Something Gained

Chapter Fifty-Six

The week sped by and soon enough it was Saturday. As part of a deal Dan and Zak had made for getting a podium, Zak had said Daniel could take the NASCAR car he owned for a spin round the track, it also was the car that one of Dan's hero's, Dale Earnhardt had driven back in the day. Daniel had been buzzing about it all week you could barely contain his excitement. He loved NASCAR and to be able to drive one of his idols cars, around an American track was like a dream come true. He was like a kid in a sweet shop.

At 10am, Daniel and I walked from the McLaren trailer with Zak to the pit Lane where the car was sitting. Zak produced so much proud uncle energy it was unreal, Daniel got in the car and got ready while Zak and I stood by watching. He looked so happy.
"Just whatever you do, don't crash it" I said laughing
"Yeah please don't do that" Zak chuckled. Soon enough Daniel was on the track racing around in the car. There were plenty of fans here already because it was qualifying soon so it gave Daniel a nice warm reception while he drove.

"I have no words" Daniel said as he climbed out of the car. "Speechless" he spoke to the media with Zak for a little while, and they put the far away. I walked back to the trailer, Daniel walked along with his race suit unzipped and around his waist, I had given him one his hats which we put on, why did he have to look so hot without even trying? The boys were gonna have some downtime before a briefing and then it was Quali time. I walked into the trailer behind Daniel, you couldn't wipe the smile from his face. I left him with Michael and went into the office to meet Hannah.

"How was it?" She asked as I plopped down on the sofa, pulling out my work phone
"Great! He can't stop smiling" I said, she smiled
"Aw bless him, was Zak happy?" She asked, I nodded at her. "Do you want to grab some lunch?" She asked
"Ooh yes please, I'm starving" I said. I hadn't eaten all day and it was 1pm. She closed her laptop and I glanced at my emails before jumping back up. We walked down to the cafeteria together, and grabbed what we wanted and sat down.

"So.. if got something to tell you" she said, she glanced down at her lap
"Yes?" I questioned putting my fork down. She looked concerned. "Hannah what is it?" I asked her. She looked around as if to see if anyone was nearby and listening, then she locked eyes with me leaning forward
"I think I might be pregnant" she said, my jaw dropped. Liam and Hannah had only been seriously dating for like two/three months. My head went into a spin
"You think?" I asked
"Well I'm late, really late" she whispered
"Oh wow" I didn't know what to say. I didn't matter that they hadn't been dating long I guess but the logistics of it were crazy. Like she couldn't travel the world pregnant, she couldn't work how we work while pregnant, Liam would be away so much. Formula one was not a kid/family friendly sport for those kinds of things to be honest. I think if I didn't have this job and was home all the time and Daniel away our relationship would feel strained, to be away for so much time. I mean to be fair if I didn't have this job I wouldn't have met him or any of them.
"I don't know what to do, I'm panicking"
"Just breathe, first of all we need to find out for certain and then we go from there" I reached my hand across the table and held hers. "Im here for you okay?" I said, she smiled but it was a weak smile
"What do I say to him?"
"Say nothing until you know for sure" I said, she nodded. Daniel and Lando approached the table and I jumped in my seat and shot Hannah a look
"What you girls talking about?" Daniel asked, sliding into the seat next to me
"Nothing" Hannah and I both said a little too quickly. Lando glanced at Daniel and I cleared my throat
"So anyway, we've got some media to do and then you've got to do your briefing so we should get going" I said quickly standing up. "I'll meet you back in the office when I'm done" I said to Hannah, she nodded and got up and left the table quickly.
"What was that about?" Lando asked looking towards the seat Hannah occupied a second ago
"Nothing, come on let's go" I said. They both stood up and followed me out the door, now both dressed in McLaren hoodies and jeans. My head was spinning, I didn't know what to say or do for Hannah. I just knew I had to be supportive and with her. I didn't know what Liam was going to do. He was a lovely guy, brilliant in fact. But sometimes men surprise you in the worst ways and I was scared.

Getting into the cars, Daniel and Lando were wearing newly painted helmets especially for the Austin Grand Prix, they were beautiful. The boys finished p7 and p8, but moved up a place because of a penalty for another driver above them, so they slotted into p6 and p7, which was a decent result. The points come tomorrow. I walked them out of the garage to do media, Daniel was so insanely happy this weekend, he loved being in America, particularly Texas. Lots of fans were standing around so Daniel stood and signed some things and took pictures.
"I'm just gonna head back to the trailer" Lando whispered to me. I nodded and let him go while I stayed with Daniel where journalists were still speaking to him. When we were out of ear shot of anyone I spoke to Daniel on the way back to the trailer.
"So a thing for tomorrow. Lando has given me some information on a girl he's dating, and she's coming to the race tomorrow" I said
"Whaaaaat?" Daniel said smiling
"I'll fill you in properly later but, if anyone asks she's just a friend okay? I've organised everything and she'll be in the garage tomorrow" I said to him. He nodded and we walked in step. My mind went back to Hannah. I had a plan so I had to go and speak to her as soon as possible.

I let Daniel and Lando go and said I was waiting for Hannah which I was. I didn't even know how I was going to do this without being seen or spotted. Cameras followed us everywhere. I waited in my car, my beautiful beautiful car, waiting for Hannah to come out of the paddock.
"Sorry Zak was catching up" she said as she slid into the sports car
"That's okay. Right plan as follows, we're going to the shop, I'm gonna get you a test and we're gonna go from there to the hotel, and you can do your thing and we'll see what happens" I said, she nodded and I squeezed her hand and then pulled out of the parking space. I had a hat in the car, so before I got out at the shop I tied my hair up and pulled my hat low to be hidden, I switched my McLaren T shirt for a normal hoodie and left Hannah in the car. I slipped inside the pharmacy, picking up some pregnant tests, I nearly ran out the shop once I had paid. I dived back into the car and sighed
"I felt like I was mission impossible then" I said, it earned a laugh from Hannah, I squeezed her hand again and drove off towards the hotel.

I sat tapping my fingers outside the bathroom door in Hannah's room. Thinking of all the scenarios and reactions from people. Not that it mattered what anyone else thought apart from Hannah and Liam.
"Hannah?" I called. She opened the door
"We have to wait 2 minutes" she said, I set a timer on my phone. I stood and hugged her
"No matter what happens, I'm here" I said in her ear. She squeezed me tight

Two minutes felt like an age. I was pacing the room, which wasn't helping Hannah. But she was also pacing. When my phone sounded we both stopped in our tracks and stared at each other
"I can't look" she said. "You go and see" she said
"Are you sure?" I asked. She nodded and I walked into the bathroom where the test was sitting on the counter.