23- Teammates

"I don't know," Carey said as they sat down at the restaurant, "I just, I feel like...I feel like everything is a mess right now."

"It'll get better, babe," Julia said, affectionately touching his hand, "Montreal's a tough city. You know that."

"Vancouver's not too bad," Irma piped up, "I mean, the fans get pissed sometimes, but it's not as hard as Toronto."

Anna smiled a bit. She was happy to see her friends. It had seemed like an eternity since she last talked to Irma or saw Julia. She was even happy to see Carey, who worried like a hormonal girl. Anna would know.

"I feel bad for not coming here sooner," Irma turned her attention to Anna, "I was furious when I found out they made you move in with him."

The way Irma said 'him' sounded like it was the ugliest word in the world. Anna knew that Irma didn't like Ryan Miller, but she could never figure out why. She knew better not to ask.

"I wasn't too happy either, but at least it beats the shitty apartment," Anna replied, opening her menu, ignoring Julia and Carey cuddling across the table, "Ryan has a nice place."

"He would. He's overpaid." Irma said snarkily.

Anna frowned, "Carey, come to think of it, why are you here?"

Carey looked taken aback, "What? You don't want me here?"

"No, I mean...I thought Montreal was playing the Leafs tonight."

Carey swallowed, "Oh...yeah. I've actually been bumped down. I'm a third stringer now."

Anna was horrified, "What?"

"Yeah, things weren't going too well, and long story short, I don't play again until next week," Carey replied, "Which isn't so bad." He smiled knowingly. Julia didn't notice.

"You Habs are messed up," Anna remarked, "Seriously."

"I could say something about the Leafs, but it would be useless since Melissa and Luke aren't here," Irma said with a grin, "Hey, do you still talk to Toskala, Anna?"

Anna shrugged, "Not for awhile. Man, NYC Fashion Week was a blast with him. I miss Vesa."

Vesa Toskala was the biggest fashion fiend since Sean Avery, only nicer and much quieter. Anna and Vesa were instant friends when Melissa invited Anna and Brittany to a mixer in Toronto. Both retreated to the corner and made fun of people's outfits. In fact, Anna probably would have fallen in love with Vesa if he wasn't gay.

That little detail wasn't known to the public, nor the NHL.

"If he knew what I've gotten myself into...he'd probably never speak to me again." Anna said miserably.

"No, that's not true," Carey assured her, "We're still talking to you."

Anna gave him a small smile, "Thanks Pricey."

Carey grinned, "Anytime."

Within a few minutes the waitress showed up, "Are you ready to order?"

"Yes," Anna replied, "I'll have the chicken tenders and cheese stick appetizers, the balsamic chicken with linguine, um, perhaps a caesar salad...an order of fries, mashed potatoes as well, if that's ok...vegetarian pizza, size small, and a farmhouse turkey club."

The waitress was stunned, "Is that all?"

"Oh," Anna giggled, "And a Coke, please."

Carey was floored, "Are you sure there's just one fetus in there? Not like, six?"

"Carey, please don't say fetus when we're eating." Irma said, rolling her eyes.

"Technically, we're not eating yet." Julia pointed out.

Carey snorted, "Well, apparently one of us is."

Anna bit her lip, "You know, actually, I think I should go home."

"No wait!" Irma grabbed her arm, "Don't go."

"This wasn't a good idea," Anna said, standing up and loosening Irma's grip, "I need to go back to Ryan's. I'm not feeling well."

"Please Anna," Julia protested, "Stay. We came all this way to see you."

Anna paused. She then turned to the waitress, "I'm sorry. I'm going to step outside for some air."

The waitress nodded and Anna grabbed her coat. She held up one finger at Julia, who understood that her friend was, indeed, coming back. Anna headed out the door and onto the sidewalk, hoping to catch a breath of fresh air.

Instead, she walked right into Ryan Miller.

"Anna!" Ryan gasped, "What're you doing here?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Anna said, puzzled and slightly dizzy, "I thought you were at a charity event until four."

"I am," Ryan explained, "I had to go to an autograph session first."

"Oh," Anna blinked at him, "Is it me, or is the room spinning?"

"Anna, we're outside."

Within twenty seconds she blacked out.

Minutes later, or at least it seemed like minutes, Anna awoke on a table. A cushiony, bending table. Ryan was standing in the doorway, talking to two men in under armour that she didn't recognize. After blinking woozily, Anna realized she was in the Buffalo Sabres medical room. Slowly, she tried to sit up.

"Hey, she's coming around," one of the guys piped up, "Welcome back to earth."

Anna rubbed her eyes, "Ryan, what happened to me?"

"You fainted," Ryan said, walking over to her, "And since I was on my way to the arena, I decided to take you here."

"You carried me here?" Anna was horrified, "That must have been attractive."

"Yeah, the crackheads would've been hounding you, Ryan," the shortest of the two other players said with a laugh, "Gotta love Buffalo."

"Well at least this way you can get to know the facility," the second guy spoke up, "And your new teammates." He extended his hand, "I'm Jason Pominville."

Anna shook his hand, "I'm Anna. And I'm sorry you have to see me like this."

"Trust me, I've seen worse," Jason winked at Ryan, who rolled his eyes and shoved him, "And this is Pat Kaleta."

The shorter guy waved at Anna from the doorway, "Nice to meet you."

"No, seriously. I work for the Vancouver Canucks. I am IRMA TREMBLAY. I got us VICTOR HEDMAN, ok?! Will you seriously just let me-"

Irma appeared in the doorway, barely restrained by a young man in underarmour. Anna squinted and recognized him as Derek Roy. She glared at Ryan, "YOU."

"Irma, what-"

"You skinny little bastard," Irma said through clenched teeth, "I should pound your ugly little face in."

Ryan held up his hands, "Whoa whoa whoa, I think you've got the wrong idea here."

"No, Mr. Miller, you have the wrong idea," Irma continued, as the players began to flee the room, "You don't just fuck with one of my girls. Because I will fuck you up."

"No one is fucking up anyone," Ryan said calmly, "Now if you just calm down, we can talk like civilized human beings."

"Like you'd know anything about that!" Irma crossed her arms, "'Victor Hedman is an alright player, you know, he's tall and such, but his scoring wasn't that difficult to stop.'"

Ryan frowned, "What?"

"You said that about MY boyfriend," Irma snapped, "Remember?"

Ryan smirked, "Oh, well that makes perfect sense as to why you're a scout."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I think you know what it means."

"That's IT!"

Irma tackled Ryan and the two fell to the floor. Ryan struggled to restrain her from hitting him and doing permanent damage. Anna started screaming, "GUYS! STOP! PLEASE!"

"What is going on here?"

A booming voice caused Irma to pause. In that instant she was pulled off of Ryan by someone much stronger than she, and Ryan was pulled away from her. Tyler Myers and Derek Roy witheld them as coach Lindy Ruff crossed his arms gruffly.

"You," he said to Irma, "Who are you?"

"Irma Tremblay, Vancouver Canucks scout." Irma stated proudly.

"What in the name of all that is holy are you doing in my facility?" Ruff demanded.

"She's with me, Mr. Ruff," Anna said quickly, "I'm Anna Evans. The new medic." She felt embarrassed.

"Alright then," he turned to Ryan, "And why, Ryan, were you assaulting her?"

"She was assaulting ME," Ryan said defensively, "Really."

Lindy shook his head, "Miss Tremblay, I am going to have to ask you to leave."

"No," Irma argued, "I am staying with my friend to protect her from Ryan."

"Excuse me?" Lindy said with a puzzled look on his face, "Fine, have it your way. I'm calling the police."

"Wait!" Ryan jumped up, "Sorry, Lindy. Irma and I just got into an argument because, um, my girlfriend and I-" he gestured to Anna, "Were discussing baby names."

"We were?" Anna asked.

"Yeah, and Irma was offended because we want to use her name, and she's very protective of it, you see, and-"

"Miller, stop running your mouth and get on your gear," Lindy told him sternly, "Miss Tremblay, please leave this facility as soon as humanly possible or I will phone the police. As for you, Miss Evans..." He frowned at her, "Just be here in time for the game."

As Lindy exited, Pat Kaleta was stunned, "Dude, you got off easy."

Irma rolled her eyes, "Please. I can handle myself, Miller. You're just lucky your coach came in to defend you like the baby you are, or I probably would've killed you." She turned to Anna, "I'm going out. Carey and Jules are waiting in the car." She sighed, "You can really pick 'em."

Anna crossed her arms, "Irma, Ryan didn't even fight back. Why do you hate him so much?"

Irma picked up her purse and headed for the door, "Because. He did to you what Ericsson did to me."

Anna stood there in complete shock as she watched her friend walk out the door and out of sight. Ryan walked in as she left, wearing his Sabes blue under armour.

"What was that all about?" he asked.

Anna said slowly, "Look, Ryan, I'm sorry, but I really need to talk to her."

Ryan nodded, "I understand."

"But first," Anna said, "Tell me why you didn't fight her or let Lindy call the cops."

"She's your friend," Ryan said, "That's why."