Emador- Your review was great. I hope I continued my trend in this chapter. I tried to get the point across as best I could with all that was going on. And stay away from the Hazzard blonde, he's mine….both of them! LOL

Meadow567- I am glad you caught that. I was hoping to get that across.

Lia06- Have you seen 'A Streetcar Named Desire'? It's one of my favorite plays so I threw it in there as Kylah's because it's southern based and she's from the south.

Strangexbutxtrue- I am glad you said that, because I have been nervous that when I write Craig and Kylah being intimate people would be grossed out or something.

Klinoa- Well good luck on your exam when the snow clears! I love Streetcar Named Desire so I hope you enjoy it. And you caught the Dukes references. YAY…PS- Whatever happened to the crowd?

February, 1980
Minneapolis, MN

I was sitting in my office, practice had just ended. Down the hall I could hear the boys making noise in the locker room. We were leaving for the Olympics in a few days and excitement was everywhere. I had been on pins and needles all week.

My phone rang. "Kylah Jenkins, Team USA hockey." I answered.

"Kylah, it's me." I heard Herb on the other end of the line. "I just wanted to tell you, I've finalized the roster."

I swallowed hard and took a deep breath. We'd all been dreading this moment for over two months. "I hate to ask, but who are you cutting?"

"Ralph Cox." Herb said. I was stunned and fell back in my chair. "Kylah, I hate to send him home. That kid has worked his ass off for seven months. This has been a hard decision for me."

"I understand, I know how much you want to keep him. I'll start my press release. Thanks for calling." I hung up.

Once again, Herb had done something unexpected. Me and half the team thought Rizzo would be going home….but Herb had cut Coxie. I turned to my typewriter and started my press release. I wanted to have it finished before I went home to start packing for Lake Placid.

Team USA Hockey, Press Release- February 8, 1980
Coach Herb Brooks finalized his roster for the Olympic Games today. Coach Brooks has struggled for the past several weeks with what final player to cut to get the team down to 20 players. It was a decision that Coach Brooks and Coach Patrick did not take lightly, both putting hours of consideration into it. Ralph Cox out of UNH was released from Team USA today. The team and staff were saddened to see Cox leave. Cox has been a vital part of this team and will be missed. Coach Brooks assured me that he hated to have to cut anyone and wished he could take Cox to Lake Placid to play in the Olympics. With the roster now finalized the team looks to Lake Placid and our first game against Sweden. The final roster is as follows: From Boston University- Jim Craig, Mike Eruzione, Dave Silk, Jack O'Callahan; From the University of Minnesota- Rob McClanahan, Steve Janaszak, Bill Baker, Neal Broten, Eric Strobel, Phil Verchota, Buzz Schneider, Mike Ramsey, Steve Christoff; From the University of Minnesota, Duluth- John Harrington, Mark Pavelich; From the University of Wisconsin- Mark Johnson, Bob Suter; From University of Bowling Green- Mark Wells, Ken Morrow; From the University of North Dakota- Dave Christian.

I sat back in my chair and sighed. I hated to see Cox leave too. He was such a sweet guy. Craig walked into my office and sat in the chair across from me.

"You okay?" I asked him.

"I just told Cox that Herb wants to see him. That whole locker room got silent. They know what's happening." Craig sighed.

I nodded. "I hate this too, but we knew it was coming." I said. "Doesn't make it any easier."

My phone rang again. "Kylah Jenkins, Team USA hockey."

"Kylah, its Walter. Kremlin just released a new press statement. Brezhnev is telling Carter to go screw himself and is sending his athletes to humiliate us on our on ice….all of them from the Eastern Block countries. The exhibition game at Madison Square Gardens is back on. So get your statements released, we're going to New York City. We leave in a few hours." Walter said.

"Okay. You call Herb and fill him in. I got Craig Patrick here now; I'll tell him and get everything done." I said and hung up.

"Kylah, what's going on?" Craig asked.

"That was Walter. The Kremlin just released a statement. Apparently Brezhnev is mad as hell and is more or less telling President Carter to go screw himself. Brezhnev is sending his athletes to humiliate us on our own ice. All of them are coming…the Soviets, Romanians, Czechs……and the game at MSG is back on. We got to get to New York." I said.

"I'll go alert the boys. As soon as you can, meet me at the U. We got to get our stuff together and get to the airport. I haven't packed for Lake Placid yet and neither have you." Craig said.

"I'm just going to call this statement in over the wire and head back to the U. I'll meet you there." I said and hurriedly kissed his cheek while hurrying for the phone.

I picked up the phone. "Also, get this press release to our courier now; it's about our final roster." I told Craig as he was leaving.

"Kylah, deep breath or you'll pass out on the phone." Craig smiled and took the envelope.

I dialed the number to the major network. I would call local networks later, but if I could get my statement out there in time for the evening news, everyone would pick up on it.

"Hello, this is Kylah Jenkins, Press Agent, Team USA Hockey." I said. "Team USA will be leaving Minneapolis for New York City in a few hours to play the Soviets in an exhibition game that was scheduled earlier but then seemed to be cancelled when Brezhnev stated he would boycott the Lake Placid Olympics. The Kremlin has since recanted that statement when earlier today they said they are sending their athletes to beat us on our own ice. For further information, contact the USOC, or contact me in New York City. Statements regarding Team USA's final roster will be forthcoming."

I hung up the phone and turned out the lights in my office, and grabbed my coat. I knew I would have to hurry back to the U to get my things. I'd have to get everything for Smokey ready as I was taking him with me, since Patti and the kids were coming to the Olympics. I ran into the hall and right into Cox.

"Coxie, I'm sorry. I didn't see you standing there." I said.

"It's okay Kylah." Cox said. "I was just going to get my things."

My heart broke for him. "Ralph……I am so sorry. I wish more than anything you weren't going home."

"I know." He said.

"I'm going to miss you. You've been a great friend. I am so glad to have met you. And so proud to call you my friend." I said and hugged him. "You keep in touch with me."

"I will. I am sure I'll think of you every time the Rock N Roll Express wrestles on Saturday nights." Cox gave a small smile.

I laughed. "Oh dear…yes. Think of me every time you see Robert and Ricky."

"Take care Kylah…..and take care of Coach Craig too." Cox said.

"I will. I got to go." I said and hugged Cox again. "Good Luck Ralph."

I ran out of the building.

xxxXXXxxxXXX

"Craig, I need to get Smokey's things. Where is that carrier I bought for him to ride in?" I asked.

"In the closet." Craig said. "I think I have everything packed. If I forget anything, I'll just buy it when we get there."

"All my stuff I packed. I even remembered my ankle bracelet." I said and kissed his cheek on my way past him. "I am so glad that we are coming back here after the Olympics. If I had to move out in this big of a rush, I'd go nuts."

"I know what you mean. How do you think Smokey will handle the trip?" Craig asked.

"I don't know. I haven't even called my parents yet to let them know of the change." I said digging through the closet. "How are the boys doing?"

"Packing in a rush, saying goodbye to Cox, calling parents and excited." Craig answered.

"How is Herb?" I asked.

"You know how hard he is to read. He hated cutting Cox but now he got the game that he wanted against the Soviets." Craig said.

"Did you hear the news? Was my press release on there?" I asked.

"Kylah, everything is fine. Quit worrying and relax." Craig said.

"I just want to get all this packed and get to the airport. I'll relax on the plane." I said.

Craig came up and hugged me from behind. "Take a deep breath. I'll help you."

I turned and kissed his cheek. "Thanks. All my clothes are packed; you can put those bags with yours."

I hurried and packed extra food, litter and toys for Smokey and the put him in his carrier. I heard Craig moving about behind me. The boys were making noise in the hall.

"Almost ready to go?" Craig asked.

"Yeah…I'm a little nervous." I said.

"It's okay…I'm a little nervous too. But I'm right here for you and you'll be fine." Craig said.

I smiled at him and put Smokey's carrier in the hall. He was crying, not liking being pinned up. I worried about leaving him in the cargo area of the plane.

XXxxxxXXXXxxxx

We were finally on the plane. Most of the boys were resting. Herb was looking through his playbook. I was finally starting to relax.

Craig reached over and took my hand. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah…I feel better now that we are on the plane." I said.

Craig reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. "I'm glad."

"Thank you for putting up with me when I was a crazy person." I said.

Craig laughed. "You weren't crazy…just in a hurry."

"Just the same, thanks for helping me out." I said.

"What are boyfriends for?" Craig winked. "Although while you were running around…all day I've just been getting pecks on the cheek from you."

I giggled. "Well then allow me to correct that problem." I said and leaned forward and kissed Craig.

He pulled back and looked at me. He ran his fingers down my cheek. "It's going to be great having you at the Olympics with me……it wouldn't mean much without you."

"I am excited to be going…and I'm glad you'll be with me." I said and leaned my head on his shoulder.

Kylah?" Craig said my name. I leaned up and looked at him. He paused and looked at me for a moment. "You're going to be great at Lake Placid."

I smiled. "Thank you. And I am sure that you're going to do a great job with the team. You and Herb have brought them so far already."

Craig leaned forward and kissed me.

"Enough you two. I am starting to get a cavity." Verchota called back to us.

"Leave them alone. That's what a couple looks like. Of course you wouldn't know that because you never get to know a girl beyond her name and how much cab fare to send her home is." Broten told him.

Craig sighed and leaned back in his seat.

"You okay?" I asked him.

"Yeah…I just….never mind." Craig smiled.

Herb walked back to us. "Kylah, when we land, you get off the plane first. You talk to the media. Let them know that none of the boys are doing individual interviews. Answer their questions."

"I will. I spoke to Walter before we left the U; he said that he and other members of the USOC will be answering questions as well. You and Craig should be ready too." U said.

"Terrific." Herb muttered and walked back to his seat.

I yawned. "Craig, you mind if I sleep for an hour or so before we land? It's been a long day."

Craig opened his arms and I snuggled down against him and closed my eyes. We'd land in New York City soon enough.