Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 71
"Come on, ladies! You know those Hawks will be hitting you harder than this when you're on the field!" Trent yelled as he leaned over the bar of his post behind the seven dummy bags that his defensive line was slamming against. Growling deeply, the players worked together to push the trolley back as they slammed against the padded bags together.
On the other half of the field, Darren stopped the watch in his hand when the wide receivers and running backs sprinted past him. Looking to the time, he shook his head and shouted, "Not nearly good enough, guys! Back to the fifty yard line and go again!"
Wufei, Scott and John all but doubled over at the order, but turned back and did as they were told. Duo was just barely panting and had no trouble lightly jogging to the start.
On one of the sidelines, Heero ran backwards a few paces before planting his feet and hurling the ball in his hand for the standing target more than forty yards ahead of him. He hit the bull's eye perfectly in the center with the force of the blow knocking the cardboard pin off its hinges. Whistling through his teeth, Howard smiled, "Very good, my boy. Only took ten throws to make it, but you got there."
Lightly panting, the quarterback wiped away the sweat from his brow and shook his aching throwing arm. Unable to talk, he just took a quick gulp from his water bottle water as the target was set ten yards further away. Nodding firmly when the bull's eye was ready, the man nodded firmly, "Do it again." Inwardly sighing, Heero gathered up another football.
Sally paced the opposite sideline with her arms folded as she observed the intense practice. Bundled in a hooded coat, she approached Zechs and frowned, "How much longer are you going to keep this up? It's only a matter of time before someone pulls a muscle that takes them out of the post season."
Peering out of the corner of his eye, the head coach answered, "I'm trusting them to know their bodies enough to stop when it gets to be too much. They have to push as far as they can go if they want to succeed this stage of the game. They're going to be facing some steep competition from here on out."
A small smirk tugged his lips as he turned to face the physical therapist. "Besides," he shrugged, "you can't tell me that any one of them would rather sit out the preseason with an injury from working too hard than losing for not working hard enough."
"No," the braided young woman replied with a smile. "No I cannot tell you that." Satisfied with that, she nodded, "So we trust them then." Returning the nod, Zechs looked back to the progress on the field.
* * * * * *
Later that evening, Heero and Duo moaned deeply as they collapsed into bed. After a grueling three days of intense practice, they had little more energy than what it took to shower, eat their dinner and climb the stairs to their room. Every muscle groaned as they finally loosened from their strain.
"Thank God we're off tomorrow," the running back sighed deeply. "Much as I love a good conditioning, I don't think I'd make it through another practice after today."
Chuckling, the quarterback remarked, "Somehow I think Zechs knew that, hence the break." Slowly shifting so that he and his partner could curl up together, he smirked, "I hope you're not looking for any action tonight. As sore as I am, I would never be able to manage."
His violet eyes drifting closed as he rested his head on a strong shoulder, Duo smiled and muttered, "S'ok. 'm too tired to try an'thing an'way."
With a snicker, Heero replied, "Good. Much as I would love to-" A light snore cut him off. Only able to lift his head enough to make out his peacefully sleeping lover's face in the moonlight, he grinned. Gently kissing his forehead, he whispered, "G'night, love."
Easily settling himself down, the team captain's own eyes slid closed as a long awaited sleep claimed him at last.
It was nearly noon by the time the couple stirred back to the world of the living the next day.
* * * * * *
Alex stepped from the locker room freshly showered with a disgruntled look on his face. While the day's practice had gone well, he was still denied any upgrade in his steroid dosage. The first shot he received upon his return from his parents' served to keep the voices at bay, but that effect was dwindling more and more each passing day.
On his way to the parking lot, someone called, "Denton." Nearly jumping out of his skin, the running back cried out and spun around with wide eyes. Raising an eyebrow at his startled player, Treize questioned, "Something wrong? You look like you're just seen a ghost."
"More like I keep hearing ghosts," Alex grumbled under his breath. Before his coach could pick up on what he said, he shrugged, "I just have some things on my mind." It was an honest enough answer.
Approaching the blonde running back, Treize nodded, "You've had 'some things on your mind' ever since Clayton's funeral." The young man lowered his head with nothing to say. Slowly wrapping an arm around his player's shoulders, the tall man smirked, "Let's talk in my office where the walls do not have ears."
It was a terribly long walk to the head coach's office for Alex. Peering out of the corner of his eye, he tried to get a read on what was on the man's face. Much to his growing anxiety, there was nothing that he led on to whether this meeting would be a pleasant one of not.
When they stepped inside the room, Treize sat at his desk and gestured for the running back to take his place across from him. Cautiously doing as he was wordlessly commanded, Alex held his breath in waiting. Folding his hands on his desk, the coach began simply, "You still blame Dorothy Catalonia for Clayton's death."
Just the mention of the owner flared the football player's rage anew. Eyes narrowing, he hissed, "I do. She and the team let Mueller down by turning their back to him and forcing him to trade. He never wanted to play for a city other than Pittsburgh. I know that he was depressed coming here."
'You know there is so much more to it than that,' the voice in his head chided. Ignoring the doubt in him, Alex willed it away.
Treize made a steeple with his hands before his face. "I must say that the more and more I think it over, I am inclined to agree with you," he stated. "And I think that it's about time people took a hard look at my dear cousin's decision making skills."
Blinking in shock, the running back sputtered, "R-really? But there has been a statement set by her publicist that removed her from any guilt to what happened to Mueller. To go after her now would be public relations suicide."
With a wink, the coach waved a finger in the air and said, "Ah, but there is a way of putting thought in people's heads without coming out and saying anything." Leaning forward, he sneered, "Her team is going to be crushed this weekend. I want her reputation to go down in flames with them."
Very slowly, a grin tugged Alex's face. "I like your thinking, coach," he chuckled. "So what do you want me to do?"
More than pleased that he had a willing accomplice, Treize leaned back in his seat. "This publicist of Dorothy's, Karen Clarkson, knows all the ins and outs of how to put out media flames. Once known as one of the most vicious of reporters out there, the press is not about to go after Dorothy without someone else doing so first.
"All that we need to do is take part in a simple interview where the questions turn to Mueller's unfortunate passing. A simple suggestion will be made and that we will be able to deny our placing direct blame later and we simply let the events unfold as they will from there."
Snickering, Alex shook his head in amusement, "And it's really just that simple?"
The head coach's smile grew as he answered beyond the slightest hint of doubt, "It's just that simple."
Reassured and more than happy with the idea, the running back leaned forward. "All right," he agreed with a firm nod. "I'm in."
* * * * * *
Duo lifted Hope into her bed as the last to be tucked in for the night. Pulling the covers over the little girl, he sat on the edge of the mattress and lightly kissing her forehead. With a wink, he smiled, "'Night, munchkin. Happy New Year."
Yawing widely, the youngest of his lot replied, "Happy New Year, Daddy." Her eyes drifted closed and before long, she was off to the land of dreams. Rising from the bed, the running back turned off the lamp beside the bed and closed the bedroom door behind him.
Out in the hallway, Heero approached as he finished buttoning up a blue shirt that matched his eyes. The action made Duo check his own red shirt for any creases. While the party that they were going to be attending did not say that formal attire was needed, it was always nice to look presentable. And so, nice shirts and dress slacks it was.
When their eyes met, the quarterback asked, "Ready to go?"
"Yep," Duo nodded. "Just tucked the last of the young ones to bed." Together, the couple headed downstairs to say their good nights and 'Happy New Year's' to Hilde, Solo, Marcus, Tai and Flora before heading out.
During their drive to Dorothy's estate, Heero managed to catch his lover staring at the ring on his finger a few times from the corner of his eye. Every time he saw the look of awe and excitement in those violet eyes when he studied that ring, it made his heart jump in his chest.
* * * * * *
Dressed in a sparkling champagne-colored dress, Dorothy opened her arms to her star players as they entered the ball room. "Always a pleasure to see you both," she greeted with a tight embrace. Chuckling, she added, "I am glad that you know not to bother knocking whenever visiting my home. My doors are always open to my team, whether I am expecting you or not."
Lightly kissing her cheek before pulling back, Duo snickered, "And you have got to stop wearing these dresses, doll. You're killing me!" Heero laughed as the deeply blushing team owner lightly swatted his partner.
Shooing the couple off, the young woman grinned, "Well, go join the others. Dance, drink and have a good time. We still have a little more than two hours before the countdown for the new year, so enjoy." Arm-in-arm with wide smiles on their faces, the pair walked off to join their table of friends.
As she took her own seat back at the coach's table, Dorothy took up the champagne glass that was waiting for her. Taking a moment to appraise the team, she commented, "I have to say that I am surprised they're getting around so well after the difficult conditioning they've been going through this last week."
From his place across from her, Zechs smirked, "They're a lot tougher than most give them credit for. And they know that the harsh training is only to make them better in the end." Howard, Trent and Darren all nodded their agreement.
Nodding, Dorothy replied, "Well, I must give you all credit for your devotion in seeing them improve. From what I have seen these last few practices, they're like an entirely different team. You are all to thank for that."
The ladies accompanying each coach smiled proudly at their significant other. It was not often that their hard work was appreciated, and no one knew more than they how hard the coaches worked.
In the center of the room, the dance floor crowded as a slow dance began to play. Dressed in a shimmering emerald green dress, Sally finished up her own drink before grabbing her handsome fiancé's hand. "Well, I hope you will excuse us," she grinned to her coworkers and friends. "They're playing our song."
Noin smirked to her husband, "It's been a while since we've had a chance to slow dance. We'll join you out there." Zechs feigned a longsuffering look before laughing when his wife hit him in the arm. Hand-in-hand, they headed for the dance floor. Trent and Lady Une were not far behind them.
Dancing close, Heero and Duo shared a few hidden kisses as they moved across the floor. "So what's your New Year's resolution?" the braided athlete asked quietly.
"Well, it's not so much as a resolution for just the new year as it is something I plan on seeing through from here on out," the quarterback smiled. His lover tilted his head in confusion and he explained, "I just intend to make you and the kids happy. That's all I want."
Rendered speechless, Duo's violet eyes widened. Aware that his voice would not assist him at that moment, he quickly leaned in to kiss his teammate soundly. "God I love you," he managed to breathe when they finally parted. Chuckling deeply, Heero continued to spin them around the floor.
When the dance ended, the two players ran into a familiar face on the way back to their table. It took a moment to recognize her with her in the silken scarlet dress that she work with her dark hair pulled up. But the moment her eyes fell on them, there was no mistaking her identity. Smiling, Duo acknowledged, "Karen." Quickly, he and Heero moved to greet her.
Politely excusing herself from her conversation with the administration, the retired journalist rose from the table and met the athletes half way. A brilliant smile lighting her face, Karen nodded firmly, "Heero. Duo." Biting her red painted lip, she lowered her head and frowned, "I never did properly apologize for the trouble that I had caused you at the start of my involvement with Gallow in your story."
Her eyes widened when she was suddenly enveloped in a tight embrace by the running back. Blinking back tears, she returned the hug. "You don't need to apologize," Duo reassured her when he released her. "You helped protect me and my family. That's more than enough to make up for the past." Sincerely, he whispered, "Thank you."
That bright smile returned as Karen replied quietly, "My pleasure."
Moving in to lightly kiss her cheek, Heero suggested with a smirk, "I believe it's time we all properly introduced ourselves so that we can start off on the right foot."
With a laugh, the young woman stated, "Well, that is what the New Year is all about... making a fresh start in life." Extending her hand, she introduced, "Karen Clarkson. Publicist for Dorothy Catalonia. It's very nice to meet you both." The pair took their turns shaking her hand and fell into a friendly conversation of getting to know each other better.
* * * * * *
Quatre checked his new watch as all of the guests gathered out on the balconies overlooking the large court yard that was covered in snow. "Fifteen seconds, everyone!" he called excitedly. "Fourteen! Thirteen! Twelve!"
Everyone joined in the countdown while looking up to the skies. "...Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!" Sparks rose up to the heavens to cover them with a rainbow of fireworks of different sizes and shapes. Cheers and yells rose with a variety of different noise makers.
Wrapping his arms around his partner's neck, the running back smiled, "Happy New Year, Heero."
"Happy New Year," the quarterback whispered back with a wide grin on his own face. Leaning in, they shared a deep kiss to welcome in the start of a new beginning for them.
At the end of the long firework show, Dorothy raised a glass and toasted to her visitors, "A happy and healthy new year. Last year was one hell of a ride. May this year be just as thrilling for us all." Whistles, cries and applause filled the air at that sentiment.
* * * * * *
Early the following morning, Duo groaned when there was a knock at the bedroom door. Wincing as he opened his eyes, he carefully crawled away from his stirring lover. Slowly poking his disheveled braided head out of the crack that he opened, he frowned, "Quatre?"
The agent chewed on the inside of his cheek worriedly before suggesting quietly, "You both better come downstairs to see something."
Moments later, the star athletes stepped into the living room tying their robes closed as Quatre played the program on the television that he had paused for their viewing. Alex was asked by a reporter out of view of the camera, "Now you have been saying that there people that let Clayton down and that was the start of his downward spiral to turn to alcohol. You wouldn't be suggesting Dorothy Catalonia and the Wolverines for that trade would you?"
Raising his hands, Alex smirked, "Now I never came out and named names. And I still won't. However, it would have taken a pretty drastic event to make Mueller look to a bottle for help before myself or any of his friends and family."
Eyes wide, Heero and Duo stood with slack jaws. That simple statement was going to do a great deal of damage to Dorothy's credibility as an owner-even if Denton was not coming right out and blaming her or the trade for Mueller's death.
Already foreseeing the trouble ahead, the running back ran a hand through his long bangs and sighed deeply, "Happy New Year."
TBC...
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