Chapter Text
"Michael who?" Madison Bumgarner looked at Hunter Pence. They were sitting on Hunter’s couch in his Texas home in the middle of December.
"Michael Morse according to Sabean."
"Who is that?" Madison was looking at his phone not his teammate.
"Played for the Nats and the Mariners, power hitter."
"We need that."
"I know, he's my age but I don't really know much about him."
"Well find out about him man." Madison smiled.
"Yeah cause I have nothing to do because its December." Madison laughed hard. Hunter started tapping on the phone screen and showed it to his ace.
Madison made a face, "looks your opposite."
"Yeah but from what I know he isn't quiet."
"So your opposite in looks and my opposite in personality."
"Yeah." Hunter wondered about the new left fielder himself but his pitcher was showing interest which was amusing.
"So we get Huddy and this guy."
"Yeah. Be interesting come February."
"Hudson is good stuff."
"Fuck yeah he is." Hunter moved the screen around on his phone and showed it to his pitcher again.
"That is like further than anything."
"Definitely hits them far."
"How come I don't remember him?" Madison was ignoring his phone and looking at Hunter.
"His career path looks like its been a mess and injuries."
Madison shrugged and went back to looking at his own phone. New guys were either a blessing or a curse. The way Hunter talked about the left fielder it sounded like it was going to be a good fit. Tim Hudson was a good fit; Madison was not worried about him at all.
"So you get him first?" Hunter laughed.
"Doesn't have to be that way."
"Good because I want him first." Hunter's eyes were staring at his pitcher. "What?"
"You never want the new ones first, especially non-pitchers."
"First time for everything." Hunter was wondering what his pitcher saw. He looked at his phone again wondering but he didn't ask. There were things you just left alone.
"Then I will send him to you when he gets here."
"Here now?"
"Yeah cause I am used to being the one that gets the new guys.:"
"True since he's not a pitcher." Hunter was still looking at Madison wondering what the picture had that caught his eye. The man was confusing him, he liked blond guys and shorter guys. From the pictures Michael was none of these. The age difference didn't mean much at least. "So when's he going to be here? Does he have another half?"
"Tonight and yes."
"Okay. Just have to see." Hunter was laughing now.
"What?"
"You trying to be subtle."
"Stop." Madison shoved him slightly. They were friends nothing more but they both had their ways and they were open to each other despite the personality and age differences.
"No, so what is it?"
"What is what?"
"You have never asked me to let you have someone first that wasn't a pitcher, so what caught your eye?"
It was Madison's turn to laugh, "wouldn't you like to know." Hunter made a pouty face and Madison laughed harder. The interrelationships between the guys were kept out of the public eye. Buster was the leader, there was no denying that but it was Hunter that kept track of who was with who or who was just snuggling with the wife or girlfriend. New guys that were veterans would usually not have to be indoctrinated but it happened sometimes. Some just had slipped through or been on a club that was not close knit like they were here. "You didn't answer my question."
"He's supposed to land in an hour." Madison looked down and made a face, Hunter burst out laughing. "Since when do you care what you look like?"
"I don't do new people dressed like this, you know that." He rose and disappeared into the bedroom.
"So I should go get him or are we sending you?"
"We send me." Hunter just was mystified, Madison didn't hate new people, but he hated airports.
"Okay, I don't have his phone number but I do have flight info."
"Okay, I should be able to pick him out." Madison came out of the room put together, he wasn't dressed up as most would see it but for him he was since he wasn't in a t-shirt and worn out jeans and boots.
"I'll be back. Unless we stop for food then I might text or something."
"He was in San Francisco so a five hour plus flight so probably will have to do that."
Madison was messing with his hair and Hunter started laughing as he turned the TV on.
"What?" Hunter just shook his head and kept laughing.
"Go so he isn't wondering where someone is."
"Yeah." Madison left his right fielder on the couch to contemplate why he insisted on going.