by purpleatheist
Rating: still PG-13
Disclaimer: mine :-)
Pairing: Billy/Dame and some more...
Summary: Parker's in the hospital, Neo's gone, Kevyn talks with Sarah, and Stormy talks with Billy.
Notes: Ha. I am succumbing to peer pressure, but I still have a plan now.
I awoke to the rhythmic beeping of a monitor. I was in a hospital room. I started to move my hand, realized there was an IV in it, and moved the other one instead. "Parker, you're awake." It was Coach Brown, sitting beside my bed. He'd never called me Parker before. "You scared us a little bit."
"What happened?"
"You passed out. Mr. Morris and Mr. Reilly immediately contacted me and we got you to the doctor. As it turns out, your cold is actually bronchitis."
"Oh," I said, faintly. My throat hurt.
"So the doctor lectured me on letting you boys be under too much stress, but she said you'll be ok in a week or two."
"A whole week?"
He rolled his eyes. "There are some other people who want to see you." He stood, and left the room. In a few moments, Billy and Dame walked in.
"Hey, Park," Billy said, smiling. He took my hand. "We were worried about you."
"I'm ok."
They nodded. "Coach told us everything that happened with Neo and Kev. Neo confessed, said it was true. He's going home. They're not bringing anyone in to replace him, though. We can't dress everyone as it is."
"So it's over?"
"It's over with Neo," Damon said solemnly. "I don't know about Kevyn. I haven't seen him since we brought you here."
"Speaking of here, when can I get out?"
Billy's smile was still in place. "Doctor says a couple of days. That's what you get for letting it get this bad."
"Anyway, we have to go. Coach is talking to the whole team about what's going on. See you later?"
I nodded, and they left, leaving me alone. Sighing, I turned on the TV. I flipped to a hockey game, and tried not to think about what I was going to have to say to Kevyn when I got out of here.
*
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Kevyn's POV
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I know it isn't my fault, but I somehow can't keep from blaming Parker's illness on myself. If I hadn't told him what was going on, he would've been able to rest and get better instead of trying to run all over the place avenging me.
"Hey, Kev. You look down. What's going on?"
It was Sarah. I talked with her a lot, since I didn't really know anyone on the team like they knew each other. I mean, I was friends with plenty of people - Parker tried hard, and so did Adam - but no one really close. And Sarah was beautiful, smart, and funny. And, as my luck would have it, gay. "I'm so screwed up."
She frowned and sat next to me, brushing her hair from her eyes. "You're not that screwed up. No more so than any other goalie."
"Thanks, I think. But...haven't you heard about Neo?"
She rolled her eyes. "Of course I've heard. It happened like four hours ago." She paused. "Wait...it was you?"
I could only nod, averting my eyes from her.
She put her arm around my shoulder in a half hug. "I'm so sorry...are you ok?"
"Yeah, yeah, I think so. I just...well, that's not all. After I got my hand looked at, I went back to my room. Parker was asleep, but he woke up when I came in and started asking me how I was. I got mad at him, sort of, and was asking him why he went to Coach Brown instead of just talking to Neo about it. He said...he said he would've killed Neo because Neo hurt me and he...he likes me, Sarah!"
"So? You told me yourself you're bisexual. You even told me you thought he was hot."
"Yeah, but...Sarah, I can't deal with a relationship with a guy right now. I can't handle that."
"Just tell him that, Kev. He'll understand."
I looked at her. "Are you sure?"
"No. But I have a pretty good idea. Ok?"
"Ok."
She smiled. "Oh, by the way, have I told you I'm dating Parker's best friend?"
"I thought Billy and Dame were his best friends."
"Ok, fine, his best friend that isn't male and here playing hockey with him."
"No, you didn't tell me that."
"Well, she came down to visit him a couple weeks ago, and sort of ran into each other..."
I smiled a little, too. "I'll have to ask him about that..."
"Good." She pulled me to my feet. "Talk to him, ok?"
I nodded and promised that I would.
*
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Billy's POV
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*
The day after the whole Neo-dismissal thing, practice was a disaster. We were disjointed and uncoordinated and Coach yelled at us the whole time and finally just quit doing drills and made us skate. A lot. When he finally let us go, I was nearly limping into the locker room. I've had knee problems for a while, and we do nothing but skate for an hour and a half, it can get pretty tiring. "Hey, Billy."
Chris Storm, our other alternate captain and defender, was standing there. "Hey, Stormy. What's up?"
"D'ya think we could talk?" He looked sort of nervous, but I didn't know what he would want to talk about.
"Yeah, sure," I told him, then called across the room. "Damon! I'm eating with Stormy. See you later!" He waved at me, and I set off with Chris, favoring my knee just a little. "So...what did you want to talk to me about?" I asked, as we sat down opposite each other.
"Well...see, I have this crush-"
"Oh, girl problems. Fun."
"Yeah. See, I really, really like her. Like, a lot. But she doesn't really know I exist."
"What makes you say that?"
"She...doesn't really talk to me, you know, outside of a group setting. There doesn't seem to be any reciprocal interest."
"Well, how often do you see her outside of group settings?" I was careful to pause before saying "her" and he blushed. Oh, god.
"I don't, really. That's the problem."
"Well, tell me about her."
He got a faraway look on his face, his green eyes glinting. "Well...she's kind of...standard, I guess. Blond hair. Blue eyes...beautiful blue eyes."
"Nice chest?"
He blushed. "You could say that..."
"Ass?" I was just teasing him now, and he blushed again. I took pity on him. "Chris, you've got to tell her how you feel."
"But what if they don't feel the same way?"
"At least you'll know."
He nodded, and sighed. "Thanks, Billy. I'll...see you around, I guess."
"Yep." I watched him leave, then picked up my tray and went back to my room. "Oh, Da-mon," I called, shutting the door behind me.
"Yes, dear," he said dryly from his desk, where he was obviously working on something.
"Guess who has a crush on Parker?"