"No thanks, Val. I know I always go out with you guys, but I'm really tired and my ankle still hurts from bruising it at practice. I'm just going to take it easy", Megan said, hoping that she wasn't disappointing her friend. Val smiled and hugged her. "I understand", he said before making a phone with his hand and holding it up to his ear. It was a signal that they'd made some time ago, which meant: Call me if you need anything. Megan grinned and patted Val's chest. "I sure will. Now, get going, superstar or you'll be late", she said. Val made a face at her before walking out the door. The girl took out her laptop and went online. For the next half-hour, she watched videos of old-time Red Wings hockey. She had just selected another video to watch when she heard her front door opening. "Val's back already", she asked herself. Turning her head slightly, she saw that it was not Val who had walked through her door but her ex-boyfriend, David. "What are you doing here, David", she asked coolly. David tried to take her hand, but Megan just kept pulling it away. "Come, Meg. Be reasonable. You need me as much as I need you", he said. Despite the pain in her ankle, Megan stood up and faced her ex-boyfriend with her eyes flashing angrily and her fists clenched. "How many times do I have to say no before you actually get it? I don't need you, David. I've got another friends and my family to help me out when I need it. You walked out on me when I needed you the most. I was crying, I was upset, but did you care or even want to know why? No, you didn't. You just packed up and left. Now, I'm going to say it one last time. I DON'T NEED YOU AND I DON'T WANT YOU BACK! Now, do me a favor and get out of my house", she said. David sighed, stood up, walked to the front door, gave her a hurt look over his shoulder, and left. Megan sat down on the couch, shaking. Her tiredness and emotions were overwhelming her. She dialed Val's number. "Hi, squirt! I was just about to call you. Everything okay", Val asked. "No, Val. Nothing's okay right now". Megan heard concern in Val's voice as he asked: "What happened". "David came over and asked me again to be his…" That sentence was never finished because right at that moment she gave a scream of pain. Val heard a crack and the sound of something falling to the floor. Then, there was an eerie silence.
"Meg? Megan!" Val received no answer and then realized the line was dead. He felt sick to his stomach and his face turned white as a sheet. Nick was sitting next to him and turned when he heard the whispered name. He frowned and gripped his friend's arm, for it looked like he was going to faint. "Val", he said. His younger teammate looked up at him with blurry eyes. "Something's happened to Megan", he replied. Nick looked scared. "What do you mean", he asked. Val told him about the phone call he received from their friend. Nick's eyes grew wide and his face turned pale. "We've got to go help Meg", he said, getting up from his seat. The two hockey players raced to the door, opened it, and ran to Nick's car. They got inside and the Swedish defenseman drove off. Val had his head against the seat. "I shouldn't have left her. I had a feeling something was going to happen. Things had been way too good the last few weeks for it to last", he said, wiping the tears from his face. Nick frowned but didn't answer. They were at the house in five minutes and both got out of the car and sprinted up the steps. Unfortunately, the door was locked. Val kicked it down and the hockey players got inside. "Megan", they both yelled. They heard a low moan and Nick flipped the light on. On the floor next to the couch was Megan. They raced to her side. Both of their hearts sank when they saw the bruises on her face and the two bumps on her head. "I bet David did this. Little brat, I'm going to kick his sorry little butt the next time I see him", Val muttered. Megan's eyes slowly fluttered open. "Val", she asked, her voice weak. The young forward took his friend's hand and placed in his. "I'm right here, Meg", he said. He squeezed her hand and glanced up at Nick. "We gotta call 9-1-1", he said. Nick nodded and went off. "David did this. I know he did", Megan said in a near whisper. "Shhh. Don't try to talk. Nick's calling the hospital and you'll be in good hands soon", Val said. Nick soon came in and knelt next to Val. "They're on their way", he said. Sure enough, minutes later, the ambulance arrived. They got Megan on a stretcher and into the car and drove off.
The police came in right after the hospital left. "Mr. Filppula, Mr. Kronwall, can we asked you a few questions", one asked. The hockey players nodded and seated themselves on the couch. The officers sat in chairs across from them. "How long have you known Ms. Johnson", the one officer asked. "Since September", Nick replied. The other officer opened a notebook to write down information. They asked Val and Nick a few more questions, then said the interview was done. "Thank you for the information. We will let you know if we see anything", the officers said, shaking their hands. The hockey players went out the door and quickly got into Nick's car. "You want me to take you home, Val", Nick asked. "No. We need to go to the hospital. I wanna be there for Meg… and I know you do too", he said, reaching up to wipe away the tears. The hospital was ten minutes away and when they got there, neither of them made a move from the car. Val had his head in his hands, but Nick could still hear him saying: "It's my fault". Nick frowned and touched his teammate's shoulder. "Val. Valtteri, look at me", he said. Val slowly raised his eyes. "It's not your fault. It's David. He broke up with her, left her actually, when she most needed him. He regrets it, tries to say sorry, tries to get back into her life, and she slams the door shut on him. So, what does he do? He hurts her. There is no way that any of this is your fault, Val. Megan didn't blame you for this and I don't blame you. The only person to blame is David. Don't beat yourself up for something you didn't do, it just makes it worse", he said. Val nodded and they both stepped out from the car. They went inside and saw Hank, Pavel, Dallas, and her parents. Mrs. Johnson was crying and Mr. Johnson's face was pale. Val had met both of her parents before and went to sit next to her mother. "Any news", he asked. All of them shook their heads. It seemed like only a few minutes later that a doctor came out. The whole group looked up expectantly at him. "Ms. Johnson is okay. She has a minor concussion and a bruised rib, but no other bad injuries", he said. They all let out a huge sigh of relief. "Only two people at a time can go in and see her", the doctor added. Megan's parents went in first. They came back out an hour later with huge smiles on their faces. "Megan has made a request that Val and Nick come in first", Mrs. Johnson said. The two hockey players grinned at each other and stood up. "Don't worry. I'm sure you'll be able to come in later, losers", Val said. Hank pretended to choke himself while Pavel and Dallas waved them off. Laughing, the two friends made their way to Megan's room. They opened the door and found their teammate sitting up with a bandage around her side and an IV in her arm. The bruises on her face were still there, but she looked a lot better than she had before. Megan held out her hand and Nick came over and took it. "I'm glad you're okay, Meg. It would have been horrible if we lost you", Val said, standing at the foot of the bed. Megan shuttered. "I don't think I'll ever feel safe in that house again", she said. Nick squeezed her hand. Val started giggling at that moment and Megan looked up, surprised. "What's so funny", she asked. Val told her what had happened before they came in. Megan smiled and shook her head. "You are so mean to them, Val. They are going to get you back during practice… at least Hank and Pav will try", was her comment. Val came to her other side and leaned over her. "I'll take care of them. You concentrate on getting better", he told her softly. Megan agreed and reached up to pat Val's chest. "I'll get better. I'm not going to like my ex-boyfriend get me down. I'll be back out on the ice before you know it", she said.