Chapter 74 The hard road

Chapter 74 The hard road
The waiting room felt like it was shrinking. My father and I sat in silence for another hour. He was busy on his phone, typing emails to his lawyers, and I was just staring at the wall.

Every time the heavy doors at the end of the hall swung open, I flinched, hoping to see a doctor with a smiling face.

Suddenly, Coach Reed walked in. He looked exhausted, his face grey under the bright lights. He walked straight toward us.

"Mr. Vance," Coach said, tipping his head. "I came to say how sorry I am about what happened tonight. Leo is the finest player I’ve ever coached. It... it shouldn't have gone like this."

My father didn't stand up. He just looked at Coach Reed with a cool, bored expression. "It was a dangerous game, Coach. My son plays for a team that you are supposed to protect. Clearly, you failed at that job tonight."

Coach Reed’s face went red, but he didn't fight back. "I understand. I take full responsibility. I’m just here to see if there’s any word."

Before anyone could say more, the double doors pushed open. A man in a blue surgical cap and a white coat walked out. He looked tired but relieved.

"Family of Leo Vance?" he asked.

I was on my feet before he could finish the sentence. "I’m his sister. This is my father."

The doctor gave us a polite smile. "Leo is through the surgery. It went well. We were able to fix the break, and the swelling in his head is going down faster than we expected. He is a very lucky young man."

I felt the air leave my lungs in a giant rush of relief. "Can he walk? Will he be able to play again?"

The doctor leaned against the counter. "He’s going to be just fine, but he needs to be realistic. The leg break was serious. He will be on crutches for at least three months. He cannot put weight on that leg for a long time. After that, he’ll need months of physical therapy. He won't be on the ice for the rest of this season, and probably not for the first half of the next one."

I felt a sting of tears in my eyes, but they were happy tears. He was going to be okay. "Can I see him?"

"He’s still groggy, but you can go in for a moment," the doctor said.

I looked at my father. "Are you coming?"

"No," he said, already pulling out his checkbook and walking toward the hospital billing office. "I have paperwork to handle. I need to make sure the hospital has the best equipment available for his recovery. Go on, Elena. I will be here when you are done."

I didn't argue. I turned and ran toward the recovery room.

Meanwhile, in the small, quiet lobby near the hospital entrance, the rest of the Vipers were huddled together. They were sitting on the floor, some with their heads in their hands.

They looked like a team that had lost their spirit.
Jaxson was sitting in the corner, staring at his bandaged hand. He was still wearing his game jersey, which was now stiff with dried blood.

He didn't look like the star rookie who had been flying across the ice two hours ago. He looked like a boy who had lost his home.

The elevator doors opened, and Coach Reed walked in. The team went silent. Everyone looked up at him, waiting for the answer.

"He’s awake," Coach said, his voice quiet.

A collective breath of relief went through the room. Some of the guys started to cheer, but Coach held up a hand to stop them.

"Listen up," Coach said, his voice turning serious. "Leo is going to be okay. But he’s going to be off the ice for a long time. He’s out for the rest of the season."

The room went dead silent. Everyone knew what that meant. Without Leo, the team was missing its heart.

"The league has decided," Coach continued. "Because of the severity of the injury, they have postponed the championship game. The match we played today is canceled, but we have to play it again next week. We have seven days to prepare. And we have to do it without our Captain."

Jaxson looked up. His eyes were hard. "We’ll play for him. We’ll win it for him."

"That’s the spirit, Miller," Coach said. "But we have a problem. We need a leader on the ice. The rules say we have to have a team captain for the championship. Since Leo is out, we have to hold a locker room vote tomorrow morning."

The guys started whispering. Everyone knew what this meant. It was going to be a battle between Jaxson and Julian.

"I want everyone to think about what Leo would want," Coach said, looking directly at Jaxson. "He wouldn't want a captain who is just good at hockey. He’d want someone who puts the team first. Tomorrow, we vote. Until then, go home, get some sleep, and try to get your heads back in the game."

Coach walked away, leaving the players in the quiet lobby.

Julian Vane stood up from his chair. He walked over to the center of the room. He had a smug, confident look on his face, as if he had already won.

"Well, boys," Julian said, his voice loud and clear. "It’s a tragedy about Leo. He was a good captain. But we have a game to win. And let's be honest. I’ve been doing half the work anyway. I know the plays, I know the scouts, and I know how to bring home a trophy."

He looked at Jaxson. "Maybe some of you think the 'Rookie' should lead. But Jaxson is a hothead. He almost started a fight in the ER tonight. Do you really want a guy who can't control his temper leading us into the biggest game of our lives?"

Some of the players looked down. They were tired. They were scared. Julian was making it sound so easy, so professional.

Jaxson stood up. He was taller than Julian, and even with his bandaged hand, he looked ready for a fight. He didn't yell. He didn't move toward Julian. He just looked him in the eye.

"Leo isn't just a name on a jersey," Jaxson said, his voice steady. "He was the guy who stayed late to help me practice my skating when I first got here. He was the guy who stood up for every single one of you when you made a mistake. If you want a leader who cares about the trophy, vote for Julian. If you want a leader who cares about this team, you know who to vote for."

Jaxson walked out of the lobby and out into the night air. He didn't wait to see who nodded or who turned away. He didn't wait to see if Julian laughed.

He just walked toward the hospital entrance. He didn't care about the vote. He didn't care about the championship anymore. He only cared about one thing: making sure Elena was okay.

The team was split. The locker room was a mess.

But as Jaxson stood under the moonlight outside the hospital, he realized that the vote tomorrow wasn't just about hockey.

It was about what kind of people they were going to be.
He took a deep breath, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and pushed open the doors to the hospital. He had to find Elena.

He had to know if she was still there. And he had to know if, after everything that had happened, there was still a chance for them.

The night was long, but it was just beginning. And in the silent hallways of the hospital, the real fight for the team's future had just started.