No Limit – Chapters 1-5 – Duochanfan

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No Limit

 

Chapter One

October 2003 – Ottawa

Twelve-year-old Shane Hollander walked steadily beside his Mom as they headed toward the Mall. They had a few errands to run before David returned from work. Shane needed new hockey gloves, and they were going to look at some of them first before buying anything. It was normal; Shane moved around, feeling uneasy as he glanced around.

“Shane, honey?” she said, looking at her son. There was some confusion on her face as he shifted and began to look around. “Are you okay?”

Shane looked at her. “No, I don’t know, something’s wrong, Mom,” he said. “Can we hurry up? I don’t want to be out here anymore.”

Yuna nodded, not sure what was going on with Shane; he was never this nervous about being out with her. Not unless there was a large crowd around them, but there was only a couple of people around this time. “Okay,” she said as she walked quicker, Shane easily matching her pace.

They neared the walkway that would lead them up above the traffic and to the mall, and someone jumped out, yelling something. Shane saw the knife, and before he could do anything, his mother gave out a cry and stumbled back, pulling Shane behind her.

“Mom!” Shane yelled out, seeing the blood seeping past the hand that was pressed tightly over her side.

Stay back, Shane,” she said, “leave us alone, go away,” she said, keeping Shane behind her.

Shane looked at the man; there was a look in his eyes that Shane really didn’t like. He could feel everything pressing on him, becoming sharper, things going on in his mind as he started to feel a fear lace through him that he knew wasn’t his own. There was pain, aimed at his side.

“Mom,” Shane said, his voice not even sounding like his own in that moment.

“Just… stay back,” Yuna said to him, her voice sounded off as well.

The world burst into a blaze of noise. The feelings of those around him battered Shane’s mind for a moment before he focused on the man who was trying to stab his mother a second time. He lunged forward, and Shane pulled his mother back, causing Yuna to stumble to the ground.

“Shane!” she called out.

Before the man could reach Shane, he dropped to the ground, screaming as he let go of the knife and clawed at his head.

Shane was panting as he stared at him; all the overwhelming fear his mother was feeling was being aimed at the man before him. Shane’s own fear joined it, along with everything he could feel from those around him. He felt the world narrow for a second before it expanded once more. Shane dropped to his knees, shuffling towards his mom. Touching her hand, he screamed out as everything was just too much.

Shane’s mind called out to anyone around him for help. “Help!” he shouted through his own pain.

“Shane… Shane,” Yuna called out as he son curled up on the ground, his hand retreating from hers for a moment as people began to appear and rush over

“Fuck, it’s a kid!” the first one yelled out as he turned to the woman following him, “Call 911, ask for a New Guide safe ambulance, and an ambulance for the mother!”

“Shane!” Yuna called out, trying to get up, but she was feeling weak and dizzy; the knife had gone deep.

“Stay down, Ma’am,” the man said, “Your son will be okay. He’s just come online as a Guide; I thought it might have been you at first. But it’s him. “Don’t touch him; his mind is open at the moment. I’m a guide too; my sentinel is calling for help; she’s over there.”

“I-” she passed out before she could even finish.

“The Center is sending someone with the ambulance for them,” his sentinel said as she walked over; another sentinel had taken charge of the man on the ground, still screaming and clutching his head. “What the hell did the kid do?” she asked.

“Mel, I felt a wave of something, and then it was gone, focusing on something else. I think… I think the kid pushed everything on their attacker,” he said, shaking his head.

“Fucking hell, Gordon, that’s rare to be able to do, and for a newly online Guide, and a kid at that?” Melissa said, eyes going wide as her husband and guide was treating the woman.

“I know, glad the center is on the way,” he added. “I can still feel the echoes of it. Got no doubt that others are going to be affected by it, along with the sentinels.”

“Yeah, a few dropped when we were in the mall, remember, before we ran,” she said, getting closer. “Is he okay?”

“I dare not touch him yet. He needs someone who is either Null or fully locked down. Anything is going to send him crashing again. Touch is going to be the worst of it,” he added.

“Right,” she nodded, hearing the sirens, “They should be here soon. She’s going to be okay?”

“Yeah, it’s deep, don’t think it hit anything major, but she’s lost a bit of blood,” he answered, making sure to keep pressure on the wound.

Shane began to come around. His eyes widened as he projected out the fear he felt at the sight of his mom. “Mom!” he called out, it echoing through the psionic plane. “Mom!” he yelled again, trying to get to her.

“It’s okay, Kid, she’s going to be okay,” Gordon tried to reassure him. “Just stay where you are, kid, really, she’s going to be fine.”

Shane stared at his mother. “I need,” he said, swaying a little as he began to project his emotions, all of his fear about his mom, about what had just happened, and even the feelings that he had gotten from the attacker and his mom mixed in.

An alarm went off on several phones, A warning to say that a Level 2 Event has taken place.

“Mom, mom, wake up, please,” he said as he moved closer. He was shaking as he ignored everyone to stay away from his mother. Paramedics arrived and began to get in the way. Emotions ran high, but everything exploded in the minds of the guides and the traveled along the sixth senses that most Sentinels had. The Psionic plane recognized that one of its own was in major distress.

The phones pinged once more as the Event Level went to 3. A warning for anyone to avoid the area.

“You’re going to have to sedate him,” Gordon called out to the two paramedics that were heading to the kid, “He’s projecting fully now, and he’s too scared to bring it in.”

“I hate doing that,” the young female paramedic said. Her voice sounded monotone as she made sure nothing leaked through her shields. The guide went over to the kid. “Sorry, kid, but don’t worry, you’ll be fine soon, and so will she,” she said as she was handed an injector. It was something that was able to sedate guides.

“We need to find someone to tether him for a bit,” the other said as he held the kid as he listed to the side. “Let’s get him on the gurney and call the center to see if there is anyone that can do it.”

The woman nodded, “Already on it,” she said, “I hate it when they come online young,” she muttered under her breath.

“Feels like something is wrong in the world,” the other agreed as they got Shane onto the gurney. His mother was being loaded up as she had been stabilized. Soon they were both on the way to the hospital. Heading to the Sen/Guide wing, where Shane would be shielded.

XxXxX

David Hollander rushed through the corridors to the receptionist for the Shielded Sen/Guide unit of the hospital. He came to a stop, a little worried frown between his eyebrows as he waited for the receptionist to look up.

“I’m David Hollander. I got a call that my wife and son have been admited to this unit,” he said. “Shane Hollander, and Yuna Hollander,” he added, his fingers tapping on the desk as he waited for an answer.

“Ah, yes, I’ll have Doctor Alfried come and speak to you. He should be free soon. I’ll have Nina direct you to the waiting room so you can have some peace and quiet while you wait for him,” she said, looking at his ID and then calling someone over to guide him to the right room.

David nodded his thanks and sat down on one of the chairs with a thump. He felt like the weight of the world was on top of him in that moment. He had no idea what was going on, or even why they were both in the hospital. Just that they were okay, but he should get there soon. He looked up a few minutes later when an older gentleman walked into the room.

“Mr Hollander?” he asked.

“Yes, how are Shane and Yuna?” he asked, needing to know; his voice was shaking as he waited for the doctor to answer.

“Mrs Hollander was stabbed in the abdomen; she’s in surgery now, but things are going well. She should be out of the OR in another half hour to an hour. She’ll be settled into a room with your son,” he said, beginning with the easiest of the two.

“What the hell happened?” he asked, though he didn’t expect an answer from the doctor.

“The police will be here soon to talk to you about what expired,” he answered him, “Now, as for Shane, he came online as a Guide during the incident.”

“Guide,” David said as he leaned back, “We knew he was latent, but we never thought he would come online,” he whispered. He shook his head, “But Shane’s only twelve,” he pointed out, “It shouldn’t…” he trailed off.

“Anyone that has the latency can come online at any time. Some come on young, others may not come online at all. Shane came online as a response to what happened to your wife from what we were able to gather. Shane is currently sedated and will remain that way until Mrs Hollander is in the room with him and starting to wake herself. We feel that this is what’s needed considering. The police should be by to talk to you soon,” the doctor told him as he asked, “Is there anything else you need to know?”

“No, no, just… I just want to be with my son, can I?” he asked.

“I’ll ahve someone take you to him as soon as the police have talked to you,” he answered, before getting up and leaving the room.

David sat there, waiting for someone to come. He got up and began to pace. He had no idea how he was going to help his son. His son, a Guide, his mother had been, but she had gone dormant after his father had been killed in front of her when David was nine. She had never remarried, raising her three sons as best as she could. She had passed away when Shane had been two. There was a knock at the door; David turned to see two men enter the room, one in a police uniform and the other in plain clothes.

“Mr Hollander?” the plain-clothed man asked.

“I am,” he nodded, looking at the two.

“I’m Detective Meeks; this is Sgt Greeves,” he said, introducing themselves. “We’ve been assigned your wife’s case,” he stated.

“What happened? No one has really said anything. Just that my son has come online and my wife was stabbed,” David asked, needing information.

“I see,” Detective Meeks began, sitting down, “Over an hour ago, your wife and son were attacked by a man while heading into the Mall. The man was identified as 28-year-old Markus Lewis. Is that name familiar to you at all?” he asked,

David shook his head, “No, not at all.”

“I see,” Detective Meeks nodded as he began to explain what he knew, “Lewis is now in custody after being treated for Emotional Explosion. This is caused by a high-level Guide directing feelings into a person’s mind. It is a very effective way to get someone to stop what they are doing. It’s also very difficult to do. Your son managed to do this, which protects himself and your wife from further harm.”

David listened and nodded, “So what happens next?”

“We’ll continue looking into this, trying to find out what caused the attack, and talk with your wife and son when they are both awake and able to speak and give a statement. No doubt soon from the Center will be getting in contact with you about what happened today, and what your son was able to do,” Detective Meeks told him.

“Yes, thank you,” David said, nodding. “It would be helpful to know how to help Shane with this.”

The two stood up, giving David a card in case he thought of anything, and left the room. It was not even a minute later when someone else knocked on the door and walked in.

“Hi,” the man said, looking to be about the same age as David’s eldest brother, who was around ten years older than him. “I’m Jason Cosita. I’m a guide from the Center, come to speak to you about your son, Shane,” he said. “Sorry to just come like this, but it’s a little important that we talk before anything else happens.”

“Yes, of course, I know Shane is now an online guide. I’ve been around guides a long time, but never one coming online so young. Both my brothers are Guides, and my mother was a trauma dormant guide,” David said softly.

“I see, so you’ve had some training on how to lock away emotions?” he asked, “To be able to do that as a null?”

“Yes, it’s going to take me a few to get back to it. I do it when my family visits, but it’s been a couple of years since the last one,” he said. “Yuna can do the same, but not as well, according to Richard and William. But she has been trying. We’ll get some classes to make sure we’re good.”

“That’s good to hear. Now, Shane is young, so he’s going to need a teather to a Guide for a few years. Until he’s about seventeen, maybe eighteen,” he told him. “I’ve been asked to see if Shane and I are compatible in doing that; I’ll be a mentor for him for that time,” he finished.

David took that in, “Right, well. It’s all according to if Shane is fine with that. He’s independent, and he’s focused on Hockey a lot. He’s in the leagues at the moment, so he’ll want to go back to that as soon as he can. He’s got aims for the NHL.”

Jason nodded, “Right, I’ll certainly start looking at Ice Hockey.”

David laughed, “He’s obsessed about it.”

Jason smiled, “When your son wakes, I’ll be talking to him and you about what is going on. I will also be waiting for your wife to wake up as well before anything else is done.”

David nodded as they waited a while longer before David was allowed to see and sit down with his son. Jason remained in the waiting room as David left. David stood outside the door of his son’s room, knowing his wife would be brought in soon as well. He closed his eyes and calmed himself. Centering his mind and emotions to make sure that they were locked down. Opening his eyes once more, he looked at the door. He was finally ready to see his son.

David opened the door and walked in. His son lay sleeping on the bed. He knew it wasn’t a natural sleep, as Shane tended to sleep curled on his side; here he was on his back. He went over and sat down by the bed, not touching his son, even though all he wanted was to hold his hand. An hour later, Yuna was wheeled into the room. She was awake, but looking tired, and in some pain.

“You refused meds, didn’t you?” David said, already knowing the answer.

“I just need to see Shane,” she said, looking from David to the other bed. She had been told what had happened and what was going to happen. “He’s still asleep?” she asked.

“Yes, they’ll come in and stop the sedation now that you’re here, and take something for the pain. We’re going to need to be locked down,” he informed her, “And he’s going to need someone to teather with for a while.”

“Teather, why?” she said, wanting to sit up, but she was in too much pain to try and do so.

They went quiet as a doctor came in to talk to them about Yuna’s condition and stop the sedation on Shane; he would slowly wake over the next hour as the sedative left his system.

“He’ll need it to help him keep the connection with the Psionic plane. Most teenagers and children don’t have the full awareness that an adult Sentinel or Guide would have. Having someone teather to them will help their connection remain. Shane will need that to keep it; someone has been sent to try and do that with Shane, if we all agree, and if he and Shane get along.”

“Okay,” Yuna said, wincing as she moved slightly. David pressed the call button and waited for someone to come in before making sure Yuna had something for the pain. So she could relax a bit as they waited for Shane to wake up. They talked a little about what might happen next with Shane now being online and what it could mean for his dream of playing with the NHL.

 

Chapter Two

December 2008 – Saskatchewan

Jason did become Shane’s mentor and tethered to him. He learned about hockey and what was expected of any guides or sentinels who entered the NHL. Shane trained his abilities hard, just as hard as he did his hockey skills. It had taken him an entire season before he had gone back to the junior leagues, but he’d managed it. And now, he was seventeen and had just been made Captain for Team Canada for the International Prospect Cup. 

Jason had told him that the teather wasn’t needed, and in a few more weeks he wouldn’t have it anymore. Though the man had said that he hadn’t really needed it for a year now, Shane had wanted to make sure he didn’t need it. He still wasn’t sure if he ever wanted a sentinel; he’d be eighteen in a few more months, and he had to decide if he wanted to be included in Guide searches or not. Shane had leaned more towards not, since there were no bonded guides within the NHL. Those that did bond often ended up out of the NHL through injury or retirement soon after.

Shane had a feeling that something more was going on there, but he wasn’t in the NHL so he didn’t know for sure.

“Now, Shane,” his mom said, getting his attention.

“Mom, really, I don’t need you-“

“I’m just worried,” she said softly. It had been hard for them to trust going out without David for a while after the attack, and even though the man responsible had been sentenced to six years, it didn’t feel like enough for either of them. He would be out by the time the Draft happened. He hoped that the man would just stay away from them; there had been murmurs from him that he would be going after them, even though Yuna and Shane had done nothing, hadn’t even known the man until he had attacked them.

“I know, Mom, but I’m okay here; nothing feels bad at all,” Shane told her, reassuring her that all was fine. “Go and meet your friends; I’m just going to hang out here for a bit and then head to the hotel. I’ll order something from the hotel menu, promise.”

Yuna sighed and then nodded, “Alright, but you go to the hotel. If you don’t and do want to go with some of your teammates to dinner, then please, just tell me, don’t hide it.”

“Mom, I know, and I wouldn’t,” he promised her, “I promise.”

“Alright, have fun,” she told him, hugging and kissing his cheek before she left to meet with her friend.

Shane sighed, relieved she was gone to have some fun. He loved his mom, but she hovered more than she needed to. He walked out of the arena, even with his shields up as fully as they could be; there was still something there, pressing on him; there always was. The world wasn’t quiet anymore, even if he was in his room. There was always a steady hum of the psionic plane, and the murmur and whispers of emotions from those around him, even from his neighbours. It never stopped. He was just thankful that the teather had helped him cope with that in the first few months, as his shields often failed. The teather with Jason, let Shane keep his mind shielded.

Shane had noticed something each time he was near the Russian team; it went quiet, though, not fully quiet, but it was quieter. It was odd, and he had plans to call Jason when he got to his room to talk to him about it. He walked out of the arena and felt his mind calm that little bit, like it had been doing since arriving in Saskatchewan. He frowned when he saw the captain of the Russian team to one side, facing away from him. He was easy to spot, and to tell who on the Russian team it was. 

Shane had been watching the other teen’s videos for months now, learning how the other played. The other teenager was on another level, one Shane himself was on. Ilya Rozanov was an impressive player, and one Shane knew he had to watch out for. He had to admit to himself that he was looking forward to playing against him. Shane walked over, wanting to at least introduce himself to the other team. He was a few feet away when he stopped, frowning; the world was going quiet again. Shane shook his head.

“Ilya Rozanov?” he called out, as he heard the clicking of a lighter.

The teen turned around, cigarette hanging from his mouth as he tried to light it. “Yes,” the other said, frowning as Shane stepped closer.

Shane held out his hand, “I’m Shane… Hollander, you’re an aw-” he cut off as Ilya took his hand to shake it.

Both teenagers froze as they looked at each other.

“Oh,” Shane said, “It’s… quiet,” he murmured, “So quiet.”

“You are guide? Ilya asked him, frowning.

“Yes,” he nodded, “You… feel like a sentinel, but not.”

“I am not… what is word… online?” he replied.

“Right, Latent?” Shane said, getting a nod.

“Da,” Ilya nodded, “But family thinks I am not ever going to be online. Trauma doormat?” he frowned, wondering if he had gotten the right words.

“Trauma Dormant,” Shane said, “That’s odd; they can usually tell if that’s the case. You don’t feel dormant; I know what that feels like from a sentinel,” he added.

“Mm,” Ilya nodded, “I do not mind. It is… good to be thought of that way. Low expectation.”

Shane nodded, “Yeah, I can understand that. I was… online at twelve,” he murmured, “My mom and I were attacked; we’re both okay, but I came online, was able to get the guy to drop, and saved us both.”

Ilya was quiet, “I came online for a few moments when twelve. My mother… she died. That’s why they think Dormant now. But I know that I am not,” he said, struggling with the English words.

Shane nodded, “I’m sorry for your loss,” he said quietly.

“Thank you,” Ilya nodded. “I am sorry for what happened to you, as well.”

“Thank you,” Shane smiled at him, “It was scary, I still don’t know if being online is a blessing or a curse. I’ve bene looking up players who are Sentinels and Guides, and there are a few of them, but a lot of them end up leaving,” he said, “Not been able to find out why, since I can’t really talk to them at the moment.”

Ilya nodded, “In Russia, we go to police. Sentinels are always police, military, guide there too. No choice; why glad they think dormant.”

“That’s good, because it’ll be a fucking shame if you didn’t play hockey. You’re really fucking good,” he said.

Ilya laughed at the curses, “Yes, I am, work hard. Even if family think I do not.”

“I’ve seen some of your games, watched videos, not that i can understand anything they are saying. You;re an awesome player to watch,” Shane told him.

“You are very good player as well, Shane Hollander,” Ilya smirked at him.

“You… know me,” Shane frowned.

“Da, I watch your games too. Help learn English, but still not great,” he said, doing a little head shake.

“It’s amazing,” Shane told him, “English is a hard language to learn, be proud of yourself, not many take the time to learn another language.”

“I will see you in final,” Ilya said as he saw someone walking closer.

Shane turned. “That’s one of my teammates, “And yeah, good luck,” he grinned at him.

“You too,” Ilya nodded as Shane went to his teammate, who was glaring at Ilya.

“Stop it, Milo,” Shane snapped at him, “He’s a good player, wanted to say hi.”

Milo snorted, “He’s a menace,” he told his captain.

“So are many of the others on our team,” Shane rolled his eyes as they walked away. Feeling the push of emotions again trying to batter his shields. He needed to talk to Jason; he knew it was Ilya that had caused the sudden silence that he experienced.

XxXxX

Shane closed the door behind him and walked over to his bed. Glad that he had his own room for once. Normally he would be sharing with one or two of the other players on his team. Since he was a guide, they had let him have his own room, though it was odd to be alone. His mom had called him, asking if he had wanted to join her and her friend for dinner. Shane had been able to get out of it, and went and found a place himself. He’d seen Ilya Rozanov and a couple of the other Russian players in the same place, and had enjoyed the blissful silence he’d felt when he was around Ilya.

Shane knew he needed to talk to someone about what it meant. And his mother was out; she was protective after the attack, and even five years later, she was still protective. He settled himself on the bed and pulled out his phone. Going through his contacts, he went past his parents and to the third name on it. Jason. His Guide Mentor. He’d become that to him after the attack, helping him with everything he could. Even after Jason bonded with his Sentinel, Kyle.

“Hey, Shane,” Jason said as soon as the line connected.

“Hey,” Shane said, “Sooo,” he began, “Something kind of happened here, and I think I might need your opinion on it. I met someone; they are a Latent Sentinel.”

“Oh, someone that might be possible?” Jason asked him.

“Don’t have a clue. It’s not going to happen any time soon. I know that. So nothing for now. And maybe never anything. But it’s just something that happens when I’m around him,” Shane started.

“Oh, and what’s that?” Jason asked him, sounding curious.

“It goes quiet. Really quiet. Like there is nothing there to sense. Well, it’s there, but it’s not battering on my shields trying to get it. It’s like it’s ordered itself, and goes quiet,” Shane said, trying to explain what he’s feeling when he’s around Ilya, but not sure that he’s doing it right.

Jason was silent for a while. “It goes quiet. Like the feelings you usually can sense are duller?” he questioned.

“Yes, yes, that. They go quiet. I’ve never had that happen before,” Shane said. “It’s really nice. But I know it’s not normal.”

“It is normal, when we find a Sentinel that is an almost perfect match. But that only happens when they are online,” Jason told him, “When I met Kyle for the first time, or was around him, it felt like the world was duller, quiet, peaceful in a way that it hadn’t been since before I came online.”

“Yeah,” Shane murmured, “Like that, he said as he leaned against the headboard and looked out of the hotel window. He would only have that peace for a couple more days. Tomorrow was their game, then the day after, they would be leaving, he would be heading back to Ottawa, and then back to his Junior team.

“Is he online?” he asked.

“No, he isn’t. He said that he came online briefly when he was twelve, the same age I was when I came online. But it was for a few minutes, when his mom passed.”

“Right, so he’s dormant?” he asked, trying to get a clear answer from Shane about the status of the potential Sentinel.

“No, he’s latent, I can tell that at least. But he said that people believe him to be trauma dormant. Said that it’s best they still think that,” he added.

“Shane, is he from another country?” he asked carefully, already having a feeling that was the case.

“Yes, Russia,” he answered, “Why?”

“Some countries have edicts for their Sentinels and Guides; Russia is one of them. They are to go either military or police, no other job. Only time it doesn’t happen is if they don’t come online, or go dormant. I’ve heard stories of what they do to try and force people online,” Jason told him, “Be careful, if they come online, he might need help in staying out of Russia. It would be best for him to appear offline, if he does, and to make sure he gets a green card or permanent residency as soon as possible. If you talk to him again, tell him to make sure he’s not with anyone else around. I’ve helped a few Russians after they come to Canada.”

Shane listened as Jason told him a few more things. He needed to talk to Ilya again, tell him what he learned. Shane just didn’t know when that would be.

XxXxX

The game had been hard. Shane had played like a monster, but his team was mostly young, newer players; there was only one person on the team that had been there the year before. They might have made it to the finals, but Team Russia had dominated right from the start, even with the valiant effort from them all. Shane glanced over to where Ilya was celebrating with the rest of his team. He could feel the elation and celebratory feelings coming from them, but only when he let his shields weaken a little. Shane couldn’t help the little experiment as the game ended.

The two teams lined up. Going through the line, Shane wanted to say something to Ilya. As he shook the Russian’s hand, there was that tingle again as Ilya leaned closer and said, “See you at the draft.”

“I-” Shane began, but Ilya had already moved on to the next player.

Shane carried on going down the line. After he finished showering and changing, he hurried out of the arena, hoping to see if he could find Ilya before the man disappeared.

“Shane!” came the voice of his mom as she hunted him down.

“Mom,” Shane said as he turned to face her.

“Why did you run off like that?” she asked, “I thought we were going to have a late dinner together with your team.”

“No one feels like celebrating, so they all called off going to the dinner. I think only the coaching staff are going to be going to it in the end,” he answered her, “And I wanted to see if I could talk to Rozanov again. He’s… interesting.”

Yuna frowned, “He’s a damn good player; he’s as good as you, well, almost.”

Shaen huffed, laughed, and smiled at her, “He’s just as good, yeah. His team clicked better than ours did this year. We’ve not been playing that well together; a few have big heads.”

“Yes, they were… very full of themselves,” she said, pursing her lips. “What was DeLang thinking in second period?” she asked.

Shane wrinkled his nose. “Whatever it is, coach has already said that he won’t be invited back to the team for next year. He’s not a team player at all.”

Yuna nodded as they fell into step and headed to the hotel they were both staying at. “He should have passed several times.”

“I know, if he had passed to Louis that first time, the other was free and would have been able to sink the puck into the net easily,” Shane said as he began to go over some of the failed plays, including one of his own.

Yuna listened and nodded, adding her own insight when she could, but let her son talk out the match. She could tell that he was wound up about something, and didn’t know if it was the loss, or something else. “Well, let’s hope your coach decides on someone that will actually help the team and not hinder.”

“Yeah, he said that he’s got an eye on one player that should be able to take DeLang’s place next year. That he’s good, and should be able to fit in,” Shane said quietly as they reached their hotel.

“Is everything alright?” Yuna asked him.

“Yeah, yeah, everything’s okay. Just…” he trailed off, not sure how to tell his Mom that he’d felt something with a Latent Sentinel.

“Shane, you know you can tell me anything,” she pushed a little.

Shane looked at her. “Not here,” he said, not wanting anyone to be over here. He was only going to tell her the basics, and nothing else, not even who it might be.

Yuna nodded, and they headed up to Shane’s room; hers was a little higher up, letting her son have some privacy from herself. “Okay, now?” she asked, sitting down on the chair as Shane went over to the bed and sat on it.

Shane sighed, “SO since we came here, at the arena, I’ve been feeling a calm, a quiet that comes’s over me. I didn’t know what it was at first, but then I brushed past some one, skin to skin,” he said, almost wincing at the lie, “And the whole world just went dull, quiet, peaceful.”

“Oh, that hasn’t happened before,” she frowned, wondering what it could mean; she’d been reading as much as she could. Going to the classes and such that the Center offered, but in all the years that she and David had been doing it, and talking to David’s brothers and their partners. Nothing had really come out about the bonding, or how they went about finding a match. Just that a search and meet and greet was done when a guide or sentinel came online. Shane wasn’t eighteen, so he wasn’t able to join them.

“No, it hasn’t. I talked to Jason about it; he said that it could mean that there is a match, something that I could easily bond with. Doesn’t really mean anything since I don’t know who it is. But it means that there might be someone who would be suitable psionically, for me,” he said, wrinkling his nose at the words. They sounded off and clunky to him.

“Okay, so there is someone out there that might be right for you. This is… different,” she murmured.

“It doesn’t mean anything at the moment, Mom; when it does, then I can talk to you about it,” he shrugged.

“Okay,” she said as she asked, “Have you decided what you’re gonig to do about the matching in Ottawa?”

“I’m not going to search, Mom; I want to concentrate on Hockey for now, try and figure out what I’m going to do. I know the NHL isn’t going to be too happy with a Guide, since most of them end up leaving, but I’m not going to do that,” he said, knowing he would be fighting tooth and nail to stay. He just hoped he got a good team. He’d find out in around six months.

 

Chapter Three

June 2009 – LA

Shane didn’t know if he was happy or not. The Montreal Voyageurs were a good team, not the best, but they were rebuilding. Boston, he knew, would not have been a good choice for him. They were a loud and rowdy bunch. He had a feeling that Ilya Rozanov would fit in well there. First pick, Shane stared at the ceiling. Second pick wasn’t bad in the end. He knew that. He was a good player; Ilya was good too. It stung, yes, but Montreal was the better choice for him.

Shane wanted to toss and turn, but he stopped himself from moving. His parents were here, in the room next door. He’d hoped to get a little distance, especially as he could feel things from his parents that no child needed to feel. Shane shuddered and tossed the blanket off himself. Swinging his legs over, he made a quick decision and got ready. Grabbing his MP3 player and phone, he headed down to the hotel’s gym.

Shane was still annoyed at the remarks that the Montreal GM had made about his background, his heritage. He saw the tightness around his mom’s eyes at the comment and the twitch of annoyance and anger coming from both of his parents. He himself was angry at the man too. He just hoped the rest of the Montreal Management was better behaved, and weren’t a bunch of racist dicks.

Entering the gym, he glanced around. It was small, most likely an old converted guest room. But it had what he wanted, and that was a couple of exercise bikes. The mindless cycling would help to calm him down. Shane still felt the calm he did the last time he was around Ilya. It was nice not to have every emotion around him pressing down. He knew he was more sensitive than some guides, a high level. Even if they had been trying to wait to give him what level of Guide he was.

Shane put in the earbuds and turned on the MP3, letting the music drive him as he leaned forward, closing his eyes and beginning to pedal. He fell into a rhythm easily. It was a few minutes after arriving that the world went quieter, and he knew that Ilya Rozanov was in the room with him. He glanced over, seeing the other man on the second bike, with a shared grin; they began to speed up. Going as fast as they could, racing each other.

Neither of them knew how long had passed when they slowed down at the same time, sitting back and breathing hard. Shane winced inside as he realized that he hadn’t brought a water bottle down with him. He’d left it on the bedside table. He climbed off the bike, feeling his legs shake a little; he sat down on the floor. Ilya was sitting across from him, drinking from the water bottle he had brought with him.

“That was fun,” Ilya grinned at him, panting a little from the exertion. He drank his water and frowned slightly. “You did not bring?” he said, shaking his water bottle.

“No, forgot. Wasn’t planning on going this hard at it,” Shane said, shaking his head.

Ilya held out his own, “Drink,” he said.

Shane shook his head again, “No, it’s-” he began.

“Drink, Hollander,” he pushed again, “Not good to be dry.”

“Dehydrate,” Shane said as he reached out and took the water bottle, feeling the tingles as they touched. He drank a bit and went to hand it back, only to get a nod to drink more. Shane dutifully took another drink; this time, as he handed it over, Ilya took it.

“Tonight was a good night,” Ilya grinned. “Everything you wanted?”

“Almost,” Shane snorted, seeing the smirk that was starting to form on Ilya’s face.

“I would say sorry,” he said, “But I not.” He laughed as Shane rolled his eyes at him.

“Yeah,” Shane laughed slightly.

“You happy with Montreal?” he asked him.

“I think they might suit me better than Boston, and I’m still close to my parents and my mentor,” he said, as Jason had moved to Montreal himself a while ago. While the teather was now gone, that didn’t mean that Jason had left Shane’s life fully. The man was happy to help in any way that Shane needed.

“Mentor?” Ilya asked.

“I came online young, remember me telling you,” he said, getting a nod. “Jason is my mentor; he also tethered me to make sure I didn’t go dormant, which is a high possibility for those of us that come online young. It’s most likely why they think you are trauma dormant. And not latent. It’s odd for someone to come online for a few moments and then offline again. Jason said it could be because of the Psionic plane thinking you would be safer without it for now.”

“Da, it is,” Ilya nodded, “I have that… thing, des… nation?” he said, stumbling over the unfamiliar word.

“Designation, what they’ve labeled you,” Shane said, getting a nod, “I… researched Russia. And yeah, it’s safer for you. Jason said that as soon as you can, start working on a green card in the US. Getting a new passport is needed to keep you safe if you go online. I read that they can force you to go back and serve.”

“They would, with father and brother police, I would have no choice,” Ilya nodded, “Enough idiot talk,” he said, waving a hand, “What is Montreal like? Are they good? Have good clubs?”

“Don’t know about clubs,” Shane laughed, “I’m not the type, it’s a little overwhelming to go to anything like that. Too many emotions pressing down,” he added.

“Hmm,” Ilya nodded, “Would be a lot, but you can shield, yes?”

“I can, but it’s harder when you’re not bonded to shield, so emotions can get through. And I was given my level recently. I’m high, which means that I’m more sensitive to things around me. I feel it more. It fucking sucks, as I know I miss out on a lot of things. I’ve tried parties, clubs in Ottawa, but they were just too much,” Shane said with a one-shoulder shrug. There wasn’t anything he could do about it, but just deal with the hand he’d been given.

“is that why you do not talk to people much? I saw at the afterparty that you were… quiet, no smile,” he asked, curiously.

“Yeah, it is kind of. The GM for Montreal is… a dick; my parents were not happy with some of the things he was saying. I’m hoping the team and management outside of him is better. But I felt the GM for you, he had surprise and surety in you,” he said, he had felt some of the GM’s and the others that were around him. Even with Ilya there helping to quiet things with just his presence.

“Ah, my father… is not happy that I am in the US and not Russia to play. But GM for Boston is good man, was happy even told my father that I am good player and will work hard,” he said, smiling slightly.

“Good, I can tell you work hard, you’re really determined,” Shane said, “But yeah, it’s one of the reasons why I’m so controlled is more because I’m a guide and the NHL don’t usually have us around for long after we come online. I’m only just about able to get in. I had to work so much harder than others, have a tight control of my shields, so they don’t slip. I don’t drink, as it could lower my control. I don’t do anything that could. I don’t want to risk being able to play,” he said quietly, something he’d not even told his parents. He added, “It’s hard, and sometimes I feel like I’m only hanging on by my fingertips to them.”

“Hockey is emotional,” Ilya said, getting a nod, “Too much?”

“At times. A big win or loss can easily batter them down,” he answered him, “But you… are different,” he then said, “I wanted to talk to you again after the Cup, but you had disappeared before I could even find you.”

“Team wanted to celebrate, it was late, and we had flight at 4 am to go home,” he told him, “I would have liked to talk with you too. Was nice.”

Shane smiled at that, “Yeah.”

“My… Mama, mother, she was a guide, a good strong guide. My father was matched to her. But there was no… love, just expectation. She was good, kind, and beautiful. She loved my brother and me. Even if brother was bastard to her too, like father. Brother and father same, I am like mother, but sentinel,” he said with a twitch of his head.

Shane frowned as he felt a push on his shields. It was gentle, not a beating, but a gentle knock. He lowered them for a moment and smiled as he closed his eyes. “Would you… like to tell me about her?” he asked, opening his eyes again as he felt the warmth and love that Ilya had for his mother.

“Da,” Ilya smiled, “She taught me to skate. On a pond near our home in Moscow. She was born in Omsk; my grandparents still live there. I have not seen them since she died. My father cut her away from them; it was not nice.”

“You could go and see them if you want now, you’re older, yeah?” Shane asked. “I see mine in Japan when I can. They did live here in Canada, but went back after my aunt returned to Japan. She was born there, but my mom was born here.”

“I think I will. It has been a long time; I know they are still alive. So maybe I will see them when I go back to Russia,” Ilya said, nodding a few times.

Shane smiled, “Good,” he told him.

“Do you think Boston will be good?” he asked.

Shane nodded, “Yeah, I think you’ll like it there. If you like clubs and that. No doubt your teammates will be able to help with anything too.”

“Da,” he nodded, “I am… looking forward to it. And beating you again.”

“Not a chance,” Shane grinned at him, his competitive nature rising as he added, “Not going to let it happen again.”

“Well, I beat you in draft, and Cup, will do it again,” he grinned back, teasing and winking at him.

Shane couldn’t help the blush as he said, “We might face each other in the Cup again this year, and if we do, I won’t let it be a repeat. And Montreal and Boston are rivals,” he said, “But…”

“You do not want rivalry?” he asked.

“I’d rather have a friend,” he said quietly, “I know they’re going to push it; they already are. It’s going to get worse because of the teams we’re on, and because we keep facing each other in things.”

“Then we do that,” he said. “Fuck anyone else,” he added with a grin, “I would rather have a friend too. I… don’t have many. Father thinks friends are weakness, and distraction.”

“Sounds…” Shane trailed off before he could finish his thought.

“He not nice man. Never have been,” he sighed, “But can do nothing. He is my father.”

Shane nodded, “Yeah, I love my parents, and they’re good parents. I can’t understand what is happening to you, but I can… empathize.”

“Empathise?” Ilya asked, confused over the word.

“Means I can try to emotionally understand what you are going through, but I won’t be able to fully understand, because I haven’t gone through it,” he tried to explain and wondered if he was getting it wrong.

“Ah, da, okay, I somewhat understand,” he grinned.

Shane laughed and nodded, seeing the time on his watch, “I really need to get to bed; Mom and Dad decided they wanted to do an early flight to Japan tomorrow. Going to visit some family.”

“Da, yes,” he nodded, “I have to go home tomorrow too, do not wish to. Want to explore.”

“Maybe… we get chance to do that at some point?” Ilya asked as he stood up, holding out a hand for Shane to take.

Shane didn’t hesitate as he took the hand and was helped to his feet. “Thanks,” he smiled and nodded, “Yeah, I’d like that. Maybe… when you’re in Montreal for a game, we can explore. Or maybe when I’m in Boston, you can show me around after you’ve learned about the place a little?” he suggested.

“It sounds like a plan,” he grinned, “Will see you at Cup, when I beat you again,” he said.

“Not going to happen!” Shane called out after him as he headed out of the gym. Shane stood there, shaking his head and grabbing his headphones and MP3 player before following Ilya out of the room and to the lifts.

XxXxX

Shane was able to go to sleep when he lay down after a quick shower. His dreams weren’t the usual ones he had, though. This time, instead he dreamed of a pond behind an old home. Thick with ice. A woman, dancing on it with a joyful laugh and the laughter of a little boy joining in. Shane smiled in his sleep, as he knew that it was Ilya and his mother.

Shane woke, not able to sleep anymore as he looked around his room and at his travel bag. He always kept his sketch book with him, something he enjoyed doing. Sketching, drew, and painted when he had the chance. It was a way he had found to enter himself after becoming a guide. He turned the large overhead light on, wincing at how bright it was. Shane pulled out his sketch book and some pencils he carried and settled at the desk; it wasn’t exactly comfortable, but it would do as he put pencil to paper and began to draw what he could remember from his dream.

He wondered if he would dream of her again. He felt a calm coming from the woman in his dreams; Ilya had said that she had been a guide. He finished the sketch as his mom began to knock on his door. He looked at the woman, in mid-turn on the ice, hair flying out and a beautiful smile on her face.

“Shane, are you awake?” came Yuna’s voice through the door.

“Yeah, Mom,” Shane called back, as he packed up. He wanted to draw the woman again; he just hoped Ilya didn’t mind. He would have to tell him when he saw him again.

Shane went and opened the door. “I’m just going to change, and then I’ll come. I don’t know why you wanted to go straight to Japan from here,” he said, “We could have gone home first.”

“Shane, we talked about this; it’s better to go from here than going all the way back to Ottawa and then flying out again a few hours later. We have everything we need here,” Yuna huffed and rolled her eyes. Shane hadn’t wanted to leave straight from Las Vegas to Japan. He wanted some time at home before they left.

“Yeah,” he sighed as he began to get ready, packing things away; he could see his mom was curious about what he had been doing before he had let her into the room.

“Shower and then meet us down in the lobby. You’re dad has already gotten the cases downstairs,” she told him, hugging him tightly before taking the suitcase her son had packed and heading down.

Shane sighed as the door closed behind his mom. “I love them, I do. But sometimes I’d like a break,” he snorted. “his could tell his mom was very happy, and that meant one thing. “Ugh, parents,” he shuddered as he quickly showered, thinking about the fact that he’d be in Montreal in another year. Joining their roster after his last year in the junior league.

Shane was quick to shower and change. He grabbed his travel bag, the only thing he had left in the room. He made sure that he left nothing, and then headed out, handing over his keycard to the receptionist, and went over to his parents. “Morning, Dad,” he said, as he hugged the man. He could already feel the press of emotions beginning once more. It meant that Ilya had already left and had caught his flight.

“Morning, kiddo,” David said, holding his son tightly; he could feel the drop of Shane’s shoulders. “You alright?” he asked.

“Yeah, just not going to enjoy the flight,” he smiled, “It’ll be fine, Dad,” he said before his dad could say anything. He knew the man would easily cancel their flight and let Yuna go on ahead without them as Shane waited for a small flight. Just because he was oversensitive didn’t mean that he should be accommodated like that all the time.

“You sure?” he asked.

“Yeah, I am,” he smiled, “Let’s get going. I’m looking forward to the onsen.”

“Your cousin should be home from Detroit,” Yuna began as they headed outside where the taxi was waiting to take them to the airport. “His new coach is really good, from what I heard. But he’s back in Hasetsu for a bit.”

Shane nodded, “It would be nice to see them all,” he said, “Yuuri especially. Like to know how he’s doing now that he’s in Detroit. I know I’ll play there occasionally, so maybe we could meet up after a game and catch up,” he added, thinking ahead.

Yuna smiled at him as David and the driver got the cases put away. “There you go, and yes, the onsen should be very nice to relax in.”

Shane nodded as his mom got in first; he went to help his dad before they got in and headed to the airport.

Chapter Four

June – July 2009 – Hasetsu, Japan

Shane and his cousin, Yuuri, walked up to the ice castle. He’d been there a couple of times when he visited with family. But it had been a good five years since he’d traveled to Japan. Being so far from Jason hadn’t been a good idea. It was better now; he no longer needed the teather, hadn’t since he was about seventeen. But it was normal to leave it until at least eighteen.

“How are you finding Detroit?” Shane asked as they walked up the hill.

“It’s been nice. Cialdini is looking at another skater as well from Thailand. If it goes well, then I might have a training partner,” Yuuri said, feeling excited about the changes.

“Yeah,” Shane laughed, feeling a bubble of excitement coming from his cousin.

“You can feel it, can’t you?” Yuuri asked him, grinning back at his cousin.

Shane nodded, “I can; it’s hard sometimes blocking everything out. But I’m doing alright.”

“When I heard that Aunt Yuna had been hurt, I was… upset,” Yuuri began, “I wanted to come over, but Okāsan said it wouldn’t be a good idea, because you’d come online.”

Shane shook his head, “Those first few weeks, I couldn’t be around anyone. Only my parents and Jason. Anyone else and it felt like someone was trying to break into my head all the time. It took a while for me to be able to shut things out. I can now, but it took a while.”

Yuuri nodded as he listened, “Wish we could have been more help to you. It’s only you in the family that was latent.”

“Yep,” Shane said as they reached the ice castle. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.”

“It’s the same; Yuuko and Takeshi got married a few weeks ago. They’re expecting too,” he grinned, “They’ll be happy to see you; the occasional call isn’t enough,” Yuuri said as he took the lead and led them into the ice rink.

Shane relaxed even more as they entered. The coolness of the rink was always something that relaxed Shane. They headed to change and get into the skates. “Where are they?” he asked.

“They’ll be there soon; they’ve got CCTV so they know it’s us that has entered,” Yuuri said, lacing up his own skates.

Shane finished and stood; he waited a few more moments for Yuuri before they headed out onto the ice. To get a little training in and just skate and relax. At least until Yuuko and Takeshi got there to greet them both.

XxXxX

Shane was sitting out in the courtyard of Yu-Topia; it was quiet. He had his sketch book with him. He was once more drawing Ilya’s mother. This time with a tiny version of the Russian with her. He had dreamed of her as she had taught Ilya how to skate. He could feel the love between them, a remnant of the psionic plane, and Ilya’s mother’s connection to it.

“What are you doing?” Yuuri asked as he came up behind his cousin. They were currently sharing a room, and he’d heard the other getting up. “Who is she?” he asked, seeing the drawing.

“I think she’s one of Russian players’ mothers. The kid is him,” he added, frowning, “Not sure how to explain it.”

“Oh, have you met?” he asked, sitting beside his cousin.

Shane paused for a moment. “No,” he said after a while, “I get images sometimes, from those I met. Especially if there is a strong emotion attached, things like grief, love. This is both: he lost his mom, and she taught him to stake. So I sometimes dream of the things that he’s imprinted on, that is stored in the psionic energy around him. It’s right there, his mother’s love for him. It’s remained with him. I think… it’s protected him.”

“I didn’t know that could happen,” Yuuri frowned as he leaned back and looked up at the sky. It was starting to get light.

“It’s rare for a Guide to be able to pick up on it,” Shane told him, “Don’t tell my parents, but… I’m a Level 5 with an extra gift. A gift for a Guide or Sentinel usually means that something is going to happen that it will be needed for. I’ve been searching for information about mine, and I found some,” he paused a moment and looked at Yuuri.

“What does it mean then, in the past?” he pressed.

“The gift I have, I can see the psionic plane and how it wraps around a person. Even the mundane have a connection to it. It will also let me see part of that person. What drives them. For Ilya, his mother’s love has wrapped around him, protecting him. The psionic plane responded to that and continues to help him. For others, I can see what drives them, and if they are lying, and sometimes what they really mean. It’s why I know that the GM for Montreal is a fucking racist bag of dicks. I’m not sure I want to be there, but I’m just hoping that the others I meet aren’t going to be the same.”

Yuuri nodded, “Yeah, as soon as your ELC contract is up for them, maybe look at others?” he suggested.

“Mom’s going to be heartbroken if I do. Montreal is her favorite team. But if they’re all like that, then I don’t think I’ll be able to stay much past it,” Shane admitted. “I meet with some of the others that are going to be on the team soon, just for a hi, type thing. Who I’ll be staying with until I find something acceptable. It’s better to house one or two of us with either each other or someone older,” he told him.

Yuuri listened, as they talked a little longer before heading inside as the onsen began to wake, both customers and family.

XxXxX

September 2009 –  Montreal

It was a few days before Shane would be heading to stay at a small apartment as he played his last year with his team. For now, he was in Montreal; someone from the AHL would be joining Montreal at the same time as Shane. It had been decided that they would be housed together for the first six months, or until they both found a place. So he was meeting the other man and hoping that they could at least be friendly to each other.

He waited at the cafe he was told to be at. He was a little early, but it wasn’t by much. The door opened, and another young man walked in. Checking his phone, Shane knew that was who he was waiting for.

“Shane Hollander?” the man asked as he walked over.

“Yeah,” Shane nodded as the man held out his hand.

Shane shook it, getting a little burst of awe and excitement from the man.

“I’m Hayden Pike,” he said as he began to sit down, “Oh, yeah, want a drink?” he asked, seeing that Shane only had some water in front of him.

“No, I’m good, I’ve already got one coming. I would have ordered for you, but I didn’t know what you liked,” Shane said.

“I’m pretty easy, let me just get a drink then we can talk. Get to know each other,” Hayden said as he got up and almost bounced over to the counter.

Shane watched him, a slight smile on his face. Hayden was overall a good person; he could sense there was something else there. And he believed he knew what it was, but he didn’t want to put it into words yet. Hayden was soon back with a red cold drink of some kind.

“Right,” Hayden said, “They didn’t tell me that much about you,” he began.

“First thing. I’m a guide, online, have been for five years, got good shields, and I do have a mentor in the city, if I need to find a place to wind down,” Shane said quietly.

Hayden leaned back, his face going blank. “I’m not projecting too much, am I? I know I’m a dormant sentinel,” he began.

“I thought you were; I could feel it,” Shane replied.

“I forgot that Guides can do that,” Hayden said quietly, “I hope you’re okay.”

“You’re okay, really,” Shane reassured him, “I just wanted you to know that straight away. I get quiet. Not really sure I want to be around people half the time.”

“The press of emotions has got to be annoying and frustrating,” Hayden said.

“It can be,” Shane smiled, “It really can. But I’ve learned how to get used to it. I… I want to ask.”

“It’s okay, I’m twenty-one, I came online at seventeen. My sister, youngest, she was about six, I was watching her. I couldn’t find her; she’d wandered off from the park. I had my two other younger siblings with me, eleven and nine. I was an oops, condom-broke baby, not planned at all,” he smiled, “My parents were younger than me when I was born; they were like nineteen. But yeah, Kaylee went missing. So, I came online to find her. Kept close tabs on them all after that. Only one in the family, for a while,” he said, a soft look on his face, but Shane could feel there was grief as well.

“What… happened?” Shane asked him.

Hayden looked at him. I was nineteen, playing a game with my team, near home for once. My parents had come out, with my brother and sisters. My mom ended up going home with my brother, who had just turned eleven, and wasn’t feeling well. My dad stayed for the rest of the game with my sisters. I caught a ride home with them; I wanted to spend time with them. Dad was driving; a truck driver had fallen asleep at the wheel. I zoned out, trying to tell Dad, it crashed into us. I was hurt, took a good year to heal up enough to go back to playing. But I went dormant. I heard my dad and sisters’ hearts stop,” he answered him. The grief he was feeling was almost a physical thing coming from the older man.

“Fuck, I’m so sorry,” Shane said, and truly meant it.

“Yeah,” Hayden said, shrugging, “It’s taken therapy, physical and mental, to get back to a game I love. That at the time, I felt had taken a lot away from me. Hell, even being a sentinel, they were unsure if they would let me in the damn NHL.”

“Yeah, they’re not too keen on keeping Guides or Sentinels,” Shane admited.

“I know what you need, I’ll help with. They didn’t tell me you’re a guide.”

“The GM and some of management will know, but it’s up to me to disclose it to the team and Coaches and such,” Shane said, “I don’t plan on doing so for a bit, not until I know how they are with things.”

“Okay, I’ll do what I can to help with that. Some know about me; it’s not that much of a secret that I’ve gone dormant. Don’t know how Montreal are going to take it, should it come out there, but,” he stopped and shrugged.

Shane smiled, “Thanks,” he said, grateful for the help.

They talked a little more, easily becoming friends. Hayden was open, and didn’t mind at all that Shane was a guide. He knew that some people would be against him being on a team. For now, he got to know Hayden, as Hayden got to know Shane.

XxXxX

December 2009 – Ottawa

Shane grinned as he looked at his team. They did it this time. They beat Russia. It was so good to know that he’d done it. He glanced over, seeing the exhaustion on Ilya’s face as he was bent over, gliding across the ice with his team. Shane felt a small stab of guilt, but it wasn’t there for long. Both of them had played their best, and Shane’s team had clicked this time. He was glad to at least get gold once.

The celebration continued until late, though Shane had been able to get away from it. He went in search of Ilya, knowing that they were in the same hotel. Though this time, Shane was sharing a room with the new player that had joined them that year. He was good, and Shane could easily see him taking over as Captain for the national Junior team while he was there.

Shane felt the world start to go quiet again, even more than normal when he was just in Ilya’s vicinity. Shane had to admit to himself that it was almost addictive. The quiet, the calm. It was beautiful. He could think and just feel his own emotions more for once. Instead of everyone else’s, being there, and wanting attention. He knew Ilya was close.

Shane spotted him, standing alone outside. His parents were with him this time; he’d done the trip alone. Wanting to show them that he’d be fine without them. They still worried about him, and he loved them for it, but he was an adult now.

“Hey, Rozanov,” he said as he walked over.

“Hollander,” Ilya nodded at him, “Good game.”

“Yeah, you played like a fucking demon. You were amazing. I still don’t know how we beat you this time,” he said, grinning at him.

“You played very well. Like a beast, you roared, and they obeyed without question,” Ilya told him, “That is why you won. You led them well. My left wing was shit stain.”

“He was always going for glory, not for the team effort. He’s a wild card,” he said, nodding as Ilya looked and felt annoyed.

“Da,” he nodded, “Will be lucky to play on new KHL team,” he scoffed. “Was an asshole.”

“Yeah,” Shane snorted, “Well, we’ve got around nine months before we’re playing in the NHL, and you can gloat all you want against him.”

“Da, I will be,” he grinned, “He will never play in the NHL; he is not good enough.”

Shane laughed and nodded as they went through each other’s teammates. “I think one more of mine might end up drafted, but that will be for the next draft. Maybe.”

“None for mine; they will remain in Russia,” Ilya nodded.

“I…” Shane began, “You know I’m a Guide,” he said quietly.

“Da, you said,” he nodded once, his own voice lowering.

“I’m… when I’m around you, the world goes quiet. I talked to my mentor about it,” he said, turning to face him. “It-“

“Could mean I am a sentinel for you?” Ilya asked.

“Yeah,” Shane admitted quietly, looking away. “I know you don’t… it’s not good.”

“It is… different for me; I am Russian,” he began, reminding Shane of what he could face should he be found to be able to come online.

“I know,” Shane said, glancing at him, “I know that, and I’m not saying anything about it. Just thought you should know. I don’t know what might happen in the future, but Jason, when I said that you were Russian, and I didn’t tell him who at all,” he was quick to reassure, seeing the frown appearing on Ilya’s face, “He said that as soon as you start at a team, look into getting a new passport, talk to immigration and if you use the fact that you’re a sentinel, you should be abel to fast track it. It would be best to talk to an immigration lawyer as soon as you can. When you’ve settled in Boston.”

Ilya listened to him, “I will… do what I can. I don’t know if anything will happen. I still have… family in Russia, in Moscow.”

“I know,” Shane said, “And I…” he cut himself off. Trying to think of the words he wanted to say, without coming off as an asshole. “I know you still have family, people you love, but you also need to think of yourself, and what you want for your life. There is a chance that you could come online; if they find out, you’ll be taken from Hockey, and I really don’t want to see that. You’re too damn good to give it up to be a cop or soldier.”

Ilya smiled a little. “Da, I am good at hockey,” he agreed. “I will… think about it. I still wish to return; my mother’s grave is there, and I-” he stopped.

Shane nodded. “I understand,” he said, “But… think what she would want for you as well. Would she want you to keep going back?”

Ilya was quiet, not saying anything in response to the comment. “I should go,” he said, as he began to move.

“Alright, and I can’t wait to see you play for Boston,” Shane said, wondering if he had crossed a line with what he had said.

“I will see you on ice,” Ilya nodded to him, “And I will think about what you have said, I promise,” he added before he walked away.

Shane stood there, watching him go, as the noise levels in his mind rose. He pushed away from the wall he had been leaning against and headed to find some of his teammates. He hoped that he could distract himself enough to be able to sleep later.

Before the sun rose the next day. Shane was at the desk in his shared hotel room. Sketchbook open in front of him. He’d seen a bit more of Ilya’s mother, and he wondered if he could at least find out her name. He finished drawing another scene that had played out in front of him. Ilya was older, and his mother was there, cooking something together. A domestic scene, and he wondered what they were cooking together. He closed the book and put his pencils away. Shane hoped he would now be able to sleep. He still hadn’t told Ilya what he had seen in his dreams, the memories that he’d gotten twice now from the other man. He sighed as he went to his bed, rolling his eyes as his roommate snorted and mumbled in his sleep. Yawning he got in, and after a few moments he finally went back to sleep.

 

Chapter Five

July 2010 – Ottawa

Yuna tucked away her phone. “Shane,” she called out, wondering where her son was. There were only a few weeks before he would be moving fully to Montreal. She was going to miss having him at home.

“Yeah?” Shane called back as he reached the top of the stairs and headed down.

“Just got off the phone with Sarah from CCM; they are doing a shoot, as you know, but they’ve asked if you would be willing to work with Ilya Rozanov. Doing a rival thing,” she said, not sure if she liked the Russian; he was a damn good player, and someone that Shane had said was a good player and person. She had yet to see it.

“Oh, yeah, that would be fine. Though we’re hoping to try and put it as a friendly rivalry, a push to make each other better,” he said as he reached the bottom.

“Are you sure?” she asked him, “They’re doing it in Toronto, I could head down with you, and don’t forget that you have the Reebok ad to shoot for in a week,” she reminded him. The CCM shoot was going to take place in Montreal, but the chance to Toronto, and to have it done with Ilya Rozanov, was a major change. And she could admit, it might be a good idea to have a rivalry between the two, hate-filled or friendly. Such a thing often pushed two players to play their best, and made money.

“Yeah, I’m sure, Mom, Rozanov isn’t the bad boy he acts when he’s off the ice and away from other players. We talked a bit at the cups, and when the draft happened. He’s… not bad,” he said, trying to reassure his mom that Ilya wasn’t the bad boy the media were already trying to paint him.

“Alright, I’ll call them back and tell them it’s fine, and we’re looking forward to working with them and Rozanov,” she said.

Shane smiled and nodded, “Thanks. I need to get something from the art store. I’ll be back in a bit, alright?” he said as he began to head toward the door. Putting his Reeboks on as soon as his mother gave him that look. He wanted to roll his eyes, but he knew that it was part of the deal, for him to wear them where and when he could.

“Alright, I’ll see you when you get back,” Yuna said, “I’ll make sure to have the details ready for you to go over. Though I do think they could have told us more than two days in advance that they wanted to change things.”

Shane nodded, “Thanks,” he said, as he quickly headed out before she could carry on the rant that was brewing. He got into his jeep and headed out. He wanted to get a new canvas and to replace some of the oil paints he’d used up. Shane wanted to turn the drawing he’d made of Ilya and his mother on the ice into an oil painting, large enough to be hung on a wall. There was just something about it that made him feel like he should. He’d already done both of them into watercolors, but they were still small, and he knew he was going to bring them with him for the CCM shoot. 

XxXxX

July 2010 – Toronto

Shane looked over the ice that they would be skating on soon. He was excited about it, going around with Ilya again. This time there wouldn’t be the need to prove themselves at all. It would all be something fun, something that was just them. 

“Right, Mr Rozanov, and Mr Hollander, could you both come over here,” the director of the advert that they were to film called out.

The two looked at each other; neither of them had acknowledged the other at first. The two shared a little smile as they went over. They listened as the man told them what he wanted, the vision he had for the ad.

“We just want to… make it… clear?” Ilya said as he looked at the director and then Shane, “Friends.”

“Yeah, we’re friends,” Shane said as he looked back at the man. “Can it be a friendly rivalry and not… I know they’re trying t push the type of rivalry that spreads hate, but that’s not who we are.”

“Okay, and how does that look for you both?” he asked, a little confused; normally he wouldn’t think anything of it.

“We just want to show that we are friends who push each other to be better,” Shane explained, hoping that was alright for Ilya. He was quick to nod and agree.

“Da, friendly but competitive, yes?” he asked Shane.

“Yeah, exactly that,” Shane smiled as he turned to look at the director. “I don’t know how to do that, but…” he gave a small shrug.

“I think we can work on it,” The director smiled a bit. “We’ll go with what we planned, having you do some solo, a face-off, but maybe some competitive teasing and shots on goal, showing off,” he suggested.

Shane and Ilya nodded and talked a little more before heading out to change and skating around the ice and doing a few warm-ups. They began with the face-off, only stopping to do some solo shots. When it was Ilya’s turn for the solo shots, Shane was standing with his mother watching.

“Shane,” Yuna called to him, getting his attention, “What were you talking to the director about before you changed?” She hadn’t been close enough to hear.

“Oh, that we just want it to be a friendly competition-type rivalry and not one that is hate-filled. We always see a lot of them in the league, always big fights, draws the crowd, I know. But I don’t want that with Ilya; he’s a good man too, and since the way I am, called golden boy and all that, they’re going to paint him as a constant asshole, and yeah, he can chirp, but he’s not a bad guy that they’ll end up painting him,” Shane tried to explain. Something was pulling him, telling him not to let it happen, and he’d do what he could to obey that. The psionic plane was asking for help to keep Ilya Rozanov safe, and Shane had to wonder if it was the imprint of Ilya’s mother on the plane that was causing it.

“I don’t see why that’s important,” she said.

“It is, just… trust me on that,” Shane told her, looking back at the ice. “Something tells me I need to do this, that it has to happen. That his image is important to keep in a good light. To let those I know and play with know that he’s not a bad guy, that he’s a damn good player, and chirps with the best of them,” he smirked lightly.

“Alright, I’ll trust you, Shane. If you need me for anything, don’t forget to ask,” she told him, squeezing his arm.

Shane nodded. “Yeah, I will,” he said as he was called to come to the ice to do some showboating with Ilya, being friendly and fun.

Yuna watched as the two danced around the ice, shouting little chirps at each other. Grinning and laughing as they played. She wondered just what was calling to Shane. She shook her head; she had to trust in her son, and whatever it was that called to the young Guide.

XxXxX

Shane couldn’t believe what he’d just done, what they had just done. He watched as Ilya was starting to get dressed and felt like he needed to get dressed as well. “I… don’t leave just yet, there is… something that I want to talk to you about, nothing bad,” he said, quick to reassure as he dressed and looked at Ilya, hoping he would stay just that little bit longer.

“Okay,” Ilya said, as they finished dressing.

“Right,” Shane said, running a hand through his hair. He was still a little overwhelmed by what they had done. “So… guide. Me…” he began. He went over to the desk in the hotel room and opened the folder he had brought with him. The watercolors he’d done of Ilya’s mother. “I sometimes get emotions given to me, but they also contain an image. When I sleep. If they are strong enough. I’ll be able to dream of them, just small memories that I’ll see. I’ve… gotten two of them from you,” he said, as he turned, holding the A4 heavy stock paper that he’d used. They were both in clear plastic sleeves.

“What did you see?” Ilya asked, not sure if he wanted to know.

“You and your mother. Skating on a pond. I think you were really young; she was teaching you,” he said. “I only get a minute, but sometimes, I can’t help but draw, like I’m compelled to do it,” he said, holding out one of them.

Ilya took it, looking at the painting of his mother on the ice, smiling and dancing on it. Ilya sat down on the bed. “How…” he said, looking at Shane. “It is my mother, Irina. Mama taught me to skate that day.”

Shane smiled slightly. “Yeah, I saw it, just a bit,” he told him. “Here,” he said, handing over the other one. “Both small bits that I saw. The two of you cooking together, and learning to skate with her. She’s beautiful, and she loves you so much. There’s an echo of it on Psionic Plane, which is what I’m thinking is giving me a lot of what I’ve seen. She protected you.”

Ilya nodded, looking at the paintings he had been given. “You… saw her,” he said softly.

“Yes,” Shane nodded again, “It’s weird, I know, and odd. I saw my great-grandmother a few times, my dad’s grandmother. I’ve never met her; she died a few weeks before I was born. She was a guide, like my grandmother. I saw some of the things she’d done with Dad, and with Mom even.”

“You have always done this?” he asked, looking up from where he was sitting on the bed.

Shane nodded, “It started about a month after I came online; sometimes my dad and mom’s shields would slip a bit. They did their best, but both are mundane, no gift. Dad is the odd one out; he’s the only one in the family that isn’t either a guide or sentinel. He’s never resented it or anything either, which you can find that happens a lot,” he said quietly. “I’ve seen a lot in the past, but…. with your mom, it came through so strong.”

Ilya looked back down at the paintings. “She… killed herself,” he said softly. “She could not remain anymore; it was too painful for her. I wish I could have done something to help her, to get her away from my father. I was only twelve.”

Shane felt a push. “Ilya,” he began, “She loves you still; she’ll never stop. There was nothing you could have done to change what happened.” Shane was frowning as he felt something shift in the psionic plane. “Is your father a sentinel?” he asked.

“He was not dormant,” Ilya said. “He went dormant after Mama died.”

Shane nodded. “Right,” he said softly. He looked at Ilya. “So yeah, that’s… what I wanted to show you,” he said, leaning against the desk as he continued to watch Ilya looking at the two paintings in turn.

“Thank you,” Ilya said as he looked up at him again. “I do not think it is good idea for me to have them. They will get wrecked going back to Russia. I will be moving to Boston next month, just before camp. When… when Montreal and Boston verse each other, maybe I can take them then?” he asked, hoping he would be able to have them back.

“Of course. I’ll keep them safe for you, no matter how long. If you want longer than that, that’s fine too. I’ll keep them at my parents’ for now. I’m going to be bunking with Hayden Pike; he’s been brought up from the AHL to play for Montreal. He’s a good guy, trauma dormant sentinel, but good,” he said, not saying anything more about what Hayden had told him.

“Right,” Ilya said, “And thank you, I will be staying with a Cliff Marlow, he is good. I talked to him on phone a lot. Reminds me, as friends, and maybe something, have my number. We can call and talk, and message when we can.”

Shane smiled and pulled out his phone. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

Ilya stood, putting the two paintings on the desk. He brought out his own phone. They exchanged numbers, smiling slightly as they tucked their phones away. “I should go,” Ilya said after a few moments of awkward silence between them.

“Yeah, I…” Shane said, the awkwardness of what they had done coming back.

“Do not overthink, Shane,” he said, pulling him closer and kissing him. “It’s okay, you know. To have fun like this,” he added, “And I’d like to again,” he murmured.

“Yeah, I think I’d like that too,” he smiled at Ilya.

Ilya kissed him once more before he left the room. Shane watched him go, wanting to get him to stay. He sighed heavily as the door closed. “Irina,” he said as he looked down at the paintings. “Something more happened when you died, didn’t it?” he said as he put the paintings away and wondered if Ilya knew more about his mother’s death.

XxXxX

Shane walked into the lobby of the hotel the next morning. He saw a quick glimpse of Ilya as he left the hotel. The two shared a wave before the other man disappeared. He handed over his keys and waited for his mom to come down from her room. She had been on the seventh floor, while Shane had ended up on the fourteenth.

“Shane,” Yuna said as she walked over to her phone after she had dealt with her own check out. “Are you ready to go?” she asked.

“Yeah, I am,” he said, tucking away his phone. He’d sent a couple of messages to Hayden and one to Ilya, telling him that he hoped he had a safe flight.

“So, Rozanov?” she asked, “What is it about him that is pulling you to him?”

“It’s hard to say. He’s… something,” he said, not wanting to really talk about what he thought Ilya might end up meaning to him. Nothing was set in stone, and it could be years, or even never, for Ilya to come online. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t do something together now. And it also didn’t mean that should Ilya come online, even if they were anything, Ilya would be his Sentinel at all.

“Nothing more than that?” she asked, giving him a look as they headed outside for their taxi.

“Nothing I want to say at the moment; things are… difficult to put into words, and nothing can happen,” he pointed out to her.

“Alright,” she said, shaking her head, “If you say so.”

“I do,” Shane told her. He knew she had been disappointed when Shane had told her he wouldn’t be doing a search for a sentinel.

“Let’s get home. Frank said that he’ll be sending me an advance video of the shoot, the long version of the ad, and the short version. As well as the shots that they are wanting to use. I’ll run them by you before we confirm,” she said, going to talk about business once more.

Shane relaxed a little as his mother talked about what was going to be done next.

XxXxX

August 2010 – Montreal

Shane collapsed onto the couch that was in the new apartment he was going to be sharing with Hayden for a while. “I am so happy to be away from my mother,” he said, closing his eyes and leaning his head back.

“Oh, what’s going on there?” Hayden asked as he walked in with two coffees. He set one down in front of Shane and kept the other as he went over to the overstuffed chair nearby.

Shane reached for the mug and looked over at Hayden. “She’s been trying to get me to agree to a search for a sentinel. She’s joined this Mums of Guides & Sentinels group. They’re all talking about their children, adult children trying to find Sentinels and guides. It’s something she’s starting to get a little worked up about since I started the move to Montreal fully. She’s been trying to get me to agree before I left. Now I’m here,” he paused a second as his phone beeped at him. “Sorry,” he said as he glanced at it and saw another message from his mom about someone who might be a good match for him. He wanted to roll his eyes and tell her that he was gay and he might have already found someone that he wanted. 

“You don’t want that,” Hayden frowned. “You said something about that when we first met.”

“I don’t. I might already have someone in mind, but they’re not online yet. So I’m going to wait, and to be honest, I’m still not fully sure if I want to have a sentinel unless it’s them,” he said, his voice quiet. “I just don’t want my mom to know about that yet.”

“She’ll try and take over for it, approve, disapprove?” Hayden asked him, curling on the chair and holding his mug with both of his hands as he took a tentative sip.

“Yeah, I don’t know if she’d approve at all, it’s…” he sighed, “Someone I don’t think she’d be happy about. I am… a little happy. There is something about him that really calms the noise in my head.”

Hayden nodded as Shane went over some of what Ilya was like.  Hayden wondered, just who it was that Shane was talking about and wanted to have as his sentinel.