Playing With Fire (Sebastian Vettel)

28. The Waiting Game

Mollie, Antti and Britta sat nervously in the hospital waiting room. They'd raced there frantically after receiving the news that Seb was being airlifted to hospital. Antti had drove whilst Britta had sat in the back comforting a distraught Mollie.

The thirty minute drive had seemed endless. Antti was deeply worried about his friend, but he had to keep it together. He couldn't break. Mollie and Britta needed him.

He stood up and started pacing. They'd been here for an hour now. What was taking so long?

"Antti, sit down," Britta urged, feeling irritated by the squeak of his trainers on the linoleum floor.

"I can't. I can't just sit here. I need to move, I need to do something," he said, getting more and more agitated by the second.

Mollie stood up and started walking towards the exit.

"Mollie, where are you going?" Britta called after her.

"I need some air. I'll just be outside."

Mollie sank down onto the bench just outside the A&E entrance. It wasn't the air she needed. She just needed to be alone.

She could tell Antti and Britta were worried sick, but trying to hide it for her sake. She knew how bad this looked. She wiped a tear off of her face.

She couldn't lose him. He was her world. He was her rock. The world was a better place just because he existed. She couldn't contemplate life without him there. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

Inside, Britta stared at Antti, her eyes filling with tears.

"He will be ok,won't he Antti?" she asked, seeking reassurance from the Finn. He stopped pacing and hung his head low.

"I don't know," he said, quietly. Britta's phone started to vibrate in her pocket. She took it out and saw that it was Otmar Szafnauer, the Team Principal, calling.

"I have to take this," she said, standing and disappearing through the door that Mollie had gone through several minutes earlier.

Antti sank onto a seat. Finding himself alone for the first time since the crash, he finally gave in to his emotions. He started sobbing. He couldn't hold it back anymore.

Then, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Mollie stood there.

"I'm sorry Mols. I've tried to be strong for you, and for Britta. I've tried."

Mollie sat down next to him and put her arms around him. She held him while he cried, her own tears streaming down her face.

Britta returned five minutes later. She sat down on the other side of Antti and took his hand in hers.

"Otmar's just leaving the circuit. He'll be here shortly. Lance finished second," she informed them, although none of them really cared about the race result. They just wanted to know how Seb was.

Another twenty minutes passed. They sat in silence, comforting each other.

They heard the doors to the treatment area open and footsteps coming around the corner.

A petite,blonde haired doctor approached them.

"You're here for Sebastian yes?" she asked. "Hello, I'm Doctor Janssen. If you'd like to follow me."

They all stood and followed her back around the corner and through the imposing double doors. They passed several rooms on their way down the corridor, before stopping outside a closed door.

The doctor opened the door. "Come on through. I'm warning you though, he's not in the best of moods."

The first thing Mollie noticed when she entered the room was the empty bed. Then, she saw the man she loved stood by the window, looking at her.

"Seb!"

"Mols," he cried, his voice breaking. He held his arms open and she ran into them. He held her tight, pressing kisses to her hair. "Thank God. I was so worried. Are you ok?"

Britta and Antti hugged each other in relief.

"I'm fine baby. Just fucking fed up of being treated like an invalid. They want to keep me overnight. There's absolutely no need. I have people who can keep an eye on me if needs be."

"Sebastian, you sustained quite a hard blow to the head. You were unconscious for twenty minutes," the doctor said.

"My scans were clear?"

"Yes, but you have a concussion."

Mollie pulled back and looked at him. "Seb, we all hate hospitals, but you've got to do what's best. If they advise you to stay overnight, then I think you should."

"For fuck's sake," he cursed. "All I want is to hold you Mols."

"We have all the time in the world for that," she said, taking his hand.

"I'll leave you guys to chat," the doctor said, heading through the door.

"How are you feeling boss?" Antti asked. "Any other injuries?"

"Bruises from my belts. Headache from hell. But you know what the worst bit is?"

"What?"

"Having to wear this!" he said, pointing down at the hospital gown. Britta snorted with laughter. "I'm glad you think it's funny Britta."

"It's not just funny. It's the best thing ever," she said, snapping a picture of him on her phone. "Come on, smile for me. I need to show everyone you're ok."

"You are not sending that to anyone! I'll fire you if you do."

"No he won't. He'd be lost without you,"Mollie said. "Send it." Britta sent it to Lance and to Mikey. She knew they'd pass it on.

Seb scowled. He put his hand to his head, wincing.

"Seb, come on. Back to bed," Mollie said

"Only if you come with me," he grinned faintly. He let Mollie help him across the room to the bed.

"I'm going to see if Otmar's here yet," Britta said.

"I'll come with you," replied Antti. They left the room.

"Baby, I'm sorry. I can't imagine what went through your mind," Seb said.

"Hey, you don't have to apologise. It wasn't your fault. It was no one's fault. It was racing."

"I don't want to stay here. I want to hold you in my arms all night. I want to be with you."

"It's only one night Seb. We have all the time in the world."

"I was supposed to be making love to you tonight," he pouted.

"Please Seb, do what they advise. You can make love to me in Monza. Do what they say and I'll even get on my knees for you."

Promise?" he said, raising an eyebrow, cheekily.

"Pinky promise." They linked little fingers.

"Ok," he said, reluctantly. "But only beacuse you promised me a blow job."

She laughed. "My beautiful, ever horny man. I love you so much," she murmured, stroking his hair. He patted the bed besides him.

"Lay with me. I want to hold you ." She sat on the edge of the bed. She slipped her shoes off and swung her feet up. He pulled her close to him, her head resting on his chest. " I love you Mollie."

They lay there, just clinging onto each other, grateful that fate hadn't torn them apart.

Ten minutes later Antti and Otmar came into the room and found them both asleep, still holding each other.

Otmar smiled at Antii. "Come on, let's go get a coffee and leave them to it."