by me
Series: 1/4
Rating: R
Summary: A quick peek into the thoughts of eight couples - um, and that term is used loosely - before the playoffs begin.
Notes: Oakland and Minnesota were both written before that game started. Everyone else was obviously written before their games started. I'll admit to not knowing a whole lot about some of these guys....
******Atlanta*******
�You always pitch game one.�
�Well, not this time. You earned it. Besides, I get to chart your pitches for a change.�
�Hm. I�m going to bet you know where they�re going before they get there.�
�I am the genius.� They shared a laugh. �How are you going to pitch to Bonds?�
�I�m not.�
�How�re you going to pitch to Kent?�
�Away, away, away.�
�Stick to your stuff, baby. You�ll be fine.�
�I�m counting on some offensive support.�
�You�ll get it.�
�You think our bats will be on fire?�
�Oh, hell yeah. They�ll eat this Giant pitching staff alive.�
�I want another ring.�
�Something to remember Atlanta by.� Maddux�s arm went around Glavine�s shoulders. �Just in case.�
Glavine smiled, only a little sadly. �Just in case.�
********New York********
�I�m worried.�
��bout what?�
�That my pitching will suck.�
�You�ll be great, Moose.� Pettitte kissed his chest.
�I�m still afraid I won�t be.�
�We can beat the Angels.�
�I hope so.�
�We�re the Yankees, Moose. We are the team of October. We will win.�
�You promise?�
Pet was quiet for a long moment, and Mussina could feel his breath, warm against his skin. �I wish I could promise you this ring.�
�But it�ll be tough.�
�It will.�
�I have to win.�
�You will.� Pet kissed him again.
�Ok, then,� Mike said. �I�ll win. And then we�ll win the pennant. And then we�ll win the series. Eleven more wins.�
�Eleven more,� Pet echoed.
********Phoenix********
�Here we are again.� Grace sighed, looking out over the city lights and sipping his drink.
Finley studied him. �Yes. This year�s a little different.�
�Without Gonzo. Without Counsell.�
�Still, we�re here. And we have the Cardinals. Again.�
�But this time Randy�s handling Morris,� Grace pointed out. �And the Cardinals have been crazily good lately.�
�They have an extra force with them.�
�Yep,� Grace sighed again. �But we�ll still beat them. Nine on ten.�
They were both quiet, absorbing the beauty of the evening. �So, how�s your arm?�
Grace looked at him in surprise, but he knew Finley too well, and he noticed the slight grin that tipped him to which incident Steve was referring. Scowling, he fished a piece of ice out of his drink and lobbed it at Finley�s head. �Fuck you.�
�Again already?�
That earned him more ice, but they were both laughing. �I�m game if you are,� Grace finally said.
Steve raised his eyebrows, then sprang to his feet and went inside. Mark wasn�t far behind.
*****Oakland******
They all sat on the bench in front of Hudson�s locker, pressed together tightly enough that another couple millimeters and they�d be occupying the same space. �So which one of us is going to lose?� Mulder said.
�Sure as hell ain�t me,� Hudson muttered. �I ain�t losing Game one.�
�Well, I�m not going to lose Game two,� Mulder said. They both looked at Zito.
�Yes, because if you two win, I�m going to lose Game three. Right.� He rolled his eyes.
�We can�t win in four games unless one of us loses.� Mulder clutched the newspaper with the predictions.
�We ARE allowed to sweep, you know,� Chavvy muttered, wandering by.
They ignored him. �It doesn�t have to be us that loses,� Zito pointed out. �It could be the bullpen.�
Zito and Mulder both looked at Hudson. �Hey!� the righty protested, �just because they did it like ten times in the regular season��
�I�m sorry!� chorused five or six members of the bullpen from various corners of the room.
Sighing, Zito snatched the paper from Mulder�s hand and ripped it in half. �Fuck it, let�s sweep.�
No one disagreed.
********San Francisco********
�Damn, JT.� Minor sat back against the headboard, trying to breath normally again.
Snow crawled up the bed and kissed Minor, then collapsed beside him. �Thank you, thank you.�
Damon ruffled his hair. �So�27 hours, 27 minutes.�
JT propped himself up one elbow. �D�ya think we�ll win?�
Minor shrugged. �Sure.�
Snow sighed. �I just don�t get our team. �Team�.�
�Everyone wants us to win for Barry. Like he�s the only one without a fucking ring.�
�Well, we ain�t winning it for him, we�re winning for ourselves.�
�Hmph. I think someday we should just let him go out and play every position and bat nine times and see what happens.�
Snow giggled. �That�d be funny.�
�But somehow I think it�ll be better for the team if everyone plays.�
�True. But it�d still be funny.�
�I�m glad you find me amusing.�
�Just remember. We win for us.�
*******Anaheim******
�There�s more pressure on you than me.�
�There is NOT. I pitch Game one. You have to play in every game and face Clemens and Pettitte and Mussina��
�Sh.� Eckstein glared at him across the romantic lighting of the restaurant table. �You�re facing Giambi and Jeter and Soriano��
�Ok, fine, so there�s a lot of pressure on both of us.�
Eckstein waved his hand flippantly. �Ah, what�s the Yankees in New York, anyway?�
Washburn grinned. �I�m not that nervous, though, Eck. I�m just psyched.�
�Awesome. You�re very special, then.�
Washburn stuck his tongue out at the sarcasm. �I know, I know.� They both giggled.
Eckstein reached across the table and clasped Washburn�s hand in his. �I want another shot at Oakland, anyway.�
�We�ll have it.�
�But, Jarr, win or lose�� he gave the pitcher a familiar look of affection.
Washburn nodded solemnly, meeting Eckstein�s eyes. �Win or lose.�
*******St. Louis*******
�So this is a good rematch, huh?� Rolen said to break the silence in the cab.
�I have Johnson this time,� Morris muttered, staring out his window.
�I remember last year. You pitched so well.�
�Not well enough.�
�Ah, Matt.�
�I had Darryl last year.�
�He�s still with you.�
Morris turned and met his eyes. �And I have you now?�
Rolen scooted closer. Their shoulders brushed. �You have my bat. You have my glove.� He lowered his voice to a whisper, his breath tickling Morris� ear. �And you have my heart.�
A smile spread across Morris� face and lightened Rolen�s heart.
�I will need all of them I think,� Matt said softly.
�I trust you, Matty. We all do.�
He nodded. �I won�t let you down.�
�You never could,� Rolen said simply.
********Minnesota*******
�Fuck, I�m so nervous.�
Koskie trailed his fingers down Radke�s spine. �You will be good.�
�Yeah�but so much is on me�the first game�the game we have to steal.�
�You�re going to have to relax, baby,� Koskie muttered, �or we�re not going to do anything.�
�I�m sorry, I just��
No, it�s ok, we�re all a little jittery. Just do what you always do. Throw your stuff and trust out defense.�
�Yeah, ok.�
�Ok?�
Radke took a deep breath, appreciating Koskie�s solid form pressing against him. �I�ll be fine.�
�Yes, you will. You�ll be great.�
Radke laughed a little. �It�s a good thing you�re around to pep-talk me.�
�It�s my pleasure.�
Radke rolled over so they were facing, and he gently captured the third baseman�s lips. �I love you.�
Koskie sighed, relaxing into the kiss and forgetting about nervousness. �I love you, too.�
TBC after the completion of all LDS games.