-Chapter 7-
AN/ I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to get this up. But I got in to a slump, then I got an idea. Then I didn't have time to write it cause I got busy with college work. Anyways I finally got the chance to finish it, excuse me, I got the idea but couldn't put it to words. So I asked Chelsea if she could help me and she did the last section of the story. In other words she wrote the end and I wrote the beginning. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter, there is only one chapter left after this. *Sniffs* I can't believe I am almost finished with this story. Anyways enjoy and review if you can.
Note to my reviewers:
C-chan96: I'm glad you enjoyed this story. I knew you would, you always do. Don't worry about not being able to think of any Charlie/Julie parts for me. You made it up plenty in this one. Your official thank you will be after the chapter is done. I'm just responding to your review now. Anyways I had a great time at Tyler, I hope I can go again soon. Well I'm talking to you on IM and have other reviews to respond to plus your An. Talk to you soon.
Banksiesbabe99: I'm glad you liked the chapter. Thanks for reviewing, enjoy this one.
Ok responses are finished, here is the next to last chapter. Enjoy and please review.
Chapter 7
Bombay pulled into the parking lot of the dorms and turned the car off. He then turned and looked at Julie.
"You ready, Julie?" he asked her.
"No, but I made a promise to Charlie, Connie, Guy and Jason; and I'm not going to break it." She said and smiled at Bombay and her friends.
Bombay smiled reassuringly at her. "Okay then; let's go. We'll go in and let them know we're back, and then you guy's can go and put your bags up. Afterwards, we'll all come back and talk to them." He told them.
"Okay." They all said.
Bombay smiled, and they all got out of the car and got their bags. After they retrieved their things, they walked into the dorm building and to the entertainment room; there they saw the rest of the team playing games while they waited for their teammates to get back.
Bombay cleared his throat when they go into the room so that he could get their attention.
"Hey team, we're back." He said.
They all cheered and clapped, none of them noticing the uncomfortable look on their goalie's face. Well none of them except Charlie and Portman.
Portman looked over at Charlie to see if it would be okay to say something to her. Charlie mouthed to him to greet her in some way. Portman nodded and walked over to Julie.
"Hey Jules. I'm glad your back. I've been worried about you." He told her gently.
Julie gave him a weak smile, "Thanks Portman. I'm glad to be home too. No one to yell at me here."
Portman gave her a confused look. She looked down, because she didn't know what to do. Portman was one of her best friends; for all practical purposes he was another brother to her.
Charlie saw what was happening and walked up next to them. "Hey Julie, Connie is going to put her stuff up. Why don't you go with her?" He told her.
"Okay," she said.
She gave Portman one of her famous grins; both Charlie and Portman knew it was a put-on, seeing right through it. She turned around and picked up her bag and went to find Connie. Charlie watched her walk away. Just as she walked out of the room, something dawned on him. She wanted Portman to know first, before the rest of the team.
'Probably because he is almost a brother to her,' he thought to himself. He knew now why she had just looked upset, 'She couldn't decide whether to tell him or wait and tell him with the rest.' Charlie then turned to Portman, who was now talking to Guy, "Hey Portman, I'll be right back." He told him.
"Okay." Portman said.
Charlie then turned around and went after Julie. He caught up to her pretty quickly because she was walking pretty slowly.
"Hey Jules!!" He called out to her.
She turned around and looked at him, "Yeah?"
"I have a question for you." He said.
"Okay." She answered.
"Do you want me to tell Portman?" He asked her.
"Kind of." She said.
"Okay." He said.
She smiled at him and then looked down at the floor. Charlie reached out and pulled her into a tight hug.
"What's the matter, Angel?" He asked her softly.
"I don't know if I can tell them." She said against his chest.
"Shh, if you want, I'll help you tell them. Okay?" He said.
"Really?" She asked looking up at him, "Why?"
"Because, Julie, I care for you and want to help you through this." He told her gently.
She smiled at him and laid her head back on his chest. He smiled and held her for a little bit longer.
After a couple minutes, he pulled back and kissed her forehead.
"Go on to your room with Connie; I'm going to talk to Portman. We'll come get you in a little bit. Okay?" he told her, pushing a stray piece of hair out of her face.
She nodded and gave him a weak, nervous smile.
"Don't worry; I'll help you through it, okay?" He told her, and she nodded.
"Okay; go lie down and relax for a little bit. You deserve it." He told her.
"Okay." She said softly.
He bent down and gave her a kiss, "I love you Julie. I really do, and you don't know how happy I am that you're letting me be here for you. I don't know what I would do if you didn't," He told her and she nodded.
She looked up at him as he brushed a strand of hair from her face gently.
"I love you too..." She said softly, smiling at him lovingly and looking down at the floor once again.
"I know Jules; and I swear I'll be here for you; to hold you, or to let you cry on my shoulder. As well a certain Bash Brother, I think," he said, giving her a teasing smile.
Her eyes got huge, "Charlie, he's like a big brother to me that is all. I swear!" She said panicking a little.
"Jules, I know that. I know." He said pulling her into a hug, "I was just teasing you; trying to get some of the old Julie back, and it worked," he said.
She giggled against his chest, "Remind me to beat the crap out of you for that after I tell the team." She said, and he laughed.
"I'll try." he said laughing, "Hey, listen; I swear I will, as well as the rest I am sure, be here for you to talk to when you need me to. Okay?"
"That's what I need right now; some one to hold me... and to joke around with me." She said, smiling at him.
"We can leave that up to Averman." Charlie said seriously.
"Charlie, I swear to God; you bring him anywhere close to me and I will kill him, or hurt him severely. You know that we don't get along. He drives me up the wall." She said.
Charlie was severely trying not to laugh, "You done with your rampage now, Jules?"
"Yes." She said.
"Can I tell you a secret?" He asked her, still controlling his laughter.
"Yes." She said cocking her eyebrow.
"I was playing with you again." He said, busting out laughing.
"WHY YOU!!!!!!!" She screamed and started hitting him, which made him laugh harder.
"Calm down, Jules; I'm not going to make you deal with Averman, I swear." He said calming down, as was she.
"Good." She said, "But I do feel more like myself. You should piss me off on purpose more often."
He laughed, "I'll remember that."
He then reached out and caressed her face. "Go lay down, Jules; Portman and I will come get you in a little while."
"Okay." She said.
He turned around and walked back to the entertainment room to get Portman and his bag so he go to his room. Julie sighed and walked the rest of the way to her room.
She opened the door and found that Connie wasn't in there yet. She didn't care; she just sat her bag down and sat down on her bed. She looked over on her night stand and saw the picture of her mother. She reached over and picked it up.
"Why did this happen when I need you the most?" She asked the picture and broke down in tears, lying down in a fetal position. "I know that the team and Jason will help me through it, but I shouldn't have to be going through this. Maybe daddy was right about this being my fault."
Connie walked in just in time to hear her best friend say this and to find her curled up in a ball, hugging her mother's picture. She walked over to Julie's bed and sat down.
"Jules, don't say that. That is what your dad wants you to believe. If you admit that you think he is right, than he has won. But its not true, Julie; it wasn't your fault. It wasn't his fault. It was the drunk that hit them. One other thing, your mother wouldn't want you to think that, would she? No, of course not. She would want you to go on with your life, mourn of course, but not blame your self. Okay?" Connie said looking at Julie.
"I know; it's just hard. But I'll try not to start thinking that again. I promise." Julie said.
"Good. Because if I hear you say that again, I'm going to tell Charlie." She said and Julie laughed.
"Connie?" Julie said after she stopped laughing.
"Yeah?" Connie replied.
"Thanks. For keeping your promise about if you saw me going down in a depression that you would get me out of it, or try." Julie said and gave Connie a big smile.
"No problem, Jules." Connie said.
"I don't understand it. Ten minutes ago I was feeling like my old self; Charlie had me laughing and screaming at him, like before everything. Then I came in here and laid down because I promised him I would. Because he knows I'm tired, and I saw this picture and it all hit me again." Julie said, looking down at the bed.
"Julie, that's normal. I know it isn't the same, but when my grandmother died, I went through the same thing you are. I would be happy and laughing one minute with Guy, and then the next I would be balling. It's normal, I promise. Guy and the Ducks helped me through that, and we will help you through this." Connie said.
"Really? You went through this?" Julie asked.
"Yep. I know it isn't the same as a mother, but my grandmother and I were very close." Connie said, smiling at her.
"Thanks Connie. That makes me feel better." Julie said.
"No prob." Connie said, "Now get some rest so that Charlie doesn't get on to me for not making you."
Julie laughed, "Okay."
Connie smiled and got up, going to her bed to lay down. Julie stretched out and got under the blankets. She then thought of something and sat up.
"Connie?" She asked.
"Yeah?" Connie answered with her eyes closed.
"When did your grandmother die? When we met she was still alive." Julie asked her.
"Right after the Junior Goodwill Games. We had just gotten back home when it happened. Actually, I guess it was after you went home because you had come home with us. Anyway, it was when you were back in Maine." She answered.
"Oh, okay. I think you told me; I just don't remember. That sounded bad. It's just so much has happened since then." She said, panicking that Connie would be mad at her for saying that.
"Julie, it's okay. Now get some rest before we go talk to the team." Connie said, smiling reassuringly at her.
"Okay." Julie said and rolled over, going to sleep.
About forty-five minutes later, Charlie and Portman came to Connie and Julie's room. Charlie knocked on the door, not really expecting to get and answer. When he didn't, he looked at Portman and smiled. He then slowly opened the door and walked in. Portman stood where he was standing, staring at Charlie like he was insane.
"Portman, come on; she is going to be expecting you to be with me." Charlie whispered to him.
"But they're asleep. Didn't you say that Julie needs to get some rest?" Portman asked him.
"Yes I did, and she does; but I told her to go and lay down and that we would come get her and Connie when it was time to go back to the team." Charlie explained to him.
"Oh, okay." Portman said, and Charlie laughed.
They walked the rest of the way into the room. When Charlie saw Julie curled up in a ball and fast asleep, he just almost changed his mind about waking her up.
"Charlie? Shouldn't we wake them up now?" Portman asked after a few minutes.
Charlie jumped a few feet in the air and then nodded, "Yeah."
He then looked over at Portman and smiled, "Why don't you wake her up?" he suggested.
Portman smiled, happy that Charlie trusted her with him, "Okay," He said and started walking towards Julie; he then thought of something and stopped, "You're not setting me up are you? She isn't going to hit me over the head with something, is she?" He asked Charlie.
Charlie laughed, "No, I'm not setting you up. I promise." He said.
"Okay." Portman said skeptically and walked the rest of the way to Julie's bed while Charlie went to Connie's.
Portman sat down on the bed next to Julie and watched her sleep for a couple seconds. He then reached out and stroked her cheek.
"Julie." He said gently, "Julie, wake up." She didn't make a move to wake up; instead she moved her head into his hand and smiled. Charlie already had Connie awake, and they were both watching and laughing. Portman looked over at him and saw Connie watching.
"How in the hell did you do that?" Portman asked.
"I just shook her gently and told her that she needed to wake up." Charlie said.
"I did that!!!" Portman exclaimed.
Charlie laughed again, "Yes you did, but there is something you should know about Julie. She loves for her face to be rubbed." He said, smiling.
"Oh, so that is why she smiled." Portman said, "Okay, now to try this again."
He leaned down so that he was a little closer to her, "Julie, wake up."
She groaned and opened her eyes, "Portman?" she asked.
"Yep. Came to get you so you can go talk to the rest of the team." He said to her.
"Oh, you know, right?" She asked him, and he nodded. "Okay, good. You're not mad at me, are you?"
"Why would I be made at you, Jules?" He asked her.
"Because I told Connie and Guy about it but didn't tell you. You're one of my best friends; you're like a brother." She said, looking down at the cover.
"Julie, you had your reasons. I understand that. Charlie told me that you didn't want to ruin the win, and I understand your decision. So no, Julie, I'm not mad. Besides, you wanted me to know before the rest, so it's all cool." Portman said, smiling at her.
She didn't say anything; she just leaned over and hugged him. After a few minutes, she pulled back and looked at him.
"I told myself that when I got back, I would tell you because I wanted you to know. But when you came up to me, I couldn't do it. Charlie asked me if I wanted you to know. I nodded and he told me that he would tell you. That's why he told you." She told him, feeling like she needed to tell him.
"I know, he told me that to." Portman said smiling.
She smiled back, "Oh, okay." She said and then looked around the room for him and Connie. "Where is he?"
"Who?" Portman asked.
"Charlie." She said.
Portman looked over at Connie's bed, and then the door. He smiled when he saw the door was open.
"Hey Charlie, you better get back in here. Julie is trying to get me to make out with her." He yelled, and Julie snickered.
"Very funny, DEAN!" Charlie said sarcastically, and Julie laughed out loud at the look on Portman's face.
She then got up and jumped into Charlie's arms, hugging him. He stuck his tongue out at Portman and hugged her back. Portman smiled and then stuck his tongue back at him. Julie rolled her eyes, having seen the whole thing in the mirror in front of her, and pulled away from Charlie and looked up at him.
"Real mature, guys." She said to both of them, earning impish grins from both.
When they were all done being goofy, she looked up at Charlie, smiling.
"Thanks for telling him, Charlie." She told him.
"No problem, Angel." He told her and kissed her on the nose.
She smiled up at him and just enjoyed having him with her. She wouldn't trade him for anything. Not even a new-and-improved Charlie model that never got mad; that just simply wouldn't be her Charlie.
"Come on, let's get this over with." She told them, and then led them out the door.
Charlie and Portman smiled and followed her out of the room. When they got to the entertainment room, Julie stopped at the door. Charlie walked up beside her and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
He bent towards her a little, "It's going to be okay, Julie. Remember I'll help you out, and I'm sure Connie and Guy will too, if you want. If not, we're here to support you through it, as well as Portman." He told her.
"I know, I guess I'm just a little nervous." She told him. "But thanks for telling me anyway..."
"No problem, Julie." He told her, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.
She leaned up against a wall and closed her eyes, breathing deeply to prepare herself. She could do this...She had Charlie and everyone else to help her...She wasn't alone. After a moment, she turned to Charlie and gave him a half-smile.
"Okay, I'm ready." She said and walked into the room.
When the team saw them walk into the room, they stopped what they were doing and looked at them. Julie smiled and looked over at Bombay.
Bombay nodded and cleared his throat, causing them to look at him.
"Listen team, Julie is about to tell you something, and I want you to give her your full attention." He told them, and they all nodded in response.
After Bombay had told the team to pay attention to Julie, they turned back to her. She looked at them for a minute, and then looked down at the floor; she then looked back up at them.
She was about to start talking when her 'favorite' person interrupted her.
"Hey Cat Lady, when you going to start talking?" Averman asked her.
She growled in frustration and turned to him, "I was about to, dimwit!" she snapped.
"Well then get to it, Blondie." He said sarcastically.
"Stop pressuring me!!!" She yelled at him "Averman, what I'm about to tell you guys isn't going to be the easiest, so I would appreciate it if you would SHUT UP!!" She told him.
"Or what?" He asked her feeling very brave.
She growled, "Or I'm going to hit you over the head with a hockey stick."
"How you going to do that?" he asked her, "You don't have one in here."
She glared at him, turned around and walked over to Charlie and Portman.
"I'm sorry boys, but could either of you get me a stick, please?" She asked them sweetly.
They looked at each other and smirked at the way she asked them.
"Sure Jules, I even have a metal one." Portman said smiling.
She grinned, "Even better."
Portman grinned and looked over at Averman, who was starting to look nervous. He looked back at Julie and winked before turning and walking out of the room.
"One, two, three...." He counted. "WAIT!!!" Averman screamed, "Okay, I'll shut up."
Portman grinned and walked back in. Julie was facing Averman again and glaring at him.
"Thank you." She said and then smiled.
Portman laughed and leaned over to Charlie, "Now that is the Julie that I know and love." He said to him, "As a sister."
Charlie laughed, "I know what you meant Portman, and you're right; the old Julie is coming back. She just needed to be home."
Julie had heard what they had said and turned to them and smiled. They both smiled back at her and Charlie reached out and grabbed her hand. She smiled again, turned to the rest of the team and took a deep breath.
"Ok guys, I'm sure your all wondering where I've been the last couple of days." She said softly and they all nodded.
She inhaled deeply, and let out a shuddered breath, swallowing the lump in her throat. She could feel tension building as she closed her eyes, trying to keep the tears pooling in her eyes at bay. She wouldn't cry. She couldn't...
After she had taken a few moments to breathe, she looked back up at her friends surrounding her. She could do this.
"It all started...it all started when I begged my parents to come see one of our games. I was dying for them to come see us; I wanted them to know that I was making something of myself. Once I had finally convinced them to come, I was ecstatic...then..." she started, letting out another shaky breath before continuing. "Then the game came, and they weren't there. I searched and searched, but they weren't there," she said, feeling her nose burning with the threat of tears; but she held it in. "I asked Charlie to tell Orion...wh-when he told Bombay, Bombay called to find out what was going on. During the second period, I found out they had been in a bad car accident; a drunk had hit them," She said, feeling Charlie's grip tightened on her hand. He was telling her he was there; he was being her rock. "After the game, I found out that my dad had been stabilized, but momma..." she started. "Momma's lungs collapsed, and..." she started, feeling the hot tears pool in her eyes. "...and she died." She added quietly.
After a few seconds of silence, Fulton spoke up with sympathy. "Why didn't you tell us?" he asked quietly.
"I didn't want to ruin the win..." she said quietly, finally regaining the capability to speak with choking again. Before they could say anything else, she continued. "After the game...we went to the hospital. I just wanted to see daddy...and to find out if it was really true...My big brother Jason was there, and I thought things might be okay. When I went to talk to daddy, he told me to go; he said there was no reason for me to come because he and Jason were leaving as soon as he was let out. He didn't want me to come with him...Momma's funeral was the 'family emergency'...When daddy yelled at me to leave, I went to see my mom..." she said, her face scrunching as she felt a sob escape. The room was deathly quiet, and Charlie rubbed her palm with his thumb.
She crumbled to the floor slightly, trying to stop the flow of tears. She could hardly stop her chest from sporadically twitching with her crying.
Julie felt Charlie kneel next to her and wrap and arm around her shoulder. "Are you okay, or do you want me to finish?" he asked once she had calmed down a little.
"I-I can't..." she said after a minute, allowing herself to lean against Charlie; she felt protected. Charlie nodded. "It's okay, Jules."
"I just feel like such a wimp..." she said, her eyes glistening.
Pursing his lips, he wrapped his arms around her and let out a sigh. "You aren't a wimp, Julie. It's a tough thing, and I said I would be here for you..." he said softly.
Only a few seconds later he turned back to the Ducks sadly and finished the explanation, telling them how cold her father had been. How for the longest time, he wouldn't even see her.
When Charlie had finished, the Ducks stood in a shocked, chilled silence. It seemed everyone was afraid to speak, for fear of shattering the very air they breathed.
Suddenly, Fulton broke from the crowd over to Julie and Charlie, pulling the former into a hug. "I think I speak for all of us when I say I'm sorry and that me and the rest of the team anytime you need us," he said quietly, earning a tearful nod from Julie.
"Thanks, Fult." She said with a light smile.
"Is there anything we could do?" Futon asked, releasing Julie so she could relocate herself back with Charlie.
Intertwining her fingers with Charlie's she nodded. "I want to go skating."
Soon enough, they were skating around the ice rink. Julie couldn't help but smile as she saw her friends whip around her, sliding across the ice in child-like glee; carrying out the antics of youth. Charlie skated up behind her and turned so he was in front of her. "Weren't you supposed to beat me up, or something of that nature?" he asked playfully, remembering her earlier threat of beating him up after telling the team.
"Why would I do that?" she asked as he wrapped her arms around her waist and she leaned forward, resting her forehead on his chest.
He shrugged and gave her a crooked smile. "There's just no telling, Angel. But there's something I have to tell you..." he said softly as she looked up at him with question. After waiting for a few dramatic minutes, he tagged her shoulder and grinned impishly. "YOU'RE IT!"
After he had skated off, she blinked with realization. Once it had connected in her brain, she was after him like a cat on a mouse.
"You are SO paying for that!" she called after him, laughter mingling with the rest of the ruckus. "Can you not handle being mature for TWO SECONDS?!"
He flipped around and began skating backwards, watching her trail him, shaking his head with a grin.
Tripping over a stray hockey stick, Julie plummeted to the cold, icy surface.
Charlie instantly came to an abrupt stop and skated over to her. "Julie? You okay?"
She nodded and gave him a half-smile. "I'll live."
He sat down on the ice next to her and she grinned.
Cupping the side of her face with his hand, he gave her a gentle kiss before pulling away and smiling.
Julie smiled blissfully at him, just happy that she had her Charlie. She finally had that someone. She had someone to love her, and to catch her when she fell.
She had Charlie, and as long as she did, she was the happiest person alive.
Ok well that is it for this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it. Please review and tell me what you think. The next chapter is going to be a lot happier, it is also going to be the last chapter. Well talk to you soon.
A/N to C-chan96: THANK YOU SO BLOODY MUCH FOR HELPING ME OUT. It if hadn't been for you it probably would have been like another week tell I posted. I knew what i wanted to happen, I just couldn't figure out how to put type it. Not only did you finish if for me but you also edited and re did that one section. YOUR GREAT!!!!!! *Gives you a cream soda* I feel bad that I ask you to do so much and yet all I do for you is read yours, tell you my favorite parts, and occasionally tell you the mistakes i see. How horrible is that? SO if there is ever a part you need help writing in any of your fics, tell me and I'll try to help you. Or if you want me to help you rewrite a part, ask me and I will try. I swear. You help me I want to help you a little more. It just doesn't seem fair. Well that is all i can think of, and I promised to review your chapter twice, so I'm going to post this and follow up on my part of the deal. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!
AN/ I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to get this up. But I got in to a slump, then I got an idea. Then I didn't have time to write it cause I got busy with college work. Anyways I finally got the chance to finish it, excuse me, I got the idea but couldn't put it to words. So I asked Chelsea if she could help me and she did the last section of the story. In other words she wrote the end and I wrote the beginning. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter, there is only one chapter left after this. *Sniffs* I can't believe I am almost finished with this story. Anyways enjoy and review if you can.
Note to my reviewers:
C-chan96: I'm glad you enjoyed this story. I knew you would, you always do. Don't worry about not being able to think of any Charlie/Julie parts for me. You made it up plenty in this one. Your official thank you will be after the chapter is done. I'm just responding to your review now. Anyways I had a great time at Tyler, I hope I can go again soon. Well I'm talking to you on IM and have other reviews to respond to plus your An. Talk to you soon.
Banksiesbabe99: I'm glad you liked the chapter. Thanks for reviewing, enjoy this one.
Ok responses are finished, here is the next to last chapter. Enjoy and please review.
Chapter 7
Bombay pulled into the parking lot of the dorms and turned the car off. He then turned and looked at Julie.
"You ready, Julie?" he asked her.
"No, but I made a promise to Charlie, Connie, Guy and Jason; and I'm not going to break it." She said and smiled at Bombay and her friends.
Bombay smiled reassuringly at her. "Okay then; let's go. We'll go in and let them know we're back, and then you guy's can go and put your bags up. Afterwards, we'll all come back and talk to them." He told them.
"Okay." They all said.
Bombay smiled, and they all got out of the car and got their bags. After they retrieved their things, they walked into the dorm building and to the entertainment room; there they saw the rest of the team playing games while they waited for their teammates to get back.
Bombay cleared his throat when they go into the room so that he could get their attention.
"Hey team, we're back." He said.
They all cheered and clapped, none of them noticing the uncomfortable look on their goalie's face. Well none of them except Charlie and Portman.
Portman looked over at Charlie to see if it would be okay to say something to her. Charlie mouthed to him to greet her in some way. Portman nodded and walked over to Julie.
"Hey Jules. I'm glad your back. I've been worried about you." He told her gently.
Julie gave him a weak smile, "Thanks Portman. I'm glad to be home too. No one to yell at me here."
Portman gave her a confused look. She looked down, because she didn't know what to do. Portman was one of her best friends; for all practical purposes he was another brother to her.
Charlie saw what was happening and walked up next to them. "Hey Julie, Connie is going to put her stuff up. Why don't you go with her?" He told her.
"Okay," she said.
She gave Portman one of her famous grins; both Charlie and Portman knew it was a put-on, seeing right through it. She turned around and picked up her bag and went to find Connie. Charlie watched her walk away. Just as she walked out of the room, something dawned on him. She wanted Portman to know first, before the rest of the team.
'Probably because he is almost a brother to her,' he thought to himself. He knew now why she had just looked upset, 'She couldn't decide whether to tell him or wait and tell him with the rest.' Charlie then turned to Portman, who was now talking to Guy, "Hey Portman, I'll be right back." He told him.
"Okay." Portman said.
Charlie then turned around and went after Julie. He caught up to her pretty quickly because she was walking pretty slowly.
"Hey Jules!!" He called out to her.
She turned around and looked at him, "Yeah?"
"I have a question for you." He said.
"Okay." She answered.
"Do you want me to tell Portman?" He asked her.
"Kind of." She said.
"Okay." He said.
She smiled at him and then looked down at the floor. Charlie reached out and pulled her into a tight hug.
"What's the matter, Angel?" He asked her softly.
"I don't know if I can tell them." She said against his chest.
"Shh, if you want, I'll help you tell them. Okay?" He said.
"Really?" She asked looking up at him, "Why?"
"Because, Julie, I care for you and want to help you through this." He told her gently.
She smiled at him and laid her head back on his chest. He smiled and held her for a little bit longer.
After a couple minutes, he pulled back and kissed her forehead.
"Go on to your room with Connie; I'm going to talk to Portman. We'll come get you in a little bit. Okay?" he told her, pushing a stray piece of hair out of her face.
She nodded and gave him a weak, nervous smile.
"Don't worry; I'll help you through it, okay?" He told her, and she nodded.
"Okay; go lie down and relax for a little bit. You deserve it." He told her.
"Okay." She said softly.
He bent down and gave her a kiss, "I love you Julie. I really do, and you don't know how happy I am that you're letting me be here for you. I don't know what I would do if you didn't," He told her and she nodded.
She looked up at him as he brushed a strand of hair from her face gently.
"I love you too..." She said softly, smiling at him lovingly and looking down at the floor once again.
"I know Jules; and I swear I'll be here for you; to hold you, or to let you cry on my shoulder. As well a certain Bash Brother, I think," he said, giving her a teasing smile.
Her eyes got huge, "Charlie, he's like a big brother to me that is all. I swear!" She said panicking a little.
"Jules, I know that. I know." He said pulling her into a hug, "I was just teasing you; trying to get some of the old Julie back, and it worked," he said.
She giggled against his chest, "Remind me to beat the crap out of you for that after I tell the team." She said, and he laughed.
"I'll try." he said laughing, "Hey, listen; I swear I will, as well as the rest I am sure, be here for you to talk to when you need me to. Okay?"
"That's what I need right now; some one to hold me... and to joke around with me." She said, smiling at him.
"We can leave that up to Averman." Charlie said seriously.
"Charlie, I swear to God; you bring him anywhere close to me and I will kill him, or hurt him severely. You know that we don't get along. He drives me up the wall." She said.
Charlie was severely trying not to laugh, "You done with your rampage now, Jules?"
"Yes." She said.
"Can I tell you a secret?" He asked her, still controlling his laughter.
"Yes." She said cocking her eyebrow.
"I was playing with you again." He said, busting out laughing.
"WHY YOU!!!!!!!" She screamed and started hitting him, which made him laugh harder.
"Calm down, Jules; I'm not going to make you deal with Averman, I swear." He said calming down, as was she.
"Good." She said, "But I do feel more like myself. You should piss me off on purpose more often."
He laughed, "I'll remember that."
He then reached out and caressed her face. "Go lay down, Jules; Portman and I will come get you in a little while."
"Okay." She said.
He turned around and walked back to the entertainment room to get Portman and his bag so he go to his room. Julie sighed and walked the rest of the way to her room.
She opened the door and found that Connie wasn't in there yet. She didn't care; she just sat her bag down and sat down on her bed. She looked over on her night stand and saw the picture of her mother. She reached over and picked it up.
"Why did this happen when I need you the most?" She asked the picture and broke down in tears, lying down in a fetal position. "I know that the team and Jason will help me through it, but I shouldn't have to be going through this. Maybe daddy was right about this being my fault."
Connie walked in just in time to hear her best friend say this and to find her curled up in a ball, hugging her mother's picture. She walked over to Julie's bed and sat down.
"Jules, don't say that. That is what your dad wants you to believe. If you admit that you think he is right, than he has won. But its not true, Julie; it wasn't your fault. It wasn't his fault. It was the drunk that hit them. One other thing, your mother wouldn't want you to think that, would she? No, of course not. She would want you to go on with your life, mourn of course, but not blame your self. Okay?" Connie said looking at Julie.
"I know; it's just hard. But I'll try not to start thinking that again. I promise." Julie said.
"Good. Because if I hear you say that again, I'm going to tell Charlie." She said and Julie laughed.
"Connie?" Julie said after she stopped laughing.
"Yeah?" Connie replied.
"Thanks. For keeping your promise about if you saw me going down in a depression that you would get me out of it, or try." Julie said and gave Connie a big smile.
"No problem, Jules." Connie said.
"I don't understand it. Ten minutes ago I was feeling like my old self; Charlie had me laughing and screaming at him, like before everything. Then I came in here and laid down because I promised him I would. Because he knows I'm tired, and I saw this picture and it all hit me again." Julie said, looking down at the bed.
"Julie, that's normal. I know it isn't the same, but when my grandmother died, I went through the same thing you are. I would be happy and laughing one minute with Guy, and then the next I would be balling. It's normal, I promise. Guy and the Ducks helped me through that, and we will help you through this." Connie said.
"Really? You went through this?" Julie asked.
"Yep. I know it isn't the same as a mother, but my grandmother and I were very close." Connie said, smiling at her.
"Thanks Connie. That makes me feel better." Julie said.
"No prob." Connie said, "Now get some rest so that Charlie doesn't get on to me for not making you."
Julie laughed, "Okay."
Connie smiled and got up, going to her bed to lay down. Julie stretched out and got under the blankets. She then thought of something and sat up.
"Connie?" She asked.
"Yeah?" Connie answered with her eyes closed.
"When did your grandmother die? When we met she was still alive." Julie asked her.
"Right after the Junior Goodwill Games. We had just gotten back home when it happened. Actually, I guess it was after you went home because you had come home with us. Anyway, it was when you were back in Maine." She answered.
"Oh, okay. I think you told me; I just don't remember. That sounded bad. It's just so much has happened since then." She said, panicking that Connie would be mad at her for saying that.
"Julie, it's okay. Now get some rest before we go talk to the team." Connie said, smiling reassuringly at her.
"Okay." Julie said and rolled over, going to sleep.
About forty-five minutes later, Charlie and Portman came to Connie and Julie's room. Charlie knocked on the door, not really expecting to get and answer. When he didn't, he looked at Portman and smiled. He then slowly opened the door and walked in. Portman stood where he was standing, staring at Charlie like he was insane.
"Portman, come on; she is going to be expecting you to be with me." Charlie whispered to him.
"But they're asleep. Didn't you say that Julie needs to get some rest?" Portman asked him.
"Yes I did, and she does; but I told her to go and lay down and that we would come get her and Connie when it was time to go back to the team." Charlie explained to him.
"Oh, okay." Portman said, and Charlie laughed.
They walked the rest of the way into the room. When Charlie saw Julie curled up in a ball and fast asleep, he just almost changed his mind about waking her up.
"Charlie? Shouldn't we wake them up now?" Portman asked after a few minutes.
Charlie jumped a few feet in the air and then nodded, "Yeah."
He then looked over at Portman and smiled, "Why don't you wake her up?" he suggested.
Portman smiled, happy that Charlie trusted her with him, "Okay," He said and started walking towards Julie; he then thought of something and stopped, "You're not setting me up are you? She isn't going to hit me over the head with something, is she?" He asked Charlie.
Charlie laughed, "No, I'm not setting you up. I promise." He said.
"Okay." Portman said skeptically and walked the rest of the way to Julie's bed while Charlie went to Connie's.
Portman sat down on the bed next to Julie and watched her sleep for a couple seconds. He then reached out and stroked her cheek.
"Julie." He said gently, "Julie, wake up." She didn't make a move to wake up; instead she moved her head into his hand and smiled. Charlie already had Connie awake, and they were both watching and laughing. Portman looked over at him and saw Connie watching.
"How in the hell did you do that?" Portman asked.
"I just shook her gently and told her that she needed to wake up." Charlie said.
"I did that!!!" Portman exclaimed.
Charlie laughed again, "Yes you did, but there is something you should know about Julie. She loves for her face to be rubbed." He said, smiling.
"Oh, so that is why she smiled." Portman said, "Okay, now to try this again."
He leaned down so that he was a little closer to her, "Julie, wake up."
She groaned and opened her eyes, "Portman?" she asked.
"Yep. Came to get you so you can go talk to the rest of the team." He said to her.
"Oh, you know, right?" She asked him, and he nodded. "Okay, good. You're not mad at me, are you?"
"Why would I be made at you, Jules?" He asked her.
"Because I told Connie and Guy about it but didn't tell you. You're one of my best friends; you're like a brother." She said, looking down at the cover.
"Julie, you had your reasons. I understand that. Charlie told me that you didn't want to ruin the win, and I understand your decision. So no, Julie, I'm not mad. Besides, you wanted me to know before the rest, so it's all cool." Portman said, smiling at her.
She didn't say anything; she just leaned over and hugged him. After a few minutes, she pulled back and looked at him.
"I told myself that when I got back, I would tell you because I wanted you to know. But when you came up to me, I couldn't do it. Charlie asked me if I wanted you to know. I nodded and he told me that he would tell you. That's why he told you." She told him, feeling like she needed to tell him.
"I know, he told me that to." Portman said smiling.
She smiled back, "Oh, okay." She said and then looked around the room for him and Connie. "Where is he?"
"Who?" Portman asked.
"Charlie." She said.
Portman looked over at Connie's bed, and then the door. He smiled when he saw the door was open.
"Hey Charlie, you better get back in here. Julie is trying to get me to make out with her." He yelled, and Julie snickered.
"Very funny, DEAN!" Charlie said sarcastically, and Julie laughed out loud at the look on Portman's face.
She then got up and jumped into Charlie's arms, hugging him. He stuck his tongue out at Portman and hugged her back. Portman smiled and then stuck his tongue back at him. Julie rolled her eyes, having seen the whole thing in the mirror in front of her, and pulled away from Charlie and looked up at him.
"Real mature, guys." She said to both of them, earning impish grins from both.
When they were all done being goofy, she looked up at Charlie, smiling.
"Thanks for telling him, Charlie." She told him.
"No problem, Angel." He told her and kissed her on the nose.
She smiled up at him and just enjoyed having him with her. She wouldn't trade him for anything. Not even a new-and-improved Charlie model that never got mad; that just simply wouldn't be her Charlie.
"Come on, let's get this over with." She told them, and then led them out the door.
Charlie and Portman smiled and followed her out of the room. When they got to the entertainment room, Julie stopped at the door. Charlie walked up beside her and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.
He bent towards her a little, "It's going to be okay, Julie. Remember I'll help you out, and I'm sure Connie and Guy will too, if you want. If not, we're here to support you through it, as well as Portman." He told her.
"I know, I guess I'm just a little nervous." She told him. "But thanks for telling me anyway..."
"No problem, Julie." He told her, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.
She leaned up against a wall and closed her eyes, breathing deeply to prepare herself. She could do this...She had Charlie and everyone else to help her...She wasn't alone. After a moment, she turned to Charlie and gave him a half-smile.
"Okay, I'm ready." She said and walked into the room.
When the team saw them walk into the room, they stopped what they were doing and looked at them. Julie smiled and looked over at Bombay.
Bombay nodded and cleared his throat, causing them to look at him.
"Listen team, Julie is about to tell you something, and I want you to give her your full attention." He told them, and they all nodded in response.
After Bombay had told the team to pay attention to Julie, they turned back to her. She looked at them for a minute, and then looked down at the floor; she then looked back up at them.
She was about to start talking when her 'favorite' person interrupted her.
"Hey Cat Lady, when you going to start talking?" Averman asked her.
She growled in frustration and turned to him, "I was about to, dimwit!" she snapped.
"Well then get to it, Blondie." He said sarcastically.
"Stop pressuring me!!!" She yelled at him "Averman, what I'm about to tell you guys isn't going to be the easiest, so I would appreciate it if you would SHUT UP!!" She told him.
"Or what?" He asked her feeling very brave.
She growled, "Or I'm going to hit you over the head with a hockey stick."
"How you going to do that?" he asked her, "You don't have one in here."
She glared at him, turned around and walked over to Charlie and Portman.
"I'm sorry boys, but could either of you get me a stick, please?" She asked them sweetly.
They looked at each other and smirked at the way she asked them.
"Sure Jules, I even have a metal one." Portman said smiling.
She grinned, "Even better."
Portman grinned and looked over at Averman, who was starting to look nervous. He looked back at Julie and winked before turning and walking out of the room.
"One, two, three...." He counted. "WAIT!!!" Averman screamed, "Okay, I'll shut up."
Portman grinned and walked back in. Julie was facing Averman again and glaring at him.
"Thank you." She said and then smiled.
Portman laughed and leaned over to Charlie, "Now that is the Julie that I know and love." He said to him, "As a sister."
Charlie laughed, "I know what you meant Portman, and you're right; the old Julie is coming back. She just needed to be home."
Julie had heard what they had said and turned to them and smiled. They both smiled back at her and Charlie reached out and grabbed her hand. She smiled again, turned to the rest of the team and took a deep breath.
"Ok guys, I'm sure your all wondering where I've been the last couple of days." She said softly and they all nodded.
She inhaled deeply, and let out a shuddered breath, swallowing the lump in her throat. She could feel tension building as she closed her eyes, trying to keep the tears pooling in her eyes at bay. She wouldn't cry. She couldn't...
After she had taken a few moments to breathe, she looked back up at her friends surrounding her. She could do this.
"It all started...it all started when I begged my parents to come see one of our games. I was dying for them to come see us; I wanted them to know that I was making something of myself. Once I had finally convinced them to come, I was ecstatic...then..." she started, letting out another shaky breath before continuing. "Then the game came, and they weren't there. I searched and searched, but they weren't there," she said, feeling her nose burning with the threat of tears; but she held it in. "I asked Charlie to tell Orion...wh-when he told Bombay, Bombay called to find out what was going on. During the second period, I found out they had been in a bad car accident; a drunk had hit them," She said, feeling Charlie's grip tightened on her hand. He was telling her he was there; he was being her rock. "After the game, I found out that my dad had been stabilized, but momma..." she started. "Momma's lungs collapsed, and..." she started, feeling the hot tears pool in her eyes. "...and she died." She added quietly.
After a few seconds of silence, Fulton spoke up with sympathy. "Why didn't you tell us?" he asked quietly.
"I didn't want to ruin the win..." she said quietly, finally regaining the capability to speak with choking again. Before they could say anything else, she continued. "After the game...we went to the hospital. I just wanted to see daddy...and to find out if it was really true...My big brother Jason was there, and I thought things might be okay. When I went to talk to daddy, he told me to go; he said there was no reason for me to come because he and Jason were leaving as soon as he was let out. He didn't want me to come with him...Momma's funeral was the 'family emergency'...When daddy yelled at me to leave, I went to see my mom..." she said, her face scrunching as she felt a sob escape. The room was deathly quiet, and Charlie rubbed her palm with his thumb.
She crumbled to the floor slightly, trying to stop the flow of tears. She could hardly stop her chest from sporadically twitching with her crying.
Julie felt Charlie kneel next to her and wrap and arm around her shoulder. "Are you okay, or do you want me to finish?" he asked once she had calmed down a little.
"I-I can't..." she said after a minute, allowing herself to lean against Charlie; she felt protected. Charlie nodded. "It's okay, Jules."
"I just feel like such a wimp..." she said, her eyes glistening.
Pursing his lips, he wrapped his arms around her and let out a sigh. "You aren't a wimp, Julie. It's a tough thing, and I said I would be here for you..." he said softly.
Only a few seconds later he turned back to the Ducks sadly and finished the explanation, telling them how cold her father had been. How for the longest time, he wouldn't even see her.
When Charlie had finished, the Ducks stood in a shocked, chilled silence. It seemed everyone was afraid to speak, for fear of shattering the very air they breathed.
Suddenly, Fulton broke from the crowd over to Julie and Charlie, pulling the former into a hug. "I think I speak for all of us when I say I'm sorry and that me and the rest of the team anytime you need us," he said quietly, earning a tearful nod from Julie.
"Thanks, Fult." She said with a light smile.
"Is there anything we could do?" Futon asked, releasing Julie so she could relocate herself back with Charlie.
Intertwining her fingers with Charlie's she nodded. "I want to go skating."
Soon enough, they were skating around the ice rink. Julie couldn't help but smile as she saw her friends whip around her, sliding across the ice in child-like glee; carrying out the antics of youth. Charlie skated up behind her and turned so he was in front of her. "Weren't you supposed to beat me up, or something of that nature?" he asked playfully, remembering her earlier threat of beating him up after telling the team.
"Why would I do that?" she asked as he wrapped her arms around her waist and she leaned forward, resting her forehead on his chest.
He shrugged and gave her a crooked smile. "There's just no telling, Angel. But there's something I have to tell you..." he said softly as she looked up at him with question. After waiting for a few dramatic minutes, he tagged her shoulder and grinned impishly. "YOU'RE IT!"
After he had skated off, she blinked with realization. Once it had connected in her brain, she was after him like a cat on a mouse.
"You are SO paying for that!" she called after him, laughter mingling with the rest of the ruckus. "Can you not handle being mature for TWO SECONDS?!"
He flipped around and began skating backwards, watching her trail him, shaking his head with a grin.
Tripping over a stray hockey stick, Julie plummeted to the cold, icy surface.
Charlie instantly came to an abrupt stop and skated over to her. "Julie? You okay?"
She nodded and gave him a half-smile. "I'll live."
He sat down on the ice next to her and she grinned.
Cupping the side of her face with his hand, he gave her a gentle kiss before pulling away and smiling.
Julie smiled blissfully at him, just happy that she had her Charlie. She finally had that someone. She had someone to love her, and to catch her when she fell.
She had Charlie, and as long as she did, she was the happiest person alive.
Ok well that is it for this chapter, I hope you enjoyed it. Please review and tell me what you think. The next chapter is going to be a lot happier, it is also going to be the last chapter. Well talk to you soon.
A/N to C-chan96: THANK YOU SO BLOODY MUCH FOR HELPING ME OUT. It if hadn't been for you it probably would have been like another week tell I posted. I knew what i wanted to happen, I just couldn't figure out how to put type it. Not only did you finish if for me but you also edited and re did that one section. YOUR GREAT!!!!!! *Gives you a cream soda* I feel bad that I ask you to do so much and yet all I do for you is read yours, tell you my favorite parts, and occasionally tell you the mistakes i see. How horrible is that? SO if there is ever a part you need help writing in any of your fics, tell me and I'll try to help you. Or if you want me to help you rewrite a part, ask me and I will try. I swear. You help me I want to help you a little more. It just doesn't seem fair. Well that is all i can think of, and I promised to review your chapter twice, so I'm going to post this and follow up on my part of the deal. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!