Fractured

Home : Stories by Catw00man : Fractured

Summary: It’s time for him to be with the one he loves.

AUTHOR: Catw00man
EMAIL: catw00man@cryptoffic.com
RATING: R
CHARACTER: Chad Knaus, Jimmie Johnson, Chandra Johnson, Chad POV
COMPLETED: December 10, 2007
WORD COUNT: 950
DISCLAIMER: 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. ;-)
DEDICATION: This for for Manda or “houseofknaus” for Christmas. I hope this is what you were hoping for hun. Believe it or not your boy was the first one to talk to me. Enjoy!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This fic was done my request for Christmas 2007. The premise? I can’t exactly tell you that or it gives it all away! Let just say this one’s a little dark.
AUTHOR'S NOTE2: Thanks to Zippit for the awesome beta on this.
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Waldorf-Astoria, New York City - Post Champion’s Banquet - November 30, 2007

It wasn’t supposed to happen this way.  Not like this.  We should be off in some warm, exotic location.  Just the two of us.  The way it was always meant to be.

Wipe the blood on my white tuxedo shirt and rock on my knees.  He’s supposed to be with me.  He knows that.  We both know that.  I’m not just “Scummy” the crew chief.  I pulled him out of a burning car.  Sold my soul to the devil to make him win.  Of course he loves me.  He has to.

“Chad, I’m not that way.  I’m married.”

Pointless denial.  The marriage was just a lie that had to end.  We all knew it.  No one can be as close as he and Jeff were without there being more.  No one could handle being beaten the way Jeff has without more history between them.  But that was then and this is now and he belongs with me.

“Dear God, what have you done?”

I did what needed to be done.  I showed her the way out.  She was never meant for you, all scrawny and shallow.  She couldn’t know you like I know you.  She didn’t understand what it was like.  The bitch wanted to play Sudoku on the pit box instead of watching you.  We both knew this had to end.

“Stop Chad, please.  Why are you doing this?”

If you love him you know what to do.  It’s time to set him free so he can be with the one he loves.  The one who would do anything for him.  Years I’ve waited and watched, giving up my life to make his better.  I’ve lied for him.  I’d cheat and steal for him.  I’ll even kill for him.

“Chad it’s cold.  Please stop.”

Won’t be cold for long.  Outside the city sparkles all around.  This is our city.  We earned our place here.  This should be for us and us alone.  No one should be allowed to intrude.  High, so high in the sky with thousands of lights all around.  Victory buys a view.  This is our view.  Time to see if you can fly.

Tears.  Whimpers.  It will all be over soon.  Climb up, up on the edge.  Climb. No need for a note.  A broken body says everything that needs to be said.  I’m more than a crew chief.  Time to take my place.  Time to stop the lies.

“Jimmie!  Jimmie please!!”

No screaming.  No screaming.  Birds don’t know how to scream.  Birds fly.  Can you fly?  Further, further up on the edge.  City lights frame your final curtain call.  One push, one touch is all it takes to set us free.

“Jimmieeeeeeeee!”

You don’t get to say his name.  Fly birdie, fly.  If he comes back you know he really loved you.  Not my fault.  Birds fly away.  Sometimes they soar and sometimes they…

Fall.

“Channy!  No!  Why?!?”

I did it for you.  To set you free so you can see.  This is where you belong, with someone who understands.  It’s not just knowing the car.  It’s knowing you.  It’s not just building and fashioning speed.  It’s making love to you with my cars crafted only for you.  We don’t have to wait anymore.  Don’t have to hide.  We can finally be together.  Don’t you see?  I did it all for you.  For us, so we can finally be together.

“You killed my wife you crazy son of a bitch!

No Jimmie, no.  You don’t understand.  I set her free.  She wasn’t right for you.  No.  Ow.  Cold metal against my back.  Jimmie stop.  Stop!  Trust me, like you do in the car.  I know what’s best for you.  Trust me.  I’ll make it right like I always do.  Stop.  Don’t.  You don’t know what you’re doing.  You don’t understand.  You need to—

Shot rings out in the night and everything should go still.  But it doesn’t.  World keeps turning as brown eyes go wide with shock.  What happened?  Jim, it’s going to be okay.  You’re free now.  It’s just us now.

“Chad?”

Crimson red, all over him.  Crimson red all over my hands as he falls into my arms, where he belongs.  Heavy.  He’s so heavy and we slide to the ground.  Tears against my neck.  It’s okay, Jim.  I’ve got you now.  Coughing and he shudders in my arms.  Jimmie?  Lean back and he pulls shaking, red hands from his stomach.

“Jimmie, what have you done?  Jim, talk to me.”

He slumps on the ground and coughs again.  His lips are so, so red.  Jimmie?  You can’t go.  You’re my driver.  You’re the best.  Better than Gordon and Earnhardt.  Jimmie, I’ll make you the best.  I swear it.  I’ll make you everything, just talk to me.  Shudders overtake him again.  Need to get him inside.  He must be cold.  Try to help him up but he’s so, so heavy.  Jimmie, c’mon.  Get up.  Wake up.  It’s our time now.

Gun on the floor.  Why is that here?  Oh, yeah.  Had to make the birdie fly away.  It’s smoking.  But I didn’t shoot the bird.  I didn’t—

“Jimmie.  No!  Wake up!  Wake up!”

This wasn’t supposed to happen.  Blood covers my hands and he’s completely still.  Eyes stare blankly above us where the stars should be.  Shake him, why is he all cold?  Wasn’t he just here in my arms?  Lean over and kiss his lips as the pounding and shouting starts. 

Jimmie.  My driver, my love.  I’ve got you.  Pull him tight into my arms and hold him tight.  Rock him in my arms and hum softly.

I love you, Jim.  We’re together now.  Just like we’re supposed to be.  I’ve got you…”

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Catw00man - catw00man@cryptoffic.com