Emador- Again, thanks for your suggestions for this chapter. I took them and ran. Also warning- Janny being silly ahead!

Flowersc781- She has her own mind that is for sure. I like strong-willed women!

Meadow567- Which parade? They've had like 3 parades everyday, its ridiculous. Thank God I have the Pens to keep me occupied.

Klinoa- I just pictured her getting mad because she was always trying to keep them out of trouble. Yes, Chev is returning soon. As soon as I can get horny Craig out of my head! LOL

Strangexbutxtrue- You don't have to wait long because here it is. At least th boys didn't do anything seriously bad...Kylah would've killed them! LOL

February 12, 1980, Lake Placid, NY
USA vs. Sweden, XIII Olympic Winter Games

Mac was in pain complaining that his leg was hurting him. I moved next to him to try to comfort him while Doc tried figuring out what was wrong. I looked at the score 1-0. I hoped Mac wasn't hurt badly. OC couldn't play and we really couldn't afford losing another player. So much for our strong start in the Olympics.

Doc helped Mac to the back. I sighed and wished there was something more I could do. Craig laid his hand on my shoulder. I smiled up at him.

When the period was over, we all rushed to the back to see how Mac was doing. I declined to make any comments until I knew more about Mac.

What's the deal with Mac?" Herb asked Doc.

"Upper leg contusion. I think he is done for the night." Doc said.

"What if he plays?" Herb asked.

Doc looked confused, "I don't understand Herb."

"If he plays on it, can he hurt it any worse?" Herb asked.

"Well no, but it would be very painful for him and he wouldn't be able to do very much." Doc said.

Herb grabbed my arm. "Come in the locker room for this."

"But…what?" I asked.

"I have to make Mac want to play and I know he wouldn't want to look bad in front of the media." Herb said and pulled me into the locker room.

I had no idea what Herb was up to but figured we were in for something unusual…as usual. I stood near Craig as Herb began pacing the room.

"This is unbelievable. You guys are playing like this is some throw away game up in Rochester. Who we playing Rammer?" Herb yelled.

"Sweden." Ramsey said.

"Yeah, you're damn right, SWEDEN!" Herb yelled and knocked over our equipment table. "IN THE OLYMPICS!"

I jumped back a few feet. The boys all looked stunned.

Herb looked over at Mac sitting on the bench, ice on his leg. "What the hell's wrong with you?" Herb asked. "Put your gear on."

Mac and the rest of us just stared at Herb. Herb repeated himself, "I said put your gear on!"

"Doc told me I can't play." Mac said.

"Yeah, I know you got a bad bruise!" Herb sneered. "You know what, put your street clothes on, cause I got no time for quitters."

"Come on Herb." Rizzo said. "Nobody's quitting here."

"You worry about your own game." Herb snapped at Rizzo. "Plenty there to keep you busy."

I was stunned and inhaled sharply, my eyes wide. Craig put his arm around me and rubbed my shoulder.

Herb turned back to Mac. "Bruise on the leg is a hell of a long way from the heart…candyass."

"What'd you call me?" Mac asked.

"You heard me." Herb said.

I opened my mouth to protest, but Craig covered my mouth with his hand.

Mac was hurt and mad but Herb didn't care. Mac stood up and threw down his ice pack and was hobbling towards Herb.

"You want me to play, huh? Is that what you want?" Mac started to yell while advancing on Herb.

"I WANT YOU TO BE A HOCKEY PLAYER!" Herb yelled in Mac's face.

"I AM A HOCKEY PLAYER!" Mac screamed back as Johnson and Ramsey moved to hold Mac back. "YOU WANT ME TO PLAY ON ONE LEG; I'LL PLAY ON ONE LEG! WILL THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY?"

Herb walked past me and Craig. "Think that'll get him going?" Herb asked.

"Oh yeah," Craig said with a smile. I realized what Herb had been up to. "I'll clean up."

"All that to get Mac to play? Smart…rude and crude, but very smart." I said. "I'll help you clean up."

(3rd Period)

2-1 and it was late in the 3rd Period. Mac was in the game, fighting for all he was worth. I was so nervous I was gripping OC's hand.

"We have to tie this." I told him.

Jimmy was motioning to Herb to leave the net. Craig sent Baker out onto the ice. Jimmy was yelling at Herb wanting to know when to leave the net.

Herb called for Jim, and Jim left the net. Schneider was struggling for the puck. Buzz kicked it loose and over to Baker. Baker shot at the last second and scored.

We all cheered, we needed the last minute tie. I jumped into OC's arms as the team celebrated. I saw Herb and Craig shaking hands.

"Kylah…you're cute, but involved with my coach." OC joked.

"I'm sorry. I am just so excited and you're right here all the time since you can't play. Besides, there would be huge gossip if I were tackling Craig to the ice." I giggled.

"Great, there can be gossip about us." OC smiled as Craig walked over to us.

"What a great move to win the game." I said and hugged Craig.

"Don't you have to go meet with the press?" He said.

"Don't I always? I'll meet you later. Take care of the boys and be nice to Mac. He's probably feeling a little hurt after the way Herb treated him." I said.

I walked to the back. I was excited for the team, and couldn't stop smiling. There were reporters, many with their translators standing by.

"How does Team USA feel about its first outing?"

"Very pleased. They worked as a team and were able to pull out a goal late in the game. Now we're looking forward to our next game." I said.

"What is the condition of Rob McClanahan's injury?"

"He has a contusion on his upper leg. He has decided to play through it. Our team doctor will be monitoring how he heals." I said.

"Any word on when O'Callahan will be able to play?"

"As I have stated, he will not be able to play before the medal round. Coach Brooks and the rest of the staff want him to be fully healed and ready before he plays." I said.

"You're seen practically everyday with Assistant Coach Craig Patrick, is there more than a professional relationship there?"

"First of all, we are here to talk about Team USA and their great performance on the ice. Second of all, my private life is to remain private because it has nothing to do with what theses boys do on the ice. And thirdly, Coach Patrick and I work for the same team, so don't be surprised if you see me with him. Don't be surprised if you see me with Herb Brooks, Dr. Nagobads, or any member of this team. We're all very close!"

"Who would Team USA like to play next?"

"We don't to pick our opponents. No matter who this team is faced with, they will accept the challenge head on. They've trained hard and now they're going to play hard."

"Is the loss just a few days ago at MSG against the Soviets still on the minds of this team or affecting their game in any way?"

"Absolutely not. They realize that was one game that had no bearing on these Olympics at all. They have learned from it and moved on." I answered. "Thank you for your time. If anything new relating to the team happens, I will release press statements."

xxxXXXxxxXXXX

When we arrived back at the hotel, the boys were wound up. Craig and Herb had stayed behind at the arena to meet with some officials from the USOC.

"Kylah, party in my room, and yes I know…..we'll be quiet." Verchota said. "You gotta come."

"I'll be there as soon as I change and check on my cat." I said.

"I am ordering all the alcohol this hotel has!" Verchota said.

'Terrific, hangovers tomorrow is just what Herb will want.' I thought.

I got off the elevator and walked to my room as the boys continued to talk excitedly. Inside, Smokey was sound asleep on the bed. I changed into more comfortable clothes and decided to call home.

"Hello?" I heard my dad on the other end of the line.

"Daddy, it's me." I said.

"Kylah, you're calling from the Olympics. We'll be watching for you on the news tonight." Dad said. "How was the game?"

"It was great. We tied at the last minute which helps keep us ahead enough to make the medal round." I said.

"And how is Craig? We saw him on the news the other night talking about the same against the Soviets." Dad said.

"He's fine. He's at a meeting with some people from the USOC right now." I said.

"Are you and him getting along?" dad asked.

"Yeah, everything is great." I said.

"You know your mom and I are anxious to meet him." Dad said.

"I know, maybe after the Olympics he can come down for a few days." I said. "How are you and mom?"

"We're fine. Everyone in town is watching the Olympics looking for your interviews and stuff. And the local newspaper can't print enough copies because everyone wants to read your articles." Dad said.

"The joys of being from a small town where everybody knows you." I sighed. "Anything else going on at home?"

"Does anything ever happen around here?" dad laughed.

"I'm gonna go. Some of the boys want me to visit them. I'll call again in a few days. You have the number here if you need to reach me?"

"Yes, your mom wrote it all down last night when you called." Dad said.

"Okay. I'll talk to you later. Love you." I said.

"We love you too. Bye Kylah." Dad said and hung up.

I got up and walked down the hall to Verchota's room. He'd ordered enough alcohol to kill a horse.

"The coach's wife is here!" Silk yelled.

"Patti is here?" Broten asked.

"No, our other coach's wife." Silk said.

"Since when did Craig and I get married?" I asked.

"You might as well be, you've got him totally whipped." Silk said.

"He's not whipped. He likes her. Besides, Coach Craig is old enough to know how to play the game." Christoff said. "Act how she wants and she'll let you screw her."

I rolled my eyes, wondering how much they'd drunk already and walked farther into the room.

"Kylah, you made it. Grab some drinks." Verchota said and fell onto my lap.

"Boy you got drunk fast." I said.

"He hit the vodka first and pounded shots like it was going out of style." Rizzo explained.

"That explains it." I said. "Was he drinking against somebody?"

"No just wanting to get drunk." Rizzo said.

"Seems to be a lot of that going around." I said, noticing several of the other boys were well on their way to drunk. "I hope this doesn't become the ritual after every game."

I grabbed a few drinks, and sat back to talk with some of the boys. Everyone was happy.

Finally Janny wandered over and sat down next to me. "Where is Coach Craig?"

"He had a meeting." I explained.

"You two are quite the couple……the Coach and the PR Agent." Janny said.

"That's sounds like a porno." Strobel said.

"I can see it now." Janny said standing up. He was tipsy. "You know how those porno plot lines go…….practice arena is deserted because Kylah is working late and Coach Craig comes into her office looking for her."

"Oh no." I sighed.

Janny pretended to throw his hair back as I would do and started talking in a female voice. "Oh Craig, I am having such a hard time making my deadline on this story. It's my profile about you…I just need some more information."

Janny then turned to the other side as if he were Craig and started talking in a deep voice. "I know the perfect way for you to get to know me better!"

"That's enough." I said.

"Hey, I didn't even get to the part where he lifts you onto the filing cabinet yet!" Janny protested.

"Why the filing….oh I don't even want to know." I said.

I had a few more drinks and decided I'd had enough of the party when Verchota and Silky, both drunk as hell, starting squawking about the size of their, um….johnsons. When they decided to make the argument into a competition, I decided to go before I saw a side of the boys I never wanted to. I was pretty sure neither of them had a thing on Rizzo if my memory served right…but I wasn't sticking around to find out.

I walked down the hall and into my room where Craig was watching TV and waiting for me.

"How was hanging out with the boys?" Crag asked.

"Oh it was fun. Most of them are drunk, Janny acted out a porno by himself…"

"What?" Craig asked.

"It's not how it sounds…..and now the boys are getting into a…..competition." I said.

"They staying out of trouble?" Craig asked.

"Yeah, they're all in two rooms, being quiet, just goofy." I said. "What's good on TV?"

"Not much, I was just waiting for you. Want some late dinner?" Craig asked.

"Sounds good, let's go." I said and grabbed my jacket, and followed Craig out.