Hello. Sorry for the wait, been trying to pen this for awhile but here is my Christmas story centred around our charismatic Alan as I fancied a challenge! This will be a short story to celebrate Christmas, I hope you like it!

Chapter one

Alan shrugged his race suit over his shoulders before unfurling the collar and zipping himself into the red ensemble. He was in good spirits, happy to be off the island for some downtime and looking forward to today's scramble. He sat on the bench shoving each foot into the snug leather with it creaking in protest as he pulled them on further. Slapping his knees, he stood whilst grabbing his gloves off the counter. As he headed down past the team room, he ran into several crew members, dipping his head in greeting with jovial hello.

As he pushed through the door to the pit he was rushed by the Baltic air, recoiling as he shivered. Snow was falling once more.

"Boy! You've gone soft on that island of your father's."

"Jim!" Alan rushed over in surprise dragging the older man into a bone crushing embrace. Alan pushed himself back, holding Jim at arms-length. Jim was the man who launched his motorsport career at the tender age of fifteen. "It's good to see you! What are you doing here?" He beamed at his mentor with boyish affection.

"Well, I heard someone had turned his back on the GTE and seeing as you were over the border, I thought I'd better come and drag you back onto the right side of the track. Since when do you compete in rallies?"

Alan grinned, the cold flushing his cheeks a ruddy pink. "Fancied a challenge didn't I and after all this is a fun race for charity. Don't worry I've not abandoned the championship, but I must admit this has been pretty thrilling." Alan had been training for twelve months with a mixture of simulator and physical driving when he got the chance. He loved the unpredictable nature of the race and pitting himself against the elements. Having a navigator had been a challenge after years of racing alone but Robbie was a good friend and they'd found their rhythm easily, working in tandem to hit the checkpoints. Alan was confident he could win this.

"Ah well if its for charity I'll let you off but don't you go getting a taste for it, Tracy."

Alan crossed his fingers behind his back. "I won't"

"Good kid." He clapped him on the shoulder.

Alan watched as the team manager shouldered his way through the crew and past the monitors towards Alan. "Morning Alan, good to see you sir." Matt dipped his head towards Jim. "Alan there's some bad news." Matt adjusted his mic headset avoiding eye contact.

Alan's face sobered immediately, his gaze questioning.

"Robbie's been hospitalized with Flu but have secured a last-minute replacement."

"A replacement? But I trained with Robbie, this is a disaster." Alan placed a hand on his hip. "How's Robbie's condition?" Alan knew he should have flown in last night and not this morning, but he'd been on call to a space ferry disaster and couldn't get away in time. Robbie had just said he was 'under the weather'.

"Stable but he's on strict rest and fluids. He's pretty frustrated, he really wanted to race."

"Don't we all." Muttered Alan running a hand through his hair. "So, who's this navigator?" Alan raised his voice over the rivet gun and shouting at the back of the pit. As if on cue a helmeted racer stepped out of the team door. Matt looked to Jim.

"You remember my daughter Penny?"

"Yes." Where was this going? Remembering he ought to be polite he added a belated, "How is she?"

"Very well thank you, she's the racing director for the women's F1 now and just had my grandson last month."

"Congratulations!"

Jim smiled, swelling with pride. The wrinkles crinkling at the edges of his eyes. "Thank you. Well, this here is her good friend."

Alan noticed the driver was now stood next to him; he took in the red suit that looked very form fitting. As the helmet lifted onto their hip, blonde hair cascaded out in a long-inverted bob, tousled waves falling softly just below an oval jawline. Alan tried not to gape. "Allow me to introduce you to Maddie Johnson."

"Hello." Alan held out a hand which Maddie avoided by shifting her helmet to her other hip.

"Hi" She replied somewhat coolly.

"Madison is one of the best navigators on our team." Matt supplied. "And thankfully was able to get here at short notice being based in Washington so hopefully we're all still set to race. If you're agreeable?" Matt added with a silent plead to racing gods.

"Happy to have you on board Madison." Alan acknowledged while seething inside. He knew nothing about her other than she wasn't Robbie and he and Robbie had spent months developing their race strategy and now he was just having to go on the fly. If it wasn't a charity event, he would have just pulled out, but it was the Santa Dash. People had to wait years to be invited to race at the prestigious event to help raise funds for the American's children's healthcare charity Medi Kids. Granted; he had it a bit easier considering his father had become a patron last year, also another reason he couldn't cancel. Father was a firm believer in goodwill to good causes at Christmas and would most likely disown him or send him to Five to take over the stint he should be doing.

"It's Maddie. Shall we reconvene in ten minutes in the team room to discuss strategy?"

"Sure, I'd be happy to run you though where we are at. I take it you've navigated here before?"

"Don't worry this isn't my first rodeo. I believe this is your first though?" She cocked her head to one side with a mocking smile before abruptly spinning on her heel back through the team door. "See you later Jim, tell Penny I said hi!"

Alan watched on with a small frown, hands still on hips before turning to Jim and Matt. "She's fine once you get to know her, you'll be fine. Race starts at 10.20 am - don't be late." With that Matt reverted to tapping his tablet and shouting for the team supervisor.

"This is a disaster."

"No, it's not. I know its not ideal but honestly Alan trust me when I say she's one of the best in her field you just need a chance to get to know each other's style. You've got a lot to discuss so I'm going to head off to find the family before they turn tail and head home." Jim's wife and eldest daughter didn't share his racing obsession.

Alan said his goodbyes, glancing around the pit. At least the car was ready. It was a nippy little Volkswagen hot hatch with four-wheel drive and 3.2 litre V6. She was an absolute beauty, responsive and light to the touch and packing a punch. The body work was emblazoned in Crimson and pine green, his name written down the side in neon paint made to look like Christmas lights. She was perfect.

Maddie was far from perfect. She seemed pretty cool towards him, something he wasn't accustomed too. He realised he was procrastinating, sighing he pulled himself away from the car and headed towards the team room.

Maddie was sat with her elbows resting on the desk, skimming through the pace notes once more. They hadn't had a chance to do a practice run but she'd competed on this track several times in the past and was confidence they would succeed. Well; provided the driver played ball. The now elusive Alan Tracy was well known in his younger track days, talented but with a bravado bigger than the giant waffles she caught him devouring at breakfast this morning. She'd promised to give him benefit of the doubt, after all Penny had been very good friends with him and said he was a lovely guy when he stopped putting on a front. She guessed she would just have to see for herself.

Alan breezed into the team room, the door flapping back with the force of his entrance. He strolled over to the counter to grab a biscuit or two. "You want one?"

Maddie shook her head. Shrugging, Alan slipped into the booth in front of her, resting his arms on the table. "I see you've got the pace notes."

She nodded not looking up from what she was studying. Alan pushed on regardless. "Robbie and I agreed that we'd aim to claw back time on the 12th, 16th and 23rd stages."

She held his gaze confidently surprising him with its intensity. He noted the gold specks that blazed within her lapis lazuli eyes. "Are you serious?"

"Excuse me?"

"Well, I mean if you have a death wish on 16 and want to break your neck on 23, then yeah knock yourself out but I plan on racing another day."

Alan bristled, he never liked his plans being interfered with or the suggestion that he was incompetent. Just who did this girl think she was? "Okay, where would you suggest we make up time?"

Maddie spun the tablet round pinching the map and throwing up the holo for them both to see. "22 and 19. 22 has one hairpin but otherwise a reasonable straight and 19 is a downhill run with a drift at the end, bank around her right and we can shave off a few seconds."

"Or crash over the ravine and die?"

She rolled her eyes. "Most competent drivers can compensate for the corner on that one." She raised her brows, the implication clear.

Alan folded his arms brusquely sitting back. "I guess you'll find out soon enough. Although if the navigators good enough the driver should be able to compete blind."

"Are you always like this?"

"Like what?"

The door opened with Matt trying not to wince at the obvious tension in the room. If these two actually completed the race without chucking each other out of the car, it would be a miracle. When they both rounded their fierce gazes on him, he coughed awkwardly. "Is ahem. Time for the press pen. Look lively." With that he all but chucked the Santa's hat and reindeer antler headband on the table in front of them and left.

Maddie snatched up the Santa's hat just before Alan's hand closed over it. She gracefully pulled herself up, rising with a sly smile. Before he could protest, she was out the door. Snatching up the antler ears he rose, lobbing them straight in the trash can on the way out with a huff and a scowl. The jingle of bells echoed from the trash can. Who needed a navigator anyway? He'd show her just what he could do and then some. In two days', time he'd be lifting that trophy and gifting a huge donation to Medi kids regardless. With a wicked smirk he stepped out to flashing lights and the clamour of reporters.