The Boy, The Girl, and The Game (Artemi Panarin)

Another One Bites The Dust

-Annabells POV-

Missing the captain and one of the best, if not the best, all around players in the world of hockey isn't easy. But in his absence the team is 3-0-1 and holding up pretty well. Their face off numbers are horrific but they seem to find a way to win anyway. Just gaping her will be back soon, like really soon.

We head out to Philly to take on the Flyers before heading home for a few more home games. The morning of the Flyers game everything seemed fine, nothing too out of the ordinary. But anyone who has been around this team for more than a hour knows that the quiet means all hell was about to let loose, and my gut feeling was soon confirmed.

"Hey Anna, Crow wants to talk to you" Hammer tells me as I sit in the breakfast area of the arena and I nod.

"Where is he" I ask and he looks at the ground. This should be good.

"He's in the bathroom" he says quickly and I raise an eyebrow. As my job as a therapist I've come to expect the unexpected. But this is just plain weird.

"Corey wants me to meet him... in the bathroom" I reiterate and he nods his head. Okay then.

I clean up my place and go to the bathroom to see Corey on the floor holding his side. "Oh my god, are you okay" I ask rushing to his side and he nods his head up in down. Sure didn't look like he was okay to me.

"My side kills but I still want to play" he informs me.

"You're on the floor of the bathroom and you're telling me you still want to play" I ask and he nods. I shouldn't be shocked... but I was.

"Why did you ask for me when you obviously need a doctor" I ask.

"I trust you a hell of a lot more" he laughs before letting out a groan.

"Okay that's it, I'm taking you to the hospital" I announce helping him off the floor and out the door.

"Excuse me, what did you just say" I ask the doctor.

Turns out Corey was having a Appendectomy and really freaking fast.

"Corey's appendix is extremely enlarged and is close to bursting, we need to remove it" the doctor repeats and I sit back in shock. This man was trying to play a hockey game and now he's about to have a part of his body removed, incredible.

"How long will I be out of hockey" Corey asks somberly.

"Depends on what all the surgery requires. Some of the time you are back in days and others take up to a month for a full recovery" he explains.

I watch as his head drops and my heart breaks. He's been playing great this year and didn't need this in his life. But we can't control these things and I wasn't about to let this get the best of him.

"Corey look at me" I say as I see tears start to form. "Don't feel like you need to rush back into this. The team is going to suffer without you, I won't lie, but maybe people will finally see just how great you are. Hell your appendix is probably tired of hauling their heavy asses around games. Until you're better Darls will hold down the fort and we will continue fighting. He's a really fucking good goal tender too and will do anything to make you proud, you know that. We just need you to be healthy first so you can get back in the locker room brightening everyone's day" I explain.

"See, this is why I called you" he laughs and I pat his shoulder.

"You're going to be fine, that I can promise" I say and he nods. I stay with him until he goes into surgery then head back to the arena for the 1 in the afternoon game.

After the 3-1 loss to the Flyers Artemi and I head to the hospital to see Corey who should be able to come home with us today.

"That was rough" Corey says as we walk in watching post game stuff.

"Yeah, thanks to you" Artemi jokes punching his arm prompting a teenage slap fight.

"Boys" I warn in my mom voice and they both cease.

Corey had really warmed up to Artemi lately so he's been around my house for a while. During practices they play keep away or just knock into each other. When Corey doesn't play his favorite pass time is messing with Artemi, it was cute. Corey looks out for Artemi and Artemi tries his best to keep the puck out the d zone for him.

"You looked good out there bud, good job" Crow says to Art.

"Yeah, just get better soon so we can play keep away again" Artemi smiles and he nods.

The doctor comes in and released him so we take him to the plane with us. The boys loved Corey, he might always be underrated but never to his team.

"If it isn't the brick wall himself, we thought the doctor took out all your innards" Duncan says causing him to roll his eyes.

"Only what's left of my soul" he cracks back.

The ride back was surprisingly happy considering they lost, but they enjoyed telling Crow about the 23 year old back up goalie coach they had to scrounge for in his absence. The poor boy wasn't given a "get out of teasing free" ticket and got shit all day, but he loved it. The kid was funny and I think he found a home with the Hawks. Even got to wear the great number 50 during the game. We eventually arrive home and it was back to business as usual.