Team Niklas (The Saints Team #3) (13 page)

Chapter 16

I needn’t have worried about being the one to break Nik because it
appears it was The Russian’s turn this time, the universe had let me off the
hook. I only heard about it second-hand but Alice came rushing in after lunch
and dragged me to the office window overlooking our playing grounds. Up near
the training rooms was an ambulance, and all the players along with Doc and coach
Johan were milling around.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked.

“I just pulled into the parking lot and Tomás saw me
and came over because I was worried. Johan was holding a game review meeting just
before lunch...”

“I know, Nik said it would go for about two hours and
then they had a compulsory lunch for team bonding as he called it.”

Alice nodded and we watched as the ambulance drove out
of the grounds. The players started heading to their cars except for The
Russian and Buzz who went back into the building with Shayne and Johan. Alice
turned to me.

“Well Russian and Buzz got into a fight. I don’t know
what it was about but they went at each other,” Alice said.

“Wow, must have been major because it takes a lot to
rile Russian, he doesn’t get worked up about anything,” I said. I shook my head.

Alice agreed. “Buzz is nuts to annoy The Russian, you
don’t want to stir a sleeping giant. Anyway, they went at it. Unfortunately
Harry and Nik entered as The Russian and Buzz slammed each other against the
wall. You know Harry kind of hero worships Nik a bit and Lucas too. I think
they’re both very supportive of him, helping him along,” Alice said getting off
subject.

“Are Nik and Harry okay?” I pushed her.

“Sort of. Nik was rammed into the wall and got a mild
concussion. Tomás said something about low blood pressure too, but he was out
cold for a few minutes and Harry might have a broken arm,” she finished.

I gasped. “That was Nik and Harry going off in the
ambulance?”

She nodded. “Nik’s okay though, he’s woken up; they’re
just going to run some checks on him.”

I shook my head. “That’s crazy and what if Harry’s
season is over because of in-club fighting? Wait until I see The Russian.” I
looked to the oval and saw him, Ed and Shayne walking back towards our office
admin area. Several of the club physios followed them.

Alice continued like a good gossiper. “Tomás said
Russian feels really bad about it, but Buzz is totally flippant,” Alice added.

“Hmm, this could be big trouble for Buzz,” I said,
lowering my voice. “Before you came to the club, he’s had warnings for in-club
fighting, missing training, drinking when he shouldn’t.” I exhaled. “Johan will
be beside himself.”

We heard The Russian coming and he must have heard my
last comment.

“Johan is fucking furious,” The Russian growled, “and
so am I. Bad enough we get injuries on the field but from each other, it’s not
on.”

“Lot of money in this game, careers at stake, and we
can’t afford to have players out,” Ed, his business partner said, coming up
behind him and moving past to return to their Saints’ Security office.

The Russian breathed out. “I’m sorry Sash about your
man, it was never about him, just bad timing. Buzz is a dickhead.”

I nodded. “Where have they taken Nik and Harry?”

“St. Andrews hospital, I’m going up now. Want a lift?”
he asked.

“No, I’ll go straight after work if you are sure he’s
okay?” I said, knowing they’d run tests on Nik for a while first and I might
not get access to him immediately. I didn’t even have Anton’s number to let him
know but I guess they would have contacted him or Nik’s manager who might
contact Anton.

“He’ll be fine. We won’t though,” The Russian glanced
out to the oval. “With the bye this weekend we had no training tomorrow, but
Johan has just called a session. We’re going to be whipped.” He sighed and
walked to his office.

I looked to Alice. “At least I didn’t injure Nik this
time,” I said.

“Yeah, but be careful at the hospital,” she said, in
all seriousness. I gave her a special look.

*****

Just after five-thirty, I arrived at the hospital and found Nik asleep, in
pale blue hospital-issued pajamas in a private room—so cute. He was propped up,
had a drip in his arm and his usually tanned faced looked a little whiter than
usual. Anton was sitting reading the newspaper in the corner and grinned on
seeing me. He rose. He was in a suit but his jacket hung over the back of the
chair.

“Hello Sah-sha,” he whispered and kissed me on the
cheek, his German accent as strong as Nik’s inflections.

“Hi Anton, how is he?” I said in a quiet voice
glancing at the patient.

“He’ll be fine, so will Harry—not a break, just a
sprain. Wrong place, wrong time,” Anton said.

“What a relief they are both okay—they don’t call
Russian the wall for nothing.” I sighed. “It’s good to see you again,” I smiled
at him, “I didn’t know how to reach you to let you know about Nik and I wasn’t
sure when you go back to New York.”

“Thanks, his manager called me. I leave tomorrow,” he
said. He pulled the two visitors’ chairs together near the door, a little farther
away from Nik so we wouldn’t disturb him. We sat down and I gave him a
surprised look.

“I thought you might be staying for his bye weekend to
catch up.”

“Ah no, just for a few days. I believe he has plans
for the weekend since he has it off,” Anton said, giving me a mysterious look
like I should know that—maybe Nik was going away for the weekend and I just
thought we’d spend it together. I felt a wave of disappointment and anger at
myself for expecting too much from men, I always do that. I should learn to
expect nothing, then I’d never be disappointed. I made a note to talk with
myself about that later.

I glanced over on hearing Nik stir but he didn’t wake
up. He looked so vulnerable lying in the bed and very kissable, I just wanted
to lift up the sheet and get in beside him.

“He’s a bit high, something in that drip is making him
happy,” Anton said, looking to Nik.

“Oh good, I might get some home truths.”

Anton studied me.

“Maybe we can talk,” I said to him and he nodded. I
leaned back in the chair. “I’m guessing your trip here is to check up on me.”

Anton looked surprised and then he smiled. “Nik said you
were as direct as he was, a good thing I think.”

I nodded and smiled, but didn’t speak waiting for his
answer.

“I did have some business here, but yes, I guess I do
take on the responsibility of looking after Nik. I am a few months older than
him after all,” he said, with a small smile. “I thought I could do the business
and meet you at the same time.”

“Oh I think it goes deeper than that,” I teased him,
but I really wanted the truth without being authoritative. Come on Anton, spill
it. “You grew up together?”

Anton nodded. “Nik didn’t have the happiest of
childhoods and when he could, he spent a lot of time at my house when we were growing
up. We were both skinny kids. Nik didn’t shoot up until he was about fourteen
and then he grew about a foot a week.”

I smiled at the thought.

“He could defend himself then, but before that well...
anyway he had a real talent for soccer, it was noticed early and he was a
school champion and district champion. He got signed up as a rookie for the
major leagues—he was one of the youngest ever recruits.”

We glanced at Nik again as he groaned but didn’t wake
up.

Anton continued. “The coach of the State squad and his
wife billeted him, you know let him stay and he spent half his day at school
and half at training. Sebastian and Britta—they were very good to him, treated
him like a son, still do. He went on to college on a scholarship and earned
more before he finished college than most of us will see in our working lives.”

I listened intently and finished for him. “So when
everyone wanted a piece of him, you were one of the few that wanted nothing
more than friendship, and he trusts you?”

“And I trust him,” he said. “So when he says he’s
fallen in... has he said...?”

“No,” I nipped Anton’s love comment in the bud.

“Well, I assure you, he’s on the trip and when he told
me that, I just wanted to check that you were sincere I guess.”

“Did I pass?” I asked Anton.

He grinned. “You are lovely Sah-sha, direct, sincere,
not after anything more than his returned affection from what I can tell. I
couldn’t ask for more for him.”

I smiled my thanks, not that I needed Anton’s
endorsement and I kind of resented being checked out just a bit, but I
appreciated his concern for Nik.

Anton cleared his throat quietly. “He’s a bit insecure
with you if you don’t mind me saying. He said you are not sure of your feelings
for him.”

I nodded. “I’m recently divorced and I’ve learned a
few lessons,” I explained. “I know how I feel about Nik, I just wish that he
wasn’t a player and I wish I met him maybe in a year or two. I’m finding my
feet again.”

“I understand,” Anton said. “Odd though. Most women
would love that he’s a player.”

“I work there fulltime; I don’t really want to date a
player... makes it messy.” I frowned.

“He won’t always be a player and you won’t always work
there,” Anton said. “In a few years you could both be on very different journeys,
together.”

“That’s true.” I brightened at the thought.

 “Plus, given you’ve been through a bit, maybe you
both deserve a bit of happiness. But let me ask you, Sah-sha... what do you
know of Nik?” Anton said, with a quick glance to the bed.

I looked over at Nik and returned my gaze to Anton. “I
know what he has told me, I know he is very black and white. I wouldn’t have
put us together, but Nik has no doubts. And... I’ve seen the scars.”

Anton nodded.

“Is there anything I should know now or about his past?”
I asked, my eyes narrowing on Anton as I tried to read him.

He shook his head. “His past is... well his story to
tell. But Sah-sha, you appear to be surrounded by love, grew up in a loving
family. Nik has me, Sebastian and Britta. He is looking for that relationship
that will fill him and I’m not sure if he knows how to trust or love; maybe he
will rush in because he wants it so much... but you can work through that with
him.” He inhaled and then tapped my knee with his webbed fingers. “I guess if I
could ask one thing of you?”

I nodded, inviting him to ask me.

“Be patient. What you take for granted could scare the
hell out of him.”

“Don’t worry,” I promised him with a smile, “I think
that is mutual.”

We heard Nik move and we turned to look at him. He lay
watching us, his eyes open and focusing on me, his eyes lit up.

“Sah-sha, you’re here,” he said in a groggy voice.
Anton and I rose and went to his bedside. I reached for his hand.

“This time you can’t blame me,” I teased him. “Can’t
stay out of a fight huh?”

“I think the fight came to me,” he said. “I was
standing and then I wasn’t. It was like Russian was a bowling ball hurtling
towards me.”

“How are you feeling now, Nik?” Anton asked.

“Very relaxed. This is a good space to be in,” he
said, glancing to the intravenous line in his arm. “We should come here more,
you should come here with me Sah-sha.”

Anton smiled. “Well I’m going to go back to the hotel
and shower. It’s been a long day. I’ll drop in and see you tomorrow morning Nik.”

“Okay Ant, thanks for being here.” He drifted off for
a minute while Anton gathered his coat, and then he came back, his eyes falling
on Anton. “Is it safe?” he asked.

Anton’s eyes flicked to mine and back to Nik. “It’s safe
here,” he said and patted Nik’s arm.

“Good,” Nik said. He said something in German and
Anton moved closer to the bed again. He tried to get Nik to look at him and
focus. They were speaking in German and I stood back to give them some privacy
even though I didn’t understand them, then Nik drifted off again.

“I’m sorry about that Sah-sha,” Anton said, looking
uncomfortable.

“Where do the scars come from, Anton?” I asked him
directly.

“The scars...” Anton looked to Nik, debating whether
to tell me.

“Ethan—you met my brother, is a counselor. He
recognized them and Nik wouldn’t let me see them when we were last together. He
tried to hide them. Did his foster parents do that?” I asked.

Anton still wouldn’t meet my eyes. He was watching Nik
as though waiting for him to wake and answer the question. “He was fostered for
a number of years. When he was seven, eight maybe, well one of his foster
fathers... they removed Nik once they realized.”

I swallowed and looked at Nik. I was angry and sad. “What
did he mean by safe?”

“He’s just a bit confused about where he is, a
flashback you might call it. He’s okay, don’t worry,” Anton assured me. “I’ll
go now. It was good to meet you. I’m pleased Nik has you.”

I kissed him on the cheek and thanked him, watching
him leave. I turned back to Nik and took his hand. Ten minutes later he opened
his eyes again and looked at me with a surprised expression as though he had
never seen me.

“You look very beautiful, Sah-sha. I love your hat,”
he said, admiring my soft felt brimmed hat.

“I was worried,” I said, stroking his hand. “I’m going
to have to kill Russian.”

Nik smiled. “It’s not his fault, just bad timing. I’m
really fine, just a concussion. Is Harry okay? Is Johan angry?” he asked after
the coach, his words slow and slurred.

I nodded. “Harry has a sprained arm, but at least it
is not broken. As for Coach, he’s pissed off and Doc is super angry, but neither
of them with you.”

“Can we go now, back to your place?” he asked. “I want
to watch you shower behind the glass.”

I smiled and leaned in, placing my cheek next to his.