Series 11 One-shots: Drive
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the ideas.
Personal opinion: I didn't think much to this episode, but loved the idea of Lewis doing up the car. Mainly because it brought back memories from my own childhood and helping my Dad with cars before going on to do up my own first few cars. Now I hold my hands up in defeat and hand it over to the garage. So this was fun to write and maybe has a hint of me in there.
As you can tell we are a little behind over here in the UK, I am trying to avoid spoilers as I know there is a lot going on right now in Season 11 (Grrr, frustration doesn't begin to describe it), but other then going into hibernation (which is more than tempting) I cannot ignore the fact that Shemar has left the show. However I will say no more (at this point).
. . .
Prompt:
Rossi: That's the sound of the open road calling us
. . .
Tara sighed deeply, her eyes resting on the passing scenery. The sun was shining and they had left the busy city life behind and headed into the surrounding countryside. It was great to have a genuine day off with nothing more important to do then relax and enjoy the company of a colleague and now friend in a classic car on an open road.
"You should try heading out this way in the Fall."
Dave's voice interrupted her ever-wandering thoughts.
"The colours and views are amazing, nothing beats it."
"I can image," Tara said as she turned towards Dave, "I've always liked the fall."
"I often head out this way when I'm off to my cabin in Little Creek. Not the most obvious route but the most relaxing. I can tell a lot about how my time off is going to go by the passing scenes. Think this spell of good weather is going to last for a while now," Dave rambled, enjoying the world around him as he drove.
Settling back into the soft leather car seat, the smell of the recently applied conditioning product filled her senses, "I hope so," she muttered as her mind took her elsewhere. The smell was enough to send her back to her Dad's workshop, he used the same stuff on the cars he restored, so did she.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Dave asked with an arch of his brow as he glanced at her.
"Just thinking of my Dad and his cars. I can't remember a time without him smelling of engine oil and leather crème, and can't imagine him ever being without it. Though I think, no matter how proud of me he is, he would have loved me to go into business with him. Love my cars as I do I decided to take a different road, there are days I question my choices."
"You're close to your Dad," Dave commented, glancing at her once more. Tara had rested her head back and shut her eyes.
Tara laughed nervously, "Complete Daddy's Girl from the minute I was born according to my Mom. Sleepless nights were the bane of my father's life, I'd settle for him where my Mom didn't stand a chance."
"And he's still the person you call when you are awake at 2am, I bet."
"Yep, and he answers regardless," Tara added.
Dave nodded his head in understanding; "Tell me about him, if you want."
"What can I say, he's remarkable, but I'm biased. He has this crazy little workshop at home; I swear it hasn't change from the first day that I tottered in there to see what he was up to. Mom has begged him over the years to get it modernised but he insists the only way with classics is the hard way. He's a hands on kind of guy. He was a drinker," Tara turned away, her eyes focusing off in the distance, "Which means his job is now a hobby as he let down one too many customers."
"We all have our weaknesses, I have learnt through bitter experience that alcoholism is just as much of a disease as cancer, and it claims too many people each year." The remorse was evident in his voice.
"He's been sober for near four years now, losing his business was a real eye-opener. I was in the San Francisco offices when it all happened. I came back as soon as Mom told me but . . ."
"Proud man; didn't want to disappoint his daughter," Dave finished.
"Something like that.," Tara added, dismissing the conversation as she sat examining her finger nails.
They carried on in silence for sometime, before Tara continued; "I always remember there was this old Ford Convertible, I was in Kindergarten so have no idea what model, but I knew my makes before I knew my alphabet. Dad had been working on it for months, I use to go through and watch and ask what he was doing. I had an old crate that I use stand on to look under the hood and see what he was up to. This day he was working on the breaks. He had the wheels off and there were tools everywhere. The car was jacked up and he was underneath. I spent the whole afternoon there with him, passing him what he needed, crawling underneath to see what he was doing. When we went back in for tea Mom hit the roof, I was covered in dirt and grime and who knows what, but I was happy. I was hooked, from that day when Mom needed to find me I would be in there tinkering as Dad liked to call it."
Smiling Dave glanced at Tara once again, "And that is why you have that little beauty that you have restored."
"She was my first full solo project, Dad has really stood back and let me get on with this one. Though I do think he has physically had to sit on his hands at times. I would catch him watching me, smiling, not saying anything. Sometimes he'd be shaking his head. I made mistakes but she's mine, all mine."
"It's a good feeling," Dave agreed, "We'll have to bring her out for a run next time instead of this old lady." Dave stroked the steering wheel fondly as he spoke.
"That we will," Tara agreed.
. . .
Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.
Oliver Goldsmith, writer
