Time Stands Still

At the hospital, Reilly, Val and Brad waited outside of Tyler’s room. Brad kept nervously moving about. First he was pacing back and forth, mumbling to himself and he kept telling himself that it was his fault Tyler had been kidnapped and was on the verge of dying.

He continued to hit himself and abuse himself, blaming and cursing his stupidity. And then occasionally he would perk up and look into the window, where Tyler was unconscious on the bed. Which made him dart over and peer in.

He slid into one of the chairs and kept glancing into the room, like a nervous wreck. He was as nervous and vigilant as a young woman walking alone at night. He kept glancing back, unable to divert his mind and action from the scene before him. Val attempted at one point to calm him down, but he panicked, like a cat freaking out. He returned to his pacing and mumbling.

“Just let him be.”

Suddenly, a burly man in a nice formal black and white suit and tie marched into the wing and toward them. His blue eyes shone and they flickered with worry. “How is he? Where is he?”

Reilly cocked his head, curiously. “Nemo?”

Antti Niemi halted at the door to the room. He made to enter, but one of the nurses came out and blocked his entrance. “I need to see him! Let me see Tyler!” He tried to get past the nurses, but they stood their ground keeping him out. The big HDA boss looked like a mess. Even more so than Brad, who had paused in his pacing and was finally distracted.

Brad stared at the San Jose Sharks’ goalie. Reilly and Val got to their feet, as Antti began to tear up.

“Nemo, why do you care so much for Tyler?”

The boss turned to them. “How long?”

“How long what?” Reilly questioned.

“How long has he been in there….unconscious?”

“An hour.”

“He’s gotta----he’s got to make it!” Antti looked down at his feet. He was horrified about something. He was withholding something.

“Nemo, why do you care so much for Tyler Seguin?” the Bruin repeated.

“Because….he’s my son!”

Val and Reilly shared a look.

Brad came forward. He was shaking his head. “No way. He has his parents.”

Antti turned to gaze at him. He looked the winger right in the eye and said seriously, without tease, “No. I am his adoptive father. When he left Brampton, he needed foster parents.”

“That is true….so, wait you’re----oh my gosh----you were Tyler’s foster parent?” Brad stepped backward, gasping in shock.

“Yes.”

“So, Tyler Seguin is your son?”

“He is.”

“That’s why you wanted us to take the case! That’s why you wanted us to protect him!”

“It is. I was concerned for his well-being and I was right. But I didn’t act quick enough!” Antti buried his head in his hands. He began to sob.

“Hey, it’s okay. It’s not your fault,” Reilly softly said.

Val and Brad joined in the comfort. They all huddled around the HDA boss, patting him and reassuring him.

Finally, after a few heart-breaking moments of silence and horror, the nurse came out and informed the trio what was going on. Tyler would make it and he would fine. Antti’s color returned to his face and he smiled. He grabbed both of his interns and hugged them close.

“I knew I could count on my Awkward Man and Shy Boy duo!!”

He released them both and walked rapidly into the room to Tyler’s side. He grabbed Tyler’s hand, overjoyed. And now he let out tears of happiness. Brad entered as well, darting around to the other side and grabbing the other hand.

“Don’t you scare me like this ever again, Segs! I hate you so much, buddy!” the pest cried.

Val and Reilly leaned on the door frame. They dipped their heads in unison.

“A job well done to my two interns!” Antti cheered, gesturing for them to come in.

And they did. They stood at the foot of the bed and saw Tyler awake. He was smiling at them. He bowed his head respectfully to the two. “I misjudged the HDA big time and I apologize. I will definitely watch what I post and I will be respectful to Dallas, Boston and all of the cities. Thank you for saving me Nichy and Smitty, I’m grateful to you!”

He coughed, but it was nothing major. It was just a little dry throat, which Antti immediately flagged down the nurse and got him a cup of water. The boss ran his fingers through his adoptive son’s hair, gently. Tyler turned his head to gaze up at the man and smiled. “And I didn’t realize that you were the HDA boss. Thank you for being there for me! I’m proud to have been fostered by you, Antti Niemi. Nemo.”

Antti wiped away his tears and embraced the superstar. He was gentle, not wanting to hurt or damage Tyler’s recovery. The two hugged one another for a good minute, before Tyler turned to his ex-linemate.

“Marchy, you Pidgeon, you!”

Brad struck a cute pose, swaying in place, as he gave a “who, me” look.

“You will always be my number one bestie! Jamie’s great, but he’s not you! He’s not Brad Marchand, the most awesome hockey pest ever!”

Brad blushed.

“Now the 2014-2015 NHL season can begin!”

“Aye! Yee-haw!”

“Yee-haw, indeed!”

They shared a laugh, remaining by Tyler’s bedside, until he was released a few hours later.

Notes

Alright everyone...time to learn why Nemo cares so much! :)
And it's because Tyler is.......HIS ADOPTIVE SON!!! HAHA, bet ya didn't see that one coming?!
No, Nemo is not really Tyler's adoptive son, but....for this story he is! Because I'm a writer and I can and I say that he was fostered by Nemo! :)
There is a short little epilogue to follow this, but this is it for TSS, thank you so much for reading and I hope this was entertaining and suspenseful. :D