The aftermath
He woke back up in a darkened room, feeling a warm body next to him, an arm draped over his chest.
Raspberry and cinnamon. Oscar. His Oscar. He opened his eyes a little and saw Oscar’s head on his shoulder. He turned his head and kissed his hair, trying to lift the arm Oscar didn’t lay on, but it was trapped somehow. It felt heavy and a little tied down.
“No, don’t.” Oscar said softly, keeping a hand on Lando’s free arm. “They had to do some stitches and wrapped it up pretty heavily. You got a big cut on your arm and your chest.”
“But I didn’t bleed.” Lando said.
“You actually did. The cut in the suit didn’t cut all of the fabric, that’s why it didn’t fall open. The adrenalin pumping through you made you think you were fine.” Oscar said and Lando looked to the side, seeing Ollie laying in a bed, a thick blanket covering him, a line going into his hand. He seemed to be sleeping.
“He was fine at the circuit, what happened?” Lando asked worried.
“He was with you in the ambulance, he saw the blood loss … they don’t carry blood packs in the ambulances, so he offered to give blood until you reached the hospital. He gave almost a litre.” Oscar whispered and Lando stared at him “They gave him a transfusion as well and he’s on a good vitamin cocktail. His dad is on his way.”
“Okay, that’s good. He should have someone here.” Lando said. “How did the accident happen? I just felt a bump from behind, I turned, I got another hit and then I was on my own.”
“Logan apparently thought you would speed up faster, his car went under you, lifting you up and to the side, where Ollie then crashed into you, flipping you down the hill.” Oscar said “If it would have been a movie it would have been quite cool.” He then added with a nervous laugh “I’m getting too much into this, I’m turning weird.” He then said, shaking his head. Lando smiled at him and kissed him.
“Maybe, but you are my little weirdo and I like this kind of weird.” Lando smiled.
“You’re back.” A scratchy voice said. Ollie woke up.
“Yeah, thanks to you, I guess.” Lando said, lifting his free arm about a centimetre “I intended to fist bump you, but … we have to postpone that, I guess.”
“I crashed into you.” Ollie said, turning towards them.
“Not on purpose. It’s a racing accident. It happens. This was a pretty big one, yes, but it is not your fault and with you giving blood, you’re on my good side for … most likely the rest of your life.”
“You’ve got a seat for me by any chance? I’ll change it against the lifelong good side.” Ollie joked.
“I’m not in charge of the seats.”
“Oh, thank god.” Zak said, coming in “You’re both awake and talking.” He turned around “You can calm down, they’re fine.” He said and let another man through.
“Dad? What are you doing here?” Ollie asked surprised and started to get up.
“No, no, no, no. You stay put. And why do you ask, anyway? You crashed and went to the hospital, of course I’d come.” His dad said, hugging him close “Kids these days!” he then said to Zak.
“You don’t need to tell me. With that one” Zak nodded towards Lando “and my own two, I’m more than full. They talk so much bullshit all day, it’s crazy.”
“I don’t talk bullshit all day!” Lando said defensively.
“You used being mated now and having to take care of an omega as a justification for your new salary.” Zak said.
“Really?” Oscar asked.
“It worked. I’m getting what I asked for.”
“Because that is what we were willing to pay anyway!” Zak said.
“So, I could have asked for more?” Lando asked.
“You got what you asked for, be happy about it.” Zak hissed and Lando looked down.
“Okay, you’ve got your plate full.”
“That’s not even the worst. This week he almost took his shirt off in an online stream. PR almost went crazy, they start hating you over there.”
They were allowed to leave the next morning, David, Ollie’s father, driving them back to the hotel, Oscar carrying a big bag of wound wrappings for the next changes.
“We’re going home to England!” Lando sing sang when they packed their bags “My dad insists on picking us up from the airport, by the way.”
“Very thoughtful. Very good. Taxis are getting really expensive.” Oscar said, shouldering his backpack while Lando put his on top of his suitcase, pulling it with his uninjured arm.
“Oh, wow. I mean, you said where it was, but this is massive.” Lando said, looking at his stitches. They started about half way up his lower arm, ending just past his shoulder, then restarted a couple centimetres left of his nipple, going down to his hip, where they ended in a couple horizontal stitches.
“Yeah” Oscar said while cleaning the stitches, his voice a little rough.
“I’m sorry.” Lando said to him.
“Don’t be. Yes, it hurts me that you are hurt, but I know that this isn’t a regular occurrence and that you didn’t want this.” Oscar said softly, starting to spread the healing gel the doctors gave them before they left the hospital. They stood in the bathroom of Cisca and Adam’s house, deciding to stay there for a day before continuing to Silverstone.
“Oh my God.” Cisca exclaimed, staring at Lando. They didn’t even hear the door open. “And there is nothing broken?”
“No” Lando said.
“Well … at least one good thing.” She said, then left the bathroom again with a little, but confused looking smile. Oscar stared after her, raising an eyebrow.
“Probably a little too shocked to say anything else. I’ve never had this many stitches in my life and that combines all of my injuries.” Lando said and Oscar nodded, continuing to spread the gel before wrapping Lando back up, the stitches on his chest getting covered by big pieces of gauze, fixated with tape.
Ollie was in his parent’s townhouse in London on Tuesday morning, eating breakfast after a run with his dad. Well, he ran, his dad cycled. He joylessly chewed on an omelette his mum made for him. Mushrooms, bacon, bell peppers, loads of cheese. His favourite.
“Come on, Ollie, it’s not the end of the world.” His mum tried to comfort.
“I’m out of a seat. After what I did, Ferrari isn’t going to help me.”
“There are a lot of other teams on the grid that have no obligations to Ferrari.” His mum said and heard the doorbell ring.
“I’m getting it.” His dad shouted from the other room.
“Shhh, not so loud.” Ollie’s younger brother Thomas said, scuffling into the kitchen.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.” His mum said, starting another omelette.
“It’s 8.30 and it’s summer break, it’s okay to sleep longer.” Thomas defended himself. David came into the kitchen, carrying an envelope.
“For you” he handed it to Ollie.
“The mail is already here?” his mum asked.
“No, it was a courier.” His dad said.
“It’s from Claude’s office.” Ollie said, not happier “They’re probably offering me a … spot as the reserve of the reserve of the reserve test driver in the middle of nowhere in the worst team of the world.”
“Ollie!” his dad said while Ollie opened the envelope.
“Haha, if that’s the worst team of the world, I don’t even want to know what your expectations were.” Thomas said, taking the coffee cup from his dad.
“Why?” his mum asked.
“McLaren offered me a seat.” Ollie said, looking through the contract, not really believing it, also holding it up to the window.
“What are you doing?” Thomas asked.
“Seeing if the signature is real.” Ollie said and pulled out his phone. “Hey, Lando, it’s Ollie. Weird question. Do you by any chance know if McLaren would offer me a seat next year?” Ollie asked “Oh, really … Wait, hold on … yes it does … no I don’t … isn’t that really expensive?” he asked, then turned a couple pages further in his contract “Oh, yeah, now I get it … thank you, Lando, sorry for interrupting …bye.” He said and hung up the phone “It’s real.”
“For how long?” his dad asked.
“Two years.” Ollie stated. “Do you know anyone in the Monaco realty market?”
“No, I’m working in re-insurances.” His dad said and let his brother chuckle.
“Shut up, dumbass.” He said, giving his brother a little smack on the back of his head.
“Just shut up and sign the contract. How much are they paying, that you want to move so desperately?” Thomas said.
“It’s not out of desperation. Lando suggested it for tax reasons.”