Of Dreams and Miracles
By Misha

Disclaimer and Notes in Prologue.

Part Thirty-Three: Busted

Three Days Before Opening Ceremonies

Madison Square Garden was packed for the game, the first meeting of Team USA and the Soviets.

Elizabeth had to admit that despite the fact that her father had told them all too relax and enjoy the game, she was tense.

The boys were outmatched, there was no denying that. The Soviets were the best team in the world, they had been for years. Beating them wouldn't be easy, but that what this game for. To get the intimidation factor out of the way before the Olympics really began.

Elizabeth stood behind the bench, as always, and watched the boys line up for the National Anthem. There was a mixture of pride and terror on their faces, this was becoming more and more real to them.

After the National Anthem was played, the Soviet captain, Mikhailov, skated over to claim the NHL challenge cup, which the Soviets had won in October.

He skated around with it to a mixture of boos and applause, though mostly boos. Elizabeth glanced around and saw the antagonism on the faces of some of the people in the stands.

She saw a banner that read "Soviets: Get the Puck Out of Afghanistan."

Elizabeth shook her head. This was becoming about much more than hockey, she knew that. The boys seemed to know that too.

She could sense their intimidation from the very first face-off. Mark look shaky and so did the rest of the team, while the Soviets looked confident and composed.

As right they should, Elizabeth acknowledged silently, they had earned their confidence by winning almost every game they had played for the last ten years.

The Soviets dominated the game from the very beginning. The boys were just no match. The first goal came pretty early when Jack lost sight of the backdoor and the Soviets took advantage.

The game went downhill from there. Intimidation set in big time and the Soviets took hold of the game and never gave it back. Elizabeth could tell that Jimmy's composure was gone, which is why he let in a few very soft goals.

It was not a pretty game.

The worst moment came when Jack, who had been playing recklessly since that first goal, went down.

Elizabeth's heart was in her throat as the play was stopped and he was helped off the ice, favouring his one leg. She saw Doc leave the bench to go to the locker room.

She wanted to follow, but she knew that she'd better wait until the end of the game. Besides, Doc was examining him right now, she was sure. Elizabeth waited until the game was over and then rushed to go check on Jack.

The game had been pretty brutal. The Soviets had won 10-3, just pummelling the team. Elizabeth hadn't seen them play so badly in quite a while and she figured it was better that they slip now than at the Olympics, though she hoped it was only a slip and not a sign of things to come.

Elizabeth slipped into the back of the locker room, where Doc had a curtain up as a sort of makeshift examining room. She slipped through the curtain and saw Jack laying there, his leg propped up.

"Hey baby, how are you feeling?" Elizabeth asked softly, going over to him. "I probably won't be able to play." He told her flatly. Elizabeth took a deep breath. "Did Doc say that?"

"No, but Liz, it's three days until the Olympics. I'm out of here, I know it." He told her.

"No." She told him. "You don't know it, not until someone tells you. Don't you dare give up home, Jack O'Callahan. If you do, then you're not the man I thought you were, the man I fell in love with."

Jack stared at her and then smiled that to-die-for smile. "You're one Hell of a woman Elizabeth Brooks."

"That's why you love me." She told him, flashing him her own brilliant smile.

"It is." Jack agreed. "Now come here, so I can kiss you."

Elizabeth knew it was probably a bad idea, but she complied anyway. She needed it as much as Jack did. It was a long, lingering kiss, full of deep emotion.

"What the Hell is going on here!"

The two of them pulled apart at the sound and Elizabeth turned around to see her father standing there, glaring at her and Jack.

"Daddy." She whispered in horror. "It's not--"

"It's no what, Elizabeth Marie?" Herb asked angrily. "You weren't kissing O'Callahan?"

Elizabeth just stood there, not saying anything. There was nothing to say. Jack was silent as well. They had been caught and it was time to face the music.

"How long has this been going on?" Herb demanded angrily.

Elizabeth bit her lip, wondering if she should lie or not. But, these last few months not-withstanding, she had always been honest with her father and she had to be honest now.

"A few months." She answered finally.

"I specifically forbid you from dating any of my players." Herb bit out angrily.

"I'm twenty-one years old!" Elizabeth exclaimed, suddenly angry herself. "Don't you think I'm a bit old for you to be telling me who I can and cannot date?"

"Not when it affects my team!" He yelled at her. "I thought you had more sense than this, Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth just bit her lip, trying hard not to cry. This was not how she had planned on her father finding about her and Jack.

"I can't do this, not right now." Herb snapped, shaking his head, and then he turned to go.

"Coach!" Jack called out.

"Yes, O.C." Herb bit out, turning back.

"What did Doc say?"

Herb just ignored him and walked away.

Elizabeth closed her eyes. "Jack, I'm so sorry." She whispered.

"Why? It's not your fault." He assured her.

"But he's so angry and he'll probably cut you." Elizabeth whispered.

"He probably would have anyway." Jack told her. "Besides, it's worth it."

"What?" She asked in disbelief, sure that she had heard him wrong. She knew how important this was too him.

"I said, it's worth it." Jack repeated. "Being with you is worth anything, even not making it to the Olympics. I mean, don't get me wrong, I want to play more than anything in the world. But if I had to choose between that or being with you, then I want to be with you."

Elizabeth started to cry. "Jack..."

"What?" He asked in alarm.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." She told him, throwing her arms around him. "I love you."

It was odd, she should feel depressed, since everything seemed to be going wrong, but instead, she felt on top of the world.
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