Title: Dare to Dream

Author: NYPD5Chick

Pairing: Jimmy/OC

Summary: What if there were 27 names on that first roster? What if one of the players wasn't what they seemed? What would you do to pursue your dream? Slightly AUish.

Disclaimer: Only Paulie is mine, so don't sue. I'm so broke you'd end up owing me money.

A/N: Most of the dialogue between Craig and Herb is from the movie, obviously I don't own that.

Chapter 1: Meet Paulie.

Lily 'Paulie' St. Paul couldn't believe what she was going to attempt to do. She was going to attempt to make the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team. Shaking her newly shorn head a little, she hoisted her bag up onto her shoulder and entered the crowded building. She got through the check-in process without too much trouble. The lady taking her application gave her a curious once-over before seeming to accept her appearance. It took everything in Lily's power to keep from fiddling with her hair, a nervous habit she had picked up since she began playing in the men's leagues.

"Paul O'Connor," the older woman said with a bored expression on her face. "Here's your number, go down this corridor and turn to your left, they'll set you up with everything else you need."

"Thanks," Lily said a small wave of relief passing over her. She looked down at the number in her hand and nearly laughed, 23, her lucky number.

The next thing she knew, she was geared up and on the ice, warming up with about 80 other guys. Glancing around the rink as she stretched, she saw a few faces that she recognized from college teams she had played against, but she knew that few if anyone would recognize her, or so she thought until she heard a very loud yell of "PAULIE" coming at her from across the ice.

She turned and saw her good friend, Ralph Cox skating toward her. "COXIE!" She replied, a wide smile on her face. "How the hell have you been man?"

"I'm good. How're you? I haven't seen you since Nationals two years ago."

"What can I say? It's not that easy to get out of Alaska."

"Alaska? When did that happen?" he asked as they started skating a few laps to finish their warm-up.

"About a year ago. My old man managed to find work with one of the oil companies up there, working on the ice flows, so he moved to Anchorage. I transferred to U of Alaska so I could help look after Alex while he was away on the rigs."

"Unreal," he said shaking his head. "But you're here at least."

"Yep. Thought I'd give it a shot."

"Good, we need the best players on this team and you are one of the best," he half-teased.

"And don't you forget it," Paulie teased back, before one of the coaches running the try-out blew his whistle. "Good luck Coxie," she said before heading off to the area of the rink where the forwards were gathering.

"You too Paulie," he said as he head to the opposite side where the defensemen were gathering.

High above the ice, in the coaches' box, Herb Brooks was carefully observing the hockey players. He already had twenty-two of his team picked, leaving the last four spots for anyone else who stuck out to him. He quickly added the last four, and had almost considered himself finished when a short and scrawny player darted across his field of vision. The thing that caught his attention was the way he seemed to effortlessly weave around the defensemen, finding an open patch of ice, and making opportunities to shoot on the net, or pass off to others. He squinted to get a better look at the number on the player's back. He was barely able to make out the 23 pinned to the dark green jersey. Turning to the mountain of files in front of him, he picked out the one labeled 23 and began to look through it.

Name: Paul O'Connor

Age: 21

Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 135 (I think)

Previously played for: University of Alaska, varsity (1 year); Penn State, junior varsity (2 years), varsity (1 year).

Position: Right Forward (usually)

Herb gave a short chuckle as he read through the little side comments that Paul O'Connor had put on his application. Noting the hometown of Anchorage, Alaska, Herb figured he would at least make O'Connor's trip down to Colorado worth the expense. Watching as Number 23 again practically danced around the defense, the normally meticulous coach scribbled a twenty-seventh name on the roster and sat back in his chair.

A knock at the door announced the arrival of Herb's Assistant Coach and he offered the man a slight nod as he sat down beside him.

"So Doc cleared him, says it's just a sprain."

"Good."

"I wanted to let you know how much I'm looking forward to being able to coach with you," Craig Patrick said a little uneasily.

"You were a hell of a player Craig. And you're gonna make a hell of a coach," Herb insisted.

"Thanks," Craig nodded looking a little pleased with the compliment.

Herb handed him a paper and he looked at it closely. "Take a look at that."

"What is it?"

"Twenty-seven names. The tough part'll be getting it down to twenty by the Opening Ceremonies."

The younger man looked at Herb in shock, "You mean this is the final roster?"

"Yep."

"This is our first day, Herb. I mean, we got a week of this." Craig looked genuinely confused. "What about the advisory staff. Aren't they supposed to have a say in this?"

Herb shrugged. "Technically, I guess. I don't know."

"Well you're missing some of the best players."

"I'm not looking for the best players, I'm looking for the right ones."

Craig gave a little shake of his head. "You have Jim Craig backing up Janaszak?"

"Other way around."

Craig stood up, utterly confused. "Other way around? I'm sorry didn't Janaszak just win you a National Championship?"

Herb was unfazed by Craig's arguments. "Jannie is a solid goaltender, but we're not playing for the National Championship here, Craig."

"The people I speak to say Craig's game has been off since his mom died."

"Did they ever see him when his game's on?" Herb asked with a knowing half-smile as he gathered his papers.

"And what Paul O'Connor? I've never even heard of him."

Herb shrugged a little, "Just call him a hunch." He turned and headed out the door calling over his shoulder, "Try him out, see what he's like."

"Okay O'Connor," Craig said with a small shake of his head. "We'll give you a try."