Chapter 195: Danny XVII

Chapter 196: Danny XVII—Until Now

 

            It was a heady feeling to sense your own importance. Danny recognized his in the locker room to smile and blossom with optimism even if the stakes were against them. He knew his own importance on the ice, and that was agitate, aggravate, maybe crash in to cash in a goal. It was a position he was comfortable with, especially seeing as when a game was overwith, he never really had much to apologize for. He wasn’t a star, he didn’t carry the weight of a win or a loss on his shoulders.

            The stars were something different. Danny watched them, he tried to learn from them, and he gazed in awe at Sakic, Forsberg and Modano. He watched too, the younger guys that were becoming stars, and he saw to the changes beginning in them that would have them someday become creatures on a higher pedestal. Danny knew that he would never enter into that territory, would never know the highlight of that sort of accolade. It didn’t bother him much.

            Patrick, on the other hand, resided in a completely different plane. Danny had been sitting back and watching him over the past few days. He couldn’t say that Patrick’s behavior surprised him much anymore, but it never ceased to intrigue him. Patrick was the only man on the team who truly acted like a star and that didn’t necessarily mean that it was a good thing.

            Tantrums, raging at reporters, staying out after hours, drinking, expecting preferential treatment, Patrick never seemed to be beneath any of it. It was amazing to Danny how the locker room was never disrupted by it so much as amused. That’s one of the things that made this team special he supposed, having a leader who was as humble as blue collar mill worker and a star that was as emotionally fragile as a girl.

            “Patty, you’re not really gonna wear that ugly hunk of junk?”

            Danny looked up when he heard Footer ask that. He looked at Patty and saw him holding onto that white practice mask. What was Patty up to now?

            Patty smiled at Adam, “Why not? She is functional, yes?”

            Adam shook his head. “Sure but… it doesn’t exactly inspire much respect in a shooter, you know?”

            Patty shrugged. “What do I need with their respect, it is useless to me. A shot is still a shot, if I see it I will stop it.”

            It was creepy to look at Patty as they skated onto the ice for the preskate. He was in his full colors, the away jersey, his burgundy pads, and there ontop of his head was a gleaming, blank, white helmet. The only color on it was a shock of ginger hair spiking out from an opening in the back. Danny found himself watching Patrick as he skated around the net, stretched, took his residence in the crease. It was too weird! Only Patty would have balls enough to wear a helmet like that when he knew it looked terrible on him.

            Still, Danny glanced around the assembled audience, people were beginning to point at him, gather at the glass, peer. They were noticing. Of course this wouldn’t escape Patrick’s attention would it?

            “Danny!” Joe barked, “What are you staring at, do some stretching at least!”

            Danny looked at Joe, nodded and he got down on the ice, began to stretch. He continued to watch Patrick though, he was exchanging stick swats with Footer who was ribbing him about something. He saw Patrick smiling, looking at the glass, looking at the people watching him. He would imagine that Patty loved this attention, like a star would.

            Danny sighed. He stopped looking at him, he didn’t want to contribute anymore than he had to. Was that what Mimi saw in him? What was it that attracted her to him and kept her bound to him? There was something special that Patrick radiated, Danny felt it sometimes when he was around him. Michele was trapped by it.

            Danny closed his eyes and stood up on his skates, shook the thought of her out of his mind. He didn’t need to be cluttering his mind with her. He had other priorities, other things that were his business. In fact it was even better for him now that Cecile had called, the girl had been ecstatic saying that her mother was leaving for a short while, they had again some breathing room. She also told him what Michele had done for her, and her voice had been awestruck, emotional. Yes Danny, she had said, she would be Mimi’s friend. She saw it now that Michele meant no harm…

            Cecile had gone silent and Danny had pressed her.

            Danny I don’t want to make you worry…

            Danny’s heart had skipped. What was going on?

            I just feel bad for Mimi, I mean I know he’s your teammate and everything… but I think you’re right about her marriage, Patrick he… well… I don’t trust him…

            Danny’s heart had exploded with confused rage, what had he done to her?

            Nothing, I just see what Michele won’t talk about and everyone else will.

            It was confirmed then, if even Cecile was seeing it. That still didn’t give Danny permission to do much. Patrick was a star, he was untouchable, and he would get away with much more than pressing harshly on his own wife.

            “Danny you feeling okay?”

            Danny jumped, dropped his stick, looked at Forsberg. “Yeah?” Danny said.

            Peter grinned. “You haven’t hit the net with a shot once, is your aim off? I mean it’s kinda ridiculous.”

            Danny laughed. He hadn’t realized he’s been shooting wide with his practice shots.

            “Come on,” Peter said. “Patty can handle em. Give him your best.”

            Danny nodded and grinned. “No problem.”

            He watched as the rest of the line took their practice shots, Patty caught them all with his glove or his stick. It was all routine work, it was simple enough. Danny ran his tongue over his lips, skated to a loose puck and feeling the tight snap of his body as he adjusted his weight into his shot, he cracked his stick on the puck and…. Nailed Patrick right in the front of his mask.

            PING!

            Danny’s heart jumped into his throat as Patrick’s gloves went to his face and he slumped forward. There were people in the audience some of them smiling, others looking worried.

            “Oh shit!” Danny exclaimed and he was one of the first to skate to Patrick who was on his knees, holding his head in his hands, the mask on the ice. “Jesus Patty I’m really sorry,” he kneeled down in front of him, “I noticed I had been shooting wide and…”

            Patty’s hand flicked out and Danny choked as he felt it squeeze the front of his throat and yank him forward, and he could feel the heat off Patty’s face, feel his hot breath as they were almost touching. “And so you try to kill me?” Patrick hissed. “Is that it you little whore?”

            Danny squeaked, felt Patty squeeze harder, felt the unbelievable strength in that hand and felt so afraid that he knew he would empty his bladder any second now. The look in Patrick’s eyes, a snake would have more pity in it…. “It… was a…”

            Blessed release, Danny coughed and fell forward, and he looked up at Patty, knowing he could never feel the same around him again. “It was an accident,” Danny whispered. Had everyone seen that?

             He looked around, away from Patty’s glowing eyes and saw that they were surrounded by concerned teammates, the crowd probably hadn’t seen him almost get murdered.

            “Jesus I didn’t mean for you to kill him,” Peter whispered into his ear as he helped Danny to his feet.

            Danny smiled weakly, looked at Patty who was shaking his head and sliding the mask back on his head. Patty’s eyes were serene and blue again, there was a smile dancing on his mouth.

            “Eh I shall forget it this time,” Patrick said. “I can forgive and forget, is facile.”

            “Cool,” Danny said and he was amazed at how everyone just skated away and went back to their practice. He looked again at Patty. He was angry inside, he was scared. How could they just let it go?

            Danny rubbed the burning pain on his throat, knew that there would be bruises there. He had been attacked on the ice, fought, been the recipient of dirty checks meant to injure. He had never been afraid of any of those; it had never crossed his mind that he should be afraid. Still, as he skated away, coughed, was ignored by everyone unless they were to chide him about trying to take out their star goalie, all Danny could think was that he had been afraid. He had never before known what it was like to be truly assaulted and in subjection to someone, that is… until now…