A/N: The last Quarter of the last game we're finally at the end and after this only one chapter left, the half century chapter, oh yeah. Once again and for the second last time this fic I want to give thanks to DaveTheWordsmith, KODfreak, and LegendaryWhiteBoy for reviewing and giving great feedback. Thank you everyone, my reviewers and my readers. i hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.
A/N II: Since activity on my poll has pretty much stopped I will be closing it on Monday at about midnight EST so 9 pm on the west coast. If you still have not voted go vote.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Boondocks, Aaron McGruder and Sony Pictures does.
Chapter 49 – The Heart Beats Strong
"What are we going to do Huey?" Caesar asked his friend at the bench. "We've got too many holes in our defence. If this continues they're going to run all over us in this quarter."
"There no helping it," Huey said while Stacy was taping up his knee after she had inspected after those hits he had taken. Since Rummy was still seeing to Jason doing who knows what Stacy had taken over the minor training duties. She could not do much more then tape things but right now it was all they needed. "Our defence is based around the idea that Jay is playing and covering those holes. We have no one else with the speed to cover them. Only Riley comes close but it take him a few steps to really get going and he is needed to cover Dewey. It's only Jay's unique first step that allows us to run the defence we do."
"So what then we just let them run all over our defence and what try to get in a scoring contest because that won't work. We can't score often enough," Caesar argued. "Not to mention Riley is hurt and you are hurt. At least before we had a running game now our even our running game is running at less than a hundred percent. We can't win."
"We can win and will win," a familiar voice said from behind him. "You got to have heart."
"What are you doing out here?" Caesar asked Jason who was standing behind the bench his helmet in hand and fire back in his eyes.
"I'm here to play what else," Jason said showing no signs of the stupor he had spent most of the third quarter in.
"Are you sure?" Huey asked. "You probably have a concussion."
"I'm fine trust me. Rummy cleared me. I don't have any of the signs of a concussion. I was just dazed and unconscious nothing more," Jason said rejoining the team. "I can't sleep right now anyway. We have a game to win."
"If you are okay then welcome back," Huey said. "Well Caesar this solves all our problems."
"If he can stay up this time," Caesar said unconvinced that Jason was fit to play.
"Well we'll find out now I guess," Huey said as the official blew his whistle to start the final quarter of the game. "Now that everyone is back we have to start putting up some points."
"And get some payback," Jason added looking down the sideline where Cairo was parting last minute instructions on his defence.
"Get the points first then you can get your revenge," Huey said as they jogged onto the field.
Back on the sideline Rummy rejoined Stacy, Ed, Jazmine and Mina. "Is he really as okay as he says?" Jamzine asked Rummy with concern.
"What did he tell you?" Rummy asked.
"That he was only dazed and knocked out," Mina said.
"Hmm..."
"He lied didn't he," Stacy said a little peeved that she was lied to.
"Big time," Rummy nodded. "He's got a full blown concussion."
"Then why is he playing?" Stacy asked forcefully. She had had concussions before and it was incredibly dangerous for someone with one to keep playing especially when the other team was head hunting.
"It's only a minor one. Level two at most," Rummy assured her. "Why do think it took so long for him to come back. I kept him the medical room to make sure he was over his symptoms before I let him back out here."
"It's still dangerous."
"Are you going to tell him that? Even if it was a level four concussion he would still do everything he could to get back out here," Rummy said.
"Oh your back what a surprise. I guess I'll just have to break you again," Tyson said when he saw Jason lining up to go into motion behind the line.
"No this time I'll be breaking you," Jason said before going into motion toward the long side. He looped around the corner back before stutter stepping at the line of scrimmage as Caesar hiked the ball back to Huey in the shotgun formation. Jason took off down the field blowing passed the cornerback on a fly route. Since he had spent the last quarter lying on a medical bed he was freshest person on the field and it showed as he left his cornerback far behind. Seeing Jason down field Huey lobbed the ball down to him hoping that Jason was well enough to get the ball.
Jason hit the ball without breaking stride but he juggled the ball as he ran and he never fumbled with the ball on such an easy catch. He did manage to get the ball under control though before the free safety forced him out of bounds forty two yards down the field.
"You don't realise how important he is to our team until he's taken out," Caesar said watching as Jason did a back flip on the sideline.
"But he juggled the ball. We have to be careful," Huey said. "I don't think he is giving us his full medical report."
"We'll just have to be careful. Don't have him running dangerous routes. Let him use his speed after all he has been resting for an entire quarter. He should have no problem out running our tired opponents," Caesar agreed.
On his next play Huey tried to hand the ball off to riley and while he handled the ball easily in his left hand Richard caught him in the backfield for a loss of a yard. On his second down Huey threw a short pass to Hiro how took the ball of his chest as he was hit from behind pushing him through the ball for an incomplete pass.
"It's third down and I want a touchdown on this drive," Huey said to his gathered team in the huddle.
"What special play do ya have for us dis time Huey?" Cindy asked excited. Huey was pulling out all his tricks this game and each one was greater than the last.
"Is it finally time for that play?" Caesar asked hopefully.
"Not yet, but soon Caesar," Huey said and Caesar sighed. "This time we are going with the Hydra."
"The Hydra?" Riley asked. "What's da hydra nigga?"
"A multi-headed dragon like mythical creature from Greek Mythology, but in this case it is a three headed wild cat formation," Huey said.
"A three person wild cat wit' who?" Cindy asked.
"Me, you and Riley," Huey said. "It will limit our play options with only three possible receivers but it will work."
"Wait why didn't we do dis earlier? Why wait until now?" Riley asked.
"Because we can't do this without Jason running his routes," Huey said. "They stopped our normal wild cat because they knew it was a wild cat because Cindy was not playing running back but they won't know what hit them with the Hydra. They know Riley can throw know but with both of you in the backfield there is always the threat that any of us could run or just throw a simple shovel pass across the field."
"Enough talk let's do this," Jason said keeping one eye on the play clock that was getting dangerously close to zero.
Huey broke the huddle and they quickly got into the formation with Riley and Cindy standing on either side of Huey like they were going to do a simple running play.
"What do you think they are doing this time?" Hector asked his brother as Huey began his count.
"I don't know. We should just blitz. I think he might try to hand it off to one of them," Richard said just as Huey ended his count and Caesar snapped the ball back. As soon as the ball left the centre's hands the twins took off heading straight for Huey, but the ball did not go to Huey if went to Riley who immediately vacated the crowded pocket while Huey and Cindy moved to block for him. With only one good hand Riley could not be expected to block for himself and throw the ball. While running Riley threw the ball down the field to where he knew Jason was heading.
Jason showed up as the ball did leaving his cornerback behind again. The free safety tried to get him as soon as Jason caught the ball but Jason spun as he caught the ball and dodged the hit. Using his first step he put distance between him and the safety and ran full speed into the end zone to retake the lead at 27-22. In the end zone Jason repeated his arms out celebration from his first touchdown of the game aware that his head would not let him do anything overly showy.
"That's two Riley how many do you got?" Jason asked as they went back to line up for the kick off.
"I'll get one nigga," Riley grumbled.
"I'll believe it when I see it," Jason said trying to motivate his rival.
"Just stop the kick return you two," Huey said as Jazmine raised her hand to signal she was about to kick.
"No problem nigga," Riley shouted back at Huey as Jazmine kicked the ball and he followed after it with Jason falling back a couple of steps in case Riley missed Dewey who was in place to catch the ball.
Riley did not miss Dewey this time and with his own good hand and his broken hand he threw Dewey to the ground allowing his anger at what happened to his hand seep out. He had enough control though to stop from taking a penalty but that control was running out quickly.
Cairo got the ball back and was not happy to see Jason back on the field and at full strength. His return made his job a lot harder as the holes he had been exploiting for nearly a quarter would be filled in again. He throw a short pass to Dewey hoping to take advantage of Riley's injury, but Jason was helping to cover for his rival and after Cairo had thrown the ball Jason who was waiting a few yards away moved in and just before the ball got to Dewey he smashed the ball out of the air unable to catch it as he stumbled a little as he got close to Dewey and Riley.
On his next play he tried to hand the ball off to Nick but Huey, Caesar, and Hiro all broke into the back field and Huey got Cairo a little late but no penalty was called and Hiro and Caesar combined to bring down Nick before he could really get going.
"They're too fast," Nick complained as they lined up again.
"Then we'll just have to play dirty. Three of their players are already injured go after them and take them out," Cairo said to his linemen.
Cairo got the snap for the next play and dropped back as Huey, Caesar, and Hiro tried to break into the backfield again. This time though Tyson got Caesar and once again grabbed his facemask and ripped him to the ground. Another lineman punched Hiro in the stomach while a third hit Huey low on his taped knee cutting his legs out from under him. In the secondary Nora tried to take down Cindy as her teammates did not Cindy just threw her down and when Dewey tried to get him Riley just moved out of the way.
Flags went up everywhere as Cairo tried to rush the ball himself now that Huey and most of his defence was out of the way. He got into the secondary and made the first down before breaking a tackle from Jazmine. Cairo did not get much farther though as Jason decided it was time to get a measure of revenge on the teen who was orchestrating all the pain his friends suffered and all the pain he had suffered.
Jason grabbed Cairo by the face mask and tapping into the beast that dwelled within him he ripped Cairo back and forth before throwing him on the ground. He followed Cairo to the ground and slammed his forearms against the ground and then his fists while convulsing and making viper like movements.
"He's finally gone over the deep end again," Stacy said on the sidelines. "They're screwed now."
"What is he doing has he gone crazy?" Mina asked looking at Jason a little fearful of the viper like receiver.
"A little," Stacy laughed. "He did this against our team. It's like he's goes into another mode and become this absolute apex predator. When we faced him he actually brought our rushing yards down in the negatives once he got like this. It's a fearsome thing to play against. He's presence alone decapacitated my running back for a good portion of the game."
"So it's a good thing then?" Mina asked.
"For us yes, for them no," Stacy smiled.
On the field Cairo struggled back to his feet groaning in pain as the officials called out the penalties. With everything that went on and because of Jason's penalty Cairo's time only lost fifteen yards and it was fifteen yards he thought were worth it to dish out that much punishment.
On his next play Cairo went back to the air trying to connect with Nora but Jason was there to tear her away from the ball. Again he was there on the following play when Cairo handed the ball off to Nick and he caught the redheaded running back four yards past the line of scrimmage and thrown violently back behind the line. Standing over him Jason grabbed his head and his hands sliding down his face as he continued with his sharp snake like movements as he fell deeper into his other mode.
Facing third down Cairo rushed the ball himself but only got six yard yards before Huey dragged him down and got the first down. Cairo did not care about the first down though he was only concerned with what he had in mind for Huey. While they were tangled up on the ground Cairo stuck a finger through Huey's cage and poked him hard in the eye.
Huey shouted in pain and tore of f his helmet to cover up his eye. "The bastard poked me in the eye," he screamed as tears welled in his injured eye.
"You can't throw if you can't see," Cairo said before going to join his team.
Huey was immediately surrounded by his team as he tried to open his eye but everything was bleary. "Can you still play?"
"I'll be fine in a few minutes," Huey said.
"We're switching back positions Huey," Jason said. "I've had enough of this."
"Fine," Huey said still holding his eye. "I can't see anything anyway it will give me time to recover.
"What do you have planned JJ?" Riley asked.
"I think it's time for the two if us to send Cairo a message," Jason smirked. "It's time to cleave a redhead."
"Oh I like it nigga," Riley smiled fiendishly before cross behind the line to take up his position as corner back on the far side of the field while Jason lined up as the outside linebacker on the close side.
When Cairo snapped the ball he handed it off to Nick playing right into their hands. To further play into their hands Nick tried to go straight up the middle. Jason and Riley both broke through the line at the same time in complete synchronisation. Riley passed Cairo who was retreating away from him and went in on Nick low who had frozen in free when he saw what was coming. He tried desperately to move his feet but they would not move and Jason came up high. Both rivals hit Nick at the same time going in opposite direction each trying to drive through Nick and nearly ripped him in two. Nick let out a gut wrenching howl of pain as his body bent and twisted in a way it was never meant to as Jason knocked his helmet right off his head and Riley buckled his knees sideways. After going right through him Riley skirted around on the ground and pounced on the ball that had popped out of Nick's hands during the Cross Cleave.
"I think that will do," Jason said popping back to his feet and looking at the mangled mess that used to be Nick Randall.
"We got him good and I got dis nigga," Riley said holding out the football.
"You're next Cairo," Jason promised. "Try to hurt any of our teammates again and you'll suffer the same fate as your running back."
The official called a halt to the game while the medical staff of the Graves Stallions rushed onto the field with a stretcher to gather up their fallen player.
Play resumed again with the ball in Black Panther possession again and Huey set up for the Hydra again. With his vision a still bleary Huey lined up simply as a decoy and when Caesar snapped the ball he snapped it to Cindy this time who tossed a short shuffle pass to Riley who was already running toward the sideline. Riley caught the easy pass behind the line of scrimmage and broke into the Stallion secondary where Hector cut him down at his knees. He did a flip in the air and landed hard on his back and the ball popped out of his hands as he was in the air.
Hector immediately scooped up the ball and thanks to a block from his brother he returned the ball to the Black Panther end zone to restore the Stallion lead at 28-27. Cairo went of the two point conversion on the next play and managed to get a short pass up in the air to Dewey in the far left corner of the end zone before Jason and Caesar ran over him. Dewey leaped in the air over Riley and pulled the ball down just getting his two feet in bounds before falling out for the two points giving the stallions a three point lead at 30-27 and forcing Huey to have to get a touchdown if he wanted to avoid overtime.
"Oh man we're right back where we started the quarter and we only got two minutes and thirty six seconds left," Caesar complained.
"No we're further behind then at the start of the quarter," Huey said. "We have to get a touchdown now instead of just a field goal to win."
"But we could go into overtime," Caesar pointed out.
"No I don't want to go to overtime. I want to crush them in regulation," Huey shook his head. "We need one more touchdown and we have to stop them from getting anymore points."
"If ya want points nigga den jsut give me da ball," Riley cut in arrogantly. "I'll run dat it all da way back like a real nigga runnin' from da pigs."
"You realize these so called real niggas of yours get caught most of the time right," Huey said and the team snickered.
"Naw nigga da ones dat get caught ain't real niggas. To be a real nigga ya gotta get away," Riley corrected him.
"Whatever Riley just run the ball when I give it to you and don't drop it," Huey said before they lined up for the kick. Riley received the kick again and broke Richard's tackle with a stiff arm before spinning around Hector and squeezing through the wall of battling players. He barely made it out of the wall with Tyson caught him again and hurled him to the ground.
With a sick smile on his face Tyson raised his foot over Riley's left hand which was holding the ball this time. "Naw not dis time nigga," Riley shouted quickly removing his hand but leaving the ball so when Tyson's foot came down it slipped on the round surface of the ball and he fell backward landing hard on his back. "Ya ain't getting me again nigga."
"But I'll be getting you," Caesar said looking down at the fallen Stallion defensive tackle.
"You keep saying that but it has yet to happen," Tyson replied his face turning slightly red from embarrassment.
"I've been biding my time and waiting," Caesar assured him. "There's just over two minutes left. I'll get you soon."
"Bring it on," Tyson said sitting up.
"Haven't you been listening at all? I intend to," Caesar laughed leaving Tyson sitting on the ground to rejoin his team for their next and possibly final drive of the game.
On his first down still in the Hydra formation Huey got the ball this time and through a quick short pass out to Johnny go got nine yards. On his next play Riley got the ball from Caesar and dove for the one yard to move the chain. With a new set downs Caesar gave the ball to Cindy this time and with Jason and Johnny covered she was forced to throw to Hiro but she under threw the ball and it hit him the back.
"I missed," Cindy said shocked. It should have been an easy short pass a rookie could make, Hiro wasn't even covered. All she had to do was put the ball over his shoulder and he would have been gone for a huge gain, but instead she under threw it and hit him in the back. If it had been Jason or Johnny she was throwing to their skill would have made up for her mistake and they would have caught it, but Hiro was average receiver at best and unless her pass was perfect he would not get the ball.
"It's alright we have two more downs," Huey said. "Just try to hit Jay or Johnny next time."
Caesar snapped the ball back to Huey this time and he dropped back a little to give Johnny some time to separate from his cover, but he waited too long and Richard, Hector, and Tyson broke through. Cindy got Richard and Caesar moved to get Tyson while Riley tried to get Hector but with his injured hand he could not get a good hold on Hector and Hector blew through him and wrapped up Huey pulling him to the ground for a loss of six yards.
Faced with a third down Caesar once again went to Cindy who took Huey's advice and looked down field for Jason who was running a fly route and had but some distance between him and his cornerback. Praying that she would connect this time, Cindy hurled the ball down at Jason.
As soon as the ball left her hand she knew it would not make it. Jason was out of her throwing range, but Hector who had peeled out of the safety to stay close to Jason expecting the throw to the Canadian on such a critical down was and he leaped into the air pulling the ball down.
Cindy nearly fell to her knees dejected as Jason realising what had happened when the ball did not get to him turned in mid step nearly falling in his haste to turn and only staying up because he stabilized himself with a hand on the ground. He shot back after Hector who was trying to return the ball for a second touchdown from turnovers. Hector only got eight yards before Jason over took him from behind and using his weight pushed Hector to the ground.
"I'm sorry," Cindy said to her team, looking at her feet to ashamed to look at their faces.
"Don't worry about it," Jason smirked. "We still have forty nine seconds left to get the ball back."
"Besides dis is better for us," Riley added.
"Yeah we can finally get that rat," Jason said his smirk turning to a wide grin as he looked down at Cairo who was huddled up with his team.
"Hurt him," Huey said. "Hurt him for all of us because I won't get a shot at him."
"Ya can count on it nigga," Riley said mirroring Jason's smile.
"They're going to come for me," Cairo said to his team. "You guys have to stop them."
"Who's going to come after you?" Tyson asked. "James and the small Freeman?"
"No, Huey will not give up this chance. He will come after me," Cairo corrected him believing Huey hated him now as much as he hated Huey and would not give up the chance to do him harm with so little time left. If he did not do it know he might not get another chance to do it.
Cairo broke his huddle and took the snap from his centre as Jason and Riley lined up near the sideline and in their secondary took off completely synchronized with each other's movements. On the line Tyson did not worry about blocking but blew through his defensive tackle heading straight for Huey. Caesar saw him out of the corner of his eye and moved to not just stop him but finally get some revenge. Caesar went at him at full speed and leaped at his head, popping Tyson's helmet right off and knocking him out cold.
On the other side of the line of scrimmage Cairo was looking for Huey who was trying to break through the line to draw Cairo's attention away from the real attack.
Jason and Riley came in at the unsuspecting Cairo at the same time and it was not until Riley had gone down and Jason went high that Cairo realised he had been wrong and Huey was not the one coming after him. Like with Nick the rivals tore Cairo apart and Jason's helmet connected with Cairo's helmet popping it off Cairo's head and forcing the ball with his limp arms where Huey recovered it. Jason pulled up a little so he would not knock Cairo completely unconscious like they had done to Nick. Instead while lying on top of him so the officials could not see he fed Cairo a couple of shots to his eyes and nose.
"I told you I would return the favour by the end of the game," Jason whispered in his ear as Cairo's eyes rolled up in his head and he went completely limp.
Jason tried to get back up to celebrate with Riley and Huey but when he tried to get up he collapsed again his world spinning.
"Not again," Stacy said watching Jason stumble around before falling back to the ground.
"Get the stretcher Ed," Rummy shouted as he ran onto the field again. "Move out of the way. Let me through." Rummy forced his way through the players to Jason. "I knew this would happen."
"What do ya mean Rummy I thought he was okay," Cindy said near tears once again.
"He lied. He's got a concussion," Rummy said as Ed followed up behind him with the stretcher while he looked at Jason's eyes by lifting his eyelids.
"Will he be alright? "Huey asked expecting a rather bad answer.
"He should be fine in a few minutes. The hit just aggravated his head again. He won't be playing anymore though," Rummy said before he hand Ed lifted Jason onto the stretcher. "You'll have to play without him."
"We've only got twenty two seconds left," Huey said. "Just enough time for a final play."
"Are we going to use that play?" Caesar asked excitedly. They had been saving this play since their first practice and Huey had not let him use it and they only had one play left in the tournament.
"Yes we are," Huey nodded and Caesar pumped his fist.
"Finally," he cheered. "I've been waiting four games to do this."
"You guys have been talking cryptically about this play for weeks. What exactly is it?" Jazmine asked impatiently as Ed and Rummy departed with Jason to the bench where they continued to check on him.
"Just run your routes and get ready for a quick pass," Huey said before they lined up and to everyone on both team's confusion Huey lined up on Jason's route and both Riley and Cindy also lined to run routes leaving no one to take the snap.
Huey called the count from his place as a receiver while the Stallions scrambled to try and figure out what was going on. He reached the end of his count and Caesar slide the ball back behind him and everyone ran down the field.
Caesar stepped back and picked up the ball before dropping back as his line collapsed inward to fill in his vacated spot finally realising what was going on. Without Tyson on the field the lien was able to keep Richard at bay and because of all the eligible receivers in their secondary Hector had to stay there and not blitz the backfield.
Huey stutter stepped around the corner that was trying to cover him and took off down the field without anyone on him. With everyone but the line running pass routes the Stallion defence was stretched out and once Huey was free of the corner there was no one left to pick him up.
Seeing Huey open and free Caesar aired the ball thirty yards to him. Huey turned back to the line of scrimmage running backward as the ball came to him. He caught the ball in his hands and brought it into his chest before righting himself and running to the end zone.
Only a few yards away watching Johnny, Hector peeled off the Hawaiian native and ran after Huey but Jazmine who was also running in the area threw a block taking Hector out at his knees leaving Huey free to run the ball back for the touchdown but the clock stopped with one second left meaning the Stallions had one last chance to win the game on the kick return.
Huey did not celebrate in the end zone but through the ball to official and quickly ran back for the PAT wanting to end the game as fast as he could. When his team tried to congratulate him he just held up his hand and told them to get ready. He did get Jazmine a smile and a small one arm hug to thank her for the block.
Jazmine got the PAT and lined up to kick. She booted the ball down the field where Dewey caught the ball and with a block from Hector who had lined up near Dewey on Riley took off down the field. Dewey dodged Cindy and stiff armed Hiro before Richard blocked Huey which allowed Dewey to break through the wall leaving him with a clear shot to the end zone to win the game for the Stallions and finally get his injured friend's revenge.
The only thing that stood between him and Cairo's dream was Jazmine who was equally determined to see her team's dream of winning so Wuncler would not lose the bet and Graves would get their houses. Dewy stutter stepped but Jazmine stayed with him and he spun but again Jazmine backed off a bit and stayed with him. He tried to push through her smaller frame, but Jazmine got a hold of his legs and squeezing with everything she had buckled his knees and Dewey crashed to the field, his dreams and the dreams of his team shattered by the kicker.
Fireworks boomed all around the field lighting up the night sky in a brilliant display of every colour imaginable. The crowd went crazy and their music bleared through the stadium. CO2 cannons shot red and black confetti onto the field blanketing the field and the stands in a rain of confetti and balloons were released by a floating blimp with a giant and 'W'.
"WE WON! WE WON NIGGA!" Riley shouted jumping on Caesar's back and grabbing at the confetti. "WE WON!"
Jazmine rushed to Huey a smile splitting her face as she threw off her helmet. "We did it Huey. We won. We did it. You did it."
"No Jazmine you did it. You won the game for us," Huey without his helmet and his hair free of its tie smiled the biggest smile she had ever seen him smile before he scooped her up and spun around in circles confetti gathering their puffy hair.
Jason sat on the bench fully conscious and coherent again but he did not trust his legs to support him right now.
"I guess this is the end of your contract huh," Wuncler said from behind him. He was flanked by two older men wearing suits and two younger looking men wearing NCAA jackets.
"A completed contract," Jason said.
"Well I have a surprise for you. These two men here are scouts for the University of Maryland and Duke. They want to speak with you," Wuncler said with a smile. Of course he was happy. He could take credit for discovering him and bringing him down from the great white north.
"We want to take to you about coming to play for us once you graduate," the scout from Duke said.
"No," Jason said quickly.
"No? We're a top ten football school," the scout said offended.
"Exactly a football school. I'm a hockey player and I plan to play hockey. The NHL is my goal," Jason said. "All this here was just money."
"Are you sure? You could be a top tier football player," the scout said as Huey noticed Wuncler standing near the bench and joined them a scowl on his face.
"I could but hockey is my path and its where I belong," Jason said definitely.
"Well if you change your mind call us," the Duke scout smiled.
"I will,"
"Ah this is the other one you wanted to see. Huey Freeman," Wuncler said to the Maryland scout.
"I'm retired," Huey said guessing what the scout wanted.
"But..."
"I'm retired as of now," Huey repeated and Wuncler laughed.
"Zero for two. Too bad," he said happy that neither of the players he planned to recruit for his own team when he got it would be free.
"I don't want to talk with you either Wuncler. Oh agreement is over. You have you championship and you won your bet just leave us to our own business," Huey scowled at Wuncler.
"You think I want to stay here. I'm going home to count my new money," Wuncler laughed leading the NFL personnel and the university scouts away.
Huey and Jazmine went back on the field leaving Jason on the bench alone as their coaching staff had joined the player, Ed and Rummy opening bottles of champagne they had snuck into the stadium.
Jason watched as Huey accepted the trophy for the team and passed it around the players. He had no wish to touch the trophy he only cared about the money that would be going into his bank. With the game done his attention turned to his next task back home and the real championship he wanted to win in the spring, the Memorial Cup. They took the picture around him before return to the field as some of their fans made their way onto the field along with their families.
"Ya aight," Cindy asked coming to sit beside him.
"I'm fine," Jason smiled. "I just can't stand up right now or I might throw up."
"Can you believe we won?" Cindy said beaming with pride.
"Of course I'm on the team," Jason laughed. "It is cool though."
"Oh acting all cool James," a French accented voice said from behind them. "Vous êtes un tel menteur."
"I'm not a liar," Jason his face widening in a bigger smile as he turned on the bench to look at the person behind him. Standing a few feet away from him was a tall teen, though not as tall as him with steel grey messy hair and yellow eyes. He was wearing a Windsor Spitfires coat and black shorts.
"Who's dis JJ?" Cindy asked looking at the teen.
"Alexei Steele," Jason said with mock disgust. "My roommate back home and my centre."
"Your centre, more like your my winger," Alexei corrected him with a snort. "And its Stéelé not Steel. How many times do I have to tell you that?"
"Whatever Steel. What are you doing here anyway?" Jason asked.
"I'm here to pick you up. Coach sent me down this morning and I heard about the game so I came to see what you've been up to these last few months. We have a game in three days. Everyone expects you to be ready to play. We really need a boost, haven't won a game in four weeks."
"Wait ya roommate. Ya live wit' da team?" Cindy asked looking strangely at the French-Canadian that seemed so familiar with Jason.
"No. Steel is from Trois Rivieres Quebec and because he can't live by himself because he is underage he was moved into my house," Jason explained. "He's the other sixteen year old player on the team so naturally they paired us up at training camp."
"Never mind me. This is quite the accomplishment here. I hope my boy didn't hold your team back too much. Coach is not going to be happy about your concussions though," Steel said shaking his head. "He'll probably string you up by your toe nails."
"Ya toe nails really?" Cindy said with a fearful look that draw laughs from the two Canadian teens.
"No. This guy's just got a flare for the dramatic," Jason laughed and looking around he saw his team, their families, and some reporters drifting into the tunnel. "We're going to the locker room to continue this crap you going to come?"
"No I'll meet you at the airport in the morning. Don't be late," Steel said before walking away.
"Here let me help ya up," Cindy said before helping Jason to his feet where he swayed a little still off balance and slowly they made their way into the tunnel. The party continued in the locker room for another hour before the team went out to continue the celebration over a buffet of food. They did not drift into their homes until one in the morning and had to be up again at four to go to the airport. They all went to sleep with giant smiles on their faces and Riley had the trophy lying beside him as he snored away replaying the game in his dreams with some exaggerations of course.
The game is done Huey and the gang have done it, they're champions but there is still one last piece of business to take care of. Next and lastly "Airport Terminal".