Chapter 2

Jackson and Cooper

Colorado Springs reminded Jackson of home. Not home as in Malibu but home as in Tennessee. Jackson use to jog in the mountains back at their house. The smell of trees and undergrowth was a sweet perfume to him. Cooper didn't want to run in the early morning, but after a few morning jogs, Cooper was looking forward to them as well. On this day, they were listening to music on ipods. Other days they would talk, but today it was ipods. They finished their jog at the apartment building where they were assigned living quarters. They had time for a quick shower in their apartment like dorm they shared. After that, it was their turn to practice with the coach.

After school had ending and before the start of Miley's summer tour, Jackson and Cooper had a tournament to play in. This was the tournament that decided, who was going to be on the Olympic team for next year's Olympic games. Jackson's dad made special arrangements and had Maddie flew out to meet them at Colorado Springs so she could be there for Jackson. Things had been getting more serious with Jackson and Maddie after Maddie had visited them in Malibu. For anyone looking at them, you could tell that there was something there.

The tournament was divided into four groups for round robin play. The teams with the best record would make the team. However, to determine who was going to the Olympics, another round robin tournament was played. The team with the best record would be the number one team. The team with the second best record would be the number two them. The team with the third best record would be the first alternate team and the other team would be the second alternate team. If there would be a need after the last round robin, a bracket play-off would be used to determine the line up of teams. It was close in the end, but Jackson and Cooper managed to pull the number two team spot with a hard fought victory in the last game.

With their spot on the team, they got to train over the summer at the Training Center. That meant they would have to live there over the summer, but it did have its good points. Like Jackson being able to get top-notch, care for his ankle. The powers that be in the medical department decided that it would be best if Jackson had his ankle repaired just before the start of school. That way he could train over the summer and have the school year to recover and build back up his strength. Then they would be able to train on the program that they learned over the summer while they were in school. Coach Conn had came with them so he could learn the training program that was set up for them to follow. Finally, it was agreed that Dr. Franklin would do the repair. If luck was on Jackson's side, then the repair could be done by scope and they would not have to open the ankle up to fix it.

With the morning training session done and showers taken, Jackson and Cooper were heading to the cafeteria for some lunch. When they got there, the place was alive with a buzz. Jackson and Cooper sat down with the friends that they had made in there time at the Training Center.

-----

"Hey guys, did you hear the news?" Jenny asked. Jenny was one of the young breed of swimmers that were making their way up the Olympic ranks.

"Sorry, we just got done with practice." Cooper answered.

"Okay get this…" Jenny started but was cut off by Kelly when she paused.

"Hannah Montana is going to make a stop here and putting on a concert just for us."

Jackson and Cooper looked at each other. They both knew this was not a scheduled stop on Miley's tour.

"Thanks Kelly. I was going to tell them that."

"Sorry. I can't help it. I'm such a big fan."

"Yeah and just because Cooper and Jackson met her once you were hoping to be introduce to her?"

"Well it couldn't hurt to ask could it?" Kelly asked looking from Cooper to Jackson with hope in her eyes.

"Well yeah, we did but it was just once." Jackson said.

"I doubt that she even remembers us." Cooper added.

Fate just had to add its two cents at this moment. One of the P.R. personal just happen to walk up to Cooper and Jackson.

"So you two are the men of the hour." Gus said as he walked up to them

"What do you mean by that?" Cooper asked.

"It seems the reason that Hannah Montana is doing a concert for us is because she wants to met with you two."

Jackson and Cooper turned to each other and smiled.

"I'll fill you guys in after she gets here. See everyone later." Gus smiled as he left.

"So well you introduce us?" Kelly asked unable to control herself.

"If we get the chance to I guess." Jackson answered.

-------------------------------------------------

…beep…beep…beep…

Jackson reached over to turn off his alarm. Today was the day that Miley and his dad was suppose to get here. He was excited to see them again. It had almost been a month since he seen them last and it would be four more weeks before he would see them again. Plus he was going to be having his ankle fixed too. Well at least, he would have one week before school started to recover from the surgery. Jackson was sitting on his bed lacing up his ankle brace when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Cooper stuck his head in.

"I'm going to run now."

"Well wait for me."

"I thought you would want to be here when your dad and Miley came."

"We already know when they are getting here and you also know that she is going to be Hannah and not Miley so I don't see any reason to just sit around and wait."

"Okay J-man lets go run."

-----

When Jackson and Cooper got back to their room after their run, they were surprised to find two people sitting in their room.

"JACKSON!" Miley called as she attached herself to her brother.

"Hi Miley, but what are you guys doing here?"

"Oh, thanks a lot Jackson. We don't see you for a month and you want to know what we are doing here." Miley laughed as she let go of her brother and stepped over to hug Cooper.

"I'm sure he didn't mean it the way it sounds Miley." Cooper laughed too.

Jackson looked a little embarrassed when he realized how it came out.

"I just thought you would be here as Hannah." Jackson stated as he checked the door.

"We told them that Hannah would be out to have lunch and met everyone starting with lunch and going to the concert." Robbie Ray told his son.

"How much time do you have then?" Jackson asked.

"About two hours son."

"Do you want to come and see us practice?" Cooper asked.

"That would be great." Miley smiled. Then she pulled something out of the bag she had with her.

"Helen heard that we were going to stop her and give us this to give to you." Miley said as she handed the wrapped box to Cooper.

"You didn't tell her your Hannah did you."

"No, I haven't, but maybe someday in the future I might. That's all up to you." Miley smiled at Cooper who returned the smile.

"When we were in Boston Maddie gave us this to give to you." Miley handed a wrapped box to Jackson.

Cooper unwrapped his gift and found a picture that was of him and Helen that was taken before he had left for Colorado Springs. The picture was in a nice frame. Jackson opened the box and found a dog tag necklace in it. On the tags were printed; Maddie Loves Jackson.

-----

After watching Jackson and Cooper practice for a while, Miley and Robbie went back to the buses. Hannah came out later to join the athletes for lunch and spent the rest of the day before the concert with them. After the concert, Jackson, Cooper and some friends came back stage to met with Hannah. Before leaving for the next concert stop, Miley said good-bye to her brother.

Jackson was looking forward to getting home to be with his dad and sister again. That also meant surgery and the start of school again too. Oh well he thought, you take the good with the bad.