Collide

"We are essentially on the same plane. It's just we are sitting in different spots. You know you could sit with me, I won't mind." Sid was getting dressed in his suit for the game that night against the Rangers. And attempting to convince CiCi that she should sit with him on the flight over to Russia.

"Yeah, but I mind NBC. you've made it through this special without revealing too much about me. Let's keep it that way." CiCi finished tying her boots and stood next to Sid in the dresser mirror. "You look too good for words and I feel all frumpy."

"You don't have to wear a jersey babe. Wear what you feel comfortable in."

"I feel frumpy because I have cramps you butt." She swatted his arm and saw a rosy color form on his cheeks. "Hey, if you want to put up with me, you have to put up with ALL of me."

"No, I'm not embarrassed that you said that! I'm embarrassed because I had a thought come into my head. But I don't want to say it," Sid was putting his wallet in his pocket and trying to ignore CiCi's puzzled face.

"I didn't have a full hysterectomy, Sid. I still have one good Fallopian tube and still have monthly periods."

"It's scary how you knew what I was thinking," Sid turned to face her finally and stifled a laugh when she gave him a cheesy smile.

"And I chose not to take the full hysterectomy in case I wanted to ever have biological children. I mean, I can't carry the baby, but I still want it to be part of me." She averted her eyes to the duvet and started to pick at something that wasn't really there.

"Alright, how do I look?" Sid quickly changed the subject. He could sense that she was getting down on what she liked to think of as her situation. In his mind, it was something that will be dealt with appropriately in future years. But he also knew that a child of their own, at least one, would need to happen. He could see that was something she desperately wanted.

"I could eat you up," CiCi said.

"Please don't. I have a game to go play. Then I have to captain the Canadian hockey team at the Olympics. And if I am gone I can't help father our future children."

CiCi rolled her eyes, "I was kind of hoping to get my hands on Olli. He's a cutie pie!"

Sid arched an eyebrow and looked sternly at CiCi. "Fine, I'm kidding! Future babies with you will be adorable."

"Okay, okay. No more talk of children. We have plenty of time for that in the future." He sat next to CiCi and tapped his forehead against hers.

"Sidney! You're going to be late!" They heard just as Sid leaned closer to touch his lips to hers.

"And this is why they don't actually live here. They really know how to cramp a man's style." CiCi laughed and pushed Sid off the bed so that he could leave.

"I'll look for you during warm ups." Sid walked out into the main living area with CiCi close behind him. His father was driving over with him and his mother and CiCi would be walking over a little later.

"I'll be looking all frumpy from the club seats." She smiled a sad smile while Sidney turned to her, lifted her chin with his hand and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

"You're beautiful. I love you," he said quietly without letting go of her chin.

"I love you more," she whispered back.

"It's not possible," he said as he turned towards the door where his father was waiting. She watched him leave and gave a small wave when he turned around to wave at her.

As soon as the door closed CiCi collapsed in the chair at the island and stared at where Sidney was just standing. She sighed and smiled at Trina when the older woman came into view.

"So what time should we leave here?" Trina asked.

"I'd say around 5:30. That gives us a chance to get the T and over there when the gates are opening." CiCi felt a sharp pain in her stomach and winced as she felt it.

"Are you okay dear?" Trina asked, concern etched on her face.

"Yeah, my cramps are just really bad right now. I think I'll go lie down for a little bit."

"I'll wake you when it's close to leave." CiCi nodded and walked gingerly towards her bed. She experienced cramps before, but nothing this severe and she was starting to get worried.

But she couldn't get comfortable laying in bed either even after popping a couple aspirin for the pain. Before long Trina was peeking in to wake a restless CiCi to find CiCi curled up on her side and tears streaming down her face.

"CiCi! Sweetheart you look worse!"

"I don't feel great. I think I need to go to the hospital." Trina agreed and helped CiCi up.

"I'll drive your car okay? We will go to Mercy." CiCi agreed, and with the help of Trina threw on some shoes and her coat then was led out the door by Sid's mother.

*****

It was a disappointing loss in a shoot out, but the team had a nearly three week reprieve. Most of the guys would be well rested when they returned to face Montreal. But Sid was more troubled by the fact that every time he looked for CiCi and his mother only his dad was there watching.

Once the media poured out of the locker room, Sid reached for his phone to try calling CiCi. He was turning it on when his father approached him.

"Sidney, you're going to want to get in the shower and get cleaned up." He glanced up at his dad with a puzzled look. Behind him stood CiCi's dad looking disheveled and tired.

"What happened?" His heart was pounding faster than he ever imagined.

"Son, CiCi was complaining about not feeling well to your mother."

"Yeah, before I left she said she had cramps."

"Sid, you do know what happened to CiCi when she was younger, right?"

"Yes. Will you guys just tell me what the hell is going on?"

"CiCi's ovary ruptured and is in emergency surgery right now," Joe explained. Sid could tell how worried Joe was and he also knew from what time he spent with the older man that sitting and waiting was not an option. He came down here, not to tell Sidney but to walk away and clear his head.

Sid didn't say another word. He turned towards the showers and moved through the motions of cleaning up as quickly as he could. But time seemed to have stopped and he felt like his movements were slowed down. All the voices and noises around him were static. He didn't bother throwing his suit on. Instead he went straight to the equipment room and found a fresh t-shirt and sweats to wear. He got a pair of socks and threw on his sneakers he left in his locker.

He didn't care about protocol, he just wanted out of the building. He would be back tomorrow to collect his things and the gear he would fly over to Russia. He found his father and Joe talking quietly and it was then that he realized that they never met before. And now they are meeting over a life-changing operation. Wasn't it just a few hours ago that CiCi and he were talking about babies? And now ironically enough the only way that would have happened was being compromised.

The drive to the hospital was a short one as they were only two streets over from it. Sid and Troy followed Joe through the corridor leading to the surgery waiting area. The halls were dim and the activity in that area of the hospital was quiet, the waiting room completely empty aside from the two other most important women in Sid and CiCi's life.

"Mom." Sid whispered hoarsely. He found a little bit of his voice, but he felt the tears that needed to escape. And as soon as she wrapped her arms around him he lost control and cried.

"Shh, sweet boy. Everything will be fine," his mother cooed gently. Her voice calmed him slightly, but the tears wouldn't stop.

"Mr. And Mrs. Barsi?" An elderly woman called.

"Yes?" Joe replied and Sid looked to see tears streaming down Diane's face. And Joe wrapped an arm around her shoulders for comfort.

"The doctor called. The surgery was successful, they are transporting your daughter to recovery and he will be in to speak with you shortly," the woman explained.

"Okay, thank you." Sid pulled away from his own mother and went to Diane as her tears of grief matched his own. She leaned away from her husband, placed a kiss on Sidney's cheek and accepted his embrace as well.

"When do you leave?" Diane asked loudly enough for only Sidney to hear.

"Tomorrow evening we fly to Newark. Our flight out of there leaves Sunday morning," he explained.

"CiCi won't be able to go. We can pay you back for that."

"Absolutely not. You will stay with her until I get back?"

"Yes I will. She will not be alone."

"Thank you Diane. I'm staying here tonight with her."

"Sid you aren't going to be sleeping in a bed again until Sunday. Are you sure?" Trina asked. She since sat down on the other side of Diane after Joe had stood to pace around.

"I can't leave without knowing how she is. So I will stay here."

"You're so good to her Sid. Thank you for taking such wonderful care of our baby," Diane said.

"Mr. and Mrs. Barsi, I'm Dr. Galloway. Cesira developed a cyst on her ovary which ruptured. We were able to remove what was damaged. Now, Mrs. Crosby right?" Trina nodded. "Mrs. Crosby filled me in on what she knew of Cesira's history. Has she ever experienced cysts before?"

"No. Just the ectopic pregnancy. Her eggs?" Diane said.

"I was leading to that. We saved them and need to know if you want them frozen?"

"Yes. Freeze them. Do whatever you have to do so that she and I can have children of our own one day," Sid said without hesitation. He had four sets of eyes on him immediately. "What? Do you four want grandchildren one day?" Tears were again in Diane's eyes along with Trina's eyes.

The doctor continued to explain the operation he performed and while Sidney was listening, he wasn't truly processing what he was saying. When he was finished and excused himself, Sid waited anxiously for word that he could go to CiCi.

And when they were finally able to go up to her room, he was the first one on the elevator and the first one off. He didn't hesitate when he go to the door, which was slightly closed, he walked right in and stopped at the foot of the hospital bed. CiCi looked so small lying there with tubes coming out of her extremities. How could it be that just hours ago he was kissing her goodbye in their apartment and now she was sleeping in a hospital bed.

He walked over to her side, collapsed down on the chair and fell forward. His head hit the mattress and he began to cry again. He felt fingers comb through his hair and he assumed it was Diane following him in to see her daughter.

"Did you win?" A hoarse voice ask. He shot up to see CiCi looking at him with droopy eyes. Not able to find his voice he only shook his head no. When she reached over to brush the tears from his face he caught her hand and held it against his cheek.

"I'm okay. I'm better now."

"The doctor told us that the full hysterectomy should have been done before," he explained.

"Now I'm good to go."

"I told him to freeze your eggs."

"Good. We can still have Sid juniors later."

He could tell she was fighting sleep and was grateful that the room had a fold out couch for him to sleep on.

"Don't leave me," she whispered with a hint of desperation in her voice. He got the sense that she wasn't meaning tonight. And in his mind a life without her wasn't a life worth living. He shook his head and pressed her hand to his lips.

"I have to actually physically leave tomorrow, you know?" He reminded her after several minutes.

She nodded.

"None of this is scaring me off baby. I love you too much."

"I love you too Sidney."

Notes