Ride (Reposted)

August 2013

Stretching on the pitch before the start of their final game against England she looked in the stands to see if Jamie was possibly in them.

She missed him terribly and it had been a few weeks since she had seen him, she was somehow hoping that he would have at least come down to Colorado to see her last game.

The senior women's team had only lost one game the entire series. It was a good team and they wanted to cap it off with a win against England.

"Ladies!! Come in!!" The coach called.

After listening to the coach's warm up speech, they broke and lined up.

Tying up the game she lined up to take the offence.

Fixing her mouth guard she was ready to make and take some big hits.

What she wasn't expecting to be waking up with a bloody nose with a paramedic next to her and a splitting headache.

"What happened." Emily groaned, trying to get up.

"Please stay laying down. Do you feel any pain at all?" He said.

"My whole body is in pain. I'm a fucking rugby player now let me get up."

"You were just unconscious for about 10 minutes. You need to stay laying down."

"I'll be fine."

"We're going to get you to sit up so I can put a neck brace on. But first can you move your fingers and toes for me please?"

Emily sighed heavily as she did such, even as she moved her legs and arms sarcastically.

The paramedic helped her sit up and she felt the dizzy spell as the paramedic wrapped her neck with the brace. Looking in the stands she saw someone running down the stairs. Blinking hard the man was built like Jamie and she saw him being stopped by security.

She knew she was concussed and shouldn't fight it.

"Jamie." She mumbled, trying to push herself up.

"No Rankin you need to stay on the ground." Her coach stated as the paramedic made sure she stayed down.

"Jamie. I want Jamie." She fought.

"Rankin lay back flat on the ground right now or I swear to god." Coach threatened.

"I've already been flattened once. I also want my mom."

"Time to get her into the ambulance. Emily we need you to lay flat again, can you scoot onto the guerney." The paramedic told her.

"I need my mom and my boyfriend. Security won't let them through!"

"Em, Jamie's not here though." Serena, her other winger said compassionately.

"Yes he is! I think that's him over there!"

"Fine. I'll go get them." Coach huffed, standing up and marching off.

"I'm not feeling very good. Can I go to the hospital now?" Emily said quietly.

"Here, we'll get IV started." The paramedic asked for her arm.

"Yes. Bring on the drugs." Emily stuck her arm out.

She shuffled herself onto the stretcher just as things started to get fuzzy.

***

From what was a clean hit that he watched Emily make earlier was retaliated with knocking her out cold.

For 10 minutes.

He had never been more scared in his life.

He had Behar obviously cursing beside him in Farsi.

And Steve on the other side, a look of concern on his face.

He couldn't stand and watch. He needed to be down on the field beside her.

He started to head for the stairs, but Steve grabbed his arm.

"You don't want to do that." He warned, "it's swarming with security down there."

"She's awake now. Maybe we should try." Behar said softly.

Jamie looked and saw the paramedic wrapping her neck with a neck brace.

He couldn't help himself. He launched himself down the row and down the stairs.

He was stopped by security, like Steve would say. He watched Emily struggle to stay sitting up.

He noticed her pointing towards him. He could have muscled his way easily through security.

But he wasn't that much of an idiot.

Steve and Behar had joined him as they saw the coach walking towards them.

Jamie straightened up as he prepared to greet them.

"Steve, Behar. And you must be the boyfriend. Follow me."

Jamie didn't mean to but he shouldered one of the security guards as he made his way to the pitch to see her.

Several hours later he sat in the waiting room at the hospital waiting for Steve and Behar to come back from getting coffee.

"Any update yet?" He heard Behar ask quietly.

"A fractured rib. A broken nose, two black eyes and a concussion. She's resting now." Jamie sighed.

"It could be worse. We're lucky it's only a rib and nose. The nose is nothing new." Steve shook his head.

"She'll be up and moving in no time." Behar smiled.

"How come you let her play such a dangerous sport?" Jamie asked.

"She fought tooth and nail to play. She was an excellent footy player. We didn't want her too but when she made first string in grade 9, we knew she had a talent." Behar stated.

"And the full scholarship to McGill, her dream school. Was the cherry on top of the cake." Steve smiled.

***

Emily woke up finding a mop of brown hair next to her and a strong arm across her legs.

Running her fingers through his hair it caused Jamie to stir. She also noticed it was shaved on the sides but kept long down the middle.

"What the fuck did you do to your hair?" Emily snapped, making Jamie jump.

After rubbing his eyes he grinned, "How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by a truck. Now answer my question."

"I decided to switch it up. You like?" He got up to kiss her.

"No. I miss the man bun." Emily frowned.

"Babeee." He giggled.

"Jamie."

"I love you."

"I love you too. Where are my parents? What are you doing here?"

"They went back to the hotel. And I was here to surprise you after the game. You played well."

"Do you not see my nose being held in place by a cast? I played like shit."

"You guys won though. If it wasn't for the tries you scored you would have lost."

"I still played like shit. And this means I have to drop out of Priya's wedding." She frowned.

"Why?"

"Jamie. Her wedding is in four days. Do you see these shiners? And this cast? These things aren't going to heel in 4 days."

"You still look beautiful." He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm filthy, stinky, bloody and I have to take these rows out." She pouted.

"What am I gonna do with you?" Jamie shook his head with a grin.

"Put me out to pasture?"

"I was thinking something else but I'll have to wait until your no longer an invalid."

"Find me some weed then? I'm no longer on the national team. I can smoke up." She batted her eyes at him.

"No." He said firmly, sitting up and crossing his arms.

"But it's legal in Colorado now." She tried to reach for his leg to rub it but he was to far away.

"Not yet it isn't."

"Babbeeee." It was her turn to be cute. It wasn't working so far.

"No. Final answer. I'm not jeopardizing my career by buying illegal drugs so you can get high."

He had a point.

Jamie was an honest man and if he got caught with any of that in his system. Or arrested for buying marijuana; his career would be done.

Even if it was "just weed".

And he was touted to be the named captain of the Dallas Stars.

"Your sexy when your bossy. Can I have a cuddle with you at least." She moved over and patted the open spot beside him.

"Are you going to mention illegal drugs again?"

"No."

"Then yes." He smiled, kissing her forehead and climbing on beside her, laying on his side.

"When did your arms get so beefy?"

She definitely took notice to his bigger arms, and he had slimmed down more.

"I've been working out." He gave her a cheeky grin, flexing.

"I've noticed."

"I want to be captain. I need to look the part. I don't want to be Chubbs anymore."

"You will forever be Chubbs honey."

"Yeah but I don't want to be the fat kid. And I want to make the Olympic team. You can't take all the national glory."

"I'm not going to play on the Sevens team at the Pan Ams in 2015. And we'll get you on that Olympic roster. If you and Tyler Seguin play on the same line, your production will only increase. You are one of the best hockey players in the Show. And you won gold at World Juniors."

"Why are you always so positive?"

"Because I know I'm right." She winked, rubbing his stomach.

Notes