A/N: Once again I want to give thanks to DaveTheWordsmith and KODfreak for reviewing and giving great feedback. Everyone you should check out and review their works because there is some great stuff there if you haven't already, especially "Choices" a great fic by DaveTheWordsmith and KODfreak's "The Other Guy". Also check out and reivew "Life Goes On" by DaBlackGoku one of my favourite fics on the site. Please review this chapter and the one I put up late last night and tell me what you think about both of them as individual chapters and as part of the larger story.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Boondocks, Aaron McGruder and Sony Pictures does.

Chapter 17 – Glory or Friends

Huey climbed pulled his Mustang up into Caesar's drive way. His best friend and his star receiver were already waiting for him outside the house. It seemed he was the last one there as Jazmine, Hiro, and Cindy's cars were parked along the street already. Even though he was the last there, they had left him the last spot on the driveway beside Caesar's truck.

"You alright?" Caesar asked crossing his lawn to meet his friend at his car.

"I'll be fine," Huey said truthfully. Riley's betrayal stung a little but when he looked back on the last couple of weeks he should have seen it coming. Riley needed the spotlight to thrive and since Jason arrived he had had to share that spotlight with someone equally as talented. It was only a matter of time until Riley left them to go somewhere where he would not have to compete for attention. "We have to concentrate on the team right now. We still need a practice field and now we need a new running back."

"We don't need a running back," Jason said. "While she is not as good as Riley, Cindy is a capable running back. We just an extra player on the field."

"No matter the position we still need another player," Caesar said as they went into the house. "We're gonna use the pool. You coming Huey?"

"A pool? I'd forgotten you had a pool," Huey said.

"Yeah well you wouldn't let us actually have fun at the beach so we decided to come and relax here after everything that's happened," Caesar said.

"I see," Huey said unsure of what to think. He did not care that they were throwing themselves a little pool party. He had bigger things on his mind. "Jay we need to talk about some things."

"Sure Huey," Jason said expecting him to something of that sort.

"Come with me. You can come to Caesar unless you want to go join the others," Huey said walking to the stairs. He'd been in Caesar's house enough that he was as familiar with it as he was his own home.

"This sounds important they can wait a few minutes for me," Caesar replied following close behind Huey.

Huey led them up to the second floor of the house and into the spare bedroom and out onto the balcony that looked over the back yard. The way the balcony was done up it was more of a patio than a balcony, with patio furniture spread across its surface and white Christmas lights draped around the edge of the roof. He sat down in own of the patio chairs and Jason and Caesar sat across from him in a triangle looking over the backyard and part of Wuncler's property.

"I'm worried," Huey confessed rubbing the shadows under his eyes. Neither teen had noticed how tired Huey had looked until then having been too preoccupied with everything else to pay much attention to his face. "Our team is in serious trouble. Riley's defection has left us in a serious hole here. Not only do we need to replace him but his leaving might put a lot of strain on the team's moral over the coming days, especially if we can't replace him fast."

"Then we have to start looking for another player," Caesar said optimistically. "What about Johnny? He's not playing for anyone right now and he's just as good a receiver as Jay."

"I don't know. Johnny said he was taking sometime away from football to refocus," Jason said. "I can give him a call but I'm not sure how much good it will do."

"You have his number?" Caesar asked surprised.

"Yeah he gave it to me a few days ago encase I wanted to play some pick up football with him and some of his friends after my ribs healed," Jason said pulling out his flip phone and highlighting Johnny's number before showing it to Caesar.

"Given the slim chances of Johnny having finished his period of refocusing what other options do you guys have because I'm drawing blanks?" Huey asked. "I'm already stretched thin over the field situation."

"We could always see if Wuncler was willing to import another player for us. I know some good running backs back home," Jason offered.

"Getting another import will be hard as we are only supposed to be allowed one import player on the team. But if we have to Wuncler might be able to pull some strings, but then we'd owe him and I don't want to owe a white man like Wuncler anything," Huey shot down the idea. "Anything else?"

"I can't think of anything. It's either Johnny or another import," Caesar said. "We should give Johnny a call before we approach Wuncler about another import."

"Alright I'll give Johnny a call tomorrow and see if we can get him to come over for a meeting," Jason said.

"That will have to do for now," Huey sighed. "Now about the field, we can't keep running practices in the park."

"Wait a second," Jason said getting up from his chair and walking across the patio. "What's Wuncler doing over there?" He pointed to a large flood light in the far back of Wuncler's property. The Wuncler property stretched out for acres behind all the house along the street, most of it was undeveloped forest though.

"I'm not sure he had my parents sign some waiver two weeks ago to begin constructing something over there. I never bothered to ask what he was going to build," Caesar shrugged his shoulders. "Could be anything."

"No not just anything," Jason said picking up his phone and quickly dialling some numbers. "Not with lights like that."

"Who are you calling?" Caesar asked.

Jason held up his finger as someone answered on the other side. "Ed you at home right now?...Nah we're at Caesar's...a pool party...whatever just answer me something first. What is your Grandfather building?...really no way...sweet...no come over if you want we'll be here awhile." Jason hung up his phone and looked at his two friends with his cocky smirk and a shine in his eyes.

"So what is he building?" Caesar asked.

"The solution to our problem," Jason said his smirk turning into a wide smile. "He's building a field."

"A football field?" Caesar asked jumping to his feet.

"Yes a football field. He's been building it for weeks now," Jason said. "It was supposed to be our reward after our next victory."

"You think he will give it to us early?"

"Ed said he would talk to his Grandfather. It's just going to mean we're going to have to win our next game no matter what, which just brings us back to our first problem," Jason said.

"And I assume Ed is coming over," Huey said.

"Yeah after he meets up with Rummy so it could be a while," Jason said. Below them they heard splashes as Hiro, Cindy, and Jazmine jumped in the pool. "Don't you think you should be telling the team the good news?"

"Yes," Huey said going to the railing.

"Huey are you going to join us or what?" Jazmine called up when she saw Huey standing on the upper patio.

"In a minute. I have something to tell you," Huey said drawing everyone's attention. "We've found a possible replacement practice field."

"Really no joke," Cindy said treading water.

"No joke Cindy," Huey said with one of his rare smiles.

"Where is it?" Hiro asked floating on a pair of yellow noodles.

"Right behind us," Huey said pointing beyond Caesar's yard. "Wuncler built it in his backyard for us. According to Ed he built it as our next reward."

"No way," Jazmine said trying to see the stadium but she could only see trees. "Can we go see it?"

"Ed is on his way over so we'll find out the specifics then," Huey said.

"Is that all?" Jazmine asked.

"Yeah."

"Then get in the pool," she said splashing water up onto the upper patio.

Huey jumped up on the railing throwing his shirt back on the table. With a slight push forward he did a back flip into a perfect dive with almost no splash.

"Cannonball!" Caesar shouted before taking a running start and leaping over the railing and curling into a ball. He hit the water with a titanic splash.

"What about ya JJ? What ya got?" Cindy called to the last teen on the upper patio.

"Just this," Jason said stripping off his shorts and like Caesar he took a running start. Unlike Caesar though he pushed off the railing into the air where he first did a back flip, twisting in the middle before getting in a second flip before hitting the water feet first. Popping back up out of the water beside the blonde teen he brushed the water his face. "Ha I actually got it. That's the first time I actually landed that one."`

Riley got out of the cab and looked up at the Reagan High's football stadium. It was nowhere near as luxurious as Wuncler stadium, but then again Wuncler stadium was built for an NFL team and Reagan High's stadium for a high school team. With his shoulder pads slung over his shoulder and his Lethal Interjection helmet resting on his head Riley entered the stadium.

He was met inside by Alex and a tall, bald African American. "Riley I'm glad you came," Alex said with a smile. "I wanted to introduce you to the team."

"I want to meet my supportin' niggas too," Riley said. "Dis nigga one of dem?"

"This is Tex he's the receiver you will be replacing. I wanted him to be the first meet what a real star is," Alex said and Tex growled at him. He was obviously not happy about being replaced.

"As we agreed you will be our primary wide receiver and we will be tailoring our playbook to your abilities," Alex said leading Riley onto the field where the rest o the team was winding down from their practice.

"Nigga I better be getting' da ball all da time," Riley said giving Alex a familiar cocky smirk until he realized he was doing it and straightened his face.

"As long as you advance us down the field we'll keep giving you the ball."

"I also want to play defence nigga," Riley said.

"I thought you would say that so we're putting you in charge of shadowing Jason James. I figured you'd want that," Alex said picking his teeth with tongue.

"I do nigga. He's got to pay what he owes. I will have my fame back nigga," Riley said his face twisting into a scowl.

"And we want to help you do that," Alex said leading Riley to a smallish white teen with shoulder length red hair. "This is Corey our quarterback he is going to make sure you get your glory."

"Ya know how to throw da ball nigga?" Riley asked.

"Can you catch the ball?" Corey returned the question with one of his own.

"Nigga throw da ball. I'll hook at da thirty." Riley said dropping his pads and pushing his helmet down over his head. One of the other players tossed a football to Corey and Riley took off down the field.

Corey through the ball as Riley cut back in, but he threw it purposely a little off to the side forcing Riley to dive for the catch. Riley did dive, catching the ball in mid-air with his outstretched fingers and bringing it into his chest as he hit the turf. Popping back up he rolled is shoulders and puffed out his chest. "Nigga ya see dat skill."

"I think we can win with this one," Corey said to Alex as Riley showboated.

"I know we can and we delivered a massive blow to our opponents," Alex said picking his teeth with his tongue again. "Our victory is assured this time."

As the sunset on their pool party almost everyone had moved from the pool into Caesar's house. With his parents gone for the week the number of people there was not a problem. Outside Jason was the only one still in the pool. Floating on his back he allowed the pool's jet made current push him around. Looking up at the orange and purple sky he could only think of what had transpired earlier that day. When it came down to it, it was his fault Riley had betrayed his friends. If he had not accepted Wuncler's deal Riley would have had no reason to find another team so he could shine. In a way he could relate, but still to him ditching ones friends for glory was a childish and selfish move. At least that was what part of him thought, the other part had to wonder if he only felt that way because he had already tasted glory and it was friends he was lacking. He knew he would give it all up for friends, so maybe Riley felt the same but in reverse.

"Watcha thinkin' about?" Cindy broke him out of his self reflection as she slid back into the pool still in her swimsuit.

"Just today and with everything that has happened if it was worth me even taking Wuncler's deal," Jason said watching Cindy from the corner of his eye as she half swam half drifted over to him. Inside he could hear the low tones of music playing and Ed shouting about one of his and Rummy's failed bank robberies. Earlier when Ed and Rummy had finally shown up they had learned that Wuncler was going to let them use the field on the condition that they won their next game. If they did not they would not only have to pay the practice field construction bill which they would probably spend the rest of their lives paying off, but Jason would be deported and their cars reposed. If that was not bad enough, since Huey was the leader of the team Wuncler would foreclose on his house.

"If ya didn't take Wuncler's deal then we would never have met ya," Cindy said. "Den who would I smack around da basketball court?"

"Yeah but Riley would not have done what he did," Jason said racked with self guilt.

"Nah Reezy has always been on da selfish side. Even when we was beaten down dose fundraiser guys a few years back it was all about his paper and his power. He almost got us shot by some Brit because he was too selfish to simply walk away. Don't get me wrong I didn't mind it den because we were all getting rich and I got to smack around some fools. We were kids den and the act was more important den the reason. But we're growing up now and that selfishness is not a becoming trait, as we seen earlier. By leaving the team simply for his own glory he showed us all that he has not grown up yet," Cindy said seriously, her ghetto accent disappearing as she talked.

"Still I feel for him. He bore his soul and he was shot down when he was at his most vulnerable," Jason said. "I'm enough of a man to admit that it even hurt me to see him crushed like that. It's no wonder he left."

"So your blaming me for all this Jay," Cindy asked her ire rising.

"Nah not at all. Most of it is my fault. Back home I'm the big shot athlete that is great at everything I try and I don't even notice when I'm showing up people anymore," Jason said trying to stop the storm before it started.

"Ya not that great I beat you remember."

Jason laughed. "I've been trying to forget that."

"You're not allowed to forget. You still owe me that day of servitude," Cindy said.

"I won't forget that part. I told you I make good on my lost bets," Jason gave her his cocky smirk.

Everything outside the house went quiet for a few moments until Cindy spoke up again. "I'm sorry for earlier."

"Sorry for what?"

"For that only ever going to be friends thing I said," Cindy said making a grab or his hand under the water.

"Oh that. Why are you sorry for that? You don't want to be my friend?" Jason said even though he knew what she meant. When Cindy went for his hand he moved it away closer to his body.

"I thought it was obvious by now." She made another grab for his hand moving closer to him.

"You realize my contract is probably going to be up in a month and then my work visa will expire and I will have to go back to Canada," Jason said letting her get his hand this time.

"Then we'll let this month play out and see where it goes from there," Cindy said looking up at the stars that were starting to come out.

"If that's what you want," Jason said looking up at the same stars. If Riley did not absolutely hate him already, this would sure do it.

Standing on the other side of the glass sliding door in the hallway of Caesar's house Jazmine stood beside Huey. "I didn't expect this," Jazmine said edging closer to Huey.

"I always thought she would fall for Riley, but I guess age really can be a factor," Huey said before he could stop himself. Why did he always say such strange things when he was alone with Jazmine? "At least I don't have to worry about Riley's leaving fracturing the unity of my offensive core and now Riley won't be sucked in by the allure of white people either."

"And what about you mister black revolutionary?" Jazmine asked. "What does your revolutionary side have to say about half whites?"

"As long as it does not outweigh the black a little swirl can be a good thing," Huey said wrapping an arm around Jazmine's waist. "Just leave my receivers alone."

"I can't make any promises," Jazmine smiled nestling up to Huey.

With a new field and new relationships blooming can Huey find someone to replace Riley? Now on a new team can Riley finally get the fame and glory he's always wanted or will Huey's offensive core prove too much for him?

A/N: When I started writing this fic I was not sure I wanted to have any pairings beyond the obvious Huey and Jazmine but as things progressed it kind of just happened, but nothing is set in stone yet, things can still change. For those who don't like pairings with OC's I'm sorry it was never my intention but it kind of just happened on its own. Once again please excuse the pairings I hope it doesn't put you off the rest of the story, because this story is still about the football and the fighting at its core, but life is not just about sports and fighting so realistic characters cannot be so 2 dimensional.