[chapter eight]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-)
A/N: Nothing noteworthy this time.
**
Junior vaulted out his door and towards the motorcoach of Jeff Gordon. He was hoping Casey would be there, and if, failing that, Jimmie would be. He approached the bonfire outside and began scanning for either of them. He caught sight of the ever-present Lowe's hat and strode over to the younger man.
Jimmie glanced over and saw Junior marching towards him, a very determined look on his face. He backed away several steps as Junior moved towards him. "Man, I swear to god … it was nothing, we just … " Jimmie began.
Junior shook his head fiercely. "I know. Sorry about that. Is she here?"
Jimmie blinked several times, trying to process this Hyde to the Jekyll he'd just seen a few minutes ago. "Haven't seen her. She said she was going to see you." Jimmie said, confused.
"She did. And then she left." Junior said shortly. "I was a complete asshole to her, and I'm afraid she's going to … "
"What?" Jimmie questioned. "Avoid you?"
"No, just … just leave. Leave me. Leave here." Junior said, defeated. "I was pissed off and hurt, and I deliberately taunted and totally pissed her off."
"Why?" Jimmie asked, genuinely curious. "Why would you do that?"
Junior inhaled sharply. "Because I'm fucked up. Because I let jealousy and my … what's the word she used? Egomaniacal tastes get in the way." He muttered. "Where should I look for her?"
"Listen, man. She's not gonna want to see you tonight if you guys had a big fight. Trust me, she tends to retreat. Let me find her and make sure she's safe. I'll let you know when I find her." Jimmie said reasonably. Junior eyed him suspiciously. "I swear, man. I'll let you know she's okay." Junior relented and nodded. Without another word, Jimmie put down his beer and walked out of the light of the fire. He walked quickly to his own coach, 99% sure that Casey would be there.
**
Jade's cell phone rang and he moved away from the conversation he was in with Jeff and Bobby Labonte to answer it. "Hello?" He said easily.
"Jade? It's Casey." Casey's voice crackled through the line.
"Hey, kiddo. What's up? Why aren't you over at Gordon's?" Jade asked. "You okay?"
"Jade, what were you going to have me do tomorrow?" Casey asked.
"I'm not sure yet. Why?" Jade asked, concerned.
"I'm not bailing on you, but is there anything back home that needs to be taken care of? A certain driver just went postal on me, and I think it would be best for him and the team if I took a raincheck for the rest of the weekend. However, if you need me to be here … "
"Uh-oh." Jade sighed. "He lose his temper?"
"Big time." Casey said. "So, I'm leaving it up to you, but … "
"Listen, Case. I understand - we've all been there at one time or another. Tell you what, go to my trailer and on the table is a big file folder of letters that need writing and phone calls that need returning. Take that and start working through it. Where you do that is up to you." Jade said kindly.
"Jade, you are the best boss. Ever." Casey smiled. "Thanks. I'll be in the office Monday to catch up."
"No problem. And Case, don't worry. His temper flares out just as quickly, and he'll be crawling back in no time." Jade threw out.
"Well, just in case that's not what happens, I want to be out of his range. Talk to you on Monday." Casey said and hung up. She glanced around Jimmie's trailer and finally found a piece of paper and a pencil. She wrote, simply, "I'm fine. - C", put it on the kitchen table, then closed the door behind her. She stealthily walked over to Junior's home on wheels to grab her things and arrange for a car to the airport. She only hoped that she could leave the track before anyone knew she was gone.
**
Jimmie stepped inside his coach. "Case? You here?" He called as he walked from the front to the back of the trailer before admitting that Casey was indeed, not there. He spied the scrap of paper on his table, and Casey's hastily written, and altogether too short, note. Jimmie suspected that she might take off - he assumed she was on her way to the airport by now. He'd check in with Denise in a couple of hours to make sure Casey arrived back home safely.
Unfortunately, his next task was telling Junior that Casey was pissed and had taken off. Not something he was particularly looking forward to - but maybe it would give him the chance to find out what the hell Junior's problem was.
A few minutes later, he grimaced as Junior punched the side of Jeff's motorcoach with his fist. "Listen, I told you … Casey tends to take off until she can sort things out for herself. Just give her time." Jimmie said evenly.
"Fuckin' ow." Junior muttered, massaging his hand. "I just don't know what my problem is - well, what all my problems are. I'm so in love with this girl, and yet … " He looked at Jimmie. "Sorry, man. This has to be beyond weird for you."
Jimmie shrugged. "As long as Casey's happy, I'll do whatever I can. But, a little friendly advice, leave her alone for a bit. Figure out your own stuff before you go charging after her. You'll only make it worse. I've done it a time or two myself." Jimmie grinned. "And if you wanna talk … " Jimmie offered.
"I wouldn't even know where to start, man. I'm just … god, I'm fucked up." Junior sighed dejectedly. "I just have all these weird feelings about stuff, and I've never had a girl at the track like Casey, and hell I've never been with someone as good as Casey, never deserved someone like her, and then I have all this weird jealousy stuff, and Tiffani showing up just screwed everything … " Junior cut himself off. "I think I need a beer. Let me know when you talk to Denise."
"Will do." Jimmie said, his eyebrow wrinkled with concern.
**
"Oh honey … " Denise breathed, carefully carrying two cups of tea into the family room. "I can't believe he would do that. Deliberately try to get under your skin like that … doesn't seem like Junior."
"I know. That's what freaks me out. I'm wondering if maybe this Tiffani chick just short-circuited him for a while. But still … I just didn't want to be there, you know?" Casey said. "Do you think I'm a coward for running away home?"
"No, I don't." Denise said. "You were just staying out of his range of temper, like you said. Has he ever lost it like this before?"
"Never. I mean, I've seen him get mad about the way the car is handling, or if he had a crummy race, but normally he's soft-spoken and pretty even-keeled. I mean, I know everyone says he's shy, and it's really true. He's normally much more quiet and gentle than you would expect from a guy like him." Casey explained. "Which is why this whole freak out is so odd."
"I wish I knew what to tell you, but I don't." Denise said. "What do you think this Tiffani chick did to him?"
Casey shook her head. "Sounds like she was a complete bitch, De, and I'm not just saying that because she's his ex. She flirted with everyone but him, she never went to the tracks, she was always jealous of his attention, and I think she even cheated on him. No wonder he has issues with this girl."
"No wonder he can't get over how wonderful you are. You are like this girl's polar opposite." Denise praised. "Way better than he deserves, at the moment."
"Opposite in everything." Casey said glumly. "If you could have seen this girl, De … "
"Casey?"
"Hrm?"
"Shut up." Denise commanded. "Don't start with that."
"Sorry." Casey muttered. "Man, this whole thing has given me a splitting headache." Casey moaned, rubbing her head gently.
"The doctors told you not to get upset - your head is still healing, you know. With the trauma you had going, it's no wonder it hurts now with all this." Denise said sympathetically. "Do you want a pill?"
"I'll grab one right before I go to bed. They always knock me out." Casey said, jumping as the phone rang.
Denise stood up. "I'll get it."
"If that's Junior, I'm not here. Let him worry for a while." Casey begged. "I don't want anyone tracking me down."
Denise nodded as she picked up
the receiver. "Got it."