The magic number.

The magic number is the number of games a team needs to win combined with the number of games that other teams ahead of that team need to lose in order for the original team to make it into the playoffs.

At a certain point in the season, The Magic Number becomes a fixture for every team with even a remote chance of playing in October. For some teams, The Magic Number quickly becomes larger than the number of games left and the number of losses that can reasonably occur for other teams ahead of them. When that happens, those teams are eliminated.

For the first time in Tarin Brook’s life. He was following a team with an actual magic number. His team had an actual magic number. That magic number had been steadily shrinking for weeks now. The beginning of the season had been too chaotic…too bad for it to be a sure thing. No, it wasn’t a sure thing at all, but there was a chance. A really really good chance that the Mets were going to get one of National League wildcard spots.

But it was going to come down to the last two regular seasons games that were against an old rival…and were a double header.

The path here had been absolutely wild. Unlikely teams in other divisions had had to win and lose and all sorts of shenanigans that had made Lee’s eyes gloss over when Tarin had tried to explain the whole thing for like the twelfth time. Eventually he’d decided it didn’t matter and just told her that if the Mets could manage to win this game…they’d do it. For the first time in his life the Mets would be in the playoffs.

The game was starting in fifteen minutes. In the middle of the day. On a Monday.

Tarin had taken the day off, because of course he had. There was even a sign on the door of the shop that said they were closed because the magic number was 1.

Those who knew…would know.

Tarin had woken up far too early, but this was all just too exciting. He had gotten dressed in a Mets shirt and the Mets hat that Lee had gotten for him. Tarin hadn’t been able to convince Lee to wear the hat out of the apartment, but she was wearing it now. That had been the first time today that she had called him ridiculous. It hadn’t been the last and Tarin didn’t mind at all, because there was a real actual chance.

”All they have to do is win…” Tarin said. Standing up to walk over by the kitchen and then come back to sit down.

For weeks now, Tarin had been talking about a 'magic number'. About the possibility that the Mets might actually make it into the playoffs this year.

Lee was happy and excited about that as well. No where near as excited as Tarin was, but she was excited. And while Lee had watched enough hockey in her life (and listened to Robert talk about hockey) to know how wildcard spots work, this 'magic number' that Tarin kept trying to explain to her was a little much.

With weeks still to go in the season, and so many teams wins and losses to take into account, it didn't matter how many times Tarin tried to explain it to her, she just could not understand how there could be this one 'magical number', which was obviously changing on a daily basis, to indicate the Mets' chances of actually making it into the playoffs.

But, they were now down to the last couple regular season games. And the Mets only needed to win one more game.

That Lee understood, and could even see herself if she looked at the standings.

The final two games were that day. A weekday daytime double header. Another thing that Lee didn't understand about baseball.

But Tarin had taken the day off work (because of course he did). Not only that, Tarin had woken up early. Quite a bit earlier than normal. And had immediately put on his hat and a Mets shirt. He'd even tried to get her to wear his old hat, the one with the interdimensional magic, when they'd gone out that morning.

She'd refused. Tarin's ridiculousness leading up to the game was rather cute, though.

"I know," Lee said patiently with a small smile as she watched Tarin pace toward the kitchen before coming back. "You've said about a hundred times today. Do we need to go for a quick run to burn off some of this excited energy before the game starts?"

When this was all over, Tarin would find a way…maybe several ways to repay Lee for her patience. Her endless patience as a playoff berth had become more and more likely over the last couple of weeks. Tarin knew that Lee’s relationship with baseball was pretty tenuous at best and he desperately hoped that all of his enthusiasm wasn’t going to turn her off of the sport.

As he headed back to the couch, Lee asked if they needed to go for a run so he could burn off some of his energy.

Checking his watch for the time, then looking back at the game, Tarin actually considered the thought for a few moments, ”That would have been a good idea like two hours ago.” he said, ”First pitch is in fifteen minutes and I’d have to change, then run, then shower, then change again…definitely not time for a run.” he babbled, standing up again to walk behind the couch and stand for a minute. Sitting seemed to make the time go slower and Tarin just needed the game to start.

Glancing over and Lee, he couldn’t help but grin at her as she sat there in his hat. The hat with all of the interdimensional magic. The hat that had potentially made all of this possible.

”Thank you for putting up with me.” he said, leaning down on his forearms on the back of the couch.

Two hours ago a run would have been a good idea. Well, if she had known that Tarin was going to be like this, she would have suggested a run then. And while she knew that he was excited, Lee hadn't expected him to be unable to sit still while waiting for the game to start.

As if on cue, Tarin stood up to walk around again. Lee sighed softly as she shook her head. She'd never seen anyone, even Robert, this nervously excited before a game they were going to be watching. Though, the Leafs had made it to the post season for the last…however many years.

She knew this was different, and exciting for Tarin.

Feeling Tarin stop behind the couch and lean over, Lee leaned her head back to look up at him. As he thanked her for putting up with all of this.

Lee laughed softly. "As ridiculous as all this is," she murmured looking up at him. "I have to admit, it's kind of cute."

He was cute?

Tarin thought he could probably live with that considering it was way better than ‘obnoxious’ or ‘unbearable.’

Tarin knew he was being over the top, that he never acted this way about anything. That was kind of why Tarin was letting it happen though. With everything that had happened over the last year…the last several years…the last decade…his whole life. He’d kind of earned it, hadn’t he?

Besides. The Mets had a chance at the playoffs.

And boy did Lee look cute in his hat.

Reaching out and lifting the hat for a second so he could lean over and steal a quick kiss, Tarin settled the hat back onto Lee’s head and then made his way back around the couch to sit down again.

“I’m glad you think so, because it’s probably going to get at least a little worse before it gets better.” Tarin said with a grin as he finally leaned back against the back of the couch. The game was about to start, after all.

Tarin didn't really react to her comment about him and his behaviour being cute. It was such an innocent happy excitement that Lee had never seen from Tarin. With how reserved he had been with showing any emotion that previous spring, he had probably never acted like this. So Lee was happy to see it, even if it was a little excessive.

Then Tarin was moving her hat out of the way as he leaned down to kiss her. Smiling happily, Lee returned the kiss. But much sooner than she was wanting, Tarin was pulling back from the kiss and putting her hat back on her head.

At least he was moving back to this side of the couch to sit down again. And warning her that he was likely going to get more ridiculous before he got 'better'.

"I should hope so," Lee said as she looked over at Tarin as he leaned back against the couch. Wondering how long he was going to actually stay seated this time. "Considering they're going to win, I would expect you to end up being even more ridiculous."

Tarin wanted to get up and pace again, but he thought that there was probably a limit for what Lee was willing to tolerate. That limit might not have been reached quite yet, but the game hadn’t even started.

But then Lee said that she actually hoped that he would get more ridiculous as the game went on and Tarin couldn’t help but grin at her. The fact that she was going along with all of this, not making him feel ridiculous even though he was absolutely acting ridiculous made Tarin love her even more…if that was a thing that was even possible.

She thought the Mets were going to win? ”Well. You’re wearing the hat. We’re sitting here watching in the right spaces despite the time of day, and literally everything else that has needed to happen for this to be a possibility has happened.” If they had a shot…this was the year, the game…

Thinking that maybe he could get up and move around just one more time Tarin almost stood, but changed his mind and stayed right where he was.

Instead, Tarin just sat there on his side of the couch and fidgeted. First he fidgeted with his phone, then he fidgeted with his fingers, then he started messing with a loose string in his shirt, then finally he checked his watch. Five minutes until the first pitch. Maybe once the game was started he could relax a little bit. It was one of those things right? Once the game had started, it was all out of his hands. Once the game had started it was all up to the baseball Gods.

“I don’t know if I can watch….” Tarin said suddenly.

Tarin grinned when she said she hoped he was going to end up being more ridiculous. With everything that had happened in the last couple of months, how tense and serious things had been, Lee really hoped that this happiness that Tarin was exuding would last much longer. It didn't make those other things go away, but it did make them easier to deal with. Especially at the moment.

"And I put the hat on well before the game," Lee pointed out. "That's got to count extra."

It had to count for extra. Lee had put the hat on much earlier than she ever had before a game. Almost as soon as they had gotten home earlier.

And as they waited for the game to actually start, Tarin sat there on the couch fidgeting. Lee knew that feeling of being literally unable to sit still. It hadn't happened nearly as often the last few months after she realized that she could (and should) shut her siphoning off so she didn't end up awake all night.

Though, after the museum, Lee had felt literally unable to stay still for a couple days.

“I don’t know if I can watch….”

"Of course you can," Lee said as she turned on the couch to look at Tarin more directly. "You'd be upset with yourself if you didn't want."

Distraction was what Tarin needed, at least until the game started. Not something that would distract him for long, just a few minutes.

Then Lee got an idea. "If you could be there today," she started. "If you had tickets and could be sitting anywhere in the stadium, where would you want to be sitting?"

And Lee had put the hat on early. Far earlier than Tarin had expected and he’d been so damn excited when she’d done it he’d nearly cheered out loud. Again. Ridiculous. But the interdimensional hat magic had to be respected. It just had to be respected.

And feared.

Right this moment Tarin had to wonder if this was what Lee felt like when she had too much energy. He’d seen her like that a few times, the most recent after the Museum. Tarin didn’t want to think about that though, things were going too well today and while things could have gone far worse, he wanted to stay happy and focused on the fact that the Mets were probably…no were definitely going to win this game and go on to the wildcard series. In the playoffs.

Could he watch though? Could he actually handle the agony if the Mets didn’t win this game?

Lee spoke and turned towards him and Tarin turned right back towards her, just enough that he could see her better as he also watched the TV. He could watch, he’d be upset with himself if he didn’t.

Tarin nodded mutely for a moment…he would be upset. He’d be really upset. If he didn’t watch and they lost…he’d feel responsible. If he didn't watch and they won he’d hate that he’d missed the moment.

There was nothing for it. He’d have to watch.

Lee spoke again and Tarin almost answered automatically. He’d spent an almost embarassing amount of time on the internet researching what the best seats in Citi Field were. Not the most expensive the best.

”Row 11 on the home field side, right behind the dugout, but closer to home plate than the outfield.” he hadn’t ever gone. Even when he’d had the money to do so, he just hadn’t felt right going to an actual game.

“You’d think it would be better to be right up on the field…and I guess you can see the players better that way…but you can’t see the game.” That was easy for him to say… ”So you want to be up and back just a little…or so I’ve read.”

Tarin seemed to believe what Lee said about him being upset with himself if he didn't actually watch the game. Especially since he took the day off work specifically to do that.

At least Tarin didn't say anything else about not being able to watch it.

But when she continued speaking, Tarin also turned on the couch to look at her better. Not completely, he still had an eye on the TV. Well, Lee had already gotten used to that when games were on and Tarin's attention was on it.

Lee had asked her question about seats as a way to distract Tarin, something that he'd have to think about that would eat up the time before the game actually started.

Apparently, Tarin already had a very exact answer in mind for that question. Lee just looked at Tarin for a moment. Then she shook her head slightly with a smile. "What, you don't have the exact seat number you'd want picked out?" Lee asked, her voice slightly teasing.

"But hockey's the same way. If you're too close, you miss almost everything."

When Lee just looked at him for a moment after he spoke, Tarin wondered if it was strange to have such intimate knowledge of a baseball stadium he’d never been in before.

Pulling his attention from the TV to focus entirely on Lee for a moment, she smiled and teased him about that exact thing and Tarin shrugged and laughed a bit sheepishly. “I can’t ever decide if I think an aisle seat would be better for the leg room or if the up and down traffic would just be obnoxious.” he admitted.

Lee pointed out that hockey was similar in that if you were too close you missed things and Tarin nodded, ”Definitely makes sense for hockey. Small playing field and big pads…it’d be real hard to see the puck if you didn’t have a vantage point.”

Another moment’s thought and Tarin shrugged, ”High seats are good too. Baseball fields are huge, I just think it would be cool to be right down in the action sometime.”

All of the ceremony was done now though. It was an away game but the stadium and the players all had a ton of energy. It was time.

The first pitch was thrown and the game was off. As soon as the ball hit the leather of the catcher’s glove, Tarin let out a breath he didn’t know that he’d been holding.

”Here we go…” he said, glancing over at Lee.

Tarin didn't have a seat number picked out because he couldn't decide whether an aisle seat would be a good idea or not. Which was very fair. And just further proved that Tarin had thought about this a lot before she had even considered asking the question.

Not that it was actually surprising that Tarin had thought about this a lot. He thought about everything important to him a lot. And this was baseball.

"I don't know about for baseball," Lee said. "But it definitely is a different feeling when watching hockey when you're closer to the rink. Though you do feel the energy of being at a live game no matter where you are."

But then Tarin's attention was taken by the TV. Turning, Lee saw that the game had (finally) started. Part of Lee was hoping that now Tarin's ridiculousness would be a little more restrained since there was the game that he could now focus on. But as she glanced over at him when he spoke, another part hoped not. It was good seeing him this excited.

"Good. Are you happy now?"

Was he happy now?

Tarin nodded as Lee spoke, his eyes on the TV, but most of his attention on what she had said before, ”That’s the cost benefit analysis…” he said, wincing a bit as a ground out was recorded for the Mets right off the bat.

It was just the first batter.

“Do you want to feel the game or do you want to watch the game? Some people don’t even like to go to games in person because they feel Iike TV these days can show you so much more.”

Glancing over at Lee, Tarin smiled, ”I can see it both ways. I don’t know how people do season tickets…” he said with a shake of his head, “I’d much rather watch most of the games at home…”

The energy though…especially at a big game. It was one of those things that you just experienced.

The second batter struck out and Tarin groaned, ”We can’t go three up, three down to start the game…come on.”

Lee just smiled as Tarin answered her while his eyes were glued to the TV. At least he was answering her and wasn completely lost yet.

He did have a point, though. Yes, you were much more likely to get wrapped up in the excitement of the game if you were watching in person, and a lot of times it ended up being a more enjoyable expo, but no matter where you were sitting, you did end up missing a lot more of the actual game.

"Honestly, even if I wanted to see every game in person, I wouldn't get season tickets. Going to Queens that often would suck," Lee replied. And this was coming from the woman who had gone to Brooklyn a couple times a week when she had been volunteering at the Sanctuary.

When Lee heard Tarin groan, she turned to look at the TV. Already two outs? That was not looking too good for her insistence that the Mets were going to win this game.

"It's fine," Lee said as she reached her hand out for Tarin's. "It's only the first inning."

As she was speaking, the third batter also struck out. Well then. "Don't worry, there's still lots of game left."

”Queens, in general, kind of sucks.” Tarin said. That was where he had spent all of his teenage years and a few years after. Since coming to this side of the rift he had done everything he could to avoid going there and it suited Tarin just fine. Maybe that was part of why he hadn’t ever gone to a game.

But that didn’t matter now because the third batter had struck out and the top of the first was over. The top of the batting order, sat down just like that.

It was one of those things that just kind of took the wind out of your sails. Tarin didn’t know what he’d expected, but he’d kind of hoped for at least a base hit. Lee reached out for his hand and Tarin took hers. ”You’re right…it’s just the first. The top of the first.” Then he nodded when Lee said there was lots of game yet. She was right there too. It was ridiculous to start dooming this early in the game. Everything was going to be fine.

Only it kind of wasn’t.

The Braves hadn’t fared much better in the bottom of the first, and that had boosted Tarin’s spirits a bit…until the top of the second when the Mets had gone three up and three down again. They’d be heading into the third inning and the bottom of the batting order with absolutely nothing to show for it. Ridiculous.

The bottom of the second got hairy when the Braves got two on base, but the pitcher pulled it together and got out of the inning no worse for wear.

It was the top of the third now and the first batter up had hit a solid smack to the infield. Still gripping Lee’s hand, Tarin smiled over at her…this was much much better. One on with no outs. ”It would be great of the bottom of the batting order could score. That’s where the weakest hitters usually are. Then we’ll come up next inning with our strongest batters…” he said, though he’d probably explained this to Lee before.