Knocked Down, Rise Above

Chapter 21


Sid hated this part it was a waiting game but he could try skating again today while the team practice for their next game. He had been skating for about an hour so far he really wanted to know how practice was going it had started about 10 minutes before and he was trying not to stop skating go over to see what was going on

He tried a little puck handling skills but only did 15 minutes of it trying to watch so he wouldn't get a headache He heard noise coming from practice and decided to go see what was going on

The lines they were working with for the power play were just not working well on the ice and coach Sullivan was getting frustrated and when Sid started watching he could see Geno was frustrated too he knew this was bound to happen especially on power play

“Hey can I borrow Geno for a few minutes coach get him settled down” Sid asks

“If you think it will work by all means” Coach Sullivan They called him over

“What trying my best out there” Geno says frustrated

“I know come on come with me to the other rink for a bit we will get it taken care of “ Sid says

"This ok” Geno asks coach

“Yeah go ahead” he says

“G man just calm down out there ok” Sid says

“They pass not in rhythm it pointless not going to work like if you were out there” Geno says

"That's why we are here we going to work on it I think I can teach you a few things to help” Sid says

"It's pointless” Geno says

“evgeni what did I ask you a few days again and you promise me you would do” Sid says in a serious tone.

"To step up to be like Captain til you back” he says

"So just listen and try to let me help you learn a few things please” Sid says

"Ok” he says They worked for a good half hour on some ways to pass and try to get things to work

"There you go G feeling better” Sid asks proud to see how well he seem to be doing with what Sid thought would work

"Yeah some what still need try with guys” Geno says

"I know G but you will make it work I have faith in you” Sid says

"Sid thanks I give hard time to you a lot but you always help me” Geno says

"G that's what friends are for we are teammates and friends I would help anytime I can” Sid says

“How skate going” Geno asks

“I am skating at least it's something. Least I am not totally restricted tried some puck handling skills but only a few minutes” Sid says

“Why only a few” he asks

"Trying to make sure don't get a headache hard on eyes sometimes doing that so see how I do after today add more tomorrow if feel good” he says

“How do feel” Geno asks

“Not bad no headache or anything right now so that's a good sign didn't really get too bad one yesterday either” Sid says

“So that's good” Geno says

"Yeah I would say so I hope have to just watch it and see each day” Sid says

"Yeah I know but you will be back sooner than later and then can start with me captain always captain stuff” Geno says

“Yeah G you can I know you want to do just that” Sid says laughing

“You know it plus practice more fun when you at them plus run better too” Geno says

“Yeah” Sid says

“Oh yeah so you better get better” Geno says

"That's the plan G trust me that's the plan” sid says

“Good” Geno says

“Yeah after practice why don't we get lunch to take back to the house go over game tapes to help you out more with this” Sid says
"
Sound good long as you don't have anything else” Geno says

“Nope this helps me being able to help the team” Sid says


“Good like that” Geno says

" Let's go back to the other rink little more practice left see if you guys can work on the power play more” Sid says

Geno nods They head back and Sid says to coach Sullivan “try the power play out again let's see if what I showed him helps”

“I hope so” he says

"Yeah well it's going to have to do for now cause I don't know when I am going to be back” Sid says

“How did skating go” coach asks as they power play unit started

"It went no headache so far today so good so far but have to see how I feel later you know how these things go” Sid says

The coach nods as the unit starts The power play unit did better Geno was using the few little pass tricks sid had showed him and the guys seem to catch on they seemed more in tune

“Well that's better not where I want it to be but better” coach says

"We will work on it more me and Geno are going to look at game tapes to figure stuff out too” Sid says

"Sounds like a plan” coach says

“Well it helps I am captain and being able to still help the team helps me out right now” Sid says

"I know and I think it's good you come to practices and stuff helps you out and then out” coach says Sid nods as practice finishes

They showered and headed out picking up takeout on the way home Cassie was just getting ready to figure out lunch when they walked in “hey I don't have lunch ready yet"

”Don't make anything baby we got take out I brought you home chicken parm” Sid says

"Wow thanks I will get the plates” she says

“Don't worry about it we are going to eat in my office” Sid says

"Everything ok” Cassie asks

"Yeah baby we are going to watch games to help for the power play while I am out of the line up” Sid says

“Ok well if you need anything let me know” Cassie says “We will “ Sid says as they head to the office and start to eat and watch games for a while

They ended up watching for a couple of hours making notes for the next practice Sid knew this would help Sid closed his eyes for a few minutes he was getting a headache

"You ok” Geno asks

"Yeah why” Sid asks

“Closed eyes” Geno says

“Just tired I guess “ Sid says

"Bull truth now” Geno says

“Ok G I am getting a headache “ sid says he was frustrated he hadn't had one in almost two days and was glad cause he felt like maybe he would be making progress

"How bad” Geno asks

“ not the worse I had it's just there and starting out”

“Me get Cassie” Geno says

"No G I don't want her to worry” Sid says

“Sid she worry no matter” Geno says I just need to rest my eyes for a little bit I think” Sid says

"Let's get you lay down “ Geno says They headed out of his office towards the living room Cassie had been upstairs and was on her way down

“Hey you ok baby” she asks Sid “I am fine baby” Sid says She could tell something was up she says “Sidney what is wrong”

“He got a headache says eyes need rest” Geno says

“Let's get you up to bed to rest for a bit” Cassie says

“Ok” Sid says Cassie and Geno make sure he gets to his room

“I leave thanks for everything today” Geno says

"G any time you know this glad to help” Sid says

"Get rest please” Geno say

"Don't worry Geno I will make sure he rest for a while” Cassie says

"Good” Geno says leaving

"What happen” Cassie asks

"Think between skating and working with G on stuff at the rink and add a few hours of games on tv it was just too much” Sid says

“Probably rest and we will see how you feel later and if it goes away” Cassie says

“It will go away it's not bad like some of them I had right after it happen” Sid says

“Yeah baby that good but we still want to watch” Cassie says

“I know baby I am just going to rest” sid says “Ok baby” Cassie says kissing him and covering him up Cassie walked out of the room to let him rest she hoped this passed and wasn't going to be the start of a setback he would be devastated

Cassie did a few things then she remembered the guys had eaten in his office she went in there to clean up she looked around in his office so many photos and stuff from his whole career

She loved seeing it all there were even photos of her and him from different achievements that hung around the room the first Stanley Cup, 2010 gold medal in the Olympics

she walked around she hadn't really been in his office since before the lastest cup win She saw it on his desk a photo of him and her on the ice with the cup after the win in June She took the photo with her and sat on the couch on the other side of the office and thought of the summer it had been an awesome one for Sid but a nightmare for her one

She had never told him as not to worry him or ruin the happiness She has take vacation time for the last few cup games she knew she had to be there no matter what right before hand she knew they had announced changes were coming and quite a few people would be gone as a downsize in the company she worked for were going to happen.

Even though she had been there a few years she was still one of the newer people and would most likely be one to lost her job. But in the picture she smiling a huge smile she knew she had to because she loved him and was happy for him he had waited 7 years for another one of these and she wouldn't ruin the moment with her troubles. She has stayed til after the parade as her vacation ended the day after. she went back to Ohio that night after and prayed about work hoping she was wrong about it.

Sid had called a few weeks later and asked her to come up for the days he had the cup she couldn't say no and took the rest of her vacation time to go up to Cole Harbor for the few days he would have the Cup she loved being up with with him and his family despise what was going on at work. Two weeks later her along with a few other newer people from her department were let go.

Now as she laid here on the couch holding the photo she realized maybe it was what was meant to happen all along cause it brought her and Sid closer she had tears in her eyes as she laid there falling asleep.

A few hours later Sid woke up his headache seemed to be gone he got up and went to find Cassie to see what she wanted to do about dinner at first he couldn't find her then he went to other rooms he saw his office door part way open and looked in and saw Cassie asleep on the couch holding the picture

He went over to her he saw her eyes were red from crying he went to cover her up and she woke up staredly “Hey baby it's ok it's just me you fell asleep in my office”

“God I am sorry I didn't even realize where i was” Cassie says

"Are you ok “ he asks worried he could tell she had been crying

"Yeah just thinking of the whole summer and realizing stuff like even though I hated about losing my job but now I think it was meant to be to make us see and find our way to being together” Cassie says

“But you were crying I can tell” Sid says

"Yeah just the emotions from it all but I am really ok baby I am more worried about you are you ok” Cassie asks

“Yeah headache seems to be gone so I got up to see where you were and to see about dinner” Sid says

“I can make something” Cassie says

"I got a better idea why don't we make dinner together” Sid says

“I would love that baby” Cassie says kissing him “Good baby” Sid says kissing her up and taking the photo and placing it back where it went on his desk before they headed out to the kitchen

Notes

Sid helping the team even when he can't play... Now stuff comes out more about what happen with Cassie and her job but she never told Sid.... does he find out and how will he react that she never told him what was going on...