Chapter 4

Author's Note: Going to try and finish this in the following two. Not sure yet. I might write an epilogue. I might not. We'll see.

December 15th 1998

The Eden Hall Ducks were leading the Stillwater Coyotes in the middle of the third period by a score of five to nothing. The Eden Hall Ducks were no longer on Eden Hall JV Ducks but were now the Eden Hall Varsity Ducks. The core of the team had stayed together but there were some new faces. Or rather, some old faces. Jesse Hall had rejoined the team for their sophomore year with Terry Hall, Peter Mark, Dave Karp and Tommy and Tammy Duncan joining the newly formed JV team the following year.

Charlie Conway was resting on the bench after assisting on the last goal. Coach Orion was riding them hard. In the past two years, Charlie Conway's opinion of his coach had gone from drill sergeant to inspirational coach to friend. Coach Orion would never replace Bombay and Charlie decided he was was okay with that. Charlie decided after his talk with Bombay one morning over two years ago that he had room for both Bombay and Orion in his life and that was a good thing.

Charlie took a swig of water. He was panting hard. The Coyotes was the second place team in the Minnesota High School Hockey League and they had faced them in the state final the previous spring.

"Nice pass Conway," Coach Orion said patting Charlie on the shoulder.

Charlie smiled as he looked at around the stands to see if he could catch a glimpse of his girlfriend. She had promised to try and make it to his game but the student counsel had it's weekly meeting at the same time as the game so he wasn't hopeful. He didn't see her but he though he saw Bombay. Gordon Bombay. Charlie stood up to get a closer look.

"Guy Germaine walks around that defender and passes to Averman. Averman score!" Josh's voice blared though the arena.

Charlie grinned as Averman high fived everyone on the bench. Six - nothing Ducks. Charlie searched the stands for Bombay again. Vanished!

Charlie sat down dejected. Coach Orion had not seen Bombay. "What's wrong Charlie?"

"I thought I saw Bombay."

Coach Orion was perplexed. He had not seen Bombay since the board meeting where he saved the teams scholarships. He meant to call him and thank him for convincing Portmanto come to Eden Hall and even though he had no proof, for getting Charlie back on the team. Coach Orion scanned the stands for Bombay. No where to be seen.

"You sure it was him?" Orion asked.

"Positive."

Coach Orion shrugged. "Just keep your head in the game. You can go see him as soon as the game is over."

"Portman! Banks! Change it!"

Dean Portman and Adam Banks skated furiously over the bench for a line change and Charlie felt a tap on his should. "Conway! Moreau! Get out there!"

Charlie and Connie hopped over the boards. Charlie put Bombay out of him mind as best as he could and focused on the game. The game finished six to zero. Coach Orion normally had a post game review where he would go over what they did well and what they could improve on but he decided to post pone it until the next practise. "

"Good game team." Orion smiled. "Last one before the break. If I don't see you before our next practise in January, Merry Christmas."

A chorus of "Merry Christmas" rang out though the locker room. Charlie would normally hang back with the rest of the ducks and plan their winter break together but he quickly showered and dressed so he could go find Bombay.

Charlie searched the entire area for Bombay. He wasn't by the concession stand or in the corridors. Charlie finally caught up with him as he was about to get into his car and drive off.

"Coach!" Charlie called out. "Wait!"

Bombay stopped what he was doing when he heard Charlie's voice. He looked up and saw the now 16 year old Charlie Conway running towards him. Before he could say anything, Charlie almost knock him over with a huge hug.

Bombay let out a laugh."Easy Charlie. You almost knocked me over.""

Charlie smiled. "Sorry Coach."

Bombay looked at Charlie. Casey was right. Charlie didn't stop growing. The teen towered over his once hockey coach.

"Good game," Bombay told Charlie. "I told you Orion would be good for you guys."

Charlie had to admit. Orion was an excellent hockey coach.

"Yeah, he's great." Charlie then went serious. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Charlie's mother had told him that she saw Bombay at the cafe earlier that month but as always, Bombay ran off. After the whole fiasco with his birth certificate the previous year, she told him everything now.

"Say what?" Gordon asked absentmindedly. He looked at Charlie. Charlie did not look impressed. "Oh. Your mother told you."

"She told me. You think she wouldn't have told me?" Charlie asked. He paused. He thought about bringing up the paperwork he had found the previous year but then decided against it. It was best to leave the past in the past. At least for now. "You should have told us. We would have been there for you."

"I appreciate that Charlie. I really do. I just didn't want to disrupt your life. I'd just thought you'd be.."

"Busy?" Charlie finished. "My mother said you told her something along those lines."

"Something like that," Bombay admitted. It wasn't a good excuse.

Charlie rolled his eyes. "I'm not sure you understand. Its not that we could be there for you. It's we 'want' to be there for you. Want."

Bombay was at a loss for words. He had no idea what happened to Charlie. When he first met Charlie, he was a meek, awkward kid with a heart of gold. The Charlie that stood in front him was confident and brave. Bombay could still tell that there was a bit of kid left in him.

"Thank you." He didn't know what he did to deserve the loyalty that Charlie had showed him but he was grateful.

There was silence between them until Charlie spoke up. "Do you want to go visit Hans? "

Bombay thought for a moment. He had no plans but as always, he pulled away. "Not today Charlie."

"When?" Charlie asked. He wasn't going to let Bombay off that easily.

Bombay was taken aback. He hadn't expected Charlie to push back ."I don't know. Later."

Bombay climbed into the car. Charlie rushed to get into the passenger seat before he took off. "I'm not letting you get away that easy. You don't get to run away from me."

Bombay was shocked. This definitely was a new Charlie. "I'm not running away,"Bombay insisted.

"Bull." Charlie said. "You've been gone for the past two years. You don't get to say 'Not today Charlie' and just push me away. I'm not going anywhere. "

"Get out of the car Charlie," Bombay said trying not to raise his voice.

"No." Charlie was defiant. "Not until you give me one good reason why you disappeared without a trace for the past two years." Charlie paused for a moment. "Especially after our talk at Eden Hall. Did you mean what you said or were those just words?"

"I meant every word." Bombay looked at Charlie. "Every word."

Charlie stared back at him. "Why?"

Bombay sighed. He knew Charlie wouldn't accept any excuses. But he also knew that Charlie wouldn't understand. "I was scared."

Charlie blinked. "Scared? Of what?"

"I don't even know anymore." Bombay explained. "Everyone seemed to be moving on. You. Casey. The ducks. Everyone. I just didn't feel like I had anything left to give. I didn't want to be feel worthless anymore."

Conway didn't know what to say. Bombay was anything but worthless. "You are not worthless. Don't say that."

Gordon looked dejected. "After my Dad died, I felt dead inside. I went for so long without caring for anyone. Years. And I mean years Charlie. It's like I told you two years ago. Until you and the Ducks, I had forgotten how to feel. How to care."

Charlie softened at the memory. But Gordon pressed on. "But when I finally was able to feel something, it made me afraid. So when I saw the chance to run, I took it. Even though it was the exact opposite of what I really wanted. Trust me. "

"Then don't," Charlie said. "Stop running."

"It's not that easy Charlie," Gordon explained.

Charlie sighed in resignation. Bombay had managed to climb into a dark place of depression, despair and self destructive behaviour. Charlie knew it well. He felt the same way when he first joined Eden Hall. The depression and self loathing made worse by bad decision and bad decision. It was only after he spoke to Bombay that he was able to come out of it. Charlie was grateful that it wasn't too late.

But was it too late for Bombay. Bombay had always had a tendency to self destructive behaviour as well but he always managed to come out of it. But it had been two years. Two long years. Charlie wasn't sure he could bring Bombay back.

"What is it going to take for me to show you that you don't have to be afraid anymore? I'm not going anywhere."

Bombay refused to react. "I'm tired Charlie. Can we talk about this later?"

Charlie tried to think of something. Anything to get though to Bombay. Some tangible gesture to convince finally Bombay that he was not alone. Then it came to him. A plan formed in Charlie's head. But he had to move quickly.

"When are you going back to LA?" Charlie asked

"I have some lose ends to tie up here. I'm selling my mothers house. I have a few offers on it already so it should sell soon. My realtor said that he can tie up any lose ends if need be once I'm back in California. I fly back Christmas evening."

Satisfied with Bombay not leaving until Christmas, Charlie climbed out of the car and watched Bombay drive off.

Charlie went though all he would have to do in head. The idea was crazy. Absolutely crazy. He knew when he would tell Coach Orion and his mother about it, they'd tell him that it was crazy. He'd need a lot of help but he was determined to see it though. He had to. For the both of them.

Charlie had 10 days.