Disclaimer: I don't own the Ducks and the affiliated characters, settings etc
September 18th, 1998 Adam's POV
When Coach told me about Bella's predicament I wasn't happy that I was going to be served with a subpoena and forced to testify in court. Ollie, Dr. Freeman and I were all served last Friday. Luckily Coach was paying for a hotel room and our flights to Minneapolis from Reno. We were to fly into Minneapolis on October 4th and with any luck, we would be heading back to Lakeside on October 6th. Ms. Gables said she would prepare two weeks worth of work for me just in case. So I could stay caught up with my classes. I was glad that Steven and Kyle were gone so I could not face the baby Adam shit. Mine and Bella's birthday was on Monday. It was funny how much things have changed over the last year. Last year at this time I was laid in a hospital bed unconscious. Gordon, Michele and Baby Hans were coming up tomorrow and spending tomorrow and Sunday to celebrate my sweet 16 birthday. Although it would not be as nice as Bella's sweet 16 birthday, I am sure.
"Adam you got a package, today," Annie said as I walked up the steps from class.
I immediately went to the office and saw my package. It was huge, it was from Bella. "What is it?" I asked.
"I don't know, Adam. But the UPS driver had to use a two wheel cart to get it in here," Dr. Binford said.
I picked up the package man it was heavy, whatever it was; "Ollie help me," I said.
Ollie came over and helped me carry it to our room, "What would sis send you?" Ollie asked.
"I don't know but it's obviously for my birthday. Look at the packaging," I said as the packaging had a few balloons drawn on it with marker and said Happy Birthday.
"This is going to make my birthday gift to you look lik T," Ollie said.
"Did you send your birthday gift to her?" I asked as I opened the door to our room.
"Yeah I sent it last week, did you?" Ollie asked.
"Yeah, it wasn't much a birthday card and few dollars it was all I could scrounge up, she complained how much her feet were hurting her from her job," I said.
"I can't believe she had to get a job at Mickey's Dinner," Ollie said as we sat the package down.
I found out from Wells Fargo that all of my money was withdrawn and my savings account was closed a year after I was disowned by my father. I had opened the package from Bella. The box inside was wrapped in birthday paper. It looked like a few different kinds of birthday paper. I opened the card, Adam, So I don't owe you any birthday or christmas gifts for the next few years, enjoy Happy Birthday, Bella. I tore the birthday wrap off the box, to reveal a Total Gym Home exercise machine.
"Is that what I think it is? They have ole what's his name from Walker, Texas Ranger that does the infomercials," Ollie said while snapping his fingers.
"Chuck Norris," I said.
"And Christie Brinkley," Ollie said dreamily.
"Oh GROSS, SHE'S GOT TO BE LIKE MOM'S AGE," I said.
"Adam every guy in America would like to bang a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Model. Especially one that won the title three years in a row. You know that Dad still has those issues with Ms. Brinkley on the cover. For the times when he and mom aren't connecting in the bedroom," Ollie said.
"And How do you know that?" I asked.
"Because I've walked in on him in his office, staring at one of her covers and getting his hard-on. Then he would have to take a cold shower. Like I said every guy in America would like to bang a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Model, well except for maybe you. Unless SI is stupid enough to one day put a guy on the cover," Ollie said.
I had pulled the machine out of its box to reveal how big it was, the machine itself wasn't that big, but it required at least 3 feet long by 8 feet wide of space. In a 10 foot by 10 foot room there wasn't a whole lot of space. I considered asking Mike and Dr. Binford about putting the machine in the exercise room and I would let all of the guys use it, if they wanted too. We ended up putting our dressers in the closet and my bed went on top of his with his cork board coming over to where my bed was on my side of the room. It was a tight fit but it worked. I decided that I was going to keep it set up in our room.
October 4th, 1998 4:15 pm Adam's POV
I would go for a run each morning, with Ollie and Jeremy. Then would work out with the total gym for 20 to 30 minutes after the run. Within the last two weeks I noticed I was starting to pack the muscle on my arms. I still had a spare tire but one thing at a time. I, Ollie and Dr. Freeman had just landed in Minneapolis to attend Bella's court date tomorrow. Coach had been in Minneapolis for the last couple of days to prepare Bella and the rest of the Minneapolis based witnesses for tomorrow. Dr. Freeman, Ollie and I got our preparations the week before. Coach, Charlie and Gunnar met us at the airport.
"There they are," Coach said.
I gave each one of them a hug, saving my biggest hug for last with Gunnar.
"Hi," I whispered in his ear.
"Hi, I missed vou," Gunnar said.
"I missed you too," I said.
"What didn't you miss me? Jezze Banksy makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside," Charlie said while rolling his eyes.
"Payback's a bitch aint it?" I asked.
"Come on we've got lots to do before tomorrow, Guys," Coach said.
"I hope you didn't put us up in a crap ass hotel," I said.
"Cake-eater," Charlie coughed.
I glared at Charlie, "Not anymore I am not," I said.
"Face it Banksy once a Cake-eater always a cake-eater," Charlie said.
"I don't think vou are a cake-eater," Gunner whispered in my ear.
"Hey where are the rest of the ducks I thought they would be here to see me," I said.
"They have a killer Trig test tomorrow. So everybody is in the library studying," Charlie said.
"Where's my sister?" I asked with my arms crossed.
"She had to work until 5, then she was going to the library and study for the test. She is taking hers tomorrow after court," Charlie said.
"What about you?" I asked.
"Pfff.. My best friend is in town, I am not taking mine until Friday," Charlie said.
"He hasn't done a lick of studying, he is going to fail this test," Gunnar said.
"What about you, shouldn't you be studying?" I asked.
"I all set. I going to crush this test. I have been doing well in Trig all vear," Gunnar said.
"Are you sure you shouldn't be at the library studying? If you don't maintain your B average, you will be riding the pine pony," I whispered to him.
"I'm telling vou, I will be fine, Vou could even quiz me later, I brought my note cards," Gunnar said.
"Ok,' I said to Gunnar and then I turned to Coach, 'You didn't answer my question about where we are staying,"
"Is the Embassy suites ok with you?" Coach said.
"Yeah that will work," I said.
Once we got to the hotel I was amazed by the size of the suite, "Dr. Freeman and Ollie you will be bunking in that room,' Coach said pointing a finger to a room. 'Banksy you're with Me, Michele and Hans over here. Unless you want to be with your brother, I am sure Dr. Freeman would be glad to change rooms."
"No, this will be fine, because isn't Dr. Freeman leaving once he is done testifying?" I asked.
"Yes I am Adam, I can't leave Doctor Marshall there by himself with all of those boys, for two weeks," Dr. Freeman said.
"So this is how it's going to work: You are probably going to go first tomorrow, followed by Dr. Freeman, then Ollie and then Dr. Montgomery. I have already submitted to the judge that Dr. Freeman could not be recalled for cross examination after October 6th, which Judge Stone approved," Coach said.
"Okay," I said.
"Alright, I thought that before we headed out to dinner, I thought we would all go for a swim in the pool sound good to everyone?"
"Yeah." Charlie, Ollie, Dr. Freeman said.
"Veah," Gunnar said.
I wasn't too sure, I wasn't ready to show my body off at the pool yet. Especially in front of my boyfriend. I had only lost 10 pounds since I had gotten out of the hospital. I still had my spare tire on my stomach. Although it wasn't as full as it used to be, it wasn't quite as flat as it was when I first went into the hospital. "Banksey, you in?" Coach asked.
I swallowed hard before I said "Yeah sure."
"All right you all get changed and we will head down to the pool," Coach said.
Michele then handed Baby Hans to Coach for coach to change into what he called a swimmer. While Michele went into the bathroom to change into her bathing suit. Once she appeared from the bathroom he asked, "Did it fit?"
"Just barely," Michele said.
"I'm sure you look fantastic," Coach said as he handed Hans back so he can go and change.
"Ugh, you guys are so gross," I said as I flipped down onto the bed.
5 minutes later
"Hey Banks you coming?" Charlie asked on his way out the door.
"Yeah, I will be right there," I said from my spot on the bed.
"Vou go ahead Charlie, I vill come down vith Adam," Gunnar said.
"Ok Gunnar," Charlie said and then he left. He was the last one to leave. Everyone else made their way out over the last five minutes. Gunnar was just standing there in a pair of Charlie's trunks. I was so envious at Gunnar, he wasn't fat. I don't know what he saw in me. Gunner stood there for five minutes before he said "So are you going to show me or not?" Gunnar asked.
"Show you what?" I asked.
"Vour body," Gunnar said.
"I don't want you to see it, I want you to remember what I looked like when we first got together." I said as I adjusted my shirt.
"Adam I love vou, and loving vou to me is more important than how vou feel about vourself," Gunnar said.
"Yeah right," I said.
"Get up," Gunnar said.
"No," I said.
"Adam, vou need to get up now!" Gunnar said.
"What if I don't want to," I said.
"I'll make vou," Gunnar said. He then grabbed my entire body and got me out of bed which was amazing considering I was nearly 30 pounds heavier than he was.
"What the hell have you been lifting, Goldberg?" I asked.
"No, about 200 pounds which is about vhat vou are," Gunnar said as he placed me down in front of a mirror. I had caught up with Gunnar in the height department since I had gotten to Lakeside. We were both exactly 6 feet 2 inches tall.
"Oh God you are not going to make me list everything that I like about me?" I asked while rolling my eyes.
"No, I am,' Gunnar said, 'and I am going to start with your boyish good looks," then he kissed my cheek.
I smiled a small smile a very small smile.
"I love that vou are kind to everybody. Vou help everyone out," Gunner said, then he kissed my neck
"I love the vou love hockey," Gunner said, and then he took my shirt off and threw it across the room. I grimaced in the mirror, I didn't want to see my body at 199 pounds. I usually try to avoid mirrors, pictures or anything else that would show what I looked like. At 199 pounds I had a flabby spare tire happening.
Gunnar spent the next 10 minutes telling of all the things that he loved about me. Making sure to kiss anything that I found particularly grotesque. When he got to my scares that I carved into my body he said to me, "All of me, loves all of vou. All of vour curves and all of vour edges,' he then pointed to the Fag that I had carved into my left arm that was a light white by now. It was healed. It had been for a long time. 'All of vour perfect imperfections," Gunnar said and then he kissed my arm where I cut myself.
I swallowed hard, "Do you mean it Gunnar?"
"Vas, All of VOU! Every inch, every pound. I love vou. I don't know vhat I vould do vithout vou," Gunnar said.
I started to cry. I have been doing that a lot lately. I even ignored the voice in my head of my father screaming at me, "QUIT YOUR DAMNED CRYING. CRYING IS FOR BABIES AND YOU ARE NOT A BABY!" I never understood how my father could be so gentle with Bella everytime she was crying and yet so hard every time I cried. I knew that if I was lucky enough to have a son one day. I would tell him to cry all he wants. Because I learned in therapy that crying and laughing are the best medicine. I kissed Gunnar, hard, I needed a release even if it was for five minutes and I was completely out of practice. I fiddled with the trunks he was in and he pulled down my pants and boxes. My manhood spung free, armed and loaded for action. I pushed him down on the bed and started to make love to him.
Bella's POV
I got off from work at 5:00. I was too exhausted to go back to Eden Hall to study at the library. I decided to get on the green line rail car and head for the hotel. My feet and back had been hurting most of my shift. I had been at work since 9:00 this morning, I was exhausted after working a shift. I fell asleep at my desk at about 3:00 am from studying for the trig test. Connie woke me up at 7:45 and said the 8 words I hate hearing the most, "You are going to be late for work!" I quickly sprung from my desk and grabbed my uniform and started to change in the hallway on my way to the bathroom. I made it to the bus stop with thirty seconds to spare. Luckily I finished getting ready on the bus on the way to work. I don't know what I would do without Connie, she was a saint. When I got to the hotel at a little after six,I had walked by the pool area and saw my boyfriend swimming, he waved me into the area.
"There's my Angel," Charlie said.
"Hi," I said tiredly.
"Tired?" Charlie asked.
"Exhausted," I said.
"I thought you were going to Eden to go study?" Coach asked.
"Don't even let me get started, Coach," I said.
"Do you need a foot rub?" Charlie said.
"Yes and a back rub, a leg rub and a total body massage," I said.
"Give me 2 minutes," Charlie said.
"As long as you two have clothes on," Coach said.
"Coach Please I am not in the mood," I said.
"I don't have what we need anyway," Charlie said.
"As long as it stays that way," Coach said. Charlie climbed out of the pool and borrowed Ollie's key card to get into the room. I held on to the card when we got to the elevators, Charlie had started to give me a neck and shoulder rub. He had gotten good at giving me a massage. He would start rubbing my shoulders when I was studying in the library if I looked tense when he walked into the library.
"Oh God that feels so good," I said as the elevator stopped at the floor that Coach was staying on, Charlie led me down to Coach's room, when we entered the room we heard some giggling. I had made the mistake of walking into one of the bedrooms. And saw them together in the bed making love.
"OH MY GOD! GUNNAR, ADAM!" I yelled
"OH MY GOD", and then a string of curse words in Icelandic came out of Gunnar's mouth.
"Oh FUCK!" Adam said.
"Really? You are seriously doing it? In Coach's Hotel room that is gross!" Charlie yelled.
Adam snorted before he said, "Well look who's calling the kettle black."
I had to go, so I left. Charlie was right behind me. He caught up to me at the Elevators and just held me as I cried.
A/N: Hey there. What did y'all think? I hope you liked it! Let me know what you thought of the chapter and your guesses as to what lies on the horizon for our beloved Ducks.