All Or Nothing Chapter 1: Girl From Mars

Girl From Mars - Ash ( Chapter names are Songs. )

Starting a new job was always stressful. For Sarah the change she sat in traffic awaiting to meet on the other side of the tunnel into downtown Pittsburgh was more than enough to freak anyone out. She kept reminding herself that it was just a job. She was going to take care of her patients and manage their care just as she would anyone else. It was a mantra she kept repeating to herself as she crept along with traffic. Thankfully she made it into town and to her new parking space with time to spare. She got out of the car her sensible heels clicking on the concrete floor as she followed the little map she had drawn on her legal pad. She had been there the day before to get things mostly set up but it didn’t matter all the space they needed to get everyone processed for the new season was ridiculous. Weigh in day was a big day and she knew it. She sat though the opening meeting with the trainers and coaching staff before being asked to come to the front of the room and introduce herself and explain what she needed from everyone that day.

“Hello everyone it’s nice to finally meet you.” she said tucking a piece of dark brown hair behind her ear. “This year the only difference in weigh in day from previous years will be the fact that we are switching to digital records.” she moved to the table where she had the two digital tablets. James and Aaron have been though training to use the tablets and I will be supervising on site. Really what I need from everyone else here is help keeping things running smoothly. Things won’t be as fast as they have been in the past. I know this will bring on frustration but the intention of switching to digital records will better help all of us throughout the season.” she explained. “So really if you see people getting frustrated just do your best to keep things calm. If people really start to have an issue send them to me. I can handle it.” she rested her hands on her hips. “If anyone has any questions let me know.” she went to move back to her seat but saw a hand shoot up. It was the strength coach but she couldn’t remember his name without her cheat sheet. “Yes?” she asked her eyebrows going up.

“Really you think you can take complaints from these guys?”

She had to laugh at his tone though she managed to keep it on the inside merely smiling. “Trust me I’ll be fine.” She knew they had her resume. It was a large part of why she got the job. She may have only been 5’2” on her flat feet but she had the experience of working ER, Psych, Orthopedics and Pediatrics. She had a more varied body of work than most nurses on the open market. She had talked about her experiences being threatened and managing people in crisis in her interview. She could tell they were especially impressed when she showed a picture on her iphone to the interview panel of her black eye that a patient had given her when she worked as the nursing manager on a psych ward. She knew the men in the room looked at her like an outsider this woman who brought with her not just a vagina and breasts but technology and the power to wield it.

Once the meeting had finished Sarah was quick to change into her scrubs happy to be spending most of her days in them still. Sure when she traveled with the team she had to look professional and when she was in meetings she had to look the part of the Pro that she was. To her nothing was less practical that dealing with a medical issue in heels. She slipped her feet into her sneakers lacing them up good and tight before pulling her hair back from her face. The only thing worse than trying to work in heels was working with her hair in her face. With a final check on the equipment she smiled as the players began to arrive slowly making their way though the stations set up in the suits level of the arena. The first to get to her was the one and only Bill Guerin.
“Hi I’m Sarah the new nurse manager.” she said introducing herself though as a gift her family had gotten her several sets scrubs embroidered with her name. “We’ve gone digital.” she said motioning to the two stations set up manned by James and Aaron whom she had mentioned in the meeting.
“I see.” he said looking a bit skeptical.
“Don’t worry everything is still as confidential as it was before actually more than likely more confidential. No records laying around for people to snoop in and no chance for things to get lost in the shuffle. This will actually help everyone out a lot including yourself.” she pulled up his file on her computer for him to see. “This is your progress for all the time you’ve been with the Pens.” It was a page of charts that were simple to read and showed every weigh in, every little blip or back spasm he ever had. She had spent the last few weeks entering the records being meticulous with them from home. Bill seemed like the perfect test for the system. He was curious enough without being obnoxiously curious. He seemed pleasantly surprised when the whole process went much faster than usual.
“Ok Bill you’re pretty much done. I just need to go over a few questions with you and then you’ll be ready to move on. I think equipment is next.” she knew that would make all the guys happy after being measured and questioned about their health. The questions were basic in regards to any illness or problems he may have had over the summer. She had everyone sign off on releases for her to contact their off season medical caregivers so she could get official records. She handed him her card being sure to point out all her contact info. “I mean you’ll see me around but lets be honest life happens and when life effects your health I’m just a phone call away.” That seemed to freak him out a little. “Wow that makes me sound crazy doesn’t it?” she said with a smile. “Sorry I’m just excited and dedicated.” He seemed to soften when she explained. “Have fun the rest of the day. I’m sure I’ll see you around at lunch.”
The next hour was pretty slow as the slightly older crowd of the team came in one by one. It wasn’t till the hour before lunch that things began to pile up. It seemed all the young guys had decided to all come in at once. They were happy to be there which was a relief to her. It seemed any issues they had with going digital had been soothed by the other guys on the team. However they were a bit loud and she didn’t appreciate that. She didn’t need silence to get this done but a room one could efficiently communicate in was necessary. She attempted to get their attention from the ground but was obviously blocked out by their height. She too a step onto her chair finding herself at eye level with most of them. That wasn’t good enough . She took the next step up onto the table her head brushing the ceiling. They all eyed her slowly going quiet confused by her antics.
“That’s right listen to the tiny lady on the table.” she shouted at them though with a smile. “I’m Sarah and I’m your new nurse care manager.” She went on to explain everything all at once. There were a few questions but everyone seemed to be ok with the switch. She went to climb down but froze for a split second. This always happened. She never had a fear of heights on the way up but always coming back down.. Her knees wobbled a bit as Jordan Staal passed the table followed by Max Talbot going to the two stations to be checked in. It was then a hand found hers. She thankfully took it and stepped back down to the chair and then to the safety of the floor. Her heart pounded in her chest but she was ok. “Thanks.” she said finally able to see who had come to her aid. “Kris.” he said with a little shrug letting her hand go though he couldn’t help but notice she was shaking ever so slight.

Sarah blushed just a little embarrassed that she had needed the help and because she had met his eyes in what felt to her like an extremely unprofessional way showing her soul just a little instead of keeping it under the lock and key of the steel gaze of her grey eyes. She smiled before motioning for him to step up next now that Jordan was finished. He shook his head no and stepped back so Sid and then MAF could go next. “I have to get some histories from these guys.” she said excusing herself from him letting out a long deep breath as she did her best to regain her composure.. She looked back noticing his smile and nod before engaging the other guys in the questions she had been asking all morning.
“You guys have to be starving.” she said looking to James and Aaron who had been working with her all day knowing they had slipped behind schedule. “Go ahead to lunch with everyone else I can finish this.” she said as she went to start loading all the data they collected into a master file. They gave her a big thank you excited to catch up with the whole team. She had started working focusing on what she was doing missing the sound of someone clearing their throat behind her till she was tapped on the shower. “Holy shit you scared me.” she said jumping at the touch. Her last job on the psych ward she had made it extremely clear no was to touch her without asking …ever. She turned around to see who it was. Sarah held her hand to her cheat her heart once again racing that day. “Oh Kris I’m sorry.” she offered a soft smile. “You helped me off the table and then I go and swear at you. I‘m obviously real polite.” she hadn’t meant to say it but sometimes her mouth got away from her. “We’re pretty much done here if you want to go to lunch….” he shook his head still not having said a word.
“I have not weighed in yet.” he said. It was the first time she had heard him speak all day. She was sure he had spoken to the other guys but she had been to focused on what she was doing to intrude on their conversations.
“You better step up then.” putting down what she was doing getting everything ready for him. The info she needed was basic. Weight and body measurements first followed by a quick test of the reflexes. The measuring was what took the most time. “Shirt off please.” she said as he pulled it off showing his well muscled back to her. He knew what was coming as she brought the caliper to his skin pinching lightly. “Sorry I know it’s awkward.” she apologized before stepping to the pad putting in all his information. “Now just the questions.” she said going back to her table asking him the usual things. “No injuries over the break correct?” He nodded though she didn‘t know to what.. “Yes, you were injured or yes no injuries?” she asked her brows knitting.
“No injuries.” he said offering a little smile.
She nodded this time. “and you haven’t been ill?” she asked lifting her eyes to meet his fighting not to loose her cool like she had earlier looking at him like she would any other patient. “I had a cold a few week ago but it pass.” he said his accent and speech pattern making her smile as she entered the information.
“Ok I’m going to contact your off season doctor for more info on that. If you feel at all ill even if it’s the slightest thing please let me know?” her eyes softened as she saw him brush a piece of his longer hair out of his eyes nearly in unison with her as she did the same. “You’re free to go to lunch with everyone now.” she siad once he signed the release form.
“I will wait for you. It is a big place. I do not want either of us to get lost.” he patiently took a seat to signal he was willing to weight.
“Oh…” she said a little shocked by his kindness. “Thanks so much Kris.” he stretched his leg out in front of him.
“You can call me Tanger if you like.” he said making conversation as she connected all the cords she needed to load the data.
“Ok. Call me Sarah. I for real would die if any of you called me Nurse Pearson. Nurse Pearson is the mean school nurse who makes everyone drink milk of magnesia.” Sarah made a face that she saw made him smile genuinely. “You should spread around that I’m really tough and so willing to go there with the magnesia.” she put in her password locking up the system as it slowly transferred all the info. “Ok we’re good to go.” she said picking up her purse to take with her. “It’s really polite of you to walk with me.” she said headed for the door with him in toe.
“It is no problem.” he said with a little shrug.

The lunch went well she had been sat with the training staff. Kris had walked her all the way down there. The chat was far from earth shattering. He was quiet and the truth was when she wasn’t in her ‘get the job done’ head space she was a quiet person too. Listening was ranked high in her special skill set. The lunch was a good atmosphere with everyone laughing and having fun reuniting after the off season. It was the perfect time to jump on board with the team.
Post lunch was easy for Sarah. She really just spent her time cleaning the area she had used for the weigh in and then spent time in her office adding information before watching the team take the ice in their first practice. She watched for a little while being sure to put a sweater on. She smiled as they all goofed around looking more like teenagers meeting up on the first day back to school than the men they were.
For Sarah her day ended by changing back into her business clothes for the walk to the car. On her way out to her car she heard someone jogging along to catch her. She looked over her shoulder to see him. “Hi Tanger do you need something?” she asked using the nickname he had told her to call him by.
“No.” he said leaving her with a perplexed look. “Yes. We all go out now. To have dinner and pool.” he said running a hand through his hair that was still damp from his post practice shower.
“Oh ok.” she said nodding. “Yeah. Um where at?” she asked pulling her GPS from her bag ready to search for it.
“I will drive you.” he said lightly placing a hand on her shoulder ushering her toward his car.
“No that’s ok you’d have to bring me back here for my car…” he seemed insistent as he directed her to his vehicle. She carefully climbed in this no doubt being the most expensive car she had ever ridden in. “This isn’t so kind of hazing thing is it? Did they send you because you’re nice and didn’t think I would suspect something?” she questioned narrowing her eyes as him as he began to move out of the spot before she could buckle her seat belt.
“Yes and no.” he said glancing at her. “They saw we talked so they make me.” he said in his usual soft tone. “I think there will be some kind of….” he paused trying to think of a better work than hazing. “prank or challenge.” he settled on. The drove across town headed for Max’s house.