Fights like a Girl

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Spoilers: None.

Disclaimers: This story is based on characters that are Copyright Spelling-Goldberg Productions. This story is meant for enjoyment purposes, and I retain only the rights to the plot, not the characters.

Rating: G

Summary: This is a missing scene from the episode of the same name, originally aired on November 8, 1978. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sabrina watched without emotion as her rival cleared the last fence. The crowd cheered causing Sabrina’s horse to hop nervously from foot to foot with anticipation. He gave a low snort as she edged him closer to the arena gate.

The exiting rider gave Sabrina a smug smile and tipped his hat, “Top that!”

Sabrina lowered her eyes without responding. How many times had her brother said those words? She didn’t hear them from Jory anymore, but the phrase lingered.

Sabrina looked over as the horse’s owner touched her knee, “You have to take three small strides between jumps five and six or you’ll never make it over, and you better be careful over the water jump. It’s a lot wider than it looks. Okay?”

Sabrina nodded absently.

Cali tugged on her boot, “Hey?! Are you listening?”

Sabrina lied, “Yeah, sure.”

Cali rolled her eyes and walked towards the stands with her hands going up and down as she had a conversation about Sabrina with herself.

Sabrina took a fistful of the horse’s mane as the ring steward signaled for them to enter the arena. The horse exploded into motion as her hands loosened up on the reins and her heels tapped into the horses sides. The powerful black horse gained speed with every stride and looked as if he would plow right through the jump rather than go over it.

The crowd made a collective gasp as the horse folded his front legs under his stomach barely in time. Both horse and rider went over the first jump in one fluid motion.

As Sabrina guided him flawlessly through the second, third, and fourth jumps her thoughts turned to her brother's death earlier that week. The tears were barely dry on the triangle shaped flag they handed to her father. She still heard the bagpipes and the guns. Jory was a hero. Involuntarily she told herself, “Top that.”

Without thinking Sabrina thundered towards jumps five and six.

Cali clutched the rail in front of her, “Damn it Sabrina...”

The tears were welling and Sabrina made no attempt to slow the horse down. The landing on jump five was rough at best and the impact broke one of Sabrina’s stirrups. Sabrina instinctively grabbed the horse’s mane and pulled herself upright just in time to see jump six looming ahead.

Cali was now on her feet screaming, “Three strides!”

Even if Sabrina had heard the screams, she couldn’t have done anything about it. The horse took two huge strides and gathered himself to make a giant leap. Sabrina had no doubt they would get over the wall, but did worry about how they would land.

Again the crowd gasped as horse and rider came down hard. Sabrina’s nose connected with the top of the horse’s head and she could hardly see straight when her eyes opened.

The horse bolted in panic and headed for the water jump at a break neck pace. Sabrina shook the dizziness off and placed her hands soothingly on Star’s neck, “Easy - you’re okay...”

The horse’s ears sharply flickered towards Sabrina’s voice and she felt him relax one stride before the water jump.

Cali looked through her fingers as the horse cleared the jump by the slightest of margin and landed safely on the other side.

Sabrina took Star over the last three jumps with ease and reined the him to a stop near the gate. She slid off the horse’s back and landed on her feet with a solid thud. Sabrina tossed the reins over Star’s head and led him out of the arena. People were still buzzing about her performance. Sabrina didn’t think about it. She just wiped the blood from her nose on a nearby towel and took a deep breath.

After what seemed like an endless amount of pictures - the interviews began. At sixteen, Sabrina was the youngest leading rider ever on the Grand Prix jumping circuit. Cali answered most of the questions, but one reporter directed one to her, “Are you dedicating your win today to your brother?”

After some thought she shook her head, “No. He’s here with me.” Sabrina held her hand to her heart.

A flood of new questions were sent her way.

Cali threw her hands up, “Enough - no more questions.”

After putting the horse in the trailer and saying goodbye, Sabrina soon found herself on a plane to L.A. She worked on her homework until it landed. She was surprised to see her remaining sibling waiting for her, “Hey Logan!”

Logan grinned, “Hey Little Bug.”

They walked in silence to pick up her luggage. Logan grabbed her saddle bag and suitcase, “You’re sure quiet. How’d you guys do today?”

Sabrina shrugged, “We won.”

“Great!” Logan threw her bags in the back of his truck, “I was a little worried that you fell off. Your nose looks kind of swollen.”

“It is.” Sabrina then explained, “Star threw his head back when we were coming off this HUGE jump.”

Logan ruffled her hair, “Mom will be thrilled.”

Sabrina pushed his hand away with a sarcastic grin, “Great, just what I need - smotherhood.”

Logan reached in his pocket and fished out the keys, “Be good to my truck while I’m gone.”

“What?” Sabrina looked at him with surprise, “You’re not staying?”

Logan shook his head, “Nope. I have to get back. They only gave me a few days to come home for the funeral.” Sabrina pleaded, “You just got here. I don’t want you to go...”

Logan kissed the top of her head, “Europe is a long flight and mine leaves in twenty minutes.”

Sabrina blinked back the hurt she felt.

Logan cupped her chin, “Do you have the poem I gave you?”

Sabrina nodded.

“We’re always with each other - right here.” Logan put his hand to his heart, “Just like Jory is.”

Sabrina wrapped her arms around him.

Logan said with a wink, “Be good. I know it’s tough...”

Sabrina gave a shy smile, “You too.”

Logan grabbed his bag and added as he was walked away, “Don’t wreck my truck!”

Sabrina waved as he left. He was joking about the truck. Crashing it would probably be an improvement. However the drive home proved to be uneventful. The house was quiet and she didn’t see anyone as she walked in. Sabrina took her bags to her room. On the way back downstairs she heard her father’s soft voice from his den, “Hi sweetheart.”

“Hi.” Sabrina said peeking in. She followed his eyes and saw he was looking at Jory’s picture.

“How did you do today?” His eyes came up to meet her’s.

“Good.” Sabrina offered, “We won.”

“Great.” Her father forced a smile.

“SABRINA?!” Sabrina’s eyes widened. Her mother’s voice was a startling contrast to her father’s, and she wasn’t used to having it around again.

“Yeah?” Sabrina answered as she turned to face her mother.

Sabrina’s mother corrected her, “That’s yes, dear...”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Much better.” Sabrina’s mom kissed the top of her head, and noticed her nose, “Good Lord! What happened to your nose? Go wash up and get ready for dinner.”

Before Sabrina could answer, her mom had already turned her attention to her father, “Richard - I’m leaving for New York in two days. What else do we need to discuss?”

With a sigh Sabrina walked upstairs to wash her face and get ready for dinner. It was a relief to hear that her mom would be going home soon. During dinner Sabrina spent a lot of time picking at her food. Her dad caught her eye and quietly said, “You’re excused.”

Sabrina picked up her plate and took it to the kitchen. The ocean looked inviting with the sun setting on the horizon. Sabrina headed for the door. Her mother questioned, “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Outside.” Sabrina turned in surprise, “Why?”

“Is your homework done?”

Sabrina narrowed her eyes, “Yes...”

Her mom put her hand out, “I want to see it.”

Sabrina’s dad shook his head, “You can go.”

Sabrina went to leave again. “No! Come here...”

Her mom pointed at the spot in front of her feet, “You had better still listen to me.”

Sabrina’s dad waved his hand at her, “I said you could go.”

Sabrina tried not to look as confused as she felt. She decided to please them both. Sabrina run upstairs and came back down with a fist full of paper for her mother, “Here’s my homework.” To her dad she said, “I’ll be outside.”

Sabrina went out the backdoor with a bang. She ran down to the pier and sat at the end of it. As she watched the sun sink into the sea, her heart felt like it was going with it. Her parents were driving her nuts. She also felt like she was the only one who actually felt anything. When Jory died, her dad was so proud that he had died a hero. And her mom quickly raced out and took care of all the funeral arrangements. Sabrina knew Logan was sad, but he too remained strong through it all. No tears from anyone but her. She missed Jory so much it felt like her heart might explode from the pain. Jory had thrown himself in front of a gunman during a domestic dispute to protect a mother and her three children.

Sabrina had asked Logan, “How could he do that? He didn’t even know them...”

“I’d do the same thing.” Logan explained, “You have an obligation to help those that aren’t as strong as you are.”

Sabrina quietly confessed, “Well, I’m not that strong.”

“You are.” Logan assured her.

"I'm not." Sabrina looked at him with skepticism, “I would never put myself in front of a bullet.”

“You never know...someday you might.” He gave her a folded up poem, “Jory would want you to have this. I do too...”

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glint on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle Autumn rain.

When you awake in the morning hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush -

of quiet birds in circling flight.

I am the soft starlight at night.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.

I am not there. I do not sleep.

As she read, a soft breeze dried her tears. She didn’t want to live without Jory. Sabrina decided Logan was right. She did need to carry her brothers next to her heart - always. It was her strength.