Title: Whats On Second

Time frame: 2 season after the episode "Train of Thought"

Summery: An accident while playing a charity softball game lands Ralph in the hospital where he witnesses a murder. Just two problems, 1. no one believes him, 2. now the killer is after him.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original GAH characters, I am just taking them out to play. The plot is mine though. Thanks to my beta's you know who you are. ;)

I like reviews so please tell me what you think...

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Chapter 1

It was Saturday afternoon, one of those warm days that southern California was famous for and it was perfect for a game of softball. At least that was the opinion of the spectators and players at Whitney High's annual charity softball game, with all the proceeds from ticket and snack sales going to a local charity.

Every year different classes and campus clubs signed up for the chance to compete in the event then the students voted which team would represent the school. This year, Ralph Hinkley's class signed up and won the popular vote, much to Mr. Knight's annoyance.

The principal at first balked at the idea, not wanting a bunch of "hoodlums" representing the school body in the yearly event. He finally relented when Ralph convinced the man that if his class played, then he'd play. After thinking over it, the principal realized the two combined would most likely sell more tickets, partially because of Ralph's playing with the California Stars earlier in the school year.

Ralph's class was excited when they heard the news as they felt it was their duty to take their teacher down a few notches after his 15 minutes of fame. It was also one of the few times Ralph noticed that all the students worked together on things from start to finish- both on and off the field. ...

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"Welcome back to today's game, It is the bottom of the ninth and the teachers are up to bat with two outs," the sports announcer stated over the PA system, bringing everyone's attention back to the game after a brief time out as Cyler came to the pitcher's mound and Tony took his spot in the catcher's position. The other students took their positions on the field, hoping they could stop the teachers from breaking the tie.

The announcer continued his play-by-play commentary. "Hinkley is stepping up to plate. So far this game Hinkley has held up well with a base hit in the last inning that drove in the point that tied the game...and Cyler sets…first pitch…outside… ball one… What a game ladies and gentlemen, it has been a tense one…the ball is thrown….Hinkley swings… and a miss…the count is now 1 and 1."

The cheers from the stands drowned out the commentator, who after a few seconds continued. "Hinkley steps back to the plate again… Here's the wind up and the pitch... low outside corner…strike...good throw."

"Aww C'mon ump," Bill Maxwell stood and shouted from the stands, earning him several glares. "You need your eyes examined."

Pam Davidson reached over pulling Bill back to his seat. "Bill would you sit and watch the game? The umpire's already threatened to throw you out of the stadium because you're being annoying."

"C'mon Counselor that was clearly a ball," Bill protested turning his focus back just as the pitcher released the ball.

"And Hinkley swings…There she goes folks, ground ball out to center. Hinkley runs Paco picks up the ball and throws…Hinkley rounds first heading to second, Oooh Paco overthrows. That error could be costly to the students…."

"Go Ralph, go," Pam and Bill stood cheering the man on as he headed to third, the rest of the crowd stood to their feet as Ralph rounded third.

The announcer - a student at Whitney - was even cheering as he reported the game. "Here comes Hinkley down the third base line…And the man at first throws…It's going to be close…Villacana is blocking home and catch…Ohh that has gotta hurt... Hinkley and Villacana have collided…."

"Ralph..." Pam shouted as she watched Ralph collide head on into Villacana and both fell to the ground. When neither of the players moved after the collision, Pam turned towards the agent, panicked. "Bill…"

"I'm on it Counselor," Bill cut her off charging down the stands. He knew the Kid was probably OK but after Ralph's run in with the train a few weeks prior he wasn't taking any chances. He and Pam were already concerned enough with Ralph playing so soon after the accident, but after the younger man was cleared by a doctor to play, as this was a softball game, the two relented.

Pam followed the agent as Bill ran out onto the field and over to Ralph. Both where relieved when they saw the other players helping the two men to their feet.

Ralph stood up shaking his head slightly to get rid of the daze he was in. He then regretted doing so when he felt a sharp pain in his neck. Rubbing the back of his neck trying to ease the stiffness, he heard Tony talking to him.

"You OK Mr. H…I'm real sorry…" Tony started to apologize. Ralph nodded his head placing a hand on Tony's shoulder. "It's all right Tony. I should have swerved rather than dove."

"Uh yeah... I guess," Tony looked at his teacher confused then saw Bill approaching with Pam close behind.

"Hey Villacana!!" The agent growled standing next to his partner, frowning slightly when Ralph rubbed his neck again. "This is baseball, not wrestling. No reason to clothesline the teach here."

Though concerned for his teacher, Tony scoffed at Bill's remark. "Well, I didn't see you playing here pops... just trying to get the ump to toss you out from being a grump."

"'Course I'm a grump when the ump tries to throw the game in you're favor..."

"Hey, you're so blind you can't see the broadside of a..."

"OK, OK will you two stop," Ralph stepped between the student and agent. Then rubbed his head not sure which was causing his headache the two men bickering or the collision with Tony.

"Ralph, you OK?" Pam asked worried placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah..." Ralph nodded

"How do you feel?"

"Like I hit the train," Ralph answered firmly. Pam looked at Tony recognizing the reference to the suit and nervously chuckled before turning back. "Ralph unless the Union Pacific railroad crosses through here, or Tony's turned into a train, that didn't happen," she said with a smile, but hinting what Ralph said.

"Oh yeah..." Ralph said feeling disoriented and looked at the three.

Bill continued. "I tell you Kid, I never thought I'd live to see you bowl over Villacana like a steam engine," he said, and chuckled when Tony rolled his eyes.

Ralph shrugged at the statement. "Better than running into one... did I?" He finished looking over at his friend feeling lightheaded and like he was seeing and hearing everything from far off.

The three looked at Ralph confused by his question, but Bill answered. "No, you played bumper cars with Villacana here."

"Oh…" Ralph replied as if slightly distracted. He frowned, as he still felt lightheaded. "Did we win?"

Bill rolled his eyes "Yeah...Ralph… you won."

"Good," Ralph nodded looking at the ground. Hearing Ralph's response, Bill was really confused by the line of questioning. Though Ralph probably did not know the score, he should have known that he scored the winning run as the two teams were in a tie. "Uh Ralph you feeling OK Kid? All the trains in the station?" he asked, taking a step toward his friend.

Ralph turned to reply, the sudden movement sent him off balance and he staggered to his left before the dizziness increased and everything grew dark.

Pam, seeing Ralph pale and stagger as he turned tried to steady him. She then felt his knees buckle and tried to hold him up before Bill quickly stepped in, easing his friend to the ground.

"Hey, Mr. H, you won no reason to get all melodramatic..." Tony chuckled then stopped when Pam shot him a glare as she kneeled next to Ralph, taking a closer look at the man.

"Ralph?" said Pam, shaking Ralph's shoulder. When she did not get a response, she lifted an eyelid, frowning at what she saw. "Tony, he's really out cold..."

"What?" Tony said, leaning over to look at his teacher, he paled when he saw she was right. "He ain't fooling'."

Bill knelt next to his friend then looked at the teen, frowning in slight annoyance. "No, he ain't Villacana, now make your self useful call an ambulance."

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The emergency room at UCLA Medical Center was exceptionally busy for the afternoon. And all the activity could be heard through the half-opened door of the exam room where Ralph sat on the edge of the exam table while a doctor examined him.

Ralph had regained consciousness just as the ambulance arrived, but to his chagrin, his two friends still insisted on the trip. "Just to make sure your egghead isn't scrambled" the older agent had stated.

Ralph frowned at the memory. Yeah I'll scramble his eggs, I hate hospitals, Ralph grumbled to himself as Dr. Mac Reynolds, the doctor assigned to him, stepped back from the table jotting notes on a clipboard before continuing his examination. Bill stood leaning against the wall, and was watching Ralph being treated – much to the younger man's disdain. Off to the side Pam was sitting in one of the chairs nearby.

"This is your fault Bill you know that don't you," said Ralph glaring at the agent as best as he could while being examined.

"My fault," Bill protested from his spot. "Hey I'm not the one who decided to play Sleeping Beauty."

"And I told you..." Ralph brushed off the Dr. Mac Reynolds efforts to keep him calm, and looked at Bill. "...I was fine when I woke up." He rubbed his forehead then continued. "And I'm only here, instead of celebrating our victory with a beer and pizza, because you insisted on this little visit."

Bill glared, realizing that Ralph was forgetting - or ignoring - another part of the scenario. "The Counselor insisted too you know…"

"Oh no," Pam protested looking up from the magazine she was reading and shaking her head. "You leave me out of this one Bill…"

Ralph interrupted before Bill could speak. "He's right. I blame both of you."

The two protested and Dr. Mac Reynolds laughed to himself continuing to write. The group had been bantering since they arrived and there was no doubt the three were friends. Mac cleared his throat to get their attention.

All three looked at the doctor, and Bill was the first to talk "So Dr. Mac Reynolds what's the verdict on the Kid here …." He asked and Mac Reynolds chuckled holding up his hand.

"It's just Dr Mac, Agent Maxwell. I prefer that over the full name…it's easier to say." He smiled then continued. "Well just a few more questions then we should be done here," he said, turning back to Ralph. "Have you ever had a head injury before Mr. Hinkley? Or a recent loss of consciousness prior to your episode today?"

"No."

"Yeah you have Kid remember a few weeks ago?" Bill spoke up and received a glare from Ralph.

"Uh... yeah... I forgot. " Ralph replied only to sigh inwardly at his own statement knowing that it only made it worse.

"Uh huh," was all that Dr. Mac could say.

"I'm fine," Ralph said through clenched teeth as he shot another glare at Bill who tried to hide a smile, while Pam suddenly found an interesting article to read.

The doctor shook his head leaning closer to recheck his patient's eyes then shrugged placing the penlight in his coat pocket. "You say you're fine Mr. Hinkley, but your eyes are saying something else. I'm going to have to admit you over…" The doctor held up a hand stopping his patient from protesting. "It is just a precaution, Mr. Hinkley. Now you just lay back. One of the nurses will be in shortly with the paperwork and to take you to your room," Mac finished then left the room leaving the three friends alone.

Bill shook his head once Mac was gone. "I can't believe you weren't wearing the magic jammies Ralph,"

Ralph looked over in surprise. "The suit…Bill, it was a softball game. I was trying to play fair. Besides I can't wear that thing 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

"Might've helped," Pam let slip and smiled an apology when Ralph shot her a look that said he did not need her on his case too. Ralph breathed through his teeth in frustration. "Damn... wear the suit and get knocked out - admitted to the hospital. I don't wear the suit collide at the plate, am fine and then go out, get admitted..." Ralph threw his hands in the air looking up at the ceiling. "Why can't I win?

"You did... the teachers won 7-6 in the ballgame," Bill answered the rhetorical question.

"Bill, I know that..." Ralph groaned pinching the bridge of his nose, the headache he had before returning with a vengeance. "I hate hospitals, especially when it's just a bump on the head."

"Kid, you fell out on us, and given you had that friendly welcome with a not so friendly train a few weeks back…"

Pam jumped into the conversation when Ralph looked over at her hinting to 'please' take Bill somewhere before he did something he would later regret. "Bill why don't we go get some coffee while they admit Ralph?"
"Counselor..."
"No arguments or you're drinking that horrid herbal tea they serve," she said firmly. Pam then turned back to Ralph leaning over to give him a kiss. "We'll meet you upstairs Hun."

"Sure, see you there..." Ralph groused lying back on the bed as the other two left. "Can't miss me. I'll be in my lovely white hospital gown with the little flowers... again."