The championship was over. For the first time in ten years the South Bend University Bull Dogs were champions. The celebration had been massive; the feeling euphoric, but that was three days ago. It was over, now.

Danny sat on a rock high above the rushing creek deep in the woods behind the South Bend University campus. It was where he always came to be alone. Tears welled in his eyes and he swallowed hard as he looked down at the two slips of paper he was clutching in his hand. He had been dreading the pink one for weeks, but he had not expected the blue one to accompany it.

“Hey,” the soft voice broke into his thoughts and he looked up, brushing at the tears that began to trickle slowly down his face.

“Hey,” he responded dismally.

“You got it?” Ryan asked.

Danny nodded miserably as his brother sat quietly down beside him. “He summoned Kevin too,” he choked, becoming fixated on the blue paper once more. Ryan was silent for a moment as he regarded his little brother, then he sighed.

“It’s not Kevin,” he said finally, “it’s me.”

“What?” Danny looked quickly at him, and Ryan shrugged, looking away as tears filled his eyes too.

“I guess Steve figures since he can’t perform both roles at once, you’re the next best option,” Ryan bit his lip, and Danny hung his head, not really sure what to say. “I’m sure he won’t really make you do it,” Ryan’s voice cracked.

“Do you want me to?” Danny asked softly, looking at his brother once more. Ryan swallowed, as he finally met his little brother’s eyes.

“I guess, I’d rather have you than anybody else,” he choked, and Danny hugged him. “I don’t think it’s going to be my call, though,” he continued, holding tightly to Danny. “I think the blue slip he sent you was more of a formality, for appearance’s sake, to keep from giving that rat, Mcarthy, any excuse to pry. On the low down, he told me he was going to try and have Matt there to ‘make things easier on all of us.’”

Danny tightened his arms. “Are you ok with that?” he asked softly.

Ryan swallowed. “I guess so,” he whispered. “It’s not as if anything is going to make this a pleasant experience, but Matt might be able to take some of the pressure off Steve at least, and off you.” The last of Ryan’s words caught in his throat, his brave front collapsed, and Danny held tighter, feeling sick as his brother pressed his face against his shoulder. “Sean was with me when I checked my mail this morning,” Ryan sobbed after a minute. “I’m pretty sure he saw the slips.”

“Oh, Jesus!” Danny clutched at him as he too began to sob. Words were no longer possible or necessary, now. The two brothers just held one another and cried.