Chapter 230: Danny XXI

Chapter 230: Danny XXI—A Little Too Much

 

            Danny couldn’t keep his eyes on the flag as the National Anthem was being sung. Usually it was the only thing he looked at or thought about. This time, he was distracted by Patrick. The goalie had just ingested two cans of what Drury had told him was a very hard core stimulant that had just been banned in the United States. Danny had asked Dru how it affected people. Dru had told him that the symptoms varied but sometimes there was hallucinations and sometimes there was just hyperactivity.

            The best thing to do, Danny knew was to just bench Patrick and sort it all out later. Drury had replied that it was impossible if they were to avoid suspensions, inquiries and a permanent taint on Patrick’s career. In short, this was a big shithole and the main job was to keep the coach from finding out about it and the other powers that be.

            Danny gnawed on his lips as he watched Patrick rocking from skate to skate as the anthem was sung. Normally he did that and he knew Patrick had been told before that to respect the anthem perhaps he shouldn’t move so much. Today, Patrick was rocking, slapping his stick on the ice and he was bobbing his head and stretching his arms out. He looked almost as if he was waiting for a race to begin and he would skate right through the glass to win if it he was required to.

            We’re gonna have to take care of this, Danny thought. Tangers had simply said that Patty had probably had a little too much of that drink. How much was too much? How long does it take for the stuff to wear off? Did they even want to send him home?

            Danny felt a nervous chill when he thought about Patrick going home, high and jittery. It made him think of Michele, it made him think of her laugh, and her smile and the way her fingers would flip through his hair. He had been trying not to think about her since Mrs. Trepanier had approached him last night. Michele had been in love with him this whole time?

            Did that mean Cecile was right?

            Danny couldn’t conceive of Michele pining for him and plotting to steal him away. It couldn’t be true. What did he know about this Mrs. Trepanier anyway? Two women, one he loves, one he barely knows had bad told him the same thing. They couldn’t both be wrong, could they?

            Danny closed his eyes briefly. He had kissed Mimi, slid his lips over her bare shoulder, over her fingers and she had stopped him and sent him home. She had not allowed him to go any further. She was a lady.

            It was too much to think about.

            As soon as the anthem ended and the lights came on, Danny saw Patrick bend over as was his ritual, skate to the net and then skate a figure eight to the left of it. Well that much was normal, it comforted Danny somewhat that Patrick still had the presence of mind to follow through on his rituals.

            During the preskate he had watched Patrick half-heartedly wave at pucks and giggle while he was at it. That part had been worrying.

            Danny leaned over and glanced at the Rangers’ goalie. There was a bright side. Their normal starter was still injured and they were playing that kid, Danny Blackburn. From what they had heard, although the kid had a pretty good run, he was getting tired. Perhaps that was the silver lining they needed.

            “Hey Tangs,” Danny said to Alex as he hopped back onto the bench, a first shift done with, no damage sustained. In fact the puck had never even gone near Patrick.

            “Yeah?” Tangers replied, blinking through his sweat.

            “How long did it last on you?” Danny asked.

            Tangers grimaced. “Oh, an entire day and night, but I only had one can, who knows how long it’ll last on Patty you know?”

            Danny frowned. “Should we even send him home tonight?”

            Tangers shook his head. “I was thinking the same thing, maybe one of us should take him in for the night eh?”

            Danny nodded. “Well, it looks okay so far.”

            Tangers laughed. “Yeah it’s only a minute thirty into the game.”

            Danny grinned. “Hey, Tangs,” he said.

            “Yeah?”

            Danny patted him on the back and stood up for his upcoming line change. “Wake me when this season gets normal huh?”

            “How ya feeling, Patty?” Danny asked the goalie before the face off.

            “Fuck off I’m busy! Just great, hahahaha!” Patrick replied.

            Danny shook his head and as the shift was taken he did his best to keep control of the puck. It seemed the plan was to keep trapping the Rangers and preventing them from getting anything remotely quality on Patrick. Considering the circumstances it seemed a solid enough plan.

            “Yikes!” Danny gasped as he missed the pass coming at his direction. It zipped by his feet and went back into the corner. He pivoted on his skates and chased after it. He saw Blake going for it in the corner and he also saw Patty going for it as well. Blake stopped and stood as if waiting for Patrick to pass it to him. Danny skated closer to receive whatever pass there may be.

            Instead of sending a crisp pass to Rob though, Patrick teed up and shot the puck up the glass where it bounced off and slid all the way past everyone for an icing. The last thing they needed was a face off in their own zone again, Danny groaned. He skated back to the bench and leaned forward, his eyes nervously on Patrick. They just needed to get through at least the first period! At least then and then it would be ok.

            “It’s looking okay so far,” Danny said to Alex.

            Tanguay who had his lips pursed in a pensive expression looked back at him and nodded. “Patty doesn’t seem too bothered,” he said. “It looks like things are gonna be okay.” He grinned.

            Danny blew out a breath of air and he nodded. That’s when he noticed the glass crew coming out with a ladder. He frowned and watched as they replaced a link on the glass. Patrick’s puck must have knocked it loose when he shot it off there. He grinned when he saw Patrick standing near the repair crew ladder. One of his hands was on his hips and he was waving his catching glove in a way that suggested he was giving orders to the crew on how to fix the glass. One of the men on the top of the ladder was smiling and rolling his eyes. If this was as tough as it was going to get then he figured they could handle this.

            “How ya feeling, Patty?” Joey asked as soon as they got into the locker room after the first period ended.

            Danny had glanced up at the scoreboard and saw that the Rangers were only credited with five shots on goal. Could they play two more periods like that?

            Patty tossed his helmet into the air and caught it in his hands. “Bon jour!” he said to the helmet’s front as if he were talking to someone’s face. He then went into a stream of French, finishing with a laugh and then he placed the helmet gently into his lap. “Hi guys,” he said with wide, blinking eyes.

            “How ya feeling, Patty?” Joey repeated in a patient voice. Danny had always been impressed with Sakic’s ability to just remain calm and resourceful in just about any situation presented to him. He was a true captain.

            Patrick smiled. “Just fine Joey I feel like my blood she is swirling into a….” Patrick laughed again and stood up. “I got to piss like Jacques’ bitch!” He whistled as he waddled to the bathroom.

            “Well he seems normal,” Foote said. “I mean he’s talking to inanimate objects and announcing when he has to piss and how it makes him feel…”

            Hinote laughed. Adam did have a point there.