The hoop was made out of rusted steel. It didn't even belong up there, but there it was, affixed to the side of the hospital. Doc was testing the strength of the "ball" a hand sewn thing made of strips of heavy duty Trokk leather. The bladder inside had been ... acquired ... from an old standard manual resuscitator unit. It seemed to hold the air inside rather well once repaired with stitching and grease. It wouldn't have worked for pushing air into a patient's reluctant lungs, but for just holding air... it did well. Doc tightened the lace that closed the leather of the 'ball' over the air bladder and did a practice bounce or two.
Good day for Erin. No druggies had shown up so far to try and kiss her, or blow the place up. Happiness is relative. It was almost pleasant outside. that's where Doc had the hoop and ball. Next to Andy's precious ambulance bays. It was the only place where there was wall and blacktop together still. The only decent place for a court. And now, time for a lunch break. Question: sit in the cafe and eat soup. Or...head outside and see what was going on. Hmm....
Bounce, bounce, bounce... Doc smiled, took up a stance and tossed the ball. He needed some exercise and this seemed like a good idea. He'd seen an old vid or two of basketball games in Elliott's database. Maybe he could get a team going...
The weather looked pretty nice from her vantage in the lobby. The air that made it's way in the doors when they opened was almost warm. That decided it. She was going out. She looked down, eyed the pager-type device clipped to her pocket. Bit on her lip, thinking.
As she was doing that, an orderly sauntered past. "Hey Erin, ought to go around to the bays. Doc's doin' somethin' out there. Dunno what, but it looks like fun." And then the orderly kept going.
"Huh?" That was Erin's contribution the conversation.
Five years or so ago, before he left to Journeyman duties, the hospital staff had several sporting events they worked through -- but no one around now seemed to participate. Time to get them all off their complacent rear ends. Bounce, bounce, bounce ... another shot ... off the rim. "Damn."
"You'd think a doctor would have better hand eye coordination." Teagen was allowed to tease him if she wanted, and she wanted.
Well, there was an idea then. She's promised Nate she'd page him if she was going out, so he or someone could go with her. But, if she was just near the bays, that was safe enough. Right? And Doc was there... He laughed. "You'd think so, wouldn't you?" He eyed her on the sidelines. He tossed again and the ball bounced in such a way that it went back over his head. "Dammit all," he muttered, but he was smiling. It worked after all. He headed after the ball as it rolled toward the old parking lot... a field of broken, black and reddish brown. Once upon a time, cars that weren't wrecks of rust and bent metal and broken glass parked here, rather than rotted here under the twin suns. Once long ago, people came from as far away as Seatonn by the coast and Calgardd in the mountains ... even from K-land and across the seas to be treated by the doctors here at NRMH.
No need to bother Nate. Or Jimmy then. She headed back through the building towards the ambulance bays.
Course...she *wanted* to see Nate. She always wanted to see him. But he had work. So did she.
The sidelines was where she was going to stay...basically for the rest of her life and she knew it. Lately, the concept didn't seem to bother her all that much anymore. "Course, there could be some trick to it that you don't know about yet."
"They say," Doc smiled at her as he retrieved the ball and walked over for a kiss and a sip of his allotment of water kept in a sealed bottle. "That it's all in the wrist." Bounce, bounce, bounce again went the ball.
Through the bays, past Asche's ambulance, to where the fresh air -- the term 'fresh' was relative too -- and light beckoned. She heard the oddest thumping noise...
"Well, you have agile wrists. And a rather attractive butt, if that's any help."
"For my hook shot? Maybe. Maybe not." Doc laughed. He was feeling much better about his visits to Castlemann. The guy was all right.
Erin peered out the doors, then stepped out. "Hey."
Doc caught up the ball under his arm and waved with his other hand. "Hey Erin!"
Erin offered a grin to Doc and Teags. "What are you doing?"
"I'm watching, I'm not sure what Doc is doing besides giving me some great views of his backside." A grin was sent Erin's way. She only had ten minutes before she had to head up to the 'torture' chamber also know as physical therapy His backside was facing Tea and he wiggled for her. She gave a dramatic sigh, a hand waving under her chin as if she were overheating.
She sauntered over towards him, then laughed at Teags. "Got a great view."
Doc made an "I'm ignoring you both" bounce-bounce of the ball. "It's called basketball. The idea," he looked back over his shoulder then to look at her, "is to get some exercise by putting the ball through the metal hoop up there."
Some ball thing, some hoop thing...she raised a brow, then grinned. "Is it at all like baseball? Erikk was going on and on about that for a while."
Doc shook his head. "There's a ball, and that's where the similarity ends. Baseball is about hitting a small ball with a stick, see. This is putting a big ball in a hoop... " He gave her an authoritative bob of his head� "Very different."
"Well, it's not as good as the one I get when he walks out of the shower ahead of me but it'll sure do for now." Oh, she so didn't want to go to therapy.
"Gimme," she said simply. "Hey Teags, you could play this. Shoot from the chair I bet."
A carrot colored brow lifted. "Oh right, put me at a major disadvantage right from the start. I'll stick with golf, thank you. Hitting little balls into little cups."
"We could all sit in chairs... " Doc spun with the 'I've an idea' look on his face.
"It would Even the competition." Erin was waggling her fingers like an impatient kid. Gimme da ball, gimme.
Tea held up a hand. "Save it for later, Doc. I've got to go upstairs and let Jeanette torture me for an hour or so."
Doc pouted, but vaguely and only momentarily. He tossed the ball to Erin. "There's this little game we can play called one on one, if you're up for it... "
"Make her let you sit in the hot tub after, Teags." Erin smiled, then tried, experimentally after she'd caught the ball, to dribble the ball like Doc had done.
He sauntered over to Tea. "Ya haveta go already?"
"Catch ya later, Erin. Try not to trounce him too soundly." She barked out a laugh. "The whirlpool is out of order at the moment." Her blues turned to watch that saunter. "Yeah, I have to go already."
"Okay." She turned towards the hoop and threw the ball up towards it. Swish. "Well,this could be fun..." Doc bent down to kiss Tea softly on the lips, hold her eyes for a bit before she left. "Ah could roll ya up there..." he offered.
"Go play, love. Have some fun." Her fingers brushed along his cheek. "Come pick me up in about and hour and a half and you can help me shower." She figured he might need one as well after his play.
"Ah like that idea," he grinned and grasped her fingertips to kiss them, then let her go.
And off she rolled with a wave to Erin. Therapy would be easier to bear today just because she knew he'd be there to pick her up afterwards.
==
Macy'd resumed her projects at the hospital at last. She'd spent a couple weeks as a patient since the explosion and then some more time back at the Garrison under 'restricted activity'. She'd chaffed against being kept from her usual whirlwind of activity, but couldn't argue with the complications to the concussion when she pushed past her limits -- several times.
Having to slow down because of lightheadedness or dizzy spells wasn't Macy's way to deal with things. She just kept going .. until she'd felt nauseous and fainted. How embarrassing! She'd never been delicate .. even when she was pregnant with Riane. But by now she'd learned to pace herself ... mostly .. and was getting sick of it. She decided to take a nice leisurely stroll outside, since it was so nice. No one should complain if she took it easy.
She was reminded of her walk with Jake as she moved around the block that they'd circled all afternoon. She figured she knew every crack and pothole on the block.
Erin waved after Teags as she scooped up the ball again. Bounce, bounce, clang. This time she missed, and the ball headed towards the parking lot. "Oops!"
The ball rolled right toward Macy and she darted over to head it off as it bounced across the parking lot.
"Thank you!" Erin called out, laughing, and looking embarrassed.
"Erin!" Macy flashed a grin to the girl and tossed the ball back to her. She'd seen Erin often. Both when they were both working at the hospital and also when Macy was a patient.
Doc watched Tea go, took a breath and turned around just as Macy tossed the ball back. "Hey Macy," Doc called.
Erin, despite being an occasional klutz, caught it neatly and threw it towards the hoop. Swish! "Ta dah!" Triumph! She did a little dance. "How are ya Macy?" Still doing the victory dance like a goof.
"Hiya Doc!" Macy waved, pausing to watch Erin's dance. "Much better, thanks." She added to Erin.
"Ya know... we gotta get a proper net for that thing." He scooped up the ball, bounced and aimed this time getting a little lift from the balls of his feet.
It hit and rolled round the rim and dropped to the ground without going through. "Well da... " two gals now. Dad always said watch the language. "Dang."
Macy chuckled at Doc's caution, "Can't be worse than the language ya hear growin' up around the garrison." She moved closer to watch the action on the court. "You go girl!" Mace flashed an encouraging grin at Erin.
"Maybe you should play on my side," Doc told Macy. "Might have an even game!"
"I like this game!" Erin announced with a laugh to Macy. Then she surveyed Doc's efforts. "Spose the lack of...net� is the problem?"
Adriann strolled out of the bay then, rubbing his eyes. He'd been up through the wee hours - becoming part of the Union a man had to take what shifts they gave him. He stood there, looking adorably rumpled and watching the people making so much noise outside his 'bedroom' doors.
"Morning Adriann!" Loudly. Erin just seemed...so damned happy. Being a scientist, he took in the concept of the game rather quickly.
"Mornin' Shorty." Doc laughed at that. And defended himself. "Yes, it's the net. Ah mean the net not being there. Ah mean... " He groaned.
"It's a good thing Andy's up already," 'Riann quipped, grinning.
"Aw, did we wake you?" Adriann scowled at Doc. "I'd kick your ass for that if you weren't bigger'n me."
Erin sauntered over to Doc and patted his shoulder sympathetically. Then tried to steal the ball.
"I'll lend a hand, Doc. Just a few shots."
Adriann darted out onto the court, rumpled, in only sweats and nothing else... no shirt, no socks, no shoes... "Okay Erin, you and me against the Bully and the Blonde." He was blonde too, of course... He'd tell Macy later that it only really counted as a game because two blondes were playing against one another.
"We'll have to start all over." Doc grinned. That way, maybe he'd get a shot or two in.
Erin grabbed at the ball, and started dribbling. "Fair enough. What, we just take turns? Steal it from each other?" Stealing, that she could do too!
"Bring it on, Erin!" Macy grinned and shadowed the girl closely.
No rules, but the game was starting anyway, and Erin loved it. Of course, trying to dribble AND stay away from Macy wasn't easy. She looked about for 'Riann. 'Riann was "sneaking" his way around in front of Doc.
"Pass it here, Erin!" He jumped up in front of Hollidayy waving his arms wildly.
"Hey now!"
Macy's long legs gave her a bit of an advantage, but Erin could dart in an evasive zig zag that kept the ball just out of reach. "Get 'er Macy!"
It wasn't a perfect pass, by any means. Erin more hurled the ball at Adriann. "Here! Take it, take it!" There was a Shadow watching Macy. A new one, assigned after the warehouse blew up post wedding. Lt. Dylan Zane was on his way to the hospital-- he knew just where to find Macy and had not let her out of his sight since the warehouse explosion. She never should have been near it. If it hadn't been for her daughter � Riane.
===
Riane was 'back to work' ... or at least, considering it. She'd gotten herself to the Garrison. She knew that Lucas was 'at work' too. Probably up on a rooftop again, this time not to shoot someone, -- Riane knew about that -- but to watch. Especially since the warehouse explosion there had been a greater Legion effort to keep an eye on some of the Cultists around...
Riane went quietly through the Garrison's motor pool, checking on projects she'd left undone. Everything was exactly as she'd left it before the wedding.
Lucas was going to be relieved in...what...two hours now. Riane could imagine it. He would head back to the Garrison, make his report. Shower. Change into something nicer, something 'off duty' . Then he would find Riane, where ever she was. He was good at that.
He was, gods help him, going to try and make dinner for her. Or find Erikk and bribe him into cooking. It wasn't hard to do.
Riane had two hours to work on something. Light work she figured. Nothing too greasy. Then for her 'dinner date' she too would shower and change. It was weird. Exciting, but weird, all the same.
Lt. Zane walked through the motor pool. "Riane!" He was surprised to see her. Always when he *wasn't* looking, there she was. When he was... disaster. Like the explosion and Macy's resulting hospitalization. He found the faintest bit of resentment inside him when he saw Riane. She was the reason Macy got hurt� they'd been out looking for her when it happened.
"How's it going kiddo?" Zane asked Riane.
Riane told Zane she was fine. "You looking for mom?"
"Yeah," he said, though he wasn't, he knew where she was. He also knew Ri wasn't precisely 'fine.'
"She's at the hospital."
"That's where I'm going then." He started off and then turned a bit. "Ya know, Rye... "
"Yeah, Lt.?"
"Skits has a good head on his shoulders."
"Oh," she smiled, glanced down. "I know. I won't ditch 'im again."
"Promise?" If she did, Skits was going to wind up elsewhere� north, south, anywhere but near Gideonn's daughter. Zane knew that. He knew too that he was no longer solely in charge of Macy's Shadowing. He wondered who would replace him and if they were planning on sending him away.
"Yeah." Riane said. "I promise."
"See ya later."
Riane watched Zane leave and got to work. No, she wouldn't ditch her Shadows again. She talked to Skits sometimes. He was real nice an' all, but he wasn't Lucas. Skits was a Shadow and he had to stay a shadow. She'd heard Dad in his head... Zane had been a good shadow too. She smiled. Too bad, she thought. Riane's chat with Zane left her thinking as she tinkered.
==
Macy grabbed for the ball as Erin tossed it, "Damn!" G1 & G2 had decided she needed extra watching because they were aware that her present Shadow Lt. Dylan Zane, wasn't doing the job he was supposed to do. Too involved. It happened. Therefore, eyes that would not be noticed watched Macy play basketball from a safe place ...
"C'mon Doc, don't let 'im get away!"
Adriann caught the ball, pivoted as Doc's surgeon's hands were trying to snatch it away. He was smaller, his hands proportionately so, but he was all over that leather ball.
Erin threw a grin over her shoulder at Macy. "Next time, boys against girls!" A breathless laugh.
"Then Blondes against all others!" He ducked under Doc's arm and fired a shot for the basket. "Didn't even touch the ring!"
Doc was facing out from the hoop. "Where'd he go?"
Erin cheered wildly, and danced over to Adriann for a high five. She wasn't getting lunch today, that much was certain. It'd be hard enough to remember to go back to work.
Adriann was laughing and sweat glistened on his skin. "This is a fantastic game, Doc."
"Oh yeah... fantastic." Doc had the ball now and bounced it twice, then dribbled it forward trying to dodge both Erin and 'Riann who were between him and Macy.
Mace sidestepped, keeping pace with Erin and watching Doc with the ball. "Over here, Doc!" She dodged ahead of Erin, clear for a brief moment.
Erin was going backwards, trying to keep in front of Doc, waving her arms. "Just give it over, might as well, c'mon Doc..." Teasing. And then Macy was in front of her. "Ack!" Yes, she actually said 'Ack.'
"Ain't gonna!" He told Erin, smiling at her, one arm stretched out to keep her from the bouncing ball. Then he took a step back and passed the ball to Macy. 'Riann was heading for the 'basket'.
Erin, still backpeddling, nearly ended up on her rear. "Stop him, 'Riann, stop him!"
Macy snagged the ball and, heading for the basket, found 'Riann there first. She dodged aside trying to get a clear shot.
Erin hung back, just in case Riann actually did get the ball. She found she was laughing just as much as she was yelling. She jumped, taking a shot and laughing as she collided with "Riann in the process. The ball rolled around and around on the rim for several agonizing seconds that felt much longer and fell in!
Erin cheered wildly, again. Then remembered they were the enemy. "Oh wait. Boooo!"
'Riann, more aware of Macy's collision with him than the ball at that moment, sought to capture a hold so that neither of them would fall. This of course is 'Riann's luck we're talking about here... They landed on the blacktop. 'Riann was laughing.
The bump threw her off balance and she went down on the landing, pulling Riann down with her as he grabbed her arm to help her. Her other arm went out and down to break the fall, then she sorta sloppily rolled with it, also laughiing.
"You okay?" He asked, breathless with laughter, having as good a time as he had maybe ever had - outside spending private time with Andy.
That did it for Erin. She ended up on her rear, just from laughing. "This is the best game...I swear..."
Doc ran into scoop up the ball and bounced it away from the hoop. "What's the score?"
"Yeah, just a sec.." Mace panted, letting her equilibrium return and then clambering back up. "We're keeping score?" Bounce, bounce, bounce.
"We're winning." Erin Lied. She got to her feet and dusted herself off.
"It's tied .. nice try." Another grin went from Macy to Erin.
Erin chuckled, then went after Doc. "Tied. Ohhh, now I remember!"
"Ut oh!" Doc backed up, bounce, bounce, bounce, runbounce! "Macy!" Big baby. "Tied 2-2," Doc said, trying to get away from Erin as Macy flanked her. She tried to some distance so Doc could pass the ball to her if he wanted. "We'll go to 15, agreed?"
"Agreed!" The others called.
"Give, give, give!" Erin demanded, coming after him yet. Hang on, that sounded like what Erin said to...ahem, nevermind. She made a grab for the ball.
"Lookout Doc!" Mace darted after Erin.
Doc bounced and got closer to the basket. Adriann got in his face and Doc said, "C'mon Genes, you ain't got nothing over Biology."
Erin was wondering if it was against the rules to tackle someone. Doc had gotten past her, and now she was chasing after, looking for her chance.
Doc moved to shoot, Adriann jumped, snagged, landed with the ball and turned to pass it to Erin at which point Macy 'accidentally' bumped Riann.
"Oops!"
"Hey!" The ball bounced away and Holidayy crowed. And ran after it.
"Biology is nothing with out the building blocks!" Adriann yelled, laughing.
Dylan Zane arrived at the hospital just as a crowd of spectators was beginning to form. Off duty nurses, orderlies, etc. Even a few patients. The game moved along, point after point was exchanged and the participants were laughing, sweating and developing a relationship with the crowd that formed around them.
"GET HIM Erin!" Adriann yelled as Doc shot off with the ball for the hoop. "It's game point!"
Erin charged after Doc like a shot. He was between her and the ball so she just...leaped at him.
Macy turned an angelic look toward Riann ... and then darted after Doc and Erin.
With some warlike cry, which was a bit funny considering her size and voice. More like a warlike screech?
Or was that a warlike squeak?
Doc's eyes went wide. Applause broke out among the observers.
"Doc!" Macy waved frantically. He threw the ball with wild abandon as Erin leaped his way. Zane made his way through the crowd, bemused. Then heard, "GO Macy!" And hurried a bit faster to the front of the watching group.
Erin plowed right into Doc, seconds after the ball left his fingers. She'd tried to put on the brakes, really!
Mace grabbed the ball -- as it flew right at her in self defense and then she realized, 'hey I got the ball' -- So she raced to the basket again.
Doc caught Erin, but didn't fall, only his arms went round her. Giving Estelle - in the audience - fuel for her fire, though Doc had as much as threatened her life if she continued rumor-mongering.
'Riann tried to circle around, to stop Macy, but he just wasn't fast enough. "No!" He laughed. "We're supposed to win!"
"Sorry, sorry..." Erin was laughing again. Good thing she wasn't a big person. She grinned up at Doc, then turned to see what was happening. "Adriann! Don't let her! Ahhh!"
Macy launched herself up - helpful to have those long legs now - and sent the ball through the hoop.
"No!" 'Riann cried and fell to his knees, all very dramatically. Doc held Erin back and then whooped and spun her in a circle as Macy won for them. But 'Riann was laughing and looked up at the crowd to spy Asche among them her look faintly disapproving, yet full of the love he expected to see there for him. He was as happy they'd lost as won. Playing the game had been the thing.
Erin shrieked as she was spun around, hanging onto Doc for dear life. "Aww man! This can't be happening! I'm a bad loser!" Still, she'd loved this. Absolutely loved it.
Zane found himself applauding as wildly as the others, even whistling loudly between two fingers for Macy.
Doc put Erin down and said, "Ah should be spinning Macy!" And ran over to her to do just that.
Erin kept spinning, then stopped, holding her head. "No one wants a loser." A fake pout was directed at a few members of the audience. Laughter and applause and a few shouted suggestions of what should be done with the cute loser were sent her way. Somewhere in there she noticed Joey's voice for certain.
Macy landed on her feet and whooped, jumping up and down.
Doc caught Macy up and twirled her around. He was strong for a surgeon...
Macy whooped again, grinning at Doc, hanging onto his arms for dear life.
"Gonna come over there and smack you, Joey." Erin grinned though.
"Oh yeah baby!" Joey shouted. The crowd began breaking up.
Erin headed back to where Doc and Macy were celebrating, and where Adriann was looking up into the crowd. With a pretend somber look, she offered to shake Adriann's hand. "Next time. We will avenge ourselves."
'Riann got to his feet, shaking Erin's hand. "You bet we will Shorty," he winked.
"Ohhh," Macy groaned, after a few spins and her face paled.
"Doc, doc what are ya doing?" Zane came forward at a fast clip, looking horrified.
Doc slowed down. "Wha'?"
Macy's eyes closed and her grip on his arms began to slip. "Doc, stop.."
He blinked. "Oh! Sorry Mace! Geez... Ah forgot! Can't be good for a recently concussed patient." He stopped immediately and Zane made sure he was right there.
Erin turned a concerned gaze towards Macy. "We okay?" Nurse talk. Everything is 'we.' At which point 'Riann was given a towel and, cough, cough, led away by Asche.
"S'okay." She was just glad he'd stopped spinning her. Now if only the rest of the world stopped tilting
Doc didn't let go though Zane was there until he was sure she was okay. "Good game. Good game. H'bout we play again tomorrow?" Doc was into setting up a tourney even... playoffs, yeah... maybe get the Legion into the idea.. who knew? He was happy with his hoop and ball.
Slowly everything returned to normal. "I'm fine ... Oooo that was a fun ride .." She grinned at Doc.
"I'll play." She reached over, thumped Doc on the back, and smiled at Macy. Erikk was gonna be soooo jealous, she was thinking. She'd gotten to play, he hadn't. Would Nate play, she wondered.
He clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "Excellent! Two yes' Maybe Ah can get Castlemann out here.. he's freakishly tall."
"Me too ... Maybe we should have a girls team or something .." Macy winked at Erin.
"A girl's team. I like that idea." "Ah like that idea too," Doc's eyebrows bobbed. As the crowd dispered Doc was making up lists in his head already. He gathered up the ball and saunterd inside. It was almost time already to go get Tea from PT. "Thanks for playing!" He called and disappeared into the bays.
Erin was thinking of a few people she could invite as she too started to head slowly inside. "I need a shower," she laughed.
Macy looked at Zane as he supported her and grinned. "Maybe you'd like to ... play too .." She waggled her brows invitingly.
"Now that sounds like a great game," Zane told her and looped an arm around her shoulders as they wandered off the 'court.'
