| Chapter 24 "How's Kylee doing?" Karen asked out of breath from the run across the parking lot to the emergency room. "They're doing a CAT scan on her right now," Coach Lisa said hugging each of the girls. Then all of a sudden flashes came from the window. Thinking it was a lightning storm they looked out the window. Only it wasn't a lightning storm, it was a bunch of reporters outside the emergency room trying to take pictures of them. Flashes went off as journalists set up their camera equipment right outside the emergency room. It was chaos outside. "How did they find out about the accident?" Apolo asked confused as he tried not to look at the window. "I guess news travels fast," Coach Lisa said as one of the nurses came out. "Excuse me, are you with Kylee O'Brien?" the nurse asked. "Yes, how is she doing?" Coach Lisa said anxiously. "Well, we don't know yet, but I was asked to escort you to a room away from the media," the nurse replied. "Oh, okay," Coach Lisa said as the nurse led them behind the oversized double doors to a room with the same kind of chairs as the waiting room had. "Excuse me, but could you have a doctor or someone tell us what's going on with Kylee?" Crystal asked right before the nurse was about to leave. "Sure, I'll go try and find someone," the nurse said exiting the room quickly. "I hope Kylee's alright," Lindsey said as Rusty comforted her. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't had come up with the idea of having us race---" "It was no one's fault, anything can happen in short track," Rusty said. "Even the most experienced short trackers have accidents." "I know, but if I hadn't suggested it, we wouldn't be here and the media frenzy outside wouldn't be happening," Lindsey said shaking her head. "Well someone has to tell the media what really happened, listen to this," Crystal said turning up the volume ona nearby television set. "We just got word in that one of the Dance USA captains, Kylee O'Brien, was injuried today while the dance team was trying out the sport of short track," the reporter said as they showed pictures of Kylee's performance during opening ceremonies. "About fifteen minutes ago, O'Brien was rushed to the emergency room at Utah State Hospital with severe head injuries. It has been reported that doctors are now doing a CAT scan on her as we speak. This accident happened about thirty minutes ago at the Olympic Oval when apparently the Dance Team and the Men's Short Track Team decided to race against each other. The race consisted of the dancers O'Brien and Karen Garcia as well as two short track superstars, Apolo Anton Ohno and Rusty Smith. Witnesses at the oval say they were making the last turn when all of their skates got tangled up and sent all four skaters into the wall. Ohno, Smith, and Garcia walked away with no injuries, but O'Brien, unfortunately, did not. Witnesses claim that someone's skate had sliced O'Brien's forehead, making her bleed uncontrollably, but no one could tell who's skate cut her. She was rushed to Utah State Hospital where is receiving treatment at this moment. We will have more on this story as soon as we receive more information." Crystal turned down the volume as everyone sat in the room quietly. "I'm going to go out there and set the record straight," Coach Lisa said getting up. "What?! Shouldn't we wait until we know what will happen to Kylee?" Karen asked. "The longer we wait, the more stories will be made up," Coach Lisa said disappearing from the room. She walked back out to the waiting room then outside to where about twenty reproters shoved a microphone into her face. She took a deep breath as she started to answer as many questions as possible. "What is Miss O'Brien's condition right now?" one reporter shouted. "We don't know, right now she's having a CAT scan done," Coach Lisa said. "Describe the events that led up to the accident," another reporter shouted. "Well, the race started like anyother short track race. All four skaters skated around the rink and then at the last turn, their skates were takngled and all four were thrown into the wall," Coach Lisa replied. Just then a doctor came out into the media frenzy and whispered something in her ear that made her eyes grow wide. "I'm sorry, but I have to go," Coach Lisa said fighting her way back into the hospital as the media outside begged her to stay and answer more of their questions. Coach Lisa ran with the doctor to Kylee's room where everyone was standing around her bed. "Coach Lisa?" Kylee said smiling when she saw her. "How are you doing honey?" Coach Lisa said hugging her. Kylee's left side of her face was swollen and little red. Her forehead was wrapped in a white bandage. Crystal was holding up an ice pack on Kylee's head while Apolo was holding her hand. "I'm okay. Thanks for going out there to face the meida," Kylee said smiling. "Hey, I'm just trying to protect my children," Coach Lisa said relieved that Kylee was okay. "What did they do to you?" "Well, I got stitches and they gave me some Tylenol for the huge headache I have," Kylee replied as Crystal took the ice pack off her head. "Don't worry Coach, I'll still perform tonight." "Over my dead body you will," Coach said shocked that Kylee was even thinking about performing tonight. "Oh come on, it's just a few stitches, I'll be fine," Kylee insisted. "The doctor even said that I culd perform tonight if I was up to it." "Well, I'm not going to let you perform," Coach Lisa said stearnly. "Come on, please," Kylee begged. "I promise if I feel even the least bit dizzy I'll sit down. Please?" "Okay," Coach Lisa said smiling because Kylee reminded her so much of herself. "But if you feel the least bit dizzy or pain, I want you to sit it out. Understand?" "Thank you, thank you," Kylee said getting to up to hug her coach. "Well, I see someone is feeling better," the doctor said entering the room. "I'm a tough person, a little cut isn't going to stop me," Kylee said. "Well that little cut required you to have sixteen stitches," the doctor said signing a piece of paper on a clipboard. "Just do me favor and don't do too much at once." "Okay I won't," Kylee said smiling. "By the way, the press has the front doors completely surrounded, so I suggest you take the back exit," the doctor said. "Okay, thanks," Kylee said getting off her bed. "Here's a change of clothes for you," Lindsey said handing Kylee a duffel bag. Kylee changed out of her hospital gown and put on a pair of black pants, a Dance USA t-shirt and her oversized Dance USA jacket. Then they did what they were told; they went to the back exit, but it didn't help. There were a number of journalists outside that door. The dancers bodyguards quickly escorted her and the others to three SUVs that had tinted windows. They quickly got in and were whisked away to the Athletes Village, a place free of the media. Chapter 25 Never had a Dream Come True Home |