Tough Love

Chapter 9 - L.A. Kings

The Playoff series started two days later for the Pens, and their first opponnent would be no one else than the L. A. Kings. Brooke knew that the team was extremely good, but she was pretty positive, just like the rest of the team. Everyone was playing really well, and especially Sid was on top of his game. Whenever someone asked him how he suddenly got even better, he just shrugged and then sent Brooke a look when no one was looking. It was the night of the first game of a maximum seven, and Sid had just given his pre-game interview and had of course had to answer another one of these questions, and he'd just sneaked a look at Brooke afterwards, smiling softly at her when she returned the look. Brooke - who was always wearing her jersey whenever she was around the team - just sent him a smile and then turned towards the Coach again, listening to his advice and nodding from time to time. Thankfully, none of the guys had been hurt and everyone was healthy, which made her job quite easy. When the guys got up to get on the ice for warm up, Brooke was already by the bench, setting up the pucks for them and then holding out her hand for high-fives. Sid stopped shortly next to her and looked at her and Brooke looked up at him with a soft grin. "May I say, you look very beautiful tonight, Brookie," Sid stated with a grin and Brooke shook her head, pushing him towards the ice with an amused smile. "You're such a dork Crosby. Go warm up now," she stated and Sid skated away with a happy grin.

As everyone had predicted, the first game was a hard fight, because both teams wanted to start with a win. Sid and Malkin were a better team than ever, and Brooke crossed her fingers everytime they got the puck. "Go Sid! You can do it!" She shouted when there were 4 minutes left in the first period and Sid had just gotten the puck from Malkin. He skated forwards towards the goal and shot the puck right over the goalie's glove with a slapshot. Brooke jumped up and cheered, but stopped immediately when she saw a player of the Kings crosscheck Sid into the boards. Sid's shout could be heard on the bench. He just stayed there, and Geno skated over to him and helped him up while the player that had checked him was sent on the bench for ten minutes. Brooke had already stepped over to the side of the bench by the time Sid got there and by the look on his face she could tell he was in pain. The team doctor helped him towards the locker room, Brooke following them while biting her lip. "I'm going to get some ice," Brooke stated and went to the storage room to get some ice. When she got back, Sid had taken off his guards and the doctor was looking at his leg. "There's going to be a pretty nasty bump later and it's still going to hurt, but if you think you're good to play, I think you could get back for the next game. Not today, though," the doctor told Sid right when Brooke got back and she saw Sid take a deep breath. "Can I be alone for a bit?" He eventually asked, and Brooke looked at the doctor who nodded and left the room before walking over and holding the packet of ice out for him. "What are you doing?" Sid asked when she turned to leave and Brooke looked at him. "You wanted to be alone, right?" she asked confused and Sid grabbed onto her hand, pulling her back to himself. "Stay here," he told her and Brooke carefully sat down next to him and held the ice onto his legs. "Your goal was awesome, by the way," she told Sid with a soft smile and he turned to her and sighed. "Thanks," he eventually said. Brooke hummed quietly and took care of Sid's leg while he was watching the game on the display. "Damn, why did that have to happen," Sid grumbled angrily and Brooke lifted her head. "Don't worry, you heard what the doc said. You can already play the next game, so it isn't too bad," she stated and Sid just sighed and shook his head. "I know. I just hate this," he admitted and Brooke oeaned towards him and pressed a soft kiss onto his lips. Seconds later, they heard voices outside and broke apart, and in the next second the rest of the team stepped into the locker room. "How's your leg Crosby?" Coach Johnston asked and Sid told him what had happened while Brooke continued to hold the ice against his leg. During the intermission, Coach Johnston made plans with the rest of the team and then looked at Sid and Brooke. "Sid, you can go home if you want, but if you want to stay and watch, that's alright. Brooke, I trust you to take care of him," he stated and Brooke nodded after lookig up at Sid for a second.

They were left alone again a bit later and Brooke turned towards Sid who was sitting there with a frown on his face. "Don't worry Sid, we'll get you healthy for the next game," Brooke promised him and he placed his hand on her cheek and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "You're the best, Brookie. Thank you," he mumbled softly and Brooke just smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder for a few moments while they watched the game. Malkin and Hornqvist worked well together, and when they shot the Penguins to their 2 - 0 lead, Brooke turned away from the TV. "Do you want me to massage your leg?" She asked Sid and he tilted his head. "If you want to?" "That's what I'm here for Sid. Taking care of you is my job, even though I'd do it anyway," she told him before carefully placing his leg over hers and starting to massage it. Sid just leaned back and let her do how she pleased, watching the game and commenting from time to time. He groaned when the Kings scoared a goal seconds before the period ended and Brooke patted his leg in comfort. The rest of the guys entered the room a bit later and Sid gave out some helpful advice while Brooke just listened and took care of him.

The third period was a bit more violent, and Sid shouted in joy when Sutter scoared a goal, making Brooke laugh and shake her head. The game ended with a 3 to 1 win for the Penguins, and Sid had already changed by the time everyone came back into the locker room. "I'll bring him home and we'll start stretching tomorrow before training, and if everything goes right, he should be able to play the game in two days," Brooke told Coach Johnston, who'd come to her for a report on Sid and the Coach nodded. "All right. Sid, rest your leg a bit and listen to what Brooke says," he told Sid and the two of them left before the reporters were allowed to go there, so Sid wouldn't have to answer the questions. Brooke helped Sid to his car and then got into the drivers seat, starting it up and driving both of them to Sid's house. "Go get on the bed and I'll get you some ice again," Brooke commanded when they stepped into the house and Sid just nodded and started making his way up to his room while Brooke went to his refrigerator and got out something cold. When she came into Sid's bedroom a few minutes later, he was already on his bed, naked save for the loose sweats, and she crawled up onto the matress next to him and carefully wrapped the ice around his knee carefully before letting herself settle down next to him. "How is your leg feeling?" she asked softly and Sid turned towards her and tilted his head. "I don't know...I'm not sure," he eventually admitted and Brooke hummed quietly and patted his cheek before taking out her phone and texting back a friend that had written her. When she turned back to Sid, he was looking at his leg, and Brooke could see the thousands of thoughs in his head, so she settled herself in his lap and made him look up at her. "You're thinking too much, Sid," she stated softly and Sid placed his hands on her waist and sighed, softly caressing her sides. "I can't help it, Brookie. What if I won't be able to play as well as I should?" he stated and Brooke placed her hands on his cheeks and leaned her forehead against his. "You are an incredibly talented player, and we both know that you're strong enough. And even if you're not doing your 'out of this world' play, you have an awesome team to back you up. You aren't alone on the ice," she told him, looking into his eyes and biting her lip softly. "Just promise me one thing," she then added, leaning back, and Sid tilted his head to the side, looking at her questioningly. "Don't overtake yourself. I don't want you to get hurt more than you've already been hurt," she said and a soft smile spread on Sid's face. He carefully wrapped his arms around Brooke and leaned up to press another kiss onto her lips. "Don't worry Brookie. I'll take care of myself," he promised her, and Brooke nodded with a soft smile.

Eventually, Brooke leaned back a bit and led Sid's hands to her shirt, pushing it up a bit. Sid grabbed the hem of her shirt and looked at her with an intense look and Brooke bit her lip with a soft smile. "Come on. You surely know how to take off a girl's shirt," she teased him and Sid huffed out a laugh before eventually taking off her shirt and throwing it to the ground next to his bed, placing his hands on her sides and softly stroking over her skin.