[chapter nine]
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.
**
"Denise, it's Jimmie." Jimmie's voice washed over Denise, and she turned to hide her smile. She knew Jimmie would call sooner or later, and she hoped he would catch on quickly to the fact she couldn't talk with Casey in the room.
"Dana, hi." Denise said, naming the first person that came to mind, her older sister. "How's it going?"
"Ah. Casey's home, huh? Told you not to spill." Jimmie said, picking up immediately on Denise's predicament. "Got it. I'll try and ask yes or no questions."
"Oh, you are so great." Denise smiled. "What's up?" She gestured to Casey and rolled her eyes. Casey smiled, knowing how much Denise hated talking to her sister sometimes. She distracted herself by flipping through the magazines sitting on the coffee table.
"Is Casey there?"
"Yes."
"Is she okay?"
"Um, yeah. Sorta."
"Junior is totally freaking out. He doesn't even know what his problem is, and he's devastated that she left. I don't blame her but … "
"Neither do I, from the sounds of it." Denise echoed.
"Me neither." Jimmie laughed. "I think he's got some issues to work through. Ya think?"
"Totally." Denise laughed.
Casey gestured to get Denise's attention. Denise covered the phone receiver for a moment. "I'm going to take drugs and go to bed. Talk to you in the morning." Casey whispered.
Denise nodded sympathetically whispered "feel better!", then watched as her friend walked to her bedroom and shut the door. "Jimmie?"
"She gone?" Jimmie asked.
"Yeah. I think her head is really hurting her. Being upset I'm sure hasn't helped the healing process." Denise said.
"I know. I was worried about that too - the doctors told her to take it easy … " Jimmie trailed off.
"What is his problem, Jimmie?" Denise asked, settling herself on the couch.
"I really don't know, De." Jimmie said, and Denise smiled to herself. Jimmie never called her De. "Ever since they got together, he's treated Casey like a princess, but today, he just went apeshit."
"It does sound a bit out of character, from all that I know about Junior." Denise acquiesced. "Sounds like you are handling it though. Casey said about 80 times how grateful she is that you are still her best friend. I think she'd be lost without you most of the time - especially when she goes to the tracks."
"She says the same about you, De." Jimmie said warmly. "But thanks."
"Does Junior know Casey came home?" Denise asked.
"Yeah. He punched a motorcoach." Jimmie said, trying to stifle a laugh and failing miserably. Denise laughed as well and hugged herself closely.
"That I would have loved to have seen!" She squealed.
"Listen, I have an idea, but you have to tell me if it's a good one or not. Especially since you'll be my accomplice." Jimmie said, his voice lowering slightly.
"Uh-oh. Your accomplice, huh? Does it involve international espionage or remote-sensor detonation systems?" Denise teased, referencing the Bond movie they had all watched the previous week.
"Sadly, no." Jimmie laughed. "How about if we plan some sort of forced-lock-in for Junior and Casey, so they can work their stuff out? But, you know, a romantic forced lock in. So they can kiss and make up, or something."
"Make them work out their differences, as it were?" Denise encouraged.
"Something like that. Because, we both know Casey won't be the first to approach Junior since he was the freaker-outer, and Junior seems to have this whole prideful-ego thing happening. So maybe we need to give them a push." Jimmie said. "My god, did anything in that sentence make sense?"
Denise laughed, and Jimmie chuckled with her. "I understood perfectly. But I am apparently well-versed in Jimmie-speak. That sounds like a dandy plan, if we can figure out somewhere to put them, and some way to get them there."
"Details, details." Jimmie said. "How about I call you when I'm back in town on Sunday night and we can plot their demise then?"
"That sounds great." Denise smiled. "Thanks for calling to check on Casey. Tell Junior she's fine."
"Her head really okay?" Jimmie asked, concerned.
"She'll be fine once she has some sleep and some powerful, mind-altering substances. Don't worry." Denise soothed. "I'll take care of her. You take care of him."
"Sounds like a deal. How are you doing?" Jimmie asked, switching gears. "How's the job search going?"
"I have an interview on Wednesday." Denise said proudly. "Hopefully I won't suck."
"I can't imagine that being possible." Jimmie laughed. "You'll be great."
"Thanks." Denise said. "Other than that, I'm okay. Just trying to get used to a new town, and the fact you guys are gone half of every week for most of the year."
"Man, I feel that." Jimmie sympathized. "I'm already looking forward to the offseason just so I can find the quickest way to the grocery store, instead of driving all over town like I do now, since I'm still new to Mooresville."
Denise laughed at the mental image of Jimmie lost in their town. "I'll be sure to draw you up a map this week." She teased.
"Hey De?" Jimmie asked.
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you moved to town."
"Me too, Jimmie."
"I'll call you Sunday." Jimmie said. "Thanks, De."
"Good luck tomorrow. Knock 'em dead."
**
"You're sure she's okay? She isn't supposed to be upset or jar her head or anything while she still recovered from the concussion and everything. The doctor said she should take her medication if she feels a headache or anything coming on, or if it feels weird to go to the hospital and have it looked at." Junior rambled as he grabbed Jimmie by the shoulder to further emphasize his point.
"Dude, I know all that. Denise just said her head hurt, but that she was going to take her medication and go to bed. I'm sure she'll be fine in the morning." Jimmie tried to reassure his obviously anxious friend.
"Oh god, if anything happens, if she … " Junior began.
"She's tough." Jimmie said simply. "I'm not worried."
"Yeah." Junior said softly. "She's scrappy." His voice caught slightly.
Jimmie looked at his friend strangely, but said nothing.
"I'm thinking I overreacted." Junior said, by way of apology. "I shouldn't have gone off on you. I know better."
"Forget it." Jimmie replied. "So, is this Tiffani chick still around?"
Junior's jaw tightened, then relaxed. "No, she's gone. She pretty much just came to tell me she's taggin' some kid in the Busch series now. She knew I'd be thrilled for her. Gee, aren't I." He deadpanned.
"Why'd you kiss her, man?" Jimmie couldn't resist asking.
"Been asking myself that all
day, dude."