#green couch ref hehe

[ladylooch]

The Spiral [Lio Meier] - Part 3

A/N: WOW I am blown away by how much love part 2 got from you all. Have I mentioned how much I love you???? Omg 🥰 So, a treat is a quick turn around for part 3. There are 2 more parts after this, then we leave Lio alone for a little bit hehe. Also, apologies in advance, I cried while writing this chapter.

Word count: 3.5k

ICYMI Part 1, Part 2.

Emma Meier is curled into her husband’s side 6 hours ahead of the New Jersey evening. They are both under a blanket, laser focused on Lio’s game. Emma wasn’t sure what was harder, to watch Lee’s games or not. But, it’s the only time they get to see him right now. The only way they know a sliver of what is going on in his life. Tonight is a rivalry game with the Rangers and these games are always intense. The same intensity existed when Timo and Nico were playing too.

“Ugh, can 14 stop doing that to Lio?” Emma mutters, crossing her arms over her chest. Connor’s D partner has his stick all up in Lio’s back and side. “How is that not a penalty?” She continues.

“It’s legal.” Timo shrugs. Emma glares. “What? It is…” He takes a sip of his water, licking his lips as they both focus back on the game. 

The puck drops. Lio loses the face off and the play moves forward. The rubber disc deflects into a corner. Four players, two from each team, shift to the corner. Then BOOM! Emma and Timo startle forward watching Lio’s head hit the ice. Emma’s fingernails dig into her cheek where her hand is clasped over her mouth. With her other, she wildly reaches for Timo’s arm. He laces their fingers tightly together. His other hand comes to grab her shoulder in support.

“He is tough.” He reminds Emma. But it feels like a weak attempt at consolation.

Lio is still down, flat on his back, unmoving. Emma watches Connor over him, tapping his chest. Connor’s head turns to yell in the direction of the ref. The whistle is blown. Emma whimpers watching the Devils players collect by Lio.

“He isn’t okay.” Emma says to Timo. Her husband stays quiet, thinking the same thing she is. Him and Lee always talked about getting up for mama, if he could. Their son makes no movement even as the trainers come sliding towards him in their sneakers. Connor backs away from the group, giving the Devils room to watch over Lio. Emma throws the blanket off her body. 

“Get me on a plane. Even if it’s private. Get me there, T.” Emma insists, rushing towards the stairs.

Timo was already on the phone before his wife got off the couch.

 - - -

Lucie’s eyes are on the ice below, but the images she sees are not making it to her brain for further processing. In her lap, Stella munches on a French fry, yelling every so often “go daddy!” whether Connor is on the ice or not. She still gets confused about the whole numbering system of sports teams. She thinks anyone in a Rangers uniform is her daddy.

“Uncle Lee?” Stella turns around, looking up at her mom. That is what has Lucie in trance. She keeps replaying the hit over and over and over again. David Carlson, Connor’s D partner, launched Lio into space. It was a clean hit- David didn’t even get a penalty- but Lio was unsteady as he got off the ice with help from the Devils trainer. 

“He is in the locker room.”

“He come back?” Stella asks, looking back to the ice. “Daddy!” She squeals at his numbers. This time it really is Connor. Lucie wonders if he feels as sick as she does. When Lio laid sprawled on the ice, Connor immediately hit his knees to check on Lio, even as play continued. Tears had stung Lucie’s eyes at the gesture. He is still so angry at Lio; she doesn’t know how they will fix this. The hurt and shame still sting on Lucie’s skin now.

Lucie’s phone begins to ring in her back pocket. She shifts her weight and Stella to pull it out. She looks down at an unknown New Jersey number. She sends it to voicemail. Before she can put the phone back, the same number lights up her screen again. She clicks the green button.

“Hello?”

“Hey, is this Lucie Wood?”

“Yes. Who is this?”

“Mrs. Wood, I am Ben with the New Jersey Devils training staff. We have you listed as Lio Meier’s emergency contact. I was wondering if you are at the game tonight?” The crowd groans. Ben chuckles. “Sounds like it?”

“Yes, I am.” 

“We need you to come downstairs and discuss Lio’s condition further. What section are you in? I can send a team representative up to see you.” Lucie’s heart begins to pound in her chest. She looks down at Stella as she reads off her section, row and seat number.

“I have my daughter with me…. Is… he…” Lucie isn’t sure how to finish her sentence. Conscious? Suffering? Ill?

“He is alert. We have someone here who can sit with your daughter if you would like.”

“Okay.” Lucie agrees and ends the call. 

It takes five minutes before a representative comes for Lucie. The employee hands over a pass for her and Stella, then leads them to an elevator. They weave through the mid-game equipment chaos then knock on the external door to the training room. Presumably Ben opens the door.

“Lucie?” He extends a hand. They shake and he allows her to enter the room. Once inside, another representative is there with toys for Stella. Another door is to Lucie’s right. She can see a bed and two skate-less feet extending out. Lio. She has not seen or spoken to Lio since the night Connor kicked him out of their home in Switzerland. Lucie sets Stella down, asking her to stay still, then follows Ben into the room. Lio has his arm over a towel on his eyes. 

“Lucie is here.” Ben speaks to Lio. Lio jumps, ripping the towel off fast, then muttering Swiss explicatives.

“Easy.” Lucie says to him in Swiss German. 

“Lu, I’m fucked up.” He responds to her in their native tongue. She frowns, then steps forward to touch his sweaty arm. He moves his hand into hers and squeezes. Lucie purses her lips, tears beginning to build in her eyes. She looks at Ben. “What’s going on?”

“Lio has a concussion.” Ben begins with a sigh. “Concussions are testy injuries. As with most things involving the brain, there are some concerns. The biggest concern we have is Lio lost consciousness on the ice. His cognitive testing is a little delayed, but we aren’t seeing any flags for further imaging at this time. However, we have concerns about Lio being alone tonight.”

“I already told you, I can figure it out. Go stay at a neighbors.” Lio grumbles. 

“Except you and I both know you’re not going to do that, Lio. If something happens to you, it’s my fucking ass.” Ben is clearly annoyed with Lio, like this is the fifth or tenth time he has explained these circumstances. Ben sighs again, running a hand over his face. “So, I need to send him home with someone. You are his emergency contact and although Lio begged me not to call you, I have to.” 

“She has a kid here, man. She doesn’t need someone else to take care of. I’ll go home with one of the guys after the game.”

“I’ll take him home and stay the night with him.” Lucie insists.

“What?” Lio asks.

“Is there anything I need to watch for?” Lucie continues, ignoring Lio. They may be fighting, but Lucie loves him and couldn’t bare the thought of anything happening to him when she could have been there. It’s not how they were raised.

Ben nods and begins to talk to Lucie about concerning symptoms. He gives her his contact information along with the head doctor for the team. They exchange numbers so Ben can check in with Lucie. He wants Lio to stay away from screens for at least the next three days.

“What am I supposed to do?” Lio groans.

“Rest.” Lucie snaps at him. Lio stops complaining and arguing after hearing her tone. 

“I’m going to grab a few things for him to take home.” Ben murmurs as he leaves the room. The period has ended and several guys poke their heads in. A different trainer barks at them to leave Lio be. They want to limit his interactions and stimulation right now. 

Lucie is quiet next to Lio, still holding his hand. She looks down at their entwined fingers. Lio’s knuckles are red from rubbing against his gloves in the game. His sweat is beginning to dry but not his Under Armour.

“Alright. I’ve got some blue light glasses for him, an eye mask that will help block out any light, noise cancelling head phones, and some Excedrin headache.” Ben says, swinging back into the room.

“Okay. Um, Lio, I need to wait for Connor to give him Stell.” It’s an away game, technically, but hopefully the Rangers will allow Stella to go back on the bus with him, considering the circumstances. Lucie really isn’t worried about it. The Rangers are a supportive organization and Stella will have plenty of fun on the bus with Connor and David. 

“I need to shower and change anyway. Might take me that fucking long.” He pulls the towel away from his eyes, instantly wincing at the light. Lucie turns to the light switch and flips it off. Lio sighs in relief. Lucie studies him as he slowly sits up. He sways a bit at the change in position. 

“Lee…” She trails off. There is so much to say between them and now he is so clearly unwell. 

“ ‘M fine, LuLu.”

“You aren’t.” Lio sits there, slumped forward, wrists hanging off his knees, eyes closed. He winces, then opens his eyes to look at Lucie.

“No, I guess I’m not.” 

“Take it slow. I’m going to go back to watch the third with Stell. I’ll be back.”

The whole third period, Lucie ruminates over how she is going to approach this conversation with Connor. Her nervousness does not calm after the game when the Rangers lose in the final minute of the period to the Devils. Connor and David were on the ice when it happened. Connor almost saved it, but he was a second too late. 

I need to see you before you get on the bus. Can you come to my seats? Lucie texts her husband.

Be right up, baby.

Connor climbs his way up the stairs to Lucie. Stella is watching TV on Lucie’s phone, but perks up when she sees Connor.

“Daddy!” She grins, reaching for him. Connor scoops her up, smooching her puckered lips. 

“Hi baby!” 

“You lost.” She frowns. “Uncle Lee won.” 

“Yeah, he did.” Connor’s voice tightens. Despite what it is going on, they have done their best to keep Stella out of it, in the dark about what is going on because how could she understand any of this at three years old? “Hi hot mama,” Connor sighs as Lucie steps into his side for a hug. He leans down to kiss her too. “What’s up?” 

“Um.” She starts, then stops, smoothing out Stella’s jersey for a second. She looks back into Connor’s awaiting blue eyes. “I need to go home with Lio tonight and stay with him.” Connor is visibly taken aback.

“What?”

“He is… not well.” She looks at Stella who watches her mama closely. Lucie needs to pick her words carefully. “And someone needs to stay with him to make sure he is okay.”

“And because Lio doesn’t have anyone it’s you?” Connor snarks back.

“Yeah, I guess.” Lucie sighs, stepping back from his embrace. Connor’s already cut jaw line gets sharper with the tension from his clenched teeth.

“Why did you agree to this without talking to me?”

“Because I couldn’t talk to you.” Lucie points to the ice. “I also didn’t feel like I could say no.”

“He can come over to our place then. We can… I don’t know.. take care of him together I guess.”

“We can’t do that because you don’t want him around Stell. You also want no part in helping him, so let’s just skip the idea of us taking care of him together.” Connor can’t argue with that.

“How are we going to get Stell home? Cause she is not going with you to Lio’s.”

“I don’t know, but maybe David could help figure that out since he is the one who knocked Lio out in the first place.” The deja vue falls between them, of a similar argument about a hit on Lio back with Lucie was pregnant with the little girl in Connor’s arms. It rocks Connor back on his feet a bit.

“Lu, I don’t wanna fight.”

“I didn’t either, but you brought us here.”

“I just… I don’t like it.”

“I don’t either, but I’m not leaving him alone.” Connor frowns deeper. “You know it isn’t right.” She continues. Her husband nods, biting at his bottom lip. A heavy sigh drops his big shoulders as he runs a hand through his still drying hair.

"I'll see you in the morning? You're coming home, yeah?” Lucie gives him a big, long loving kiss.

"Yes. You will see me in the morning. I love you.”

“I love you, Luc. So much.” 

“I know. We are okay.” She insists, wrapping her arms around him. He buries his nose into her hair. Stella leans forward and kisses Lucie’s nose. “You are so cute. I also love you so, so much!”

“I see uncle Lee?”

“Not tonight, baby. He has an owie.” Stella gasps, covering her mouth with her little hand in concern. Lucie snort-chuckles. 

“Tomorrow?”

“Mmm, I don’t know.” Lucie shakes her head. 

“Okay. Tell him I miss him?” Lucie winces.

“You be good tonight for daddy. No fighting bed time. You had a big day today.” Lucie looks at her husband for confirmation that he is going to stick to bed time. He smiles. Lucie isn’t buying it. “Connor.”

“I know, baby.” He smirks, then pulls her up to her tip toes for another smooch.

They head down together to the underbelly of the arena. Connor and Stella go one way and Lucie goes the other towards the Devils locker room. She texts Lio and he joins her in the hallway ten minutes later.

“How is Stell getting home?” He asks. Lucie can see the sadness in his eyes that Stella was so close and he didn’t get to see her.

“On the team bus.”

“Poor Stell.” Lio chuckles. “Has to be surrounded by losers.” Lucie chuckles too. 

“I won’t tell Con you said that.”

“Don’t. He hates me enough already.” Lucie awkwardly scrunches her forehead in response. Their foot steps lead them out of the arena and into the parking lot where Lio’s black Porsche awaits. Lucie helps him slide in then walks around to the driver’s seat. 

“Lio!” A female voice calls out right before he shuts his door. Lio and Lucie both turn to see Savannah rushing towards his car. She doesn’t have a jacket on, but crosses her arms over her stomach at the chilly air weaving around her. “Oh good. You’re with Lucie.” Savannah smiles, reassured. She bites her lip nervously. “Um, I wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

“Been better.” Lio says quietly.

“I bet… Well, take care, okay? Don’t… push yourself or anything. Take it all slow.” Savannah shakes her head. Lucie glances between her and Lio, observing the obvious concern Savannah has for her cousin. 

“Thanks, Sav.” Savannah lifts one corner of her mouth in a small smile.

“Nice to see you again.” She says to Lucie before slowly heading back into the arena.

It takes twice as long as normal for Lio to get into bed after a game. Between Lucie’s cautious driving, and the way the world swirls like he’s drunk, everything becomes difficult.

How is it going? Connor texts Lucie after she leaves Lio’s room.

It’s okay. He is loopy.

You okay?

Yes, I’m good. How is Stell? Is she asleep?

Mmm…. Yes… 👀

Seriously? 😐

On our way right now 🫡

Lucie sighs, tossing her phone onto the coffee table. She looks around Lio’s place. So many times she has sat in this spot on the couch with Lio and Connor. A million memories and good times and some awful ones too. But nothing has ever felt this heavy. The elephant in the room is cozy and imposing in the corner, looking like he is in no hurry to leave. What is she going to do? What if Lio needs more constant care than just tonight? Lucie isn’t sure she wants to sign up for that. Isn’t sure she is ready to have this impending conversation with him either.

Lucie grabs the remote, flipping on a late night talk show in hopes of it lulling her into sleep. An hour or so later, Lio comes shuffling out of bed. He doesn’t speak to her, but Lucie watches as he cautiously makes his way to the fridge. He refills his glass. 

“I can help you with that.”

“It’s fine.” Lio insists. 

Lucie shrugs, then goes back to watching the TV. A new band coming out of the U.K. plays an angsty ballet about a break up. Behind her, she can hear a glass being set on the counter.

“Luc?” Lio whispers.

“Hm?” Lucie asks, turning to look over the back of the couch at him.

“She isn’t pregnant. Never was.”

“Yeah I heard.” Lucie nods. Lio looks down, clearly becoming emotional.

“I love you. And Con. and Stell.” His voice cracks when he says her daughter’s name. “I’m really sorry about what I said that night. You were calling me out like you should have and I felt attacked, so I hit back.” Lucie nods. “I was wrong to say those things to you.” 

“I accept your apology, Lio.” Lio nods to her words. He begins to shuffle his way slowly back to the hallway. But Lucie has more to say. “After you left, I talked to Connor about those conversations you and I had early in my pregnancy. I tried to defend you, but I probably made it worse. It’s partially my fault this is happening too. I should have talked to him way before now. You were advocating for me and my future when I was too paralyzed to know I had options.” Lucie purses her lips, dropping her eyes to her hands. “I should have told Connor about that before Stell was born. Before she became a living breathing person that is hard to separate from the grim reality of us being very, very young parents.” 

“Lucie, you didn’t do anything wrong.” Lio sighs.

“Neither did you when you held my hand, sobbing in your car the night after we broke up. When you told me that we could do this. That you and I would do it if Con and I couldn’t.” Tear tracks curve down Lucie’s cheeks.

“I never meant you should get rid of Stell. Would I have supported you? Yes. Did I think that was the right choice for you? No. I didn’t. I thought you two would be amazing parents and could do it, despite the bricks stacked against you.”

“I know. That night, it was difficult to separate your behavior about your situation and ours. Even for me.” Lio nods, blinking slowly, trying to think of the next words to say. “You have always been my biggest fan. Always protected and guided me, especially at the times I didn’t want to be.” Lucie looks down again, forcing her top teeth into her bottom lip. “And life without you really, really sucks.” 

“I hate this. I miss you so much, Luc.” Lio moves into the room, walking towards her to wrap her into a hug.

“I was so afraid tonight.” Lucie cries into his chest. “So scared that I wouldn’t get to say these things to you. That it would be worst case scenario and I would lose you forever.” 

“I’m right here.”

“Me too.” She squeezes him harder.

Lio has felt so fucking alone for the last 6 weeks since he left Switzerland. So isolated from everyone he loves, who he thought loved him, but Lucie coming back feels like a single ray of sunshine piercing through the black night. He closes his eyes, ignoring the way the world sways until Lucie has to prevent them both from falling over by grabbing the arm of the couch.

“Okay, you need to get back to bed.” Lucie murmurs, adjusting so one of his arms hangs across her shoulders.

“If I wake up and this is a dream, I’m gonna be pissed.” Lio mumbles.

“Not a dream.” She assures him. “I’ve got you, Lee.”

#Lio & Lucie