A Gaby FanFic
The first thing I have to do is to publicly thank Angharad, KarenJ and last, but certainly not least, Jillian, for all their efforts to decipher my scribbles. It was also their encouragement that gave me the courage to submit this to Maddy, in the first place.
I also extend a warm ‘thank you' to Maddy, for creating this ‘universe' and giving my mind a place to occasionally wander.
Three
“Something wrong, darling?” Maddy sensed something was not right, but couldn't put her finger on it.
“Why?” Gaby replied. The voice Maddy heard was quiet and weak, not the strong happy voice she heard only hours ago.
“Talk to me, luv … please?” Quietly, Maddy was almost begging Gaby to open up to her.
Maddy noticed that when Gaby answered her, Gabs didn't look at her directly. However, the pressure of the hold Gaby had on Maddy's hand increased. At first she thought Gaby was tired and a nap during the flight would help. Instead she saw that Gaby had been steadily growing quieter, almost nervous as the plane neared its destination. Now with the airport in sight, Maddy felt Gaby tense right up.
Once the plane touched down and rolled to a stop at one of the General Aviation hangers, it also occurred to Jenny just how quiet Gaby had become. After everyone got out and stretched, she noticed Gaby was standing with her back up against the plane's wing. Maddy held her in a tight embrace and Gaby's head was resting on her shoulder. As Jen approached she heard Gaby quietly crying while Maddy tried to comfort her fiancée.
“It's ok, honey, I'm with you this time … your mum's here too”
Then Maddy showed signs of breaking down herself. “We'll ( sniff ) get through it together …ok?”
“What's wrong, girls?” Jenny was suddenly quite concerned.
Maddy could only utter a single word in a quiet reply, “Grottoes”. Just having “Virginia” in the State name was enough to spark all the memories that had long been buried in Gaby's mind and only recently been laid to rest in Maddy's.
Upon hearing Maddy's response, Jenny realized that this was only Gaby's second trip to the US and it was at that moment that she fully understood the extent that Gaby's previous US experience had scarred her. As adults, all three knew their feelings were illogical and not everyone was like ‘that', but like they say – ‘you never get a second chance to make a first impression'. In her mind, Jenny embraced both girls, but she had to keep her composure, at least until she got to her hotel room.
“I'll be ok, mum ( sniff ).” As Gaby raised her head Maddy planted a tender kiss on Gaby's lips, took her hand, and the three ladies joined the others gathered by the plane's lowered cabin stairs.
A van and trailer soon pulled up and the lone occupant introduced himself as Brian. He explained that he was their assigned driver and that this was their transportation for the duration of their stay. Following introductions, both the van and trailer were loaded under the eyes of a customs official and the team settled in for the drive to Beckley. For now the bikes were in the trailer, but on race day proper roof racks would be mounted.
By the time they reached Beckley and their hotel, the summer sun was already starting to set. The equipment was locked down and everyone made the short walk across the road to the restaurant for dinner. Tonight was set-aside for everyone to relax from the trip. Tomorrow, the work begins.
Jenny handed out the room assignments and while she started to organize things for the next day with Hans, the girls drifted to one of the rooms, just to unwind. To Gaby, it felt more like a sleepover as she and Maddy were questioned by the team as to what's going on between the two of them. Gaby just looked at Maddy, kissed her hand and explained to the others about their engagement.
Once ‘lights out' arrived, Jenny made sure everyone turned in. Team Apollinaris had four rooms allotted to them - Hans and Brian, Gaby and Kristen, Nina and Judith and finally, Jenny and Maddy.
After the episode at the airport, Jenny considered putting the two girls in one room, giving them time together and moving Kristen in with her. Another option was to put the three in the same room and take the fourth room herself, but in the end decided to stay with her original plan since Gaby seemed to have returned to her old self. Still, she made a mental note to give the girls some additional time together if they needed it.
Just as Carol talked to Gaby, when they were alone, Jenny also used the time alone, to talk with Maddy. In a strange way Jenny was aware that their relationship was now changed. She felt it was only natural for her to relate to Maddy, no longer as the little girl she knew as her niece – a distant relative to be sure, but rather as the young woman who was to be her future daughter-in-law.
The next morning at seven sharp, Jenny knocked on each room, getting everyone up. She told the girls to dress casually for breakfast and meet in the lobby in an hour.
Gaby claimed the shower first and promised Kristen that she could have it first the following day. As Gaby emerged, Kristen got up off the bed, threw her arms around Gaby, gave her a big hug and told her to make sure she got an invite to the wedding. Finally after a friendly peck to Gab's cheek, Kristen headed for the shower. As far as Gaby was concerned, that seemed to have started the day off right.
Once everyone was gathered in the lobby, Jenny explained that although the race wasn't for another day, this wasn't to be considered as an off-day. The workload for the day was light to give the girls a chance to get over any jet lag, but still included a drive over the race course and a follow-up team meeting. All eyes looked at Gaby, when Jenny mentioned that all of West Virginia lay within the Appalachian Mountains and the team's overall strategy would likely look to Gaby, calling upon her hill climbing talents.
A short time later the girls, all wearing their team jackets, walked across the road from the hotel and into the restaurant. They were noticed by the other early arrivals and a lot of those eyes seemed to focus on Gaby, with her flag festooned collar. Greetings of ‘Guten Tag' met Team Apollinaris from one corner of the dining area. Gaby and the girls looked over in the general direction and noticed T-Mobile had sent their junior women's team. The other cyclists present in the room knew the reputation of those two teams and what kind of competition they faced.
As Gaby and the girls joined the girls of T-Mobile at their table, Gaby noticed Diane Biggs, followed by Erin and Jessica walk in. She immediately waved to get their attention and the Virginian's soon found themselves seated amongst two of the power teams in women's junior cycling. Gaby performed the introductions
“Erin and I read in the Comics you guys were coming to this race, so the three of us thought we'd come see how you were doing,” explained Diane and pointing to Erin and Jessica.
“Diane's not riding this time … just wanted to see how it's done in the big leagues.” Erin grinned.
When Jenny entered the dining area, it was like Royalty entered the room. Conversation amongst the cyclist's ceased and the place fell into a respectful silence. Accustomed to some attention, Jenny was caught off balance by this and momentarily froze; finally she nodded her head and smiled, in thanks. It had been awhile since she encountered a reception like that and it made her feel warm inside. Gaby ‘rescued' her mum when she waved and pointed to an empty seat beside her.
After the waitress came and took everyone's order, conversation at the tables resumed. Jessica had obviously told Erin and Diane about ‘the decision' as the two wanted to know how Gaby had made out in the last few years. During the conversation, Jessica noticed Gaby's ring and asked her about it.
Gaby just pointed at Maddy's hand and the two proceeded to give the abridged version of their relationship. Erin just quietly took it all in while Jessica and Diane hung on every word the two uttered. The only break in the conversation came when their food arrived.
When the girls finished relating their story, Jessica just squeezed their hands, smiled and said “Good for you!”
Following breakfast, Brian brought the van around and everyone climbed in for a tour of the planned race circuit. Before they started Jenny explained it was a single lap of a thirty-six mile, closed loop course, that started and finished in Beckley. She also reminded everyone the course was quite technical due to the rugged terrain. Two hours later, they arrived back at the hotel and went into their meeting to discuss the course, in detail, as well as what everyone can expect during the race. After the meeting, Hans and Maddy made sure everything was in order with the team van and the bikes, in preparation for race day.
At dinner, Erin and Diane volunteered to be at the feeding station, for the race. Jenny was grateful for the offer and in return offered to take Jessica along in the van.
Race day, and preparations were finalized for the ten AM mass start. As the start time drew closer, Jenny joined the others in the van. Jenny was driving with Hans in the front passenger seat ready to spring into action should his mechanical talents be required. Maddy sat behind Jenny with the water and some other supplies beside her. Jessica had control of the energy snacks. It was her job to hand them to Maddy when asked, so she sat behind Maddy. Erin and Diane drove up to the ‘feed' at Harper, which was just over seventeen miles into the race.
Team Apolllinaris took their positions, ready for the mass start. Jenny positioned the van amongst all the other support vehicles, behind the cyclists. Besides the individual riders, and the two European teams, there were a number of club teams and even a team from Canada. The race was only two years old, but the field for the 2008 edition consisted of some seventy-five individual cyclists.
Ten AM and the field finally got off. For the first eleven miles or so, the peloton remained rather static, with everyone more or less out for a relaxing ride, checking out the course. Like in Atlanta, Gaby positioned her team near the front in the early stages, content to let the team from Canada and T-Mobile do the initial work with setting the pace.
As the field approached Surveyor, there was plenty of movement with many of the rider's jockeying for positions within the peloton. It appeared that Gaby's strategy paid off once again as the activity level in the field, increased.
Once past Surveyor, the first serious break came when two of the Canadian riders took off, with one of T-Mobile's girls close behind. That break was quickly brought back in, but in the process when all attention was focused elsewhere, Gaby and Kristen blew by the leaders and opened a lead between them and the rest of the peloton. Uta, from T-Mobile soon joined them. After a short interval, a girl from the Canadian squad joined the three leaders. In time, the gap between the break and the main peloton was extended to almost three minutes! A short time later, eleven others that included the rest of T-Mobile and Team Apollinaris broke from the peloton while ascending a fairly long grade.
Upon reaching the feed at Harper, Gaby remembered Atlanta, all those years ago, and the way she felt after crossing the finishing line. She decided to take Erin's offering of a feed bag. Besides, Lance wasn't around!
By slowing down the pace for the feed, it gave the girls of the second break the opportunity to join the four leaders resulting in a tidy little group of fifteen, leading the way. Between Harper and Maple Fork, the peloton closed the gap to the point where the lead riders could see the breakaway group. It looked as if the main peloton would eventually re-join with the lead group, but sheer determination eventually saw the gap again grow to almost seven minutes by the time the breakaway group hit Bradley. A fourteen-mile run to Beckley lay before them. With the number of strong riders in the breakaway group, it appeared to Gaby and Kristen that it would come down to a mass sprint.
With Team Apollinaris together once again, it meant Jenny's job was easier in that she didn't have to run between the peloton and the break to keep her girl's supplied with water, energy snacks and advice. It seemed about the only one that got off lightly, was Hans. Thankfully, except for a puncture on Judith's bike, there was little demand for his talents.
At the one-mile marker, there was a lot of activity within the lead group. At the half-mile marker, Uta from T-Mobile and Karen, from the Canadian team, broke from the group of fifteen. Several of the other girls quickly responded but they didn't catch them until the last fifty or so yards! Karen kept her momentum going and triggered an all-out sprint! Gaby and Kristen emerged from a small group within this new breakaway and chased down Uta and Karen. Uta couldn't keep the pace and dropped back, but in so doing, caused Kristen to ease up a fraction to avoid a collision. Sensing Kristen wasn't with her any longer, Gaby seized the initiative and called upon all her reserves to overtake Karen in the last few yards. In the end, it was Gaby, by less than a bike length – followed by Karen and Kristen.
The official times put two seconds between the top three! Uta crossed three seconds after Kristen. In terms of team efforts, it was the three non-American teams that took the ‘honours',
T-Mobile, Team Apollinaris and Team Canada, in that order.
The race organizers had booked one of the hotel's conference rooms for a small reception that evening, for all to relax. The next day was a travel day for everyone.
Next morning Gaby was already dressed and just closing her luggage, when her mum knocked on the door with her seven AM wake-up. Upon entering the room, Jenny noticed that it was all cleaned up, bags packed and Kristen was seated on one of the room's chairs.
“Up early, were we?” Jenny asked with a smile.
“Ummmm … five-forty-five? … sound about right, Kris?” Gaby asked as she walked past her mum.
“Yep!” was all Kristen replied.
Jenny had left the room, on her way to awaken the rest. By this time Maddy had walked into the room, right up to Gaby and gave her a ‘good morning' kiss.
“Ready for your last brekkie in Beckley?” In response to Maddy's question Gaby and Kristen grabbed their team jackets and the three girls walked out the door, letting it close behind them – but not before one of them ran back to get the room pass!
Once the team assembled, they walked over to the restaurant only to discover that it appeared that everyone else in the hotel had the same idea. It turned out that the girls in T-Mobile had again saved Team Apollinaris some seats. Erin, Dianne and Jessica were seated there as well.
After breakfast and a few tearful farewells between the two girls, Erin, Diane and Jessica, everyone adjourned back to the hotel. A short time later, Team Apollinaris was on the road back to Charleston.
As he closed the plane's cabin door, the co-pilot turned to his passengers, “ Gutenmorgen, Damen … Hans. Sicherheitsgurte, bitte?” After bidding them a good morning and to fasten their seat belts, he proceeded to remind them of the emergency procedures as pilot began to taxi the aircraft. A short time after the co-pilot returned to the cockpit, they were airborne, heading to their next stop on the ‘tour' – Toronto, Canada.
Since the flight was going to be a few hours, Jenny took the opportunity to let everyone know that this race will be quite different from Beckley.
“As the ‘sprinter', this will be Kristen's race, so everyone's job is to work for her. It's to be run on a pistol-shaped paved racecourse … in fact an F-1car race was run on the same track last week. Therefore you can expect a flat course with wide paved surfaces, plenty of curves and fast long straight sections. The bulk of the course is on their exhibition grounds, but it leaves the grounds to use a section of a city street. The road race will be seven laps for a total of 70 kilometres.”
Then looking directly at Gaby, Jenny adds, “Gaby? … everything ok?” Gaby just nodded.
Jenny continued, “Ok, like Beckley, today will just be to get settled in, then tomorrow, we do it.” Then as almost an after thought, she added, “We'll be at the ‘Westin Harbour Castle' hotel … everyone ok with the room assignments you had in Beckley?” As Jenny asked the question, she threw a subtle glance at Gaby and Maddy. Following her talk, everyone settled in for the remainder of the flight.
A couple of hours into the flight, Eric returned to the cabin to ensure all their passengers were prepared for landing at Toronto's Pearson International. Since they approached Toronto from the west, but had to land from an eastern approach, the team's aircraft assumed its spot in a large flight pattern that circled a large portion of the city. This gave the girls a good chance to see Toronto from the air.
Finally they were on the ground and taxiing over to the north side of the airport to the “Field Aviation” facilities, where they where met by two customs officials and another van, trailer and driver. The driver introduced himself as Ron and following introductions of the team members Maddy, Hans and Ron unloaded the plane and secured everything in the van and trailer. Once they were cleared by customs, Ron and the team started their 25 Km drive to the hotel.
During the drive to the hotel, Ron took Lakeshore Blvd to the Canadian National Exhibition grounds and the site of the next day's bike race. Finding the stretch of pavement that doubles as ‘pit row' for the annual Molson Indy, Ron quickly found the ‘pit' allotted to Team Apollinaris. Maddy and Hans quickly unhooked the trailer and secured it, assured that the race organizer's also had security for the night. Jenny and Ron took the opportunity to drive the girls around the planned course and let them study it first hand. After a few laps, it was on to the hotel.
At the hotel, with the girls already familiar with the room assignments, things went quickly. Nina and Kristen were quick to suggest that a visit to the nearby CN Tower was in order, before supper. Following supper, it was back to the hotel and a team strategy meeting.
Gaby and Kristen noted that except for the sharp ninety-degree turns off Princes Blvd. onto Lakeshore Blvd. and again off Lakeshore onto Ontario Drive, the course consisted of wide two and thee-lane roads with for the most part, gentle sweeping curves and long straights. They noted the course dramatically narrowed at those two turns, which could cause potential ‘bottlenecks' for the peloton. However, a few riders in single file could get through at speed and the team could potentially use that to their advantage.
Their training with the pro Team Apollinaris saw the girls regularly hitting 45-50kph, so the idea was to use speeds like that in bursts to wear down the competition. On one hand, the trick was not to use it so much that the girls were also tired out in the process, but on the other hand, as a team, they were confident that their training with the pro Team Apollinaris had gone a long way to prepare them for such an effort.
Next morning, another seven AM awakening and breakfast with another ten AM race start. Toronto police had already closed off a portion of Lakeshore Blvd. for the race when the team had arrived at the Exhibition grounds. Ron pulled into the team's position on ‘pit row' before nine AM, which gave Hans and Maddy plenty of time to unload and prepare both the bikes and the support van. Jenny called the team together for a last minute talk. When it was time, the team assumed their start positions. Jenny, along with Hans and Maddy took the van to its position at the rear of the field in preparation for the start.
Once the race started, Gaby positioned her team near the front, again seemingly content to allow others to do the work and set the pace. The large peloton quickly slowed and bunched up to negotiate the sharp corner leading to the narrow single lane road that allowed access onto the wide straight that was Lakeshore Blvd.
As soon as all the team was on Lakeshore, Gaby used the team's speed and surprised the competition by leading the three other girls in an early breakaway. Several others, including two from T-Mobile also broke out and joined Team Apollinaris, but soon found that in order to keep up, they had to maintain the fast pace that Gaby and the girls had not only set, but were maintaining.
Leading the pack, Kristen next prepared the breakaway for the right-hand turn off Lakeshore Blvd., back onto the exhibition grounds via Ontario Drive. She led the group to the right-hand side of the road where they were able to make the rather sharp turn at speed, taking the corner wide. Despite the breakaway's efforts to take the turn at speed, one of T-Mobile's girls failed to negotiate the curve and took down three others, including Nina. Judith, being the fifth cyclist, went into the crash barrier but quickly rejoined the race and chased down her friends.
Jenny was driving the first support vehicle on the scene, followed by the race's medical team. Fortunately, injuries were minimal – cuts and scrapes. Nina's front tire had to be replaced, but Hans soon had her back in the running.
As a result of the minor pile-up and the sharp turn, the larger numbers of riders in the main peloton slowed right down and were forced to ‘string' themselves out to make the same turn.
Even when the peloton had snaked through the turn, the breakaway group still had a two-and-a-half minute lead.
Entering the wide sweeping turn that would take them off Ontario Drive onto Princes Blvd and the straight past ‘pit row', Kristen noted both Judith and Nina had rejoined the rest. Being careful not to use body language that would give her intentions away, Kristen upped the pace, pulling the rest of Team Apollinaris away from the initial breakaway group. Kristen's computer showed that they were doing 54 kph during that breakaway attempt.
As the team raced down the straight past ‘pit row' they resumed a slower pace to make the sharp right, back onto Lakeshore Blvd. They intentionally let the peloton close the gap while on the straight, giving themselves a bit of a rest and knowing the main field would have to slow for the sharp turn, while they would be able to take the turn at a fair speed. Back again on the Lakeshore, Gaby and the girls resumed the fast pace.
Throughout the race, they continually varied their pace and took advantage of the track's layout to slowly tire the opposition while they increased the gap between themselves and the main field as well as fending off at least two attempts to chase them down. On lap six, Kristen took the turn onto Ontario Drive a bit too wide almost hitting the retaining wall, leaving Gaby to take up the slack. Soon after Kristen rejoined her friends, seven others including Karen and Ann from Team Canada managed to catch and this time stay with Team Apollinaris.
Once they reached Princes Blvd on the bell lap, it was clear to all that this would end in a sprint, given the talent shown by the lead group. Gaby decided to force the issue knowing Kristen was in a good position to go – if they could do something about Karen. Once they hit the straight, Gaby and Judith broke out in a mad dash with a few hundred meters to go. Gaby knew she wouldn't win a sprint at this distance but as she hoped the two Canadian girls chased after both her and Judith. With a wide straight, Ann fading and Karen occupied, Kristen went wide to the right and passed the four girls, catching Karen by surprise. Seeing Kristen go past, Gaby gave it her all and in the end it was another victory for Team Apollinaris in a clean sweep. Kristen was first by several bike lengths, with Gaby and Judith next to cross the line. Karen was less than a wheel length behind Judith.
As in Atlanta, Gaby was ‘spent' when she crossed the finishing line. This time, she managed to stay on her bike until she approached the team's trailer on ‘pit row', where Ron came forth to help her off the bike and to a place she could sit down.
Despite T-Mobile's best finish with Elsa, who crossed in fifteenth position, there was a friendly but competitive three-way rivalry shaping up between Team Apollinaris, T-Mobile and Team Canada.
Finally the trailer was loaded up and the team went back to the hotel. There, Hans unhooked the trailer and then left it for the night in a secured compound in the hotel's parking lot. That evening at dinner, on the eve of their first off day of the ‘tour', Gaby and Maddy approached Jenny.
“Mum?” Gaby asked. Jenny directed her attention to her youngest daughter. By the sound of Gaby's voice, Jenny knew she wanted something.
“Do you think we could go to that beach that Jessica mentioned, tomorrow?” Jenny was faced with two pair of pleading ‘puppy dog' eyes.
“An' to that reservation, no doubt, hmmmm?” Jenny countered Gaby's question with one of her own.
Seeing that the expressions on both girls became one of concern, Jenny smiled and said, “After what all you girls pulled off today, I think we can arrange it … now all we have to do is get some tourist information to find how to get there.”
As both girls gave Jenny hugs, Gaby excitedly exclaimed, “All taken care of … Carol's Gran lives in Picton, so she knows the area well”
“Carol? … Picton?” asked Jenny.
“Carol Tandy … Team Canada,” Maddy offered as Jenny switched her gaze to Maddy.
“.. and Picton?” Jenny encouraged a bit more in the way of clarification.
“It's a town near the beach.” Gaby provided.
“An' the Reservation?” Jenny was having a hard time trying to look ‘the serious team director' during this exchange. Instead it was Jenny ‘the mother', that was having this conversation.
“That too … Oh! … Mum! … this is Carol.” Gaby intoned while gently pulling another girl by the arm, towards Jenny.
Following introductions and getting all the pertinent information, Jenny mentioned that since Ron and Hans were ‘hanging out' the next day and that she would be doing any driving, Carol might like to act as guide for tomorrow - providing her team manger approved.
Carol jumped at the offer and after a short time, introduced her team manager to Jenny. Jen got the necessary approval, then while the three girls took off to round up the rest to Team Apollinaris, got into a long discussion with her counterpart after finding they shared some common ground.
By ten AM the next day, after a bit more than two hours on the road and unloading the van at the Sand Banks Provincial Park, Jenny and the girls found themselves walking through the warm sand following Carol to one of the many change huts. Once changed, the girls gathered out on the beach holding their towels and beach bags.
They were impressed when they saw the length of the beach in both directions. Finding a bit of territory with an empty picnic table they could claim as their own, all the girls became aware they weren't the only one's impressed with the scenery! Judith said something about ‘suddenly seeing seven goddesses in their midst.'
Moments later, they were all laughing and chasing Judith into Lake Ontario, only to be surprised at how far out they had to go and how sandy the bottom was! All too soon, it was decided it was time to head back to the table and the lunch they picked up at one of the stops along the highway.
When it came time to ‘catch some rays', nobody skimped on the sunscreen as no one wanted to wear skins with a sunburn. Early afternoon, it was collectively decided to get dressed and head for stop number two and some shopping at the “Trading Post” on the Tyendinaga Indian Reserve at Shannonville.
An hour later, they had left Prince Edward Country and pulled up in front of their destination. The exterior was not as grandiose as it's reputation, but after entering, all the girls quickly discovered it was clearly a case of ‘not judging a book by its cover'. As all the girls were let loose on the three floors of Mohawk-made merchandise, packing considerations decided the jewellery and clothing were to be the most popular items. No one came out of that store, empty-handed.
After having worn Gaby's pair, Maddy purchased her own pair of moccasin boots. According to ‘her' Gaby, they made great slippers for those cold winter nights and ‘kool' summer footwear. Both girls bought a few pairs of earrings and other jewellery. Gaby bought another ‘hair feather' as she thought her other one was starting to look a bit worn, despite Maddy's assurances to the contrary; as well as a fringed rawhide jacket. Just before she walked out, Gaby also made sure she picked up a business card and brochure for the store.
Jenny was feeling a bit lighter in the wallet as well, after she also purchased a pair of moccasin boots and jewellery for herself, plus a plain rawhide jacket for Dave and woman's beaded rawhide jacket for Jules.
Finally they all climbed back into the van and once again, hit the highway, this time back to Toronto and their last night in the city. Tomorrow, the ‘tour' would jet off to the West Coast of Canada, and their last Canadian stop – Vancouver.
To be continued:
PB 27.11.06 © 2006