chicago
December 19, 2023
“Are you sure?” Sidney looked unsettled as he sat on his daughters bed and watched as she packed her suitcase, she’s been home for a week now after her surgery and has got her hard cast on her hand a few days ago after the swelling went down and has her arm in a sling for most the time to keep her hand elevated.
He’s loved having her back home the last week and she’s been at the rink with every day dnd he knows the team is loving her being back.
Cameron told Sidney she was planning to go to Chicago for a few days and stay with Connor, she wanted to go to his game and go to his family skate especially since his family couldn’t make it.
Sidney didn’t mind her going but he’s been extra protective since she got hurt and is worried because she really only had one arm she can use right and will have to navigate through the airport alone.
“Yes Dad.” Cameron fondly rolled her eyes as her dad asked the same question again, she slipped in her toiletry bag and shut her suitcase close which seemed to be quite the struggle with one hand making Sidney lean across the bed and help her close it.
“Thanks.” Cameron mumbled before grabbing her carry on back and packing that very quickly before setting it on top of her suitcase.
She sat down on her bed next to her dad and Mr. Mack immediately plopped onto her lap, she usually took her cat with her everywhere but she wasn’t going to this trip to see Connor. Connor and Mr. Mack would love to see each but Cameron knew it wasn’t a smart choice with her being hurt and trying to bring her cat as well especially since she was only going to be there for four nights and knew Mr. Mack will be fine with her Dad.
Sidney wrapped an arm around his daughter pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head, “Should we get going?” Sidney asked checking the time.
Cameron nodded and pressed a few more kisses to her cats head before sadly getting up and gently putting Mr.Mack down, “I’ll be home soon Mr. Mack promise, be good for Dad for me.” Cameron spoke softly to her cat before she reluctantly turned away and saw her Dad already walked out with her bags.
Sidney loaded up the car and started the drive to the airport, he parked the car at the parking lot and grabbed her bags walking in with her, he was absolutely not letting her walk through the airport with her bags without him.
Sidney checked in her suitcase so she only had her backpack on and he walked her to the security and hugged her gently, he didn’t like her not being with him when she was injured but he also knew she missed Connor.
“Say hi to Nate for me.” Sidney told her making her laugh softly.
“Text me for anything.” Sidney reminded her making her fondly smile and nod, he pressed one more kiss to his daughter’s head and let go of her.
Cameron waved with her good hand and headed to into security, it went quickly and she walked to her gate and saw she had a lot of extra time.
She headed to Starbucks and got a hot oat matcha latte and a muffin before heading to her gate as they started boarding and she shook her head fondly seeing what seat her Dad bought her and sat down.
Cameron struggled a bit to get her headphones on and then she turned her music on and she just sipped on her matcha as the plane started moving and soon was taking off.
The flight to Chicago is only half and half and it went by quickly.
Cameron slowly grabbed her things and got off the plane heading to grabbed her checked bag and headed outside and quickly found Connor at his car.
“Hey Camers.” Connor spoke softly hugging her gently being careful of her hand and her sling, he hasn’t seen her since the start of the season and she came out to his first game against her Dad.
“Hi Connie.” Cameron let out a happy sigh hugging her best friend back with one arm.
Connor squeezed her softly once more feeling better to see her again because he’s been worrying over her a lot since he watched her game that she got injured.
“Come on.” Connor out everything into the car for her and opened the door helping her in even if she didn’t necessarily need it. Connor drove them to his apartment and carried her things up to his apartment and brought her to his guest room.
He had a game in a few hours against Colorado, also another reason Cameron came out today so she can see Nate.
Connor headed to take his pre game nap and Cameron needed to rest too so he got her an ice pack and she took her pain medication and slowly fell asleep too.
Connor woke up over an hour later and headed into the guest room seeing Cameron sleeping but her face looked uncomfortable and he knew she probably isn’t sleeping the best with her hand.
Connor softly woke up Cameron before heading to his room to get ready for the game.
Cameron rubbed her face and she kneeled down in front of her suitcase and was able to open it one handed and grabbed out her outfit.
Cameron was not taking off her sling right now and changing her black shirt underneath so she just got her sweatpants off and managed to put on her blue jeans and slipped her feet into black boots. Cameron grabbed her Blackhawks hat she got from Connor when he got drafted and put it on and she grabbed her plaid trench coat knowing she would need help.
Cameron grabbed her purse making sure everything was in there especially her pain medication and walked out to the living room seeing Connor waiting for her.
“Could you?” Cameron asked sheepishly, she is getting use to the fact that she cannot be fully alone right now.
Connor easily smiled and helped her good arm into her trench coat and wrapped the other side of the coat over her bad arm.
Connor and Cameron headed to the rink as Connor drove them and Connor made sure to walk Cameron to her suit making sure she would be okay and had everything before she shooed him off to go warm up.
Connor pressed a kiss to the top of her head that was covered by a hat before rushing off to the locker room.
Cameron got some food that was in the suite knowing she needed to eat and she munched on some food and texted her Dad until the game started.
Cameron waved would her good hand at Nate and all of his teammates that she knows seeing them looking at her waving and she waved at Connor.
Cameron awkwardly smiled waving softly as she was on the jumbotron and a lot of people looked over at her.
Cameron cheered softly as Blackhawks got the first goal of the game and Connor got an assist.
Colorado scored next and Nate got an assist and he got an assist on the next goal too.
Connor got an assist on the last goal of the period too.
No one scored in the second period leaving the game tied heading into the last period and Chicago got a goal and then won 3-2.
Cameron headed down to the locker room waiting for Nate and Connor to come out.
Cameron smiled seeing Nate coming out the locker room, “Uncle Natey.” Cameron grinned and Nate immediately smiled hearing her voice and headed right to her.
“Baby Crosby.” Nate gently pulled her into a tight hug rubbing her back gently, “Your growing up too fast.” Nate frowned as he pulled back seeing how she looks older and older every time he sees her.
He still sees her at the young child who gave him the moose drawing and now she’s one of the top hockey prospects right now and will be going first overall in a couple months and next season he will be playing against her.
Cameron laughed softly at his words just as Connor came out and Nate and Connor shared a hug before they all headed to Connor’s car and out to dinner.
Nate helped Cameron take her jacket off as they sat down for her dinner and Connor opened the menu for Cameron.
“How is that doing?” Nate asked her glancing at her sling and cast. She only had surgery ten days ago.
“Healing, i should be back the beginning of February.” Cameron told him, she got cleared yesterday that she was allowed to do small regular activities as long as she takes it easy, meaning she can skate but only with someone and slowly.
Nate nodded softly, “You doing okay with it?”
“It’s an adjustment.” Cameron sighed it was difficult suddenly having to do everything only one handed.
Nate nodded and changed the topic he didn’t bring up her injury again for the rest of the night.
Cameron, Connor and just spent the rest of the night catching up with each other over dinner.
December 20, 2023
Cameron walked next to Connor down to the Blackhawks arena and Connor was holding her skates in his hand and he opened the door letting her walk in first and walked to her stall.
“Nick this is Cameron my best friend.” Connor introduced them as Cameron sat down on his stall and Connor helped her take her shoes off and she slipped her skates on and he started tying them.
“Hi.” Cameron smiled slightly at Nick and offered her good hand, she has heard a lot about Nick.
“Hey.” Nick grinned shaking her hand back, he has heard a lot about Cameron.
Connor introduced her to more of the boys as he put her skates on than his one skates and they headed toward the ice.
Cameron let out a happy sigh as she stepped onto the ice, the last ten days is the longest she ever went without going on the ice.
Connor smiled fondly at her happy face and kept close to her, he offered his good arm as they shouldn’t take any chances and she sighed but nodded taking his arm and they started skating together.
It made them both miss playing hockey together and just being on the same ice with each other. They both hoped one day they would be on the same line again.
Cameron and Connor were of course asked for pictures by the media team and they smiled for all of those before continuing skating.
It’s been a while since Cameron just to skate and she was glad she got to today.
December 21, 2023
Connor and Cameron spent the day just chilling on his couch together after they went out in the morning and walked to breakfast.
They both aren’t the biggest social people so they have always enjoyed just being comfortable on the couch and watching something together.
They spent most of the day there until it got closer to dinner and Connor and Cameron headed to his kitchen as Connor was making them dinner showing Cameron he had gotten okay at cooking.
“So Fraser?” Connor asked with a small smirk as looked over the pan that was cooking salmon.
Cameron’s cheeks went pink, “Maybe.” She mumbled softly.
“I’m gone for a few months and you find a crush.” Connor playfully pouted making her laugh, he was a bit disappointed he didn’t get to see them interacting because Cameron is his best friend and Fraser one of his closest friends.
“Are you going to say anything?” Connor asked as he took the pan off the flame and put the salmon in their bowls.
“Not yet.” Cameron shook her head no, maybe later, “I’m not eighteen yet.” Cameron knew Fraser would not do anything while she is still seventeen and she respected that.
“Ahh.” Connor nodded realizing she wanted to wait till she was eighteen because Fraser was of age.
“This is good.” Cameron nodded approvingly as she took her first bite making Connor beam proudly.
“Yeah?” Connor looked hopeful, he’s been leaning how to cook for himself and Cameron is really the first person he’s cooked for. It meant a lot that she liked it especially as when they lived in Regina together Cameron did the cooking.
“Really.” Cameron nodded back honestly making Connor beam happy.
Connor and Cameron just enjoyed the rest of the night together as Cameron was heading home tomorrow morning.
December 22, 2023
Connor drove them to the airport and parked in the parking lot, “What you’re not walking in alone.” Connor said seeing her surprised look when he didn’t go through the line.
Cameron rolled her eyes fondly at her best friend’s protectiveness and got out the car as Connor grabbed her bags.
Connor walked in with Cameron and made sure her bag was checked in and walked her to security before he pulled her into a hug, “I’ll see you soon Camers.” Connor mumbled softly he missed the days living with his best friends and know he plays in Chicago and she plays in Vancouver for now.
“Bye Connie.” Cameron mumbled back and squeezed him once more with her good arm and pulled back smiling at him before walking to security.
She was looking forward to getting home and being with Dad and Mr. Mack. The only good thing about being injured is getting to be at home with her Dad again and near all the Penguins.