Of Dreams and Miracles
By Misha

Disclaimer and Notes in Prologue.

Part Forty-Nine: Game Time

The first period was exhilarating. The crowd was packed and you could feel their excitement in the air.

It was pretty amazing.

So was the game. The boys were playing well.

The Soviets had scored first, but the boys quickly came back made it 1-1.

Jack went down after a big hit and Elizabeth had to hold her breath for a moment, but he got right back up and seconds later they scored that tying goal.

The Soviets scored again soon after that, so that it was now 2-1.

But the boys didn't let it get to them, they didn't let themselves get intimidated and they just kept playing.

The crowd was screaming, "USA! USA!", trying to share their energy with the players.

It seemed to work, with seconds left in the period, Mark scored to tie the game.

The crowd was pumped and so were the boys.

Elizabeth could see it on their faces as they filed off the ice.
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When the second period began, Tretiak was put on the bunch. Elizabeth couldn't believe it. The boys were playing so well that they had put Tretiak on the bench! That was a pretty impressive feat.

"Boys, you just put the best goaltender in the world on the bench." Herb told them all.

Elizabeth looked over at Tretiak. She had long admired his play, but he was also really cute.

Tretiak noticed her watching him and smiled at her, a very long, admiring smile.

Elizabeth smiled back, earning a scowl from Jack who was seated next to her. She couldn't help herself, this was the player she admired most in the entire world. So, she ignored Jack's displeasure, and waved her fingers at Tretiak, who waved back at her.

Before Elizabeth could respond, Jack pinched her. She turned to look at him innocently.

"Stop flirting the the Russian." He gritted out angrily.

Elizabeth was about to tease him, but then caught sight of her father and he did not look amused. She supposed that this might not be the right time for that.

"Sorry, baby." Elizabeth whispered to Jack. "It's just that it's--"

"Tretiak." Jack bit out angrily. "Yes, I know."

Elizabeth laughed at his obvious ire, but she didn't look over at the Russian goaltender again. She didn't want Jack to get his nose out of joint, not when he had more important things to focus on.

So instead, she focused her attention on the game.

It really was a terrific hockey game. Both teams were playing hard. The score was soon 3-2 in favour of the Soviets, with Jimmy going down on the play.

Elizabeth held her breath for a moment, terrified that Jimmy was injured. After all, he was the anchor of the team and she didn't know if they'd be able to do it without him.

Luckily, though, they didn't have to find out since he got back up and the game resumed, much to Elizabeth's relief.
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The score was still 3-2 at the beginning of the third period. They were only one goal behind, they could still win this.

Elizabeth had to admit that it was pretty thrilling. The crowd seemed to feel the same way she did, pumped from the excitement of what was happening.

Herb pulled all the boys together for one last pep talk before the beginning of the period. "Boys! Come here! Listen to them!" He instructed, referring to the crowd. "That's what you've done. We've come from behind in every game in this tournament so far and we can do it again. We can beat these guys."

The ref motioned for the boys to go to center ice for the starting face off.

"Everyone in!" Herb called. "Who do you play for!"

"USA!" They all chanted and put their hands together.

Elizabeth smiled proudly.

They were so close. They could to this, she knew it.

The game started again then and the boys played hard. Early in the period the boys went on the power play and Mark scored again to tie the game 3-3.

Then, halfway through the period, Rizzo scored and suddenly they were ahead. For the first time in the game, they were the ones leading.

There was 10 minutes left in the game and all they had to do was keep the Soviets and then they had done it!

Elizabeth watched anxiously, as those ten minutes ticked by so slowly it was painful. The boys played their hearts out, Elizabeth could see that they really believed that they could do this. Just like she did and just like the crowd did. They were meant to do this and everyone in the building, except the Soviets, of course, seemed to really believe that.

Her father had been right, this was their moment.

Jimmy was amazing, keeping everything out in those crucial, final moments. The Soviets kept pressing, but nothing was getting past Jimmy.

Elizabeth held her breath as the clock continued to count down. Come on! She urged silently, wishing desperately that she could be out there on the ice, instead of stuck helplessly behind the bench. Watching was so much harder than playing, she was sure.

Then, suddenly, it was all over. They had done it. They had beat the Soviets! The crowd went wild and the boys all poured on to the ice, embracing one another.

Elizabeth was on the ice as well, caught up in the fray.

Bah got to her first and gave her a quick hug, spinning her around. Then he released her and Jack pulled her into his arms, kissing her passionately right there in front of everyone.

After a moment, he let her go and they were were pulled in separate directions. Elizabeth kept getting joyous hugs from the various members of the team. She was so glad that she had been able to be a part of this and that she could share their joy now. These boys had come to mean so much to her.

The families of the boys poured onto the ice in celebration and there was more hugging.

As all this was happening, Elizabeth saw her father exit the rink and understood, that for him this moment was private. He couldn't share it with anyone.

Not even with the team who had done this wonderful, amazing thing. Not even with his daughter.
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