The Race Director's Daughter (Sebastian Vettel)

66. A Christmas Miracle

Leah blinked continuously, trying to adjust to the light, trying to focus on the man she saw leaning over her.

"Seb..." she sighed. Her Seb. She didn't know where she was or what had happened, but Seb was there so everything was ok.

"Leah! Baby.  Mein Gott. Danke. Danke," Seb sobbed, taking her face in his hands and pressing a kiss to her lips.

She tried to move but a pain shot through her abdomen, making her cry out.

"Arghhh!" Seb stood up and dashed to the door.

"Help! Please someone help!" He dashed back to her and grabbed her hand. "It's ok baby. Help's coming. You're doing amazing. I'm here."

Leah began to panic. Her hand went to her face, pulling her nasal cannula out. The beeping of the heart monitor accelerated as she tried to sit up.

"Baby, calm down. It's ok. You're safe."

How could he say she was safe? How could he know that? Where was she?  What had happened to her?

Seb was filled with conflicting emotions.  Part of him was over the moon to see her eyes, to hear her voice.  His Leah had woken up!  But the other part of him ached seeing her so distraught. 

He grabbed hold of her wrists as she tried to rip the cannula out the back of her hand.  Her chest heaved with deep sobs.   "Baby, please calm down.  You're going to be ok."

"Let me go Seb, I need to get out of here."

Several medical staff rushed into the room.   Seb let go of Leah and reluctantly stepped back so they could do their job. His eyes filled with tears.  He wanted to comfort her and tell her she was going to be ok.   It suddenly occurred to him that he should call Martin.  He'd want to know that Leah had woke up. 

However, that meant leaving the department as phones had to be switched off in there.  He debated for a minute on whether he was willing to leave Leah to make the call or whether to let the hospital call Martin. 

He felt a hand on his arm.  He looked to his side and saw one of the nurses smiling at him.  "I'd say you got your Christmas miracle Sebastian.  Go, call her Dad, she's in safe hands."

Seb grinned.  It was a Christmas miracle indeed.  He dashed out of the door, through the department and out into the main corridor, his phone in his hand.  He turned it on and quickly located Martin's number. 

It rang a few times, it was twenty past midnight, Martin was probably asleep.

"Hello? Seb? Is she ok?" came Martin's anxious voice. 

"She's awake Martin," Seb exclaimed,  bursting into happy tears.  "She's awake.  She said my name.  She opened her eyes.  She's ok Martin. She's ok."

He heard the older man's sobs.  "My baby girl."

"They're just trying to calm her down a bit, she's a bit anxious and is panicking a little, but she's awake!"

"I need to see her.  I'll be straight over."

Seb heard Vicky talking in the background, telling Martin that maybe he should wait until morning and let Seb have some time with her.

"I'll be there straight after breakfast," he told Seb.  "Give her a hug and kiss for me.  Tell her I love her."

"I will do."  He disconnected the call and rushed back into the ward.  Slipping back into Leah's room he saw that Dr Kahn had arrived.  He turned and smiled at Seb.