It was game 7 of the Western Conference Finals and Jane had been working for a couple of days again. She couldn’t do everything, but it wasn’t good for her to stay at home any longer, or rather at Viktor’s apartment. Of course the whole team knew what had happened. They’d explained the situation to Coach Q and Jane had given her okay to tell the guys about it. They even knew about their relationship. That made it easier for Jane to be herself around them and not tell everyone herself why she had to be careful when she did certain movements.
“Jane?” Coach Q asked her before the game started. “You’re gonna be on the bench with us again, right?”
They’d lost the first three games against Vancouver. Jane had started working again during game five and had stayed on the bench, or rather in a corner, for the two previous games, both of them won with a shutout. They had to repeat today or the playoffs would be over for them.
“I’d love to!” She smiled. Ever since admitting her feelings for Viktor, she’d been a lot more relaxed, happy.
Viktor grinned at her when he walked past towards the ice. She wouldn’t talk to him or any of the guys, but she’d be right there, ready to head down the tunnel should anything happen. And she had one of the best seats to watch the game in her opinion. She was a part of what was happening.
The game started and all of a sudden Jane’s shoulders were tense. It hadn’t been like that during the last couple of games, but this was game seven. It was win and move on, or lose everything they’d worked for for the whole season.
The Blackhawks played their hearts out on the ice, but after two periods it was still tied at zero. Jane stayed out of the locker room while the coach and the captain talked to the team. In that time she stayed out there and looked at the ice. Her thoughts drifted to Viktor.
Man, he’d been a lot of work when she’d first met him. Good thing she could make him do what she wanted and nurse him back. He’d needed someone who didn’t take his bullshit and she’d been that person. Thinking back, she began to smile. She’d liked that attitude right from the start.
She’d never admit that. Of course, she’d been impressed by his physique, she wouldn’t deny that, but that she’d liked him straight away? No chance. Patrick and Abby would never shut up about it.
She stood up quickly, when the boys returned. They were fired up, ready to do what they could to win this game. In the end, they’d battled harder than in the games before, but the Canucks had won 1-0.
Jane left them alone in the locker room and went up to meet with Abby. She looked so down, that Jane gave her a hug.
“Patrick is going to beat himself up about this for days,” she sighed and shook her head. It was hard to take this loss.
“I know. You should probably go on vacation with him. You both deserve some time away, especially before kid number two comes around.”
“You’re right. He could use the distraction.”
“Come on,” Jane said and took her friend’s hand in hers. Together they went down to wait in their usual place. They knew that it would take a lot of time for them to appear today, but when they finally appeared.
Both men looked devastated. It was hard to swallow this loss, because the penalty that had been called, had been highly debatable, and it had led to Vancouver’s goal. Viktor tried to force a smile when he stopped in front of them.
“Let’s go home, okay?” Jane took his hand in hers, turning to Abby and Patrick. “We’ll see you guys tomorrow?”
“Yes,” Abby said with a nod. Patrick only stared blankly ahead, wanting to get home as fast as possible, so he didn’t have to see anybody except for his wife and child anymore.
Viktor was silent the whole drive long. Even in the apartment he stayed quiet, making Jane more and more worried about him. The problem was, that she didn’t even know what to say to him in a situation like this. Everything just seemed wrong.
She took off her shoes and stood there, lost, watching him take off his shoes as well. His hair was still damp from the shower he’d taken. Tomorrow, his playoff beard would come off. That’s what he’d told her one evening. When the season was over for them, he’d shave the next day. She had to admit, that she really liked the beard.
Suddenly Viktor turned around to her. He looked tired, his shoulders slumped, and not his usual smile on his lips. No words were needed, when Jane walked up to him and wrapped her arms carefully around his middle and leaned her head against his shoulder. She could feel and hear him sigh when he leaned his head against hers.
“This was crucial,” he said in a low voice. “I can’t believe the season is over. I didn’t work hard enough.”
“Stop!” Jane lifted her head to look at him. “You’re talking nonsense.”
“No. If I had just worked a little harder, we could have won this.”
“Viktor.” She put a hand on his cheek. “Do you even know what you’ve achieved this season?” She took a deep breath. “You played well, then you had that accident, couldn’t even walk properly, but you managed to come back from that injury and played even better. And while you did that you managed to tear down the walls I built around myself and made me fall in love with you. You worked as hard as possible, and I know that it’s a tough loss, but you’ve accomplished so much.” She got on her toes to give him a kiss. “You all played your hearts out and it was a pleasure to watch you play. That doesn’t make it better, but beating yourself up about this won’t do that as well.”
Viktor looked down at her and slowly began to smile. Then he leaned down, ran a hand through her hair and kissed her. Here was the woman who could make him feel better about himself. The woman who’s made him play this good again. The woman he wanted to stay in his life, marry someday and raise children with. That little speech right there had made him sure that she was the right woman for him once again.