Part Thirteen
Going Nowhere
Gordon Bombay sat uncomfortably in the hard back chair. Why did flights always ask you to wait for two hours before you even boarded?
Standing, he walked down to a café that was in the airport. Coffee was a must, especially at 7:30 in the morning.
Walking over to the windows with the coffee, he sipped the too hot beverage. Now all he could do was to wait two hours for his fight to be called.
"Coach Bombay! Gordon Bombay!"
Hearing his name, Gordon turned and scanned the people around. It did not take long to see the dark haired young man jogging toward him.
Coming to a stop in from of him, the man took a couple of deep breaths, to catch his breath. Once he was he could speak, he said, "I am relieved to see you."
"I am sorry, I am not sure who you are." Gordon thought he looked somewhat familiar but he could not place him.
"Andrew Banks, Adam's older brother." He introduced himself and extended his hand. It was more of a habit then anything else.
"Andrew, I am surprised you even remember me." Gordon said as they shook hands. He had completely forgotten what Adam's brother had looked like. He remembered meeting him once during the peewee games in the playoffs nearly four years ago.
"It's Drew. But I am not here for a visit. I just flew in." Drew's throat tightened. Swallowing with some difficulty, he continued, "Dad and Adam were in a car accident last night."
Gordon's heart felt like it stopped for a split second and then it sped up. Inhaling deeply and then exhaling he asked in a controlled voice, "How are they?"
"Mom said that Adam was alright, but his arm's broken and has a concussion. Dad is in ICU in a coma. She didn't tell me too much about how he was doing." Drew's voice sounded distressed and weary, he had been up most of the night worrying. He had been unable to sleep during the wait for the plane and barely on the plane when he was coming here.
"I'll come with you to the hospital. Just wait here." Gordon walked quickly to one of the information desks and canceled his flight. Going back for Drew and assuring him that he did not mind canceling his flight, they left the airport and grabbed a cab to the hospital.
Once they got there, they asked which floors Philip and Adam Banks were on. They took the elevator to the fourth floor where Adam was.
When Drew got the number of the room Adam was in, he went in. A moment later he was back out.
"He's still sleeping. I want to see how Dad is doing. Can you stay with Adam till he wakes up?"
"Sure. Go, talk to your mom. I'll stay till one of you comes down."
"Thank you." Drew thought Gordon was a nice guy. And not for the first time, he thought that his brother had been lucky to have a coach like him.
Grabbing an old magazine from the waiting room table, Gordon headed to Adam's room. As he quietly went in and sat down, he did not start reading the magazine, but looked at the teen laying on the hospital bed.
Adam's right cheek was bruised, as well as part of his chin. Whether he got the bruises from the game or the accident, Gordon did not know. His right arm was in a cast from shoulder to his hand and rested on his covered form. Watching Adam sleeping there, Gordon thought he looked younger then his fourteen years.
Picking up the magazine, he tried to read one of the articles, but his mind would not let him focus on the words. He had to tell the Ducks what happened. But that would have wait.
"Coach?" came Adam's raspy voice.
Gordon set aside the magazine, got up and walked over to the bed. "Want some water?"
Adam tried to nod, but that hurt. Luckily Gordon knew that he would be thirsty. Gordon went to the pitcher sitting on the bed table, and filled a cup with some water and put a straw in it. Walking back toward the teen, he raised the bed then handed Adam the drink while saying, "Drink slowly."
While drinking to get the cotton out of his mouth, Adam started to remember the events that led him to being in the hospital.
Once he was able to talk, Adam asked the first thing that came to mind. "How is my father?" He had been in and out of it most of the night before. He really did not a know whole lot except his own injuries.
"All I know is he's in ICU in a coma," Gordon wished he knew more to tell the boy. Well, not that, but better news to tell him. "Your mom and brother are up there now."
Adam knew this was his fault. Some of the thoughts from the previous night came rushing through his mind's eye. The Ducks beating Varsity came to mind, soon after that was the face of his infuriated father. He never had seen his dad that angry. Well, Adam had once. When he decided to play for the Ducks about four years ago. Ironic isn't? Dad got pissed off at me again because I chose the Ducks.
Almost has if reading the teen's thoughts, Gordon asked, "Do you remember what happened last night, Adam?"
Sighing, Adam began telling Coach Bombay about the events that happened that led to the car accident.
"Dad saw some of the game last night," As he talked he was fiddling with the bed sheet with his left hand. "He…didn't know I was playing for the Ducks and not on Varsity." Adam looked at the cast on his right arm; he was speaking so softly that Gordon had a hard time hearing what he was saying.
Adam did not add that Charlie and some of the other Ducks had been around then too. His friends tried to help but that did not do any good. It just made his dad more upset. He had been relieved that Coach Orion had not been around, because his dad would have chewed him out. His father thought that Orion had something to do with Adam being on JV. God forbid Adam himself chose to play on the Ducks. If his dad had known Coach Bombay had been there, he would have bit his head off too. Phil turned and walked out of the arena. Adam knew that he did not have much choice, so he followed his father out.
"Adam?" he was brought out of his thoughts with his coach's questioning tone.
Gordon could not read Adam's thoughts, but he could guess what happened between father and son at the arena last night. "What happened?"
"We argued while Dad drove." Adam tried to push away the words that were exchanged in anger from the night before out of his mind. They kept going through his mind like the Energizer Bunny. "Dad stopped at a stop sign, and when he thought it was clear started out, but a truck that was going too fast went through the sign. He broadsided us. It caused the car to hit a tree from the side. That's all I can remember." Adam's head was pounding from trying tell the story correctly to Coach Bombay. The stuff he and his dad said to each other kept running through his mind.
"Adam," choosing his words carefully Gordon said, "no matter what was said last night, you know your dad loves you, right?"
Adam looked at his coach but did not reply.
What had Philip Banks said last night that caused Adam to doubt that he loved him? Gordon asked himself. He was not going to ask Adam to tell him about the argument. That was private and even so, Adam would not talk about it.
"I am not going to ask about what was said, but I know your dad loves you."
Adam nodded slowly. He was sure Coach Bombay was right, but after what was said last night…
The door opened, bringing in a nurse with the breakfast tray. Following at her heels was Drew. He looked wearier now then when he had gone to see his mother.
"Hey little brother, how you are doing?"
The nurse left. Adam looked down at his breakfast. "Truthfully, Drew? Like I am going to be sick," he said pushing his food around with plastic fork.
"The food isn't that bad."
"Really? You want it?"
"Oh, no. It's your breakfast."
Gordon was happy to hear the light banter between the siblings. "Have you had hospital food before?" he asked the fourteen year old.
"Yeah, when I was ten." Adam glanced at him. He was surprised that his coach had forgotten that time.
"Ah, yes. You had to stay overnight then, didn't you?" Gordon had not forgotten that time. He remembered all too well. Mostly in what led Adam to hospital in the first place. After the Hawks/Ducks championship game, he along with the original Ducks and some of their parents had come to visit Adam to tell him about how the game had gone. It had gotten to the point that not everyone could see Adam all at once. That had to be one of the few times that the nurses and doctors saw so many people at once in a hospital waiting room to see one patient.
"Why don't you try to eat some of the food?" Drew asked.
After eating a few bits, Adam pushed his tray aside. "Drew?"
Standing by the window, looking out at the rising sun, Drew heard his brother. Turning around, Drew knew he did not want to give his brother false hope. He knew Adam wanted to know how Dad was doing.
"Right now, Dad's in a coma. The doctors don't know much yet. But the first 48 to 72 hours are critical. They say he could wake anytime. They'll know more when he does."
"Does he have any other injuries?" Adam asked quietly.
Drew thought for moment to remember. "Has a small skull fracture, a few broken ribs, and a nasty gash on his left shoulder." But the doctors are more worried about how Dad will be after he wakes up. But Drew did not add that part. Knowing Adam, he blamed himself for the accident.
Having remained silent but now getting up, Gordon felt he was intruding. He said goodbye to Adam and Drew. The two brothers needed time to talk, and maybe Adam could talk to his older brother about what was going on.
Walking out of the hospital, Gordon dialed a number on his cell phone. He hoped the person he was calling would be able to spare some time to help. Glancing at his watch, he hoped they were awake all ready and he did not wake them up.
"Hello?" No, the voice did not sound like he just woke up.
"Ted, this is Gordon. I apologize if I am calling somewhat early. But I need you to get all of the Ducks together. I'll meet you at Mickey's Dining Car. Adam was in an accident…"
All of the Ducks save Charlie, Guy, Connie, Portman, and Adam were waiting for Coach Orion to show up.
"Why would he want us here at 9:00 in the morning?" grumbled Russ. "We won the game last night."
"Goose eggs?" suggested Dwayne. He got dirty looks for that.
"If that was the case, Cowboy, why aren't we in uniform?" Luis snapped. He had been out with Mindy after celebrating the game. He had been lucky to sneak back into the dorms unnoticed.
"Could this be a Varsity prank?"
"Goldberg, I don't think Riley or anyone on Varsity could sound like Orion." Kenny said logically. He put a hand over his mouth to cover a yawn.
Charlie, Guy, and Connie came in at that moment.
Looking around at his teammates Charlie asked, "Where's Coach?"
"He hasn't shown up yet," said Fulton. "If Portman doesn't get here soon, I guess I'll get him."
"Didn't Adam come with you?" Connie asked Averman.
"Nope, we thought you guys were going to get him." Averman said. He had come with Goldberg and Fulton.
Portman came strolling in like he had been at Eden Hall forever, not since the night before. With him were two beauties draped on each arm.
"Well, we got you here, handsome." The dark haired one on his right said.
"If you need any more help, you know were to reach us." The blonde on his left said. Both girls grudgingly let go of his arms and headed back the way they had come.
"Those girls are seniors." Guy stated with a bit of envy. He failed to notice the look Connie shot him.
"Can I have the blonde's number?"
"Averman!" grumbled most of the team.
"Are you roomin' with anyone, Portman?" Goldberg asked curiously.
"Got a room all to myself."
"Lucky you." No one knew that Luis could not sleep through out most nights because of Dwayne's snoring.
Coaches Orion and Bombay came in. The Ducks were not expecting to see their old coach. They crowded around him thanking him for what he had done. They were just happy to see him as well. Gordon could see that, like Adam, most of the team had some bruises thanks to the Varsity team from the game.
"All right, I am just going to cut to the chase. Adam and his dad were in an auto accident last night."
Everyone was silent, letting the news sink in. Then a dozen questions were being asked.
Orion blew his whistle to gain some control. Why in the world he had his whistle, no one knew, but at the moment it was a good thing. The team went quiet.
"Adam is fine. He has a cast on his right arm, a mild concussion, and some bruises. But other then that, he is okay. His dad though, is in ICU in a coma. He has a small skull fracture, some broken ribs, and a gash on his left shoulder from what I have been told." Gordon said answering the important questions.
Most of the Ducks that had met Philip Banks knew he was difficult, which was being polite. But they would never wish him harm, nor were they happy to hear about his present state.
"We can go see Adam, right?" Connie asked. The Ducks looked between Orion and Gordon for an answer.
Orion spoke up, "Yes, I can take six of you in my van."
"I only have room for one person." Gordon now wished he could take more of the team, but his car only had a passenger seat. He had gone back to his place after talking with Ted, knowing the Ducks would want to see Adam. While he did that, he called his boss to let her know that he was not coming back to California until this was settled.
Charlie sighed. "I guess the rest of us will have to take the bus." Taking the bus would not really be a problem, just it would be longer to get to the hospital.
"Can I do anything to help?"