Lia06- So glad you liked Donald, I worked hard on portraying him.

Nascarchick- Yes, very close. Maybe soon.

Darkdestiney2000- His dad and bothers play a special part in future chapters.

Meadow567- Hey, one stuttering person is all I can take! LOL

Emador- Both goalies are Romeo's! LOL

Moi- Hey, at least he is trying, better yet he feels it. LOL

Klinoa- He'll say it eventually, I promise.

Killerkeanegirl- Oh no, now this is getting dangerous! LOL Be patient, he will tell her someday!

BellaLou- Loved your review. Jimmy will get it out soon. Glad you like suspense.

Miraclegirl- He was trying but couldn't quite get it out. (You were right, LOL.) Thanks for the compliments.

Shell- I love writing the families, especially since Georgia and Jim are so close to their families.

Anmerie- What's weird about Doc and Donald? I am so glad someone openly expressed dislike for Jimmy's ex-girlfriend. The bus idea was intriguing.

I just want to thank all of you for your wonderful reviews! It makes writing this so much fun. So to all of my regular reviewers, THANK YOU SO MUCH! Please keep reviewing! And for a few of you I haven't heard from in a while, I miss you!

Minneapolis, November 1979

The boys were already out on the ice in a circle doing warm-ups. I stayed behind in the locker room to finish putting a few things away, and then headed down the hall to join the team on the ice.

"Hey Georgia." I heard behind me in the hall. I turned around and saw Tim Harrer.

"Hey, Tim? What are you doing here? Are the Gophers practicing early today or something?" I said while giving him a hug. "I have seen you all over the papers; you're doing great this year."

"Actually Herb called me and wants me to join team USA." Harrer said.

"What? But…" I was at a loss for words. "Oh well the boys are on the ice warming up."

"Thanks Georgia, I'll catch you later." Tim said and walked towards the ice.

I stood stunned in the hall. I had no idea what to think. Why would Herb bring in another player NOW? We had all been together for six months and the Olympics were just a few months away. The team had developed a chemistry and Harrer wasn't part of that.

Then a worse thought struck me. We were down to 21 players, which meant we only had to cut one more before Lake Placid. But now that Harrer was here we would have to cut two more players. Two that had been here since day one. There was no question that Harrer would make the final cut; the year he was having left no question to that. Jim's spot on the team should be safe, I mean every team has to have two goalies and Herb had mentioned that Jim's game was improving.

I started walking down the hall again, knowing that I would be needed at practice.

'Oh my god, RIZZO!' The thought struck me like lightning. Rizzo had been struggling on the ice since practically we started practicing. And Herb was always a bit harsh on him too. Rizzo would be sent home. This would hurt Jimmy, who was good friends with Rizzo. And I think OC would be down right lost without Rizzo; those two were like twins.

I walked out to the ice and saw Tim talking to Herb and Craig, and I couldn't help noticing that the team was watching him. I spotted dad on the bench and walked over to where he was.

"Another of Herb's great ideas that none of us understand." I whispered.

Dad looked as if he wanted to say something but stayed quiet. I sighed and turned to watch practice.

After practice, I sat in the back room thinking about what was going on. Tim had done well at practice. Meanwhile the entire team was looking at him like he was an outsider, and really he was. I could tell that Craig Patrick wasn't thrilled with Herb's idea to bring him here, but didn't know what he could do about it.

I wondered how long it would be before Herb sent Rizzo home. I mean the way Rizzo was playing there left little doubt that he would be the one cut even before Tim was brought in. I hated this, I liked Rizzo; he was one of the nicest guys on the team.

I hopped up on the table and put my head in my hands. This felt so difficult. I couldn't even hate the outsider because he was a friend from the U. Suddenly I felt arms around me and I knew it was Jim. He smelled so great fresh from the shower.

"Hard day?" he asked. I nodded against his chest. "Do you want to come back to my dorm with me?" he asked. I nodded against his chest again. "Do you want me to hold you awhile?" he asked and again I nodded against him. "Are you going to talk at all?"

"Yeah." I said and looked up at him. "I am just so emotionally drained."

Jim smiled and leaned down and kissed me. "It'll be okay. We'll grab something to eat and then head back to the dorms."

"You're so great." I said and hugged him tightly.

"You're not so bad yourself." Jimmy said.

"Where would I be without you?" I asked and buried my face in his neck.

"Georgia, I….I….well…You ready to go?" Jim asked. I nodded and he helped me off the table. I kissed him and we walked out of the locker room.

Jim opened the door to his room, and I walked inside carrying our food. We had stopped off and got a pizza on our way back to the dorms. I sat the pizza box on the couch in the middle.

"What the hell is Herb doing?" I said. Jim looked at me under those long lashes of his.

"What do you think? Herb is doing whatever it takes to win." Jim said and sat down on the couch.

"Bringing in another player now; that is so unfair to all you boys that have been here all along slaving away trying to make this team." I said.

"Herb missed getting a gold medal in 1960, you know that. He is not going to miss getting one this time." Jim said. "Herb would put the devil himself on the team if it meant beating the Soviets."

"How are the other boys handling it?" I asked.

"OC says that Herb isn't going to do anything that he is just messing with our heads. Rammer says it's ridiculous that Harrer is here. Of course Ramsey and Harrer were Gophers together so he is in an odd position." Jim said.

"And Rizzo." I asked. The look on Jim's face told me he suspected Rizzo would be cut too.

"He is trying to stay positive. He says he thinks everything will be okay." Jim answered.

We didn't talk much while we ate. I was still stunned that Herb would bring in another player now. Jim seemed to be lost in his own thoughts as well. As soon as Jim took his last bite of pizza, I climbed into his lap.

Jim wrapped both arms around me. "You feel better now?" Jim asked.

"Yes, you make everything better." I told him and felt him nuzzle against my hair.

"I…..I….well I'm glad that I could help." Jim said.

It was true, as long as I was in Jim's arms, everything seemed better. I felt safe from the world. I would forget all about the hostages in Iran, the fuel problems, rallies gone wrong and Tim Harrer.