Chapter Twelve: Reckless Endangerment

Marcus's POV

" Get your head in the game, Marcus! Run it again!"

I took a deep breath and then pushed off again on the ice, Peter flanking my left while Damian and the rest of the team brought up the rear. I shuffle the puck and maneuver around the set cones and then slam it in the direction of the goalie, Shane, who easily blocks it and slides the puck to the side.

Shane then slides up to me as Peter comes up beside me, a look of deep concern on his face.

"Are you okay, bro?" Shane asks as he taps my helmet, a wry grin on his freckled face. Peter is watching me silently as I chuck off the helmet and swipe my gloved hand over my soaked forehead.

"I'm fine. I just haven't settled in yet. Let's run it again." I move to take my position back at the marked line when Damian almost slams into me, stopping just short enough to wave shaved ice onto my skis.

"He's distracted," Damian remarks as his glaring eyes dare me to say otherwise.

"Chill, Damian. I said I'm fine. Let's get back into formation, guys," I chuck back on my helmet, but Damian shifts himself right in front of me, preventing my advancement.

I watched as my brother yanked off his helmet and tossed his hockey stick and gloves on the ground beside it. His face was almost beet red with rage as he closed the distance between us. His right arm was angled back with a clenched fist at the end of it as he came closer. I didn't break eye contact as the seconds ticked by, Damian's clenched fist now aimed perfectly towards my face. A blur in front of me is followed by the resounding sound of Damian's fist connecting with something.

Streams of blood splattered on the ground as Peter fell onto me clutching his nose. Damian's face was a mask of horror and then guilt as Peter and I crumpled to the ground together.

"God dammit to hell! I did not skip lunch to watch you boys fight like little girls on a playground! Get the medic in here now!"

The sound of the door slamming behind the coach's retreating figure had everyone looking down at Peter and me as Damian crouched beside us looking solemn.

"Damn Pete, that was some good speed you pushed to reach between us so quick," Damian said softly as Peter playfully punched him in the shoulder while he cradled his bleeding nose.

"Yeah, well, my nose was already a bit crooked from being broken before. How the hell could you mess up Marcus's too? You know that's the only thing he has going for him, D," Peter chuckled and then groaned as more blood ran down his face and neck.

The female medic came barreling over the ice and Peter began his 'I'm fine, but if you kiss it better I won't say no' banter. The young woman merely shot him a semi-serious look before helping him to his feet and then walking him off the ice. The rest of the team members hung back as if trying to gauge if Damian was going to try and swing at me again.

"You guys can take a break. Damian is fine. We're both fine," I say, and the guys look us over for a few more seconds before moving away to the bench to hydrate.

Damian and I remained where we were for a few solid minutes before he sighed heavily and pushed to his feet. He then glared at me for a second before offering a hand to help me up. I clasped his hand tightly as he pulled me up and then watched him as he gathered both of our equipment and moved towards the opposite side of the rink. I followed him silently and waited for him to break the silence first.

"You're letting Donovan get in your head. I told you not to go down that road, Marcus. You're both equally stubborn. It won't end well," Damian drank some Gatorade and then watched me before offering the bottle.

Taking the bottle, I took a generous sip before offering up my most practiced 'I have no idea what you're talking about' expression.

"I will smack that look off your pretty face, Marc, so help me God." Damian returned his bottle to his duffle bag and then took out a towel to wipe the sweat dripping from his face.

I watched as his expression changed from anger to guilt to confusion until his features went blank as he turned to me again.

"I saw her at the lake. The Donovan girl," he said, watching my face for a reaction.

"I know you did. We all did at the party." I watched as his eyes swam with something I couldn't quite place and then disappeared again. He shook his head.

"I mean I saw her there again. Yesterday. She was there to draw or something. I spoke to her for a bit. I think...I may have said something to upset her." Damian's face was now etched with guilt as he bent his head and shut his eyes tight.

"What did you say to her?"

"I told her to stay away from you. That you didn't need any distractions with the regional game coming up. And then I..." he paused, taking a few breaths before looking over at me again. "I blamed her, for....you know. And I know I shouldn't have but it just slipped out. I was there and everything about mom just came crashing back and I.....God. I f****d up. But she didn't take it lightly." Damian's face lit up slightly with a shift of a grin as his eyes twinkled a bit. " She's got a mouth on her, that one. She told me off and then stomped off like a raging bull. I can see why you're attracted to her."

I let out a relieved sigh when I finally realized that Damian seemed to be softening to the idea of Anna being something to him but at the same time, I could see the struggle my brother was trying to tap down from within. I moved over and swung my arm around his shoulders, pulling him in close for a bear hug.

"Dude, stop this right now. I will kick you in the nuts and not feel sorry for you," Damian warned just as the sound of the locker room door slammed in the distance.

"Hey! I want in on some of that!" Peter's voice carried over the distance of the rink and before either of us could discourage him, his lean body was wedged between us while his hands were slapping us on the back. " I knew you two would make up. But somebody needs to buy me a beer because I'm hurt and the pretty medic shot me down for morphine."

Disentangling myself from the mess of bodies, I watched as Damian tapered down on what was threatening to burst forth before, as he offered to buy our youngest brother an unlimited amount of cheeseburgers and fries if he switched the beer for milkshakes.

I hung back a few steps as they walked shoulder to shoulder towards the exit, shifting my hockey stick in my right hand and dropping the puck at my feet. I eyed the open net of the goal and swung hard, netting the puck with ease. A grin pulling across my face as it burned through the mesh and crashed into the panel behind it.

Still got it.