And just when you didn't think the chapters couldn't get any longer.
You're all very lucky I had the majority of this chapter written and that
I'm ignoring other work right now.
Anyways, big thanks to all who reviewed. I'm so glad I'm not alone in my love for these movies and even for this couple. The reviews mean a lot to me, from those of you who don't usually read this couple, to those of you who do, from the people I read from.
And Anne, of course, what MA girl doesn't include her team, regardless of how poorly they play.
Ch 4
"Conway, what the hell did you do to this play book? Banks you better have that weak wrist taped, or I'm taping you to the bench. Germaine, one more game like the last and I swear that you will not play again this season. And for Gods sake Goldberg, would you keep your eyes open or you won't make it to the end of the first period."
"Did coachy-woachy wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?" Averman's voice called from the sideline.
"Do you want to stay here in the locker room Averman? Or even better, we can send you back to the hotel."
Averman put his hands up in defense and backed away. "Look whose a bit touchy today."
Goldberg reached over and slapped the back of his friends head. "Moron."
"Alright. You guys get out there and do your best, there's nothing more I can ask of you. As long as you keep your heads in the game, if we lose because they're better that's fine, but if we lose because we're being stupid then we've got a problem."
Dwayne simply gave his wide grin from the back. "That's not going to be a problem coach considering there ain't no one better than us."
"Damn straight!" Russ shouted for extra punctuation.
"Alright then, get out there and play."
Adam sent Julie a wink from across the locker room before he headed out on to the ice. Julie smiled back and felt herself warm inside. She hated being sappy.
"And welcome the currently undefeated Eden Hall Ducks," the announcer called out as they took the ice.
They were met with boos as they entered the arena and only a small section of cheers from the few Duck fans who had made the trip to northern Minnesota.
The game seemed to fly by. Both teams were good, excellent really, keeping the game exciting and the announcers distracting. By the second period Julie had been switched for Goldberg, and the team was trying hard to get a goal in. They needed the edge.
"Defense guys!" Julie hollered from underneath her mask as the Sharks got a bit too close to her goal.
She could see the guys come sweeping out from the corner of her eye as they cleared the puck from behind the goal. They started off in the usual flying V but Adam and Guy fanned out towards the edges. Averman passed the puck to Adam and he started off down the side of the rink.
Julie could tell that all Adam was focused on was the play and getting to the right positioning, to shoot or pass to one of the other guys she wasn't sure. She watched as Guy took a position in close proximity to Adam and she could see the pass getting set up. What she then saw made her want to cry out a warning, two guys charging Adam.
Adam sent the puck flying across the ice to Guy as the two guys hit him.
A buzzer sounded and the announcer's could be heard again, "And with that number 00 Guy Germaine shoves it in the goal.
The Ducks on the ice had stopped their celebrating and were skating over to the side of the rink. They had noticed what the announcers would note two seconds later.
"Number 99, Adam Banks, is down and is not moving."
"What exactly were you thinking when you decided to pull an illegal check of that magnitude on one of our friends?"
"Portman back off," Charlie snapped, knowing he had one team member down and wasn't about to lose another due to penalties.
Dean ignored him, not hearing a word of it. "Don't think you're getting off at all. Reed?"
"Right here."
Julie was over from her stint in the goal and down by his side. "Adam. Oh God." Two seconds later she lifted her gaze to the players of the other team who had knocked him into the boards. "What the hell did you do to him?"
"Looks like the Cat is here to play as well. She only looks like a kitten, she's been removed from games for behavioral issues."
The paramedics were taking the ice, pushing the large crowd of ducks out of the way so they could reach Adam. They began asking questions and Julie knew someone was giving questions but she couldn't tell who it was.
"He's waking up."
Adams eyes eventually opened all the way and he murmured, "Jules."
Julie returned to his side and squeezed Adam's hand. "I'm here, right here." She just wanted to hold on to him forever.
The connection was broken by one of the paramedics as they began to wheel Adam off the ice. She went to follow, when she heard voices calling out after her.
"You want me to take care of this, cause I will?"
"I'm in."
"Me too."
"Finish the game," she snapped, watching as the Bankses gathered around their son, as she moved towards the opening in the rink. "Win."
"Gaffney," she heard Orion call after her as she stepped onto the mat.
Julie whirled around feeling helpless and bewildered. "Coach!"
"Go on. Go."
"Jules do you need me to go with you?" Connie asked about to step off the ice.
Julie managed to shake her head and motion for her friend to go back to the team. "No I'll be alright. Besides someone has to stay behind and keep the guys in line."
Julie wasn't exactly sure of what had gone on since she left the ice or how she'd gotten to the hospital, but she'd made it. She'd managed to change from her gear and into sweats, which she figured was a good thing.
The first thing she really saw was the admittance desk and rushed over to it. Placing both hands firmly on the desk she leaned forward and "I'm looking for Adam Banks. He was brought in here in an ambulance."
"The waiting room is over there."
She rushed into the room and came to a stop in the middle of the room. Philip Banks was pacing anxiously by the admitting door, while his wife sat stiffly on a couch, flipping through the pages of a magazine without really reading the pages. Julie hedged her bets and headed for Beth Banks, with whom she had a much better relationship.
"Where is he? Have you heard anything?" she asked once she was closer, unable to keep the mild note of hysterics out of her voice.
Beth's head snapped up at the sound of someone else addressing her and her mouth formed into a small smile upon recognition. She stood as well and walked towards Julie. "Julie. No, nothing yet."
"It's good to see you here Julie," Mr. Banks said, laying a hand on her shoulder, causing her to turn her head sharply. She hadn't realized he'd come over.
Julie gave him an acknowledging nod, wondering how irrational her willingness to blame all of this on him was. "Mr. Banks."
"Didn't I tell you to call me Phillip?"
"Yes. Phillip." She turned to look at Mrs. Banks. "I just. I.."
Beth wrapped an arm around Julie and lead her towards the sofa she'd been sitting on. "It's okay sweetie."
Julie couldn't really hear her, she was still kind of lost. "I mean I've seen him go down plenty of times in the past five years, he just usually doesn't stay down, or at least not for very long. I've never seen him taken out on a stretcher like that."
"Scares you doesn't it."
"I'm surprised you didn't stay," Philip commented. "I'm sure the team could have used you."
Julie didn't even look at the elder Banks, but looked down the hallway where she knew Adam must be. "No, my head wouldn't have been in the game. No matter how much I wanted those guys to pay by getting slammed into the boards and losing, I would have been here all the same."
"Phillip, I am sure the team is doing just fine. Why don't you come sit down over here with me?"
"I can't sit still," Julie said, shaking her head "I don't know."
"I know. Just, how's school been? Adam tells us precious little since he's moved into the dorms."
"It's going alright. Senior year jitters and stuff are starting up now. I think we're all itching to move forward."
"Mr. And Mrs. Banks?"
Beth laid a hand on Julie's. "We'll get you in a bit alright?"
Julie nodded. "Yeah."
Adam was getting frustrated. His parents had swept through once and had asked every question known to man, including the embarrassing ones. And now the doctor was back talking to him once again, but he didn't want to listen. He just wanted to get out and go home.
The doctor's voice penetrated his negative thoughts. "There's some hot babe here to see you."
Adam's eyes slid to the door and caught sight of Julie in sweats, her hair beginning to come out of her braid, pretending to be cool. He looked back up at the doctor. "She has a name you know."
Julie smiled in spite of herself and the fear that lingered within her. "Where have I heard that before?" she asked advancing forward as the doctor walked out past her. She told herself to keep the tone as light as possible.
Adam managed to quirk one half of his mouth up in a tired smile. "I don't know. But who ever said it was smart."
Julie pursed her lips and sat down in a chair next to his bed. "Yeah," she managed through the lump in her throat.
"How was the game?" Adam asked, focused on the end result as always. It still amazed her his ability to put himself out of the way and to put the game and the team out there.
She looked down at the floor, not really sure of his reaction to what she was about to stay, but quickly had an idea. "I don't know. I left."
Adam let out a tired sigh. One that Julie interpreted as the team needed her more than he did. And when he said, "Jules," the tone only furthered that thought.
"You see," she said, leaning forward and laying her crossed arms on the sidebar of his bed. "There's this fabulous hockey player who was apparently brought in here after getting laid out pretty bad during a game. Rumor has is he's quite attractive as well. I honestly skipped the game and came here looking for him, thinking that maybe I could seduce him." Julie glanced around the room, as if searching before landing her eyes on Adam again. "You haven't seen him have you?"
Adam laughed a little. "Nope, just me. Can you deal with that?"
"Yeah I think I can," she said, taking a piece of his hair and putting it out of his face. It was getting long again as he often forgot about things like haircuts during hockey season.
He closed his eyes at his touch, and Julie once again got a glimpse of fragility in her boyfriend. It had been occurring more and more in the past year, but it was never often.
His breathing began to deepen and Julie could tell he was falling asleep. Her instincts warred within her, and she went with the nervous one, she shook his shoulder a bit. "Hey."
Adam opened his eyes and looked out at her blearily. "Sorry."
Julie pursed her lips, feeling slightly guilty, but not enough to think she had been wrong. "That's okay, I just don't want you falling asleep on me. I don't know how hard you hit your head and you being unconscious once tonight was plenty okay?"
"Anything you want. You're beautiful you know that?" he said, reaching up a hand, tubes sticking out of it, to touch her face. "I know it's a cliché of a man waking up in the hospital and the woman over him is beautiful, but it's true."
Julie gingerly touched his fingers, trying not to disrupt any of the tubes. "Now I know just how hard you hit your head. I'm in sweats and I didn't even shower."
He lifted his other shoulder in a shrug. "Still true."
"You're too good to be true Banks."
He narrowed his eyes at her chest and Julie was tempted to hit him when he spoke, "Where have I seen that sweatshirt before?"
Julie looked down and smiled a bit, blushing all the same. It was nice to be wearing something of Adam's as it made her feel closer to him, but she hadn't asked. "It's yours. It smelled like you."
"You're much more romantic than anyone thinks."
Julie pulled her shoulder in a shrug. "Yeah well, you bring it out in me."
"You scared the hell out of me, not moving," Julie said after a few minutes of silence, the tears that she had been holding back returning. "I swear my heart stopped."
"No tears Jules. It's alright."
Somehow her lips found his. She felt the world fall away as it so often did. For just a second it was just the two, in a space of their own, in a world of their own.
"Mr. Banks.. Oh."
"Um, it's.., it's alright," Julie said, blushing as she sprung away from Adam and his lips.
The doctor gave her a disapproving glare. "Miss, if you'll excuse us, I would like to talk to Adam and his parents in private."
Beth stepped forward and put her foot down, "No, let her stay."
Philip's eyes turned to his wife as he laid a hand on her shoulder. "Beth, if the Dr.-"
The look that was clear in her son's eyes was enough for her. She turned her glare on her husband. "Phillip."
The doctor looked between those in the room and took a moment before starting up again. "We believe that your son is suffering from more than the injuries he sustained from that check into the boards today." He turned to Adam. "Have you been more fatigued lately, feeling any worse for wear?"
"Yes," Julie interjected quickly, knowing that Adam would ignore it. He was giving her a glare that let her know that her interjection was not appreciated.
Beth's eyes narrowed at her son, with a bit of fear in her eyes. "Adam, why didn't you say anything?"
Julie's gaze was downcast but she could still feel Adam's angry stare on her. "It was nothing," he insisted, and she felt her cheeks heat up more.
"Well we're going to do a few more tests. Check everything out."
Adam looked around the hospital room they had deposited him after the last barrage of tests. It was blank and blah and he wanted to get out. He looked down at the IV in his hand and wondered just how much it would hurt to pull it out. There was no way a guy could sneak out of the hosptial being attached to the huge IV poll.
But he most likely didn't have any clothing in the room and hospital gowns left little to the imagination. Not to mention he'd have to convince someone to sneak him past the doctors, nurses and his parents, and he doubted any of his teammates would do that.
"Hey there man, rough night huh?"
Adam looked up to see the majority of the team crowding into his room. It was better than being alone. He gave them a half smile and shook his head. "You don't want to know what they do to you here."
Charlie raised an eyebrow as he came up close to the bed. "That bad?"
"Vicious S&M without the end result."
He watched as his fellow teammates cringed. "Ugh."
"What exactly happened between you and the Cat? She seems to think that you're upset with her, and is currently curled up in a corner, not responding to anyone."
"You may be in a bed but I have no problems screwing with those tubes right here," Connie said, half jokingly.
"I just."
Dean pointed a stern finger at him. "Not an excuse. She won't even respond to me hitting on her."
Adam narrowed his eyes knowing Dean was just teasing him. "If I could get out of this bed, I'd do something about that remark."
Silence invaded the room and Adam asked the question that he'd wanted the answer to since he had figured the game should have ended. "So the game. Who won?"
The team looked around as if they were deciding who was going to say something. Adam's stomach began to tie itself in knots. He should have been out there. He should have been able to get up.
"We pulled it out," Connie said finally.
"Barely," Guy added, as if he didn't want Adam to think they didn't need him, "but we did pull it out."
"Those guys must have been pretty pissed."
Fulton gave a shrug as if it were nothing, but his smile gave another impression. "Dean and I beat 'em around a bit. The weren't looking half as cocksure by the end."
"Good to know."
The door opened and a nurse stepped in. "There are way too many visitors in here. Two at the most." When none of the team headed for the door the nurse's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Two, do you hear me?"
Dean instantly scooted around her for the door. "We gotcha lady."
Averman narrowed his eyes at the woman. "Although if we could just slip you a Lincoln for a blind eye."
"Don't worry about him, strolled out of the mental ward," Guy said with a strained smile as he began to drag his old friend out.
Jessie clapped a hand on Adam's shoulder. "We'll see you in the morning alright man? Rest easy Cake-Eater, though with people at your beck and call I don't see how you couldn't."
Charlie gave him a half-smile and a nod. "We'll take care of everything."
"One of you tell Julie--"
"No problem," Connie answered him on her way out of the door.
A few minutes later Adam heard the creak of the door and he opened his eyes. He smiled as he spotted the girl in the doorway. "Hey."
Julie walked over to his side in a manner that looked like she was afraid of breaking something. She pursed her lips and sat in the chair that was positioned beside him. "Look I'm sorry."
Adam grinned at her. "I'm the ass and you're sorry. Maybe I should try this being a jerk thing some more."
"Ha ha ha."
"I am sorry, you know. I just." He stopped and bit his lip for a moment before continuing, "it's a lot to deal with, and my mom doesn't do well with things like this. I was upset with the situation, I'm sorry I took it out on you."
"Scared?"
Adam took a moment to consider He figured honesty would be the best way to go this time. "Terrified. I don't mean to be you know, I just. this is all so much. I've been touched and probed in places that I don't want anyone, except maybe you going for the next hundred years."
Julie cringed in sympathy. "That bad?"
"Yeah. Now I'm just dead tired. And they're going to kick you and everyone else out in a few minutes."
"Yeah well, you want me to go get everyone else in here?" she asked, turning her head towards the doorway, thinking about getting up and going.
"No. I'll see them tomorrow. Just sit here until I fall asleep, please."
Julie leaned over and brushed a bit of hair out of his face before kissing his head gently. "Yeah, I can do that. I love you."
Adam gave her a smile as he let his eyes fall closed. "Ditto."
By the time Adam had fallen asleep the team had already been shuffled out of the hospital and back to the hotel. Mr. Banks had given her a ride back. It had been tense and quiet, with a small concession that she was good for Adam, and that he would probably need her. It was one of the best things Philip Banks had ever said to her.
Now she lugged her bag down the hallway to her room, just wanting to collapse into bed and wake up to find it all a nightmare. If only that could be a reality.
Upon her entrance into the room Connie looked up from her spot on the bed. "Hey Jules, how is he?"
Julie threw the bag next to the dresser with a sigh. She headed over to her bed and sat facing her friend. "Scared. It isn't something you see all that often in Adam."
Connie reached out and took Julie's hand. "And you?"
"Hmm. What was that?"
"How are you? I'm sure no ones asked that one."
Julie stopped. It was true, no one had asked her about herself. She wasn't even sure that she was supposed to be thinking about herself. "I. I'm terrified myself. God," she said as her throat began to close up on her. "he's usually so. Strong."
"Come here."
Julie let herself go over to the other bed and into her friend's arms. She hadn't realized how much she needed this. "And I can't help it, and I can't fall apart in front of him because right about now I have to be strong about this for him. And I have this feeling that whatever this is, it isn't good. Then I have to keep up with the team and my grades."
"It's going to be alright."
"It better be Con, it better be."
"Good morning."
Adam looked up from the playbook in his lap upon hearing Julie's voice and smiled. "Hey. They're transporting me back to Minneapolis today. Well my parents are after the doctors tell me whatever it is they've found out."
"Good, I'm being forced back today. The whole, no other way home thing," she said scowling.
"My parents could take you back with us."
Julie considered getting to ride in a comfortable car snuggled up with Adam. And then she considered the idea of his parents in the front seat with a rearview mirror. "I don't know."
Adam reached out and took her hand. "Please. For me."
Julie nodded and gave his hand a squeeze. "Alright, I'll be here."
Anyways, big thanks to all who reviewed. I'm so glad I'm not alone in my love for these movies and even for this couple. The reviews mean a lot to me, from those of you who don't usually read this couple, to those of you who do, from the people I read from.
And Anne, of course, what MA girl doesn't include her team, regardless of how poorly they play.
Ch 4
"Conway, what the hell did you do to this play book? Banks you better have that weak wrist taped, or I'm taping you to the bench. Germaine, one more game like the last and I swear that you will not play again this season. And for Gods sake Goldberg, would you keep your eyes open or you won't make it to the end of the first period."
"Did coachy-woachy wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?" Averman's voice called from the sideline.
"Do you want to stay here in the locker room Averman? Or even better, we can send you back to the hotel."
Averman put his hands up in defense and backed away. "Look whose a bit touchy today."
Goldberg reached over and slapped the back of his friends head. "Moron."
"Alright. You guys get out there and do your best, there's nothing more I can ask of you. As long as you keep your heads in the game, if we lose because they're better that's fine, but if we lose because we're being stupid then we've got a problem."
Dwayne simply gave his wide grin from the back. "That's not going to be a problem coach considering there ain't no one better than us."
"Damn straight!" Russ shouted for extra punctuation.
"Alright then, get out there and play."
Adam sent Julie a wink from across the locker room before he headed out on to the ice. Julie smiled back and felt herself warm inside. She hated being sappy.
"And welcome the currently undefeated Eden Hall Ducks," the announcer called out as they took the ice.
They were met with boos as they entered the arena and only a small section of cheers from the few Duck fans who had made the trip to northern Minnesota.
The game seemed to fly by. Both teams were good, excellent really, keeping the game exciting and the announcers distracting. By the second period Julie had been switched for Goldberg, and the team was trying hard to get a goal in. They needed the edge.
"Defense guys!" Julie hollered from underneath her mask as the Sharks got a bit too close to her goal.
She could see the guys come sweeping out from the corner of her eye as they cleared the puck from behind the goal. They started off in the usual flying V but Adam and Guy fanned out towards the edges. Averman passed the puck to Adam and he started off down the side of the rink.
Julie could tell that all Adam was focused on was the play and getting to the right positioning, to shoot or pass to one of the other guys she wasn't sure. She watched as Guy took a position in close proximity to Adam and she could see the pass getting set up. What she then saw made her want to cry out a warning, two guys charging Adam.
Adam sent the puck flying across the ice to Guy as the two guys hit him.
A buzzer sounded and the announcer's could be heard again, "And with that number 00 Guy Germaine shoves it in the goal.
The Ducks on the ice had stopped their celebrating and were skating over to the side of the rink. They had noticed what the announcers would note two seconds later.
"Number 99, Adam Banks, is down and is not moving."
"What exactly were you thinking when you decided to pull an illegal check of that magnitude on one of our friends?"
"Portman back off," Charlie snapped, knowing he had one team member down and wasn't about to lose another due to penalties.
Dean ignored him, not hearing a word of it. "Don't think you're getting off at all. Reed?"
"Right here."
Julie was over from her stint in the goal and down by his side. "Adam. Oh God." Two seconds later she lifted her gaze to the players of the other team who had knocked him into the boards. "What the hell did you do to him?"
"Looks like the Cat is here to play as well. She only looks like a kitten, she's been removed from games for behavioral issues."
The paramedics were taking the ice, pushing the large crowd of ducks out of the way so they could reach Adam. They began asking questions and Julie knew someone was giving questions but she couldn't tell who it was.
"He's waking up."
Adams eyes eventually opened all the way and he murmured, "Jules."
Julie returned to his side and squeezed Adam's hand. "I'm here, right here." She just wanted to hold on to him forever.
The connection was broken by one of the paramedics as they began to wheel Adam off the ice. She went to follow, when she heard voices calling out after her.
"You want me to take care of this, cause I will?"
"I'm in."
"Me too."
"Finish the game," she snapped, watching as the Bankses gathered around their son, as she moved towards the opening in the rink. "Win."
"Gaffney," she heard Orion call after her as she stepped onto the mat.
Julie whirled around feeling helpless and bewildered. "Coach!"
"Go on. Go."
"Jules do you need me to go with you?" Connie asked about to step off the ice.
Julie managed to shake her head and motion for her friend to go back to the team. "No I'll be alright. Besides someone has to stay behind and keep the guys in line."
Julie wasn't exactly sure of what had gone on since she left the ice or how she'd gotten to the hospital, but she'd made it. She'd managed to change from her gear and into sweats, which she figured was a good thing.
The first thing she really saw was the admittance desk and rushed over to it. Placing both hands firmly on the desk she leaned forward and "I'm looking for Adam Banks. He was brought in here in an ambulance."
"The waiting room is over there."
She rushed into the room and came to a stop in the middle of the room. Philip Banks was pacing anxiously by the admitting door, while his wife sat stiffly on a couch, flipping through the pages of a magazine without really reading the pages. Julie hedged her bets and headed for Beth Banks, with whom she had a much better relationship.
"Where is he? Have you heard anything?" she asked once she was closer, unable to keep the mild note of hysterics out of her voice.
Beth's head snapped up at the sound of someone else addressing her and her mouth formed into a small smile upon recognition. She stood as well and walked towards Julie. "Julie. No, nothing yet."
"It's good to see you here Julie," Mr. Banks said, laying a hand on her shoulder, causing her to turn her head sharply. She hadn't realized he'd come over.
Julie gave him an acknowledging nod, wondering how irrational her willingness to blame all of this on him was. "Mr. Banks."
"Didn't I tell you to call me Phillip?"
"Yes. Phillip." She turned to look at Mrs. Banks. "I just. I.."
Beth wrapped an arm around Julie and lead her towards the sofa she'd been sitting on. "It's okay sweetie."
Julie couldn't really hear her, she was still kind of lost. "I mean I've seen him go down plenty of times in the past five years, he just usually doesn't stay down, or at least not for very long. I've never seen him taken out on a stretcher like that."
"Scares you doesn't it."
"I'm surprised you didn't stay," Philip commented. "I'm sure the team could have used you."
Julie didn't even look at the elder Banks, but looked down the hallway where she knew Adam must be. "No, my head wouldn't have been in the game. No matter how much I wanted those guys to pay by getting slammed into the boards and losing, I would have been here all the same."
"Phillip, I am sure the team is doing just fine. Why don't you come sit down over here with me?"
"I can't sit still," Julie said, shaking her head "I don't know."
"I know. Just, how's school been? Adam tells us precious little since he's moved into the dorms."
"It's going alright. Senior year jitters and stuff are starting up now. I think we're all itching to move forward."
"Mr. And Mrs. Banks?"
Beth laid a hand on Julie's. "We'll get you in a bit alright?"
Julie nodded. "Yeah."
Adam was getting frustrated. His parents had swept through once and had asked every question known to man, including the embarrassing ones. And now the doctor was back talking to him once again, but he didn't want to listen. He just wanted to get out and go home.
The doctor's voice penetrated his negative thoughts. "There's some hot babe here to see you."
Adam's eyes slid to the door and caught sight of Julie in sweats, her hair beginning to come out of her braid, pretending to be cool. He looked back up at the doctor. "She has a name you know."
Julie smiled in spite of herself and the fear that lingered within her. "Where have I heard that before?" she asked advancing forward as the doctor walked out past her. She told herself to keep the tone as light as possible.
Adam managed to quirk one half of his mouth up in a tired smile. "I don't know. But who ever said it was smart."
Julie pursed her lips and sat down in a chair next to his bed. "Yeah," she managed through the lump in her throat.
"How was the game?" Adam asked, focused on the end result as always. It still amazed her his ability to put himself out of the way and to put the game and the team out there.
She looked down at the floor, not really sure of his reaction to what she was about to stay, but quickly had an idea. "I don't know. I left."
Adam let out a tired sigh. One that Julie interpreted as the team needed her more than he did. And when he said, "Jules," the tone only furthered that thought.
"You see," she said, leaning forward and laying her crossed arms on the sidebar of his bed. "There's this fabulous hockey player who was apparently brought in here after getting laid out pretty bad during a game. Rumor has is he's quite attractive as well. I honestly skipped the game and came here looking for him, thinking that maybe I could seduce him." Julie glanced around the room, as if searching before landing her eyes on Adam again. "You haven't seen him have you?"
Adam laughed a little. "Nope, just me. Can you deal with that?"
"Yeah I think I can," she said, taking a piece of his hair and putting it out of his face. It was getting long again as he often forgot about things like haircuts during hockey season.
He closed his eyes at his touch, and Julie once again got a glimpse of fragility in her boyfriend. It had been occurring more and more in the past year, but it was never often.
His breathing began to deepen and Julie could tell he was falling asleep. Her instincts warred within her, and she went with the nervous one, she shook his shoulder a bit. "Hey."
Adam opened his eyes and looked out at her blearily. "Sorry."
Julie pursed her lips, feeling slightly guilty, but not enough to think she had been wrong. "That's okay, I just don't want you falling asleep on me. I don't know how hard you hit your head and you being unconscious once tonight was plenty okay?"
"Anything you want. You're beautiful you know that?" he said, reaching up a hand, tubes sticking out of it, to touch her face. "I know it's a cliché of a man waking up in the hospital and the woman over him is beautiful, but it's true."
Julie gingerly touched his fingers, trying not to disrupt any of the tubes. "Now I know just how hard you hit your head. I'm in sweats and I didn't even shower."
He lifted his other shoulder in a shrug. "Still true."
"You're too good to be true Banks."
He narrowed his eyes at her chest and Julie was tempted to hit him when he spoke, "Where have I seen that sweatshirt before?"
Julie looked down and smiled a bit, blushing all the same. It was nice to be wearing something of Adam's as it made her feel closer to him, but she hadn't asked. "It's yours. It smelled like you."
"You're much more romantic than anyone thinks."
Julie pulled her shoulder in a shrug. "Yeah well, you bring it out in me."
"You scared the hell out of me, not moving," Julie said after a few minutes of silence, the tears that she had been holding back returning. "I swear my heart stopped."
"No tears Jules. It's alright."
Somehow her lips found his. She felt the world fall away as it so often did. For just a second it was just the two, in a space of their own, in a world of their own.
"Mr. Banks.. Oh."
"Um, it's.., it's alright," Julie said, blushing as she sprung away from Adam and his lips.
The doctor gave her a disapproving glare. "Miss, if you'll excuse us, I would like to talk to Adam and his parents in private."
Beth stepped forward and put her foot down, "No, let her stay."
Philip's eyes turned to his wife as he laid a hand on her shoulder. "Beth, if the Dr.-"
The look that was clear in her son's eyes was enough for her. She turned her glare on her husband. "Phillip."
The doctor looked between those in the room and took a moment before starting up again. "We believe that your son is suffering from more than the injuries he sustained from that check into the boards today." He turned to Adam. "Have you been more fatigued lately, feeling any worse for wear?"
"Yes," Julie interjected quickly, knowing that Adam would ignore it. He was giving her a glare that let her know that her interjection was not appreciated.
Beth's eyes narrowed at her son, with a bit of fear in her eyes. "Adam, why didn't you say anything?"
Julie's gaze was downcast but she could still feel Adam's angry stare on her. "It was nothing," he insisted, and she felt her cheeks heat up more.
"Well we're going to do a few more tests. Check everything out."
Adam looked around the hospital room they had deposited him after the last barrage of tests. It was blank and blah and he wanted to get out. He looked down at the IV in his hand and wondered just how much it would hurt to pull it out. There was no way a guy could sneak out of the hosptial being attached to the huge IV poll.
But he most likely didn't have any clothing in the room and hospital gowns left little to the imagination. Not to mention he'd have to convince someone to sneak him past the doctors, nurses and his parents, and he doubted any of his teammates would do that.
"Hey there man, rough night huh?"
Adam looked up to see the majority of the team crowding into his room. It was better than being alone. He gave them a half smile and shook his head. "You don't want to know what they do to you here."
Charlie raised an eyebrow as he came up close to the bed. "That bad?"
"Vicious S&M without the end result."
He watched as his fellow teammates cringed. "Ugh."
"What exactly happened between you and the Cat? She seems to think that you're upset with her, and is currently curled up in a corner, not responding to anyone."
"You may be in a bed but I have no problems screwing with those tubes right here," Connie said, half jokingly.
"I just."
Dean pointed a stern finger at him. "Not an excuse. She won't even respond to me hitting on her."
Adam narrowed his eyes knowing Dean was just teasing him. "If I could get out of this bed, I'd do something about that remark."
Silence invaded the room and Adam asked the question that he'd wanted the answer to since he had figured the game should have ended. "So the game. Who won?"
The team looked around as if they were deciding who was going to say something. Adam's stomach began to tie itself in knots. He should have been out there. He should have been able to get up.
"We pulled it out," Connie said finally.
"Barely," Guy added, as if he didn't want Adam to think they didn't need him, "but we did pull it out."
"Those guys must have been pretty pissed."
Fulton gave a shrug as if it were nothing, but his smile gave another impression. "Dean and I beat 'em around a bit. The weren't looking half as cocksure by the end."
"Good to know."
The door opened and a nurse stepped in. "There are way too many visitors in here. Two at the most." When none of the team headed for the door the nurse's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Two, do you hear me?"
Dean instantly scooted around her for the door. "We gotcha lady."
Averman narrowed his eyes at the woman. "Although if we could just slip you a Lincoln for a blind eye."
"Don't worry about him, strolled out of the mental ward," Guy said with a strained smile as he began to drag his old friend out.
Jessie clapped a hand on Adam's shoulder. "We'll see you in the morning alright man? Rest easy Cake-Eater, though with people at your beck and call I don't see how you couldn't."
Charlie gave him a half-smile and a nod. "We'll take care of everything."
"One of you tell Julie--"
"No problem," Connie answered him on her way out of the door.
A few minutes later Adam heard the creak of the door and he opened his eyes. He smiled as he spotted the girl in the doorway. "Hey."
Julie walked over to his side in a manner that looked like she was afraid of breaking something. She pursed her lips and sat in the chair that was positioned beside him. "Look I'm sorry."
Adam grinned at her. "I'm the ass and you're sorry. Maybe I should try this being a jerk thing some more."
"Ha ha ha."
"I am sorry, you know. I just." He stopped and bit his lip for a moment before continuing, "it's a lot to deal with, and my mom doesn't do well with things like this. I was upset with the situation, I'm sorry I took it out on you."
"Scared?"
Adam took a moment to consider He figured honesty would be the best way to go this time. "Terrified. I don't mean to be you know, I just. this is all so much. I've been touched and probed in places that I don't want anyone, except maybe you going for the next hundred years."
Julie cringed in sympathy. "That bad?"
"Yeah. Now I'm just dead tired. And they're going to kick you and everyone else out in a few minutes."
"Yeah well, you want me to go get everyone else in here?" she asked, turning her head towards the doorway, thinking about getting up and going.
"No. I'll see them tomorrow. Just sit here until I fall asleep, please."
Julie leaned over and brushed a bit of hair out of his face before kissing his head gently. "Yeah, I can do that. I love you."
Adam gave her a smile as he let his eyes fall closed. "Ditto."
By the time Adam had fallen asleep the team had already been shuffled out of the hospital and back to the hotel. Mr. Banks had given her a ride back. It had been tense and quiet, with a small concession that she was good for Adam, and that he would probably need her. It was one of the best things Philip Banks had ever said to her.
Now she lugged her bag down the hallway to her room, just wanting to collapse into bed and wake up to find it all a nightmare. If only that could be a reality.
Upon her entrance into the room Connie looked up from her spot on the bed. "Hey Jules, how is he?"
Julie threw the bag next to the dresser with a sigh. She headed over to her bed and sat facing her friend. "Scared. It isn't something you see all that often in Adam."
Connie reached out and took Julie's hand. "And you?"
"Hmm. What was that?"
"How are you? I'm sure no ones asked that one."
Julie stopped. It was true, no one had asked her about herself. She wasn't even sure that she was supposed to be thinking about herself. "I. I'm terrified myself. God," she said as her throat began to close up on her. "he's usually so. Strong."
"Come here."
Julie let herself go over to the other bed and into her friend's arms. She hadn't realized how much she needed this. "And I can't help it, and I can't fall apart in front of him because right about now I have to be strong about this for him. And I have this feeling that whatever this is, it isn't good. Then I have to keep up with the team and my grades."
"It's going to be alright."
"It better be Con, it better be."
"Good morning."
Adam looked up from the playbook in his lap upon hearing Julie's voice and smiled. "Hey. They're transporting me back to Minneapolis today. Well my parents are after the doctors tell me whatever it is they've found out."
"Good, I'm being forced back today. The whole, no other way home thing," she said scowling.
"My parents could take you back with us."
Julie considered getting to ride in a comfortable car snuggled up with Adam. And then she considered the idea of his parents in the front seat with a rearview mirror. "I don't know."
Adam reached out and took her hand. "Please. For me."
Julie nodded and gave his hand a squeeze. "Alright, I'll be here."