Something Gained

Chapter Ten

So we've spent two days spent at HQ, I haven't done as much as a race weekend, just a couple of bits for the boys social media, they were doing briefings and feedback from the race. I've caught up with Zak about things ahead of Italy and now I was standing outside looking over the water from HQ, killing time waiting for the boys as there's no point getting a separate car. Tomorrow is two years since I lost my parents, they were in a boat incident. Ironic that I'm staring over water right now. I've got a 4am flight to LA tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to it but I cannot wait to be back in the closest thing I have to a home. The sun, the palm trees just chilling out. I heard the door open behind me and Lando walked out.

"Hey, what you doing out here?" He asked putting his arm round my shoulders and pulling me in for a side hug
"Just thinking about things, you okay?" I leaned my head on his shoulder, thankfully we were the same height so it wasn't hard.
"Well i feel like you've been a bit off the last few days and I don't know if it's because of tomorrow"
"Yes and no but I'm okay. Thank you, love you Lands"
"Why don't you come to Monaco with me" he asked
"I've already got my flight sorted to LA, and to be honest I want to go home, clear my head and reset" he nodded agreeing.
"Well my door is always open Lex, you know that" I loved Lando so much, he may not know everything and I wish I could tell him about Daniel but I know it won't help and to be honest I don't even know what to tell him. "Love you" he said giving me one tight squeeze before letting go. We walked back inside and I went up to my office and got things together before meeting the boys and going back to the hotel. It was 8pm but I went straight to sleep as I had to be up at 2am. I can sleep on the plane if I need to.

Before I even felt like I slept my alarm was going off to get me up. The streets were quiet, no one around and it was still so dark, it made me feel at peace. I got into the tracksuit I had laid out the night before, got dressed and ready and quietly left the room and walked down the corridor. As the lift opened I saw in the mirror in front of me Daniel standing behind me.

"What are you doing?" I asked as I walked into the lift, he followed and then I realised he had his suitcase and bag with him
"Going to catch a flight, I told you I was going to LA same as you" oh yeah of course, it completely slipped my mind.
"Yeah but I didn't realise it was the same time, I guess we're car sharing as well then" I said as we left the lift and got out on the ground floor.
"Indeed we are" he kept looking at me really odd. Once we got in the car, he sat opposite me and continued looking at me.
"Are you okay there?" I asked him
"Yeah, just wondering if you're okay, you've been quiet and we haven't spoken since our chat the other day"
"I'm fine. Tough day. Just can't wait to get back to LA" I responded looking out the window
"I overheard you speaking to Lando last night, what is today?" He asked. Why did I feel so fine to open up to him, it's almost like he could make all the bad days seem brighter, and that everything would be fine.
"Today is two years since my parents died" I said. He put his hand on my leg and looked me in the eye
"Well I'm glad you're not travelling alone today then, I'm here" and I believed him. In my job, you're surrounded by people from morning until night, and yet sometimes it can still feel like the loneliest you'll ever be.

On the flight we weren't sitting with each other obviously but that was fine. I slept majority of the flight anyway so I wouldn't of been up for much conversation with him. We were coming into land and I could see the trees and the beach from my window.
I got up from my seat and collected my bag and headed for the doorway with everyone else. As I got into the airport I got a text on my phone;

"Wait for me when you get your bag"

The number was unknown and on my personal phone, but it could only be one person. I waited with my bag and Daniel strolled over and grabbed his.

"How did you get my personal phone number?" I quizzed him
"That's for me to know and you to not find out" he winked at me, he grabbed his bag. "So ride with me, and I'll drop you off at your apartment. But I want you to text me or ring me if you need anything, promise me?" He asked
"Yes sir" I gave him a thumbs up and we left the airport and got into the car waiting outside for him. Michael was driving.
"Oh hey, didn't know you were coming?" Michael looked back at me from the front of the car.
"Yeah she has a place here as well" Daniel spoke for me
"She can speak for herself Ricciardo" I replied. I opened the window, they were both laughing as Michael started driving.

"If you're not busy, can you come over"

I sent the text to Daniel, I felt like at any minute I might have a breakdown. I thought I'd be okay being back in my own house, but I just felt even more lonely. Maybe it's the fact I knew Daniel wasn't far away and I just wanted a friend.

"Just finished training, let me shower and I'll be over x"

I didn't expect him to reply at all, let alone get one quickly. I just sat in my pyjamas wrapped in my blanket on my sofa staring out the window. I felt so lonely and I just wanted to get back to my usual self, my head was all over the place. A little while later there was a knock on the door and I got up with my blanket and opened it. Daniel came barging in
"Right I bought snacks, some movies and I didn't know if you had hot chocolate or anything so I bought all sorts for that, and last but not least I bought myself" he was already in the kitchen unloading the bags, I closed the door and jumped up on the counter top.
"Thank you"
"Not a problem, what's the matter"
"I just feel lonely. Lando offered to take me to Monaco with him and I said no and I'm wishing I did because I just feel crap"
"Well you got me instead, and I know you don't like it but I give better hugs than Lando does, because of my taller more muscular stature" I laughed straight away. "See I'm already making you feel better, now about the hot chocolate?"
"Absolutely I'll make it" I said jumping down from the counter
"Nope, you stick a movie on and sit down. I'm on it, I hope you like oat milk" he pulled out everything and I nodded and went and sat down on the sofa like he said.

Daniel bought over the hot chocolate and put it down on the table and put some snacks out as well and slumped on the sofa next to me. He pulled my blanket over him and put his feet up so we were both huddled under it together.
"Just don't tell Michael about the snacks, he'll have me working double" he laughed as did I, "Do you want a hug?" He looked down at me and I nodded. "Wow! Alex wants a hug, the person that doesn't like hugs" I nudged his arm and he chuckled. He laid down and pulled me into a hug on top of his chest.
"That's more of a cuddle than a hug"
"Just get comfy and chill out, you can't be sad and miserable around me, I'm the funniest person you'll meet" I wriggled a little getting comfy on his chest and watching the movie.