"I think I'm being handed a load of shit here." To the writer's surprise, Crystal reached out and slapped her thigh. "But thanks." She rubbed her hands together. "I think it's time for me to get to bed now."

Recognizing the brush off, Laura moved off the bed and stood up. "I'll see you in the morning then. Good night." It's all right if you want to stop now, she thought to herself. She felt a real sense of progress between them and was satisfied with that.

Laura pulled the Jeep into the parking lot, looking carefully for a safe, out of the way spot to park. "There's a spot over there next to Jenny's car," Crystal pointed out.

"Nope, too close to the fence. Have you seen the way they smack foul balls out here?"

"Oh, I thought you were afraid to get dust on it."

"Well, that too," Laura admitted, pulling into a shady spot near some trees. "Come on, you can watch us get our butts kicked by the Bees." "Good team, huh?"

"Best in the league and they know it." They stepped out of the Jeep and walked around to the back. Laura reached over the tailgate and retrieved her gear bag. "It's like Tinker to Evers to Chance only here it's Winters to Winters to Smith."

"Huh?"

"I guess you'd have to know baseball to understand that one. The Winters twins play short and second and it's almost a guarantee that any ball hit their way becomes an out if not a double play."

"Oh." Crystal shrugged her shoulders. "So we're really just here to get hot and dusty and lose?"

"Pretty much." She hefted the gear bag over her shoulder. "You get to carry the cooler."

"Gee thanks."

"Don't mention it." Laura used her shoulder to playfully nudge her roommate. "Now come on, it's time to watch the Airhearts give the Winters fielding practice."

Jenny smiled and waved when she saw the pair approach. She gave Laura and hug. "Glad you could make it," she said to Crystal, who stood just out of reach.

"Well I hear those two are something to watch out for." She pointed at the twins.

"Definitely. I have a feeling it'll be a quick game. What happened to your face?"

"Oh, um bad night at work. Laura, I'm going to get the cooler over there and claim my seat."

"Okay."

Jenny waited until the blonde woman was out of earshot before turning to Laura. "So what happened?"

Watching the retreating form heading for the bleachers, Laura leaned her forearms against the top rail of the chain link fence. "I hate that she works there. Some poor excuse for a man hit her last night."

"Oh my god, what happened?"

"She didn't give me all the details. Her face looks better today than it did last night. She was burned by a cigarette on her back too." "Was she?"

"No. This happened during one of her shows." Laura looked out at the field, dimly noting the yellow and black uniforms on the team throwing the balls around. "Jen, you should have seen her last night."

Jenny squeezed her shoulder. "How are you doing?"

"Me? I wasn't the one who got beat up." Taking off her cap, she sighed and began toying with the brim. "Sometimes she's a real pain but last night" Laura paused, licking her lips to give her time to collect her thoughts. "When I saw her face I couldn't believe it. How could someone do something like that to her?"

"Bad things happen to good people, Laur. That's a fact of life."

"I can't see how she can go back to work there after something like that happens."

"It's her job."

"She could find another job. I told her Michael was hiring. Maybe if she does that for a few days while she heals up she won't want to go back to working there."

"You can't plan on that." Jenny said. "You may not like what she's doing but you have to accept that it's her life to live. The best you can do is be there for her." The activity on the field changed as the excess balls were thrown in and the catcher settled into position. "Guess I'd better get out there and hope for a merciful pop out."

"I'd better get over there and check in with the coach," Laura said. "If you get thirsty Crystal's guarding the cooler."

"Oh good. I didn't even think of packing one today. Did you get ice water for me?"

"There's water, soda, juice and beer. I know, I know, letting her guard the cooler with beer in it is like letting the fox guard the hen house but there's a six pack in there. I doubt she can go through that in the course of a whole game."

Jenny sorted. "Uh huh, and dreams come true if you wish on the first star of the night."

"Yeah well" Laura reached over and tugged on the brim of Jenny's cap. "Thanks for listening."

"Anytime, hon. Wish me luck."

"With luck you'll strike out instead of hitting one right to them," Laura said, putting her cap on her head. "I on the other hand will hit every shot right into her glove."

"Which one?"

"I can never keep them straight which is Carol and which is Coral. The shortstop."

"That's Carol."

"Yeah, her. I swear she has a magnet in her glove and there's a steel slug in the middle of the ball." The women laughed and walked toward the dugout bench.

Jenny was up first and as expected, she hit a slow dribbler toward the shortstop. She jogged back to the dugout and hooked the knob of her bat through the one of the holes in the chain link fencing. "Well that was eventful," she said. Crystal walked over, beer in hand.

"I thought the i.e.was to hit the ball past them, not to them."

"Funny. Grab a bat and give it a shot, Smarty."

"Hey, Blondie, who got you?" Carmen said, sidling up alongside the stripper. She reached out and cupped Crystal's chin with her hand. "Damn girl, that's a beauty. Hey Taylor, don't you know how to treat a fine specimen like this?"

"I didn't do it," Laura answered, sliding a weight ring onto her bat. Curiosity caused several Airhearts to leave the bench and walk over to see Crystal's injury. Donna struck out with barely a notice and Toni's walk earned little more than a few half-hearted claps from her teammates. Drawing on her previous lie of working as a bartender, Crystal quickly made up a story about jumping into a fight between two drunks. Lisa's ground out ended the first half of the inning, forcing the Airhearts to stop their ogling of Crystal and pick up their gloves to defend against the Bee's bats.

"So what did Laura say to you about it?" Crystal asked, her voice carrying the short distance from the fence to first base. "She said you were going to be out of work for a few days," Jenny replied.

"Yup."

"How do you feel about what happened last night?"

Crystal shrugged. "I dunno. It's just something that happened. No biggie."

"Uh huh," Jenny said dubiously. "I always get smacked around at work." She interrupted the conversation to position herself to receive a relay throw from second. After the umpire called the Bee out, the first basemen threw the ball to the pitcher. "Are you going to give working for Michael a shot?" "I don't know. I don't think I can do that kind of work."

"I guess it's easier to give up without even trying than to take a chance, hmm?" Again their talk was disrupted by the ongoing game as the Bee's shortstop smacked a line drive past the third baseman. Within seconds Carol Winters rounded first and easily jogged into second. The other half of the Freeze Zone stepped up to the plate, taking a stance identical to the one her sister had just moments before.

"It won't look good if they trounce you right in the first inning, Doc."

"Hey Crystal? Bite me."

"Ooh, now there's an offer," one of the Airhearts sitting on the bench hooted.

Thunk. The softball and bat connected, this time sending the ball into left field. Laura reacted quickly, her cleats giving her much needed traction on the dry grass. With a lunge she was able to catch the ball but the resulting belly slide left her in no position to stop the lead runner from advancing to third. Aggravated, she brushed uselessly at the grass stains on her pants as she walked back to her position.

"What's she upset about?" Crystal asked. "She got the out."

"She didn't want Winters to advance. Now anything out of the infield is a run."

"Don't worry, Honey," Carmen said, leaning elbow to shoulder with Crystal against the top of the fence. "I'm sure she'll let you console her after the game."

Is that all they think about? Crystal thought to herself, shifting slightly to the right to break the skin to skin contact with Carmen. The dark-skinned pitcher took the hint well, suddenly developing an irresistible need to make sure she didn't forget her keys in her car. "She's something else," Crystal said when the Cuban woman was out of earshot.

"She certainly is," Jenny replied, watching as the batter struck out. "You're going to have to get used to it around here. By the way, why didn't you wear that tank top like you did last week? We could use all the help we can get." A fly ball to center caught by Toni ended the inning. "Why don't you get Laura a drink? She's bound to be hot after all that running around out there."

Duh, of course. "Sure, what do you think she wants?"

"Iced tea, probably."

"Got it." Crystal jogged over to the cooler and flipped open the lid. Several cans stood out through the crushed ice and she located thei.e.tea quickly. She returned to the fence just as the right fielder reached the bench.

"Oh, thanks," Laura said as she took the can. "I can't believe how hot it is out here."

"It's great for working on a tan." The blonde woman held out her arm to prove her point.

"And for getting heatstroke," the writer said, taking off her cap and wiping the sweat from her brow. She took another long swallow from the can before handing it back to Crystal. "I'm up first, see you in a few."

"Good luck. Knock it out of the park."

"I'll try."

Jenny walked up and leaned back against the fence. "Wagner is pitching. Laura always has problems with the lefties." "She strikes out?"

"No. Usually she hits it" Thunk. " right at the shortstop," she finished.

The area protected by the Winters twins was jokingly referred to as the Ice Block due to the difficulty in getting a hit past them. The block proved to be impenetrable as the game went on and every attempt by the Airhearts bats to even up the score was met by an umpire's raised fist and an 'out' call. By the top of the seventh inning, the Bees were enjoying a four to zero score and taking advantage of the lead to add insult to injury. Jenny was struck by a pitch, the bruised wrist worth getting on first base. Donna managed a bloop single over the first baseman's head to put runners at first and second with no outs.

Watching from the fence, Crystal nudged Laura with her elbow. "Hey, looks like we got a chance."

"Yeah, a snowball's chance in hell maybe. Toni is one of our best hitters but she always drives the ball into left field. She doesn't stand a chance against the twins."

"Maybe I should have worn that tank top," the blonde mused. "Oh look!"

Toni hit a routine grounder up the middle but it took a bad hop just as the pitcher reached for it. The resulting bounce off the e.g.of the pitcher's glove sent the ball going in an unexpected direction. By the time the Winter twins were able to get to the ball, all three runners were safe. The Airheart's dugout went berserk, enjoying for the first time the sight of bases loaded with blue and white instead of yellow and black.

"Bases loaded and our cleanup batter coming to the plate." Laura adjusted her cap and cupped her mouth with her hands. "Come on, Lisa! You can do it!"

Crystal clapped and joined in. "Yeah Lisa!"

"I'd better get to the on deck circle. I'm next if she doesn't hit into a double play."

Laura clapped again, encouraging the other teammates to do the same. "That's all right, Lisa. It's only strike one." She turned to face Crystal. "Wish me luck."

  ! "Strike two!"

"Good luck."

Laura picked up her bat and walked to the on deck circle. She barely got a practice swing in before she hear the swish thwap followed by the predictable call from the umpire. Oh great, now it's on me. Holding the bat with both hands, she lifted it over her hand and stretched, acutely aware of the dampness under her arms. Walking to the plate, she looked over to see Jenny waiting on third base, smiling and giving her the thumbs up sign.

"Okay Julie, one more out," the catcher called as Laura stepped up to the plate. Looking out at the infield, twins made it clear they had no intention of letting a hit get past them. I just have to concentrate and hit the ball. Of course it was more than just hitting the ball. She had to make sure it was high enough to get over the Ice Block but not so high that an outfielder could get under it. Flexing her fingers around the handle, she leaned on her back foot and awaited the pitch.