Ryan stood up as well, yelling at the broad back presented her as Dylan headed for the door. ?You?re wasting your pick, Lambert! That kid will turn out to be the laughing stock of the league, and you?ll go down right along with her!!?

An enigmatic smile tossed over one shoulder was her only answer.

Hodge sat in the roped off area in the center of the room, waiting with the rest of the hopeful draftees for the show to begin.. She tried not to show how nervous she really was. Never let ?em see you sweat, she kept telling herself over and over as everything was readied to make the grand announcement.

Looking across the room, she smiled at the sight of her family, bunched protectively together. Her brothers, she could tell, were doing their very best to behave, and while her mother looked pensive, her father was positively beaming.

Hodge stopped her foot from bouncing and begged whatever heavenly spirit might be listening to bring this torture to an end. As if in answer to her prayer, the commissioner stepped up to the podium and, after shuffling his papers several times, began to speak.

Dylan stood waiting in the wings, tuning out the commissioner?s prepared speech. Her own short announcement was easily memorized, and all that was left was to convince herself for a final time that her decision was the correct one. Not that she needed to. Dylan was nothing if not decisive. Instead, she amused herself by picturing the crowd?s shocked reaction when she dropped her little bombshell. Unfelt, a smirk curled the corner of her mouth.

When the commissioner turned and caught her eye, she came back to the present and nodded to indicate her readiness to proceed. He gave her a quick smile before returning his attention to the audience.

?And now that I?ve put you all to sleep with my opening remarks, I?ll try and wake you all back up by introducing the holder of the first pick in this year?s draft. Representing the Birmingham Badgers, Ms. Pallas Dylan Lambert.?

The crowd erupted into loud, sustained cheering as Dylan made her way across the room to the podium. An entire constellation?s worth of flashes went off simultaneously, capturing forever the image of their beloved Goddess.

Swept up in the crowd?s excitement, Hodge found herself standing with the rest, applauding for all she was worth and cheering herself hoarse. She watched Dylan turn her head away from the cameras? bright flashes, and at that moment, their eyes met, and locked.

For Hodge, the sounds around her faded beneath the loud hiss of blood in her ears. She knew she was still clapping, she could feel the motion in her arms, but it was as if she was bringing two blocks of wood together repeatedly for all she could feel of her hands. There was something between them. She could feel it, as if someone had stretched an invisible, thrumming wire from one to the other, connecting them in that one brief infinity in a way that was a little frightening in its intensity.

Behind the podium, Dylan felt the same strange pull, not so much a physical reaction as one borne deep within her oft times buried emotions. She allowed herself a brief moment to analyze the sensation, then quickly raised the walls she?d built to protect her from public scrutiny.

The applause finally died down, and the guests found their seats once again.

?Thanks for the welcome,? Dylan said, flashing the brilliant smile that had made the covers of untold numbers of magazines throughout the years. There was some laughter and some cheering in response before the room quickly became quiet and filled with eager anticipation.

?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.?