The Duck Pond in Anaheim. I pulled up and parked. I shut the engine off and got out. I headed for the entrance to go talk to Wildwing. Something had been nagging at my mind the whole time all of us have been at the hotel.

I walked in and went looking for Wildwing. I found Phil instead. He had just got off the phone when he saw me.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with the other rodents?"

I swished my tail in a defensive manner. I was not happy with what he said to me. I narrowed my eyes and gave him "the look."

I growled low in my throat and lunged at him. I was pissed. How dare he say such a thing to me.

While I was beating the holy hell out of Phil, Wildwing came walking in. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He ran over to stop the fight.

He broke up the fight between Phil and I. I struggled to get out of his grip. "Let me go, Wing! I'm not done with him!"

"Phil, leave. I can't hold her much longer."

"You should send her back to the rodents she came with, Wildwing. She'll give you fleas."

I growled low in my throat again. "How dare you! I would rather have fleas then using friends to get rich!"

Wildwing gasped in shock. He knew about making appearances in order to endorse the team, but he never knew the REAL reason until now.

"Phil, you're fired. Leave the arena and don't come back." Then he released me. I was calmer by then.

After Phil left, Wildwing asked me why I was at the Pond. "I've had this feeling that something wasn't right since the first time Throttle and I were here. It seemed too easy to defeat those Jurassic throwbacks when all of us showed up."

"You're thinking there's more to it, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. I'm thinking that your enemies and Throttle's enemies have teamed up but don't know why."

"Let's go do some research on the computer and find out."

"You know you won't be able to play without a manager now, right?"

"I've been meaning to fire Phil for a while now. Would you like the job?"

"Let me talk it over with Throttle and you should talk it over with the rest of the team. I'd hate to take the job and find out the other Ducks aren't comfortable with me being the new manager. Know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I do. How long are you in town for?"

"Not sure, why?"

"It seems my baby brother is done with hockey. That comic book shop I told you about, well, he works full time there now. Kinda need to replace him. Think you'd be up to taking his place and being our new manager?"

"Is that a legal move in the NHL rules?"

"Good question. I'll have to contact the league head office and find out. I'll get back to you afterwards."

"Honestly, I don't know how Throttle will react to this news. I need to talk it over with him before I make a final decision."

"I understand."
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While Wildwing was conducting a search on the last location of the Saurians, I pulled out my cell phone and called Throttle.

"Hey babe. Everything ok?"

"Yeah, everything's fine. Wildwing just fired their manager and he asked me if I would like to take the job as well as replace his baby brother, Nosedive, on the team. I told him I would talk to you about it, so that's why I called. And I wanted to hear your sexy voice and see how the boys are doing."

"They said their first word."

"Awww. What did they say?"

"Dada. I was so proud of them. They've been trying to say mama, too."

"How does your mom like being a grandmother?"

"She loves it. She told me it's the second best thing ever. The day I was born was the first."

"Well, of course it would be. I'm glad she was nothing like that sorry excuse for a mouse. You know, he was almost successful in making my life miserable. I really thought I was never going to see you again as far as he was concerned. If it hadn't been for Carbine coming up with the plan to go get you, I would have been raising the boys on my own."

"That's why she was a general. Her quick thinking in the most dire of situations."

"She is a great friend."

"Glad she's on our side and not on the side of our enemies."

"I hear that. We'll talk more about the hockey situation when you get back to the motel. Wrap up what you're doing then come on back. I'd like for us to take the boys to the beach."

"They're going to love it. You're really getting the hang of this father thing."

"Modo and Vinnie's fathers were good role models. I want to be a good role model to our boys. Show them that its not ok to abuse women in any manner. I'm going to be the father mine wasn't to me."

"I'm proud of you, Throttle. You've risen above everything you've gone through as a child and teenager. I'm sure your mom is very proud of you, too."

"She is very proud of me. Modo, Vinnie and I went ahead and talked with Stoker."

"And?"

"He apologized to me for what he did and for not knowing until it was too late what my father had planned or what he turned out to be."

"Good to know."

Wildwing had just walked over to me while Throttle and I were talking.

"Hey babe, Wildwing just walked over so I'll talk to you when I get back to the motel. I love you, babe."

"I love you, too Michelle. Be careful driving back."

"I will. Later." Then I ended the call. I put my cell phone away, then I was steered toward the computer.

"So, find anything that confirms my suspicion?"

"Unfortunately, no, but I will keep an eye out. I did get a hold of the NHL head office and asked them if a manager can also be a player."

"What was their response?"

"Nothing in the rules that says a manager can't be a player. If and when you give me your answer, you'll be our manager and take Nosedive's place on the team."

"Good to know. Hopefully, I'll have an answer for you either tonight or tomorrow."

"I actually need the answer tonight. We have a game here at the Pond."

"You tell me this now? What time is the game?"

"9p."

"When I get back to the motel, I'll talk with Throttle and call you right after."

"I'll hold you to that, Mike."

I smiled then left. I had to get back to the motel.

After I got to the parking lot, I got into the SUV, started it up and drove back to the motel to pick up my husband and twin boys.
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When I got back to the motel, I noticed that the ambulance was out front of Vinnie and Harley's room. I parked the SUV, shut it off, then got out. I walked over to everyone and asked what's going on.

Charley looked at me with sad eyes. "Their daughter stopped breathing about 30 mins. ago. Vinnie called 9-1-1 and the ambulance arrived shortly after. They've been trying to resuscitate her since."

I gasped in shock. "That's horrible. She's only a few months old, isn't she?"

"Yeah. Ever since Vinnie found out, he's been helping her out as much as possible. If they lose their daughter, its going to crush them so much."

Just then, we heard the most blood curdling scream ever. All 3 of us looked at each other. "What was that?"

"That was either Vinnie or Harley."

"Or both together."

All 3 of us walked up to the open door and couldn't believe what we saw. The EMT's had just put Vinnie and Harley's daughter's body on the gurney that held the body bag. She had been put in the body bag and then it was zipped up.

We stepped aside to let the EMT's wheel out the dead body of Alicia Marie Van Wham. After they wheeled the body out on the gurney, we walked in and up to Vinnie and Harley.

Vinnie had tears running down his face as his wife cried into his shoulder. It was so sad to see them like that. It broke my heart.

"I am so sorry for your loss, you two. If either of you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask any of us. You're our friends, family."

"Thanks, Michelle. I think what Harley and I need right now, is to be alone. When it comes time, can we get everyone's help with funeral arrangements?"

I put my hand on Vinnie's shoulder and lightly squeezed it and smiled. "Of course Vinnie. We will all chip in and help in any way we can."

Vinnie put his hand on mine and smiled. "Thanks, Doll. We both really appreciate it."

Throttle steered Charley and I out of their hotel room. He closed the door behind him, then took a hold of my hand. He guided me back to our room so we can talk about me taking the job as the Ducks' new manager and taking Nosedive's place on the team.