Disclaimer - I do not own the Ducks. Don't you wish you could though? Your own little Quack Attack right there in your closet? Sorry…back to the point. I don't own them…just borrowing!

Italics indicate character thought.

Author Note: The document manager was being crazy when I was uploading and kept copy/pasting bits of lines here and there and changing things to italics that weren't supposed to be that way. Sorry for any whacky errors!


"Goldie, seriously. I'm embarrassed for you." Fulton spun around on his skates, gliding backwards, facing Greg as he labored through the Southern California park.

Goldberg continued to huff and puff, but managed to suck up enough energy to look hurt and glare around at all of his "friends" who were visibly laughing at him. "Why is a leisurely skate with my buddies always a reason for you all to make fun of how out of shape I am?"

Charlie looked absently over his shoulder. "It's part of your charm, you being out of shape." He smiled apologetically. "Our skates wouldn't be the same without this fun-filled aspect."

Guy skated up and slid an arm around his friend's shoulders. "You know we love you, buddy."

Goldberg shoved him forcibly off and Guy had to pinwheel his arms to keep from losing balance. "Whatever, Germaine." But he was grinning, equally as aware as the rest that they were all playing right into the typical dynamic of their friendship.

Adam had been quiet for most of the afternoon, but somewhere between lunch and being drug out for an afternoon skate, he had felt the tension of the past several months begin to slide out of his muscles. Being with his friends, falling into old patterns, it was easy not to forget everything that had happend, but to put it all in perspective. He was still Adam Banks. He still had all of the wonderful friends he had counted on his whole life. He could still be happy.

He mirrored Fulton's earlier move and while still gliding over the cement spun around to skate backwards. "I'm really glad you guys all came out. I really needed this."

"Needed a good fist fight with Charlie?" Averman raised his eyebrows skeptically. They skirted around a group of college girls who stared openly at them they all preened a bit before Adam responded.

"No," he glanced over at Charlie, who was grinning, "but I think that certainly helped." He hopped over a bench and reveled in how alive he felt when his feet slammed back against the concrete. "Just being with friends, getting back to being myself." He reddened a bit at the admission. Fulton, of course, didn't help.

Wiping a hand beneath his dark brown eyes, Fulton sniffed dramatically. "I love you too, cakeeater!" He sobbed hysterically before rolling his eyes. "Dude, we're your friends. Of course we were going to come out and set you straight." He looked pointedly at Charlie, who shook his head back and forth violently, stopping quickly when he realized that Adam was looking right at him.

Adam narrowed his eyes, slowing down a bit. "What?"

They were possibly the worst group of liars on the planet. Charlie had turned red, widening his eyes and looking away. Fulton glowered and shrugged his shoulders. Guy had stopped and was focusing intently on what appeared to be absolutely nothing on the side of the path. Averman was staring up at the sky and Goldberg was looking everywhere but at Adam and whistling. Whistling, for God's sake.

Adam rolled his eyes. "You guys are ridiculous. What now?"

They had come to the outer edge of the park and continued down a wide sidewalk that ran near the beach. The sound of waves was barely discernible in the distance and the salty spray hanging in the air began to stick to their sweaty skin. Adam sighed and raised his voice a fraction. "Spill it."

Averman, always the Duck most lacking in tact, suddenly blurted out what they had all been thinking but had been avoiding discussing with Adam. "You quit hockey. What the hell are you going to do now? You ruined your career."

"Averman!" Charlie, never losing his stride, bent down to scoop up a small pebble, and tossed it back to smack Les in the forehead. "Damn." He looked out of his peripheral vision and caught Adam watching the pavement below him. "Banks, I know that Averman put it in a less than lyrical fashion, but, uh, what are you going to do? Hockey has been your life since…" he pretended to count on his fingers, "…well, since forever."

He had made a mistake. Adam knew that. He had known it the minute he had refused to sign the contract. And if he hadn't known it then, his agent had made it abundantly clear in his ranting phone call. But once the decision had been made, no amount of knowing it was a mistake could fight through the numbness he had been experiencing to motivate him to action to rectify the error he had made. Just thinking about hockey, or the lack thereof in his upcoming life, had his breath heaving a bit in his lungs. He inhaled deeply several times, finding it hard to look at the other guys.

"The scary part is that I'm pretty sure Averman is right." He glanced back and smiled sardonically at Les, whose mouth was agape. "I'm pretty sure that I've effectively ruined my illustrious professional career."

Charlie snorted. "Please. You can't possible think that pretty much any team with some money to spare wouldn't sign you right now."

"Seriously." Guy raised his hands and shook them impressively. "You're Adam freaking Banks." He gestured around at the group. "You've always been the best of all of us. Hell, you're one of the greatest hockey players of the past fifteen years."

Adam smiled at the compliment, not entirely sure that it was true, not surprised at all when Charlie started coughing rather theatrically. "Excuse me?" He looked around at Guy. "I'm not really sure that it's completely accurate to say that he's always been the best of us like the rest of us are chopped liver, you know?" He brushed an imaginary speck off of his shoulder. "I mean, several of us were an integral part of the Goodwill Games and all those state championships we won." He coughed again.

Fulton rolled his eyes and reached up to tighten the bandanna he still insisted on wearing over his now more modest cheekbone length black hair. "Stuff it, Spazway. We're working on Adam's ego today." He grinned. "We can compliment you tomorrow." He smiled. "Besides, I'd say your ego is in no need of any buffing up."

"Me?" Charlie held his arms out. "I'm pretty modest, if I do say so myself."

Adam was laughing and couldn't help but put in a comment. "I'm pretty sure that people who would be defined as modest don't usually use the words 'if I do say so myself,' Charlie."

Braking to a stop, Charlie grinned, looking rather pleased with himself. "Whatever." He shrugged as they all stopped around him. "We can debate who's a better hockey player later, sometime after we finish discussing what you're going to do to get your career back." Adam started to protest but Charlie shushed him with a warning look. "But right now, we're more concerned about another aspect of your life." He looked up at the building they had coasted up to the base of.

Adam let his eyes travel up the expanse of the ocean front high-rise and felt realization begin to dawn on him. He looked around their group and wondered how they had traveled this far and to this specific building without him realizing the path they were taking. Charlie is good.

Adam stared over at his best-friend, completely aware of the fact that pretty much all color had drained out of his already fair skin. "Look, this has all been really good, but you know…" he gulped once. "Baby steps, right? Isn't that what they say?"

Charlie crossed his arms, his eyes steely. "What who says?" He grinned wickedly. "We're your friends and we say you need to just rip the band-aid off all in one fell swoop."

"As much as it pains me to say it, Charlie is right." Guy nodded sagely. "You need to do this Adam. You need to do it…like, yesterday."

Adam again looked up the building and signed, knowing already that his friends wouldn't drop the subject until he was doing exactly what they thought was best. Even if it killed him.

"You can't possibly expect me to just go up there totally unannounced without calling or anything?"

"What is it with you and calling first?!?" Charlie's voice rose in exasperation as he threw his arms up and skated forward. He got behind Adam and gave a forceful shove towards the door. "Seize the moment, Banks."


Seize the moment.
Adam was in the elevator, on his way up to the fifteenth floor, replaying Charlie's last words in his mind. Seize the moment. He glared at his blurry reflection in the stainless steel doors. I'll seize Charlie's neck. That would be good. He laughed. Seize the moment. What a stupid saying.

The red numbers clicked over to ten and he groaned. Trying to get an idea of how he looked, he squinted again at his likeness. It was nearly impossible to see himself, but he was pretty sure he looked disgusting. His hair was probably sticking out in ever direction from the past thirty seconds of running his hands through it. His shirt was sweaty and sticking to his chest and back. The sheer amount of sweat present was probably more than enough to give him a distinctly disgusting order. Yeah, some moment I'm seizing here.

"Ding."

The sound of the elevator reaching its destination seemed akin to a death bell tolling for Adam. He poked his head out through the doors and glanced up and down the hallway to see if anyone was around to see him make a fool of himself. When he was convinced that he was alone he skated slowly out and made a left, making his way to the last door on the floor.

Staring for a long time at the door he felt his breathing grow more and more shallow as he tried to will himself calm. He didn't know what he was doing here. Yes, he was feeling more like himself, but wasn't this really a lot of progress for one weekend? Considering where he'd been mentally earlier that morning while pounding on Charlie's face, he was pretty sure this was way the hell too much. Damn that Conway. Maybe he needed another black eye for this. Adam sighed and ran his hands through his tousled hair for the hundredth time.

"Shit." He began getting angry at himself for being such a wuss. C'mon, Adam. Just do it. Knock on the damn door.

He raised his curled fist, but immediately got cold feet and pulled it back to shove into his hair again. His frustration with himself was unbelievable. "Shit!" Do it!

Taking one long deep breath Adam nodded resolutely. "Here goes."

He raised his hand again and just before his knuckles could make contact with the wood grain the door was pulled inward. Adam yanked his hand back and sucked in a breath audibly.

When she saw him she jumped in surprise, hugging her purse to her chest before realizing who was in her doorway. Recognition dawned. She was all flaming red curls and big green eyes when she whispered his name. "Adam…" her voice trailed off, disbelief heavy in her tone.

Adam felt emotions rush through him, but pure unadulterated love was the one that hit him hardest. He smiled. "Hi, Kimball."


Johnny: Hope this is enough sense knocked into Adam for you!

Hockey-girl90: I can always count on you for help!

Joshysgirl: Thanks! Glad you're enjoying. I updated two days in a row. Maybe that's what threw you?

LadyJea: That is the ultimate compliment. THANK YOU! When I find a story I really like I stick with it, so I appreciate you sticking with me despite my totally unpredictable updating dependability!

Pitaqueen: Interesting suggestions for Jesse. Thanks! I tried to write him into this chapter somehow, but I find I have trouble with him, much like Connie…

Just a fan: You are TOO good to me. Thank you so much! Have you written any fanfics on here? I'd love to read! If you're looking for someone to run stuff by before publishing, I'd love to help. Let me know! As for Devin and Annemarie, I'm getting stuck on them too! HELP! Where would you like to see them go? I've got a plot for Devin, but I'm not sure what to do until I get ready for that to start happening….sigh!