CHARACTERS: Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr

POV: Jeff Gordon

A/N: Original idea was inspired by the 2006 Daytona 500

I watch him as he does the post-race interviews. He puts words out putting things into a good perspective but the eyes tell a different story. I see the disappointment in his eyes. He may be able to hide it from his fans but after Charlotte last year, he can't hide nothing from me. He walks off heading for the motorcoach lot. He's probably going to get his stuff and leave. Probably go home with Stewart on his helicopter which reminds me. I need to talk to Stewart about the accident. But that can wait. I need to go see Dale.

When I get to his motorcoach, I knock. There is no response and I wonder if he's gone already. Yet just as I think that, he opens the door. I see him standing there with the towel wrapped around his waist. Must've been in the shower.

"Hi Jeff," He says. I now hear the disappointment showing in his voice.

"Hi Dale," I reply. I look into his eyes and see a dull crystal blue. That automatically equals sadness. "How are you?"

"Disappointed." I look at him and see he needs some confort tonight, just like the night in October. I wrap my arms around him giving him a hug and lead him to the couch. We sit down and look at one another.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I see his eyes look away. I've always known him to ot want to share his emotions straight with anyone.

"Naw." I kind've expected that answer. I follow him to his bedsroom where I see his bag. Like I guessed he's packing but I can't let him go. I know that I know what he needs. I pull him into a hug and run my fingers through his brown hair. He leans into me as we lay in the bed. I start kissing him on his neck and he undos the zipper on my firesuit. "Mmmm." is all he can manage as I work my way down. I help him with my firesuit so that we're done to almost nothing quickly.

After it's completely off, I undo the towel tied around his waist. as he keeps kissing me. I feel his hands on my theighs as I continue working on the towel. Damn he tied it tight.

"Jeff," He says. I lift my head and look into his crystal blue eyes. I can tell he needs this but is holding back.

"What Dale?" I ask. I see his eyes look into mine.

"I can't do this." I can't believe he said that. Why can't he do this with me? He knows how much fun it can be. I roll off of him as he gets up slowly.

"Why not Dale?" He looks away as he gets up. What the fuck is going on?

"Because of Emily." Nice excuse. He was with her in October. Time to protest.

"You were with her in October." He looks awayu as he gets the final things from his drawer.

"She's pregnent with my child!" Now I understand. Damn I feel like an ass.

"How far?" He sits down on the bed.

"8 months." So if that's true, she got pregnent in June. JUNE?

"She was pregnent in June then." He shakes his head yes.

"She didn't tell me till 2 days after we did it." That bitch! How could she hide it from him?

"Damn. So boy or girl?"

"Dunno. We agreed to not find out till she has it." I hug him. He has always wanted a child.

"So your going home quickly to see her?"

"Yeah." I got myself an idea.

"I got an idea. What if I give you a ride home?"

"Sure." He finishes getting his stuff. We go to my motorcoach and I start getting my stuff together. I then hear a cell ring and look at Dale; it's his cell ringing. He answers it. "Hello?....Speaking....Ok. How is she?" What could've happeend? He begins to fall as I catch him and lead him to the bed where I sit him down. "Ok...Ok...Thanks for telling me Dr. Larson. Bye." He hits the end button. I look over at him as I finish up the packing.

"What's wrong Dale?" He looks at me and I see tears starting to fall.

"Dr. Larson called regarding Emily." I go sit beside him. What could've happened to Emily?

"What'd he say?" He starts to cry even more well I rub his back.

"She...she tried to...I can't say it." OMG! Just by that I know what he is trying to say. But why would she do such a thing?

"Suiside?" He shakes his head yes and he cries more. I hate seeing him like this. It just tears my heart apart. I need to get him to tell me. He has to let his feelings go. "Why?"

"Insecurity and family. I tried to make her feel better and she was when I got off the phone with her last night." I wrap my arms around him. I can't believe this.

"Come on. I'll come with you to see her." He then gets up slowly and grabs his bag. I get up and grab mine. We then leave and as we do, I pray she's ok.

When we get to the hospital, we go inside and up to the desk.

"Can I help you?" The secretary asks. I put my hands on his shoulders in an attempt to calm him down.

"I got a call from Dr. Larson regarding Emily Maynard." He answers. The secretary purks up. What could be so important?

"Please go sit while I page her. She wanted to speak to you."

"Ok." We go sit down together. Dr. Larson come into the waiting room soon after and motions for Dale to go with her. "Can my friend come with me?" He looks at me. I can see in his eyes why he wants me to come.

"Of course he can." We then go to her office and sit down. "Ms. Maynard is in serious condition. She cut both of her wrists and stabbed herself in the neck. We need to perform surgery to help her ok?" I look at Dale and see he's in tears. I go behind his chair and rub his back.

"Ok." Dr. Larson then gets out some papers. What could they be for?

"The baby is right now ok but we don't know if the baby will make it. I need you to fill out the forms here and at the end make an important decision. If it comes down to it, who do you want us to save first? The baby or Emily?" Dale looks up at her and takes the paper and pen. He begins to fill it out as he cries. I watch as he fills it out. How could they tell someone to choose? It doesn't make seem right. I watch as he comes to the bottem and thinks about what to choose. Personally I'd choose Emily but it's his decision. I watch as he does choose her. I had a thought he'd choose her. He hands the paper to Dr. Larson. "Thank you. You can stay here while we do the surgery. I'll come tell you how things go afterwards. Oh, and Rick Hendrick would like to speak to you. He is the one who called 9-1-1."

"Ok." Dr. Larson leaves as Rick comes in. I move to the back corner of the room so they can talk. Rick goes and hugs Dale who is still crying.

"Hey." Rick says. I can tell he's been crying also.

"Hello Rick," Dale replies. I just have to wonder what I might hear.

"What was up that was big this time?" I peer in. Something maybe let out.

"I don't know. She was fine last night. What happened tonight when you went over?" Damn he's more open then before. What spell did Rick cast over him?

"She called wanting me to come get Josephine. I accepted and headed over. I knocked when I got there since the gate was already open; she told me it would be. No answer yet I saw blood splatter so I dialed 9-1-1." Dale sits down. I look to see if I can find a reaction in his eyes.

"Where was Josephine?" Hmmm good question.

"Kitchen eating a cookie while having juice in her high her. She's now with Jimmie & Chandra." I smile. Glad she's somewhere safe.

"Ok."

The room goes silent for the next hour or so. Nobody has a word to say nor feeling to express. I watch Dale from the corner as he sits in the chair. I can see how much he is worried through his facial expressions. I know he wanted this relationship to work out so bad. I remember him saying to me how much he loved her one night. At that point, I understand how he loved her. And now it may end due to this? Life isn't fair in many ways yet this is the worse way to end it. At that point, I say another prayer to god. I can't see Dale's heart torn again due to this. As I say this prayer, Ricky comes to mind. What if he wants Emily with him? Then that'd be ok too. But I don't think Dale could handle it. Jeez this is tough.

Dr. Larson walks in and takes her place behind her desk. Now the waiting ends; here comes the truth.

"I have the results for you," Dr. Larson begins. "First comes Emily then the baby. Emily was really bad and I'm sorry to tell you but she didn't make it." I watch as Dale starts to cry. Ricjk walks over to the opposite corner that I am in. "The baby on the other hand did make it and I'm proud to tell you that you've had a baby girl. We'll need to keep her for awhile due to being too small." He looks at me still crying. I see a tiny slight smile. He then turns back to Dr. Larson.

"Ok."

"You can go by the nursery to see her if you want."

"Ok." Dr. Larson then leaves. I go over to Dale.

"You going to make it?" I ask. He looks up into my eyes. I see the pain in his eyes.

"Yeah." He answers. I pull him into a hug. Got to think of something.

"Want to go see the baby?"

"Sure." He then gets up and turns to Rick. "Wnat to come?" Rick perks up.

"Yeah since we need to talk," Rick replies. What could be up?

We leave the room and head down the hall.

"I understand your close to Josephine," Rick starts. "I want to keep that but I also want to be close to her. Is it ok with you that she stays with me? I promise to give you time with her whenever you want." I look over at Dale waiting for his reaction.

"That's fine." Dale answers. "Same thing for you." We tjen walk over to where she is and look at her. "She's so cute." I smile. I've got to agree.

"Yeah." I add. Figured I better add something.'

"Think of a name yet?" Rick asks. Good thought.

"Yeah, I was thinking of Leighanna," Dale replies. Love the name!

"Nice choice." I comment. I watch hin walk away. I know he's one to hide his emotions.

"I'm gonna go." Rick tells me. Thank you!

"Ok. Bye." Rick then leaves. I walk over to Dale whose looking out the window. "Dale, look at me please." He turns and stares at me. Time to give advice.

"What is it Jeff?" Dale replies. Damn he's touchy.

"It's gonna be ok." I start. "And I'll be with you every step. I love you and care about you."

"Ok. Thanks and I love you too." I then hug him. This'll be a long road but I think we'll be able to complete it.

"Come on. Let's go home." I then wrap my arms around him.

"Ok." We start to walk out. Better ask before deciding.

"My place or your's?"

"Mine. I need to clean it anyways." He winks. How could I forget? Got to keep it clean.

"Ok."