Los Angeles, California - Several Days Later
"...Samuel Medina's trial started today and anger filled the courtroom quickly after it appeared that Mr. Medina expressed no remorse for his actions…."
Footsteps filled the room, "Sara, I brought you a change of clothes and I brought some stuff from the house," a voice said in a quiet tone. "I took an extended leave of absence from my job and Bombay was cool with it, but Linda and the kids had to fly home this morning cause school's still in…"
Adam's eyes slowly opened just in time to see Sara walk over to Charlie, who was lingering in the doorway holding a large bag, "Thank you, Charlie," Sara spoke softly. "You didn't have to."
"Sara, Charlie?" Adam called out, shocked when he realized how weak he sounded.
Sara and Charlie immediately came over to the bed, "Hey," Charlie spoke worriedly.
"What's going to happen now?" Adam asked weakly. "I still can't feel anything."
Charlie sighed, "Russ is gonna get another scan and see if they can do anything," he replied.
"What am I gonna do now, though?" Adam asked weakly. "I've probably lost my job."
Sara scoffed, "Bombay's in charge of youth hockey nationwide and he's gonna look into helping you find a new work, but you gotta see where you're at physically first," Charlie replied. "How are you feeling today?"
"Tired," Adam replied weakly . "Are the kids keeping busy?"
Sara nodded, "Adam, Charlie's been telling me about how his friend is a doctor and has this rehabilitation clinic in Minneapolis that has amazing mobility technology that isn't available out here," she spoke in a quiet voice. "We talked about it last night during supper."
"What are you talking about, Charlie?" Adam replied softly. "Who became a doctor?"
Charlie smiled, "Guy Germaine," he replied kindly. "And Connie...they got married years ago and they had a ton of kids, but they alternated going to school and are both doctors now."
Unease filled Adam, "I thought you hated Minneapolis, Sara?" he asked softly, frowning.
Sara walked over to the bed, "Adam, I hate it because my father's in prison and Casey couldn't give a crap about me if she tried, but if it will help you..." she spoke in a quiet voice.
"Have you talked to the kids about this?" Adam asked softly. "I...I don't know how they..."
Sara sighed, "Ryan, Kevin, Andrew, and Gabrielle don't need to know about that yet," she replied in a quiet voice., her expression concerned. "I...I just want you to do what will help you."
Adam sighed weakly, "Is Russ even going to let me fly across the country?" he asked softly.
Just then, a cheerful looking Russ entered the room, "Hey there," he said warmly. "How are you?"
"Charlie wants me to fly across the country to go to Gee's clinic in Minneapolis," Adam replied quietly. "I...I haven't seen them in years and they're doctors..."
"Oh, those guys are pretty famous for what they do in the field of medicine," Russ replied in a pleased voice. "Although, I wouldn't recommend you fly anywhere..."
Adam suddenly looked wounded, "How bad is it really?" he replied anxiously.
"You need to heal before you can go to Minnesota, dude," Russ replied firmly, giving Adam a look. "Once you're up for therapy, I see no reason why you can't go..."
Adam scoffed, "So I'm just supposed to lie in bed and do nothing?!" he snapped, tears filling his eyes. "I'm supposed to forget that I ever had a life on the ice?"
"I think Adam needs a nap because he's in pain," Sara interjected anxiously, glaring at Charlie and Russ. "If you two could go, I'll make sure Adam gets some rest."
Exchanging a look, Russ and Charlie left and Sara sat beside the bed, "It's okay to cry and be angry," she spoke in a quiet voice as she took his hand. "I'll sit here with you."
At those words, Adam found himself unable to stop the tears from flowing freely.
"Coach, it didn't go so well," Charlie spoke in a concerned voice, holding his cell phone to his ear as he opened the door to Adam and Sara's home and went inside.
Charlie frowned as he listened to Bombay suddenly talk with Jan as if he had forgotten about the phone call, "Look, Charlie, I have to go help Jan," Bombay suddenly spoke in a worried voice. "We'll talk soon; I promise you."
There was a click and Charlie sighed; he was the one who usually helped Jan at the shop during the week while Bombay worked. Now, he was here and couldn't. Jan was getting older and with it, more feeble and forgetful. It was truly heartbreaking.
As Charlie put his phone away, Ryan came downstairs carrying a large box, "Hey, Uncle Charlie, do you know anyone who wants this?" he asked softly.
Charlie frowned when he saw Ryan's hockey stuff in the box, "Dad...he can't skate anymore and I don't want to make him feel bad by doing it," Ryan explained sadly even though he was frowning. "I love hockey, but I don't wanna make Dad sad."
"The season's over," Charlie replied gently. "Why don't you wait and think on it?"
Ryan scoffed, but took the box back upstairs and Charlie wandered into the kitchen, only to see that Kevin and Andrew were eating Coco Puffs at the kitchen island, "Hey, what are you two doing?" Charlie asked sternly. "Where's your sister?"
"Gabby's upstairs," Kevin replied as he ate some of the Puffs. "We're snacking."
Charlie nodded, "We're gonna be poor soon since Daddy's not working and we won't be able to buy Cocoa Puffs anymore!" Andrew whined. "That's gonna be sad."
Concern filled Charlie's face, but he didn't know what to say to that, "Is Daddy home yet?" a quiet, sad voice suddenly asked. "I want Mommy and Daddy."
Charlie turned to see Gabrielle come into the kitchen in her pajamas and looking unhappy, "Uncle Charlie, I'm sore," she spoke softly. "My upper tummy."
"You're sore?" Charlie asked in a concerned voice. "Did you bleed at all?"
Ryan sighed irritably, "Gabby, the doctors told Mom that you might be sore a few days after the accident once the shock wore off," he explained in a patient voice.
"I want Mommy," Gabrielle whined, pouting as she touched her ribcage.
Charlie sighed, "All right, we can go to the hospital," he replied patiently. "I want a doctor to get a look at you before we see your mom and dad, though...okay?"
"How are we getting there?" Andrew asked. "The van was smashed up and Mom took the car to see Daddy."
Charlie nodded, "I rented a car when I came to visit, so we'll take it," he replied patiently. "It's a Hummer...do your parents have carseats around?"
"They got wrecked in the crash," Kevin replied worriedly. "We have a bus!"
Charlie shrugged, "All right," he replied calmly. "Let's get ready to go."
Minneapolis, Minnesota
"Jan, why don't you sit with your coffee and I'll man the shop for a little while?" Bombay suggested in a kind voice as he watched Jan putter over to his chair in the back of Hans Skate Shop with a cup of sugar water. "I'm done my phone call."
Jan sighed, "Who vas it?" he asked in a cheery voice. "Is Hans coming home yet?"
Bombay swallowed hard at the mention of Hans; Hans had been dead for years and Jan knew that. Jan hadn't been at the funeral because he had been hospitalized for diabetic-like symptoms that had been later diagnosed as severe Type Two Diabetes.
Over the years, Jan had struggled to take care of himself and Bombay had made sure he was around as often as possible to help Jan when he needed it. If he wasn't available, he asked Goldberg, Averman, Connie, or Guy to look in on Jan and help when they could. The other Ducks had gone their separate ways after Eden Hall, but a few had stayed behind and were more than happy to help their beloved friend.
Unsure of how to answer the question, Bombay watched as Jan drank his sugar water and sighed before looking at him quizzically, "Gordon, remember to phone Los Angeles and ask Charlie how Adam is doing," Jan instructed. "I saw on the news that the trial was today for the man who hit him. It's a terrible thing..."
The bell suddenly rang and Bombay went out into the shop, shocked when he saw Fulton Reed lingering in the entrance looking nervous, "Fulton, what are you doing here?" Bombay asked in a confused voice. "I thought you were a cop in New York?"
"I heard about Adam's accident and I came to see if I could help the shop so you could go tell him to get his butt out here," Fulton replied anxiously, sighing. "I also got transferred to Minneapolis for sticking a punk upside down in a trash can."
Bombay couldn't help but chuckle at that, "Portman's a cop out here too, so you guys won't ever be bored," he replied kindly. "As for Adam...it's not that simple."
"What, Charlie's inspirational speech isn't getting him motivated?" Fulton asked.
Bombay sighed, "Adam's paralyzed from the waist down," he replied in a serious voice. "Russ Tyler is his doctor and Charlie is trying to help everyone, including his sister, but it's hard on everyone. If that happened to you, how would you feel?"
"I'd probably want to die," Fulton admitted softly. "I can't imagine not being..."
Bombay looked thoughtful and his gaze went to a duck call that hung above the door as an ornament. Adam was paralyzed, yes, but that didn't mean his life was over.
"Man the store," Bombay spoke in an anxious voice. "I need to make a phone call."
Los Angeles, California
"...It's nothing serious. Just bruises from the accident coming to life..."
Terror filled Sara's heart as she entered the emergency room and saw Gabrielle laying on a gurney while Charlie, Ryan, Kevin, and Andrew sat in chairs beside the bed. A kind looking Asian doctor in scrubs and a white coat was standing by the bed.
"Gabby, why are you here?!" Sara asked anxiously. "Are you all right?"
Charlie sighed, "She's just got bruises," he replied. "The shock's worn off."
"Are you this young lady's mother?" the doctor asked kindly as he turned to face Sara with a smile on his face. "I'm Doctor Wu, the pediatrician on duty..."
Charlie's eyes widened, "Ken Wu from Team USA?" he asked in a shocked voice.
Ken nodded, deeply surprised, "How do you know Team USA?" he asked softly.
"It's Charlie, dude," Charlie replied, smiling. "You know, Charlie Conway?"
Ken's eyes widened, "No way, dude!" he replied, grinning. "Good to see you! I haven't seen anyone from the team in so long until I heard Russ works here."
"You're another one of Adam's old friends?" Sara asked quizzically.
Ken nodded, "Ken Wu, the Third Bash Brother," he replied. "And you?"
"I'm Sara Conway-Banks," Sara replied softly. "Adam's wife and mom to four kids."
Ken grinned, "What a babe Adam scored!" he replied, deeply awed at Sara's looks.
Sara gave Ken a weird look and turned her attention to her children, "Daddy's resting right now," she explained calmly. "If Gabby can leave, why don't we go home?"
"Uncle Charlie brought us on the bus," Ryan replied. "We don't have car seats."
Sara paled and sighed tiredly, "Oh, my gosh; I forgot to replace the car seats and rent a vehicle," she said in an apologetic voice. "I meant to do it; I've just been so busy..."
"Mom, it's okay," Ryan spoke worriedly. "We were fine taking the bus."
Sara, however, didn't look convinced, "I need more help to deal with everything that's going on," she replied anxiously. "Maybe we should move to Minnesota..."
"Move?!" Ryan, Kevin, and Andrew shouted, their faces in shock.
Sara sighed heavily and sat on the bed next to Gabby, "I'm going to need help with your dad and you kids," she replied softly. "Uncle Charlie and I have a mom out in Minnesota that can help us if she wants and Uncle Charlie has friends there..."
"And the roads aren't scary?" Gabrielle asked softly, yawning from the pain medication that Dr. Wu had given her for her bruises. "I hate scary roads."
Sara smiled, "The roads aren't too bad there," she replied softly.
"Is there hockey there?" Kevin asked eagerly. "I wanna keep playing it."
Charlie sighed, "Not a lot of youth teams because it's hard to find coaches for all the kids who want to form teams nowadays," he explained softly. "There isn't money in any budgets for supplies and schools want teams, but they can't afford to pay..."
"Daddy's rich and coaches," Kevin replied. "Why couldn't he coach?"
Sara gave Kevin a look, but Charlie had no reply for his question because he knew Adam would be a good coach. Unfortunately, there was a long road of recovery ahead first and Charlie didn't personally know if a coach could be in a wheelchair.
Sara, meanwhile, was wondering how to tell Adam that they needed Minnesota.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The old arena needed renovations badly, but it was still being used by figure skaters, weekly scrimmages, and those who could actually afford to put together hockey teams. Budget constraints and the rising cost of ice maintenance, ice time, and supplies had made hockey's popularity in the area decline drastically over the years.
"This place is a mess and nobody has money to fix it, let alone make it handicap accessible," Bombay spoke in an irritated voice as he looked at his friend, Ted Orion, the man who owned the arena for a tax-break. "I had hoped that Adam would have something to do, but this is a mess...Can anyone even use it like this?"
Orion sighed, but didn't say anything because he knew that Bombay was very frustrated over the fact that local youth could barely afford to play hockey nowadays and that was a big change from when he himself was a coach, "From what Charlie tells me, Adam's in a bad way right now," Bombay spoke softly. "I'm worried."
"You're telling me that you don't know how to teach your Ducks to fly in a new way?" Orion asked in a curious voice, giving Bombay a look. "Are you serious?!"
Bombay sighed, "I'm busy with my job and looking after Jan, but I could teach Charlie how to get through to Adam," he replied softly. "I'm sure Adam feels very helpless."
"My daughter felt helpless at one point, but she was very fortunate in that she had people to care about her and encourage her in her recovery," Orion said. "Does Adam?"
Bombay nodded, "I really hope so," he replied worriedly. "Hockey was his life before this happened."
"There is life outside of hockey," Orion replied. "What exactly is your plan with this arena, anyway?"
Bombay sighed, "I'm going to use it to teach Adam how to fly in a new way," he replied in a determined voice. "I just hope he wants to."
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