Because, by God, I couldn't help myself.
Title: Heartache
Author: Jennie
Characters: Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews (Taser) of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Andrew Coglino and Sam Gagner of the Edmonton Oilers.
Rating: PG-13, if only for plot line.
Summary: Heartache? More like heart attack. A conversation among the Blackhawks token teens.
A/N: Sam and Pat played for the London Knights of the OHL together, and Sam, Andrew and Jonathan all played for Team Canada in the WJC in 2007, while Pat played for Team USA that same year. Inspired by this photo.
The following is an exchange between Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.
“It’s an ache unlike any other. Broken bones, sprained ankles, slap shots to the skate, nothing compares to this type of pain. It comes when you wake up, turn over, and find an empty bed, or you hear snoring late at night and reach over to hit him, but remember that you’d be hitting an NHL veteran, as opposed to another rookie.”
“Like me.”
“I actually wasn’t thinking about you, smart ass. But to continue, sometimes, you’ll think it’s just heartburn or just a symptom of the hit to the boards you took the other night. But you can’t deny it; what you’re feeling, that’s heartache.”
“Not like I’d know.”
“Yeah, I’m sure a stud like you has never felt any type of mushy feeling.”
“You got me pegged.”
“Yeah, because if you’re a stud, I’m 6’9 and 300 pounds. But I’ve heard countless stories; the woman will die and the man will pass soon after of some heart condition or another. It’s brushed off, given names like old age or heart disease. And maybe before I fell in love, I would’ve said the same thing, citing the improbability of something like that happening.”
“It is improbable.”
“Will you stop interrupting me?”
“Fine. Do continue, oh wise one.”
“Well, now, after almost five months, I know better. I know that an ache strong enough to induce death is possible, and loneliness is a strong enough poison to force its victim into a coma.”
“That’s bullshit.
“I’m guessing you’ve never experienced heartache then.”
“Hell no. Only pussies get their hearts broken.”
“What about last night?”
“What about last night? Wait, you didn’t tell me everything that happened, did you? Listen, it’s not right to hold something I did or said over my head when I was obviously too drunk to do anything about it!”
“You’re going to deny it.”
“No, I won’t. I swear on my life.”
“Well, you kept talking about Andrew.”
“What’d I say?”
“A lot about how you couldn’t understand why he didn’t love you anymore, and kept asking me why he never called anymore. Then you started to cry and I couldn’t understand what you were saying anymore.”
“I was crying?”
“Hysterically.”
“Shit. Sorry about that.”
“Oh, it’s no problem. That’s what friends are for, right?”
“Right.”
“But...I mean, I don’t want to sound like your mom or something, but if you ever need to talk about it, we can.”
“Thanks, but I don’t think I’ll need to.”
“Okay.”
“It’s just…well…sometimes, I miss him so badly that I can’t breathe and then I think I’m having an asthma attack, even though I don’t have asthma and, well, I just don’t think that’s normal.”
“Oh, it’s normal. Believe me.”
“Yeah?”
“Totally. I’ve felt that too many times to count.”
“You really miss Sam?”
“I really miss Sam. You really miss Andrew?”
“I really miss Andrew.”
“It’s perfectly normal.”
“Somehow, that makes me feel better.”
“Good. Taser, whenever your heart hurts, come to me and we’ll talk.”
“I may have to take you up on that offer. But Pat?”
“Yeah?”
“This conversation doesn’t leave the room.”