Teammate’s Revenge

Home : Stories by Catw00man : RCR 2008 AU : Path of Thorns - Teammate’s Revenge

Summary: Something finally goes right...for Kevin.

AUTHOR: Catw00man
EMAIL: catw00man@cryptoffic.com
RATING: R
SERIES/SETTING: Path of Thorns
CHARACTERS: Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kevin POV
PROMPT: Taming the Muse #111 & 116 (#4/18 & 9/18 for me) - Antikythera & A rolling stone crushes toes
COMPLETED: October 17, 2008
WORDS: 4,402
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. ;-)
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This fic takes place during the Nationwide qualifying rainout at Atlanta that was canceled due to rain and sleet.
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Atlanta Motor Speedway – March 8th, 2008

Stare out the window of the garage and shake my head.  I don’t think I’ll ever get used to race delays due to snow or sleet or whatever that mess outside is.  Lie back on the table at the end of the row of garage stalls and stare up at the concrete ceiling.  Count the long line of outlets, three per team and each one’s identical.  It’s funny how every garage is different but still so much the same.  Just one cookie cutter garage after another and I’ve seen more than my fair share lately.  But anything’s better than being locked up in my coach with a wife whose attitude is as bad as the weather.

Stretch out on the long table between a toolbox and a random pair of gloves.  I don’t know what her problem is lately but I’m getting sick of it.  If I didn’t know any better I’d swear she was cheating on me, but there’s no way.  All she ever does is bitch me out or hang out with the Goddess.  I know.  I actually called to check up and see if she was really at the ladies spa with her.  Granted I didn’t tell her that’s what I was doing.  But I could hear Athena in the back ground so I know she’s not running around on me. 

Still….

Shake my head and roll my eyes.  D wouldn’t cheat on me.  Not when all she’d have to do is tell me and bring someone home for us both to play with.  No she’s just pissed with the whole situation like everyone is.  I swear it’s like the stars have aligned against us to bring about the year from hell.  It makes me wonder if some star chart or computer somewhere could have given us a heads up on this because if there is such a thing as prophecies this year has to be on the all time list of shit…and it’s only March.

Snorts softy and rub at my eyes as I lean up to glance out the window.  The sleet is still coming down and I’m half tempted to search around the garage for some kind of portable heater or something because it’s not exactly warm in here.  But since I’m not supposed to be in here when the garages are closed, I’d probably do better to keep quiet.  It’s obvious we won’t be qualifying the Nationwide cars before the race so I should be safe in here until Cup practice…if we even have that. 

Stupid weather.  Why couldn’t it take out some of the damn testing we’ve been doing instead of the races where I actually want to be in the car.  I was looking forward to spending a little more time in my Nationwide car.  God knows we need the work.  It’s no wonder Cale couldn’t do much with the 33 last year.  Our cars aren’t there yet.  But they will be.  They will be and soon enough KHI will be a contender in the Nationwide series as well as the Trucks.  I just wish I didn’t have to watch my old car being driven by that damn prick….

Growl softly and shake my head at the thought of racing against him in my 21.  Sure I gave up the ride this year to run my own car…but it didn’t mean I wanted him to take my place.  Why couldn’t RC have put Jeff or Wimmer or someone else in that car?  Earnhardt doesn’t even like to run so many Nationwide races.  He wasn’t even scheduled to run as many as he is.  Bobby was going to run this race, but once Earnhardt heard I was bitching about him in my car…suddenly he’s decided it might be fun to play around in the lower series. 

I told two people and I know he’s not talking to D.

Fucking backstabbing Bowyer.

Snarl to myself and lay back on the table to stare up at the ceiling again.  I hope he’s happy with himself considering it’s all turned into a damn joke.  Testing was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever been a part of and I’m glad RC wasn’t there.  But he’ll hear about it.  Pretty soon we’ll all be hearing about it.  Fucking team testing where no one is talking to anybody.  So much for sharing notes.  I hope Todd got something out of the rest of the crew chiefs because with Earnhardt avoiding Clint, Clint avoiding me and me avoiding Earnhardt there sure wasn’t a whole lot of sharing going on.  Even Burton was keeping his distance because I think he wants to stay out of the whole damn thing. 

He said he tried to talk to Earnhardt in Vegas.  Fat lot of good it did.  He’s still the same arrogant fucking asshole he always was.  I swear I should’ve kicked his ass in that hotel bar.  If Jeff hadn’t been so damn insistent we get out of there I really think I would have.  Wonder if NASCAR would suspend me for knocking out my damn teammate?  With my luck they would.  If I can get parked in Cup for shit in the truck series, I have no doubt publically taking out NASCAR’s golden boy would land me more than probation.  No, Jeff was right.  We need to deal with this in private.  And we will.  Just like we dealt with Clint.

Grin as I imagine all the different things we could do to get that fucking prick back.  He thought my getting Killer to trash his coach was bad.  How about an all access pass to Dirty Mo Acres?  Sure if people looked hard enough they could probably find his playground on Google Earth or something but that doesn’t come complete with a full address and phone number.  Maybe I need to set up a website called “how to get to Junior’s house.com”?  That should get his phone ringing.  Or maybe I’ll start handing out his cell phone number to every skanky pit lizard I see.  Nah I can do better.  I should do better.  I have a reputation to uphold.

Reach back to pillow my head on my hands and bend my knees to get more comfortable.  This is gonna take some thought because I want to do better than what I did to Clint.  I want to really fuck him over and I want him to know exactly who did it.  I just need to figure out exactly what I want to do.  Roll to my side and gaze out over all the Cup cars and I know I could do something to a certain red car.  Wouldn’t be hard either considering no one knows I’m here.  I do know more about cars than he probably thinks.  And with these new cars it’d be so easy to fail inspection….

But that would bite RC and all of us in the ass.  Sure it would probably send his redneck cousin home but at what cost?  He’s already in a startup team with no points, a penalty could ensure he’s out of the top 35 for more than just five races.  A slow smile crosses my face at the thought of his self entitled ass sitting home…but RC’s dropped way too much money on him.  No, as much as I’d like to see him fail it’s gonna end up hurting us all and I’m sick of collateral damage.  This needs to be about him and him alone.  Now if I could just--

Jump when I hear a scrape of metal against the concrete floor and my eyes go wide.  No one should be here, especially me.  I get caught and I could be the one in the NASCAR hauler getting read the riot act.  I’m sure Earnhardt would get a slap on the wrist, but not me.  Shit, I didn’t need this.  I just wanted to be alone.

Squint my eyes against the movement at the far end of the garage and try to see who it is.  Hold my breath, trying not to move, and I hope they’ll go away.  Feet drag against the floor and…he doesn’t look like he’s actually looking for something the way he’s roaming around.  It’s probably not a team member and an official wouldn’t be shuffling along like that.  He comes a little closer and I’m glad I’m wearing my blue Camping World firesuit over the bright yellow of my Cup suit because he doesn’t seem to have seen me with only the light from the windows filling the garage. 

Squint my eyes a little more when he comes closer to one of the windows and I know that shadow.  Catch a flash of BB&T red and I know I’m right.  What’re the odds?  I never thought he’d actually break into the garage.  I thought I was the only one stupid enough to do that. He still doesn’t seem to notice me so I clear my throat loudly and slowly sit up.

The loud crash of a scale shooting across the floor rings out when he jumps and I know I must’ve scared the hell out of him.  He spins around and I catch a look of panic on his face as he moves into the light and I smile to myself at the sight.  I shouldn’t take such satisfaction in seeing him freaked out but I can’t help it.  With everything he’s put me through this season he deserves to get a little scare.  His head turns my way when I swing my feet off the end of the table and I can see him visibly take a breath as I call out to him, “Relax, Shifty.  It’s only me.”

“Kev, I…I didn’t know you’d, that anyone would….”  He looks around quickly and I know he’s worried about someone else hearing us and getting caught but to be honest this isn’t the first time I’ve done this.  Once the garages are locked down no one normally comes around.  That’s why his being here caught me off guard.  “I’m sorry, I can…I’ll leave.”

He ducks his head and tries to make his way past me to the back exit but I jump off the table and block his path.  I don’t think so Bowyer.  You’ve done enough hiding from me lately.  It’s time we had this out once and for all.  He starts sharply when he almost runs into me and I hold my ground.  “No.  Nuh uh, you’re not going anywhere.  It’s time we dealt with this, Shifty.  No, running off to Gil or anyone else this time.”

And that’s exactly what he’s been doing for the past two weeks, through all of testing and at the races and I’m sick of it.  At first I didn’t want to see his face either but now it’s getting stupid, especially since I haven’t even seen him with Earnhardt lately…unless they’re just trying to make me think they aren’t--.  Shake my head slightly and level my gaze on him.  No, it’s not a trick.  The empty look in his eyes tells me that.  He’s never been able to lie for shit.  You can always see the truth in his eyes.

“Kev, there’s nothin’, I mean….”  He reaches up to fiddle with his ear and shifts side to side on his feet.  There’s no question he doesn’t want to talk about this but I don’t care.  Take a closer look at him and for the first time really take notice of the slumped shoulders and defeated look on his face.  What the hell happened to him?  I know he’s been letting Earnhardt lead him around by his dick, but this…this is different.  To be honest, he looks…broken.

And I don’t like that one bit.

“Bullshit there’s nothing.  What the hell is wrong with you, Shifty?  What have you let him do to you?”  Look him over again and shake my head, unable to keep the scorn from my voice.  “Is this what you gave up everything for?  Athena?  Your respect?  Me?  Is this what you wanted?” 

He wavers for a minute and at first I don’t think he’s going to answer me.  He turns away, rubbing at the back of his neck and I move to go after him.  But before I can even take a step he spins and advances on me causing me to be the one to take a step back.

“You think I wanted any of this?”  He takes another step forward and before I know it I can feel the table I was laying on before pressing into the back of my legs.  “You think I wanted to be tied up by my best friend and made a fool of in front of everyone?  You think I wanted to be the convenient fuck when the rain’s coming down and the world’s all falling apart just to be tossed aside when the clouds part and the sun shines again?  You think I wanted any of this?”  Brace myself against the table when he gets right in my face and raises his voice a little more.  “Yeah, Harvick. This is exactly what I wanted.  This is why I broke Athena’s heart, to hide in the dark of a fucking garage and be interrogated by you.”

Reach up quickly and shove him back hard when he gets too close.  He stumbles slightly but doesn’t back off.  Meet his glare with my own and now it’s my turn.  Does he really think this is all about him?  “Funny, you didn’t seem to mind being the ‘convenient fuck’ in Vegas a month ago when I had to listen to you scream all night, did you?  What’s wrong, Clint?  Earnhardt find a new toy to play with and leave you out?”

He shoves me back and I catch myself on the edge of the table.  Stare into glittering blue eyes and I can’t remember seeing a time he’s been this pissed.  But it’s not my fault. He’s the one who can’t keep his fucking pants on.

“God dammit, Harvick, why do you have to be such an ass?  You think I like being treated like dog shit?  Maybe if you could be a fucking friend for once--”

“Don’t you go there.  Don’t you dare go there after what you did in my coach.  You’re the one who fucked this up Clint.  You--”

“And you’re the one who made the fucking bet!”

Shove at him hard again and he almost takes me by surprise when he takes a swing.  But he’s always had a bad tell and I see it coming a mile away.  Duck under his arm and push him into the table as I spin around to face him.  “And it always come back to the fucking bet.  God dammit Clint you had a choice.  You’ve always had a damn choice.  Why can’t you be a man and accept some fucking responsibility?  Yeah, I made the bet but you’re the one who bent over!”

I expect him to swing at me again.  I expect him to scream more.  I don’t expect him to drop to the ground like a dead weight.  Look down at him, cross legged on the floor and staring at the ground and I don’t know what to say.  So I move closer and sit down in front of him, mimicking his actions but I don’t push.  One look tells me I’ve done more than enough of that.  Run my hands over my knees and drop my head because this never should’ve gotten so out of control. 

“Kev….”  Raise my eyes when I hear my name and I can see how lost he is.  He doesn’t need it beat into his head anymore.  He’s been beat enough.

“Yeah, Shifty.  I’m listening.”  And I am this time because this isn’t a game.  This is real and for once…I need to be a friend and I know it.

“You’re right you know.  I never should’ve let it go down like this.  I never should’ve….”  His voice drifts off and I know what he’s thinking.  He never should’ve given in, never should’ve experimented, never should’ve gone near Earnhardt but that’s where he’s wrong.  I’ve known almost from the time we met he was curious and for awhile I was hurt he didn’t chose me.  But maybe he didn’t want a friend.  I don’t know.  But he doesn’t need to beat himself up over that.

“Bowyer, all you’re guilty of is expecting too much from the wrong person.”  He shifts his gaze to look at me and blinks in what looks like confusion.  “Believe it or not I understand why you broke up with the Goddess even though I don’t think you had to.  There are…other ways around things--”

“Kev, I wasn’t looking to do what you and DeLana--”

“Would you shut up and listen a minute?”  He sits up a little straighter at my words but at least he shuts his mouth.  He needs to listen and I need to get this out right.  Fuck, why do I have to be so bad at this?  “Clint, you were curious.  You think I didn’t see it?  Earnhardt’s no fool.  He knew you weren’t gonna go run screaming, at least, hell, you know what I mean.”  He avoids my gaze and wrings his hands but I can tell he’s listening and I continue before he stops.  “I did hear you in Vegas you know.  Hell, I saw you.  Don’t go and hate yourself on that.  Shit, you were the chivalrous one remember?  Didn’t wanna cheat on the girl….”

“And what did it get me, Kev?  What did it get me?  You think I don’t miss her?  But shit, yeah, I like it, ok?  I like what he does to me.”  Even in this light I can see him blush to his ears and I think he’s going to stop but he doesn’t.  Hell, we should’ve had this talk a long time ago…if I weren’t so damn stubborn.  “I know I was an ass, ok?  And I know the thing in your coach was way over the line.  But if I hadn’t….”

“You were afraid he’d toss you aside like he is now.”  He flinches hard and clenches his fists tight.  I’m not trying to be cruel but if he wants to have any shot he needs to face the truth.  He needs to see what’s going on.  “He’s doing it cause you let him, Shifty.  He’s doing it cause you let him treat you like crap.”

“All I tried to do was be there for him.”  I can hear the pain in his voice and see it clearly written in the shadows on his face.  He’s still not getting it. How could he be fucking Earnhardt since Christmas and still not have a clue?

“And that’s where you went wrong, Clint.”  Shake my head and meet his eyes as I lean forward slightly, forearms on my knees.  “He doesn’t want a ‘boyfriend,’ Shifty.  He wants a lover.  But he doesn’t want a lapdog either.  You want him you have to show him you’re not a toy and you’re not a push over.”

He stares at me a long moment and out of the corner of my eye I can see him clenching and unclenching his fists.  Watch as he bites at his lip then finally takes a deep breath.  “How do I do that, Kev?  How do I show him I’m not just a damn toy.”  His voice softens and I have to lean a little closer to catch the rest.  “…I’m not ready for it to end yet.”

And I can’t help but wonder why.  I know he likes him, and I sure as hell know he likes what he does to him.  But I don’t think that’s it.  He already admitted to missing the Goddess so…I don’t think he’s done with women.  Stare at him a bit longer and the pieces slowly fall into place.  Earnhardt’s his…walk on the wild side.  He’s not flippin’.  He doesn’t want this to end because when it does I bet his step across the line ends too.  It’s not about guys or swinging.  It’s about Earnhardt.  And he’s in luck because Earnhardt I can play.

“You need to get him back, to show him you’re not putting up with being treated like ‘dog shit’ anymore.”  Slow grin crosses my face as he looks at me expectantly.  “And I’m just the person to help you.”

He shakes his head and slowly pushes to his feet.  “No, no, Kev you’re just wanting me to help you get him back for ruining your last pair of ‘lucky shoes.’  I’m sick of playing the go between.”  He turns his head to look at me as I stand.  “You just want to use me to get him back.”

“So?” I tell him with a shrug.  “I’m not saying I don’t want to fuck with him.  You know damn well I do.  But if it’ll help you too….”  Shrug at him again.  “Where’s the harm in that?”

He shoves his hands in his pockets and rocks on his feet, something I’ve seen him do many times when he’s thinking something over and I have no idea which way he’ll go this time.  I know firsthand how hung up he’s been on Earnhardt.  I’ve seen it.  But I’ve also seen how the arrogant ass won’t even give Clint the time of day lately.  Who knows, maybe if Shifty can get back in good with him he can screw over that prick.  Fuck knows he deserves it.

“Alright.”  His words pull me from my scheming thoughts and I lock eyes with him in the dark.  “I’m in.”  He pulls his hand from his pockets and wipes them on his thighs.  “So, what now, wise one?”

Chuckle at him and can’t hold back a broad grin.  “Meet me in the grassy area behind Biffle’s coach.  And bring a bag.  A plastic one.”  Grin at him even more as the plan starts to fall into place.  “I’ll explain it all then.”

Turn around and head for the back door without another word because there’s gonna be plenty of time for talking later.  I don’t want to give him a chance to back out.  He needs this…almost as much as I do.

~*~*~

The set up couldn’t be more perfect.  Of course it doesn’t hurt that his team used to be my team.  I’m completely welcome around the 21 crew, and the 21 pit, and the 21 car.  All I needed was Clint to distract Mr. My Shit Don’t Stink and surprisingly he’s not having a problem with that either.  Glance down pit road where Clint’s cornered him and I wonder what he’s telling him.  His body language doesn’t look like he’s cowering.  Who knows, maybe my talk with him earlier made him grow a spine?  He’s already gone further than I expected.

Look down at the small souvenir bag in my hand emblazoned with Jack Daniel’s logos all over it.  I couldn’t believe he brought a bag like this.  It’s a dead giveaway he’s involved.  I told him we could find something else but he let me know in no uncertain terms this is what he wanted me to use.  Alright then.  Payback it is.

Slide up to his car and I can’t believe how easy this all is.  With all the rain and sleet and shit, pitroad is still a mess with people rushing around to get everything right before the race starts.  Grin as I take a look into what was my car and easily slip the bag behind his seat and right on top of the exhaust.  It won’t take long at all to heat up and when it does he’s going to see what happens when you treat someone like dog shit…courtesy of LO, Biffle’s boxers and whoever else uses that little patch of grass.  Turns out LO is a master at stiffing out other dogs’ shit.  I hope Earnhardt enjoys the race.

Turn around and lean against the car, immediately striking up a conversation with Shane as I see Junior storming down pitroad and I see the grin on Shifty’s face out of the corner of my eye.  He is into this.  I swear, for the first time since Christmas things may actually be looking up.

“What the h--” his words cut off when Shane’s head turns towards him at his sharp tone and I give him a mocking grin.  He knows I’m up to something but I know he has no idea what.  Tilt my head in mock question as Shane and I both wait for him to continue.  When he does his tone is much more even, but there’s no hiding the anger in those glittering eyes.  ““What are you doing here, Harvick?  Shouldn’t you be looking after your own team?”

“Wally has it covered.”  Smirk at him and crick my neck side to side as if I’m bored.  “What’s wrong, Earnhardt?  Think I’m ‘sabotaging’ you?”  Use my hands to make air quotes when I say “sabotage” and Shane starts laughing.  “Go on, ask Shane.  I haven’t done anything, have I?”

“Relax, Junior,” he tells him, but June’s eyes never leave mine.  “Harvick didn’t tamper with your car.  We’ll all teammates here, remember?”

Continue to smirk at him and I can tell it’s eating him up because he knows damn well these are still my boys.  He’s been accepted on the team, sure.  But after all the shit he’s pulled with Clint there’s not an RCR person in the shop who’s not enjoying it when I get one up on him.  It’s been nice to have my own little cheering section.  And as long as we keep this little war of ours “off the track” RC’s even ok with it.  Call it hazing.  Either way I don’t care.

“Yeah, Earnhardt,” I tell him as I give his shoulder a “playful” shove.  “We’re teammates.”  Wink at him and shoot him a purely evil grin as I move around him.  I can feel his eyes boring holes in my back but it doesn’t matter.  The teams are already calling us to line up for the anthem.  He won’t have a chance to reexamine his car.  Hope he enjoys the race.

I know I will.

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Catw00man - catw00man@cryptoffic.com