open space. Riley's response was a bright smile. They spend several moments
lost in each other's gaze. The umpire's yell of "Play Ball!" broke the moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was the bottom of the seventh inning and Sam's team was winning. Riley had
split her attention between the game and watching Sam. Kellie hadn't said much
during the game. She didn't seem to know many of the players. It was obvious
Sam knew everyone on the team and was familiar with most of the opposing
team as well. She'd been heckling the other team and her own teammates
through out the game. It allowed Riley to see a whole new side of Sam. She had
seen her in the hospital at her most vulnerable. This was a totally different
woman. She was outgoing, brash and boisterous totally at home among all the
women and obviously in her element. Riley should've felt out of place but Sam
had gone out of her way to include her. She'd explained who each of the players
were and a little of their history so she was able to laugh at all the 'in' jokes as
well. Riley felt slightly guilty when she happily noted Sam paid only passing
attention to Kellie and concentrated on the game and her.
Riley had forgotten how much fun a good baseball game could be and this had
turned out to be a good one. The level of play had just been phenomenal. Her
aunt and uncle had been aghast at the idea of attending a ballgame when Riley
had asked as a child. They had even refused to let Riley play in any summer
leagues. They insisted only the lower classes indulged in such pursuits. Riley's
aunt had signed Riley up for ballet lessons. She informed Riley they were a
much more appropriate activity for a young girl. Riley had hated every second of
them and quit as soon as possible. She settled back to enjoy the rest of the
game leaning slightly on Sam. Sam smiled down at Riley before placing an arm
behind her back for her to rest against it. Riley smiled in thanks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The opposing team was up for last bats. If they couldn't score here, the game
was over. They had two outs already. A new player Sam didn't know came up
and hit a standup triple. She was safe at third. The second batter came up and
took a count of two and two. She swung at the next pitch; it flew inside the third
base line. It bounced before Ann the third baseman could snag it but she got it
after the bounce and fired it to Karen at home plate. The woman from third saw
the throw and tried to slide. Her anger soared when she realized she was going
to be out. Karen leaned down for the tag and the woman raised her feet and
intentionally spiked Karen in the chest. She went down hard. Ann ran over and
tried to take a swing at the player who'd spiked Karen. Her teammates managed
to stop her before she connected.
"You spiked her on purpose you bitch!" Ann screamed.
A melee quickly erupted on the field as the players from both teams began to
pour off the benches.
Sam stood up. "I've got to get down there." She quickly headed for the field
Kellie right behind her. Riley saw that the injured player hadn't gotten up and
followed Sam and Kellie to the field.
Riley approached the woman Sam had identified as the coach. She had the first
aid kit out and was tending to Karen. "I'm a physician, can I help?"
The woman looked up at her. "You're Sam's friend?"
"Yes, I'm Riley."
Coach moved out of the way and motioned Riley to take over with Karen. The
coach took off to try and help Sam break up the angry players.
"How're you doing? Where does it hurt?" She asked Karen as she started to
examine her.
Karen pointed to her chest. "It was a little hard to breathe but it's getting better
now." Karen told her in a hoarse voice.
"She must've caught you in the solar plexus. Did you lose consciousness when
you hit the ground?"
"No. Just couldn't breath there for a couple seconds." Karen assured her.
Riley checked her over. The first aid kit actually contained among other things a
penlight and stethoscope.
"Looks like you just had the wind knocked out of you. You're going to have some
bruising on your chest and will be sore but otherwise you should be fine." Karen
had managed to sit up and was looking better by the second.
"Thanks Doc," Karen said with a smile.
"No problem." Riley assured her.
Riley was still kneeling in the dirt when she felt a presence behind her. She
looked up to see Sam's flushed face and disheveled appearance; she felt a jolt
of fear at the though of Sam being injured.
"Are you okay? Did you hurt your incision? Let me take a look at you." Riley
began to run her hands frantically over Sam. Where with Karen she'd been calm
and professional with Sam she was in a total panic. Sam finally grabbed Riley's
hands trapping them against her chest.
"I'm fine Riley... calm down, I wasn't hurt."
Riley realized how she's overreacted and immediately blushed. Without thinking,
she threw herself at Sam and wrapped her arms tightly around Sam's waist.
Sam's arms instinctively enclosed Riley in a strong embrace. She stoked her
back calming her. Sam glanced over Riley's shoulder at Karen still sitting on the
ground. She was grinning from ear to ear. Sam scowled at her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sam and Riley with the encouragement of Karen and Ann decided to join the
rest of the women at the bar that sponsored the team. They all met up at
O'Grady's. They were sitting at a large table drinking beer and discussing the
game. Karen decided to see if she could find out anything about Riley. She'd
been watching her and Sam together and was curious. Sam was always very
attentive to her dates but there was just something different in her reactions to
Riley. She just couldn't quite put her finger on it. Wondering how Sam had met
the beautiful doctor she turned to Riley.
"So you're a doctor huh? What's your specialty?" Karen asked.
"I'm a trauma surgeon."
Kellie who'd been listening piped up loudly. "Yeah, she's the surgeon who saved
Sam's life."
Everyone's attention was suddenly focused on Riley.
Marcy who'd already had quite a bit to drink couldn't resist a dig at Sam's 'friend'.
She'd asked the beautiful cop out several times and had been shot down
repeatedly.
"Oh you gonna take Sam home and take out your fees in trade huh Doc?" She
asked leering at Riley and making an obscene gesture.
"You bitch!" Sam snarled as she bolted out of her chair. In the blink of an eye,
she was around the table and had jerked Marcy out of her chair by the front of
her shirt. Riley was almost as fast. She grabbed Sam's arm trying to get her to
release Marcy.
"Please Sam let her go, it's not worth it." Riley could feel the rage vibrating
through Sam and for an instant she didn't think she was going to listen.
Sam pushed Marcy back into her chair then turned and walked away pulling
Riley with her back to the other side of the table. Two of Marcy's friends quickly
grabbed her and hustled her away from the table.
"Let's get out of here." She told Riley, glowering at the other women around the
table.
Karen rushed over to Sam and Riley. "Wait, please don't go." She placed her
hand on Sam's arm then quickly drew it back when Sam glared at her.
"It's okay Sam really." Riley said stroking Sam's arm trying to calm the obviously furious woman down.