Quick Flicks

"You know what, I knew this was a mistake." I whipped my head around, looking at Sid as he stood up and got out of bed.

"What the hell are you talking about?" He leaned against the doorframe, exhaling slowly as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I have a very strict game day routine. This," he gestured between us, "is not part of that routine." He started muttering and walked out of the room. I sat, flabbergasted, for a few moments before getting to my feet. I had absolutely no idea where this outburst was coming from.

I had done nothing. And, I don't mean that as in 'I did something but it wasn't wrong at all.' I mean, I literally had not done anything. HE was the one who invited me over to join him for his pregame nap.

"Sid, calm down. Why are you freaking out all of the sudden?" I had chased him down the stairs and into his kitchen, where he leaned against the counter drinking out of a water bottle.

"I'm not freaking out! I just shouldn't have invited you over. It's not what I do before games." My jaw dropped.

"Are you serious? I mean, I know you have strict pregame rituals and crap, but I figured you were okay with changing them up because, gee I don't know, YOU invited ME over!"

"They're not crap." I rolled my eyes, my blood pumping faster with each word he said.

"It's an expression. Look-" I walked over to him, reaching down to grab his hands. He jerked them away from me, and I took a step back. "Are you serious right now?" His jaw was set and his eyes didn't break contact.

I felt my heart race and my palms grow sweaty. The frustration and hurt was bubbling under the surface, threatening to reveal itself more than it already had.

"You know what? This isn't a problem. I'll just leave." I walked around the counter, grabbing my purse. As I shoved my shoes on and headed out the door, I noticed there were no footsteps following me.

I lost it when I hopped into my car, tears streaming down my face too quickly for me to wipe them away.

I knew that to Sid, hockey came before anything. I knew that, when he asked me to be his girlfriend a few months ago, I was entering a whole new world. People warned me that he only had one thing on his mind, and many of them were shocked that he had let me in.

But the Sid they knew had more room in his heart than he thought. Sure, he was a hockey superstar, a captain, and a role model. But he was also a sweetheart, an excellent listener, and a lover.

I had been wary about messing with his infamous game day routine but, when I got a text asking me to come over and cuddle, I didn't think twice. This wasn't me encroaching on Sid's hockey rituals. This was me coming over to see my boyfriend, on his terms and with his invitation.
--------------------------------
"Well, Cali, it looks like it's just the two of us in the suite tonight." I pet my tabby cat as she sat at my side on the couch, tossing back my wine and turning up the volume as the game started.

I usually watched the games from the Friends & Family suite, talking with the other wives and playing with some of the children. But, I was too upset from earlier to even think about stepping into the Consol Energy Center. I had texted Veronique Fleury, making up some lame excuse about feeling under the weather.

It was no surprise that the puck quickly entered the offensive zone, Sidney racing down to chase the puck. I stood up to grab the bottle of wine from the kitchen, careful to not disturb Cali as she lay on the cushion next to me.

"Oh, Orpik's shot went up and hit Crosby, really high." I giggled immaturely when I heard the announcers.

Serves that jerkwad right. I lifted the glass and turned to walk back into the living room, freezing in my tracks as I saw what was happening on the screen.

Sid lay on the ice, face down, not moving. The refs, trainers, and a few players skated over to check on him. I noticed blood on the ice as he tried to stand.

"Orpik's shot went off his stick, and was deflected into the face of Sidney Crosby."

My wine glass hit the floor, shattering and spilling its contents on my wooden floor.

Sid and the trainers held a towel to his mouth, barely containing the blood that was pouring from it. As the camera zoomed in, I could tell something was off, even though his skating looked pretty normal. I felt a knot form in my stomach. My phone started ringing, but it took me a moment to notice it.

"'Ello? Bethany? Are you-"

"I'm watching. Oh my god, is he okay? I just saw the shot. I'm so stupid, I should've been there, I should've gone anyway, I-"

"Darling, calm down. The trainers are taking him to the locker room, but I think they'll have to take him to the hospital." Veronique's accent carried through the phone, but it wasn't the only reason I was having trouble understanding what she was saying.

"I have to go. I have to see him." I hung up the phone and grabbed my keys, not bothering to put on a coat or turn off the TV.

Hopping into my car, I sped down the highway, not caring what speed I was going. In about fifteen minutes, I was at the hospital closest to Consol, which I knew was where they took the players.

I rushed in through the doors after crappily parking my car, stumbling to the receptionist's desk. Tears were in my eyes as I fought to hold it together.

"Hello, I'm here to see Sidney Crosby." She chuckled, raising her eyebrows and shaking her head.

"Honey, aren't we all. I'm afraid you have the wrong address, though. They play a few doors down." I shook my head rapidly.

"No, he was injured and he's on his way here. I need to see him." She held up her hands in an attempt to slow me down.

"Whoa there. I can neither deny nor confirm if Mr. Crosby is on his way here. I get that you're an avid fan and all, but you're just gonna have to wait and catch up with him on the news tomorrow.

"No, you don't understand. I'm his girlfriend." She looked at me suspiciously.

"Uh-huh. And I'm Brad Pitt's newest wife." She set down her mouse and crossed her arms. "I'm sorry, you can wait out here, but you're not gonna get-" She was cut off by a loud noise behind me, a stretcher rolling in with a familiar patient. Thankfully, the trainer who accompanied Sid recognized me and saved me from this horrible interaction.

"Beth, come on, I'll sneak you in." I gave the receptionist a dirty look, her jaw hitting the floor, and rushed after Sidney and the entourage following him. As we entered the main doorway to the offices and emergency operating rooms, I felt an arm reach out to stop me.

"I'm sorry, Miss. I'm afraid you can't go any further. You can wait in this room, if you'd like. They'll take him here once he's done being examined." I looked pleadingly at the trainer as he looked back at me, following Sidney. He mouthed an 'I'm sorry' and headed after the stretcher.

The nurse who had stopped me led me into the room, offering me a beverage. I politely declined and sat in the chair, instantly breaking down.

Sidney hadn't acknowledged me as he was rolled in. I don't think he could. I didn't get a great glimpse of him, but he looked like he was in pain, from what I could see.

I anxiously played with my phone, texting Veronique to let her know I was okay.

Moments passed slowly, a minute feeling like an hour. I felt myself drifting off to sleep after about an hour and a half, jerking awake as the door swung open. The trainer from earlier walked in, his arm around a very quiet and swollen Sidney. His face looked flushed and his mouth was swollen, cheeks stuffed with gauze. I burst into tears at the sight of him, covered my mouth as I gasped at the sight of his injuries.

"He's got a broken jaw, pretty serious and it'll require surgery. He also lost quite a few teeth, especially on the bottom. I'll save the gruesome details for later, but for now he needs to rest and take some pain killers." I thanked the doctor for his explanation, and the trainer and I helped Sidney walk out to my car. He was wearing a pair of Penguins sweatpants and a Penguins sweatshirt, which someone had presumably grabbed from his locker.

We walked to my car and I opened the passenger door for Sidney, who quietly sat down. Thanking the trainer, I took the prescription and tucked it into my purse, heading to sit behind the wheel. As I started the car, Sidney stared straight ahead, his eyes glassy from the drugs they had given him. I felt more tears flow and tried to wipe them away as I drove back to my place. I knew Sidney wouldn't mind, and that he probably wouldn't want to head right back to his place, where he'd be reminded by all of his memorabilia and gear that he probably wouldn't be back on the ice for a while.

We pulled into the driveway and I immediately hopped out of the car, racing around to help Sidney. He was usually very self-sufficient, but he took my arm as I hooked it through his. The support was more for my benefit than for his, since he actually seemed pretty aware of what was going on. They must've not given him the real strong stuff yet.

We walked inside and I saw Cali still asleep on the couch, as well as the post-game coverage playing on the TV. I reached to turn it off, but Sidney stopped me.

"I want to see." His dedication to his career and role as Captain was admirable, and as long as he wanted to, I was fine watching the recap of the game. He sat on the couch as I walked to the kitchen, grabbing a wet rag to clean up the spilled wine from earlier, along with a broom to brush up the glass. "What happened?" Sidney had turned around to watch me as I cleaned.

I threw both the rag and the glass away, returning to the couch where Sidney sat. I opened my mouth to speak, but was stopped as Sidney grabbed my hand and pulled me down into his lap. I was hesitant to touch him, as I was worried it would aggravate his injury. But he didn't seem to be in any pain as he held me close.

"I am so sorry. I shouldn't have reacted the way I did earlier. I shouldn't have been immature and stayed at home. Maybe this wouldn't have happened if I had been at the game. Maybe I really did mess with your hockey juju." Sidney began to grin a bit at my last comment, but winced as he did so and groaned in pain.

"No, I'm sorry. You weren't messing with anything. I was just nervous for the game, I guess rightfully so. I love you." Each of his words sounded a little abnormal, as he couldn't open his mouth all the way. I leaned up to gently place a kiss on his cheek, careful not to place to much pressure on his jaw.

"I love you, too. I'm gonna get some of the painkillers the doctor gave me." I slowly got up and grabbed the bottle out of my purse, returning to the living room with a bottle of water and the pills. Sidney tossed them back, wincing as the cold liquid rinsed his wounds. I grabbed the blanket off the end of the couch, wrapping it around the two of us.

As Sidney grew drowsy from the painkillers, I helped him off of the couch and into my room. He sat on the end of the bed, swaying slightly side-to-side as I placed pillows up against the headboard, trying to make it so he'd be comfortable as possible.

"Come on, babe, get some sleep." He crawled to his spot in bed, flopping against the pillows. I went to grab a sweatshirt to put on, but felt strong arm wrap around me, pulling me tight against the bed. Sidney pulled me close, cuddling me like a teddy bear. I nestled closer to him, as his breathing slowed. I pulled the blanket closer around the two of us, and drifted off to sleep alongside my heavily-drugged and very swollen hockey hunk of a boyfriend.

Notes