[chapter one]

"I'm serious ..."

"I know. That's what scares me."

Casey glared at the back of Junior's head as he reached into the motorcoach's refrigerator. He lifted his head and peered at her over the door as though feeling her gaze on him. He stuck his tongue out at her, and her scowl dissolved into a smile.

"I think they would be great together." Casey continued, as though Junior hadn't interrupted. "They've known each other for a long time, they are both single, both adorable … "

"I agree." Junior said, closing the door and flopping down on the narrow sofa of his coach. "What scares me is you trying to play matchmaker."

"But they are my best friends. Who better than me?" Casey argued.

"Who says Denise and Jimmie need setting up?" Junior asked, wrapping arm around her shoulder and pulling Casey against his chest. "What about just letting lightning take care of it?"

"What if it doesn't strike?" Casey smiled up at him. "Not everyone has your electricity, darlin'."

Junior laughed and blushed slightly. "Shuddup."

Casey grinned as Junior's face flushed slightly. She and Junior had been together for over a month, and she loved that he still blushed like a little boy when she teased him about how they got together - both claiming it was an unavoidable mix of chemistry and electricity. Junior was still embarrassed to think he had broken up Casey and Jimmie Johnson after they had been together for so many years, and Casey was still amazed to think that Junior was with her and not one of the legions of pit lizards who followed his every move on race weekends. This weekend had been no exception - on his way to his coach earlier this morning, Junior had had four pairs of panties thrown at him through the fence.

"As soon as we get home, I'm getting the four of us together for a night. And somehow, I'm going to get Jimmie and Denise to realize they are perfect for each other. Even if they don't know it yet." Casey grinned and Junior rolled his eyes good-naturedly.

A knock on the door jolted both of them and Junior jumped up from the couch. "Shit, is it 10 already?" Junior exclaimed.

"Forgot about qualifying?" Casey teased, standing and walking to open the door. "Hey, Jade." She greeted Junior's publicist and self-appointed bodyguard. "He's throwing on his suit as we speak."

"Hey, Casey." Jade smiled. "Listen, change of plans. Instead of filing all those reports, can you track qualifying lap times for everyone? I have to do a conference call with Nabisco."

Casey nodded. "Not a problem." She said, grabbing an extra pen and clipboard from the counter. "I like that better anyway." She grinned. Shortly after she and Junior had become a couple, she had become the official "gopher" for DEI at the track on the weekends. She did whatever Jade, or any of the DEI teams, needed to be done at the time. Casey loved it - she got to run around the tracks and felt like she was really helpful, and not just some hanger-on. Besides, a lot of the time, it gave her the chance to spend more time around Junior than would ordinarily be the case. Though it had only been a few weeks, she had settled into the team dynamic, and was already being given lots of things to do. Plus, she was earning her keep and getting her own paycheck - though it paled in comparison to her boyfriend's wages.

"Honey!" Casey called over her shoulder. "Jade looks really mad - you better get out here!" She winked at Jade as Junior stumbled through the doorway, his firesuit only half zipped and his hair sticking up. "Hat?" She asked, handing him a Bud cap.

"Hey man." Junior greeted his friend.

"Hey." Jade echoed. "Thought it might be fun if we tried to qualify today."

"Yeah, yeah." Junior muttered, zipping up the rest of his suit. "I'll see you after practice, baby." He cooed softly, kissing Casey on the cheek. "Don't work too hard."

"Go out there and kick some ass, baby." Casey winked and smacked his bottom playfully. "Momma wants a new pair of shoes."

Jade and Junior's laughter died down as they retreated from the coach. Casey gathered up everything she would need during qualifying, then locked the coach behind her. She inhaled deeply and squinted in the sunshine pouring over the Atlanta track. Checking her watch, she headed for pit road, where cars were being pushed, warmed and leaned upon by crew members in every suits that were colour of the rainbow. She spotted the 48 car directly behind Junior's number 8, and smiled as she caught sight of Jimmie seated against the pit road wall, oblivious to the world around him.

"Hey." She said, dropping down to sit beside him. "Nervous or concentrating really hard?"

"I haven't decided yet." Jimmie said, smiling slightly. "After brushing the wall in practice, twice, I feel ever so slightly less confident than before."

"You'll be fine. It's a fast track, but nothing you can't handle." Casey said confidently. "I know you."

"Just so long as I beat Junior, I don't care where I start." Jimmie said seriously, looking at Casey out of the corner of his eye and trying not to smile.

"Keep it up, Johnson." Casey grinned. "That's all I need - my boyfriend beating up my ex. Wouldn't the press have a field day with that one?" She teased and Jimmie laughed. "How was Texas, by the way? I haven't seen you all week, but I read the testing reports in the news."

"Tiring, but good." Jimmie replied. "I'll be glad to get back home. I need to … "

"... take five. Me too." Casey finished and Jimmie nodded. "I feel bad leaving Denise there all alone while she does the job hunt thing. Maybe we can all get together when we are all back." Casey said furtively.

"Sounds good." Jimmie nodded. "It would be good to see people who aren't affiliated with Lowe's or Hendrick or Jeff for a while. Not that they aren't great, I just … "

"I gotcha." Casey nodded. "Junior was just bitching yesterday about seeing the same faces day in and day out. You guys need a break every once in a while. I promise - Monday night, we all hang out."

"Good deal." Jimmie said with a grin. "How's the new job?"

"I'm having so much fun, Jimmie." Casey glowed. "I feel like I'm really helping, and not just getting in the way."

"You never thought that I thought you were in the way, do you?" Jimmie asked seriously.

"No." Casey agreed. "It's just different. With Junior, everything is always different. It's like Beatlemania times ten thousand. I mean, with you, I … " Casey trailed off. "You really don't want to hear this, do you?" She asked seriously.

"Of course I do." Jimmie said softly. "With me, you were always with me, from before I got started. With Junior, you're just the flavor of the week to some people. By working, you can prove you are more than just a girlfriend. Yeah?" He asked.

Casey nodded. "My god, we've known each other too long." They both laughed, then looked up as Junior jumped the short wall and joined them. "Hey."

"Hey babe." Junior said easily, crouching down to face Jimmie and Casey. "Hey Johnson."

"Hey Earnhardt." Jimmie echoed. "Ready to get your ass kicked?"

"Sure. Just not by you." Junior snorted, then smiled to show he was kidding.

"The only thing you'll see on the track is my bumper, pal." Jimmie retorted.

"Yeah, as it slides through the infield behind my car." Junior shot back.

"Boys?" Casey said warningly. "Let's not trash talk so early in the morning."

"This is what men do." Jimmie replied. "They trash talk."

Casey rolled her eyes then stood up. "Maybe you should, I don't know, think about qualifying instead of harassing each other, Mr. I-Brushed-The-Wall-Twice and Mr. My-Car-Is-Set-Up-Totally-Wrong?"

The two men looked at Casey, then at each other, then back at Casey. "Nah." They said in unison and she laughed.

"Boogers, both of you." She smiled. "I gotta go get on the wagon. Good luck." She said, holding out her hand for Jimmie to high five, which he did. "Good luck." She said to Junior, who kissed her on the nose quickly.

She walked away, furiously scribbling on her clipboard as both men watched her walk away. Jimmie glanced at Junior, and secretly smiled at the dazed look on his friend's face. There was no doubt about it, Earnhardt had it bad for Casey.

Jimmie's own feelings towards Casey were slowing fading, but he had his own moments of being dazed - when she smiled a certain way or finished his sentences. He knew everyone was where they belonged but still … some days were harder than others.

Jimmie sighed slightly, and the older man looked down at him. "You okay, man?" Junior asked.

"Yeah." Jimmie said as Junior held out a hand and pulled him to his feet. "Just … glad to see Casey so happy."

"Me too." Junior said quietly. "I don't deserve her." He said to himself.

"I never did either, man." Jimmie said in return. "I never did either."

chapter two