Milwaukee, Wisconsin December 1979

We were playing the International League all-star team in Milwaukee. Rizzo was still on the team but Tim being there was starting to wear on his nerves more and more everyday. Dad was caught in the middle, understanding how the boys felt but having to go along with Herb.

"Chev, I see you got your gloves and scarf, again." Buzz said during the game as I walked by.

"Yes, are you all toasty warm?" Verchota asked.

I rolled my eyes, "Yes, but not from the gloves and scarf. It's from looking at all you hott team USA players!" I said and winked.

I heard them chuckle as I walked down the bench. 'At lest they're not checking out girls.' I thought. I walked past Herb who was yelling something at Tim. Again I rolled my eyes and went to stand near Rizzo.

Tim scored a goal and the team celebrated the goal but I wasn't sure they were happy about who scored it. I saw Rizzo's face fall. He couldn't score a goal in practice and here Tim was scoring during games. I wanted to hug and hold him but couldn't. I watched Tim climb back into the bench. Herb walked over and was talking to Tim and congratulating him. I saw Rizzo watching this. Rizzo looked like was about to cry and about to panic at the same time. This broke my heart and I realized something had to be done.

When the game was over I knocked on the locker room door, "Are you all descent?" I called in.

"What do you consider descent?" I heard Janaszak yell.

"At least pants on Janny." I called in.

"Give me a minute." Silk called out. That made me giggle a bit.

"Okay, Chev come on in." OC called out.

I walked in. Tim was no where around. He didn't stay with the team much; he knew they didn't like him being here. I walked over to where Rizzo was sitting and climbed on his lap and hugged him tight.

"What's up Chev?" OC asked.

"We need to do something about Harrer. I don't care what we have to do we have to get rid of him." I said.

"What can we do? Herb is the coach." Ramsey said.

"I don't know but one thing is for damn for, I am so sick of Herb just panting over Harrer and working the rest of you to death. And I'll be damned if I am going to allow Harrer to take a spot away from any one of you without one hell of a fight! I am through just sitting back and watching this Johnny-come-lately get all the attention!" I said.

"We could try talking to Herb." Mac said. "Of course we'll have to be more tactful than the feisty little Miss Patrick." Mac winked at me.

"How will talking to Herb help anything? He doesn't listen to anyone. Not even his wife. Did you know Patti told me that Herb never even asked her how she felt about him coaching this team?" I said.

"I played for Herb for four years. I really know him as a coach. I think we should talk to him. Tell him how we feel." Mac said.

"It's worth a shot. Better than doing nothing, at least then Herb will know for sure how we feel." Johnson said. "I'll talk to him."

"I'll talk to him." Mac said.

"I want to talk to him too." OC said. "I ain't going down without a fight either." OC said and took my hand. I smiled at him and squeezed his hand.

"I will talk to Herb too." Rizzo said. I turned and looked at him a bit surprised. "Hey, this isn't fair and I want him to know we feel that way."

I looked around at the boys, wondering what they would say. "Are you sure?" I asked them.

"Yeah, besides if we let you talk to Herb, you would strangle him." Johnson said. "That temper of yours."

I laughed, "You're probably right. I will go tell my dad that you want to talk to Herb." I kissed Rizzo.

The room burst into claps and whistles. "Get a room!" Suter yelled.

I laughed again and left the boys to dress in their suits with striped tie. I walked down the hall and found my dad.

"Daddy, some of the boys have spoken with me and said they wish to speak privately with Herb." I said.

"What about?" dad asked. "Is everything okay?"

"It's about Tim Harrer. They don't feel him being here is fair and they want to talk to Herb about it." I said.

"Did you put them up to this Chevon?" dad asked.

"No. As a matter fact, I think they are wasting their time. Herb is as stubborn as a mule. But they want to talk to him anyway. I hope they have silver tongues on them." I said.

"I will tell Herb. Have the boys wait outside the bus. Tell them not to get on. I will speak to them quickly and then get Herb." Dad said.

"Thanks dad." I said and hugged him.

I was hoping in my heart that Herb might listen to reason with the boys. I grabbed them as they walked out of the locker room and told them what dad had said. I felt very nervous as we walked towards the bus.

I saw my dad waiting for them. I left them to talk to dad and I went over to the bus, but decided not to get on. I had to hear this, so I walked around to the other side of the bus and watched from a distance. I saw my dad climb on the bus. I assumed to get Herb who was already seated.

While the boys waited, they noticed me standing by the bus. Mark Johnson, Rizzo, OC and Mac were all waiting on dad to get Herb. Rizzo tried to give me an encouraging smile. I smiled at him and gave a small wave. I was trying to make Rizzo think I was less nervous than I actually was. I didn't want him to have to worry about me on top of everything else on his mind.

"This better take about two minutes." Herb said walking towards the boys, my dad with him.

The boys all looked at each other as if they didn't know where to start. Finally OC spoke up, "This is crazy Herb, bringing him in this late."

"We got parents buying tickets, getting rooms. What are we supposed to tell them?" Mac said.

"And with one of us going home as it is!" OC said.

"Well I guess I don't have to ask where you stand on this, huh Rizzo?" Herb said.

Mac spoke up, "This wasn't Rizzo's idea."

"You want me to say I'm scared of getting cut? I'm scared of getting cut. Everybody is." Rizzo said.

"We just want it to be fair Herb." OC said.

"Don't even try telling me that, he was right there in Colorado." Herb said flatly.

"That was six months ago!" Rizzo said.

"Oh you don't think he's been playing for the last six months!" Herb snapped.

"Not with us he hasn't!" Rizzo countered.

"So?" Herb asked.

"So there's a difference" Rizzo said.

"Like hell there is. All I know is that kid can flat out play." Herb said, jerking a thumb towards the bus.

"What and we can't?" OC snapped.

"Ah, he moves the puck, got great vision on the ice, stick, soft hands…" Herb started.

Mac cut him off, "That's not the point!"

"I'll tell you something else he's got." Herb snapped. "He's got the attitude I want on and off the ice. So somebody here better explain to me why I shouldn't be giving him a hell of a look."

"Because we're a family!" Johnson said. They all turned and looked at him. My heart melted and I teared up. I felt that way too.

"What?" Herb asked.

"We're a family!" Mark stated with more force this time.

"A family?" Herb asked.

The four boys all nodded, and stated their agreements that they were a family.

"And this is the family that you want to go to Lake Placid with?" Herb asked.

"Definitely." OC said.

"Without a doubt." Rizzo said.

"Absolutely." Johnson said.

"Wouldn't have it any other way." Mac told Herb.

"Tim Harrer can help us boys. And I'm gonna send him home." Herb said. The boys all looked at each other and my heart fluttered in relief. "We got one more to get down to 20, you understand."

Herb and dad began walking back towards the bus. "Looks like you got yourself a team." Dad said.

"Almost" Herb said as he got on the bus with dad.

The boys were slapping each other on the shoulders and walking towards the bus. I ran out to hug them. I grabbed Mac and Johnson at the same time and kissed each of them on the cheek. I was still in tears. They were indeed my family. We had lived together, worked together, fought each other, looked out for each other and shared each others lives for the past 6 months. And I loved them all very much.

I turned and gave OC a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. I then turned and jumped into Rizzo's arms. I held him tight. I was still worried that he would be cut from the team, but at least now it would be fair. I was so happy for him.

I then felt OC hugging me from behind and Johnson and Mac were hugging both me and Rizzo as well. "A group hug, how nice." I said wiping away a few tears.

"Actually, you were hugging Rizzo so long that we didn't want your dad or Herb to get suspicious." Johnson said.

"But I think a group hug was needed anyway." Mac said. "It's been a long night."

"Yeah, it has been." I said. "Come on boys. Let's get on the bus so we can go to the hotel and relax."

When we got back to the hotel, I walked to the room I was sharing with daddy. "I can't believe Herb gave in." I said to dad as he opened the door to the room.

"I think Herb was afraid that if he kept Harrer much longer, it would affect the team's game." Dad said. "Although I have a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that Herb brought Tim here to play head games with the boys."

"Well the important thing is he is leaving." I said and began digging through my suitcase.

"You know, Chevon. Jimmy Craig's spot on the team was never in danger." Dad said.

"Well that's good. I don't think him and his dad could suffer one more tragedy right now." I said. When I raised my head, dad was looking at me funny. "I was going to change and then go see Jimmy. He had a great game tonight."

Dad nodded, "I thought you would want to see him."

I changed into some PJ's and then left for Rizzo's room. I wanted to see him and talk to him now that everything with Harrer was over. I knocked on the door and after a few seconds Rizzo opened the door.

"Hey Chev…" before Rizzo could finish I jumped into his arms. He shut the door and stood there holding me.

"I am so proud of what you and OC, Mac and Johnson did." I said. "I am so happy that we can all go back to normal now."

"Yeah, me too." Rizzo said.

I stood on tiptoe and kissed him. "I love you."

"Love you too. That is what scared me the most about Tim being here. I was afraid of being cut and sent home…away from you." Rizzo said and I hugged him tight.

"You better not leave me; I would be lost without you here." I said.

"Well at least this gives us some more time before Herb cuts me."

I pulled back and looked right into his eyes. "Don't say that. I believe in you, Mike."

"I think you have more faith in me than I have in me." Rizzo said. "Thank you."

"Hey what are girlfriends for?" I asked with a wink. "Where is OC?"

"He went to visit the Coneheads." Rizzo said and walked over to his bed. "I am tired; you want to stay with me tonight."

"Yeah," I said and walked over to climb in bed. "OC doesn't mind me staying does he?"

"Not at all. He says as long as you don't start snoring, you can stay here anytime." Rizzo said with a laugh as we climbed into bed.

We assumed our usual sleeping position with my head on his chest. I felt the most safe and happy when I could hear his heartbeat, feel his breathing and touch his skin.

"I agree with Johnson." I told him. "We are a family. I love everyone on this team. OC, Silky, Coxie, Bah, Pav, Buzz, Mac, Johnson- all of them, they are just the greatest friends I could ever ask for."

"Yeah, I am closer to the guys on this team than any other team I have ever played on." Rizzo said. "Wait; if we're a family wouldn't that make us 'kissing cousins'?"

"You're silly." I said and kissed his chest right over his heart. "For you, I'll risk a little cousin kissing."

Rizzo tightened his arms around me and we fell asleep.