"Come on now, King, I ain't askin much"

"Tex, its' been three weeks now, I'm retired member?"

"All I'm askin is fur you to meet 'em and tell me what ya think," Tex practically whined.

The newly retired racer sighed, knowing deep down there was no convincing his former boss. "All right Tex, you win"

"WOOHOO, King I promise you wont regret it", came the voice from the other line.

"See ya tomorrow Tex" He placed the phone back on the receiver exhaling deeply, 'what have I gotten m'self into'. Truth be told, he truly did miss his old life. The past three weeks had been rather depressing. Racing was his whole life and now what was he supposed to do with himself. Strip stared at the various paintings on the wall of his California suite. For some reason he just couldn't bring himself to leave the once fan-packed city that held his last Piston Cup race. Another sigh echoed throughout the empty room. It was times like these that he actually missed all the fan girls. At least if they were here he wouldn't feel so lonely. Abruptly forcing the thought out of his head he stood, heading for the bed. Not bothering to change he crashed face-first into the pillows in his jeans and white muscle shirt trying his best not to think about meeting his replacement the following day.


Morning came much to his disappointment. A quick shower and bite of his continental breakfast and soon he was headed down to the track. He hadn't failed to notice the stares he got as he drove his Superbird complete with the Dinoco logo and his racing digits. Tex had given it to him as a retirement gift. Originally he had agreed to give the car to some racing museum up in Phoenix, but Tex seemed to understand just how much that car really meant to him. After the ol' girl had been fixed up from her last race Tex had handed him the key saying, "She's all yours King".

After passing through the gates Strip was surprised to see a familiar green GM G platform, a red Ford GT40, and a navy blue Hudson Hornet parked side by side. He had expected to see those boys again just not so soon. As Strip crawled out his driver window he couldn't help but stare at the 86 painted on that familiar green car. Just three days after he had been cleared from the hospital (a week after the crash) Chick had apologized. He recalled the day quite clearly.

Strip exited the elevator all too ready for some time alone after spending what seemed like an eternity in the hospital having nurses and doctors checking in on him every five minutes, not to mention Tex constantly asking him if he wanted to have Chick arrested. Some piece and quiet was all he really needed. As he neared the door he dug in his pocket for his room key but as he did he miss took a step, which caused his still healing right-leg to give out. He reached out for the door handle hoping it would aid him in stability, unfortunately he was a bit further away from the door than he originally thought. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth in expectance of the pain that was sure to come but to his surprise none came. Instead he felt a pair of strong hands situated on either side of his arms. Strip turned to thank whatever bodyguard that had decided to follow him up to his room but was shocked to find a pair of brown eyes staring back at him.

"Chick?" As Strip was finally able to right himself he turned fully to the man in question. A silence broke out between them as the other man could only stare at the floor with a look of totally shame swelling in his eyes.

Chick glanced upward and opened his mouth only to quickly close it and turn away.

Silence

"Chick, whada doin' here?"

Chick turned at the sound of his name and finally spoke, "Mr. Weathers,..I...er.." A small sigh escaped his lips as he closed his eyes.

"Chick, ya know ya ken call me Strip?"

His eyes opened and it was at this point that Strip took in Chick's appearance. He looked like hell. He was pale, sweating, unhealthily skinny, and it looked like he hadn't slept in days.

"Chick, what happened to ya?"

Silence

"Chick talk ta me." Strip placed his hands on Chick's arms similar to the way Chick had caught him hunching down as to meet the other man's distant gaze.

A deep intake of breath, "Strip, I'm...I'm sorry."

"Wha..?"

"I'm..I'm sorry for making you...crash. I just..I just wanted to win so bad and I was tired of always comin' in behind you. I just..."

"Chick?"

"I..I just wanted to be outa your shadow" He bowed his head in defeat. Praying the older man wouldn't hate him now or at least not forever.

Silence

Strip's hands stayed firmly on Chicks' shoulders as he took in all of what the other man had to say. After Chick finished he dug in his pockets once again for that room key. After sliding the key card in and unlocking the door, he stepped inside. He glanced back to see Chick had not moved. "Chick ya comin' in er what?"

Chick turned toward the former 'King' in utter shock. 'Did he not hear anything I just said?'

Strip gave the other racer a 'any day now' look that resulted in him stepping inside just enough for him to shut the door. "Ya wanna drink er sumthin'?"

Chick could only shake his head at the other man's apparent dismissal of his dark admission.

"Make yerself at home." Strip said as he headed toward the kitchen to get himself a bottle of water.

Chick did as he was told and sat on the sofa awaiting Strip return. When Strip returned he plopped down on the loveseat and flipped on the TV. 'What the heck is he doing?' ,Chick thought to himself.

Strip flipped through the channels three times before saying, "Course, five hundred channels and nothins' ever on".

Chick could only stare at the older man, mouth open, for so long before he finally shouted, "ARE YOU GONNA SAY SUMTHIN' OR WHAT?"

Strip flipped off the TV and turned toward the other racer. "What ya want me ta say?"

"CHEAT, LOSER, JACKASS, SOMETHING!?!"

"Why would I say sumthin' like that?"

"Cause I'm the reason you crashed!"

"Yea, and ya said yer sorry"

"And that makes it all better!"

Strip shrugged his shoulders and said simply: "As long as yer really sorry, then yea"

Chick could only look dumbfounded at the older man. "Ya mean you..forgive me?"

"yep"

"why?"

Strip was caught off guard by that question. "whada mean, why?"

"I mean why are have you forgiven me so easily? I mean I made you wreck, I coulda killed you."

"But ya didn'"

"Yea but...why?"

Strip grinned at the other man. "Cause Chick, It takes a big man ta ask fer fergivness." At the other man's lost expression he deceived to continue. " Chick, I ken understand what ya felt, I've been in a situation similar ta that before."

Chick kept silent to let him finish.

Strip took a deep breath after exhaling he said, "I know wha its' like to wanna get outa someone else's' shadow if only ta be seen as more than just someone's' second place trophy" Strip looked over to see Chick in what looked like deep thought. In truth Strip hadn't meant to tell him that it just sort of slipped out.

Chick abruptly stood and walked toward Strip stopping a few feet from him leaving him just enough space for him to stand as well. Chick downcast eyes finally lifted to meet Strip's. "Start over?"

Strip extended his hand in which Chick took as both men said in unison, "Friends".

Having finished reminiscing Strip walked toward the main building in hopes of getting this day over with.