Moi- I understand your feelings. I did research and wrote based on historical fact. (I am a history major.) I did that so it would be facts and no one's opinion. I am glad that you are still reading the story and hope you continue to do so.

Meadow567- My fictional character is your hero? Have fun at the Pens game. I am watching the Pens play the Wild tomorrow so I can look for Ramsey on the bench.

Lia06- Yeah, and Craig AND the team will be a big part of Kylah's healing and such in the story.

Prettypinkcheer5- Yes I know how you feel about Kylah and Craig. I hope your starting to see why I chose Craig for her.

Emador- I hope you enjoy Janny's antics in this chapter. But who is Kayla? LOL

Author's Note- In recent chapters and in future chapters there will be sensitive material of death, religion, violence, and the afterlife. None of this is meant to be offensive and in no way reflects my own personal beliefs. This is a fiction story based on true events. For those that read the entire story, all events will be resolved and/or dealt with. I just want to make clear that if something is mentioned in this story, it doesn't mean I feel that way or support that view; but for the sake of the story overall, it is needed.

It was Monday after practice, I had returned to my apartment early to cuddle with a hot water bottle. Craig and Herb were meeting with some folks from the USOC. Craig said he'd stop by to check on me after the meeting was over. Smokey came out of my bedroom and cried for me to pick him up. He still wasn't big enough to jump on the couch by himself. I had to stack pillows next to my bed so that he could crawl up there to sleep during the day while I was out.

There was a knock at the door. "It's open." I called.

OC walked in. "Hey Kylah, we couldn't find you after practice. We wanted you to come to dinner with us, unless you've already got plans with Coach Craig." He said.

"Craig's out for awhile. I appreciate the invite, but I don't feel very good. I'm just gonna stay here tonight." I told him.

"Are you okay? Do you want me to get Doc?" he asked.

"I'm okay. It's female stuff." I said.

"Try drinking some tea. My mother always does." OC said. "I'll make it for you."

"You don't have to do that." I said.

"It's no problem; I don't have to meet the others for twenty minutes." OC said and starting looking through my cabinets.

I chuckled. Most guys turned green at the mention of anything menstrual, but OC was going to make me tea. I would've pegged that as something Rizzo would've done.

"That's nice of you. I appreciate the help." I said.

"I see you've still got the kitten." OC said.

"Yeah, he's my buddy." I said. "How are you feeling after practice?"

"Tired, Herb seems determined to kill us via conditioning." OC smiled. I noticed OC stop and look at Jake's picture that I had left on my corner table. "Is this your dad?"

"It's my brother." I told him.

"I like that rifle, is that military issue?" OC asked.

I was surprised at that question. "Yeah. But Jake always liked guns so he would show off anything."

"You should show this picture to Pavelich and Baker. They love hunting and guns and all that stuff." OC said. "You never told us you had a brother before."

"I haven't talked about him much since his death six years ago." I said.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that he's passed away." OC said. "Excuse me for asking, but what happened to him?"

I took a deep breath and remembered what Craig had said over the weekend. "Jake was killed in a POW camp in Vietnam." I said.

"That's why you had that nightmare. And that's why you slapped me…..Oh I am sorry." OC said.

"It's okay. You didn't know." I said.

"You know, you've taught me so much about misjudging people." OC said. "I mistook you as someone who'd be a bigot and your not…..not even against the people that killed your brother."

"Well it wasn't the whole race of people that did it, just a few of the bad ones." I said.

"People could learn a lot if they'd listen to that message." OC said. "You know Coach is very lucky to have you."

"Thanks, I hope he feels that way." I said. "Sometimes, I'm afraid I'm not what he'd thought he wanted but now he is stuck with me."

"Unless you're knocked up, he ain't stuck. That's kinda man's law." OC said.

I chuckled. "Well I am obviously not pregnant."

OC walked over and handed me a mug. "Here's your tea. It's hot so be careful not to burn your mouth."

"Thanks. I appreciate the help. I felt nauseous after practice, so I came straight home." I said.

"I am going to meet the guys. Anything else you need?" OC asked.

"No, I'll be fine. Thanks again." I said.

OC walked out and shut the door behind him. Smokey curled up near my foot and went to sleep. I sipped the tea OC had made me.

About 15 minutes later there was a knock on my door again. "Who is it?" I yelled, knowing the boys should have been at dinner.

"It's us, can we come in?" I heard OC call through the door.

"Yeah, come in." I said. The door opened and OC walked in with Rizzo, Ramsey, Morrow, Christian, and the Coneheads.

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked.

"We brought you some dinner since OC told us you didn't feel very good." Ramsey said and handed me a take-out box from the cafeteria.

"And that required eight of you to deliver?" I asked, noticing the boys had take-out as well.

"Well OC told us you didn't feel good, and that Craig was out. So we decided to keep you company and bring you food." Rizzo said.

"Not to mention, Verchota and Janaszak were getting into a one-up game telling freakiest sex stories. None of us wanted to hear that, especially over dinner." Christian said.

"I understand completely." I giggled. "Have a seat boys, make yourselves comfortable."

"Here I stopped at the union and got these for you." Rizzo said and handed me two candy bars. "My sister threatens people over chocolate when she's like this, so I thought I'd help you out."

"Thanks, I always want chocolate around this time of the month." I said.

"Yeah women are like that." Morrow said.

"Hey Kylah, you should show Pav that picture of your brother. I bet he can tell what type of gun it is just by looking." OC said.

Not sure how to react and knowing OC meant no harm. I again listened to what Craig had told me.

"Pav, that picture on the table is my brother, he loved guns too. That's why he is showing off that one." I said.

"That's an AK47. What a weapon!" Pav said, looking close at the picture.

Ramsey leaned over and looked too. Ramsey was getting into hunting as well. "Kylah, your brother is built like a defenseman. Does he play hockey?"

"No, he never did. He dabbled in some high school football and wrestling." I said.

Rizzo gave me a funny look. "You keep referring to him in the past tense……oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It's okay. I have just recently found I can talk to others about Jake without it being a problem." I said.

"That's why you lost your faith isn't it?" Rizzo asked.

"Yes, how did you know?" I asked him.

"It's very common for people to be angry at God when they lose a loved one." Rizzo said.

"I am not mad at God. I don't believe in God anymore." I said.

The boys all turned and looked at me.

After a moment, Christian cleared his throat. "It's her right to believe what she wants. We should respect her beliefs. After all, she's not a devil worshipper."

"Pav's right." Buzz said.

"Was he your older brother?" Bah asked.

"Yeah, Jake was five years older than me." I said.

"He's who your mom was pregnant with in 1951; I knew you weren't that old." Buzz said.

"Yeah, he was born in 1952." I agreed.

"What was he like?" Morrow asked.

"He was the best…he never met a stranger. He had lots of friends. He had a big heart. He and I were very close." I said.

"Sounds like a great guy…you must really miss him." Rizzo said.

"I do. The first year after he was killed was the worst." I said.

"How's your stomach feeling?" OC asked me.

"Better, the water bottle and tea and food are helping." I smiled.

"Did I mention my ex-girlfriend's mother was pretty hott?" Janny yelled outside in the hall. We could hear him and several other of the boys returning from dinner.

"Oh dear, sounds like they're still at it." I said.

"Yeah, we should probably get going, let you get some rest and make sure Janny and Verchota don't get too carried away." Christian said.

"Thanks for dinner guys. It was better than microwaving leftovers." I smiled.

"We'll see you later." Buzz said, he and the other boys started walking out my door.

Bah lagged behind. "That's the hurt I saw in your eyes, isn't it?" he said.

"What?" I didn't follow.

"At the dance, I told you I could see where something had really hurt you. It was your brother's death wasn't it?" Bah asked.

"It was. I thought I was hiding it so well, but I guess not." I said.

"You have a goodnight." Bah said and shut the door behind him.

I leaned back on the couch. It was still early. Craig wouldn't be back for a few hours. I scooped up Smokey and walked into my bedroom. I sat him down on my bed and went to my desk to write a note.

Craig,
A few of the boys stopped by this evening. I had taken your advice and left Jake's picture out. The boys said nothing derogatory and I found it easy to talk about Jake with people I trust. Thank you so much for helping me to realize that. Jake was a big part of my life and I feel now that I was shoving him away. With your help, I've opened up and can share him with others….it feels great. Thanks again. I'll see you around.
Kylah

I folded the note and wrote his name on the outside of it. I slipped out of my apartment and slid it under the door to his apartment so he could find it when he got home from his meeting. In the meantime, I felt a bubble bath would feel great.