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Rebecca's fingers tapped anxiously on her desk, the sound of her manicured nails hitting wood echoed through her office.
Ted was late for Biscuits with the Boss. Which sometimes happened if traffic was heavy or one of the team players came early in hopes of having a conversation in private with their coach. But even then Ted spared enough time to inform her he'll be late and not to wait up on him if her schedule was too busy.
So when half an hour passed by the usual time he'd happily knock on her door with a chirpy greeting, Rebecca felt her worry was acceptable.
Rebecca stood up and grabbed her phone, getting ready to head down to the locker room where Ted would be giving some powerful speech, unknowingly losing track of the time, making him late to see her. Because that's the only reason Ted would forget to text her.
It wasn't like that time Rebecca got a phone call informing her that Dr. Fieldstone got into an accident on her way to work. Rebecca's almost positive that Ted doesn't even own a bicycle.
And it definitely wasn't like that one time Coach Beard was late and came in with questionable bruises and cuts
No – Ted's fine.
He has to be.
The sound of her high heels clicking against the floorboards alerted Rebecca that without even realizing it, she'd managed to find herself downstairs, a few feet away from the locker room.
"Hey, boss," Jamie greeted her at the doorway, Colin and Isaac behind him blocking the view into the room, "Gotta say, you're lookin' sexy today."
Years ago Rebecca might have threatened to end his contact, but she's grown to actually know him. Not only him but all of the boys. Which means Rebecca knows for certain that Jamie isn't hitting on her but more or less trying to distract or hide something from her.
"Good-morning boys," Rebecca flashed them a smile before making herself taller, "Now step aside, I need to talk to Ted."
They all stayed in place, eyeing one another, silent conversation going on between them. Jamie shook his head. Isaac echoed his movements, and lastly Colin pushed Jamie forward with a whispered, "It was your idea to keep this from her."
Those words made Rebecca's anxiety peak up again. She didn't like the way Colin's voice held an uneasy worriedness to it. Rebecca narrowed her eyes, "Keep what from me?"
Isaac gently smacked Colin upside the head with a mumbled, "Good job Hughes."
Rebecca gave a sympathetic wince at the pained noise that left Colin's mouth. Isaac must have smacked him harder than he intended to because even he stepped closer to the smaller man and brushed Colin's hand away to look for any bruising.
"Oi, dickwards, let her in." Roy grunted out, pushing them to the side to create enough room for Rebecca to step in. She didn't get too far into the room before Roy stopped her, "I'm guessing you're here for Ted?"
Roy was a hard person to read on the best of days, but as Rebecca stared him down, she couldn't see a single hint as to what he was thinking, "I just wanted to check in, I haven't seen Ted today and I wanted to make sure everything was okay down here."
Roy grunted in response, jaw clenching as he tried to piece together the best way of breaking the news to her, "He was late."
"'He was late'? That's all I get?" Rebecca huffed, growing irritated at everyone's vague responses, "Seeing as he's my gaffer I'm not leaving here until I've spoken with him."
Roy once again blocked her path and out of the corner of her eye Rebecca noticed how all the other players stood around silently, "Rebecca, I have to warn you, it's worse than it looks."
It's worse than it looks
Five small words, but hundreds of terrifying scenarios played out inside her head. With a rough push of the man in front of her, Rebecca hastily entered Ted's office.
Coach Beard was instantly out of his chair but Rebecca paid no mind to him and his words. His voice fell deaf to her ears as Rebecca watched Trent Crimm kneel carefully in front of a bruised and blooded Ted.
She stumbled backwards, almost like she'd been punched in the gut. Ted's right arm was clad, from wrist to elbow, in a pale pink cast. The colour was almost identical to the box that housed her everyday biscuits.
"Oh my God!" Her voice had Ted's head shooting up in shocked surprise, letting Rebecca get a good look at the blooming bruises on his face, "Ted…"
"Howdy boss, my deepest apologies for missing Biscuits with the Boss today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow, double the biscuits!"
Rebecca shook her head in disbelief, "Ted I don't care about the bloody biscuits! I care about why you're covered in blood."
Before Ted could answer her question, Trent turned his body towards her, but didn't let go of Ted's leg, "I believe that would be my fault."
Rebecca frowned and went to step closer, to do what she wasn't too sure of, probably something that would end up with him crying. But before she could get a word out, a flash of red caught her attention, "You're hurt too."
"I believe that would be my fault." This time it was Ted who spoke, "Trent's okay, don't worry boss, just a scrap to his arm, barely any blood."
Rebecca held back the urge to angrily point out to Ted that he's the one who she's really worried about. He's the one who's covered in dry blood, bruises, and his arm is being supported in a cast, presumably to help a broken bone heal.
That he is definitely not okay.
Rebecca came to kneel beside Trent, body just a hair's length away from Ted's, needing to be as close to Ted as possible without injuring him further, "Are you okay Trent?"
Trent blinked, surprised that she asked him before making sure Ted was okay first, "Yes, ma'am, Ted's right, barely even bled."
"That's good. How about you let me take it from here, okay?" Rebecca laid her hand over Trent's, which was holding up a damp cloth to Ted's upper thigh.
Trent shot her a grateful nod, knees cracking as he stood, "I'm going to hail a ride. Let me know if you need anything Ted."
Rebecca's grip slipped a little on the rag, the movement caused Ted to hiss out in pain, "Shit, Ted, I'm sorry, here let me look." She pulled back to cloth and winced at the layer of building pus and blood, "Jesus, Ted, we need to get this covered."
"It was covered, but Coach managed to ruin the bandage on the walk into the building." Beard said, passing Rebecca a new bandage, polysporin covering the cotton pad.
"Wasn't my finest moment, I'll admit." Ted scrunched his eyes closed as Rebecca laid the bandage across his thigh. Rebecca apologized softly and gently ran a hand over it to make sure it was secured tightly.
"Want to tell me what happened and why it's both yours and Trent Crimm's fault?"
As if sensing Ted's next movement, Beard was behind Ted, hands gently holding down the younger man's shoulders, stopping him from shrugging.
Ted leaned his head back, letting it settle in the soft material of his friend's jacket as he answered Rebecca, "There's no roundabouts in Kansas."
Rebecca's grip on Ted's thigh tightened, her voice wavering as she gasped out, "Wait, you were in a car accident?" Ted opened his mouth to speak but Rebecca glared at him, "You were in a car accident and you still came into work? You're bleeding, probably sore beyond imagination, and you came into work?"
Ted looked over his shoulder at Beard but the man raised a brow, a sign that he half agrees with her. Ted shook his head, "It wasn't that bad-"
"The cast says something different there bud."
"Thank you for your input Beard, much appreciated. Anyhow as I was saying; I wasn't able to stop the car in time before another car hit us. Thankfully ya' cars are designed wrong, and I got the brunt of the blow. Spared Trent Crimm his independent dominant hand. Lucky lefty strikes again!"
"Ted…" Rebecca pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to calm down her heart rate, which has been sky high since she first laid eyes on Ted's busted up frame, "Why… why didn't you call me?"
Ted frowned at how strained her voice sounded. Like she was the one in pain, "Hey, boss – Rebecca, I'm okay. The only reason I didn't call you was because my phone was damaged in the crash. Beard is my emergency contact, but if I had been awake when the ambulance arrived I would have given them your number."
"What do you mean awake?!"
So much for easing Rebecca's worry. Ted covered the hand on his thigh with his own, "I lost consciousness," When a small noise came from Rebecca, Ted quickly explained the rest, "But only for a few minutes. Trent was awake the whole time, he even had nine-nine-nine on the phone, talking him through how to stop the bleeding."
Rebecca's eyes drifted up to the cast, "What did I say about driving?" The laugh Ted let out helped ease the worry she felt, "Only with me, Higgins, and if absolutely necessary, Keeley."
Ted stood up, brushing off both Beard and Rebecca's hands as they tried to help him up, "I appreciate it guys, but my legs ain't dead yet, they still got some juice."
Beard made a noise, but let go anyway and with a quick nod to them he made his way out of the office, closing the door behind him and gathering up the boys' for training.
Ted watched him leave, a smile on his face at how his friend came to his side in a heartbeat. He would never say it aloud, but the moment he saw Beard in the hospital, eyes filled with worry and voice slightly unsteady as he asked for 'Theodore Lasso' made Ted feel more important than he thinks he probably should.
He didn't even have time to turn his head back towards his boss before he was pulled into a hug. Rebecca's arms hung loosely around his body, afraid of hurting him further. Her breath tickled the small hairs on the side of his neck.
He felt himself instantly relax at the feel of her, the smell of her perfume, and he couldn't help but pull her in closer seeking the warmth of her body.
She frowned, "Ted, no-"
Again he tightened his arms around her, "Ted, yes."
Rebecca made another small noise of protest but she didn't pull back – she didn't tighten her grip though either. Ted didn't mind as he peacefully let his eyes close and allowed himself this comfort.
The hug is lasting longer than it should, definitely passed the limit to remain professional, but it's only when Ted starts to feel a small wet patch soak his shoulder that he breaks the contact, "Oh shoot, I must have gotten a scratch on my shoulder and not realized – Rebecca?"
He's answered with a sniff as Rebecca does her best attempt at hiding her tears, "Sorry, I don't know what came over me. I should go."
"Hey, whoa, whoa, whoa, talk to me boss." Ted pleads, "Tell me what's going on in the pretty lil' head of yours."
Rebecca shook her head, tears spilling onto her cheeks, "I just couldn't stop imagining what it would be like without you in my life, what this world would be like without you Ted Lasso, and it's a lonely, scary world."
"Rebecca-"
"I don't want to live in that world," She confessed. Ted brought his left hand up to wipe away the tears that ran down her cheeks, ignoring the ache of his body at the movement, "Coach Lasso I brought you here to England with no care about your well-being. I didn't care if you got hurt-"
"Rebecca-" Ted tried again but she wasn't done.
"Please, I need to say this. I can't lose you. I care about you too much. I-" Rebecca trailed off, courage wavering.
But as always Ted manages to find the words she never could, "When I woke up I didn't understand what was happening. They said I had gotten into a car accident. That it was my side that got hit and the passenger was okay, just a few bumps and bruises… Rebecca I didn't know who was with me and my first thought was that it was you."
"I wish I was there for you."
Ted cupped the back of her neck, tilting her head down, "I don't. I would actually rather never see you in a hospital. If I could I'd keep you at an arm's length from anything remotely dangerous."
Rebecca's breath got caught in her throat. She knew what was happening, where this was going. It scared her a little, but excited her more. She's ready, if Ted is too, to start something wonderful with him.
With a brave step forward Rebecca laid her palm flat against the small of Ted's back, earning a pleased hum from the man.
Their faces were inches from each other, breath mixing together, the air heavy with anticipation. Ted's eyes met hers, silently asking for permission, which Rebecca gave him without hesitation.
Their lips met in a sweet kiss, moving softly against each other in a rhythm that was unfamiliar but they didn't mind. They have all the time in the world to memorize the feeling.
Ted awkwardly stretched up as much as his sore muscles would allow, to meet Rebecca's lips full on. The kiss became heated catching Rebecca off-guard, but she reacted to Ted instantly.
Ted smiles into the kiss, basking in the feel of it all. He can feel Rebecca smile against his lips too, the small action sending a warmth throughout his body.
Inconveniently Ted's lungs begin to scream for air and he breaks their kiss. He doesn’t say anything and neither does Rebecca, but the moment didn’t need any words. Rebecca's hand traveled up Ted's face, from his cheek to the bloody cut below his hairline. She gently poked at the skin surrounding the area.
"Didn't even need stitches." Ted mumbled, lips swollen in such a pretty red colour that Rebecca couldn't fight the urge to capture them in another breathtaking kiss.
"Ted." Rebecca sighed as she pulled away, "You need to go home and rest."
Ted tisked, waving a finger side to side, "Afraid I can't do that boss," He tapped the side of his head, "Concussion. Can't be left alone."
Rebecca cursed, mad at herself for not realizing sooner that of course Ted had a concussion. He did pass out after the accident. The thought sent an unwanted shiver down her spine, "Trent? Where did he go?"
"Mechanics. Probably be there all day as he works out his insurance and how much they'll cover the crash."
"And Coach Beard needs to be here. Keeley is out of town busy with meetings all week."
"Higgins took the day off to celebrate his wife's birthday." Ted added.
"You have no one."
"Well that's not exactly true boss, I have an entire building full of friends and family to check in on me. After all, you came down to see me and you didn't even know what happened."
Rebecca didn't like it, but Ted was right, he was more safe here, with them, "I'm still fucking pissed I was the last to know by the way... You can't be out on the pitch due to liability issues. I also don't want you down here alone, that doesn't sit well with me."
Ted hummed, eyes darkening a tad and a playful smirk appeared under his mustache, "You're right. If only there was a comfortable couch lying around somewhere."
"You'd fall asleep." Rebecca pointed out, but her cheeks flushed at the thought of having Ted in her office all day. Especially now that she can kiss him.
"If only there was some way to keep me alert."
Ted's lips were inches from Rebecca's, it would be so easy to lean in the extra inch and seal their lips together, "Coach Lasso, that would be highly unprofessional. This is a place of work. I have a job to do."
"I was talking about watching training from your window, but it's interesting that that's where your mind instantly went too."
"Ted."
He cocked his head to the side, the smirk never leaving his lips, "Yeah?"
"Kiss me."
Ted leaned in closer, but instead of kissing her, he turned to the side and whispered into her ear, "I'm afraid I can't do that. Wouldn't want to be unprofessional in front of my boss."
He turned to leave out the side door, one hand in his pocket, a pleased smile on his face, leaving Rebecca behind frozen on the spot in shock.