To Philly With Care

***Jass’s POV***

I stood in front of my closet absolutely frantic as to what I was going to wear. Not only did I have to go to the Flyers practice today but also Graduation from Bastion de la Sécurité. “What the hell would work for both?” I asked as I searched through my clothes. I lay my hand on one of my favorite tops, a Butterfly Print Wrap Top. It was something that made me feel pretty. I pulled it out and then one of my favorite pairs of jeans. I knew that the rink would probably be cold so I grabbed a Navy cardigan and a Grey blazer for later.

I ran over to Dani’s place, all of 8 blocks, to check with her that I looked ok. “That’s so cute on you! Dress it down for practice and up for the graduation. It’ll be great.” She pulled her coat over her own coral tunic and jeans. “We better get going. Don’t want to be late.” We walked down to her car and hopped in. Soon enough we were on our way to Voorhees, New Jersey and the Practice Facility.

At 9:40 a.m. we parked in the lot after giving our names at the security gate. We were met by an intern and shown to just outside the locker room. Dani said we should just go in but I just couldn’t bring myself to do that. As we debated Coach Laviolette came over smiling. “I’m glad you could join us this morning. The boys should be hitting the ice soon, if you follow me I’ll show you where you can sit and watch.” He brought us out to the ice and let us sit on the bench. “Just let us know if you get cold, we can grab a blanket for you.”

We both laughed at that. “I think we’ll be ok Coach. We came prepared.” Dani held up her thermos. “Hot chocolate.” He laughed and went to hustle the guys onto the ice.

For the next 2 hours we watched as they worked on various things they needed to, along with all the playing around we never knew they did. A few of them tried flirting with us but were quickly called on the carpet about it and skated away.

After practice, but before the guys got attacked by the reporters, we were brought into the room. We were given a quick introduction and then given the floor. I had years of public speaking so I took the reins. “Thank you for inviting us to watch practice, it was a lot more intensive than I thought it would be. As Coach said we’re from Bastion de la Sécurité, if you aren’t aware we’re a teen center for those who need it up until they are 18. Today in fact we have a graduation and would love to show off our moves, hopefully as well as you have this morning. We’re located on the corner of Walnut and Broad St. While the graduation begins at 1, and we’re gonna have to leave soon to make it, you guys can come by anytime today and get a tour and hopefully get a bit more understanding what it is that we do.”

I didn’t see it, but Dani was shaking her head behind me and took over by talking more plainly. “Look guys, we really want to show our facility off to you. The kids are the one who will benefit from the programs we set up this year to work with. They could use positive male role models which you guys are.”

“We’re not role models!” Someone shouted. I couldn’t see who it was but it was the far back corner that got rained on with towels.

Chris Pronger stepped forward. “There you’re wrong. Every single member of this team is a role model. Ms. Richard, Ms. Lyon we would love to come and see your facility. Maybe later this afternoon we can schedule something for the entire team, and those who are willing to go today will have a leg up.”

I couldn’t help but blush. I could control a boardroom but these boys were not my typical room. “Merci.” I said quietly as I got my face back under control. “That sounds like a wonderful idea. I’ve given my card to Mr. Holmgren so that shouldn’t be a problem to find a time good for you all.” I checked my watch. “Damn we need to get going.” I looked up at the team in front of me. “I hope you all come down and enjoy yourselves. Don’t hesitate to stop by my office either. You won’t be hurting my day at all.” I had my eyes on Max as I said that. Dani and I then made the mad dash back to the office.

***Max’s POV***

Never had I worked so hard during a practice to _not_ to screw up and make myself look like a fool. When Coach said that the ladies were coming in briefly before the reporters, the guys all hooted and hollered over it. I just ran my towel over myself trying to be a little more presentable. I was floored when Coach agreed with me last night and even more when Paul came in and congratulating me on the best idea I’d had yet.

As a group we listened to the ladies invite us down to Bastion de la Sécurité. Then one of the Schenns put his foot in it. We all threw our towels at them both. The hell we weren’t role models. Ok so there were parts of my life that weren’t good for that, but I was starting to think I needed to change. Prongs took offense to what was said and stepped up. We all knew he wasn’t our Captain anymore but that wouldn’t matter to us, he was still one of our leaders.

I watched with fascination as Jassmine blushed and quietly murmured her thanks to him. I wondered if I could ever make her flush so well. I fully supported the idea of the entire team going and seeing this place firsthand. Of course if I _said_ so I’d end up getting chirped for trying to get into her pants. Then Jassmine locked eyes with me as she ended her spiel. Come by her office anytime, now there was an offer I couldn’t refuse. I found myself smiling as she turned and hustled out.

As the reporters left, the guys began making plans to go to lunch. As much as I wanted to go out, I also wanted to see Bastion de la Sécurité. I loved helping kids, that’s why I started my own Foundation. Albeit mine helped younger kids and kids further away. I was putting on my socks when I was nearly knocked over. “What the hell?” I said as I righted myself and looked at who did it.

I found Danny and G both shaking their heads at me. “We were calling your name, where were you? Maybe thinking of a certain pair of green eyes and the woman surrounding them?” Damn I’d been caught.

I didn’t bother denying it. “She’s so captivating. So small and yet…” I wasn’t sure what it was about her but I needed to know her better.

They both chuckled. “Finish getting ready and we’ll go to ‘er place of business. It sounds like this might be a place t’at my boys would benefit from seeing too.” Danny pushed me towards my shoes. We all finished getting ready and were quickly making our way over to Broad Street.

***Jass’s POV***

The graduation wasn’t long but it was tear filled. It was always difficult to say goodbye to kids we had come to care for. It was part of the reason that we only had this once a month. I now was walking the halls heading towards our clothing swap place, Le Placard. It; like everything else, was run by our kids with supervision. It held clothing for kids from 13-18 any and every size, shape and gender. We got generous donations from clothing stores all over the city to help keep it up to date and stocked. It was a big boon to everyone in this place, including those who were close to graduation.

As I checked what had come in recently and who had swapped things out, I heard a knock on the office door. “Ms. R? There’s several guys saying you invited them to come check out the house.” She was close to graduation herself and was my acting secretary. She was good at office work and my schedule hadn’t been so light in 2 years. We had gotten her into one of the career colleges in the area and she was studying Business Management.

I smiled up at her. “Thank you Tricia. It’s there are not there’s in a business setting so you know.” I got up and followed her back to my office. Sure enough there were three of the Flyers waiting for me. “Gentlemen, so wonderful to see you all again.”

The three of them all smiled at me as we came into the room. Max took the lead. “We couldn’t help but take you up on your generous offer to come take a look. We were surprised that the building is so big though. How do you afford this place?”

I had to laugh; most people asked that question. “We’ve been in this building for decades. It’s _more_ than paid off. We do renovations every now and again to keep it as close to code as we can. It doesn’t hurt that we rent out the ground floor to other businesses. They get a break by hiring our kids as employees on their taxes and the kids learn that things won’t be handed to them. You might be surprised to hear that some of the kids that come here leave when they find out that they have to go to school and help out around here to keep the place up and clean.”

I saw Danny smile at that. “So t’ey have chores and such that t’ey have to do around here?” He looked at Claude. “So it more like a family where everyone ‘as to pitch in and help to keep it running well.”

I nodded and couldn’t help but smile. “Very much so, we have adult supervision of course but through trial and error we’ve found that making the kids work for things makes them more proud of this place and everything we accomplish. They do everything from cleaning the bathrooms to… well Tricia here is my secretary. We help them find what they love to do and get them the skills they need to do it for a living. We get them into High School to get diplomas, or get GEDs and Vocational School for those who want to go that route. Once they graduate from High School we make sure they have good careers that will help get them through college if they want or not.”

It looked like Claude’s eyes were filming over but both Danny and Max were nodding. “Why don’t we go on a tour and you can see more of what I mean. Today’s chores are due to start anytime.” My stomach then growled, they all chuckled which would have made me self-conscious except that I saw the smiles that went along with it. “In fact why don’t we start in the dining area.”

I brought them to the dining area and the kitchens. They asked a few questions as we all grabbed lunch. It wasn’t 5 star cuisine but it was healthy, tasty and plentiful. The guys in the kitchens were thrilled that they were serving some of the Flyers. Even took them on a tour of the kitchens as dinner preparation was beginning.

I took them al over the building answering questions they had and introducing them to “my” kids. We ended out tour in the gym, which was the top two floors of the building. “This is our gym. It’s where all of the kids spend time doing whatever they want really.” As we came fully into the gym I could see the normal knee hockey game going on. I just shook my head as the gang was scooting around chasing after the disc they had for a puck. “Don’t mind them, this is a normal daily activity. Of course they normally have to be _done_ with their _chores_ first.” I said, raising my voice so they could hear me.

The noise stopped as en masse the players turned to face me. Gasps were heard when they saw who I was with. “You see now why I said that any and all help would be well received by the kids.” We all walked closer and they guys weren’t _quite_ mobbed by the two teams. It was a close thing though.

After several hours and lots of conversation we came back into my office. The three of them now understood just how important we were to the kids here. We sat down in my office and Danny asked quite seriously. “Have you ever let teens who are _not_ homeless or in bad situations come and stay? For the experience on just how lucky t’ey really are?”

I could see what he was getting at. He had three sons. “We have in the past, but we have insisted that excursions like that be held when there is _not_ school for the kids this way they get the full treatment. We have our next weekend over on Thanksgiving weekend. I’m sure if you’d like I can get the information to you and you can discuss it.”

“T’at would be wonderful. I’m not saying my boys are horrible, but a wake up call might be in order for them.”

“That’s fine. I understand that sometimes parents need to wake their kids up. My grandmother used to run this place before I took over; I’ve been coming here since I could walk.” Tricia came in with a reminder about a meeting I had in a half hour. We said our goodbyes and they all agreed that they would enjoy coming to help out here as they could and would make sure that all the guys knew how cool this place really was.

As I was walking them out, Max slipped me a note. I didn’t read it right away but I did enjoy the hug he gave me. “Please feel free to come by and skate with us someday. Maybe we can get some of the kids and you to come to a game sometimes this season.”

“Well Dani and myself will be there for sure. We got season tickets this year. As for the kids, why don’t we leave that up to the organization for now.” Now that we were this close I could tell what color those mysterious eyes of his were, blue. Not just any blue but a blue so dark it was mistaken for other colors.

“Well then, hopefully we will win a lot so we can hear you cheer for us. Will you be there on Monday? I can see if I can leave passes for you for after the game.” I chuckled.

“I hope we’ll be there tomorrow, if not we will for sure be rooting for you Tuesday.” OK so that was a bit of a lie, I _knew_ we would be there tomorrow night. I just didn’t want to encourage him too quickly, even though I was flirting with him. Oh god, I was flirting with him!

Just as the reality dawned, Claude clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Venez lover boy, flirter avec la jolie dame sur votre propre temps. Nous devons aller chercher notre voitures et rentrer chez eux. (Come lover boy, flirt with the pretty lady on your own time. We need to get our cars and go home.)” Max kissed the back of my hand and wished me a pleasant evening, then they finally were able to leave.

Getting back to my office I found Dani there. “So how was the tour and such?” She asked. I giggled, flat out giggled. “That good huh?”

I opened my hand and showed her the paper sitting there. The note inside it was short. ‘I would love to see you outside of our places of work. Call me some time and we’ll go out. (215) 769-2940 – Maxime’. I showed Dani and she insisted that we stop work for the day and go back to her place to celebrate with pedicures. I couldn’t tell her no, I mean it _was_ Sunday after all.