney assist with a beautiful three pointer.

“Thanks.”

The noise in the locker room was nearly as deafening as the arena. Cat sat with her leg submerged in a whirlpool, while the rest of her sat on the rim

drinking a glass of champagne, which had been somehow magically waiting for them when they got back to the locker room.

“Didn’t think we’d win my ass,” Cat mumbled to herself as she sipped from her very own plastic glass. Dylan was moving around the room looking very

much like a proud parent. Her team was on its way to the playoffs for a shot at the championship. Regardless of what happened now it had been a very

good season for Dylan Lambert and the Badgers.

Cat lay on her back, the sun shining down on her bikini clad body. She hadn’t realized how badly she needed this vacation until she and Dylan had hit the

beach this morning. The player hadn’t done a blessed thing other than coat her body in suntan oil and drink juice that Dylan continually kept replenishing.

The only sounds around her were the surf and the wind rustling the trees behind them. She glanced over to find her partner lying on her stomach, eyes

closed apparently dozing. Cat decided this was bliss. No games, no practice, no demands on her or Dylan. They were free to do what they wanted, eat,

sleep or make love. They had done all those activities since arriving yesterday afternoon and Cat was feeling the need for a bit more of number three.