Sight

Stilettos. Broken glass. A vendor. A lone vendor in the concourse of the United Center, a chipper young woman. Chestnut hair, light makeup, a simple apron, and a worried glare. Alexa tapped her stilettos forwards, her blue romper following.

"Queen."

The girl spoke up and hurried to clean the shattered glass souvenir up, giving a curtsy.

Alexa paused, her face starting to flush out of confusion.

"You don't have to call me Queen. I'm nobody. Would you like some help?"

Curious as to what happened, Alexa scooped the glass shards into her own hands to throw them out in the nearest trash.

"Corey Crawford just walked through here and held a man by his scruff... He said that these are the heartless cons workers should look here for. I mean, I was just making my popcorn and putting out my glass buckets if the guards got hungry. Because the United Center isn't open to the public. Corey then shot the guy in his leg, and I wanted to scream out to help him. Then Corey used the nearest elevator and sent him elsewhere." Her tone fluctuated.

Scared was an understatement. Unprepared and terrified.

Alexa's stomach flipped. The reports. Corey shot Jordie Benn in the leg. That wasn't good.

"And what's your name?"

"Murphy."

"Murphy, how did the glass break?"

There was this huge stomping sound. Corey obviously fled the scene and the lodge gates were all locked so nobody could enter the arena, only the concourse. A smaller man ran out of the concourse and walked up to my area. If I remember, he said:
"Do you have any paper towels, band aids, wrappings, tape, anything?"

"I'm sorry sir, I only sell popcorn, just a vendor. I have a napkin. Are you okay? Do you need medical attention?"

"God dammit!"

And that's when he smashed the collectors bucket. And that's when I cried. I swear the two looked just like each other. But then, security was lifted and I'm afraid Patrick will fire me so I have to stop crying and clean this up. You won't tell Patrick, right?"

Murphy had a creased and tight lipped smile. Playing with the straps of her apron and quickly tying them, Alexa nodded.

"Right. And there's no need to call me Queen. Just be as safe as possible and you'll be fine, alright?"

"Alright." Murphy didn't tense up, she listened closely to Alexa.

"Have a good day now." Alexa stood up and continued, walking as fast as she could down the curving concourse and closer to an exit. Suddenly, a man.

A very familiar man.

"Jamie..." Alexa concentrated on the name, that word reaching to the person standing in the middle of the concourse.

"Badge." A response.

The same voice that raised Alexa's feelings years ago about losing her job with the Coyotes.

"What the hell are you doing here, out of all places?" Jamie faced Alexa.

Tears rimmed his innocent eyes, his beard wasn't for playoffs anymore, but it was growing, he looked so old but so young, his hair ruffled.

Alexa ripped her headset off of her ears and flung it around her neck, trying to match Jamie's emotions.

"Shhh." Alexa reached out for his hand to hold before squeezing it tightly. Her soft eyes winced. "It's a very long story. And it's not about me. Not right now. What happened?" Alexa asked calmly.

"It's Jordie. Corey Crawford shot him in the leg, and he's down. I just-I just wanted to help. But I can't help. I'm so stupid. I killed my brother. Screw Corey and this whole messed up organization-"

Alexa felt a heavy lump in her throat. Jamie broke the glass because he was mad Corey shot Jordie. "You helped Jamie, you helped! You found me."

Jamie sniffled as his towering stature looked down on the lost girl. "Everyone missed you. Oh my god, everyone! They're somewhere in here, come on." Jamie ran straight ahead, down the deserted concourse as Alexa followed. Down the elevator.

"Little J to Danny Boy, little J to Danny Boy, can everyone hear me loud and clear? I am currently in the concourse elevator, lower bowl, with Alexa! We got her! Over and out!" Jamie said loudly into his gear.

Notes

!!reunited