katydid13: Thank you

rejazzz: I love Viv's mom, she's great! Thank you for the review

An extra special thanks to Brown eyed Girl 75 for helping me with this chapter. I couldn't have done it without you, you were so patient with listening to my ideas and giving me encouragement. Thank you, thank you.

ooOoo

Fog lifts to reveal potential, for generations prophesied. Our growth to be exponential, our promise, is finally realized.

Feel It Turn- Great Big Sea

ooOoo

Touching down, my stomach flipped in eighteen different directions. I was in New York again, and that much closer to seeing my boys again. My stomach wasn't just flipping, it was pretzeling itself into knots. If they saw me, what would they say? I had abandoned them, what kind of person was I?

I was a rat, that's what I was. I could just picture every one of them turning their backs on me when I walked back into the room, and I can't say I would blame them. I guess all there was left to do but grit my teeth and bare it.

I fished one of my caps out of my backpack and jammed it on my head. If anyone recognized me, well I was dead meat. If I could just get there and apologize, I'd feel a little better. I know that what I did was wrong, and it wasn't so much about me feeling better as it was about me kissing ass.

"God, it's so fucking cold!" I muttered, sticking my arm out and hailing a taxi. I didn't care how much it would cost me to get to the Olympic Center from the Lake Placid airport, I just had to get there.

And when I did, I could hear the screams and cheers from outside.

Holy God, they're playing the Soviets today! I thought, pulling cab fare out of my pocket, thrusting it into the driver's hand, and made a run for the front doors.

"Sold out, Miss," the door attendant thrust out a hand to stop me.

"No, you don't understand, I'm part of Team USA."

"Then where's your I.D.? And why didn't you check in over three hours ago? That's when you were supposed to be here."

"Well pardon me if I don't control the airlines, buddy. My flight didn't get in till oh, I'd say about half an hour ago! Let me in!"

"Can't do that, Miss, I'm sorry…" he pushed me away. "I would suggest you go and wait outside with everyone else."

"Everyone else is not part of Team USA. Now let me in, you prick! If I'm not in there within 3 minutes Herb Brooks will hand me my ass three times over."

"Well then, you can tell Herb Brooks I said good luck, cause you certainly need it!"

"You know what?" I jabbed a finger into his chest. "I don't need it, because I spent six years on a fucking fishing boat! I could break both your legs and castrate you with a hand tied behind me back! If you ask me, you're the one who needs your ass handed to you."

"In my humble opinion, Miss, I really think you should go and wait with everyone else," the young man standing at the other door answered, trying to smooth this over. He didn't look more than nineteen, if that. His face still carried a light smack of pimples, and he still wore a retainer, which explained why he had a bit of a lisp.

"Well then, since you're so humble, we won't ask your opinion," I snapped, walking back down the stairs and away from them. "Fuck you, you bastard!"

"I should call security on your ass!"

"Isn't that what you are? God, you're fucking thick!" I turned the corner and circled the arena, looking for a way in.

"Come on…" I whispered to myself. "Isn't there some way in?"

I heard the crowd screaming, with each second it became louder and louder. What the hell was happening? Whatever it was, I had to get inside and be part of it.

Then it hit me, where was the zamboni? Yeah, that would work. If I could get through the receiving area to the ice, I'd be able to meet them. I didn't know what was happening quite yet, but it sounded…

No way… did I just hear 'Do you believe in miracles?" Oh my God, they'd done it! They'd actually done it!

And I was stuck outside. Great… I was too tired to actually try anything, though on any other day I'm sure I would have just climbed through the receiving area and climb on to the zamboni, then maybe drive out on to the ice. Any other night I would do that, I would… but, I was just… too tired. I parked myself down in front of the doors, and waited.

Once the crowd had dispersed (it wasn't until at least two in the morning), I was still sitting on the steps. I began to wonder if anyone had mistaken me for a bum. I sure hoped that wasn't the case, because I needed to see my team.

"Miss?" a security guard shown a flashlight in my face. "Miss, are you alright?"

"Yes, perfectly," I held up a hand over my eyes to protect myself. "I just… couldn't get in, and I'm part of the American team."

His brow furrowed.

"Look, I know that's difficult to believe, but I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true," I implored. "Go in there, and ask any of the guys on Team USA if they know the name Vivianne Hallet."

"Miss…"

"Please," I was close to begging now. "I've been sitting out here for nearly seven hours. I'm so cold…"

"Alright, alright," his expression softened. "Listen, I'm going to go in, and find someone who can verify your story. Just sit tight."

He returned a few minutes later with someone walking closely behind. I couldn't quite see who it was, but it seemed as though they were a little apprehensive.

"This young lady claims she's put of the team, sir," the security guard led him to me.

"Does she?" a thick accent pierced the air. When I looked up, I saw his face.

"Hi Doc…" I managed through chattering teeth.

His eyes grew wide. "Vivianne?" he reached down and offered me a hand. "What are you doing out here? Why weren't you in the arena with us?"

"My plane only got in a little while ago, and I didn't have my I.D. and it just got too cold for me to do anything but wait…"

"Oh for God's sakes," he took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders. "Come in, come on. Shame on them for leaving you out here," he muttered under his breath.

He took me inside, his hand firmly on my shoulder, guiding me toward the medic station. He sat me down and handed me a hot pack.

"Just wait here, I'll be right back…" and he returned less than a minute later with a cup of hot water and lemon. "Drink that, Vivianne. I need to let Herb and Craig know you're in here."

"Oh Doc…" I shook my head. I didn't want to deal with Craig, not yet. I had wanted to wait until the excitement was over and people were gone and it would just be me apologizing for being so stupid.

He gave me a 'you know I must' look, and left. I lifted the cup of hot liquid to my lips and struggled to drink it down. Suddenly, I heard rushed footsteps toward the room I currently occupied and the door opened, slamming shut behind me.

I swallowed the sip of hot water and lemon and looked him in the eyes.

"Hi Craig…"