Updating mode!
To Kitkat: No! Never giving up on this! I'll finish this 100 %! The perfect end is already written in my mind. I just need to fill out the in between. But I can assure you, this- this is really one I think about every day. But I'm afraid I need to write the end soon, 'cause my head is about to explode if I don't!
Sorry, too much me, much more fic!
Here ya go!
"Sam, Sam! Have you heard?!" Tyson said, as they came running toward him.
"Heard what?"
"Diane's on the girl's baseball team!"
"Seriously?" Sam frowned.
"Yeah! We just found out. She was talking with their coach as we walked by."
"Well, what did he say!?"
"We just heard "Congratulations, you're on the team." Something like that."
"Wow. That's great," Sam smiled.
"Oh now, here she comes!" Jenson said as he spotted Diane.
"Hi, guys," she smirked as she reached them.
"Hey, Diane," the guys sang in chorus.
Confused she turned to Sam for answers.
"They heard you talk with the coach," he murmured.
"Oh, well, then there's not much to tell then," she smiled.
"Way to go, girl! I knew you had it in you!" Jenson cheered and patted her on the shoulder. So did Tyson and Lenny.
"Apparently you did," she smiled.
"And Sam thought I'd be wrong," he scoffed.
"Yeah, yeah, blame me for being critical!"
"If it wasn't for Sam, I wouldn't have had anyone to teach me."
"Yes, you would," Lenny said.
"You're not a pitcher, Lenny," Tyson said.
"So? I could've taught her how to catch."
"Yeah, that's sounds even more exciting," Jenson murmured.
"Now, don't insult-"
"Guys, guys. I think you're taking this a bit too far," Diane said.
"Yeah, you're right. Maybe we should just leave so that you two can celebrate," Jenson said and nodded toward Sam and her.
"Again, congrats," he said and pulled the guys away.
She turned to focus on Sam, who was currently looking at the ground. But just as she laid eyes on him, he looked up and smiled widely.
"I'm very proud of you," he murmured.
"Thank you," she said.
"I couldn't have done it without you."
He chuckled.
"Yeah, I guess I succeeded, huh?"
"What do mean?"
"A found a sport for you. A sport you're pretty great at."
"You certainly did. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
"Ditto."
"It's been a pretty terrific year so far."
"It sure has. I never thought, I'd make it this far. Your help meant a lot. It still does."
"It's my pleasure."
"Now what do you say that we drive by the hospital after classes to tell your dad about the great news?"
"I'd love that. And so will he."
He smiled and winked at her.
"I'll be waiting in the parking lot."
"How come you're always faster than me?" she asked short of breath as she met Sam in the parking lot, leaning against the car.
"I don't carry around that amount of books," he said and nodded toward her bag.
"Hmm," she snorted and entered the car.
Sam walked to the other side with a smirk and entered too.
"Diane, my sweetheart!" Spencer said as soon as he saw her.
"And Sam too! How lovely," Spencer smiled.
"Hello, Mr. Chambers," Sam nodded as Diane embraced him. "Nice to see you again."
"How many times do I have to tell you, boy. You're allowed to call me Spencer," Spencer chuckled and shook his hand.
"I'm well aware. Seems as though "Mr." is just stuck with me."
"I think, I follow you," Spencer said glancing shortly at Diane.
"How are you today?" Diane asked.
"Better than yesterday and the day before that," he smiled "But the doctors insist that I stay, since there keeps being some unstableness in the results from my blood tests."
Diane slightly nodded, looking down.
"Diane has some great news for you, Mr. Chambers," Sam said to lighten the mood.
"Oh?" he frowned looking at his daughter.
"Yes, I've been put on the girl's baseball team," Diane smiled.
"Is that so? Well, I'm proud of you, dear. How great you finally found a sport there's your cup of tea."
"There's Sam to thank for that," she smirked at Sam.
"Yes, Sam seems to have helped you quite a lot," Spencer smiled at Sam.
"And vice versa," Sam said gazing at Diane, who kept on that smirk of hers.
"Well, I'll tell you two what. As soon as I'm let out of this hell hole, I'll take you to Fenway. How about that?"
Diane remained silent causing Spencer's smile to fade a bit.
"That's sound terrific, Mr. Chambers," Sam said.
Spencer's look turned to Sam and that cheered him up. Sam tried to make up for Diane's silence with a wide smile.
"Great," Spencer smiled.
"You'll have to excuse me, I'm just going to go out and powder my nose," Diane said in a near whisper and left the room, Sam and Spencer in an uncomfortable state.
Spencer sighed.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Chambers. I try to get her believe in your recovery more, but I'm not doing a great job," Sam mumbled.
"No, Sam. You're doing better than you could expect from anyone. It's not your fault. This darn illness is tearing our family apart, and I had hoped it wouldn't. I had hoped that what the doctors told me in the start was true, but of course it wasn't. Now I have to lie here and see how this affects my daughter in such an amount that it's unbearable for me."
Sam swallowed.
"Sam, will you do me a favor?"
"Of course."
"You're already doing it, but…Take care of her. Take care of my daughter. She needs it. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come around. She's changed so much and in such a positive way. That's all I ever wanted for her. To have someone on the same age she could rely on. As long as she's not thinking of my illness, I believe she's happy, right?"
"I would say that."
"I'd just wish, I could be there to experience the happiness in her newfound life. More than I do now at least. But this- this," he said pointing around on all the machines attached to him "is keeping me from that. And to be frank, that wrecks me a bit."
"I understand."
"Her mother has always been a busy, social lady, with lots of interest to take care of. So many that she barely finds time for Diane. That doesn't mean, she doesn't love her. But it has clearly affected Diane that her mother and father haven't been around her as much as they should have."
"You're doing your best, Mr. Chambers. Diane knows that."
"I'm trying," he sadly smiled. "But Sam? Will you? Take care of her?"
"I will. I promise."
Things were going smoother afterwards. Diane moved the focus from her dad's illness to the baseball and kept improving her pitch with Sam's help and she impressed not only the coach but everyone watching. Diane underlined that she wouldn't play any games if not necessary, because she only saw baseball as a fun activity and not as a future career and therefore she'd like to use time otherwise in weekends. It wasn't that kind of message a coach would like to receive from a great player, but he accepted it, and could only hope that her mind would change in time.
Sam didn't get it either, but it was Diane, so as her coach, he accepted it and kept pitching with her in the spare time, thinking like the coach that she could always change her mind. And then if her future plans didn't work out, she'd always have something to rely on. One thing was sure: he'd make sure she kept pitching. He kept Spencer's words in his head.
Take care of her.