Of Dreams and Miracles
By Misha

Disclaimer and Notes in Prologue.

Part One: First Impressions and Old Wounds

Early July, 1979

"See that kid? Herb pointed out on the first day of training camp.

They were in the top box watching the tryouts going on below them.

Elizabeth followed her father's gaze. "Mark Johnson, right?"

Every so often, her father would test her, name a player to see what she had picked up. She knew that he was mainly doing it just to voice his own thoughts.

"He's a great skater." She said, after a long moment.

"He's easily one of the best out there." Herb agreed and then continued to watch the players.

Elizabeth did the same thing, just watching them in awe. She loved to skate and she loved to watch others skate. She had no real desire to play hockey, though she played scrimmage with friends sometimes, but to her nothing beat watching the game. She was happiest on the sidelines, just basking in the player's joy and their skill.

Just then Herb's assistant coach, Craig Patrick entered the box.

"So Doc cleared him, he says it's just a sprain." Craig was referring to a player who had been injured earlier in the day.

"That's good," Herb said, looking down at a piece of paper.

"I just wanted you to know how much I'm looking forward to being able to coach with you." Craig told him.

Elizabeth hid a smirk, wondering if Coach Patrick would still feel that way by the time Lake Placid rolled around. Her father was not always the easiest man to work with. Or to be related to, for that matter.

"You were one Hell of a player, Craig." Herb admitted. "You're gonna make one Hell of a Coach."

"And that's about the most praise Dad ever gives, so savour the moment." Elizabeth told Craig with a smirk.

Herb just shot her a look and continued to address Craig. "I'm gonna need you to stick to tight with these kids. If there's any big problems, you let me know, otherwise you take care of it. That's goes for you too, Liz."

Elizabeth nodded, she had been expecting that--it was how things had worked at the U.

However, Craig looked a little surprised. "Okay."

He looked ever more surprised, when Herb handed him the piece of paper he had been working on.

"What's this?" Craig asked.

"Twenty-six names," Herb answered. "The tough part's going to be getting it down to twenty before the opening ceremony."

"This is the final roster?" Craig gaped. "You're kidding me, right? This is our first day, Herb. We've got a week of this. What about the advisory staff, aren't they supposed to have a say in this?"

"Technically." Herb admitted.

"That means yes, but that he doesn't care." Elizabeth translated for Craig, earning a glare from her father.

"You're missing some of the best players." Craig continued to protest.

Elizabeth looked at her father expectantly, already knowing what he was going to say. She wasn't disappointed.

"I'm not looking for the best players, Craig, I'm looking for the right ones," Herb answered.

"You have Jim Craig to back up Steve Janaszak?" Craig asked, looking over the list again.

"Other way around." Herb answered.

"Other way around? I'm sorry didn't Janaszak just win you a National Championship?" Craig asked, seeming a little confused.

"You're not playing for the Nationals." Elizabeth answered before her father could. "Janney's solid, but not spectacular."

Craig shot her a look and then focused on Herb. "You know people I've talked to say Craig's game had been off since his mom died."

"Did they ever see him when his game was on?" Herb asked and then he walked away before Craig could say anything else.

Craig looked at Elizabeth. "Is he always like that?"

She smiled. "Always. It's part of his charm."
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A while later, Elizabeth was sitting at the very back of the bleachers listening as Coach Patrick read off the list of twenty-six names.

She was also watching for reactions, seeking out familiar faces and trying to put names to a few of the unfamiliar faces. She knew most of the names on the list, though there were one or two that she hadn't heard before, and she had been unsurprised by most of her father's choices.

Craig got to the last name, "Eurizione. And that's the roster for now. The rest of you thanks for coming out."

The majority of the boys got up and walked out, crestfallen. The remaining hockey players began to greet one another--they had made it. For now.

Elizabeth's eyes fell on one player in particular. Robbie McClannahan. She had known he'd be there, had expected it and had expected him to make the team.

However, just because she had been expecting it, didn't mean that she still wasn't a little shaken by his presence or by the idea of spending the next seven months in his company.

It was a little odd, after all she had spent a good portion of the last three years in his company and hadn't had a single complain, but things had been different then.

"Take a good look around boys," hearing her father's voice surprised even her, and she turned her gaze from Robbie to watch her father come down the stairs. "'Cause they're the ones getting off easy. We're putting a few of you on reserve, in case someone gets injured or their game goes to hell. The final roster will have twenty names on it, so more of you are going home. Give ninety-nine percent; you'll make my job very, very easy. I'll be your coach; I won't be your friend. Over there's my daughter Elizabeth, she might be your friend, it's up to her. Otherwise if you need one of those you can talk to Doc or Coach Patrick."

"Congratulations," Craig told the crowd. "Before you go pick up one of these. You've got a little homework to do... Before you celebrate."

Elizabeth heard the groans and stifled a grin. She assumed that the groans would be even louder when they got good look at the test her father was making them do.

The boys all made their way to the front and then began to exit.

On his way out, Robbie stopped at Elizabeth's side. "Hey gorgeous."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes and sighed. So, that was how things were doing to be. Robbie was going to try and pretend that nothing had changed between them. Fabulous.

"Hey, Mac." She said with a sigh, using the nickname his teammates used for him.

"So a bunch of us are going out tonight to celebrate, you gonna be there?" He asked cockily, taking it for granted she'd say yes.

"You want to go to the bar with the coach's daughter?" She asked him, raising an eyebrow.

He grinned. "It's not like I haven't done it before."

She sighed again. "I'm not doing this, Mac."

"Not doing what?" He taunted with a smirk.

"This. It's gotten old." She told him.

"Come on, Lizzie, it'll be fun." He cajoled.

She shrugged impassively.

Robbie sighed. "At least think about it." He told her, before he walked away.

"You should go."

Elizabeth looked up to see her father standing there, having obviously overheard the conversation between her and Robbie. She was surprised, because she was sure that she had seen him leave.

"Where did you come from?"

"I just had a talk with Walter," he answered. "He doesn't like the way I'm doing things."

"Big surprise." Elizabeth said with a smirk.

"Brat." He said affectionately, then he looked her in the eye. "You should go tonight." He repeated.

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, a little surprised at the stance. "Since when do you like me associating with Mac?"

"I don't." Herb said flatly. "And I'm going to state right now that I don't want you getting entangled with any of my players, they're all off limits to you, but I also think that you should get to know them. Besides, you'll have fun."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Fun, was that what it was called? "You're encouraging your daughter to go to a bar with a bunch of college boys?" Elizabeth asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, I'm encouraging my daughter to do her job and get to know these boys." Herb informed. "I also expect you to drink soda all night."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, knowing as soon as he mentioned her job that she had no choice. "Whatever. I'll go."
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