The Good Guys continued to play well on their homestand, taking two of three from Chicago, and splitting the first two games with St Louis. They had played a day game on that Saturday, and were making plans for their usual Saturday night meeting at the casino. Mitch was getting dressed, and Naomi had gone to the supermarket to buy a few things. It was just getting dark, and as Naomi was walking to her car, something happened that would change hers and Mitch's lives, and the lives of the entire team forever. Naomi was accosted and placed in a neckhold at knifepoint. At first, she thought she was going to be mugged and robbed. She tried to stay calm, and told the attacker to just take her money, and not to hurt her. The hulking attacker had other ideas. He dragged Naomi behind a car, and holding her with a weapon on her, proceeded to pin her down to the ground, sexually assault, and rape her. She was terrified and just froze up, not offering any resistance. After he told her to stay down on the ground and robbed her of her purse and valuables, he fled on foot. The deshelved Naomi made her way back into the store, where people recognized her, called police, an ambulance, and Mitch. Naomi was taken to the hospital. Mitch got the call, and within minutes, was at the hospital, shaking like a leaf: "Where is she? What the hell happened?" "She was raped, Mitch" The doctor told the stricken right fielder. "They're examining her now" "Oh my god, I was told she had been attacked. I thought she had just been mugged and pushed down, raped. I think Iam going to be sick. My poor sweetheart" He cried. After a while, Mandy, Jim, and other teammates arrived to console Mitch at the hospital. Finally, after a bit, Mitch was allowed to see Naomi. He entered the room, still shaking, Naomi was lying in bed, staring into space: "Nai, it's it's me, sweetheart. I'm here." He said, his voice shaking, trying to hold Naomi. Naomi grabbed Mitch and burst into tears:" Iam so sorry, god what an idiot Iam!" She said. "You didnt do anything, sweetheart, you were violated. I love you so much. Iam here, and whatever you need me for, Iam with you" He said. "I thought he was just going to mug me, take the purse and push me down, but the son of a bitch was so strong, he got on top of me, and tore at my clothes, and, I tried not to cry, Mitch, I thought he was going to kill me" She sobbed. "You're safe, no one is going to hurt you. You will be protected. When they find that fuck, I'll kill him myself" Mitch said. The doctors continued to examine Naomi, took lab samples,and other tests. She was to be kept overnight for observation. Mitch stayed with her that night, and Erin stayed with Mandy at Mandy's house. The next day, Mitch took Naomi home, and with the upcoming road trip, both decided to skip it. They needed time, and Gardner and understanding management told them to take as much time as they needed. The first couple of nights were very difficult. locks had to be changed, and a cop stationed outside the house to make sure the rapist didnt come back. Naomi would lie in bed, on her side, staring into space, and not eat. She had fitful sleep the first few nights, and woke up screaming in the middle of the night, with crying, and night sweats. Mitch was terrified, he had friends to lean on, but had to be a rock for Naomi. Late at night on the fourth night, the phone rang. It was the police. They told Mitch that the attacker had been caught after assaulting another woman, and they needed them to come to the station so Naomi could ID him. At first, she didnt want to go, but his understanding presence helped her. When the suspects were brought into a police lineup, Naomi looked, and was able to pick him out, it was the guy who had been caught. As he went by Naomi and Mitch after being Identified by her, he made a snide remark: "She was good, I enjoyed doing her, shes a hottie" Mitch lost control, he went after the accused criminal, and began to whale on him with his fists, kicking and punching him: "Pond Scum! You attack my wife! I should fucking kill you! You dont deserve to live!" Mitch screamed, while beating on the attacker. The police pulled Mitch off the attacker, and sat him down in a room where he could calm down. The alleged attacker had been caught, and now the judicial process would begin. Naomi was relieved that he had been put away, but she would now have to go through the painful process of a trial, and not achieving closure for a time. Through his understanding and presence, Mitch vowed to help Naomi through the ordeal, no matter how long it took. Baseball and tickle team seemed not to be a concern, or was it? Now that the criminal had been caught, what would be the future for Naomi, Mitch, and the Good Guys? That would be determined in the days and weeks to come.
The end
The end