Title: Being a friend
Author: Elamae
Fandom: Mighty Ducks (Movies)
Pairing: Charlie/Adam
Rating: R - for pre-slash
Series: Discoveries Series Part 2.
Summary: Charlie's thought on his friend during the events of part one. 
Disclaimer: Mighty Ducks do not belong to me, Disney own them all. This story has nothing to do with Disney and the author intends no infringement of copyright.



Being a friend
by Elamae.
Charlie's POV.


I think Adam finds this as boring as I do.

If his glazed expression is anything to go by. I glance over at him again and this time I catch him looking at me. I shoot him a smile, one that he returns, before turning back to something Jesse said particularly loud, near to my right ear. 

Don't get me wrong. I love spending time with the rest of the guys, but it's just I'm not interested in spending time talking about girls *non stop*. I'd rather spend time with Adam.

He and I started spending more time together last year after our championship game, but going to different schools makes it hard. I'd really like to get to know him better. I can't explain it, but I just like hanging out with him. 

Glancing over again I notice that he's turned a horrible shade of red and looks a bit distracted. I shoot him a worried look when he glances over at me, but he blanks me and suddenly scrambles to his feet, muttering 'sorry' under his breath. Nobody takes any notice of his departure, except Fulton, who's hand I think he treads on, on the way out. 

I get up myself, picking my way over Jesse, Luis and Dwayne who have sprawled out next to my bed and head out after him. The hall is empty but the door to the bathroom clicks shut so I know where he has gone. I want to make sure he's okay because he looked a bit fazed when he got up. As I open the door, I can see him bent over the sink splashing his face with water. 

"Hey Adam. Are you okay?"

He looks up and meets my eyes through the mirror. "I'm fine. Just got a little hot in there I think. Stuffy you know."

I grin. "Yeah, it can get a little 'ripe' in there, shall we say." I look at Adam as he bends down over the sink again and I ask, "Were you as bored in there as I was?" I'm curious. Everyone else had seemed so involved in the discussion, except Adam and I. 

"What do you mean?"

"Girls. I mean, they're nice and all that, Connie's great, but the way they were talking in there you'd think they were...I don't know...." I lean up against the wall and sigh. "God, I'm tired." I'm suddenly feeling very weary. 

He looks at me, head cocked. "Are *you* okay?"

"Yeah." I turn round and smile at him, "Just wiped that's all. Catches up with you after a while." It does. Playing hockey is a very exhausting game and it can take a lot out of you. Adam looks about as done in as I do, so I suggest taking Fulton and Portman's room. Being slightly older than the rest of us they managed to wangle a double room, when they ran out of dorm space with us. Adam hesitates for a moment, but agrees. 

Fulton and Portman don't mind and Adam and I collect a towel each and quickly make our way to where two comfy and quiet beds are waiting for us. I'm already wearing what I sleep in, boxers and a T-shirt so I throw myself face first onto the bed. Adam sits more sedately on the edge of the bed to shuck his sweat pants. I crawl and kick my way under the fresh smelling sheets and groan softly as my body relaxes. 

"Night, Adam." I say softly, wriggling around some more before eventually finding the right position. 

"Night, Charlie," is the last thing I hear before I sink into blissful oblivion. 


When I wake in the morning, the first thing I'm aware of is Adam, staring at me worriedly. I slowly detach my fingers from their death grip on the sheets and lower myself back onto the bed. 

"Are you okay?" he asks concerned. "You seem a little jumpy." 

"Yeah," I manage to croak out. "Just startled me that's all." I shake my head to try and clear it before turning back to Adam and flashing him my best grin. I so do not want to be thinking about what has just been going through my head. I'm not going there; not now. "What time is it?" I ask

When Adam says he's going to take a shower, I join him, thinking that it seems the best way to wake me up and clear out my head at the same time. I notice though that Adam seems a little nervous. I want to ask him about it, but something stops me and he seems better by the time we're heading down for breakfast. Connie and Julie meet us and they're both full of energy this morning. Adam and I sit back and let them at it. We got a good rest last night, but even then we're no match for two girls on a verbal high. The rest of the guys trundle down just as we're finishing and we grin at their half dead, half asleep appearance and leave them to it. 

On the way out of the canteen, I glance at Adam and find myself wondering what is going on in his head. He looks pensive again, like he has for a while now. Adam's always been a thinker, but I get the feeling there's more going on with him than any of us realise. Whatever it is though, I want to be there for him. Because I know he'd be there for me. If I trusted myself to tell anyone. 

I can't push him though; I won't, unless it really looks as though he needs me to. But when; if he needs me, or anyone to be there for him, I will be. 

Because I have a feeling that's where I'm supposed to be. 

The End.