Daytona July 2001
Dale sat in the grandstands halfway between turns 3 and 4. It amazed him at how quiet this place could be when there was no one around. It was 2 days before check in for the Pepsi 400. Dale and the other DEI teams had gotten there early to try and clear their heads. This was the first trip back to the track that had claimed his father. The sun was setting and casting an eerie glow over the turn and the black skid marks that led to the wall. This was all to much to take right now he dropped his head to his hands.
His teammate Michael Waltrip stood quietly in the last row watching Dale, taking everything in for himself and dealing with his own memories and sorrow. After several more minutes Dale stood, took one more look at the track and headed up the steps. He saw Michael staring at the track, looking pretty pale himself. “Wanna beer?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
They jumped in Dale’s truck and headed to his condo. Neither of them spoke until the first beer had been finished and Dale handed Michael a 2nd one after flipping on the stereo. Dale sat on the couch next to Michael staring at the wall. Again they sat in silence until Dale broke down. “God, I miss him so much.” he choked on the words through the tears that now fell.
Michael draped an arm across his shoulders, “I know, man, we all do.”
“I feel so lost, like everything I ever knew is now wrong. What am I suppose to do now?”
Michael wanted to tell him everything would be ok, but he didn’t like to lie. He knew that uncertain feeling for the future. He knew how much pain he felt losing Dale, he could only imagine how Junior felt. He massaged his shoulders as Dale fell into his chest crying. “I wish I could make all the pain go away for you at least for one day.”
A feeling came over Dale that he couldn’t explain, he never felt anything like this and he knew it wasn’t the 2 beers he had drank. He felt Michael’s hand caressing his arm and shoulders. He didn’t know what it was but he knew what he wanted. He let his hand wander over Michael’s chest down to his chiseled abs. The movement caught Michael off guard and he felt Dale’s hand slip under his shirt and then felt his tongue dip into his naval.
Dale heard Michael take a deep breath and he wondered what he was thinking. He hadn’t tried to stop him yet…Dale pulled back and looked up at him. Michael stared at Dale’s tear streaked face for a moment before running a hand down his cheek and pulling his own shirt over his head. Every part of his head was telling him this was wrong but his heart and body were saying the opposite. As Dale’s shirt hit the floor Michael’s hands ran through his hair and stopped to cup his face pulling him closer to him. Dale felt Michael’s soft, controlling lips on his own and as his tongue begged for entrance Michael gently sucked it into his mouth and all 4 hands explored each other’s upper body.
Michael suddenly stood and pulled Dale up with him, he turned up the stereo and led Dale down the hall to the bedroom. He walked Dale backwards towards the bed until his legs hit and he fell backwards. Michael crawled towards him forcing him to the top of the bed. Dale laid back as Michael covered his body with his own. He trailed his kisses down Dale’s neck to his collarbone and back up his jaw to his mouth.
Dale ran his hands down Michael’s broad shoulders as he moaned into his mouth. Dale rolled them over so he was straddling his waist and as he flicked his tongue against his nipple he felt Michael’s arousal against his thigh.
No matter how wrong this was, it felt so right and Michael was having a hard time controlling himself. His hands wrapped around and found Dale’s ass and in one strong quick motion he pulled him towards his face. Dale grabbed onto the headboard to steady himself as he felt Michael’s mouth kiss and nibble his bulge through his jeans. Dale was having trouble controlling his breathing and didn’t know how much of this he could take.
“Take these off.” Michael ordered huskily. Dale stood and did as he was told, as Michael did the same thing. Michael stepped up behind him and tucked his thumbs under the waist band of his boxers pulling them to his ankles, “Everything off.” he whispered in his ear as he pressed himself against Dale. “Lay down.”
Dale laid on the bed not looking at him. Michael laid next to Dale with his head even with his crotch. Michael wasn’t about to push Dale into anything. Dale may have been the one to start this but he was very apprehensive and scared and Michael wasn’t about to try and make him do something he didn’t want to do but he wanted the option to be there. Michael’s mouth found Dale’s stomach and he dropped kisses all the way to his growing member. Dale was watching intently as Michael looked up at him before taking all of him into his mouth. He didn’t tease, he didn’t play he just went straight to work driving Dale crazy. He dropped his hand down to cup Dale’s balls and he gently massaged them as Dale grabbed the pillow trying to control his breathing.
Michael had to slow down when he felt Dale’s tongue lick around the tip of his throbbing organ and when Dale took all of him into his mouth he had to briefly pull away from Dale. He caught his breath “Damn boy.” Dale tried to pull away but Michael wouldn’t let him, he continued to suck even harder and faster realizing how close Dale was and he let his release slide down the back of his throat.
“Michael, I…I can’t…”
“It’s ok, you don’t have to.” Michael crawled up next to Dale and wrapped his own hand around himself to finish the job. Dale stopped him by straddling his waist with his back to Michael. Michael sat up and pressed his chest against Dale’s back and his lips against his neck. Dale used both his hands on his shaft until Michael finally exploded onto Dale’s stomach. Michael wrapped his arms around Dale as his head fell against his shoulder, they stayed that way for several minutes trying to regain their composure.
They found themselves getting aroused again and both knew where it would lead if they allowed themselves to start all over. Should they?
“We don’t have to.” Michael said his breath hot on Dale’s neck.
Without Michael’s arms leaving him, Dale leaned over to the bed side table and grabbed a condom out of the drawer. He looked at it for a moment before handing it to Michael. “I want to.”
“Are you sure? Dale, have you ever?”
Dale shook his head, “You?”
“Well, sort of, Buf and I got a little experimental once and took turns being on both sides of the coin, if you know what I mean.”
“Will it hurt?” Dale asked without looking at him.
Michael tightened his grip on Dale, “At first, but not for long, you will stretch.”
“Michael, I need you please.”
Michael pushed Dale forward to his knees. He put the condom on and kneeled behind him. One hand ran up and down Dale’s chest as the other ran down his back and to his ass. Michael gently pushed a finger inside of him as Dale moaned and leaned back on him for support. He worked his finger in and out until he was sure Dale was comfortable, then he added a 2nd finger. Dale caught his breath as he felt himself stretch even more. He moaned as his hands went behind him to grasp Michael’s hips.
“Shh.” Michael whispered “you’re ok.” he continued sliding in and out of Dale until he loosened his grip on his hips. “Are you sure? We can still stop.”
“Don’t stop.”
Michael gently pushed Dale forward so he was on all fours, he positioned himself at Dale’s opening and as he pressed himself inside, Dale grasped at the sheets.
“Oh God.” he groaned and Michael could tell he was in pain and scared.
“It’s ok, try and relax.” he said as he pushed completely into him.
“Jesus, Michael.” Dale said as he fell forward onto his elbows dropping his face to the bed.
Michael didn’t move, he wanted to be sure Dale was adjusted to him before he continued. The last thing he wanted was to hurt him. “Just breath, you will get use to it. I promise.” He pulled most of him out and then gently pushed all the way back in. He heard a low moan come from Dale and started slowly pulling in and out of him. Not pausing as long as he did at first. After Dale pushed himself back up off the bed, Michael started thrusting in and out of Dale faster and harder with every thrust.
Knowing he wouldn’t last much longer, Michael reached around and grasped Dale each stroke matching his thrusts. “Oh fuck Michael.” Michael felt Dale explode around his hand and as he felt Dale’s muscles constrict around him he let his own release go. They both collapsed onto the bed sweating and hardly able to keep their eyes open. Michael covered them with the blanket and soon they were both fast asleep. They continued their assaults on each other’s body’s throughout the night switching places and positions often.
Dale awoke the next morning in Michael’s arms, he wondered what would happen now. He sat up and as he did he heard Michael, “Stop worrying.”
“How can I? Do you know what the ramifications of this will be if it gets out?”
“Who you going to tell?”
“No one.” he whispered.
“Ok then.”
“But?”
Michael pulled Dale back down on the bed and smoothed his hair. “This is no ones’ business but ours. We were there for each other when no one else could have been. No one would understand this, this is what we both needed and I don’t regret one single minute of it.” He forced Dale to look at him. “It was an amazing night, one amazing night.”
“I don’t regret it either.”
“Good, then stop worrying yourself to death.” he pulled Dale to him and kissed him one more last sweet passionate kiss. Dale settled back into Michael’s arms and had to admit it was the safest he had felt in the past 5 months. He heard the radio that was still on from the night before and listened to the song.
So denied so I lied are you the now or never kind
In a day and a day love I'm gonna be gone for good again
Are you willing to be had are you cool with just tonight
Here's a toast to all those who hear me all too well
Here's to the nights we felt alive
Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry
Here's to goodbye
Tomorrow's gonna come too soon
Put your name on the line along with place and time
Wanna stay not to go I wanna ditch the logical
Here's a toast to all those who hear me all too well
Here's to the nights we felt alive
Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry
Here's to goodbye
Tomorrow's gonna come too soon
All my time is froze in motion
Can't I stay an hour or two or more
Don't let me let you go
Here's a toast to all those who hear me all too well
Here's to the nights we felt alive
Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry
Here's to goodbye
Tomorrow's gonna come too soon
Sunday Night
Dale took the checkered flag under the lights in a very emotional Daytona finish he saw Michael right behind him in 2nd and as his car slid through the infield grass he felt his dad right by his side. Dale jumped out of his car and climbed on top of it pumping his arms at the crowd in celebration. Michael’s car came to a stop right next to Dale’s a few minutes later.He climbed on top of his own car as Dale jumped down and climbed up with Michael. Michael pulled him into a huge bear hug as the teams ran towards the cars. This was not only a victory celebration but a process of healing that unbeknownst to any of them began 2 nights earlier.
“Way to go kid.” Michael whispered into Dale’s ear.
“Thank you Michael. Thank you so much.”