A week had passed since Sam left, and Caitlin had thrown herself into basketball. The Indiana Fever were on a roll, notching four consecutive wins for the first time since 2015. Caitlin was genuinely happy about the victories, and even more so about the chemistry she and her teammates were building, both on and off the court. But amidst the celebrations, there was a nagging emptiness. Sam wasn't there to share it with her, to send a snarky text like, "See? I told you, just give it time, and you'd start playing better. Now, about those turnovers..."

In the Fever locker room after practice, the mood was light. "After today, I don't think I'll ever miss a pass from Caitlin." Kelsey jokingly says, and the sound of laughter filled the air. Caitlin sat on the bench, smiling at the team's banter, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She untied her shoes, her mind drifting back to Sam, wondering if she was thinking of her too.

Aliyah, who was becoming a close friend and had been there for Caitlin through all the media and nonsense, noticed her quiet demeanor and slid onto the bench beside her. "Hey, Caitlin," Aliyah began, her voice gentle but concerned, "you've been kinda off this week. You good?"

Caitlin forced a smile, hoping it would be enough to deflect the question. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a lot on my mind, you know? The pressure of the season and all."

Aliyah nodded, but her eyes remained fixed on Caitlin, not buying the act. "Look, I get the pressure—we all do. But it feels like there's something else going on, you know personal. It's not just about basketball, is it?"

Caitlin hesitated, her hands pausing on her laces. She knew Aliyah was right. She spends everyday with her team, them becoming like family; they could see through her attempts to mask her feelings. But how could she explain what was really going on? The fear that had taken root in her heart—fear of judgment, of losing everything she had worked for—was something she had kept hidden for so long. Just the thought of opening up made her chest tighten, as if the very act of speaking the words would unravel everything.

Before Caitlin could respond, Nalyssa wandered over with her usual playful smirk "It's okay Caitlin, most of your turnovers are from us not expecting you to become a quarterback." She quickly get's serious, reading the room, "You know we're here for you, right? Whatever it is, you don't have to handle it alone."

Caitlin's throat tightened as she looked at her teammates, feeling the warmth of their concern. They had become her support system over the years, but this—this was different. The pain of losing Sam felt so personal, so intertwined with her own fears and insecurities, that she didn't know how to put it into words.

"Thanks, guys," Caitlin finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just... dealing with some stuff. It's been a rough week, but I'm trying to work through it."

Aliyah reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Caitlin's shoulder. "Whatever it is, just know that we've got your back. Don't let it eat you up inside."

Caitlin nodded, grateful for their support but still unable to bring herself to share the full story. After a moment, she stood up, eager to escape the concern in their eyes. "I just need some time to clear my head," she said, forcing another smile. "I'll be fine."

As Caitlin left the locker room, she found herself driving home in silence, the city's night lights blurring as her thoughts spiraled. She had become an expert at hiding her feelings, at pretending everything was okay, but Sam's absence was a wound that refused to heal. The ache in her chest was constant, a painful reminder of what she had lost—and what she might never get back.

When she got home, the quiet of her house was suffocating. Caitlin dropped her keys on the counter and stood there, staring at the spot where Sam's note had been just a week ago. The words replayed in her mind, each one a dagger that cut deeper.

Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence. It was Kate calling. Caitlin stared at the screen, hesitating. She had been avoiding Kate's calls all week, unable to face the questions she knew would come. She ignored it, telling herself she wasn't ready to talk yet.

A text followed immediately after: "Out with the team?" Kate asked. Caitlin hesitated, her fingers hovering over the screen. She lied, hoping Kate wouldn't see right through it.

"Yes, everything okay?" Caitlin texted back.

"Not really. Was really hoping we could talk," Kate replied.

Caitlin sighed, knowing she couldn't leave Kate hanging. She had always been there for Caitlin, and she couldn't shut her out now. With a deep breath, she called Kate back.

"Hey," Kate answered almost immediately.

"Hey," Caitlin said, her voice soft. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. I might have lied to get you to call," Kate admitted, a hint of sheepishness in her voice. "But I know you've been avoiding me. Newsflash, Cait, I have your location. So you can't lie and tell me you're doing something when I can see you're at home. I let it slide the first time because I figured there was something wrong and you just weren't ready to talk, but you can't shut me out, Cait. Talk to me. Did something happen with Sam?"

Caitlin's heart sank, knowing she had been caught. But more than that, she was relieved that Kate had pushed her. She needed someone to break through the wall she had been building around herself.

"Sam's gone, Kate," Caitlin said, her voice breaking. "For good this time... She's not coming back."

Kate, sensing the gravity of Caitlin's words, asked gently, "Can you talk to me about it? Was it something to do with that post about the two of you?"

Caitlin hesitated before nodding. "Yes," she whispered, her emotions suddenly overwhelming her. The tears she had been holding back for so long finally broke free, and she began to sob, all the pent-up emotions pouring out. Kate listened patiently, knowing that Caitlin needed this release.

After a few moments, when Caitlin started to calm down, she whispered, "I'm sorry, Kate," feeling bad for just sobbing over the phone.

Kate's voice was gentle, reassuring. "It's okay. I'm your best friend—that's what I'm here for."

Caitlin took a deep breath, then started to tell Kate about the weekend Sam came to visit. "It started so good," Caitlin said, her voice wavering, "but it ended really bad. We were so happy at first, but then everything just fell apart, when she told me about that post. I was scared, Kate. Scared of what people would think, of how my career might change if... if people knew about us. Knew about me"

Kate could hear the deep-rooted fear in Caitlin's voice—the same fear that had kept her from being fully open with even her closest friends. Caitlin had always been so strong on the court, but off it, she felt exposed and vulnerable, especially when it came to her sexuality. Kate knew that Caitlin wasn't just afraid of judgment; she was terrified of losing the identity she had worked so hard to build.

Kate listened intently, her heart aching for her friend. She had known Caitlin long enough to understand the fear she carried, the weight of being in the spotlight and the pressure to be perfect in the public eye. She wanted nothing more but for Caitlin to be free and happy, but also knew she had to it when she was ready.

Kate's voice was warm, filled with the understanding that only a close friend could offer. "You can't keep punishing yourself. I know it hurts. You did what you thought was best at the time, but that doesn't mean things have to stay this way. Right now you're not ready and that's okay. You need to know that's okay. But it's also okay for Sam to feel the way she does."

Caitlin wiped away a tear, feeling the truth of Kate's words but still terrified of what that truth meant. "What if I'm never ready? I don't know if I'm strong enough for that, Kate. What if I lose everything?"

"But what if you gain everything that truly matters? Caitlin, you're one of the strongest people I know. You've faced down so much on the court—don't let fear keep you from living your life off it."

Caitlin nodded, wondering how Kate always knew what to say. "I'll think about it," she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. "Thanks for listening. Or I guess forcing me to talk." Caitlin let out a little laugh.

"Anytime." Kate replied with a smirk, her voice full of warmth.

After a few moments, Caitlin, still wiping her tear-stained face and asked, "How have you been doing, Kate?" The simple question was Caitlin's way of grounding herself, of showing that she still cared about her friend's well-being, even amidst her own turmoil.

Kate smiled softly, recognizing the effort. "I'm doing okay, Cait. Just worried about you. But I'm glad we talked."

-----

A couple of weeks after the NCAA tournament, Caitlin found herself at Sam's apartment. The disappointment of not making it past the second round had faded, replaced by a comforting sense of normalcy. Tonight, the air between them was light, filled with laughter and the playful banter that had become second nature.

As the two sat close on the couch, Caitlin shifted slightly, reaching for the remote. Sam, catching the movement out of the corner of her eye, saw an opportunity and swiftly grabbed Caitlin's wrist, pulling her back down. In one fluid motion, she swung her leg over Caitlin's lap, straddling her and pinning her to the cushions.

Caitlin looked up in surprise, a breathless laugh escaping her lips. Sam grinned down at her, their faces just inches apart, the playful moment charged with something more. "Gotcha," Sam whispered, her voice teasing yet tender, as their gazes locked.

The teasing between them quickly intensified, their playful energy shifting to something far more electric. Sam's laughter faded, replaced by a slow, deliberate closeness as she leaned in, her lips brushing Caitlin's in a tantalizing, lingering kiss. The touch was light at first, teasing, before becoming more urgent, more demanding. Caitlin's hands slid to Sam's waist, fingers curling into the fabric of her shirt as she gently pulled her closer, her body buzzing with anticipation. The room seemed to grow warmer, the air thick with unspoken desires.

Sam paused, pulling back slightly to look down at Caitlin, her expression a mix of surprise and amusement. They hadn't gone this far before, hadn't even really defined what they were to each other. The unspoken question hung in the air between them, the moment suddenly weightier than it had been just seconds before.

"When are you going to ask me to be your girlfriend?" Sam asked, her tone light but with an edge of seriousness, as if she'd been waiting for this conversation.

Caitlin blinked up at her, momentarily caught off guard. "Are you not my girlfriend?" she asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.

Sam chuckled, shaking her head. "I don't believe you ever asked me, Cait. Maybe it was your other girl." She started to get off of Caitlin, a teasing smile playing on her lips.

Caitlin's grip tightened, pulling Sam back down before she could fully move away. "Will you be my girlfriend?" she asked, her voice a mix of sincerity and urgency.

Sam laughed, leaning in to kiss Caitlin softly. "Uh, no," she replied, pulling back just enough to make Caitlin groan in frustration. "You can't ask now that you're trying to get my clothes off."

Caitlin let out a playful groan, rolling her eyes. "Give me a break, Sam. You're my first girlfriend—I'm still figuring this out."

Sam's teasing smile softened into something more tender as she leaned in, her lips capturing Caitlin's in a slow, deliberate kiss that made Caitlin's heart race. But just as Caitlin began to relax into the moment, Sam pulled away, getting up from the couch with a mischievous glint in her eye.

"I'm not your girlfriend," Sam said, her voice taking on a teasing, almost sing-song quality. She winked at Caitlin, who was left lying on the couch, slightly breathless and definitely frustrated. "Not yet, at least."

Caitlin watched as Sam sauntered off toward the kitchen, her mind racing. A smile slowly crept across her face, despite the lingering frustration. Sam always had a way of keeping her on her toes—challenging her, teasing her, making her want more.

As Sam disappeared into the kitchen, Caitlin felt a warmth in her chest that was more than just attraction. It was everything she's ever wanted.

The future was uncertain, filled with all the pressures and expectations that came with being in the public eye. But here, in Sam's apartment, in this moment, Caitlin felt a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, she could have it all—on and off the court.