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Chapter 23: Family

Looking at my dad's face right now I have to say....I am a little scared. I have obviously known my father my entire life....and in that time I have seen him happy, sad, and angry. Right now I don't know what word could possibly describe how he looks. This game is not going well. WE ARE LOSING! To make matters worse....I can see Jack rubbing his knee. He got cheap-shoted in the knee on his last shift. So now I am worried for two reasons.

Buzz!

Well at least the period is over. Hopefully the guys can regroup in the locker room. I am also going to head there....I have to make sure Jack is ok.

As I head towards the double doors I can hear....nothing?....That scares me....I expected yelling and a lot of it....I don't know what the dead silence could possible mean. I am jolted out of my thoughts by the bellowing sound of my dad's voice.

"YOU LOSE THIS GAME YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE IT TO YOUR GRAVE!"

There is a long pause....

"YOUR FUCKING GRAVES!"

And then my dad bolts through the doors. He passes right by me....either choosing not to acknowledge me or not seeing me. I tentively enter the locker room. I half expect it to look like a funeral hall. However, to my surprise the guys look....upbeat?....no....pumped....yes, but there is something else....they look determined and confident....they look like the Soviets! I head over to where Jack is sitting....he is still rubbing his knee.

"You ok?"

He keeps his head down and mumbles something. I bend down right in front of him, place my hand in his chin, and lift it so our eyes meet. I say nothing.

"It's just sore....I swear."

"Ok....You can win this."

"I know."

We stay with our eyes locked for a few seconds and then we kiss....It is not long or deep, but somehow this kiss will forever remain one of my favorites.

"Um....are you two going to stay like that forever? We do have a hockey game to win."

At the sound of Johnson's words we break our "eye-lock". Jack stands up first and then extends his hand to me. Once we are both standing....still holding hands....I look around the room. This team....these guys....Jack told me that when they had finally gone to talk to my dad about Tim one of he arguments they used was that they were a family and that this new guy didn't belong. At the time I thought that was a nice idea but....a family? I wasn't so sure....now I am positive....there is more love and respect in this room than can be found in most "traditional" families. We would all risk out lives for one another....no questions asked. In seven months I gained more than a boyfriend, I got 19 brothers and they all got a sister. My chest starts to well with emotion....I want to say something grand and inspiring, but all I can get out is four little words....

"I love you guys."

I am immediately engulfed in what can only be described as one of the biggest hugs ever. There are no other words spoken....there is no need....we all know that the feeling is mutual and we all know what needs to be done. As the hug disperses the guys head out for the ice leaving only Jack and I in the locker room....still holding hands. We both realize we are still connected and look down at our hands. Jack lifts my left hand to his mouth and places a gentle kiss on it.

"Do you know that I can still feel your kisses after they are done?"

"Good."

I look at him slightly confused....that was not the reaction I was expecting. He is now looking down at the hand he just kissed and is rubbing my knuckles.

"I want to mark my territory....you see this finger right here...."

Now he is just rubbing one of my fingers.

"It will be mine forever."

With that he gives me a quick peck on the lips and starts to head out the doors. I am left in the locker room staring at my hand....no my finger....my ring finger....did he just?....did he mean? I am once again jolted out of my thoughts by Jack.

"Hey you coming?"

"Yeah."

I follow him out the door and down the hallway. I kiss him quickly as he and I go to our respective seats (his on the bench and mine in the stands).

As the game resumes I am still lost in thought over what Jack had said to me. However, I soon hear the sound of a buzzer and realize we just scored. From that point on it was like a completely different game. We finally got the lead and basically we were clobbering them. We looked like the Soviets did at MSG. As the clock began to wind down I knew we were going to win....WE WERE GONNA WIN THE GOLD MEDAL! Everyone in the arena knew it too. I looked down at the bench. I looked at my brothers and saw they knew it and then I looked at my dad. It struck me how much his expression had changed....he looked....I don't know....whatever he was feeling....whatever he was thinking....he knew we were going to win. And then the buzzer sounded....it was over....we won. People were running onto the ice....someone draped a flag around Jim....he was looking for someone....his dad....that thought caused me to look for my dad....he looked happy....no thrilled....but most of all he looked at peace....whatever that picture is in his desk I don't think he will be looking at it anymore. There are so many people on the ice right now....I want to join them....but I can't....for the first time I realize I can't move....I literally feel glued to the floor....and I am crying....no sobbing....I don't remember ever being this happy....it is overwhelming.

When I can finally muster the strength to move I head straight for a now jubilant locker room....what a difference an hour can make. When I walk in I can't find my dad. Did he go straight to the press conference? Is there a press conference? I meet Jack's eyes....he can tell who I am looking for and nods towards the office. I smile at him and mouth "I love you."

As I get close to the office I see that my mom, sister and brother are all in there. My dad sees me at the door and waves me in. As I come through the door my dad engulfs me in a bear hug.

"You did it daddy."

"We did it...."

He turns to face my mom and siblings.

"We all did it."

We all hug.

"So, Herb what is next?"

My dad looks uncertain.

"Honestly Patti, I don't know. I never really let myself think that far ahead."

"Well Dad. I think there is a press conference. And I know that the Bronze medal game is in a few hours....after that game is decided there will be the medal ceremony."

"What are we supposed to do in the mean time?"

"I guess we could stay for the game or maybe get some dinner?"

"I don't really want to stay....plus I am sure the press conference is going to go longer than usual. Tara, would you go see what the boys want to do? If some of them want to stay and some of them want diner that's fine as long as they are all back here in time for the ceremony."

"I really don't think they are going to want to miss that, Herb."

We all laugh.

"No problem dad, I go ask Jack and the guys what they want to do."

My dad's face changes a little and then he looks at my mom....they both have the same look on their face....its like they are sharing something. But then my mom smiles and says....

"You do that Tara....find out what OC and the boys want to do and then let us know."

I smile and nod....that was weird. I felt like my mom was trying to tell me something....whatever....I am too happy right now to really care.

When I see the guys again there really hasn't been any change in their demeanor. They remind me of little boys who just got everything they wanted for Christmas. I can't help but smile. Then I feel an arm wrap around my shoulders.

"Hey beautiful....why are you all the way over here....you are part of this too you know.

"I know....I just like the view form here."

"We are a good looking family....aren't we?"

I lean further into Jack's embrace and simply whisper.

"My family."