Of Dreams and Miracles
By Misha

Disclaimer and Notes in Prologue.

Part Twenty-Nine: The Cat's Out of the Bag

Seven Days Before Opening Ceremonies

The was only a week left until the Olympics.

The team would be heading to New York in a couple of days for their game against the Soviets. Before they left, they decided to have one last night out before it all began in earnest. Elizabeth had invited Kathleen along, since her friend was now dating Mark.

It was a fun night, very relaxed. Though, there was a tension, totally unspoken, boiling under the surface as they all thought about what they would face in a few days, but they tried not to let it get to them. They had plenty of time to worry about what was to come, for this one night they were just going to relax and enjoy being together.

As always, they ended up spread all over the bar. Some of the guys had found girls to flirt and dance with, a few others had found a pool table, leaving only a couple at the group of tables they had claimed.

"Come on Liz, let's go get something to drink." Kathleen declared after several minutes of idle conversation.

"I can go get you a drink." Mark offered, breaking away from the conversation he was having with Jimmy.

Elizabeth smiled, the two of them were very cute together. Mark was very sweet and attentive, or at least as attentive as Kathleen would let him be. She was very independent.

Like now, she just laughed at him. "It's okay. I can get my own drink, I want to stretch my legs, anyway. Coming Liz?"

Elizabeth nodded and stood up. The two girls headed towards the bar. They got their drinks and turned to go back to the table, when they were cut off by two men whom Elizabeth had never set eyes on before.

"Hey cutie." One of them, casting an appreciative look up and down her body. She stiffened at the look in his eyes. She tried to push past him, but he grabbed her arm, causing her drink to splash onto the floor. "The least you can do is say hello."

"Hello and good-bye." Elizabeth said coldly, trying to get out of his grasp.

"Feisty, isn't she Tom?" Her captor asked.

The other man, Tom, nodded. "She sure is Fred, this one look like she is too." He said, referring to Kathleen, who cast a disdainful glance in his direction.

"What's your name sweetheart?" The first man, Fred, asked Elizabeth.

"None of your business." She snapped, still trying to free herself.

"Come on." He urged. "I think you and I get to know each other, I think we'd get along quite well."

"I don't think that's what the lady has in mind." A voice said from behind him.

Fred turned around, his hand still clasped around Elizabeth's wrist, forcing her to turn too. She smiled slightly when she saw the entire team standing there. It was Jack who had spoken and he was glaring at Fred.

"Stay out of this." Fred said in a low voice. "This is none of your concern."

"It is when it's clear that you're bothering her." Jack said and Elizabeth knew the effort it must be costing him to stay calm and not lose that famous temper of his. She knew that he was keeping it in check for her, because she disliked fighting of any kind. Though, part of her would actually like to see this jerk get what was coming to him, but she pushed that thought aside. Better, to deal with it without bloodshed.

"She's just putting up a show." Fred said arrogantly.

"I don't think I like that attitude." Robbie said, speaking up. "If the lady doesn't want your company, then you're best to leave her alone."

"What, you gonna make me?" Fred challenged.

"If I have to, I will." Jack stated. "And not just me, all of us. Think you can take on twenty guys?"

Elizabeth saw Fred and Tom exchange glances. They might be morons, but even they seemed to realize that there was no way they could take on the entire team and win.

Fred released Elizabeth's arm. "Very well, go with them, but if you changed your mind, honey, I'll be over near the bar."

"That's nice to know." She stated coolly, moving away from him.

Tom moved aside so that Kathleen could step past him. Mark held his arms out and Kathleen went into them willingly. Tom and Fred moved away, into the crowd, leaving the two girls with large group of guys.

"You know my father would have been furious if his entire team had gotten into a bar fight." Elizabeth scolded, trying to keep her voice calm.

Jimmy grinned at her. "Not if we explained it was because two shady men were harassing his little girl, then Herb would have understood."

Elizabeth forced a laugh. He was right, of course.

"Did he hurt you?" Jack asked, taking her hand and examining her wrist. There was a red mark from the tightness of Fred's grip.

She shook her head. "Not really. He only frightened me a little."

"Well, he's gone." Jack told her, taking her into his arms.

Elizabeth went willingly, forgetting where they were and who was watching. Jack kissed her forehead lightly and then released her, but he kept his arm around her shoulders.

Elizabeth saw the shocked looks that the boys, with the exception of the three in the know, were giving them. The secret was out.

Robbie, didn't look surprised, of course, though he did look sullen at the sight of her in Jack's arms. Still, that wasn't what she had to deal with right now.

"What's going on here?" Jimmy asked, speaking for all the boys.

Elizabeth sighed. "I guess, our secret's out." She looked at Jack and then at the rest of the team. "Jack and I are dating." She told them all quietly. "We have been for a few months, but we kept it secret because if my father knew he'd be furious."

Silky shook his head. "I can't believe you guys have been sneaking around for months. I never had a clue."

A few of the other guys echoed his statements.

"Herb's going to kill you guys when he finds out." Dave warned them.

"He's not going to." Elizabeth answered. "At least not until after the Olympics are over. Can you guys keep it quiet until then?"

There were nods and a chorus of "ok"s as they boys agreed to keep their secret. Elizabeth let out a sigh of relief. She hadn't intended for her and Jack's relationship to come out like this, but now it was out and they didn't have to hide it anymore.

At least not from the other guys, they still had to keep it from her father, but this was one weight off of her mind and in a few weeks, the other would be gone too.

There were only a few weeks of all this left, that's what Elizabeth kept reminding herself, anyway. Soon the Olympics would be over and so would all the lies.

There were only a few weeks left.
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