The game and love

34

Things had gone a hell off alot better for Draco in the Second week of camp. Although the bulk of his time was just spent reading the playbook with Jim Zorn, the quarterbacks coach, he felt alot more capable when he did get the call to run the offense in camp. Coach Holmgren was still yelling at him, but he had alot more confidence to take the criticism in stride. "This is the pros." Zorn said seriously. "Physical abilities are great, but those alone don't really determine your success. You need some time with the recievers doing routes, before we have you run friday's offensive set." Draco was waiting for the call. He wanted to be told he'd play in the preseason after the #1 offense was done with their 15-20 plays. He hoped he could prove that being picked #1 in the draft meant he was the best player.

He was run down by the afternoon practice and even the Flexol didn't stop the fire in his throwing elbow and so he was sitting on the side line looking at plays allowing the trainers to work out the kinks in his elbow. He began to realize that his future here would be even more strenious on the feild and likely made even worse by his personal life. As he was considering this last thought, Darrell Jackson, one of the veteran wide recievers came over to talk to him.

"Hey, I just wanted to commend you on your work out here man." Jackson took Draco's hand in a firm grip. "Let me give you some advice though, see these?" The Veteran held up and flexed his fingers. Draco nodded. "These are important and when you throw the ball so hard it hurts them, and as you can see it hurts you're elbow too." Draco nodded again. "So, just watch the rocket balls ok?" DJack smiled. So did Draco. Darrell slapped his sore throwing shoulder and Draco winced as he watched this gifted athlete prep for his second pratice of the day. Draco took his words to heart, he definitely didn't want to hurt himself or others anymore. Again, he asked Jim Zorn to look at his mechanics as he made a few light throws when his arm felt better.

Training camp was nice and secluded but that often meant long drives for Harry or Him, depending on who was less busy. Draco had decided to start sleeping at the training facility so he could get an early start on work and he definitely felt Harry's absence imeadiately affect him. It was really the first time since they were 19 they had slept alone, or not been at eachother's side for comfort. His cell phone buzzed as his Roomate Cruz Corona came in to go to sleep. The big defensive tackle had a smile on his face and Draco answered his phone as Cruz started to say something.

Draco knew it was Harry, the caller ID was just a formality. "Hello there." Draco half sighed. "Hey." Said Harry, just as exhausted. "So how did you're day go?" Draco laughed, picturing Harry, tired with half-closed eyes and the whiney expression he got whenever he was drained. "It was ok, but I think I am gonna take a break, my voice is raw and sore. What about you?" Draco switched ears and Cruz sat down to empty his Jacket which revealed quite a large stash of junk food and a six pack of coke. Draco grined and gave Cruz the sign that he would keep it quiet. "Well, you have to do what you think is right there, I'll stand behind you...and slightly to the right, you know that." Draco smiled. Harry Laughed a bit off tone, he did sound a bit raw Draco acknoledged. "I have saturday's camp off, I'll probably come home for that." He told Harry evenly, the first Preseason game was monday and he'd know by saturday if he was going to play, so he'd either be happy or sad coming home, he just hoped Harry could lift his spirits if he needed, and in turn, he would be able to lift Harry's. "That's great." Harry said, mustering up the energy and Draco exchanged a few more pleasantries and they parted ways.


It wasn't easy, but this secrecy was something they'd both have to except and work through, it didn't mean they had to like it at all. Draco closed his phone and looked across the room at his partner in crime. "Looks like you got some good loot tonight, Brick." The 315 pound man smiled. "I always do, they can't catch me, I'm a 300 pound ninja." So both young men pawed through the loot and Draco picked up a coke and Cruz picked up some chips and a coke. They talked for awhile about lots of things from life at college to the camp and how things looked. They both never really slept well so they kept eachother company by playing cards or watching tv, or playing a game of Madden which 'The brick' as the called him always complained that the computer cheated, not recognizing his huge meathooks probably prevented him from using a controller correctly.

He never really imagined himself being really good friends of a defensive player, because they played on oppisite sides of the ball, all through highschool and college, he never really had a great friend on the defensive team. It seemed however that they were destined to be buddies and he didn't mind the fact that usually, if he was with an offensive player, they'd wanna talk about work and what they wanted to do tomorrow or something. Brick just wanted to take a break from that and Draco found that helped him relax more and clear his head on a bad day.

Seattle PI: August Training came is in full swing, what's it like being out there now, as a rookie?

Draco: Ummmm, it's a little stressful, like the first day of school and you're the new guy, worse yet, you're a Qauterback.

SPI: Does that hurt you?

DM: Pesonally? No, I think you have to take your lumps, I had to sing my school's fight song yesterday, but I don't mind a jest now and then *laughs*

SPI: Are you coming in looking to start right away at QB, what's it like knowing a veteran like Matt Hasselbeck is in front of you?

DM: I'm just coming in to do my job and learn the trade at the pro level. I think having a guy who's a proven winner just keeps the pressure of me for a while so I can absorb more, if I had to start right away, I might be more uptight.

SPI: Does your outlook come from coach Holmgren? What's it like to learn under him?

DM: I think my outlook is just that, mine, you have to come in ready to learn and grow and absorb quickly or you don't last long. The coach is amazing just in his way of saying exactly what he wants, he's trying to break my bad throwing technique right now, because I've been throwing my arm dead out there. So I'm a bit green as it we...Well...I mean...Seahawk green. *Smile*

SPI: Thank you for your time

DM: My pleasure.

As he headed for his car, his media session over, Draco couldn't wait to be home. Harry was all that was on his mind they hadn't seen eachother in a week. The longest they'd not seen eachother was when Harry went to see his mom and went through that horrid disaster. Harry and Draco now had a place near Qwest Field in Seattle, it was big, and Draco Imagined how lonely it must be for Harry there. It was late by the time he pulled his Red Corvette into the driveway and opened the garage, where he saw the best site he had seen in a while...his boyfriend. Harry stood stoic, but anyone with any ounce of sense could see the tension there. Draco had barely closed his door when he felt arms around his neck and a tired sigh into his shoulder. "Welcome home baby." Harry said into his shoulder. Draco kissed the tops of Harry's head and breathed in. "I've missed you love. But we shouldn't stay in here, it's not comfortable." Harry groaned. "Any place is fine if I'm in your arms."

They finnally parted from the hug and locked hands as they walked inside. They we half way to the kitchen the house phone rang. Draco almost didn't pick it up when he noticed it was his mother. He thought it odd that she'd call this late, but as he answered, he soon knew that this wasn't a call for chat. "Oh my God Drake, he's gone, he's gone, has he called you? Tell me!" Draco stood stunned, leaving Harry twice as worried as he as he realized there was something wrong. "Ok" Draco said simpily. He clicked the phone off and pounded the kitchen counter.

"What is it?" Harry asked more worried then ever, wondering what the hell was wrong. Draco turned to him after a few seconds of silence. "Get something packed, we have to go home." Harry was wide eyed now. "What's wrong Drake?" "It seems Tim has run away from home." And in a flash, they were both packed and on the quickest flight home to California. Draco was angry the whole flight, he was going to kill that kid when he found him. As the words when he found him washed over his mind once, dread about what might wait for him made his throat clench and he grabbed Harry's hand tighter than he had ever before.