It was a packed house in Yankee Stadium, and the tension was palpable. The Dodgers were up three games to one, just one win away from clinching the World Series, and Jack was starting Game 5. It was the opportunity of a lifetime—he had a chance to make history for his team and etch his name into the record books. But things hadn’t gone according to plan.
Jack’s stomach churned as he sat in the dugout, replaying the early innings in his head. He’d only lasted two innings and had given up four runs, two from homeruns. It was a shaky start, one he hadn’t seen coming. He’d tried to brush it off, to focus on every pitch and get back into the game, but the Yankees were relentless. By the time he’d been pulled, the Dodgers were down four to nothing. He watched helplessly as Doc handed the ball over to the bullpen, frustration gnawing at him. The innings that followed were an emotional rollercoaster as the Dodgers fought to stay in the game.
But then, in the fifth inning, something amazing happened. The Dodgers had finally found a chink in the Yankees’ defense, capitalizing on a few crucial errors and sparking a comeback. The crowd fell into tense silence as the Dodgers’ bats came alive, capitalizing on every slip-up and missed catch. By the time the fifth inning was over, the Dodgers had tied the game and the dugout was electric with hope.
Jack tried to join in on the energy, high-fiving his teammates and cheering with every hit and run. On the outside, he looked like he was having a great time, but deep down, his bad start was still eating away at him. He knew he should be celebrating with the team, should be focused on the win that seemed so close now, but he couldn’t shake the weight of those four runs he’d given up.
As the game reached its final inning, he looked up to the stands, scanning for you. You had come all the way to New York to support him, braving the diehard Yankees crowd, and he knew you'd been watching every pitch, every out. It was a huge comfort knowing that you were here, but he also felt a pang of guilt knowing you’d seen him struggle on one of the biggest stages of his life.
Finally, the last out was called, and the Dodgers won the World Series. The players rushed onto the field, celebrating their victory and the fact that they were taking home the World Series title home. Jack joined his teammates on the field, doing his best to match their enthusiasm, but he couldn’t completely shake the doubt gnawing at him. He knew he’d be happy about the win eventually, but for now, his early struggle felt like a dark cloud hanging over his head.
As the celebration continued, he spotted you making your way down toward the field. You waved at him, your face lighting up as your eyes met, and Jack’s heart warmed a little despite his lingering frustration. He wove through the crowd of players, coaches, and reporters until he finally reached you and without a second thought, he wrapped you in a tight hug.
“Hey, superstar,” you said softly as you held him close. You could sense the mix of emotions radiating from him, even as he tried to hide it.
“Hey,” he replied, his voice muffled against her shoulder. For a moment, he just stayed like that, letting your warmth and steady presence ground him. He pulled back slightly, giving you a weak smile. “I… I don’t even know what to say. We won, but…” He trailed off, not sure how to explain the knot of emotions inside him.
You tilted your head, studying his face. You could see the strain in his eyes, the tension that hadn’t faded even after the final out. “Jack,” you said gently, reaching up to place your hand on his cheek. “I know tonight didn’t go the way you wanted it to. But you’ve been a huge part of this team’s success all year. Tonight’s just one night out of so many amazing starts you’ve had. Just look at what you did during game one. I’m so proud of you.”
He sighed, glancing away as he tried to process your words. “But four runs in two innings, Y/N. That’s…” He shook his head, frustration flashing in his eyes. “It’s not what I wanted. I wanted to put the team in a better position.”
You took his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Jack, you don’t have to carry this all on your shoulders. Baseball is a team game, and you did your part. You’ve been incredible all season, and that’s not erased by one bad start. The team wouldn’t be here without you.”
He looked back at you, a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. “I just… I just wanted to be better, for you, for the team. I wanted to show everyone what I could do. And instead, I left the bullpen with a mess to clean up.”
“And they did, didn’t they?” you pointed out, a gentle smile on your face. “Your team stepped up because they believe in you, Jack. You’re part of a team, and you don’t have to be perfect every single game. They’ve got your back, just like you’ve had theirs all season.”
A slow smile began to spread across his face as your words sank in. He squeezed your hand, nodding slightly. “You’re right. I just… I don’t know, I get in my head about it.”
You stepped closer, wrapping your arms around him and resting your head on his shoulder. “That’s because you care so much. And that’s why I love you. But, Jack, you don’t have to prove anything to anyone—not to me, not to the team, and not to yourself. I’m proud of you, whether you pitch a shutout or give up a hundred runs. You’ve done so much just to get here.”
He wrapped his arms around you, letting your words wash over him. Slowly, the weight on his chest began to lift, and he found himself able to breathe a little easier. “Thank you,” he murmured, pulling you even closer. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that, because I’m not going anywhere,” you replied softly. You pulled back just enough to look up at him, your eyes warm with affection.
Jack nodded, feeling a new sense of calm settle over him. With you by his side, he felt a renewed sense of confidence and strength. This was the love and support he needed, the reminder that baseball wasn’t everything, that there was more to life than one bad game.
The two of you had stood there for a while longer, holding each other as the rest of the stadium began to empty out. His teammates were still celebrating, the lights above the field casting a soft glow over them, and he finally allowed himself to smile.
“Alright,” he said, pulling back with a playful smirk. “Enough about me. How about you? How was it being surrounded by all those Yankees fans?”
You laughed, your eyes twinkling. “It was a little intimidating, I’m not going to lie. I think I saw one guy glare at me every time I cheered for you. But it was worth it to see you out there. Even if it didn’t go exactly as planned, it was still amazing to watch.”
He laughed, the sound coming easier now. “You’re braver than I am"
The both of you laughed, feeling the tension of the night finally slip away. "Go on pretty boy, go party with your team, you earned it" you said patting his chest.
Jack looked at the rest of team piling into the clubhouse before looking back at you hesitantly. "Jack, go this is your day, you've dreamed of this day since you were a kid, I'll be with the other WAGS" you smiled softly at him.
Jack smiled at you, giving you one last kiss before running off to the clubhouse.
Requested by codybellinger12 I hope you enjoy. Thank you so much for reading and requesting. Part 2 of the parade coming soon, featuring drunk Jack because we all know he wasn't sober during that parade. Please feel free to leave a request.
