The Dream

I stood at the center of the bustling Penguins locker room. I just shook hands with the coaching staff and now I was just soaking in what it felt like to work a game day. The locker room was busy with employees running around to prepare for the players' arrival and the game. Somehow the room was still spotless. Each jersey was hung up in their respective player's locker. Looking down at my feet, the oversized Penguins logo was practically shining it was so clean. While I was soaking it all in I felt a tug on my left arm.
"Mae let's go! We have to get ready for the game."
Dr. McLane was different on game day. She dressed the same way I did, khakis and a polo, but her brown hair was tied up and her makeup was very natural. It made me feel like we were the same status in the workplace, whereas before, it was clear she was my boss. Her behavior was a complete 360 too. She was completely serious and smiled a lot less on game days, I wondered if working here long enough would make me oblivious to the amazing setting like she is. Probably not. I'm probably never not going to be amazed at this organization. We went into the main medical staff office. It had two desks, one was McLane's and the other was Chris Stewart's, the head athletic trainer. Behind the desks there were at least six file cabinets. I figured they housed not only present player medical records but past player records as well. She grabbed two folders off her desk and handed them to me.
"Once the players get here we have to do a kind of physical on them. Not all of them. Just the ones who are injured, recently returned to play, or have reoccurring issues. We just check up on them and clear them for play and full contact. Today we only have Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin." My stomach sank. I was going to meet the one and only Evgeni Malkin. To say I'm nervous is an understatement. Probably seeing the worry on my face, McLane put both her hands on my shoulders.
"Listen you'll be fine. Don't let them intimidate you. It's just a check up. I'll be here the whole time."
Her words were encouraging and I managed to crack a small smile.
"Review the files. I'll be back with Kris."
and just like that she was gone. I knew the players had arrived because the volume level coming from the locker room had increased. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath then opened Letang's file. A lower body injury centered at the knee. Easy enough. I closed his file and went to the file I really wanted to see. Geno had a reoccurring problem in his elbow. Inflammation, soreness. They had it as minor tendinitis but judging by how long it has been bothering him it had to be something more elaborate. I closed his file and looked at the door. Where the hell was she? I decided that it would be best to see them in an actual examination room instead of an office. The medical hall of PPG Paints had three examination rooms but only one had fancy machines and looked like a professional hockey team medical room. The other two just had beds and health posters hanging on the wall. I opened the door and peered out. The hallway was busy so I quickly scooted across the hall and matched the speed of the other employees. The fancy examination room was only a few doors down so I knew I wasn't going to get loss or screw anything up. All of a sudden my left shoulder slammed into this huge mass. The player files fell to the ground and I let out a "Frick" as I knelt down to get them. The mass I ran into knelt down as well and let out a "sorry" as he began helping me collect my papers. The voice was deep and clearly Canadian. I stood up and organized the mess of papers.
"You must be the new medical intern?"
"yeah....Mae" I said still flustering over the papers. I held out my right hand before looking up. I've had to shake so many hands recently extending my arm became second nature. As he connected his hand with mine I looked up and realized who I had ran into. He had broad, built shoulders. His whole body was clearly sculpted and showed through his tight black spandex shirt. Even his hand had distinct muscles. He had a well defined jawline and lips that were more kissable than mine. His eyes were dark brown and dreamy and his hair was short and groomed. A smile krept across his face and I went to speak but couldn't. He filled in the silence with his thick Canadian accent.
"Sidney. It's nice to meet you Mae." He let go of my hand and walked past me. I was still trying to find words but I couldn't. I just shoulder bumped Sidney freaking Crosby. As I watched him enter the locker room I couldn't help but catch a glimpse of his famous butt. I swear the man is 99% muscle. It's crazy. I finally snapped myself out of it and took a few more strides before entering the examination room. I flicked the lights on. There was an examination bed on the left side and a metal desk lining the wall on the right. All the equipment was clean and ready for use. Besides the X-ray machine, I honestly had no clue what the other equipment was used for. I sat the files on the desk and waited for McLane to find me. I starred at the light tan wall for what felt like 15 minutes just listening to all the chatter happening in the halls. Finally the door opened and Dr. McLane walked in with an almost fully uniformed Letang. The only thing missing was the jersey.
"Kris this is Mae she's a medical intern and will be helping me out for the rest of the season."
we flashed each other a smile and he shook my hand. He was probably fed up with having to do this appointments before every game since his injury. I looked at McLane and she gestured for me to keep going. I thought about the clinical experience I had with a local chiropractics office and how to begin these types of physicals
"So Mr. Letang, I understand your knee is injured. How does it feel today?"
"Good. It hasn't hurt in a while besides the usual next day soreness." His French accent was even more enduring in person. I knelt down to be at the same level as his right knee and fought through the shorts and high socks in order to feel if there was any inflammation.
"Could you please put your weight on your other foot. I want to feel it relaxed."
Kris followed orders without saying anything. After a few more seconds I stood up.
"It feels good. If it's not bothering you during games you should be fine. Just keep stretching to help keep down inflammation and keep doing post game icing so that it doesn't swell and get too sore."
"ok thank you." And just like that he was gone. I turned to McLane to get her approval on my physically.
"Not bad. I would've had him sit down and I would've asked him more questions about the pain but you did fine!"
I felt a little dissapointed in myself and only managed a half smile. I don't know why but I wanted her to be impressed but instead I got the feeling she was underwhelmed.
"Go get Evgeni."
"What? Me?"
"yeah you. Just go into the locker room, walk up to him and tell him to come to exam room 2. Make sure he follows you or we'll never see him." My expression went from confused to determined and I shook my head yes. I left the exam room and strolled down to the locker room. I gripped the door handle and pulled it open. I continued to fake confidence as I walked in to all of the players getting ready in their lockers. I walked up to Evgeni who stood tall at six foot three. He was fully uniformed, having just put on his jersey. I lightly grabbed his shoulder and uttered "Mr. Malkin...." he turned around and flashed me a smile. "Dr. McLane is ready for you in exam room two if you'd like to follow me." His beautiful brown eyes were 100% focused on me. My heart ached with how amazing he was. His hair was casually messy and he smelt like polo cologne. I waited for his response patiently. Finally he turned around and grabbed his helmet and muttered an "ok" I turned away and began walking and I could feel him following me closely. After we left the locker room he began talking. His Russian accent catching me off guard as it was even thicker in person.
"No mister just Geno."
"Geno? Ok that's fine."
Before he could say anything else we arrived at the exam room.
"Ahhhh Geno how's the elbow today?" McLane smiled more than usual and I suspected it was because I was able to round up the huge Russian.
"Good. No pain. I practice and play fine."
I thought about how Letang responded basically the same way. Even if these guys were in pain they wouldn't say it they want to play too badly. Now I understood why McLane told me to ask more questions. He sat down on the bed and extended his arm. McLane began bending it and messaging it asking him if that motion hurt, how he was treating it pre and post game, the stretches he was doing, and pain level. Geno gave her generic answers that may or may not be honest. I tried to focus on McLane but I couldn't help but stare at the hockey player's profile. His ears were larger but not awfully large. His nose was awfully large but I didn't care, I thought it was adorable. He had lips that were a little less kissable than Crosby's but I wouldn't hold that against him. His eyelashes flicked up and before I knew it we were making what should've been awkward eye contact but it wasn't. He continued answering McLane's questions but didn't take his eyes off of me. I smiled and I could feel the heat in my cheeks rising, I must've been blushing. McLane cleared her throught unnecessarily loud, I was busted. Geno and I broke the stare at the same time and he now focused on McLane.
"Good to play?" He asked.
"Yes just watch it ok. I think it might be bursitis which means you'll need surgery. But we can manage it until the offseason."
he got up and put on his helmet, went to open the door and muttered "thanks doc" as he left for the game. I continued looking at the door even after it had shut behind him.
"He's sweet." McLane began as she opened the files and filled in a few things. "That's pretty much how pregame goes. Now we just do paperwork and watch the game. When it's over, We tend to some of the players, check up on Kris and Geno again, do some more paperwork and head home. Sound good?" she picked up the files and began walking out of the office.
"Sounds great." I replied softly. I waited a few seconds before following her to the office. I read over some of the players' medial files while the game played on the tv in the upper right hand corner of the room. McLane and I didn't say much besides if I asked her something about the files. The game went smoothly and the pens won which meant the boys would be one step closer to the cup. The capitals were devistated but now they know how we've felt for the past two playoff seasons. The guys were celebrating and happy and McLane told me to prepare for the storm. We walking into the locker room and stood alongside the training coaches. The players came in with a loud thounder of noise still celebrating their win. They began taking off jerseys and skates and coach Sullivan congratulated them and told them to recuperate for tomorrow. The locker room applauded as Hornqvist handed Murray the warrior helmet and McLane told me to check Geno while she checked Letang. This was a much quicker physically because there were other medical staff members that would help with post game treatment and stretching. We were just strictly there to check if the injury got worse. I approached Malkin while he was sitting in his locker. His skates were off and the only thing he had on as a shirt was spandex. I could drool but that would be unprofessional. He looked up at me and smiled wide.
"Uh Geno...I need to check your elbow." He held out his arm and I began feeling his injury.
"See game?"
"Huh, yeah I saw the game."
"I score. Close to Stanley. Good game."
i looked at him and smiled not knowing what to say.
"Are you in pain? It's a little inflamed"
"pain? No I good. We win"
I got serious for a second because it was obvious he wasn't taking me seriously.
"Geno I know you're happy you won but if your hurting I need to know."
"cute when mad. I'm fine."
I couldn't help but smile and chuckle a little at his compliment. I was getting hit on by Evgeni Malkin....what?!
"Do the post game stretches and ice it. If it still hurts see me later."
"I see you later for sure."
"ha good game Geno." I dropped his arm and turn around to meet McLane before exiting the locker room. We discussed their conditions while walking into the office. McLane sat down at her desk as I stood in front of it.
"Ok well I've kept you here long enough. Good work Mae. The first couple game days will be rough so once you get used to it you can start pulling late nights but right now go home and get some rest." I wanted to protest but at the same time it was a 40 minute drive home and my eyes did feel heavy. I thanked her for helping me today, grabbed my things from the chair in the corner and began walking out of PPG Paints. I thought about all I did today as I put on my fuzzy, black north face jacket. As I exited the arena and began the 10 minute walk to my car. Geno crossed my mind and I realized he'd be pissed I didn't stay around for his visit later tonight. Who was I fooling though? There's no way he was actually into me he was just happy about the win. I made it to my car and started it up. After plugging in my phone I began the exhausting ride home. Even though I was tired, I smiled, laughed, and sang along to my playlist. It was a successful day and I was already thrilled for what was in store tomorrow.

Notes

Omg Happy Holidays!

I suck because I had the majority of this typed out and went to post it but somehow it got erased. It's fine. This version was kind of better so