Linemates - Adam Banks

Captain Blood - 13

Bombay pushed through the locker room doors, angrily. "Twelve to one. You know what word comes to mind when you think of that? Hm? Pathetic. You guys were brought here to play hockey."

"What about you?" Jesse asked the coach sternly.

"What about me, Jesse?" Coach asked for clarification.

"Coach Stansson knew everything about us. They were ready for us!" Said Julie, angrily.

"He knew every single play we had in the book. How much scouting did you do, coach?" Indiana asked Bombay who simply smiled angrily and shook his head in disbelief. It was true-- no matter what old Ducks tricks team USA attempted to use, team Iceland had a nearly perfect way to counter all of them.

"And you spend your time driving around in convertibles, talking to those sponsor fools," Luis continued laying it into their coach.

"Or hanging with the Iceland lady. We saw you two Saturday night!" Fulton exclaimed.

"Eating ice cream with the enemy, huh, coach?" Portman continued, causing the others to look at each other and express their disbelief verbally. It was true, Coach Bombay had crossed enemy lines onto Iceland territory by going out for ice cream with a member of their staff. While Stansson was going to team USA's games and studying film, Bombay was distracted by a beautiful blonde lady with an accent.

"Talk about a relationship that affects the team," muttered Indiana.

Bombay took a deep breath, "Hey. Hey, what I do is none of your business. Is that clear?" The group just turned away, beginning to take their equipment off. "Don't take those pads off. Everyone stay in your gear. We have practice."

"Tonight?" Goldberg asked, shocked. The group went onto the ice yet again, Bombay standing at center ice holding his whistle in his hands.

"Man, he's going to Miracle Herb Books us," exclaimed Indiana. And so, he did. The group split into two groups, lining up on each side of the boards. After every whistle, the group would have to skate to the other side of the rink until the next whistle or until Bombay chose to stop them.

"This isn't very much fun, Coach," Charlie said after Bombay blew the whistle, taking off his helmet. The team kneeled behind Charlie, everyone struggling to maintain their breath. Indiana sighed, her knees were weak and she continued to breathe heavily.

"Who said it was supposed to be fun?" Asked Bombay.

"You did, when you coached the Ducks," explained Charlie. It seemed as if their days of cleaning up trash and passing using eggs instead of pucks were over. Instead, the fame seemed to seep into Bombay's head, and he wanted to win at all costs-- no matter what type of mental or physical strain he was putting on his team.

"Well, I don't see any Ducks here, Charlie. All I see is team USA one loss away from elimination. Twenty more sprints, let's go!" Everyone groaned but appeased the coach, continuing to skate. "I'll keep you here all night if I have to."

After twenty more sprints, Bombay allowed for the players to go back to the locker room, "Indiana Gaffney, hang back."

Indiana stopped where she was near the bench and turned towards the coach, "Yes, Coach?"

"You were sloppy today. You couldn't even manage to get on the scoresheet with a point. Tibbles says you're supposed to be one of the highest ranked female athletes in the nation, but you haven't shown me anything yet. Get on the line," stated Bombay.

Indiana's mouth was left agape, "Wha- but coach we all had a rough game, why am I the only one who has to stay back?"

"You have to be better. Now get on the boards before I have you do more than I already have planned," said Bombay. At this point, the only two remaining members of team USA in earshot of the two were Banks and Conway.

Adam overheard Bombay, grimacing before turning around and stepping back onto the ice, "Coach, what are you--"

"Banks, this doesn't concern you, go back to the room," instructed Bombay.

Adam scoffed, "If it involves Indiana, it involves me. She is part of the team, right coach?"

Indiana stopped herself at the boards, "Adam, it's fine. I just have to get through these sprints and then I'll be back at the hotel in no time."

"I'm doing them with you," said Adam, stepping onto the ice and skating over to her.

"Adam, you don't have to do this, plus you hurt your wrist. You shouldn't be overexerting yourself," Indiana tried to persuade him off of the ice, but it wouldn't work.

"I'm skating too," said Charlie, stepping back onto the rough ice. "Ducks stay together." Indiana let out a small laugh.

"Whatever. Twenty more sprints for all of you, and I'll see how I feel about more when you are done," said Bombay. And so, the three teammates skated across the ice twenty more times. Each of the other members of team USA walked by the rink on their way out, watching the scene with horror. They couldn't believe Bombay not only had them skate after a game where they had been brutally beaten, but also had their first line skating extra. Luckily for the group, they were only kept on the ice for an extra half hour while they continued to sprint with little or no breaks.

"Thank you," muttered Indiana as she was finally able to catch her breath while walking into the locker room and slumping down in her stall, her eyes closing as she leaned her head against the side of it.

"I'm sorry, Indiana," apologized Adam, who mimicked her actions.

"Why are you sorry?" Asked Indiana, opening her eyes and glancing across the room.

Adam sighed, "I just am. You didn't deserve to be targeted tonight."

Charlie continued, "We all played horribly. Just because you didn't make it on the scoresheet doesn't mean that you didn't play your hardest."

Indiana shrugged, "Thanks, guys."

Both Adam and Charlie exchanged a look before turning their attention to the girl who was slumped back in her stall.

Adam walked over to the girl, kneeling down in front of her, "You alright?" She looked back at him, the vulnerability showing in her eyes.

"I'm fine. Thanks, Adam," said the girl, who slowly began taking her equipment off.

"Take your time," continued Adam. "We'll wait for you and walk you to your room." Indiana smiled, hoping that the anger that Adam had once expressed towards her had subsided. At this moment, none of Adam's frustration mattered. She was just happy that he was speaking to her again, and he was just hoping she was alright.