Grand Slam

Part 14

I guess people are telling the truth when they say you throw harder when you're pissed off. "You need to chill with these throws Ashlyn," Dansby said as we got into the dugout to grab our helmets and bat. "What do you mean?" I asked putting on my gloves. "You threw from the wall in dead center and the throw still stung my hand. Most people can't even throw that far." "Sorry," I said as we grabbed bats and headed out to the circle since I was up first and Dansby right after me.

Luckily enough, Shane and Sharon had got seats right behind the on deck circle, so every time I was warming up, they were talking about me just loud enough for me to hear them. This time, Dansby heard some of what they said. "You're just going to let them talk to you like that?" he asked as I watched the pitcher warm up. "Not much I can do to the 'golden child'"

I got into the batters box and it was like the world moved in slow motion. I saw the pitch come in. I saw it come up at my face. I turned my head just enough, but my helmet flew off. All I remember is I got hit in the side of the head.

Dansby's POV
It was like slow motion watching her get hit. It wasn't like the pitch just floated in on accident, this was on purpose. I felt a few things all at once.  I worried, because I know how bad getting hit in the head can be. I was pissed, because it was all on purpose. Either way, I ran over to her because I cared. The only thing in my head was I had to get there. I had to take care of her. The trainers came a few seconds after, so I backed off to let them work, but watching Ashlyn need help to walk off the field into the clubhouse hurt.

We ended up winning and sweeping the Mets, but I didn't stay on the field long to celebrate the walk off with the guys. I was going down the dugout steps straight into the clubhouse. I didn't even take my cleats off, which always happened first thing after I got into the clubhouse. The trainers were there talking to Snit, who'd beat me in here. I slowed down a little, trying not to seem too anxious to get there. "Is she okay?" I asked, looking over at Ashlyn, who was asleep on a couch, curled up in my hoodie. "Yeah, she just needs rest. She doesn't even have a concussion," one of the trainers said, grabbing his bag and telling Snit he would check on Ashlyn again tomorrow before the game against the Tigers. "Go ahead and go get changed son. She's okay," Snit said to me as I turned and walked back to the locker room to change.

"Here's Ashlyn's stuff from her locker man," Austin said, handing me her stuff after I put my hoodie on. "Thanks," I said grabbing it all. "Can I ask you something?" I asked, sitting down in my chair. "Yeah what's up?" he asked pulling up a chair beside me. "Do you think Ashlyn will be okay? I mean I know she is now but who knows how many times that's going to happen. People are always going to disagree with her because she's a woman. I want to protect her from that but I know I can't. I can just hope she's strong enough to handle it." I had started ranting without even realizing it. "Austin, when she got hit, it felt like my world stopped." I could feel all the feelings I felt when she got hit resurfacing as I was ranting. "Why don't you tell her how you feel Dansby?" Austin asked, looking at me as I put my head in my hands. "I don't want to scare her away. I can tell she's been burned before and I don't want to burn her too," I said, looking back up. "If you're honest with her, I don't think you will. Anyone can see how much you care for her Dansby. You just need to show her now because I don't think she sees it," Austin said as we both stood up and he gave me a hug as we walked towards where Ashlyn was together.

Ashlyn's dad was in there talking to Snit when we walked in. "Are you staying at the house again tonight son?" he asked me. "I was going to see if I could so I could make sure Ashlyn is okay," I replied, standing there awkwardly. "Well of course you can. I saw how you rushed over when she got hit. You care for her," he said shaking my hand before turning back to talk to Snit. "I told you everyone could see but her," Austin muttered as Ashlyn's mom, brother, and sister-in-law walked in. I could hear Shane fussing from across the room, so I caught Austin up with parts of the situation between Ashlyn and her family.

"I couldn't imagine growing up like that," Austin muttered as they walked up. "Yeah, me either. My parents care about me but it doesn't seem like hers really do. Well except her dad," I said as Snit kept talking to Ashlyn's family about different things. I noticed that Ashlyn's dad would talk freely till her mom walked in the room. Then he wouldn't talk as much and would just stand there.

When they finished talking, Ashlyn's dad asked me to make sure she got home because they were going to get food with Shane and Sharon. "Yeah, I've got her," I said nodding to him as he reluctantly walked away. I crouched down next to Ashlyn and tapped her arm. "Hey, you're gonna have to wake up," I said softly, getting a small "mmm" out of her but her eyes never opened. "She does not wake up easy does she?" Austin asked watching me as I stood back up. "Not at all," I said laughing as I reached down to pick Ashlyn up. When I got her in my arms, her legs and arms wrapped around my body, holding up part of her weight. "Are you awake?" I asked looking at her head. "Maybe but I want you to carry me," Ashlyn said putting her head between my head and shoulder. "Fine, do you want food on the way home?" I asked as me and Austin laughed at Ashlyn wanting to be carried. "It doesn't matter I'm not hungry," she said, sounding muffled. "Okay me either," I said as we got to my truck. "Let me grab that door," Austin said, reaching past me and getting the passenger door open so I could sit Ashlyn in. "Thanks man," I said shutting her door as we walked over to the other side of my truck. "Yeah of course. Now don't forget what we talked about earlier," he said, looking at me before walking to his truck. I stood there for a second before getting in my truck and looking at Ashlyn.

"Are you okay?" she asked, turning to look at me. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I asked pulling out of my parking spot. "I don't know, you just seem like there's something on your mind," she said, shrugging as she closed her eyes again. "Actually I do have something but we can talk about it tomorrow when you feel better," I said pulling out on the road. "No what is it?" Ashlyn said raising up and looking at me. "You're not going to stop are you?" I asked, laughing at her. "No not till you tell me," she said staring at me.

"Um I don't really know how to ask Ashlyn. We can just talk about it tomorrow," I said, feeling my face turn red. "You think you're going to know how to ask tomorrow any better than you do now?" she asked continuing to watch me. "Ashlyn-" I started, as we pulled into her driveway and I turned at looked at her watching me. "Just tell me Dansby," "I'm not good with words so I'll just show you," I said leaning over and placing a soft, delicate kiss on Ashlyn's lips. When she didn't pull away, I reached over and grabbed her hands before holding the back of her head, deepening the kiss. "Wow," is all Ashlyn said as I pulled away. "I'm sorry that was stupid," I said as I came over to Ashlyn's door and helped her out of the truck. "It was not stupid and it was really good," she said grabbing my hand as we walked towards the door. "Oh really?" I said as she unlocked the door and walked inside. "Yeah. Now come on let's go to bed," she said, tilting her head up and kissing me again.

About 30 minutes later, Ashlyn's family got home. She had fell asleep with me holding her, but I couldn't sleep so I was watching tv when Shane stuck his head in her door and looked at me with disgust in his face. "She's not going to stay with you man. I can't even remember how many people she's dated," "Shane go to bed and leave them alone," I could hear Ashlyn's dad call out from the living room before coming into Ashlyn's room and walking over to her side of the bed. "Don't let everything with our family mess y'all up. I can tell y'all are perfect together," he said, sounding sad as he looked at Ashlyn laying in my arms. "Are you okay?" I asked, remembering Ashlyn's concerns earlier. "I just don't know how to tell her I'm sick," he said as tears came down his face. "Just take care of her will you?" he said as I nodded and he walked back out of the room. 

So her dad wasn't okay but hadn't said anything. I just hugged Ashlyn closer to me before drifting off to the sounds of the tv.