*So here are two chapters to sustain you for a month, as I head to India tomorrow! (Wish me luck!) Hopefully Sid will be playing by the time i get back, as i am tired of watching the Pens suffer without him! Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Ten

- October 2010 -

"Okay guys, this is a big game for them… let's go in there and ruin their night!"

"FUCK YEAH!" Mike heard cheers from around the down the bus. There was no way in hell he was going to let the Penguins win tonight, not without a fight. He was still pissed that Mario had said no but he hadn't given up. He had thought that training camp would help him get the image of her out of his head, help him move on but everything he did he wished that she was there with him. He had thought that being angry and emotional would help him play harder but his coach had told him that he was distracted and angry and needed to talk to someone about it before he let him affect his game. The team shrink had told him that he didn't have proper closure and he needed to deal with that.

Tonight was the first game of the regular season and of course the NHL had Philly vs. the Pens. How better to start the season and open the new Pittsburgh arena then showcase the Penn State rivalry? He was hoping to see Avery before the game. He wanted to have dinner with her and talk… just talk. He had made special arrangements back to Philly on his own without the team so he would have time to chat with her. He just needed to find her and convince her to see him.

He pulled out his phone and checked to see if he had any text messages. He had sent to one earlier that afternoon and had yet to get any response. He knew she would be hanging around the arena, enjoying the pre game, opening night festivities with the Lemieux's and was desperate to find her.

Mike climbed off the bus and greeted the booing crowd. "Nice…" Mike rolled his eyes and walked toward the new building. He scrolled through the phone book on his phone and selected her name, pressing dial and raising his phone to his ear. He knew the chances of her answering were slim but he had to try.

"Hello?"

"Avery? Hey, it's Mike.."

"I don't have time for this right now…"

"I just want to see you… just for a minute…"

"Mike…"

"Please…"

"Fine. Only for a minute… I'll meet you at the visitor's dressing room entrance…"

"Great, I'll see you there…" Mike waited for a response but realized that Avery had already hung up. He started walking quickly towards the dressing room, breaking into a slow jog as he saw the long hallway that seemed to go on forever and still smelled of fresh paint. He hadn't thought through what he was going to say but was excited just to see her.

-.-

"Hey, where are you going in such a hurry?" Sid grabbed her arm as Avery tried to slip past him.

"I, um, just need to go deal with a nagging issue…" Avery explained to him.

"Nagging issue? You mean Richards?" Sid laughed at her reference. "Going to chat it up the enemy? Don't let Mario know…"

"Cover for me?" Avery asked sweetly.

Sid just shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Sure heading over there is a good idea?"

"He asked to talk to me… he's already called me a half dozen times and sent what seems like a million texts… it's not going to stop," Avery offered. "I owe him this."

"You don't owe him shit," Sid rolled his eyes.

"And how would you feel?" Avery asked, flashing Sid a warning look.

"Just don't be too long…" Sid offered, releasing her arm. He wouldn't lie, he didn't want her going over there. Not because the Flyers were their biggest rivals or because he worried about Mario getting mad at her but more so because he didn't want Richards to convince her to take him back. If it had been her plan to make him jealous – it worked – and he wasn't proud of it. The idea of another man touching her made him sick. He had watched her with enough other guys over the years, and they had all made him sick, but this one seemed to be worse then most.

"I won't." Avery assured him with a firm nod.

-.-

Avery slipped past Sid and checked to make sure that no one was watching her leave. Sid was right – she certainly didn't want to have to explain to anyone where she was going. Especially not today. Avery walked briskly down the hall, smiling and offering greetings to the several familiar faces along the way – everyone from training staff to security to familiar members of the press who were all out to cover the opening.

As she rounded the corner, it was like entering another world. The world of black and gold turned into the world of orange, white and black. Avery changed her pace to a slower, more conscious pace, not wanting to draw any attention to herself. She meandered through the crowd and finally saw Mike nervously fidgeting with his phone near the doorway and came to a halt. He looked around and saw her standing there, then stood up straight and smiled. Sensing that she had no intention of walking any further, he quickly made his way over to her.

"Hi," Mike greeted her, leaning in for a kiss on the cheek. "You look amazing…"

Avery thanked him but crossed her arms across her chest, feeling slightly uncomfortable with his gaze on her. She knew the short, black dress hugged every curve and the neckline plunged to expose some pretty great cleavage, created by a fantastic bra and emphasised by a simple gold necklace that dangled between the ladies. The ensemble wasn't exactly designed with Mike in mind, as Avery knew Sid played better thinking he was going to get some… even if she had no attempt of giving it up, she was helping the team in her own way.

"What did you want to talk about?" Avery asked impatiently.

"I just wanted to see you… maybe see if you wanted to have dinner tonight, after the game…" Mike asked running the back of his fingers slowly down Avery's arm. "I made some special arrangements…"

"I don't think that's a good idea…" Avery stated simply, shrugging off Mike's arm.

"It can't just end this way… I can't accept that…" Mike retorted through gritted teeth. "I mean… one day I was imagining our wedding and the next I'm alone wondering what just happened…"

"We had a great summer… why can't we just leave it at that?"

"Leave it at that?" Mike stood in shock, looking like he was having a hard time catching his breath. "Because I love you… because I thought you loved me… was that really just bullshit?"

"We keep coming back to this… I really don't want to have this conversation here…"

"Tell me you don't love me…" Mike hissed at her, his hands on her shoulders, shaking her with every sentence. "Say the words… the actual words… SAY IT!"

Avery jumped as Mike yelled inches from her face. He saw the stunned look in her eyes as he realized what he was doing, and quickly released her, turning and slamming his hand into the wall behind him.

"I don't love you…" she whispered softly, as if hearing it in a quiet voice would somehow make it hurt him less.

"Did you ever fucking love me?" Mike hissed again, shaking with emotion.

Avery slowly shook her head. "I'm sorry…"

"It wasn't all bullshit… You're just saying that to hurt me…" Mike turned back to face her, placing his hand back on her arm, doing his best to choke back his emotions. "There was something there…"

"I have to go…" Avery said softly, shrugging off his arm. "I'm sorry…"

Avery stepped away and watched Mike turn around and fall against the wall, slumping to the ground, burying his face between his knees. She watched as a couple of his team mates rushed to his side, while others flashed her a look of death. He had clearly shared his problems with them. She knew she had to quickly make her way out of this hallway, or there was a chance she wouldn't get out unscathed.

Avery headed back into friendly territory, wishing that she for the first time, had taken Sid's advice. That had been a disaster. Avery rounded the corner and walked right into the guy's pre-game soccer tournament. It had clearly just started, as a lot of the guys were still involved. Craig kicked the ball to Sid who purposely kicked it in her direction. Even in three inch heels, she could keep up with the boys, as she hacky sack bounced it on her knee then heel to heel and towards one of the guys. Sid laughed at her as she adjusted her dress and strutted across the circle.

"I'll be back guys," Avery heard Sid offer the group behind her as he followed on her heels.

"So? How did that go?" Sid asked as they stepped into the player lounge.

"Umm… well… it was bit of a fucking disaster… but as good as to be expected, I guess…" Avery shrugged, choking back tears of regret and guilt. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her cry.

"Well… I guess I should thank you…"

"Oh yeah? For what?"

"I'm now not the most hated person in the Flyers locker room…" Sid laughed and only laughed harder when Avery punched him hard in the shoulder.

"You're a jerk…" Avery shook her head, but couldn't help but smile as she walked away.

Sid turned to head back out to the soccer game but couldn't help call after her. "Oh and Avs… nice dress..." She turned and looked over her shoulder, offering him a seductive smile and wink. She watched him smile to himself as he left the room and knew that she had done her job.

-.-

"You're sure you're ready to play tonight?" Briere asked Mike yet again, as he pulled on his skate in preparation for the pre-game skate.

"I'm fine! Stop fucking asking me!" He snapped. He wasn't proud of his melt down in the hall and he needed his teammates to stop asking him about it. They were understandably concerned about his emotional state but they should know that he wouldn't put himself in if he didn't think he was 100% ready to compete. His coach had pulled him aside to have a private chat about the situation as well but Mike had convinced him that if anything he wanted to win even more. He had promised Laviolette that he would check in with the team shrink again tomorrow but right now he just wanted to get on the ice and play. It was his own personal therapy treatment.

"I just want to get out on the ice and kick some fucking ass, okay?"

"That's why we're here man! Let's do it!" Briere whacked Mike's shin pads with his stick as he headed over to the tunnel to chat with some of the other guys.

Mike stood up and pulled the rest of his gear on. He wasn't a superstitious guy, so he had no particular order or grove he went to. Some of the guys had to do things in a set way or they thought they would loose, as if putting the left skate on before the right determined the outcome of a hockey game.

Mike went through the motions of the pre game prep, the dressing, the skate, the instructions from the coach. He stood there and listened to the opening ceremony, even fucking shook Lemieux's hand for the media, even though he had to grind his teeth through the process.

As Mike pulled up to the opening face off, Sid smirked at him.

"What the fuck's your problem?" Mike asked, as he leaned over for the puck drop.

"Nothing… nothing at all… why? Something under your skin? Maybe someone?" Sid laughed, bending over to meet him.

"You boys ready to play or have a tea party?" the ref asked, skating into them.

"What the fuck are you getting at?" Mike stood up, ignoring the ref.

"I heard you had a little breakdown is all… Sure you wanna do this? Don't want to go get a tissue?" Sid poked fun at him.

"Fuck you! As if she fucking told you, the fucking cunt!" Mike pushed Sid with his stick.

"Hey watch your mouth! That's my girl you're talking about!" Sid whacked him back.

"You're girl? What the FUCK are you talking about?" Mike could barely contain himself, the ref putting his hand on his chest to hold him back.

"We need to start this game here boys, maybe you could deal with this shit later?" The ref interjected.

"Let's do this…" Sid offered as he crouched down for the face off again.

"She's not YOU'RE girl…" Mike hissed as he leaned in.

"You must be right… I've just been sleeping with her for, like, five years…" Sid laughed, knowing full well that every word out of his mouth was like a knife stabbing Mike in the chest.

Mike watched the puck drop past his helmet, as Sid scooped in and pushed it behind him but he could barely move. It wasn't until Briere skated past him and pushed him over that he regained consciousness.

"WHAT THE FUCK MAN? WAKE THE FUCK UP!" Briere screamed. Mike kicked into high gear and skated after the puck, chasing Crosby out of his end, taking every chance to check him into the boards. The first period went by in an uneventful swirl. While skating back towards the bench at the end of the period, Mike couldn't help but take a cheap shot and skated a little too quickly into Sid, sending him forward and into the side wall.

"What the fuck Richards, get off my ass!" Sid yelled at him. "But I guess that's what she said eh?"

"You wanna go Crosby? I'll fucking take you!" Richards skated up into his face and heard the ref blow the whistle behind them.

"I wouldn't want to hurt your feelings…" Sid pushed him back with his stick.

"FUCK YOU!"

"I'm sure Avery will later… face it dude…She was just using you to make me jealous and you were the idiot that fell for her…"

"NO! What we had was special! SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Mike lunged at him, shaking his gloves to the ice but before he had a chance to connect with Sid's head the linesmen jumped in to separate them.

"Period's over boys… save it for the next one…"

"What the fuck was that about?" Duper asked, as Sid skated off the ice.

"I think he's having a bit of a bad day…" Sid joked, brushing it off.

-.-

"What the fuck Richie?" The guys all jumped at him when he walked in the dressing room. "What are you thinking? You know what the Pens would do to you if you hurt their precious baby? You would need a fucking stretcher back to Philly!"

Mike just shook his head. He would take what was coming, if it meant putting his fist through Sid's face right now. "I'll be fine…"

"No, you will be more the fine because if you fight him I will bench you," Laviolette barked as he walked into the room. "Take whatever problem you have with him and turn it into a goal… the best way to hurt these shits is to beat them in this building tonight!"

Mike listened as his coach tried to inspire the team but he didn't need any more inspiration. If anything he needed to calm the fuck down… his head was reeling with the shit that Sid had spewed as he left the ice…

The minutes of the intermission ticked by and soon Mike was out on the ice again. Seeing that Crosby was out to take the opening draw, Mike requested to switch with Danny, who lost it, like usual. It didn't take long for the Flyers to regain control and before he knew it, Mike had the best revenge against Sid he could muster, a goal. Followed by another and another, wiping that smug smile off of Crosby's face by the end of the night.

"WOOO HOOOO!" The boys chanted as they filled into the dressing room. Mike wasn't the only one that wanted to win this one bad. There was a lot of bad blood between the two teams. The short plane ride back to Philly was going to be a good one, as the guys shook off their stinky gear and patted each other on the back for their exceptional victory. Any other day of the season, Mike would have joined them in celebration but not tonight. There was something he still had to deal with.

Mike showered and changed into his suit.

"Hey man," Mike turned to Briere. "Tell the coach that I'm on the phone with my mom, k? I'll be back in a couple minutes."

"Don't do it man…" Briere warned him, clearly knowing what was on his mind. "She's not worth it, not even a bit."

"Yes she is," Mike hissed over his shoulder, while walking out of the room.

-.-

"Hey…" Avery poked her head in the trainer's room, where Sid was sitting on the table with a bag of ice on his upper thigh. He was in a pair of training shorts and nothing else. Avery had to concentrate on not gawking like a horny school girl at his well sculpted abs and pecks. No matter how many times she had pressed herself against his body, she was still in awe – and his body had only gotten better over the years she had known him. "Groin again? You should really stretch that out better…"

"Volunteering to help me with that?" Sid asked with a smirk, noticing her eyes traveling over his body. He was never comfortable with women starring at him like a piece of meat but it was different with her – he liked knowing that she noticed him. The opportunity to impress her made him work harder during workouts – push himself that little bit harder.

Avery just laughed. "Actually I was coming to see how upset you were about the loss… but I can see you haven't lost your spirit," Avery shook her head. She was accustomed to caring about Sid's emotional state and regardless of how mad or upset she was with him, she felt the need to check in. 'It's just part of the job…' Avery had told herself before entering the room, making sure her dress was adjusted properly.

"If I was devastated, what would you do?" Sid

"If you were devastated, which you clearly aren't, I might be nice to you for the rest of the day… good thing you're not, cause it was going to be really hard for me…" Avery turned to leave the room.

"Avs!" Sid called after her.

Avery paused momentarily outside the door of the training room, debating whether to acknowledge his call or keep walking. Going back in there seemed like admitting defeat, admitting that everything that happened between them was behind them – but it wasn't. She leaned against the cold concrete wall behind her, closed her eyes and let out a slow breath. She couldn't deny that a part of her wanted to go back in, that it would be soooooo easy to go in and fall back into his arms and forget what happened and what was said. The other part of her wasn't ready to do that just yet or knew if she could. She still remembered what it felt like finding him lying on the couch in Mario's office - not alone - and despite his pleas of innocence, Avery couldn't help but wonder if Sid was just like all other professional athletes and that she had somehow missed it. Insecurity with his position and the girls that seemed to throw themselves at him everyday, had always been a problem for her – but until that point, she had thought it had just been her being paranoid and had even felt bad for having trust issues for someone who didn't deserve it. She probably would have forgiven him in that moment, if the situation had ended there, but it hadn't – far from it actually.

"Avs…" Avery opened her eyes and turned her head towards the door, where Sid stood, ice bag in hand. There was a sadness in his eyes but still a glimmer of hope, based in the fact that she hadn't, in fact, just walked away. He leaned his forehead into hers, placing his free hand on her cheek, running his thumb along her smooth skin.

"Sid… I can't… I'm still – " Avery began but Sid cut her off by placing his thumb on her lips.

"Okay…" Sid nodded softly against her head. "I'm here… I'm not going anywhere and… and I know that we will get through this…" Sid starred into her blue eyes, searching for some sort of acknowledgment that she believed it too. Avery lowered her gaze to the floor but stepped in and wrapped her arms around Sid, leaning her head on his bare chest. He quickly responded by wrapping his arms around her, placing one hand on the back of her head, smoothing her hair down. "I love you…" he whispered into her hair, taking in the scent of her hair and the warmth of her body as she nuzzled into him.

Sid heard a distant thump and looked up to face the noise. Richards stood facing them at the end of the corridor, having dropped his phone upon seeing Avery in Sid's arms. Sid flashed him an evil smile before putting his hand under Avery's chin and tilting her head up to his, lowering his lips to hers in a passionate kiss, putting the finishing touch on the evening.

Richards may have won the game – but Sid got the girl.