Life in the Fastlane (Sebastian Vettel)

45. The Bright Star Shines No More

Several hours after his arrest Seb jogged back through the hospital doors. Darren was waiting for him in the lobby after Seb had texted to say he was being released on bail pending further investigation. 

"Darren, how is she?" he asked, frantically. 

"She still hasn't woken.  The surgery went well.  All we can do is wait. Maybe when she hears your voice she'll wake up."

"You look exhausted Darren. I'm here now. Why don't you and Kate go and get some rest?"

"You don't look too fresh yourself son.  We want to stay. For now anyway.  We'll go and get a coffee and a sandwich, give you some time with her."

Seb nodded his thanks. 

They wandered through the corridors until they reach Intensive Care.  Darren put his hand on Mollie's door. 

"Stop," Seb said. 

"What is it?"

"I'm scared Darren. Scared of seeing her so vulnerable.  Scared of what this will do to her."

Darren took his hand off of the door and smiled weakly.  "Sebastian, she's still your Mollie.  She needs you.  Now more than ever.  When she wakes up, because she WILL wake up, she's going to have so much to take in.  Her life is never going to be the same again."

"What if she doesn't remember me?  What if the injury has taken her memories?" The doctors had warned them of possible issues that may occur.

"Stay positive Seb."

Seb took a few deep breaths.  "Ok I'm ready."

Darren pushed the door open and Seb followed him into the room.  Kate smiled at him from the chair at Mollie's bedside. 

Seb smiled and then looked at Mollie.

She looked so peaceful.  The only signs of what she had been through were the split lip, the stitched cut on her forehead, the bruise forming around it and a dressing over where the surgeon had drilled the burr holes.

"They didn't take her hair," he said.  "She'll be pleased about that."

Kate stood up. "Are YOU ok Seb? It's outrageous that they arrested you.  You only did what any loving husband would do.  That bastard deserved so much more."

"I really don't care what happens to me.  I just want her to be ok Kate."

"I said we'll go and get a coffee, give them some time alone."

They headed out of the door.  Seb sank into the chair that Kate had vacated.  He took Mollie's hand in his. 

"Hey baby.  I'm back.  I'm so sorry I wasn't here but I'm not leaving again.  I want to be here when you wake up. I love you. Please baby.  Wake up.  I need you."

He wiped a tear off of his face.  He closed his eyes and soon drifted into an uneasy sleep, still holding on tightly to his Mollie's hand.

                                       ***

Mollie could hear a distant beeping sound.  She tried to open her eyes but they felt too heavy.  Where was she?  She felt something gripping her hand tightly. She tried to move her fingers but she couldn't. 

She tried one more time to open her eyes and managed with difficulty to open them.  She blinked rapidly, trying to get used to the bright light. 

She glanced at her hand and saw a handsome blonde man sleeping in the chair next to her bed, gripping onto her hand as if he never wanted to let it go.  No, not a handsome blonde man.  Her handsome blonde
man. Her Seb.  Everything came flooding back to her.  Will, the crash, Seb saving her.  She felt a
sob rising inside her.