Forever Chicago

The game roared on far below on the ice. Riley, Paige and I sat together in the press box.

“So where the hell have you two been?” Riley asked turning to Paige.

“We’ve been um,” she laughed, “focusing on us.”

“So do you think you’ll move back in together?” I asked.

“Maybe, we don’t want to move too fast.” She said.

“That’s smart.” I said, “So are you two good.”

“Yeah.” She smiled staring down at the ice, “We’re great.”

“KODIEEE!” Maddy Sharp came sprinting at my seat.

“Hi Maddy!” I laughed, as she jumped into my lap.

“Hi ladies.” A tired Abby Sharp said sitting down next to us, baby carrier in hand.

“Hey,” I said, “How’s it going?”

“Exhausting,” she laughed.

“Why don’t you let Jon and I watch the kids for a night?” I asked.

“Oh I couldn’t make you guys-“ she started.

“YEEEES” Madelyn cut her off.

“It’ll be fun,” I said, “And you two need a night off.”

“Please Mommy.” Maddy said hugging me.

“Please Abby.” I laughed.

“Alright,” Abby laughed.

“How about next Thursday?” I said.

“Sounds great.” Abby said lifting Saidie out of her baby carrier.

The game was intense. The Blackhawks were roaring past the Blues with a 3-0 lead. Jonathan made me nervous as he skated past defenders, his forehead still stitched together.

The third period neared as Maddy still sat perched on my lap.

It was the second game, and it looked as if the Hawks would tie the series.

Excitement filled the air as we all headed down to the locker room.

“Look at this sad group.” A bunch of Blues players laughed as they passed the Blackhawk locker room.

Paige, Riley, Abby, and I stood together never turning around to deal with them.

“I heard all the Blackhawks have vaginas.” Brian Elliot laughed.

The four of us felt our faces blush.

“Especially Toews.” Steen said, “Kid can’t fight for his life.”

“Can you believe that Saad kid actually got a girl pregnant.” They all laughed.

You could see the anger on Riley’s face, and she whirled around, her 3 month pregnant belly beginning to show.

She glared at the group of men.

“Someone’s tough.” Patrik Berglund laughed.

Paige, Riley, and Abby turned to me. I felt Abby hand rub my shoulder.

The guys came out of the locker room one by one. I was used to Jonathan being last; every newspaper in Chicago wanted a captain’s quote.

I was left alone in the hallway with one Blues player, Steve Ott.

“Ya know,” he said, coming towards me, “if you ever want a real man, I’m around.”

“No thank you.” I said, sliding up the hallway.

“Come on blondie.” He said picking up a piece of my hair.

“Stop it.” I said, moving away from him again.

“I was talking to you.” He said angrily pinning my shoulders against the wall.

“Stop it!” I yelled, trying to force him off of me, he was too big, “Get off me!”

Jonathan came out of the locker room.

He ripped off of me throwing him to the ground. Jonathan layed three hard punches across
his face.

“She was asking for it.” Ott yelled.

“What the hell? Jonny?” Coach Q came out of the locker room, splitting the two up.

Tears welled in my eyes.

Catching sight of my face, Coach Q began to understand what had happened.

“Get the hell out of here Ott!” Q screamed.

“Are you okay?” Q said as Jonathan came defensively behind me, I nodded.

“Come on, let’s go,” Jonathan said, “Thanks coach.”

“Good job Jonny.” He said.
…
Jonathan, Ollie and I sat entangled together on the couch. Jonathan’s strong arms felt amazing around wrapped around me.

“Are you okay?” Jonathan asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I said, “Thank you for coming to the rescue.” I laughed.

“Of course.” He said kissing me, “That guys a fucking creep.” He got red.

“It’s okay.” I said trying to calm him down “I love you not him.”

I kissed him again, before Patrick, Paige, Riley, and Brandon Saad burst through the door.

“What happened?” Patrick yelled.

“Are you okay?” Riley said.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” I said, shifting off Jonathan’s lap.

“What a fucking creep.” Brandon said, as they all joined us in the living room, “Did you kick
his ass?”

“Maybe.” Jonathan laughed, I looked down at his hand.

“Oh my God.” I said picking it up, it was all swollen, and his knuckles were bloodied.

“It’s fine.” He said.

“It’s not fine.” I said, getting up to get an ice pack.

As I pressed the ice to his hand, I felt safer than I ever had within Jonathan’s arms.

…
The next morning I woke up nervous to say goodbye to Jonathan.

“I’ll be back on Tuesday, are you sure you’re okay?” he said holding tightly to my waist as we said goodbye.

“Jon I’m fine,” I smiled kissing him.

“Let’s go loverboy.” Patrick Kane said as he walked out the front door.

“I love you.” He said kissing me.

“I love you too.” And then he was gone.

I headed out the door to work, and I was met by a mob scene.

Reporters and cameramen stuck microphones, cameras and recorders in my face.

“Kodie how does it feel to be the girlfriend of an NHL superstar?”

“Kodie is it true you cheated on Jonathan with Steve Ott?”

“Where is Jonathan now? Are you still together?”

“What?” I said as I pushed through them, “Leave me alone!”

I finally made it to work to see a packed waiting room.

“Kodie! X-Ray ! Room 6!” My supervisor screamed as soon as I walked through the doors.

I walked into the room to see a little boy hugging his teddy bear.

“Hi,” I smiled, placing his folder in the door, “What’s your name?”

“Timmy.” He said, tears running down his face, he looked only to be about 6.

“Hi, Timmy I’m Kodie.” I said.

“Hi,” He said through tears.

“So what hurts today?” I said kneeling down in front of him.

He held out his arm.

Timmy’s father stood arms crossed behind him. He showed no emotion, or signs of worry.

He was a scary man, about 6’5, dress in a tight black t shirt, that revealed tattoos, and
jeans.As I looked at Timmy I realized not only was his arm very broken, he was covered in dark bruises from head to toe.
I lead Timmy into the x-ray room.

To no surprise his arm was broken in 3 places. The breaks were odd, they couldn’t of been caused by a fall down the stairs like his father claimed.

“Timmy,” I said as I molded a cast onto his arm, “Did you really fall down the stairs?”

A long minute passed before he said, “No.”

“What really happened sweetie?” I said.

“My Daddy got mad at me.” He said, as he clutched his bear.

“Does your Daddy get mad at you a lot?” I asked as I sat next to him, having finished his cast.

He nodded.

“Okay, stay here.” I said as I left the room.

“Jeannie,” I said approaching the front desk, “This little boy, we can’t release him to his Dad.”
“What? Why?” she said concernedly.

“Come here.” I said.

As we looked through the window of his room, it became obvious to Jeannie.

“I’ll call the police department; someone has to tell the father though.” She said.

“I’ll do it.” I sighed.

I walked back to the room, Timmy had originally been brought to, I took a deep breath before entering the room.

“Mr. Collins,” I started

“Where’s my kid?!” he yelled aggressively.

“Mr. Collins Timmy has severe bruising all over his body. The hospital doesn’t feel confident
that you are providing a safe place for Timmy. The police have been notified and they will need to question you.”

“What the hell?! Are you fucking kidding me?! Bring me my fucking kid!” he screamed.

“Sir please calm down.” I said as he moved closer and closer.

“Give me my son!” he screamed.

“Sir, the police will decide whether or not your son is returned to you.” I left the room.

This job was going to be the death of me.
…
That night as I sat on the couch with Ollie, I couldn’t get Timmy out of my head. That poor little boy, how could anyone ever intentionally hurt their child?

I dialed social services.

“Hello?” A woman answered.

“Hello, I’m a nurse at Chicago memorial hospital, I’m calling about a little boy named Timmy.”

“Yes Timmy Collins, he was released to his father this morning.” She said.

“What?” I was shocked, “Can you tell me an address please?”

“Ma’me I’m not supposed to say.” She said.

“Please, ma’me this is for the immediate safety of a child.” I said.

I sprinted from the apartment address in hand and raced towards Timmy’s house. I couldn’t save Rose, and I’d be damned if I lost another kids.

I arrived at a rundown shack in Western Chicago.

I heard his screams into the warm May night, as I approached the front door.

Frantically I knocked on the door. Timmy’s father answered holding a belt.

“What the hell do you want?” he snarled.

“Mr. Collins by law I’m required to protect my patients, you cannot take care of Timmy.” I said.

“What the hell are you gonna do about it bitch?” he growled.

“If you don’t release Timmy to me right now, I’ll call the police and you’ll go to jail, bitch.” I snapped.

He glared at me for a moment before yelling up the staircase behind him, “Timmy!” he yelled.

A blood stained Timmy came down the stairs, he stood timidly behind his Dad who shoved him out the door, slamming it behind him.

I pulled Timmy into my arms, and drove straight to the hospital.

“Kodie?” Jeannie said as I carried him in.

“Who the hell let him go with that man?” I said angrily.

“I, I don’t know.” Jeannie said.

“Where’s Susan?” I said still infuriated. Susan was the hospital’s social worker, who handled every endangered child who came through the hospital.

“She went home for the weekend.” Jeannie said.

I looked at Timmy’s sad face, his clothes were soaked in blood, I had no choice, I had to bring him home.

Notes

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