Does anyone really think I own Disney or the movie at this point?
Once again I want to thank all of my reviewers. I also want to apoligize if I offended anyone with the last chapter and the stuff about the "commie bastards". While this is a fic based on the movie "Miracle", I have also watched alot of documentaries on the actual miracle on ice and have used some of that information as inspiration for this.
Author's note: I had a hard time figuring out how to format this chapter. In the beginning of it there a mini-moment paragraphs, separated by bold-italic "chapter titles". Afterwords the story flows back into my usual style. I hope that makes sense.
Chapter 21: The Game
The game begins.
I have never been so nervous in all of my life. As I see the guys enter the ice I swear the building seems to be shaking. I can not seem to stand up, my legs feel like jello. The crowd is screaming. I have never heard anything like it in my entire life. I am completely overwhelmed....I feel like I could cry. Oh god! How am I going to get through an entire game....how is the team?
U.S.A!
I have been to a lot of hockey games in my life....too many to count....and I have never experienced anything like this. The entire crowd is chanting "U.S.A!"....and I could swear the chanting is coming from outside the arena too! I can see my dad call the team to the bench....I can't hear what he is saying....but I have a pretty good idea.
Ten minutes.
Oh my god Rizzo just scored the go ahead goal! We are in the lead for the first time tonight....we could win this thing. But there are ten minutes left. That is a hell of a lot of time....too much time. I look at the clock 9:58....only two seconds have passed! Is time standing still? Is it going backwards? This is going to be the longest ten minutes of my life!
The countdown.
There is only 15 seconds left and we are still in the lead. This is unbelievable! We are going to do it! The crowd is so loud I swear I am going to go deaf. I can hear the people around me starting to countdown....ten....nine....eight....I am unable to speak. I somehow manage to get to my feet....probably because it was the only way I can see the team....and Jack. They all look like they are going to jump out of their skin. I can see them all looking between the ice and the scoreboard....seven....six....five....all of a sudden I make eye contact with Jack....we just sort of stare at each other....both understanding what each other is feeling....and I start to cry. All the emotions of the last few months are overwhelming me right now....four....three....two....I think the building is going to collapse....Oh my god! Oh my God! We did it....we won. I can see the guys running onto the ice. I see Jack tackle someone....they are both lying on the ice....of all the smiles I have seen come from Jack I have never seen one this big....this happy. It is an image I will remember forever.
After.
After an unusually long celebration on the ice the team was ushered into the locker room....where the reverie continued. With my dad busy with the press I had no reservations about literally attacking Jack. After he swung me around in his arms a few dozen times I wrapped my legs around his waist and we kissed....it was only interrupted by the rest of the guys pouncing on us. The sudden impact and force of 19 guys piling on top of us caused the entire group of us to fall onto the fall. However, the celebration went uninterrupted. We all just laughed and hugged. This continued until Coach Patrick came in.
"Guys....I don't mean to be a party pooper, but we need to get out of here. There is some kind of figure skating competition in the arena "
"But we were just...."
"I know. But if we can get out of here soon, maybe we can catch the live television broadcast of the game."
There was looks of confusion on the guys faces. I, however, knew what Coach meant.
"What Coach is trying to say is that the network wanted to show the game during their prime time telecast....so they taped it and are going to show it tonight."
"So you mean that we could watch ourselves win on TV tonight?"
"Yep."
"Well then let's get the hell out of here!"
Jim's final statement was followed by yells of affirmation and 20 hockey players packing up their stuff faster than I have ever seen in my life.
When we arrived back at the hotel we all....minus my dad and the rest of the coaching staff (who had all chosen to spend the evening with their families)....managed to squeeze into our....no....Jack and Rizzo's room. Most of the guys were on the floor, some had brought in chairs, and others were on the two beds. I, however, had the best seat in the house....Jack's lap.
Watching the game with the guys was a completely different experience then earlier in the day....obviously I was less nervous....I did know who won....but watching the looks on the guy's faces was priceless. They were like little kids on Christmas. It was almost like they forgot that they had won. They seemed surprised with every goal or hit, they cheered every time the USA scored, but when the end was near they all got silent....even me. Hearing the crowd's enthusiasm and Al Micheals asking if "you believe in miracles?" was more overwhelming than you could ever imagine. For the second time in one day I was now crying. I leaned further into Jack's arms and rested my head on his shoulder. He must have known that I was crying because he tilted his head against mine and brushed his hand across my cheek.
We watched some of the post-game wrap-up and were amazed to see all the cheering people. It seemed that the entire country was as happy as we were. It was Rizzo who finally brought us back to reality.
"Guys maybe we should get some sleep....we've got practice tomorrow and we still have one more game to play."
There was a chorus of moans.
"Leave it to Rizzo to spoil a good party."
"Hey....don't blame me....I don't think Coach Brooks is going to go easy on us now. This thing isn't over yet."
"Eye-eye captain."
"Very funny Buzzy. Seriously guys....you know I'm right."
Of course, we all know he is right. There is no way my dad is going to go easy on them now. He didn't get this far to win the silver. Tomorrow's practice is going to be a doozy. The guys all begin to get up and head for their rooms. Rizzo heads for the door as well.
"Rizzo, you don't have to leave. I can go back to my room tonight."
Rizzo turns to face Jack and I....we haven't really moved since I started crying.
"No....that's ok....you guys look comfortable....anyway....it's been good luck....me not sleeping in here....and I am too superstitious to change that now."
He smiles.
"If you're sure...."
"Yeah. You stay."
"Thanks Rizzo. You're the best."
"From your mouth to some beautiful girl's ear...."
"Don't worry Rizzo....I'm already on that one."
He looks at me slightly confused but is stopped form asking me anything by Mac.
"Hey Rizzo you're in my room tonight. So let's go....I'm tired."
"Yeah....I'm tired too....night Tara....OC"
"Night."
"Night guys."
As Rizzo closes the door Jack rolls me onto my back.
"Thank god....I didn't think they would ever leave!....Hi."
In all the hours that Jack and I have been together since the game we hadn't yet said hello to each other.
"Hi."
We kiss and then Jack rolls onto his back.
"I can not believe that we beat those guys. I mean I know we did....I played the game....I even watched it on TV....but I still can't believe it. It just hasn't sunk in yet."
I wiggle close to Jack and rest my chin on his chest.
"I know. I watched the game twice and I still can not get my mind around it."
"I think that announcer was right....us winning....it was a miracle. We should not have won that game. They were better than us....they are bigger and stronger....faster and more experienced. We are just a bunch of college kids who have only really played with each other for a few months....it just doesn't seem right."
"Except that it is....you did beat them. You guys....a bunch of college kids....beat what was probably the best hockey team ever....and you did it at the Olympics."
"I know! I almost wish that was it tough....it kind of sucks that we have to play another game....it sort of feels anti-climatic....you know?"
"Yeah....maybe now....but once you are on the ice and the crowd is cheering....you guys will be fine."
"One more game....one more game and then it is all over. This whole experience will be over. Wow....where did all the time go?"
That is when I get really sad. No matter what happens with the game....when this is all over....is it all over? Are Jack and I over? He must know what I am thinking.
"Hey....you still with me?"
"Yeah."
I force a fake smile. No good....Jack knows me too well.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing....just tired....long day."
"Tara...."
He knows I can't lie to him.
"When this is all over....what are we going to do?"
"Actually I have been thinking about that....and I was going to wait....but now that you have asked....I got a job offer in Wisconsin. It was before all of this....the team....us....I was going to turn it down....I was going to try and stay in the Boston area....but now."
"I couldn't ask you to do that. Leave everything you know. Plus, I have nothing really holding me here. I could go to Boston."
"Tara....you have put your life on hold for more than six months for this team. You haven't seen your family much; your friends....I would never ask you to move to Boston after all of this."
"But you have been away from your family and friends too."
"Actually, my parents probably aren't going to be in Massachusetts much longer....they always talked about moving to Florida when my dad stopped working and he is retiring at the end of the year. So...."
"Still...."
"Look I have a job offer that can keep you and me together and in the vicinity of your family. I want to do this. Let me do this."
"I love you."
"You better....especially if I am going to move to Wisconsin!"
We both laugh.
"We better get some sleep....Rizzo was right....my dad is not going to go easy on you guys tomorrow."
"I wish he wasn't right....I am so sore."
"Is it your knee....did you re-injure it? Should I go get Doc?...."
"Stop....I am fine....just sore....it's normal."
"Sorry....I worry."
"I know....that's why I keep you around."
"Really?" Is that the only reason?"
"No....you are great at massages, you are kind of funny, you smell better than the other guys I have been hanging around with...."
I hit him lightly on the chest and he acts hurt.
"Actually, I keep you around because you make me happy. You make me smile when things are good, when things are tuff and most importantly when things are bad. I think I have smiled more in the past seven months than I have my entire life....and I know that is because of you."
"I love your smile."
"I know."
"Are you still going to smile if you are living in Wisconsin?"
"For the last time....it is what I want to do. I thought we already decided we are stuck with each other forever?"
"Ok....but if you change your mind....we can....."
"I'm not going to change me mind. Now let's try and get some sleep. Herbies are bad enough when I am fully rested."
"Ok....night."
"Good night."