Chapter 40

The girls left for the arena Wednesday about 2p since they all got done early. It wasn't by choice as Diane and Natalie asked to get done the same time Karen did so they could get to the arena early. Mainly because Karen wanted to see Sidney, not to talk to him, but just watch him go in to see if he was feeling better after their talk. They stopped for a late lunch before they got to the arena. There was already a bunch of fans there but the majority was standing by the player's lot to get autographs.

Karen was standing up top talking to Diane while Sheril and Natalie went to the lot. Karen told them they didn't have a problem getting autographs now with knowing some of the guys, but they wanted to play groupie anyway. Karen had looked down when she saw Sidney drive in, of course all the screams took her attention there anyway. When Sidney got out of his car and began to walk in, he looked to the crowd and waved. He saw Sheril and Natalie standing there and Karen saw them point in her direction. Sidney looked up and saw her standing there. He smiled at her which brought a smile to Karen's face as well. She could see he was ready for the game and knew their talk helped. Sidney gave her a nod before going inside which made the people around her look at her questioningly. She just shook her head and went back to her conversation with Diane.

The time had gone by fast and the doors opened. As they were getting something to eat and drink, Karen felt a vibration in her pocket. She grabbed her phone and opened it seeing a message from Sidney.

Ready to do a lot of cheering tonight?

Karen smiled and responded before getting her drink in her hand, heading to their seats.

Sidney heard his phone go off and grabbed it before going out for warm up.

That depends...you ready to score some goals.

He just laughed and closed his phone, putting it away. He left the locker room and headed out to the ice. When Sidney started skating around, he didn't see Karen in her seat yet but knew she would be there. A few minutes later when he looked up, she was getting to her seat. There was something that just made him feel better knowing she was there for him. Karen looked down to the ice before she sat down and raised her beer to Sidney. He gave her a wink and went back to his warm up.

"So what do you think's going to happen tonight?" Sheril asked the group.

"I think we're going to see a turn around" Karen said with a smile.

"Do you know something we don't?"

"The girl is sleeping with him on a reguar basis, of course she knows something we don't."

Karen couldn't stop laughing at Sheril's comment "all I'm saying, is I believe the guys are going to go all out for tonight's game."

"Let's hope."

After a while the game got underway. Karen just watched Sidney during the national anthem and saw how focused he was. She actually said a little silent prayer to herself that everything would go in favor for Sidney and the guys.

Her prayer seemed to be answered when there was less than three minutes left in the first as Sidney scored the first goal of the game. After cheering with the rest of the Igloo, Karen just closed her eyes and took a deep breath knowing tonight was going to be different. During the second period, the Pens came out with the momentum and less than three minutes into the second Sidney scored his second goal of the night. After he got done celebrating with the team, Sdiney looked up to Karen and pointed to her. She just smiled at him that something in their talk got him going. The game ended as the Pens took game three and won 3-2. The girls stayed in their seats for a few minutes until the crowd thinned out. As they sat there, Karen's phone went off.

Come down to the locker room before you leave...just for a minute.

Karen told the girls she would meet them outside and where she was going. Sheril and Natalie saw it as another opportunity to get some autographs and Karen laughed at them as they grabbed Diane and ran out of the arena. Karen made her way to the locker room and waited for Sidney to come out. She knew he would have to go talk to the media and couldn't be there long. Before long, Sidney came out and saw Karen standing off to the side. He told them to give him a minute and he ran over to her and picked her up in a hug, kissing her.

"Sorry, I know I haven't gotten my shower yet" he said as he put her down.

"Trust me, I don't mind it. Congrats on a great game."

"Well I had some help on my concentration. Thank you."

"You did it, I just got you back on the right track."

"That you did baby. I got to go, but I just wanted to see you."

"Why did I bother with a 'not seeing each other' pact when I knew you'd end up breaking it?"

"Can't help it, I just love you too much" Sidney said as he kissed her cheek and ran off to meet up with the media.

Karen stood there for a minute before walking out to meet her friends. They headed to the car and went home.

A couple days later it was Saturday night and it was game 4 of the finals. Karen would only text Sidney since she didn't want him to lose anything from game 3. Actually, she couldn't wait until the series was over so they could be together again. She was missing him more than she let on but her friends could tell. They headed out to the game like usual and waited until the doors opened. They got there kind of late so Sidney was already there when she got there.

As the game began, the Red Wings were countering every move the Pens made that Karen could see the frustration sitting in with Sidney. She knew the game wasn't going to end well and it didn't with the Red Wings winning 2-1 and coming within one game to win the series. When the girls left and got back to Karen's, she texted Sidney and told him that if he wanted to talk before heading to Detroit to call her or stop over. She knew they weren't leaving until Sunday for the game Monday night so she wasn't sure if he'd be up to talking after the game. Karen went to bed without hearing from him, so she just hoped he was alright.

Sunday came and went and it was already Monday night. Karen went to Sheril's house to watch the game with her friends. Truth was she didn't want to watch it by herself not knowing how the game was going to go. The Pens came out and scored the first two goals. The girls were happy and were hoping that a 6th game would be played. Their happiness was a little premature when the Red Wings came back and the Pens lost their lead. It was 3-2 heading into the 3rd and it looked as if the Cup would be making it's presence known. But the uneasy feeling was stopped when Max scored the tying goal with less than a minute left in the game. The girls had never screamed so loud in their life as the game was going into overtime. The first overtime came and went, as did the second. The third overtime was starting and Karen noticed the time. She knew she wasn't going to get any sleep but she wasn't going home until the game was over. When the period was nearing the half way point, all hope was on the Pens when they got a power play. Karen was on the edge of her seat and literally fell off when Petr Sykora scored and the Pens won. A few minutes later, the girls left Sheril's and headed home. Karen knew there was no point in laying down as she would be getting up in an hour. She decided to get her shower and get ready for work, but before she did she texted Sidney to congratulate him.

Sidney had come back from dealing with the media and noticed his phone had a message on it. He opened it and saw the message was from Karen.

You really know how to keep a girl up all night huh? Congrats baby, I love you.

Sidney laughed then texted her back. He got his shower then met up with the team to head home.

After Karen got some breakfast and waited on Maggie to get up, she heard her phone go off. She practically ran to get her phone so it didn't wake Maggie up. Karen read her message and couldn't stop the smile forming from ear to ear.

Been waiting for the chance to keep you up all night, just wish I was there. Can't wait for my cheering section Wed night. Love you too baby.

Soon, Maggie was up and they went to work. Karen suffered through her 8 hour shift and crashed as soon as she got to the house. She didn't realize how long she slept when her cell phone rang and woke her up.

"Hello" she answered groggily.

"Hey baby. Where you sleeping?"

"Yeah. I was up all last night watching the most sexiest men play hockey. They literally tired me out for today."

"I'll remember that for next time and make sure you don't have to work afterwards. Do you want to go back to sleep?"

"What time is it?"

"Almost 6p."

"No, if I fall back alseep, I won't sleep tonight. Besides I am getting hungry."

"What's on the menu?"

"Well it would be you but we still have a couple games to go before that can happen. So I guess it will be whatever is in the refrigerator."

"You know, if you're offering, I can be there in an hour."

"You need to stay put mister. I have tried and tried to resist the urge to come to you, you need to do the same. Go take a cold shower or something."

"Sounds like you need one more than me."

"Don't worry about me stud. All I have to do is drop my boyfriend's name and I've got guys lined up around the block."

"Well the only guy that should be frequenting your block better be me."

"And I can't wait until we have our own little block party."

"Me too. Alright baby, I am going to let you go so you can get some dinner. I will see you tomorrow night."

"Definitely. Love you."

"Love you too."

They hung up and Karen got up to get some dinner and settled in for the night.

The sooner Wednesday came, the sooner game time rolled around. Everyone sat anxiously before the game started wondering how it was going to play out. They got their answer when the Red Wings came out and scored the first two goals. The Pens cut the lead with a goal in the second but then they went down again when the Wings scored early in the third. Karen had a very bad feeling in her stomach and when the Pens scored late in the third to try and bring life into the team, it wasn't enough as the game ended 3-2. Karen fell into her seat and put her head in her hands for a few minutes. When she stood back up, she looked for Sidney on the ice. He was over by the bench with the others and she could tell he was heartbroken. When it was time to shake hands, Karen noticed how Sidney stood back and waited to be the last one in line, like he didn't really want to do it. After they were done and before the players skated off the ice, they acknowledged the fans who were still cheering by raising their sticks to them. The girls didn't really want to stay for the celebration of the Cup and got up to leave. Sheril and Natalie had to go to the bathroom as Diane looked for a shirt for her son. Karen leaned up against the door and texted Sidney.

After Sidney had sat down for a few minutes alone before they let the media in, he heard his phone go off.

I'll wait outside for you.

Sidney didn't want to hurt her but he didn't want to see anyone right now. He just hoped she understood when he texted her back. Karen felt her phone vibrate and read the message.

You need to get back for work. I'll call you tomorrow.

Work doesn't matter right now. I'll be tired again or I'll call off.

Sorry but I don't want to see anyone right now, especially you.

The last line killed Karen. She knew he wouldn't be in the greatest of moods but all she wanted was to hold him and show him she was there for him. She swallowed hard and took a deep breath to fight back the tears that wanted to fall. Sidney got a message back and read it before being attacked, literally, by the media.

Ok.

He put his phone away and tried to hold in all his emotions as the reporters asked him questions.

When Karen got to Maggie's she tried to offer comfort since she watched the game but Karen didn't have an answer for her as to what happened. She went to the kitchen to get something to drink then she headed to her room and went to bed, crying until she fell asleep.