Chapter 21: Job Opportunity almost Ruined

Three months later, Conner and Kira were enjoying their time with their children. They had just celebrated their son's birthday and their fourth wedding anniversary. Kira was surprised to hear that Conner spoke to Ambassador Andros of KO-35 at the party. They were both happy to have their two children and what Conner had told Andros at the party was right, Kirsten was their last kid. Even though they were going to love the next step of their lives.

Conner was practicing soccer by himself when he accidentally kicked the ball out of the field and Kira was standing there holding the ball. "I never though I'd see the day Conner McKnight would miss the goal," she teased. Conner smiled as he reached for the ball, but she put it behind her back so he couldn't get it.

"You tease," he quipped.

"I might be, but that's all the fun in the game," she assured him.

She yelped when he grabbed her waist and pulled her close. "Well, I aim to please, how about we get back to the house?" He suggested.

"Sorry, but I'm a married woman," she replied.

"Really? I can probably kick him to the future," he commented.

"Oh please."

He then pulled Kira into a kiss and she dropped the soccer ball to wrap her arms around Conner's neck. "Excuse me, Conner McKnight?" A voice asked. Conner pulled out of the kiss to look over to see someone like a scout standing there.

"Yes, I'm Conner McKnight," Conner replied.

"Hello, I'm Hank Morrison," the man informed.

"Nice to meet you, this is my wife, Kira," Conner informed.

Kira shook Hank's hand with a smile. "I've see you practice, McKnight, nice moves. Can probably need someone like you. I'm the new coach for the Reefside Wave," he informed. Conner's eyes widened when he heard this. "I'll give you a chance to play on our team, nothing permanent, but just to see what you can do for the team," Hank informed.

"Thank you, Mr. Morrison, you have no idea how important this is to us," Conner commented.

"I think I can imagine. Come to the field Friday at 6:30 pm. at 7:00, our game starts," Hank informed.

Conner shook his hand with a smile. Hank walked away and Conner looked over at his wife. Kira wrapped her arms around his neck as she hugged him tight. "This is really great, Conner," she told him. Conner nodded and hugged her back with a sigh. He gets a second chance on being on the Reefside Wave. All he has to do was prove to Hank than he can do it.

(Friday Evening)

Conner arrived for the team on time, but when he came to the locker rooms, he felt someone glaring at him. Before Conner could react, he was pinned up against the wall. "Look here, rookie, just because you played soccer all your life doesn't prove anything that you're good enough to be on our team," the guy snapped.

"Dude, calm down, just let go of my shirt," Conner insisted.

"He's right, Justin, let him go," Hank instructed.

The guy let him go, glared at Conner, and walked away. "Don't worry about him, he's always been trying to keep anyone else away from his spot on the soccer team," Hank assured him. Conner nodded before going to get ready for the game.

(Game Time)

Conner was doing his best on the field, pulling all his best moves to make a goal, and he wasn't even aware that something was going to happen, something that was going to destroy his soccer career forever.

Kira and Christopher were watching Conner with big smiles on their faces. "GO CONNER!" Kira shouted. She picked Christopher up and had him sitting on her side. She watched her husband pull everything he knew out on that field and she was happy to see that he got the chance.

On the other side of the field, Justin had pulled one of the opposing team members. "Mack, I just need you to do this one thing for me. I don't want this young kid on the team," he insisted.

"What do you want me to do?" Mack asked.

"Simple, just make it look like a gang," Justin replied.

Justin then passed money to Mack. "There's more where that came from," he informed. Mack nodded and then he went to do what he was paid to do.

Kira cheered as the Reefside Wave won the game. "Daddy, one, sweetie," she announced. Christopher was jumping up and down with excitement.

"GO DADDY!" He shouted.

Kira smiled as she kissed her son's forehead.

In the locker room, Conner was getting ready to leave when he saw his wedding ring on the bottom of his duffel. He picked the ring up and memories of time he spent with Kira went through his head. He sat down on the bench and placed the ring back onto his finger. He took it off in the first place, not wanting something to happen to it during the game. "You did great, McKnight," Hank commented. Conner jumped up and nodded to Hank.

"Thanks, Mr. Morrison," he told him.

"Well, from now on you can call me Coach Morrison, you're in, McKnight," Hank informed.

"Really? I mean thanks, thanks coach."

Hank shook his hand with a smile. "Better go tell that girl of yours," he commented. Conner nodded and grabbed his duffel.

As Conner came out of the locker rooms, he didn't know he was being followed. As he stopped, Conner wasn't expecting to see a hooded figure standing behind him. All Mack had to do was take Conner's knee out and his soccer career would be over. Conner turned around to see the hooded figure.

Kira and Christopher were searching for Conner and when they turned the corner, Kira's eyes widened in horror. "Conner!" She gasped. She ran over to Conner in disbelief. He was on the ground in pain. "Conner, what happened? What's wrong?" She asked.

"I have no idea, Kira. I was coming around the corner and then I was attacked. It all happened to fast for me to even react. My knee, it hurts," Conner replied.

Kira looked up when Hank came out. "What's going on here?" Hank demanded.

"Conner's been attacked," Kira replied.

She grabbed her cell-phone and called an ambulance.

(Reefside Hospital)

Conner's knee was dislocated and thanks to surgery they were able to put the knee back into place. Conner knew who hired the guy to try and take him off the team. Hank came in. "McKnight, I'm really sorry that Justin did this," he apologized.

"Don't make his apologies for him," Conner insisted.

"Justin's a disgrace to the team," he commented.

"Whoa! Coach, settle down."

Kira was sitting besides Conner's bed and held onto her husband's hand. Jus then, Dr. Grayson came in the room. "Dana, will Conner be able to play soccer still?" She asked.

"Well, everything else checks out okay. That knee should be propped up for now until it heals. He'll be going through a lot of physical therapy, but I think that Conner McKnight would be going back on that field again," she explained.

Conner and Kira sighed in relief before hugging each other. "My career isn't over," he murmured. Kira kissed his cheek and held him tight. "At least, I don't think it is, is it coach?" Conner asked.

"Well, your doctor said that you'll be back in the game. I don't see why we can't have you on the team," he informed.

Conner nodded and once Hank was gone, he hugged Kira again, so glad that he could still keep on with his dream.

Justin was kicked off the team, but he was planning revenge on Conner. He had the perfect plan to do it too.