Title: The End Zone 10/X

Author: Romantique

Email:

Classification: Taylor Family Drama/Angst

Rating: T for some language.

Summary: WARNING: CHARACTER DEATH. This is but one scenario I have always seen as but one possible ending of the television series. (Of course, there are many others ... and maybe I'll write some of those, too.) SPOILERS: This takes place during Season 5.

Disclaimer:

Legal: These characters do not belong to me. I'm just a fan and have not made a dime. Please email me to obtain permission to post.

A/N: Sorry for the break. Real life got in the way. I hope to also have chapter 11 up this weekend.

The Taylor home

The following Saturday ...

The big day for the dedication of Coach's Field finally arrived. Once again, the out of town family members were back in town, staying at a local inn, accommodations all provided by the Boosters. Tami and Julie had been thoughtfully relieved of all family hosting and chauffeuring duties to the stadium and a dinner reception to be held immediately afterwards. Buddy Garrity wanted this day to be one of only pride for Tami, pride for her late husband. He and the Boosters made an extra effort to take care of all the rest. For all his shortcomings, Buddy really did care for Tami and the girls. This was his chance to do something nice for them.

Despite all the weeks and months of planned pleasantries for this day, Eric's widow, Tami wasn't certain she was ready for the day. A great honor, indeed, it just seemed like to her that the timing of this event had been designed so that the town could move on before the football season swung into high gear. That was wonderful for the town, but as far as Tami was concerned, it would be a long time before she would be ready ... to move on. She suspected her daughter and Eric's family must feel the same way. Nevertheless, this was another day she would somehow have to power through. Her counselor had tried to help her prepare her for this day. She had been given some meditations to practice in order to center herself if need be. She could only hope it would work.

Dressed and ready to go, Tami looked out the window upon hearing something outside. "Jules, the limo is here to pick us up. Gracie and I are off to the hotel to pick up Mom, Dad, and Shelley and Eric's family," she announced to her oldest daughter. "Are you going to meet us at the stadium?"

"I have to pick Matt up from the airport," Julie skillfully lied to her mother, as she watched Tami hurriedly grab her purse, keys, and Gracie and head towards the front door. "Ummmm, yeah," Julie continued. "And then, we'll head on over. Bye."

"Bye, Honey," Tami's voice lilted, and she closed the door behind her.

Julie Taylor was even less prepared than her mother to face this stadium dedication day. As the big day came closer and closer into reality, Julie's anxiety and depression exponentially grew larger. She hadn't been able to sleep well in days. The thought of her beloved father becoming larger than life on this day, in this football crazy town, was harder for her to deal with than even she had anticipated it would be. Her final memories of her father were in such conflict to the hero worship of the day. She did not feel worthy of being the daughter of such a hero.

Only the day before, she called and begged for Matt to fly to Dillon and help get her through the day. Yet despite her plea, unfortunately, the gallery would not let him off from work during its Renoir exhibition. It had been an industry coup for Matt to score this internship at this international gig, and he could not justify walking away from it on such short notice ... not even for Coach Taylor, not even for Julie. He thought he had explained this to her before she left Chicago on the bus. Although Matt felt some torn loyalties, somehow he knew his high school coach would understand. He could only hope his coach's fragile daughter would be able to somehow do the same.

So, Julie lied to her mother about picking Matt up from the airport. Indeed, she had an ulterior motive. This would give her about two-and-a-half hours, alone, to decide whether she was going to the stadium ... or not. She thought about the downside of blowing off the ceremony. There wasn't much of one, as far as she could see. Sure, her mother would be disappointed in her, but Julie also knew her mother would eventually get over it. And then, she thought about Tim's offer to hang out at Buddy's Place and keep him company while he worked his shift. An empty bar with no family, no pressure; the idea of a place of refuge from all the pageantry was becoming more and more appealing to the girl who only wanted to find some peace from her guilt.

Buddy's Place

Late that afternoon ...

Julie arrived at Buddy's Place to an almost empty parking lot. She entered through the restaurant and made her way back to the bar where she took a seat on one of the empty stools. The place was pretty deserted, but it was all set up for one of the Town's scheduled after parties. A banner honoring her father was hung across the sports bar. She continued to look around and found that Crucifictorious had all their gear and sound equipment set up and ready to go, too, although there was not a band member in sight.

After a couple of minutes, Tim Riggins approached Julie from behind the bar. He looked as if he was stocking the cooler with some bottled beer. Upon noticing that she was there, he said, "So, you decided to come and keep me company after all." He knew that wasn't the real reason she was there, but he decided to give the girl an out.

"Yeah ... I did," she sighed.

"How about I get you something to drink?" Tim smiled.

"Ummmm, how about that beer you have on tap? You know, the one that will remind me that I'm back in Texas?" she asked.

Tim raised an eyebrow. "As I recall, you didn't like that one so much."

"Oh, I don't know," Julie countered. "It was beginning to grow on me."

"Alright," Tim gave her a sigh of warning. "It's your poison."

A minute later, he returned with her filled mug. She pulled out her wallet from her purse, when Tim stopped her.

"Your money is no good here, Taylor," he smiled, "especially not today. Buddy said no Taylor is to spend a dime tonight."

Julie looked down and nodded. "Thanks." A moment later, she asked, "Where are Devon and Landry? I can see they were here." Devon had told Julie about how anal Landry could be with pre-show set up and sound checks.

"Yeah, they were here bright and early this morning settin' up their equipment." Tim chuckled, "Landry's got these expensive lightin' and sound boards now. Giant Peavy amplifiers. You'd think he was playing the Austin Amphitheater or something."

Julie smiled, as she made headway on her beer. "Give him time. Just give him time."

A few hours later ...

Julie had been nursing beers all afternoon. She glanced at her cell phone for the time. The ceremony must have been half way over by now. Then, she noted there were two missed calls and a text, all from her mother. She quickly texted her mom that she was fine, she was caught in traffic, and would meet up with her later.

"So, how are you doing, Julie girl?" Tim came back to check the first of his only two customers in the entire place.

"I'm okay," she said, sounding more like she was trying to convince herself than Tim. "You know what?" she asked, changing the subject. "I think I would like to switch to a Scotch neat and a glass of water."

"Whoa, listen to you," Tim laughed. "Have you ever even had Scotch whisky before?"

"Sure I have," she lied. "This is in honor of my Dad."

"Alright, Taylor," Tim shook his head. "You are full of surprises."

After Tim set her up, Julie slammed the Scotch and chased it with the water. It burned going down her throat, and she fought hard not to make a face. It tasted horrible, but she didn't want to give Tim the satisfaction of being right.

Instead, she insisted, "Hit me again." Drinking her father's spirit of choice somehow made her feel connected to him on his special day. If she couldn't do it in public in front of the whole town, she would do it here, in front of no one.

Tim tried to give Julie her space, but he was concerned for his friend. He finally broke his silence, against his better judgment. "Don't you think you should slow up a little?" Tim asked, referring to her drinking. "Your mom and your family will be here in a couple of hours. You really need to pace yourself." He spoke from experience.

"Thanks for your concern, but you're not my Dad," Julie looked down her nose at him, sounding annoyed. "So, don't act like you are."

"No, I'm not," he said, in earnest. "I'm your friend, Jules."

"If you are my friend, then bring me another one," she challenged him. "Don't worry. I'm not driving. I'll catch a ride home with Devon."

All he could do was to give her what she needed. "You're damn right you're not drivin'," Tim said under his breath, as he reluctantly poured her another.

A couple of hours later ...

Folks from the town began to slowly trickle into Buddy's Place after the dedication ceremony. More kitchen and bar staff also began to arrive, and Tim was relieved of his bartending duties for a nice long break before the evening switched into high gear.

As he excused himself to go and freshen up in the Men's room and grab himself a quick bite to eat from the kitchen, Julie made sure to take the opportunity to order herself a couple more drinks from the new, unsuspecting bartender. Tim returned about fifteen minutes later with a Bar-B-Q sandwich and a huge side of freshly cooked French fries and took a seat on the bar stool next to Julie. More people were arriving for the after party.

"Hey there. Would you like to share this sandwich with me?" he asked, the smell of Scotch on her breath was very noticeable.

"No thanks. I'm good," she answered, continuing to sip on Scotch.

"Not even some fries? I brought them just for you." Tim knew how young women could be about not wanting to eat, but this young woman most definitely needed to put some food in her stomach.

"It's okay. You don't need to hover," she insisted. Her speech was becoming markedly slurred.

Tim looked over at her. "You know you can talk to me, right? I mean, I'm here for you. It's obvious to me that you're not havin' a good day."

"I just couldn't face everyone today," she spoke slowly and slurred. "And now, they are all coming here. And now, I don't want to be here anymore, either." She was obviously, officially now drunk and agitated.

"Would you like me to take you home?" Tim asked in all honesty.

"No," Julie's voice was becoming louder. "I don't want to have to deal with family when they go home."

Tim was quiet, as he thought about what to do. After a moment, he offered, "I could take you to my place. It's not much, just a trailer. But it's quiet and private."

Julie began to laugh with a high pitched giggle. "Tim's love lair. I've heard of it."

"No," Tim was emphatic. "I would drop you off. I have to come back here and work."

Even though she was beyond drunk, Julie was smart enough to know Tim's offer of refuge was the best offer she'd received since she arrived in Dillon.

"Okay," she spoke loudly over the noises of a growing crowd.

"Alright. You wait right here, and I'll be back in a minute. I need to grab my jacket," he said standing and bracing her bare shoulders with his hands.

Tim returned in less than two minutes to find Julie passed out on the bar. He ran to her.

"Hey, Jules," he grabbed her and tried to sit her up on the stool. Her eyes were rolled back into her head, and she had passed out cold.

"What the hell?" Tim yelled to the bartender.

"I don't know," the older man came running over to them. He hadn't noticed anything wrong with her, as he was busy filling orders on the other end of the bar for the restaurant.

Tim continued to try and revive her. He couldn't. As he tried to sit her up again, she began to go into a seizure.

Stunned for a split second, Tim finally regained his composure and yelled out, "Somebody, call 911!" And he watched helplessly, as her petite body continued to seize. All he could do was to hold her up on the stool and keep her from hitting her head.

To be continued . . .