Holding Out For a Hero- Pekka Rinne

Shannon's POV:

Tonight is the night where I complete my ultimate dream. I am going to perform in front of the sold out nation of Smashville when they will versus the St. Louis Blues. The Blues are one of our main rivals, and to be performing at one of the premier games on the season is exciting for me!

But, at the same time, I was fearful of seeing him again. We broke up before the season started, and ever since, I have been trying to fight the lingering feelings for him. I do not want to see him and let these feelings come back, I had just finally gotten over him.

I arrived at the hallowed halls of Bridgestone Arena just in the nick of time to meet with the sound crew to test out my mic and instruments. I walked into the arena and I was awestruck about the sheer size of the arena. Sure, I've seen the Preds millions of times, but never from this position as a performer. Excitement took over my fear as the sound guy came up to me and said, "Welcome to Bridgestone Arena, you must be tonight's performer! I'm Danny."

"Hi Danny, I'm Shannon. Nice to meet you! So, what exactly am I doing tonight?" I smiled at him and tried to keep my excitement at bay.

"You're going to be singing the National Anthem and performing during intermission. But now, mic check." Danny then led me to the band stage that over looks the ice. Sure enough, I saw him in goal just practicing before the game. I couldn't let the past affect me tonight.

Danny handed me a mic and said, "Okay, so right now, your job is to sing or talk so we can get the mic adjusted to the level needed. Don't do anything distracting. I'll be staying here with you to help with the adjustment. You ready?"

I nodded my head as he handed me the mic and said, "Start speaking. Or singing."

I said to him, "I'm warning you: I often quote or sing Broadway songs when testing mics. It's kinda funny. I also make parodies too."

"I'll be watching closely then. Go whenever."

I started with a parody of When You're An Addams...er, When You're An All Star. At least the opening parts of it, more like mocking it:

'Ah, the intoxicating smell of Bridgestone Arena. Once a year when the Pro Bowl comes around, we gather to honor the great cycle of skills and greatness. Come, every member of our clan - living, sick- and John Scott, and let us celebrate what is to be an All Star.'

When I finished that, I heard Danny say, "Okay, can you please say or sing something else? That was really good, Shannon."

"Okay, here goes singing Broadway stuff: 'Another openin', another game, In Louis, Winnipeg, or Chicago. A chance for refs to say hello. Another openin' another game. Another job that you hope at last, Will make your future forget your past. Another pain where the ulcers grow. Another openin' of another game. Four weeks you practice and practice, three weeks and it couldn't be better. One week will it ever be right, then out of the hat, it's that big first rival! The banner is about to start, it's faceoff time and away we go.....another openin' of another game.' How was that?" I smiled towards Danny.

"Wow. That was amazing Shannon! We now have the right volume for you, now can you please play an instrument for us?"

I knew exactly what song I was going to perform later that night. I picked up my guitar and started strumming to tune it, then I started going into my debut single.

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Pekka's POV:

I heard her voice again, and I knew that she was here to perform! This made me so happy to know that she is alive still and is going after her dream to perform on the stage.

We broke up before the season began because I did not want her to be stopped by me from achieving her dreams. She never knew that this was my intention. Ever since the breakup, I have been in a slump.

The team even knows that I've been off, but I haven't told them why. Don't need them to be involved in my life. The thought of just know that she was here made me smile. As we got ready for the game before the crowd came in, I heard her angelic voice reach the locker room:

'Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I could swear that there's someone somewhere watching me
Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the raging flood
Oh, his approach is like a fire in my blood

I'll meet a hero
And then we'll dance 'til the morning light
Dreaming, he'll lead me
Held tight,
Tonight's the night...'

I didn't realize how much I missed her. I needed to play my best and somehow, needed to talk to her again.

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Shannon's POV:

it was just about time for me to go sing the National Anthem. I was excited to finally see the crowd and to see the teams on the ice. They rolled out a carpet for me and I heard Danny say, "You ready, Shannon?"

"Yeah." He then led me to where I would sing the anthem and I finally met eyes with him. I smiled at him, and I knew I couldn't fight myself anymore. Well, I had to focus on my job very quickly because I heard Paul say, "Please stand and remove your hats for the singing of our National Anthem, performed by Shannon."

I took a deep breath and just went right into the song I knew by heart. Once I was done, the crowd was clapping and cheering for me! Even the players were shocked!

Danny quickly led me off of the ice and to my seat and said, "We'll see you at the five minute point of the first and second period."

I sat down just as the opening face off happened and replied, "Thank you five minutes before the end of the period."

I watched the game as if I was a WAG, just by hoping and praying to Castiel that Pekka would be alright in goal. That he wouldn't be injured and he would hopefully do well tonight. Good thing is, no one knew that I still...love him.

I fell into a routine with the game: watch, go to my cue, perform, then repeat the cycle all over again. The crowd was giving me standing ovations and I was so happy! And to make it even better, the Preds were winning 1-0 against the Blues! Maybe that was why they were in such a good mood.

I finished off my set with 'Holding Out For a Hero,' and I saw that as I was performing that, the players from each side were coming out and watching me perform instead of warming up on the ice. After that song, I said to the crowd, "Thank y'all so much! Go Preds!"

I finally sat down and settled in to watch the third period of action. The Blues were playing chippy today, and as a result, were aggressive as ever. I just hoped that Pekka didn't get involved in any fights or questionable plays.

Sure enough, Castiel couldn't answer me on that prayer because some idjit on the Blues decided that it would be a great idea to crash into Pekka. I literally gasped and held my breath, probably just like every other member of Smashville. When I saw the trainers help him off of the ice and Hutton go in, I knew that the Blues were going to pay...somehow.

I watched the game as tears came to my eyes, and I hoped that he would be alright.

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Pekka's POV:

To top my awful season off, I was going to be out the rest of the season with a major lower body injury. If only I had gone out a little farther than I did...then things would be different.

The trainer asked me, "Pekka, do you know of anyone that could take care of you until you are fully recovered? Maybe a girlfriend, or someone in the crowd?"

I smiled as I thought of her, "Yeah..."

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Shannon's POV:

As I tried to watch the game, which the Preds were winning now 3-0, I felt someone tap my shoulder. I turned towards the person and saw that it was a member of the training staff for the Preds. I knew what this meant. The man asked me, "M'am, er, Ms. Shannon, do you know what happened to Mr. Rinne?"

"Yeah. It looked pretty bad." I could not break in front of a total stranger.

"Do you know him? He has requested to see you."

"Yes, I do know him."

"Follow me, if you don't mind." The man then helped me up out of my chair and off we went towards the locker room of the Predators.

It felt really odd to be walking towards the locker room under these circumstances. If I could talk to him again on my terms, then this situation wouldn't be it. At least the trainer knew where he was going because if it wasn't for him, then I would end up in the Blues' locker room.

A few minutes later, we arrived at our destination. I was nervous to face him again, but I knew that he wanted to talk to me for a reason. The trainer said, "I'll let you know when you can come in, Ms..."

"Ms. Lynch. Shannon Lynch."

"Thank you for your patience, Ms. Lynch." The trainer then went back into the locker room. Part of me wondered what was beyond the door.

The Preds won by a final of 5-0, a nice retaliation considering everything that happened tonight. I heard the typical noises of a locker room as the team entered. I got nervous to meet them under these circumstances.

A few minutes later, the trainer came out and said, "You can come in now, Ms. Lynch."

I took a deep breath and I was finally able to see what was beyond the doors. I saw other WAGS in the room and knew that I was safe. I followed the trainer and he led me to where Pekka was, in the trainer's room.

Once I entered that area, I saw that there was a group of doctors around him. I immediately got nervous to see him again. The trainer went to one of the doctors and said, "Ms. Lynch is here."

The doctors slowly exited the room, and I didn't know why either, until I saw him. I gasped and tried to hide it. I heard him say, "Hey Shan."

"Hey Pekka. You probably didn't want to see me on these terms. What's up?"

"I need you, more than ever. I miss you."

A single tear slipped down my face as I walked over to him and lightly hugged him and said, "I've missed you too."

I smiled to myself. For once, I was finally truely happy. Maybe I found my hero.

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