Jude/Zero [Gideon] centric spin on S2E4 'Full Court Press'

Jude barged into Derek's bedroom without knocking. In all honesty, when he'd told Derek that he was still his guy, he couldn't have imagined it would result in him trying to salvage Coach Pete Davenport's daughter's career. Was she worth it? Was he? Jude couldn't imagine being so in love with someone that he'd risk his career and reputation on a down low relationship.

"What do we do?" Derek asked.

"You told your agency about us?" Ahsha Hayes quickly covered her brown, blue satin clad body as Jude strode in.

"Ahsha, we are way past that," replied Derek with a wave of his hand, not bothering to look at her, but at him.

"When this goes public say you were comforting a friend after the loss of her former boss. It got heated, but it's not what it looks like. Just deny it. Deny it to everyone." Jude raised his shoulders for emphases.

"Will that save Ahsha's job?" implored Derek with dark, not quite, puppy dog eyes.

"Your guess is as good as mine." Jude pulled out his cell phone and proceeded to walk out, trailed by Derek.

"I don't wanna be guessing!" Derek grabbed the phone out of his hands, as they stood in his hallway. "Make sure Ahsha stays a Devil Girl."

"Dancers aren't really my area of expertise, Derek," he responded hands resting on his hips.

"You can talk to your dad."

"You're overestimating the pull I have with Oscar. He's in Tokyo. I wouldn't know how..."

"Jude. Any time I've needed something; you've come through for me. You need to come through for me again." Derek stared intently at Jude and slapped the cell back into his hand.

Shit

~~~
Jude paced the floor of Lionel's Malibu home. He was on the phone speaking Japanese, badly. "Hello?"

"You're supposed to be helping me with my charity event tonight. This is not helping." She sat on a sofa and gestured in a circle, while looking through paperwork, a perfectly manicured hand clutching her phone.

He'd agreed weeks ago to help Lionel with her Alzheimer's benefit, another promise Jude had made to get her to show up to the Los Angeles Devil's games. He tried to juggle both the Derek and Ahsha drama and his friend's demands. Yes, he realized that over the course of a few months that he liked and enjoyed the company of the movie star.

"Oscar! Oscar!"

"What does Oscar have you doing this time?"

"Not Oscar, Derek. He got papped with one of the dancers. He's got me calling all over Japan trying to track Oscar down to beg him not to fire her. The dancer's your hubby's kid, actually. So, thank him for me, would you?" If Jude believed in Karma, he'd have thought this was it, for calling Sloane a whore.

"Ahsha? Who took the picture?"

"TMZ. Derek promised a quote if they held it till noon, but he's not giving one, just trying to buy some time." Jude was so intent on trying to find Oscar, that he barely noticed her change in demeanor.

"Maybe, I can help?" she said suddenly.

"How?"

"I have connections over at TMZ...perhaps I can work a little PR magic. While you hunt for Oscar."

"Why the sudden interest in Ahsha Hayes' future?" he asked, knowing full well why. Derek wasn't the only one fixated.

"You want my help, or not?"

"Want," he replied dryly.

Hearing a ping, Jude looked down and saw a text from Zero. Oh, great, another cog in the wheel of people wanting something from him. 'German is on the line. Just waiting to reel him in.'

Then again, the triple threat of Zero, Lionel and Derek, if successful, Oscar would have to see his worth...

After leaving Lionel's Jude had made his way to the Devils Arena. Specifically, the Devils Playground. Just as he got off the phone, while sitting at the bar with his iPad, Raquel walked past him, then turned around. Thick, wavy brown hair cascaded onto her shoulders, which framed wide, hazel eyes. She truly was a beautiful woman and unlike some women that he'd encountered while living in L.A. there was an innate sweetness to her, that made him feel slightly guilty for manipulating her at the behest of Lionel and Oscar.

"Listen. Lionel's hosting a charity event tonight. The Devils will be there. You should go with me." He smiled at her.

"I am going. With Pete."

"You're still with that guy?"

"That guy? Just because you had a run-in with him doesn't..."

"I'm not thinking about me. I'm thinking about you."

"Me?"

"I shouldn't say."

"Say it." A flicker of doubt in her voice.

"No, I just...when we had our run-in, I saw the look in his eye when he punched me. Right after I brought up Sloane. It seemed like he was still hung up on her." Thing was. It was true. Jude had told so many lies, at times it was hard to keep track. But, in this instance Raquel and he both knew that he was telling the truth.

"Jude Kinkade." Later that evening, he stood in the middle of the crowd at the Pacific Design Center. On the phone. Again. "K- I-N... Hello?" Shit. He was cut off. He let out a breath of frustration.

Jude's phone instantly rang again. "What?!" he snapped.

"I hear you've been trying to get me, kid."

"Oscar. Hey, yeah. Yeah, I have..." He made his way through the crowd to find somewhere a bit quieter. As Jude maneuvered around, he saw Zero and Jelena posing for photos on the red carpet.

"Jelena, you look great."

"Can you step in a little closer, please? "

"Smile, Zero. That's right."

"Good. Nice. Lovely. Thanks, guys."

The media giving them both what they craved, the spotlight; god, he looked good, Jude thought absently. They both did, he added quickly.

~~~
Just after he'd gotten off the phone with Oscar, who was surprisingly pleased with 'Dersha' in no small part to Ahsha managing to look simultaneously wholesome and sexy, in what Lionel had told him, was a Max Azaria dress. It helped garner much needed positive PR, even as far away as Tokyo.

He immediately received a follow up text from Zero. 'German and Pete. Hook, Line and Sinker. The Jelena and Zero show is underway… I'm thinking Zelena. 'Jude shook his head at the portmanteau but simply responded with 'Excellent.'

Part of their strategizing had been to get the assistant coach to do some of the dirty work. Zero had "humbly" gone to German's small, cramped office and presented him with some Cleveland plays that had gotten the Wolves a Championship. Zero knew to play into German's ambition and desire to be part of and help craft a winning team; a way to legitimately sideline Derek and feature Zero more. What had been a bonus that Zero hadn't known about until it had suddenly blown up on the Internet was 'Dersha.' Jealousy concerning his ex, was that extra nudge that he and Jude knew would push German to convince Pete to use the plays. It was a stroke of good luck.

He looked up to see Raquel watching Pete and Sloane at the bar, who in turn were watching Derek and Ahsha kiss and embrace.

"Still time to get a drink," he said as he walked up to her.

She was visibly upset.

"Sorry, I have to go. I have some Playground business to do."

He looked after her as she walked away. He felt a little sad and admittedly, lonely. It seemed like everyone around him was either with someone or was wanted by someone. He was neither.