Couldn't post this chapter until ff.n was back online tonight! GRRR!!!

I like this chapter. I think it was my favourite one to write. You'll see...

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4: Nookie

Jeff let his face relax when the reporters walked away. He turned toward his car, and found Tony Stewart scowling beside it. Jeff knew why Tony was so pissed; the reporters had overlooked him again.

Tony shrugged it off. The orange jump-suited driver put on a broad smile as he swaggered around Jeff’s car. He thumped a hand against the side. “Nice wheels, Gordon,” Tony narrowed his eyes at Jeff.

Closing his eyes, Jeff heaved a sigh. NOT in the mood for this. “Thanks, Tony,” he replied, then stepped toward the workbench, where his freshly opened Pepsi awaited him in the one hundred degree heat.

Tony stepped in Jeff’s way. “Mind if I drive it sometime?”

Jeff raised an eyebrow. What game was Tony playing now? He shook his head and sidestepped the other, who only got in his face again.

“I asked you a question, Gordon.”

Jeff took in a deep breath. “Look, Tony. I got a race to get ready for.”

“Hey, that’s fine,” Tony replied with a shrug. “I just thought you’d let me take your car out for a spin, seeing as you let me take your wife for one.”

Jeff staggered back a step. Squeezed his eyes shut and let in a sharp breath. “Tony…”

“She’s a decent screw,” Tony stated with a shrug. “I don’t know. I’ve had worse, but I’ve also had far better. She still gave me a great ride…”

Pivoting on his heels, Jeff stalked off in the other direction. A lump was forming in his throat, his fists balling up, his face muscles tensioning.

“What’s the matter, chump?” Tony cackled. Jeff turned back to face him. Tony watched his feet as he stepped up to the other once more, then looked Jeff in the eye. “Can’t stand the fact that she only did it for the nookie?”

Jeff swung his arm back and slammed his fist into Tony’s jaw. The Home Depot driver flew into the hood of Jeff’s car. He toppled to the ground, clinking a couple metal tools in his wake.

Tony’s dark brown eyes were dazed for several seconds, as people rushed over to Jeff Gordon’s garage. Then his sights locked on the Dupont driver.

“What the f***!” Tony jumped to his feet and threw his fist at Jeff. Who caught it in his right hand and used it to shove Tony back into the hood of the car. Jeff held Tony’s shoulder with one hand and threw a punch with the other. Tony shoved him back, and elbowed him in the gut. Jeff doubled over. Tony grabbed his arm and yanked it behind Jeff’s back.

“Ahh!” Jeff cried. He kicked back and nailed Tony in the shin. The grip on Jeff’s arm loosened. He broke free, and turned to face his hunched opponent. Jeff pulled back his fist…

And somebody grabbed his arm. “Jeff! That’s enough!” Dale Jarrett exclaimed. Jeff allowed the UPS driver to pull him back. He watched as Bill Elliott helped Tony to his feet. Blood was dripping from the corner of Tony’s mouth. He swiped his forearm across it, streaking the sleeve of his fireproof jumpsuit. He sneered at his adversary.

Jeff glanced about and found a crowd had surrounded them. And that Mike Helton, president of NASCAR, was glaring at the two of them. “You two are out of today’s race!” he yelled, a hand firmly planted about his torso, as he waved a finger at them. He looked to Tony. “Get yourselves cleaned up, then I want to see you in my office!”

“Nice going, Gordon!” Tony narrowed dark eyes at Jeff. “You ass!”

“Hey!” Jimmy Spencer shouted back. “That’s enough!”

Tony flipped him off, then headed for his hauler.

Jarrett heaved a sigh. “Now I expect this kind of behaviour from Tony Stewart,” he said, letting go of Jeff’s arm. He put a hand on the other’s shoulder. “But NOT from Jeff Gordon. What happened, Jeff?”

Drawing a hand to his forehead, Jeff covered his eyes. “I don’t know.” He lowered his hand. “He was talking trash, and I let it get to me.”

“You know,” Jarrett spoke in a hushed tone. Jeff leaned toward him. “I saw what happened last night, with Brooke and…” His voice trailed off, and Jeff sighed. “There’s no doubt in my mind that’s what this is all about.”

Jeff scratched his head. He looked around and found that only he and Jarrett were left in his garage. “I, I just don’t get it, Dale! I mean, she said she was leaving me because I’d already left her, because of my racing all the time. But why would she then hook up with Tony?”

Jarrett frowned, and furrowed his eyebrows.

“I think,” Jeff answered his own question. “I think the reason I attacked Tony was… because I think he was right.” Jeff squinted at Jarrett in the noonday glare. “That she pretty much used me.”

Wagging his head, Jarrett patted Jeff’s shoulder. His eyes widened. “Now that’s rough. I feel for you, buddy.”

Jeff grimaced. “Thanks, Dale. Well, I’d better get over to see Helton.”

“Yeah.” Dale sighed. “Good luck.”

“Thanks!” Jeff turned, and walked toward his impeding doom.

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“Nookie”, by Limp Bizkit

check
1…1…2
I came into this world as a reject
Look into these eyes
Then you’ll see the size of the flames
Dwellin on the past
It’s burnin up my brain
Everyone that burns has to learn from the pain
Hey, I think about the day
My girlie ran away with my pay
My fellas came to play
Now she’s stuck with my homies that she f***ed
And I’m just a sucker with a lump in my throat
Hey, like a chump, hey --- 7x
Should I be feelin bad (no)
Should I be feelin good (no)
It’s kinda sad
I’m the laughing stock of the neighbourhood
And you would think that I would be movin on
But I’m a sucka like I said
F***ed up in the head, not
And maybe she just made a mistake
And I should give her a break
My heart’ll ache, either way
Hey, what the hell you want me to say
I won’t lie
That I can’t deny

{Chorus}
I did it all for the nookie, come on
The nookie, come on
So you can take the cookie and stick it up your (yea) – 3x
I did it all for the nookie
The nookie, come on
So you can take the cookie and stick it up your (yea) – 3x

Why did it take so long
Why did I wait so long, huh
To figure it out
But I did it
And I’m the only one
Underneath the sun who didn’t get it
I can’t believe that could be deceived
(But you were) by my so called girl, but in reality
Had a hidden agenda
She put my tender heart in a blender
And still I surrendered
Hey, like a chump, hey – 7x

{Chorus}

I’m only human
So for your friends give you their advice
They’ll tell you, to just let it go
It’s easier said than done
I appreciate it, I do, but
Just leave me alone, leave me alone
Just leave me alone
Nothing’s gonna change
You can go away
I’m just gonna stay here and always be the same
Ain’t nothing gonna change
Cuz you can go away
And I’m just gonna stay here and always be the same

{Chorus}

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A/N – I got the inspiration to actually get going writing this story, from Limp Bizkit’s “Nookie”. Obviously, the chapter title is also named for it. The lyrics listed above belong to them, not me, FYI. AND the title of the fic comes straight out of this song too. Limp Bizkit’s “Breaking Stuff” has also been stuck in my head, and heavily influenced this chapter, more so than “Nookie”, which played a major role in framing the first chapter.