Christmas Storm

Home : Stories by Catw00man : The Storm Series : Christmas Storm

Summary: She’s not the Intimidator, though she really is the next best thing.

AUTHOR: Catw00man
EMAIL: catw00man@cryptoffic.com
RATING: NC-17
SERIES: Storm Series
CHARACTER: Dale Earnhardt Jr/Jeff Gordon, Jeff POV
CATEGORY: Romance
PROMPT: Taming the Muse #60-63 (#35-38 for me) - Leathery, Arctophile, Solitary Confinement, Enamored
COMPLETED: October 6, 2007
WORD COUNT: 5,391
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: To Mick for her brithday even though the finished product is rediculously late!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ok so this thing has already kinda gone AU, since in the first fic I had Jeff win the Championship in ’04.  Also, he made the trip to Paris with Jimmie for the ROC race.  *shrugs*  Oh well, my fic, my rules, right?  Picks up later in the day after An Invitation.
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Mooresville, NC: December 24th, 2004

Christmas.  I can’t believe its Christmas already.  Wasn’t it just yesterday Jimmie was getting married and I thought my life was over?  Wasn’t it just a moment ago that Dale was bringing me back to his house and into his own private little world?  I’ve lost myself in him.  I haven’t even really been back to the condo but to get clothes to run back into his arms and the protective shelter of his perfect little kingdom.  I haven’t even had to face the real world in so long…and now I’m shopping for Christmas presents for dinner with his family….

Is this really real?

How long until he comes to his senses and it all falls apart?  Could it be tonight?  Is this just the beginning of the end?  I don’t even know what to get him.  I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do.  God, I don’t even remember the last time I went shopping for gifts.  I’ve had someone do it for me for so long.  Assistants, employees, always finding the right gifts for me to hand out so I didn’t have to get too emotionally invested.  But now it’s just me and to say I’m overwhelmed doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface.

What if they hate me?  What if they hate him with me?  What if I don’t get the right things?  Check my watch and, shit, I’m running out of time.  Watch as the salesman returns with a pair of sparkling Waterford crystal candlesticks and I’m still not sure it’s enough.  “Are you sure these are the best you have?”

“Yes, sir, Mr Gordon.  These are a limited edition of only twenty five, hand crafted and hand numbered by the artisan,” he tells me as he holds out the delicate pieces of crystal.  They’re beautiful for sure, but are they enough?  “They are $1000 for the pair.  Would you like to see something else?”

Something else?  I don’t have time for something else.  Shake my head and hand over my credit card.  “No, these will be fine.  Could you see they are gift wrapped for me?  I have a little more shopping to do.”

Watch as he takes the candlesticks away and then start looking through the rest of the shop.  I’ve already taken care of Karsyn, Junior’s “little princess.”  I figured all little princesses need their very own tiara so…that’s what I found her.  A little silver tiara that looks like it’s made of vines with tiny silver leaves.  Well, I got her that and what is apparently “the” doll of the season, some Princess Anneliese Barbie that I was assured any little girl will love.  We’ll see.  But now…now I have to take care of the hardest one.

Dale.

What the hell am I going to get Dale?

What do you get someone who rescued you from the blackest despair of your life?  What do you get someone who you’ve barely seen out of the bedroom for the last almost three weeks?  I swear I know every single inch of his body, how he smiles so softly in his sleep, that he’s completely addicted to Sundrop but…I have no clue what kind of a gift he’d want.  I don’t even know what kind of gift this is supposed to be.

Is he just my lover?  My friend?  More?  Is this just a fling that he wouldn’t want a constant reminder of once Daytona rolls around?  Could I even live with that?   Look through rows and rows of finery and nothing feels like Dale at all.  Pick up a silver flask wrapped in black leather and trace my thumb across the surface.  It’s nice.  It’s heavy.  But it doesn’t fit the “Bud boy” at all.  It’d just be something he’d accept with a smile, put up somewhere never to be used and finally forgotten about.

I don’t want to be forgotten.

Even if this is just a temporary thing, a magical moment in time, it can’t be forgotten.  No, there has to be something perfect, something that can last forever and really mean something…but what?  Turn in a circle as I look around the shop and my eyes run over sparkling jewelry cases in the center of the store.  Take a step closer even as I tell myself there’s nothing there he could possibly want.  He’s never worn jewelry.  Not that I’ve ever seen.  It’s a stupid idea, except….

That is really, really nice.  Shake my head as I trace my fingers over the glass display case.  He’d never wear it.  He wouldn’t.  So why can’t I get the thought of him wearing it out of my head?  It’s stupid.  So damn stupid and juvenile.  It’s not like we’re “Going steady” or something but--

“You have exquisite taste, Mr Gordon.”  Turn my head to see the overly helpful salesman coming my way with what must be the packaged and wrapped candlesticks.  From the look in his eyes there’s no doubt he works on commission and by now he already has to know my credit limit…or lack there of.  “Let me show that to you,” he tells me and unlocks the back of the glass case, making a big show of laying out the white gold ID bracelet on a padded board of green felt.  “It’s the finest one we have.  Solid white gold, hidden clasp, it even comes with a leather bracelet box and we will provide the engraving of course.”

Run my fingers over the heavy silver bracelet and most of his words are lost on me.  No, all I can do is imagine how it would look against his pale skin.  It’s stupid.  It’s impulsive.  But I really, really want him to have it.  What’s another grand anyway?  Nothing but money.  But at least…with this…he’d never forget.  “So you said you do the engraving…is that in house?  Can you have it for me today?”

I watch as the salesman looks between the bracelet and the already wrapped candlesticks and I already have my answer.  “Absolutely, Mr. Gordon.  We can have it ready in no time at all.  You just need to decide on what you want, and I can start having it processed.”

Nod to him and trace my finger over the sparkling white gold again and wonder what on earth I could put on it.  His name, I guess?  Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?  It just seems so informal…so, impersonal.  And maybe that’s what it should be considering all of this is still undefined but I don’t want it to be.  I want this to really mean something.

“So will you be engraving just the front or both sides?”

I look up and blink at the young man stupidly.  “You can do that?”  I watch him nod eagerly and I realize I’ve probably made his Christmas with my last minute shopping spree.  Look down at the bracelet again and a slow smile curls my lips.  I know exactly what to do now.  I just hope it means as much to him as it does to me.

~*~*~*~

“Maaaaaaaaaaaaaama look!  I’ma priiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinceeeeeess!”

Smile broadly as I watch Junior’s four-year-old niece run around with her new doll, silver tiara perched crookedly on her head.  I really do need to go find that sales lady who suggested the Princess Barbie and thank her again.  I guess she was right when she said it was the hottest toy of the year.  Karsyn seems to think so anyway.

Watch as she points to the crown on her doll and the tiara on her head as she dances around the living room and have to smile again.  At least one of the Earnhardt women seems to like me.  I just wish I could make more headway with her Momma. 

Glance over to Kelley who’s watching Karsyn with an amused look on her face and can’t shake the feeling I’ve done something wrong.  Does she know about me and Dale?  Did I offend her somehow with the candlesticks?  She said they were beautiful and thanked me but, as I see them still wrapped up in their open box on the table, I can’t help but wonder if she meant it or was just being polite…just like she was all through dinner.  Junior’s sister is one of the few people in the world I’ve never been able to read and I just hope I haven’t screwed things up already.  God, maybe I shouldn’t have come.  Maybe I should have tried harder to convince him to stay ho--

A hand on my wrist from behind jolts me from my thoughts as I’m suddenly pulled backwards toward the patio door.  I don’t even have a chance to process what’s going on as I feel his fingers slide into my hand and I’m tugged outside onto the dark porch.  I turn to him to ask what’s going on when his firm lips are suddenly pressed hungrily to mine.

Yes.  Oh hell yes.

I’ve felt like I’ve been out of my element all night, making small talk with people I’ve only ever been acquaintances with, but this--him--feels like coming home…even though I know I shouldn’t be thinking like that.  But I don’t care.  All I care about is the taste of his tongue against mine as I thread my fingers through his long curls.  Pull his body flush against my own as I slide my hand behind his neck and deepen the kiss, fire erupting in my veins from only his touch.  I swear I love this aggressive side to him and if he doesn’t watch it I’m going to be begging to have him right here.

Stumble backward with him and before I know it he’s pulling me down onto the porch swing with him.  Feel it sway beneath us and I just can’t get close enough.  God, is it always going to be like this?  Hand runs over his back as I continue to hold him to the kiss with the other and he practically crawls into my lap causing me to groan low into his mouth.  Continue to kiss him, trying to completely devour him until we’re both gasping for breath and staring at each other with wide eyes, dilated from the darkness.

“What…was that?” I gasp at him as he runs his hands over my chest and looks down at me with a face dark with desire.  Slide my hands down to his hips and tug him even closer as his thickly accented voice sends shivers down my spine.

“You.  Just…couldn’t resist you.”  He pulls back slightly to meet my eyes with his own and I run my hands over his tight ass.  “I can’t believe you did all of that,” he tells me as he shakes his head slowly.  “It was too much but…I think you’ve made a friend for life with Karsyn.”  Listen to him chuckle softly as a bright grin breaks across his face, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen her abandon that Teddy bear for anything before tonight.”  His hands run slowly over my chest again and I can hear the emotion in his voice as he leans even closer, “It was so good to have you here…with my family….”

God, I still can’t believe he even wanted me here and I don’t have a clue what to tell him.  Feel his body so hot against mine and I finally tell him softly, meaning every word. “Thank you for having me here.  It was…nice…really nice.” 

Watch as his smile seems to grow even more and before I know it he’s kissing me again, tongue sliding past my lips to claim my mouth completely.  And I love it.  Slide my hand behind his neck to pull him flush against me and I remember a time he wasn’t so bold, when everything was new and he was still unsure.  But this was always under the surface, just waiting to be set free.  He completely blew my mind this morning and if I have my way I’d love nothing more than to return the favor right now.

Slip my hands underneath the back of his heavy sweat shirt and it feels like his skin is on fire.  Turn him slightly; still holding him tight and start to lay him back on the swing, using one foot on the ground to hold us steady.  Kiss along his jaw when he gasps for breath and I swear he’s already got me feeling like I’m going to combust any second.  Kelley’s apple pie was good but I think I need something a little more…substantial for dessert.

“Jeff, wait, I wanna…,” he tells me soft as he presses his hands to my chest and shit what was I thinking?  We can’t do this here.  Pull back to look down at him but before I can say a word he’s purring at me with the sexiest bedroom voice I’ve ever heard.  “I wanna…thank you…for tonight,” and by the look in his eyes I know exactly what kind of “thanking” he has in mind.

But he’s already had his chance today.  Slow smile crosses my face as I shake my head at him slowly.  “Later, Dale.  It’s my turn now,” I tell him in my most sultry tone as I lick my lips.  He wants to play I’m more than willing.  Push my hands under his sweat shirt and slide them up to pinch his nipples, grinning when he jumps and moans low.  “Now the real question is…can you stay quiet while I have my…dessert?”

Watch his eyes go wide and I don’t want to waste any more time.  Run my hands down his body, fingers curling and scratching over his abs until I reach the button of his jeans and undo it easily.  Shift slightly on the swing, folding one leg up underneath me as I straddle him and continue to hold us steady with the other foot on the ground. 

“Fuck, Jeff,” he gasps, breathless as I unzip his jeans, exposing him to the cool December air.  But I have no plans of letting him get cold.  Slip my hand inside his boxers and, Jesus, he’s just like fire under my hand.

“We’ll do that later, Dale.  I promise.”  Shoot him a lascivious grin and then drop down into his lap and suck him into my mouth, all the way to the back of my throat and growl low around him.

Hold tight to him as the swing suddenly sways and jerks but somehow he stays quiet.  Grin around him and tighten my hold on his hips until the swing steadies and then run my tongue up and down his hard length as he shivers.  Bob my head over him quickly, sucking hard until I hear him whimper and that’s when I turn my gaze up to look at him.

He’s so beautiful when he’s lost to desire and this is no exception.  He’s biting his lip and his eyes are wide and filled with lust.  I can feel him trembling as he tries to stay quiet, something he never, ever does and I swear it’s the most erotic thing I’ve ever seen.  He looks like he’s about to shake apart and I reach up with one hand to lace my fingers with his and squeeze his hand softly.  His eyes instantly turn to meet mine and I know without a doubt I’ve completely fallen for him. 

But I can’t think about that now.

Continue to move over him, grazing his hard cock with my teeth as I swallow around him and try not to tease.  I could do this all night but this isn’t about stamina.  This is about me wanting him, needing him, right now…consequences be damned.  Squeeze his hand again and increase my pace as I see him start to tremble harder and I’d know without even looking that he’s close.  Bathe him with my tongue as I deep throat him again and then, shit, there he is all warm and sweet on my tongue. 

Look up to see the most exquisite look of bliss on his face and drink him down completely, savoring every single drop.  Then I crawl up his body, rubbing mine against his and kiss him deeply, wanting to totally possess him with nothing but my kiss.  Feel his arms wrap around me and I’m so lost in him I don’t even hear the back door....

“Ralph Dale Earnhardt Junior, get your ass in the house…NOW!”

Freeze at the sharp words and for an instant I wonder--I hope--that I imagined them.  But as I feel Dale go rigid beneath me, as I see panic spread across his face and fear in his expressive blue eyes…I know it’s no dream.  And that’s when I really remember where we are…and what we were doing.  Fuck!  What if I’ve ruined everything?

“Now, Junior,” she snaps again and that’s when I finally turn my head to look at the fuming “mama bear.”

She’s enshrouded in the darkness of the porch but there is no mistaking her attitude.  Her arms are crossed and I can feel her eyes boring into me as I raise up enough to let Dale reach between us to frantically adjust himself and get his jeans zipped back up.  Move off of him when he pushes at me and I don’t miss how quickly he scrambles to his feet, his eyes looking anywhere but at his sister.

Bite my lip and I want to reach for his hand, want to touch him, but I don’t want to make things worse than they already are.  Follow him as he shuffles towards the door, head down, and hear him mumble, “Sorry,” under his breath as he passes by Kelley.  I just try to stay close to him when all I want to do is disappear.

“Not you, Gordon.  I’d like to talk to you…alone.”  Her artic tone sends a chill through me and I freeze with my back to her as Dale spins around, hand still on the door.  His eyes are wide and filled with panic and for a moment I’m not sure if it’s for him…or me.  Swallow hard and meet his eyes with my own and I want to tell him everything’s going to be ok.  But is it?  I’ve never known two siblings closer than Dale and Kelley and I know without a doubt if it’s her or me I’m not going to be the one on the winning end.  But still, I’m not a child and I’m not afraid of who I am.  I’m the Champion.  It’s time I started to act like it.

“It’s ok, Dale.  Go ahead.  I’ll be fine.”  Raise my hand and shake my head when he says my name and starts to protest.  If Kelley wants to talk to me I’m not going to hide behind Dale.  He wanted to bring me here.  He wanted me to be with his family.  Now I just hope this isn’t the beginning of the end because if anyone could bring this to a screeching halt it’s Kelley.  “Go on,” I tell him again.  “If Kelley wants to talk to me then we really should talk.”

He hesitates, looking over my shoulder to his sister and part of me really wants to know what’s going on between them.  I watch him go still for a moment, eyes very intense, but he doesn’t say a word.  To be honest he probably doesn’t need to.  I see him nod once, almost imperceptibly, and then he looks to me and locks his eyes with mine.  Intense.  He’s so fucking intense and I feel like I need to say something.  But before I get the chance he finally turns and heads inside.

Watch as the door closes and the soft “click” it makes seems to echo through the dark silence.  Stand with my back to her for another moment, trying to find what to say but she beats me to it with words dripping sarcasm.

“I’ve spent the majority of my life looking out for my little brother, trying to make sure some stupid tramp didn’t get her hooks into him.  I had no idea I needed to be worried about other drivers too.” 

Turn around and start to reply but I’m stopped short by the look in her eyes.  No, that’s not it.  It’s actually her eyes that send a cold chill down my spine again.  I’ve seen these ice blue eyes before, so hard and unyielding and…intimidating.

That’s it.

Arms crossed, commanding glare, mouth in a hard line, and there’s no question whose daughter she is.  For an instant I swear it feels like it’s his eyes looking through me, turning me inside out and making me feel small and insignificant. 

Just like he did…in the beginning.

But I’m not an inexperienced kid anymore.  And no matter the fact that she has his eyes, she’s not the Intimidator, though she really is the next best thing.  It’s no wonder Dale’s never had a girl hang around if this is what they had to deal with.

“If my daddy were still alive--”

“He’d have flayed me open, skinned me alive and left me out for the wolves to finish, I know,” I snap back at her and finally move closer.  She flinches slightly, just the tiniest crack in her steel façade and I know she didn’t expect this from me.  But I’m just getting started.  “You’re right.  He’s probably turning over in his grave at the though of Dale with me but….”  Make sure to lock eyes with her before I continue.  “I. Don’t. Care.”

Watch her blink in surprise at my words and she falters, lips parting to reply but not finding the words.  She readjusts her arms across her chest and starts to take a step back but then stands firm, eyes narrowing again.  “Of course not.  You’re entitled to anything you want, aren’t you?  You’d rather just try to buy our affections.  So tell me, how much did it cost to get him in your bed?”

Mouth goes dry at her words and I do take a step back, all the confidence and security I gained from looking into Dale’s eyes bleeding out of me with the knives in her glare and acid in words.  I…I did seduce him, didn’t I?  Oh, he kissed me first but after that…I seduced him, right?  He-he took me back to his house but…I didn’t back off.  Maybe I would be better going back to my solitary existence, back in the condo, away from--.

No.

No, that’s not how it happened.

I gave him a choice every step of the way.  He wanted me.  Hell, it was just this morning he was the one taking charge and showing me just how much he wanted me.  Whatever we may be I know I didn’t force him, didn’t buy him off, didn’t manipulate him.  He wants me and I want him and I’m not going to let her tear this down…no matter who she is.

I know it’s irrational.  I know it’s all been so fast and of all the people in the world I have no right to argue with her over Dale.  She and her brother have been inseparable their whole lives.  Hell, to be honest they only ever had each other.  But still….

She has no right to demean this.

She has no right to demean him.

“Is that really what you think of your brother, Kelley?”  Take a step towards her as I try to shake off the insecurities she’s filled me with.  “Do you really think that he of all people could be bought?” 

I see her falter and start to answer me but I’m not going to give her a chance.  No, she wanted to talk to me, I’m gonna talk, and she’s just going to have to listen.  “You know him better than anyone, isn’t that what you like to say?  Do you really think that anyone could buy him?”

Try to read her expression, but hell, I’ve never been able to tell what she’s really thinking so I continue, throwing caution to the wind.  “You may not like this.  You may think it’s wrong.  But don’t you dare try to pretend this is something it isn’t,” I snap, unable to keep the venom from my voice.

I don’t even realize I’m clenching my fists until my arms tremble from the strain.  Try to force myself to relax but I can’t and I turn away from her, heading to the edge of the porch to stare into the dark backyard.  I can feel my heart pounding and I can’t even explain why I’m so worked up.  This is just an off season thing, right?  I don’t need to get too attached.  I don’t need to be telling his sister off, but if she’s going to talk about him like that….

“So what is it, Gordon?” she asks softly and causes me to jump.  I didn’t realize she’d come so close.  But now I can feel her, feel her gaze over my shoulder and I really don’t even know what to tell her.

“I don’t know,” I murmur softly and wrap my arms around myself to ward away the chill that isn’t only from the slight breeze that’s picked up.  “I just know I would never do anything to hurt him.” 

Close my eyes and think about the day we met, the day over ten years ago when his Daddy grabbed me by the back of the neck and told me he had someone I needed to meet.  He drug me over to this scrawny redheaded kid who was driving the most beat up piece of shit I’d ever seen.  I don’t even know if Dale was even 21 at the time.  I ragged his Daddy forever about not giving his son something better to drive, but he just told me it was character building.  How else could the boy learn the value of hard work?

It hurts to know he’d never have approved of us.  It hurts to know I’m probably not supposed to feel the way I do.  It hurts that even if this did turn out to be more…we wouldn’t even have a chance to ever be accepted.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.  Right now I can’t even keep his sister from wanting to tear out my throat.

“Jeff….”

Her voice is softer, but still I can’t look at her, can’t face her.  I don’t want to see the undisguised hatred in her eyes.  I don’t want to feel like what I’m doing is wrong when he’s been the one holding me together.  Shake my head and turn more away from her.  “Don’t,” I say as I try to wave her off.  “I get it, ok?  You think I’m trying to corrupt your 30 year old brother.  And maybe I have.”  Shake my head slowly before adding softly, “But after all the years I’ve know him you’d think I’d get a little more respect….”

Let out a soft sigh and I can’t even begin to imagine what she’s thinking.  I’ve known Dale for a long time but Kelley and I never did talk a lot.  I’m not really sure why.  Maybe we were just too wrapped up in our own lives.  And maybe I should just go since I’m obviously not welcome in her home.

Almost jump out of my skin when I feel her hand on my shoulder and I tense, uncertain of what she’s trying to do.  Part of her expects her touch to be hard…but it’s not.  I still don’t turn around until I finally hear her words, so much softer than before.  “Jeff, I’m sorry.”

Did she just apologize?  Turn to face her and it’s like I’m looking at a completely different person.  Gone are the cold blue eyes and hard stare.  She slowly pulls back her hand and wraps her arms around herself, but her posture is so different from before.  But still, I don’t understand.  “You don’t have anything to apologize for.”

“No,” she tells me and shakes her head and runs her hands along her forearms.  “You aren’t the only one Daddy would be disappointed in tonight.”  I shoot her a confused look and start to ask what she means but she continues before I get the chance.  “You’ve always been a friend to this family and I had no right to treat you the way I did.  Not after everything you went out of your way to do for us.”  She drops her head and I start to take a step forward but stop short when she looks up at me again.  “It’s stupid.  I know.  He’s grown but still…sometimes I still feel like I need to look out for him.”

Nod and shake out of my leather jacket to wrap around her when she shivers.  I swear it seems like the temperature has dropped ten degrees since we’ve been talking.  She murmurs a soft “thank you” and as she pulls the jacket on I try to let her know I understand.

“I think he brings that out in a lot of people, honestly.”  Feel her eyes on me and I shrug and shove my hands in my pockets.  “I think a lot of us still see him as the lost kid he was, always looking for his father’s approval until he ran out of time.”  Curl my hands into fists in my pockets and really start to realize how true my words really are.  I know I’ve always been protective of him, trying to help him out, trying to just be a friend ever since I met him.  He just has this…way about him that makes you want to look out for him.

I’m pulled out of my thoughts when she suddenly moves forward and wraps her arms around me.  It takes me a moment to get my bearing and I hug her back as she tells me softly, “Thank you.  Thank you for that.  I’m sorry for being such a bitch.  I just want to see him happy.”  She pulls back slowly and all I can do is look at her with stunned surprised until she grins and teases me, “Even if it is with you.”

Chuckle softly at the tone of her voice and irony in her words.  To most of the world Dale and I should be the biggest of rivals.  Our fans hate each other.  We aren’t even supposed to be friends, much less lovers.  But I’ve never really been one to care about what the world thought.  I just kept my private life to myself and let people assume what they wanted.  This is no different.

“Yeah, yeah,” I tease her back and tell her with a smile, “I’m sure the world would stop if people knew ‘Jeff Gordon’ was lowering himself to consort with the rednecks.”  Wink at her as she snorts at my words.  But then I get a little more serious because I need to know what happens now.  “Kelley, are we…ok?”

“Yeah, Gordon,” she tells me with a nod.  “As long as you know I’ll kill you if you ever hurt my brother, we’re fine.”  She smiles at me but I know she’s not joking.  She really would do anything for Dale.  “That and you promise to keep your ‘exploits’ off my porch and away from my daughter’s eyes.”

Duck my head and feel my cheeks flush slightly with shame.  “I think I can handle that,” I tell her as we both head for the door.  Maybe tonight wasn’t so bad after all?  I still don’t understand all of this, or why I feel so damn strongly about him but right now I just don’t care.

“Good to hear.  Besides, I think Karsyn’s already got a crush on you,” she tells me as she reaches for the door and I just stare at her in surprise.

“You’re kidding, right?”  The grin on her face really starts to make me wonder.  “No, seriously, you’re kidding, right?”  But she doesn’t answer, just heads inside with a teasing shrug of her shoulders.  “Kelley, c’mon.  Tell me you’re kidding,” I call out and follow her inside, back to Dale and the rest of my irrational fantasy.

~~Fin~~

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