It's a Rough Game Quidditch

RATED M

Disclaimer: Just so you know, I only own about half of this, mmkay?

A/N: OK, so I've been debating whether or not I wanted to do this or not, and I decided that the drama must continue! Read to find out!!!

Chapter Sixteen

Week Fifteen

"We've got Bulgaria this week," Gioni muttered. He and Robert had been at his apartment all day, going through the last of Gioni's alcohol stash and fridge. "I'm nervous, man."

"Nervous?" Robert asked. "Why? We've only got three games left and the teams have to score more than two thousant to steal our spot on the Cup."

"Not the Cup, I could care less about the cup." He swallowed some Jack Daniels. "That team is just...brutal! I watched their last game, and they go to kill."

"We can take it, Cap'n." Gioni's mind was far from whether or not his team could take it. His mind was on Mary. He was so nervous about her.

"If you say so, Robbie." Just then, Mary apparated in, an amused look on her face.

"I see we love our Captain, don't we Rob?" she asked, taking away his bottle.

"Nah, I just love being wasted," he laughed. Mary looked at the bottle as if she were going to take a drink, but Gioni knew she wouldn't. Not with her infliction.

"Well, get sober," she told him, snatching up a few bottles. "Boys' fun time is over."

"Aw," Robert whined. "Gioni, tell her no. Cap'n?" He slurred.

"Yeah, she's right. We'll get wasted later, okay?" Robert sighed and apparated out of the house. Gioni turned to Mary. "Babe, did you really have to ruin the fun?"

"Oh, yes, I did," she laughed, pushing him onto the couch. "I could smell the alcohol from my house." She settled into his lap, and he held her nicely.

"Do you think we did the wrong thing?" Gioni asked slowly, his words choppy and awkward.

"What do you mean?" Mary asked looking at him.

"I mean, all the times we went unprotected..."

"Are you telling me you don't want the kid?" Mary looked hurt, but Gioni felt confused.

"No, no, I just...It might not have happened, had I thought..." He shook his head a few times to try to clear his thoughts.

"What are you trying to say?" Mary's eyes were filled with tears.

"Don't cry," Gioni whispered. "I'm just confused. I think it's too dangerous."

"So you think I should quit the team then?" Her voice was shrill now, and she felt hurt.

"Mary..."

"No! I'm not going to let you first tell me we screwed ourselves over and then tell me that what I love is too dangerous for me!" She stood up, and he tried to comprehend what he wanted to say past the alcohol's haze.

"I didn't mean for you to--"

"Gioni, I don't want to talk right now," Mary said. She sat there, on the verge of breaking down for several minutes.

"Will you stay here tonight?" Gioni asked. She looked up at him hurtfully.

"I think I need some time alone." Her voice shook, and she got up and left, not even apparating out. She walked the seven blocks to Debbie's house, breaking into sobs when she saw her friend.

"Mary, what's wrong?" Debbie asked.

"I--just--got--into--a--h-huge fight," Mary whispered, sitting on Debbie's couch. "With Gioni."

"Ahhh, what this time?" Debbie was already summoning the ice cream.

"I can't exactly tell you everything yet, but he was first telling me we screwed everything we had up and that Quidditch is too dangerous for me." Mary wasn't crying anymore, but her face was red and blotchy.

"Did he really say that?" Debbie asked.

"Well, not exactly, but he and Robert were drunk and--"

"He was drunk? Oh, Mare, I doubt he meant it then." She handed Mary a spoon.

"Drunken words are sober thoughts," Mary whispered, a haunted expression crossing her face.

"Mary, Cap's crazy for you. I doubt he'd do anything intentionally to hurt you like you think he's doing."

"I don't know, Debs, but I hope so..."

QCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQC

"Bulgaria leads 90 to 70," the USA announcer shouted. Debbie had already been taken out of the game for a second week in a row, and Gioni and Rob were doing all they could to score.

"Come on, Mary, catch that snitch," Gioni whispered to himself as a bludger grazed the back of his broom. He went whirling around and when he stopped, in the corner of his eye he saw Mary ducking around another bludger.

"Cap, what's with the face?!" Robert called, as he flew near. Gioni signaled to the coaches, and the US team called a time-out.

"Robert, a bludger can't hit Mare," Gioni whispered. Upon his friend's confused look, Gioni added, "I can't exactly tell you why, just that a lot of crap would happen."

"They're killin' us," Brandon sighed, ripping off his head gear. "Someone's going to get hurt out there."

"Not if I have anything to do with it," Gioni growled. His fists were clenched. "Team, go on complete defense. Let Mare grab the snitch. It's 100 to 70."

"Then hurry, Mary," Cuyler stated. "Deb's already out."

"I'll try," she said, nodding. Her eyes wouldn't meet Gioni's. She didn't want to deal with him yet.

The team kicked off a few minutes later, and both Robert and Gioni were now looking out for Mary. Higher in the air than the rest of the team, Mary felt nervous. Bludgers were flying left and right, and now that Robert had the quaffle, he was going to be a target. She wasn't thinking about herself or her baby, as the quaffle passed from Robert to Gioni, but about their safety.

"Gioni!" Mary screamed, suddenly aware of the bludger headed straight for the back of his neck. She dove down. By then, Robert had seen what was going on and he pushed Mary's broom out of the way.

"Captain, move!" Robert screamed, but then the bludger turned course and hit him square in the chest. He uttered a small groan before sliding off his broom. By then, Gioni had turned around, the quaffle laying forgotten in his hands. Brandon and Fred flew under Rob and caught his limp shell.

"Time out called by the Healers' Station," the announcer called, and the team flew to where Rob now lay.

"Damn it, that bludger was meant for me," Gioni fumed, beating his fist against his open palm. Mary was furiously blinking back tears, trying to compose herself. Robert looked like a bald ragdoll on the ground.

"He's going to need to be taken to the hospital," the Healer announced. "There's a chance that he may slip into a coma if we don't." Coach Wood and Coach Potter, who had been conversing with the Healers, turned to Gioni.

"Should we forfeit?" Gioni asked, looking past both of them.

"Rob wouldn't want that," Mary suddenly blurted out. "I'll catch the snitch and the game will be over in ten minutes. I promise." The coaches exchanged a look. Gioni noticed a certain anger within Mary.

"We're down 120 to 70, you know this," Coach Wood said. "You still have a chance at winning. Go out there and give it your all." He patted Mary on the shoulder and the time-out ended.

The game ended fifteen minutes later, the score 240 to 220, in favor of the Bulgarians. When Mary caught the snitch, she nearly collapsed right there in the air.

QCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQC

"Anything?" Gioni asked as he entered the hospital waiting room. His teammates were arranged variously. He had gone home to shower and clear his head, but he was here then and that's all that mattered to him.

"Nothing," Debbie sighed, her wrist bandaged. Gioni sat next to Mary on a couch, but she was stiff and wasn't paying the least bit of attention.

"Mare," Gioni whispered. She looked over at him and burst into tears. He wanted so bad to place his hand on her back, to comfort her and himself as well, but after what had gone on in the past few days, he knew she would just walk away.

The team began to filter out slowly, starting with Cuyler and ending with Coach Potter, leaving Mary and Gioni by themselves, waiting for any news on their best friend.

"That bludger was meant for me," Gioni whispered to himself after hours of silence. It was past visitors' hours, but they had been given special permission to stay.

"It changed course," Mary said, startling Gioni. "I was ready to fly in its course to stop it from getting to you. It would have killed you. It changed course." She looked into his eyes for the first time since they had fought, and she saw the same pain she felt.

"You were going to... What about..." Gioni stared at her.

"You made it sound like--"

"I was drunk off my ass and confused." Gioni reached over and took her hand. "I panicked and alcohol wasn't helping me. I've just been scared. My parents didn't do a very good job and I don't want to screw my kid up." Mary slid over close to him, resting one hand on his knee.

"There's still the option to let it go," Mary whispered. "If that's what you want."

"That's not right," Gioni said. "This kid is ours, whether we like it or not." Mary turned his chin to her and kissed him.

"Excuse me, Mr. Frederli and Ms. Singleton?" A doctor came into the room, causing the couple to jump apart. "Robert Greene is awake. would you like to come see him?"

WEEK FIFTEEN MATCHES

USA vs. Bulgaria (220, 240)

France vs. Australia (200, 20)

Japan vs. Germany (220, 70)

Spain vs. Nordic (230, 110)

England Break

STANDINGS

1. USA 4540

2. Bulgaria 2420

3. Japan 2300

4. England 2210

5. Spain 2000

6. France 1850

7. Australia 1640

8. Germany 1640

9. Nordic 1420