Of Dreams and Miracles
By Misha

Disclaimer and Rating in Prologue.

A.N- This part came to me suddenly. I'd already written the next few parts, but I decided that this part and the next one just had to be included. I think they add to the overall quality of the story. I'll add here that when I say "Dave" I mean Dave Christian and "Silky" is Dave Silk. Also the song in this chapter is "Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones, I'm not sure it really fits, but it's from the appropriate era and one of my favorite songs, so that's why I picked it. That's all for now, enjoy!

Part Twenty: The Green-Eyed Monster

The night after the game against the NHL All-Star team, Elizabeth and the boys went out again.

It was a mini-celebration. They were doing pretty good throughout their pre-Olympic schedule, they had assured that their group wouldn't be invaded by outsiders and they had finally recognized the bond that they all shared. The bond of brothers.

And one sister.

Or not, Elizabeth corrected ruefully, as she caught Jack's gaze from across the room. She knew that not everyone on the team's feeling towards her were brotherly, which she was very grateful for...

"Hey, Earth to Liz." Elizabeth looked up to see Kathleen standing there, smiling at her. She had invited her best friend to join them, since Kathleen didn't school was out for the Christmas holiday and that meant that Kathleen, at least, actually had some spare time.

"Sorry, I was just thinking." Elizabeth told her, laughing slightly at her own spaciness.

"Need I ask about what?" Kathleen asked, casting a knowing look over at where Jack was laughing at something Silk had just said.

"No." Elizabeth agreed with a giggle. "I guess not."

"I can certainly understand the distraction." Kathleen said with a smile. The two girls giggled some more.

"What's so funny?" Mark asked as he approached, carrying two drinks. He handed one to Kathleen.

"Just girl stuff." Kathleen assured him, turning from Elizabeth to focused her attention solely on Mark. "Nothing important."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "I'll take that as my cue to disappear." She said, standing up and walking away.

She glanced back over her shoulder and smiled at the sight of Mark and Kathleen flirting away. It was cute, though she doubted that either of them meant anything serious by it.

"Hey, Liz, want to dance?" Jimmy asked her as she walked by him.

She turned and grinned. "Sure."

This often happened when she went out with the guys, she ended up dancing with the most of the guys. Jimmy grinned back and lead her onto the dance floor.

After the song ended, Bah claimed her for a dance and then Mike.

"Can't you guys find anyone else willing to dance with you?" Elizabeth teased Dave Christian when he grabbed her for a turn after she had finished with Mike.

"Besides, this isn't really a dancing song." She commented as The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" came on, even as she began to move in time to the music.

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colours anymore, I want them to turn back
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

"You can still dance to it, it's got music right? And to answer your earlier question, there's on one here I'd rather dance with." Dave told her.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Seriously, you're a great dancer and the prettiest girl here." Dave told her, then he grinned. "Besides, dancing with you is uncomplicated, you don't expect anything for any of us. You're just our friend; you're Liz and we're all pretty comfortable around you."

Elizabeth smiled. "That's sweet."

I see a line of cars and they're all painted black
With flowers and my love, both never to come back
I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a newborn baby it just happens ev'ryday

"It's also true." Dave assured her and then he grinned. "Besides, some of the guys managed to find girls of their own."

He gestured around the room to the other guys on the team and she looked where he directed.

Elizabeth saw that Verchota and Pav were chatting up a pair of pretty blondes in one corner, Suter seemed deep in conversation with a good-looking brunette, Buzz was dancing with his wife Gayle, who had joined them at the bar that night, Mark seemed fascinated by whatever it was that Kathleen was telling him, and then there was Robbie flirting with some redhead who seemed to be hanging on his every word.

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and I must have it painted black
Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facing up when your whole world is black

Elizabeth stopped dancing, frozen with shock at the sight. What was Robbie doing with that girl? Did he like her? She wasn't his type, she couldn't be!

"Liz, are you okay?" Dave asked, jolting her out of her thoughts.

She turned to look at him. "Huh?"

"You froze on me for a moment." He said gently.

She blushed and realised that she was standing still on the dance floor. She began to move again, but more agitatedly than before. Her eyes kept flying to Robbie and the girl, he seemed to be enjoying her company as he laughed at something she said.

No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you
If I look hard enough into the setting sun
My love will laugh with me before the morning comes

"Liz, do you want to sit down?" Dave offered softly.

"No." She replied, tearing her eyes away from Robbie. "I'm good." She told him, faking a bright smile.

Elizabeth forced herself to concentrate on the music. She had always loved to dance, she found it very freeing. But she couldn't relax now, her mind was reeling at the sight of Robbie smiling and laughing with that girl.

She didn't know why it bothered her so much. She was over Robbie, she had moved on, she was with Jack now and Robbie could be with whomever he wanted to be. It didn't matter to her.

Or at least, that's what she kept telling herself.

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colours anymore I want them to turn back
I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

"I doubt that she means anything to him." Dave said quietly.

Elizabeth stared at him. "What?"

"That girl, I doubt she means anything to Mac." Dave said, nodding over to Robbie. "Not like you do."

"It doesn't concern me." She told, her voice tight.

Dave shot her a knowing look. "Liz, the whole team knows that there was something between you and Mac. We see the way you guys look at each other."

"That was a long time ago." She told him curtly. "It's over, it's been over for a long time, and I don't care what he does with his life or who he does it with. It's none of my business."

Dave just laughed, obviously not believing her.

I wanna see your face painted black, black as night, black as coal
Don't wanna see the sun, flying high in the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black, yeah

The song ended then and Elizabeth turned and walked off the dance floor.

Silk tried to stop her, motioning for her to come and dance with him, but she just shook her head.

"I'm tired." She told him quietly. "Maybe later."

He nodded and let her slip past him.

Elizabeth paused at the door of the bar and glanced back. Her eyes rested on Robbie and the redhead once more and then she shook her head violently.

With that, she walked out of the bar.
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