Rating: PG-13
Summary: Glav POV, Maddux comforts after Glavine reveals his impending BR>divorce
Notes: This is when I get more AU...
As the last reporter eases his way out of the locker room, I sigh. They've
been all over me after today's game. Not that I blame them - hey, 7 hit
shutout for my 50th complete game isn't really something to sneer at. It's
really a sigh of relief that since they are gone I can go soon. And with
the looks that Maddy keeps shooting me from across the room, it's a good
thing they left. They may've picked up on the vibes alone.
He's completely innocent, of course, unaware of the effect he has on me. He
has no idea that if he asked me to, I'd throw away my career, my future
spot in the Hall of Fame, even my family, if it meant I could be with him.
However, since doing so would require he do the same, it'll never
happen. I'd never bring it up. If he wasn't in baseball, he'd be
miserable, and that wouldn't do either of us any good. I guess I don't
rely on the game the same way he does.
I do rely on him, though, and his attention has turned elsewhere for the
moment. Unobserved, I watch him. He's obviously talking baseball,
demonstrating something to Marc Giles, as the rookie looks on, intrigued.
I can't help my small smile. I am interrupted by someone stepping into my
line of vision.
"Not to bother you or anything..." I look up at John Smoltz, one of my oldest
friends, who sits beside me grinning. "Great game, Tommy. You looked good
out there today. You keep that up..."
"Thanks," I reply, darting my gaze between Smoltzy and my lover.
"Been awhile, eh?" he inquires, following my eyes.
I lean back against my locker and groan. "You have no idea." We've been apart
since...well, nearly since we returned from our road trip.
He stood again, clapped a hand on my shoulder, and wandered off. I finished
packing my bag, and shouldered it, hoping we could back and together
sooner rather than later.
As it turned out, it was later. My parents were in town to see me pitch, and
so I took them to dinner and to their hotel, sitting and answering
questions about my life and listen to them gush over my pitching, unaware
of the secret I'd been hiding for several days now. Of course, if I hadn't
told Greg, it wasn't likely I'd be telling them. It was nearly midnight
when I rapped lightly on his door. He was in my arms the minute I closed
the door behind me, lips on mine, kissing me senseless. "God, Tommy," he
whispered. "It's been forever. I don't feel like I've even talked to you
lately."
"You haven't," I mutter back, steering him towards the bed and relieving him
of several articles of clothing along the way.
"God, I'm sorry," he muttered, running his hands over my bare skin, soon
replacing his fingers with his mouth. "I love you, Tommy, I really do."
I snort with laughter, realizing the irony of our conversation. "You know,
just a month ago we were in the complete opposite situation. I was the one
adament about being apart at home, and you kept on breaking the rules.
What's changed?" I knew.
"I dunno, Tommy. Our record? I haven't felt much like doing anything after
some of these past few games."
I was silent a few moments, relishing in the feel of his lips, his skin on
mine. Finally, I quietly stated what I'd been meaning to tell him for
several days. "I'm getting a divorce."
His hands still as he looks up at me in shock. Then he rolls onto his back and
pulls me against him in a comforting embrace. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
I shrug. "It isn't your fault. It's just...not working. She doesn't trust me,
and I feel guilty about her being sort of right, but...it's just not
working. I'm not really upset anymore...just kind of resigned."
He still holds me tighter. "I'm sorry I haven't been around"
"I forgive you," I grin, twisting in his grasp. "On one condition."
"And what might that be?" he says, his face a mask of innocence.
"Fuck me, hard. Now. I want you."
He can't control his shiver at my tone, as I intended. "Yes," he whispers, and
does.
When we are still, tangled together, unlikely to move until morning, I realize
he has managed to tire me, which I wouldn't have thought possible. Not
with my mind racing like it was. But I guess contentment of my body
overrode my brain's demands tonight. He looks up at me, trailing his
fingers down my chest, kissing my shoulder. "You know I'll be here for
you, right? Through all of this?"
"I know. It makes it bearable."
He sighs, and closes his eyes, and soon his even breathing lures me into sleep
as well.