The January wind howled fiercely outside the fifth floor apartment window, as Jonathan Turner taped the top of the last cardboard box closed. Shawn Hunter sat silent on the bed. His eyes scanning the almost empty room he called his own for nearly a year now. He nervously played with the trusty magic eight ball that used to sit on the nightstand beside his bed.

Jon turned to face the solemn fourteen-year-old boy, "You know what Hunter? You don't have to do this if you don't want to. Just say the word, I'll get on the horn with Kelly at DHS, you stay with me as long as you want." Shawn hung his head and shrugged, his brown hair hanging in his dark blue eyes, "No.. My dad's back, and my place is with him. As much as I love it here.. I mean.Come on Jon, we both knew it was only temporary." Shawn pouted as he silently asked the eight ball a question and peered at the answer. Sighing, he tossed it behind him onto the mattress.

Jonathan stood and wiped his hands on his blue jeans, "Okay, whatever you say kiddo, now get cleaned up or we're gonna be late for the hockey game. Eli cashed in a big favor to get us these tickets; we're right behind the players bench. You get dressed and I'll call The Matthews', they said they'd meet us right outside the doors at seven o'clock." Shawn smiled as he leapt from the bed and hurried out the door. Turner watched as he left, trying desperately to hide the lump welling in his throat. He rubbed his hands through his wavy dark hair, biting his lip he thought to himself, "Why did you have to come back, Chet! Why couldn't you just stay away?"

Cory and Alan waited anxiously outside the Spectrum doors for Jon and Shawn to arrive; it was two minutes shy of seven, but time seemed to stand still in the frigid winter weather. Both the Matthews' men were bundled to the hilt with hats, scarves, gloves and many layers, but the icy chill still seemed to creep through. Just before hypothermia set in, Jon and Shawn came strutting up the path, along with hundreds of other hockey fans ready for the big game. Both had their trademark leather jackets and both clutched motorcycle helmets in their gloved hands.

"You guys took the Harley, are you NUTS!!" Alan yelled as he greeted the pair. "Well we weren't gonna walk, not in this weather." Jon responded as he shook Alan's hand. "I would have swung by and picked you up, you should' a said something over the phone." Alan said as he slapped Jonathan on the back. Cory and Shawn huddled together, already babbling and giggling as the four made their way through the turnstiles into the arena. "It's no problem, Alan.. Besides Shawn loves riding on the bike, he gets such a charge out of it; I figured it was worth it just to see his face.. Ya know one last ride for old time sake." Alan nodded, well aware of the situation at hand.

The kids remained in their seats as the guys went for refreshments. Cory and Shawn both couldn't believe how close to the ice they actually were, two rows from the bench, it was a dream come true for both. The line at the beer stand was packed as Jon and Alan seized a quick moment away from the boys to talk. "So Jon, I got to ask you, are you okay with this? I mean it's been almost a year and he's going to show up out of the blue and expect to just throw Shawn back into that hell hole he calls a life??"

Turner winced and shifted uncomfortably in place, "What can I do, he's not my son. As much as I want to keep him, I can't. Chet is his father and he has the right to ask for the kid back, I have no legal grounds to stand in his way! Besides, I couldn't bring myself to put Shawn through a custody fight, he's been through enough already."

Alan shook his head in frustration, "You have every right to stand in his way. He's a lousy father, he can't keep a job, he drinks like a fish, he takes off for weeks at a time.He has absolutely no regard for that boy's well being. I've known the Hunters since Cory and Shawn started kindergarten together, he's no good, Jon. Trust me, this is not in Shawn's best interest, not by a long shot!" Jonathan cringed at the thought as the two slowly moved forward in the line. "Look Alan, I know Shawn's quality of life with Chet is not stellar, but the man wants Shawn back, and DHS already told me he deserves a second chance."

Mr. Matthews groaned "Oh PLEASE! A second chance! DHS is full of crap Jon! Where were they when Shawn used to drag his father from the bar stool and help him home drunk at two in the morning on a school night. Where were they when Chet would gamble away what little money they would have and Shawn would have to resort to stealing food from the Market Giant just to eat something every few days. Like I said, I've know this family since Shawn was a baby and some of the things I saw that kid endure would make your hair stand up. He's a good boy, he deserves better.. He deserves you, and you deserve to have him. You're the best thing that ever happened to that kid. Jon smiled as the two reached the counter. Alan began ordering as Turner pondered over his encouraging words.

Cory leaned forward in his seat as he took his bright red, hypoallergenic coat off. Both boys were looking around in awe as people filed past filling the seats of the arena, "This is SO AWESOME Shawnie, I mean I've been to games before but not like this, I mean COME ON!!! This is GREAT!! Usually the players are the size of ants from way up in the third level where we usually sit, not tonight though, no nosebleed section for us!!!" Cory excitedly rubbed his hands together as he glanced back at Shawn, who seemed a million miles away. "EARTH TO SHAWN!! COME IN SHAWN." Cory joked as he waved a hand in front of Shawn's face, snapping him back to reality.

"Sorry Cor, I was just looking around, I never been to a game, just watched them on T.V." Shawn smiled as he looked around, "I guess I'd better enjoy this it's gonna be my last one." Cory dawned a confused expression, "What are you talking about we'll go to more games, don't be stupid?" Shawn shrugged, "Face it Cor, I'm only here cause Jon brought me, come tomorrow, I'm back to being the old Shawn Hunter, the person I almost forgot I was." Cory sat back down to look Shawn in the eye. He knew that all too familiar tone in his best friends voice. "Shawn, this all happened so suddenly, I never really got a chance to talk to you about it, Do you want to go back with your dad?" Cory asked a bit worried.

"I thought I did, When I picked up the phone last week and heard his voice, I got so excited man, I thought, finally he's come back for me, finally were gonna get the chance to have the relationship I always wanted, I mean he's got a local job at the packing plant. He bought our trailer back, he sounded really great, and it made me feel good. My last meeting with Kelly from DHS was cool, she told me all the stuff my dad planned for us and I couldn't wait to see him again. Then.I was coming home from school and I passed the Double Diamond, the bar my dad used to hang out at.. and I saw the pickup in the parking lot.. I almost lost it. I'm sure he was in there Cory, I know he was there." Shawn closed his eyes and took a deep breath. A look of fear shadowed his face.

Cory furrowed his brow, "Did you tell Turner this? Maybe you could get them to change their minds, you know how your dad is when he's on the sauce Shawn, it only means bad news all around." Shawn nodded in agreement, "I know how he was, maybe it will be different this time, maybe just a little will be enough for him, but regardless, I can't tell anyone and neither can you. This is my last chance to have a go with my dad, if anyone finds out he's boozing again, I'm a ward of the state for sure, I mean for god's sake Cory I can end up in a boys home, I'd rather live on the street than live there." Cory snickered, "Shawn, what are you talking about, they'll keep you with Turner, you go on living just the way you have, isn't that what you want."

Shawn rolled his eyes, "Cory, face it, Turner doesn't really want me. It's okay I'm fine with that.When they listed my status as officially abandoned, Turner had the chance to file for adoption and he didn't, he signed a temporary agreement instead, which means as soon as he gets sick of me it's off to an orphanage, I cant spend the next four years of my life worrying about that, I got to give my dad a chance now, while he's here. I know Jon cares about me, and he really went out of his way to do good by me, but like all good things, it will come to an end. I'd love to stay with Turner, but if I turn my back on my dad now and Turner gives me the boot, I'm really screwed, so I got to go, I have no choice."

Cory sighed, "I really don't know all the details about your arrangement with Mr. Turner, but I still think if you ask him to stay, he'll say yeah!! Come on Shawn you and Jon are inseparable, why wouldn't he want to keep things like they are, both you guys are doing great, you both seem really happy!" Shawn clenched his fists in frustration, "I can't ask him to keep me Cory, and I would never put Jon on the spot like that! I already owe him too much, besides he would never admit he didn't want me to my face, he's not that kind of guy, he would suck it up and keep me out of pity, even if deep down it wasn't what he wanted. I can't do that to Jonathan; I can't ruin his life for the sake of my own. I'll be eighteen in four years, that's not such a long time. My dad blew in out of the blue and made the decision for us all, I got to take this chance Cor, unlike my old man, I'm not a gambler."

Shawn glanced over Cory's shoulder to see Jon and Alan walking down the stairs, their arms loaded with food and drinks. Shawn motioned to Cory to zip his lips as the men approached. Just as they reached the seats the lights dimmed and the players took the ice. Music blared from the arena speakers. As the players whizzed around, the crowd erupted into a cheering frenzy. Shawn shook the terrifying thoughts from his mind as he watched the warm up, determined to enjoy this night, uncertain of what lay ahead of him. He was sure of only one thing, he would remember this experience, this one night, for the rest of his life. What he didn't notice was Cory glaring at him with an angry expression or Alan and Jonathan shooting each other peculiar glances. What he didn't see was right in front of him, three distinct people who would do anything for him. What he didn't know was that Jon's heart was breaking at the thought of letting go. Never gamble more than you're willing to risk. One wrong roll of the dice and you can loose it all.