Gale, bearer of bad news
Storm handles everything.
Well. He tries to.
"We should have a funeral," he says.
They are, Gale tells him. His sisters are already making arrangements.
"Then someone should get his house in order," says Storm.
His dirt track buddies are doing that. They're taking care of the fishing cabin, too, Gale tells him.
Storm makes a face - the same one he'd made when Gale had mentioned Ray's sisters. Storm hadn't known about the cabin, or the buddies, or the sisters.
"His old IndyCar team is writing an official obituary," Gale supplies, before Storm has the chance to ask.
Storm frowns. "So what do we do, then."
"Slow down," Gale advises, which earns her another look. Storm looks like she just told him to drop dead. She tries to press it anyway. "You don't have to do anything, Jackson. You just - "
"Do you want me to cry instead?"
Gale bites her lip. Because on some level, yes. She does. She wants to pull him close and she wants to keep him there. She wants to be of help. "I want you to feel like you're allowed to express how you feel," she says.
Storm chuffs. "Sure. If I want it played on every television from now 'til - ever," he says.
"We can go somewhere private, if you want to talk," Gale says. "And the funeral's going to be private. Ray's sisters told IGNTR that they didn't want - "
"Are you that stupid?" Storm interjects. "There's no such thing as private."
"I can ask IndyCar if you can add a few lines in the obituary, if you want," Gale says tersely. She pulls her wheels in, so Storm knows he's overstepped. "Since you're his current racer."
"Yeah, I used to be," Storm mutters.
Then he adds, "I'm not gonna write anything. No way."
"You don't have to," says Gale. "I just thought you might want to. I talked to IGNTR, also. They said you could take some time out if you need it. Even though it's not in your contract."
"Wow, we forgot the dead crew chief clause?"
"Jackson."
"I don't need a timeout. I'll race. It's not like I have anything better to do."
"Jackson," Gale says again. He just seems so far away, and it's like - maybe his name will draw him closer. She says, "Jackson, they're his sisters. They're family. If you want to organize a separate memorial, maybe - "
"And who would I invite?" Storm asks her.
"You're not stupid, Gale."
"Are you going to apologize for that?"
"I wanna write the obituary."
"I needed to know that yesterday, hun. It's too late now. They've already sent it to press. Jackson, I'm sorry.
"Jackson, wait - "