When we all fall asleep, where do we go?

12. listen before i go

Fuck sake.

Mick called Gunther and told he'll spend the upcoming weekend in the hospital.

Let's say it necessarily didn't make Gunther happy. But honestly, there wasn't much things that made him happy. It was Saturday, Mick had already skipped both practices on friday and fp3 and qualifying would be in few hours.

Mick also called to Alfa Romeo and told them Callum was in the hospital. It wasn't nice call.

Mick felt strange, everything felt surreal. He hasn't been in proper hospital in years. He feared them a little. Callum knew that. He would wake up in this second if he'd knew Mick was alone in a hospital sitting next to his bed waiting for him to wake up without knowing nothing about tomorrow.

For fuck sake Mick just wanted to know would Callum be fine, could he be completing the next IndyCar season with junior racing. No one knew and Mick was on the edge of ripping his hair out of his fucking head. This whole situation was feeding his anxiety like no other. He had no idea when he last ate and probably had no idea what day it was but he had no time to focus on things like that.

All he focused on was Callum and only Callum. He wanted nothing but Callum. Only Callum's warm hands around his waist. Callum's sweet words whispered into his ear. Callum's soft lips on his. Callum's masculine body inside his arms.

He had none of those things. He had no contact to him. Mick hoped Callum could feel when Mick held his hand.

Before Mick even realized, someone came into the room quietly greeting him. It was a man who he hasn't seen in a long time. It was Callum's teammate from 2019. Juan Manuel Correa.

"Mick? You know he'll be fine. Trust me." Juan said and sat next to Mick. Mick really trusted him. He knew he could because Juan knew what is the worst you can survive from and here he is, he's fine. "Yeah, hopes are up and Callum is a tough one." Mick smiled.

Mick really liked Juan. They met trough PREMA some good years ago, got to know each other and kept chatting. They were good friends in Formula 2 before his and Anthoines crash. Mick rushed into the hospital with Callum when they heard Juan had woken up. It meant a lot Juan was here right now.

"Juan" Mick started, "you know it means a lot to me that you're here right now. Thank you so much for it." Mick wanted Juan to know that no matter what, he'd be here for him. "if you have anything going on or need help with something, you can always call. I'm only one call away." Mick smiled.

"hey, of course I'm here. You both mean a lot to me and it's no problem. Thank you Mick, I'll keep that on mind and remember if you wanna talk it's only one call, I'm not any further from that" Juan also smiled.

Mick was glad Juan came because he got him up from Callum's room and they grabbed some food together. Calmly they went back to Callum's room.

"How's Formula 3 been treating you?" Mick asked. "Pretty nicely. I love ART but at the same time it's kinda frustrating to be back to where I was in 2016. I was so close to Formula 1, we could be racing together again but i can't undo what has been done." Juan shrugged. "Remember, you're not back where you were in 2016. You've come a long way from there. You'll get back to Formula 2. Mate you're still only 22. You have a long journey to go. I'm sure we will race together as colleagues again." Mick promised. "Yeah I know, it just has been hard lately. There's something wrong with my leg and I need to live with this for the rest of my life. It reminds me of what I caused. I miss Anthoine so fucking much." He sighed. "Juan don't blame yourself. There's always atleast two people in a crash. You could've not done anything else apart from what you did. Just be glad you're still here with us. Anthoine is there, somewhere, racing above the clouds and looking down on us. He couldn't be more proud of you." Mick comforted Juan.

After some comfortable silence Juan opened his mouth and suggested, "you know we should visit Anthoines grave in France. it would be good for all of us, for Callum too. it has been so long since i've been there. I'm sure Callum has some stories for Anthoine he could tell." Mick nodded, it was truly awesome idea. "Yeah it has been hard for Callum lately. He misses Anthoine more than anything. It's hard sometimes i really don't know how to make him feel better. Usually we watch some old videos of him and us and it helps. It takes him back to the old days when they were team mates."

Juan went to the hotel with Mick. The air around them was cold. Wind brushing through their hair. Sounds of other people were hearable.

The most important thing of the night was that they stayed together. Mick slept in his and Callum's bed and Juan on the spare bed.

Mick woke up in the middle of the night when he felt something. It was Juan. Diving into the sheets next to Mick.

"Juan are you okay?" "Yeah, i just don't wanna be alone. sorry I can leave, if I make you feel uncomfortable." Juan sounded stressed. "no, not at all. Do you need some cuddles?" Mick carefully asked. He felt light nod and pulled Juan into his arms.  

Mick felt like Juan was having flashbacks from his crash. Mick wasn't blaming Juan for it, he was still recovering.

Cuddles helped always. No matter were they platonic or romantic. If you had another body next to yours. The warmth of it calmed you down.

Mick felt Juan's warmth next to him. He slept better than he had slept in days. Juan did also. They were here for each other and are gonna be until Callum wakes up. No matter how long it takes. They'll be here.

Be here for each other.