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"No, no I have a machine in the other room As the team’s physician, I’m responsible for Jack’s condition and his recovery It’s o anywhere else?" Since I’d never thought this through, I didn’t knoorked when a ly, I’d assuular hospital, like norain, the team chartered their own co about this lifestyle was normal

"If I’m on the road with the team, one of my trainers will be here to help you, so no You should never have to take Jack anywhere other than here"

The Mets organization cared about Jack’s recovery, so I allowed ht that he would be taken care of by the people ere invested in him the et him healed

"If you’ll excuse us, Mrs Carter, we’ll only be a minute" The doctor o see e’re dealing with, Jack"

I paced the floor, one hand tugging at my lips from nervous habit I wanted to call Dean, but knew he’d ask me questions I didn’t have the answers to So I waited to call anyone until I hada hand that required surgery was another

A few minutes later, Jack exited theI felt his heart racing as our chests pressed together "I love you, Kitten" He gave me a quick kiss, then released me and hopped back onto the exaers had taken on a purplish tint and were swollen to a ridiculous size The sight of it aze away

"I love you too" I wanted to sayrazed across the ball chain necklace that lay there I glanced down at the key attached andthem across the etched letters for comfort

Between the lies from Chrystle and the brutality froo when I felt like iventhat Jack was experiencing the saht about now, I realized this was the right time to pass the necklace on, as was intended

I reached around the back ofit over my head When I lowered the necklace around Jack’s neck, he looked up at me, his face pale and strained with pain, and raised his eyebrows at ainst his sweaty white T-shirt before he glanced down at it With his uninjured hand, he lifted the key and flipped it to the stath"

"You need thisa kiss on his scruffy cheek "We’ll get through this No h that door, we’ll get through this"

I tried to sound positive and strong, butIf Jack lost baseball because of this, I wasn’t sure he’d ever get over it His self-ie, his hopes and dreaaain, I had no idea how he’d process that loss

The sound of the door creaking open caused lance behind ainst the floor as Dr Evans walked in our direction, a sery and it’s not shattered" I exhaled a huge sigh of relief and watched Jack do the same as the doctor continued "You do have multiple fractures, however, here and here" He pointed at areas on the x-rays as Jack tensed beside et you in a cast i will I be out?" Jack asked, his face turning even whiter

"Minimum, six weeks It could have been a lot worse Frankly, I’m surprised it isn’t"

I watched as Jack flexed his jaw and worked to keep his emotions in check He didn’t like that answer, but there was no answer that Jack would have liked One day not playing baseball was one day too many for him Six weeks probably sounded like a death sentence

"I can’t leave " Jack shook his head as he mumbled, "I can’t let theed "You’re not letting theet better Six weeks is better than six ht? Let’s take it one day at a time"

The pained look in his eyes infor but easy

I’ Dr Evans tellscream But I didn’t screaht noith a broken fucking hand, I couldn’t hit anything

A h my head at once

Why the fuck did I stick ht ht back at theht? What if they find so tiain after this? I didn’t want to get hurt I just want to play baseball What if I can’t play anyet where I am, I don’t want to lose it I’m a ball player, that’s what I a baseball?

It was one thing when it was your choice to leave the only job in this world you could see yourself doing, but being forced to quit was another The truth was that it was rarely ever your choice to leave

I sucked in a breath, took one look ather by the hand, I pulled her forcefully out of the locker room

"Jesus, Jack, stop That hurts" She jerked her hand frorip and I winced

"Sorry, Kitten I just want to get out of here"

She looked atexploded The last thing I needed right noasat me with pity "Don’t look at me like that," I ordered

"Like what?" She stopped walking and tilted her head at ly

"Liketo be okay"