Halo

LV

It was a weird day at Paul Ricard. I don't know it was my first time back in two years and I didn't really know what to think. Thankfully we had three days before the first practice so hopefully, the feelings would be gone by then and I could focus on work, 

"Good morning," Mick whispered as we were waking up. "Our two-year anniversary of when we first met." 

"And almost died." 

Mick chuckled while pulling me closer to him in bed. The sun shone into the trailer from the early morning light and there was a peaceful atmosphere around us. I wished that it could be like this all the time, but to be honest, we were separated so much. 

Breaking the peace was a call from Toto Wolff and I knew it couldn't be any good news. 

"What's the matter, Toto?" I asked. 

He sighed heavily, "George can't drive this weekend, so we need another driver or we drop out of this race. Our reserves aren't able to either, so it looks like we're going to drop out unless you can pull something quickly." 

I launched myself out of bed still in pajamas and took off running to the office where Toto and a few other executives were making calls like crazy. Toto saw me and ran up to me quickly, a pleading look in his eyes. He was about to ask me something that could be possibly considered out of pocket depending on my mood. 

"I talked to Haas...they could spare Mick." He stated, "Before you answer team before husband." 

I rolled my eyes, "Are there no other options?" 

Toto shook his head as a million thoughts ran through my head. Without thinking I called up Nico Rosberg, who thankfully answered. 

"Nico...you remember how you drove at Mercedes a few months ago? In the new car? If we were to get you in the simulator and on the track for intense training for three days would you be able to drive for us this weekend?" 

"Seriously?" He questioned. "Stella Schumacher...you want me to drive in your brother's place, someone who are our last years together were purely bitter and filled with resentment to the literal day he died?" 

I took in a deep breath as I thought about the one thing Lewis regretted which was letting his friendship with Nico go south. I sighed heavily as knowing that what I was about to say was going to hurt a bit. 

"Rosberg." I said putting on the tone I used when I was dealing with business, "I don't give a damn about the petty little rift in you and my brother's friendship, I really could give a flying fuck! What I do care about is making sure my team keeps running in a smooth and orderly fashion. So unless you can think of another option, I better find you here by lunchtime. So I can assure everyone that things will go as planned." I roared into the phone and everyone was dead silent as they stared at me in shock. The She-Wolf was back. 

Nico took a deep breath, "Your team? Since when is Mercedes been your team?" 

"Mercedes has been my team since the day Lewis started racing for them." 

"You feel guilty," he laughed, "Guilty because you know that you always liked me more than Lewis. You wanted me to beat him down, to win the Championship over him! Your own brother pushed you away because you were more successful. I was there when Lewis wasn't, because he was barely there for you! Who was there in your darkest moments? It wasn't Lewis it was me. YOU CAN'T DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT YOU FEEL GUILTY THAT YOU SPENT MORE TIME HATING YOUR BROTHER THAN BEING THERE FOR HIM" 

Hearing those words, something snapped in me as memories flooded back into my mind. To Nico and everyone else, I could've seemed like that was the case but it wasn't. 

"I wouldn't expect you to understand the relationship Lewis and I had, but there was never a time I didn't want the best for him and there most definitely was never a time where I would want you to win the Championship over my brother. You created that narrative in your head that because you won and I stuck with you in the media fights that I was 100% on your side. I wasn't. Nico, you are like my brother, but Lewis is my brother. At the end of the day no matter what I would pick him over you and I did. Nico let's not fight over this. You hate my brother, you won't drive in his spot over a spoiled friendship and team that turned its back on you. This was a chance to redeem yourself, but instead, you threw it away and in the process created another Hamilton-Rosberg rift in the formal one world. Goodbye." 

I slammed my phone on Toto's desk while everyone gave me a moment to process. Toto put a hand on my shoulder. 

"If he does good once what happens?" I asked. 

"Well, we need to fill Lewis's seat for the rest of the season," Toto replied and I nodded. "I know it's scary to have the love of your life risking their life and adding to that he is now your responsibility as team principal and I'm asking a lot of your own personal relationship, so if you could get Mick to drive for us it could advance his career like crazy." 

It was only 6:30 am and everyone else was still sleeping as I walked back to our trailer. I was dreading waking Mick up because I knew he would be sleeping. The stress I would put him under in his rookie season was going to eat me alive for a very long time after. 

Gently closing the door behind me I walked to the large bedroom in our private wing of the motor home. Of course, Mick was sleeping with soft snores making me laugh to myself. 

"Mickey Mouse," I whispered. 

"What is it Angel?" he mumbled still half-asleep as I crawled back under the covers. "Toto gave me a heads up, and of course I'll drive for Mercedes this weekend." 

I chuckled knowing Toto was teaching me a lesson on handling team business. He wasn't going to make me ask just warning that there would be hard times where a decision would have to be made, and sometimes it wouldn't be comfortable. 

"He also called Nico ahead of time to inform him and to have Nico act a bit difficult with you to give you another teach moment, which according to both Nico and Toto you handled beautifully," Mick explained before kissing me gently. 

"Good," I whispered as I started to fall back asleep in Mick's arms a place where I only felt safe.