Something Gained

Chapter Twenty-Five

The next race sped past and before we knew it, it was the Hungarian Grand Prix, the race before the summer break. It was busy and it was packed and it was raining. I walked ahead of the boys up to the paddock, scanned my pass and went through the gates and walked to the McLaren trailer, we need to get ready for race and it was going to be tough. Lando was p6, Daniel p11. We had celebrated some podiums for Lando the past couple of months, but Daniel was getting a bit down in the dumps with car performance. He needed this break, we all did. We had travelled half way around the world with these cars and it was great but sometimes it was nice to stay in once place for a little while.

I swiped my card and went into the trailer and up to my office. The guys went straight into their rooms to prepare before going onto the track. We had been so busy with media lately it was going crazy. I opened up my laptop and had a look at the days schedule again. We had a conference for Daniel, and some media for Lando pre-race. I sorted through some things, and was checking emails when there was a knock on the door

"Coffee?" Michael asked, poking his head round the door
"Mhm yes please. I'm just gonna catch up with the boys, are they in their rooms still?" I asked
"Daniel is, I think Lando is, I could hear him singing" Michael laughed as he walked off. I got up and went down the hall to Daniels room. He had his headphones on and was facing the window, I snuck in and stood on the sofa and jumped on his back and moved his headphones off of one ear

"Guess who?" I whispered
"Ooh, Michael?" He said chuckling.
"I'll have you know I'm much sexier than Mr Italiano" I said jumping down
"That you are. I also can't do this with Michael" he said turning round and picking me back up and pushing me against the wall, his lips were in touching distance to mine
"Maybe we should wait until later" I whispered. After the race we were literally jumping straight on a private plane to Australia
"Why?" He asked. He started kissing my neck, I twisted my hands through his hair, he moaned into my neck which didn't help matters, I tried to pull him back
"Because you've got to focus on the race, and you're making it so difficult for me to say no" I groaned. He pulled back and looked me in the eyes
"You don't want to" he questioned
"You know I always want to with you" I said kissing him softly. "But we've got 3 weeks" I said to him, he smiled and pressed his forehead against mine
"Fine, fine fine" he moaned
"You sound like a tantruming child" I laughed, "now I did come in to say we need to get you ready for the conference"
"Well you'll have to give me a few minutes now" he said sitting down on his sofa
"Why?" My brow furrowed and he gestured towards his trousers "oh" I said. There was a knock at the door and Michael opened it with coffee in his hands but his eyes closed
"Are we decent?" He said. I laughed
"We wouldn't be if I had my way" Michael opened his eyes and I stuck my tongue out at Daniel.
"5 minutes, be ready"
"Yes ma'am" he replied. I left with my coffee, thanking Michael and went to get Lando.

As I sat in the garage, Daniel and Lando climbed into their cars to take them out on track to line up on the grid.
"You coming out?" Michael asked. I nodded and walked out the garage with him, he carried Daniels bag with his headphones and sunglasses in. He always blocked out as much as possible right before the race. Jon walked out with us and we made our way to the grid once the cars were lined up. Lando came over to the wall where we were standing and then Daniel joined us as well. I gave Lando a hug and he went off with Jon to do some reflex training quickly before the race. Before Daniel put on his headphones I looked at him.
"One more race, you got this. One more and we'll be on holiday" he nodded and I gave him a hug, as I did I whispered in his ear, "I love you". He whispered it back and took his headphones from Michael and started stretching and focusing. When they got into their cars I high-fived him and walked to Lando and did the same before Michael, Jon and myself walked back to the garage to watch the race. I put on my earphones to hear the radios and stood near the screens ready.

Lap one I had my head in my hands crapping myself as both Lando and Daniel were in a crash. Lando was crashed into by Bottas from behind and taken out the race completely. Daniel was spun round by Carlos and I literally couldn't watch he was facing the other way to oncoming cars. The whole time I've watched racing, I've never been more fearful. Thankfully they were both okay. Lando and his car were on his way back to the pits while Daniel raced on as best he could with some damage.

When Lando walked back in the garage, Jon went straight over to him and he went straight out the back. I watched on for Daniel, when he come back out I stood with him to talk. The media would ask questions and opinions and we needed to make sure he said what he wanted to say but in the best way possible. He wasn't in the mood, which I wasn't surprised by. But he put on some headphones and watched the rest of the race and watching Daniel.

Race over, Daniel was still p11. He wasn't happy. Now I had two very angry drivers to contend with. As soon as Daniel was back in the garage I took them both to the trailer and we sat down in my office. We discussed options and things. They weren't amused but it had to be done. Through the good and the bad. Lando went off to his room to chill out for 5 minutes with Jon. I shut my office door and turned back to Daniel.

"What's the fine if I don't do it?" Daniel asked
"Don't do what?" I asked
"Don't do media. What's the fine?" He asked again
"It's pretty hefty, but we're not gonna skip. You're okay. It's disappointing but it's why you love what you do and you have to fight every week. We don't have to go right now, we'll do it in a bit, but I would say do it" I said. Daniel huffed. I walked up behind him and put my hands on his shoulders and did a little massage through his white race top. His head fell back onto my stomach and I leaned down and kissed him on his head
"I know it's not what you wanted, I know it's difficult but this time tomorrow you'll be home. You can rest, breathe, chill out, and we'll get ready and ramped up to go again Belgium" I whispered, he took my arm and pulled me round and onto his lap. He put his forehead against mine
"What did I do to deserve you?" He asked
"Isn't that the other way round?" I replied, he kissed me lightly on the lips. "Come on Ricciardo, let's go" I for you and pulled him with me, I handed his his hat and we walked out of the office and met Lando on the stairs. I led them down to the press that were going to be brutal.