девятка! Devyatka! (I Want It!)

It was well into the 2013-2014 season now. It was November 5th and the Stars were getting ready to play the Boston Bruins. I was fitting in nicely with my linemates and loving every second of my awesome life.

Jamie was addressing the locker room with his usual speech, with Tyler hanging on him like a jacket. He would throw in a word here or there, but he mostly just stared at Jamie. When the older man finished his speech, he turned to his excited younger companion.

“Must you drape yourself all over me? You’re like a frickin’ barnacle.”

“But I want to be with you!”

“Tyler, you’re with me on the bench, on the ice and in the bedroom. Give me some space, man.” He gently pushed Tyler away from him, laughing and smiling.

I knew that they loved to joke around and that they really did love one another and wanted to be together. I also knew about Tyler’s past. Him joking around and having a good time, was just the young man’s way of distracting himself from the return of Brad.

After all, the Dallas Stars had the Boston Bruins tonight. What could possibly go wrong? Tyler was seeing his friend again. It was going to be fun for him. But something felt off with Tyler. It was like he didn’t want to see his friend.

I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I didn’t bother to dwell on it, I had a game to play. I jumped to my feet and followed my teammates out into the hallway and out onto the ice to the cheers of the crowd. Even though we were in Boston, half of the crowd with clothed in Stars colors and fan wear.

I skated around, warming my legs up. I rounded the goal, scooping a puck into my stick blade and sent it to Tyler, who was streaking forward. He got it and sent it into the net.

“Nice pass Valeri, you’re getting much better.”

I smiled and skated after him, catching up. I reached out and swiped at him, catching onto his jersey and tugging at it. He turned around to me.

“Yes, Val?”

“Do I crash net or get open in...uh...uh…”

“Slot?” Tyler suggested.

I nodded.

“Yes, Val, that is what you do and that is what Lindy wants.”

I nodded again. “Let’s do this then.”

Tyler smiled and met up with Jamie, who came over to them. He playfully slammed Tyler into the boards with a gentle cross-check. The younger player returned the gesture, laughing. They kept shoving at one another. I stood, smiling and watching them.

In the background, I saw a Bruin player skate up to us. He was a small rat-looking guy. It hit me all of the sudden. I recognized him. It was the Brad who’d kidnapped me in Russia. The same guy who had tried to kill me and took Klyushka away.

(I didn’t bring Klyushka with me, because I didn’t want him to be broken. I had Klyushka for warmups and practices and for fun stuff, but I didn’t want to use him in an actual game. No, no, I couldn’t break my baby.)

I panicked and hid behind Jamie. He was the bigger body and I knew he’d be more likely to protect me. He snapped his head around to look at me.

“As if breaking up over a text with me wasn’t enough for you, Segs. Now you have to rub it in. And what’s wrong with your little rookie there?” He smirked and extended his arm out toward me.

I whimpered, shaking my head. “No! Don’t!”

Tyler smacked him on the arm and the process stopped. I began to breathe again. Jamie turned and wrapped an arm around me.

“Hey, Val, what’s wrong?” the Captain asked me.

“Brad...he’s the one...uh...the one who...uh...kidnapped me! In Russia!” I exclaimed.

Instantly, Jamie grew very serious and he led me a few feet away from Tyler and Brad, who were chirping one another. It was the first time that I had seen Tyler act so angry. And he had every right to be. He was literally shouting at Brad.

“You bastard!! Marchy, how could you? I thought we were friends?!”

“Once in a blue moon, Segs. But I hate you and I loathe those two, so yeah maybe I did kidnap the baby Russian, but that’s nothing for what’s about to come.” Brad stuck his face rudely into Tyler’s, who shockingly and bravely held his ground.

“You’re just jealous, Marchy. Why don’t you forget me already and hook up with your liney, Bergy!”

“Fuck you Tyler!”

“Fuck you back Marchy. Leave my team alone! I’ll tell coach to send out Antoine and he’ll destroy your tiny ass!”

Brad flipped him off and skated back to the pile of pucks. He shoved Torey Krug out of the way and snatch a black disk. He sent a slap shot into the back of the net. Then he grumbled and stormed off the ice, heading down the tunnel. Torey gave a disgusted look and shrugged. He turned to ask Dougie Hamilton “what was going on with Brad?” I could tell by his gestures toward Brad’s dramatic exit, that that was what he was asking his friend.

Tyler threw his arms down in exaggeration, as he exclaimed, “He’s so stubborn!”

Jamie was still holding me close to him. I was in shock. The ex-Bruin skated over to us and skidded to a halt. He patted me on the head with a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry Val, Jamie and I won’t let him get you. He won’t hurt you.”

“Promise?”

Tyler grabbed my hands, which were gloved, into his own and staring into my eyes. “I promise. Right Jamie?” He shot a glance to the side, where Jamie stood.

“Oh, yeah. If he even dares to, Roussel will get him!” the newly named Dallas Captain nodded his head justly and gave me a squeeze of reassurance.

I was feeling better with that. Jamie dropped his arm and we skated off the ice, down our own tunnel. I was so happy to have the teammates I did. They were all nice and willing to sacrifice for my success. It was amazing. Every single one of them had my back, Brad couldn’t touch me. I was safe.

As we entered the locker room, I saw Tyler walk over to Antoine and chat him up. I knew he had to be telling him about Brad and that part of his job would be to keep him in line if the need came. I saw him nod and beat his chest with a fist.


Before I knew it, we were back on the ice for the anthem and the puck drop. Tyler was squaring off against Patrice Bergeron. I was up against an old Dallas Star and friend of Jamie’s, Reilly Smith. And Jamie, poor Jamie, was across from the fiery Brad. They were jostling with each other and chirping. Dallas lost the faceoff but whatever, we got it back. I blocked a pass Reilly Smith had tried to send to Patrice. My stick was in the right place and I quickly got it and sent it to Tyler, who zoomed toward his old goalie, Tuukka Rask.

Tuukka stood tall and smothered the shot from Tyler. “Nice try pretty boy!” the Boston goalie taunted.

Tyler ignored him and rounded the net. I joined him, not really wanting to be alone. He looked at me and smiled. “Good job, Val. Sick block.”

“Stick in right place,” I replied.

“Yes. Yes it--” he broke off with a yelp. I saw his hands shoot to his mouth in horror and his stick clattered on the ice.

I spun to see what he was looking at. And when I did I gasped in shock too. I dropped my stick (not Klyushka) on the ice and it clattered. My hands flew to my mouth.

It was Jamie Benn.

Notes

As Val would say, DADDY JAMIE, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bad Brad bad!! No, we don't hurt Val or Jamie! :(


Next up: Tyler VS Brad!! Showdown of the Exs!