Black Leather Jackets: College Bound

Final Bow

Toni's POV
We're ready to go out for the finals
The final game I'll ever coach
"And now for team USA's coaching staff," The announcer says
He announces all the guys
"And from Riverdale New York, former 2x global champion, wide receiver, now assistant coach Reginald Mantle,"
He walks out to the cheers
"And last but not least- 3x global champion and holder of 14 global records, from Riverdale, New York- head coach Toni Topaz,"
I walk out and wave and they start the game.
The first quarter goes great and we're winning by 3 touchdowns
The second quarter starts and is going well until a guy from the other team illegally hits Robbie and he goes down.
"STRIPES CALL THE FUCKING GAME," Reggie yells
I run in the field and kneel beside Robbie
"Toni I'm not feeling well,"
"It's okay Rob, you'll be fine,"
I stand up
"I need a stretcher right the hell now," I sneer at the ref
"I could do without the attitude,"
"I could do without my best running back with a spinal injury but you made that fucking happen,"
"Topaz calm down," the other coach says
"Tell your players to play the fucking game," I hiss "my best player is out and you keep throwing illegal hits. Learn how to play fucking football real fucking quick,"
"One more coach and I'll throw you out of my field,"
"It's my name on the program, this is my arena. Get me a stretcher now," I say
They call and I kneel back to Robbie
"Toni I'm scared,"
"It's alright rob, keep your head straight. You're out,"
"I know, I have a headache,"
"RJ call Cheryl," I say
"Why Cheryl,"
"She's a Doctor kid," I laugh "she knows more than me,"
"I could've told you that,"
I laugh and Cher gets down
"Hey rob, hey babe,"
"Hey I didn't want to diagnose him or anything," I say
"Rob move your toes," she says
No movement
She takes my pen and starts poking his legs
"Can you feel this,"
"Ya it's annoying,"
She laughs and nods at me
"You'll be okay Rob try to stay still okay? I'm going to grab a blanket,"
She stands up and turns her back to him
"His body is in a stimulated paralysis. So he's okay, his body is just protecting his spinal cord because of shock,"
I nod
"Ch-Cheryl, T-Toni," he stammers
"What's wrong Robbie?"
"My helmet is hurting my throat," he says
Cher nods and looks at me
"Rob are you okay with Toni holding your head still?" She asks
"Y-ya,"
She shows me how to stabilize his head and then unclips his helmet.
"3, 2, 1,"
The helmet slides off and I put his head on a blanket someone grabbed
"What the hell?" The medic asks "you can't touch his head,"
"He had an unstable airway,"
"Who the hell are you?"
"Doctor Cheryl Blossom,"
"We need parents permission for that,"
"Good thing both his parents are sitting right here," she snaps "he has stimulated paralysis but is conscious. You need a spinal X-ray and a ultrasound on his left hip. I would also like a brain scan as we need to go on a plane within a week and I want to make sure he doesn't have a brain bleed,"
"Is she always this bossy?"
I nod and Robbie laughs
"Toni I want to play,"
"You did good Robs, we'll win. You get better for next year,"
"We can 3-peat,"
"You can 3-peat, for sure,"
He smiles and they take him away.
"Control the game stripes, or I'm taking my team and leaving. You don't want to be the ref that made the favourites forfeit,"
"Is that a threat?"
"It's a promise,"
The Ref walks away and I go off the field.
"I'm going to go with Robbie okay? The little ones are with Lizzy and Liv,"
"All of them?"
"Ya,"
"Okay,"
She kisses me and then follows the stretcher
"Offence 2, Ridley for Topaz- go," I yell
They go on the field
"Ralphy throw Michigan 2,"
They rest of the game goes well and Robbie makes it out in a wheelchair to watch the final two plays.
"Topaz call your final play," Reggie says
"Ralphy, run OS- 4,"
"Coach we haven't practiced it,"
"It's fine,"
They run it and end up scoring.
"Ralphy call your own play,"
Ralph takes a knee giving Russia one last push.
I hold my breath as Trey tackles the boy with the ball and the whistle blows
We won
Reggie hugs me and I start crying
"Topaz we won,"
"You better three peat next time,"
He nods and goes to celebrate with the boys and I just sit in the grass.
"Toni what's wrong?" Robbie asks wheeling over
"Oh nothing Robbie, it's just amazing," I sigh
"Let's go celebrate," he says
I nod and wheel him to the celebration
After a few minutes I find Cheryl in the crowd with Mia and Lexi.
"Congratulations Baby," She says
I kiss her and then Lexi
"Thank you,"
"Mama you won again!" Lexi laughs
"We did babygirl," I laugh "do you want to stay with mommy or come with me?"
"Lexi and I wanted to get some pictures actually," Cher says
"Give me Mia then," I laugh "wheres Tony?"
"With RJ, Reggie, AJ, and LJ,"
"Party animal that one,"
She nods and I peck her lips
"Come find me in a bit,"
She nods and winks and goes to find photographers
Mia babbles and grabs my hair
"Hey baby, we won. Yes we did,"
"Toni can we ask you a few questions?"
"Ya for sure," I say
12 reporters circle me
"Care to comment on the state of the court case between you and your former teammate,"
"It was released in the States earlier that he paid me for pain and suffering plus med bills and lawyers fees,"
"And the rumours saying you were in the California area after Nationals,"
"I was there, with my family for a small vacation,"
"Any connection to your former Stanford coach stepping down after this season?"
"I plan to finish my career as a bulldog," I laugh "I don't want to relocate my family and Cher's business is out here so, we're staying here,"
"And How is Cheryl and the family?"
"They're all really good," I say "Tony Junior's 3rd birthday is today so we celebrated that, and Mia is now 2 months old so she's doing a lot better too. Lexi is starting school in a couple weeks so that will be good for her too,"
"We saw some emotions run high after your son Rob Topaz get hit, want to speak to that?"
"Football is changing. With concussions and spinal injuries- the United States is really a leader in the changing of the game. More strategy, less just pure hitting. It makes the game safer. But a play like that is stupid, it's dangerous, and has no place in our league. I would've done the same for any one of the boys on my team and if they made a play like that- they would be sitting on the bench for the rest of the game,"
They leave and I go find Cheryl.
They're still with the paparazzi so I take Mia and we take some pictures with Lexi and Cher.
"Mama!" Tony says running and grabbing my leg
He sees the cameras and hides behind me
"Sorry mama I did not see the camas,"
"It's okay baby," I say picking him up "come take pictures okay?"
"Really?"
"Of course baby boy,"
We take a few and rob comes over so we can all get some together.
"Happy birthday Tony," I say kissing his cheek
"Thank you Mama," he giggles "good job with your game,"
"Thank you Baby,"
I press my lips to his temple and hold them there.
"Babe let me take Mia and I'll give you guys a couple minutes Okay? Maybe you can talk about the thing?"
"Not on his birthday Cher,"
"He knows Tones, he doesn't want you to lie to him,"
I nod and give her Mia.
I walk with Tony to a quiet part of the stadium and sit him down in front of me.
"Hey big man, we need to have a talk Okay?"
"Okay? Why do you look sad mama,"
"Well baby, not right now but in a little while I am going to pass away,"
"Mommy says everyone passes away, like the birdies we saw," he says "but she say it's not for a long time,"
"Well sweetheart, I am really sick and my body isn't going to be able to keep up with me much longer,"
"Oh," he says sadly "so it's going to be like when you were asleep for a long long time?"
"I'm going to be gone buddy," I say "but Mommy's going to be here and Lexi and Robbie and Mia,"
"Mia doesn't know though,"
"You can help her though. Can you do that for mama? Make sure Mia knows I love her? And Lexi and you very very much,"
Tears fall down his cheeks and he looks at me
"Mommy knows?"
"Mommy knows sweetheart,"
"That's why Mommy's sad sometimes,"
"She didn't like keeping this from you Tony,"
"Is it ok if I say I'm going to miss you mama?"
"Of course baby," I say hugging him "I'm going to miss you too, very very much,"
"Mama I'm scared. It's like my nightmares,"
"I know baby, but I still have time Okay? I just want to talk to you about it, ya?"
He nods and I wipe his tears
"What do we say?" I ask "No tears TJ,"
"That's when the monsters win," he says
"Exactly, that's when they win,"