By the time the skaters had finished their practice session, been interviewed by the student reporters, and gotten all their gear loaded back into their vehicles for the trip back to the hotel, big, fat snowflakes had begun drifting lazily down and sticking to whatever it was they landed on.
"Mom, I haven't seen snow like this since we lived in Chicago!" Paige exclaimed excitedly. "It's so pretty!"
"This is the type of snow that makes really good snowballs and snowmen," Laurel reminded her. "It's wet and it sticks together. However, you will have to wait until after your long skate to try it out. I don't want you getting hurt."
"Oh Mom!" Paige huffed.
"For now, why don't you sit back and enjoy the ride," Rossi laughed as he started the SUV.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
When Laurel, Paige, and Rossi got off the elevator and walked into the hotel lobby the first thing they saw was –
"Uncle Joel!" Paige called out as she ran towards the small group standing waiting for her. "Aunt Lois!"
"Joel?" Laurel smiled at her brother. "What are you and Lois doing here?"
"I wasn't about to pass up the opportunity to see my niece skate," Joel smiled back. "So, here we are."
"It wasn't that far a drive," Lois added. "And, see who we just happened to find when we swung past the airport."
"Jack?" Laurel noticed the young man standing there. "Aren't you supposed to be in classes?"
"I told my profs that my sister was skating for a national championship," Jack replied. "And, that I was going to be there. If that meant that I had to withdraw from their class, I would withdraw. But, I am going to be there for my sister!"
"Oh, Jack!" Laurel gushed as she threw her arms around him while Hotch watched proudly.
"Excuse me," Phil Hughes walked over. "But, Laurel and Paige, I need to speak with you - Privately."
"Okay," Laurel took Paige's hand and they followed the USFSA official to a quiet part of the hotel lobby.
"I understand that there was an 'incident' on practice ice this morning," Phil began.
"Well, there was a bit of a problem," Laurel began cautiously.
"I just want to tell you that the issue has been addressed," Phil told her. "The party involved has been warned that such behavior will not be tolerated and that if she skates like that on any future practice ice sessions she will automatically be disqualified from competition for the rest of the season."
"That's good to hear," Laurel told him. "I assume you are telling the other skaters as well?"
"Kaylie and I are," Phil assured her. "We want to make sure everything is handled in house as quickly and quietly as possible."
"Everything okay?" Hotch walked over to ask.
"Everything is just fine," Laurel assured him. "And, now, we have a seminar to attend before lunch. And then, after lunch, Paige needs to get some rest before she skates her short program this evening."
"Enjoy the seminar and Good Luck!" Phil was smiling as he walked away.