Work Text:
As Greta approaches the house after returning from the bar, she sees Jo sitting on the front porch steps.
The tip of the cigarette Jo is smoking flickers in the darkness as she takes a drag on it.
“Finally! You’re going to get in trouble if you miss curfew, you know,” Jo says, in a way that unpleasantly reminds Greta of a tone her mother would use when she was frustrated with her. “I know what you're doing; I saw you leave with that soldier. How could…”
“Gosh, you’re right, Joey, it's almost curfew," Greta says calmly, cutting off Jo before she finishes. "We better get back to our rooms. We need to rest up for practice tomorrow.”
"Okay, fine, Bird, we can talk about it tomorrow. But we're definitely going to talk about it."
Greta quickly walks up the stairs past Jo. She doesn't want to dampen the excitement that was still buzzing in her body from kissing Carson by getting into an argument. Better to wait to talk to Jo until they've both sobered up.
//
The following morning, Greta steers clear of Jo at breakfast and avoids her in the locker room while they change for practice.
Jo finally corners her when the team is taking a lunch break.
“What the hell has gotten into you? The farm girl? Really?”
“She’s not actually from a farm, Jo."
“That’s besides the point! She’s married. And more importantly, she’s our teammate! Why would you do something that risky?”
“Okay, first of all, I haven’t really done anything with her yet. I just kissed her last night. Briefly. And you know what? She kissed me back. That’s it. I don’t yet know for sure if she's interested in women that way.”
“You seem to be hellbent on finding out. What if she reports you to Sarge or someone else?”
“Oh, come on, Joey," Greta scoffs, shaking her head. "Shaw isn’t going to report me. She’s too sweet and innocent to do something like that.”
“You don’t know her well enough to know what she might do.”
“Okay, let’s say she does decide to report me. Remember the rules? Who would believe it after I was seen going out with a man?”
“I don’t get it, Bird. Why are you so infatuated with Shaw?”
“I wish I could explain it. You know just as well as I do that attraction isn't logical or predictable. There’s a spark between me and Shaw. Maybe it’s that she’s so different from the people we grew up around. She’s not trying to step over other people to get something for herself. She’s here because she loves baseball. ”
Jo throws up her hands. “Why do I even bother trying to protect you, Greta? You’re a player. Always have been, always will be."
"Am I the only one that's taken a risk because I was interested to someone? I seem to remember that we had to leave Boston in a hurry because you couldn't stay away from - what was her name - Betty? The blonde."
"Alright, fair enough. We've both taken risks. Can you promise me that you’re going to be more careful this time? God forbid that we get thrown out of the league because of your crush on Shaw.”
“I promise that I’ll be careful and follow the rules, Joey. Maybe nothing will happen between me and Shaw. If something does happen, it’s going to just be a fling. Nothing to worry about.”
“I certainly hope so.”