Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 51
In a press conference following the victory against Miami, Zechs gazed out to the reporters and photographers behind the table where he sat alongside Heero, Duo, Brian and Terry. Cameras flashed and video recorders filmed.
The first journalist called on rose from his seat and began, "First off, congratulations on a huge win against Miami today, everyone." The quintet smiled at that and gave sincere words of appreciation.
Electronic notepad in hand, the young reporter addressed Zechs, "So, coach Marquise, what was your reasoning behind bringing Austin and Fellows into the game? Considering their track record in the past, you had to be leery of making that call."
Brian and Terry both snickered at the honest question. Heero and Duo just smirked to them like proud parents. Grinning, Zechs shrugged, "Since summer training, Yuy and Maxwell took it upon themselves to work personally with Austin and Fellows to help them improve. It was also their suggestion that they have a chance to prove themselves today."
Some surprised murmuring went through the reporters before the next stood to her own feet. With a nod of her head to the two starters, she inquired, "And so neither of you felt the need to keep the spotlight on you, even though most look to the two of you as the stars of the team?"
Leaning towards the microphones a bit, Duo replied, "Neither Heero or I are foolish enough to believe that we carry the team. Everyone is valuable, including the second and third stringers that wait in the wings. Austin and Fellows worked very hard with us for the last few months and it was about time they got to show that on the field." Beside him, Heero nodded.
Wide eyes went through the room as the surprised murmuring continued. Brian spoke up, "I don't think that Maxwell is taking enough credit here. Fellows and I owe a lot to him and Yuy for all of their help over the months. We wouldn't have performed half as well as we had today if they hadn't taken the time or had the patience that they gave us."
"And they believed in us when no one else had," Terry added. "It means the world to just know that someone you look up to and aim to be actually has faith in you and your own abilities. That alone went a long way for the both of us." Brian grinned and nodded to the sentiment. Heero and Duo bowed their heads humbly.
Quickly jumping in to voice his question, the next journalist stood with his recorder and turned to the team captain to ask, "Since it is pretty clear that Joel Simpson had every intent to hurt you because of your relationship with Maxwell, are you at all concerned that there will be other incidents like this in the games to follow?"
Taking a deep breath, Heero frowned, "What Simpson did was... unfortunate. But I'm not at all worried that there will be other scenarios like this one. Most players tend to have a more level head than that."
~
Solo's head fell back as he laughed, "Good slam there, Heero."
The quarterback sat at the other couch with Duo curled up alongside him as they watched the re-air of the press conference. A satisfied grin on his face, Heero nodded firmly in appreciation. Hilde snickered in accord, her head resting on her husband's shoulder.
In that late hour, the children were already sound asleep in their beds for the night. Following a very busy day of traveling back to Chicago for their three days off, the football players were grateful for a peaceful moment with their friends.
Slightly tilting his head, the Solo asked, "What ever did happen to that asshole after the game? He got more than a slap on the wrist for what he pulled, right?"
Duo lifted his head from his lover's chest and answered, "The league officials fined him twenty thousand dollars from his salary and a suspension from the next five games. I'd say it was a pretty good punishment."
With a wide yawn, Heero stretched his arms and concurred, "It's more than enough to keep him from trying anything like that again. If he ever did, the league officials are banning him from ever playing for a major league again."
Hilde sighed in relief, "Good. I still can't believe that he just went and did something like that at all. He would have to be a complete moron to try it a second time." Frowning in concern, she inquired, "You're sure that your back's all right?"
Shaking his head, the quarterback chuckled, "For the fifth time since we got here, I'm fine, Hil. The stitches will dissolve in the next couple days and I'm not in any kind of pain." He smiled warmly, "But I do appreciate the worry." The young woman gave him a friendly grin in return.
Gently running a hand through his wife's hair, Solo commented, "I thought poor little Jamie was going to jump out of her skin when she saw that. She really has taken a shine to you."
Unable to help his smile from growing at that, Heero recalled how it took some convincing on his part to get the tearful child to believe that he was all right. When Duo had called the house when they returned to their hotel room following the game, Jamie was sniffling over the phone asking if 'Heewo' was all right.
Changing the subject, Hilde grinned, "So now that your team is still at the top of its conference at 6 to 1 and you're half way through the season, you actually have a good shot at being in the playoffs-"
Instantly sitting up, the football players cut her off with their heads shaking and exclamations for her to stop. Blinking in confusion the young woman waited for Duo to sigh deeply and explain, "You don't ever say anything like that before it happens. Hell, you don't even think it! You could jinx the whole thing!"
Heero nodded, "He's right. There are still ten more games to go for the regular season. And with the fact that this particular team has never come close to that before, we're not even considering the chance right now."
Laughing, Solo shook his head, "I can't believe that the two of you are actually being superstitious over just the mention of the word playo-" Again, his friends waved their hands and cried to cut him off.
Once his 'brother' and 'sister' were both reduced to snickers, Duo threw a pillow at them. "Well, if we don't make it," he smirked, "It's going to be your faults. Not ours." The married couple just fell into hysterics with that statement.
* * * * * *
Wufei sat at the sidelines towards the end of the half-time intermission of the next game. His head bobbing back and forth in time to the music that Relena and the cheerleading team danced in their sequin uniforms of red and gold. Watching the routine that he had seen time and time again, the receiver was not aware that his arms were moving along with each movement that the young women made.
Finally back at their home stadium in Pittsburgh that cold day, the Wolverines were able to take advantage of having the chance to play on their own turf. On this seventh game of the season, they were in a good lead over the Buffalo Boars at a score of 20-10.
Chuckling, Heero, Duo and Trowa watched Wufei as he continued to unknowingly follow along with the cheerleaders. Suddenly aware of his friends' eye on him, the receiver turned them with his hands in mid-air where they were frozen in a pose. His eyes widening, he quickly lowered his arms and blushed.
"You should try out for the squad, Chang," Duo snickered. "You have some pretty good moves there." Heero and Trowa both burst out into full on laughter in not being able to hold back any longer.
His nose in the air, Wufei harrumphed, "Yea, well it's hard not to know each routine like the back of my hand when they up spending most of their practices at my estate." At the change in music, he held up his hand to pause any further argument and looked back onto the field just as Relena started swaying her hips to the beat.
Before long, the routine ended and the young women waved to the crowd while running off the field.
Grinning like a child on Christmas morning, the receiver exclaimed, "Goddamn, I am a lucky bastard!" Spinning back to face his teammates, he grinned widely, "Did you all see that!?" Duo joined in on the new round of laughter that went down the sideline.
A few feet away, Zechs just smirked, "All right, guys. Get your game faces back on. The big show's about to start up again." He didn't need to ask again as the athletes gripped their helmets by the facemasks and prepared to take the field again.
It was during a play when the Wolverine defensive team was on the field that disaster struck.
Donnie Richardson, one of the Pittsburgh blockers, got tangled in midair with a Buffalo receiver while trying to keep him from the ball. When they collided, their arms hooked just right and on the way down, there was a loud snap and a sickening pop. Both young men crashed to the ground and screamed out in pain.
The benches on both sides were cleared as the teams rose to watch the scene with wide eyes. Gripping either side of his head, Duo bit his lip in worry. Shaking his head, he muttered "Goddamn. Did anyone else hear that crack?"
"Yea," Heero replied quietly, his cobalt eyes on the fallen athletes as Sally and the Buffalo physical therapist ran to the scene. All that the offensive and special teams could do was stand around and watch.
Before long, two med vehicles pulled in and with the assistance of the players on the field, the injured young men were lifted onto the flatbeds. As he was wheeled past his team with Sally looking over him, Donnie received reassuring pats to his good shoulder and words of encouragement from his teammates.
Lightly jogging to catch up with the vehicle, Zechs and Trent gazed down to the pained face of their blocker. "Sorry," the African American frowned deeply up to them in a moan when another jolt of pain shot up his left arm. "I didn't think we'd get caught like that."
A small smile on his face, Trent replied, "No apologies needed, kid. It was just a shitty break." He winced, "No pun intended." Despite his discomfort, Donnie laughed goodheartedly at that remark.
Sally kept her hands over the point of fracture in a careful brace to buffer against any bumps they might hit on the way to her examination room. At Zechs' gaze on her, she sighed sadly and shook her head.
That only meant one thing. Complex fracture. It would not be something that she could set back on her own that it would heal before the end of the season.
Forcing a smile, the head coach squeezed the injured athlete's right shoulder. "Hang in there, Donnie," he told him. "I'm going to have Sally keep me posted on your condition. We'll be around to check on you as soon as the game is finished."
Sweat running down his face, the blocker grinned and nodded firmly, "Thanks, coach." Looking back over his shoulder, he called to his teammates, "Keep giving them hell, guys! We've got this one! Don't worry about me!" His comrades in arms waved him off with more words of support and well wishes.
Finally coming to a halt as the vehicle rolled under the tunnel at the start of the long corridor below the stadium, Zechs and Trent shared a disappointed and concerned look. Running a hand through his blonde hair, the offensive coach stated quietly, "I'll get Tyree prepped to fill in Swanson's place. He's the most ready of the second-string blockers."
His eyes still gazing down the tunnel ahead of them, Zechs nodded, "All right. The officials will want to get the game started up again, so make it quick." Not needing another word, Trent ran off calling for Tyree to take the field.
Shaking his head, Zechs slowly looked away from the tunnel. Regardless of how often injuries came up in football, it was never easy losing a player. Especially a good one like Richardson when they were needed the most.
* * * * * *
"To Dawson," rose the chorused toast as glasses of soda and water were clinked together. Pulling their drinks back, the gathered lot took a long sip before lowering their glasses again.
Even with their big victory that day, what happened to the blocker put a damper on the whole thing.
Relena rested her head on Wufei's shoulder with a quiet sigh. He turned his head to kiss her forehead gently. "So how did Donnie take the news that he's out for the rest of the season?" she asked hesitantly to the solemn faces around her.
His hand joined with Quatre's, Trowa replied, "As well as could be expected. Dorothy stopped by the hospital the same way she had with Darren. She won't be able to offer another coaching position, but she said his earnings won't change and he can at least stay on the sideline with us whenever we play."
Taking another sip from his water, Heero added, "A couple of the starters that have been out the last couple games with pulled muscles will be coming back next week. Hopefully we'll be able to keep them in the lineup for a while."
Duo shook his braided head and snorted, "So long as no one else we know brings up the 'P' word again."
Both Wufei and Trowa lowered their glasses with a thud onto the table with wide eyes and slack jaws. "Someone mentioned the 'P' word to you!?" the Chinese receiver exclaimed. "No one *ever* mentions the 'P' word unless it's a sure thing that we're making it!" Quatre and Relena rolled their eyes at the well-known superstition amongst the team.
Shrugging, the running back responded, "That's what Heero and I tried to explain to them, but they just didn't believe us." The quarterback nodded and took a handful of peanuts from the snack tray.
"Now come on," the agent chuckled deeply in amusement. "You don't really believe that someone mentioning a certain word is the reason for Donnie's being taken out for the season, do you?"
Trowa raised and eyebrow to his lover in a silent answer. "You're all crazy!" Relena cried. "I can't believe that every one of you is that superstitious!"
Holding up a finger to end her tirade, Heero reminded her, "We're athletes. If there is anyway to turn something around into a superstition, we will. Any sport is a combination of talent and luck. You need both if you want to get ahead. The last thing that you do is tempt fate." Duo, Trowa and Wufei all nodded fervently.
Duo winked to his two surprised friends, "So, no mentioning of the 'P' word around us, whether we have a shot or not. It's waaaaay too soon to be making any assumptions like that right now with eight more games to go this season."
Lightly tapping the tip of his girlfriend's nose with a finger, Wufei commented, "This is going to be one of the most difficult stretches ahead. For a lot of teams, they know it's do or die for them, so they'll be pulling out all the stops to come up with wins."
"Everything we've seen up to now will seem like a stroll in the park," Trowa threw in. "Since we're one of the teams at the top of the pack, everyone we face is going to want to knock us down."
Relena raised her hands and giggled, "All right. All right. I get it. No mentioning of the 'P' word until it's a done deal. You sold me." Quatre nodded his own agreement to keep a lid on the mention of the word.
Their friends smiled in satisfaction. A couple of tables down, Karen turned her head away from the round table. "Nothing interesting enough for me to work with yet," she sighed to herself in frustration. Finishing her drink, she continued to strain her ears to listen in on the conversation over the noise of the bar crowd.
* * * * * *
After two days of staking out the gates of the Yuy household, Karen was about ready to pull her hair out. There was little change in the routine of the quarterback and running back. Other than going to practice and making the occasional stop at Murray's with their friends, they rarely left the house.
And now knowing that the couple was off from practice for the next three days, the journalist was dreading a most boring stretch of no activity. After her story hinting that they were gay had become front page news, she imagined that the two athletes were being especially careful with what they did.
Just when she was about to pull out of her hiding place a few yards from the gates for a reprieve, the platinum doors opened for a black Civic to pull out. With Heero in the driver's seat and Duo beside him, they turned right heading for the highway.
Soon spotting what appeared to be luggage in the back seats when the vehicle turned, Karen's eyes widened. Quickly turning the ignition of her own car, she hurried off to keep her target in sight.
At the end of the journey, they wound up at the Pittsburgh Airport. Knowing that she would not be able to follow the couple on such short notice wherever they were going, the reporter still followed at a safe distance to at least learn their destination.
By the time she caught up to the gate where the disguised football players were sitting, Karen looked up to the stewards' desk. In bold letters, the station's message board had the location of the flight's arrival destination.
"Chicago, Illinois," she read to herself. Smirking, she turned and walked back off. "Curiouser and curiouser," she muttered while lowering her sunglasses on the bridge of her nose.
TBC...
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