Chapter Text
The door didn’t open quietly.
It slammed hard enough against the stopper that the sound echoed through the room, sharp and sudden, pulling everyone’s attention toward it.
“Ilya-”
Shane didn’t slow down.
He crossed the space in seconds, like the distance between the door and the bed didn’t exist, like he’d already spent the entire flight trying to get here faster and still hadn’t forgiven the world for making him wait. His words came out in a rush, tripping over each other, unfinished and uneven.
“Ilya, baby, are you okay? Fuck! I’m so sorry, I didn’t- I told Mom we shouldn’t have gone, I told you, Mom! I shouldn’t have-”
He reached him before the sentence could settle, hands already on Ilya’s face, cupping his cheeks like he needed something solid to hold onto, like this was the only way to convince himself that Ilya was actually here, actually fine.
His thumbs brushed over his skin again and again, not quite still, his eyes moving quickly, searching for something he didn’t know how to name.
“You’re okay, right?” he asked, softer now, but the panic hadn’t left his voice. “You’re okay?”
Ilya blinked at him.
For a second, nothing else registered.
Just Shane.
And then-
everything in him dropped.
The tension he’d been carrying since the morning, since the waiting, since the moment he realized he was alone- it all gave way at once, like something inside him had been holding tight and finally let go.
“Shane,” he said.
It came out softer than he meant it to, almost like a breath.
His hands lifted without thinking, catching at Shane’s wrist, holding on like he needed to anchor him there.
“I’m okay,” he added, but the words didn’t carry the same weight as before.
Because he was now.
Shane though, didn’t look convinced.
“You’re literally in a hospital bed,” he said, voice still tight, like he was forcing the words through something. “You had surgery.”
“Yes.”
“That is not okay.”
Ilya frowned slightly, but there was no real resistance in it now. He was still looking at Shane, still watching him like he hadn’t quite caught up to the fact that he was actually here.
“Shane, lets slow down okay? we don’t want to stress him out” David’s soft voice carried through the room as walked towards the bed.
“I am fine,” Ilya said again, quieter this time.
Shane made a small, frustrated sound under his breath, his hands hovering now like he didn’t know what to do with them-hold on, check again, pull back, do something-
He didn’t move far.
He looked like he physically couldn’t.
Behind him, Yuna stepped into the room, her presence calmer, steadier, like a counterweight to Shane’s urgency.She took in the scene in one glance- Shane bent over the bed, Ilya still holding onto him, Hayden off to the side and sighed, a quiet, familiar exhale that came from years of seeing this exact kind of panic play out.
She didn’t interrupt immediately.
Instead, she walked over, dragging a chair slightly before settling beside Hayden.
“I just blocked him when he did this to me,” Hayden muttered under his breath.
Yuna didn’t even blink.
“Not all of us got the option,” she said dryly.
Then she stood again, her attention already shifting back where it mattered.
“Let me see you, sweetheart” she said gently.
Ilya didn’t hesitate.
The second she reached him, he leaned forward into her, arms wrapping around her like it was instinct, like his body had decided before his mind could catch up. He let go of Shane without really meaning to, shifting into her instead, holding on tighter than he probably realized.
Yuna softened immediately, one hand coming up to cradle the back of his head, her fingers moving slowly through his hair.
“I’m okay,” Ilya said again, but his voice had changed- quieter now, almost unsteady, like the words weren’t doing as much work as they had before.
“I know,” she said softly.
He didn’t let go right away.
His grip tightened slightly, his face pressing closer into her shoulder like he was trying to hold onto the feeling of being steadied.
“Stay, please” he murmured after a second, the words slipping out small and unguarded.
Yuna didn’t react to the words themselves.She just adjusted her hold, drawing him in closer and her hand continuing that slow, steady motion through his hair.
“It’s okay,” she said again. “You’re okay. I’m here.”
Ilya exhaled, the sound quiet but heavy, like something leaving him all at once.
From across the room, Hayden looked away when he felt his heart clench.
Shane, meanwhile, had not calmed down.
Not even after Yuna glared at him to stop fretting.
“Did they check everything?” he asked, already pacing half a step before stopping himself. “Did they say anything else? What if-what if something”
“I am fine,” Ilya said again, more firmly this time, though he didn’t pull away from Yuna.
“That’s not reassuring,” Shane said immediately.
Before it could turn into something circular, the doctor stepped back in, grounding the moment.
They ran through the basics again, everything looked good, recovery was straightforward, he could be discharged soon. It was all said in calm, clinical language that should have settled things.
It did not settle Shane.
Not even a little.
If anything, the doctor’s calm tone seemed to make it worse, like the steadiness of it only highlighted how far from steady Shane actually was. He stayed close to the bed the entire time, hovering in a way that was impossible to ignore, too near to sit, too restless to stand still.
“Are you sure that’s normal?” he asked, even as the doctor was still explaining. “The pain- like, he said it was really bad this morning. Is that expected? And the meds? should we expect any side-effects?
The doctor answered him once.
Then twice.
By the third time, the answers didn’t change, but Shane’s questions didn’t stop either.
“And there’s no risk of complications, right? Infections, anything like that? He plays - he needs to be back on the ice, how long before he - no, wait, not like that, just - he’s okay, right?”
He kept circling back to it, like if he asked the same question enough times, he might finally get an answer that felt solid enough to hold onto.
His hand never quite left Ilya either.
Even when he tried to pull back, to give the doctor space, it hovered close - resting lightly against Ilya’s shoulder, brushing against his arm, grounding himself more than anything else. His thumb moved unconsciously, small, repetitive motions like he needed constant confirmation that Ilya was still there, still fine, still-
“I am fine,” Ilya said again, voice small.
Shane looked at him immediately.
“You say that,” he said, voice tight, like the words were stuck somewhere between relief and frustration. “But you were alone this morning. You drove yourself here. You-”
He stopped, his jaw tightening slightly.
“I should have been here,” he finished, softer.
It wasn’t said like a complaint. It sounded like a fact he couldn’t undo. Something that was gnawing at his heart ever since he got the text from Hayden.
The doctor stepped in again, redirecting, repeating what had already been said- that everything had gone well, that recovery was straightforward, that there was nothing to suggest anything unusual.
Shane nodded.
Then immediately asked another question.
“Okay, but if something changes, if he feels worse - what do we watch for? What’s normal pain versus what’s not normal?”
The doctor answered him again, patient but efficient.
Hayden thought of sending the man flowers for his patience, because his own was running thin too quickly. He understood Shane’s panic, being away from someone you love when they need you was a terrible feeling, but Hayden was watching the way Shane’s panic was rolling off him in waves and onto the rest of them, including Ilya.
The pacing. The repetition. The way Shane couldn’t let any answer sit long enough to believe it. It wasn’t just worry - it was the kind of panic that needed something to do, even if that something was just asking the same question five different ways.
He glanced over at Ilya.
Okay that’s enough
“…You’re stressing him out,” Hayden said finally, low enough that it didn’t cut through the room, but clear enough that it landed.
Shane stopped.
“What?”
“You’re doing too much, Shane” Hayden said, his voice gentle. “He’s fine. Let him breathe.”
There was a beat.
Shane turned toward him slowly, something sharp flickering in his expression- not anger, exactly, but something close to it. Protective. Defensive.
For a second, it looked like he might push back.
Then he glanced at Ilya. Really looked this time.
And saw it.
The tension. The way Ilya had gone a little quieter. The way his hands had stilled.
Shane exhaled slowly, the energy in him dropping just a fraction.
“…Okay, yeah. Sorry I was-” he said, sounding guilty.
“I’m okay Shane” Ilya offered a small smile before lacing their fingers together.
Shane smiled back, It wasn’t full calm. Not even close.
But it was enough that the room could breathe again.
Getting ready to leave took longer than it should have, mostly because no one could agree on how much help Ilya actually needed.
“I can do it,” Ilya insisted for the third time, already pushing the blanket aside and reaching for the clothes Yuna had handed him. His movements were slower than usual, a little careful, but the determination in his voice was familiar.
“You’re not doing anything,” Shane said immediately, stepping closer like he was prepared to physically stop him if necessary. “You just had surgery.”
“I am not fragile,” Ilya replied, frowning as he tried to stand without making it obvious that it still pulled at his side.
Shane made a noise under his breath, somewhere between disbelief and frustration. “You literally are right now.”
Yuna didn’t even look up at first. She simply folded her arms for a second, watching them go back and forth like this was a conversation she had witnessed far too many times to take seriously anymore. Then she stepped in.
“Enough,” she said, placing the clothes more firmly into Ilya’s hands. “He’ll dress himself. You’ll stand there quietly and not make it worse.”
Shane opened his mouth to argue. Yuna didn’t even look at him.
He exhaled sharply and stepped back, though he didn’t go far, hovering just within reach like he couldn’t quite convince himself to give Ilya space completely.
Ilya, for his part, took his time. He moved more carefully than he would ever admit, adjusting his shirt with small, deliberate movements, pausing once or twice when something pulled more than expected. He didn’t ask for help and he didn’t need to.
Not with Yuna watching quietly from one side, ready if he did, and Shane watching from the other like he was one second away from stepping in anyway.
By the time he finished, there was a noticeable shift in the room.
Ilya looked a little more tired than before, the effort catching up with him in small ways he didn’t comment on. Shane still hovered close, tension lingering in his posture like he hadn’t fully accepted that this was over yet. Yuna, on the other hand, looked exactly the same as she had when she walked in - calm, composed, already operating two steps ahead of everyone else.
And David-
David had barely said anything.
He had stayed just slightly to the side, steady and unobtrusive, the kind of presence that didn’t demand attention but somehow made the room feel less sharp, less frantic.
When Ilya had first seen him, there hadn’t been the same urgency as with Shane, no rush of words or frantic checking. David had simply stepped forward, pulled him into a brief, firm hug that was solid, grounding- and then, just as easily, stepped back again.
“I brought you that candy you wanted, by the way,” he had said, like it was the most important update of the day.
Ilya had blinked at him, caught off guard for a second.
“…You did?” he asked.
David nodded once, already reaching into his jacket pocket before pausing, glancing briefly at Yuna.
“Later,” she said without looking at him, though smiling.
David nodded again, completely unfazed.
“Later,” he repeated, like this was a shared understanding, before winking at Ilya.
Ilya let out a quiet huff of something that wasn’t quite a laugh but close enough, the corners of his mouth lifting just slightly.
“My day has been made better already” he said.
There was something easy in that exchange- something simple, almost routine that settled into the room in a way nothing else had. No questions, no concern wrapped in panic, just the quiet assumption that Ilya would be okay, that he would be home soon, that there would be time for small things like candy.
For a moment, Ilya just looked at him.
“…You remember everything,” he said.
David shrugged lightly. “Only the important things.”
That had earned him a small, genuine smile. From where he stood, Hayden had noticed it immediately.
The difference- How Ilya softened around them in ways he didn’t around anyone else.
Even now as he settled into his clothes, he looked…easy. Like he hadn’t spent a day in the hospital. Hayden was glad.
“I am going home,” Ilya said, like he was stating something final.
“Yes,” Shane said immediately. “That is the plan.”
Ilya nodded once, then turned his attention toward Hayden, as if remembering something important.
“You are coming with us, right?” he said.
Hayden blinked, caught off guard by how certain it sounded.
“What?”
“You,” Ilya repeated, lifting a hand in a vague gesture in his direction. “You can drive with us?”
There was no hesitation in it. No question. Just an assumption.
Hayden leaned back slightly, folding his arms.
“I think you’ll survive without me. I should get going-” he said.
Ilya frowned at that, the expression immediate and faintly offended, like the suggestion itself didn’t make sense.
“What? Is Jackie mad at you?,” he added after a second, as if that might be the only reasonable explanation.
“Why would Jackie be mad?” Hayden asked.
“You stayed here,” Ilya said simply. “Long time.”
Hayden let out a quiet huff, shaking his head.
“She’s not mad.”
Ilya watched him for a second, like he was deciding whether to believe that.
“Then why can’t you come home?” he said again, confused.
“I-“
“You drove long and spent so long in that stupid chair. You need sleep. You are already not great driver, we can’t send you on the road like this” he argued.
Wow glad he was back to his chirping.
Shane chose to chime in with a small smile on his face “ It is also the middle of the night, Hayden”
Ilya nodded once, satisfied, already turning away like the conversation was done.
Hayden followed, because yes the stupid chair had killed his back.
They split into two cars.
Yuna and David took Ilya’s. Hayden drove Shane and Ilya.
The quiet lasted exactly thirty seconds before all of the energy Shane had been trying to hold in, burst out of him.
“You should not eat like that, I keep telling you to-” Shane said, voice gentle but scolding.
“It was one thing,” Ilya sighed.
“It was not one thing.”
“It was not a big deal Shane!”
“Well, It was not small.”
Hayden exhaled slowly, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter.
“He’s fine Shane!” he said. “Ease up. Okay? Scold him after he has slept in a room that doesn’t smell like Iodine”
Shane glanced at him, something sharper in his expression now. He sat forward.
“I am not scolding him!”
Hayden rolled his eyes.
“I am just saying, he does not need a lecture about eating habits five minutes after surgery.”
Shane exhaled loudly and gave up, staring out of the window, hand still tightly clutching Ilya’s.
The car fell quiet for a second. Then, Hayden watched from the rear view mirror as the tension fell away as smile crept up on his face.
“…Okay,” he said slowly..
“Something weird happened at the hospital,” he added,
Hayden didn’t like that tone.
“What.”
Shane leaned back slightly, clearly enjoying himself now.
“The nurse told me to keep an eye on you two. When we were walking to your room”
There was a pause.
“Pulled me to the side and everything”
“…What,” Hayden said.
“She thinks Ilya might be cheating on me,” Shane continued, barely holding back a laugh. “Because she saw you holding hands and - what was it - declaring your love for each other.”
Hayden groaned. He knew the nurse was upto no good, the way she had slammed the door and rushed out.
“We were not declaring love.” Ilya grimaced. “Pike is last person I would-“
“What a rat!” Hayden protested, “I knew she was going to do something weird.We were literally just holding hands for one second-”
“you were HOLDING HANDS?!” Shane was fully cackling now, absolutely delighted at the news he was learning.
Hayden groaned. Ilya swore something in Russian, but Hayden had a feeling he knew what he said.
“Do I look like a cheater? I would cheat on Shane Hollander?” he added, turning slightly.
Shane tilted his head.
“I mean,” he said slowly, “your reputation-”
“Shut up, Pike.”
“I didn’t even say anything!”
“You were going to.”
“…Okay, maybe a little.”
“Unbelievable.”
Shane laughed, before pressing a kiss to his temple.
“Its okay babe, I trust you”
“and what about me? You think I would cheat on Jackie?” Hayden was fully offended now.
“As if” Ilya scoffed.
“She is already out of your league”
Okay that was true. Hayden was a lucky man.
“Yeah well, so is Shane”
“yes he is out of your league too”
“that is not what I meant, you asshole. He is out of yours”
“Ah don’t change words Pike”
The banter went on, and Hayden was glad everyone was smiling.
That night settled softer.
The house felt different from the hospital-warmer, quieter in a way that didn’t feel empty. Ilya moved through it more slowly, like he was still adjusting to being back somewhere familiar.
By the time they got into bed, exhaustion had caught up to him again.
Shane lay beside him, one hand resting lightly over his side, careful without thinking about it.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then-
“I was very scared,” Ilya said quietly.
Shane didn’t interrupt.
“I thought I am fine,” he continued. “Then I was not fine. And I was alone.”
His voice softened.
“I kept thinking you will come. Like if I just wait, you will come. And then I remember, you are not even here.”
Shane’s hand tightened slightly.
“I am fine now sweetheart, but when…when I was at the hospital..I missed you,” Ilya said.
A pause.
“And your parents,” he added. “And… my mama.”
Shane turned toward him slightly.
“I did not like it,” Ilya said. “The waiting. The thinking.”
Another pause. Shane felt his heart break into a million pieces at the thought of Ilya at the hospital, alone and scared.
“But then Hayden came,” he added. “I did not think he would. I thought he will just say something annoying and hang up, as usual. But…..but he stayed and he took care of me. Even when I am asshole to him”
Shane huffed softly.
“That sounds like him.”
“It helped a lot” Ilya said. “It felt nice, he is a good friend”
Shane smiled faintly.
“I told you” he murmured. “You two don’t actually hate each other.”
“We do,” Ilya said.
“Yeah,” Shane said. “Sure.”
He pressed a soft kiss to his mouth before running a hand through his hair. He pressed another kiss to his forehead before pulling him close.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart”
He felt Ilya’s breaths grow steady and thanked God for a friend like Hayden.
The next morning was louder.
Jackie called just as he was about to leave, and didn’t even bother easing into the conversation.
“So,” she said through the phone, “how’s your boyfriend?”
Hayden closed his eyes.
“I’m hanging up.”
In the background, Shane was already laughing.
“You know, He panicked even faster than I did” Jackie added. “Cancelled his plans with friends and drove 3 hours because he was worried Ilya was alone”
“Jackie-”
”Even declared your love for him while holding hands!”
”I am cutting this call”
“That’s very romantic, Hayden. Should I be worried about you getting stolen away by a handsome Russian man?”
Hayden glared at Shane when he heard him giggle.
“It was not romantic.” He complained, “and how did you even know-“
“I have my sources”
Across the room, Ilya rolled his eyes. “This one texted her the moment he got up, because it is so funny to him” then added, “ Don’t worry Jackie, I have good taste in men”
“As if you would be my first choice, Rozanov”
The bickering continued until Hayden had to finally walk to his car. He hugged Shane and then turned towards Ilya, considered it for one second and then turned back to his car. It would definitely be weird to hug him, what if he was only like that yesterday because he was high? A handshake would do-
Ilya stepped forward and pulled him into a frankly long hug.
“Thank you” he said, earnest. “I love you”
Hayden smiled back, “Anytime you need me, man. You’re not alone here without Shane”
Hayden saw a hint of emotion cross his eyes before he composed himself.
“You are very sweet Hayden, But I will not cheat on Shane with you. Sorrey”
Shane immediately giggled.
Traitor.
“You’re both unbelievable,” Hayden muttered.
Later, Shane was on the couch, laughing at something on his phone when Ilya walked up behind him, resting his chin on his shoulder without thinking.
“What are you laughing at?” Ilya said, squinting.
Shane tilted the phone so he could see.
Ilya read.
Paused.
Then groaned, dropping his forehead against Shane’s shoulder.
“I will never hear the end of this.”
Shane was already laughing harder.
The headline stared back at him.
“Ilya Rozanov and Hayden Pike in Love Affair? Hospital Staff Claims ‘Hand-Holding and Confessions.’”
“Oh, no,” Ilya groaned. “Absolutely not.”
“Fucking Pike” he muttered before snatching the phone out of a giggly Shane’s hands.
Somewhere at a gas station, Hayden was cringing at his own screen, opening an article J.J sent him with a note, “READ URGENTLY” followed by laughing emojis.
“Absolutely not” He groaned.
“Fucking Rozanov” he muttered, as he threw his phone in the back seat. He started the car, as he drove back from Ottawa, where he drove 3 hours to from Montreal, because he was not letting fucking Rozanov, suffer alone.