Chapter Text
They were in Colorado playing the Rockies. It had been two weeks since the almost no-hitter, and he hadn’t seen Baker once. His mood was the worst anyone had ever seen it. With Blip working through his own issues the team appointed Sonny to talk to Mike. Mike went on and on about the fight he had had with Rachel. They were over, really over this time. He hoped that talk of his ex was enough to hide the woman who was really on his mind.
“Mike, it sounds to me like you need to get back on the horse?” Sonny said finishing his drink.
“Get back on the horse?”
“So things didn’t work out with you and the ex again, so what? You’ve been through this before. We all know you could go home with half the women in here tonight. We’ve seen you do it. So, quit whining, and go meet someone.”
“Oh sure, a snap, go find the one person in the world who fills your heart with joy…”
“Have I ever met someone like that? Have you?” Sonny asked, completely befuddled by the idea. Mike on the other hand had a very specific person in mind. She was stubborn and pushy and kind and beautiful. He honestly couldn’t imagine his life without her anymore.
When they got back to San Diego a few days later he went by the Omni, but they told him she had checked out. Then he called Amelia, but she told him Ginny had fired her the day of the almost no-hitter. Floundering, he finally called Evelyn.
“She got an apartment,” Evelyn said as soon as she answered the phone. “I’ll text you the address.”
“Hey, are you ok?” Mike asked.
“I’m getting there, but Ginny has a cold on top of everything else, and I think she could use a little company right about now.”
“Alright, well I’m here for you Ev. Always. You are the little sister I never had, so just let me know.”
There was a moment were he had to look at his phone to make sure she hadn’t hung up, but then finally she said. “Thanks, Mike. That means a lot to me. Now, go take care of my girl so I can focus on my stuff.”
“Yes ma’am.”
An hour later he had stopped by several different stores, but he finally had everything he needed. He pushed the button next to the appartment 3b blank.
“Who is it?” Came the garbled voice of Ginny Baker.
“It’s me, Baker.”
“What are you doing here?”
“You want to let me up?”
“No, I don’t think that that is a good idea because I have a… I have a terrible cold,” she sneezed loudly, “I’m sniffling, and I’m not really awake and I’m… uh…”
As she was talking another tenant walked up, punched in the code for the gate and then held it for him as he was laden with several bags and a large bouquet of flowers.
She was still talking through the com, when he knocked on her door, scaring the heck out of her. When she didn’t answer right away, he knocked again.
“Just a second,” she sniffled. Throwing a large hoodie over her pajamas and trying to quickly throw away the mountain of tissues that had piled up on her coffee table.
“Hey,” he sighed when she finally opened the door looking like death warmed over.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
“I heard you were sick, and I was worried,” he shrugged. Seeing all the stuff in his arms, she stepped back to allow him into the apartment
“You brought me bluebells?” She asked quietly, taking the flowers from the top of his stack.
“They’re your favorite. You said one day the smell reminded you of home. Though I guess if you got an apartment here, that means you are making this your home?” He asked hopefully.
“It’s a month to month, but rehab is here and they say they can have me up and running for spring training, so…”
They were interrupted by her stomach growling. Looking around the small apartment, Mike didn’t see a single dirty plate or bowl in sight. “When was the last time you ate, Rookie?”
She considered the question for longer than he thought possible. Her eyes sort of glazed over and it was almost like she was asleep on her feet. She swayed a bit, so he set his bags on the floor and ushered her to the couch.
“I guess it’s a good thing I came by, and that I hit Mama’s soup palace on the way over.” He teased more than a little concerned.
“I’m fine, I just need to sleep. Could you get me another blanket?”
“You got it, Baker.” He wandered through the apartment to the bedroom grabbing the comforter off the bed and then tucking it around her on the couch. Her skin was clammy to the touch and he wondered how much was the cold and how much was whatever was going on with her arm. “When was the last time you saw a doctor?”
“Ev took me the other day. They said it’s just a bad bug. You probably shouldn’t be here. Geriatrics are usually the most susceptible to these kinds of things.”
“Ha, ha,” he growled, though it made him feel a bit better that she was trying to joke. “I think you should try to eat something. I got your favorite purple gatorades and those popsicles you like too. And if none of that works for you we could order something.”
“I’ll try the soup,” she grumbled looking skeptical.
“You got bowls and spoons around here?” He asked. There were a few boxes in the bed room, but other than that it looked like she had yet to move in.
“Nope, I was supposed to go buy some stuff, but then I got sick and I just haven't felt up to it.”
“No problem, out of the carton it is,” he shrugged. She propped herself up a bit on the couch and he handed her the container of soup, only to realize that her arm was still in the sling under her hoodie. “I’ll hold the container, you work the spoon,” he decided. He sat next to her on the couch, with lap full of Ginny Baker legs and held the soup while she ate. Soon the container was empty.
“I guess I didn’t realize how hungry I was,” she said with a frown.
“There’s another container if you want?”
“Could you put it in the fridge for later?”
“You got it, and while I’m at it, do you have a vase for these?” He asked, picking up the flowers from the coffee table.
“You think I have a vase and not bowls?”
“You’re right. That was dumb, I’ll figure something out.” A few minutes later he came back with a tarnished old tea pot. “How bout this?”
“Must’ve been left by a previous tenant, but it should work.”
He disappeared into the kitchen, reappeared a few minutes later, putting the flowers on the coffee table along with a gatorade. Then went to put the things he had brought away. She was still staring at the tea pot when he came back.
“What is it, Baker? You don’t approve of my arranging skills?”
“What? No, they are beautiful. I love them. I was just thinking, what I really want right now is a cup of raspberry zinger tea.”
He laughed and she frowned at him.
“Why is that funny?”
“It’s not. Hold on.” He disappeared into the kitchen again and came back five minutes later with a steaming cup of raspberry tea and a honey bear.
“You got me a honey bear? You know it always tastes better…”
“From a honey bear, yeah, I know,” he laughed.
She drank her tea for a minute and he went back to sitting with her legs in his lap.
“What is it now?” He asked when he caught her staring, this time at him.
“Are you really here, or is this an elaborate fever dream?”
He pinched her leg and she yelped, nearly spilling her tea.
“Not cool, man. I get it, you’re real, but how did you know where I live or that I was sick? Not to mention, you know everything in the Ginny Baker Cold care package?”
“Evelyn to the first two. She says she will try to make it by tomorrow and as to the last thing, you talk a lot, Baker. I actually listen.”
“But why are you here?”
“I didn’t like how we left things. I get that we have to maintain certain boundaries, because we’re teammates, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends too. Does it?”
“You never came to see me after…” she gestured vaguely to her arm.
“I didn’t think you’d want me around, after everything.”
“I always want you,” she whispered, her eyes suddenly very serious.
“Yeah, me too.” He agreed. For a moment they just stared, lost in what the future might be, by then he shook himself. “But for now, teammates and friends.”
“Teammates and Best Friends.”
“You got it, Rookie.”