Blood, Sweat and Tears Part 87
Leaning forward in his seat towards the window overlooking the field, Tim commented, "So far, well into the second quarter, we have a much closer Super Bowl game than anyone expected. At the moment, San Francisco is ahead 14 to 10. The last time the Cougars and Wolverines faced off at this stage of their pre-season game, San Francisco was ahead by a much wider gap than the mere four-point lead that they have now."
Beside him, Adam smiled, "That's right. And it's hard to tell who is more surprised over how well Pittsburgh is performing- the Cougars or the Wolverines, themselves! One always hopes for an exciting Super Bowl to close out the season and we certainly have that tonight!"
* * * * * *
Trent was pacing back and forth along the sideline, his eyes trained on his defense that was working desperately to hold San Francisco back from scoring once more. They had already put up a valiant effort on this run, giving the Cougars very little room to go anywhere. The frustration was clear on Alex and his teammates' faces.
"Hold them back, guys!" Trent shouted through his hands cupping his mouth. "Just one more stop and they'll have to kick! Find a way to get through that line! And keep an eye on Denton!" It was much the same advice yelled every time, but somehow it made him feel better to be doing something.
From where he and Heero sat and watched on the bench, Duo silently wished that his braid was free of the bun that it was wrapped in so that he could fiddle with it. He rubbed his hands together instead. All around, their fellow teammates looked every bit as anxious.
After what felt like a short eternity, the ball was snapped and handed to Alex. On their feet, the Wolverines on the sideline were yelling at their comrades to get a hold of him. Nearly every time the running back had the ball, he made something happen.
This time, however, luck was on Pittsburgh when one of the linemen was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time. As hands held him back, the tall brute caught sight of the running back just as he moved to pass him. Growling deeply, the lineman pushed and pulled to close the gap that had been open. Closing the hole at the last second, his strong arms wrapped around Alex's waist and hurled him back.
Caught off guard by the onslaught, Denton fell backwards to the original mark of where the football was snapped. Roughly crashing to the ground, the shocked running back was crushed under a pile of linemen.
Elated, the offensive line and back-up players on the Wolverine's sideline jumped and cheered along with the crowd. "Yes!" Trent shrieked, his arms punching the air. "Those are my boys!"
On the other side of the field, Treize's face burned with rage. Turning to find Septum and Tsuberov beside him, he gritted under his teeth, "Whatever the two of you have planned, you do it on the next possession. I'm tired of this close-call bullshit. Even Maxwell wouldn't be able to carry the team on his own." His linemen just smirked and nodded.
Thanks to the calm breeze, the Cougar kicker had no trouble kicking the football through the uprights. It was then 17-10. Only a single touchdown separated the two teams. And it was still only the first-half of the game.
* * * * * *
Noventa was pacing back and forth anxiously in the back of his owners' box. "How the hell is this happening?" he growled deeply to himself. For her part, his wife simply remained in her seat and silent as to not stir the angry bear. Sylvia was grateful to have him behind her. That way he couldn't see how she chocked back her laughter.
* * * * * *
In Dorothy's camp, the team owner and her guests were sitting on the edge of their seats in rapt attention. Hands folded before her face, Noin said quietly, "They have to score something here to keep them from widening the gap the next time around. Even a field goal would be a huge help." Her friends all around nodded, their breath held.
* * * * * *
Alex all but tore his chin strap off when he reached the sideline just before launching his helmet into the water cooler to knock it off the table it was on. While the contents spilled on the ground, he growled wildly as he looked back to the field.
Things were not going nearly as expected. He had not been stopped like that in several games. And despite his stellar performance up to then, Maxwell was still somehow leading him in the overall yards run. It was beyond frustrating. A quick glance to where his family was sitting told him how upset his father was in seeing his own red face. No doubt he would be hearing it from him at the end of the game if things continued as they were.
'Lovely,' he thought to himself. 'Just fucking lovely.'
When the Wolverine punt returner was taken down, he gave his team a mark at the San Francisco twenty-eight yard line. Seventy-two yards to the end zone. It was his best return of the whole game. It was to that great showing that the Pittsburgh offensive line took the field.
As his defenders ran off, Treize stopped Septum and Tsuberov short. "This possession," he gritted through his teeth. "I will not hear any excuses if Yuy is still standing by the end of this turn."
Nodding firmly, Tsuberov replied, "Yes, sir." The two linemen finished securing their helmets in place and ran out to rejoin their team.
Meanwhile, the Wolverines were already huddled and going over their strategy. "Run, run, throw, throw, run! It's a little predictable, but we need to make something happen and this is our best shot! Nothing fancy in any of those plays!" Heero shouted to his teammates. "Remember that order! We'll huddle again if we need to after that! Run, run, throw, throw, run!" Hands clapping, the athletes broke their huddle and took to their marks.
Duo hunched forward, cleats digging into the earth as he trained his body to calm itself before the onslaught to come. All that he was thinking of was the end zone and committing himself to doing whatever it would take to get there as his lover called 'set' twice.
"Hike!" Heero yelled over the crowd. Easily, the ball was snapped back into his hands and he turned. The exchange to Duo was a smooth one.
Arms wrapping tightly around the football, the running back charged for the wall forming in front of him. Getting himself into position between an opening that was quickly closing on him, he punched through with little trouble. In seconds, he was free and clear again.
Tim rose to his feet, cheering. "There goes Maxwell! Already, he has a gain of five yards and he's running for more!" Biting back his own excitement, Adam shook his head in amusement at the sheer talent being displayed.
Brought down after a gain of twelve yards, Duo refrained from celebrating and went right to his new place on the field. The remainder of the line followed in suit, trying to keep as much time on the play clock as they could. Blinking in surprise at their opponent's speed, the Cougars rushed to get into their own formation.
Cobalt eyes narrowed, the quarterback raised his arms and screamed, "Set! Set! Hike!"
In less time than it took to blink, the ball was tossed back to him and handed to Duo. A primal growl left the running back as he ran head-first into the barrier of bodies just ahead. Ignoring the pain and shock to his body, he continued to force himself on through Wolverine and Cougar alike. If he had to trample several in his wake, so be it. They had to score on this possession or things would spiral against them.
Driven, Maxwell found himself on the other side of the wall. Laughing, he took off and never looked back. Wide-eyed, the linemen and their fellow defense line watched him for a stunned moment before anyone went after him.
Folding his arms, Treize turned his back to the field unable to watch. His eyes closing, he forced a slow and deep breath to calm himself enough to keep from making a scene. "Idiots," he muttered, shaking his head.
Howard was jumping and running down the Wolverine sideline with the remainder of the team, crying, "Keep going! Keep going! You goddamned monster!"
A mixture of cheers and boos from the spectators rose when Duo was brought down well past the half-way mark of the field. On one of the longest runs of the game, he gained eighteen yards on that play alone. Only forty-eight yards from the end zone.
Quickly, both teams headed to their new spots. Looking over to his counterpart, Septum gave a simple and firm nod to Tsuberov. Returning the nod, the other linemen turned his gaze onto Yuy. After two runs, they were bound to attempt a throw now. It was time to strike.
Their eyes trained on their target, they dug their cleats in as he hollered, "Set! Set!... Hike!" Instantly, they were on the move, working against Trowa and the rest of the line with all of their strength. Even if they were going to lose their own necks getting to Yuy, they would get to him.
Keeping his growing panic at bay, Heero scanned the field for an open receiver. Both Wufei and John were having a time getting past their blockers. Whatever they did, their opponents were right on their heels. Silently cursing, the team captain kept an eye out on the receivers and the struggle going on before him at the same time.
Brow creased in rage, Treize yelled to his linemen, "Break through! Break through! Yuy has all goddamn day here!"
Finally reaching a breaking point in their frustration, Tsuberov and Septum pushed forward with all that they had. The sheer force of their blow sent Trowa flying back. Nearly crushing the center in their effort to get to Heero, they managed to break free with the rest of their line right behind them in a wave.
Jaw hanging open, Adam commented, "Yuy's in trouble. With the whole of the Cougar defense line coming for him, he's not going to have anywhere to run."
Gasping sharply at the sight of the stampede heading for him, Heero cursed, "Shit!" He refused to run back and let his team lose their hard-earned yards. Knowing that he was going to be taken down one way or another, he hissed to himself and ran forward.
Zechs dropped the playbook in his hand to grip the top of his capped head with both hands. "What the hell are you doing!?" he shouted. "Get away from those bastards!"
Jaw dropping as he looked up through the confusion on the field, Duo caught sight of his lover just before he headed right into the hornet's nest. "Heero!" he cried out. His legs quickly shifting, he ran as quickly as they could carry him to the quarterback.
Seconds before the impact came, Heero closed his eyes and gripped the football tightly to his chest. For his efforts, he gained three yards before an arm came up to hit him square in the chest. He felt himself falling back, both feet leaving the ground. That was when it seemed the whole world collapsed on top of him.
Within the middle of the pile falling to the ground, Tsuberov spotted a red-and-gold leg floating next to him from the corner of his eye. With Septum on the other side of the appendage, they swept in head-first. Their collision was the catalyst of what inevitably came after with so many others collapsing onto them.
A loud, sickening snap could be heard from the bottom of the pile of bodies. It was immediately followed by a muted scream of agony.
Pale, Duo continued to run to the scene and instantly removed his helmet before he started pulling Cougars from the top of the lot. "Get the hell off of him!" he shrieked as his teammates all joined in to frantically dig their friend out. Whistles blowing and arms waving, the referees were just as swift to move in to assist with the cleanup.
At the Pittsburgh sideline Sally was rushing for the med evacuation vehicle. Howard stood beside Zechs with his hands covering either side of his face. "Oh my God," the offensive coach whispered. "Not this. Please not this. No. No. No." Just behind him, the entire horror-stricken team was on its feet.
* * * * * *
In the Wolverines' owner's box, the adults were all on their feet with wide eyes. Looking to one another then the smallest of the children that were engaged in a board game, Hilde and Solo quickly headed for them. All but falling to her knees, the young woman forced a smile. "What do you all say we go and get some snacks from the treat bar outside?" she suggested.
Each little head nodded as bright grins lit the youngster's faces as they chorused, "OK!" With the help of Marcus, Tai and Flora, the young couple gently ushered their charges from the room while casting concerned glances over their shoulders to the windows.
* * * * * *
Sylvia and her mother stood in witness of the painfully slow sorting of bodies, hands covering their mouths. Moving to stand between them, Noventa did his best to bite back the relieved laugh that nearly escaped his lungs. "Very noble and foolish effort on his attempt," he mused quietly. Half-heartedly, he threw in, "Hopefully, he was not hurt too badly."
Knowing his words to be insincere, his daughter glared at him from the corner of her eye. Much to her surprise, she caught her mother doing the same.
It was a bit of a pleasant surprise to Sylvia that perhaps she was not the only one who saw through her father.
* * * * * *
For the first time during the whole game, even the crowd was silent. Only an occasional low muttering amongst the fans rose up throughout the stands. Even those supporting the green-and-blue frowned deeply in worry of the infamous quarterback's fate.
* * * * * *
Rolling in the wheeled medical flatbed, Sally stood at the edge of the pile that was nearly cleared away. While more players were moved away, the cries and muffled whimpers at the bottom of the pack were more audible.
And there was no mistaking that it was Heero's voice.
Tears in his eyes, Duo pushed and pulled the last of the Cougars away and knelt beside his partner as he rolled on his back in pain. Hands trembling, the running back worked away the chin strap to remove Heero's helmet.
Face drenched in sweat and tears, the team captain's eyes were squeezed closed. Now that everyone could have a good look at him, the reason for his distress was blaringly evident.
Bent backwards in a way that it should not have been, there was a slight protrusion from his right thigh. "Oh God," Sally breathed as she dropped down for a close inspection. Lightly running her fingers over the bones, the therapist checked over just how bad the damage to the bone was.
Stricken, Trowa, Wufei and the offensive line stayed back to give enough room. "He held onto the ball...even through all of that," the Chinese receiver whispered brokenly. Surely enough, their team captain's right arm still cradled the football to his chest.
The Cougars were putting on quite the show of looking just as distraught as their opponents. Standing on the other side of the team captain, heads lowered, they removed their helmets in a sign of respect.
Like his players, Treize was displaying his own 'grief'. Inwardly, he could not have been happier over the events unfolding.
* * * * * *
"Well, this is a very sad and unfortunate turn of events," Adam frowned. "In a remarkable show of fortitude, Heero Yuy may have just ended his Super Bowl run here tonight. From here, it's too difficult to tell the extent of the damage, but judging by the faces on the field, things look pretty grim."
* * * * * *
Urgently, Sally turned towards Duo and informed, "We need to move him into the examination room before he goes into shock. Just keep him alert and with us. I'll get some of the others to help get him onto the flatbed."
Swallowing roughly, the running back nodded and gazed back down to his lover. Gently cupping either side of his sweat-soaked face, he urged gently, "'Ro? Open your eyes. I need you to look at me, koi."
At the familiar term of endearment of his native tongue, Heero slowly blinked his cobalt eyes open. Wincing through the pain shearing through him, he sputtered, "D-Duo?" Everything that had happened to him came back to him in a rush and he tried to sit himself up. He was pushed back down carefully but in a way that kept him from trying that again.
Biting his lip, the quarterback focused on his teammate and asked, "How bad is it?" To that, Duo's mouth opened and closed but no words came to him. Instead, the tears in his violet eyes continued to build.
Sally came to his aid as she leaned in to answer, "I need to get you inside so I can find out for sure, Heero. I have Wufei, Trowa and John here to help lift you onto the med cart. Just keep talking to Duo the whole way there, all right?"
With a nod, the team captain took his lover's hands as his friends moved in. The short lift was nearly as excruciating as the collision that injured him. Talking and squeezing the hand in his own kept him from answering the beck and call of sleep.
Hearts in their stomachs, Zechs and his team watched as the medical vehicle rolled off and under the stadium. Along with it, Heero and Duo disappeared from sight.
Along with them, so did the hopes of a victory vanish.
TBC...
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