[epilogue]

Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-) Warning: Contains "colourful" language.

**

"So, Jimmie…who's the lovely lady on your arm?" Marty Smith asked, thrusting his tape recorder into his friend's face with a grin. Their 'real' interview was over, but Marty couldn't resist poking fun at his new friend.

Jimmie laughed and playfully punched Marty in the shoulder. "So much for journalistic integrity. This lovely lady is my fiancée, Kendall. I believe you know her - you were leering at her over your beer bottle last night, you jerk."

Marty feigned shock, but tried to continue his interview. "What happened to the blond bombshell from a coupla weeks ago?" Marty asked, winking at Kendall.

"Marty?" Kendall interrupted, and Marty shifted the tape recorder from one hand to the other to better hear her.

"Yes, Miss McPherson?" Marty responded, biting back a smile.

"Lick me." Kendall said with a broad grin, making all the men surrounding Jimmie laugh soundly.

In the weeks following Kendall's return to the track, her antics, her language and her outrageous clothes had made her a frequent target for questions and interviews. Somehow, she had muddled through in such a way that she became a bit of a media darling - being sought out for more interviews, rather than less.

She couldn't understand it any more than Jimmie.

Jeff had apologized again and again to both Kendall and Jimmie, and after a 'let bygones be bygones' dinner of pizza and beer, all was forgiven.

"Very diplomatic." Marty laughed. "A colorful interview as always, Ms. McPherson."

"I try, Mr. Smith." Kendall returned as Jimmie tugged on her hand, guiding her towards the garage area.

"Lick me?" Jimmie asked when they were out of earshot. "I can't wait for that to get around to Jeff and Hendrick."

Kendall shrugged and shook her head. "Tell them I didn't know what I was saying, on account of the meth and the fifth of vodka I had downed this morning."

Jimmie laughed. "That'll go over."

"I'm not here to be politically correct, merely entertaining." Kendall replied, and Jimmie pulled her into a tight hug as crew members and pit road officials hurried past them.

"You are there, hon. You are that."

"Hey Romeo!" Chad's voice called from the next garage stall. "Quit hittin' on the pit lizards and get your ass in this car. We have a championship to win!"

Kendall couldn't resist flipping Chad the bird as Jimmie jogged towards his team.

[fin]