The Home Run

You Can't Leave...

Izzy's POV

       "You've only been here for a week! You can't leave!" I said, pushing Danny playfully as we walked out of the church.
       "I would love to stay, but you know I can't," he said, trying to calm me down.
       "I didn't play baseball for four days to visit with you." I ran my fingers through my hair, "You can't leave!"
        "Hermanita, look at me." he leaned down a bit so he could be at my height, "I leave tomorrow afternoon. I'm still here."
       "Yeah for now." I complained, "I don't want anything to happen to you."
       "Come here." he embraced me and I hid my face in his chest. On the outside, he was a soldier and I was a teenager who played baseball. On the inside, we were both still little kids who didn't want to be without each other.
       "Can't you just stay a little longer?" I asked, looking at his uniform.
       "I wish I could, hermanita," he said, hugging me tighter.
       "Isabel, Daniel, Come here." my mom said, "We've gotta get ready for tonight."
       "What's tonight?" I asked.
       "Mom's having the Rodriguez's over for a cookout. It's like my going away party." Danny said, putting me in a headlock and walking to the car.
       "So Benny's coming over?" I asked, happily.
       "Yes," he said, messing up my hair.
       "Stop," I said, getting out of his hold.
       "You love it. Admit it," he said, as we got to the car.
       "Sure, Danny." I rolled, my eyes laughing, and getting into the car.

*~*

       We finished eating dinner in the backyard just as the sun was getting ready to set. Our parents went inside to have pie and coffee while Danny came up to me as I finished cleaning the table.
       "Give me the plates. I'll take them inside." he looked in the house then whispered, "The ladder is on the side of the house. Go watch the sunset with Benny."
       "Why?" I asked.
       "Because I can tell you like him. I saw the way you two were looking at each other for all of dinner." Danny said, walking away from me as Benny walked up to me.
       "What was he sayin'?" Benny asked, "You're blushing like crazy."
       "Nothin'. Um... do you wanna watch the sunset?" I asked, not being able to deny my bothers comment.
       "Sure," he said.
       "C'mon," I said, instinctively grabbing his hand and leading him to the side of the house. I looked at the ladder and shook it to be sure it was sturdy, "Ladies first." I said, smiling.
       "Age before beauty," he said, smiling back.
       "But I'm younger than you. So are you calling me a beauty?" I asked, my heart fluttering.
       "Well, I mean, you are cute," Benny said, nervously.
       "So are you." I smiled, blushing. Benny smiled and blushed too. We began climbing the ladder to the roof and sat facing the sunset.
"You know any cheesy sunset quotes?" I asked, looking at him.
"No. You?" he asked, laughing a bit.
"Yeah." I smiled, "Elvis once said 'Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away,'."
"That's deep," Benny said.
"It's Elvis. Of course, it's deep." I smiled as we both looked to the sky.
       "Woah." Benny and I said in unison. We took in the beautiful view over the Valley. The stunning red and orange started turning a purple and pink color.
       "It's amazing," I said, leaning my head on Benny's shoulder.
       "Yeah," he said, putting his head on mine and his arm around my shoulder.

*~*

       "Please don't leave!" I begged, holding Danny tight, as he put his bags in the car.
       "Hermanita, stop," he said, holding me.
       "Danny, please don't go!" I broke, "I can't take these beatings anymore." he sat me down on the curb and sat next to me as I kept going, "I can't watch mom cry anymore. I can't keep pretending we're okay. We're not! When you're here, he stops drinking. When you're here, he doesn't hit us."
       "It's because he knows I'll do something about it. Look, I know the police won't do anything because they're such good friends with him, but I need you to stay strong. I just have a few more years then, I'll be home. Maybe sooner. I promise." he said, holding out his pinky.
       "You better be." I said, hooking my pinky with his, "I want us to make more promises."
       "Okay." he nodded, "Like what?"
       "We have to write to each other as often as possible." I thought for a minute, "And you have to stay as safe as you can."
       "Done." he said, "My turn."
"Oh, boy." I gave him weak smile.
"You have to tell me everything that happens between you and Benny," he said, chuckling.
       "Nosey," I said, hitting him playfully with my free hand.
       "I want you to keep me updated on baseball things, school, friends, all that stuff because I actually care." he said, seriously, "And I want you to stay strong, hermanita, because when you're strong. I'm strong. Okay?"
       "Done," I said. We let each other's pinky go and stood up.
       "I'm gonna miss you," he said, hugging me tightly.
       "I'm gonna miss you too," I said, holding him. He tried to break the hug, but I didn't let him go.
       "C'mon, Hermanita. I've gotta go." he said, his voice cracking, "Benny. Benny, come here."
       "Yeah?" Benny asked, walking up to us as he put his glove and bat down. He had just gotten back from the Sandlot.
       "You take care of my sister. You hear me?" Danny said.
       "Yeah. Of course." Benny said.
       Danny quickly moved my arms off him and pushing me into Benny, "I've gotta go."
       "No. Danny." I said, crying and trying to get out of Benny's hold, but he was stronger than me, "Benny, let me go..."
       "No, Izzy, he's going to be okay," Benny said, tightening his hold around my waist.
       "Danny..." I watched him get in his car with tears in his eyes. He started the car quickly and drove off. Benny loosened his hold on me and I fell to my knees feeling defeated.
       "Izzy?..." Benny asked, kneeling next to me.
"Do you know what it's like to lose somebody that you love?" I asked, feeling broken.
       "No. God, I hope I never do," he said, moving closer to me and hugging me.
       "Oh, god. Benny this hurts." I said, wrapping my arms around his neck.
       He held me in his arms. It felt like he wanted to do something, but couldn't. He held me tightly as I cried on his shoulder.
       "Hey, it's okay." Benny said, rubbing my back, "He's going to be okay."
       "You know when you just have a bad feeling in your gut?" I asked, looking him in the eyes, "I've got that. Right now. I don't think he's gonna be okay, Benny."
       "Are you kidding? Your brother is one of the strongest, most bravest people I've ever met. He'll be okay. If anything does happen, which is very unlikely, but if anything does happen. You have me and the guys. You got your mom. You got my parents. We all will take care of you and help you."
       "Thank you, Benny," I said, as we stood up.
       "Of course," he said, hugging me tightly.
       We stood like that for what felt like forever, then I felt Benny take a deep breath. He planted a kiss on my forehead. A small smile played on my lips as I looked at him.
       "You gonna be okay?" he asked.
       "As long as I have you." I replied, "I'll see you tomorrow."
       "Okay. Bye, Izzy."
       "Bye, Benny."

A/N:
R.I.P. Stan Lee. I was absolutely heartbroken at the news and still am.
Rest easy Stan Lee.