Warnings: profanity ... nudity ...

Updates: 4/29/2013

14. In Jeopardy

Jack opened his eyes, feeling extremely rested and … happy. Happier than … wait.

He sat up.

He looked over to his side and … Yusei?

Jack took a moment to enjoy the beautiful sight of the boy sleeping, his tanned shoulder and chest peeking out from under the sheets. Then he laid his hand on the shoulder, causing those huge blue eyes to spring open. "Sorry about this?"

"No … Jack, are you kidding?" Yusei sat up next to him, sheets falling around his waist to reveal his slender torso. "I … I still think you're pretty damn special. Even more now."

He reached forward and pulled Jack down into a long, loving kiss.

"So … how do you want to handle this?" asked Jack.

"Easy enough," smiled Yusei. "We're friends. We're on the same team. For now, anyway. We have lots of reasons to hang out together. So we … hang out together."

Jack smiled roguishly at him in return. "Hanging out. Is that what they're calling it now?"

"Yeah, gramps."

"You know, we need to get to the ballpark pretty quick—at least, I do. Argh! I wish I'd brought along a change of clothes."

"Can't help you there. You're definitely not my size."

Jack shot him an exasperated look. Yusei's tone of voice indicated that he was pretty darn happy that they weren't close to the same size. "I'm taking a shower." Jack said, getting up. He allowed Yusei the luxury of a long, leisurely view of him.

Yusei couldn't help staring. Jack walked into the bathroom thinking that it was kind of nice knowing that Yusei was so taken by the view. He hoped he wouldn't tire of it easily.

"Uh, wait, Jack! Let's … let's conserve water!"

"Hey! I told you that I didn't want to be late!"

"Aw, have a heart!"

Jack and Yusei walked into the stadium, smiling, occasionally throwing knowing glances toward each other.

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

"Uhn, right away." Jack exchanged a puzzled glance with Yusei and turned down a corridor.

"Corky? What's all this about?"

His manager said nothing, but simply turned and headed out to the field. Yusei shrugged and headed toward the clubhouse. He could find out from Crow or Dr Schmidt. Someone would know, surely.

As soon as Yusei saw him, Crow rushed over and grabbed him by the arm, roughly dragging him onto the field and pulling him over into the right field corner where balls tended to get lost in foul territory.

"What the hell is going on, Crow? Jack was called into Jaeger's office, and everyone's acting strange and—"

"You saw Jack?"

"Well, yeah, haven't you checked your voice mail yet?"

"No, what does that have to do with anything?"

"Well, we kind of … things developed last night and …"

"Oh, Yusei …" Crow didn't look nearly as happy as Yusei had expected. "Bad timing."

"And I repeat. What … the … hell … are you talking about?"

Bad timing?

"You're going to hear about it one way or the other. The whole scandal broke this morning—"

"Scandal—?"

"Yes, about the betting—"

"Betting?" Yusei frowned.

"Yusei, Jack was going to throw the series. His games, anyway, and … that's a huge disadvantage, with Yliaster's—"

"Are you completely out of your bird brain?! Jack would never—!"

"They have a video. They say."

"Who says? And when is this supposed to have happened?" Yusei tried to stop his world from spinning and think. "This makes absolutely no sense. I would have known."

"C'mon, Yusei, how well do you really know Jack?"

"Well enough. He wouldn't do this."

"They're pretty conv—"

"They! Who are they, anyway? Who are they to accuse Jack? What do they know?!" Yusei stared at Crow. "What am I doing standing here?! I need to talk to Jack. I need to get information. This is all wrong and there has to be a way to fix this."

Yusei turned and raced off the field, leaving Crow standing in the corner staring after him.

"Yusei was right at the beginning," Crow said sadly, watching him go. "I really shouldn't have pushed this romance so hard. I'm sorry, Yusei."

Jack entered Jaeger's office and stood before his desk. "So what's all this about?"

"That's what I'd like to know. Why would you destroy a potential like yours for any amount of money?"

"What the hell are you talking about? Why would you ask a stupid question like that? I can't ans—"

"Don't even try to deny it. We have proof."

"Proof of what? What's going on? I have to train."

"Train for what? You're suspended. There's an investigation."

"What?! You better tell me what's going on right now! We're preparing for the Series and you're telling me I'm suspended?! What for?"

Jaeger scowled, more agitated even than usual, pacing relentlessly behind his desk. "Don't play dumb with me, Atlas."

"I really don't know what you're talking about, so why don't you fill me in? Please."

"So you're making me spell it out. We know about your arrangement with Don Piero."

"My … what? He's a mobster! I'd never—"

"Don't even try to deny it. We were given the DVD this morning."

"DVD? What are—?"

"Your denials are getting tiresome. Here, let me play it for you … as revolting as it is …" Jaeger pulled out a remote and pointed it toward a console at one end of his office.

A picture flashed onto the TV screen. "That's you, isn't it? And there's Don Piero."

"It looks like me … but … I was never there. I've never met Don Piero. I would have remembered."

"Listen."

The man who looked like Jack was smiling at Don Piero and saying, "I can make it look good and still lose … just barely. No one will ever know. All it will take is … oh, a mere 25 million."

"25 million?"

"US dollars, my man." He handed the mobster a slip of paper. "My account number."

"I think we have a deal."

"When the money's in my account."

"Let's say … 5 million down payment, 10 million after your first game and another 10 after your second or the series, whichever applies."

"That'll work."

The feed cut, and Jaeger turned on Jack. "That sounds like you, doesn't it?"

"It does," he admitted, "but—"

"The money's in your account."

"How—?" Jack's jaw dropped. "Th-that's impossible!"

"Explain why 5 million US was recently deposited into your account then."

"I … I can't … I didn't authorize that! Anyone …"

"Right. Anyone could do that. Everyone has your account number. Lots of people have millions of dollars to just throw into your account for no apparent reason."

"Or to frame me."

"Looks to me more like you've framed yourself."

"When is this supposed to have happened?"

"Just last night, of course. You know—"

"Of course I don't! I was—"

Shit.

"What? Do you have some sort of alibi? You could sure use one. But this looks bad for you."

"I … don't have … I …" He couldn't say who he was with. It could ruin Yusei's career and still not fix things. "So I'm suspended, huh? How long?"

"Indefinitely until the investigation is complete. You might be banned. You should know that." Jaeger shook his head. "For a mere 25 million US?"

"Yeah, that should tell you right there. It's not enough. All I ever wanted to do was play baseball. Pitch. Why the fuck would I do a thing like this?!"

"You're a cocky kid, Atlas. Cocky kids like you think they can get away with anything."

"I'd rather win, Jaeger. See you later." He marched out the door.

Yusei tried to slow down once he reached the inner sanctum of the stadium corridors, but it was very difficult. He settled for walking as fast as he could until he reached Jaeger's office. Then he paced in front of the receptionist's desk until he was afraid that she'd faint.

"Don't worry, I'm just waiting for the meeting inside to end. I really want to talk to Jack after and …"

Mikage didn't seem to know quite how to take this, so she simply sat at her desk and tried somewhat unsuccessfully to look busy.

Finally, Jack burst forth through the doors with both his hands pressed firmly to either side of his head. Yusei immediately glued himself to his side as he strode forward. "Talk to me, Jack," he begged.

"You don't want to be seen with me, Yusei. I'm poison."

"That's not what I want to hear." He grabbed Jack's arm and yanked hard, pulling him down a side corridor. He fumbled a door open and pulled Jack into a supply closet. Closing the door behind them, they found themselves surrounded by mops and cleaning supplies. Unable to contain himself any longer, he threw himself at Jack wrapping his arms around him and squeezing him as though he might slip away any second. "This isn't true, I know it."

"How do you know?" Jack asked bitterly. "Jaeger believes it. I bet everyone else does too."

"Jack … wasn't it supposed to have happened last night? I know damn well you didn't do it. And even if it wasn't then, I still wouldn't believe it. I know you."

"Yusei … honestly. You don't. We haven't known each other long at all."

"I know you well enough. I know how you feel about baseball. It's all you want to do. The way you talk about it … Jack … If they take that away from you, what will you do?"

"I don't know … Something."

"No, Jack. I won't let you. I'm going to say I was with you."

"You'd have to say what we were doing. If it was anyone else … I'd risk it … but it's your career too, Yusei!"

"Is baseball really so bad about this?"

"They might say they're OK, but who actually comes out and admits they're gay, Yusei? If you say anything, you can expect your life to be made a living hell. I won't let you throw your career away! We can't know that admitting this—between us—would work anyway. It would just be your word. You didn't see that DVD. There's an impostor … I have no idea how they did it. If I didn't know it wasn't me …"

"But baseball's your life! If they ban you, it'll break your heart! A-and … that will b-break my heart because—because it's too late to go back, now, Jack. What happens to you happens to me."

"Yusei …" Yusei was sobbing onto Jack's chest inconsolably now, Jack running a hand through his hair, his other wrapped around him tightly. "No one's ever felt like this about me … I … I wish things hadn't fallen apart like this …"

Yusei reached up and pulled Jack's collar, hard, yanking him down into a desperate kiss. Jack relented, needing the contact every bit as much as Yusei did. His dream shattering, he held on to Yusei with all he had. After some time he broke free and whispered, "You're going to have to get back, Yusei."

"Jack—" he breathed, "I need you. Now."

Jack blushed. How he wanted to give in! Still, Yusei still had a dream and he needed to live it. "And I thought you were the practical one," Jack said, hoarsely. "They'll miss you and come looking for you. And I'm suspended. I need to clear out."

"Wait, Jack. We need to figure this out. Who could have done this?"

"Well, whoever it is has my bank account number."

"Godwin."

"You think?"

"I'll bet he figured out you're walking. I'll bet he decided to set you up and he's got his bets set accordingly. He's got the play in with Don Piero. Whatever they put in your bank account they'll make back many times over after their big payoff. He'll make out and prevent any other agent from benefiting from your talent. What a piece of work."

"But how—?"

"The doppelganger? You got me, but I'm going to find out."

"You? You don't have any time."

"I'm going to make time, Jack."

"You know, Carly told me something big was going down. I should have paid more attention."

"What do you mean?"

"She's been investigating Don Piero and illegal gambling for the past couple of months. I didn't want to know anything about it because—well, because I'm pitching, and the less I'm involved with that sort of thing, the better, you know?"

"Huh. I think I'll give her a call."

Jack looked slightly panicked. "You're going to call Carly? Do you think that's a good idea?"

"She's going to want to help you, Jack."

"Just … be careful with her. I haven't broken up with her officially yet and I'm hoping to make it easy on her."

"I'm not going to tell her, you know."

"I know, I just …" He stopped and kissed Yusei deeply. "Get out of here. You've stayed too long already."

"Jack, I don't want to go."

"Don't screw up your dream because of me."

Jack opened the door, checked the hallway, then pushed Yusei out. When he was sure that Yusei had gone, he left the broom closet.

Jack didn't bother stopping by the clubhouse on his way out.

Yusei stopped by a mens' room on the way to the clubhouse to check that his face wasn't too obviously red and swollen from crying.

That would be just what he and Jack needed on top of everything else.

How in the world did Godwin do it?

How did he find someone who looked and sounded just like Jack?

Yusei walked into the clubhouse trying to maintain an iron grip on his composure. Thank goodness he'd had plenty of practice hiding his feelings.

Plus, he had plenty of reason to look grim.

Kaz scooted over to him right away.

Shit! Yusei thought. I gave him every reason to believe those lies by keeping Jack out all night last night!

"Yusei, you don't believe that stuff about Jack, do you?" he asked under his breath. "I don't care what they say about him, I just can't believe it."

Yusei stared at him, surprised. "No, I don't believe it for a second."

"I wish he hadn't stayed out all night last night. I have no idea where he was. But I know he didn't do what they say he did. I don't care what evidence they have. It's just not Jack. He wouldn't throw away his career like that. It's—"

"It's inconceivable."

"Yeah, that's the word. Inconceivable."

Everyone looked listless and miserable during practice. Yusei ducked out during press. He knew there would be repercussions, but he needed the afternoon to sort things out.

The game was tomorrow, dammit! The series wasn't going to wait, and …

If there was any way to save Jack's career … and, especially, save the series for him …

He had to hurry …!

Author's notes:

4/29/2013: Added warning; corrected a pile o' interrobangs.

Gosh, I hope you've made it all the way here with me. We're almost to the end and it's been fun. The story's taking a turn and I hope you like the direction it's going! As always, constructive criticism and reviews are most appreciated!

Reviews: Glad you liked the golf - it seems to be a popular leisure activity among athletes (though I'll admit it's been a while since I used to watch the pro tourneys with my dad). Glad you enjoyed the previous chapter, Miss Macabre Grey, and Carly will be making an appearance in the next chapter as well. Not sure how I'm wrapping that storyline up yet, to be honest ... Hm. But I'm getting close to the end, so I'll soon find out. As a note, I think I'll swear off posting while writing (polishing while posting seems to work out, writing not so much) except possibly for the fluffiest, most inconsequential pieces ... Of course, at first I thought this was going to be lighter, so I guess sometimes you just don't know.

In Jeopardy: A base runner is in jeopardy when he is not touching a base and can be tagged out. There are also a couple of special circumstances in which a base runner can be in jeopardy and can be tagged out.

Kaz's reaction to the news: I wanted to preserve his support for Jack in this story. (You'll notice that Crow's initially negative, just as he is in the Jack/doppelganger storyline as well; that wasn't as planned, just the way it kind of turned out.)

Preview of our next chapter ...

"Hey, Good-lookin', buy you a drink?" asked a well-worn fireplug of a man.

Resisting the urge to turn him down flat, Yusei smiled and sat carefully on a stool next to him at the bar.

He smothered a sigh. What I do for love.

Yusei does a little digging.