The One That Got Away (Sebastian Vettel)

30. Frantic

"Let's go and see if she's in her room," Sophia said to Seb. They both got into the elevator and Sophia pressed the button for the fifth floor.

"Seb, excuse me for being nosey, but is there something going on between you and Mollie?  I know she's seeing someone but not who. She won't say. Now you're looking for her. It makes me wonder if you are her mystery man. Am I barking up the wrong tree?"

"Mollie and I go way back. We've known each other for years."

"So it's not you then?" Seb smiled.

"I never said that," he admitted, his cheeks reddening as he realised that he had given and Mollie's secret away.

"Ha!" exclaimed Sophia. "I knew it. She wasn't wrong when she said it was complicated."

"Yeah. We are keeping it under wraps until the end of the season. Elena isn't going to be happy."

"When is she ever happy?" The elevator doors slid open and they walked out.

Seb followed Sophia until she came to a stop outside room 530. She knocked loudly. A minute passed. No answer.

"Mollie! Are you in there?" No reply. Sophia took her phone out of her pocket and dialled Mollie's number again. They both heard the unmistakeable sound of Mollie's phone ringing inside the room. Sophia disconnected as once again she was diverted to voicemail. She dialled Ash's number.

"Hey Soph. I'm just finishing in the gym. I'll be round in about half an hour?"

"Yeah, I'm not ringing about dinner. Is Mollie with you? She hasn't been answering her phone for over four hours now and she's not answering the door either. I can hear her phone ringing inside."

"No, she went upstairs after lunch. Said she was going to chill and spend the rest of the day reading her book. As if she would spend all day reading. She's got a secret man. She's probably busy doing the dirty."

Sophia glanced at Seb and put her hand over the phone.

"She's not with Ash. He thinks she's having it off with her secret lover but I know she's not as he's you. Can I tell him?"

"Is he trustworthy?"

"Yes. Totally. He is 100% loyal to Mollie. He'd never drop her in it. "

Seb nodded. Sophia uncovered the phone. "Ash. She's not. Her secret man is here with me and he's been trying to get hold of her for hours. We're both really worried. This isn't like her."

"Oh I knew she had a man. Hang on, where are you now? I'll be right there. Call Cassie, she might know where she is." Sophia hung up and called Cassie.

"Cassie, is Mollie with you?" She explained what had been happening. Cassie replied that she hadn't seen Molllie since breakfast but that she had a spare keycard for Mollie's room if they wanted to check it out.

Sophia said that yes they did and Cassie said she would head straight there.

Ash arrived first. Sophia had to stop herself laughing at the shocked look on his face when he realised that Seb was Mollie's mystery man. She tried ringing Mollie again. Voicemail. This time the phone didn't even ring. The battery must have died.

A few minutes later Cassie arrived with Joel in tow. If either of them were surprised to see Seb there they  didn't show it.

Cassie held the keycard against the scanner and the door clicked as it unlocked.

"Ok so who's going in? She's probably just forgotten to take her phone out with her and you lot are fussing over nothing. She's going to be pissed off."

"I'll go first," Sophia said.  She opened the door and went inside. The first thing she noticed was how dark it was. The curtains were drawn and there were no lights on.

"Mollie," she called out. "Are you there?"  Seb and Ash followed her in. Ash flipped the light switch, illuminating the room. It was empty. She wasn't there.   The bedsheets were all rumpled and a chair had been knocked over.  Mollie's phone lay on the floor besides the bed.

"Mollie," whispered Seb, frantically. Where was she? What had happened?

They all stood and looked at each other, wondering what to do next. Then they heard a sound coming from the bathroom.   The sound of someone sobbing.

They all dashed for the door. Being closer to the bathroom, Ash got there first. He opened the door and turned on the light. He found Mollie sat on the floor in the corner, her knees brought up to her chin.   Her face was tear stained, her mascara running down her cheeks.

Ash dropped to his knees at her side and pulled her into his arms.

"She's here!" he called out behind him. "Mollie sweetheart what's wrong? What is it?"

Seb stood in the doorway and stared helplessly at the woman he loved being comforted by her trainer.  What had happened?  He desperately wanted to comfort her himself.

"My head Ash. It feels like it's going to explode. The pain won't stop. I took pills. I tried to sleep. I just couldn't get it dark enough. I want the pain to go away.  Please make it stop," she sobbed.  Ash turned to Sophia.

" Go and get the team doctor now!" Sophia turned and ran out. Ash scooped Mollie up in his arms.

"Seb, turn the bedroom lights out."  Ash carried Mollie through to the bedroom.  Cassie and Joel stood there, concerned. Ash laid Mollie down on the bed.

"Seb," she moaned.

"Baby I'm right here," he answered. Cassie and Joel suddenly clicked that something  was going on with Seb and Mollie. Seb climbed on the bed and took Mollie  in his arms.   " I'm here Mols. It's going to be ok."

"Cass, Joel. I think you can go. She doesn't need too many people here. Seb and I can handle it. I'll let you know when the doctor's been," Ash said.

They nodded and made their way out.

Seb cradled Mollie in his arms as she cried in pain.

"Ash, what's the matter with her?" he asked, scared. 

"She has bad headaches every now and then. Migraines. From where she had her head injury. It's been a very long time since she's had one this bad. A dark room and a couple of painkillers usually do the trick."

"Does anything in particular bring it on?"

"Nothing we've been able to pinpoint."

"Please make it stop," Mollie cried, holding her head.  Seb rocked her in his arms, whispering words of encouragement.

"I'm here Mollie. I've got you. You're going to be ok. Seb's here. I'm not letting you go my darling."

The door opened and Sophia came in followed by Hashim Kahn, the team doctor.

"Hey Mollie. Let's have a look at you," he said, sitting on the edge of her bed. "Guys can you all wait outside please? Don't crowd her."

They all went outside to the corridor and waited. After twenty minutes the doctor came out.

"Hashim, how is she?" Ash asked.

"Sleeping. I gave her a injection of a strong painkiller. It's knocked her out. I think it's been brought on by the heat. She said she's not eaten today as well, which hasn't helped. She should be fine after a good night's sleep. She needs to eat when she wakes and drink plenty of water. One of you will need to stay with her."

The doctor said goodnight and made his way to the elevator.

"I'd like to stay with her," Seb said.

"So you're her secret man?" Ash said.

"Yes. We are keeping it secret until  the end of the season."

"I'll give you my number in case you need me," Ash said. 

A minute later Ash and Sophia left. Seb undressed down to his boxers and climbed into the bed with Mollie. He snuggled up behind her, his arm around her waist.

"It's ok Mols. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you. I love you Mollie. I love you," he murmured as he held her close.