-1Title: Illegal Procedure (11/17)
Author: Romantique
Email:
Classification: Eric/Tami Drama/Angst
Rating: T for some language.
Summary: SPOILERS from Season 4. Coach Taylor was exiled to East Dillon because he refused to play ball with Joe McCoy. The power struggle continues.
Disclaimer: SPOILERS from Season 4. This fan fiction was written before Season 4 Episode 3 airs.
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.
After football practice, Eric headed for the bar to meet his old friend, Buddy.
"Hey, Eric, let me buy you a beer," Buddy smiled, ushering his friend over to a quiet side of the bar so that they could talk. "Or would you rather have a Scotch tonight?"
"Naw, a beer'd be just great," Eric gave a small smile back.
"So, this is a welcome turn of events," Buddy pulled up a stool for his friend. "Athletic Director for both schools."
Eric took his cap off and raked the fingers of his left hand through his hair. "I'm not so sure. Once again, I don't know what the hell I've gotten myself into." After letting out a sigh, he added, "And once again, I didn't feel like I had a choice but to take on the extra responsibility, even though Lord knows I don't want it."
"Hey, at least you and I will be working together again," Buddy said as the beers were placed in front of them. "You can't fight Joe McCoy by yourself, and neither can I. But maybe together we can do some good." After taking a slug from the cold, glass bottle before him, the oldest Booster added. "Ol' Joe took his family and went on vacation. Guess that's what the rich do when their kid gets a suspension." Buddy chuckled at his own joke.
Eric tightened his jaw. There were some things he could not tell Buddy about his new position, as much as he would have liked to. "I need the Boosters to start funding East Dillon," the younger man changed the subject, chasing that change with a good swallow of his draft. "It's not right for the Boosters to only fund the Panthers, when some of the Panthers were shipped off to East Dillon at no fault of their own."
"Can the District make us do that?" Buddy asked. "I mean, I don't have a problem supporting the Lions, too, but some of our Boosters will."
"I believe it can," Eric went on to explain. "You have the one City of Dillon … that now has two high schools. I don't see how the one School District can allow the Boosters and that one City's merchant members to choose to support only one school … not when the District is claiming that these two schools are equal in opportunity … when we all know they're not. The District has to do, whatever it needs to do, to correct that disparity." Shifting his weight on the stool, Eric asked his old friend, "Buddy, how am I gonna do that? Get the Boosters to do the right thing, when they've never wanted to do the right thing?"
"Do you think you can get the Lions to State?" Buddy laughed. "Because you know State is what the Boosters are all about."
"Hell, Buddy," Eric huffed. "The Lions have only won one game the season. But that's not their fault. I mean, that team is startin' from nothin', and I mean absolutely nothin'. But you know what? Those boys over at East Dillon, they're raw and they're hungry. They're not spoiled like a lot of the Panther players. We've got some real talent over there … it's just gonna take some time to develop and gel. And some money would sure help things develop and gel a little faster. You really should come over and watch them play."
"How about I come over and take a look at your next practice?" Buddy asked.
Eric finished up the last of his draft. "Alright, why don't ya? Next practice is tomorrow, after school," he smiled and stood up. "Hey, thanks for the beer. I gotta to head home."
"Well, congratulations, Eric," Buddy slapped his buddy on the back. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Next day at football practice …
Buddy Garrity walked out onto the brown, desolate playing field of the East Dillon Lions. "Tim? Hey, what are you doing here?"
"Hey, Mr. Garrity," Tim Riggins answered walking towards Lila's father. Then, he explains, "I come over here and help Coach out when I can. He's had a really tough start."
"Yeah, I'm here for the same reason," Buddy said. "Have you heard from Lila?"
"Uh, yeah. I hear from her almost every day," Tim said. "She's doin' fine, but she misses everyone. She's comin' home for Thanksgiving, right?"
"You bet she is," Buddy smiled. "I can't wait." Putting his hands into his pockets, he asked something he'd wanted to ask Tim for weeks. "Did it not work out for you at San Antonio State?"
"Uh, I had to come back and help my brother with Riggins Rigs," Tim explained with a lie. "You know, he and Mindy have a baby on the way."
Tim long knew Lila's father didn't think he was good enough for his daughter. His rash decision to quit college was not going to do anything to help change Buddy's mind. But Tim had tired of trying to be something he couldn't be … even if he tried to do it for his brother and for Lila. He was square with his decision to return home; it didn't matter to him if anyone else was okay with it or not.
"So I've heard," Buddy nodded. "You tell them I said congratulations, okay?"
The somewhat awkward discussion was interrupted when Luke Cafferty approached the two.
"Hey, Tim … Mr. Garrity," the young player said with his typical big smile. "I'm ready to get to work, Tim. Just tell me what you want me to do."
"Hey, Luke," Buddy smiled at the young man, the recent flashpoint of trouble between Eric and the Boosters. "I'll leave you two to your practice. Good talking to you, Tim." And with that, Buddy walked downfield to find Eric and watch some Lions football.
Later that evening …
After dinner and after Gracie had been put to bed, Tami found her husband in his recliner watching game film.
"Hey, Hon," she said as she walked up behind him. "Would you mind putting the film on pause so I can talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure," Eric said as he did what she asked. "What's up?"
Tami took in a deep breath as she took a seat on the nearby sofa. "The Sherriff's Department came to our school this afternoon. It seems that the McCoy's property was vandalized while they are out of town. I believe your school received a visit today, as well."
"What do you mean by vandalized?" Eric asked, sitting up a little straighter in his chair.
"There were broken windows, graffiti spray painted on the house and in the driveway," she answered. "I can't say exactly what the graffiti said, but it was in response to what J.D. said at the game."
Eric's eyebrows because very tense. "Are you sayin' it was my players who were involved?"
"I didn't say any such thing to the Sherriff. But Hon, from some comments they made, I know they're looking at the Lions players as a possibility," she warned. "Off the record, just between you and me, have you heard any rumblings at school over the J.D. thing?"
"Naw," Eric shook his head, the expression on his face did not change. "I mean, hell, they're not happy about what happened that night. Can you blame them? I mean, you and I were not happy about what happened. But I talked to them first thing Monday mornin,' and explained that J.D will be punished … that they've just got to give it some time. Since then, I've heard nothin'. You want me to call Coach Crowley and Tim Riggins to see if they've heard anything?"
Tami was quiet for a moment. "If you think they can keep their mouths quiet, you probably should ask them what they know, if anything. I'm afraid you're going to get hit with this first thing tomorrow."
"Babe, what J.D. said at the game was as racist and ignorant as it gets," Eric rubbed his sore lower jaw. "My players are not the only ones in Dillon who are offended and upset by this. It's been discussed every day in the newspaper; Sammy Meade has been talkin' about it. You have minority players at your school who were offended. I've got white players over at my school who were offended. This is no longer a Panther/Lion dispute. Heck, we've got adult racists all over this town. This is bigger than football because it now involves the entire town."
Nodding, Tami said, "You're right. There were Panthers booing J.D. on the field. And you should explain that to the Sherriff's Department. She paused for a moment. "For our sakes, I can only hope and pray that this vandalism is not portrayed to the McCoys as a Panther/Lions dispute by law enforcement or the press … because you know that's the way the McCoy's are going to want to frame it."
Eric had the same thought at the same time Tami said it. He let out big, sigh of frustration. "I guess I better make a few phone calls."
