Burning Gold

“Alright, what’s got you staring at your phone so hard? That girl finally text you?” Patrick Kane wiped the sweat off his face.
“Her little brother got worse; she doesn’t think he can come out for a game.” Jon said dully.
“Shit that sucks. Is he alright?”
“I don’t really know. Her texts are pretty broad.”
“Let her know I hope he’s alright.” Pat started undressing out of his gear.
“I hope they both are. It can’t be easy on her doing all of this with no family, I should go see her.”
“Jonny, I’m all for hooking up and messing around but do you really want to get into that? It’s such a fragile situation. Not to mention that you met because of her dying brother.”
“I’m not trying to just get in her pants. I don’t know, she seems a lot more down to earth than the majority of chicks we meet.”
“Then go see her but think about what you’re getting into because you can’t pull out when things get rough the kid, you can’t do that to her, don’t be that guy.” Patrick warned Jon.
His approval felt like a weight had been lifted, so it wasn’t that crazy that Lily was in Jon’s thoughts the whole time since they’d met.
He got ready quickly, throwing on some loose khaki shorts that he wore to practice and a black v neck t shirt.
The hospital was just about ten minutes from the United Center, when he arrived Jon couldn’t help but doubt his decision to come. He thought it over a couple times, reassuring himself that he wasn’t acting like a crazy stalker and when he bought balloons at the gift shop he felt even better about showing up.
From memory he slowly figured out the hospital halls and found himself walking towards Sam’s room. His stomach tightened a little bit, hoping that the situation to come wouldn’t be dreadfully awkward.
His knuckle knocked loudly on the door before poking his head in.
“Jon!” Lily sounded quite surprised with a smile on her face. “What are you doing here?”
“I just wanted to make sure you and Sam were both okay.” He tied the balloons to the end of the sleeping boy’s bed.
“He woke up briefly, but I think the events of today really tired him out.” Lily summarized for him.
“Probably needs his rest. “Jon’s hands slipped into his pockets as he leaned against the table. “And how are you doing?” His eyes softened as he looked at her.
“Surprisingly relieved. They’re fairly positive that it’s happening because Sam isn’t slowing himself down and is tiring himself out. He needs to understand that his body can’t handle the excersize and energy required to act like a healthy boy his age.” Lily cut herself off. “Sorry, I don’t want to bore you with the details of his situation.” She blushed looking down at her lap.
“No don’t worry, I don’t mind. Reminds me there is a hell of a lot more to life than hockey, and I heard talking about it helps.”
“Sometimes, sometimes not though. So no hockey today then?”
“Came here from practice actually.” Before Jon could continue, Ali knocked lightly on the door.
“Sorry to interrupt, Lily if you want I can stay with Sam, you haven’t had anything to eat and probably need some dinner.” Ali subtly winked at Lily and Lily knew enough to know that even if her stomach was full, Ali would keep pushing till she agreed.
“Sure. Please call me if he wakes up.” She stood, grabbing her purse.
“Of course.” Ali nodded back.
“Oh yeah.” Lily blushed again. “Jon this is my friend and Sam’s nurse, Ali. Ali, this is Jon.” They shook hands lightly.
“Nice to meet you.” Jon grinned.
“Yeah you too. And make sure she has more than a cup of coffee. I know her too well.” Ali joked while Lily rolled her eyes.
“Will do.” He assured, laughing.
“Cafeteria?” Lily turned to him as they walked out of the room.
“How many times has that cafeteria seen your face?” Jon asked. “How about we go to an actual restaurant. I mean we don’t have to if you want to stay close for Sam but-“ Jon rambled on.
“Sounds like a plan.”

When they got to the restaurant their waitress clearly recognized Jon and Lily’s presence didn’t stop her from puffing out her chest and batting her eyelashes at Jon. Lily found it funnier than anything else and it only made Jon embarrassed.
“Happen a lot?” Lily bugged.
“No, but it’s always awkward when it does. Especially when it happens in front of someone like you.”
“Please explain.”
“Over the years of playing in the NHL, you learn to see through the people who want you for something your job offers.”
“A talented man you are.” Lily winked. “And you think I’m genuine?”
“I’d like to think that I know you are.” He grinned at her.
“You thought wrong.” Lily joked. “I mean who do you think is going to pay Sam’s hospital bills?”
“Should I just pull out the cheque book now?” He played along with her.
“Well you’ll make my job a lot easier if you do.”
“Just let me finish my dinner.” Jon laughed. The way she kept a smile on her face even throughout everything she was going through blew him away.
After they had ordered with the waitress that was still vying for Jon’s attention, they fell into an easy going conversation. Both felt the desire to know everything and anything about each other.
“So we were trying to get back into the hotel without coach noticing us and all was going fine until we realized Oshie lost the key to the room. So Oshie and I drunkenly stumble to the lobby and either they knew we were drunk and under age or the room was under coach’s name but they called him down either way, I’ve never been more scared in my entire life than when I saw Coach walk into that lobby.” Lily and Jonathan laughed together as he recalled the story of the time he got put on probation for underage drinking.
Although Lily was listening and enjoying the story, she couldn’t help but be distracted by the look in his eyes when he smiled. She felt comfort.
“How mad was he?”
“I think he was mad we got caught cause then he had to do something about it. I’m sure he would’ve known we were hungover the next day but he was good at looking at the other way. After all, it was a bunch of 20 year old guys, it’s bound to happen.”
“That would’ve been a fun call to Mom and Dad” Lily jokingly bugged.
“Mom was mad. Even though I was 20 she still threatened to drag my ass home.” He laughed to himself picturing that conversation.
Soon enough the food came, Lily’s stomach grumbled at the sight of her. She didn’t realize how hungry she was.
“Better than coffee?” Jon bugged. She blushed slightly looking at her lap.
“She takes good care of me as well that’s for sure.” Lily referenced to Ali.
“She seems to know you better than yourself”
“Yeah, you could definitely say that. Although she’s not a motherly figure, she definitely knows me like my Mother did. And she challenge’s me when I need to be. Plus she takes care of Sam better than anyone else has. We met when Sam first was admitted and she took a liking to him I guess. I had no one else, especially because we just moved to Chicago from Huntley for better treatment.”
“Did you like Chicago? I remember feeling quite alone when I first moved here for hockey.”
“Yeah, in a way it was nice because I got rid of a lot of memories of my parents, not that I wanted to forget them but it got draining walking by their bedroom every day. But moving here made Sam’s illness real, it wasn’t just doctor’s talking to me it was scans and needles and nights at a hospital.” She caught herself rambling, but Jon didn’t mind, he was in awe at her bravery. “Sorry, I talk about Sam too much.”
“No, don’t apologize, I like hearing about him.” Jon reassured. “And I hope he gets healthy enough to bring out on the ice.”
“I really hope you’re not pulling any big strings to do that, getting him to a game will be more than enough.”
“Lily, I want to. I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t.”
“Okay.” She hesitated. “Thank you by the way. It means the world to Sam and a lot to me.” She blushed looking down at her lap.
Jon didn’t even think about it when his arm reached across the table, placing his finger under her chin and pull her head up to meet his gaze.
“Better.” He said quietly.

Notes

ooopps disapppeared for 5 months but Im back nowwww :)