[i][u]{James POV}[/u][/i]

"James sit down," Mario said sternly to me, as I watched Talon walk out of the office.

[i]'What the fuck just happened? Did that really just happen? Is Talon really giving up on us after everything we had been through? I couldn't imagine my life without Talon in it. I couldn't just sit here and do nothing and watch her walk out of my life, could I?'[/i] I had all these thoughts and questions running through my head.

"James sit," I heard Mario say again.

I tore my gaze away from the door that Talon had just walked out of and looked over at Mario. Mario was sitting there watching me like a hawk with a serious look on his face. But I continued to just stand there dumbfounded as to what had just gone down. Again Mario nodded to the chair. Sighing I finally decided to sit down, instead of running out of Mario's office like a coward and getting in more trouble.

"So do you want to tell me what just happened? Why your wife just walked out of here very upset? Or do you want me to guess?" Mario asked me.

"It was nothing," I mumbled shrugging my shoulder's.

I really didn't want to put mine and Talon's business out there like that. Even though I had tons of respect for Mario. I just didn't see how it was any of his or anybody else on this teams business what was happening between Talon and I. There already were a few people who knew what was going on and that was a few too many if you asked me. And the fact that, that girl Amber, Alison, no what was it? Oh right Ashleigh had to show up last night didn't help me at all.

"Ok that's where your wrong son. I think a lot of you forget I used to play. That I know how is being a professional athlete. That I know about all of the temptations out there and there hard to resist," Mario told me.

"How did you do it? I mean how did you, you know resist?" I asked.

"I admit it wasn't easy. With so many girls out there throwing themselves at you when your a superstar. But I resisted because I knew they just wanted a quick lay or they were after my money. And not after me for me. I also knew a bunch of guy's who did fall for the temptation and watched as their marriages fell apart. These were good guy's who actually did have great relationships with there spouses, but they made a stupid mistake. And unfortunately they paid for it. There were also guy's who did it for years and never got caught, but years later realized that it wasn't worth it and regretted. It wasn't something I wanted to put myself through." Mario told me.

"Were..... Were there any of them that got caught able to mend their relationship's?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah there were a couple. But don't get the wrong idea here James. Their relationships weren't the same afterwards. Their wives kept them on a short leash and there were serious trust issues afterwards. There was one old teammate of mine afterwards and his wife called him practically every ten minutes when we were on the road, trying to find out where he was and what he was doing. Which of the guy's he was hanging out with on the team on the road. And if he was hanging out with one of the guy's he was most likely to screw up with around him he would be in the dog house for weeks on end." Mario told me.

"Oh," I replied, my shoulder's slumping forward.

"Is there any particular why your asking me this?" Mario asked me.

"Its just..... Well lets just say I know this guy and he's having some martial problems and he's really trying to fix things with his wife. He's tried everything to get her to forgive him. But he's just not sure what to do anymore," I replied, with a shrug.

"So this friend of your's, what kind of martial problems is he having?" Mario asked, looking straight at me and playing along at least for now.

"Well its just that he's screwed up. Like majorly screwed up and he know's that. He just doesn't know what to do now," I said, sighing at the end.

"Alright James I want an honest answer. I'm not going to beat around the bush anymore. Especially with the way that Talon left here. I want to know if what you did is true?" Mario asked, turning serious again.

'Damn I should have known Mario would see right through my lame "friend" excuse. He really does pay attention to what goes on with member's of the team.' I thought to myself.

"I d-don't know," I said, suddenly feeling deflated my shoulder sagging.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Mario asked, narrowing his eyes slightly and one of his eyebrows rising.

"I mean I know I screwed up, like big time screwed up. All I remember about that night is that it was a really bad time for me. Well a really bad time for Talon and I. You know with everything we were going through at that time last season. And I..... Well I had to leave the house that night and I remember going to the bar, alone. And I had a few drinks that night," I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

"Hell I had a lot to drink that night. I admit I was smashed. I remember fans coming up to me and they kept trying to talk to me. There were also some girls who kept trying to talk to me, but I just kind of acted like a jerk and blew them off. But their was one girl who didn't take the hint. All I know is I woke the next morning and I wasn't in my bed, or my house. And the person I woke up with wasn't Talon," I finished explaining.

"Is the baby yours?" Mario asked.

"I'm not sure," I answered, ashamed that I didn't even know.

"Your not sure?" Mario asked, another eyebrow raised.

"Well I mean it might be. Hell I don't know," I said frustratingly, running my hands through my hair again and tugging at it. "I mean I don't really talk to the girl. I don't even have this girls phone number. I mean I guess there's a possibility that it could be mine. I'm not even sure how far along she is."

"So let me get this straight. You invited her to the game last and down stairs, where everybody could see her and you don't even know how far along she is?" Mario asked in disbelief.

"I didn't invite her," I responded.

"You didn't?" Mario questioned.

"No," I answered truthfully, shaking my head.

"Alright son here's how I see it," Mario sighed, shaking his head now.

"As of right now we've got a problem. Well more like you have a problem. Look your a great player and I saw that when you played for Dallas. Unfortunately Dallas didn't see your full potential. That's why we went out and got you last season. Now I admit you had a hard time adjusting. I mean who wouldn't. Your in a new city, on a new team, where you don't really know anyone. Than to add on to that you have to get to know your new team and teammates and adjust your playing to the way your new team does things. It took you awhile to learn everything about this team and your teammates, but you pulled yourself together at the end of the year. I know it feels like a lot was thrown on your shoulder's with Sidney being out." Mario said. I opened my mouth to say something, but he held up his hand to stop me.

"As I was saying its hard to fit into the dynamics of a new team. A team where everybody knows everyone and everyone is like family. Luckily you and Matt already knew each other, so you knew someone had your back. But you and Matt both fit into the dynamics of this team and Ray and I both knew you would. But I have to say after last night I'm really disappointed in you. Having that girl at the game and her coming down to the family room after the game, well its not...." Mario was saying.

"I didn't invite her," I said threw clenched teeth.

"James last night wasn't the first time she was at a game," Mario replied.

"I know that. But I haven't invited her any of the times she's shown up," I replied, feeling myself getting angry. Not at Mario, but at the situation I was finding myself in.

"James you've put yourself in a situation that Ray and I can't over look. Especially with this being a shortened season. The fact of the matter is, is you've put yourself and your team in a situation," Mario said.

"How? How does this have anything to do with the team?" I asked.

"Well the fact of the matter is that you have a mistress. A mistress in the town that you live and play in. Which puts you in a precarious situation. Like I said its not unheard of guys messing around on their spouses. But not in the same town as them. Now that is not something Ray and I can overlook James. As I've said team dynamics are everything and you've put yourself and teammates in a situation. You've become one of this teams top player's and Ray and I can't just shrug our shoulder's and be like "Oh well, what's done is done". You need your teammates to have your back and for them to know that you have their backs. But by this girl being in your life and coming to the games and down to the family room. Well it could screw with the team dynamic's," Mario stated.

"So what are you saying?" I asked, afraid of what his answer would be.

"I'm saying you need to figure this mess out and find some way to fix it. Ray and I can't be having your personal problems brought into the locker room," Mario replied.

"I'm not bringing them into the locker room," I replied.

"But you are James. By her being there is bringing your problems into the locker room and into work. Look I know for a fact that all of the guy's and their wives, including Ray and myself absolutely adore Talon. And we've all noticed her absence at the games and now we know why. Look son I'm not saying all of this to be on your back or be your father. And I would be having this same exact conversation with anybody else on the team." Mario replied.

"So what do you suggest I do?" I asked.

"I can't tell you what to do son. I've never been in this situation. But I think you've got a lot of groveling to do to Talon when you get home. I don't want you to lose her James. I can see, hell everyone can see how much you two mean to each other and how much you love each other. You two have something special with each other. Its something I think every one wishes they had with their wive or husband. I can't tell you what to do, seeing as I've never been in this kind of situation. But all I can tell you is you need to go home and find a way to fix it," Mario told me.

"Alright, thank you," I sighed.

"James you might want to think about you and Talon getting some marriage counseling," Mario said, as an after thought.

"Thanks Mario," I replied.

"Anything else?" Mario asked.

"Not that I can think of," I replied.

"Alright. Well go home to your wife and try making things right son," Mario replied.

"Ok," I answered with a nod.

Standing up I turned and walked towards the door. As I reached the door and I turned back and faced Mario.

"Mario I'm sorry for the situation I've put everyone in. I...... I didn't mean to put the strain of my fuck ups on the team," I told him.

"I know you didn't son. Just go work on fixing it. Starting with Talon," Mario replied, with a nod.

After that I turned and left Mario's office and his house. I got in my vehicle and thought about going and getting Talon some of her favorite flower's. But decided against it and headed straight home. I was a little nervous about going home and facing Talon again and what to say to her. I almost turned into a coward again and thought about not going home at all. But I knew if I did that it would do me or Talon, or even the team any good if I ran from my problems. I knew I needed to face them head on. I was worried about how Talon would act when I got home or if she would even talk to me for that matter.

As soon as I pulled into the driveway I was happy to see that my parents rental wasn't sitting in the driveway. At least that would give me some time to talk to Talon alone and without them interfering with what I needed to say to her. I didn't really think I could take much more of seeing how disappointed in me they were. Once out of my vehicle I locked the doors and made my way towards the front door. As soon as I got inside the house and closed the door I listened to see if I could figure out where Talon was. But all I heard was silence.

'Maybe she went to lunch or something with my parents' I thought.

It was so eerily quiet the only thing I could hear was Charlies nails hitting the wood floor as he came towards the front door to see who could come home. As soon as Charlie saw me I swear the dog glared at me, than turned his back on me and walked away.

'Well shit I guess the dog's even pissed at me' I thought sarcastically.

I headed upstairs to Talon's and my room, well lately more Talon's room, since she doesn't let me sleep in here anymore. I stopped dead in my tracks at the doorway to the bedroom when I noticed the state of the bedroom. There was some clothes thrown everywhere and some of Talon's dresser drawers were left open with clothes hanging out. It was obvious that she had been in a hurry to leave so I wouldn't catch her before she left. I felt myself slump against the doorway and slide down it, it was than I felt the tears sliding down my face. It felt as if my whole life had bottomed out and that my heart had been ripped out.

'She left me. She actually up and left me without a goodbye. Not that I deserved any thing better.