Chapter 21: Vacation Plans
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"Physicals check out, blood work shows no performance enhancement drugs present. According to Olympic rules, you're on your way to the Winter Olympics!" Dee screamed in excitement. All the medical tests and paperwork were completed and all that was left to do was to finalize reservations.
Jordan smiled broadly at her coach, her enthusiasm reaching out as they enclosed each other in a congratulatory hug. "Does Aleksei know yet?" Jordan asked, her eyes glowing brightly.
"I would assume Whittaker's breaking the news to him also," Dee said, smiling as Jordan became more animated, her enthusiasm making her giddy.
The front door suddenly slammed open, Aleksei's muscular figure filling the doorway, the sun shining brightly behind him. "We're there!" he spoke softly, deeply, yet the strength behind his words spoke louder than if he had yelled them. Rushing toward Jordan, he scooped her up in his arms, spinning wildly in circles and they laughed and cried in joy and anticipation.
Whittaker gently hugged Dee, kissing her cheek softly and the two coaches smiled as they watched their athletes celebrate their good fortune.
Jordan was dizzy when Aleksei finally set her feet on the ground and held her firmly against him, hugging her to his broad chest as he kissed the top of her head. "We made it brat!" he celebrated, kissing her mouth quickly while she frowned at him for using the nickname he seemed to favor.
"We've still got the Russians to beat," Jordan reminded.
"No - they have to beat us!" Aleksei corrected.
Jordan smiled up into his dark eyes, laying a gentle hand against his cheek, enjoying the sensual roughness of his day-old beard against her palm. "I like the way you think," She answered, stretching upward as he lowered his head toward her awaiting mouth. Their brief kiss was gentle, full of love and understanding and hope and the belief that they would reach their goal. Aleksei's arms engulfed Jordan as he hugged her closer to him, feeling her heart beat against his chest, answering his heart as it called to hers and he knew without doubt that if hearts could beat as one, theirs most certainly did.
There was nothing that could stop them. He knew, as sure as he knew there was a God in heaven, that the United States would bring home Gold this Olympics. And he couldn't believe his good fortune, that this slip of a girl - no woman - was going to be there to share it with him.
Life couldn't get any better than this.
"We want to spend a weekend at the cottage. Call it a final break before the Olympics," Aleksei stated, his glance going from Whittaker to Dee, then to Jordan who nodded in agreement.
"We could use the down-time," Jordan urged, her soft smile conflicting with the tired shadows beneath her eyes.
Aleksei and Jordan had been spending fourteen to sixteen hours a day on the ice, rehearsing again and again until their programs played through their minds in their sleep. Without a doubt, they could use the break but Whittaker was concerned the time-off could work against them.
"You've found your rhythm, I hate to have you lose it. You don't have the time to start all over."
"We see our programs in our sleep, there's nothing to lose," Aleksei growled at his coach.
"It's only one weekend," Jordan suggested, looking to Dee for assistance.
"It probably wouldn't hurt to give them a small break," Dee offered, holding her hand up when Whittaker opened his mouth to disagree. "You can't say they aren't ready, Whittaker. They've busted their asses and I think they could use the down-time."
Whittaker frowned again, looking from Jordan to Aleksei, holding a conversation with himself as to the pros and cons of letting them off the ice for even a few days. Finally, he relented. "One weekend, but no skiing, no hiking, nothing that could physically put you at risk. You two have worked too hard to lose because you did something stupid!" He growled, pointedly looking at Aleksei.
"Agreed," Jordan and Aleksei answered in unison.
"Couldn't it be somewhere a bit closer, the cottage is a good two hour drive away," Whittaker complained anew.
"That's the idea. We want quiet time alone," Aleksei stated softly, sending Jordan a heated caress with his dark eyes.
Whittaker caught the meaningful look and frowned again, directing his glance toward Dee. "You need to save your strength, the Olympics are only nine weeks away. I want you both healthy and strong. Weak legs aren't going to get you Gold."
"Gordeeva and Grinkov didn't have problems with weak legs and I'm sure they managed to spend some quiet time alone," Aleksei argued.
"They were married!" Whittaker shot back, his heated glance reaching Jordan.
"So because we're not married, and if we spend time alone, all we're going to do is fool around? Nothing's going to happen that I don't want to happen," Jordan answered firmly, succinctly.
"What if someone came forward and made the accusation that the two of you are, ah...involved now?" Whittaker suggested.
"Why would anyone make such an accusation and even if they did, why would it matter? We're not allowed to have feelings for each other? It's not as if I'm under age. I'm old enough to be having an adult relationship if I choose to!" Jordan stated heatedly.
"Why did Nancy Kerrigan get her leg bashed? If someone wants to win, they'll find a way to see it happens. Stranger things have happened," Whittaker argued.
" You're being paranoid," Aleksei stated.
"I'm being cautious. I don't want you two risking anything."
"We're taking one weekend, alone, doing nothing but relaxing and relieving some of the stress that's built up. I really don't think there's much at risk," Aleksei reiterated.
Whittaker still didn't like the idea, couldn't shake the feeling of trouble ahead; unseen but a pulsing threat in his gut. "I don't like it, but I obviously have been out-voted. I want you back here January ninth, no delays, no arguments, no excuses."
"Great!" Jordan yelled excitedly, throwing herself against Aleksei's chest and smiling as his strong arms enfolded her.
"You have three more weeks to abuse us, Whittaker. Be happy!" Aleksei teased, kissing the top of Jordan's head and smiling broadly.
"You're right. And by the way, did I mention I volunteered the two of you for an AIDS benefit December twenty-first?" Whittaker questioned, raising one eyebrow in defiance when Aleksei scowled over Jordan's head.
"No, you failed to impart that little bit of information," Aleksei growled, "Couldn't you find another way to put us to work any closer to Christmas?"
"Don't worry, I'm still looking for something to keep you up to speed. We wouldn't want you getting lazy."
"We can try our exhibition piece at the benefit, see if the program needs any final tweaks," Jordan interrupted, sensing Aleksei's rising temper as his arms folded tighter around her.
"That's a good idea," Aleksei answered quietly, his voice dangerously deep, his glance growing fiercer as he looked at his coach.
"I still don't like the dismount," Whittaker began, only to be cut off by Aleksei's heated response.
"I don't give a flying leap what you like or don't like at this minute, Whittaker. Back off and leave us alone."
Aleksei released Jordan from his arms and gently urged her forward with one hand at the small of her back, guiding her around the desk and toward the door. Stopping briefly, he kissed Dee's cheek, speaking something into her ear that Whittaker was unable to hear, and leaving the two coaches behind in the office.
"What did he say?" Whittaker demanded as soon as the office door shut.
"You're on a 'need-to-know-basis, and right now, you don't need to know!" Dee answered smartly, and brushed past the stubborn man, soundly slamming the office door behind her.
"The whole world's gone fucking nuts!" Whittaker yelled to the ceiling, frustration making his voice a thunderous roar that rattled the steel framework which held the dropped ceiling.
Text Copyright © 2000 by Constance E. Moynihan
