Post by NV Oracle on May 23, 2009 11:18:50 GMT -10
Hey, there, ladies. Well, here's the start of a new thread.
So, what sort of surprise did H have for his young friend? Let's see.
Please enjoy. Here we go.
*********************
Chapter 89
Horatio drove over to the Event’s Center, and parked.
Stevie looked completely confused. “What are we doing here, H?”
“You’ll see, Stevie.“ Horatio told the youngster. He got out of the driver’s seat, and closed the door, and locked it, then walked around to the passenger door, as Eric and Ryan pulled Stevie’s wheelchair out of the back of the Hummer.
Horatio unbuckled Stevie’s seatbelt, and picked him up. As he turned to put the youngster into his chair, though, another male voice called out.
“There you guys are. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to be able to make it.”
They looked up to see Ty Pennington, and Michael Maloney from the Home Makeover team approaching them.
“Hey, Ty, Michael. No, we just had an errand that needed to be run before we came over. We’re here, though. Where are the ladies?” Horatio asked.
Just then, the other Hummer pulled up, and parked. As the ladies climbed out, Eric told them.
“Great timing ladies. We were just about to go in.”
Horatio moved behind Stevie, and pushed his chair. They went inside, to find 10 men, all seated in wheelchairs, playing basketball.
“Whoa!” Stevie breathed, softly, under his breath. “The Miami Heat Wheels? A wheelchair basketball game?” He felt Horatio move from behind his chair, and kneel next to him. “I‘ve never been to one before, but I’ve always wanted to……. H…..Ty….…I don’t know what to say……Thank you, just doesn’t seem to cover it.” He looked into the older man’s bottomless blue eyes.
Horatio grinned. “It does from my end, Stevie. You’re more than welcome, son.”
The other adults passed positive looks among themselves.
“Hey, Stevie, the funs not over with.” Ty added. “I have someone I want you to meet.”
They followed Ty and Michael into the arena. Ty waited until a lull in the action, then he called out. “Hey, Dom. I have that recruit I wanted you to meet.”
All of the basketball players looked up at the voice, and one of the men smiled.
“There you are, Ty.“ Dom rolled over to the group. “How’re things?”
“Pretty good, Dom. We’re working on another house in the area.” Ty turned to indicate Stevie. “This is the youngster we wanted you guys to meet, Stevie Douglas.“ He looked over at Stevie. “Stevie, this is a friend of mine, Dominic Rochelli. He’s a point guard for the Miami Heat Wheels.“
Dom rolled forward, and when he was wheel to wheel with Stevie, he put his hand out to the youngster. “How do you do, Stevie.”
Stevie shook the man’s hand in turn. “It’s my pleasure to meet you, Mr Rochelli. I hope we’re not interrupting anything.”
“No chance, Stevie, and it’s Dom. Mr Rochelli was my Pop.”
Stevie chuckled. “Ok, Dom.”
Dom turned to his friends. “These are my cohorts in crime.“ Dom made the introductions.
“Thank you for letting us watch your practice, Gentlemen.” Horatio told the team.
Stevie made the introductions of the Team, and his Mom.
Todd Sheridan, another point guard for the team, piped up with. “It’s not a problem, Lt Caine. You folks are more than welcome to stick around and watch.“
“Absolutely.” Several of the other players chimed in as well.
So, the gang found seats on the first tier or two of the bleachers, so that they could watch the action. The players were joking and teasing each other, as they went about their workout, and practice session. After a fashion, the coach, who also was sitting in a wheelchair, blew his whistle, which hung from a cord around the man’s neck.
“Ok, gang, gather around.”
The players gathered around where the coach was sitting.
“Ok. You’ve had a great practice today, and all week. Let’s see if we can transfer what we practiced out onto the basketball court, and get a win.”
The players cheered and applauded, and whooped and hollered it up for a few minutes, then they moved toward the locker room door.
Horatio quietly slipped away from the group and ran to catch up to the coach. “Excuse me, Coach.”
The man looked up, then turned toward him. “Yes, Lt. What can I do for you, sir?”
Horatio stopped just in front of him. “I was wondering, Coach….If I got something for you to sign, could I possibly get autographs, for Stevie. You guys would really be making his day.”
The Coach chuckled softly under his breath. “Sure. We’d be happy to do that for him, Lt. It’s not a problem.”
Horatio chuckled as well. “Thank you, Coach Tisdale. I’ll be right back.” He went to go get Stevie a basketball jersey that one of the vendors had for sale, as well as a permanent marker, then he retraced his steps back to the locker room, to find the coach waiting for him just outside the door. He handed both the items over. “Here you go, Coach.”
Coach Tisdale smiled up at the CSI. “This will definitely work. Thank you, Lt.”
“No problem, sir.” Horatio grinned, that shy grin taking over for just a minute. “Just get it back to me when you can.“
The coach nodded. “I’ll signal you.”
“That’ll work.“ Horatio replied, as he shook the coach’s hand. He went back to the group, and slipped quietly back in.
Stevie’s Mom, Jessica looked at him with a question on her face, but Horatio signaled her that everything was ok, and not to worry, so she turned back to Calleigh, to go on with their conversation.
The game started after a while, and everyone quickly became caught up in it. Although none of them had ever seen a game, they very quickly got caught up in the excitement. Most of the maneuvers were similar enough to ‘standard’ basketball, that the game was easy enough to follow. The only real discernable difference was with ‘double dribbling’, and ‘traveling’, but other than that, it was pretty much the same game.
The game was action packed, as well, with enough bumps, and spills, that it almost resembled an automobile crash derby, instead of a basketball game.
The visiting team was the Orlando Magic Wheels. The two teams traded the lead back and forth several times through the course of the game, but ultimately, the home team won, by a score of 73-65.
At the end of the game, Horatio snuck away for just a moment to catch up with the team, and Coach Tisdale. The coach gave him the jersey, and the marker.
“Here you go, Lt Caine.“
“Thank you, Coach.“ Horatio looked at all the players as well. “Thank you all, very much for signing this for Stevie. You will have really made his day.“
Dom piped up. “It’s not a problem, Lt.”
Horatio started to walk away, when Coach Tisdale called after him.
“Lt, if you and Stevie, and your friends would like to join us, we’re headed off to our favorite watering hole for our little after game celebration.”
The team very quickly agreed.
“Hey, yeah.”
“Sure. Come with us.”
“The more the merrier.”
“I‘m sure the little guy will enjoy it.”
Horatio looked down for a moment, that shy grin coming out. He looked up, over at the team. “Sure. We’ll be there.”
He got the name of the Pizza place to meet at, then made his way back around to the gang. He held the jersey behind his back, as he asked. “Well, Stevie, what do you think?”
The boy’s eyes lit up. “I’ve had a great time, H. Thanks a lot for bringing me.”
Horatio smiled. “You‘re more than welcome, Partner.” He looked around at the gang, and asked. “If no one has an objection, a little birdie told me that the team was going to their favorite watering hole to celebrate their win, and they have invited us along.”
“Pizza and a beer sounds like a good idea to me, H.” Eric agreed.
“Yeah, me, too, H.” Ryan added his two cents worth.
Horatio looked over at Alexx, and Frank. “Don’t you two have plans with your families?”
Frank shook his head. “Melissa has the kids, H. I only had to promise to be over tonight for dinner.”
“You know my two, Horatio.“ Alexx reminded him. “Jeremy has them out today, and I promised them a Disney movie tonight after dinner.”
Horatio nodded. “Ok.” He knelt down, so that he was more, or less, eye to eye with Stevie, as he told the youngster. “I also have a little surprise for you, Stevie.“ He pulled the jersey out from behind his back, and offered it to the boy.
Stevie unfolded the jersey, and looked at it, his little eyes going wide, like a pair of saucers. “Whoa! H! Thank you so much. This is so cool!“ He looked up at his Mom. “Look, Mom. The whole team signed it!“
Jessica smiled. “I see that, Stevie.“ She started to say something to Horatio, but Stevie beat her to it.
They youngster wrapped his arms around the red head’s shoulders, and pulled him into a hug. “You’re the best, H. Thanks a lot, really.”
“You‘re welcome, son.” Horatio told the youngster. He set Stevie back into his chair, then moved behind him, and pushed the chair forward.
Behind them, the team traded amused, and congratulatory looks among themselves, as they made their way out to the Hummers.
*****************
Ok. So, the next chapter will be the celebration.
Please let me know what you think.
Your friend
NV Oracle
So, what sort of surprise did H have for his young friend? Let's see.
Please enjoy. Here we go.
*********************
Chapter 89
Horatio drove over to the Event’s Center, and parked.
Stevie looked completely confused. “What are we doing here, H?”
“You’ll see, Stevie.“ Horatio told the youngster. He got out of the driver’s seat, and closed the door, and locked it, then walked around to the passenger door, as Eric and Ryan pulled Stevie’s wheelchair out of the back of the Hummer.
Horatio unbuckled Stevie’s seatbelt, and picked him up. As he turned to put the youngster into his chair, though, another male voice called out.
“There you guys are. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to be able to make it.”
They looked up to see Ty Pennington, and Michael Maloney from the Home Makeover team approaching them.
“Hey, Ty, Michael. No, we just had an errand that needed to be run before we came over. We’re here, though. Where are the ladies?” Horatio asked.
Just then, the other Hummer pulled up, and parked. As the ladies climbed out, Eric told them.
“Great timing ladies. We were just about to go in.”
Horatio moved behind Stevie, and pushed his chair. They went inside, to find 10 men, all seated in wheelchairs, playing basketball.
“Whoa!” Stevie breathed, softly, under his breath. “The Miami Heat Wheels? A wheelchair basketball game?” He felt Horatio move from behind his chair, and kneel next to him. “I‘ve never been to one before, but I’ve always wanted to……. H…..Ty….…I don’t know what to say……Thank you, just doesn’t seem to cover it.” He looked into the older man’s bottomless blue eyes.
Horatio grinned. “It does from my end, Stevie. You’re more than welcome, son.”
The other adults passed positive looks among themselves.
“Hey, Stevie, the funs not over with.” Ty added. “I have someone I want you to meet.”
They followed Ty and Michael into the arena. Ty waited until a lull in the action, then he called out. “Hey, Dom. I have that recruit I wanted you to meet.”
All of the basketball players looked up at the voice, and one of the men smiled.
“There you are, Ty.“ Dom rolled over to the group. “How’re things?”
“Pretty good, Dom. We’re working on another house in the area.” Ty turned to indicate Stevie. “This is the youngster we wanted you guys to meet, Stevie Douglas.“ He looked over at Stevie. “Stevie, this is a friend of mine, Dominic Rochelli. He’s a point guard for the Miami Heat Wheels.“
Dom rolled forward, and when he was wheel to wheel with Stevie, he put his hand out to the youngster. “How do you do, Stevie.”
Stevie shook the man’s hand in turn. “It’s my pleasure to meet you, Mr Rochelli. I hope we’re not interrupting anything.”
“No chance, Stevie, and it’s Dom. Mr Rochelli was my Pop.”
Stevie chuckled. “Ok, Dom.”
Dom turned to his friends. “These are my cohorts in crime.“ Dom made the introductions.
“Thank you for letting us watch your practice, Gentlemen.” Horatio told the team.
Stevie made the introductions of the Team, and his Mom.
Todd Sheridan, another point guard for the team, piped up with. “It’s not a problem, Lt Caine. You folks are more than welcome to stick around and watch.“
“Absolutely.” Several of the other players chimed in as well.
So, the gang found seats on the first tier or two of the bleachers, so that they could watch the action. The players were joking and teasing each other, as they went about their workout, and practice session. After a fashion, the coach, who also was sitting in a wheelchair, blew his whistle, which hung from a cord around the man’s neck.
“Ok, gang, gather around.”
The players gathered around where the coach was sitting.
“Ok. You’ve had a great practice today, and all week. Let’s see if we can transfer what we practiced out onto the basketball court, and get a win.”
The players cheered and applauded, and whooped and hollered it up for a few minutes, then they moved toward the locker room door.
Horatio quietly slipped away from the group and ran to catch up to the coach. “Excuse me, Coach.”
The man looked up, then turned toward him. “Yes, Lt. What can I do for you, sir?”
Horatio stopped just in front of him. “I was wondering, Coach….If I got something for you to sign, could I possibly get autographs, for Stevie. You guys would really be making his day.”
The Coach chuckled softly under his breath. “Sure. We’d be happy to do that for him, Lt. It’s not a problem.”
Horatio chuckled as well. “Thank you, Coach Tisdale. I’ll be right back.” He went to go get Stevie a basketball jersey that one of the vendors had for sale, as well as a permanent marker, then he retraced his steps back to the locker room, to find the coach waiting for him just outside the door. He handed both the items over. “Here you go, Coach.”
Coach Tisdale smiled up at the CSI. “This will definitely work. Thank you, Lt.”
“No problem, sir.” Horatio grinned, that shy grin taking over for just a minute. “Just get it back to me when you can.“
The coach nodded. “I’ll signal you.”
“That’ll work.“ Horatio replied, as he shook the coach’s hand. He went back to the group, and slipped quietly back in.
Stevie’s Mom, Jessica looked at him with a question on her face, but Horatio signaled her that everything was ok, and not to worry, so she turned back to Calleigh, to go on with their conversation.
The game started after a while, and everyone quickly became caught up in it. Although none of them had ever seen a game, they very quickly got caught up in the excitement. Most of the maneuvers were similar enough to ‘standard’ basketball, that the game was easy enough to follow. The only real discernable difference was with ‘double dribbling’, and ‘traveling’, but other than that, it was pretty much the same game.
The game was action packed, as well, with enough bumps, and spills, that it almost resembled an automobile crash derby, instead of a basketball game.
The visiting team was the Orlando Magic Wheels. The two teams traded the lead back and forth several times through the course of the game, but ultimately, the home team won, by a score of 73-65.
At the end of the game, Horatio snuck away for just a moment to catch up with the team, and Coach Tisdale. The coach gave him the jersey, and the marker.
“Here you go, Lt Caine.“
“Thank you, Coach.“ Horatio looked at all the players as well. “Thank you all, very much for signing this for Stevie. You will have really made his day.“
Dom piped up. “It’s not a problem, Lt.”
Horatio started to walk away, when Coach Tisdale called after him.
“Lt, if you and Stevie, and your friends would like to join us, we’re headed off to our favorite watering hole for our little after game celebration.”
The team very quickly agreed.
“Hey, yeah.”
“Sure. Come with us.”
“The more the merrier.”
“I‘m sure the little guy will enjoy it.”
Horatio looked down for a moment, that shy grin coming out. He looked up, over at the team. “Sure. We’ll be there.”
He got the name of the Pizza place to meet at, then made his way back around to the gang. He held the jersey behind his back, as he asked. “Well, Stevie, what do you think?”
The boy’s eyes lit up. “I’ve had a great time, H. Thanks a lot for bringing me.”
Horatio smiled. “You‘re more than welcome, Partner.” He looked around at the gang, and asked. “If no one has an objection, a little birdie told me that the team was going to their favorite watering hole to celebrate their win, and they have invited us along.”
“Pizza and a beer sounds like a good idea to me, H.” Eric agreed.
“Yeah, me, too, H.” Ryan added his two cents worth.
Horatio looked over at Alexx, and Frank. “Don’t you two have plans with your families?”
Frank shook his head. “Melissa has the kids, H. I only had to promise to be over tonight for dinner.”
“You know my two, Horatio.“ Alexx reminded him. “Jeremy has them out today, and I promised them a Disney movie tonight after dinner.”
Horatio nodded. “Ok.” He knelt down, so that he was more, or less, eye to eye with Stevie, as he told the youngster. “I also have a little surprise for you, Stevie.“ He pulled the jersey out from behind his back, and offered it to the boy.
Stevie unfolded the jersey, and looked at it, his little eyes going wide, like a pair of saucers. “Whoa! H! Thank you so much. This is so cool!“ He looked up at his Mom. “Look, Mom. The whole team signed it!“
Jessica smiled. “I see that, Stevie.“ She started to say something to Horatio, but Stevie beat her to it.
They youngster wrapped his arms around the red head’s shoulders, and pulled him into a hug. “You’re the best, H. Thanks a lot, really.”
“You‘re welcome, son.” Horatio told the youngster. He set Stevie back into his chair, then moved behind him, and pushed the chair forward.
Behind them, the team traded amused, and congratulatory looks among themselves, as they made their way out to the Hummers.
*****************
Ok. So, the next chapter will be the celebration.
Please let me know what you think.
Your friend
NV Oracle