One Last Time

Chapter 8: Hurting

By aznJEDI13

Disclaimer: Disney owns the Mighty Ducks. I own the plot and any original characters in this series.

Notes: This was written as pure fun. I hope that this does not offend anyone and if it does I did not by any means do it on purpose. Sorry I didn't have time to fix the grammar and all that fun stuff! This ones not that good.

This takes place ten years after D3. Enjoy!

Chapter 8: It Hurts That I'm Here

'…And we stare each other down,
Like victims in the grind,
Probing all the weakness and hurt still left behind…'

He watched her fall.

In realization of what was happening he then rushed to her fallen side. He pushed pass a few teammates, the world around him so blurry he didn't know who he had pushed. He focused on her and only her. She was the only thing he could see.

His emotions were in such a whirlwind it was hard for him to determine what exactly he was doing – everything was hitting him at the same time.

"Move out of the way." He yelled, his hollow voice echoing through his own eardrums – though he was rushed it sounded still so callous and monotone, "Move it, I've had medical training."

When he reached her, Julie was at her side almost the exact same time he was. "Hold her head," He ordered to her. She complied as he reached down for Connie's wrist to check her heart rate. Using his watched, he counted.

It had been a long time since he had felt and heard her heartbeat. Suddenly he found his chest – his own heart – filled with an intense ache, a longing.

He hadn't felt that way in a while.

He closed his eyes to focus, now was not the time he reminded himself.

"Is she going to be okay?" A voice asked, for a second he thought it was Julie who asked, but then he realized it was not Julie. It was a male voice. One he had heard a long time ago.

Hang in there Guy.

When they were younger, when they didn't care who they were or what they did. When they weren't seen as superstars or anything. When they were just boys.

We got to play some defense, pick up the trash..

A voice he had overheard arguing in the hospital room – with his wife.

We can't go behind his back anymore Connie, you know you have to tell him.

The ache in his chest returned, hitting him harder then before and his veins, in all his hurt, filled and boiled with anger. He looked up to reply, hoping his wildest nightmare had not come true. However, he stared straight at his nightmare and saw a face he hadn't seen in three years.

Shocked the other man blinked. He hadn't seen the man's face before then and he had assumed he was just an acquaintance of someone, he hadn't thought it was Guy Germaine himself.

"Guy?" He asked shocked. His voice came back to him slowly and he spoke a little more confidently, staring into the shocked eyes of his childhood playmate, "Guy."

The other man looked back down at the collapsed body and realized for the first time as reality sunk in that the one of the floor was a lover to both of them.

Guy blinked; hoping the tears would go away so none of them would see he was hurting.

Suck it up Guy; don't show them you're weak, he told himself, don't show them you're weak.

Almost in anger he spoke his eyes boring into the other man's. "Charlie."

He turned away as soon as possible and turned back to the body on the ground. His voice returned to its normal state, "Let's get her upstairs."

He reached to pick her up, ignoring the ache in his chest as her body pressed against him. He blinked again.

Don't show them you're weak - that you're hurting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He found her kneeling by the toilet.

She looked up at the sound of his footsteps, "Connie." He questioned, "You okay?"

She was about to speak, but instead shot her head back over the toilet, the sound of her regurgitating filled his ears as the stench filled his nostrils.

She breathed out, finding he was kneeling beside her now, his hand on her back as he looked at her lovingly.

She breathed out again, only to catch a glimpse of him wincing at the smell of her breath, "Morning sickness" was the only thing she managed to say before her head was in the toilet again and he got the gist of it and nodded to her.

When she finish she looked over at him, "You should go back to bed Guy. You have a big day today."

He shook his head. "No," He laughed, "I'm going to stay by your side. You didn't get yourself pregnant."

She laughed, "Point taken."

She made a face and he looked away. Her head was over the toilet again. He rubbed her back; he couldn't do much else.

He kissed her sweaty forehead when she stopped and she smiled as she leaned against him. His hand absently went to her stomach as he held her, waiting for the next bout to come.

His child, he realized, was there inside of her. He smiled slightly and kissed her sweaty forehead again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Connie was floating, flying in a world of dreams – memories that came one after the other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She awoke groggily to see Guy's loving face. She smiled slightly.

That's when she realized she was still in the hospital and still had wires and tubes pressed into her body in all sorts of weird and awkward places. But she felt good. He approached her slowly, caressed some of her still sweaty hair with his hand.

"How you feeling?" He asked, smiling – grinning, but also trying to be serious.

The epidermal hadn't all worn off she realized, "Like crap." She laughed.

"As expected." He concluded and she nodded.

"Where is she?" She asked. He smiled, leaning forward to kiss her on the lips. She received the kiss with enthusiasm. She had always loved the feel of his lips pressed against her own, especially now.

"Thought you'd never ask."

She had been in too much pain to really look at her daughter, she had been too drowsy and groggy to focus on the creation that she and Guy had conceived.

Guy disappeared for second and then came back with a little bundle in his arms. He lovingly stared at her and then smiled, "Go to mommy." He whispered.

The baby yawned as Connie received her in her arms. She held her with one arm and the other came to play with her tiny fingers. "Hey there." She smiled, "She's so small."

He nodded. He didn't need to speak; this was Connie's turn to speak.

"How can you love something so small so much?" She asked.

He shrugged, caressing her hair again, "I don't know. You just do."

She looked over to him and smiled, "It's incredible isn't it Guy?"

Guy nodded, "Very." He smiled down, "That's our daughter." He leaned forward and kissed Connie again and as he pulled away she could tell there was a proud smile on his face. "I've never been more happier, Connie." He concluded. He laughed slightly and finding it hard to believe, "I'm a daddy."

She nodded absently, still looking at their child, "And I'm a mommy."

She started to get drowsy again and Guy took Katie away from her. Connie relaxed, leaning against the bed to start to sleep again, but she didn't sleep until she caught sight of her husband.

He was standing, swaying slightly, holding their hours old daughter in his arms. He looked over at her and smiled proudly.

She closed her eyes as he walked over to put the baby back.

For a minute he just stood there, staring at their baby. Not knowing what exactly to say or do, knowing that words could not express his joy and happiness and actions could not express the feelings of his heart at that moment.

He settled for gently touching her head and whispering, "I love you, Katie."

From her bed, Connie smiled. Truly it was the happiest day of her life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vision blurred and contorted as her eyes opened slowly and sound filled her eyes.

"She's waking up." She heard someone say.

Her body ached when she woke. It took her a while to focus, but she clearly recognized the figure sitting on the bed. They were in the master bedroom she realized.

Though strangely she didn't remember how she had got there.

It hurt to move some parts of her body and she wondered why she was so sore. Her head ached and her back was screaming on and off in pain.

She glanced at Julie, "How you feeling?" Julie asked her.

"Sore, achy, tired."

Another figure appeared. His blond hair and his figure though unrecognizable, she knew him anywhere. Now she remembered how she got there. Well she remembered seeing him and then fainting – that's about it.

"Hey." He reached over and placed his hand on her head, taking her temperature, "No fever." He concluded glancing at Julie and then back at her, "You just won't be going anywhere tonight." He gave her some pills, "Take some of these. They'll take the pain away."

She nodded, accepting the pills and a glass of water and Julie informed her what was happening.

Guy had left her sight and she figured he was doing something else in the room, he couldn't stand to look at her. Ever since that day, he had never looked at her longer than necessary. She figured it just hurt too much.

She wasn't insulted – in fact she understood.

Guy was hurting, if anyone understood the look that his eyes got it was she and she could clearly see he was in pain. He couldn't stand the close proximity to her, but he also knew for her sake he must.

Then again, she couldn't stand him so close either.

When she had finished taking the pills and Julie had finished how Guy had carried her upstairs and the others were all waiting downstairs, Guy finally reappeared.

She noticed that the suit that he had had on earlier had been replaced by a pair of jeans and a navy blue collared shirt with a single line running across his chest. This was the first time she could actually look at him.

Her heartbeat a little faster as she saw that he had changed his hairstyle, that the built of his body was different and that his facial features had evolved. He had gotten older, he had changed, and he wasn't the man that she had stabbed in the back and betrayed nor was he the one that she had loved so dearly.

Even though her heart cried out for him, for his touch, for his kiss, she ignored it and used her anger to talk to him. Her anger because he was having such an effect on her. She fed off the anger and used it.

"Why are you here Guy? You're not suppose to be."

He looked up at her and then away again, avoiding eye contact. It was almost as if she didn't exist; only her voice did. "I was on my way to Minnesota, to visit everyone. I had forgotten some things." His voice grew in anger to match her raging tone, "Why didn't you tell me Connie? Why didn't you invite me? I have the same rights as everyone else!"

She sat up and watched as Julie cowered in fear, "Don't raise your voice at me Guy Germaine. I'm not your wife – you left me."

He shook his head and stood, trying to balance his emotions and contain his anger. He shook his head, his spoke, voice in that callous and monotone tone again, one that broke Julie's heart every time she heard him speak, "I didn't mean to lash out. I just wanted to know why I wasn't invited."

"Figure it out yourself." She spat, glaring straight into his blue eyes. "I didn't want to see you."

He sucked in a breath and nodded, "But you wanted to see him."

"Does it matter?"

He shook his head and blinked away tears, but neither girl noticed him blink, "It matters to me, Connie. You weren't the one hurt."

She shook her head and grew quiet. "I was hurt. I hurt each and everyday." She sniffled, "And it hurt more as I watched you fall away. I couldn't help you and I couldn't help myself either." He looked away and went to the window; she turned her head to watch him as he stared out onto the beach. "You're right though. Maybe I hurt you more than I think. I don't know Guy. I'm sorry I hurt you." She paused, "If I asked for forgiveness, would you forgive me?"

There was a long silence. Julie noticed that he refused to turn around and she also noticed a single tear began to fall. He shook his head suddenly, but continued to refuse to look at her.

All he said, in that voice that no one knew or remembered and in that cold and callous hurt tone, was, "Get some sleep."

And he refused to say her name or look her in the face. He left the room then, leaving her with this blank look on her face.

Julie shook her head, trying to hold back her own tears, "He's right Cons. You need to rest. You've had a tough day."

She tucked her in and left her to sleep, going to find Guy. Meanwhile, Connie dreamed again crying her self to sleep as she dreamed of memories from that happier time in her life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"May I have this dance?" He asked not her, but the little girl sitting on her lap.

"Daddy."

He smiled as Katie pulled forward into his embrace. He smiled as her tiny arms came to wrap around his neck. Connie laughed at the sight. Guy swayed to the music, smiling widely.

"Daddy." Katie said again. It was all she could say.

Guy smiled at Connie proudly and leaned forward to kiss her. Katie closed her eyes and covered her face with her hands. Connie smiled as he pulled away.

It was their second anniversary and their first with Katie.

They had decided not to go for a candlelight dinner or anything, but just a peaceful night at home in front of the fire and playing with Katie.

Katie laughed as Guy turned more circles with her. Connie clapped her hands together and looked straight at the two most important people in her life. She shook her head, "May I cut in?" She asked the two.

Guy looked at Katie and shrugged, "Mommy wants to dance with daddy, can she?"

Katie nodded and tried to wiggle out of daddy's embrace, only to have him put her in the playpen. He smiled and bowed to Connie, before taking her in his arms.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned her head on his chest, "Hmm."

Katie laughed from the playpen watching her parents before she found another activity to distract herself. Katie loved to play, especially with daddy.

Guy hands tightened around her waist and she smiled, looking up to glance into his eyes. "Is this the life or what, babe?" He asked.

She smiled brighter, "It's definitely the life." Looking him in the eyes, "You've been so busy, it feels good to be in your arms again."

He nodded, moving to place his chin on top of her head; "School's hectic now, a week before finals." He sobered, "I got another note today."

He could feel her nod and absorb the information, "What'd it say?"

"The same thing."

"What'd you tell them?" she asked, wanting to look him in the eye, but already knowing the look that would be there.

"I told them, I would come back," He paused, Leaning forward to press his lips against hers, "When the time is right."

She was about to nod, but then thought about it, "You should go."

He pulled back to look her in the eye, "What?"

She released him, went to pick up Katie and sat on the couch in front of the fire, "You've sacrificed so much already. Katie's almost one years old." She paused, "I think we're ready for a change. They want you so bad, you should go back."

"Are you sure?"

She looked at Katie. "Ready for an adventure?" Katie nodded happily and smiled clapping her hand together. "Besides," Connie countered, "It's not like you're going to the pros soon, you've got to get back into the game still."

His brows creased in consternation, "What brought this up?"

"I was thinking about the future this morning," She reached out and took his hand in hers, "My dreams come true to be with you and to have her." She looked at him knowingly, "I know that was you're dream also, but I also know how much you have always wanted to go pro." She smiled at him, "You won't be going pro right off the back, you have to start now, if you want something later."

"I don't know what to say Cons."

"Say you'll do it."

He nodded and leaned forward to kiss her. He kissed not once, not twice but several times, "I won't let you down Connie."

She pulled back and smile, "I should hope not."

He laughed, "Let's put her to bed and we can celebrate appropriately."

She smiled, caressing the side of his face with her hand, "Of course."

The phone rang then, he reached and took Katie from her, "I'll put her to bed, you get that."

Connie nodded and went into the master bedroom to get the phone and then she answered it. "Hello."

"Hey Connie."

"Charlie!" She giggled slightly, "Oh my gosh, how long has it been? How are you?"

"It's been a very long time, hasn't it?"

Her smile faded, "Charlie, we all missed you at the…"

"I couldn't stand to be there."

"Linda was –" She began, but he interrupted her.

"I know."

Connie bit her lip, "She told me you two divorced. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I filed for the divorce."

Her brows creased in consternation, "Why? You two were in love so much."

"Sometimes you discover that love doesn't matter."

She wanted to ask him what he meant, but knew better of it. "Why are you calling Charlie?"

"Connie," He began, "You've always been someone I knew I could talk to."

She nodded, "What are you getting at Charlie?"

"I've gotten married."

She almost screamed, but remembered she had a baby in the next room, "What? Charlie what in the heck has been going on with you?"

"I can't stand to be alone Connie, it hurts so much." He paused, "I know I've had my share of mistakes, I just I can't be alone."

"What did you tell your son?" She asked.

"I didn't. I don't know how to tell anyone. You're the first one I've told."

Guy entered the room at that moment, a look of consternation obvious on his handsome face. He came to rest on the other side of the bed, his head resting against his hands.

She glanced at him, slightly with a look of desperate wanting, "You're treading in hot water."

"I know Connie. I just…haven't you ever hated the feeling of being alone?"

She didn't know how to respond because the truth was that she had never really been alone. She had grown up with Guy and fallen in love before anyone her age had. She had grown up in his embrace and his kisses – she had never been alone. "No," she paused, "Not bad enough to go out and get married."

"I see."

"Charlie," She glanced at Guy, his face now full of surprise, "How long have you known her?"

She heard him sigh on the other line, "Three months."

She almost choked. "Three months? Charlie…you need to see a counselor or something." She paused, "I'm sorry Charlie I didn't mean that."

"I know."

"It's okay to be alone Charlie, you just have to learn to lean on your friends then."

She felt two arms come to hold her from behind and warm kisses began a trail from her ear down to her collarbone. She paused for a second, enjoying the feeling of his lips against her skin.

"Listen, Charlie." She began again, "I really need to go, but you're welcome here anytime. Just call first."

"Thanks Connie."

She smiled as Guy's hand began to massage her abdomen, "Goodnight Charlie."

She hung up the phone and turned in Guy's embrace and then knocked him down on his back. She kissed him full on the lips. He pulled away, "What was that about?"

"Nothing," She smiled and leaned forward to kiss him again, "Forget about it."

He laughed, rolling on top of her and kissing her again. Charlie's phone call stuck in the back of her mind as she reminded herself – she was not alone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vision once clear pictures continued to blur with reality as sound filled her eyes again.

She saw him for the first time in the light as he stood in the doorway. He looked the same as usual – as always. His long half spiked half shaggy hair was combed nicely as his eyes bore into hers. His brood shoulders were recognizable anywhere.

"Charlie." She spoke her voice almost in a whisper. Her tone was hushed.

"Hey Cons." He came towards her to sit at the edge of the bed, "How you feeling?"

She breathed in and out, noticing Julie had left and Guy was nowhere to be seen, "Better." She laughed, "Where's everyone?"

He placed his hand lightly on her arm, "Here and there."

Her brows creased on consternation, "Why are you here?" She asked.

He pulled his hand back, "I can't?"

She shook her head, reaching for him slightly, "No that's not what I meant." She paused, "Why aren't you downstairs partying with everyone else?"

His eyes met hers more deeply this time, "You're the only one I want to party with."

She laughed, "Aw…" She smiled then, "How sweet." She paused after that, breathing in and out, "Though I'm afraid I won't be making any more appearance tonight."

He nodded, "I figured." He smiled that charming charismatic smile of his; "I'm fully prepared to stay here the rest of the night."

She sniffled slightly, "Is he still here?"

Charlie's smile disappeared, "Yeah," He took a deep breath, "He's downstairs." He paused, glancing at her, "What did he say to you?"

Connie shook her head, looking away and accidentally looking straight into a picture of her and Guy and thus she turned to look the other direction, "Charlie don't." She paused, laughing bitterly and being solemn at the same time; "I don't want tonight to turn into a testosterone hose down."

He nodded his head continually, "Yeah, I get it." He smiled at her, "I see."

She shook her head, "Charlie."

He laughed, "I heard you. Cons, please, I can't look at you without wanting to feel you against me your lips pressed against mine."

She sniffled, "Charlie, don't –"

He shook his head and simply stated, "Guy wants you back and I'm not going to let him get you."

Her brows creased on consternation and confusion, "What do you mean?"

"It's obvious Connie. He's still in love with you."

She bit her lip because she knew it was true. "Why are you going to do that Charlie, I told you –"

"No Connie," He paused, shaking his head, "I want you just as bad. Cons, you're different than all the other girls. I'd chose you over a thousand others."

Connie shook her head, silencing him; "I need to get some rest, Charlie."

He nodded, "All right. I'll be right here Cons."

She turned the other way so she wouldn't have to look at him and so he wouldn't see the look of fear on her placid and beautiful face.

It hurt, she realized, too much to think.

------------------------------------------------------------

Where is he? She asked herself.

After seeing Connie fall asleep almost in tears, she went off to find Guy. She had to figure out what exactly was happening between them, their fight had been expected, but instead of Connie being the wounded pup like she had expected it had been Guy.

She found him, eventually, in the kitchen. The last place she expected him to be, but she should have figured.

She watched silently as he reached into the fridge, took out a beer and snapped off the cap of the Corona.

"What are you doing?" She snapped.

He jump back and spit out what in his mouth, "You scared the crap out of me Jules."

"I know." She paused, "What are you doing?" She asked again.

Simply, he replied, "Getting a drink."

She shook her head, "Guy, you can't –"

He turned to look at her, his eyes shooting daggers, speaking volumes, "I can do what I want and I know how much I can take. I don't need you to remind me."

"But Guy –"

He shook his head, turning to walk out of the kitchen, "Save it Jules."

She ran after him, "Guy," She pulled at his arm, "She doesn't need you to succumb to that again."

He shook his bitterly; "She doesn't need me. Haven't you put the pieces together?"

He blinked his eyes and this time she noticed, "You're crying."

He pulled back at her accusation, "No, I'm not." He snapped, "Just a little dust in my eyes – that's all. I don't need you to tell me how I'm feeling."

"Guy –"

He shook his head; "You want to know the truth Jules? You want to know the reason behind the tears, behind the pain?"

She nodded, not knowing of the powerful blow that would hit her.

He closed his eyes and breathed in, "She and Charlie –" He couldn't say anymore and she didn't need anymore. He wiped his eyes; "I'm going to go see how she's doing."

Julie swallowed hard and went back into the kitchen weeping. She had never known, but she should have. She cried for herself, she cried for Connie, she cried for Charlie, but most importantly she cried for Guy.

When he approached the master bedroom door, he heard voices, two familiar voices. He realized it was Charlie and she. He breathed in; it was hard for him to stand this pain.

He listen, not wanting to see Charlie, not wanting to stare him in the eyes and know he had lost the best thing of his life.

He heard Charlie speaking, "Cons, you're different than all the other girls. I'd chose you over a thousand others."

Guy choked, hearing those words. He began to walk towards the guestroom turning away from the room that held Connie and Charlie and knowing he needed some time alone to cry. Once he entered, he wept on the floor silently knowing that no one should hear him.

He wiped his eyes after a while and calmed himself down.

Suck it up Guy; don't show them you're weak, he told himself, don't show them you're weak – that you're hurting.

To Be Continued…

------------------------------------------------------------

I really appreciated everyone reviewing last chapter – THANK YOU SO MUCH.

Please CONTINUE to REVIEW – I beg you!