Author's Note: Very special thanks to Caroline for stepping in as my beta for this! *MASSIVETACKLEGLOMPS*
Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 50
Under the balmy sun, Heero stretched out his arms and yelled, "Hike!" The moment the ball was in his hands, the quarterback turned to hand it over to Duo. Protecting the ball securely against his chest with his right arm, he charged towards the wall of bodies forming in front of him.
An opening hardly big enough for the running back to slip through opened and he took the opportunity. Breaking free of the line, he continued his sprint down the field until he was finally taken down at the twenty-six yard line on the Wolverine half of the field. The stadium erupted in cheers and boos from fans of both teams in the stands.
Tim grinned into his microphone, "Well, football fans, this has been an exciting game from the first kick. Both Pittsburgh and Miami have stayed within five points of each other, making this anybody's game.
"So far, the heat has taken very little toll on the Wolverines as they have been wisely conserving themselves for the last quarter and a half. And there has even been action from some of the second and third stringers so that the starters could have a moment to catch their breath."
Nodding, Adam stated, "That is something that Miami has not had to worry about. Being used to these conditions, their starting lineup has not had to change once. In this game, that may not be the best strategy considering how Zechs Marquise is making sure his men stay conditioned for the long haul."
Back on the field, Trowa snapped the ball back to Heero once again at the start of another play. Pulling back a couple of paces, the Japanese athlete scanned the field ahead for an open receiver. Wufei managed to break free of his blocker and waved his arm to get his friend's attention.
Just as a linesman was coming up from behind, Heero threw the ball with a loud grunt of effort.
A half-second after the ball left his hand, the linesman that had weaved his way behind him knocked him down to the ground roughly.
Landing onto his head first, the quarterback winced as he looked up to see how his throw panned out.
Wufei had to run into the end zone once he saw that the throw was easily going to make the last twenty-six yards. Two blockers sprinted for him, but were too late by the time the wide receiver leapt to make the catch. His right foot landing in the center of the end zone, the crowd that was already on its feet exploded.
Tim exclaimed, "Touchdown, Pittsburgh! That puts them in the lead with the score now 23 to 20 with the extra point kick coming up. As easily as their kicker, Smith, has been making those, they're sure to make it 24 to 20 in a moment!"
Still on the ground, Heero cheered and laughed while his teammates celebrated in the end zone with Wufei. Duo was just a few feet away, hooting and hollering as he jumped around while the Torrent players stood around in stunned disappointment.
Grinning from ear-to-ear, the quarterback started to push himself off the ground. He only managed to get half-way up when the linesman that continued to loom over him gave a sharp kick in the square of his back using the cleats at the bottom of his shoe.
With a loud cry as the metal spikes cut into his skin, Heero collapsed with another rough landing on his head. There was a stunned round of collective gasps, cries and shocked murmuring from the audience at the display.
Everything seemed to happen at once and in slow motion after that.
"You better stay down, you queer," the muscular linesman hissed as he bent at the waist over the team captain. "You're liable to get pretty hurt out here."
Duo's wide eyes narrowed when his initial shock over the attack wore off. "You fucking prick!" he shouted in rage as he flew into the scene. The remaining offensive linesmen charged in seemingly out of nowhere after having witnessed the incident from the sideline.
Both Wufei and Trowa were needed to hold their braided friend back when they stopped him just shy of knocking the guardsman a hard blow to the chest. Referees blew their whistles as a call to order while making their own way to the commotion.
Several pushes and shoves were exchanged between the warriors on the field. In the mean time, the benches for both teams were cleared whilst the players that had been sitting out yelled and made threats from their sideline. Even Zechs, Howard and Trent were throwing their arms up in the air with sharp gestures while shouting their demand for a ruling against Miami for their linesman's behavior.
Glaring at the havoc on the field, Adam announced, "Joel Simpson just made one of the most disgusting displays I have ever seen a player make. A direct kick to Heero Yuy's back with his cleats well after the game play was over is going to cost both him and Miami greatly, as it should."
Tim shook his head, "I've never witnessed anything like this. After the announcement that Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell made regarding their relationship, we all expected some kind of backlash. But nothing like this. There is no other reason to explain Simpson's actions since he had every intent of hurting Yuy."
Finally muscling his way through the pack of begrudged players, the head referee in his white cap and striped shirt blew his whistle and screamed, "Goddamn it! That's enough!" The remaining four, black-capped, referees worked together to push several heated players away and managed to call an order.
Slowly coming to his feet at last, Heero winced at the sharp pain the long scratches on his back caused. There were long streaks torn into his jersey from the spikes and blood was seeping through them. Gasping sharply at the sight, Duo rushed to his partner's side. With a hand resting on the stunned quarterback's shoulder, he led him from the field.
Eyes narrowed thinly, the head referee stood before a smug looking Joel Simpson. Gripping the face guard of the guardsman's mask, he pulled him close and shouted in his face, "You're out for the rest of the game! And you just cost your team twenty yards on their next possession!"
That smug look instantly faded Simpson cried, "What!? You have to be kidding me!" His teammates hurried to take hold of him and pulled him back to their sideline. Their red-faced coach was trembling with anger as he waited for his insolent player to return so that he could give him a piece of his mind.
Back on the Wolverine's side, the team captain was eased to sit down on the bench as Duo gently removed his chin strap and helmet. Sally was instantly kneeling before the quarterback as she waved a hand for him to focus on her with an urged, "Heero?"
Blinking his cobalt eyes a couple times, he shook his head and returned to the real world. Quickly noting all of the concerned faces on him, Heero asked, "What the hell happened?"
A relieved smile tugged the therapist's lips. "I'll explain on the way to the examining room," she replied. Gently placing a hand under an elbow, she assisted the quarterback onto his feet along with her.
Duo removed his own helmet and bit his lip anxiously. Howard looked every bit as worried as a father would be concerned for his own son at that moment. Sally turned to the two of them and nodded firmly, "You're both welcome to come along. I just don't want too many people hanging around until I know that everything's all right."
Both sighing deeply, the running back and offensive coach followed close behind on the way back under the stadium.
* * * * * *
A couple of stitches were actually needed to seal off two of the deeper cuts. Large bandages that covered the long scratches concealed nearly Heero's whole back. He returned fully to his senses and there was no severe head trauma thanks to the helmet that he had been wearing when he crashed to the hard ground twice.
Much as he wanted to hold and kiss his lover, Duo kept at arm's length. While everyone now knew they were involved, he wasn't about to make anyone uncomfortable with such a show of affection. By the time Sally finished her examination, the second quarter had ended with Miami on the same possession following the last touchdown that Heero threw in.
The Torrent was unable to score to answer before the clock ran out for the half-time intermission.
In the Wolverine locker room, Zechs and Trent looked about ready to collapse with relief in receiving Sally's approval for Heero to return to the game. While there would be discomfort, she was not worried about the stitches staying in place or further damage being caused.
Drinking from his water bottle, Duo watched alongside his partner as their own back ups- Brian Austin and Terry Fellows- enthusiastically congratulated the other reserved athletes that got to play that day. During the whole game, every time one of their second or third-string 'brothers' had been called to the field, the two never complained and only cheered them on with a look of longing in their eyes.
With a soft sigh, the running back turned to the cobalt eyes now watching him. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" he smirked.
"I believe I am," Heero grinned with a small nod.
* * * * * *
Since they lost the coin flip and kicked the ball away at the start of the first half of the game, the Wolverines were going to receive the ball for the first possession at the start of the second.
Watching their punt return team on the field, the offensive line up was awaiting their turn to take over once they had their mark.
Brian and Terry were standing beside Heero and Duo when the quarterback turned to the second-stringers and smiled, "Better get your helmets ready." Their heads snapping to face him with wide eyes, the replacements' jaws fell loosely.
"H-Helmets?" Terry sputtered. "You mean we're up!?"
Approaching the quartet, Zechs nodded, "That's right. Finish setting your gear and get ready to take the field."
Nervously looking from one person to the next, Brian cried, "B-but I thought that Yuy was good to come back! We were never told anything when we were in the locker room at the break!"
Duo snickered, "Because it would have given you more time to worry about it instead of just going out there and doing your job." There was a roar from the crowd when the punt return man was taken down at the forty-one yard line on the Miami half of the field.
Bearing a helmet in each hand, Howard held them to the back-up athletes, grinning, "Here you are. Make me proud, you little bastards." Brian and Terry shared a worried look before putting on their helmets.
Once the punting team was back at the sideline, Brian swallowed roughly at soon finding himself being stared at by the offensive linemen-all of them from the starting lineup. Clearing his throat, the quarterback raised a shaking arm and called with his voice cracking, "All right, guys! Let's go!"
Zechs shook his head in amusement as he watched the team take the field. "I hope that you're right about this," Howard muttered to Heero and Duo. The couple just gave him reassuring smiles.
Blinking on shock, Tim stated, "I don't believe what I'm seeing. Yuy and Maxwell are sitting out of a game for the first time all season! It looks like Brian Austin and Terry Fellows will be going in for them! This is a pretty bold move, considering how poorly the two have performed in the past. I don't know what Marquise is thinking here."
"Especially since we received word that Yuy was fine to return again," Adam added, his own eyes wide in disbelief. "Considering the importance of this game, this is more than a bit surprising. Even the Miami team seems stunned by the change."
Both on and off the field, the Miami team and staff had slack jaws and wide eyes. Most shaking their heads in amusement and confusion, several members of the team chuckled deeply at the 'deer in headlights' looks that the less than experienced stringers were making on the way to where the ball was marked.
Terry and Brian fell into a huddle with their teammates. Sweating already, the blonde quarterback and dark-haired running back scanned the eyes on them. Grinning, Trowa said kindly, "Breathe you two. Austin, make the call to what you want to have happen."
Shaking his head to bring himself to focus, Brian went over in his head what had been working and what had not for the game. "Well, Howard did say that for our last few possessions, we've been running the ball on the first try. So, they may be expecting that. We'll try throwing the ball this time... I guess."
Wufei smirked, "You guess or is that what we're going to do? You have to start asserting yourself, pal."
Clearly seeing the logic in that, Austin took a deep breath and nodded firmly, "Right. That's what we're doing, then." The Chinese receiver grinned and nodded back.
Breaking the huddle, the offensive linemen went into the positions. Hand on the ball as he squatted down, Trowa peered back to see that Brian was in alignment for an easy snap. Over the cheers from the crowd, Brian yelled, "Set! Set!"
From the sideline, Heero and Duo held their breaths along with the remainder of their team that could only stand and watch. "Hike!" Austin cried and the ball was tossed back into his hands. Growling and snarling, the defenders worked to break free of the guardsmen so they could have their shot at the green quarterback.
Nervously looking for an open receiver, Brian found one in Wufei. Biting his lip, he sent the ball hurling in the air. The force behind the throw sent the ball clear out of Chang's reach and out of bounds into the Miami sideline. It was a wasted effort to gain yards. Coming to a halt, the receiver shook his head in the direction that the ball went. At the blow of a whistle, the clock stopped.
Sighing deeply, Heero and Duo's shoulders slumped. Zechs covered his mouth to keep back the frustrated cry that would have been his initial reaction. Howard and Trent started pacing anxiously with their hands folded behind their back and heads lowered.
All around, laughter filled the air from both the Miami team and the crowd. Brian, head low and looking most defeated felt his cheeks burning in humiliation. "Well, sadly, this was to be expected," Tim commentated. "Austin and Fellows are far too inexperienced and scared on the field to really handle this kind of pressure. Again, I really don't see the logic behind having them take their turn in this game."
Making their way back to their posts while the Wolverines huddled, two of the Miami linemen were still laughing. "They just handed us the win by bringing those two in," the taller of the two men snickered. His teammates within earshot all smirked and nodded in agreement.
While his back was at the time turned to them in the midst of the huddle, Austin heard every word of the exchange. Eyes narrowing as a new determination took over, he gritted to through his teeth, "We're doing that." Pointing to Chang, he ordered, "This time get your ass further down the field. I don't want you looking for a throw until you're more than fifteen yards ahead."
Caught off guard by the sudden show of tenacity, Wufei blinked his wide eyes. A small smile tugged his lips as he replied, "You got it." The huddle was broken and everyone got to their marks.
His eyes still glaring ahead, Brian held his arms out and shouted over the crowd, "Set! Set!"
"OhmyGodohmyGodohmyGod," Duo muttered over and over, his hands gripping the back of his braided head as he looked on. Heero's hands clenched and unclenched nervously. The remainder of the team was not faring much better in their own waiting.
Austin shrieked, "Hike!" Bodies collided violently in another dance to try and best each other the moment the ball was snapped back.
Without paying mind to the blockers around him, Wufei charged with everything he had until he was eighteen yards past the original line. Looking back, he dodged and weaved from his blockers and signaled with a raised hand that he was ready. Quickly locking onto his target, Brian planted his feet into the hard ground and hurled the ball on.
Everyone at the line stopped to watch as the ball hung in the air for what seemed forever before it finally came down. Right into Wufei's waiting arms. First to react were Heero and Duo as they cheered and jumped in elation. Everyone else, including the spectators, followed right after.
Adam jumped from his seat, announcing at the top of his lungs, "I don't believe it! A perfect toss from Austin just gave Pittsburgh a huge push down the field! Incredible!" Shocked speechless, Tim just looked on with wide eyes.
Making a total gain of twenty-three yards, Wufei was finally brought down. Quickly jumping to his feet, the receiver ran back to his celebrating offensive team. Brian jumped into Trowa's arms as the center laughed and lifted him high from the ground. Pats of congratulations went all around as the quarterback reeled over the excitement.
In the next snap, the ball was handed over to Fellows. Hell bent on proving himself, the running back used his training with Maxwell on how to make an opening even if there wasn't one. On his carry, he managed to make a gain of eleven yards.
The progression did not slow down for a moment. A couple of tosses and runs later, Terry pushed his way into the end zone with a huge smile on his face.
"Touchdown Pittsburgh!" Tim exclaimed. "Brian Austin and Terry Fellows were the big play makers during this possession to score! If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I never would have believed it!" Duo jumped into Heero's arms as they shouted and hooted along with the others on the sideline.
With his own team reeling over the turn of events, the head coach for Miami just smirked and slowly clapped his hands together to join in on the applause from the stands in a show of sportsmanship. Most of the Miami crowd was on their feet and cheering alongside the Pittsburgh fans in appreciation of the brave show from the second stringers.
Being one of the first to reach the end zone to celebrate, Trowa removed his helmet and gave a friendly smile to Austin and Fellows. "Take it all in, guys," he had to yell over the noise. Gesturing with his head to crowd that was still giving them a standing ovation, he grinned, "You've earned it."
Their eyes shimmering, Austin and Fellows scanned the packed audience as their teammates on the field pat their backs and gave one-armed embraces. Allowing themselves a moment to enjoy their moment, the quarterback and running back led the way to their sideline.
First to greet them both with a tight hug was Howard. "That's the closest I've come to a goddamned heart attack!" he laughed. "I'm proud of you boys!" Zechs just gave them a fatherly smile and a firm nod as Heero and Duo ran into the scene.
Instantly brightening at the sight of their mentors, Brian and Terry embraced their first-string counterpart as they spoke excitedly amongst each other. By the time everyone finally calmed, the head coach asked the two starters, "Think you're up to heading back out the next time we have the ball?"
The couple smirked to each other and Heero turned to their back-ups. "Sure, if it's all right with these two," he answered. Zechs gazed on the other pair with a raised eyebrow in awaiting their response.
For Austin and Fellows to actually be asked such a thing by the players that they had looked up to was as thrilling as the accolade from the crowd. Grinning from ear-to-ear, Terry replied, "No problem. We'll sit out the rest of the game." Brian nodded fervently in his own agreement.
"Thanks, guys," Duo winked. "You left two pretty big shoes for us to fill after that performance." Beaming in pride, the two second-stringers walked off to join their 'brothers' for another round of congratulations and praise.
And the celebration did not end there. With Heero and Duo back in the game, the Wolverines went on to dominate the remainder of the game. In the end, the score was 40-27.
In the locker room, it took some time for Zechs to calm his team enough to announce, "Drinks are on me tonight!" Another wave of cheers and yells filled the room as his athletes continued on the celebration of their special victory.
TBC...
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