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Tyler had hoped that he'd be rehabbing around the team by mid-February, able to hang out with the guys on the taxi squad if nothing else but the knee surgery has set that back and it was nearing the middle of January but he could still barely walk, let alone think about skating.
The team's athletic trainers preach patience but Tyler isn't good at just sitting around so he ends up calling his off-season trainer, Matt. After another frustrating physio session with him over zoom, Matt makes a suggestion. "Why not fly up to Toronto and we can work on this in-person?"
"Why can't you come down to Dallas?" Tyler asks, maybe a little petulantly. "I'd pay for everything: flights, accommodation, whatever you wanted."
"I have other clients, and everything set-up up here," Matt points out. "I can't just drop everything for you, however much you pay."
Tyler knows he's right but he wishes this was the sort of issue he could resolve by throwing money at it. Right now he'd pay anything to get to play but Matt has a good point - it would be easier if they were doing these exercises in-person, it just feels like giving up on the Stars to leave Dallas.
"I'll need to discuss it with Jamie," Tyler says.
Tyler waits until Jamie is dealing with one of their pre-prepared meals to bring the subject up. He isn't worried that Jamie will refuse to let him go, Jamie isn't that sort of alpha, but he hates the thought of being apart for so long and isn't sure if he's hoping Jamie will have a good reason why he shouldn't go or if he's afraid of it.
Jamie listens without comment as Tyler talks through his options. It's a relief to admit things aren't working right now but he doesn't know which one is for the best and he isn't sure if he wants Jamie to make the decision for him or not.
"You know you don't need to ask my permission," Jamie says confused. "I'm not going to stop you."
"Of course not," Tyler agrees. "But I still want your opinion. If I go, I'm not going to be able to come back until I'm done - no weekend visits or whatever. Unless the season gets cancelled again."
Jamie raps his knuckles superstitiously against the wooden coffee table. "Don't say that."
Tyler shrugs. "I might not be back before the end of the season."
"You will be," Jamie assures him.
They agree that Tyler will go to Toronto for rehab. "I don't like the idea of you being on your own though," Jamie says. "Can you take the dogs? Or can Jackie stay with you?"
Tyler's sure his mum would love to but he can't ask her to, not with everything that's going on. He needs to stay healthy enough for rehab and he won't ask her to sacrifice her own social circles just for him.
The dogs all have the necessary vaccinations and paperwork to cross the border but Tyler usually doesn't fly with them if he can avoid it and he isn't sure he's healthy enough to care for them on his own. They agree he'll just take Marshall who, as the oldest, is most calm and least in need of long walks.
Since Matt’s moving to a new building and still getting ready to set up his new gym, Tyler plans to leave Dallas after training camp - even though he couldn’t participate he could still be there for Jamie.
His plans are derailed slightly by the sudden Covid outbreak. Of course, missing training camp has the advantage that he doesn’t end up catching it along with the rest of the team though there’s still a risk since it’s impossible for him to isolate from Jamie when Tyler still needs his help cooking, and showering, amongst other things. Jamie tentatively suggests sleeping apart but Tyler argues him down - both because he needs Jamie's warmth as a substitute for the dogs he isn’t yet allowed to have back in his room and also what if he needs help in the night. Fortunately Jamie stays symptom-free and Tyler keeps testing negative. It’s not as though he’s allowed to go anyway while Jamie’s still in 'isolation' even if the team physios weren’t also shut-down.
Even though Tyler's going to need to go through quarantine anyway in Toronto, he couldn’t bring himself to leave until everyone was well again so he's re-organised his flights for the day after the Stars’ rescheduled opening game.
The evening of the game Tyler lounges on the couch, or tries to, though it's difficult to get comfortable with his leg. Moving is awkward and staying still for too long makes his knee ache. He wishes he could be at the game; watching his teammates on his TV at home is nothing like being in the arena, even as a scratch, but he figures it would be like the bubble but worse right now with (half)-empty arenas and absolutely no touching allowed. He hates the way masks muffle the scent of his teammates, even if he understands the necessity.
He'd rather wait until Jamie got home when they could hug immediately than be stuck in the arena keeping the mandated distance apart, even though everyone knew they were going home together. Then again, at least at the arena he'd be surrounded by the team's scents, even with the massive aircon units the AAC had invested in, and maybe he'd miss them less.
None of his rehab sessions needed the rest of the team around so he often found himself at Frisco long after they'd left, trying to pick up fading fragments of scent or else in an empty building with only Bish and occasionally Roope for company. He couldn't believe Roope was determined to play through the season despite his hip issue, but then again if Tyler physically could've played, he probably would've been doing the same.
Finally he hears a car pull up and Cash rushes to the door so it has to be Jamie. Tyler, of course, still can't get up easily so has to wait until Jamie gets to him, though if he could've he'd have been bouncing as much as the dogs were.
"Good game?" Okay, Jamie hadn't got a point but Dobby had shut-out the Preds and a bunch of the guys had had two or three-point nights.
"It wasn't bad," Jamie allows with a hint of a smile. Jamie leans in to scent him and Tyler relaxes as Jamie's scent wafts over him. The blanket he's been wrapped in smells a little of Jamie but having his alpha here in person helps more. Tyler tips his head back, exposing his neck so Jamie can rub his chin over it, kiss his pulse point, and let their scents mingle together.
But Tyler doesn't let his alpha's scent distract him for long; he pulls himself around to sit upright on the sofa so Jamie can slip in next to him before he leans into his side. "The game, Jamie," Tyler prompts, when he worries Jamie might have just gone to sleep.
"We missed you," Jamie tells him.
"You scored seven goals," Tyler points out. "I don't think you needed me."
"I didn't score any goals," Jamie notes. "And I always need you."
"Such a sap," Tyler says but it makes him feel warm inside to hear it. Logically he knows Jamie isn't going to find some other obliging omega on the team but his instincts can't help appreciating the reminder that his alpha hasn't replaced him just because he has a new centre.
Jamie gently nips at his ear. "Did you even watch the game," he teases. "Or were you bingeing Netflix without me again?"
Tyler laughs. Jamie won't let him live down the fact that he'd watched every season of Lucifer after his operation while Jamie was busy getting ready for training camp.
"I watched," Tyler assures him. "Just because you didn't get a point doesn't mean I didn't notice how hard you're working out there. But tell me, what's new? Have Miro, Roope and Guri figured their thing out yet?"
Tyler hates having to get all his team news through Jamie - they couldn't even invite people over to grill and hang out on an off day: not that there had been any off-days during training camp since the whole league was trying to compress as much season as they could into as few days as possible. But Tyler still needs to know how they're doing, needs some way to be close to them.
Tyler’s flight is early the next morning - though he thinks it’s worth it for getting to celebrate their opening night victory - and Jamie isn’t allowed to come to the airport to see him off so they say their goodbyes at home. Marshall is confused at being separated from Cash and Gerry and it tugs at Tyler’s heart to watch their faces in the doorway getting smaller behind him as the Uber pulls away.
The flight is harder than usual, between the mask and the way Tyler's hip and leg stiffen up during the journey. It might only be three hours but it feels a lot longer.
Tyler's mom has set the city centre apartment up for him - fridge and freezer filled with team-approved ready meals and a few of his favourite treats; cushions and blankets spread around carrying hers and the girls' scents; framed family photos on the walls. It feels as much like home as she could manage and Tyler is moved by her thoughtfulness.
Marshall wanders around the apartment whining pitifully when he doesn't find who or whatever he was looking for. Tyler wonders whose scents he can detect and who he was hoping to find: probably Candace as she spoils him the most.
Tyler calls Jamie as soon as he's settled in but it's once the call's over that it really sinks in that he's going to be here, without his support system in Dallas, for weeks at the very least, probably months.
Even with flying privately Tyler still has to go through the mandatory quarantine and he's not looking forward to it but at least he gets to do it in his own place and not some 'government approved' hotel as he would've had to if he'd waited any longer to travel.
He misses Jamie already. And Cash and Gerry. Though he's glad he didn't try to bring them since he's not even allowed out to walk Marshall but has to either let him out onto the balcony or else arrange a contactless handover with building services.
In those first few days, Jamie regularly sends him sweaters or blankets marked with his scent and, though the arrival of those packages is often the highlight of his day, it isn't the same. Tyler knows Jamie hasn't been in this apartment before and as much as the familiar scent helps it doesn't fool him.
They've never had to manage a long-distance relationship before and it's hard. Since they'd got together, they'd never spent more than a couple of weeks apart over the summers and even then there had been plenty of distractions. There's only an hour time difference between Dallas and Toronto but it's enough to throw Tyler off. He gets stressed when he tries to call Jamie with no answer, convinced something's wrong, only to realise that he's got the timing wrong and Jamie's in practice.
Tyler knows Jamie is bad at texting but it's hard not to feel ignored when he sends three or four messages in a row and gets a single word response. Jamie never remembers to reply to his snaps either, though Tyler gets the notifications that Jamie has screenshotted the ones he sends him. When Tyler brings it up, Jamie only complains that Tyler uses too many emojis and he doesn't understand what he means half the time.
They speak everyday at least once but usually more. Their first few calls are focused on Tyler settling in - proving to Jamie that he has food in the fridge and meals in the freezer - and Jamie assuring Tyler that his dogs are fine - which mostly involves Tyler baby-talking the dogs and them licking the phone screen to try to reach him.
It's only after they've been apart a week and Tyler has had more than one unsatisfactory jerk off session, that he's the one to bring up phone sex.
They catch up as usual, Tyler sharing the basic exercises Matt's having him do and Jamie telling him what their boys are getting up to in practice. Tyler had planned a more sophisticated seduction but when Jamie is relaxed back against the pillows, laughing at Tyler's impression of Rads protesting a stick penalty he had definitely committed, Tyler finds himself reminded of how he fell for Jamie in the first place and is hit with a sudden wave of longing for Jamie and Jamie's rich scent.
"Wish you were here," Tyler tells him. "Or I was there, I guess."
"You could put on the hoodie I sent you," Jamie suggests.
"I was thinking of taking clothes off, rather than putting them on," Tyler says. Jamie's eyes flash hungrily and Tyler's happy to see he can still affect his alpha even from this far away.
Tyler strips slowly, partly for the tease and partly because his leg still doesn't move that easily.
"Can't believe how hot you are," Jamie tells him.
Tyler knows his cheeks are flushed - from another alpha it might just be a line but he knows Jamie would never give a compliment he didn't mean.
"Let me see you," Tyler asks.
Jamie flinches and Tyler knows he's looking at the tiny picture of himself reflected on his screen. "I don't know-"
Tyler isn't surprised that Jamie would baulk at first, always self-conscious in front of a camera, even knowing it's just Tyler on the other end.
"Maybe later," he suggests, hoping Jamie will warm up to the idea once they get going.
"Show me how good you are," Jamie says.
"I can't kneel," Tyler reminds Jamie. He knows Jamie won't mind - and that Jamie's probably kicking himself for mentioning it at all - but it still stings that he can't even do this small thing for his alpha when they're so far apart.
Jamie talks him through touching himself, despite his voice faltering when it comes to dirty talk. In the heat of the moment, Jamie pulls down his joggers to stroke his cock, pushes his shirt off as he gets too warm and Tyler restrains from commenting so he won't get embarrassed about it.
But then as Jamie settles and the focus turns to Tyler, although he wouldn't normally be bothered, he’s surprised to find himself uncomfortable with being watched in return. He can see the surgery scars even on the small image and it's hard not to move away so they aren't visible.
Tyler tries to spread his legs enticingly, and to get easier access, but his hip twinges and he can feel his quad and hamstring threatening to cramp. He forces himself to take a deep breath and adjusts his position to what he can manage, the good leg pulled up higher and wider to compensate and the bad leg just bent at the knee, but he registers another moment of frustration that his body doesn't do the things he wants it to do.
Every time Jamie praises him, Tyler feels his stomach twist. He keeps trying to move in the way he usually would and pulling up short as his leg muscles just won't move the way he wants. It's probably just as well he isn't with Jamie as he thinks he'd find it harder to not to just push through in person and explaining to Matt that he'd put his rehab back because he was so eager to get fucked would've been embarrassing.
It's not that satisfying either. On the rare occasions Tyler's talked Jamie into phone sex before, he's either been in Dallas in their bed with Jamie's scent all around him after, in a hotel room with the fading scent of team on his clothes, or back home in Brampton with familiar family scents filling the whole house. To be so instantly reminded, as soon as their call ends, that he's alone is much harder.
By the time he gets his final clear test and is allowed to go to the gym, Tyler is raring to go but Matt forces him to take things slowly, to go all the way back to basics.
The rehab is gruelling and Tyler hates coming home to an empty apartment. At first he's so exhausted from the effort that he just heats up a pre-prepared dinner and collapses into bed.
One evening, after he's finished his call to Jamie, Tyler curls up on the sofa. He can't seem to get comfortable though, feeling strangely out-of-ease in his skin. He wraps his arms around himself, realising it's been days since he touched anyone but Marshall, aside from a few passing taps from Matt directing his moves.
And in that same time he's only spoken to Matt, the building concierge, a couple of Uber drivers, and the DoorDash delivery guy. Tyler's always loved being in the centre of his team, surrounded by people and so it's hard being cut off from everyone. Sure, he can watch them - and has been - could even call any of them up now to chat, but it's not the same.
Tyler and Jamie speak every day but, as Tyler catches Jamie up on his physio assessments and the exercises he's doing, he notices that Jamie's even quieter than normal. Tyler knows his alpha better than to mention it directly so he tries to be subtle.
"Enough talking about myself," he says brightly. "Remind me why I'm not missing the guys - who's causing trouble? Is Rads still flirting with Dobby in the locker room?
Jamie manages a laugh but Tyler's pretty sure it's forced. "If you thought Rads' flirting was weak, you should see the new kid trying to flirt with Roops."
"Is that Jason? You think he's going to stay up?" Robertson's one of the few guys that Tyler's reached out to who seems really interested in chatting so Tyler has some vested interest in this.
"This year for sure," Jamie says. "Especially if you're going to be out long-term."
His tone is sour and Tyler feels a little uncomfortable. "You know I'd rather be there."
"Yeah, of course," Jamie says and a tightness eases in Tyler's chest. "I didn't mean- I want you to get better however long it takes. It's just- the team's a mess right now. It looks like Bish is going to be out for a while too, Roops is hurt and he's playing through it but it's not easy, and I think there's something Rads isn't saying."
"I can try and get it out of him?" Tyler offers. He knows the Stars' successes and failures always weigh on Jamie and right now it's a heavy burden.
Jamie accepts and Tyler move the conversation along, trying to stay positive even if it isn't as though he has anything exciting going on in his life right now. He's even jealous of Jamie getting to play golf.
Tyler had thought he'd been doing a good job of pretending to be fine but he obviously hadn't been hiding it as well as he'd hoped since a couple of days later he gets a package, express-delivery from Texas. It's too big to be more of Jamie's sweaters, and Tyler's been careful about not wearing out the scent too soon.
He tears the parcel open to find a new weighted blanket, but it doesn't smell new instead it smells of team. Tyler wraps it around himself straight away and it feels better knowing the guys are still thinking about him.
It's been harder than Tyler had anticipated, being away from the team entirely, and Jamie not wanting to talk about them - or only wanting to talk about what's going on on the ice - makes it even more isolating, especially since the local lockdown means he can't hang out with any of his Toronto buddies either. He can't go out to eat and a diet of nutritionally-balanced pre-prepared meals gets really boring after a while. What Tyler would give for real Texas barbecue or even Whataburger.
He had figured it wouldn't be much worse than rehabbing while the team was on a roadie, but he hadn't accounted for how used he'd got to having team around after the first quarantine pause with their workout group and then the bubble.
He's jealous of Jamie even though he isn't that much better off. Sure, he gets to be around the team but there's no socialising allowed and Jamie only gets limited contact in game cellies.
Then the winter storm hits Dallas. The first Tyler hears of it is when his mom calls. "Have you heard from Jamie today?"
They'd spoken earlier but Jamie had been distracted and Tyler had been in enough pain not to push.
"Haven't you heard? There's a big storm going through Dallas. They're talking about cancelling the game."
Tyler doesn't normally follow the local Dallas news but now, when Jamie doesn't answer his phone, he finds himself looking through news articles for more information.
Eventually Jamie calls him back but he can't speak for long, needing to preserve his phone's battery in case the power goes out overnight and he can't recharge it.
Tyler doesn't sleep well, imagining all the things that could go wrong, remembering the photos of his empty house after last year's tornado.
He makes it to training but Matt can tell he's distracted and sends him home mid-morning. He texts Jamie to let him know he's available and within minutes his phone rings.
"Are you okay?" Tyler asks; he wants to say more, overflowing with anxiety, but he needs to hear from Jamie.
"I'm good, nothing to worry about," Jamie tells him. "Power went out for a bit overnight but your boys kept me warm."
Tyler feels warm at the thought of Jamie and the dogs curled up in bed together but he can't let himself focus on that. "It's back on now though?" Texas isn't Ontario but still, the thought of being without power during a winter storm is pretty worrying.
"Yeah," Jamie reassures him, "but a lot of the guys are still out. Looks like I'm going to have a full house tonight."
Jamie is such an alpha, Tyler thinks fondly, always ready to take in his pack and look after them.
Tyler wishes he could be there for Jamie, for their teammates forced out of their apartments by the power outages, but even if he could drop everything to fly there, there were no flights happening. Instead he has to make do with offering encouragement over the phone. With a house full of teammates, there's no way Jamie is going to be persuaded to do anything but talk anyway so on the night of the cancelled game, they end up on a group call, everyone weighing in with news for Tyler.
It should make him happy to get the team updates he's been wanting since the season began but the in-jokes and references to events Tyler missed just make him more acutely aware how far apart they are. Any warm feeling from the call quickly evaporates when Tyler hangs up and is reminded by sound and scent how alone he is. Fortunately, before he can get truly upset, Marshall pads into the room, trying to climb up onto the couch with him.
Tyler hasn't even been away a month when Jamie first tentatively brings up, "So, when do you think you'll be ready to come home?"
Even though Tyler knows Jamie is supportive of him doing whatever he needs to recover, he can tell the separation is wearing on him as much as it is on Tyler so he tries to be positive. "I'm definitely seeing an improvement," he says. "Hoping to get back on the ice next week." He doesn't want to give Jamie too much hope - it's still a slow process but he finally feels as though he's getting somewhere.
"I miss you," Jamie tells him. Jamie isn't prone to big emotional outbursts so Tyler takes that as the sentimental declaration it's intended to be.
"I miss you too, babe. You know I'll be back in Dallas as soon as I can."
His first time back on the ice isn't what Tyler had built it up to be. The feeling of ice under his skates is great, the sounds and smells of an ice-rink are comforting but he can feel how choppy his skating is and he's already aching after just a few minutes.
He resists the urge to call Jamie for sympathy since he knows how much he's dealing with already. It *will* be fine, he tells himself, it's just a matter of being patient.
Tyler lies on the couch wrapped up in a weighted blanket and watches the Stars play the first of a series of three straight against Florida. Jamie is having a tough year, he's already had a three game pointless streak and Tyler knows he's beating himself up about how much the team are struggling after they'd come so close to the Cup. Tyler is asleep by the time the game finishes, wakes up to Jamie calling and nearly hurts himself trying to grab his phone before it rings out.
"Is the game over?" he says sleepily. "Did we win?" They'd been 1-0 up in the second which was the last thing he remembered watching.
"So you couldn't even be bothered to watch?" Jamie snaps.
"I fell asleep," Tyler says, suppressing a yawn. He checks his watch to see it's not even midnight yet.
"It was that boring, was it? Well no, we didn't win. It doesn't exactly help having two of our top six out."
Tyler's stomach churns at Jamie's harsh tone. He's suddenly more awake and uncomfortably aware of the distance between them.
"It's not like I wanted to be out for months," Tyler says defensively.
"Well, you were quick enough to run away to Toronto."
He wants to cry when Jamie snaps at him. Without the additional input of Jamie's scent assuring Tyler that he's not mad at him, he can't stop the instinctive feeling that he's failing his alpha.
"I'm working hard to get back to the team," Tyler tells him, proud that he manages to keep his voice level but also still fogged enough from sleep that he's not sure this is really happening or just a bad dream.
"And while you're living it up in Toronto, we're struggling to get anything going here."
"You think I'm having fun here, Benny?" he says, his tone getting sharper. Jamie's usually better than this.
"Well I'm certainly not," Jamie tells him.
Tyler resists a vindictive urge to tell Jamie that, if he feels that way, Tyler could find another alpha on Grindr anytime he liked. He doesn't want another alpha but he's not sure he wants Jamie right now either. Tyler has to be up in six hours for training and he desperately doesn't want to have this argument. Instead he says, as reasonably as he can, "Well then, maybe you should get some sleep and maybe you'll get out of bed on the right side in the morning."
He doesn't actually expect Jamie to take him that literally but then he's met with the beeps on the dead line.
After Jamie hangs up, Tyler sits with his arms around Marshall desperately trying not to give into the tears that burn his eyes. Eventually he forces himself to get up off the sofa and go to bed but he sleeps restlessly.
Jamie calls back in the morning, presumably to apologise, but Tyler lets him go to voicemail. He feels shaky doing it but Jamie doesn't get to make him feel bad just because he's his alpha. He checks his phone in the car though, to read Jamie's follow up text but leaves him on read.
When Tyler gets back from rehab later that day, Jamie has had a gift basket express delivered. Tyler isn't sure he wants the sort of omega to be easily placated by sweets and flowers but when he unwraps and discovers the 'dog and human hamper' he's touched. It might not have Jamie's scent but it's a tangible reminder that his alpha knows him well and is still looking out for him.
When Jamie calls again later, Tyler is prepared to forgive, but he wants to hear his actual apology.
"It was a bad game but I shouldn't have taken it out on you," Jamie starts.
"You shouldn't have," Tyler agrees, fighting to keep his tone level. He isn't going to make it easy for him.
"I'm sorry, I won't do it again."
"You better not," Tyler tells him, appeased by the words even if Jamie stumbled through them. He lets his tone thaw, "You want to see Marshall playing with the gift you sent?"
Jamie sounds relieved as he agrees. When Jamie's FaceTime call shows his featureless hotel room, and Tyler realises he's going to be stuck there for another two, maybe three nights, depending on their travel days, not allowed to go and eat out in Sunrise, not allowed to hang out with the rest of the team, and he's a little glad he isn't with them right now. He's still not thrilled about Jamie's outburst last night but it's a bit easier to see why he was frustrated.
Once Marshall gets bored and curls up at Tyler's feet, Tyler steels himself and asks, "So what's really up?" He knows Jamie hates talking when he's struggling with something, preferring to work it out on the ice, but that's clearly not going so well at the moment.
"The six-game losing streak isn't helping," Jamie says.
"Sure. And I imagine everyone in the room knows you're mad about that. But you know you don't get to take that out on me." Tyler doesn't make any effort to keep the quaver out of his voice at that - Jamie upset him last night and he deserves to know it.
"It was wrong of me," Jamie admits. "You know- I don't have anything here with your scent on it? And, the cleaning service were in during our last roadie so when I got home, none of the rooms smelt of you either. So, hockey sucks right now and I don't even get to come home to you. I mean, I know you're where you need to be and that it's important to your recovery but I still miss you."
It occurs to Tyler that, though Jamie - and the team - have sent him things with their scent, he hasn't returned the favour.
The next day, when he gets in from training, Tyler digs out one of the delivery cartons and spends a productive hour sorting out clothes and soft furnishings. He picks a clean t-shirt to sleep in the night before he posts it so it will have the freshest scent.
He wants it to be there when Jamie gets back from Tampa so he doesn't have to face an empty house again without something of Tyler's there for him.
Even though it’s late when Jamie gets in, he calls Tyler straight away to thank him and it feels as though they’re getting back to normal. Or as much as they can be more than a thousand miles apart.
The next day, the Stars get shut-out against Tampa for the second game in a row and Tyler is a little anxious about Jamie’s mood when he calls. He had debated just going to bed so they could have the conversation in the morning when he’d had time to cool off but he needs to know that Jamie meant his apology.
Jamie texts to say he’ll call when he gets in but he takes so long Tyler actually starts to worry something had happened on the way home. He’s almost decided to call Jamie himself when his phone finally rings.
“Is everything okay?” he asks with some trepidation.
“Everything’s fine,” Jamie says, sounding confused. Then “I didn’t mean to make you worry. I’ve just been sat out on the deck until I knew I wasn’t going to take my mood out on you.”
Tyler wishes Jamie would’ve at least texted to let him know he was home safe but he couldn’t bring himself to complain when Jamie had so clearly taken to heart his previous mistake and really wouldn’t do it again.
The morning after Tyler wakes up feeling shivery. He stumbles into the kitchen to make breakfast, then back out again overwhelmed by the scent of the food in the fridge. He checks his app, which confirms his heat isn't due for another couple of weeks, but he doesn't think he's mistaken, though he does a quick Covid test to be on the safe side.
Looking back, he should've spotted the signs - he's been nesting the last couple of days, building up a pile of cushions and blankets on the couch and all the things Jamie has sent with his scent on them around the bed.
Tyler calls Matt to cancel his training for the next couple of days. Matt offers to call someone for him - a service alpha if he wants but Tyler knows it won't help if it's not a familiar scent.
Matt also reminds him that the apartment building has a heat/rut pet sitting service. Back in Dallas it isn't a problem to let the dogs out between each wave of the heat, but Tyler definitely shouldn't be walking Marshall out the building in this state. While he's still relatively steady, he calls down to reception to make arrangements and a short while afterwards, a young beta woman comes to collect Marshall until he's through the heat.
When the buzzer goes an hour later, Tyler is confused but it turns out to be delivery from his favourite cheat-day restaurant, with a note from Matt telling him to take it easy.
Tyler sleeps through most of the day, wakes mid-afternoon with a bad taste in his mouth. He has a bunch of messages from Jamie - he probably should've told him that he'd cancelled training, that his heat's started early, but it had all been too much. Now his fingers shake as he tries to text, eyes aching at the brightness of the screen, and he's glad of the autocorrect or Jamie would be thinking he's drunk.
It sucks, going through a heat alone in Toronto. It's hard enough without his alpha but without any company is worse. Jamie calls him, stays on the phone with him as much as he can be.
"Tell me what you need?" Jamie asks, but Tyler is too far along to be reasonable.
"Need you, alpha," he whines.
Jamie makes a pained sound. "I wish I could be there, Ty-baby. Can you- Do you have your toys with you?"
"Uh-huh," Even though Tyler hadn't been expecting his heat, he'd known he wouldn't want to go months without getting fucked and he obviously wasn't going to be hooking up.
"Have you got it out now?"
It's on the nightstand but that feels so far away now. "I can't reach," he says, pitifully.
Jamie's usually the least bossy alpha out there but Tyler appreciates that he can use his captain voice when needed. "Tyler, I need you to get it now," he says.
Tyler sits up sharply, caught in the need to please his alpha, even though he can't see him. He grabs the dildo and settles back into the nest of his blankets. He feels empty, slick starting to leak out of him but his hands feel clumsy as he tries to push the toy in.
"What are you doing?" Jamie asks, as the silence stretches out. "Have you got it?"
"Yes," Tyler forces himself to gasp out. "But I can't get it in right."
There's a moment's silence on the line, and Tyler hopes Jamie's feeling as frustrated as he is by the distance between them. "Take it easy. I know you need something in you but you know it'll feel better if you take it slowly."
Tyler knows Jamie's right but, without the alpha here with him, it's a struggle to take his time. He wishes he'd been able to convince Jamie to get the one with the app so he could control the pace. Instead he's impatient, going faster than Jamie would in person but if he doesn't get to have Jamie's calming scent then at least he can get what he needs as soon as possible.
"Alpha?" Tyler pleads and Jamie knows him well enough to know what he wants.
"Are you ready for the knot?”
Tyler's absolutely ready. Except it's not as satisfying without the alpha pheromones and he can already tell the next wave is going to come sooner than he would like.
Jamie's still on the phone when Tyler comes back to himself. "Are you with me now? How're you feeling? Hungry? Thirsty?"
He encourages Tyler until he gets up, talks him through getting himself food and water - "You need to eat" - and encourages him to take a shower. "I can stay on the line if you need me but I should go check on the dogs and it'd probably be a good idea to put our phones on charge".
Tyler reluctantly agrees and, even though he finds himself missing Jamie's steady reassuring tone in his ear, he does feel better after a quick shower and it's good to know that his fur babies are being looked after.
Tyler gets a couple of hours recovery time, fills up his hot water bottle to help with the cramps while Jamie keeps talking.
They make it through another wave. The knotting dildo helps but it's still not as satisfying as having his alpha actually with him would be and the artificial scent of the slick it uses to imitate alpha come is cloying.
Tyler has a restless few hours of sleep, wakes up reaching out for Jamie only to remember he's in Toronto and Jamie's still in Dallas. It's stupid early in the morning and Tyler knows the Stars have a game the next night so Jamie needs to get enough sleep so he resists calling him.
By the time Jamie's up and calls himself, Tyler's most of the way through another wave. It was much harder on his own - back in Boston, before he had an alpha, he used to end up ass sore and wrist aching before his heat finally broke as he could never bring himself to take his time, finding it hard to focus on anything other than getting filled.
Jamie heads out to morning skate while Tyler manages to eat some breakfast - well, he drinks a smoothie at least - take a shower, and shuffle some of the bedding in his nest around so he doesn't have to lay in the damp patch.
By the time Jamie calls him on his way back from practice, Tyler's just starting to feel the next wave rising up through him. "How're you doing?" Jamie asks.
"Missing you," Tyler says. Even though he knows Jamie can't see it, he still pouts. "But I'm fine, I promise."
He lets Jamie hang up, works himself up for the time it takes Jamie to get home.
By the time Jamie calls him back, Tyler's on edge, barely hanging on. He practically slams in the dildo as soon as he hears Jamie's voice, desperate to be filled.
Jamie tries to get him to slow down, to relax and take his time, but without the alpha's physical presence, the heat has too strong a grip on Tyler for him to be able to follow Jamie's instructions to "Take it easy."
Jamie doesn't give up though, gently coaxing Tyler as he rides the crest of the wave. Even at his most delirious moment, just the sound of Jamie’s voice is reassuring, reminding Tyler that his alpha does care about him despite his physical absence.
Having Jamie on the other end of the line is better than nothing but Tyler aches for actual physical touch. His skin feels too tight, nerves strained by managing on his own for weeks already.
Still, Tyler twists the dildo and the girth of its artificial knot fills him, the heat-urgency releasing its grip as he's finally sated.
After that wave has passed and Tyler's cleaned himself up, they get most of the afternoon to hang out together on the phone. It isn't the same as being in person but it still feels good to bask in his alpha's attention while Tyler's feeling like this. But the Stars still have a game. Jamie makes sure Tyler's comfortable before he leaves, as late as he dares. "I'll check his phone after warm-ups and at both intermissions," Jamie tells Tyler. "Promise me you'll let me know if you can't manage and I'll leave the game."
Tyler tells him he will but he knows he won't. Tyler's managed his heat while Jamie's been at a game before so he's sure it'll be fine.
It isn't fine. Tyler's used to having Jamie's scent around him in this situation but the team needs Jamie. The only advantage of the dildo is that he can get knotted for as long as he wants, without having to wait for Jamie to recover but it's still not as good.
Then, when that wave of heat breaks, it really sinks in that he's on his own. He hadn't realised how much Jamie was helping until he had to manage without it. He's suddenly cold, which is a bad thing during heat and he wraps himself in all the blankets he can find. He knows he wouldn't be able to focus enough to watch the game but he puts on the radio just so he can hear them mention Jamie and know that he's okay.
Tyler loses track of time. Maybe he naps but he doesn't feel especially rested when he wakes up sweating. The sheets are soaked through with slick already and, even though Tyler thinks he's probably over the deepest peak of his heat, he still aches for more.
It's a slower build up now, less desperation and more eagerness. Tyler strokes himself, takes the time to work himself up. His rim is a little tender as he fingers himself slowly, thinking of taking Jamie, even though he knows he's only going to get a toy again.
Jamie sounds out of breath when he calls Tyler again after the game. Tyler is so horny he doesn't even wait to ask how the game went, just jumps straight into telling Jamie how wet he is.
"I'm driving," Jamie tells him, a note of desperation in his voice. "I'll be home in twenty minutes. Please, Tyler, baby, I don't need the distraction. You're alright?"
Tyler whines. He can't find the words to tell his alpha that he's not alright. It hurts to hear Jamie call him a distraction, even though the logical part of his brain tells him that driving's important, that Jamie needs to be safe.
"I promise, Tyler," Jamie tells him. "I'll be as quick as I can."
It feels like forever waiting but Tyler can see that only minutes have passed before his phone rings again. Before Tyler can do more than say hi, Jamie tells him, "I'm home, Ty, just gotta let the dogs out and then I'll be there for you."
At any other time Tyler would be glad Jamie is taking care of his dog-babies, but right now he wants to cry at his alpha putting him off again, especially as Jamie very definitely isn't going to be 'here' where he needs him.
Tyler doesn't remember much of that wave, just begging for something he can't have, and even Jamie's voice doesn't comfort him as it had before.
He sleeps fitfully and wakes in the early hours of the morning, wet and ready to go again but Tyler can tell this is the last of it and he's ready to sleep for 12 hours and then eat his weight in sushi.
Although Jamie must be even more tired than Tyler, his tone is calm and gentle as he guides him through taking one final knot. Jamie’s seen him through enough of Tyler's heats over the years that he doesn’t need Tyler to tell him he’s done - they never last longer than three days even when they're apart - so Tyler just lets himself drop into a deep sleep confident that Jamie will be fine.
It takes a few days to get back up to speed with his exercises again post-heat but Tyler is actually starting to do real exercises now, it feels less like learning how to do everything from scratch and more like coming back from a regular injury, having to work carefully and slowly so as not to overdo it. Without the break for his heat, Tyler might not have realised how much progress he'd actually made but he's started to feel hopeful again.
When Jamie gets a game misconduct against Columbus, Tyler knows he needs to be home as soon as possible. Tyler pushes as hard as he can in physio and finally it seems as though he’s making good progress. He’s nowhere near back to full health but close enough that Matt starts talking about handing his rehab back to the team’s ATs.
Tyler’s delighted to be a step closer to being back on the team but Jamie’s outlook is less positive. The Stars are out of a playoff spot and they can't seem to put a winning streak together. It's all they can do to break up their losing streaks with occasional wins. Barely having any fans at home games, and playing some away games in completely empty arenas, is taking its toll as is the isolation. They can't build team chemistry when they're forced to spend as little time as possible together - briefings happening in as small groups as possible.
After spending so long together in close quarters in the Edmonton bubble, it feels like being torn apart. Jamie tells Tyler how they're swapping hoodies between linemates just to have something of each other's scent around. Tyler wishes he had any of their teammates' scent around him. Jamie's is great but it's lonely, especially when he can smell the edge of Jamie's unhappiness on it. He messages Rads, Klinger, even Pavelski, trying to build chemistry but, though they do respond, he feels like he's being a distraction.
Tyler's still included in the leadership group chat - mostly because the others know Jamie won't ignore him even when things are going badly - and he tries to stay involved in their conversations but it's hard when he's not on the ice with them to see what's going wrong.
He wants to be there for their rookies but, though he offers advice in the group chat, Robo’s the only one who takes him up on it.
Tyler longs to be back together with his alpha and so, as soon as he’s cleared for on-ice activities, he heads back to Dallas. Knowing they need to keep their distance in public, Tyler gets a taxi from the airport. Maybe it's careless, but he's grateful for Texas' lax quarantine rules as it means as soon as he gets in he can be in Jamie's arms after two months of missing each other.
Jamie's scent hits him as soon as he opens the door and Tyler feels weak at the knees. He'd thought he'd been coping with the clothes and blankets Jamie sent him but even in Jamie's absence, the strength of his scent is almost overwhelming. Tyler immediately knows that he's home.
Cash and Gerry rush to greet him and Tyler spends so long petting them and Marshall that he barely has enough time to put his bags in the bedroom and dump his laundry into the basket before he hears Jamie's car in the driveway. He thinks about heading down to meet him at the door but honestly this is the room he wants Jamie in so he continues to unpack until Jamie arrives, and sweeps him into his arms.
Tyler takes deep breaths of Jamie's scent, nose pressed into his alpha's neck. When they finally break apart, Jamie shakes his head at Tyler, though the wide smile on his face gives lie to his pretence at disappointment. “You should’ve told me you were getting back today,” Jamie tells him. “I would’ve picked you up at the airport.”
“But then we wouldn’t have been able to do this,” Tyler said. He shifts his weight, tipping him and Jamie both back onto the bed. It’s a relief to be able to do so without pain and Tyler relishes it.
Jamie holds himself up over Tyler, his expression showing his concern. “Can you? Are you sure?”
"I promise," Tyler reassures him, "I'm healed enough for this. Come here."
Jamie presses his weight down over Tyler for a few moments then pulls back to carefully peel Tyler out of his clothes, examining his now fading surgery scars, scenting him at his armpit and groin. Tyler knows its his alpha instincts checking in and he doesn't object.
Tyler might have missed Jamie but he isn't up for anything more physically demanding so they just cuddle, Tyler as the little spoon and the dogs on the bed too. More than the comforting scent of his alpha, or the familiar sounds and smells of Dallas, Tyler has truly missed just having Jamie's strong arms tight around him. Here Tyler's finally home.
Now with Jamie close by, Tyler finds the last of his rehab less challenging. There's something to be said for the restorative power of alpha cuddles. He's still not ready to practise with the team but that means he gets to hang out with the taxi squad, getting to know the guys there who might be up with the big team next season or the one after; he gives Robo rides and advice, generally finds any way he can to spend time with the guys.
Jamie seems more relaxed too, though whether that's Tyler's presence or just the knowledge that the end of this difficult season is finally approaching. They aren't allowed to host any social events but they can meet up outside so Tyler meets up with people at the dog park or on the golf course.
Even though he's not ready to play, Tyler starts travelling with them to games so at least he can help Jamie out on the plane. The first time he boards the plane he gets a round of applause and general catcalling.
He takes a bow. "Good to know you've missed me." In the locker room he probably would've got tape balls and dirty socks thrown at him for that but here they can only chirp.
He sits down next to Jamie, grateful they're allowed to do so, the social distancing rules waived when they literally sleep in the same bed.
It feels so normal, as though those long weeks in Toronto were just a dream.
It's still hard, watching games from the press box, knowing he's so close to being able to play but not quite there.
Then finally he's back on the roster. The scent of the locker room is almost overwhelming, familiar and yet he's been missing it for so long. Seven months since he'd last played and his stomach twists but Jamie's at his side and he knows the team's got his back.
Tyler isn't sure if he's sad he's not going to get to play any home games or relieved that he doesn't have to face the extra pressure of a home crowd.
When his skates hit the ice, none of it matters, it still feels like coming home.
Tyler knows the coaching staff have low expectations for his first game back - Bones already pulled him aside to assure him they would give him as much time as he needed - but he has a good game and he even scores the goal which gets them to overtime. Okay, they still lose, and it doesn't look like they're going to make the playoffs, but he's back.
He gets a round of back-pats from the guys in the locker room after and it feels good to be back surrounded by friends. He has months of missing the physical comfort of the team to make up for.
They still have to sit on different rows on the team coach but, over his mask, Jamie gives him a promising look.
As Tyler bolts their hotel room door behind them, Jamie grabs his wrist, not letting Tyler out of his reach. "I think I promised you a reward."
Tyler isn't going to turn that down. Jamie carefully strips Tyler, not allowing him to return the favour, and pushes him down onto the bed.
He teases Tyler, pressing kisses over every part of him, especially his surgery scars, and hockey bruises, until Tyler is desperate for more. "Come on, Jamie, alpha," he begs and Jamie pulls back enough to kick his pants off, freeing his thick cock.
Tyler licks his lips eagerly, relaxes as Jamie presses his cock against them, taking him in as deep as he can. Jamie has his fingers in Tyler's hair - not pulling or controlling but just gently present as Tyler sucks him to full hardness.
Tyler whimpers when Jamie pulls away again but relaxes when he realises Jamie's only shifting position so they can rut against each other. Tyler loves the feeling of Jamie's big hard cock pressed against his own, Jamie's weight pinning him.
Jamie is leaking enough pre-come to ease the friction between them and, as much as Tyler wishes Jamie would fuck him, he knows this is the sensible option.
Tyler feels it when Jamie's cock twitches against him, when the gentle nips to his neck and collarbone turn into a bite which he can tell will be visible in the morning. He pushes against Jamie's weight, wriggling to encourage his alpha to hold him down, revelling in the feeling of actually being here with him after so long.
It doesn't take long until Jamie spills over him but he doesn't stop rutting against Tyler until Tyler feels his own release rising up through him. He knows he's a mess but there's something deeply satisfying in being covered in the mix of their come, knowing he smells like both of them. Tyler doesn't ever want to move - he could stay here scenting and being scented by Jamie for ever. When he tells Jamie as much, Jamie growls possessively and shifts his weight to spread the mess more thoroughly between them.
Except then Jamie's stomach rumbles followed by his own and they laugh and order room service together and clean up while they're waiting for it. It doesn't matter what happens with their season, or the future, they have each other.