Unknown - driven

?On behalf of the Badgers, it is my pleasure to announce that the first pick of this year?s draft is?? She paused, looking around and enjoying the control she had over the crowd. ?Catherine Frances Hodges.?

Stunned silence filled the room for several long seconds. Then a murmur of disbelief rose up like fresh water bubbling in a tidal pool. Isolated, almost hesitant applause, broke out and spread throughout the audience.

As if she were viewing events from within a tunnel, Hodge barely felt the congratulatory slaps her fellow draftees were bestowing on her. She felt herself come to her feet, and briefly wondered if she might faint. Dylan?s expectant gaze lanced into her again, and she felt pulled forward by the strength of that warm look alone.

Finally, though the distance she?d traversed seemed like miles rather than a few scant yards, she reached the podium and accepted Dylan?s firm handclasp.

?Congratulations,? Dylan said, then softened her tone. ?You alright??

?I?I think so. Just?if this is a dream, please don?t wake me up, alright??

Dylan laughed. ?It?s no dream. Here.? She draped a purple and black Badgers jersey emblazoned with the number 3 over Hodge?s chest and set a Badgers cap atop her head. ?Welcome to the Badgers, Catherine.?

?Thank you,? Hodge replied, slowly coming out of her daze. ?Thank you so much.?

?Thank you.?

A split second later, Hodge felt herself easily pulled alongside Dylan, and together they smiled as the cameras flashed once again.

Hodge took a deep breath and braced her hands against the wall of the green room, trying to calm herself before the upcoming press conference. Straightening, she found a pitcher of water on a nearby table and poured herself a glass. As she drank the cool liquid she ran her fingers over her jersey, which was lying over a chair. ?They?re gonna retire this number when I?m done.?

?That?s the attitude.?

Hodge closed her eyes and bit her tongue gently when she heard Dylan?s voice behind her. ?Why does this keep happening?? She turned around to find the tall woman leaning in the doorway.

?What??

?You keep showing up when I say or do something stupid.?

?Lucky I guess.? Dylan pushed off the doorframe and entered the room. She smiled slightly, brushing her hand against Hodge?s jersey. ?I said almost the exact same thing when I got drafted.?

?Yeah, but your number is retired.?

?Sure. And yours will be too.?

Hodge?s eyes widened. ?How can you be so sure??

Dylan grinned. ?Wouldn?t have drafted you otherwise.? She laughed at the astonished look she received, and touched Hodge lightly on the shoulder. ?C?mon. Let?s go face the press.?

A side door opened, and Dylan entered the large room filled with reporters. Hodge followed close on her heels. Cameras flashed and whirred, and the excited hum of voices grew and swelled.

The two women crossed to the long, microphone-festooned table and took the two chairs nearest the center, settling down in them with nearly identical grace. The questions started up almost immediately, but Dylan held up a hand. ?One at a time, ladies and gentlemen. One at a time.? She pointed to a red-headed young man from Sports Illustrated. ?Mark? You go first.?

?Ms. Lambert, you had a wide range of outstanding players to choose from in this draft. Why did you settle on a relative unknown like Catherine Hodges?

Smiling, Dylan folded her hands in front of her. ?She?s the best.?

The reporter shuffled the papers in his hands, then waved them. ?I have the statistics here, and?.?

?Have you ever seen her play, Mark?? she asked in a deceptively mild voice.

?Well, no, but?.?

?I?m surprised at you, Mark. You normally do your homework better than this.?

Mark flushed as snickering laughter scattered through the room.

Dylan fixed the man with a pointed stare. ?I was instructed to go after the best guard in the draft. Catherine Hodges is the best. It?s really as simple as that.?

?But??

?Next question, please. Sandra??

?This question is for Ms. Hodges. Ms. Hodges, how did it feel when you heard your name announced as the first pick in the draft??

Hodge grinned. ?Amazing,? she said, drawing the word out.

Good natured laughter accompanied her declaration.

?How does it feel to be drafted by a team with a less than sterling record??

This question came from Mark. Dylan narrowed her eyes at him, then tipped her head in a gracious ?touch? gesture. The reporter smirked.

Prick, Hodge said to herself. ?Well, the Badgers have shown tremendous improvement since Coach Lambert took over. She?s worked very hard to make the team a winner and I hope I can help in that process.?

Dylan didn?t bother to hide her own smirk. The reporter flushed again. Dylan?s eyes flashed. She was enjoying herself.

The press conference went on with standard questions of the type asked of many a draftee on many a draft. Then came a question that wasn?t standard.

?Ms. Hodges will you use your new position to advance the cause of gay and lesbian rights??

For a brief moment, Hodge froze, clearly not expecting the question. Then, beneath the table, she felt a brief touch on her wrist. The touch was warm, and full of confidence. Hodge immediately calmed. Her thoughts became ordered, and she spoke the words her heart knew were true. ?The only thing I am going to use my new position to advance, Ma?am, is the Birmingham Badgers to a winning season, and hopefully the playoffs.?

The reporter?s lips twisted. ?Spouting the company line already, Ms. Hodge? Your sexuality was always openly known in the past?.?

?And it?s openly known in the present, Ma?am, as you have so clearly pointed out.?

Dylan bit down hard on the inside of her cheek to keep herself from bursting into laughter at the expression on the reporter?s face.

?Is there anything else, Ma?am?? Catherine asked, the very picture of innocence.

Her sails deflated, the woman sat down in her chair, scowling.

?I think that wraps it up, ladies and gentlemen,? Dylan said, standing. ?We?ll see you in the playoffs.?

As soon as the door closed behind them, both Dylan and Catherine broke into laughter. Finally calming, Dylan shook her head. ?And they wonder why I picked you.?

?I?m just glad you did,? Hodge replied honestly.

Dylan looked at her for a long moment, then smiled. ?So am I.?

Hodge could only shake her head as she walked down the hall of the hotel. Even from all the way down the hall she could hear her brothers laughing and hollering, leading her unerringly to her family?s room.

She opened the door and was immediately set upon by the twins who grabbed her around the waist, one up front, one behind, making her the stuffing in a people sandwich.

?Hey guys!?

?This is great Cat!? Mark shouted at the top of his lungs.

?You?re going to be a big star!? Luke shouted even louder.

?Easy guys, I?ve got a long way to go before I hit big star.?

?If anyone can do it, Cat, you can.? Pulling the boys away from her, Hodge?s mother wrapped her arms around her daughter. ?I?m so very proud of you.?

?Thanks Mom. You have no idea how much that means to me.?

They made their way further into the room, where it appeared that her father had ordered at least one of everything from the room service menu. ?Dad, how can you afford all this? The suite, the food?? She plucked a bottle from an ice bucket. ??the champagne.?

?Hey, you let me worry about that. This is your party. Your job is to enjoy it.?

?Dad??

A knock on the door sent on of the boys scurrying to open it. ?Welcome to the room of the great Cat Hodges!? he piped up as he pulled the door open and came face to belly button with a body much, much taller than he was. His blonde head tipped back, then back further, until the face of Dylan Lambert came into view. ?Um?.?