Part Fifteen

Binding Ties

Portman stuck his head into Adam's bedroom. Adam was sitting on his bed, a sports magazine on his lap. "Feel up for some company?"

Adam looked up with a start, but seeing it was just Portman said, "Sure."

Adam had been home from the hospital for a day. He would be going to school the next which was Monday. With his dad was still in a coma, Adam's mother would not her husband's bedside, not unless she needed to eat or sleep. Drew was going between their house and the hospital to make sure his mother and brother were cared for.

Drew had changed Adam's nightstand from the right to the left to help his brother access everything with his left hand. The stand had some of Adam's stuff - lamp, phone, and a drink.

"How are you doing?"

"Not bad." Maybe I should just stick a sign in front of me saying, 'I fine! Stop asking!' With that thought came the mental image of what he would look like with that type of sign. Adam smiled.

Seeing the smile, thinking Adam was happy to be out of the hospital, Portman said, "Bet your glad to be home."

"Yeah, I am. But I wish I could be at the hospital too."

Nodding, Portman just said what just about everyone was saying and hoping for, "I'm sure your dad's gonna be fine."

Before Adam could reply to that, the phone rang. Grabbing it, he said a quick "Hello?"

"Hey Cake-Eater! How you doing?" asked Jesse. His voice was upbeat, but it held concerned for his friend. Charlie had assured him that Adam was okay. All the same, he wanted to talk to Adam himself.

Trying to push down his disappointment that it was not the hospital, Adam said, "Jesse, you're about the hundredth person to ask that."

"Yeah, yeah. What you up to?" Adam sounded fine, but sounding and being fine were two different things.

"Nothing. Portman just showed up. Want to talk to him?"

"Sure."

Once Adam handed the phone to Portman, he went back to his magazine. Though he could easily listen to Portman's side of the conversation, Adam did not want to eavesdrop. It did not sound like a serious conversation, mostly about Portman's version of what had happened during JV/Varsity game.

At one point he overheard Portman say, "He's doing fine."

Adam knew that Jesse was asking how he was doing, but Adam was pretty sure Jesse wanted to ask Portman his point view. Just because Jesse and Adam had been and still were close friends, there were times Adam kept problems to himself.

A few minutes later Portman handed the phone back to Adam.

"The JV/Varsity game must have been something, huh?" Jesse asked.

"It was that. One of the hardest games we had to play that's for sure."

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened with you and your dad?"

Adam sighed wearily. "Short version is that he didn't know about the game."

"Nor did he know you were back on the Ducks." Jesse said more then asked that statement.

"Basically."

"Look, I'm sure your dad's going to be fine."

"Jesse-"

"I just know, Adam." Jesse's voice was serious. "And I hope your not blaming yourself for the accident either. You're not are you?"

"Jesse, it's not that easy-"

"No, it isn't." Jesse interpreted again. "But I know your dad is proud of you anyway." Even though he doesn't what you go your own way.

"Right." Adam knew Jesse was trying to help, he agreed hoping to to drop the topic. It did not make him feel better.

"I've got to go, call waiting. Bye!" Jesse said quickly.

"Bye."

Hanging up the phone, Adam saw Portman flipping through his eight grade yearbook.

"Did you like going to a public school instead of a private one?" Portman asked. He had been surprised a bit when he had learned that Adam when to the same school as the Ducks more then a year ago.

"Public school was better." Adam nodded. Sure private schools had its benefits, but then public school was much better because he had his friends. Adam was never able to make friends easily, and the Ducks were his real friends. Even Scooter and Zack who were on his old teams were really his friends then the others that he knew were.

"So how bad is Eden Hall? You guys have had a few weeks to get adjusted to teachers and classes."

Adam told him about some of the classes he had, as well as the teachers, and high school no doubt added to the level as well as the load of homework. Portman did not look like he was going to look forward to school the next day.

"You're probably wondering why I didn't bother to come back a few weeks ago."

"Fulton just said you didn't want to come because Coach Bombay wasn't going to be here."

"That was part of it. But mom had been expecting a baby, and a few days before school, she miscarried. She was fifteen weeks along, nearly four months."

To say Adam was shocked was a gross understatement. "Portman, I'm sorry, I'm not sure what to say," Adam told his friend. He asked though it may have been irreverent. "How is your mom doing?"

"She's hanging in there." Portman expression was sober. "She insisted that I come to school here. Said with my dad and sister at home, she'll be fine."

"How come you just didn't say that in the first place?"

"Guess I didn't want anyone to know." Portman had finally talked to Fulton about it about week after the miscarriage, swearing him to secrecy.

The phone rang again. Adam grabbed it on the second ring.

"Adam?" It was his mother. She sounded like she was weeping.

"Mom? Is everything OK?" Adam asked trying not to sound afraid or worried, but failing miserably. Portman's face turned to concern when he heard Adam said it was his mother.

"Yes!" Lauren said with what sounded like a joyful laugh and a cry. "Your father woke up."

Quickly walking toward the front doors of the Eden Hall, Adam tried not to get too jolted with his one arm in a cast. He did not like having his right arm in a cast because it itched like crazy and his right arm was also the one he used to write with. But Adam was thankful that it was not one of his legs that had gotten broken. He would have hated to try navigating around with crutches.

With his dad out of the coma for the past two days, Adam wanted to be at the hospital more then school. But yet, Adam knew his father was going to talk to him about his playing on JV, or rather with the Ducks, and not Varsity once he became more coherent. Phil had been in and out of it for the past few days, but he was staying awake longer and sleeping less.

As for the Ducks, things had still gone up some what since Friday's game. The school was a buzz with JV's win against Varsity. JV/Varsity showdown games always had Varsity as the champion. How the world turned upside down for them.

"Adam, wait!"

He slowed his pace when he heard his name.

Scooter fell in step with the younger teen a few seconds later. "Do you need a ride to the hospital?"

"No, Drew is coming."

"How's your dad doing?"

"Well as can be expected."

"Do the doctors think he'll make a full recovery?"

"They're not sure yet, but they say Dad's doing well after two days."

"Good." Scooter was happy to hear that Adam's father was doing better. He saw someone coming toward them. "Hi, Drew."

"Hi, guys." Drew greeting both of them. "How was your day?" Drew asked of the junior.

"Not too bad. How's your father?"

"Sleeps off and on. He's doing better each day." Drew smiled.

"Good," as much as he would have liked to chat with the two brothers, Scooter was not able stay, "I've got to go to practice."

This is going to be interesting. Adam felt bad for Scooter. One, Brown and he would be getting the third degree for helping the Ducks to go to the hospital to visit him. Two, with the Ducks win on the JV/Varsity game on Friday, Varsity were not in the greatest of moods. Not to add that soon, they would be wearing their colors of black and red, but not as Warriors but as Ducks. As for jerseys for his friends and himself, they would have ones that had, the white and red for JV.

"Scooter," Adam said stopping the goalie from going on his way. "thanks for all you've done."

Scooter waved the thanks away like it was no big deal, which to him it was not. "What are friends for?" With that, he walked toward the doors to go to the arena.

Shifting his backpack to find a comfortable spot on his shoulder, Adam was about to ask how their father was doing today, when Drew grabbed his pack. He did not swing it on his back, but carried it by its straps.

"How is Dad? Really?"

"He was resting when I left." Drew said. "I think he's doing better today. He'll be out of the hospital before we know it."

"That's great." Adam really meant what he said. He was relieved that his dad was going be alright.

Sitting in a chair in his father's hospital room, Adam tried to study for his biology test they were going to have Friday. But trying to study was the last thing on his mind. He would be lucky if he passed the test with a passing grade.

He was the only one here. Drew had driven their mother home so she could to rest. She had not left her husband's side even after he awoken.

Phil Banks had been very relieved to see that his son was alright. He did not need to say that in so many words, it had been clear in his expression. Though neither of them had talked about what happened Friday, it was a miracle that they both come out of this accident still in one piece.

"Adam?" The teen looked up to realize his father was again awake.

Putting his school book aside, Adam asked, "Do you need anything?"

"No. Where are your mother and Drew?"

"They're at home, Drew is going to be coming back soon."

"He's been here all this time, making sure you and your mother are alright, hasn't he?"

Nodding, Adam did not speak. Drew always was his dad's pride and joy. Adam was not jealous, not of Drew. Sure, Drew sometimes did things his own way, and not how their father wanted him to. But Adam did not want to think what would have happened if his big brother had not stepped in the past few days.

"I wanted to say something about Friday."

"Dad, I-"

"Let me finish." Phil said sharply. He did not mean to be so harsh, it just come out like that.

"Why didn't you just tell me that you where on JV?"

"The Ducks, not JV. Because you won't have been happy." Gross understatement. "Because you would have wanted me to stay on Varsity."

Sighing, Phil said, "True enough. But you could have told me."

"And what? Have you blow up on me like you did Friday? Dad, you don't get it. I wasn't happy being on Varsity. My friends, the Ducks, thought I was just like them because I was on the other team."

Phil did not say anything. He really listened what Adam said. Not just heard him, and thought since Adam was young, his son did not know what was talking about. But Adam did know he was talking about. He did not have to say, but Adam must of hating being on Varsity. Phil knew that Adam loved being on the Ducks.

"So you didn't like being on Varsity, and rather stay with the Ducks?" Phil asked quietly.

Adam blinked. He had not expected his father say that, or more like ask that. But he had. "Yeah."

Sighing wearily, Phil said, "Alright, if that's what makes you happy, stay with the Ducks."

"Really?" Adam smiled, one that reached his blue eyes. When was the last time he was truly happy about something? Or maybe it was when was that his father at least let him go his own way? It had been awhile.

"Yes. I'm just glad you're alright, son."

Feeling a bit choked up, Adam managed to say, "I glad you're going to fine too, Dad."

"So what happened at the game?" Phil asked. He had not seen the game, and the very little he had seen had not gotten his attention as mad as he had been.

Adam told his dad about the game and how Varsity and the Ducks had played. Drew had come back in the middle of all this. But he heard enough that he was nearly tempted to beat up half of the Varsity team for how the treated Adam and his friends.

"Drew," Adam said once he was done telling them about the game, "I need to get something to drink. I'm going to head down to the cafeteria."

"Sure, I'll find you when you're ready to go."

Coming out of his father's hospital room, Adam headed down to the elevator. As the doors opened, he saw Charlie ready to come out.

"Charlie?"

"Hey. How's your dad?"

Adam did not want to get into the emotional talk he and his dad shared, so he just said, "He's doing better."

"That's great." Charlie said with relief.

"I'm heading for the cafeteria for something to drink, do you want to come?"

"Sure."

Once they got their drinks the found a table at a nearby widow area that was not too crowded.

"So how are you doing?" Charlie asked. The two teens had not talked since lunch, and Charlie knew that with everything that happened with Adam in the past few days, it had been crazy for him.

"Fine." Adam said honestly. "Charlie, I wanted to say something about Saturday."

"You mean when everyone was here?"

Nodding, Adam said, "I didn't want to talk about it then. You want to believe that Scooter, Brown, and Zack are jerks. They're not."

Charlie started to say something, but Adam cut him off.

"Scooter has been nothing but nice to me, and the rest of the Ducks. Well, more with what happened Saturday then anything. And what happened nearly four years ago wasn't Zack's fault. You saw what happened at the championship game, McGill was the one who pushed me down, not Zack."

Frowning, Charlie said more then asked, "So you want me and the others to be friends with them."

"No, I'm not. Whether you know it or not Charlie, the rest team looks at you to lead, not just on the ice but off it as well." Adam knew the rest of the Ducks led their own lives and sometimes did their own thing, but Charlie was the one who held the team together.

Charlie turned away from his friend. Adam was in many ways, echoing what Hans tried to tell him before he died. Adam's sharp gaze remained steadily on him, waiting for him to speak.

"Sometimes I wonder if you should be captain and not me."

That was the last thing Adam had expected Charlie to say, and it was not prepared to reply to that remark. Bewildered, he asked with incredulity, "Me?"

Nodding, Charlie said, "It's the truth." Adam still looked at him like he just grew two heads. Grinning, Charlie said, "Don't worry Preppie, I'm not going to turn over my C to you. But seriously, if ever I did, you'd be the first candidate to replace me."

"Thanks Charlie, I think. But I never would take your C. Everyone knows you're the captain."

"As for Scooter and everyone, I'll try to be polite, but don't hold your breath."

"I won't." Adam knew that Charlie meant what he said. That was all he could ask for. Maybe one day he would tell his friend about what happened after that unofficial game with Varsity. But not today or anytime soon. That was still too new and painful.

"There you are, Adam." Drew was heading toward them, a few feet away. "Hi, Charlie."

"Hi Drew." Charlie said. Glancing at his watch, he added, "I've got to run. Practice is going to start soon."

"I'm going to." Adam said. At Charlie's surprised look, he added, "I'll just watch. My dad's doing fine."

"I'll just drop you both off."

"Thanks, Drew." Adam said to his brother as he sat down for the moment.

"Drew, do you feel like coming to a Varsity game on Friday?"

Adam wondered why Charlie was inviting Drew to a high school game.

"Sure." Drew didn't mind going. "Is it going to be any particular game?"

Grinning, Charlie said, "No not really. It'll just be the first game Varsity has as Ducks, not as Warriors."

"Charlie, you're not planning to put more fuel on the fire are you?"

"Me?" If Adam did not know his friend like he did, he would buy the innocent act. "I just think the JV team to show Varsity some school spirit and pride."

"It's going to be one interesting game, that's for sure."

Oh, yeah. Adam agreed with his brother. Friday's game was going to be one to remember. Just like this past Friday's game was one that Eden Hall would never forget.