They all went home for Christmas, including Jess. She went home for a week—all the vacation she could get—but Warren and Sophie would be staying for a couple weeks, before flying to Cleveland for Nationals.

One thing they decided to do, with Ellen and Dan’s permission, is to have a party the Saturday before Christmas. There were so many friends that they didn’t get to see enough of, so they had a party.

The house was packed, all their friends eager to come and spend some time. Everyone was there. Crash even came, though Liz couldn’t as she was busy practicing for Nationals. Ryan didn’t come, either, so Crash and Jessie jokingly decided to be ‘dates’ for the day.

"So, how’s Liz?’ Jess asked him.

"Just wonderful. I got lucky, and I know it. I thought living together would be a strain—it’s not. It’s working out wonderfully. How about you with, what’s his name, Ryan?"

"Well, that’s a little bit more difficult," Jess sighed. "If it were just the two of us, things would be wonderful, but it’s not."

"Ah," Crash said, "that bitch of a partner of his."

"You got it," Jess admitted. "He told her off, but she’s still a bitch. I’ve let him handle things so far, but if she keeps up some of the shit she’s pulling….."

"Full Metal Jessica’s gonna make an appearance?" Crash guessed with a smile.

"Oh, she’s all ready to peek her nasty little head out," Jess laughed.

"Good! Outside of Courtney the Bitch, how is Ryan?"

"Wonderful, actually," Jessie admitted.

"More compatible with you than I was?"

"Well, yes," Jessie laughed. "What can I say? I’m sure you’d say the same about Liz."

"I must admit…." Crash grinned.

"More low-maintenance than I am?" Jess teased.

Crash chuckled. "Liz Cushman is probably the most low-maintenance female I’ve ever met in my life. Sometimes she’s too low-maintenance."

"Ah, ah, ah—be careful what you wish for," Jess teased.

"Tell me about it," Crash chuckled ruefully. "No, not really. It’s just that sometimes she has to stop and remind herself to tell me, ‘Hey, Jay, I love you and I’m glad you’re here.’ She does it enough, though."

Jess laughed. "Well, honestly, I’ve become a wee bit more low-maintenance than I used to be. Not completely, though."

"How’s he?" Crash asked.

"Medium-maintenance. Just about right. Not clingy or oblivious, just attentive." She sighed. "Of course, the problem is his baggage—and she doesn’t need ‘maintenance’, she needs a complete blow-up-and-rebuild."

Crash laughed, but then got serious. "Do you think that’ll ever be an obstacle?"

"It could be," Jess admitted. "It’s been defused for now, but, yeah—I think there might be a possibility. If she ever asks him to choose between me and his skating career…..I don’t know how that would turn out. I’d never ask him, but she might. And he’s not Sophia and Warren, who could leave it all behind—skating’s so important to him."

"I hope it all works out, kiddo," Crash told her quietly. "I want the best for you, you know that."

"Thanks."

Warren and Sophie had many friends, and, because of the hectic quality of their lives lately, they didn’t get to see too many of them, which is why they had the party.

Warren was thrilled to see Siobhan Bates, who he hadn’t seen in a while.

"So, how’s the knee, darling?" Siobhan asked him.

"It’s coming along. A little bit every day. So how’s the love life?"

Siobhan let out a dramatic sigh. "It is so frustrating. Craig and I went out for three years, for Goodness’ sake. And we get out of college in May—and he moves back to Pennsylvania! I didn’t see that coming. I thought we were going to stay here."

"Do you still stay in contact with him?"

"Yes, and he’s going to come up here for New Year’s. But it’s frustrating. He decided he hated Boston, and I don’t know if I can just pack up and move to Philadelphia. I don’t know anyone there. I know his family is there, but he does at least have friends here. I have nobody there. Plus, I’m working, and he hasn’t found anything yet."

"That sucks, Siobhan."

"Yes, it does. I just don’t know what to do. Ah, well, if he doesn’t come around, I’ll just dump him and find someone else. I mean, I am irresistible, after all."

Warren laughed. "There’s the Siobhan I know and love."

"You bet your Beatle Boots, babe. He’s got chances to work this out, but they’re not unlimited. If I’m single, I’m gonna start acting it!"

Sophie, meanwhile, was renewing acquaintances with Nick Papadopoulos and Karen Laskovich. Karen was showing off her engagement ring.

"So, when’s the wedding?" Sophie asked them.

"Summer after next," Karen said. "He just put this on me two weeks ago, and we need plenty of time to prepare."

"It’s going to be a big one," Nick laughed. "Me being Greek and all, I have a thousand cousins."

"I have a funny feeling we’re going to get swamped with wedding invites in the next couple years," Sophie giggled. "Our college friends Paul and Caitlin are next year."

"We’re all getting to be that age," Nick said.

"And there’s so many long-term relationships in our little circle," Karen giggled. "Of course, some of ‘em break up. Speaking of which, how is Jess?"

"Fine," Sophie told them. "She’s got a new guy. Ryan Killen, he’s a skater, too. You can ask her about him when she comes back around."

"OK," Nick said, bemused, "how many people in your little circle have ended up going out with skaters?"

Sophie laughed. "Well, Jess. And Crash, her ex, he’s dating Liz Cushman. Warren’s sister Kristin is dating Tom Bellamy. That’s it, I think. Though I’m sure there will be more opportunities!"

The day after Christmas, Warren stepped out onto the ice for the first time in over two months.

It wasn’t easy. He was still wearing a brace on his knee for stability, which cut down on his range of motion. And the pain was still rather acute. But they wanted to prove that they were, at least, working towards getting back on the ice. They wanted to be skating somewhat by the time Nationals rolled around, that would make it easier for them to get a bye to Worlds.

However, it was rough going. Warren was gutting it out, but it wasn’t easy.

New Year’s Eve, they’d been on the ice for a week. They were still just doing it in short spurts, nothing even close to a program.

"Damn, this hurts," Warren moaned, sitting at the side of the ice.

"Maybe you two should just shut it down for the year," June, their coach, told them.

"I don’t think that would be a good idea," Warren said. "Miss a whole year, the year before the Olympics? If we can at all be at Worlds this year, I think we have to."

"I see your point, Warren, but you don’t want to mess the knee up any more," June said.

"True. Hence, the brace," he said with a smile. "That’s why I’m wearing it. The pain doesn’t mean I’m making it worse."

"True."

Warren hobbled his way through a couple of weeks of very shaky practices. Then they flew to Denver for Nationals. They wouldn’t be competing, of course, but this was where the World Team was to be named. If they were going to get a bye, they’d have to be here. They’d probably have to show some folks from the USFSA that they were working towards being ready for Worlds.

When they got there, Curtis Ingalls asked to meet with them. They invited him up to their room.

"Look, you guys need to know this," Curtis started. "There’s a concerted effort to keep you guys from getting a bye."

"Why on earth?" Sophia said.

"Oh, come on," Warren said. "I think we can guess who’s behind that."

"There’s no proof, but my hunch is that you’re correct," Curtis said.

"Why would she care?" Sophie said. "She and Ryan are shoo-ins. They’re going to win the National Championship, they have no real competition. So why would they care if we go to Worlds?"

"Because then the spotlight’s off the little princess," Warren snorted. "It’s all about our ‘comeback’, and, even as National Champions, they’re also-rans at Worlds. We’ll get the attention."

"Ah," Sophie agreed.

"But this shouldn’t be a problem, anyhow, should it?" Warren asked. "We’re the only team here that’s medalled at Worlds. We’re the only team that has a chance to medal at Worlds. We’re three time National Champions. We’re past World Champions."

"Yes, but, there’s precedence. Nicole Bobek," Curtis pointed out.

"Nicole Bobek was injured because she went on a tour in the month before Nationals, and her training habits sucked," Warren pointed out. "Plus, there was a lot of hullabaloo when she didn’t get the bye. Lots of people were pissed. I was one of them. And there are no Michelle Kwans in the Dance division this year to uphold the USA’s standing. It’s us or nothing. Ryan and Courtney can’t make the podium in Cup of Russia, for goodness’ sake!"

"I know," Curtis said. "Look, guys, I know we’ve had our disagreements—but, in this, I’m on your side. I will vote for you guys getting the bye. We don’t have to name our official World team until a week before Worlds start. So, as far as I’m concerned, you guys have until then to prove you’re ready. Call it a provisional bye."

"Which is fine by us," Warren told him. Sophie nodded agreement. "But we’re going to get people voting against even that, aren’t we?"

Curtis nodded. "How can Courtney get away with this?" Sophie asked.

"She—and, I suspect, her mother—have been doing this all behind the scenes," Curtis told them. "It’s only my suspicion that they are behind it, but I’d be shocked if it were anything else. It’s that they’ve planted doubts in the minds of the USFSA Board. You know, you guys will never be ready, it would be unfair to the third-place team at Nationals, knee surgeries don’t heal that quickly, et cetera. They’ve created an undercurrent of doubt, and kept their names out of it."

"Is there anything we can do?" Warren asked.

"Can you handle a full run-through of your long program?"

"Uh, no," Warren said. "I mean, Curtis, I’ve been back on the ice for two weeks! And I’m still in a brace."

"It can be watered down," Curtis told them. "I think you have to show them something. And if you can come close, and I make sure I let it be known that you’ve only been back on the ice for two weeks—I think we can pull this off."

"Yeah, but, what happens if I collapse in pain halfway through it?" Warren asked. "That would be worse."

"I know, but it’s the only way," Curtis told them. "Unless I can prove that Courtney and her mother are behind this—I could discredit the effort that way—but I don’t think I can."

"All right," Warren said. "Schedule it, but for as late in the week as you can." Curtis nodded. "And we’re going to work on the other angle. I wonder if Ryan can catch Courtney in the act?"

"Do you think that would help?" Curtis asked them. "Don’t get me wrong, I like Ryan, and I know the dynamics of that pair—but Ryan’s historically been very timid in confronting Courtney."

"Not lately," Sophie grinned. "Ryan has an extracurricular activity now." Curtis just looked at them.

"Ryan’s got a girlfriend," Warren laughed.

"Wait a minute—you mean besides Courtney?" Curtis asked, amazed. "Wow. I thought Courtney had him completely whipped—whoops, excuse me."

Warren cracked up. "Don’t worry, Curtis, we don’t offend easily, you know that. I think Ryan got fed up with all that. He doesn’t love Courtney, never did, and I think he decided he had had enough of how she treats him."

"Furthermore," Sophie told him, "Ryan’s new girlfriend? It’s Jessie, my best friend."

"You are kidding," Curtis laughed.

"Nope," Sophie told him. "Plus, Courtney caught them—in the act, if you know what I mean—and Ryan absolutely read her the riot act. Told her to stay out of his personal business."

"Wow, what a change," Curtis said, still laughing. "Good for him—and good for Jessie. But, yeah, if you can get him in on this, that might help. But you’ll probably still have to skate."

They explained the situation to Ryan, who was incensed. And it was child’s play for him to get the goods on Courtney and her mother. He overheard a number of conversations. He decided to confront Courtney, and asked Jess, who had come to Nationals to see him, to be there. Jess gladly agreed.

Courtney’s mother was also there. "I’m telling you two flat-out," Ryan started. "Call off the dogs. I know what you’re up to, and, if it doesn’t stop, I will tell the USFSA Board. I’ll stand right up and tell them who’s manipulating this, and why."

"You fucking traitor!" Courtney screamed.

"Ryan, you seem to have lost your sense of priorities," Mrs. Rogers said ominously.

Courtney snorted. "That’s because he’s sleeping with this slut!"

That was the wrong thing to say. Jess had been playing it cool, but Full Metal Jessica had been lurking for some time. " Slut? Me? Oh, that’s rich. I sleep with Ryan because I love him. You’ve been sleeping with him for years to manipulate him. And I am a slut?" She got right in Courtney’s face. "You know what? I bet the networks and the skating gossip rags would love that. Little miss morals, the upstanding Courtney Rogers, who criticizes other people for being immoral—has been sleeping with her partner since she was thirteen! And she’s been doing it to blackmail him! What would happen to your pristine little image if that ever got out?"

"Nobody would believe you," Courtney said—but shakily.

"Oh, come on, Courtney. There are ways to get it out, you know. You should know all about that, considering what a devious little shit you are."

"Hey! You can’t—" Mrs. Rogers started.

Jessica wouldn’t let her go any further. "Oh look, the Mother of the Year wants to say something! Just shut your fat fucking mouth, I don’t want to hear it." Courtney’s mother’s eyes bugged out at that. Incredulous, she just stood there with her mouth opening and closing like a fish. "You know, I wondered how Courtney became such a manipulative bitch—until I met you. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, does it?"

Jess turned back to Courtney. "And as for you.—I understand skating’s important to Ryan. I try not to get involved in that—even when you are trying to sabotage my best friends by devious means because you can’t beat them on the ice. But I stay out of that. However, if you ever say another derogatory word to me I will slap that fucking smirk off your face so hard it’ll make your head spin, and don’t think for a minute that I won’t. You have no idea who you’re dealing with. I’ve ground up and spit out people that would make you look like the picayune pissant you truly are.

"You have no fucking idea how lucky you are—because you have no appreciation for the lengths that Ryan goes to protect you. If he’s telling you to call off the dogs, you’d better do it—because without him there to smooth things over, you’re in deep shit. And, remember this, he will not protect you from me."

With that, Jess turned on her heel and made to go. Courtney stared after her, completely flabbergasted. Ryan looked at Courtney, and, very quietly, said, "Call off the dogs about the Kellehers’ bye. I won’t back you on this. I mean it." Then he turned and went in the same direction as Jess.

He quickly caught up to her—she had stopped around the corner so he could catch up. She looked sheepish—and was, in fact, about to apologize—until she saw the big grin on his face.

"Wow!" he said.

"Uhm, I think I got a little carried away," she said.

"Yes, but it certainly was fun to watch," he grinned. "Where did that come from?"

"Oh, that’s a rather prominent part of my personality, actually. I call her Full Metal Jessica. You’ve just never seen it before, because you don’t piss me off!"

"Believe me, after that, I will be doing my utmost to never piss you off."

"Good boy. You train well," she laughed. "Anyhow, I hope my little tirade didn’t make your life worse."

"I couldn’t care less," Ryan said. "After what she called you, she deserved it."

"Thanks."

Courtney and her mother did back off, but the damage was done. The sentiment against granting a bye to Warren and Sophia had taken on a life of its own. So, they did what they had to—they skated their long program in front of a group of USFSA judges and officials.

It took its toll. They got through it—though it was watered down—and Warren managed to not break down in pain until he got to the locker room. But the pain was intense.

It was a very strange Nationals for Warren and Sophie—the first time in 7 years they wouldn’t be participating. They watched Tom, Liz, and Brett and Andrea all repeat as National Champions. And they watched Courtney and Ryan win their first National Championship—with a weak and lackluster program that plainly indicated the growing resentment between the two. They won purely due to lack of competition.

That helped Sophie and Warren. The USFSA was faced with three dance slots for Worlds—and the top three finishers at nationals were a pair who were at odds with each other; and two pairs of complete also-rans. Even with Courtney’s manipulation, and even with the very shaky performance that Warren and Sophie had eked out—it was an easy choice for the board. Warren and Sophie were given a tentative bye to Worlds, contingent on passing a physical and an observations session right before Worlds.

They were in. Now all they had to do was hope Warren’s knee kept healing.