Chapter Text
"Marly."
Cliff hears the stressed voice and checks his phone if he had seen the caller ID correctly.
"Roz. You alright?"
"No. Can I ask you a big IOU, no questions asked? I gonna tell you soon what this is about, but I need someone else’s permission to do so."
"What can I do?"
"Would you drive me to New York? Like now?"
Cliff checks his watch. it's late, but they have a day off tomorrow – and even if not, for Roz he’d do it. "Okay."
"Thank you."
When Cliff arrives, Ilya is on the front porch and gets in the car immediately. He is on the phone and Cliff can hear a woman’s voice on the other end of the call.
"He is concussed but conscious, two broken ribs, bruised shoulder. The blood was from a cut at the temple. You know how headwounds bleed."
"Marlow is here, he drives me to New York."
"That’s great. Call whenever you need anything. I’m here for you both."
"Thanks mom." Cliffs head jerks in Ilyas direction. "I call you as soon as I am there."
"Thank you, honey."
He ends the call and Marlow clears his throat. "I gather we are going to a hospital. Which one?"
"Fuck! I forgot to ask." He calls Yuna again.
"Honey?"
"Mom, I forgot to ask which hospital."
"Oh, I just text you the room number and everything." A small smile tucks at Ilyas lips when he thinks about how he and Shane had always texted each other their hotel-room numbers. And now his mom is texting him Shanes room number. He tries to ignore for a second that it's a hospital room. "Hayden just gave it to me. He thinks I fly down to take Shane home. But with a concussion he won't be allowed to fly. I think it's better if you sign him out. I will authorize it. And then you take him to Boston. If it's okay with you, I'll come down so you can still play and go on the roadie next week without worrying."
"Of course that's okay. I'll text you my door code and everything. You are making plans just like him." Ilya smiles softly.
"That's where he got it."
They say their goodbyes for a second time.
Oh, my fucking god! Cliff thinks. If what he just figured out is real it's not just a big secret, it's more like a big scandal. Roz is like a brother, but he completely understands why this was a no questions asked incident. Tentatively he speaks: "This is not a question just a statement. You seem to have a good relationship with your in-laws at least the mom. That is nice. I didn't want to listen, but I gathered that much."
Ilya is to raw to deflect and he needs the comfort talking about Shane gives him, even if he can't mention his name. He doesn't have it in him to change the pronouns and Cliff doesn't seem to mind. "Yeah, they are the best. Last year his dad walked in on us kissing and I thought his mom would skin me alive... They always want what is best for their child. And sometimes I can't get my head around it, they really think I am good enough for him."
"Roz, you are a good man. You care deeply about people, who are important to you. It's the first time I can help you with that. Thank you for your trust. I have your back whatever happens." Cliff is completely earnest and hopes Roz gets his message.
"Thanks Marly. I would trust no one else with this. Is it okay if I crash for a while? The evening was a bit much."
"It's alright. You have to be sharp, when we arrive." He had watched the check during the broadcast himself. There was blood on the ice, and the doc took his time. Ilya must have been out of his mind before he got the hospital report from the mom. Cliff tries not to think the name, because there is a chance he is mistaken. Yeah, a chance in hell. Now he remembers interactions between those two and everything seems so obvious.
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Ilya knows Pike would be there. He doesn't care. He takes a deep breath and enters the room.
"Rozanov, what the fuck? We’re outside visiting hours. What the hell are you doing here? How did you get in?" Hayden tries to hiss, to not wake Shane and fails.
"Ilya! Baby!" Shanes eyes are unfocused and he sounds sweet and loopy.
Ilya tries to calm him with a low voice. "It's alright, sweetheart. I'm here. I just talk to Pike."
Tears gather in Shanes eyes. Ilya can't let that happen. "Shsh", he takes Shane’s hand and kisses his knuckles...
Pike looks at them like a puck had hit his head.
When Shane is calm, Ilya focuses on Pike who still seems to be frozen in his place. "Okay, I know you have questions, you are probably mad at Shane, but he is concussed and on meds. Can we please discuss this later, when he can have a say in it? He always says you are a really good friend, and he wants you to know, but as you can see, it's difficult."
"Okay, I'm in a fever dream. Are you actually nice?" Hayden frowns.
"When Shane needs me to be nice to his friend I am", confirms Ilya.
"Wow."
"Could you please give us some time. We will tell you. I promise"
"Okay, I grab something to drink and some air…"
Ilya remembers about Cliff. "Marlow is in the waiting room. He drove me here, no questions asked. I could not tell him without Shane’s permission. So, please do not out him while he is all drugged up."
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In the waiting area Hayden slumps down in the chair opposite Cliff. It is late, this is the VIP part of the hospital, they are alone.
"Hello Pike. That confirms it. We are here because of Hollander."
"Yes. But I'm not supposed to talk."
"Did you know?"
"No, and I still think I have food poisoning or something like that."
"Cap might kill us. But shall we gather intel?"
"What intel? Five minutes ago, I didn't even know my best friend is in a relationship with - wait! is it a relationship?" Hayden’s eyes go wide and he looks at Cliff like his brain has caught up for the first time since Rozanov had entered Shanes room. He looks for conformation, but is afraid to get it.
"Seems really staple. Roz was on the phone with Hollanders mom while we drove here. He actually calls her 'mom'"
"After everything I heard and saw tonight this is the weirdest thing." Hayden puts his head between his hands and tries to breath. Marlow seems so calm about this. How the hell can he be calm?
"Roz has this girl in Montreal. Now i assume Jane is Shane. Does Shane have someone in Boston?" Cliff asks.
"Yeah, Lily." Hayden moans when he makes the connection.
"Jane and Lily? They must think we are dumb. And they are right." Cliff almost laughs.
"That means it's been going on for a while." Hayden shakes his head.
"Years. Cap always looks so smitten when he's texting with Jane, Shane."
"Shane never hooks up - like never ever -, but as soon as we are in Boston I have a hotel room all by myself. Since a year ago or maybe a bit longer even for the whole night. But I thought Rozanov is such a womanizer." Now Hayden thinks about going back and defending his best friend against this probably cheating asshole.
"I thought about that during the drive here. And actually, he hasn't taken anyone home in years when he went clubbing with the team. He always gets pictures taken while talking to a woman, but he leaves alone. He just maintains his image. Maybe it's their way to keep their thing secret", muses Cliff.
"One night Shane came back earlier than expected. He was crying. A week later he started dating Rose Landry." They volley back and forth when they piece it together.
"Yeah, Cap was in a foul mood the whole time."
"And after the All Stars..."
"Where they played together an incredible match..."
"He was the happiest I've ever seen him."
"Fuck, then I hit him and Cap stopped talking to me for at least two weeks."
“Should we have realized all of this sooner?”
“It’s a crazy puzzle and everyone of us had only half of the pieces. So, I don’t think we could figure them out.”
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An hour later Ilya finds them in the waiting area. He has resigned himself to the thought that – of course – their friends had talked about them by now and figured some things out. "Shane is awake, still loopsy, but he insists to see you both. Please don't stress him out."
"We'll behave." Cliff promises and Hayden nods.
Ilya sits on Shane’s bed, holding his hand. "I wanted to talk to you, when he is better, at least a bit clearer in his head. But even with all the drugs in his system he is right, we have to talk about logistics."
"About logistics?" Hayden looks confused.
"Pike, you have to go back to your team, you have early flight."
"Oh, yes, you're right."
"And Marly, I booked a hotel for you close by. You do not have to sleep on a chair in hospital."
"Thank you for driving Ilya here. We owe you big time." Shane tries to speak in a normal voice instead a drugged-up sing song and fails.
"That was nothing. He is my brother and needed me." Cliff bites his lip, because he knows Roz would kill him when he laughs at how high Hollander is. He never expected to see the always controlled Voyagers Captain in such a state and it’s kind of cute a funny.
"Is it okay, if you drive us two back to Boston later? I'll check Shane out as soon as the doctor allows it"
"Of course."
"You don't go to Montreal or Ottawa?" Hayden is confused.
"He isn't cleared to fly. Yuna said she'll come to watch him, while I'm at games."
"So, this is serious?" He has figured that out with Marlow, but Hayden needs to hear it from his best friend.
"I love him" Ilya can't hide his lovesick smile, when Shane says this. If Shane wouldn’t be on so strong meds, he wouldn't have said this in front of other people and never ever in this tone.
"I love you too" he murmurs in Shane’s ear.
"Say it in Russian“, demands his boyfriend. Ilya complies easily, before he looks back at their friends. "You two understand why this must be a secret. No one knows except his parents."
"Of course we understand. And we promise not to talk about it to anyone." Cliff assures them.
"Absolutely, we promise." Hayden nods.
"Thank you, guys! We know you have questions and you can be mad at us for not talking to you earlier. And we will answer as best as we can when Shane’s concussion is better."
"Okay." There are lots of questions in Haydens mind, but he gets that a concussion stops this conversation to happen for a while.
Marlow nods.
"Marly, I text you the hotel details. Pike I called you an uber."
"Is Shane rubbing off on you or are you two so unexpected alike?", asks Hayden
"Usually, I would make a joke about him rubbing of, but he would glare at me and his head would hurt, so I let it go. And yes, is his influence." Ilya looks at Shane and smiles in a way that could melt ice.
Shane had closed his eyes during the conversation, but when he opens them now, he seems more alert than before. "When mom will be there, we won't fuck."
"We do not fuck because you have a concussion and broken ribs."
"Ilya", it sounds like Shane is whining
"Shane", he tries to sound stern and not to laugh.
"I really need to get going." Hayden leaves the room.
"Yeah, me too, absolutely" Cliff follows.
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It is surprisingly easy to sign Shane out of hospital after the morning check-up.
"Hi mom, Shane is awake, Cliff is driving, shall I put you on speaker?" Ilya had called Yuna as soon as they sit in the car. He expects Shane to fall asleep during the next few minutes and wants Yuna to hear her sons voice before she boards her flight to Boston.
"Yes, thanks, honey."
"Mom."
"Hi, Shane, honey. How are you?"
"Tired, sore, happy that Ilya is taking me home."
"It’s good to hear, that you have already left the hospital. I'm looking forward to see you.” There is a low rumble in the background. “Okay, I have to board. I'll be with you boys soon."
"Thanks mom", Shane sounds already half asleep leaning against Ilya.
"I'll order groceries. Do you need something special?" asks Ilya.
"No, I'm fine. I know you can cook. And Cliff?"
"Yes, Mrs Hollander?" He is surprised to be addressed by her.
"Call me Yuna. Thank you for getting Ilya so quick to Shane. It means a lot to us, that he has such a good friend."
"It's nothing. I'd do it again in a heartbeat."
"Thanks. And Ilya you know, now Shane is out of the season, you have to win the cup. Make him proud."
"Will do."
"I have to go. Love you both."
For a moment it is silent in the car. Cliff has to ask. He feels a little bit concussed himself after this phone call. "Let me rephrase it: Shane Hollanders mom -"
"You can call her Yuna." Ilya interrupts his thoughts.
"She told the Captain of the Boston Bears to win the Stanley Cup to make her son proud."
"Yes."
"And you act like that's normal?" Cliff would shout, but he remembers Shanes concussion in time to stop himself.
"Is normal for us." Ilya shrugs but his grin shows he knows how Cliffs brain must scramble right now.
"I'm so happy for you."
"But you have questions." It’s a statement not a question.
"Ye... yes... but take your time. You must be tired and Shane is concussed."
"We'll have you over for dinner when Shane is better. Okay?"
"With Shanes mom?" asks Cliff sounding a little anxious.
"Yes."
"Is it okay when I'm a little scared and also impressed?"
"I know that feeling." Ilya grins even wider now.