"Jason, you need to ease up and relax," Eighteen years old Kara Dobbins said to her steady boyfriend as they sat in a booth at the local McDonalds. "He is not your responsibility."

"He is my little brother," dark-haired and brown eyed Jason Kramer replied. He was a little irritated by his girlfriend's comment, but also kept in mind that she was only child. He glanced over at her only to feel the irritating feeling to subside. He was a sucker for her blue eyes and long wavy blonde hair. "He is not exactly little. He is seventeen-years-old!"

"Seventeen going on twelve," Jason added, sipping his soft drink. He knew that he was protective over his younger brother Adam, but he had to be. They had to look after each other, especially with the situations that they had been into in the past.

"Now look, I have stood by you through the accident and the court trial. I spent many nights alone wondering why I even try to be your girlfriend Jason Kramer," Kara said. "He has really tried and trained so he could play in this game. Let him enjoy it and let's enjoy our time together."

She was right. Ever since Adam had been involved in an accident that left him with brain trauma and his girlfriend paralyzed from the waist down, he had been trying to regain his old life back. Jason vowed to help him every step of the way and was a great support for Adam. Jason often helped him rehearse and color code his notes for school. That was easy for Jason since he was an honor student, but for Adam academics had become a struggle and a source of frustration. Adam was also a good student before the accident, but put more time into his social life than Jason. Now he was an average student trying to get average grades to be able to play sports, especially football. Due to his injuries, he was not allowed to play football until that night. Adam's doctor had begrudgingly cleared him to play the last two games of the year on the condition that he would be the kicker. Of course this did not go over well for the popular quarterback, but he accepted the deal anyway.

"Yes, but he still has to watch it. If he gets hit in the head, it could-," Jason started to say as they cleaned up the table.

"Jason! I said I want to enjoy our time together as a couple, not talking about Adam," Kara interrupted as she dumped their trays into the trashcan. "So where are we going to meet your parents and Alyssa to watch the big game?"

"Well, Dad got called out of town this morning on a case so I guess it will be just Mom and Alyssa. I told her that we would just meet them by the gate so I could carry Alyssa up to the reserved bleachers. Mom and Dad always buy about six reserved seats. This will be the first time that we have been able to use them all season," Jason commented as they walked out the door and towards the 1970 GMC blue van that the boys owned together. It was often referred to as Ol' Blue, but Jason had been driving the van lately since Adam was driving his newly restored Trans Am. "Well, we had better get over there. It is seven and kick off is at seven-thirty."

Meanwhile, medium blonde haired Adam Kramer was making his way across the field to the locker rooms with his best friend Chuck Cooper, who was a defensive block for the Emerald Beach Wildcats. Both boys played for the team that represented Emerald Beach, a small town on the southern Californian coast. Chuck was also involved in the accident with Adam, but only suffered a scar. He was a very big boy who loved Cheetos and Butterfingers, but was a force to be dealt with on the field.

"I am sorry your Dad will not be able to make it," Chuck said as they started across the gravel parking lot to the locker rooms.

"Oh, it wasn't his fault. You know how cases can be," Adam said with a smile. It was no secret that the Kramer brothers had often helped their father, Carl Kramer, on cases and had even solved a few on their own. Their mother, Laura Kramer, wished that they had taken up different interests, such as archeology since she was an archeologist and history professor for the University of California at San Diego. Chuck had often helped them on some of the cases along with Jason's best friend Craig Johnson. Their last case though had taken an emotional toll on the Kramer family. They had discovered that Adam had been a victim of abuse as well as their niece at the hands of a family member. But now things were starting to get back to normal.

"Yes and that is why I am enjoying the rest and relaxation of being on the field and protecting the ol' pigskin," Chuck added with a smile, rubbing his red hair under his hat. He always wore a hat to hide his curly red hair.

"You had better not relax too much, you have to protect our blessed substitute quarterback," Adam said sarcastically.

"If Eric Peterson was not on our team, I would sack him myself," Chuck said, putting on his tough and gruff defense look.

"Hey, look over there. Speaking of Eric, isn't that him over there next to that red 1968 camaro?" Adam said as he stopped to look at his archenemy since third grade. "It is a nice car. I wonder where he got it? I doubt it that he put an ounce of work into it."

The boys walked over to glance at the very sporty car. It was not a secret that Adam had a weakness for older cars.

"Nice car there Eric. Where did you get it?" Chuck asked as they made their way to the medium built dark-haired boy.

"Dad bought it off of the new guy in town. He got a great deal and boy it can fly," Eric said in a snobby way. "Why I bet it would beat your heap!"

"Whatever Eric, we were just trying to be friendly," Adam replied as he went to turn back towards the locker rooms.

"My dad bought it for $5000.00! Can you believe it?" Eric commented. At that, Adam stopped in his tracks.

"Five thousand dollars?" Adam questioned. He knew that there was no way anyone in their right mind would sell a fully restored 1968 camaro in the condition that Eric's car was in for that amount these days.

"He got a great deal. What is the matter? Jealous?"

"No, at least I know where my car came from and the parts as well," Adam quipped back. He knew from his father's training that if a deal sounded too good, then there was a rotten apple somewhere.

"What are you saying? That my father is a thief!" Eric said as he came from around the car to personally confront Adam.

"No, but I hope that this is not a 'hot' car if you get my meaning," Adam said with an even tone. He hated Eric, but felt obligated to tell him the truth.

"You are just jealous. I have your spot on the field and now I have a car that will bury your heap under the ground!" Eric yelled getting up into Adam's face.

"HEY! SAVE IT FOR THE GAME!" a voice boomed behind them. It was Coach Donald. "It is time to get suited up so quit wasting time!"

The three boys just glared at each other as they obeyed the coach and entered the locker room.

After being briefed on the plays and the strategies of the night, the Wildcats were ready to take on their opponents-the Crown City Highlanders. Adam was so excited as he made his way out to the edge of the field. Things were finally getting back to normal and it could not get any better than that moment. He looked up into the reserved seats and spotted his mother, Alyssa, Jason and Kara.

"So are you ready for this champ?" coach Donald asked Adam as both of them stood there waiting to be announced.

"You bet I am!" Adam replied. He secretly wondered if this day would ever come in the days following the accident.

"Remember, no funny business. You can't afford to get your head hit too hard," his coach warned.

"I know, but may be the next game-," Adam said, but he was interrupted by the sound of the loudspeaker announcing the Emerald Beach Wildcats. At that, the team ran across the field as the bland played the fight song. Then everything got quiet for the national anthem.

"AND NOW, WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE TIME TO WELCOME BACK ADAM KRAMER TO THE GRID. HE WILL IS KICKING FOR THE WILDCATS TONIGHT INSTEAD OF IN HIS USUAL QUARTERBACK POSITION DUE TO INJURIES. WELCOME BACK ADAM!" the announcer stated over the speaker system. A roar could be heard from the crowd as Adam stepped forward and waved his hand into the air. From the stands, Adam's family was extremely proud and tears could be seen streaming from Laura Kramer's blue eyes.

After that the game was on. It was a tight game, but the Wildcats held their own. In the last part of the fourth quarter, the Wildcats were in the lead by just three points. Since there was still time for the Highlanders to make their way down the field, they wanted to go for a touchdown. However, the coach had called for a field goal attempt. As they huddled up, Eric recited the play calling for a fake kick and to run with the ball. Adam was already on his way out for the kick. When Adam heard the play, he immediately brought it to Eric's attention that the coach had called for a field goal play.

"Look do we want to take a chance of loosing this game. We still have a minute to go," Eric thundered back. This team is going to the playoffs and this is the only way to secure it. Now are you going to catch the ball or not?"

"Yes, but I am not---," Adam said in an even tone, but he was interrupted by Eric.

"If you can't handle it, then fine. Just admit that you are scared to run this play," Eric fired back.

"I can handle it, you had better remember that you are the replacement quarterback!" Adam said in an angry tone. No one was going to call him a chicken, no matter what the consequences would be.

"Fine! Set!" Eric said as the rest of the team got into their positions. Adam knew that he was going to really be in a lot of trouble, but there was no way that Eric was going to try to sike him out. Besides, he had done the same play before without a problem. So it would not hurt.

Adam got into position for the fake punt play. He heard Eric yell and the ball was shifted past Eric's hands and into Adam's. Now normally he would have kicked for the punt, but he looked with lightning speed for a hole in the Highlanders defensive line. And he found one. Instead of kicking the ball, Adam tucked it under his left arm and ran. It was a beautiful play even though he could hear Coach Donald yelling his disapproval from the sidelines.

Up in the stands, Jason noticed the same thing that Coach Donald had. His mother looked over at him with a very confused expression on her face. "Why isn't he kicking the ball!"

All that Jason could do was hold his breath as his younger brother raced for the end zone while jumping over one player and twirling off of another. Just when Adam was about to be tackled, Jason heard the sound of the horn signaling a touchdown. Jason could not believe it. His brother had just scored a touchdown after rebuilding almost his entire life. Mrs. Kramer let out s sigh of relief and then joined in with Alyssa and Kara, whom were both cheering along with the crowd. It was just like old times Jason thought to himself. He secretly wished that Dr. Coykendall could see Adam now. He had beaten the odds.

The Wildcat team gathered together in the end zone to celebrate their victory. Chuck came out and ran for Adam and lifted him up off the ground.

"You did it! We are in the playoffs!" He chanted as the other team members picked up Adam and Eric in their victory dance.