Disclaimer - I do not own anything even remotely related to The Mighty Ducks. I only wish I had thought of them first…
Italics indicate character thought.
Beau was starting to find herself fitting in, at least a little, with some of the NHL girlfriends and wives. She did her best to avoid Evtimov's 'better' half and her flunkies, but she had found friends in a few of the women. Mostly though, she was just enjoying see Charlie play in person. Two years of not seeing him on the ice, doing what he loved best, had been like torture. Watching him now, amidst the screaming fans streaking past her against the boards trying to beat a defender, she couldn't help but miss being out there with him.
Her eyes rose up to the flashing scoreboard as several other scores scrolled across the screen. The Maple Leaf's game was starting soon and she knew that Cole was going to be playing. He was falling in love with being a professional athlete and she actually had a trip planned up to see a game the next month.
As the buzzer sounded the end of the period and the teams made their way to the tunnel, Beau stood and cheered loudly. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it out, smiling when she recognized Rachel's number.
"Heya, girl. What's going on?" Beau knew right away that something was wrong. Rachel's breathing was just a little too heavy and she was talking urgently to someone in the background.
"Beau, hi." She said something to Fulton and Beau felt her heart stop.
"What is it Rachel? Is Fulton okay?"
"Fulton's fine. Beau, it's Cole." She said with a jarring finality that Beau didn't want to comprehend.
"What do you mean, it's Cole?" She was playing dumb, not really wanting an explanation.
Rachel sighed heavily, her voice shaking just a bit. "Fulton – he didn't have a game tonight – and we were watching Charlie play. So, like five minutes ago we started flipping back and forth to Toronto so we could see Cole. As the teams were coming on the ice they started talking about the somber mood, what with the accident and all."
Beau's voice sounded far off, even to her own ears. "Accident." It was a statement, not a question.
In North Carolina, Fulton was prowling the living room of their apartment like a caged animal and Rachel stepped away from him, uncomfortable with the energy. It made her unable to talk.
"Apparently on his way to the arena for pre-game stuff a tractor trailer side swiped him off of the road and down into a ditch." She lowered her voice. "Beau it was, like, hours before anyone found him. He's in the hospital now. ICU."
Beau was still standing even though everyone around her had returned to their seats. She had one hand on the glass, desperate to be with Charlie, and the hand that held the phone up to her ear was shaking slightly. She took one deep breath, then another.
"Okay." She was speaking to Rachel, but the word was really to calm herself. "Okay. I'm going to call his parents and then I'm going up there." She was already moving to cut off her phone but stopped when she thought of how upset Rachel and Fulton must also be. "Rachel, thanks for calling. I'll be in touch as soon as I find out anything. I love you. Tell Fulton the same."
"We love you too, Beau. We're getting on a plane in two hours. Travel safe."
Beau pocketed her phone and turned to her friend Elisha Rominov. The woman was watching her with wide blue eyes.
"What is it, Beau?"
She filled her in quickly as she pulled on her thick jacket and her gloves, digging for her car keys simultaneously. They exchanged hugs and Beau held Elisha at arms length. "Do not let anyone tell Charlie until the game is over. He'll be out the door if he hears and Cole would kill me if he knew that Charlie missed a game for him." She smiled a little at that thought, despite the fact that it tore at her heart. "Have him call me when he gets in the locker room. I'll make arrangements for him, too."
Without waiting for an affirmation she hugged her friend again and bounded up the stairs to the main level of the arena two at a time. Despite the crowded walkways she broke into a run, desperate to get to her car. As she sprinted, she punched in the number for information. The operator came on and she slowed to a fast walk so that she could be understood.
"What city and state please?"
She halted, breathing heavily. "Farmington, Michigan."
"Farmington, Michigan? I can help you in that area, ma'am." The man's voice was pleasant, but Beau just wanted to scream at him to hurry up. "What listing?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Procida."
There was a pause that seemed like minutes although in reality it was probably closer to seconds. "Alright, I have a Jeff and Susie Procida on Hikerton Way. Would you like to be directly connected?"
Beau closed her eyes, not really sure she was ready to have this conversation. "Yes."
Toronto was cold. Big surprise. Beau was still wearing her heavy coat, even though she had been standing in the hallway of the ICU for over an hour. She was leaning against a wall, tapping her foot incessantly.
"Beau!"
At the sound of her name, Beau whipped her head around and sighed when she saw Susie and Jeff Procida hurrying towards her. She pushed herself off of the cold wall and rushed towards them, grabbing them both in a hug. It was brief, though, as Mrs. Procida pushed her gently away.
"How is he?"
Beau's frustration show in the deep bags under her eyes.
"I have no idea! Because I'm not family they wouldn't give me any information, they wouldn't let me see him…the nurses station is right over there." She motioned around the corner and followed when they took off in that direction.
They reached the counter quickly and gave the nurse their name. One look at their faces and she knew that they were concerned parents. She ushered them down a long hallway, leaving Beau watching after them.
"God, this is so frustrating!" She was ready to tear her hair out. In fact, she had run her fingers through it so many times that it was standing out all over the place. Needing something to do, Beau moved quickly to the payphone at the end of the counter. Damn these no cell phone rules.
It took her several tries to get her calling card number entered in and it was torture waiting for it to go through the long spiel detailing how she could add more minutes if she wished. When it finally connected to the number she had dialed, it rang only once.
"Beau?" Charlie sounded tired, but it was clear that none of them would be getting sleep any time soon. Despite everything, she couldn't help but smile at the sound of his voice.
"Hey, Charlie." Anticipating his questions, she rushed on. "No news yet. They still wouldn't tell me anything. A few of the guys on his team are here, but have all fallen asleep in the waiting room. They couldn't get any information either. But, his parents just got here and were taken back to see him, so I think we'll know something soon." She sighed. "I just needed to hear a friendly voice."
She sounded ragged, Charlie thought. "I'm glad you called. I'm actually getting in a cab at the airport now, so I'll be there soon. I hate that you're all alone. I really wish that you had let…"
Beau cut him off as she saw Cole's father coming down the hallway, head hanging. She felt something drop into her stomach. "Charlie, I have to go. I love you." Without waiting for an answer, she hung up, feeling like a zombie, and moved to intercept the man and get the news.
"Jesus Christ. A coma?" Averman's voice rose on the last word, tearing a bigger gash in Beau's resolve to call all of the old Wolfpack players before she cried. She and Charlie were running down the roster, calling the Ducks first.
"His car flipped when it slid down the embankment and landed on the hood. They think he hung there, unconscious, for close to three hours. All that blood rushing to his head made any internal bleeding even worse than it would have been otherwise. He was out when the paramedics got to the scene and has been ever since. Otherwise, grace of God, he's physically fine. He's got a lot of swelling though, and they aren't sure if he'll wake up. If he does there are chances of brain damage. So all the way around, it's a bad fucking deal." She looked up as Charlie came back into the room carrying two bottles of soda. He sat down in the chair next to Beau and ran his palm over her back in small circles and nodded when she pointed to Averman's name on the list they had put together. Speaking of, Less broke back into her thoughts.
"I'll call the airport as soon as we hang up. Are you and Charlie doing okay, Beau? What can I do?"
She thought about it for a minute, choosing not to answer the first part of the question. Who was every really okay when something like this happened? "You could call Jesse and Goldberg for us. That would save some time. I'm sure not all of the guys will fly in, but you all are so close with him, we thought you'd want to know as soon as possible. Plus, everyone should know, you know, in case…" She trailed off, looking at Charlie with her eyes wide, her face growing even paler. Oh God. Did I just say that?
"In case, nothing," Averman scolded. "You know Cole better than anybody else. He is the most stubborn son-of-a…you know…I have ever met. If anyone can make himself wake up from a coma, it is that guy. I'll take care of the calls, and we'll be there as soon as we can."
"Okay. You guys be careful." She hung up the phone and dropped her head into her hands. "I feel so useless. I wish I could see him."
Charlie knew she didn't want empty reassurances. He only looked at his watch. "Adam's game should be over by now. Do you want to call him or do you need a break from delivering the news?"
Saying nothing Beau just handed over her phone.
antiIrony: I like to think that if Beau knew you, she would have resorted to plastic fork stabbing instead of a simple slap. It's all about the finesse.
Johnny: Agreed on Charlie and what he needs. I believe he will now be writing Casey off completely.
Joank: Sorry it didn't go in the expected direction. Casey just seems irrational enough to storm in like she did. I have a few chapters left in this story – following this Cole story and then one smaller one. As for Casey, she's all done in my book.
Cc: Thanks and thanks!
Urban: Wish granted!
Hockey-girl90: Glad you like it and want more chapters. I've got a few more. I'm thinking four or five maybe? I'm not sure.
Duckfluff: sadly, I think this story is definitely nearing its end. I don't plan another Casey sighting, but I do have a bit of story left. Never fear though, I am already thinking out the basic plot for the sequel.