Nikki watched curiously as Alex began to demonstrate different pitching techniques. She was startled to realize how much she knew about softball, and began to wonder about it. She ignored the quiet conversations around her as she thought about the events of the day, and how they had affected Alex. She wondered what had started the argument between her and Paige. Like everyone else, she'd walked in when the raised voices drew attention. She tried to remember what was said, and sat up wide-eyed when she recalled Alex talking about gold medals. She felt her heart sink at the realization that she was keeping so much more from her than she had realized.
"You're not listening to me," Alex complained as Paige failed to complete the motion to her satisfaction. She walked up behind her and placed her hands on her hips, squaring them to the wooden catcher. "You have to explode off the rubber. Use your legs, that's what they're there for." She placed her left hand on Paige's hip and her right around her right wrist. "We're going to do this one slowly, together," she explained as she began to walk her cousin through the mechanics of the pitch. She felt Paige stiffen against her. "What's the matter?"
"Now that I know you're my cousin, it just isn't the same. I used to dream about you holding me close, but now it's just weird." She was stunned to find herself suddenly in a headlock, and yelped, drawing the attention of everyone on the porch. She began to struggle as Alex held on and started to tickle her.
"How do you like that?" Alex asked as she thrashed in her arms. As she released her, Paige's knee connected solidly with her left thigh causing a sharp pain to take her breath.
Paige saw the look of pain cross Alex's features and reached for her, catching her before she collapsed. "Mom!"
Nikki heard the small cry of pain and jumped over the railing, sprinting to them before Paige could call out a second time. She swept Alex up into her arms and headed for the house, waiving everyone off as she climbed the steps. "I've got her, just get the door." She carefully laid her on one of the couches and smiled at her. "How are you doing, sweetie?"
"I'm okay." Alex looked up into Nikki's eyes and smiled. "Really. I think Paige caught me with her knee. A little bit of ice and an aspirin and I'll be fine."
"You know I need to check it out."
She sighed and leaned back against the cushions. "Of course, Doctor."
"Smart ass."
She smiled at Nikki's exaggerated scowl and replied, "Is that your official diagnosis, Doctor?"
"Show some respect would you? I did save your life you know," Nikki grumbled as she began to examine her knee.
"I know, mia cara, and I am grateful." She placed her hand over Nikki's, stilling it on her knee. "The knee is fine, cara. The blow was mid-thigh. It was hard enough to cause a sharp pain and a charley horse, but I don't believe it was enough to re-fracture the bone. We are far enough along in the healing process that we can stop worrying about that right?"
Nikki lifted her hand and placed a kiss on her palm. "I will always worry for you. Now be a good girl and let me finish, okay?"
Alex nodded and looked up at the ceiling as she felt Nikki's hands move up her leg. She could feel everyone hovering nearby as they waited for her to say everything was okay. She heard a gasp as Nikki pushed the leg of her shorts up as far as it would go, exposing the majority of her leg, and revealing her scars. She looked up as a hand dropped to her shoulder, and saw the sadness in Paige's eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Alex. I didn't mean to kick you."
She looked down and saw the beginnings of a large bruise on the outside of her thigh, partially covering the scar. "It's okay, Paige. It's just a bruise. I've had worse. Would you mind grabbing some ice for me?" She nodded and quickly left the room.
"I think you should get it x-rayed."
"Can it wait until we get home tomorrow?"
Nikki nodded as she climbed to her feet. "That's fine as long as you take it easy today, and stay off of it as much as possible." She sat on the couch near her feet. "No more pitching lessons, and no more rough housing." Alex bowed her head as she saw the unasked questions in Nikki's eyes, and wondered how to tell her who she used to be. She was startled from her thoughts as Paige appeared.
Paige knelt beside the sofa and ran the tip of her finger over the scar along Alex's thigh. "What happened?" she asked as she gently placed a towel-covered bag of ice over the bruise.
"I was hit by a car while out jogging. It tore the ligaments in my knee, and fractured my femur, pelvis, clavicle and scapula. I'm still in physical therapy, and could be for several more months though I'm doing much better."
"Were you wearing headphones or something?" Alex looked around the room trying to determine who asked the question, when a man with close cut, blond hair smiled and waved. "I'm the one that asked, dear. I'm your Uncle Brian, and this is my partner Nate." Brian placed his hand on the knee of the man sitting beside him.
"No, I don't use headphones when I jog. It's too dangerous." She shrugged and simply said, "It was a distracted driver." She saw Nikki shake her head out of the corner of her eye, and turned her way. "What?"
"Why do you always oversimplify it, and act like it was no big deal?"
She adjusted the ice pack on her leg, refusing to look at anyone as she replied, "Because it isn't. You would have done the same."
Brian leaned forward in his chair. "Now you've got me curious." He
