Staal [A Jordan Staal Story] Forty-Six

'Ring, ring' Geno`s phone rang on the counter in the kitchen.

"Baby could you get that?" he yelled from the bedroom.

"Yea, hello?"

"Hey Cass, where are you guys Therrien`s freaking out."

"We`re on our way, tell him to chill out."

They went out to the car & were on their way to the arena when an on coming car hit a patch of ice. Geno swerved, Cassie screamed, but the car still went into a tree.

"Baby are you ok?" Geno asked nervously.

"Yea, you?"

"My leg hurts, but other than that I`m fine."

Someone who had been driving behind them pulled over & called 911. Minutes later flashing lights appeared & the rumbling engines of fire trucks were heard.

"Hello?" Miriya said about an hour prior to the start of the game.

"Tell Therrien that we`re at the hospital, we got into an accident on the way there. I`m fine, but I`m not sure when Geno will be able to play again."

"Oh my God," she short of breath, "Is he ok?"

"I don`t know, he messed up his leg."

"Tell him I hope he feels better & that we`ll miss him tonight."

"Hello everyone tonight your Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Ottawa Senators. There`s a breaking story that we`ll cover later in the show."

The pre-game show dragged on & the announcement had already been made at the arena & on TV. All that needed to be done was for Miriya to break the news to the radio listeners.

"Well folks it`s a sad day, Evgeni Malkin was on his way to the game today when he & his wife, assistant equipment manager, Cassie Malkin were in a car accident. Cassie & her baby are fine; she came out with just a few scratches. But we have just received an update on Geno; he will miss six to eight weeks with a broken leg. He should make his come back anywhere from mid-February to early March," Miriya said in a sad voice.

A few nights later the Flyers were in town & the game was physical just like every other time the two teams got together. However this time things really heated up. It reminded Miriya of 2008 & how she would have done anything to see a line brawl against them to end the season. Michelle was on the bench with Cassie, and Miriya was in the commentator's box to announce the game.

"A huge hit by Johnson on Crosby," Miriya said five minutes into the second period. "Crosby`s down along the far boards & isn't getting up." The whistle blew & everyone started pushing & shoving around the net as usual. "Staal skates up to Johnson with a push."

"That's my best friend," Jordan said after hitting the guy. "Don`t mess with him."

"Oh, so you wanna go?"

Jordan dropped his gloves & Johnson followed suite. Sid was still out along the boards as Jordan & Johnson were finally done skating in circles. Jordan had grabbed a hold of Johnson's jersey & was throwing punches like crazy. After a while Johnson kneed him & they both went down. The linesmen struggled to break the two apart, they were both still throwing punches when they were down on the ice. Once they were separated Johnson got away from the linesman's grasp, skated over to Jordan, & threw one last punch. This one however was the only one that matter; he landed it on Jordan's right cheek & he went down.

"We`re back, during the commercial the Johnson, Staal fight continued & now both Staal & Crosby are knocked out. What's this, everyone's pushing & shoving, gloves are all over the ice. It`s a line brawl Bourquey, I haven`t seen one in years & it`s much like the one in March of '97."

Again it went to commercial & Miriya went to the locker room. Jordan & Sid had both been brought to the locker room & were lying in the training room.

Jordan had just woken up when Miriya walked into the room. She walked over & placed a gentle kiss on his lips & forehead. "Good fight baby, you`re lucky you didn`t hit your head off the ice when you went down."

"I know baby, thanks. Is the game over?"

"No, you were only out about five minutes. Play just started again about a minute ago."

"Oh, who's serving my penalty?"

"Nik," she said with a laugh.

When the game had ended the team filed into the locker room with half smiles on their faces. Therrien made his way to the center of the room, "I received a message from the commissioner today," he said & everyone got quiet. "Mr. Neely`s actions were reviewed by league officials & he has been expelled from the league."

Everyone cheered & looked at Michelle who was just walking in from the training room.

"What I miss?"

"Hoss got kicked out of the league," Colby said pulling her into a hug. All Michelle could do was smile, thinking of what he had done to her.

Cassie was still in her black track pants & black & gold Penguins shirt, Geno in his suit with a silver tie. When they walked through the front door he pushed her against the wall, she put her arms around his neck & his were around her waist. He kissed the lip of her nose then placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "You are the love of my life," he whispered then nibbled on her ear.

"I love you too," she said loosening his tie & then their lips met.

About a minute later though Geno pulled away, "I`m sorry baby, but this is killing my leg."

She helped him over to the couch & sat down on his lap running her fingers through his now long dark brown hair. She smiled & left a soft kiss on his cheek. She then ran her finger along the scar near his temple & smiled. "I remember when you got this, I barely knew you, it was so long ago. I wanted to kill Brandon Dubinsky because he hurt you."

Geno smiled, ran his hand along her cheek, & pressed his lips to hers in a passionate kiss. The longer the kiss went on the more intense it got, & soon they had made it into the bedroom. Geno`s tie was somewhere in the living room, his pants on the bedroom floor, & his blue striped dress shirt on the bedside lamp. Cassie lay on the bed in a pair of shorts & a light blue t-shirt, Geno is a pair of green & white striped boxers.

The next morning Miriya was sitting on the couch with Nik when Jordan walked into the living room. "Baby there`s no food in the fridge," he said putting his hands on her shoulders.

"I know, I`m sorry. I`m about to go to the store," she said turning to face him.

"We go through food so fast now," he said with a laugh.

"I know, but you have to remember I`m eating for two now."

"I hope it`s not two of you, because if so we`ll never have food in the house."

"Are you trying to say that I`m fat?" she asked standing up with her hands on her hips.
"No baby," he said walking around the couch & wrapping his arms around her. "I`m just saying that you lover your food."

She looked up into his eyes then he placed a kiss on her cheek. He sat down on the couch; she sat on her lap. She put her arms around his neck, pulled him close, & kissed him.

"Eww," Nik who was sitting next to them said.

"One my house," Miriya said after ending the kiss. "And two you can`t tell me you never made out on this couch, I saw it."

"Ha-ha busted," Jordan said then his lips found Miriya`s again.

"Baby," Cassie said as she walked into the living room.

"Yes baby?" Geno asked from the couch.

"I`m gonna miss you."

"I`m gonna miss you too, but it`s only two days then you`re home for the All-Star break."

She sat down next to him & rested her head on his shoulder. "You know that if I didn`t have to go I`d stay here with you?"

"I know baby, but the team needs you. You have to stay up late with Dana & set up the locker room. I`ll be fine here, there`s food in the fridge, I can watch the game on TV & I`ll call you if I need anything."

Cassie smiled & lifted her head to kiss his cheek, but just about to kiss him he turned his head so that their lips met.

"Bye baby Geno said as Cassie got up off the couch.

"Bye," she said then kissed.

Once they got to New York Cassie & the equipment staff headed for the Garden & everyone else went to the hotel. Cassie had just laid the Penguin in the center of the away locker room when her phone started going off.

"Hey baby," she said looking around the locker room to make sure that everything was in place.

"Hey, it`s getting late & I`m gonna go to bed, but I just wanted to call & say good night."

"Aww good night baby, I`ll see you tomorrow night."

Ok, I`ll be waiting for you."

"Ok, I love you."

"Love you too babe," he said just before closing his phone. He moved to the bedroom, put pillows on Cassie`s side of the bed so it was like she was there with him. He turned off the light, wrapped his arms around the pillows, & drifted off to sleep.

Back in New York the team was already asleep & the equipment staff was just getting back to the hotel.

"Well folks the Guins are looking for revenge here at the Garden. The Rangers have defeated them here in their two pervious meetings this year. But the defending Stanley Cup champions have been strong all season & are ready for this game."

Moments later the game started & just as the Guins had hoped they got off to a quick start. Nik scored just one minute into the first frame. The Rangers were held pointless in the first period but 'King Henry' only let in one goal during the first. The second also went the Guins way with penalties being called against the Rangers, Fleury stopping every thing that came his way & Nik getting his second goal of the night.

The third however is where things got exciting; Jordan, Sid, & Tyler all scored. Fleury only let one goal go passed him, Bugsy got in a huge fight with Brandon Dubinsky for some reason, & there was one more goal.

"A Pittsburgh goal scored by number fifteen Dominik Vandershmut, his third of the game assisted by number six James McGuire and number forty-four Brooks Orpik at 15:43..." The announcer said as the few hats were cleared off the ice.

"Bourquey, Nik is only the Penguins second rookie to score a road hat trick. Jordan Staal was the first in February of 2007 against the Toronto Maple Leafs to win the game in overtime."

The game ended & everyone congratulated Fleury on a great game & attacked Nik when they got to the locker room. Gear was off, showers were taken, everything was packed, & the team was on the plane coming home.

Cassie walked into her house at about two, the TV in her bedroom was on & Geno was sleeping peacefully. She kissed his cheek after crawling into bed & Geno`s eyes fluttered open. "Hey baby."

"Hey, I tried staying up."

"It`s fine, go back to sleep."

"Ok, I love you."

"Love you too," she said & as soon as her head hit the pillow she was out.

At Miriya & Jordan's house they walked through the front door all in smiles.

"Great job tonight Nik, go get a good sleep though, you`re leaving tomorrow afternoon for all the All-Star stuff."

"Thanks & I will."

Everyone headed for their rooms & got ready for bed.

"I remember when I was a young star." Jordan said with a smile.

"Me too baby, me too."