Let Me Down

Home : Stories by Mick : Nascarfic_100 Series : Let Me Down

Summary: What if Rick had scolded Junior over the events in Richmond?

AUTHOR: Mick
EMAIL: mick@cryptoffic.com
RATING: PG-13
SERIES: Nascarfic 100
CHARACTER: Dale Earnhardt Jr/Jimmie Johnson, Dale Jr. POV
PROMPT: 77: What?
WORD COUNT: 1,158
COMPLETED: September 11, 2008
DISCLAIMER: Own nothing, just wish I did. I own NOTHING and am affiliated with NO ONE mentioned here. Not the drivers, not the teams, no one. This is all fiction and fun. In other words...NOT REAL, NOT REAL, NOT REAL. ;-)
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Hendrick Motorsports - Charlotte, NC

"Sir? I…yessir. No, sir. Yes…yes, I understand. No, sir, it definitely won't happen again, unintentional or not. Yessir, you've got my word. Thank you, sir. I won't let you down."

Hang up the phone and lean back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling as I try to force back the tears. I've never heard Rick so upset or disappointed in me. Richmond was a complete accident, but it could have been avoided and we all know it. Part of me WANTED to spin the little shit out. I spent the rest of the race bitching and complaining, screaming and yelling about everything. Did exactly what Rick told me not to do. I never realized what a jerk I was until I came to work for him. He's made me listen to a bunch of my radio transmissions and sometimes I can't even believe it's me talking.

"Junior?" Jimmie tapping on my office door pulls me out of my daze and I turn to look over at him, hoping he don't notice I've been trying not to cry. He steps into the room, closing the door behind himself before crossing the floor to come sit on my lap behind the desk. My office is one of a handful at HMS that isn't made of windows, so we usually have plenty of privacy in here. His arms slide around my neck as his lips wander over my jaw, "Missed you this morning…why'd you leave so early?"

Wrap my arms around his waist and nuzzle his neck, breathing in a scent that is 100% Jimmie. My fingers trace light circles just under his shirt, my lips ghosting over two day old stubble before meeting his lips in a soft kiss. We linger there for a moment before he pulls back to look at me, waiting for a response. I shrug and tighten my arms around him, "Killer was whining to go out so I went for a walk with him. Couldn't get him back in the house so I shoved him in the truck and headed over here without really thinking about it. Had to talk to Pops anyway, so it all worked out."

He pouts a little before kissing along my neck, "I would've come with you. Should've woke me up…" His fingers run through my hair, curling and tugging, just how he knows I like it. My eyes drift shut as familiar tingles run through my body, and I know it won't be long before he kicks this into full gear.

"Sorry, baby, just didn’t want to wake you…" Slide my hands up his back and tilt my head to give him better access to my neck. After the lecture from Rick, it feels good to have this kind of attention. Letting him down is almost as bad as letting my daddy down and that's not a feeling I can live with.

"June?" Jimmie comes to a halt and pulls back to look at me, eyes wide with concern, "Baby, are you crying? What's wrong? What happened?" His thumbs brush over my cheeks, and shit, I didn't even realize I'd started to cry! He wraps his arms tight around me, murmuring little nothings into my ear as I force back the rogue tears. I ain't no fuckin' crybaby, especially over something this stupid.

"I'm fine, Jimmie. Really. Just got something in my eye," he hates when I do this, but I can't help it. I ain't the type for sharing feelings and singing Kumbaya. My daddy was a stoic and so was his daddy. I ain't no good at breaking blood ties. Crying is a sign of weakness and I ain't ever gonna have anyone thinking I'm weak.

"June, c'mon baby. Talk to me. You know you can tell me anything…" he always does this. Been together since my daddy died and it still ain't gotten through his head that I ain't no open book like he is. He's the one that likes to pour his guts out, not me. At least, not without a couple drinks in my system first. He never gives up, though. Always keeps at it, hoping he'll eventually crack the damn and release the flood.

"Jimmie, don't. Just let it be, a'right? Nothing's wrong, I ain't cryin' and I ain't upset over nothin'," Clench my jaw and narrow my eyes at him, daring him to pry some more. His lips press together in a tight line and I know instantly this is going to turn into an argument if I don't have him smiling again in under a minute. Tickle his sides and kiss his cheek softly, "I love you, baby. I'm sorry, a'right? Didn't mean to go snappin' at you, just been one of those days."

"Yeah," he slides off my lap and walks to the door, hands in pockets and shoulders slumped, "See you tonight, June. Stopping at my parents' house for a few hours, Dad's still upset over Grams. Could use some company," he gives me a pointed look and I know he wants me to invite myself along, but I'm just not in the mood to play therapist tonight.

"See you at home, then. I'll leave the light on for you," Keep my eyes trained on the desk, knowing full well he's either pouting or scowling at me, "Gotta take care of the animals, looks like it might rain tonight. Wanna get them in the stables." Glance up at him against my better judgment and the irritation is clear in his eyes. We're definitely going to fight tonight.

"Fine, Dale. Do what you have to do," I know I'm in trouble when he uses my given name, "I'll be home whenever. Have fun with your livestock." He pulls the door open and before I can reply he's out the door and down the hall. I could easily get up and go after him, but a public display with him is the last thing I need or want right now. I'll just duke it out with him when he comes home tonight, maybe get some angry sex out of it.

Just as I'm resigning myself to the fact that I'll be in the doghouse tonight, the door flies open and Jimmie comes barging back in, bee lining over to me. I go to stand up but he throws himself into my lap, holding my face in his hands as he kisses me deeply. I kiss him back hard, my arms wrapping around him, crushing him to me.

When we part, he drops a kiss to my forehead before getting back up. He walks to the door again, stopping before walking out. He turns to me, a tiny smile tugging at the corners of his lips, "Love you, June." With that, he leaves again, this time leaving me with a lopsided grin and a weight off my chest. Guess the sex won't be quite as angry tonight as I thought.

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Mick - mick@cryptoffic.com