(Anyone notice that Doc calls Mac Mike when he's asking where it hurts?)

Tomorrow's Heaven

Maddie sat in the stands behind the bench a few rows up, Jack was right beside it. She watched the first period, then the second. At the end, they were trailing Sweden. Mac had already been taken to the change room after being hit hard. She sat in the stands hoping Robbie was all right. At the end of the second period, she glanced down and saw Jack heading into the change room.

XxxxxXxxxxX

"How's it looking Doc?"

"He's got an upper leg contusion."

"Can he play?"

"I don't understand."

"If he plays on it could it hurt him any worse?" Herb asked.

"No but it will be very painful for him and he won't be able to do much."

XxxxxXxxxxX

"You guys are playing like this is some throwaway game up in Rochester, who we playing Rammer?"

Herb walked into the change room and started yelling. Jack stood opposite the benches beside Craig.

"Sweden." Ramsey muttered.

"You're damn right Sweden." He threw the table over. "IN THE OLYMPICS!"

He eyed Robbie.

"Put your gear on." Nothing. "I said 'put your gear on'."

"But Doc told me I can't play-"

"Yeah I know what Doc said, you know what, put your street clothes on 'cause I got not time for quitters." Herb retorted.

"Come on Herb, nobody's quitting here." Rizzo piped up.

"Worry about your own game, plenty there to keep you busy."

Turned back to Robbie.

"A bruise on the leg is a long way from the heart you candy ass."

"What'd you call me?"

He stood up and whipped the ice pack at the floor and walked towards Herb.

"You heard me."

"You want me to play hockey? You want my to play on one leg?"

"I want you to be a hockey player!" Herb yelled.

"I AM A HOCKEY PLAYER!"

Johnson and Ramsey stood up and held him back. Herb walked out of the room and muttered something to Craig, Robbie still yelling.

"You want me to play on one leg Herb, I'll play on one leg. Would that make you happy, huh Herb?! Let go of me, I am a hockey player Herb, you want me to play, I'll play…"

XxxxxXxxxxX

Robbie stood on defense and jabbed at the Swede beside him. He was pumped, ready to show Coach Brooks what he was made of. Maddie watched him, angry as hell but she wandered down towards the bench. She tapped Jack on the shoulder before sitting beside him.

"What did he do?" Maddie asked.

"Coach called him a candy-ass." Jack stated.

"Wow. I guess that would work."

XxxxxXxxxxX

They tied that game, two all. Maddie led Alex back to the dorms to hang out. There was a light knock on the door and when Maddie opened it, Robbie was standing there.

"Yeah?"

"Some of the guys and I are going to check out Lake Placid, you girls want to come?"

"Who's some of the guys?" Alex asked.

"Johnson, Buzzy, Rizzo, O.C., Jimmy and Rammer. You coming?" Robbie asked.

"Yeah, okay."

XxxxxXxxxxX

Alex wandered down the street beside Buzz. Maddie followed closely behind her beside Jack, still on crutches. They all stopped and stepped into a café, sitting in a table at the back. A petite blonde girl with blue eyes stood at the edge of the table with a smile plastered to her face.

"What can I get for you today?"

She went around the table and many replies were for soft drinks. Maddie ordered a water and Alex grabbed an order of coffee. She disappeared with the order sheet and left the group at the table alone.

"Water?" Robbie asked. "You never order water."

Maddie grimaced and let out a huge sneeze. Alex giggled at the noise and then laughed loudly.

"Excuse me." She smiled.

"Is your nose clear now?" Alex joked.

"Yeah but man what a headache."

"Maybe we should take you back." Rizzo suggested.

"No, I'm fine." She said as she let out another sneeze. "Fine."

"Everybody has to sneeze sometime or another." Ramsey stated.

"Alright, I'll let it go." Rizzo smiled.

"Plus if you were sick, I'd be the first to know right?" Robbie asked.

"Yes. Who's up for some exploring after?"

XxxxxXxxxxX

Maddie walked down one side of the street with Alex, Rammer and Jimmy. Jack, Robbie, Mark, Rizzo and Buzz could be seen on the other side of the road. Maddie glanced at them and saw a girl at one of the booths talking to them. Curiously, she wandered across the street and took Jack's arm. Robbie watched her, almost like she was claiming territory.

"Tell your friends on the team to stop by sometime." The girl finished and they started to walk away.

Maddie continued to walk with Jack and a few blocks down the road he handed her a teddy bear with U.S.A. stitched across the front.

"Pour vous." He said.

"What?" Buzz asked.

"It's French, 'for you'," Maddie stated as if he should've known. "The only thing that could make this day any better was if I had a cookie."

"HEY MADDS!" Alex yelled from across the street then came hurdling towards them, Jimmy and Rammer. "Want a cookie?"

She held up a bag and pulled out a chocolate chip cookie and handed it to her. Maddie shoved the whole thing in her mouth and everyone laughed at her. She finished chewing and swallowed, smiling at her accomplishment.

"Cute bear." Alex remarked jealously.

"Not as cute as me." Maddie teased.

"Okay, your cute and I'm beautiful. No wait, I'm sexy." Alex retorted.

"She's gorgeous." Jack replied.

"And sick." Jimmy voiced as Maddie sneezed again and again.

XxxxxXxxxxX

Maddie coughed and sneezed the rest of the night and when morning rose and Robbie walked in to wake her up, she rolled over and groaned. He walked out and went back in with Jack. Maddie groaned again and pulled a pillow over her head. Robbie called out her name and she rolled over and looked up at them, bright lighting above their heads.

"Am I dead?" She asked with a sniffle.

"Not yet." Jack joked. "Do you think you'll die?"

"The room, it's spinning, make it stop." Maddie mumbled as she dropped her head into the pillow again.

"Go get ready for your game, I'll stay." Jack suggested.

Maddie coughed into the pillow and groaned. She reached her arm above her head and something soft touched it. She moved her head and grabbed the teddy bear, then pulled it down by her side. She shut her eyes and fell asleep almost immediately.

XxxxxXxxxxX

She opened her eyes to darkness. After realizing it was only her pillow and screaming loudly, she sat upright and found Jack standing, looking out the window. Maddie fell backwards and landed with a thud on her pillow by which time Jack had already made his way towards her. He sat on the edge of her bed.

"What time is it?" Maddie asked, eyes still open.

"About six, you hungry?"

Maddie blinked rapidly, trying to think about everything. Eventually she rolled over and hung her head and hand off the opposite edge of the bed to Jack.

"No." She grumbled. "You?"

"Yeah I guess, you want to come out with me?" He asked.

"Only if I can go in my jammies."

"Only if you don't refer to them as 'jammies'." Jack joked.

"Deal."

Maddie rolled right off the bed and stayed on the ground for a minute before mustering up enough strength to stand up. She stood up and walked towards the bathroom. She disappeared for a few minutes and emerged with her hair brushed and pulled back. Maddie grabbed her shoes and threw them on, picking up the bear that had recently fallen on the floor. Jack stood up and as they passed his room, he went in a grabbed his coat, seeing Mac sleeping on the bed.

Maddie glanced at him then they wandered out of the dorms and out the front door. They walked down the street and spotted a few of the payers from different teams but they saw Buzz with Alex too. Maddie squealed and received a funny look from Jack.

"Hey, I called them from the beginning." Maddie stated.

"Oh. What did you think of me in the beginning?"

Maddie stopped. She stopped him with her and stared up at him. Carefully analyzing his eyes, she spoke.

"I thought you were…tough, you know. I mean you did take down Robbie. But I guess that's what caught my attention. Anyone who takes down your brother is gutsy. And you were intriguing; you stood out. You want me to keep going?"

"No I get the point."

"What did you think of me?"

"I thought you were drop dead gorgeous." Jack grinned.

"You didn't drop dead." Maddie replied.

"I'm a tough guy, you said so yourself. You were just not Robbie. Plus being married and all you were something I couldn't have but then you said you weren't married to your brother and that's when I realized you were fun. Plus, don't forget gorgeous."

"Said that." Maddie smiled.

"And your smile…" He tilted his head. "Wow."

Maddie blushed.

"And when you're embarrassed…you drive me crazy." Jack stated honestly.

Maddie looked at him as he touched her face. She looked directly into his eyes, as did he. Her nose wrinkled and she whipped her head to one side and let out a huge sneeze.

"Hungry?" She asked, scratching her nose.

"Let's grab something to go and head back to your room."

Maddie smiled.