Author's Note : I'm currently stealing off of Page 78 of www. scriptslug script/ d3-the-mighty-ducks-1996 ; I have to put spaces in order to post the link. But the next few are just random one-shots here and there in or just after the D3, which wouldn't fit anywhere else in my stories but not necessarily based on any script.
The fluorescent lights buzzed softly in the otherwise quiet hospital corridor. The smell of bleach lingered in the air as Charlie's and Jans' footsteps echoed off the linoleum floor. They approached the nurse's station, where a kind-faced nurse was sorting through some paperwork.
"Hi, I'm here to pick up my friend's belongings," Charlie said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Charlie had hoped that this could wait. It had been a long week, and although he didn't want to do this, Charlie knew he had to do it for closure. Han had only been gone a week, and as his mother had put it - it was time.
The nurse looked up, her expression softening with sympathy. What's your friend's name?"
"Hans. Hans Andersen."
The nurse nodded, flipping through a few pages on her clipboard before signalling for Jan's to sign.
They followed the nurse down a long hallway, passing rooms with patients and the occasional hushed conversation. They finally stopped at a small room with a plain door labelled "Personal Belongings."
The room was simple and sparse, with a few shelves and a table. On the table was a cardboard box with Hans' name written in bold black marker. Charlie's heart clenched as he recognized the contents: Hans' watch, his clothes from the night he died, and a silver necklace with a small rose medallion.
Charlie reached for the box, his hands trembling. As he picked it up, Jan placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Take your time," Jan said gently while wiping tears from his eyes. "Allergies," he added with a weak attempt at humour.
Charlie sat on a nearby chair, the box resting on his lap. He looked up at Jan. "He's really gone, isn't he?"
Jan sadly nodded. "Yeah. Let's get out of here."
On his way out, Charlie heard a voice he recognized, followed by a little girl's laugh.
After handing over the box to Jan, he told Jan, 'I'll be right back' before disappearing in the direction of the voice.
Rounding the corner, Charlie spotted Ted Orion, pushing a girl, no more than nine years old, in a wheelchair, disappearing behind large swinging doors marked Physical Therapy.
As he approached, he heard laughter and the rhythmic counting of exercises. He peered through a large window into one of the rooms and froze. There, on a mat, was his old coach, Coach Orion, guiding a young girl as she pulled herself forward along rails with the aid of leg braces
through a series of exercises.
It took Charlie a moment to recognize her—Coach Orion's daughter, Kalie.
Orion's voice seemed to will her forward. A giant smile illuminated his face as she completed her walk.
"Great job, honey," Orion grinned widely.
"Can I help you? " a voice asked, pulling him out of his thoughts. He turned to see an orderly with a kind face and a gentle demeanour.
"Is that, you know, his -" Charlie replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
The nurse glanced through the window and then back at Charlie. "Daughter? They've been coming here every day for five years. Ever since her accident. You never hear 'em complain neither."
The nurse's pager went off, leaving Charlie alone once again.
"Winners don't whine," Charlie said to himself, suddenly understanding.
Ted Orion had always seemed harsh and unyielding. The brutal practices, constant critiques, and high expectations had made Charlie resent him. But now, seeing him like this, Charlie felt a profound pang of guilt. He realized there was more to Coach Orion than his tough exterior—a lot more.
"There you are," Jan said, standing next to him. You have to stop running off."
Jan raised an eyebrow when he saw Orion. "What about him?"
Charlie hesitated, then said, "That's his daughter. It made me realize… maybe he's not as bad as I thought."
Jan nodded slowly. "Yeah."
Charlie continued to watch Orion and his daughter. He had seen Orion frustrated, yelling, and pushing the team, especially Charlie, to improve. But Charlie never understood why he did it until now. It was not just about winning or losing but about pushing them to be their best, teaching them resilience, and preparing them for life. Sometimes, life knocks you down. And you have to learn to pick up the pieces and start over.
"I guess I never thought about why he does it. I just thought he was being hard on us for no reason," Charlie said at last. "Hans was right."
Jan threw his arm around Charlie and squeezed his shoulder. "That Strudel head was always right,"
Jan said with a sadness in his voice.
As Charlie walked out of the hospital, carrying the box of Hans' belongings, he realized it was time to return. It's what Hans would have wanted.