Milwaukee; a paradise
The plane landed and I took a breath of relief. I was finally away from the BAU headquarters and in one of my favorite places. I got off the plane with Reid.
"Thank you." I said, smiling.
"You're very welcome. Have fun and stay safe, ok?" he said.
I pulled him in and embraced him in a hug. "I promise," I pulled back and gave him a peck on the cheek. I turned around and walked away.
"Wait, Blaire!" Spencer shouted.
"Spence. What is it?" I asked.
"Look for Ryan & Nyjer. They are picking you up."
I gave him a nod and walked away.
Finally, It was me and my favorite things, away from the terrors of my life back home. I walked into the main exit area and looked for my ride.
Ryan and Nyjer stood out like a pink zebra. I smiled and approached the two chest bumping buddies.
"Hey, I'm Blaire," I said, being embraced in a hug.
"We know!" they both shouted, turning me around and then leaving the airport into the humid Milwaukee air.
Ryan popped the trunk of his car threw my couple bags in the back, while Nyjer and I walked around to the passenger side.
"Where are we going?" I asked. Nyjer opened the door for me and hopped in the front seat.
"Ryan's place, hotel's are too expensive, then back to the field." He offered me a fist bump. I agreed and formed a fist. He lunged his fist out, hit my fist and let his hand fly back, his fingers flaring everywhere.
"PLUSH!" Ryan shouted, "Yeah. Sorry," He said, shutting my door and opening the one behind me.
I rubbed my hand. "That kid has an arm," I said under my breath to Ryan.
"Yeah, I know!" He said, laughing back at me. I smiled and looked out the front window.
"I missed Milwaukee. I'm glad to be back!" I said.
Ryan punched my arm. "Well, Milwaukee is glad to have you back!" I rubbed my arm.
"Thanks, why do you two always punch?" I asked.
I saw Ryan and Nyjer make eye contact in the mirror and they both shrugged their shoulders.
"Okay. Well then. How far is your place from the airport?" I asked.
"Not too much longer," he said as he rounded a right corner. "Just up the street...like...right...here!" he said turning into the drive way.
"Wow," I said, dumbfounded by his house's rustic look. "You're place is super nice." I said.
He parked his car and the three of us got out. Nyjer handed me my bag.
"Thanks" I said, following Ryan into his apartment.
"Braun!" Nyjer shouted from behind us.
Ryan and I both turned around. "Yeah," He asked back.
"I'm taking my car and heading back to the field, see you there?" Ryan nodded.
"See you around!" He said, turning back to the apartment and we walked in.
"Here," he said, grabbing my stuff and walking up 3 stories with it. He dug out a key and we came onto the floor.
"Wow, this is your entire floor?" I asked, taking my bag back.
"Yeah, it's a European idea, I guess. Here, I'll show you your room." He said, walking to the left. "It's not much. But I hope it's okay," he said, opening a door and revealing a queen sized bed, draped in a gold and navy blue quit and a French vanity at the other end. The end table had a light and draw and there was a small patio on the other side of the room.
"Ryan, this will do just fine." I said looking up from the beautiful view of Milwaukee.
Our eyes met and we couldn't part. We didn't want to part looks. I closed my eyes and looked away.
"I'm going grab a few things and I'll meet you in the living room. It's right by the door where we came in."
"Okay" I said.
Ryan shut the door and I threw my bags on the bed. I dug around for some makeup. I pulled out bag filled with goodies; cover up, mascara and lip stick. My favorite look was a vintage 1940s look. I embraced the applying of cover up to make the curves of my face flow, I embraced gently letting my mascara wand graze over my eyelashes, I embraced carefully applying lipstick so vibrant it becomes the focal point on my face. I ran my fingers through my hair, grabbed my purse and left and walked to the door I came in.
"Ryan!" I yelled. He came running to me.
"I'm ready to go," he said, looking at me with a strange sparkle in his eye.
"Yeah, I am too," I said opening the door. We both casually walked down stairs, him in front. We reached the first floor, and I was floored.
"Ladies first" he said, surprising me. I never had expected a very successful and handsome athlete to be so, well, chivalrous. We exited his apartment and drive to the all-too-wonderful, Miller Park. Ryan parked in his reserved spot and we both got out. I walked behind his SUV. Ryan stopped next to me.
"Excited?" he asked me.
"Oh you bet I am!" I replied, excitement laced in my voice.
"Not many people get to see this side of me, I mean, uh, the team" he said, obviously trying to hide his mistake.
"I got you." I said, winking.
Ryan let out one of his signature sighs and walked to the park. I couldn't help but to swoon slightly. His cute sigh made me smile and his cute butt made me giggle. We walked in a secret back door to Miller park and into the locker rooms.
"Uh, Ryan. Are you sure, I can be back here?" I asked, worried I was breaking a rule and might get kicked out.
"Yeah. It's perfectly fine. Kinda. Just don't go in the showers. That's all." he said shouting over his shoulder.
I frowned and hugged my purse close to me. I highly doubt I would. But still, the fear of walking in on soapy, sweaty men paralyzed me, though I powered through the fear. Soon, I was in the changing room. I immediately covered my eyes and called for Ryan. I could hear him stop and walked towards me.
"What?" he said, trying to pull my hands from my eyes.
"I can't look." I whispered.
"Why?" he whispered back.
"Too many topless men," I said, my teeth clenched very tightly.
"So?" he replied, laughing a bit.
"They're all married." I said, grabbing his shoulders.
"Oh." he said, pulling himself upward. "Here," he said, taking my hand.
I closed my eyes. Within those 5 seconds, my mind went into a fanatical fantasy. Suddenly, all I wanted was Ryan. He pulled me to a chair outside the locker room. And all I did was sit there. I looked at the wall, plastered with past and present Brewers. After a long boring 10 minutes or so out there, head coach, Ron Ronicke walked past me.
"Uhm, can I help you miss?" I looked about for a minute.
"No?" I said, unsure of what to say.
"Okay. Let's try, why exactly are you here?" he asked again.
"Oh!" I said, laughing, "I'm a friend of Ryan's. It's a very long story why I'm here exactly." I sighed.
Ron just looked at me. He shrugged his shoulders and walked into the locker room.
"Ryan!" he yelled.
Out of the showers walked a towel wrapped, muscular boy. "Yeah?" he said.
"Who was that girl out there?" Ron asked, my associated presence with Ryan, annoying him.
"Blaire, she was in danger. My friend Spencer, you know him," Ryan said, trying to smooth things over with his coach. "I initially invited him up, but our mutual friend, Jamison's little sister was in a pickle where she wasn't safe in Quantico, so I suggested she come down instead" he said. By the end of his mini speech the locker room was staring at him. Ron shrugged his shoulders and continued about his business.
Ryan sighed and rolled his eyes.
Jonathan Lucroy approached him. "Haha, so you're babysitting?"
Ryan shrugged his shoulders. "Not...well...kinda..." he said, putting on his jersey.
"Jonathan, she's 18. So, no."
John rolled his eyes and laughed. "Babysitter."
Ryan punched John. "Be nice. Oh. And how's your little girl?" he asked, his voice mildly tender.
"She's turning two, but Lacey and I are getting a divorce. I mean. Well. It's too much for the two of us. Raising Ellia, I'm hardly ever home," John said, honesty lingering in his voice.
Ryan patted him on the back. "It's okay. I'm thankful I haven't been married. And I don't think I ever will," Ryan chuckled began to change.
I calmly sat outside of the locker room, casually texting. Suddenly, someone grabbed my shoulder. I whipped my head around, to see someone in a ski mask, grasping my arm.
"Let me go!" I yelled, struggling to get free from the suffocating grasp. They only squeezed tighter. "Let me go!" I shouted, even louder. The person still didn't let me go. Soon I was in a full on death scream, the person was getting intolerant and wacked me across my head, I flew out of the person's grasp and fell to the ground.
Out ran Ryan. He crouched down to my level and pulled my hair off my face.
"How bad is it," I gasped.
"No..Not bad," he said, his voice shaking.
He slowly, and not so steadily placed his hand on my head, where the open wound was. "Just breathe, someone is coming to clean this up."