Author's Note: Fun Fact - According to the North Star's Wikipedia page, the North Stars were looking to move to California in the early 90s, so either way, Orion would have become a duck one way or another.
With the majority of Minneapolis still asleep in their beds, the lights hummed above center ice in the old Met Center as the large clock read four AM.
The rink, normally filled with the clamour of skates and the cheers of fans, was eerily quiet. The only sound was the sound of skates cutting through the ice.
In this early morning stillness, the cold air of the old arena was evident, each breath visible in the freezing temperature.
Ted Orion, North Star defenseman and Eden Hall Alumn stood at center ice as he watched intently as his old high school friend, Gordon Bombay, skated laps around the rink.
"Keep pushing, Gordon! Faster!" Orion's voice barked, echoing through the empty arena. His tone was hard and relentless, filled with the same determination that had once made him one of the most feared defenders on the same ice.
Bombay's skates cut deep into the ice, leaving lines which crisscrossed all over the ice. His breaths were heavy and laboured, visible in the freezing air, but he didn't slow down.
These early mornings had become a ritual - a test of endurance and willpower. Bombay's legs burned with each lap as his lungs screamed for mercy.
His body begged for a break, but Bombay had made Orion promise that he wouldn't let him off easily. This was the price he had to pay.
"Again!" Orion shouted as Bombay completed another lap. "You've got more in you. Dig deep!"
The cold air stung his face, his sweat turning icy against his skin, but he kept going. Ted had designed these workouts to push him to his limits. Only the very best made it to the NHL.
After the laps, Orion set up a series of cones for agility drills. "Quick feet! In and out! Make those turns crisp!" he ordered.
Bombay weaved through the cones, his movements becoming more precise with each turn. Orion's eyes never left him, scrutinizing every turn, every stride.
"Don't let up!" Orion yelled. He was unrelenting. "You need to be faster! Don't stop!"
This went on for two hours every morning at four a.m. As the first light of dawn began to seep through the windows, Orion finally called for a break. Almost ready to collapse, his chest heaving with sweat pouring down his face, Gordon joined his friend at center ice.
"You did good today, Gordon," Orion said, his voice returning to normal. "But remember, this is just the beginning. "
Gordon nodded, too exhausted to speak. Orion handed him a water bottle. Bombay hastily unscrewed the top and took a long swig.
Finally, being able to speak, Bombay decided this was as good of time as any. "Thanks for doing this," Bombay smiled. "Tell me about this case of yours. The dispersal draft is long over, and they protected you. You're not going to San Jose."
Orion raised an eyebrow. He hadn't heard of a case—at least recently. He took a pay cut on his most recent contract with the North Stars to secure a no-move clause because of his daughter's injury. He didn't want to move - her doctors were here. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester was one of the country's best pediatric hospitals.
"No, that's long over. Especially now with us making it to the Stanley Cup Finals last year," Orion reasoned. "People say that Norman was going to move the team to California, but Disney already has an agreement to create an expansion team in Anaheim. Speaking of which, I hear congratulations are in order..."
Bombay was confused. Tracey had explicitly mentioned that Orion had a new court case. "What do you mean?"
"Someone told me they want to name the new team in Anaheim the ducks...after your ducks," Orion grinned. "How's it feel to be the coach of a team with an NHL team named after it?
Bombay stunned. "They're naming an NHL team after my ducks?"
"That's what I'm hearing," Orion told Bombay. "At least that's what Bob Goodenow says."
"You must be happy that Alan Eagleson is out," Bombay said.
"He should be in jail," Orion growled. "At least I had you in my corner during that mess. Andrea almost left me during that time."
"She still blames you for the accident?" Bombay asked. "The judge ruled that it was the other driver's fault."
"Yeah," Orion said glumly. "And being on the road all the time doesn't help."
Bombay nodded. "Casey hasn't said anything, but I know it's hard on her."
Orion chuckled to himself, remembering their time at Eden Hall. "Never thought I'd see the day where a woman somehow managed to domesticate Gordon Bombay."
"People change, Ted," Bombay reminded him. "Kids have a way of doing that."
"You got a kid on the team or something?" Orion asked.
"Kinda," Bombay confessed. "Maybe."
Orion gave him a look. "Sounds complicated."
"It's the best thing that's ever happened to me," Bombay admitted.
"Do you miss it? Being a lawyer?" Orion asked.
"Not really," Bombay said. "I never thought I'd end up coaching peewee hockey, but life surprises you sometimes. You'd be good at it. If you ever decide to hang up the skates for good."
Orion pondered the idea for a moment. "You think?"
Neither one of them said anything for a bit.
"Alright," Orion said, going back into drill sergeant mode. "Breaks over. Start skating, Bombay!"
Bombay laughed at Orion's tough exterior and how he could turn it off and on. "Maybe not peewees," Bombay said, skating off. "Teens might be more your thing."
"Move those legs!"
As Casey stepped into Bombay's apartment for the first time, a sense of unease crept over her. The air was sterile, lacking the warmth of a lived-in space. Her eyes scanned the room, taking in the bland beige walls and the uniform gray carpeting. If it had not been for the pizza boxes on the counter, there would have been no signs that anyone lived there.
Casey had been longing for uninterrupted time with Gordon. Their dates, while always enjoyable, inevitably included her son, Charlie. Gordon never seemed to mind; he was wonderful with Charlie.
But Casey craved some alone time, moments where they could just be a couple.
After weeks of juggling work, she managed to arrange for Charlie to spend the weekend with her grandmother. Her mother more than obliged after learning that Casey wanted to spend a weekend away with Bombay.
With Charlie's bag packed, she dropped him off at her mother's house, before heading over to Bombay's place.
Gordon had greeted her with a kiss, and the two of them sat down.
"I've missed you," Casey smiled. "I thought with you in Minnesota for the remainder of the summer, I'd see you more."
"You know how Ted is," Bombay surmised.
"Does he really push you that hard?" Casey asked Bombay, genuinely concerned.
Bombay let out a laugh. "Harder."
Casey smirked. "Let's hope he hasn't worn you completely out."
Gordon brushed a strand of hair from Casey's face, and their eyes locked. At that moment, she was the most beautiful women in the world
The moment felt right. Bombay leaned forward, his lips meeting Casey's in a soft, gentle kiss. Casey waisted no time in deepning the kiss, passionate growing with each moan. Casey wraped her arms around Gordon's neck , pulling him closer.
Their bodies pressed together as they continued to kiss, as Casey started to slowly move towards the bedroom. Gordon's fingers tangled in Casey's hair, breathing her in.
Once they reached the bedroom, Gordon paused to look into Casey's eyes, before asking "Are you sure?"
Casey nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips. Casey began to undress Bombay , taking her time. Her fingers expertly unbuttoned Bombay's shirt before placing her finger tips on his chest.
Casey's lips trailed down Gordon's neck, planting soft kisses along his collarbone - her touch filled with desire.
Bombay's hands explored her body, his touch gentle yet filled with desire. His hands mirrored her, reaching behind to unzip Casey's dress as their kisses grew more fervent, his hands sliding the dress off her shoulders.
With the both of them undressed to their undergarments, Casey sat on the bed, ancipating Bombay's next move.
Bombay learned into kiss Casey but he stopped. Cold. Bombay tried to ignore the feeling in his gut - not wanting to ruin the moment. However, the feeling persisted, and he realized something was wrong.
Noticing that Bombay was hestant to take it further, Casey stopped what she was doing and asked, "What's wrong?"
Bombay gulped. "Nothing," he lied.
There shouldn't have been anything wrong. It wasn't like they were virgines - far from it. They were both consenting adults in their mid to late twenties.
Yet, Bombay hesatated. Casey Conway, almost naked stood before him. He had done this hundred of times, dating back to his time at Eden Hall.
"Gordon, are you okay?" Casey asked confused. Most of the men she were
"I... I need to go to the bathroom," Bombay stammered, pulling away.
He rushed to the bathroom, leaving Casey confused and concerned on the bed. Once inside, Bombay closed the door and exhaled in relief
Minutes passed, feeling like hours. Gordon's mind raced. Casey Conway was beautiful and he kept a box of condoms in the nightstand next to his bed.
He had been with a women hundreds of times. But never has he had sex sober. It was always been after a night of drinking.
Bombay could hear Casey call out from the bedroom. He turn on the faucet and spashed some water on his face. He had to do something - anything.
After hearing from Charlie that his grandfather had struggled with alcoholism, Bombay decided to pour all the alcohol in the liquor cabinate down the drain. He wanted assure Casey that his dependance on alcohol was over and to be a good role model for Charlie.
Bombay thought about just fessing up to Casey but decided against it. It was embaressing and he didn't want to give Casey any reason to doubt him as a possible father figure to her son.
There was the mouthwash as well but Bombay decided against that as well. The only thing left was a small bag of white powder. He hadn't done pills since his final year of university - not with the routine drug testing that Ducksworth imposed on all his employees.
Alcohol had been Bombay's drug of choice for years. It had been so long that he had almost forgotten about it. The small bag remained hidden in ceiling.
Bombay wrestled with himself. He knew that he shouldn't do it but he couldn't think of any other way. He wouldn't get caught either. The league wide drug testing had already passed and he was clean. He could hide it from Casey as well.
'It would only be this one time' , Bombay reasoned with himself.