Under New Management
Word Count: 3,846
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: I'm actually going to call this gen. At least... I tried to make it that way.
Spoilers: up to 1x11.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I just break things.
Summary: Everything changes when the Hawks get a new owner.
Author's Note: So... we've covered most of the major plot points now...
New Owners
"So, anyway, Mom's like got this whole thing going on that's making her a total headcase, and she said something about how I shouldn't trust anyone, and she's totally freaking paranoid. It's driving me nuts. I wish that woman had never gotten the Hawks because ever since she did, Mom has been off," Lindsay said, looking over at her friend. Boyfriend. Well, she wasn't quite sure yet.
She nudged him. "Hello? Anyone home?"
He smiled down at her and wrapped an arm around her. Okay, that was boyfriend territory. She could deal with that. She liked him. A lot. "Sorry. Just distracted for a moment."
"Yeah, everyone is. Like Ray Jay and TK and Mom and that new friend of Ray Jay's. They were never friends before, you know, even though they were on the same team, but now all of a sudden the biggest guy on the team is my idiot brother's best friend and goes everywhere with him."
"Maybe it's because your brother's friends with Terrence King."
"I guess," Lindsay said, leaning against him. He pulled her tighter and kissed the top of her head. She smiled. He was so sweet to her. Then he pushed her behind him, and she looked up in confusion. "Uh, Elliot?"
"It's okay, Linds, just stay behind me."
"Behind you? Why?" she asked. She grabbed hold of his arm. "Elliot, who are those men?"
"They're—I think they work for Duggan, so just stick by me, okay?"
Lindsay frowned. Who was Duggan—no wait, she knew that name, and she didn't understand. Duggan was that creep that had come by the house to scare their mom, the one she'd warned them about, but Lindsay hadn't told Elliot about that because she thought it was all paranoia. How did he know? She saw him push a button on his cell phone, and when she looked behind her, there were more men. "Elliot, they're behind us, too. What is this?"
"They're here to hurt you, Linds, but I won't let that happen, I promise," he told her. "Just stick close and we'll head for the parking lot."
"But I don't—"
"I swear, I'll explain everything later. We have to get to the parking lot," he insisted, taking her by the hand and running toward it. She didn't know why they were trying to make for the parking lot, of all places, since neither of them had a car and Ray Jay was at practice, but he seemed to know what he was doing, even if she had no idea.
An SUV pulled up, separating Lindsay and Elliot from the men. Elliot reached for the door and opened it. "Get in."
"What?" she demanded. "No. Why should I? I don't know who's driving or what's going—"
"You are entirely too much like your mother," a voice said, and Lindsay turned back to the car, staring numbly at the guy inside as Elliot pushed her up. The man helped pull her inside and motioned to the driver as Elliot jumped in and shut the door. The driver sped off, faster than most of the sophomores just getting their license drove.
She watched as the man took out his phone. "Xeno, do you have the boy? No pursuit? Good. Meet in ten for the exchange."
"Exchange?" Lindsay asked. She took a deep breath. "Okay, I am really freaked out here. Elliot, what is going on? And you—you're that creepy security guy that busted us, right? I thought you didn't work for the Hawks anymore."
"I don't," he agreed as the car slowed down. He opened the door and got out.
Lindsay turned back to Elliot, feeling tears in her eyes. "Who are you?"
"Where do we stand?"
"You sound displeased."
"Don't give me that. I know you know that Duggan went after my daughter. He would have gone after my son," Dani snapped. She was not about to be pacified right now. She shouldn't have come, only she wanted this whole thing over with. "And now Matt tells me that Duggan is harassing everyone because something went missing. Something he won't say what it is, but he's in a rage about it. He's very likely to hurt someone. I seem to recall you saying something about not letting the team become collateral damage? I guess my family doesn't matter, does it?"
"It does, or Elliot and Nick would not have been in place. As for Duggan..." Nico smiled a little. Dani wanted to smack him for it. "He should have known that none of them could possibly have done that. He's blowing hot air. This is him trying to pull his antagonist out of the woodwork, but it's too soon for that. I made sure that Lindsay was unharmed."
"Just a little disappointed to find out that the guy she thought was perfect for her was hired to protect her and probably lied to her about everything," Dani said angrily. She would not forgive Nico for messing with her kids. They were not pawns for whatever game he was playing with Duggan.
"He didn't have to lie. He is pretty much who he says he is, only with a bit of additional training and information," Nico corrected. She frowned at him. What, was he some kind of matchmaker now? He set Lindsay up with the perfect guy who could protect her, too? "Since you asked where we stand, it's time for you to meet someone."
"What?"
"Dr. Dani Santino, meet Caddie Stone," Nico said, turning to signal a woman to join them. Dani frowned as she walked over to them. She had the typical business suit, and she was not a model underneath it, but it bothered her that Nico was working with someone Dani had never met before. "Caddie, this is the woman really behind this effort."
"I see you go above and beyond for your patients," Stone said with a smile. "This really is unheard of, you know."
"A team buying itself? Nico's the genius behind that idea, not me," Dani disagreed. He gave her a look, and she ignored him. It didn't mean that she'd forgiven him. She hadn't. She looked the woman over. "Why do you seem familiar?"
"Oh, I only represent one of the world's largest international corporations. As a woman. Under forty—or so I'll always insist," she said with a wink. "Misdirection is the key to this game, as I understand it. I agreed to Mr. Careles' request that I represent the team's interest. My name will suggest that Mrs. Pittman is dealing with an off-shoot of my company, though that is far from the case. Still, it will allow her to think that there is more than enough money to cover any offer made to her."
"That's... great," Dani said, feeling a little overwhelmed. "Why did you agree to this?"
Stone's smile dropped. "Let's just say that Mrs. Pittman and I have... personality conflicts. I'd do almost anything to make that bitch—Never mind. I hate losing my professionalism. I've prepared all the legal documents I need, and we'll be ready to make our first round offer to Mrs. Pittman tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? That soon?"
"No sense in waiting," Stone agreed. She turned to leave, and Dani turned to Nico.
He caught her look. "You don't approve?"
"Oh, she's... good. She's impressive," Dani admitted reluctantly. She didn't want him to have gotten this far, but that was because she was still mad at him. "How the hell did you manage to pull that off?"
"She has a long-standing feud with our mutual enemy. It was easy enough to convince her to participate. In fact, it should make it that much easier to get our way."
"Why? Why would she let Stone make the offer if she wouldn't take it from you?"
"Because if she thinks she's gotten the better of Stone, she'll take it. It looks like almost pure business there. Stone attempting to get something Gabriella has, and Gabriella making sure Stone pays through the nose for it. If it were me—she knows that I actually want the Hawks' best interest. She'd do everything she could to sabotage not only the deal but the team as well because with me... it's far more personal."
Dani nodded. She thought she understood, and it made her feel for him again. "She can't manipulate your feelings or control you, so she's angry and hurting you, and she's using the team to do it because she can't get to you directly."
"Yes. She probably figured I'd come running back to her once I knew how badly the team was suffering. I almost did."
Dani touched his arm. "I meant what I said in that text. As hard as it is to see the team like this—as much as I hate the fact that Duggan has gone after my children—she doesn't get to win. She doesn't get to do this to you. She doesn't get to win. That's my line in the sand. That's what I want my kids to see. You don't give into bullies."
"And no negotiating with terrorists?" Nico shook his head. "It's not right to have everyone else involved in what is basically just between us. Gabriella's... a spoiled child. I never told her no before—at least not to where she knew I meant it and could not believe that I really wanted to say yes but somehow managed to restrain myself—and now that I have told her no, she's angry. She's breaking her toys in a tantrum because she can't play with the one she wants."
Dani winced. "That is a horrible analogy."
"It's true."
"That's what makes it horrible."
"You don't have to feel sorry for me. It's better if you stay angry. I created this situation when I gave into her the first time. Whatever my other loyalties, whatever my feelings for her, when I knew that my judgment was compromised, then I should have removed myself from the situation, and I didn't. That is my mistake. That is one that everyone is feeling the consequences of. So do not pity me, Dr. Santino. Just rest assured that I will make this right."
Dani tried to stop him, but before she could say much of anything, he'd disappeared into the crowded street.
"Welcome to my office, gentlemen," Caddie Stone greeted the team, gesturing for them to sit down at a conference table that put the one back at the Hawks stadium to shame. "My staff has prepared some refreshments, and you will be able to watch the entire meeting on the video conferencing screen. I assure you, nothing but what you wanted will be a part of the purchase agreement. Be prepared to disregard any theatrics on my part. I have been looking forward to this for a very, very long time, and I intend to enjoy my moment."
"Lady, you scary. No wonder Nico found you," TK muttered, shaking his head. The team laughed. Dani looked around the room. The mention of his name had made everyone aware of the one person who should be here that was not here. "Where is the big N anyway?"
"He said he'd be along later. He said something about not wanting to tip our hand," Caddie answered, smiling wickedly. Dani found herself almost wishing that the woman was really going to keep representing the team. They hadn't actually decided who that was.
"Wait," Dani began. "I know that Mrs. Pittman—"
"Come on, Doctor D, call her Super Bitch like everyone else does," TK interrupted, and Dani rolled her eyes. She did refer to Mrs. Pittman behind her back as "that bitch" just like everyone else did, but she wasn't going to do it here.
"—is on her way, but I don't think that anyone has actually discussed the... CEO position or whatever it would be. There's got to be one person to make decisions, right? I mean, the team can meet over important decisions, but someone has to keep the day-to-day things going without a committee decision over things like buying toilet paper."
The whole team broke out laughing, and Dani frowned. "Why is that funny?"
"The TP in the field that drove Duggan crazy?"
"Guys, please, focus," Dani said, turning back to Stone, who looked pretty much like a stone. She hadn't laughed. "Did you find someone for that? Someone for that position?"
"What about you, Doc?"
She frowned, shaking her head. "No. No, I appreciate the faith and trust, but I am a therapist. A hypnotherapist. I'm not any good with numbers or figures, and you all know I know next to nothing about football. I'd be a terrible choice. What about... the coach?"
"Me?" Parnell asked. He shook his head. "Oh, no. All I want to do is coach my team. I don't want to have to mess with finances and make business decisions and be the head of some company. A team is bad enough."
Dani nodded. She'd figured as much. "Matt?"
"Football, yeah. The physical well-being of the team, yeah," he agreed, but then he shook his head. "Not the numbers. We're going to have to hire someone for that."
"Actually, I would like that position."
Dani turned around and stared at Nico in confusion. None of them had heard him come in—again—but there he was. She would have sworn that was a new suit, that his hair had just been trimmed and everything about him was pure business. "You want it, Nico? Really?"
He nodded. "Temporarily, of course. I have no intention of keeping it. I have a few people that I have approached with the idea, but they couldn't make the transition until there was a guaranteed position."
"So... why you?" Alvarez asked. "I mean, you did get us this far, but you never did say what you did to Duggan. TP and moving cars is funny, but what did you really do for that kid that got his hand broke?"
Nico stopped to check his watch. "Caddie, she should be here by now. You'd better meet up with her."
"Damn, Nico, is that Duggan's watch?" TK asked, getting up to look at the fixer's wrist. "It is. That's that one he went off on that first day he was here. I didn't think he ever took it off."
"He doesn't. Or I should say, he didn't," Nico agreed. He caught Dani's look and smiled. "Don't worry, Doctor. I'll return it to him when I inform him his services are no longer required. I just needed him to know how close I could get."
"He's going to come after you, you do know that, right?"
"Let him. I've owed him since he tried to make Markus take a dive," Nico said coldly. "Caddie?"
"I don't want to miss this part of the show," she said, sighing. She went to the door. "You owe me, Careles."
Nico nodded. He went to the window and looked out. Dani got up from the table and joined him. "Must be different, not avoiding the windows."
He looked at her. "More uncomfortable, actually. If I hadn't needed to ask about the position, I would have waited longer. As much as I know that Caddie's performance will be priceless, I am having a hard time waiting. I'd like this to be over with already."
"I think we all would."
"You're supposed to be mad at me."
"When did you steal Duggan's watch?"
"Before he went after your children," Nico answered, moving away from her. Dani shook her head, then looked up as she heard voices coming from the television. Caddie had brought Mrs. Pittman into her office. The show was on.
"Please, have a seat, Gabby."
"Don't ever call me that, Caddie Woodlawn."
"Oh, well, now we're even," Caddie said, reaching for the papers on her desk. She handed them across to Mrs. Pittman. "I believe you said our first offer was... lacking? I believe this figure may be more to your... tastes."
"Spare me the commentary, Caddie. You like money just as well as I do."
"Yes, but I don't make a habit of trying to steal other women's husbands for it," Caddie said, getting up from her desk and crossing to pour herself a drink. "Not that I should complain too much. You did do me a favor, at least with one of them. The other one was worth ten times my first one."
"Do you blame that on me? I always thought it was the job that split you two up. You know, that he couldn't stand to see you so successful."
Caddie laughed. "We are talking about two different men, aren't we? Have you forgotten that It was Albert first? You did, didn't you? Well, yes, I grant that Albert was always jealous of any woman's success. A true misogynist. God, I hated him. You didn't tell me what you thought of the offer."
"You are clearly trying to waste my time," Mrs. Pittman said, getting to her feet. "Reminiscing was so much fun, but I got what I wanted."
"The hell you did," Caddie said with a smile. "Getting that team still didn't get you him, did it?"
"If you're so sure of that, why did you divorce him?"
Caddie just smiled, drinking from her glass. "Oh, where are my manners? Did you want one, Gabby? I think you should have one. After all, we've barely even started negotiating here. You know I have the assets to go a lot higher."
"Then why don't you just do it?"
"Because you have to squeeze every last cent out of a stone, don't you?" Caddie asked, laughing. "I have missed you. I haven't had this much fun since your pathetic ex-husband tried to seduce me."
"Marshall? The hell he did. He was too busy loving himself to—"
"Ask Nico if you think I'm lying," Caddie interrupted. Mrs. Pittman shot her a glare that wanted to kill. Caddie ignored her. She took a sticky-note and wrote a number on it. "How's that?"
"The team is worth at least three hundred million. I won't take a cent less."
"Please. Your team is a wreck that won't ever see the play-offs again. I only want it so that I can use it as a tax write-off," Caddie scoffed, refilling her drink. "Their charity work is so... quaint."
"It's an expensive write-off."
"There's also the satisfaction of running it better than you ever could."
"You are such a bitch, Caddie."
"Three hundred million, then. Do we have a deal?"
"I have to make a profit, you know. Never sell unless you're making money," Mrs. Pittman said. "It's been such a lovely chat. But you're too cheap. You don't have the money I want—at least not that you're willing to spend."
Mrs. Pittman made it to the door and past the secretary's desk before Caddie called out to her. "Fine, damn it. How much?"
Gabriella turned with a smile and walked back into the office triumphantly. "I knew you'd see it my way. I'll take that drink now."
"There. Now you have confirmation from your bank, there's one more signature for you to make, and we'll have concluded our business," Caddie's voice carried out into the hall. Loud cheering was coming from the conference room, but fortunately, that was still too far away for Gabriella to hear. "Why, thank you, Gabby. Always a pleasure doing business with you. Even if you cheat every damn step."
Gabriella laughed. "You always were such a sore loser, Caddie. I think I might take a trip. Get a whole new wardrobe. You look like you could use one. A shame you just spent all your money on a worthless team."
"It won't be worthless for long," Caddie said, standing up. "I never buy anything I can't turn around, you know that. In fact, I've already hired someone who is going to put the whole team back in order."
"Please. No one can save that team. The Hawks are never going to recover."
"That's what you'd like to believe, isn't it, Gabriella?" Nico asked, walking into Caddie's office. He accepted the drink she offered him and let her kiss him on the cheek. "That way you got your money and your revenge on Marshall. Everything you wanted."
She choked, but in front of Caddie, she didn't dare use the lie about not everything. He smiled at her, raising the glass. "To the Hawks. Who are, incidentally, owned by the New York Hawks."
He turned on the other side of the video conferencing to the cheering players clapping each other on the back, some of them opening champagne bottles and others high-fiving. Two of the linebackers had picked up Dr. Santino and were carrying her around on their shoulders as she tried to talk them into letting her down.
Gabriella turned to him in anger. "You... You did this, didn't you? You set me up. You sabotaged me from the very beginning, didn't you?"
Nico shook his head. "I knew what you were going to do, but you did it all by yourself. I just fixed it. It's what I do."
She took the glass that Caddie had given her earlier and threw it at him. It missed, hitting the wall and shattering. "Damn you, Nico. It was supposed to be you and me. We were going to run the Hawks together."
"You were always going to run them into the ground, and I wanted no part of that," he told her. He crossed close to her. "I also want no part of you."
"And Juliette?"
"She's her own person," Nico said. He had heard that she'd stayed clean even out of rehab. He was proud of her. She was finally free of her mother and father... and so was he. "Here, Gabriella, you look like you need this more than I do."
He went to give her the drink, tipping the bottom as he did, letting it splash down the low cut front of her dress. He put the half-empty glass in her hand and checked Duggan's watch again. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a sadist to fire."