A/N: Thank you everyone so much for the great reviews! I hope you guys like this chapter. I'm impressed with how fast I got it up.
Flowers761: Yeah, Maddie might help a little. You'll see it kind of in this chapter. Funny about the coasters. I saw your review and read that part over again, and I started laughing too. Thanks for the review.
Emador: I'm glad you liked the chapter and thanks for the review. I hope I got this up quick enough for you, lol.
krazioapluvnreject: I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for reviewing.
Nelliebly413672: Yeah, Verchota's system. He would be the guy on the team that I would imagine to have a system like this, lol. I'm glad you liked the part about Gail. Later on, she'll be in the story a little more. Thanks for the review.
Meadow567: Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. I hate writing out the dialogue that actually occurred in the movie, because everyone already knows it, and some people, like me, know it word for word. Those people don't need to read the same thing in every story.
Lien-Wan: Thanks for the review and I'm glad you liked it.
Chapter 4
July 16, 1979
Maddie woke up early the next Saturday morning. Her flight to Minnesota was scheduled to leave at noon, but she still had some packing to do. After talking to Jack earlier that week, she found out he was settled in Minnesota. After Maddie's flight landed, she called a cab and went to the University's athletic complex. Before she found Jack though, Maddie needed to find Herb Brooks.
She knew the team practice was over because Jack told her that he would call sometime after he finished at three. Maddie didn't tell him she was coming because she wanted it to be a surprise. If all went well, Maddie would also have a job. An athletic trainer at Boston University had told Maddie about an internship opportunity with the team under the team doctor. She called Herb Brooks as soon as she found out, and he told her to come in for an interview.
Maddie had completed three years of her athletic training degree program, and the internship would count for her last year of school. Just as she suspected, Herb was in his office. Maddie knocked on the open door, and Herb looked up.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
"Hi, I'm Madison Reynolds. I spoke to you on the phone about the athletic training internship."
"Hi Madison. Come on in and have a seat. You can call me Herb."
"I have a resume," Maddie said handing it to him before she sat down.
He looked it over and immediately said, "This looks very good, Madison."
"Thank you. And you can call me Maddie."
"Scott Jennings says you're a very motivated, responsible student. He recommended you for this position," Herb said. Maddie didn't really know how to respond. Luckily, Herb continued before she had to."Do you know any of the guys on the team from Boston?"
"Yes, I do actually." She listed the guys she knew, leaving Jack for last. "I also know Jack O'Callahan. He's my boyfriend," Maddie said, saying the last part quickly. She didn't know how Herb would take that piece of information, but she hoped it wouldn't ruin her chances.
"He's a very good hockey player."
"Yes, he is."
"Does he know you're here for the job?"
"No. I didn't want to tell him and get his hopes up."
"How long have the two of you been together?"
"Nine months."
"I'm sorry to be asking personal questions, but my only concern is whether the relationship will be a problem."
"Oh, I would take this as seriously as any job and I wouldn't let that stand in the way. I would be totally professional."
"You're actually not my biggest concern. I would expect you to be professional. If it was a problem, I could let you go easily. It's Jack that I wouldn't be fond of letting go. I don't want his game to change. Unless of course it's for the better."
Herb paused for a minute, and Maddie didn't know what he was thinking. He was really hard to read.
"I suppose we could give it a try," he said finally. "Normally I would be against romantic entanglements between my staff and players, and I don't want you to think I'm making an exception for you. It's just that you're the most qualified for the job out of everyone I've interviewed. To prove that you're involvement with O'Callahan won't get in the way though, you're going to have to work twice as hard as the rest of the staff. However, the minute O'Callahan's game starts to suffer, I'll have to let you go."
Maddie could tell that Herb was very serious, which is what she expected. Note to self, she thought. Don't do anything to upset Herb Brooks. He is probably a very scary man when angry. He's already pretty intimidating now.
"Thank you so much, you won't be disappointed," Maddie assured him.
"You can report here tomorrow morning before practice. Come at 9:00 and we'll talk more then. For now, you're free to go. Just let me get you a room key."
Herb pulled out a small envelope from his desk drawer and handed it to Maddie. The number 215 was written on it.
"This is the key to your dorm room. The University is providing rooms for the team, with you included. You will also be traveling with us to away games. I assume that won't be a problem?"
"No, not at all. Thank you." Maddie put the envelope in her pocket and left to find the locker room. She couldn't wait to see Jack. Waiting outside the door, she wished Jack would hurry up. The door opened, and someone she didn't recognize walked out.
"Hey," he said, acknowledging her presence.
"Hey," she said back. He looked at her for a minute, not moving to leave.
"Are you waiting for someone?" he finally asked.
"Um, yeah, is Jack O'Callahan still in there?"
"Yeah, do you want me to go get him?"
"No that's okay. I'll just wait." The guy looked at her sort of funny.
"What did you say your name was?"
"I actually didn't, but it's Maddie." Realization dawned on the guy's face.
"Oooh, so you're the wonderful girlfriend."
"Yeah." Maddie was a little confused as to how the guy would know of her. He noticed her look of confusion and then explained.
"OC talks about you all the time. It's like everything anyone says, he can tie you into the conversation, somehow."
"Oh," Maddie said, blushing slightly.
"It's true. He really loves you. And I guess he really wasn't lying when he said you're beautiful."
Maddie blushed again.
"I'm Robbie McClanahan by the way. Most people call me Mac though."
"You're Robbie McClanahan?" Maddie was shocked. He seemed so - nice. Jack made him out to be terrible.
"Yeah. And from the look on your face, I take it you haven't heard good things about me."
"Nope, can't say I have."
They both laughed and the door opened again. More guys came out. Still no Jack.
"Maddie? What are you doing here?"
"Rizzoཀ" Maddie reached up to give him a hug and he lifted her off the ground a little.
"When did you get here? Jack didn't tell me you were coming."
"It's a surprise. He doesn't know yet."
"He's gonna be so happy. All he does is talk about you and how he misses you. It's getting annoying. The other guys will be glad to meet you too. They hear so much about you every day that they probably already know your life story."
"I hope it's all good," Maddie said joking. She knew it couldn't all be good.
"It is. He hasn't said a bad thing about you. So are you waiting for him here?"
"Yeah, I don't know where his room is."
"I'm rooming with him. I could let you in the room."
"Really? Would you?"
"Sure. Let's go."
They walked to Jack and Rizzo's room, and Rizzo opened the door and letting Maddie in. "I'm going to go out for a little while and let you two catch up."
"Are you sure? You can stick around."
"No thanks. I really don't need to see the reunion." With this, they both laughed and Rizzo left the room, shutting the door.
Maddie sat on the bed for a while, waiting for Jack to come back. She looked through the picture album on the desk next to his bed. For their six-month anniversary, Maddie decorated an album with pictures of them together. Maddie knew Jack liked it, but she didn't realize he left it out on his night stand where everyone else could see it. There were pictures from Christmas, New Year's, Maddie's twenty-first birthday, Jack's graduation, and when they went to the beach in Cape Cod. There were also a lot of pictures from before they were dating. Jack and Maddie had known each other almost all through college, meeting through the hockey team. Maddie had a part time job in the athletic training office, where she started out as a secretary, doing paperwork. One day Jack came in because he needed his ankle taped. He had twisted it two weeks before and it was still a little sore.
January 1977
"Hi. Can I help you?" Maddie asked the cute guy standing in front of her desk.
"Uh, yeah. I need my ankle taped for practice."
"Okay, Scott should be back in a few minutes to do that for you."
"Can't you do it?"
"I'm not really supposed to. I only do paperwork and really minor things."
"Ankle taping is pretty minor. Do you know how?"
"Yeah, I just - "
"Please? I want to get to practice soon."
Maddie smiled at his childishness. 'God, he sounds like a two-year-old when he whines like that,' Maddie thought. 'But his smile definitely makes up for it.' Maddie found herself having a hard time saying no. She was afraid of getting in trouble, but the guy's instant charm and good looks were making her cave. Maddie finally gave in.
"Okay. But you can't tell anyone."
"I won't. I swear." He smiled and gave her the scout's honor sign and sat down on the table with his leg out. Maddie smiled back. His smile was contagious.
"So, what do you play?" Maddie asked as she wrapped his ankle in pre-wrap.
"Hockey."
"Oh. I should have guessed."
"Why?"
"Because you look like a hockey player."
"Am I that cute or something?" he said this with a cocky smile, one that Maddie would soon grow to love.
"I don't know," she responded, blushing. She did think he was cute. "You're just . . . I mean, you appear to be the hockey playing type."
"Is that good? The hockey playing type, I mean."
"Yeah. Hockey's awesome."
"A girl, that thinks hockey's awesome? Will you marry me?" Jack joked. "I rarely hear girls say that hockey is awesome."
"Well, it is."
They talked for a few more minutes and when Maddie was done taping, Jack went to practice. For the rest of the night, Maddie was finding it hard to focus on her work. The guy that she met earlier was very cute, and Maddie was under the impression that he was flirting a little bit. 'Maddie, stop it and concentrate. You know he probably flirts with every girl. He just wanted his ankle taped and knew adding his charm would get what he wanted.'
A little while later, Maddie was getting ready to leave and someone stood at her desk, waiting for her to look up. She finally did and saw the guy from before waiting there.
"So do you ever get to leave?" he asked. Hearing him speak, everything Maddie promised herself before about not falling for his charm again went out the window.
"Eventually. I was actually just going to now. Did you need something?" Maddie couldn't help asking.
"I actually did. But you're leaving so never mind."
"No, I can help. What do you need?" Maddie added in thought, 'If I can help you, I'll stay here all night.'
"Well, since you did such a good job with taping my ankle, I was wondering if you could do something else."
"Sorry, but I can't tape your ankle again. If Scott or any of the other certified trainers found out, I'd lose this job and any hopes of becoming a trainer." Maddie was happy with her ability to tell him no, though it killed her at the same time.
"It's not to tape my ankle."
"What is it then?"
"Well, practice was really rough today and my back and shoulders are really sore. I was wondering if massages were part of the minor things you could do?" The guy said casually, like it was the most normal thing he could have asked for.
"You want me to give you a massage?"
"Yeah, could you? I could really use it."
"I would but I have to close the office here. Sorry." Maddie genuinely meant it too. Any day a guy like that asked for a massage, she would drop everything. 'He probably would take his shirt off too,' she thought.
"No problem. I have a dorm room you know. You could do it there," he said, again really casually, like it was no big deal at all.
"Um . . . " Maddie did really want to go, but suddenly she didn't know if it was such a good idea. Going to his room, and she barely even knew him. Hell, she didn't even know his name.
"Look. I know what you're probably thinking. But I really just need a massage. My roommate, Rizzo, is going to be there. Please?"
"Okay, I guess. It's just that I don't even know your name."
"Jack O'Callahan."
"Oh my God, you're Jack O'Callahan?ཀ" Maddie said with surprise.
"Last time I checked."
"I know who you are now. I would have known you played hockey too, if you told me your name before."
"I take it you're part of my fan club then?"
"Yeah. I love watching the games. You're really good."
"Thanks. You must go to a lot of games then, to know I'm good. Girls that don't watch hockey only know I'm good in a different department," Jack said, winking with his million-dollar smile. Maddie now desperately tried to think of something to change the subject form where it was headed.
"I'm Maddie, by the way."
"Nice to meet you," he said smiling as he shook her hand.
Maddie would never forget that day. Jack was the cockiest person she ever met, with the biggest ego, but there was also something about him that she absolutely loved. As she finished looking through the picture album she put it down, Maddie heard a knock at the door.
"Hey Rizzo, I forgot my key. Let me in," Jack said from the other side. Maddie slowly walked over to the door, waiting for him to say something else. Now he started pounding.
"Rizzo, open up now. Come on. I know you're in there." Maddie waited again, hearing him get frustrated.
"Rizzo, get your ass to this door right nowཀ"
Maddie decided it was time to open the door. Right before she did though, she said, "First you need to stop yelling at me, or else you won't be getting any." As she said these last words, she opened the door, smiling as Jack grabbed her, picked her up, and hugged her. After he put her down, he kissed her hungrily.
Once they pulled away, Maddie said, "So I take it you missed me?"
"Yeah. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. But what are you doing here? I mean when, how . . . why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise."
"Well, this is the best surprise everཀ"
As they were talking, Mac walked up to the open door.
"Hey, Maddie. So you finally found him."
"Yeah, he finally got back here."
"Hey OC."
"Hey Mac." There was an awkward silence after that, no one really knew what to say.
"So . . . " Maddie said, trying to start conversation.
"Uh, yeah. Are you gonna come to the bar with us tonight, OC?" Mac asked.
"Uh, I don't know," he looked at Maddie, silently asking if she wanted to.
"Of course, Maddie can come too," Mac said.
"Do you two know each other or something?" Jack asked, wondering if he had missed something.
"We just met earlier today," Maddie said.
"Oh ok. So did you want to go, or just stay here? Either way, I don't care."
"Let's go."
"Are you sure? How long are you here for?"
"Well, until the Olympics are over or your game gets bad."
"What?" Jack and Robbie both asked in unison.
"I'm helping Doc out with the athletic training. I'm interning with the team until the Olympics are over. My parents weren't thrilled, but - "
"You are?So, you're staying here with me?"
"Well, I get my own room, but yeah I am." Jack hugged her, obviously happy.
"This is great. Now I only have to miss you when I'm at practice."
"Yeah, I know. And you won't have to annoy anyone else talking about me either."
"What?"
"Rizzo told me that you tell everyone about me. Even Robbie knew who I was." Jack looked over at Robbie, now remembering he was in the room.
"Oh."
"And I'm guessing you guys don't talk much, so you must talk about me quite a bit."
"He does," Robbie added in.
"Okay, okay, let's not make me into some sort of mushy sap that talks about my girlfriend constantly."
"But you are," Robbie said, and Maddie laughed. This earned Robbie a little shove.
"Okay enough," Jack said smiling.
As soon as Robbie and Jack realized they were along the lines of getting along, they immediately stopped and turned on their tough guy side.
"I gotta go," Mac said, leaving the room.
"Later," Jack said, shutting the door behind him.
"Now it's just us for a while," Maddie said wrapping her arms around Jack's waist, hugging him from behind. Jack then turned around in her arms to face her.
"Yeah, Rizzo won't be back for a while and the guys are meeting at the bar at 7:00, so we have about three hours to do whatever we want," he said in a husky, suggestive tone.
"Four hours isn't that long considering we were apart for a couple weeks. Plus, we never got to really make up after our fight. We better get busy." Jack smiled and they began kissing, losing their clothes in a matter of minutes.
A/N: So, did you like it? I have more flashbacks in future chapters, so let me know if you like them or not. Next chapter will probably be up Monday.
