One Magical Night

Patrick Kane wandered around Chicago, sticking mainly to Madison, as he searched for his friend. He asked passers-by if they had seen his captain, but no one knew. Plus it didn’t help that most of them were embarrassed or starstruck by his presence. And he was asked to take a million photos.

But he pressed on.


He got a sudden thought in his head and pulled up to Johnny’s IceHouse (West building), the practice facility. He parked quickly and bolted inside of the abandoned arena. They had been practicing at the East facility, so the West was wide open and empty.

He darted out onto the ice surface, skidding to a halt and almost slipping on his normal feet. It felt bizarre and not normal to be on the ice surface without skates, but he recovered quickly. He looked around him. “Tazer! Please, I want to talk to you! I’m sorry!”

He saw something move out of the corner of his eye. His head snapped to the direction of the back wall, where the large symbol of the team was on the wall and the giant letters of “Johnny’s”. The visitor’s bench was empty with exception of a few towels that had been left from the camps and amateurs.

“Go away, Kaner!” a voice snapped at him, from the home bench.

Patrick spotted his friend sitting with his arms folded. His face was covered in tears and he looked like a royal mess. Realization hit the blonde man that he had done this to his friend. His best friend.

“Johnny,” Patrick began, taking a step forward on the ice, hearing it crunch under his feet.

Jonathan looked down, sniffling. “Just leave. I don’t want to see you. You hurt me, Patrick and I don’t know if I can forgive you.”

“I was stupid. But I met up with Aaralyn and I apologized. She’s really a great gal, Johnny. And I’m sorry!”

“You threatened her and you threatened me. Piss off, Kaner!”

Patrick had a serious doubt creep into the back of his mind. What if he had punctured Jonathan Toews too much to the point of no return? What if Jonathan, the confident and friendly captain was truly gone because of him? No, he couldn’t let that happen! He had to continue trying to get through to his friend.

He walked forward and placed his arm on the ledge and leaned over, looking down at Jonathan. He could see the massive gash on his friend’s cheek where the puck had hit him. He felt his stomach turn in knots, as he remembered doing that on purpose. He had been on fire, enflamed in fury and hadn’t thought.

“I’m really sorry. I swear. Please Johnny please come back.”

“You hurt me Kaner. Big time!” He looked up, his eyes flashing with anger.

“I realize that, buddy, but I wasn’t thinking! I-I…” He trailed off looking down at his feet and the horribly manicured ice. He looked back up and took in a deep breath. He had to tell Jonathan his secret.

“Why were you so against me and Aaralyn being together? She is fantastic girl!” Jonathan spoke, a hoarse tone to his voice. He was still skeptical of Patrick, still angry at him.

“Sarah.”

“Sarah? Sarah, as in Sarah Riverwind, your ex?”

“She destroyed my virginity and I thought----”

“That Aaralyn was like her, if not her!?”

“Yes, but I was wrong! I was so wrong! Aaralyn is a million times what Sarah was! Sarah was a bitch, Aaralyn is an angel!”

Jonathan blinked, he wiped his eyes.

“I made a huge mistake! I judged her without getting to know her! And I’m so, so, so, so sorry! How much more sincere could I be?” He closed his eyes, waiting. He had laid all he could out there. His heart couldn’t go any more. He was truly sorry and he had put all the sincerity that he could into his words. He opened his eyes slowly again.

Suddenly Jonathan jumped to his feet. He stepped up to the railing of the bench and flung his arms around Patrick at once, embracing him. “You’re right! I forgive you Kaner!”

Patrick hugged him, chuckling lightly. “You know, someday we’ll laugh at this?”

“What are we, Kaner, a married couple?”

“Nah. Just best friends on the best team ever in the best sport ever!”

“Damn right!”

They broke apart, brushing themselves off from the contact. They laughed. It was one thing if they were brothers or family, but they were best friends. And they were men. Men didn’t hug other men, especially hockey friends. But they didn’t much mind. They were so deep into their bromance, they could have kissed one another and it wouldn’t have been so awkward.

“So, is our captain back?” Patrick questioned with an adorable grin.

“He is.” Jonathan smiled at Patrick. “Let’s go play some hockey!”

“Agreed! We got a Cup to win!”

“Just try not to hit me with a puck this time. That hurt like hell!”

“Yeah, sorry about that. Anger makes you do strange and unforgivable things sometimes.”

They linked arms and walked out of the rink, chuckling as friends once more. Patrick felt so relieved that he had actually been able to make up with his friend. Under certain circumstances, with all that he had done, he wouldn’t have gotten a quick response. Nor would he have been able to get through to anyone else. But this was Jonathan Toews, one of the best centres in the NHL and one of the nicest, most down-to-Earth people that Patrick Kane had ever known and had the pleasure working with.

Sure they fought, but it was all out of fun and tease. No one else in the NHL racked up to them. No one came close to their friendship, to their closeness, to their bromance.

No one had the relationship that Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane had.

Notes

It's the damn truth! No one's got the bromance that Kaner and Tazer have! Not Peyton and Eli Manning, not Marchy and Segs, not Getzy and Pers, not Jamie and Segs, NO ONE!!!!
Alright, everyone get out your tissues.....Awwwwwwww Kaner and Tazer!!!! :)))))) <3 <3 <3 <3
1 more chapter, er epilogue left!