Thanks to all of you for reading and my two reviewers. You guys rock.

Chapter 29: D3


Seconds into the third period of the showdown Cole charged at Portman but he was ready for the older boy. Portman bent double seconds before Cole hit him then stood up, launching the older boy through the glass wall and into the crowd. The glass shattered and a whistle blown. Cole was helped up and checked over as they replaced the glass.

Knowing that would take a few minutes to get cleaned up, Lizzy stood and bolted down to the VIP section behind the benches. She slipped past the velvet rope then past the board members, ignoring the looks they were giving her. Then she rested her forearms on the red padding that ran across the top of the glass barrier.

"Hey Ducks!" Lizzy called, getting their attention.

"Lizzy!" The Ducks cheered. Fulton grinned and Lizzy laughed. There was just something about Fulton's look that made Lizzy laugh.

"Are you convinced now that I'm okay?" Lizzy asked. Most of the Ducks looked away. "That's what I thought. It's time you focus on the game. Don't worry about Varsity being bigger and faster," the Ducks turned their attention back to her, "you guys want this more than they do. You're smarter and better. You guys have something they don't; a heart. I have faith in you guys, in all of you. You're Ducks. Stick together, play smart hockey, and have fun. That's all that matters, as long as you have fun and do your best it doesn't matter if you win or lose." Lizzy glanced to her left and saw they were done replacing the glass divider. She turned back to the Ducks. "Looks like they're done; gotta go." Lizzy slipped back to her seat as the team set up for a face off.

"Who was that?" Orion asked, as the puck dropped.

"Lizzy Jacobs," Connie answered, "she was the second best player on the team. Really knows what needs to be said when we're feeling down."

"She's great at giving pep talks," Averman added.

"That's basically what she just said," Russ said, motioning to Connie.

With just over two minutes left in the game Lizzy and Bombay watched what was clearly Rick Riley taking a dive over Portman's stick. However, like Lizzy knew they would, the referee called the penalty on the Ducks. A two minute penalty for hooking. Portman argued with the referee all the way to the penalty box but accepted it. When he stepped in to the box he jumped up on the bench and Josh's next comment made Lizzy roll her eyes, shake her head, and laugh. "This is insanity. Dean Portman is—he's stripping in the penalty box," Josh said.

Lizzy looked at Bombay who gave her a sympathetic look. Lizzy shook her head again and sighed as Josh continued his commentary. Of course he'd pull this kind of stunt. It was just like Portman. If he couldn't make Varsity pay then he'd show off and get the fans' positive attention on himself.

Josh went on, "Oh, he has really got this crowd, especially the ladies, going."

"At least it's only two minutes and not the whole game," Lizzy said, slightly reminiscing about Team U.S.A.'s first game against Iceland when Portman had been kicked out shortly after the game started.

"Two minutes is the rest of the game," Bombay commented.

"Rest of the game, whole game, two different things," Lizzy answered.

A couple moments later the whistle was blown again and this time it was for a bench minor penalty. "Oh, this is bad folks," Josh said, "Ken Wu jumped off the bench a little too early, and now the Ducks will have to skate two men down."

"That really sucks," Lizzy sighed. Orion called a time out and then put Adam, Charlie, and Goldberg on the ice. "Goldberg?"

"Orion knows what he's doing," was Bombay's only response.

"I hope so." Lizzy shook her head.

For the next two minutes of play Lizzy was on her feet watching with baited breath until finally Charlie was on a breakaway. Instead of shooting, at the last second he passed it back to Goldberg who was right behind him, surprising everyone. Goldberg froze for a second then took his shot. Just before the clock ran out the siren sounded.

"Ducks win!" Josh called as Lizzy cheered with the rest of the crowd and the time on the scoreboard ran out. Lizzy hugged Bombay then made her way to ground level and the door that separated the ice from the hallway that lead to the locker room. She reached the door just as Varsity was coming off the ice. The captain paused and looked at the couple kissing to his left.

They saw the guy pull back and the girl looked down as if ashamed. That's when Lizzy realized it was Luis and a blonde cheerleader.

"Hey, sorry," Luis said, "our little secret."

The captain huffed and stormed off as Casey appeared behind Lizzy and Luis and the cheerleader went back to making out.

Charlie skated over and hugged his cousin, lifting her clear off her feet.

"Congrats, Charlie!" Lizzy cheered. "I knew you could do it."

"Thanks!" He set her back down and Lizzy jumped backwards off the ice as though it was actually fire.

Lizzy stepped aside and let Casey hug her son. "So," Lizzy said to Luis causing him to pull away from the cheerleader again, "here for a month and you've already stolen the captain of the hockey team's girlfriend. I don't know whether to be impressed or worried." She watched him but he didn't look at all concerned. It was almost as if he thought everything was cool and he wouldn't have any problem with Riley. If he didn't have a problem with Riley there was a chance he'd have a problem with Fulton. Fulton really didn't like it when relationships got messed with it.

"Why would you be worried?" Luis asked.

"Sleeping dogs," Lizzy suggested. "From what I hear Riley's a vicious Rottweiler."

"It's fine, Liz," Luis said.

"I hope so. When I start here on Monday, if he's still tormenting y'all, he'll have to deal with me."

"I'd hate to be Riley." Luis smirked and looked back at the cheerleader.

Lizzy noticed then that her aunt was walking away and Charlie was looking up into the stands. Lizzy followed his gaze as she leaned against the doorframe opposite Luis and found Charlie focusing on Bombay. Bombay smiled and nodded proudly then turned his head to look at the scoreboard. The cousins looked as well and watched as a banner fell from the bottom, unrolling to cover the Warriors' symbol. The banner had the Ducks symbol in the middle then said Eden Hall Ducks around it. Charlie and Lizzy grinned.

"Do it," Charlie told her.

Lizzy glanced at her cousin then let out her duck call. It sliced through the cheering rink and captured the attention of the Ducks. Lizzy pointed to the banner and they looked.

"Hey, look what Bombay did," Dwayne said from where he was standing with the rest of the team, still celebrating their win.

The crowd started quacking and a brunette appeared next to Lizzy as the blonde cheerleader walked off the ice and Luis rejoined his team. The girl kissed Charlie's cheek then said his name, drawing his attention.

"Thank you," the girl said. By the look on Charlie's face, Lizzy knew her cousin had a minor crush on this girl. Then the girl and Charlie kissed and Lizzy looked away. When Lizzy looked back, Charlie was slowly backing away. Then he turned and skated to the team. Both girls watched as he stopped next to Portman and the boys hugged.

"I'm Lizzy," Lizzy said, offering her hand to the other girl. "Charlie's my cousin."

"Linda," the girl said, "your cousin is real sweet."

"Yeah, he has his moments."

Eventually the team left the ice for the locker room and brought Lizzy with them. Lizzy sighed but didn't protest. "Stay?" Adam asked, looking at her. Lizzy huffed but crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. She waited outside the locker room for them to change then once they were done they pulled Lizzy inside, sitting her down between the Bash Brothers.

"Now that we don't have to focus on the game we have two burning questions for you," Guy said.

"What is this? An intervention?" Lizzy asked.

"If it has to be," Charlie answered.

"Fine, ask because I'm curious to know the questions you feel you have the right to demand answers to."

"Oh no," Adam snapped, "we are not letting you guilt trip us into not talking about this. What were you sentenced to?"

"Oh, little Adam's grown—"

"Stop it and answer the question," Fulton cut her off.

"Fine," Lizzy sighed. She told them her sentence.

"I think you're forgetting something," Portman said. Since he had been so nice to her she had already explained everything about her sentence except why it was such a bad thing.

"The 100 hours of community service has to be served on the jv hockey team. She thought if I had something to do I wouldn't skip any more school."

"Wait, why would she have to make you serve it on the jv team?" Russ asked.

"Yeah, shouldn't that count as a reward because you want to play hockey?" Averman added.

"This can't possibly be your second question," Lizzy said.

"It's not but that doesn't mean we don't want an answer to it," Adam told her.

"What's your second question?" Lizzy asked, knowing that she wasn't comfortable discussing her fear just yet. If she could change the subject it would be better for her. Of course she didn't realize they were about to ask the same question in a different way.

Charlie and Adam shared a look, hoping the other would ask. Fulton watched them for a moment and when it was obvious neither was going to ask he turned back to Lizzy. Fulton cupped her chin and turned her head so she'd look at him. Lizzy did look at him but she avoided his eyes. Those big greyish-blue eyes were not good for Lizzy's resolve not to tell him anything.

"Why didn't you come to Eden Hall to begin with? Why did you skip a month of school?" Fulton asked gently as he tipped her chin farther up.

"Don't say no and don't say you don't want to talk about it. That's not going to fly this time, Lizzy-gator. We're not going to accept those as answers this time," Adam said.

"We're your best friends, Lizzy, doesn't that count for anything? You should trust us nearly as much as you trust your family," Guy put in.

"I am family and you won't even tell me," Charlie pouted.

"Won't you tell me?" Fulton asked, softly. "Who knows you better than I do? No one, that's who. I'm the only one that knows why we transferred from Stillwater Elementary and I never told anyone. Not even my parents. Please Lizzy."

Lizzy looked around at the entire team and then took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. It was sounding like they weren't going to let her out of this no matter how hard she tried to deny it.

"Well, come on. Tell us," Averman pressed when she didn't say anything.

"Not here," Lizzy answered. They had told her she couldn't say no nor could she say she didn't want to talk about it so this was the next best option. Plus she didn't want to chance someone walking in on her story and them holding it against her.

"Then where? When?" Charlie asked.

"Anybody have plans for tomorrow?" Julie asked.

"How about tomorrow afternoon? I still have to finish unpacking," Portman added.

"12:30 at the Duck Pond?" Lizzy asked. "Everyone know how to get there?"

"No," Ken answered.

"Right. How about I drop by here tomorrow morning and help you finish up unpacking, Portman, and we can go from here to Adam's to the Pond."

"Good, 'cause I'm not sure I remember how to get there either," Adam answered.

"Okay then. Tomorrow, 12:30, at the Duck Pond. The rest of the Ducks can meet us there and Charlie can bring lunch," Lizzy said.

"Funny how you always offer to have—" Charlie stopped before saying 'the poor kid' and changed it to "—me, bring lunch."

Lizzy sighed then pulled a $20 from her pocket. Portman chipped in another $20 and Adam handed over $15 then Lizzy handed the money to Charlie.

"That should be enough for burgers or pizza. You could always get burgers from Band Box," Lizzy said.

"Sounds good," Charlie and the team agreed.

"We should go," Connie said, "before Orion thinks we're up to something."

Everyone left the locker room. Lizzy walked with Charlie to his mom's car as Adam and Fulton walked slowly toward the bus stop.

"I know why Lizzy didn't answer those questions," Adam said, looking at his older friend, "or at least I think I do."

"Oh? And why's that?" Fulton asked.

"I think she's scared."

"Scared of answering questions?"

"No, scared of hockey."

"Lizzy? Her life has been nothing but hockey since she could skate. Fear and hockey are not in the same sentence when it comes to Lizzy."

"Adam's right." Both boys stopped and looked around to see Portman behind them. He had been heading for the dorms when he heard Fulton and Adam talking and followed them.

"Fulton, you remember that hit I took in the championship game? After that, I didn't want to get back on the ice. I thought my hockey playing days were over. Then my dad and my brother pushed me. Eventually they helped me get back on the ice and play." Adam explained.

"That's kinda what Bombay told me when he came to Chicago. He said I had to help her get back on the ice. I think that hit rattled her more than she wants to admit, even to herself. We have to help her, Fult," Portman said.

"How? If Lizzy really is scared, there's no way I can force her back on the ice. Portman, I can understand where both you and Adam are coming from, but I have spent my life protecting her. I will not hurt her. I can't do it again."

"I understand, really I do, Fulton, but we at least have explore the option."

"How do we know for certain that she is scared? Adam, you said you think she's scared."

"Bombay told me," Portman said.

"Told you? How would he know?" Fulton asked.

Portman took a deep breath then let it out slowly. "When he came to get me in Chicago, he told me what she's going through. After the DA offered her the first deal, they countered and he turned them down. Bombay was worried that they would have to go to trial so he got her to tell him why she skipped school. He thought it might help get the judge on their side. She finally admitted that she was terrified of playing hockey. He compared her feelings about hockey now to how she feels about swimming."

"The only way we'll know for sure is when she tells us tomorrow," Adam said even though he agreed with Portman that it was probably that. Fulton on the other hand didn't look to sure so Portman turned to him.

"Fult, I don't want to push her either. I ... care about Lizzy too. And the best way to help her—"

"Port, look, let's just start by hearing what she has to say tomorrow and we can go from there," Adam said, preventing any fighting. Portman nodded.

Adam and Fulton continued home and Portman continued to the dorms.


"Are you going to tell me now or do you still want to make me wait until tomorrow?" Charlie asked, looking at Lizzy on the way home.

"I can't, Charlie," Lizzy answered, fiddling with her fingers.

"Why not? You've already told Mom and Bombay."

"I didn't have a choice when it came to Bombay and your mother is different."

"Different how?"

"She's not an emotional teenager."

"Charlie," Casey said gently, reaching back to touch her son's knee, "this is very difficult on Lizzy. Don't push her and let her come to you, okay?"

Charlie sat back in his seat and remained quiet for the rest of the ride.

"Aunt Casey, is it alright if I go up to Eden Hall tomorrow? I kinda promise Portman I'd help him unpack in the morning," Lizzy said.

"Your probation says you have to stay with me all day."

"I promised, Aunt Casey. I'm going to be with Portman all morning then we're going to meet the rest of the Ducks at the Pond."

"You call me when you leave Eden Hall and when you get to the Duck Pond. If I find out you lied to me, this probation will look like a cakewalk."

"Yes, ma'am," Lizzy agreed. It was silent the rest of the ride to the apartment. Lizzy knew Charlie was sulking about her not telling him anything but she felt like she couldn't. At least not yet. Not until she was sure he wasn't going to look down on her.


This ends the time covered by the movies. From here on out all situations are completely from my brain. Review please?