Okay, I know I have like three other stories I'm SUPPOSED to be working on,
but this idea was pleading to be written. I had to give in to it. I
couldn't help it...
Liz- Mwahahaha! I have taken the act of torturing Charlie and made it into an art. ^_^ It's a wonderful recreational activity. Lol, I guess that will just have to do then. Lol...yes, all three of those parts were lots of fun to write. Aw! Don't hurt you knee, you silly girl!
Adriana- *does happy dance* YAY!! Long review! I LOVE you! *hugs* Aw, you have me on Author Alert? *squeals in happiness and hugs again* That makes me feel so HONORED! I'm glad I made you happy with my reviews. *smiles* By the way, I liked the chapter you updated today. I honestly had the perfect review and then it messed up...as you probably know because I made it painfully obvious at the beginning of the review. ^_^ *giggles* I'm glad you liked that part! Alternate dimension thing? *has a blonde moment* Aw, don't turn into a skeleton! Yay! I'm glad you went to bed so you could wake up early and update again. I enjoyed your update. ^_^ And lovely quotes! *grins*
Spikey- *shifty eyes*...shhh, you can't tell...it's supposed to be a secret! Lol. *notices how cool the word 'splendific' is*...*eyes widen* OoOoOoOo...hehehe, you gotta watch out for us Texans...no, I'm not getting bored with 'The Man He Chose Not To Be,' I just got all these ideas and felt a sudden urge to POST POST POST! Lol. I can't help it...it's some kind of disease...like, writer's A.D.D. or something...Wow, I've managed to throw you off the scent? *grins really big* I feel so honored! Bwahaha! Lol...I hope I manage to find the time to update all 3 stories too...I actually had to put another story on hiatus until I finish these three. I have a shameless Charlie/OC story called 'Southern Rose,' so I actually have FOUR MD stories...*giggles* I am seriously way too optimistic with my time...I guess my week off for Thanksgiving Break gave me enough time to write out my ideas...Lol...I may have to start another JUST because you said that! Lol...j/k...Love ya bunches, Sophie!
Basnkiesbabe99- Thankies! ^_^
Nebula2- Lol, no kidding. ^_^ I'm glad you're liking the story. Lol, you'll just have to see what happens, I guess. ^_^
Kate- Lol...^_^ Lol, yes. Charlie is in Canada. Yes, Charlie is good at getting himself into trouble. It's what he does best. ^_^ Lol...I'm glad you're glad (o.O) he's in Canada and that you're lovin' all the angst and drama! Lol. ^_^ I guess you'll just have to see what happens...DUN DUN DUN! Sure, of course you can be my authority on all things Canadian. ^_^ But I'm gonna give you a little hint as to where this is going...nah, I'll make you wait till the next chapter ^_^ Unless I tell you over email. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who HAPPENS to read other people's reply tings...*whistles innocently* Cuz you know, some people do that...Lol...I'm sure he will be happy to know that in winter you have to dig a tunnel. Wait...I might have noticed something I did wrong...what time of year does D3 take place when they go to the carnival and how is the weather in Toronto? O.O *gasp* I didn't think something through! OOOOO *shiny eyes* THEY HAVE AN UNDERGROUND MALL?! SWEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!! *giggles* That is so awesome...anyway. Yes. But I will email you and ruin a surprise no one else will get until I post the chapter after this one. Lucky you, huh? ^_^ You're just special like that. *sends email* There ya go! And I will always be happy to know you're alive! I would cry if you died. *cries for emphasis to show Kate how sad Chelsea would be if she died* Yes. I would be very sad. Anyway...yeah. ^_^
Chorins96- Why thank you! ^_^ Lol...Joshua Jackson...*drools slightly* I'M SO JEALOUS! I WANNA SEE HIM IN PERSON! *breaks down into hysterical sobs* I love him...*sniff* Lol. ^_^ I'm glad I update enough for your taste. ^_^ You'll just have to see...DUN DUN DUN! I'm making a big twist that only Kate and Liz will know...but that's only because I kinda already told them. ^_^ So that ruins the surprise a wee bit...oh well. Lol, we wouldn't want Charlie to have bad luck, now would we. ^_^ I hope you enjoy the chapter and thank you so much for reviewing! ^_^
Disclaimer- I don't own the Mighty Ducks. I also don't own Jen Lindley or Grams...they belong to Kevin Williamson who created Dawson's Creek...I'm just borrowing them...
-Chapter 2-
"I think you're ready to go, Charlie." The doctor said as he walked into the room. They had kept Charlie for several days to make sure he was okay. Not to mention he had nowhere else to go.
"So what now?" Charlie asked the doctor, referring to his homeless state.
"Well, we were going to fit you into an orphanage," he began. Charlie's face soured instantly. "but they had no room. So I called a friend of mine and she agreed to take you under her wing, if you don't mind. She got her foster care license years ago but never ended up using it. It might just be temporary, but we aren't sure. I'm going to drive you over there personally since my shift just ended. I can't very well let you live on the streets." The doctor said, trying to gauge Charlie's reaction.
Charlie's face was blank "Foster care?" he said incredulously.
"Yes, it will only be for a few years. You claimed you had no other family to live with and there was no room anywhere else. I trust this woman. I'm sure she can keep you in line." The doctor said. "Now come on, we have to go."
Charlie got up reluctantly. He runs away from ONE family only to get stuck with ANOTHER...what a screwy system...
~~~*~~~
The drive over was short. Charlie had no luggage so he didn't have to worry about the trauma of 'moving in.'
He and the doctor walked up the door of the large country-like house and knocked.
The door was answered by an elderly woman who looked like she could be his grandmother.
But Charlie was polite and kept this to himself. THIS was the Great Enforcer?
"Hello, you must be Charlie." She said sweetly. "Come in, both of you."
Charlie followed them hesitantly. He looked around. It was a nice, big, open, CLEAN house.
Charlie could see the doctor and his new 'guardian' discussing something.
Mrs. Ryan turned her sugary sweet smile in Charlie's direction. "How old are you, sweetheart?"
"Fourteen." He said, unsure of where this was leading.
"Ah, I have a granddaughter about your age. Let me call her down for you." the woman said before cupping her hands around her mouth. "JENNIFER! Would you come down here for a moment?"
Charlie heard rapid footsteps sail down the stairs. He heard a large thump as the girl jumped down the last few steps.
"Yeah Grams?" she asked, walking into the room.
It was the girl from before.
It seemed she recognized Charlie as well.
"Hey you're-" she started.
"This is Charlie Conway. He is going to be staying here indefinitely. So I expect you to be a GOOD EXAMPLE, Jennifer." Mrs. Ryan, also known as Grams, said warningly, her voice lowering and eyes narrowing slightly.
The girl just shrugged and smiled. "Hey Charlie, I'm Jen Lindley." She said, extending her hand to Charlie.
Charlie accepted the gesture. "Charmed." He said, almost sarcastically.
"As you should be." She said back.
Grams and the doctor raised their eyebrows in unison.
"Jennifer..." Grams started warningly, confused at the two teenagers' responses to each other.
"Oh, we've already met. Well, it was more of a pseudo-meeting. He had tripped over a bench and I tried friendly conversation. Apparently he wasn't in the best of moods, were ya kid?" Jen said with a grin.
Charlie took a breath to calm himself. After he realized he had no nice reply, he stuck with silence.
"You are so high-strung, kid. I say you need to loosen up. I'm kinda like your big sister now, so come on." Jen said, taking his arm and began dragging him along.
"Stop bossing me around-" the two adults could hear Charlie protest as Jen closed the front door behind them.
"Good luck, Evelyn." The doctor said to Grams as he gave her a weak grin and left the house.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Grams muttered to herself as she went into the kitchen to make some herbal tea.
~~~*~~~
"CHARLIE!" Casey Conway called out from the front door, a slight tremble to her voice. She had just finished her shift at the diner and hadn't seen the boy all day. The woman had to tell him about Hans...
"Charlie." She said, this time softer. She walked down the hall and stopped at his door. She looked in his room, expecting to see him at his desk. He would look at her and slip off his headphones, giving her his attention.
But he didn't.
Because he wasn't there.
She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Why wasn't he there? He should have been home from school hours ago.
The redheaded woman figured he was with one of his friends so she tried not to think of it. Maybe he had gone with one of them and just forgot to tell her. She just couldn't seem to shake off the feeling that something was wrong...very wrong...
~~~*~~~
It had been three days since anyone had seen Charlie. Casey was over at where Gordon Bombay was staying; she was sitting on the couch, surrounded by her son's hockey friends. They were trying to figure out what could have happened.
"Has anyone seen Charlie lately?" Bombay asked. He was in town for the weekend for Hans's funeral and had heard of Charlie's disappearance.
"Not in a few days. I saw him about three days ago when he first disappeared. We hung out the whole day then kinda got in a fight. I left and I haven't seen him since." Fulton admitted.
Bombay nodded and Casey brought her knees to her chest. She was so worried about Charlie that she didn't know what to do. Was he even okay?
"Did he give any indication of where he might have gone when you were fighting?" Gordon Bombay asked.
"No, not really." Fulton answered. "He has been really upset about everything with the new coach and hasn't really adjusted. When I said I was coming back to the team, he snapped. I don't really know what happened. One moment we were having a great time, the next we were fighting."
Gordon nodded and let out a sigh. The other Ducks weren't sure what to do. Adam was there with them as well, and was trying desperately to figure out what could have happened to their M.I.A. Captain...
Julie was curled up in a ball, trying to process everything. Her arms were clasp firmly around her legs and she could feel tears threatening to spill. She was imagining all the horrible things that could have happened to Charlie.
She hadn't said anything, but her feelings for Charlie had started growing little by little over the past month or so. The feelings were beginning to transform into not-so-platonic thoughts and it was rattling Julie's brain a little. She had respected him as a fellow team member and as her Captain so she never said anything. She figured there was no way he could have ever thought of her like that. She was just Julie. The Cat Lady goalie who knocked down two Iceland players the second she stepped on the ice at the Junior Goodwill Games. But now with him missing, she was wondering if she would ever see him again.
"I'm sure he'll be back. He's probably just trying to prove his point. He has been protesting against Coach Orion the entire time so he is probably just trying to give us a scare." Russ reasoned uncertainly.
The rest nodded numbly, each lost in their own thoughts.
A single tear rolled down Julie's pale cheek as she looked out the window. Where could Charlie be? Wherever he was, she hoped he came back soon...
~~~*~~~
"Guys, this is my new 'brother,' CHARLIE!" Jen exclaimed to the group of people.
They all stared blankly at her. "I don't see the resemblance..." one mumbled.
Jen frowned. "No, stupid! He's going to be my kinda-sorta-not-really-baby- brother! No blood relation." She said, crossing her arms.
"Baby brother?" Charlie muttered darkly, feeling his frustration bubble up.
"Yes, baby brother!" she said cheekily, pinching his cheek with her thumb and forefinger.
"Call me that again, and I swear I will kill you." he said threateningly, swatting her hand away. He was glaring at her, his piercing blue eyes cutting through the air.
"Whatever you say, kiddo!" she said tauntingly, patting his head.
He tensed up and hardened his glare. She was mocking him!
"AW! He's so cute! How old is he Jen?" a perky blonde girl asked, leaning forward towards him.
"He's-" Jen started before she was interrupted by Charlie.
"I can SPEAK for myself! And I don't appreciate being talked about like I'm some new pet or something...it bugs me." He said sourly.
"Wow, I think someone has an attitude problem. Tisk tisk! That needs to change." The perky blonde girl said, sending a disapproving look to Jen.
Jen grinned. "That's what I thought too. Charlie, we are going to loosen you up if it kills us!" she exclaimed.
He gave her a blank stare. "Right." He said, unconvinced.
A guy with short, straight brown hair spoke up for the first time. "Hey, you never said how old you were."
"Fourteen." Charlie replied curtly.
"Ah, well that's cool." A brunette girl said. "I'm Joey Holmes." She then said, extending her hand.
Charlie nodded and shook her hand.
"I'm Mandie Carmichael." The perky blonde girl said with a broad smile.
Charlie nodded in recognition.
"I'm Zane Moore." The brunette guy said as he and Charlie shook hands.
"Alright, enough with introductions! Let the fun begin!" Jen declared.
Liz- Mwahahaha! I have taken the act of torturing Charlie and made it into an art. ^_^ It's a wonderful recreational activity. Lol, I guess that will just have to do then. Lol...yes, all three of those parts were lots of fun to write. Aw! Don't hurt you knee, you silly girl!
Adriana- *does happy dance* YAY!! Long review! I LOVE you! *hugs* Aw, you have me on Author Alert? *squeals in happiness and hugs again* That makes me feel so HONORED! I'm glad I made you happy with my reviews. *smiles* By the way, I liked the chapter you updated today. I honestly had the perfect review and then it messed up...as you probably know because I made it painfully obvious at the beginning of the review. ^_^ *giggles* I'm glad you liked that part! Alternate dimension thing? *has a blonde moment* Aw, don't turn into a skeleton! Yay! I'm glad you went to bed so you could wake up early and update again. I enjoyed your update. ^_^ And lovely quotes! *grins*
Spikey- *shifty eyes*...shhh, you can't tell...it's supposed to be a secret! Lol. *notices how cool the word 'splendific' is*...*eyes widen* OoOoOoOo...hehehe, you gotta watch out for us Texans...no, I'm not getting bored with 'The Man He Chose Not To Be,' I just got all these ideas and felt a sudden urge to POST POST POST! Lol. I can't help it...it's some kind of disease...like, writer's A.D.D. or something...Wow, I've managed to throw you off the scent? *grins really big* I feel so honored! Bwahaha! Lol...I hope I manage to find the time to update all 3 stories too...I actually had to put another story on hiatus until I finish these three. I have a shameless Charlie/OC story called 'Southern Rose,' so I actually have FOUR MD stories...*giggles* I am seriously way too optimistic with my time...I guess my week off for Thanksgiving Break gave me enough time to write out my ideas...Lol...I may have to start another JUST because you said that! Lol...j/k...Love ya bunches, Sophie!
Basnkiesbabe99- Thankies! ^_^
Nebula2- Lol, no kidding. ^_^ I'm glad you're liking the story. Lol, you'll just have to see what happens, I guess. ^_^
Kate- Lol...^_^ Lol, yes. Charlie is in Canada. Yes, Charlie is good at getting himself into trouble. It's what he does best. ^_^ Lol...I'm glad you're glad (o.O) he's in Canada and that you're lovin' all the angst and drama! Lol. ^_^ I guess you'll just have to see what happens...DUN DUN DUN! Sure, of course you can be my authority on all things Canadian. ^_^ But I'm gonna give you a little hint as to where this is going...nah, I'll make you wait till the next chapter ^_^ Unless I tell you over email. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who HAPPENS to read other people's reply tings...*whistles innocently* Cuz you know, some people do that...Lol...I'm sure he will be happy to know that in winter you have to dig a tunnel. Wait...I might have noticed something I did wrong...what time of year does D3 take place when they go to the carnival and how is the weather in Toronto? O.O *gasp* I didn't think something through! OOOOO *shiny eyes* THEY HAVE AN UNDERGROUND MALL?! SWEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!! *giggles* That is so awesome...anyway. Yes. But I will email you and ruin a surprise no one else will get until I post the chapter after this one. Lucky you, huh? ^_^ You're just special like that. *sends email* There ya go! And I will always be happy to know you're alive! I would cry if you died. *cries for emphasis to show Kate how sad Chelsea would be if she died* Yes. I would be very sad. Anyway...yeah. ^_^
Chorins96- Why thank you! ^_^ Lol...Joshua Jackson...*drools slightly* I'M SO JEALOUS! I WANNA SEE HIM IN PERSON! *breaks down into hysterical sobs* I love him...*sniff* Lol. ^_^ I'm glad I update enough for your taste. ^_^ You'll just have to see...DUN DUN DUN! I'm making a big twist that only Kate and Liz will know...but that's only because I kinda already told them. ^_^ So that ruins the surprise a wee bit...oh well. Lol, we wouldn't want Charlie to have bad luck, now would we. ^_^ I hope you enjoy the chapter and thank you so much for reviewing! ^_^
Disclaimer- I don't own the Mighty Ducks. I also don't own Jen Lindley or Grams...they belong to Kevin Williamson who created Dawson's Creek...I'm just borrowing them...
-Chapter 2-
"I think you're ready to go, Charlie." The doctor said as he walked into the room. They had kept Charlie for several days to make sure he was okay. Not to mention he had nowhere else to go.
"So what now?" Charlie asked the doctor, referring to his homeless state.
"Well, we were going to fit you into an orphanage," he began. Charlie's face soured instantly. "but they had no room. So I called a friend of mine and she agreed to take you under her wing, if you don't mind. She got her foster care license years ago but never ended up using it. It might just be temporary, but we aren't sure. I'm going to drive you over there personally since my shift just ended. I can't very well let you live on the streets." The doctor said, trying to gauge Charlie's reaction.
Charlie's face was blank "Foster care?" he said incredulously.
"Yes, it will only be for a few years. You claimed you had no other family to live with and there was no room anywhere else. I trust this woman. I'm sure she can keep you in line." The doctor said. "Now come on, we have to go."
Charlie got up reluctantly. He runs away from ONE family only to get stuck with ANOTHER...what a screwy system...
~~~*~~~
The drive over was short. Charlie had no luggage so he didn't have to worry about the trauma of 'moving in.'
He and the doctor walked up the door of the large country-like house and knocked.
The door was answered by an elderly woman who looked like she could be his grandmother.
But Charlie was polite and kept this to himself. THIS was the Great Enforcer?
"Hello, you must be Charlie." She said sweetly. "Come in, both of you."
Charlie followed them hesitantly. He looked around. It was a nice, big, open, CLEAN house.
Charlie could see the doctor and his new 'guardian' discussing something.
Mrs. Ryan turned her sugary sweet smile in Charlie's direction. "How old are you, sweetheart?"
"Fourteen." He said, unsure of where this was leading.
"Ah, I have a granddaughter about your age. Let me call her down for you." the woman said before cupping her hands around her mouth. "JENNIFER! Would you come down here for a moment?"
Charlie heard rapid footsteps sail down the stairs. He heard a large thump as the girl jumped down the last few steps.
"Yeah Grams?" she asked, walking into the room.
It was the girl from before.
It seemed she recognized Charlie as well.
"Hey you're-" she started.
"This is Charlie Conway. He is going to be staying here indefinitely. So I expect you to be a GOOD EXAMPLE, Jennifer." Mrs. Ryan, also known as Grams, said warningly, her voice lowering and eyes narrowing slightly.
The girl just shrugged and smiled. "Hey Charlie, I'm Jen Lindley." She said, extending her hand to Charlie.
Charlie accepted the gesture. "Charmed." He said, almost sarcastically.
"As you should be." She said back.
Grams and the doctor raised their eyebrows in unison.
"Jennifer..." Grams started warningly, confused at the two teenagers' responses to each other.
"Oh, we've already met. Well, it was more of a pseudo-meeting. He had tripped over a bench and I tried friendly conversation. Apparently he wasn't in the best of moods, were ya kid?" Jen said with a grin.
Charlie took a breath to calm himself. After he realized he had no nice reply, he stuck with silence.
"You are so high-strung, kid. I say you need to loosen up. I'm kinda like your big sister now, so come on." Jen said, taking his arm and began dragging him along.
"Stop bossing me around-" the two adults could hear Charlie protest as Jen closed the front door behind them.
"Good luck, Evelyn." The doctor said to Grams as he gave her a weak grin and left the house.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Grams muttered to herself as she went into the kitchen to make some herbal tea.
~~~*~~~
"CHARLIE!" Casey Conway called out from the front door, a slight tremble to her voice. She had just finished her shift at the diner and hadn't seen the boy all day. The woman had to tell him about Hans...
"Charlie." She said, this time softer. She walked down the hall and stopped at his door. She looked in his room, expecting to see him at his desk. He would look at her and slip off his headphones, giving her his attention.
But he didn't.
Because he wasn't there.
She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Why wasn't he there? He should have been home from school hours ago.
The redheaded woman figured he was with one of his friends so she tried not to think of it. Maybe he had gone with one of them and just forgot to tell her. She just couldn't seem to shake off the feeling that something was wrong...very wrong...
~~~*~~~
It had been three days since anyone had seen Charlie. Casey was over at where Gordon Bombay was staying; she was sitting on the couch, surrounded by her son's hockey friends. They were trying to figure out what could have happened.
"Has anyone seen Charlie lately?" Bombay asked. He was in town for the weekend for Hans's funeral and had heard of Charlie's disappearance.
"Not in a few days. I saw him about three days ago when he first disappeared. We hung out the whole day then kinda got in a fight. I left and I haven't seen him since." Fulton admitted.
Bombay nodded and Casey brought her knees to her chest. She was so worried about Charlie that she didn't know what to do. Was he even okay?
"Did he give any indication of where he might have gone when you were fighting?" Gordon Bombay asked.
"No, not really." Fulton answered. "He has been really upset about everything with the new coach and hasn't really adjusted. When I said I was coming back to the team, he snapped. I don't really know what happened. One moment we were having a great time, the next we were fighting."
Gordon nodded and let out a sigh. The other Ducks weren't sure what to do. Adam was there with them as well, and was trying desperately to figure out what could have happened to their M.I.A. Captain...
Julie was curled up in a ball, trying to process everything. Her arms were clasp firmly around her legs and she could feel tears threatening to spill. She was imagining all the horrible things that could have happened to Charlie.
She hadn't said anything, but her feelings for Charlie had started growing little by little over the past month or so. The feelings were beginning to transform into not-so-platonic thoughts and it was rattling Julie's brain a little. She had respected him as a fellow team member and as her Captain so she never said anything. She figured there was no way he could have ever thought of her like that. She was just Julie. The Cat Lady goalie who knocked down two Iceland players the second she stepped on the ice at the Junior Goodwill Games. But now with him missing, she was wondering if she would ever see him again.
"I'm sure he'll be back. He's probably just trying to prove his point. He has been protesting against Coach Orion the entire time so he is probably just trying to give us a scare." Russ reasoned uncertainly.
The rest nodded numbly, each lost in their own thoughts.
A single tear rolled down Julie's pale cheek as she looked out the window. Where could Charlie be? Wherever he was, she hoped he came back soon...
~~~*~~~
"Guys, this is my new 'brother,' CHARLIE!" Jen exclaimed to the group of people.
They all stared blankly at her. "I don't see the resemblance..." one mumbled.
Jen frowned. "No, stupid! He's going to be my kinda-sorta-not-really-baby- brother! No blood relation." She said, crossing her arms.
"Baby brother?" Charlie muttered darkly, feeling his frustration bubble up.
"Yes, baby brother!" she said cheekily, pinching his cheek with her thumb and forefinger.
"Call me that again, and I swear I will kill you." he said threateningly, swatting her hand away. He was glaring at her, his piercing blue eyes cutting through the air.
"Whatever you say, kiddo!" she said tauntingly, patting his head.
He tensed up and hardened his glare. She was mocking him!
"AW! He's so cute! How old is he Jen?" a perky blonde girl asked, leaning forward towards him.
"He's-" Jen started before she was interrupted by Charlie.
"I can SPEAK for myself! And I don't appreciate being talked about like I'm some new pet or something...it bugs me." He said sourly.
"Wow, I think someone has an attitude problem. Tisk tisk! That needs to change." The perky blonde girl said, sending a disapproving look to Jen.
Jen grinned. "That's what I thought too. Charlie, we are going to loosen you up if it kills us!" she exclaimed.
He gave her a blank stare. "Right." He said, unconvinced.
A guy with short, straight brown hair spoke up for the first time. "Hey, you never said how old you were."
"Fourteen." Charlie replied curtly.
"Ah, well that's cool." A brunette girl said. "I'm Joey Holmes." She then said, extending her hand.
Charlie nodded and shook her hand.
"I'm Mandie Carmichael." The perky blonde girl said with a broad smile.
Charlie nodded in recognition.
"I'm Zane Moore." The brunette guy said as he and Charlie shook hands.
"Alright, enough with introductions! Let the fun begin!" Jen declared.