Chapter 131: Tangers XIV—Disbelief....
.....was the only word for it! I was standing there in shock for the first breath of it. I didn’t hear the initial crack of the glass when Maltby threw Dru against it, but I definitely saw them fall through it. My only thought was, Mon Dieu was Michele and the kids behind that pane? I suddenly couldn’t remember.
We had been on the power play and the Coach had put four forwards and a defenseman out so I had been on the ice with Joey, Dru, and Foppa. When Dru and Maltby had started fighting, that started a mini-riot on the ice. I stayed out of it for the most part but it had been like a dinner bell for everyone else. I mean Peter suddenly slugged Chris Chelios and those two went at it and then Patty had yelled something across the ice and Cujo had come running.
Oh heavens! Was all I could think and then the glass broke.
At first I thought I was the only one who was concerned because I don’t think Patty, or Joey had realized what had happened, they were too busy in their own battles.
I stood still, staring at the gaping hole in the glass and then I started skating to it. That was definitely the spot where Michele and the kids had been. Squinting, I could see Michele’s back towards me and she was hunched over, she must have one of the babies underneath her.
And then I heard Jana squeal something and as I skated closer I could see Kirk Maltby stand up and then reach for Jana, and he said something. Jana reacted out of fear I suppose and she slapped him on the cheek that already had the slap mark. Maltby didn’t look mad though, just really concerned and he reached forward and picked her up and that was not a good idea cause that girl screamed to break our eardrums. What was scaring me was that Jana’s hand seemed to be bleeding and so was Maltby’s cheek where she had slapped him. There was probably glass on her hand.
"What?!" I heard Patty yell and I saw Cujo slug him to the ice while he was looking to where his daughter was screaming. Before the refs could even get in between them Cujo was on top of Patrick punching at him and Patrick shoved him off. "What’s happening to my Jana! I know her scream!"
Jonathan’s little girlfriend was hopping around them tearing at her hair and screaming at Maltby so I knew I had to go in! I mean it was nice of Maltby and all to be concerned for Jana but it looked like more damage was being done. Before I could reach them, though the most impossible of things happened!
Jonathan came flying out of nowhere, Maltby dropped Jana who was caught by Elena and then Jonathan collided with Maltby. The two of them fell through the broken glass and onto the ice. I shut my eyes momentarily in shock when I saw that Maltby had landed headfirst on the ice and there was a sickening crack to match! I could see a pool of blood forming on the ice under Maltby’s head and what was worse; Jonathan was on top of him still slugging away at his face like a psycho!
Patrick tried to get to them first but he couldn’t because the refs were holding onto him. "My BOY!" he howled. "My cub!"
Chelios who had escaped Peter got to them first and he stood there yelling at Jonathan to stop but I don’t think the kid heard him so Chelios had to do it! He grabbed Jonathan by the ear to yank him off Maltby but the boy clung to Chris.
"Jonathan just let go!" I screamed but I don’t think Jonathan even heard me.
"Jonathan!" Elena screamed and I saw her looking at the partition to the ice and I knew what she was thinking of doing.
"Hon!" I said. "Don’t do that!"
But she wasn’t listening either and she vaulted herself over the partition and onto the ice. My heart was next to exploding, what next?
"Get back to the seats!" I exclaimed and Elena ran to Chelios who was still twisting Jonathan’s ear.
"Don’t you dare touch him!" Elena snarled her pretty face twisted in rage and fear.
Before Chelios could react, Elena pounced on him and sunk her teeth into his wrist. Chelios screamed something vulgar in pain, grabbed her, and swung her into the air. Elena let go of his wrist and I could see that the bite was pretty deep cause there was blood almost squirting from that. My whole body was cold now and I reached forward to get Jonathan off Maltby but at the sound of Elena’s screams Jonathan had slipped off Maltby and jumped at Chelios.
I skated around Maltby’s unconscious form and I could see Jonathan on top of Chelios screeching like a beast and ready to punch him. Honestly, I didn’t think the kid’s fists could do that much damage on him but I was finally able to grab his arm and get an arm around his waist and lift him up.
"Noooooooo!" Jonathan yelled. "Fucking let me go you ASSHOLE!"
"Jonathan!" I hissed into the boy’s ear. "Calm down boy it’s me Alex!"
Jonathan went limp in my arms, but I could feel him trembling. I began to skate him down the ice to the benches, he needed to get into the locker rooms and away from the public eye as soon as possible! I could hear the screams from the audience more clearly.
"Let me go!" Patrick was yelling in French. "My cubs! They’re hurting my cubs!"
"I got him Patty!" I yelled back, "I’m taking him to the back."
As soon as I got to the bench I looked at Pat Karns who was pale as a ghost and I snapped. "Pat! Jana and Michele and God knows who else is hurt! Go on!"
Pat needed no more encouragement as he grabbed his medical kit and ran from the benches. I put Jonathan down at the mouth of the locker room and said in as stern a voice as possible, "Go on in there and calm down!"
"Easy kid!" Danny Hinote said reaching out to Jonathan.
At the sound of Danny’s voice, Jonathan turned with fiery eyes and glared at him. I could see the beginnings of another tantrum and I began dragging him into the back.
"I hate you!" Jonathan snarled at Noter, "I HATE YOU!"
I dragged Jonathan all the way into the lockers and sat him down on the bench he was breathing heavily. In fact he was breathing so heavy and fast that I was afraid he would just hyperventilate or something.
"Calm down!" I said slapping Jonathan very lightly on the cheeks. "Look at me!"
Jonathan looked at me his eyes wild and vacant, not even knowing who I was.
"Jonathan!" I said louder and then I hugged him tightly. "Boy, come on, calm down!"
"Did I kill him?" Jonathan finally wailed. "I didn’t mean to do it!"
"Oh," I said quietly. "No I don’t think so."
I really wasn’t certain about that. Maltby had fallen onto the ice head first and there had been a lot of blood. I could only hope for the best here, and even the best was dire.
"I didn’t mean to!" Jonathan wailed again, "I heard Jana screaming and I just got so mad and it looked like... and there was blood everywhere! And then he had Elena and.."
"Are you bleeding," I asked. And I looked at his knuckles and palms where blood was smeared but I didn’t see any cuts. Most of it was Maltby’s blood no doubt.
"I don’t think so," Jonathan said. When he sighed his voice shuddered and he sniffled. "Where’s Mom?"
"Pat is taking care of them right now," I said.
"I’m in so much trouble," Jonathan whispered.
"No," I replied and I hugged him again. "It’s just been a real bad day."
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