Love Prevails (Kris Bryant)

52| Biggest Fans

Kris

McKayla and I sit in a hotel in San Fran trying to find ways to relax, we needed one more win to move to the NLCS and I would like for it to happen sooner rather than later. Last night we fell just short in the thirteenth inning, even after I tied it back up in the ninth to keep our chances to clinch yesterday alive. But the comeback was unsuccessful as they walked it off. So the next morning I decide to sleep in the best I can. I woke up a few times throughout the night when Kenzie did but it wasn't too bad.

"Shhhh baby girl, daddy needs to rest" Kayla whispers walking around the hotel room calming the baby. She's been trying to make it so my job as a father wasn't such a heavy load, and as great as that is I love doing daddy duty and she's out here working too.

"It's okay babe, I was supposed to get up now anyway" I assure her. I roll out of bed and find them bouncing around the kitchen. McKayla looked dead tired and so did McKenzie. I figured they've been up for a while, how long a while would be is beyond me.

"Why don't you go take a nap, I'll take care of her" I suggest.

"I'll get some coffee and I'll be fine. You have a big game today and I have a meeting with Kyle and Anthony before the game so there's not time for a nap. But you know what would make me really happy" she asks with a smirk.

"Name it."

"You kick ass so we can go home and sleep all day tomorrow" she begs and I crack a smile.

"I'll see what I can do."

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

We arrive at the field as McKayla wears McKenzie on her chest. She was wearing one of those things that lets you carry your kid like a backpack and Kenzie loved it. It gave her a chance to see what we see and she couldn't have enough of it.

"Well if it isn't KB with big and little Mac" Joe say slapping my back.

"Hey Joe, ready to go" I ask and he looks at me over his glasses. Such a quirky dude.

"Are you questioning me Silk" he asks and I turn to McKayla with a playful look on my face.

"Really, you told him about my childhood nickname" I ask with a laugh.

"At our meeting the other day we were talking about nicknames and that might have came up" she shrugs.

"At least it's better than Grandpa" I mutter as David flips me off.

"I could have said Breezy but I'm the only one aloud to call you that" she claims before kissing my cheek. She disappears with Kyle for their meeting and I head to change into my uniform. I run into Anthony on my way and we get ready together.

"Excited for another big game" he asks.

"Always ready. The harder the pressure the better the diamond" I claim.

"Ain't that the truth" he agrees. We get ready and take the field to make history happen.

Come game time things weren't looking too good. We find ourself in the ninth needing a miracle. I look into the dugout as I warm up swings and see McKayla with McKenzie still on her chest. She was wearing the soundproof headphones and a personalized Bryant onesie, it was adorable. She was looking around trying to figure out what's going on while McKayla watched over her proudly. I look out at all the fans in the crowd and realized that I shouldn't do it just for them. Because at the end of the day, win or lose, they aren't the ones I'm coming home to. They're not going to love me no matter the outcome. Those girls who are behind me 100%, I want to do this for all fans, but especially my biggest ones. I step up to the plate and look out to the field. Their relief pitching was bad and this is my chance to do something, make them feel the pressure. I take the first pitch for a strike and pelt the next one for a single. They change pitchers and Anthony draws a walk behind me. After him Big Ben comes up. One thing I love about this team is that this line up doesn't get easier. Give us a little and we'll take a lot. Ben hits a double off the outfield wall bringing me and Anthony in and Ben to second. Once again they change pitchers and once again our persistence prevails. Willson continues the gun show with a RBI single and this game was now tied at four with no outs. We were feeling good knowing that they had to be feeling uncomfortable by now. I sit next to McKayla in the dugout just like old times, but we had someone pretty cool with us this time.

"We're proud of you" she smiles raising Kenzie's hands above her head as if she was cheering. I tickle her side and she lets out a laugh.

"I did it for you guys. I mean I did it for everyone, but especially for you" I admit.

"Well we appreciate it. Because of us you guys are going to win now" she says.

"What makes you think that" I question. A second later there's a loud crack of the bat and Javy brings Jason home and we now have the lead.

"It's creepy how you do that" I admit and she shrugs.

"I've been here too long not to know things" she smiles. The game ends and we clinch the NLDS with a 1-2-3 inning from Chapman spitting straight fire. We celebrate on the field but McKayla stays back. Kenzie had fallen asleep and she wanted her to get some rest. I look around at the stunned crowd. We just did something that if 100 people were asked if that was possible 99 of them would say no. And that it made it all the sweeter was having my two biggest fans cheering me on.