chapter 3

I know I could have saved our love that night

If I'd known what to say

Instead if making love

We both made our separate ways

A few hours later, he touched down at the airport in New York City and all the sudden he could feel his stomach twisted in knots, scared of the outcome with Lindsay and wondering if this will be the last time he is going to see her. He takes a deep breathe as he walked down the airport and headed towards the outside of New York City. He called for a taxi as it stopped and Modano gave him the information of where Lindsay lives as the taxi driver nods and Modano gets in and puts his seatbelt before the driver drove away from the airport.

A few minutes later, he was at Lindsay’s condo and got out as he paid the driver his fee and walked towards the door before walking towards the door and knocked on it. He waited for Lindsay to answer the door and then heard the door unlock as Lindsay opened the door and saw Mike.

“Mike, what are you doing here?” Lindsay asked, shocked to her ex standing at the door with a bag in his hand.

“I came to see you so that we can work things out with you.”

“I am sorry but I thought I made it clear that I don’t want to be with you. I just want us to live different lives and be happy.”

“Lindsay, please let me explain things.”

“Come inside,” Lindsay said as she let Mike and he walked over towards the living room, putting his bag near the couch and sat down. Lindsay shut and locked the door as she walked over towards the living room and sat down near Mike.

“I love you, Lindsay. Now what you did to me after my final skate really hit me hard and everything. After you left, I couldn’t move on and I tried to date other people but you were on my mind the whole time. I tried to get over you by getting drunk but it didn’t work. I called you an hour ago and you told me that you were pregnant with our first child.”

“Mike.”

“No, please, let me finish this, Lindsay.”

“Fine.”

“That made me realize that we are supposed to be together not be ripped apart. Is that why you ended the engagement?”

“Yeah it was cause I was afraid that you would not be in my child’s life and abandon me. I didn’t want to get hurt.”

“Lindsay, I would never ever abandon you and would never hurt you. You were my heart and soul.”

“I know you wouldn’t but I am with someone else now. I am dating a guy I met through one of my friends at the paper. His name is Lucas Morrison and he is my guy. I am sorry, Mike but I have moved on and I think it is best that you move on too.”

“I will be in our son’s life. You don’t have to worry about. I was raised by an amazing woman who told me to not abandon my own child. I will help you buy paying for child support and everything. I hope you enjoy your new life.” Mike got up as he looked at Lindsay and walked away as he picked up his bags, walking out of Lindsay’s life forever. He walked out as he waved for a taxi cab. The taxi cab stopped as Mike got in the back as he told the driver to drive him back to the airport. The taxi driver nodded and drove Mike to the airport.

Mike arrived at the departure drop off as he got out of the cab as he paid the taxi driver fee as he walked away and went over to the ticket place.

“Hi, sir. Can I help you?” The young lady asked Mike.

“Yes. I was hoping if you can find me the next flight to Dallas.”

“Sure thing sir.” The young lady looked down at her computer and found the latest flight. “Mr. Modano, I found you a flight tonight. It leaves an hour.”

“That’s great. I’ll take it.”

“Okay.” The lady printed everything out for Mike as she told him the price. He gave her his credit card and she swiped as it went through. “Okay, Mr. Modano. Here is your ticket to Dallas.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Mike replied as he walked away and went through security again and went to his gate. He got his iPhone out, and went through his contacts until he found Brenden’s number.

“Hi, Mike.”

“Hey, Brenden. I was wondering if you can pick me up. My flight leaves in an hour. I will be there in 3 hours.”

“Sure thing, buddy. What happened?”

“I will tell you everything when I get there.”

“Sure thing.”

“Bye.”

“Bye, buddy.”

Mike turned his iPhone off as he waited for his boarding number to be called. A few minutes he boarded the flight and was heading back home to a place where there was no Lindsay but a place he called home.

A few hours later, he touched down at the airport in Dallas, he didn’t know what to tell Brenden when he saw him. He had to figure a way to tell Brenden what happened. He takes a deep breathe as he walked down the airport and headed towards the outside of DFW airport as he sees Brenden pull up in his Mazda 3. He walked over as he opened the passanger side and sat down with his bag on his lap.

“Hey, Mike. You want to talk?”

“Not yet. Can we please talk when we get to my place?” Mike answered.

“Sure thing.” Brenden drove off as he went back to Mike’s place. As he got there, he parked his car near Mike’s place as he put the car in park. Both men got out as Brenden locked his car with his keys. Mike walked towards the door as he opened the door up and walked inside as he tossed his stuff near the kitchen isle. He walked over towards the couch as he sat down and put his feet on the ottoman.

Brenden walked inside the condo as he shut the door and locked it. He saw Mike sitting on the couch, tears running down his eyes. That talk with Lindsay must of really hit him bad, Morrow thought to himself. He went over and sat down besides Mike. “Okay, Mike, what in the world happened?”

“Lindsay told me that she met some other guy but I can be in my son’s life. It’s over, Brenden. We are through. I guess breaking up in the first place was the best thing,” Mike whispered, crying. “I am going to move on without Lindsay in my life. I am also going to retire. Don’t tell the team yet. I will tell them on July 2nd.”

“Okay, Mike. We will miss you on the ice and glad that you can move without Lindsay in your life.”

Mike smiled, “Thanks, Brenden. I will be there in the stands watching you and you can always come to me if you need anything.”

“Anytime, Mike and the same thing applies here.”

Brenden and Mike slapped hands together as Brenden got up and patted Mike’s shoulder before he left the condo and drove back to his place. Mike got up as he locked the door and walked back to the couch.

****

July 2nd, 2010

A month later, Mike Modano was standing in front of reporters and his team in the press conference room at the American Airlines Center. He was ready to announce his retirement as a player. “Thank you for all coming today. I have decided that this is the time to put up my skates for the rest of my life. Today is an emotional and exciting day for me as an athlete and a person. It closes one chapter of my life as an athlete and opens a new life for me as a person. I am still figuring out what I want do with the rest of my life. But I have that with me for the rest of my life. I want to thank my parents, Mike Sr. and Karen for coming today and supporting me throughout my career. I want to thank my teammates for coming down to support me and being there every step of the way. I want to thank the fans for being there every step of the way of my career and even back in Minnesota during the Minnesota North Stars. The game of hockey has been with me throughout my entire life and now it’s time to say goodbye.” Mike stepped away from the podium and left as he walked out of the conference room, to see Lindsay standing there, three months pregnant and with her bags.

“Hi, Mike.”

“Hi, Lindsay. What are you doing here?”

“I made a mistake back in New York City. I broke up with Lucas cause I didn’t see my self with him anyway. I saw my life with you and I want you to be with me for the rest of my life. I really do love you.”

“Are you sure? Cause I don’t know if I can take another stab at my heart. Lindsay, I am sorry but we can still be in each other’s hearts by being the best parents to that child you are carrying.”

“Okay. Bye, Mike. I will call you when the baby is born.”

“Okay and bye, Lindsay.”

Lindsay walked away as she went out the doors of the American Airlines center and went back to her apartment. She couldn’t believe it but Mike was right. She had betrayed him two times and that being the best parents to their child would be the best thing for them.

Mike knew he did the right thing in letting her go. He was ready to move on without Lindsay in his life and he knew that he was going to be okay. He was now retired and he had the rest of his life to do whatever he wanted. That was to be the best father to his unborn child.

Chapter 2

Yea it does

I listen to your favorite song playin' on the radio

Hear the DJ say love's a game of

Easy come and easy go

But I wonder does he know

Has it ever felt like this

And I know that you'd be here right now

If I could have let you know somehow I guess

Mike’s hand was shaking as he tried to dial Lindsay’s cell phone number onto his iPhone. He was nervous. He didn’t know why but he was. He didn’t know what to say to her. Breathe, Mike, breathe, Mike thought to himself. He waited and waited.

“Hi,” Lindsay answered on the other side.

“Hi, Lindsay, it’s me Mike,” Mike replied.

“Oh, hi, Mike,” Lindsay replied wondering why her ex was calling her. She didn’t know but she had a secret that she wanted to tell Mike. Maybe he called at the right time.

“How are ya?” Mike asked.

“I am good. Okay, where is this going to?” Lindsay answered.

“I wanna know why you broke my heart right after the best day of my life and left me standing there! Lindsay, my word! I fucking loved you every single moment and you just crushed it into a million pieces. Why? Just why? I missed you every single day and now I don’t.”

“Mike, don’t start with this right now. I have some personal shit. You know what since some of this personal shit is involved you then I guess I better tell you. Mike, I am pregnant with your child.”

“Are you even sure it’s my child, Lindsay?”

“Oh my fucking word, Mike. It’s your. I didn’t sleep with anyone but you.”

“Okay, okay, I believe you. How many months are you?” Mike asked.

“I am 2 months to be exact.”

“Oh…I remember that night. I am sorry,” Mike answered.

“You should be,” Lindsay replied. “I have to go.”

“Okay,” Mike replied as he and Lindsay hung up the phone. Mike couldn’t believe it. Lindsay was pregnant with his first child. Maybe that’s the reason why Lindsay broke up with him in the first place. Maybe she was scared that he would leave her if he found out she was pregnant. He had to go to New York City and see her. He was about to dial his travel agent’s number when he heard a knock at the door and walked over as he opened the door up as he saw Brenden standing at the front door. “Hi, Brenden.”

“Hey, Mike. How are ya?”

“I am good. You?”

“Good.”

Mike shook his head as he let Brenden in as Brenden shut the door and locked it. Mike put his phone away as he decided he will call his travel agent later. He went into the fridge and got out two beers as he tossed one to Morrow. He went over and sat down near the couch as Morrow went over and sat besides him. “What brings you hear?”

“Just wanted to see how you are doing.”

Mike just glared at Morrow, knowing that wasn’t the real reason why Morrow was here. “Okay, Bren. What is going on?”

“Alexandria kicked me out of the house for bitching about the season and the way I played. I kept bitching to her about why I didn’t defend Marty when I should have.”

“Brenden, it’s not your fault but she is trying to help you out.”

“I know she is. I didn’t come here to talk about my problems, Mike. I came here to see how you are doing without Lindsay in your life now.”

“Ah,” Mike scratched his head, wondering what to tell Brenden. Should he tell him the conversation he had with Lindsay? Or not?

“Mike, what’s going on?”

“I called her,” Mike answered, waiting for the response.

“You called Lindsay,” Brenden answered, shaking his head before looking at Mike seriously. “You called Lindsay. Your ex as in the one who broke your heart and left you on the day the fans saluted you. That one.”

“Yes, I called her, Brenden,” Mike replied, rolling his eyes.

“Why? Hasn’t she done enough?”

“Cause I wanted to know why she broke my heart okay and I told her off. I told her I didn’t want to be in her life anymore and then she told me a secret that she has been holding from me.”

“What secret?”

“That she is two months pregnant with my first child, Brenden.”

“What? Are you fucking kidding me?”

“No, I am not.”

“Wow. What are you going to do?”

“I am heading to New York City and talking to her so I can be in my child’s life. I am not abandoning my child.”

“Mike, are you sure?”

“Yes, I am positive.”

“Well, I can’t stop you. You make the best decision.”

“Thanks, Brenden.” Mike took his iPhone out and called his agent. “Hi Riley Anderson, this is Mike Modano. I was hoping if you had any tickets to New York City tonight.”

“Yes, I do. If you meet me at the airport, I can give your ticket to you there.”

“Sure thing. Thank you again, Riley.”

“You are welcome, Mr. Modano.”

Mike hit end on his iPhone and got up as he walked into his room, getting out a small bag as he packed some shirts, pants and underwear along with his toiletry bag as he went out of his bedroom with his small bag on his right shoulder and saw Brenden getting up.

“Let me take you to the airport. I can pick you up when you get back.”

“Okay.” Mike looked at Brenden before smiling and walked towards the door as Brenden squeezed his shoulder before walking out the door with Brenden behind him and locked the door.

Though it's been a while now

I can still feel so much pain

Like the knife that cuts you

The wound heals, but the scar, that scar remains

They walked outside and headed towards Brenden’s 2010 navy blue Mazda 3 as Morrow unlocked the doors and got in the drivers seat, putting his seatbelt on. Mike opened the back door and put his stuff as he shut the door. He got inside the passenger door and put his seatbelt on.

Morrow started the car and drove out of the parking lot as he headed towards the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. He glanced at Mike before looking at the road. “You okay, Mike?”

“Yeah, I am. Just wondering if I am making the right choice by seeing Lindsay.”

“You have to make the right choice by either ending or trying to repair that relationship.”

“I know, Bren.” Mike sighed as he looked out the window wondering what to do. Is he making the right decision by seeing Lindsay or not ? Will she push him away like she always does or will she finally let him in? Those questions popped through his head as Brenden stopped the car where family or friends can drop them off at the gate.

“Mike, just go to New York City and tell Lindsay how you feel and that you want to be in your child’s life.”

“I will. Thanks, Brenden.”

“You are welcome.”

Mike gave Morrow a man hug before he got up and took his stuff out and looked around before he immediately found his travel agent Riley Anderson. He walked away from Morrow’s car before Morrow drove off and went back home to try and work things out with Alexandria. He walked over as he said “Thanks again for the ticket, Riley.”

“No problem, Mr. Modano. Have a great flight to New York City. Just call me when you are ready to come back to Dallas,” Riley replied as he gave Mike the tickets.

“I sure will.” Mike said as he gave Riley a handshake and then walked away before heading to security and then heading to the checking in area at his gate. He sat down and waited for the boarding. A few minutes he boarded the flight and was heading on his way to New York City to meet up with Lindsay and figure things out before it was too late. Was he late or was he not?

Every rose has its thorn

Just like every night has its dawn

Just like every cowboy sings a sad, sad song

Every rose has its thorn

chapter 1

June 2, 2010--Dallas, Texas

We both lie silently still in the dead of the night

Although we both lie close together

We feel miles apart inside

Was it somethin' I said or somethin' I did

Did my words not come out right

Tho' I tried not to hurt you

Tho' I tried

But I guess that's why they say

Mike Modano had never realized that his relationship with Lindsay Thompson had gone to dust and that he was having trouble picking up the pieces of their torn relationship. He had been with Lindsay for most of his life and he couldn’t believe that Lindsay broke up with him and moved on with her life in New York City as the editor of New York Times Paper. He couldn’t figure out why Lindsay broke up with him in the first place and for some reason, that had stuck with him. He wanted to know. He just wanted to know but there were times he didn’t.

He had moved on with his life but every time he had went on dates, his heart wasn’t in the right place and his mind always wandered off thinking about Lindsay and what she was doing. He couldn’t get her off his mind. He had proposed to her and she had broken his heart by breaking up and running away. He was devastated. He had decided to not contact her, no matter how much it hurt him. He had remembered the exact words she had used after his last game in Dallas. Why did she have to say those words after his moment with the fans, his parents and teammates. Why?

April 9, 2010

Mike skated on the ice for the last time as Lindsay and the rest of the Dallas Stars along with Mike's parents, Mike Sr. and Karen look on. The fans cheer for their heart and soul, someone who was wonderful to his fans. It was their last time seeing him in a Dallas Stars uniform. It was time to say goodbye. Mike who cared about the fans and the community. They continued to cheer as Mike had skated for the last time. Mike knew it was time for the Stars to go on and bring a championship.

He looked back at Lindsay and smiled but she didn’t smile back. Mike wondered what was going on in her mind. He had to talk to her. He had asked her for hand in marriage and she didn’t give him the answer.

Lindsay looked at Mike and wondered whether or not she should tell him about her decision. Was it important right now or not?

“Lindsay, I know what you are up to. Please don’t do this to Mike on his day,” Brenden Morrow, Stars captain and one of Mike’s close friends, replied.

“Brenden, he asked me to marry him. I have to do what’s right for me and I accepted this position as an editor for the New York Times. I want a better life and Dallas isn’t my city.”

“What about Mike’s heart? Have you ever thought about that?”

“Brenden, what I do with my decision is not your problem?”

“Fine. Whatever.” Brenden shook his head and went over to stand near his fiancée Addison.

“Brenden, why don’t you just back off next time?”

“I am not going to do this anymore, Lindsay,” Brenden replied.

“Fine.”

Mike was done skating and done giving his jersey away to a young boy who smiled and hugged him. He walked over to Lindsay and pecked her lips as she walked away before he could reach it. “Lindsay, what is your problem today?”

“Can we talk alone?”

“Okay.” Mike skated over to the bench and walked towards the tunnel before looking at Lindsay. “Yes, what is it baby?”

“Please, don’t call me, baby. I am sorry to do this to you on your special day but I am not ready to get married. I got the job as an editor for the New York Times paper. It’s time for me to go, Mike. The plane is leaving tonight. So this is good bye.” Lindsay gave Mike the engagement ring and turned around and walked away, leaving Mike devastated.

That moment was killing him every single day; even his teammates could see that. Mike would show up for the last team meeting with huge black rings around his eyes and a heart broken look in his eyes, Mike was even less vocal than usual, which basically meant that his answers to questions consisted of one word and not much else. Only a selected few of his teammates knew what was going on, and why his reactions where as severe as they were. Only Marty and Brenden knew how Mike felt about Lindsay and how it was taking a toll on him. They all told him on separate occasions, that he needed to step it up if he wanted to get Lindsay back to him. Brenden, in particular, had been particularly vehement. Lindsay rarely calls him and now it's been two months since the breakup.

Every rose has its thorn

Just like every night has its dawn

Just like every cowboy sings a sad, sad song

Every rose has its thorn

Marty, who considered Brenden and Mike, to be his brothers that he had never had, was sick and tired of seeing Mike self-destruct the way he had been doing. His teammates noticed the change in him had been drastic. Something Mike has never done in his life. After games, Mike would go to clubs or bars and he'd drink himself into a stupor. There were many times Marty would have to go to pick him up, and bring him home. Even though they had all told him that his cycle would do nothing except end up killing him, Mike didn't do anything to stop himself from going into the downward spiral that was depression.

What brought on the most frustration and pain for Mike was that there was nothing that he could do to ease the devastation and pain he felt over the breakup. He had done all he could to show Lindsay he still loved her. Right now the ball was in her court, or rather, the puck was in her zone, as to what she wanted to do with the relationship. All he could was wait, and drown his sorrows. What was he going to do now? Sit in his sorrow and regret, trying to figure out why Lindsay broke up with him and ended the engagement or get the bottom of it. He didn’t know if calling her was the greatest idea for his mind and heart right now but he had to. He was getting tired of letting this break up get to him. He had to move on. He was going to call Lindsay.

Summary

based off the song Every Rose Has Its Thorn by Poison

Summary: Mike Modano thought he had a perfect relationship with Lindsay Thompson until she proved him wrong by ending his engagment and leaving for New York City to get her career started. Mike is left with a broken heart and picking up the pieces. A few months later, Mike is still trying to get the bottom of why Lindsay leaving him and then he finds out a shocking secret, that she is pregnant. Now Mike is wondering whether he should be in his kids life or not. Will he or will he not? Will he try to get back together with Lindsay or not?

Welcome

Welcome to Mike Modano Goodbye series.