AUTHOR'S NOTE: Is it just me or has anybody else been having trouble
logging onto fanfiction.net. This is the first time since late Wednesday
night that I've been able to access the page. Hmm any ol' crap, I said
that "I Made Varsity" has two parts. Well don't worry it does. But this
chapter came to me tonight, or I guess make that Friday night, while I was
sitting at work. So techincally "I Made Varsity" has two parts but the
first part is being renamed and the second part is being posted after this
chapter, after I rework it a bit. As usual enjoy the chapter and please be
kind and leave a review. Oh and if you can come up with a name for this
chapter please let me know I have no idea what to call it. *lol*
********************
"Like I already told you, Mr. Banks, we had to pump your son's stomach to expunge the rest of the medicine from Adam's system." Dr. Kirkpatrick had escorted Phillip to Adam's room and the two men where standing outside looking in on him through the window as they spoke.
"How many pills did Adam 'supposedly' swallow?" Phillip nastily inquired. He wouldn't believe for a second that his son would do something as stupid as to try to commit suicide. Once Adam woke, Phillip would prove this doctor wrong, who, in Phillips mind, was defaming the Banks' good name, with this ludicrous story. However, a small part of Phillip couldn't help but think it could be true, why else would Adam be lying here in the hospital.
"According to the paramedics that brought him in, he had swallowed 8 pills and according to the pill bottle each pill contained 700 milligrams, so we are talking about 5600 milligrams here. If, it wasn't for your son's friends..."
"Charlie and Fulton" Phillip finished for the doctor having to fight the urge to flinch at their names. Everyone on the Ducks knew that Phillip Banks wanted nothing to do with them and fought so hard to keep his son a Hawk instead of playing for the Ducks as he was supposed to. It wasn't until Adam and the rest of the team won the Junior Goodwill Games that he finally accepted the Ducks as a part of Adam's life.
"Yes Charlie and Fulton." Dr. Kirkpatrick confirmed, "If it were not for them finding Adam and getting him to throw up the pills, your son would be dead right now."
Phillip just stood there frozen as the doctor's last words hung over his head as he watched Adam and how helpless he looked in his unconscious state hooked up to a respirator to help him breath. In the back of Phillip's mind he worried as to what would happen if his friends and colleagues found out about all this; but he shook the thought from his mind, since it really could not be true that his son, his 15 year- old son, tried to take his own life. Could it?
*******************************
"Now Charlie," Dr. Bombay began as she shut the door to her office and motioned him to take a seat on the couch. Fulton had gone to rally the other Ducks, at Charlie's request. He was glad to do so, since Ducks fly together, especially at a time like this. "You said Adam feels as if no one cares for him unless it deals with hockey, and that he feels empty and used; please, could you tell me anything else and elaborate if you can."
Charlie hesitated. Charlie and Adam's conversation, regardless of the circumstances surrounding it, was the first time Adam really let Charlie in on his personal feelings. Charlie had already let Adam down as a friend and he felt that divulging Adam's personal confessions would just be letting him down again. Who was he to publicize Adam's innermost thoughts especially to a complete stranger? Besides, he had already opened his big mouth and said more than he intended too.
Charlie bowed his head and looked down at his feet. He shook his head no.
"Charlie, I know Adam may have told you what you may feel as pretty personal stuff, and that you feel that it is your job, as his friend, to protect him."
Charlie nodded in agreement and listened as the doctor continued. "I know you are trying to be a good friend and I respect that. However, by not telling me what Adam told you, it would only hurt him because I will not be able to give him the proper help that he deserves."
Charlie relented. He sighed and looked up at Dr. Bombay before taking a deep breath and recanting a conversation, he would never forget. He told her everything from how his father won't give him the time of day unless it's about hockey to how Adam feels he can't do anything that is 'just Adam' without someone taking him away from it. Charlie even told her how he felt partially responsible for Adam's suicide attempt since he was quick to drop Adam after he made Varsity.
"He probably felt that I was only his friend because he was good at hockey since I was so quick to drop him after he was no longer a part of our team. I didn't mean to hurt him, and I did. Maybe if I was there for him I would have seen it coming and gotten him help before it resulted in him trying to kill himself."
Charlie felt wetness on his face and realized he was crying again. He blushed and mumbled thanks as Dr. Bombay handed him some Kleenex.
Dr. Bombay, who was now sitting in the chair caddy cornered to the couch, patted Charlie on the knee and smiled at him.
"Charlie we all make mistakes weather we mean to or not. You did not mean to hurt Adam, but you did. Adam, though obviously I have not spoken with yet, has a problem expressing how he feels deep down and even if you had not 'dropped' him, as you say, I can guarantee, through my experience as a psychologist, that you still probably would not have known anything was wrong. He still would have attempted suicide. Do not beat yourself up over this. Redeem yourself and be there for him now, when he needs you the most. It is going to be a long bumpy road and he is going to need good caring friends like yourself to help him through this difficult time."
Dr. Bombay was right and what she said made sense. Even if Charlie hadn't let their friendship go sour over the stupid Varsity team, in all actuality Charlie still wouldn't have seen this entire thing coming. For a moment, he felt as if he was talking to Coach Bombay, only in female form. She had a way of putting things into perspective just as Coach did. He felt the urge to ask her if they were of relation or if she knew him, but he didn't. It didn't feel right and he didn't want to look like a fool if it turned out that she did not know whom he was talking about.
"Can I see him once he wakes up?" Charlie asked.
"First Dr. Kirkpatrick, the medical doctor assigned to his care, will need to check him over to make sure everything is alright in that field; and normally only family members are allowed visitation for the first 24 hours following a case like this. However, with what you have told me, I would like either myself or Dr. Kirkpatrick to be present when Mr. Banks first sees Adam after he wakes up."
"Oh, okay." he replied to her answer. Charlie was about to excuse himself to go find Fulton but Dr. Bombay stopped him on his way out.
"I cannot promise you for sure, but if you would like to stick around I might be able to make an exception."
"Thank you, Dr. Bombay. I'll be in the waiting room, ya know, waiting."
"No, thank you Charlie. I am sure Adam will thank you as well, eventually."
Charlie sure hoped so.
*************************************
Fulton stared at the pay phone as if he were a child attempting to make his first phone call ever afraid of dialing the wrong number and feeling embarrassed. He was scared. He didn't know how to break the news to his fellow ducks without bursting into tears. He couldn't cry, not in front them. He was the tough guy, the enforcer, one half of the infamous bash brothers. Nevertheless, he felt like crying, for his teammate, okay former teammate. Sure, he wasn't as close to Adam as Charlie had been, but he still considered him, as well as all the other Ducks, a friend. Besides Adam's favorite band was Aerosmith, which was Fulton's favorite band as well, so Adam was cool in Fulton's books.
Fulton sighed and picked up the telephone receiver, pushing his tears aside for the sake of the fallen Duck, his friend Adam Banks. He deposited 50 cents into the slot and dialed the first number that came to mind: 555-5511 Russ and Kenny's dorm room. He waited as the phone rang and was mentally cursing Russ and Kenny for not picking up the phone sooner.
*************************************
"Ring...Ring...Ring..."
"Of course the phone would have to ring." hollered Russ, who after returning from dinner with his fellow 'dorm ducks', went straight to his desk to begin work on his paper. His hopes were to get the paper finished tonight so he would have the rest of the weekend to chill and go to a party that Connie's brother was having tomorrow night. He rolled his eyes, put down his pen, and grabbed the phone.
"You'd better have a good explanation for disrupting me or I'm gonna to have to open a can of whoop ass on your sorry hide!"
"Russ, it's Fulton."
"Ah Fulton 'I'm mad so I'm going to quit hockey and school' Reed." Russ laughed. "So is Charlie with you and are you phoning 'cause you two have plotted the ultimate revenge? If you have I for one don't want no part of it at least not till after this weekend."
Russ heard Fulton pause before talking again. He heard worry in the man's voice as he spoke. "Russ, man, I wish it were that simple. Is Ken in the room too?"
"Nah man, he, Luis, and Dwayne are all hanging out in Julie's room watching an Adam Sandler marathon on TV."
"Go get them and head straight to Gateway Memorial Hospital. It's about a ten minute skate from there, go west on Jackson Street till you hit Thompson Road, and then take a right till you reach Henson Avenue take another right and the hospital will be 2 blocks from there."
It was now Russ' turn to worry and he began spitting a million questions into the phone. "Fulton, what's wrong? Why should we be meeting you at the hospital? Did something happen to either you or Charlie? It's Charlie isn't it? You can't be hurt or you wouldn't be calling me, would you?"
"No Charlie and I are fine. It's Adam."
"Adam? What happened to Adam? Is this why we saw an ambulance over at the Varsity dorms on our way to dinner?"
"Adam tried to commit suicide." Fulton replied.
"What!!! You're shitting me, right?"
"No, I'm serious, can you rally the rest of the 'dorm ducks' and get here ASAP."
"Sure, man, give me those directions one more time." Russ listened and wrote down where to go before hanging up the phone. He grabbed his and Kenny's blades and helmets before heading out of their room, his paper being put on the back burner. His fellow duck needed him. Scholarship or no scholarship, he had more important matters to attend than his schoolwork.
********************************
Five down and four to go, Fulton thought to himself as proceeded to put more change in the phone and dial the next Duck that popped into his mind, Averman. It was Friday and normally Averman would be at work at his job at the movie theater. Fulton dialed the number and waited for someone to answer. A voice on the other end picked up after one ring.
"Thank you for calling AMC's Mall of America Theatre, this is Les how may I help you?"
"Averman is that you?" Fulton asked.
"Fulton?" Averman questioned. "What are you doing calling me at work?"
"Listen, Averman, do you think you can get off of work early?" Fulton pleaded.
"Why?"
"Umm..well, I'm kinda here at the hospital with Charlie. I guess there is no easier way to put this, but Adam tried to kill himself, and I'm rallying all the Ducks to support Adam."
"Oh my god." Averman said shocked. "How, why?"
"I rather wait till all the Ducks are together before going into details. Can you get off or not?" Fulton replied.
"Sure, I'll make up some excuse. I'll be there as soon as possible. Okay?"
Fulton replied with an okay and goodbye before disconnecting their call and dialing the rest of the Ducks, Goldberg, Connie, and Guy. His conversations with them pretty much went the same way as his ones with Averman and Russ. Fulton made one final telephone call to his parents to let them know where he was. They offered to come by and sit with Fulton and the rest of the team, but he declined. He did ask them to hunt for Portman's number in his desk and give him a call letting him in on the situation and he also asked them to call Charlie's mother and let her know as well, since she would want to know where her son is and since Fulton used his last bit of change to call them. They agreed.
Fulton placed the phone back into its cradle before heading back to the waiting room. He found Charlie sitting on a chair, staring off looking at nothing in particular. Fulton sat down next to him. "Well I got a hold of everyone and they will be here as soon as they can."
Charlie turned to look at Fulton before speaking, "Well Dr. Bombay says normally only family visit a patient the first 24 hours, but she says she might be able to make an exception for us."
"So what do we do in the mean time?" Fulton inquired.
"We wait." Charlie said firmly.
Waiting is what they did as they both said a silent prayer for their friend hoping that everything would be all right.
********************
"Like I already told you, Mr. Banks, we had to pump your son's stomach to expunge the rest of the medicine from Adam's system." Dr. Kirkpatrick had escorted Phillip to Adam's room and the two men where standing outside looking in on him through the window as they spoke.
"How many pills did Adam 'supposedly' swallow?" Phillip nastily inquired. He wouldn't believe for a second that his son would do something as stupid as to try to commit suicide. Once Adam woke, Phillip would prove this doctor wrong, who, in Phillips mind, was defaming the Banks' good name, with this ludicrous story. However, a small part of Phillip couldn't help but think it could be true, why else would Adam be lying here in the hospital.
"According to the paramedics that brought him in, he had swallowed 8 pills and according to the pill bottle each pill contained 700 milligrams, so we are talking about 5600 milligrams here. If, it wasn't for your son's friends..."
"Charlie and Fulton" Phillip finished for the doctor having to fight the urge to flinch at their names. Everyone on the Ducks knew that Phillip Banks wanted nothing to do with them and fought so hard to keep his son a Hawk instead of playing for the Ducks as he was supposed to. It wasn't until Adam and the rest of the team won the Junior Goodwill Games that he finally accepted the Ducks as a part of Adam's life.
"Yes Charlie and Fulton." Dr. Kirkpatrick confirmed, "If it were not for them finding Adam and getting him to throw up the pills, your son would be dead right now."
Phillip just stood there frozen as the doctor's last words hung over his head as he watched Adam and how helpless he looked in his unconscious state hooked up to a respirator to help him breath. In the back of Phillip's mind he worried as to what would happen if his friends and colleagues found out about all this; but he shook the thought from his mind, since it really could not be true that his son, his 15 year- old son, tried to take his own life. Could it?
*******************************
"Now Charlie," Dr. Bombay began as she shut the door to her office and motioned him to take a seat on the couch. Fulton had gone to rally the other Ducks, at Charlie's request. He was glad to do so, since Ducks fly together, especially at a time like this. "You said Adam feels as if no one cares for him unless it deals with hockey, and that he feels empty and used; please, could you tell me anything else and elaborate if you can."
Charlie hesitated. Charlie and Adam's conversation, regardless of the circumstances surrounding it, was the first time Adam really let Charlie in on his personal feelings. Charlie had already let Adam down as a friend and he felt that divulging Adam's personal confessions would just be letting him down again. Who was he to publicize Adam's innermost thoughts especially to a complete stranger? Besides, he had already opened his big mouth and said more than he intended too.
Charlie bowed his head and looked down at his feet. He shook his head no.
"Charlie, I know Adam may have told you what you may feel as pretty personal stuff, and that you feel that it is your job, as his friend, to protect him."
Charlie nodded in agreement and listened as the doctor continued. "I know you are trying to be a good friend and I respect that. However, by not telling me what Adam told you, it would only hurt him because I will not be able to give him the proper help that he deserves."
Charlie relented. He sighed and looked up at Dr. Bombay before taking a deep breath and recanting a conversation, he would never forget. He told her everything from how his father won't give him the time of day unless it's about hockey to how Adam feels he can't do anything that is 'just Adam' without someone taking him away from it. Charlie even told her how he felt partially responsible for Adam's suicide attempt since he was quick to drop Adam after he made Varsity.
"He probably felt that I was only his friend because he was good at hockey since I was so quick to drop him after he was no longer a part of our team. I didn't mean to hurt him, and I did. Maybe if I was there for him I would have seen it coming and gotten him help before it resulted in him trying to kill himself."
Charlie felt wetness on his face and realized he was crying again. He blushed and mumbled thanks as Dr. Bombay handed him some Kleenex.
Dr. Bombay, who was now sitting in the chair caddy cornered to the couch, patted Charlie on the knee and smiled at him.
"Charlie we all make mistakes weather we mean to or not. You did not mean to hurt Adam, but you did. Adam, though obviously I have not spoken with yet, has a problem expressing how he feels deep down and even if you had not 'dropped' him, as you say, I can guarantee, through my experience as a psychologist, that you still probably would not have known anything was wrong. He still would have attempted suicide. Do not beat yourself up over this. Redeem yourself and be there for him now, when he needs you the most. It is going to be a long bumpy road and he is going to need good caring friends like yourself to help him through this difficult time."
Dr. Bombay was right and what she said made sense. Even if Charlie hadn't let their friendship go sour over the stupid Varsity team, in all actuality Charlie still wouldn't have seen this entire thing coming. For a moment, he felt as if he was talking to Coach Bombay, only in female form. She had a way of putting things into perspective just as Coach did. He felt the urge to ask her if they were of relation or if she knew him, but he didn't. It didn't feel right and he didn't want to look like a fool if it turned out that she did not know whom he was talking about.
"Can I see him once he wakes up?" Charlie asked.
"First Dr. Kirkpatrick, the medical doctor assigned to his care, will need to check him over to make sure everything is alright in that field; and normally only family members are allowed visitation for the first 24 hours following a case like this. However, with what you have told me, I would like either myself or Dr. Kirkpatrick to be present when Mr. Banks first sees Adam after he wakes up."
"Oh, okay." he replied to her answer. Charlie was about to excuse himself to go find Fulton but Dr. Bombay stopped him on his way out.
"I cannot promise you for sure, but if you would like to stick around I might be able to make an exception."
"Thank you, Dr. Bombay. I'll be in the waiting room, ya know, waiting."
"No, thank you Charlie. I am sure Adam will thank you as well, eventually."
Charlie sure hoped so.
*************************************
Fulton stared at the pay phone as if he were a child attempting to make his first phone call ever afraid of dialing the wrong number and feeling embarrassed. He was scared. He didn't know how to break the news to his fellow ducks without bursting into tears. He couldn't cry, not in front them. He was the tough guy, the enforcer, one half of the infamous bash brothers. Nevertheless, he felt like crying, for his teammate, okay former teammate. Sure, he wasn't as close to Adam as Charlie had been, but he still considered him, as well as all the other Ducks, a friend. Besides Adam's favorite band was Aerosmith, which was Fulton's favorite band as well, so Adam was cool in Fulton's books.
Fulton sighed and picked up the telephone receiver, pushing his tears aside for the sake of the fallen Duck, his friend Adam Banks. He deposited 50 cents into the slot and dialed the first number that came to mind: 555-5511 Russ and Kenny's dorm room. He waited as the phone rang and was mentally cursing Russ and Kenny for not picking up the phone sooner.
*************************************
"Ring...Ring...Ring..."
"Of course the phone would have to ring." hollered Russ, who after returning from dinner with his fellow 'dorm ducks', went straight to his desk to begin work on his paper. His hopes were to get the paper finished tonight so he would have the rest of the weekend to chill and go to a party that Connie's brother was having tomorrow night. He rolled his eyes, put down his pen, and grabbed the phone.
"You'd better have a good explanation for disrupting me or I'm gonna to have to open a can of whoop ass on your sorry hide!"
"Russ, it's Fulton."
"Ah Fulton 'I'm mad so I'm going to quit hockey and school' Reed." Russ laughed. "So is Charlie with you and are you phoning 'cause you two have plotted the ultimate revenge? If you have I for one don't want no part of it at least not till after this weekend."
Russ heard Fulton pause before talking again. He heard worry in the man's voice as he spoke. "Russ, man, I wish it were that simple. Is Ken in the room too?"
"Nah man, he, Luis, and Dwayne are all hanging out in Julie's room watching an Adam Sandler marathon on TV."
"Go get them and head straight to Gateway Memorial Hospital. It's about a ten minute skate from there, go west on Jackson Street till you hit Thompson Road, and then take a right till you reach Henson Avenue take another right and the hospital will be 2 blocks from there."
It was now Russ' turn to worry and he began spitting a million questions into the phone. "Fulton, what's wrong? Why should we be meeting you at the hospital? Did something happen to either you or Charlie? It's Charlie isn't it? You can't be hurt or you wouldn't be calling me, would you?"
"No Charlie and I are fine. It's Adam."
"Adam? What happened to Adam? Is this why we saw an ambulance over at the Varsity dorms on our way to dinner?"
"Adam tried to commit suicide." Fulton replied.
"What!!! You're shitting me, right?"
"No, I'm serious, can you rally the rest of the 'dorm ducks' and get here ASAP."
"Sure, man, give me those directions one more time." Russ listened and wrote down where to go before hanging up the phone. He grabbed his and Kenny's blades and helmets before heading out of their room, his paper being put on the back burner. His fellow duck needed him. Scholarship or no scholarship, he had more important matters to attend than his schoolwork.
********************************
Five down and four to go, Fulton thought to himself as proceeded to put more change in the phone and dial the next Duck that popped into his mind, Averman. It was Friday and normally Averman would be at work at his job at the movie theater. Fulton dialed the number and waited for someone to answer. A voice on the other end picked up after one ring.
"Thank you for calling AMC's Mall of America Theatre, this is Les how may I help you?"
"Averman is that you?" Fulton asked.
"Fulton?" Averman questioned. "What are you doing calling me at work?"
"Listen, Averman, do you think you can get off of work early?" Fulton pleaded.
"Why?"
"Umm..well, I'm kinda here at the hospital with Charlie. I guess there is no easier way to put this, but Adam tried to kill himself, and I'm rallying all the Ducks to support Adam."
"Oh my god." Averman said shocked. "How, why?"
"I rather wait till all the Ducks are together before going into details. Can you get off or not?" Fulton replied.
"Sure, I'll make up some excuse. I'll be there as soon as possible. Okay?"
Fulton replied with an okay and goodbye before disconnecting their call and dialing the rest of the Ducks, Goldberg, Connie, and Guy. His conversations with them pretty much went the same way as his ones with Averman and Russ. Fulton made one final telephone call to his parents to let them know where he was. They offered to come by and sit with Fulton and the rest of the team, but he declined. He did ask them to hunt for Portman's number in his desk and give him a call letting him in on the situation and he also asked them to call Charlie's mother and let her know as well, since she would want to know where her son is and since Fulton used his last bit of change to call them. They agreed.
Fulton placed the phone back into its cradle before heading back to the waiting room. He found Charlie sitting on a chair, staring off looking at nothing in particular. Fulton sat down next to him. "Well I got a hold of everyone and they will be here as soon as they can."
Charlie turned to look at Fulton before speaking, "Well Dr. Bombay says normally only family visit a patient the first 24 hours, but she says she might be able to make an exception for us."
"So what do we do in the mean time?" Fulton inquired.
"We wait." Charlie said firmly.
Waiting is what they did as they both said a silent prayer for their friend hoping that everything would be all right.
