Stay

seven

(Seven Weeks Later)

*Tatum POV*

Today's the season opener and I'm finally starting my new job with the Blackhawks organization. I haven't seen Patrick or Jonathan since I told Patrick to drive me to Mack's. I arrive at the United Centre around eight thirty since practice starts at nine. When I get out of my car I see Patrick Sharp walking towards the door. "Sharpie!", I yell getting his attention. It's awhile till he recognizes who I am but when he does he yells back at me.

"Tatum, what are you doing here? Are you and Jon?", I cut him off.

"No no, I'm the new head of public relations." I say as we walk in together. I show security my pass and we continue making small talk until we get to the dressing rooms and we say our good byes. I walk into my office and set my box of stuff down and start unpacking it until Coach Q walks in.

"Good Morning Tatum", he greets me and sits down.

"Morning Q, so what did you need to talk to me about?", I ask.

"Well the job we hired you for is no longer available", he starts.

"Wait but you said that I got a job yesterday on the phone", I state confused.

"You do have a job, I think you'll like it better. It pays more and you get to travel with the team almost every where."

"What's the job Q?"

"Well our head physical therapist just quit and I saw you were experienced and were on a time crunch so I thought who better than Ms. Tatum Matthews. I know its not exactly what you applied for but, you do have a masters degree in physical therapy so I thought you might like this job. So will you take it?"

"Yeah of course, is this still my office?", I ask.

"No follow me I'll show you to our new one", he says and I quickly grab all my stuff and follow him. He shows me to my new office and leaves after telling me where to pick up my uniform and the other people I work for. He says that'll I'll be the boss of two interns and. I set up all my stuff the head to where they work which happens to be across the hall. I walk in and they all stare at me.

"You must be our new boss Tatum. I'm one of the interns Riley", a short brunette girl says.

"I'm Bryson the other intern", a blond girl says.

"Hey so what are you guys working on?"

The girls say there sorting out some paperwork until after practice and we have to work on the guys. "Wait do I know you from somewhere?", Bryson asks me.

"Um I don't think so." I get a text from Q telling me to meet him in the locker room. I say bye to the girls and head there. I walk in and all eyes are on me. It's silent till Coach Q says.

"Tatum you already know most of the team but you guys this is Tatum Matthews she was supposed to be our new head of public relations but she's now the head physical therapist since Jeremy quit."

"So it's a all girls team, sweet", one of the rookies I don't recognize says and most of the guys laugh and the rest just stare at me.

"Tatum come into my office for a second please."

"Sure thing."

"Okay so I know you and Toews used to date. There is a no dating policy but since you've already dated him and old sparks might be still there, I'm allowing it."

"Coach listen that's not really going to be a problem."

"But just in case", he says and we leave his office.

"Okay let's go boys, I'll be out there in a minute." After he says that I quickly walk out of the dressing room so I don't have to talk to anyone. I walk back into my office and go through the players I will have to work with. Kyle Davidson walks into my office and I recognize him as one of the trainers.

"Hey Tatum, Q told me to give you info on the interns.", he starts. "So Bryson and Riley are qualified enough to not have to be supervised twenty four seven but they'll ask you for help regularly. Also you have to pick one for each of the away trips, you can pick who ever you'd like Jeremy only picked Riley when he worked here."

"Okay thank you so much Kyle."

"No problem", he states and leaves my office. I go through who we have to work with and I see some familiar names. Patrick Kane, Corey Crawford, Brandon Saad, Duncan Keith, Andrew Shaw and the one and only Jonathan Toews. I walk into where the girls are they are still sorting files.

"Hey girls, so I was looking at who we have to work with today picked who you guys can work with. Okay so first I'm going to watch Bryson with Andrew Shaw, and Riley I'll watch you with Duncan Keith, and you guys can then do anyone else who requests it. Also Bryson could you also do Tazer?"

"Yeah for sure, wait I know where I know you from."

"Really where?"

"You dated Toews."

"Yeah.", I say before walking back to my office. By the time I'm settled in practice is over and I walk into the locker room, and walk into the four rooms where we treat the players. Bryson is first and Shaw comes in and says hi to me and Bryson get's right to it. She's really good so I leave halfway through, and start Riley in the second with Keith. She's not as good as Bryson but she's still good so I leave. I call Patrick up and see Bryson is starting with Jonathan. Pat hugs me as soon as we get into the room. "Kaner get off me you smell." I say and push him off.

"Well it's been radio silence, since you left my place so I figured if I tackled you in a bear hug you wouldn't be able to resist me", we both laugh. I start with him and the questions start flowing too. "So why the radio silence, with me anyway?"

"I just needed some time, because if I talked to you I'd ask about him. So how is he? Is he still with Brittany?"

"Needed time so you wouldn't ask questions? Really.", he laughs. "But yeah he's a total ass hole, but not because he's with Brittany but because he isn't with you." I stay silent till I finish with him and he tells me were going for dinner after the game and I have to come, I agree and he finally leaves. When I walk out I see Bryson working with Crow and I almost walk in there when someone grabs my arm and I turn around and see Jonathan.

"Listen I told her that I would only work with you and for her to work on Crow so he could leave early."

"You had no right to do that."

"I know and I'm sorry, I just needed to talk to you."

"Okay let's go."

"What?"

"Well I need to finish with you so I can go home before the game so can we just hurry please?"

"Yeah okay." When I was done he looked at me and said, "is there any hope for us?"

"J, I met someone."