Something Gained

Chapter Eighty-Seven

I gave both Ben and Sophie a schedule for the 3 days we were here, I would be with them constantly anyway. Day one I would run everything to show them how it was done, day two and three they could do it while I stayed with them. So after popping some more pills and letting both of them go and get a coffee and get acquainted, I went and found Daniel and Lando with them, in their rooms of course.

"So the boys will normally turn up in their own clothes majority of the time, before media they have to get changed into McLaren wear which they will do, I can't stress this enough guys, knock before you enter, because I've seen some things" I laughed "you have to keep them a tight schedule, they're normally fine and compliant but their head is elsewhere, media isn't their priority so you will have to keep them to a schedule but you will see today" I said them. I knocked on both Lando and Daniel's doors and they both come out and were ready. Daniel put his arm round my shoulders and kissed my temple.
"Working" I said to him, we'd got accustomed to being a normal couple, but for me I still wanted to be professional at work where I could, he laughed.

I walked with everyone down to the media pen ahead of the track sessions. I set both drivers up with different journalists and we moved round to the ones we had to speak to today, Sophie stood with Daniel with the phone as I'd asked her to, same with Ben for Lando. Each pairing already got on well, it was going to be a lot easier for them to be only focusing on one driver each, they watched and learned in the more quieter space, it was great that we had this session and pre season testing to train them and get them acquainted and up to speed before the first race.

The days sped by following our return to England, I was starting to feel a lot better, my course of antibiotics had to be extended by our team doctor and he also gave me some stronger painkillers and they were doing the trick, by the time we flew to Bahrain I was starting to feel completely back to normal. Daniel had been so wonderful, making sure I was okay. The unfortunate part was he was starting to feel a little unwell himself, and it wasn't ideal, so the roles reversed and I was making sure he was okay and Michael was trying to keep him in tip top condition where he could.

"Right welcome everyone, we're back in action and it's great to have the full strength team back with us again. It's great to see all the familiar faces, the long term members of the race team, but we've also got some new faces with us as well. For the team over the winter it was a huge challenge to get these cars ready under new regulations. But are goal is clear, we want to be the best team in this paddock, in all aspects. I'm looking forward to going through this season with all of you, let's stick together as one team. We'll have good days and bad days but as long as we love each other, support each other then I'm sure we'll have a good season again, so looking forward to that so let's go again guys" we were all crowded in the hospitality bit of the McLaren training at the Bahrain track, listening to Andreas speak. It was early Monday morning, the engineers and mechanics had a lot to do with getting the garage and the cars ready, it would be until Thursday that Daniel and Lando would actually be testing, but they were driving here and there, including  later today.

I had let Sophie and Ben take the full lead with their jobs, I was supervising but they were doing well. We were all in the garage and I handed headphones to both of them, they're own personalised set, everyone who was in the garage had them.
"You'll need this, but this going to be fun" I said to them, they both smiled. They had become integrated into the team well. Lando was up first, I fistbumped him as he sat in the car and got buckled in before heading onto the pit wall with Daniel. I had a little bit more freedom now and it was fun. I pulled Sophie and Ben out as well, the first car on track wasn't something to be missed for sure. I had already warned them that the McLaren YouTube series was being filmed from now, so the camera followed around.
"There's nothing like it when it goes out for the first time" Daniel spoke to the camera "but it looks good, it stands out, the colour looks amazing" Daniel smiled. Once the car was out, Sophie and Ben both went back into the garage to watch the screens, I stayed out with Daniel and he put his arm around me.
"You're so cute" I whispered to him, he looked down and winked at me. Lando came into the pits to do a practise stop and go back out and he waved as he passed which made us laugh. I supervised Ben while he was with Lando when he spoke to the media after getting out the car once he completed a few laps. Next up was Daniel in the car, and Lando come out and stood with me at the pit wall while Dan drove, although Lando was an absolute fool which made me giggle as he leaned over the side of wall to get a video of the car flying past.
"Right, what's next?" I asked Ben and Sophie
"Playing dumb?" Daniel laughed
"They've got a little photoshoot to do right?" Ben asked, I nodded. "So Lando we need you back in your race suit and we need helmets as well" Ben said, i nodded again and smiled and Lando and Daniel did as they were asked, again they were acting like fools
"Is this an everyday occurrence?" Sophie asked as the guys went spinning and dancing out the back of the garage
"Pretty much, it does make you laugh though" I said chuckling. I had already the journalists and our own teams outside ready for the pictures. I sent them both off for a break as I stood with Lando and Dan in the garage
"You two are a bunch of kids you know that" I sighed rolling my eyes, I went to walk away and Daniel grabbed me and pulling me to him. He was sitting up on the counter top next to Lando, I looked up at him.
"Yes?" I asked
"You love us" Dan said smugly
"Where's Jon and Michael, I need back up" I laughed. I leaned against Daniel as we chatted away.

"Daniel you've got a photoshoot and video stuff to do this morning, then you've got the FIA jump test to do from the cars to make sure you can get out of the car, then it's driving time" Sophie spoke to Daniel as we entered the paddock, first day of testing. Zak was now here, as were the rest of the teams and cars, everyone was ready to go. Daniel nodded, he was not feeling great, in fact he was getting worse and I was getting worried. Michael carried his bag and gave him a bottle of water, he slipped off his mask and drank some.
The day sped by and both Lando and Daniel struggled with driving again after the off season, they both felt sore and stiff and it was quite amusing for me. But Michael had told me Daniel needed to go and see the team doctor, which didn't excite me at all. I let Sophie know before telling Ben that Lando will get asked about it, Michael went with him and I went back to the trailer to do some work. Michael knocked on the door not long after, he come in and shut the door.

"Dan's got covid, he's just returned a positive test" Michael said sitting down, I put my head in my hands
"Oh god" I said
"I know, I thought I'd tell you first" Michael said
"I need to go and find Andreas and Zak, where's Daniel now?" I asked him
"Getting ready to go, needs to go straight into isolation. We all need to do a test, particularly me and you as we've been with him" Michael said. I nodded and got up quickly.