Chapter 74 - Crash and Bang

After grabbing a quick lunch with several of the guys at the Dining Hall, Cate and Jon made their way to Vehicle Ops. The Vehicle Operations Branch was based in a repurposed aircraft hangar, the long concrete former flight line outside its doors perfect for high-speed driving.

When they arrived, Cate led Jon across the open hangar bay to a small suite of offices. As they entered the office door a handsome, dark-haired, tanned, muscular man stood. “Hey, Cate!” he called out with a grin.

“Hey Ernie,” Cate smiled back. She walked over to the man and took his proffered hand, then leaned in to give him a peck on the cheek. “How ya doin’?”

“Great, Honey, how ‘bout you?” Ernie replied. He looked at Jon, who had followed Cate through the door and was standing a couple steps back from her.

“Ah, you know. Monday,” Cate answered, her voice sounding weary.

“Long weekend?” Ernie teased, flashing her a flirty smile.

Cate chuckled softly. “Something like that.” She couldn’t help but shoot a glance at Jon. In the split second her eyes were on him, she saw the rigidity in his posture and his tightened jaw. He didn’t like the familiarity with which she had greeted Ernie. Cate couldn’t stop the tiny little flash of smugness she felt at his reaction.

Cate stepped back from Ernie and gestured to Jon. “Ernie, this is your willing student for the afternoon,” she said, more brightly. “Jon Bon Jovi.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” Ernie grinned, thrusting his hand forward to Jon. “I’m a big fan of your music.”

“Thanks,” Jon returned Ernie’s greeting with a guarded smile, and gave his hand a firm shake. “Nice to meet you. Thanks for taking time out of your training schedule to work with me.”

“Not a problem at all. We’re gonna have some fun.” Ernie turned his grin back to Cate. “You gonna drive today, too?”

Cate shook her head. “Nah. I’ve got some work to do. Mind if I use your computer while you’re on the track? Everything I need is on the network.”

“Sure, go ahead,” Ernie agreed readily. “If you need anything, Colleen’s around here somewhere. She can hook you up.”

“Cool,” Cate responded. She gave Jon a little smile. “You’re gonna have a blast. In addition to being a great driving instructor, Ernie’s a full-time gearhead. He races stock cars and dragsters on the weekends. I’m sure you’ll have plenty to talk about.”

Jon grinned more widely as Ernie nodded. “Yeah, Man,” Ernie added. “Besides, I’ve always wanted to ask you about that Chevelle of yours. Gorgeous car.”

“Thanks,” Jon answered. “She’s my baby.” His posture relaxed slightly.

Cate chuckled. “Alright, I’ll leave you boys to it. Ernie, I’ll be in your office if you need me.” She gave Jon a little grin. “Have fun. Don’t hurt yourself, and don’t crash into anything you’re not supposed to,” she teased lightly.

“Yes, Ma’am,” Jon answered, a little hint of excitement creeping into his voice. He needed this, to focus on something other than Cate.

“C’mon. I’ll get you geared up,” Ernie said, beckoning for Jon to follow him.

Jon gave Cate a wink and a smile, then turned to follow Ernie across the hangar bay.

Cate sighed and watched them go, her eyes lingering on Jon’s back as he strode away. She shook her head sadly at herself. Damned shame, she thought. At least he was mine for the weekend. That’s more than most women get. I should consider myself lucky.

But logic wasn’t going to soothe her aching heart. Cate sighed again and turned to enter Ernie’s office.

Closing the door behind her, Cate sat at Ernie’s desk and wiggled the mouse to bring his monitor to life. She logged on to the Center’s network, glancing out the wide office window as she waited for the system to acknowledge her password and grant her access. Ernie’s office had a spectacular view of the tracks; she would be able to watch Jon’s training. Great, more distraction, she thought snarkily.

Cate glanced up at the clock above Ernie’s office door, then reached over to pick up the phone receiver. She dialed and waited as the phone rang, then heard the familiar voice on the other end of the line.

“Special Agent Cusack.” Mandy’s voice was cool, professional.

“Hey, Girl, it’s me.” Cate answered. “What’cha doin’?”

“Cate! Hey! Where are you calling me from?” Mandy sounded surprised. “I didn’t recognize the number.”

“I’m at Vehicle Ops, using Ernie’s phone. Jon’s doing the Crash and Bang Course,” Cate answered. She sighed. “Just thought I’d see what you’re up to. I should be doing some paperwork, but I can’t get in the groove.”

Mandy detected the melancholy in her friend’s voice. “Want some company? I’m just updating lesson plans. I don’t teach ‘til tomorrow.”

Cate smiled to herself. “That would be great.” She could use a little girl talk. “Want me to meet you somewhere?” Jon was going to be busy for awhile; she could slip away to meet Mandy.

“Nah, I’ll come to you. Wouldn’t mind getting another look at that gorgeous boy!” Mandy chuckled. “Oh, and Jon, too,” she teased.

Cate laughed. Mandy had always found Ernie extremely attractive, and she took the opportunity to flirt with him whenever possible. “Okay, see ya in a few.”

“On my way!” Mandy said cheerily. “I’ll bring the Diet Coke!”

“Deal.” Cate grinned and placed the receiver back in the cradle. She looked back out the window and saw Ernie leading Jon over to one of the ops cars, a big white Crown Victoria cruiser with a standard light bar and a large black number “3” on the door. Cate smirked at the coincidence; Jon was driving the car bearing the same number as he wore on his Soul jersey.

She watched as Jon pulled a helmet on over his golden locks, then fastened the chinstrap. He pulled open the door and ducked into the driver’s seat as Ernie crossed around the front of the car, donning his own helmet. Ernie climbed in on the passenger side, then Jon put it in drive, pulling away and cruising slowly down the tarmac toward the first circuit.

Cate looked back toward the computer screen, seeing she was now logged on to the Center’s network. She shook her head briskly, to clear her mind. She needed to at least check some schedules before Mandy arrived. Her hands moved to the keyboard and she began to type rapidly, the rhythmic clicking of the keys helping focus her attention.

Fifteen minutes later Mandy sauntered through the door to Ernie’s office, a relaxed grin on her face.

“Hey Chickie! How ya doin’?” she asked, handing Cate a cold can of Diet Coke. Her eyes swept over her friend’s face. “Damn, Girl, you look tired.” Mandy lowered herself into the chair beside Ernie’s desk and popped the top on her soda can.

“I am,” Cate answered with a little sigh, leaning back in the chair and swiveling it slightly toward Mandy. She opened her soda and took a sip.

“Yeah, well, you had a big weekend,” Mandy replied with a smile. Cate had called Mandy Sunday night while Jon was at the Director’s dinner party, giving her the details of the wonderful night and day she had spent with him. “But you were in early last night. What’s the matter? Couldn’t sleep?”

Mandy had teased Cate mercilessly when Cate had admitted she stayed up all night on Saturday with Jon, but they hadn’t had sex. She knew how long it had been since her friend had last been with a man, and she couldn’t believe that Cate hadn’t jumped Jon the first chance she had.

“Yeah, something like that,” Cate answered softly. She raised her eyes to meet Mandy’s, and Mandy read her mind.

“Holy SHIT! You DID it!” Mandy exclaimed. “You lucky bitch! You fucked Jon Bon Jovi!”

Cate couldn’t help but chuckle at Mandy’s outburst, and the gleeful look on her friend’s face. She shot a look at the open office door, hoping nobody was lurking around the corner. Following her glance, Mandy leaned over and pushed at the door, swinging it shut with a light slam.

“So? What happened? Details, woman!” Mandy demanded. “Was he as good as you dreamed?”

Cate smiled, dropping her eyes to her hands. “Better,” she answered quietly. “Oh, the way he made me feel… ” She paused and drew in a deep breath as Mandy stared at her, waiting for the story.

Cate chuckled again and gave Mandy a quick rundown of her passionate night with Jon, giving her enough detail to satisfy her curiosity, but being modest enough not to embarrass herself. She didn’t tell Mandy about the dream, or about fleeing from Jon’s villa this morning in a panic.

Mandy let out a low whistle at the end of Cate’s narrative. “Wow,” she said, then she grinned. “You needed that, didn’t you?”

Cate chuckled again. “Yeah, it had been a loooong time.” She smiled again, a bit wistfully. “God knows how long the next drought is gonna be,” she mused.

“What? Jesus, Woman!” Mandy exclaimed. “ You’re absolutely fucking insane if you don’t spend every spare second you have this week with that gorgeous man between your thighs!” Mandy grinned lecherously.

Then she saw the sadness in Cate’s eyes. “Cate… what?” she asked, her expression softening.

“Mandy, as wonderful as it was, it was a mistake,” Cate said quietly. “I… I told him we crossed the line. I’m not gonna spend any more time with him outside of training.” She took a deep breath, thankful that she was almost numb to the emotion of the topic, after dwelling on it for the past few hours. She was tired of the tears.

“Oh, Cate… No!” Mandy breathed. “Why?”

“Because he’s leaving Friday, Mandy. I have to let him go. I can’t go through that again. And if I keep kissing him, spending time with him, sleeping with him, it’s gonna be that much harder,” Cate gave Mandy a sad little smile. “But I always have that amazing memory, right?”

Mandy shook her head. “Cate, that’s the dumbest damned thing I’ve ever heard you say. You said Jon wants to keep in touch, to see you after he leaves here and goes out to shoot the movie. Friday isn’t the end of time, you know.”

Cate sighed. Here we go again. She was getting tired of having to justify her decision, to herself, to Jon, to her friends. Every time she did, her excuse for pushing Jon away sounded more pathetic.

“Yeah, Mandy, it may as well be.” Cate's voice took on a hint of bitterness. “So what would happen after that? I’d fly out to California and fuck him a few times, until he got tired of me? No thank you.”

Mandy was taken aback by the hard edge of Cate’s voice. “Cate, I really don’t think he’d treat you like that. He doesn’t seem like that kind of guy.”

“Maybe not, but it’s inevitable. Sooner or later it would have to end. So I may as well end it before it starts,” Cate answered miserably. She took a drink of her Diet Coke. “Besides, it’s a moot point now. I already told him.”

Mandy’s shoulders dropped as she gave her friend a sympathetic look. “Oh Cate, you didn’t,” she said sadly.

“Yeah, I did,” Cate replied.

“How did he take it?” Mandy asked, raising her eyebrows slightly. She couldn’t imagine Jon would be happy about this.

Cate gave a little snort, followed by an ironic chuckle. “How do you think he took it? He told me he refused to accept my decision. He’s positive he’s gonna change my mind, make me see that everything will be wonderful, perfect, and we’ll ride off into the sunset together.”

“Well, maybe he’s right,” Mandy replied, giving Cate a direct look. “Why don’t you give it a chance?”

Cate shook her head at her friend’s persistence. “Because, Mandy, this isn’t one of the stories in one of his songs. It’s not ‘I’ll get down on my knees for you, and make everything alright’.” She smiled as she quoted a lyric from Mandy’s favorite song. “Though I think he sincerely believes he can do that.”

“So, what now?” Mandy asked.

“Now, I finish teaching him how to act like a cop, then he goes on his way. And you and I go see the movie when it comes out, and hope it doesn’t suck.” Cate gave Mandy a wry smile.

Mandy laughed, then shook her head. “You’re crazy, Woman,” she said softly. “But I get it. I think you’re wrong, but I understand.”

“Thanks, Babe,” Cate smiled gratefully. She could use a little unconditional support right now. “Now can we please talk about something else?”

“Sure,” Mandy agreed.

The two women chatted for awhile, talking about training, mutual friends, and odd gossip. Every now and then they stopped to gaze out the window, watching Jon tear around the training circuits in the cruiser, lights and sirens screaming and tires squealing.

Cate smiled each time she caught a flash of Jon’s grin through the cruiser’s window as he drove down the flat straightaway past Ernie's office. She was glad he was having a good time, after the way she had disappointed him this morning.

Finally, Jon’s time on the track was up. Cate watched as he parked the cruiser and climbed out, pulling the helmet off and running a hand through his sweaty hair. She sighed involuntarily at the sight, her reaction not going unnoticed by Mandy. The girls stood, then wandered out into the hangar bay. A minute later, Jon and Ernie swaggered in, through the huge open bay doors.

“Well, hello, gorgeous!” Ernie called out, giving Mandy a big grin. “What are you doing here?” He and Jon strode over to Cate and Mandy.

“Couldn’t stay away from you, Baby!” Mandy growled playfully, winking and accepting a kiss on the cheek from Ernie. Then she laughed. “Dropped by to see Cate.” Mandy turned her attention to Jon. “So, looks like you had some fun!”

Jon nodded enthusiastically, a huge grin on his face, his eyes sparkling. “That was just fuckin’ COOL!” he exclaimed. He gave Cate a happy look, again pulling his hand through his sweaty hair.

“As much fun as the raid house?” Mandy asked Jon, recalling how supernaturally hot he had looked in that black raid gear. She shot Cate a devilish little grin.

Jon considered her query for a moment before answering. “Well, almost. A close second. Only ‘cause I didn’t get to shoot anything today.” He chuckled and gave Cate a coy look. “But I think DTs is still my favorite subject.”

Cate’s cheeks colored a bit, comprehending his meaning. Mandy chuckled. Nope, he’s not giving up without a fight. Good Boy.

“So, did you learn something?” Cate asked Jon, unable to resist a smile at his enthusiasm.

“Yeah, a lot. This training will come in handy, driving in Jersey,” Jon joked. He turned to Ernie. “Hey, Man, thanks again. This was awesome.” He extended his hand, and Ernie gave him a vigorous handshake.

“Anytime. In fact, if you have a little free time this week, let me know and we can run some more circuits.” Ernie responded. “Just have Cate give me a call.”

“I’ll do that,” Jon agreed. “I don’t know what all she has planned for me this week, but if I have some time I’ll be sure to let you know.” He gave Cate a little grin and a wink.

“Thanks again, Ernie,” Cate said, smiling at the handsome man. “Unfortunately, we gotta get going. OC Spray training in half an hour.”

Ernie made a face. “Yikes. Glad you had fun here, Jon, cause OC sucks!”

Cate laughed. “Yeah, it does,” she agreed. “But Jon’s just observing. We can’t spray visitors, because of liability reasons. And I’m sure his movie’s production company would be just thrilled if we shot him with a face full of pepper spray and he had a reaction.”

Jon pulled a face at the thought of that. “Eeesh. Sometimes it’s good to be a Candy-Ass Rock Star,” he joked. He smiled as Cate chuckled at his comment.

“Yeah, I guess it is,” she teased back wryly. “C’mon, we gotta get going.”

Jon again thanked Ernie, then he, Cate, and Mandy walked out of the cavernous hangar to the parking lot. Cate and Jon bid Mandy adieu, then climbed into Cate’s Mustang and made the short drive back to the FTB offices. They chatted about what Jon had learned during his offensive driving training.

Jon sensed that Cate didn’t want to talk about anything personal, so he didn’t push. But he could tell from her reserved manner that her decision was weighing on her. He just had to bide his time until the right moment, until he could take the first step toward convincing her that he should be part of her future. But he was not a patient man, and time was running out.