Playing With Fire (Sebastian Vettel)

26. Rashford's Return

"Damn this feels good!" Mollie said through the team radio.  It was FP1 and Mollie was topping the times.  She knew it meant nothing,  but she was enjoying it again. She couldn't remember the last time it had felt like this.  Even at the beginning of the season,when she was winning, it hadn't felt like this. 

She'd been running on autopilot. Getting the job done but not appreciating the experience.  The last time she had felt like this was before Abu Dhabi, before the accident. 

She completed her run and took the car back in.  The team were based outside the Aston Martin garage for their sessions.  She pulled up and she saw Seb stood on the pit wall talking to Joel.  He was wearing his race suit, ready for his own FP1. 

"Joel,  tell my man to give me a wave," she said.  A few  seconds later Seb turned and waved.   She put her hand up in return. 

The team did some adjustments to the car and she was sent back out.  In the end she finished the morning session in P4, after Sophia, Lily and Emilia posted faster times. Mollie was happy though, she knew she had more in the bag.  

The afternoon session wasn't as good.  The rain came in and it was a bit of a washout.

By the time she arrived back at her hotel she was exhausted.  She decided to have a soak in the bath before having an early night. 

She wished Seb was coming around like he had the previous evening but he'd been roped into dinner with a sponsor. 

She stepped into the bathtub and sank into the hot water.  She closed her eyes and started running through the plan for tomorrow. 

She wanted to win but she knew realistically she wasn't going to jump in and start winning again straight away.

She began to have flickers off doubt.  What if she really wasn't going to be as good as she used to be?

She had to be.   She had to repay everyone for the faith they'd put in her.  There was no other option. 

After her bath she wrapped herself in a fluffy bathrobe and curled up on the bed.  She flicked through the television channels but her eyes began to feel heavy.  She nodded off and when she woke it was nearly midnight.

She found a few texts from Seb.

Seb:  this dinner is boring.  Would much rather be with you.

Seb:  how's your evening going baby?

Seb:  Have you fallen asleep Mols?

Mollie laughed. What a stupid question!  As if she was going to answer yes if she was asleep.  Oh how she loved that muppet.

She tapped out a reply, despite the late hour.

Mollie:  yes I am asleep, I have learnt a great skill, it's called sleep texting.... Seriously, yeah I fell asleep after my bath.  Just woke up. Sorry I missed your texts.  See you at the track. Love you champ xx

She was surprised when she had a reply. She thought he'd have been asleep. 

Seb:  cheeky minx.  Wish I was there holding you.  I really miss you Mols.  See you at the track.  And I love you more xx

Mollie smiled and snuggled down under the covers. It was good to be back.  Now she just had to get things good back on the track. 

                                      ***

Mollie crossed line at the end of Q3.  She felt unsure.  The lap was good but she knew there were a couple of corners where she could have done better.  She doubted if it was good enough for a front row but hopefully she'd sneak onto the second row. 

"Great lap Mols. Great lap.  That's P2. Repeat, P2.  Sophia's on pole.  Pierce third.  Giroud fourth.  Koskinen fifth and Krieg sixth."

"Yes guys," Mollie shouted down the radio.  She couldn't believe it.  It was better than she'd thought.  She really ought to have more faith in herself. 

She took the car back to the support pits and parked up.  Time to answer some media questions and have some lunch.  Then she was going to watch Seb's quali before it was race time.

                                      ***

Seb had done brilliantly.  He'd bagged pole position for the following day's Grand Prix. He was on a high. He headed to the motorhome after he'd spoken to the media. He wanted to watch Mollie's race.

He sat down with Antti and Britta. He knew she could do it. He had faith in her. He just hoped she had faith in herself.

The lights went out. Initially they all got away well but half way around the first lap Emilia Koskinen, who had gained a couple of places at the start, tried an overly optimistic move on Mollie. Contact was made and Koskinen ended up out of the race. Seb groaned as he saw Mollie spin and lose several positions.

"Shit!" he cursed. He hoped this wasn't going to knock her confidence. He needn't have worried.

She began fighting her way back through the field like a woman possessed. By the start of the last lap she had fought her way back from ninth to second. She crossed the line 4.1 seconds behind Sophia. Seb punched the air and ran out of the motorhome. He wanted to be there for her in park ferme.

He arrived just before she did. Joel pulled him to the front.

"She'll want to see you," he said. Mollie climbed out of the car. She removed her HANS and helmet and handed them to Ash, then she jogged over. Seb threw his arms around her and kissed her softly.

"Baby you were amazing. I'm so proud of you."

She smiled at him and started hugging her team. Everyone was euphoric. It felt as good as a win. Mollie had showed her champion mentality fighting through the field. Mollie Rashford wasn't done. Not by a long way.

She hugged Sophia, congratulating her on her win.

"You'd have won if Koskinen hadn't hit you."

"You don't know that."

"I'm gonna have a fight on my hands with you aren't I?"

"You betcha!"

"There's no one else I'd rather fight." They hugged again.

"Great race Rashford," said Lily Pierce, holding her hand out.

Mollie shook it. "You too Pierce."

They all got weighed then headed to the podium.
The national anthems played and they got given their trophies. Then it was champagne time.

They all sprayed each other. Sophia took a big swig of the bubbly. Mollie hesitated. She wanted to take a drink of it. She'd earnt it. Surely one swig would be ok. She lifted the bottle. Then she put it down again. No. She wasn't going to fall again. Mollie Rashford was on the rise. She could do it. She knew she could. She looked out at her team below. Seb was stood with them, pride all over his face. He smiled and gave her the thumbs up. She smiled. It was so good to be back.