Updates: (date unknown, soon after initial posting), 4/28/2013

13. Squeeze Play

After that great start, the Dragons swept the series.

Jaeger scheduled a press conference for the day after, followed by baseball clinic with the team charity for disadvantaged youth that he hoped would be well-publicized. The entire team was expected to pitch in. Crow, of course, signed up with enthusiasm and Jack was more than happy to show off for a horde of adoring fans. Yusei didn't mind going along for the ride.

"Are you aware of your post-season stats so far, Professor?" asked Angela, reporter for Baseball Today.

"I seem to be doing pretty good. Seeing the ball well."

"You're hitting .485 post season. When Jack Atlas is pitching, you're hitting .637. And when he's on base, you're hitting .750. Would you care to comment on that?"

Yusei felt a little flush threatening and said, "We have a friendly rivalry going. I know he's a pitcher, but he's an amazing talent. I can't help but feel my competitive spirit rise to the occasion when he's pitching."

"You say 'friendly.' I have a question for the K-King, himself. You pitched for the Dragons' biggest rivals not so long ago. Would you say that you and the Professor are good friends?"

Jack cleared his throat. "I'll admit that it took a little while for the Dragons to warm up to me, but the guys seem to enjoy winning." He paused as the room chuckled at his observation. "Yes, Yusei and I are friendly. And I'd say that it helps me compete even harder to be surrounded by such inspiring talent."

Yusei smiled to himself. Jack had managed to make himself look good and give the team a lift at the same time.

"About the team, Jack," Angela continued. "I understand that you're renting a room from third baseman Kaz Kazama?"

"Well, yes. Since I moved here midseason, house hunting was impractical and distracting. Besides, I have a great place in Satellite. I'm really not sure I want to give that up. I might get a modest apartment for the season next year."

"An apartment?"

"Yes, I don't spend a lot of time sitting around home during the season."

"I see. Bruno, I have a question for you. You used to be the top pitcher on the team before the K-King showed up. Did it bother you to become second banana?"

"Look, you might as well ask me whether it bothers me that we're headed for the Big Show. No, it doesn't bother me at all. I like the idea of pitching in the Series. I've learned a lot from Jack and I hope to learn more."

Angela looked a little miffed to have been unable to stir up any controversy. "Another question for Jack. You've heard Dragan's accusations about your throwing spitballs. Any comments?"

"Only that I've never thrown that pitch. I don't have to, so why should I? The umpires can examine me any time they want to."

They tried to move the questions toward the charity that they were sponsoring and the kids, with little success. Then they moved on to the mini-clinic.

Crow was completely in his element. He quickly had the kids eating out of his hand and set up with simple fun drills and activities. Jack was inundated with autograph requests and stood signing a pile of pennants, caps, and baseballs. Yusei was pestered almost as much and saw his signature joining Jack's on many collectibles.

A cute little boy with red hair pushed a magazine in front of Yusei.

It was open to a picture of himself with Jack. He frowned just slightly, trying to remember when it might have been taken. Then he remembered. It was for a magazine spread for league leaders. Jack's ERA and his batting average. It showed Yusei holding his bat on his shoulder and Jack holding a ball in glove, both of them smiling confidently at the camera.

He paused for a moment. He hadn't realized how well the photo turned out. He should call the magazine and get a copy.

"Aren't you going to sign it for me, Mr Prof?" the boy asked anxiously.

"Oh, yes. I'm sorry. I just hadn't read the article yet. I've been so busy."

"You haven't?! It's really inneresting! You gotta getta copy and read about it!"

Yusei chuckled as he signed the magazine. He lived it, after all. It was interesting?

You don't know the half of it, kid …

He glanced over toward Jack, who was demonstrating various pitching grips to a child not far away.

You're not getting away this time, he thought. They've given us the afternoon and all of tomorrow off, and …

I'm spending some time with you and that's it.

He, Jack, and Crow helped load the kids onto the buses and decided to have lunch together. "You're paying, Jack. You eat the most, anyway," Crow said.

For a change of pace, they headed out to a seafood restaurant for a real celebration.

"Jack …" Yusei said as they settled into their salads, "Did you make any plans with … with Carly for your day off?"

Jack colored a little. "Well, things are on hold until after the series, but I'm planning on seeing her after lunch. We're going to dinner."

"Oh …" said Yusei, disappointed. "And tomorrow?"

"Totally free. I was planning on taking it easy."

"So … you don't have plans then?"

"Well, no."

"Well, that's great, then," said Crow. "You want to come with us? We were going to play a round of golf. Uh … you're not secretly a golf sharp, are you?"

Jack laughed. "How many golf courses do you think there are in Satellite, anyway?"

"Good point."

"I didn't grow up in tennis court and country club country, Crow."

"You haven't said," urged Yusei. "Do you want to play? Do you play golf?"

"Well, I've been shown the basics, but I've hardly ever touched a club. You might have to bear with me."

Yusei grinned. "Crow will be happy to. He wants to play you at a game he can actually beat you at."

Crow reddened and said, "Hey! … Well, you do have a point."

They made the arrangements.

Yusei and Crow headed off together and Jack laughed. "Do you two always go everywhere together like Heckle and Jeckle?" he asked.

"Oh, right," said Yusei. "You don't know. My house is right next door to Crow's."

"Only his is small and boring," said Crow.

"I don't see how it could be boring," said Jack, giving Yusei a brilliant smile. "See you tomorrow for golf."

Damn, that's a swoonworthy smile, thought Yusei.

Jack leaned over Carly's desk, chuckling softly. She was so engrossed in her typing that she didn't even notice his presence. "Ahem."

"Jack!" Carly stood so suddenly that papers scattered from her desk and went flying. Heedless of the mayhem, she launched herself across it and wrapped her arms around Jack's neck. "I've missed you so!" she cried, covering his face with kisses.

Jack, stunned by the reception, pulled Carly up and over the desk and up into his arms, delighting her. Then he placed her on the floor. "You know, he said, you could kick your laptop off the desk, and then where would you be?"

"Oh—!" she said as though it was the first time it had occurred to her. "If I lost the scoop I'd got on this story, my boss would kill me!"

"You don't have it backed up?"

"Not all of it. And the word is, something big's about to go down."

"Don't tell me about it, I don't want to know. Not until it hits the papers."

"You don't? But all my other friends are begging to know, and I can't tell a soul. Not until we publish."

Jack gave her a small smile. "I'm fine waiting to read about it in the papers. But you said you could take at least a couple of hours off."

"Yeah." Carly looked over her shoulder, then pulled Jack out of the reporter's bullpen. "I'm just not going to tell the boss. As far as he knows," she said, winking at Jack, "I'm reporting. And why not? Maybe I can get background information from you. Let me know what you think of Don Piero's criminal empire."

"I'm no expert on criminal activity," Jack laughed, "but obviously I'm not in favor of it. That's off the record, though. Why would anyone want my opinion on that subject? It has no connection to what I do."

"People bet on ballgames, don't they?"

"Oh," Jack sighed. They began to walk out to Carly's car. "I guess they do. I don't think about that." He laughed again. "That must be because I'd always bet on myself!"

Carly gave his shoulder a playful push.

"So what do you want to do?" asked Jack. "I suppose I should have planned something, but I've been so busy. Do you want to see a movie?"

"No, I want to be able to talk to you."

That worried Jack. He should have said he'd planned on a movie. "All right," he said slowly.

They found themselves at a little bar and grill. Carly was much more comfortable there than at a fancy restaurant and Jack felt like he was stringing her along enough as it was. Carly sat across from Jack with her chef's salad and eyed Jack's three large hamburgers and side of cheese fries with open amazement.

Yeah, he thought. I'm eating up the hamburgers, but guilt's eating at me!

"How can you eat all that?" asked Carly.

"I burn a lot of calories," Jack said automatically. "So, this story … what happens if it hits big and makes your career?"

"What do you mean?"

"Will you have time for—"

"Oh, you're asking if I'll have time for us!" Carly said. "Oh, Jack! How sweet of you to worry!"

Or hope? Sweet, nothing.

"I'm going to do my best! You never know. Your schedule is so demanding during the summer, I don't know how any baseball wife who works does it."

"You know, most of them don't. Work, that is. They don't have to, you know."

"Right," Carly said uncertainly. "You all make so much."

"But … you like your job so much, don't you?"

"Yeah, I really do. Helping people is really important to me, Jack."

They sat eating in silence for a while, lost in their respective thoughts.

Yusei and Crow drove to Kaz's place to pick up Jack the next morning.

"So," asked Crow. "Are you planning on seducing Jack using a golf club?"

"Crow!" Yusei exclaimed, then admitted, "Actually, I was going to wait and see if he'd make a move before I made mine. I don't think I can wait until after the series."

Crow laughed. "Tell me again why you're waiting?"

"You know how it is during the season. There's no time to really relax and take your time with anything. When's the last time you had a nice date with Aki?"

"Eh, well, you know, between the ballpark and her residency …"

"See?"

"I totally get it. But you're on the same schedule."

"As a pitcher? I am so not."

"OK, I get it," Crow said. "But you still want to try to wedge some, er, quality time in?"

"If I can."

"Need any help? I don't know how good a wingman I am, but I can try."

"I think I can handle it. After all, it's not like Jack isn't willing. At least I'm pretty sure he is."

"Oh, I don't think you have to worry about that." Crow paused, then asked, "You think he has a superstition about these things?"

"God, I hope not! If he does, next season could be a nightmare!"

They had arrived at Kaz's and Jack was already out, sitting on the porch with his feet up on the railing, drinking a cup of coffee.

Soon Jack had rented some clubs and they were out on the links.

"So, you've done this before?" asked Yusei.

"Not for a long time," said Jack.

"It's a lot easier than hitting a baseball," offered Crow. "The ball might be smaller, but it at least has the decency to sit still for you!"

"Shut up, Crow, if we played T-ball, Jack would be out of a job!"

"Hah! I'd just hit a home run every time up, that's all," said Jack. "Games would be a lot more boring, though."

Yusei teed off first, demonstrating the golf swing, then Jack took a couple of practice swings and tried teeing off. Yusei stood back, watching the long body twist and coil. He wondered if he'd ever tire of the sight of watching Jack move. He was like some large, lithe jungle cat.

"Crow? Your turn."

"Heh, you're in the rough, Jack!"

"His form's not bad, though, he'll improve quickly."

"You should know all about his form, you were watching closely enough!" Crow took his swing, placing his nicely on the fairway.

With Yusei's help, Jack managed to move his ball to the green, where Yusei refreshed Jack's memory of how to grip the putter.

"This is an awfully complicated way to hang onto a handle," he complained.

"You're telling me, but that's the way they say to do it for the best results," Yusei said. "But, geez, Jack, with some of the grips you use on baseballs, you're one to complain."

"Maybe, but this still seems ridiculously fancy. Too bad I can't just get a cue out." Nevertheless, he managed to knock the ball in without much trouble.

Just as Yusei predicted, Jack improved steadily as they played, although he trailed the other two by a fair margin.

About half-way through the round, Crow nabbed Yusei as they walked to the next tee. "So? Are you just going to admire the man all day? We're all going to be back at the park tomorrow, prepping full time, and then, day after, the series starts."

"Yeah … and that's a lot of pressure."

"Which is never going to get released if you don't do anything about it."

Jack caught up with them just then. "What are you two nattering about now?"

"Er, nothing."

"Chang and Eng," he muttered, shaking his head, passing by.

"Think he's jealous?" asked Crow.

Yusei found himself distracted on the next tee. His ball hit the green, then slowly dribbled backward into the same sand trap that Jack had bounced into.

They trudged on down to toward the green. "Looks like you're trapped together," said Crow. "Me, I'll meet you on the green."

"Go ahead, rub it in," said Yusei.

Crow moved off toward the green as Yusei and Jack checked out the sand trap. "Look," said Jack, "your ball is still way up on the lip."

Yusei looked, and sure enough, his ball had settled into a divot left by someone who had clambered straight up the side of the trap. "Heh, I'll play it where it lies," he said.

"You sure? It's pretty steep right there."

"No problem. If you let me go first."

"I insist."

Yusei headed up, careful not to disturb the sand around the ball. It would be a simple chip shot up onto the green, if he could get good footing. He carefully placed his feet, his position stretched awkwardly to accommodate the slope, drew his club back, balanced with care, then brought it through with power and grace. A perfect shot!

It was only after that he stumbled awkwardly down the slope, feet tangling in the sand. Finally, he collided with a solid object that grabbed onto and held him firmly. He looked up into concerned violet eyes. "Nice catch."

"Careful," Jack said. "Watch it, you're about to touch my ball."

"I … what?"

But Jack suddenly slid a hand under his glutes and lifted him bodily. "You almost kicked my ball."

Yusei looked down. His golf ball. Right. His cheeks burning, he looked back at Jack, who looked like he was trying not to laugh. "You can put me down now."

Jack chuckled and let him down. "You sure?" Yes, there was definitely a twinkle in those violet depths.

"Well, no, but we are at a golf course."

"Yeah, I guess I'd better try to get this ball on the green," Jack said. He set Yusei down gently, well away from his ball. Then Jack took a great cut that sent the ball flying easily over the edge of the trap onto the green.

They heard Crow's voice, "About time!" in response.

Laughing, they scrambled up the hill onto the green.

Yusei and Jack were now more interested in distracting each other than paying attention to their game, so their scores inflated rapidly—much to Crow's delight. By the time they ambled into the clubhouse for lunch, Crow had a huge lead, not that his companions were paying much attention to the score by that time.

Crow elbowed his way in between the two, muttering, "You guys really need to get a room," in a voice designed to be heard only by his companions. He walked up to the hostess, and shot a them a look. "I'm serious."

Yusei looked at Jack, who'd simply walked up two wait behind Crow. Get a room? What a great idea! If only he could figure out what Jack was thinking.

Lunch ended up being a little awkward. Yusei found himself worrying so much about how he could get Jack relaxed enough to spend the afternoon at his house that he couldn't figure out what to say and he felt the tension rising. Crow spent the meal trying to keep the conversation going and kicking him at random intervals under the table.

"And Jack—" kick "—are you all set for our first game against Yliaster?" kick.

"Of course I am. They're just like any other team." He frowned. "Why are you asking reporter questions?"

"Eh …" kick. "Just thinking ahead …" He looked at Yusei for help.

"Thinking ahead …" he echoed. "Have you thought about what you want to do after the season?" he said.

Jack looked at him piercingly.

"Other than that, Jack. You live in Satellite …"

"That's just across the bay, Yusei."

He smiled to himself. "It seems awfully far away to me."

"Once you see my place, you'll know why I don't want to give it up."

"I thought Satellite was—"

"A sewer, Crow? Don't hold back. There was a time when just about all of it was a wreck, but now there are certain neighborhoods that are nice."

They finished the meal with Crow getting Jack to tell them about some of the improvements in Satellite. As they walked out, Yusei pulled Crow aside and whispered in his ear.

"You can just leave me off at Kaz's," Jack said, settling into the back seat of the car next to Yusei. But they weren't dropping Jack at Kaz's place.

"Wait," said Jack. "Isn't this where … Didn't you say you lived next door to Crow?"

"I might have mentioned that," said Yusei.

"So …"

"I just want to show you around my place. We still have the whole afternoon. Did you have something you needed to do?"

"Well, no."

Yusei smiled. "Then we could do whatever. Play catch. Or hang out."

"Sorry," said Crow. "I can't. I promised Aki that I'm hers for the rest of the day. I don't often have this kind of leisure during the season. So you two are on your own."

"Oh, that's too bad."

"Try not to sound so disappointed," Crow said mischievously. "Here we are."

There was a little red car parked in front of Crow's house, and when they pulled into the driveway, a woman with a striking figure and equally striking red hair stepped out and waved. Once everyone was out, Crow jabbed a thumb in Jack's direction and said, "You know who Jack is, right? Jack, this is Akiza, my much better half, and Yusei's long-time friend."

"Hey, Jack, Yusei's told me a lot about you," she said.

Jack cocked a curious eyebrow in Yusei's direction and he shrugged. "Nothing too insulting, I hope," he said.

"Oh, only that you're arrogant and insufferable," she said, chuckling.

"And I thought that he might say something bad."

"Well, time's a-wasting," said Crow. "I have passes to KaibaLand with our names on them."

"Say no more!" Aki opened the car door. "Sorry, but I must be going! See you later! Yusei, Jack!"

Yusei led Jack into his house. "I want to give you the two-minute tour," he said.

"You're right, this is a smaller house."

"I don't need a lot of room. It's just me."

"You and your books," Jack said, looking around at the bookshelves.

Yusei scratched his head a little. "Yeah, I guess I am a bit of a bookworm. But what I want to do takes some study."

"Yeah …" Jack looked around. Math, engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, et cetera, so on.

Yusei looked at Jack. He wasn't intimidated by all that, was he? "Hey, Jack," he said. "You're not interested in all that stuff right now, are you? I mean, that's just my office. Here's the kitchen, and the living room. I have a bedroom and guest room through there," he said motioning up the stairs. "I'd love to show you."

"I'm not sure about that," said Jack. "I mean, I don't want to stay too long."

"Why not? We could hang out," Yusei said. "I have a special media room in the basement that's great for movies. There's no windows, so the room's completely dark. You have to see it to believe it." He gave Jack his most ingratiating smile. "What do you think? Interested?"

"I don't know—"

"Good." Yusei pulled Jack downstairs into the media room. "Isn't this great? Look at this sectional." The sectional sofa was broad, deep and inviting. Yusei could just picture the two of them cuddling in its curved corner or, better yet, lying together on it. It was just roomy enough. "Sit right here," he said, "and let me show you." He turned on a sports channel, sat down next to Jack and turned off the lights with the remote. "What do you think?"

"Pretty good. I'll bet this is great for a horror movie."

"That's not all it's great for," Yusei said, running his hands around Jack's neck in the dark and pulling him down into a kiss.

"Yusei …" Jack said breathlessly, when their lips finally parted, "if we start doing this, I'm not sure if I'll be able to stop. It feels so good to hold you."

"I don't want to stop. I want you, Jack. All of you."

"Seriously? I mean, Yusei, you could be really … I mean, very uncomfortable tomorrow—even the next day—and the series starts then! You need to be ready! I don't want to be the reason you're not at your best. Why do you think I've been putting this off?"

"We can always do things that aren't so … er … uncomfortable," Yusei said suggestively. He turned the lights up slightly to a nice low glow with the dimmer. He wanted to see Jack.

"… and probably end up doing … uh … certain other things in the end anyway."

"'In the end'?" Yusei chuckled. "C'mon, Jack, I'm not worried."

"Are you in a rush? It's only been, what, since that series with the Vikings?"

"The Vik—Jack," Yusei said, looking deeply into the violet depths of his eyes, "do you remember when you walked into the clubhouse for the first time in your Crimson Dragons uniform? You looked like a tall, cool drink of sunshine lemonade. God! How I wanted you! … I hated myself for wanting you then, and I had no idea if you could ever return that emotion, but I couldn't help myself. Now …" His eyes slipped away and he pressed himself to Jack's broad chest. "Don't make me wait. We have today. Can't we make the most of it?"

"Yusei …" Yusei glanced up as a warm smile suddenly spread across Jack's face. It was so genuine and so different from his usual cocky grin that Yusei wished he had a way to preserve the moment. "'Sunshine lemonade'? I hope you're not expecting that kind of poetry from me, but you remember what I said when we had that first beer, don't you?"

"What, you mean about giving me a 'rough and tumble'?"

He chuckled. "You do remember."

"How could I forget? It had me going for weeks."

"I was serious. And I was serious about wanting something more, too. And now …" His gaze became both softer and more intense at the same time. Yusei wondered how that was possible, but he found himself irresistibly drawn into that gaze.

"Now?" asked Yusei. "Now what?"

"Now I think I may have actually found what I've been looking for. It blows me away. You blow me away, Yusei. And … and I don't want to blow my chance with you."

"You're afraid that if I have a rough game because we do something I'll blame you and—"

"And things will be ruined? Maybe."

Yusei smiled. "Stop worrying so much. Aren't you tired of waiting?"

"Yusei …" Jack leaned forward into their deepest kiss yet, pressing Yusei onto his back. Suddenly his comfortable jeans and t-shirt seemed tight and constricting.

"Mmm, Jack," he said.

"Nn-yeah?"

"I haven't actually shown you my bedroom yet. Want to see it?"

"Mmm … I thought you'd never ask."

Still, it took a few minutes for them to gather the motivation to get off the sofa.

Author's notes:

4/28/2013: interrobang, added "are"

Minor change after initial posting: I forgot that I wanted to call the team that they'll be facing in the World Series Yliaster, not New World! My bad! Sorry about that. No other changes.

Hello, all! No, I didn't die! It just took forever to write this chapter! I'm still not as happy as I'd like to be with it, so I hope you like it better than I do. It certainly is longer than usual, though, if that counts for anything.

Thanks for sticking with this story & thanks for the reviews! They are all greatly appreciated and very motivating. I want to especially point out my appreciation for the constructive criticism, especially in light of the fact that I recently received a useless "review" for a different story which was most annoying. (But I guess that means I am officially a member here now.)

Squeeze Play: In a squeeze play, a batter attempts to bunt the ball to advance a player on third to home (thus scoring a run). (As you recall, a bunt is a controlled hit and a sacrifice is when the batter intentionally tries lets himself be put out so that he can advance the runner.)

the Dragons swept the series: To keep this story from being too insanely long, I'm making my imaginary league similar to the older version of MLB. That is, two leagues analogous to the National and American leagues, each with two divisions. They play a 5-game series to decide the division, followed by the classic 7-game series to decide the World Series.

Heckle and Jeckle: In case you haven't run across them, A couple of magpies and the old 20th Century Fox cartoon series about them. Wouldn't it be great if they were actually crows?

a superstition about these things: Athletes (particularly baseball players, for some reason) are famous for their superstitions. One of those superstitions reportedly include abstention from sex before games or big games.

T-ball: A variant of baseball played by children in which the ball is placed on a tee to be hit instead of being pitched by a player. The "pitcher" is another infielder.

Chang and Eng: It's my chapter for old-timey references, apparently. Perhaps the most famous conjoined twins ever.

And let's see what's going on in our next chapter ...

"Atlas! In the GM's office! Now!" Yusei hardly recognized Brand's voice, it was so filled with anger and bitterness.

Yikes, I'm sorry I looked!