In medical. where R U?
At the athlete entrance
I’ll see if I can get you here
I just want to see you and make sure you’re ok
KK
Hawk just hung around, knowing that security was either going to escort him off the premises, or he was going to get let in.
Finally, he was approached by somebody in a Team USA uniform with a badge around their neck. “Mr. Montineau?”
“That’s me.” He flashed his own official press pass.
“Come this way. Mr. Lancaster has cleared you to see him. I do need to make sure you understand that even though you are a member of the press, you are not allowed to take photos or discuss with anyone what you see while you’re here.”
“Understood.” Hawk would never do that. He wasn’t the kind of story hound who would invade somebody’s privacy for a couple bucks selling a story to a jock blog.
“Thank you. Follow me.” They trudged up to the medical tent, where Caleb was sitting on an ER-style gurney, one leg dangling and the other one laid out in front of him with an air boot on it.
Hawk pushed past the guy who was leading him in and went to Caleb’s side, clenching his hands into fists so he didn’t reach out and touch. “Hey. What’s going on, man?”
Caleb rolled his eyes. “Dude. They’re using an abundance of caution. I think it’s just a little tweak, you know? I landed wonky on that last pass, but they want to make sure it’s nothing, so they’re going to take me for X-rays and shit.”
“Want me to hang out with you? Can I do that?”
“I think you can, yeah. Would you mind?” Caleb was putting on a confident front, but Hawk was learning to read Caleb pretty well, and the expression in his eyes was worried.
“I’ll stick around as long as I can, yeah. Totally.” Hawk moved a little closer, sort of checking out the area to make sure nobody was watching before he put a hand over Caleb’s, where it rested on the gurney. He didn’t want to do anything that would mess with Caleb for right now; all they had discussed was what would happen after the medal round, so he wanted to be careful.
“Thanks, babe.” Caleb turned his hand over Hawk’s and squeezed.
“Hey, no problem. It freaked me out when I could tell you were hurt at the end of your run.” Whatever it was wouldn’t keep Caleb out of medal contention, he would bet.
“Did you hear what my score was for my last run?” Caleb grinned, although it kind of looked like a grimace. “It was like a ninety-one.”
“It was. It was better than your first run by far.”He figured it was true, so why not give credit where it was due. Caleb was stunning to watch. He made Hawk feel like he was soaring right along with him.
Caleb grunted, sitting back a little on his elbows. “Yeah, it felt good.”
Hawk kept Caleb distracted as much as he could until finally someone he thought must be a team doctor came over to chat with Caleb. “Hi, Caleb. We’re going to take you out to get an X-ray. We have a mobile machine here, but I think it’s probably going to be better if we get you someplace where you can be better taken care of.”
Caleb sighed. “Yeah, okay. I was done with my runs, anyway.”
“You are in second place for the prelim final.” The doc glanced curiously at Hawk, but his smile never wavered. “So just give us a minute, sit tight, and we’ll get you prepped for transport, okay?”
“Sure, I’ll just sit here and hang out with Hawk.”
Now the doc’s eyebrows flew up. “Hawk Montineau? I thought you looked familiar. I saw you play in PyeongChang. Let me get you a chair or something, okay?”
“I appreciate it, Dr.—”
“Fowler.”
“That would be great, Dr. Fowler.”
Somebody brought him a chair, and Hawk settled in with a blanket on his lap, which helped his knee. The tent was one of those massive deals with heaters, plenty of light, and all sorts of machines and gurneys. He didn’t think anybody was going to be freezing to death in it, but he was glad to know that they were going to get Caleb moving back down where he could rest some.