Of Dreams and Miracles
By Misha

Disclaimer and Notes in Prologue.

Part Forty-Eight: Preparation

The XII Winter Olympics, Day Thirteen

Elizabeth woke up the morning of the game against the Soviets with a knot in her stomach.

This was it. Today they took on the best team in the world, possibly the greatest team that had ever played the game of hockey.

Elizabeth wasn't sure why she was so nervous. After all, she wouldn't be playing.

Though, in some ways, that made the nervousness worse. There was nothing she could do except watch and wait and hope that the boys could it.

She honestly believed that they could.

Elizabeth closed her eyes. This team was special, she knew that, and today was their chance to prove it to the world.

"They can do this." She whispered out loud to the empty room, needing to hear them. "I know they can."

Elizabeth really believed that something was going to happen that afternoon and she was glad that she would get to be there to see it.

She was going to have a front seat for something amazing, she just knew it.
---

After breakfast, Elizabeth went to find Jack.

She went with him to be examined by Doc, because he asked her to.

Elizabeth knew that he was pretty nervous about what Doc would say about whether or not he was fit to play. Elizabeth had to admit that she was pretty nervous herself, mostly because she knew how much it meant to Jack. She knew he'd be devastated if he couldn't play.

He honestly seemed better and he sworn that his knee wasn't bothering him any more, though she thought that he might say that even if it was, and he was off the crutches, which had to be a good sign.

The couple nervously awaited Doc's decision. Elizabeth prayed that it would be the one that they wanted to hear. Not only did she know how desperately Jack wanted to play, she also knew how much the team needed him, especially with such a huge game ahead of them.

Just as Doc was finishing the examination, Craig approached the three of them. He looked at Jack. "You ready to go?"

Jack shot him a hopeful look. "You serious? I'm playing?" He asked eagerly.

"Suit up." Craig told him with a grin.

Jack jumped up and pulled Elizabeth into his arms. "I'm playing!" He exclaimed joyfully.

"You are!" She agreed happily. She kissed him quickly.

When she pulled away she could see Doc and Craig exchanging amused smiles.

After a minute, Elizabeth extracted herself from Jack's embrace and smiled at him. "Now go get ready, you have a game to go play."
---

Right before the game began, Elizabeth was called into the locker room with the boys to hear Herb's pep talk. They were all dressed and ready to go, so she had no real objection to being in the locker room. Though, it still didn't smell that great.

Elizabeth stood by Jack's side, waiting for her father to enter.

When he did, he patted Jack on the shoulder and then turned to address the whole team.

"Great moment are born from great opportunity." Herb informed them. "And that's what you have here tonight. That's what you've earned here tonight."

He paused and looked at each of them in turn.

"One game. If we played them ten times, they might win nine of them." Herb continued. "but not this game. Not tonight. Tonight we skate with them. Tonight we stay with them and we shut them down, because we can. Tonight we are the greatest hockey team in the world."

Elizabeth felt chills going up her spine at her father's powerful words. He might say that he wasn't one for motivational speeches, but anyone hearing him at that moment would be inclined to disagree.

"You were born to be hockey players, every one of you, and you were meant to be here tonight." Herb told them all. "This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets are. Screw 'em. This is your time! Now go out there and take it!"

Elizabeth could feel the impact that her father's words had on the boys. They were pumped. The air in the locker room was electric. They were going to go out there and do it!

The boys got up and left the locker room, all of them hitting the wall of telegrams from all over the country on their way out, as a kind of good luck gesture.

Flashes from multiple cameras went off as the team walked by. The crowd was screaming. Rizzo was shouting encouragement to the team as they went along, like a good captain should.

"Rizzo!" Walter called out.

Rizzo turned and Walter slapped him on the helmet in encouragement.

Everyone was screaming. "USA! USA!" Flags were waving and everyone was exhilarated.

Elizabeth felt her heart beating wildly as she followed the boys to their bench.

This was it.

Show time.
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