[chapter two]
A/N: The names/personas of Jeff's crew are fictitious - I know I could find the real guys, but I decided to just make 'em up.
**
Casey jogged over to the red "war wagon" and grinned at the men clad in red Bud shirts who were milling around aimlessly. Qualifying was exciting for about a minute for each team - otherwise, it was boredom personified as each car waited to hit the track. Both Junior and Jimmie were qualifying later in the grid, which was good for track conditions, but bad for the monotony factor. Casey was grateful she had something to do during the morning, and glanced down at her clipboard.
"Hey sexy." Tony Eury Jr grinned at her as he ambled over.
Casey grinned at the car chief and winked. "Hey sugar. How's it going?"
"Goin' good." Tony replied easily. "Wish I was back in bed, but never mind."
"I'm with you." Casey said. "At least it's not raining or 6000 degrees out here." Several other crew members drifted over and joined in conversation as they waited for cars to roll forward. Members of Jeff Gordon's crew wandered over and began needling the Brew Crew about their setups. Casey grinned at the good-natured ribbing between teams, occasionally piping up to voice her opinion. Conversation ambled from car setups to football to the latest episode of "Survivor" between all the men.
"We haven't met." A voice said, causing Casey to turn slightly. "I'm Adam Higgins." Casey smiled at the young man in the rainbow uniform whom she had just been harassing about the Patriots chance for a Super Bowl. He stood much taller than she with sandy blond hair and bright blue eyes. She liked him instantly.
She grasped his hand and smiled. "I'm Casey McCain. How is it you're a Rainbow Warrior and we haven't met?" She asked.
"I'm the new rear tire changer - since Shane's hurt, I'm filling in." Adam replied. "Apparently I missed Jeff's blowout party in Daytona. That's how you know most of these guys, yeah?" He asked.
"Yeah." Casey nodded. "Jeff throws quite a party, surprisingly. It's nice to meet you."
"You too." Adam smiled. "Too bad you work for the wrong team." He teased.
"You just met me, and already getting cocky. I see how it is." Casey laughed as Adam puffed out his chest proudly.
"You have no idea … "
Several pit boxes away, Junior nodded, not hearing a word that Bobby Labonte was saying to him. His eyes, and thoughts, were in his own pit box. Junior couldn't hear the words being spoken, but the body language was undeniable. Some guy in a tacky firesuit was flirting with his girlfriend. For several minutes, he watched with narrowed eyes as they talked animatedly and Adam subtly touched Casey several times - a hand on the shoulder, a brush of his arm, a rub of elbows. He felt anger rise as the guy wrapped an arm around Casey's shoulders and squeezed while she laughed and pushed him away playfully.
'Who is this clown?' He thought to himself. His whole crew was notorious for flirting with any girl who walked by, and Casey was no exception - but that didn't bother Junior. He knew those guys, and they knew he would kill them if they took it too far with Casey. But this guy …
"Junior?" Bobby asked tentatively. "You okay?"
"Yeah, yeah." Junior said. "Sorry, Bobby. Can you give me a minute?"
"Sure." Bobby said to Junior's quickly retreating back. Junior marched over to his pit area, his eyes boring into the back of flirt-boy's head. As though sensing his approach, Casey turned and smiled at him.
"Hey." Casey said brightly. "I want you to meet Adam Higgins. He's Jeff's new tire changer. Adam, this is Junior."
"Hi Junior. Nice to meet you." Adam said affably, holding out his hand for Junior to shake. Junior glanced down, but did not extend his own hand.
"Hi." He said shortly. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" Junior said pointedly to Casey.
"Uh, sure." Casey said, her brow wrinkled with confusion. She followed him as he walked away from the throng of crew members and behind the pit wall. He whirled around and faced her, trying to calm his angry features.
"Who's that?" He demanded, too sharply and winced at his own voice.
"Sorry?" Casey asked. "Who's who?"
"Adam." Junior said, an edge of sarcasm on his voice.
"I just said he's Jeff's new tire changer." Casey repeated. "What's the matter?" She asked.
Junior cleared his throat, and ordered his brain to slow down. He knew he was being irrational, but something about seeing another guy after Casey … suddenly, he understood how Jimmie must have felt a month ago, and vowed to calm down. He sighed. "I'm sorry. Nothing's the matter. I just don't like seeing some stranger flirt with my gal." He tried to make his voice teasing, light.
Casey's eyes narrowed slightly, and Junior knew he had failed miserably. "We were just talking, Dale."
Junior flinched again - she only called him Dale when he was either a) in trouble or b) acting stupid. Or in this case, both. "I just didn't know him, that's all. I just wanted to say hey before you got back to work. That's all. No biggie. I guess I better run. Wish me luck." He ran his words all together, then kissed Casey quickly. "See you after the run." He walked away quickly before his emotions betrayed him and she knew it.
He was jealous. And he didn't like it.
Casey walked slowly back to the pit area, her eyes searching for Adam. He walked over from his own area when he saw her return. "So, that's Junior, huh?" He said with a grin. "He looked at me like I'd just killed his favorite dog."
"Adam, I'm sorry. Junior's a bit … intense at times." Casey tried to explain.
"You guys going out?" Adam asked innocently.
"Yeah." Casey said softly. "We've only been together about a month."
"Probably didn't like some stranger hanging around you." Adam said, as though reading her thoughts. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"It's not your fault at all." Casey smiled at him. "Don't worry about him - he's a big teddy bear really."
"I'll be sure not to find out for myself." Adam laughed. "He better get used to it though."
"What?" Casey asked.
"Guys staring at your with their tongues hanging out. A knockout like you on pit road is a sight for sore eyes for guys who are on the road as much as we are." Adam said honestly. "Next thing you know, Jimmy Spencer will be jumping you." He teased.
"Shuddup." Casey laughed. "But thanks for the compliment, despite the imagery of Jimmy Spencer chasing me through the garages. And for that - ew."
Adam and Casey laughed together before parting ways to get to work.
**
Junior continued to fume as he walked back to his car. He had just circled the garages at a quick pace to try and calm down a little. He didn't know why he had gotten so upset so quickly - most of the people at the track were men … of course they were going to pay attention to Casey. It didn't mean he had to like it. She was his. His. And he didn't want anyone forgetting it.
"You look pissed." Jimmie said simply, ambling over to his friend.
"I am pissed." Junior spat back.
"Why?" Jimmie asked.
"Some jackass from Jeff's crew was totally hitting on Casey."
Jimmie laughed out loud, then quickly bit his tongue when Junior glared at him. "Sorry." Jimmie cleared his throat. "What was the guy doing?"
"Just … flirting. Touching her, laughing, all that stuff." Junior muttered, pulling on his safety gear.
"Dude, that happened all the time when Casey and I were together. It's no big deal - guys just flirted because she's a cute girl, and she's here. It didn't mean she was going to run away with the guy or anything." Jimmie said. "You know, unless the guy was you." Jimmie added as an afterthought.
"Man, I'm sorry … " Junior said. "It just hit me what you must have … "
Jimmie raised a hand. "Let's not have that warm, fuzzy moment. It's past, no worries. I know everyone is happier where they are. Anyhow, back to the problem at hand. Don't worry about it - Casey loves you, and she's not going anywhere. Guys flirt with her, big deal. Just blow it off."
Junior sighed and looked at the younger man. "You know what, Johnson?" He said.
"What?"
"Sometimes, you ain't so bad to have around."
"I'm touched, Junior. Really." Jimmie laughed as he slapped his friend on the back and walked away. Junior smiled, the turned to his race car.