(A/N : there will be a huge cliffhanger in a few chapters, and I can guarantee that not everybody will come out alive. In other words, someone on the team will die.

Keep on commenting on what you like/don't like, so I know where to lead the storyline.}

The locker room was animated by an amazing atmosphere.

Julie immediately went for a shower, before dressing up. Christen spotted her doing that, and decided to follow her. She knew what was going on : Alyssa was in the hospital right now, and she wanted to make sure her teammate was fine. Stephanie wasn't far behind. They entered a cab, and the conductor drove them without even being asked to. When Julie tried to pay him, he just refused, claiming to be a real USWNT fan, and knowing what happened to Alyssa. The girls thanked him warmly, and ran to the hospital.

The found Crystal and Hope, sitting on the waiting room. Hope immediately got up and hugged Julie ; the two women haven't seen each other in a while now. The blonde had always loved the keeper, even when she had made poor choices. She was very happy to finally be able to meet her and Carli's son, Gordon, when they would go back to the hotel.

They sat down all together, waiting for the doctor to finally come.

"Holy mother of God" Crys let out jokingly.

They turned their heads and saw Ashlyn come in, along with Michelle and Jenko. The former US goalkeeper just greeted her friends by hugging them tightly. Ever since she left the team and moved in Germany with the love of her life - aka Ali, everyone knows that - she didn't get to see her teammates that often. She caught up with some of the girls on the stands, before talking with her Pookie after the game. But she knew the GK nation was still strong, and that sh belonged here, with Alyssa and Hope, and also the two new GKs.

She sat down next to Hope, and they started talking about stuff, mostly about their respective kids.

The rest of the team went back to the hotel. Their next game was in one week, still in Lyon. They watched the results of the other games

USA v JPN ; 2-2 -> 4-3 PKs

FRA v GER ; 3-2

SUI v AUS ; 3-1

CAN v NZL : 2-0

Mark was talking on the phone with the members of Fifa, since they didn't which team they'd face next week. The girls were either on the shower, or in the dining room in order to be together for a while. After an emotional day like this one, they needed to be together. In order to finally congratulate her, Car sat down next to Lindsey, right in front of Moe and Sonnett. Sam, Kristie and some of the girls were here.

They all looked exhausted, but happy. Their phones rang all at the same time. They looked at their screens, smiling widely : the group chat was back after several weeks of pause. They all looked at each other, grinning.

___________________

USWNT GROUP CHAT

: Alyssa's got a concussion. She won't be able to play the rest of the tournament.

Ohaio : shit

Ohaio : tell her I love her

{KellBell added Carlos to the group chat}

Carlos : I wanted to say that I am proud of you guys. This game hasn't been easy. The whole road was pretty shitty, if you want my opinion. But you survived the group of death, and then Japan. I really believe y'all can go to the end of it. So keep on doing the hard work, and support each other, because that trophy is all that matters right now.

Carlos : oh, and if Abby asks, I didn't say anything. She thinks I'm stealing her job.

PookieThong : thanks Car, we all know you're the spiritual leader of this goddamn team

PookieThong : I am so proud of us

JulesTheBeast : wtf is that name I am wearing ? Why can't you guys just stick with Julie or Jules ?

JulesTheBeast : Thank you Carli, for the words you had for us in the locker rooms. I believe that we will crush that competition duh

Moe : I love y'all

Roccarrot : me too. Thanks for being such great teammates, and making sure the newbies aren't left out.

Tobito : guys, Allie is crying like a baby.

Tobito : I think her and Alex are having a pregnancy breakdown

Tobito : but Al isn't pregnant.

: WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER TOBIN ?

SMew: wtf

KMew : where's Stephanie ?

MiniHeath : Alyssa, I hope you will get well soon. Sucks to not have you on the field for this tournament, but I know you will come back even stronger ! If you need anything I think the whole team are here for you.

MiniHeath : why am I called 'MiniHeath'? Who renamed me like that ?

TheGreatHoran : I did

TheGreatHoran : I thought it was cool

Tobito : love the last name

ShesDUNNit : Tobin, you need me to come and throw roses at you ?

PookieThong : #RoseCity #Portland #ThornsGirls

KMew : seriously, where is Stephanie ?

Tobito : YAS AL you know what's up

JulesTheBeast : we all know the Red Stars are the best

JulesTheBeast : and Kristie, your girl is here with us

Roccarrot : exactly

Roccarrot : #CRSarethenewPDX

Carlos : too much # here. I'm out. See y'all tomorrow

{Carlos left the group chat.}

SMew : I feel like an orphan

KMew : thanks Sam

KMew : I'm moved by your kind words

KMew : and Julie, can you tell Stephanie to answer my texts please ?

SMew : I mean, I'm the only one to be with WNY Flash, so I can't do the hashtags with someone else.

MiniHeath : I'm an orphan too. Kansas City for the win though.

KMew : shit, I'm an orphan too

SydTheKid : guys, we should get some sleep. Tomorrow, we all go to a morning run at 5 AM !

Tobito : yikes.

____________________

Mal was lying down on her bed, her phone in hands.

She had this weird impression that Jenko avoided her after the game, talking to everybody but her. And then, the keeper immediately left to see Alyssa, which was understandable, but still. So here she was, trying to figure out why the blonde was acting weird. Moe, her roommate, was already asleep, as she didn't get much sleep the previous night. Whenever Mal was observing Moe's behavior when Cari was around of her - the way she looked at the defender, all the love that filled her looks, how caring she was with her, and so on - the forward couldn't help but hope that Jenko would one day look at her like that.

She cursed herself, and wrote a text.

Mal bit her lips. Maybe the keeper would think it was lame or something. She waited for her to answer, but when the text was marked as 'read', and that Jenko wasn't typing, she just closed her eyes. Maybe she doesn't want what I want. Maybe I got it all wrong. She sighed, and put her phone on her night table.

Her phone buzzed, and Mal was scared to look.

The forward frowned. Will I one day be able to understand her fully ?