I'm sorry for taking forever to put this one up but good news is I have the next two chapters already typed up. I just wanted to have a new chapter of each story put up at the same time and I wasn't motivated and because for some reason, although I've never had the problem before, fanfiction wouldn't let me load a chapter 71 kb big I don't get it oh well and that's why it took so long. Enjoy the chapter and I own nothing.

Chapter 23: Joining asthma and the team

ER's PoV
Monday was just barely bearable. Each time I saw Charlie I was reminded about Bombay and it made me even madder than before. Luckily I only had two classes with him so I could avoid him. That afternoon I showed up at 4:30 on the dot just like Fulton said to. I walked to the guys' locker room door and paused outside with my stick in hand where I knew the team was gathered waiting for Orion.

"Any new players yet, Captain?" Orion asked, his voice floating to the door where it was slightly muffled but still very distinguishable.

"No, sir." Charlie said sounding remorseful. I pushed open the door and walked inside cocking my head to the side looking at Orion as I stopped at the end of the bay of lockers and benches. I crossed both arms leaning them on the top of my stick.

"I heard you have a slot open." I said. "Varsity bumped up one of their reserve players leaving you with only one slot."

"Yeah we have a slot, you any good?" Orion asked.

I cocked a smirk and looked around at the team. I was feeling extremely confident and maybe a bit arrogant. "You'll have to take the chance and see, but you'll find I'm probably better than you think I am." I answered.

"You're cocky and you have a smart mouth."

"You're honest; I like that in a coach."

"Apparently she has sort of a right to be cocky, last time I talked to my cousin on Sunday he said she still averages 19 out of 20 shots." Charlie said.

"ER Jacobs right?" Orion asked.

"Yup, Charlie's cousin." I answered.

"You've played before?" Orion said.

"Pee-wee level." I answered looking down at my green Ducks jersey before looking back at the coach.

"Well get your skates on and we'll see what you can do." Orion told me.

"Don't I need pads too, Coach?" I asked trying to keep from sounding like I was mocking him. He looked at me and rolled his eyes.

"Conway, get her suited up and on the ice. You have 10 minutes." Orion demanded before clearing out the locker room.

"Can't you behave at least once?" Connie asked as she stopped next to me for a moment.

"You know me, haven't found a coach yet that I've gotten along with right off the bat, but Coach Matthews might change that." I answered. She left and Charlie stood in front of me. He looked to be debating something. "You don't have time to ask questions CJ just get me my gear." I said looking at the floor. He walked away and came back with what I would need.

"Hurry up and get suited up, Orion doesn't like it if you're late." Charlie said before turning his back on me.

Portman's PoV
When ER showed up at practice half the teams' jaws dropped. It seamed only Fulton and Charlie weren't shocked by her being there.

When Coach asked her if she was any good her mouth formed a cocky smirk and her eyes lit up. I could tell she was confident about this.

"You'll have to take the chance and see, but you'll find I'm probably better than you think I am." ER answered.

I looked over and saw that she was wearing a green Ducks jersey much like the one she was wearing yesterday only this one had the number 69 on the sleeves and back instead of 44. The rest of us were in practice gear and were waiting for Coach to start practice.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard Charlie say "she still averages 19 out of 20 shots." I blinked a few times and shook my head, '19 out of 20 shots no one I know can do that. Not even Charlie, Adam, and the Varsity squad included.'

I was pulled out of my thoughts this time by the team leaving the locker room. Connie paused to say something to her but I didn't catch what. We were on the ice waiting when Charlie and ER came out. Lizzy was walking about three feet behind Charlie and looked pissed about something. Maybe it had something to do with what happened yesterday.

"Alright take a knee." Coach called. Everyone did and the usually inseparable cousins were as far apart as they could get. "We'll start today with ten laps and then 20 sprints to get the blood pumping and then we'll see what you can do with a stick." He said directing the last part to Lizzy. Everyone nodded and stood.

We gathered behind one net and at the whistle we took off. ER was out front followed by Luis, then Julie and Connie, then the rest of us. By lap five her and Luis were right next to each other and half a lap ahead of everyone. I could see she was watching us. She said something to Luis, patted his shoulder, and then started slowing down. Most of the team looked at her, seemed to ask her something, and then skated by as she occasionally looked over her shoulder behind her. She had even shot Coach down when he asked if her adrenaline was fading.

She reached me and I slowed with her. "ER what's wrong?" I asked.

"Don't worry about it, I'll handle it." She said glancing behind us again.

I looked back too and noticed that Fulton was trailing behind the rest. Normally he was able to keep up with Charlie and Goldie but for some reason he was trailing farther and farther behind. "What's wrong with Fulton?" I asked.

She gave me a soft smile and shook her head. "I don't know yet, but I promise I'll find out. Don't worry I'll take care of him." She said gently. I nodded and gave Fulton another concerned look. "Keep going Dean." She said slowing even more.

ER's PoV
When I started slowing everyone kept asking me questions. "Adrenaline fading already Jacobs?" Orion hollered.

"Never been better Coach." I called back looking behind me to a certain teammate again.

Each time I was asked what was wrong I just shook my head and continued to let them past me. Only Dean seemed to notice I was looking at someone. After I reassured him that I would handle it he let me go and I continued my mission to find out what was wrong. Charlie gave me a strange look but kept skating. 'Great Captain we have, doesn't even notice when there's something wrong.' I thought waiting for Fulton to catch up.

When I did finally reach him I spun around. "Asthma flaring up again?" I asked.

"No, I'm just a little low on air." Fulton answered.

"Easy Fult, get low man, get low." He did but he still had a hard time breathing. "Fult stop."

"No, it's fine." He wheezed.

"Fulton, stop." I demanded.

"Lizzy." He begged. I wasn't going to relent.

"No stop," He glanced at me again. "Fulton Daniel Reed, stop this instant." I demanded stopping in front of him so his only option was to stop. He stopped and bent double wheezing, trying to take in air.

"Reed, Jacobs, what's going on?" Orion asked.

"Did you tell him?" I asked.

"It's...in...file." He answered wheezing between words.

"Where is it?" I asked when I saw that getting lower wasn't helping him.

"In...bag...on bench," was all he could get out. The rest of the team was standing around looking at us. I looked over at the bench and saw Luis was closest to it.

"Luis, get me Fulton's bag now." I called urgently. Luis skated it over quickly and handed it over. I dropped to my knees as did Fulton and I quickly dug through the bag on the bench. I finally found his inhaler and after shaking it and handing it to him I demanded he breathe. Coach Orion came up to our sides and looked at Fulton.

"What's going on?" Orion asked again as I rubbed Fult's back.

"One minute Coach. Fulton, are you all right?" I asked, even I could tell my voice was filled with concern.

"Yeah I'm fine." He answered standing back up straight but not looking at anyone. Although his gaze was directed away I could tell he was telling the truth.

"Someone want to tell me what's going on?" Orion demanded this time.

"I thought it was the coach's and captain's job to know everything about their players." I said.

"He has asthma Coach, it's in his file." Charlie said.

"It rarely shows up, it's happened twice since he's started playing sports. It only happens when he's really stressed out before a game or practice. He has to be careful and he knows that." I added keeping my voice even as Fulton fumbled with his bag. I knew he was feeling bad because the team was gathered round and it hurt him to let everyone see he was human and he couldn't control his problem. "Fult, you want to tell me what's wrong?"

"It's nothing." He said avoiding my gaze. I was about to say something when Dean stepped in.

"It has to be something, maybe even something major if it caused an attack." He said.

"It's..." Fulton paused and looked between me and Dean. He looked around and then back at me. I jerked my head to the side and he nodded leading me out of the pack. When we were far enough away from everyone he looked down at me. "I'm worried alright?" He asked. I looked at him and shook my head.

"Between you and my brothers I don't know who's aging faster." I muttered. I looked at him again and saw him giving me the same concerned look I had given him a bit ago. "Fulton, I'm a big girl I can handle myself." I told him.

"I know you are but after what happened last time I don't know if you're ready to be playing again."

"Fult, Matt wouldn't have made the bet if he didn't think I could do it." I answered.

"What bet?"

"On Saturday Bash and I went up to Taylors Falls and talked to Matt, he bet me that if I couldn't make 20 straight shots that I'd owe him and Bash dinner and I'd have to come to two practices and play like I meant it. He knew I couldn't win and he also knew as soon as I started playing again I would get hooked and I wouldn't be able to not play."

"Oh."

"Fult, are you sure this has nothing to with Aunt Casey and Bombay?"

"Of course it doesn't." He shot at me.

"Who are you trying to convince me or you?"

"Fine it's just that you got pretty mad at Charlie for suggesting it and it makes me worry because Jesse's not here this time and even with Port, I don't know if we can pull you up if you fall again. I don't want that to happen, I can't let that happen."

"Oh Fulton, you're really sweet and I'll try my hardest not to let it hurt me this time and it's in the future so let's not worry about that alright?" He nodded.

"You know I'm here for you no matter what. No matter what's bothering you or what time it is."

"Yeah I know thanks, and Fulton I'm here for you too." I said hugging him. He hugged back for a moment and then we headed back to the team.

"All better now?" Coach asked. We both nodded. "Good, now back to practice."

After practice we went back to the locker rooms. "Hey Cons, can I borrow a pair of pants?" I asked.

"Yeah." She answered tossing me her black sweatpants.

"Are you always this forgetful?" Julie asked.

"No, I just didn't think he would actually let me practice today." I answered. There was a knock at the locker room door. I looked at the two of them and they shooed me to answer it. "Don't worry I've got it." I said sarcastically. I opened the door part way and saw Fulton standing there. He held out a shirt.

"I um...I thought you could use it." He said smiling a bit sheepishly but his eyes showed the mischief behind it. I cocked an eyebrow but he just nodded.

"Fult, you're a life saver." I said when I realized that my shirt and jersey were conveniently drenched in sweat. I took it and spread it out looking at it. It was black and in white letters it said 'Two heads are better than one.' with an arrow pointing up and down. I looked up to tell Fulton to tell Dean thanks, as it was really Dean's shirt, but he was gone.

"Who was it?" I heard Julie call.

"Just Fult." I answered walking back to where they were standing.

"What'd he want?" Connie asked.

"He was just delivering a shirt."

"Which one?" Julie asked.

At the same time Connie asked "From who?" I tossed it at them and Julie caught it out of thin air. I looked at the floor and let my hair down.

"I have an extra shirt." Julie said slowly.

A plan slowly formulated in my head. "No..." I trailed off. "I'll wear it."

"What is going through that pretty little head of yours?" Connie asked.

"Nothing at all, my dear." I answered sweetly taking the shirt back.

"I know you better than that you're planning something. You always get really sweet when you're planning something." She said.

I just smiled sweetly and said "I just want to make a statement is all," before walking back to the shower with shirt and sweats in tow. My shower was quick enough to stay under Orion's time restriction but long enough to get the sweat off of me. I came back and finished getting dressed, throwing my hair up sloppily to let it air dry although that would probably take all night. I walked out just before the other two finished and just in time to beat Charlie.

"Lizzy." I heard Charlie call.

"What CJ?" I snapped at him.

He walked over to me as I stopped. "Coach says the spot's yours till Adam's grades came up and I don't think anyone on the team will have a problem with it." He snapped back. The rest of the team slowly filed out and stopped short behind Charlie.

His brown eyes narrowed as they met my blue ones. I could tell he felt the same that I did, our eyes going straight to the soul. I don't think either of us heard any sound at that moment or noticed anything but the person we were looking at intently. Right then I knew exactly how he was feeling and probably what he was thinking and I knew what I had to do.

"I'm not mad at you Charlie." I said softly.

"I know." He whispered.

"I apologize for snapping at you yesterday but you know what happens every time that man comes back into your life, I just don't want to have to pick up the pieces anymore. You know how much it hurts to have him do that to you. It just hurts me too Char."

"I know, and I guess...No, I know I shouldn't have said anything and if I had to say something I should have said it sooner or broken it to you piece by piece and not all at once." He answered. I knew he wanted to press the subject a bit more but either my look or something he had been told stopped him and for that I was grateful.

Connie's PoV
The minute Lizzy turned down Julie's shirt I should have known something was up, but it didn't cross my mind until she was wearing her 'I'm up to something' smirk that flashbulbs went off. After she apologized to Charlie for something she had said yesterday, more than likely something happened about Bombay, we went toward the Mess Hall for dinner. Halfway there Lizzy spoke up.

"Is it just me or is it cold in here?" She asked. She'll never admit it but she's amazing at the whole seducing and having people eat right out of her hand bit. Lizzy doesn't use it often but when she does stand back because you might wind up bending over backwards for her.

I looked at Portman waiting for his response which was to look back at Fulton, roll his eyes slightly and then shrug off his coat to drape it around Lizzy's shoulders. It dwarfed Lizzy but she just slid her arms though the sleeves and moved a bit closer to Portman. The jacket made her look like she was swimming in it only because she didn't have as much muscle as he did and she was about 8 inches shorter than he was. When she moved closer to him he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she replied wrapping her arm around his waist.

That's when it hit me and I knew exactly what statement she wanted to make. As they walked into the cafeteria the place went silent but then started back up with loads of whispers. I figured they were about Lizzy and Portman but wasn't sure until I overheard a few.

"Look at them." A girl hissed to her friend.

"You think he's gotten in her pants?" Her friend answered.

"You really think they did it?" A boy asked his friend.

"Look at her clothes, his shirt and jacket and loose pants; she's definitely sore from something. Not to mention that she is kinda happy about something." The boy's friend answered.

"What is everyone talking about?" Julie asked me when we got in line.

"Look at Lizzy." I said nodding to where she was laughing with Portman and Fulton.

"So what about it? Nothing seems unusual; we all look like that after hockey practice."

"Now look at her again as if you didn't know, like everyone else, that she just came from there."

"Oh I get it, but the school knows we just came from practice. Do they think Lizzy and Portman would skip practice to do that?"

"Don't know." I answered as we sat down at the table. "But remember she said she wanted to make a statement."

"Why would she want everyone to think she's done it?" Julie asked.

"That's not the statement she wants to make, she wants everyone to know she doesn't care what they all think about her."

"Oh well that's one way to do that." Just then Scooter came up with a few of his friends and a few cheerleaders.

"Hey ER." He said.

"Hey." She smirked. He looked at her and cocked his head. She just shook her head.

"They have a question they want to ask you but I really think it's none of their business."

"Shoot, nothing's ever anyone's business but they continue to dig into like it is."

"Did it hurt?" A girl blurted out. The guys gave her a look and she glanced down at her shoes.

"Did what hurt?" Lizzy asked.

"You know it." A guy said.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You, him, it." A cheerleader named Christine asked.

"Oh that." Lizzy said as she let a look of recognition pass over her face. "They say it's supposed to hurt, but once you get past the pain it's a load of fun." Lizzy answered.

Charlie looked at her slightly confused and slightly pissed. I looked around at the rest of the table and noticed Fulton, Adam, Luis, Ken, Julie, and I were all on the verge of laughter. I knew Lizzy would be too but she had to convince them first.

"Is he good?" Christine asked.

"Yeah, but Fulton's better." Lizzy answered.

"Are you serious?" The guy asked.

"Yup." Lizzy answered. She looked like she wanted to add more like 'you should know,' but that wouldn't prove her point. Goldberg and Dwayne looked like they understood what she was talking about.

"You've got to tell us what he's like." Christine begged.

"No, you wouldn't want to hear all the gory and rough details."

"Please." One of Scooter's other guy friends asked.

"No, I think you already know about it." She answered. That's when Russ, Guy, and Portman understood what she was going on about.

One of the guys open their mouth to say something but Scooter jumped in. "Guys, she said she wouldn't say so don't bug her about it. Now let's let them eat in peace." He said. She nodded and he bent down to ask her something. The only thing I understood from their low conversation was hockey and statement. Scooter nodded and winked before walking away. As the cafeteria's noise level grew Lizzy burst into laughter dragging everyone but Charlie and Averman with her.

Adam was the first to say something when we all stopped laughing for the most part. "You are purely evil, leading them on like that." Adam said.

"I wasn't leading anyone on. If you think about it everything I said was true." Lizzy answered.

Well let's see about what she said. It was definitely true that at first hockey can be painful but you eventually learn how to block out the pain and it is a lot of fun and again Fulton is, in her opinion, better than Portman at hockey. Next it was true that the guy had played against Portman before and would know how rough he could get. And finally it was true that Portman could definitely get rough when playing and the injuries can be pretty nasty.

"True? How?" Charlie spat.

"We weren't talking about the same subject Char. You should know that. It ain't my fault they didn't know it." Lizzy was trying her hardest not to laugh, I could tell. "I was talking about hockey."

"Yeah come on Charlie, you and I both know, like Scooter said, that what they were talking about is none of their business not to mention she's told us before her personal life stays personal." I said.

"You mean they actually thought Portman would skip practice and you would tell them about..." Charlie trailed off.

"Char, look at me, if you didn't know I had just come from hockey practice and you saw me walk in sore from the waist down, freshly showered, wearing his shirt, and loose pants what would you think?" She asked.

ER's PoV
I looked at Charlie waiting for him to answer.

"You know babe..." Dean said thoughtfully causing me to turn my stare to him. "I could always make those rumors true."

"And I could throw you off the top of the Mall of America, but we've been through this already at Christmas and I stand by what I said then." I told him.

"Anyone up for a game of truth or dare?" Charlie asked.

"I'm game." I said. Now had I know what was going to happen I wouldn't have agreed. It turned out that everyone but Connie and Guy agreed. "Where at?"

Charlie looked around trying to come up with some where. "Our room isn't big enough, Spaz." Adam said.

"Neither is ours." Fulton supplied. That was probably because they had way too much stuff in their room.

"Ours will be occupied." Guy said.

"Ours is a mess, Connie's closet erupted and she hasn't cleaned it up yet." Julie said.

"She better get on that." Russ said. "But too small." He added about Averman's and his room.

"Ours stinks." Ken said shooting a look at Luis. That left Tex's and my rooms.

"I don't care." I said looking at Dwayne.

"I'd rather not." Tex said.

"Looks like my room it is then." I sighed. So the team gathered in my room, after we all finished dinner. Everyone found seats whether it be my floor, bed, or chairs as Charlie went looking through my closets. "What are you looking for Char?" I asked.

"Got any food in here?" He asked pausing to look at me.

"You just ate and you're looking for food?" I questioned.

"Yeah, I'm a growing boy with a huge appetite." He answered.

"Other closet genius." I answered. He moved over and started throwing bags of chips and boxes of snack foods to Adam.

"Hey ER, what's this?" Charlie asked producing a plastic bottle of clear liquid. By the way he asked it and said my name I knew he knew exactly what it was and he wasn't too happy about it.

"Charlie, it ain't mine." I begged.

"And penguins can fly." He said turning to look at me.

"Lizzy, you just made the team you can get into serious trouble for this." Adam put in.

"You made the team?" Dean asked.

"Yes Dean, but that's not important right now. Charlie, please it's not mine, I can explain." I begged.

"You have one minute." Charlie said.

"Like I told you it ain't mine, it's Doug's. The baseball team was having a room inspection today and he can't have it in his room, he'll get in a car load of trouble. He's already been benched for it once and his dad will kill him if it happens again." I tried explaining.

"Why did he have it in the first place?" Charlie asked.

"Friday night was his best friend's birthday and Doug threw him a party. They didn't drink all of it and so they put it in Doug's closet until this morning when Doug remembered it and that they were having a room inspection. I was trying out for the team today and so Doug put it in here until room inspection is over in like ten minutes." I said. Then as if he needed anymore proof Doug knocked on the partially open door.

"Hey Jacobs, you still got that bottle of Vod...oh you have company I'll just come back later." He said.

"No, although I should have just dumped it down the drain, take it before Captain Ducky has a hernia." I said grabbing the bottle from Charlie and tossing it to Doug.

"Thanks Jacobs, I owe you major. Now if you'll excuse me I must go put my room back together, I'll come back tomorrow and help you after Matthews tears your room apart."

"Will it really be that bad?" Julie asked.

"To put it lightly, my room looks like a hurricane hit it minus a lot of water damage." Doug said.

"Thanks Doug."

"Sure." He looked around the room and crossed over to me. "Hey take care of yourself, the team's grown to love you like a little sister, especially Bastian, and we don't want to see you get hurt." He whispered before kissing the top of my head.

"Don't worry I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself." I answered hugging him quickly before shooing him out of my room. He left and shut the door behind him. Then I walked back to Dean who was sitting next to Fulton and sat down in his lap. "I love you." I whispered to him.

"Love ya too." He answered.

There's your chapter including a game of truth or dare that will explain some stuff about Aaron and will make some questions arise. Tune in next time.