Practice ran long and hard. By the time Coach told them to run their laps,
everyone was drenched in sweat. A pile of abandoned practice jerseys lay
in a soggy, smelly heap on the bleachers. No one had even been more
grateful to hear "Hit the showers!" Richie ran through a quick, cold
shower and went straight to work.
For the rest of the evening, Richie waited on tables; all the while wanting to feed himself. His stomach growled louder each time he had to carry a tray of hamburgers to a table of fellow students. Finally, his sections cleared and he was done for the night. He was too tired to drive home and cook so he turned in an order so it could cook while he closed his tables. He finished sweeping up dropped fries and spilt salt when a football player told him his food was ready. He was just about to take a big bite out of his grilled chicken sandwich when his boss came over to him.
"Put it down; you have a table."
"I closed my section," Richie protested before he could stop himself.
"Special request. I'll put it in the warmer. Table 28," he added picking up Richie's sandwich and cheese fries.
Richie took a second to pout before forcing himself to be pleasant and go serve the jerk who did this to him. A slight buzz told him that it was Greg, Adam, or Duncan; so he went to the bar and got a beer first.
"I hate you," he said putting the beer down in front of Adam. "I was just about to eat."
"Then you can join me. I'd like the double bacon cheeseburger."
Richie went into the kitchen and saw his food sitting in the warmer. "I'll give you my tip if you make it fast," Richie told the sophomore cook.
Not ten minutes later, Richie slid into the booth across from Adam with his sandwich and fries in front of him. They chatted pleasantly while they ate. Richie didn't realize that anything he was doing was wrong until he spotted his boss approaching them.
"Uh-oh."
"What?"
"My boss."
"Ryan, may I have a word with you?" the portly, once athletic man asked.
"I'm sure I can explain," Adam said before Richie could answer. "I invited him to join me."
"Are you in the habit of eating with strangers, Ryan?" the owner asked, looking down at Richie who shifted in the booth.
"I know him," Adam explained. "I used to baby sit him all the time in Washington. He's like a younger brother; I didn't mean to get him in trouble. That's actually why I waited so long to come in."
"Oh, old friends, eh? Just don't make it a habit, Ryan." He left them to their dinner.
"Thanks, man," Richie said. "I didn't even realize I shouldn't be doing this."
"You were eating anyway, so I assume that means you were done. Aren't you off the clock, now?"
"I was until you asked for me to serve you, I'm supposedly working again."
"Oh, well, no harm done." Adam went back to his burger and fries.
"Babysitter?" Richie suddenly asked.
"Father was taken. What was I supposed to say, brother? You're adopted, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah, what do you want, anyway?"
"Why would I want something?"
"Because you're only around me when you have to be. I can't comp alcohol so if that's what you're after you wasted your time."
"Is that all you think I care about, beer?"
"You care about beer more than you care about me."
Adam put his burger down. "Now why would you say that?"
"It's true, isn't it?" Richie asked casually; he had always assumed Adam didn't like him and it had never bothered him.
"Just because I don't pamper you like MacLeod and Dawson doesn't mean I don't like you."
"And that's why you're always telling Mac to get rid of me?"
"You mean give you your independence? You know you're tired of him being there every time you turn around."
"Hey, I've had times when there was no one there. If I had to choose between the two; I'd keep what I got."
"You just need a chance to see what you can do on your own."
"Are you lecturing me?" Richie asked. "The king of mooching is telling me to do it myself? That's rich."
"I'm just telling you, you can't depend on your teacher for much longer. Every student has to go out on their own," Adam told him reasonably. "I think it's almost your time."
"I'm not. okay, so I'm a little dependent on Mac right now, but only financially and it won't be much longer," Richie defended.
"Most students have had several teachers by the time they've been immortal as long as you have, Richie. What happens when you run into an immortal that MacLeod's training can't overcome? Do you think MacLeod only had one teacher?" Richie just stared at him. Adam sighed. "You were practicing with Miller, right?"
"Right. So?"
"So practice with me. Let me teach you some of the things MacLeod would never show you. They'll keep you alive."
"You teach me? I don't think Mac would be very happy about that."
"You really are the little Boy Scout he wants you to be, aren't you? Do you always do things just to make MacLeod happy?" Adam asked. "I can show you how to survive. You're one of the youngest immortals in the game. You're facing immortals with hundreds of years of experience on you and while you've managed to survive so far, luck will only take you so far. The gathering is drawing nearer with every passing day, Richie. One day you may end up fighting MacLeod. As much as you love him, are you ready to die? Train with me. Give yourself a fighting chance. Don't make MacLeod mourn you before he has too." Richie still stared. "You have the chance to become an ancient, Richie. You can adapt to life as it changes. But you won't get far without help. Let me help you overcome MacLeod's Boy Scout leanings and help you survive in an old man's game."
Richie sat there looking at the ancient immortal across from him. Adam was serious. "You're gonna teach me to cheat?"
"Yes," Adam admitted. "Among other things."
"But what about all the rules and junk?"
"Screw the rules. Most immortals won't play by them. I'll also teach you other things you'll need to know."
"Like what?"
"Like how to change your identity. MacLeod's a fool keeping his name all these years. Look at Conner, he has some sense at least. I'll also show you how to set up your finances so that your money will follow you where ever you go and how to make money so you can afford to live for a 1000 years. Somehow I don't think MacLeod has taught you that, has he?"
"No, he hasn't." Richie thought for a while, picking at his food. "Okay. Name the time and place and I'll be there." He stopped. "I'm not going down without a fight."
. . . . . .
Richie walked into the locker room ready for yet another grueling practice. It had been nearly a month since Adam had showed up. Training with Adam was very different from training with Duncan. Adam was more relaxed and not every bit of his training involved a sword. He had taught Richie better, faster, and cleaner ways of hacking on the computer as well as how to forge identification papers for when he needed a new identity. With Adam's relaxed attitude Coach Roberts' rigid practices were almost a welcome change in Richie's daily schedule. So, when Richie walked into a locker room of teammates sitting on benches in their street clothes he was slightly confused.
"What's going on?" he asked a freshman. "Why hasn't anyone dressed out?"
"No practice; Coach called a meeting."
"Oh."
"Everyone in the gym!" someone called.
The team filled out of the locker room and clumped together on the bleachers. Richie sat toward the back as he always did and discussed theories for what the meeting was about. The basic consensus was the Coach Roberts was too ill to coach and they had to forfeit the rest of the season. After a couple minutes, Coach Roberts came into the gym with the rarely seen assistant coach behind him.
"Well, boys, I have some news," Coach Roberts started. "I'm not going to be able to actively coach you for the Final Four." There was a collective groan from the team. "Hey, don't do that. Coach Grath will be active coach for the remainder of the season."
"I've played on this team for three years. I've been wondering who that guy was," Richie whispered to the player sitting next to him. "I just thought he liked to watch us practice." The other player had to use his hand to smother his laugh.
"So, for today practice is cancelled so Coach Grath, Ryan and I can discuss our strategies. So, unless there are any basketball related questions, dismissed. Ryan, in my office."
Richie hovered near the door when the two coaches came in.
"Take a seat, Ryan," Roberts instructed. Richie sat across from the desk. "How do you think the team is taking it?"
"I think we're all a bit shocked. This is kinda sudden, sir."
"I've held out as long as I could."
"I know," Richie assured him. "We all know, and we appreciate it. It just sucks that we made it this far and now we don't have you."
"You boys have to play. I'm not taking you out of the running because I'm sick."
"I know, Coach. It's just not the same. We'll win; I'll make sure of that."
"Good. Now I want you and Coach Grath to talk strategy and get used to working together. I'll see you at practice soon." Coach Roberts got up and offered Coach Grath the chair behind the desk. "You and the boys show him the same respect you show me, understand, Ryan?"
"Yes, sir."
. . . . . .
Coach Grath was an inexperienced coach who had started assisting Coach Roberts the same year Richie started playing for him. The new coach was admittedly intimidated and left most of the decisions up to Richie, who decided to assemble a coaching staff of his own out of the starting players. For spring break they broke into practice teams; each team had a three day camp over spring break in which they ran drills and held scrimmages to learn new plays. The starting players were each assigned to a team and helped Richie run the practices. That way the team got a bit of break and some good practice time in. Because of the schedule, Richie couldn't go to Japan and never even bothered to mention the trip to Heather.
Between the extra and longer practices, tutoring fellow teammates, working, training with Adam, and keeping up with his school work Richie was exhausted every night. He even called Heather one night to say that besides lunch between classes he wouldn't be around much. He apologized every time he saw her and told her how much he appreciated her understanding and promised an amazing date after it was all over.
The strenuous practice was taking a toll on the team, so Coach Grath spoke with the owner of The Stadium and got the players that wanted to be, taken off the schedule. Life settled down a little after that, but not soon after that the competition really heated up. The papers were filled with news on the competing teams. The numbers dwindled slowly until there were only two teams remaining; Southern Missouri University and Oklahoma University.
Duncan flew down to Missouri for the game. He wasn't surprised when he found out Adam was going to the game as well; despite what the older immortal liked to pretend, he had a soft spot for the kid. He was, however, surprised when Adam picked him up at the airport and took him to his house instead of a hotel.
"Didn't I tell you?" Adam asked. "I'm training your Cub Scout, now. I don't think he'll be trying for his eagle award."
"What are you teaching him?"
"Everything you won't."
"If anything happens to him I'm coming after you," Duncan warned him.
It was the day before the game and Richie was to meet Duncan and Adam for dinner at Lambert's. He had told them all about it and had peeked their curiosity. So at six Friday evening Richie pulled his Land Rover into the parking lot. He saw Adam's black SUV and followed the buzz to their table.
"Hey, Rich!" Duncan greeted enthusiastically. "You excited?"
"Nervous as hell," Richie answered, running his fingers through his still damp from his after practice shower hair.
"You'll be great," he assured him as Richie slid into the booth next to him.
"I'm gonna blow the game."
"What?"
"It's what I do," Richie answered. "I always blow the big game. I should take myself out for the good of the team."
"Do you always have these irrational thoughts before the big game?" Adam asked casually, not looking up form his menu.
"Yes."
"Then you'll be fine. Are we ready to order then?"
Then came the call Richie had been waiting for. "WHO WANTS BREAD!!!"
Richie smiled and raised his hand. Slowly Duncan followed. Adam abstained. "It's worth it," Richie told him. Adam raised his hand. Not a minute later Duncan and Adam got their first throwed rolls. Richie seemed to calm down as the meal progressed and seemed his old self as they said goodbye.
For the rest of the evening, Richie waited on tables; all the while wanting to feed himself. His stomach growled louder each time he had to carry a tray of hamburgers to a table of fellow students. Finally, his sections cleared and he was done for the night. He was too tired to drive home and cook so he turned in an order so it could cook while he closed his tables. He finished sweeping up dropped fries and spilt salt when a football player told him his food was ready. He was just about to take a big bite out of his grilled chicken sandwich when his boss came over to him.
"Put it down; you have a table."
"I closed my section," Richie protested before he could stop himself.
"Special request. I'll put it in the warmer. Table 28," he added picking up Richie's sandwich and cheese fries.
Richie took a second to pout before forcing himself to be pleasant and go serve the jerk who did this to him. A slight buzz told him that it was Greg, Adam, or Duncan; so he went to the bar and got a beer first.
"I hate you," he said putting the beer down in front of Adam. "I was just about to eat."
"Then you can join me. I'd like the double bacon cheeseburger."
Richie went into the kitchen and saw his food sitting in the warmer. "I'll give you my tip if you make it fast," Richie told the sophomore cook.
Not ten minutes later, Richie slid into the booth across from Adam with his sandwich and fries in front of him. They chatted pleasantly while they ate. Richie didn't realize that anything he was doing was wrong until he spotted his boss approaching them.
"Uh-oh."
"What?"
"My boss."
"Ryan, may I have a word with you?" the portly, once athletic man asked.
"I'm sure I can explain," Adam said before Richie could answer. "I invited him to join me."
"Are you in the habit of eating with strangers, Ryan?" the owner asked, looking down at Richie who shifted in the booth.
"I know him," Adam explained. "I used to baby sit him all the time in Washington. He's like a younger brother; I didn't mean to get him in trouble. That's actually why I waited so long to come in."
"Oh, old friends, eh? Just don't make it a habit, Ryan." He left them to their dinner.
"Thanks, man," Richie said. "I didn't even realize I shouldn't be doing this."
"You were eating anyway, so I assume that means you were done. Aren't you off the clock, now?"
"I was until you asked for me to serve you, I'm supposedly working again."
"Oh, well, no harm done." Adam went back to his burger and fries.
"Babysitter?" Richie suddenly asked.
"Father was taken. What was I supposed to say, brother? You're adopted, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah, what do you want, anyway?"
"Why would I want something?"
"Because you're only around me when you have to be. I can't comp alcohol so if that's what you're after you wasted your time."
"Is that all you think I care about, beer?"
"You care about beer more than you care about me."
Adam put his burger down. "Now why would you say that?"
"It's true, isn't it?" Richie asked casually; he had always assumed Adam didn't like him and it had never bothered him.
"Just because I don't pamper you like MacLeod and Dawson doesn't mean I don't like you."
"And that's why you're always telling Mac to get rid of me?"
"You mean give you your independence? You know you're tired of him being there every time you turn around."
"Hey, I've had times when there was no one there. If I had to choose between the two; I'd keep what I got."
"You just need a chance to see what you can do on your own."
"Are you lecturing me?" Richie asked. "The king of mooching is telling me to do it myself? That's rich."
"I'm just telling you, you can't depend on your teacher for much longer. Every student has to go out on their own," Adam told him reasonably. "I think it's almost your time."
"I'm not. okay, so I'm a little dependent on Mac right now, but only financially and it won't be much longer," Richie defended.
"Most students have had several teachers by the time they've been immortal as long as you have, Richie. What happens when you run into an immortal that MacLeod's training can't overcome? Do you think MacLeod only had one teacher?" Richie just stared at him. Adam sighed. "You were practicing with Miller, right?"
"Right. So?"
"So practice with me. Let me teach you some of the things MacLeod would never show you. They'll keep you alive."
"You teach me? I don't think Mac would be very happy about that."
"You really are the little Boy Scout he wants you to be, aren't you? Do you always do things just to make MacLeod happy?" Adam asked. "I can show you how to survive. You're one of the youngest immortals in the game. You're facing immortals with hundreds of years of experience on you and while you've managed to survive so far, luck will only take you so far. The gathering is drawing nearer with every passing day, Richie. One day you may end up fighting MacLeod. As much as you love him, are you ready to die? Train with me. Give yourself a fighting chance. Don't make MacLeod mourn you before he has too." Richie still stared. "You have the chance to become an ancient, Richie. You can adapt to life as it changes. But you won't get far without help. Let me help you overcome MacLeod's Boy Scout leanings and help you survive in an old man's game."
Richie sat there looking at the ancient immortal across from him. Adam was serious. "You're gonna teach me to cheat?"
"Yes," Adam admitted. "Among other things."
"But what about all the rules and junk?"
"Screw the rules. Most immortals won't play by them. I'll also teach you other things you'll need to know."
"Like what?"
"Like how to change your identity. MacLeod's a fool keeping his name all these years. Look at Conner, he has some sense at least. I'll also show you how to set up your finances so that your money will follow you where ever you go and how to make money so you can afford to live for a 1000 years. Somehow I don't think MacLeod has taught you that, has he?"
"No, he hasn't." Richie thought for a while, picking at his food. "Okay. Name the time and place and I'll be there." He stopped. "I'm not going down without a fight."
. . . . . .
Richie walked into the locker room ready for yet another grueling practice. It had been nearly a month since Adam had showed up. Training with Adam was very different from training with Duncan. Adam was more relaxed and not every bit of his training involved a sword. He had taught Richie better, faster, and cleaner ways of hacking on the computer as well as how to forge identification papers for when he needed a new identity. With Adam's relaxed attitude Coach Roberts' rigid practices were almost a welcome change in Richie's daily schedule. So, when Richie walked into a locker room of teammates sitting on benches in their street clothes he was slightly confused.
"What's going on?" he asked a freshman. "Why hasn't anyone dressed out?"
"No practice; Coach called a meeting."
"Oh."
"Everyone in the gym!" someone called.
The team filled out of the locker room and clumped together on the bleachers. Richie sat toward the back as he always did and discussed theories for what the meeting was about. The basic consensus was the Coach Roberts was too ill to coach and they had to forfeit the rest of the season. After a couple minutes, Coach Roberts came into the gym with the rarely seen assistant coach behind him.
"Well, boys, I have some news," Coach Roberts started. "I'm not going to be able to actively coach you for the Final Four." There was a collective groan from the team. "Hey, don't do that. Coach Grath will be active coach for the remainder of the season."
"I've played on this team for three years. I've been wondering who that guy was," Richie whispered to the player sitting next to him. "I just thought he liked to watch us practice." The other player had to use his hand to smother his laugh.
"So, for today practice is cancelled so Coach Grath, Ryan and I can discuss our strategies. So, unless there are any basketball related questions, dismissed. Ryan, in my office."
Richie hovered near the door when the two coaches came in.
"Take a seat, Ryan," Roberts instructed. Richie sat across from the desk. "How do you think the team is taking it?"
"I think we're all a bit shocked. This is kinda sudden, sir."
"I've held out as long as I could."
"I know," Richie assured him. "We all know, and we appreciate it. It just sucks that we made it this far and now we don't have you."
"You boys have to play. I'm not taking you out of the running because I'm sick."
"I know, Coach. It's just not the same. We'll win; I'll make sure of that."
"Good. Now I want you and Coach Grath to talk strategy and get used to working together. I'll see you at practice soon." Coach Roberts got up and offered Coach Grath the chair behind the desk. "You and the boys show him the same respect you show me, understand, Ryan?"
"Yes, sir."
. . . . . .
Coach Grath was an inexperienced coach who had started assisting Coach Roberts the same year Richie started playing for him. The new coach was admittedly intimidated and left most of the decisions up to Richie, who decided to assemble a coaching staff of his own out of the starting players. For spring break they broke into practice teams; each team had a three day camp over spring break in which they ran drills and held scrimmages to learn new plays. The starting players were each assigned to a team and helped Richie run the practices. That way the team got a bit of break and some good practice time in. Because of the schedule, Richie couldn't go to Japan and never even bothered to mention the trip to Heather.
Between the extra and longer practices, tutoring fellow teammates, working, training with Adam, and keeping up with his school work Richie was exhausted every night. He even called Heather one night to say that besides lunch between classes he wouldn't be around much. He apologized every time he saw her and told her how much he appreciated her understanding and promised an amazing date after it was all over.
The strenuous practice was taking a toll on the team, so Coach Grath spoke with the owner of The Stadium and got the players that wanted to be, taken off the schedule. Life settled down a little after that, but not soon after that the competition really heated up. The papers were filled with news on the competing teams. The numbers dwindled slowly until there were only two teams remaining; Southern Missouri University and Oklahoma University.
Duncan flew down to Missouri for the game. He wasn't surprised when he found out Adam was going to the game as well; despite what the older immortal liked to pretend, he had a soft spot for the kid. He was, however, surprised when Adam picked him up at the airport and took him to his house instead of a hotel.
"Didn't I tell you?" Adam asked. "I'm training your Cub Scout, now. I don't think he'll be trying for his eagle award."
"What are you teaching him?"
"Everything you won't."
"If anything happens to him I'm coming after you," Duncan warned him.
It was the day before the game and Richie was to meet Duncan and Adam for dinner at Lambert's. He had told them all about it and had peeked their curiosity. So at six Friday evening Richie pulled his Land Rover into the parking lot. He saw Adam's black SUV and followed the buzz to their table.
"Hey, Rich!" Duncan greeted enthusiastically. "You excited?"
"Nervous as hell," Richie answered, running his fingers through his still damp from his after practice shower hair.
"You'll be great," he assured him as Richie slid into the booth next to him.
"I'm gonna blow the game."
"What?"
"It's what I do," Richie answered. "I always blow the big game. I should take myself out for the good of the team."
"Do you always have these irrational thoughts before the big game?" Adam asked casually, not looking up form his menu.
"Yes."
"Then you'll be fine. Are we ready to order then?"
Then came the call Richie had been waiting for. "WHO WANTS BREAD!!!"
Richie smiled and raised his hand. Slowly Duncan followed. Adam abstained. "It's worth it," Richie told him. Adam raised his hand. Not a minute later Duncan and Adam got their first throwed rolls. Richie seemed to calm down as the meal progressed and seemed his old self as they said goodbye.