They did it!
Things were looking up: the other players had done the performance. Even Karofsky had in the end. Coach Beiste had allowed them back on the team and in the second half they had come back. And now this: everybody was shouting 'Brains, Brains. Brains." everybody on the team, everybody in the stand, everybody on the sidelines. It felt like everything was finally coming together, it gave Mike goosebumps, good goosebumps. And believe, believe that they actually might pull this off.
They did it! They'd won! Finn had scored the winning touchdown. It was only fair, he had believed it was possible all this while. It was mayhem: everybody came down to celebrate. The coach, the medics, the mascot, people from the stand, friends. Mike turned and saw the Glee girls celebrating in their own huddle, Quinn looked so proud, Brittany, Santana and Laruen were dancing crazy and Mercedes, Rachel and Tina were jumping up and down. Mike just took off and ran to hug her. "You did it! You won the championship game." Tina said as Mike hugged her, temporarily forgetting everything. "We couldn't have done it without you, any of you." Mike said as he looked around at the Glee girls. All of them just smiled. "We did it for you guys." Rachel said. "And it worked, you won." "Yeah we did! We did!" Mike exclaimed and threw his arm around Tina's shoulder, the rest just laughed.
Then they saw one player from the opposing team come towards them. Quinn saw him first and quickly said: "Come on girls we have a party to plan." And ushered everyone, but Mike and Tina, away. "Tina, we'll see you in the locker room okay?" Tina nodded. As she and Mike saw the player, number four, come closer, she felt Mike pull her more to him. "Congratulations on the win." Number four said as he held out his hand. Mike shook it accepting the congratulations. Then number four held out his hand for Tina, who also shook it: "I didn't do much."
"Well you made me do a really fast sprint and tackle. No one expected you to do anything." Number four smiled. "That had been the original idea, but the ball was just lying there. I had to try." Tina said, Mike remained silent. He was wondering why the guy had come. He hadn't been able to protect Tina on the field, but he was going to protect her off the field. Number four seemed to recognize the protective stance: "Are you two dating?"
"Yes, we are." Mike answered.
"You have some balls, letting her play this game."
"I'm not letting her do anything. There is no one who can tell her what she can and cannot do. She makes her own decisions, the only thing I can do is ask her to reconsider and accept and support her in her decisions. She wanted to play, her parents consented, she played." Mike stated. He could feel Tina's gaze on him, but he kept looking at number four who threw up his hands: "Okay, okay, just saying. Anyway I wanted to apologize for the tackle. I hope it didn't hurt you too much." He said to Tina. "Don't apologize, it's all in the game. I knew the risks. You were just doing your job and you treated me as one of the opposing guys. Because of that this game meant something, if you had stopped because I am a girl, the points I would have scored, wouldn't have meant anything. So there is nothing to apologize for." Tina said. Number four nodded, congratulated them again and left.
"This wasn't the first time you said that." Tina stated, Mike who had been following the retreating back of four turned and looked into Tina's face, then he looked away staring to the celebrating team. "No." since he wasn't more forthcoming Tina prodded: "Let me guess, Artie?"
"He just cares for you Tina." Mike defended.
"Oh I know. Regardless, he of all people should know better." After a moment of silence Mike said: "Yes, he should." Then he turned to her and continued: "I meant it though. I know I can't make you do things you don't want to or stop you from doing the things you do want to do. And I don't' want to. Your decisions and choices make you who you are and I love who you are Tina." All Tina could do was throw her arms around Mike and hug him. "Thank you Mike." She mumbled in his neck. His arms and hands warming her, she could have stayed like that forever. "I love you too Mike, but…" Tina disentangled herself from him: "Now you have to go and celebrate with your team." After a kiss and a thank you Mike took off for his team, leaving a laughing Tina.
