Ignite Your Bones
They came out of nowhere. Only a flash in the corner of Jackson’s eye and then he was sprawled on the ice, pain shooting up and down the entirety of his body like fire. There were shouts around him, but all he knew was pain as he stared at the ceiling of the rink.
“Nado, can you hear me?” A voice asked next to him. It sounded like Cap, but he couldn’t tell. When Jackson tried to answer, only a choked gasp came out. Someone carefully took his helmet off, trying not to jostle him as there were suddenly more people surrounding him.
So many people, voices everywhere. There was shouting from the bench but he couldn’t make it out. It wasn’t long before he was on a gurney and he couldn’t keep his eyes open anymore, everything went dark.
***
Zhenya could only watch from across the ice as one of the Rangers came up behind Nado, slamming him into the boards. The scream of anguish set him off, trying to make his way towards Jackson when he was cut off. Loops.
Remus held him back, eyes worried as he tried to skate him towards the bench, “Kuny, you’ve gotta let them help.” He whispered, arm wrapping around his waist as he pulled him back.
“Let me see him. Please. He’s hurt. I need to make sure he’s okay.” Zhenya croaked out, his fingers clutching at Remus’s jersey as he tried to push past him. Suddenly another pair of arms were around his waist, pulling him along and he could only watch his boyfriend being lifted onto a gurney.
They carefully pushed him onto the bench, finally getting him to sit as Jackson was pushed out of sight down the tunnel. Coach squeezed his shoulder as he stared to where the gurney had disappeared, “You’re out, Kuny. There’s only a couple minutes left.”
Zhenya fidgeted nervously with the end of his jersey, throat constricted as he tried to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. A gentle hand rested on his back, and as they started speaking he recognized it to be Henrik.
“He’s going to be okay, Kuny. You know he’s strong. As soon as this game is over, we’ll get you to him, okay? I promise. We’ll get you there.” Henrik assured him, his voice soft as he tried to comfort the taller man.
Zhenya couldn’t stop staring at where Jackson had fallen. It was on repeat in his head, the loud crash of Jackson’s body hitting the boards, the scream. “His eyes were closed. I-I couldn’t see his eyes when they took him off.” He muttered, though it was more to himself.
As the buzzer went off, Zhenya was already off the bench, heading to the locker room. His jersey was halfway off when he got to his stall, quickly changing into his street clothes and packing his bag up. Glancing over at Jackson’s stall, he grabbed his bag as well.
“Zhenya, c’mon I’ll drive you.” Sergei said, pulling his keys out of his bag. Zhenya nodded, his grip tightening on the two bags as he followed Sergei out to his car.
They were flying out of the parking lot, no doubt breaking many speed limit rules but at this point, Zhenya couldn’t bring himself to care. His hands shook in his lap as he stared out the windshield.
The ride was quiet as Sergei sped down the streets of Gryffindor. Zhenya felt as though he could hear his heart pounding, it felt as though it might burst out of his chest. He couldn’t breath, it kept catching in his throat and felt like he couldn’t get enough air. Why did everything feel like it was closing in?
“Zhenya, focus! Breath. In through your nose, out through your mouth. We can’t have you in the hospital too. Deep breaths. Follow my breathing.” Sergei said, his hand reaching over to squeeze the younger man’s shoulder.
Squeezing his eyes shut, Zhenya listened to Sergei and slowly began to match their breathing, “I’m scared.” He sniffled, wiping at the tears that had begun to fall down his cheeks.
“It’ll be okay. He’ll be okay.” Sergei murmured as he pulled into the hospital’s parking lot.
They were out of the car as soon as it was parked, running towards the front desk.
Zhenya clutched Jackson’s bag to his chest as Sergei stepped up to the nurse, “We’re here for Jackson Nadeau.”
The nurse typed something into her computer before looking back to Sergei and Zhenya, “Of course, I’ll let his doctor know you’re here, and he can take you to his room, okay?”
Sergei thanked her before turning back to Zhenya, leading him to the waiting room chairs, “You’ll see him soon.” He assured him softly before they both settled in, waiting.
It felt like hours, days, but it was probably only a few minutes when a doctor made his way over to them, “Hi, I’m Dr. Lizocki. You’re here for Mr. Nadeau, yes?” Both of them sat up, nodding.
“Is he okay?” Zhenya whispered, his fingers gripping tightly on the arms of his chair.
Dr. Lizocki sat in the chair across from them, looking over his clipboard, “Well Jackson was in rough shape when he got here, but he is stable now. He suffered from three fractured ribs, a broken tibia and a concussion. The broken tibia was set back into place and we’ll cast it before he’s discharged, which probably won’t be for a couple days. It’s currently in a splint.”
Letting out a shaky breath, Zhenya ran a hand through his hair, “Is he awake?”
The doctor smiled, standing up, “Yes, he is. He’s on quite a bit of pain medications but very much awake. I can take you back now if you’d like.” Zhenya was up and nodding before the doctor had finished his sentence.
“Yes. Yes please.” Zhenya said, moving Jackson’s bag over his shoulder before he looked back at Sergei who smiled.
“I’ll wait here for the rest of the team. Go on, Zhenya.” Sergei urged, shooing him on.
Glancing back one more time, Zhenya nodded before quickly following the doctor down the hall, “You’re Zhenya?” He asked.
Zhenya’s eyebrows furrowed as he nodded, “Ah, yes. Not sure how to say… small name. For close people?”
The doctor smiled, “A nickname, I understand. Jackson was asking for you. We weren’t sure what he was saying but now I get it.” He said, leading him to a closed door. “I’ll leave you to it. If you guys need anything, just press the call button on his remote okay?”
Nodding, Zhenya thanked the doctor before he walked into the room. It was quiet except for the beeping from the monitor as he stepped into the room, his eyes quickly going to the man on the bed.
Jackson looked small in the hospital bed, wires and cords everywhere. His left leg was in the splint as the doctor said, bruising all over his chest. Blue eyes were watching him once he got to his face, a small smile lighting up Jackson’s face.
“Zhenya.” Jackson croaked out, his hand automatically reaching out for him.
Zhenya was there in seconds, intertwining their fingers together as he sat in the chair next to the bed, “Мой котенок.” He said, pressing a kiss to the injured man’s knuckles.
Gentle fingers traced over his cheek, eyes worried, “Baby, don’t cry.” Jackson whispered, squeezing Zhenya’s hand.
“So scared. Just lay there on the ice, I’m hear you scream. I can do nothing. Nothing. I’m no help.” A broken sob tore from his chest as the tears he had fought so hard to hold back fell down his cheeks. Zhenya hid his face in the blankets as he cried, his grip tightening on Jackson’s hand.
He felt a soft touch on the top of his head, fingers running through his hair, “Zhenya. Babe. This isn’t your fault. There’s nothing you could’ve done. It was a bad hit and yeah, it fucking sucks ‘cause I already know I’m out for the season. But I’m gonna be okay. We’re gonna be okay.”
Zhenya sniffled softly, peering up at his boyfriend, “Love you, you know? A lot.”
A soft smile spread on Jackson’s face, as he carefully pulled his boyfriend’s hand to his lips, “I know, babe. I love you a lot too. Always.” His fingers tapped on the leather bracelet resting on Zhenya’s wrist, where it always was and had been since he had given it to him on Valentine’s day.
Zhenya rested his head on their joined hands, a smile finally gracing his lips after hours of worry, “Yeah, котенок, I got you too.”