Quest For Yzerchuk 3: The YIPs

6 - Who Has Yzerchuk, Dani and Ondrej?

Nikita Kucherov sits with a huge smile on his face on the bench next to Tyler Johnson. Evelyna is sitting on the goalie's stool to the side. Alex Galchenyuk, Jonathan Drouin, Vladislav Namestnikov, Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos are skating around, warming up. The rest of the team is spread out everywhere.

Nikita shoots a glance back at the tunnel. "What Pally surprise for me?" He kicks his legs back and forth, holding back his excitement.

"I don't know. You should really go out there and practice though!" TJ says. "It'll help distract you until he gets back."

"Yeah, come on Kuch. And look, Uncle Joey is here too! He's gonna play some music, while you practice!" Evelyna remarks, getting to her feet. She walks over and grabs Nikita's hands, pulling him to his skates. "Come on Kuch."

Vladdy skates over to the bench and reaches in. "Come on Kuchy."

Nikita looks at Vladdy and shakes his head. "No call me Kuchy."

"Then get on the ice!" Vladdy laughs, moving toward the bench's entrance and stepping in, so that he can grab Nikita's arm.

Both Vladdy and Evelyna yank Nikita toward the bench's exit door and pull him onto the ice. The redhead slips, but manages to stay upright. Nikita keeps trying to look back down the tunnel but he is eventually dragged around the rink by Vladdy.

"Vladdy, no funny!" Nikita yells.

Evelyna re-enters the bench, glancing at TJ, who gets to his feet and wanders over toward her. "Man, you guys make it look so easy and effortless. I can barely stand up."

"It just takes patience and practice. But I am a little worried about Pally. It's been twenty minutes. It shouldn't take him more than ten. Go check and see if he's in the locker room or out in the lot, will ya?" TJ whispers. "The last thing we need is for Kuch to learn that Pally is...you know..."

Evelyna nods. "MIA? Missing in action? I understand. I'll see what he's up to!"

TJ smiles at her and takes to the ice, joining Nikita, Drouin, Galchenyuk and Vladdy, who all jokingly form a circle around Victor, who huffs in annoyance. Evelyna laughs and then turns and wanders down the tunnel, listening to the fading laughter.

She enters the locker room and finds it empty. Then she heads down the hall, toward the exit. She pushes open the door and peers out. "Ondrej! Pally, you out here?" She catches sight of Dylan Larkin, nervously pacing outside by the production truck. "Larkin?"

The redhead slips out, making sure they the door wouldn't lock her out and then she pads down to him. The rookie is grabbing at his hair, mumbling to himself. She taps him on the shoulder, when he has his back turned to her. He jumps in shock and spins around, his eyes wild with shock and fear.

"Hey, hey, it's okay. Settle down." She notices a scar on his forehead in the corner of his eye.

"You-you're that girl who was in the locker room earlier?"

"Yeah. Look, I'm--did Pavel do that to you?" she asks, pointing out the scar.

Larkin sniffles and looks away. "I don't wanna talk about it. I deserved it...I don't fit on this team at all."

"Trust me, you're not the only one. There's a man in there named Alex Galchenyuk. He used to a Hab, but he never fit in with that team. I'm sure you'll find a new team. Tell me, Dylan, which team would you like to be apart of?"

Dylan looks around and then whispers, "Honestly, Tampa or Dallas. I hate in Detroit. They treat me like I'm nothing."

"How'd you like to help Tampa out?"