15- Purple, 16-Brown

15. PURPLE

Gavin Crosby pushed his purple Los Angeles Kings car into his Pittsburgh Penguins truck. The little boy had practically every hockey toy known to man, but these were among his favourites. With a self-made "VRRROOOOM!", Gavin was happy as a clam to play with his toy cars on the kitchen floor while his mother made his breakfast.

The morning news was on the television as proud dad Sidney walked in, kissing his wife on the cheek, "Morning."

"Morning," Brittany replied, gesturing to her son, "Gavin thinks you need to improve your game, honey."

"Is that so?" Sidney knelt down to the floor, "And what makes you think that, G?"

"They just said that Ovechky's ahead in points, Daddy!" Gavin exclaimed, "Not even Uncle Geno is beating him!"

"Oh no!" Sidney said with a grin, "Well, what matters most is that I'm trying my best and having fun."

"I know, Daddy, but Ovechky might get the Ross trophy, and I want you to get it!"

Sidney smiled and picked up his little boy, "Now you know I don't care about that. I care that my team is in good shape and doing well. But there IS one trophy I'd like to have."

Gavin threw his arms in the air, "The Stanley Cup!"

Sidney laughed, "Yeah, the Cup."

"Pancakes are ready, you two," Brittany announced, bringing the steaming plate to the table, "Practice today, babe?"

"Yeah, but it's being withheld an hour," Sidney told her, letting Gavin run loose and helping bring out the plates, "Apparently there's been a staff meeting-"

"Mommy, is Aunty Anna in trouble?"

Brittany glanced from the kitchen to the living room, "What do you mean, Gavin?"

"She's on TV, with Uncle Godard."

Sidney and Brittany immediately left the table and focused their attention on the television screen.

Two sports commentators were debating a topic entitled, "Should Evans stay the Pens Medic after the Eric Godard incident?"

"...now what I'm saying is it won't be a suspension because it ultimately was not Godard's decision. Evans should either get a trade or a withdrawl of position."

"I agree with you on that, but this girl is still young and should not be in such a high position to deal with. I think the problem is that with hockey, we can hire young players, but not young medical staff, you know what I mean? I mean, Fleury can handle the pressure, but he's a Stanley Cup champ-"

Sidney turned off the television, "Ok little guy, go get your pancakes."

"Is everything ok?" Gavin asked.

"Of course," Sid replied, messing his hair, "Be with you in a sec."

He turned to Brittany, whose arms were crossed nervously, "I meant to tell you, but I wasn't sure how."

Brittany shot him a look, "What, that the entire NHL is after my sister for a stupid stunt she pulled? I knew that."

"I meant that Dan is going to have her transferred."

Brittany swallowed, her voice quivering, "What?"

"I'm so sorry, baby," Sidney pulled her into a hug, "I tried to talk him out of it...but there's nothing we can do."

-

16. BROWN

Anna sat in the office with Mario Lemieux, Dan Byslma and Ray Shero. She felt sick to her stomach, and not because of the baby this time. The nervousness she felt was overwhelming. Somehow, she had this feeling that she'd walked into a trap. This was no ordinary staff meeting.

Finally, Dan spoke.

"Anna, we want to make this as quick and painless as possible," he said.

Mario gently placed a copy of Anna's ultrasound photos on the table before them. Anna turned white, feeling her heart stop. She wanted to run as fast as she could in any direction that would get her the farthest away.

"It doesn't matter where or why this happened, or even who was involved," Dan said simply, "Just know that we care about you and this team, and we think for the well-being of yourself and the guys, that you be transferred."

Anna was shocked, "What?! Transferred?"

"We've already touched base with Darcy Reiger and Lindy Ruff," Ray said, "You will be able to start at the Buffalo Sabres facility on Monday."

Anna blinked, "Buffalo? Monday?" That was in three days.

It was all happening so fast.

"But what about the guys?" Anna asked, "Don't they need me here? I mean, Jordan's still got that ankle problem..."

"You needn't worry, we've already got a replacement," Ray replied, "She's a bit younger than you, but a tad more experienced. She goes by the book."

Anna didn't want to know the name of the young, cutesy little bitch taking her place. She knew Ray never liked her. Ray didn't even like Brittany. Ray didn't really like anyone.

Anna shook her head in disbelief, "The Buffalo Sabres. Seriously, this has to be some kind of sick joke?"

Mario looked at her with sympathetic eyes, "Anna, this must be coming as a shock-"

"Pittsburgh is my home!" she erupted, "Of course it's a shock! This was my first real gig, my first real job. My sister is here, my nephew..." she paused, "And these boys, these hockey players...they're like my brothers. I'd be lost without them."

Ray folded his hands on the desk, his ugly brown tie visible from beneath his jacket, "Well fortunately they make Buffalo city maps."

Anna felt the sting of his comment and saw her cue to leave. Catching a glimpse of Mario's kind eyes, she knew it wasn't completely his, Dan's or even Ray's idea. It was for the best, that one of the greatest teams in the NHL not be distracted by a hormonal, pregnant single mom-to-be. As far as she was concerned, she wasn't being abandoned by the Penguins...rather, she was being evicted like black mould.

Pushing open the office door, Anna nearly walked into Tyler Kennedy and Kris Letang. At that moment she realized who came forward with the photos. Her eyes started to fill with tears and she walked out. There was no reason to look back.

Kris looked at Tyler questionably, but then Dan Bylsma stepped out.

"It's for the best," Dan said quietly, "Anna may not know it yet, but this change will benefit her in so many ways."

"Like what?" Tyler asked, "I mean, besides the obvious?"

Dan replied simply, "Switching teams really does a change a person."