Pitch Fanfiction: “The Pact”
I wrote this more like an epsiode. This is taken place after 2 months after Ginny’s Injury. After epsiode 1x10.
It was 6 am and Ginny was already up. It's hard to sleep given what today is. She hopped into a shower. She then threw on her bra, pair of leggings, a tank, and sweatshirt. She pulled her hair through her baseball cap and placed her headphones on. Baker left her hotel room for the stadium before most people got up. The clubhouse was quiet. It reminded her of when she first started at the Padres.
Ginny began with a warmup and stretched when Mike came in with two coffees.
“Please, hurt yourself before you even get back on the mound”, Mike teased. “Aww. Miss me already?”, Ginny teased back. She got up and went to grab a coffee when Mike slid it away. “What makes you think this for you? This for the doc, you need all the help you can”, he said. “Very funny. I really wouldn’t want to pitch if a mocha was the deciding factor”. All fun and games faded from Baker’s smile as when she remembered. Mike saw it, the fear.
“What if I’m not better? What if I can’t pitch?”, Ginny panicked. She put her hands on her forehead trying to focus her reality. “Look at me, Baker”, Mike said. Ginny turned around and got ready for a speech. “I’ve seen injuries and the worst thing you can do is doubt yourself. You made it through surgery, you made it through recovery, you can make it through this, but only if you keep your eye on the ball”, Mike explained. “You and you’re freaking speeches”, Ginny said. They shared a laugh and then hugged. “Seriously when those old kneecaps give out you should take up motivational speaking. “I’m sorry who is getting a physical test today”, Mike said. They shook hands and began to prep. Today Baker was being tested to see if she’s physically fit to pitch in the next game, the wildcard game.
The doctor came in along with Al and Oscar for the physical. There was running and weights and all the things the puts pitching together. Oscar ran out of nail to biteby the time they were ready to pitch. Mike set up at the backboard. He and Ginny looked eyes. She breathed according to his glare. It’s the same glare he gave her when Ginny had to go into surgery. The glare said, “Don’t worry”.
Ever since Ginny’s injury, Mike has been there. Probably for the first time in his life he was there for someone fully. Mike and Rachel didn’t end well. After their one night stand, Rachel went back to her fiance. She told him that it was a flunk, and that she was searching for something familiar, not forever. Usually Mike would find himself in a bender of booze and attention, but nothing seemed to matter when his friend was hurt.
Ginny stared down the line of the bullpen. She focused on the call sign. She started with a combo of fastballs. It was impressive enough when her fastball topped out in the high 80s, but with rehab and refined technique, Baker has reached the 90s. Fastballs weren’t the problem. When Mike called for her screwball, Ginny swallowed. She remembered the pain from her fingertips through her shoulder from that day. She remembered how Blip and Mike had to help her walk off the field because it was too painful. She remembered the one less inning that could have made history. Her chest started to tighten and her throat became sore. So she closed her eyes. Ginny held onto the ball. She felt in the stitches and the curves. She focused her two fingers and held on. As she opened her eyes heard clapping in the background. She saw her teammates cheering on, even the new rookies she hasn’t met. Ginny flared her nostrils and looked at Mike. She gave him a nod and went into a wind up……. One, two, three. She threw 5 strikes before the doctor called it. She had one more private physical before final word. Ginny bid her teammates goodbye for a bit. The doctor and Ginny went to the physical therapy room to finish up.
“Okay everything is looking good. I’m just going to examine your shoulders and back. Just tell me if you feel any pain”, said the doctor. Ginny lied on her stomach as the doctor worked her muscles. “Seems you have a lot of support”, said the doctor. “Um yeah”, said Ginny. “It’s a key to recovery especially considering”. “Considering what?”, Ginny asked. “Most of my patients, even the athletes don’t have the recovery time you do. Not to mention a very starting date”, the doctor said. “I don’t feel any pain”, Ginny said to appease the doctor. “That’s good. Could you sit up? Lift your arms in front of your hands”. Ginny did that and the doctor scratched down some notes. “Any tingling in the fingertips?” “No. I feel good”.
“I know you’re scared, but we want you to be better. Do you have support outside of work?”, she asked. “What do you mean?”, Ginny asked. “Here you have PT, managers, and teammates. But outside do you have family, friends?” That was a loaded question. Her mom and brother stood by her through the surgery. Evelyn and Blip practically adopted her and Mike…..well. She knows she has people, but sometimes when she goes home to her hotel, she can’t help but feel like a burden.
“Yeah I have friends. I have support”, Ginny said. “Your pain response is good. Your arm looks good and you have a good support system”, the doctor began. Ginny’s face lit up as the doctor began to speak. “And because your scans showed repair. I’m clearing you to pitch with a required physical after your first game. You still had a rushed recovery time so we will revisit after the game”, said the doctor. Ginny was already a glowing star because she was pitching in the wild card game. She went to the clubhouse where they all were waiting. As she entered the room, everyone had their eyes on her. She was quiet for a second. “What are you all looking at? We have a game to win”.
* * *
Ginny was staying with Evelyn and the kids. Blip was hanging out with the guys after watching the kids all week. After Evelyn lost the restaurant, Blip and Evelyn decided that they needed to be each other in their marriage. Evelyn had started going back to school and Blip started being home. Actually Ginny helped watch the kids as they went to couples therapy. Even Mike helped out.
“I’m just saying I know that your minors gutter years were bad, but I would trade it all for never seeing a reference page again”, Evelyn said. “But are you happy with going back? With no having another kid”, Ginny asked. “I am. It’s the most me I’ve felt in awhile. I don’t regret being there for Blip, but I regret not being there for me. Can't just keep living away your pride because there will be none left when you need it”.
“Yeah I feel that sometimes”. Ginny played with her popcorn while Evelyn nestled with her wine. Evelyn looked at Ginny waiting for more explanation. “Before the injury, it just felt like I had to be Ginny Baker for everyone. For every little girl that wanted to play professional sports. I think being injured helps reset more than my arm. I feel like I can breath”, Ginny explained. “Speaking of resetting. Have you spoken to Amelia?” Ginny rolled her eyes at Evelyn’s prying. “You don’t even like her!”, Ginny said. “Hey, she kept from getting into a con deal. Does it have boundary issues? Yes. Was she good at her job? Notice how the press didn’t watch you during surgery. Amelia scared them off from across the country, I’m just saying”, Evelyn explained. “I didn’t know that”. Amelia left San Diego after her and Ginny fought. She returned back east to New York. She hasn’t taken any clients since, not that she hasn’t had beggars.
“Maybe it’s time to bury the hatchet”. Ginny did owe a lot to Amelia and things have changed. “I’ll think about it”, Ginny said. The doorbell rang. “Pizza!” Ginny got up and went to the door to pay for the pizza. She opened the door and there was a camera flash coming at her face. A photographer tried getting inside. Ginny closed the door and locked it. “Okay I’ll call her later”, said Ginny.
* * *
Today is the day. Today the Padres have the chance to make history by making it into the World Series. Everyone was in the clubhouse by sunrise. Oscar probably never left the stadium. Not only being in a wildcard game, but it also being at home puts the pressure on. Ginny was pitching in the bullpen when Duartve came in to catch. “Welcome back, mami”, he said while gearing up. “Good to be back”, Ginny said. “Let’s see what you can do”. Duarte setup for the pitch. Ginny went into the windup and let out the pitch. “Wow. Looks like someone found a fastball”, he said. “Really?” “No. But it’s better”. Ginny sarcastically laughed the very back hand compliment as she finished her warmup. “Are you catching today?”, Ginny asked. “Relax. Wouldn’t want to break but the Bawson dream team”. “Bawson? Did you come with that all by yourself?” Ginny asked. “It’s what all the blogs are calling your guys”. “Oh, great”. Ginny and Duarte go back to the clubhouse. Ginny went and checked her phone in her dressing room. Amelia had texted her back:
I’ll be in town tomorrow for business. We can grab lunch.
Ginny put her phone away and focused on what’s at hand. She pulled off her hat and her hair tie. She used her finger to combs through her sweaty curls. She twisted her hair into a ponytail and put it through her hand. Ginny left her dressing room and entered into hyping in the clubhouse. She greeted Blip who was chugging gatorade number five. “Be careful you’re exploding out there”, Ginny said. Blip squirt the bottle towards her as Mike joined the conversation. “Ok so where is the speech?”, said Ginny. “Believe it or not I don’t always have something to say. I’m new to this as you are a rookie”, Mike snapped. “Man, chill”, said Blip patting her friend on the back. Mike was more than worried. This probably his last chance to make it into the world series. He felt as if his entire career was flashing before his eyes. Mike got up and knocked the hair behind him. He stormed out of the clubhouse holding the attention of the room. “What’s up with him?”, Blip asked Ginny. “Nerves?”, Ginny suggested. “Uh Ginny. Sorry to break it to you, but you're the nerves wreck of the Padres. That’s something more”, Blip said. Ginny rolled her eyes and such as a comment, but accepted the truth behind it. Ginny went after Mike because his behavior was definitely not normal. She found him in a PT room with his head resting on a wall. “Mike, are you okay?”, Ginny asked in a concerned voice. Mike turned from the wall and faced Ginny. “Just needed a minute”. Mike whipped her face and put his hate back on. “Come on. Something’s bothering you”. Mike exhaled while avoiding eye contact. “It’s nothing,'' Mike said, avoiding himself. “If it’s nothing then tell me”, Ginny said. She didn't let Mike leave with whatever was going on. “This is it for me”, Mike said. Ginny looked at him, listening. “This probably my last chance to get a ring for the Padres. What if I have nothing to show for it? I mean I’ve already failed once”, Mike said. Ginny had this familiar feeling on the day of her first start. “That pit in your stomach where it feels all your hard work and potential seem to drain into, that’s everything else. That’s everyone else telling what this is to you when you need to be doing for yourself too. A great man told me that. Same one who’s led the Padres the closest it’s been to the World Series in a decade”, Ginny said. Mike smiled at Ginny’s speech. “Trying to make me feel old, rookie”, Mike joked. “Shut up and get moving. We have a game to win”. They hugged and went off to the game
* * *
The Padres and Memphis Redbird were tied in the 11th inning. Ginny was starting her 3 innings with no hits on her. SHoulder feeling good, but her stomach turned as the hitter came up to the plate. She had thrown multiple screwballs. She didn’t know what to do next. If buffing was the way to go or not, but she knew this was it. Mike called timeout and walked up to the mound. Al joined him. “You need to throw the fastball”, Mike said. “What?”, both Ginny and Al said. “This hitter will throw your screwgie, but you’ve haven’t used a fastball yet”. Ginny held her mit up to hide the extreme worry on her face. “You have to trust me”, Mike pleaded. Al nodded in agreement. Ginny, though hesitant, nodded to. She took the ball as Mike went back to setup. Ginny took in air as she went into a windup. She gripped the ball while looking at Mike. With every feeling in her arm, she threw the ball……
She didn’t hear anything. She couldn’t understand beyond the loud roar of the packed stadium. The moment when her team surrounded her, she knew. It was a 95, btw.
* * *
Celebration was an understatement. It started with an entire club being rented out, a certain musical guest, and a stolen disco ball. Most of the night is probably a flip book on social media and the morning news. At some point, it was utterly stupid to stay out. Mike and Ginny had tossed Blip into a cab and notified Evelyn of the incoming comatose package. “Are you gonna grab a cab?”, Mike asked. “I’m just gonna walk. The hotel is not far”, Ginny said. “You really need to get an apartment”, Mike said. “I like living near the stadium plus you never know when you’ll get traded”, Ginny said in her slightly tipsed state. “I think you’re safe for now. Come on, I’ll walk you home”.
The walk home definitely seemed a lot more fun when tipsy and winner. Ginny invited Mike up for a drink after they got to the hotel. They got to Ginny’s room. She dropped her jacket on the chair and went to grab drinks. “Water”, Mike said. “Got it”. Mike has been at Ginny’s place before, but something felt different. Maybe because they were alone, maybe because it was reaching the early morning hours, or maybe it was the way he noticed her fall onto her shoulder when she took out her hair tie. She handed him a bottle of water. “That call you made about the fastball, genius. I sure as hell didn’t think it would work, but you did”, Ginny said. Her drunkenness was definitely a factor in her sharing and the beer in her hand wasn’t helping. “It’s my job”, he said without any ego attached. “Hey I want to ask you a question. Before the game you said, you already failed once. What did you mean?”, Ginny asked. “It’s nothing really”, Mike deflected again. “Then tell me”. He took a large sip of his water as if it was liquid courage. He wouldn’t look at Ginny. He couldn’t look at her and lied. She took a sit on the couch next to him making it harder for him to deflect. Then he looked at her. “Your arm. That game. Before your injury, Al and Oscar asked if I should shut you down and I said know. Somehow Blip knew. He knew you’d push yourself too far, but I encouraged it”, Mike admitted. Ginny put the bottle down on the table, probably showing she was serious. “There was nothing you could do”, Ginny said. “But I”- “There was nothing you did”, Ginny interrupted. She looked Mike in the eyes to emphasize her point. “Look, I may be a rookie, but I’m not a kid. Even if you needed to shut me down I would have found a way to pitch. It was my choice, not your fault”, Ginny explained. There was something different about being there. Ginny leaned towards Mike and they kissed. Starting with a peck, it got deeper. Mike held onto Ginny’s waist as she pushed his jacket off. They fell back onto the couch. At first they laughed and continued making out. A second passed when something felt different to Mike. He slowly pulled away from Ginny. She seemed concerned and then uncomfortable. “Sorry”, he said sitting up. “Um. It’s fine I get it”, Ginny said scurrying to get up. She felt her embarrassment flush in her stomach with disgust for both herself and Mike, but mostly what just happened. “Ginny, wait”.
“There’s nothing to wait for”, Ginny said standing up from the couch. “Would just listen to me for a second?”, Mike snapped. Ginny stood still and looked at him. “I don’t know what that was, but I know that wasn’t insignificant”, Mike began. Ginny crossed her arms while feeling a little naked from what nearly happened. “That didn’t feel casual and right now, that can’t happen”, Mike said with fear in his eyes. “What are you talking about?”, GInny said. “You’ve always been bigger than the game and right now, we are bigger than just us. I’ve been working for the chance at the World Series for forever and so have the Padres. I don’t want to ruin those chances or our relationship”, Mike explained. Ginny understood where he was coming from. Their pairing in public or private would present challenges, but the familiar of a guy trying to protect her didn’t sit well. “I get that and I want to win. It’s literally what my life has been, but living for someone or something else without thinking of yourself isn’t a way to live”, Ginny said. “Okay, you really need to stop with”.
“I thought you loved hearing your words”, Ginny teased. Mike laughed. Ginny sat down on the table across from Mike. “How about this? We got out, we won, and if we find ourselves in this position again. We let go?”, Ginny said. Mike looked at Ginny and nodded. He knew something was different and he knew as he hugged Ginny goodbye. It was different because it meant something, but felt different from when he met his ex-wife. They let go of each other and stood up. “I should go”. Mike grabbed his jacket and Ginny walked him towards the door. For a second they held hands, but let go as Mike opened the door. As he opened the door, Amelia stood in the hallway.
Tell me if you guys want me to continue this storyline. Let me know what you think about int comments.
