Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 35
Duo shifted a bit on the hotel bed so that he lay a little more flat to take any weight off his chest. With his cell phone on the pillow beside him on speaker, he continued on with the conversation he was having. "So, there's no need for any of you to worry about me. I'll be healed up in a few days."
Hilde's voice rang through, "Just be sure that you follow your therapist's orders and take it easy. I know you like staying active, but you can't risk missing the season just because you're bored with sitting things out."
Snorting, Duo replied, "Yes, Mom." The sound of a raspberry came through the receiver. His children giggled and snickered through the speaker phone on their end. "Just be sure to keep that worrywart of a wife of yours doesn't give herself a heart attack, Solo."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure she doesn't," Solo's voice smiled. "We'll see you in a couple days, little bro. Rest up."
All of the little ones chorused, "We love you, Daddy!" Catching that last part as he stepped out of the bathroom after his shower, Heero chuckled deeply with a warm grin. He reached up to towel dry his wet hair some more as he looked over to his partner.
Once Zechs had dismissed them after the game, the quarterback was more worried about getting his teammate home to lie down than he was concerned about cleaning up at the stadium. They drove back to the hotel in silence, both still reeling after the incident that broke out on the sidelines.
As soon as they reached their room, Duo received a worried call from his family. Seeing the fight that broke out on their television had the kids pretty shaken and he needed some time alone to reassure them that he was all right.
His fists clenching as he looked to the long laceration over the running back's right eye and the large bruise that was darkening under the left, Heero fought to control the rage welling up in him once more. The entire team was stunned by Mueller's actions. Whatever seed he tried to plant into them at Duo's expense was quickly washed away when he physically attacked as he had.
Smiling widely, the braided athlete replied, "I love all of you, too. I'll see you soon." There was another chorus of a good bye before he reached over to close the flap of his cell phone. With a deep sigh, he lowered his head back onto the pillow and stared up to the ceiling.
"It took five minutes to calm little Hope down," Duo frowned deeply. "She just kept crying and..." his voice trailed off in a hitch and he struggled to keep his own tears back. He could endure any kind of injury, but he couldn't stand when any of his kids cried. It was even more difficult when he wasn't there to help them.
Gently brushing back the long bangs, Heero gave him an understanding smile. "But she's okay now, right?" he asked quietly.
Sniffling, the running back wiped away a strap tear and nodded, "Yea. I started cracking jokes until she laughed. I think she'll be all right now." His eyes narrowing, he growled, "I'm more pissed off at Muller for upsetting my kids than for what he did to me."
The quarterback moved his hand to lightly run his fingertips over the brown medical wrap that nearly covered his housemate's chest. After a long silence between them, he asked in concern, "Are you all right?" It had been the first time he was able to manage the question.
With a shrug, Duo looked up into his gaze and answered, "My chest is still pretty sore, but that's to be expected."
Heero shook his head, "That's not what I meant when I asked that."
Quickly picking up on what he was really asking, the braided youth closed his eyes as he sighed deeply. "I'm just frustrated," he commented. "There were a lot of people on the team who seemed to side with Mueller in thinking that I'm trying to take the spotlight from them."
Opening his violet eyes to lock onto the cobalt watching him, he said, "They don't even get that they're actually seeing the real me and not the asshole that I was playing before. I guess I can't blame them for not being able to see the difference. But I am really trying to earn their trust here."
"I know," Heero responded quietly. "Whatever damage Mueller may or may not have done, I know the others will come back around. The positions that you and I hold are the ones that draw the most notice just by their nature. They also come with a lot of responsibility that not many can handle. They'll remember that."
A slow sigh pulled from the quarterback's lungs as he stated, "I just never imagined that Mueller could fly off the handle like that. He had been a challenge ever since you joined the team, but I didn't think that he was capable of something like this."
Yawning widely, Duo replied, "Neither did I." The prescribed pain meds that he had taken when they arrived at the hotel room were beginning to take their toll on him, causing his eyelids to becoming heavy.
The team captain smiled and leaned down to kiss his forehead. Just beside an ear, he whispered, "Get some rest. I'll start packing our things so we won't have to bother with it later tonight. I'll wake you up in a couple hours for dinner."
His eyes already closed, his partner mumbled, "'k. Thanks, 'Ro." In a moment, the rising and falling of his chest evened out as sleep claimed him.
It was the most rest he ever had while staying in a hotel room.
* * * * * *
Mueller chewed on the inside of his cheek as he sat across from Grace. The young receptionist was busy typing away at her computer. Occasionally, her green eyes would peer out the corners and through her black-framed glasses to the football player. Uncomfortable under her silent scrutiny, the tight end shifted in his seat like a child that was waiting to be sent to the principal's office.
Garnishing a bruised left cheek that was only then starting to lose its swelling along with his lip, his hands fidgeted in his lap. The right side of his face was sporting three little cuts that were closed off with a tiny band-aid on each.
Finally, the telephone rang. Swaying her head a bit to move her full curls of brown hair from her ear, Grace placed the receiver to her ear and greeted, "Yes, Miss Catalonia." There was a brief pause before she smiled, "Very good. I'll send him in."
Lowering the receiver onto its cradle, the secretary's smile faded as her expression turned cold. "She is ready for you now," she announced grimly. Mueller brushed the back of his jeans as he rose to leave the room. Turning left, he headed for the office at the end of the hallway.
Just before he reached the door, it slid open to him. With a rough swallow, the athlete stepped into the office to find Dorothy behind her desk with her back to the large windows overlooking Pittsburgh. Her elbows propping her folded hands up, the team owner's icy gaze watched him. "Have a seat, Clayton," she ordered.
As he headed for the chair before her, Muller heard the door slid closed behind him. Taking his time in seating himself, he looked back up into those haunting, cat-like eyes. "I know that I must have disappointed you this weekend," he began.
Dorothy laughed, "Disappointed? " Her laugh grew but was empty of any humor or joy. "Oh, Mueller," she sighed with a shake of her head. Her eyes narrowing, she stated, "Disappointed does not even to begin to describe how I feel towards you right now.
"I tolerated your loathing towards Duo for longer than I should have. Instead, I gave you chance after chance to make a turn around just as your fellow teammates had. Somehow, I thought better of you and then you let me down with your stunt yesterday during a televised game." Folding her arms and leaning back in her leather chair, the owner gritted, "And so I am well beyond disappointed right now."
Small beads of sweat dampened Mueller's brow as he lowered his head. Finding it difficult to swallow, let alone find his voice, he held his tongue.
Dorothy informed coolly, "You're to sit the bench at the next game just as Zechs had advised. After that, you will no longer be a part of this team."
Gasping sharply, the tight end's head shot up with wide eyes. "What!? B-but... you can't do that to me!" he cried. "I've been a part of this team for three years now! And what about my contract!?"
Calmly, the young woman answered, "Part of your contract states that I may terminate it at any given time should I feel that you are not living up to your end of the arrangement. As far as your time spent with the team, you have not been a part of the team since Alex was traded.
"All that you are concerned with is yourself to the detriment of your teammates. There is no reason for me to hold onto someone who does not want to be here. You made your own bed and now you will have to lie in it."
When her soon-to-be-former player opened his mouth, Dorothy raised a hand to keep any words from escaping. "I have also been informed of just how close you and Alex are. I am keeping you on the team through the next game only to keep an eye on you that you do not leak out Duo's ability to catch before then." The air rushing out of his lungs in a rush, Mueller struggled to remain upright.
Folding her hands together on her desk, she warned, "If you leak anything to Alex or Treize and they manage to prevent him from catching next week, I promise you that there will not be a single owner out there that would sign you on. What you pulled yesterday already turned most of them off to you."
A smirk tugged the owner's lips as she continued, "And the rest, like my dear uncle, are homophobes. You're holding something over my head. I get to hold this over yours. And I get the feeling that my little secret on you is far juicier."
Struggling to catch a breath, the stricken young man asked, "So you plan to end my career, then?"
"No," Dorothy shook her head. "If you play nice, you have my word that I will not tell a single soul about your preference. That little detail will remain between us. Knowing my uncle, he would love to sign you on as a slap in my face after next week's game. I won't fight him in doing so, as you are a good player who should not be left without a team to work with."
Put at a bit of ease as that, Mueller was finally able to swallow. Knowing the hand that he was being dealt, the last thing that he wanted was to out on the street with nowhere to go. As tempting as it was to get back at Dorothy and Maxwell, he needed to look out for himself. He would just have to explain things to Alex later.
Nodding firmly, he agreed, "All right. I promise- not a word on my part about Duo's being able to catch."
Satisfied with that, the team owner nodded back, "Good. I'll be keeping an eye out during the game. For your sake, I hope you live up to that. If I have even the slightest hint that you went against your word, I won't hesitate to make your relationship to Alex front page news." A long eyebrow rose as she smirked, "And I do not bluff."
Mueller bit his lip. There wasn't any doubt in his mind that she was bluffing.
Rising to his feet on unsteady legs, the tight end bowed his head and asked, "So that's it, then? We're finished after this week?"
With a deep sigh, Dorothy replied, "Yes. It really is a shame, you know. You are not even aware of the opportunity that was laid out to you by being on this team. All of your efforts these last three years have been wiped completely away by one bad choice. This is by no means something I am taking enjoyment in, but it must be done for the better of my team."
Despite his anger at being pushed out the door, Mueller couldn't help but appreciate the fact that he was being given a chance to still do what he loved. It all could have been taken away from him without any chance of getting back to his feet.
There was a sharp pain in his chest in now realizing just what he was losing thanks to his actions. Not only were there his friends and teammates, but there was this wonderfully understanding owner that was willing to do everything in her power to see that her athletes were taken care of... even when they wronged her.
"I-I'm sorry, Dorothy," Mueller said sincerely.
A sad smile tugged the young woman's face. "So am I," she said in kind. Taking a deep breath, she repeated, "So am I." Dorothy waved her hand as she cleared her throat. Looking away, she frowned deeply, "Now, I have a lot of work to do. I imagine that you have quite a bit of packing that you need to get started on."
That declaration really made the fact that he was finished at Pittsburgh hit home for the tight end. This really was the end. Lowering his head in another respective bow, Mueller turned on his heels and make a quick departure from the office.
Once she was alone once more, Dorothy sighed deeply as she reached up to wipe a stray tear. Shaking her head, she whispered, "Such a shame." Quickly regaining her composure, she turned to her computer and buried herself back in her work.
Leaning his back against the closed office door, Muller took a moment to actually muster the strength to push himself off and head down the long hallway. 'When one door closes, another opens,' he thought to himself. Snorting bitterly, he shook his head.
This was one door that he closed on himself. All that he could do was hope that the next one to open to him would be just as good to him as the one he was walking away from.
* * * * * *
"You're off the team!?" Alex yelled in shock over the vidphone. Shaking his head, he commented, "I mean, granted, you caused a pretty big disturbance at the game by pulling Maxwell into a fight. But I can't believe that bitch is cutting you loose!"
Eyes narrowing, Mueller hissed, "Don't ever call Dorothy that again. She's giving me a chance to sign on to another team after next week's game. She could have really pushed for me to be kicked out of the league as a whole, but she's not."
Taken aback by his lover's protectiveness of the Pittsburgh team owner, Alex blinked in shock. Even he had to admit that she deserved a bit of respect for not just wiping her hands of him completely. "Sorry," he muttered. "Didn't know that she had a heart like that."
Sighing deeply, Mueller shrugged, "It's all right." As he leaned closer to the screen, he asked, "Do you think that you could pull any strings with Khushrenada and Noventa to sign me?"
A smirk tugged his partner's face as he replied, "I'm sure that I can work something out. As much as they would love to see someone else from Dorothy's camp switching to them, I can't see them turning you down. You're a hell of a player and we could use you."
Finally able to fully relax, the tight end sagged in his seat. At least he would be on the same team with his lover again. There was also the benefit of being signed on to one of the best teams in the league. Considering how the day had started, things couldn't have been looking better now.
Tilting his head, Alex questioned, "So why the hell would Dorothy want to keep you one more week just to make you sit on the bench?
That doesn't make any sense." His eyes widening, he inquired, "You don't have anything over her head, do you? Something that we could use to our advantage?"
Mueller was not the least bit surprised that his clever lover was able to put the pieces together for that conclusion. Without the hint of any doubt or worry, he shook his head, "No. She probably just wants to send a message to everyone watching who the real instigator of that fight was by publicly punishing me. Like some damned kid sent to the front of the classroom when they misbehave. Then she'll cut me loose."
Easily accepting that excuse, the blonde running back nodded. "I see. Well, at least she's not making you sit out of the whole season." He smiled, "At any rate, it'll be great to be on the same team with you again if it all works out the way I'm sure it will."
"Yea. It will be," the right end grinned widely. Looking to the time on his monitor, he winced in finding that it was drawing late. "I should let you go," he suggested. "You'll need some rest for tomorrow's practice."
Alex glanced at his own clock and responded, "Yep. Treize will be pretty pissed if I'm not at my best this week, considering the next game coming up." A smirk pulling his lips, he commented, "No offense, but It's going to be great kicking the shit out of your team on Sunday."
Chuckling deeply, Mueller shook his head in amusement. "Good night," he said quietly. After a brief exchange of salutations, his screen went black at the disconnection of the call. Lightly tracing the edge of the monitor, he frowned deeply, "I'm sorry I had to lie. But you'll just have to understand."
* * * * * *
Six days later...
Zechs was pacing back and forth outside physical therapist's room as Sally was busy examining Duo's progress. The following day was going to be the biggest of the season that had not even officially begun. Maxwell was going to be needed now more than ever on the field to rally the team up to what he'd hoped would be another victory for them.
"You look as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs," the running back smirked as he and Sally stepped out of the room together.
Snickering, the braided young woman smiled as the head coach shot his wide eyes to her for the diagnoses. Lightly patting her patient's shoulder, she announced, "He's good as new just as promised. Thanks to his following my orders to take it easy, of course."
His shoulders falling with the weight lifted from them, Zechs fought the urge to hug the both of them. "Thank God," he sighed deeply.
Duo just chuckled deeply and shook his head as he walked past. "See you bright and early tomorrow morning, coach," he called over his shoulder. "By the time we're done with those bastards, Treize won't want to show his ugly face around for months!" 'Even if it's only because of calling him out on my not being able to catch,' he thought to himself.
The moment that he was alone with Sally, the tall blonde let go of his restraint and nearly cut off her air as he threw his arms around her in a tight embrace. Laughing as she tried to catch her breath, the physical therapist patted his back. "There, there," she soothed with a grin.
In the locker room, Heero was in mid-pace when his braided partner entered. Cobalt eyes wide in anticipation, he asked, "How did it go?"
"Clean bill of health," Duo smiled. "I'm good to go for tomorrow's game." Letting out the breath that he had been holding, the quarterback smiled widely in relief. As he reached for his duffle bag, his housemate frowned deeply, "I just wish that we had more of a chance to practicing on catching this week. By the time we get back to your place, we won't have any light to work with."
Still smiling, Heero shrugged, "You don't need it. I'm convinced that you'll be able to catch for tomorrow's game. And that's simply because I know how badly you want to rub this in Treize's face."
Practically beaming, the running back replied quietly, "Thanks, 'Ro." As he slung his bag over his shoulder, he placed his sunglasses on the bridge of his nose and asked, "Ready?"
Nodding, Heero took up his own bag and they headed through the locker room doors together.
That night, neither of them managed to get a minute of sleep.
TBC...
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