Something Gained

Chapter One Hundred & Five

The French Grand Prix was upon us, and it was hot. The weather was blisteringly hot and it was a welcome sight, I lived for the heat and the warmth. I walked into the paddock with Ben and Sophie ready for another race weekend.

"Weekend predictions?" Ben asked, Sophie and I laughed. He did this every Thursday, we conferred opinions and bet on it, we had our top three for podium.
"Hmmmm not that I want it, but I'm thinking Max, Lewis and then one our guys, I'm gonna go with Dan" I said
"Ahhh no, I think Lando, Dan, Max" Sophie said
"Oooohh, mine is Max, Lando and Dan" Ben said
"We'll be sweet with Max and Dan then" I chuckled. I held the door open for Sophie and Ben and they walked into the McLaren trailer ahead of me and you to my office, which was now our sort of our office really.

"I bring the coffeee" Michael yelled barging in, he was carrying three drinks
"Michael, you're my favourite person in the world" I jumped up and took the coffee he handed me
"Hey!" Michael and I laughed when we heard Daniel from the next room
"So what's the plan Batman?" Ben asked
"Lando is in conference, Dan is in media pen. Got signings, the stage meet" I nodded to Michael who left after handing coffees to Ben and Sophie "Dan's got a sit down with Ted. They both have two videos for socials. It all needs to be squeezed in before their meetings later" I explained, they both nodded as I heard cheers and yelling from the main room. I laughed and sipped my drink. We finished off and I headed to the room, I opened the door and just about caught the small basketball that came flying at my face.

"Children" I scolded. Michael stood wide eyed
"Them reactions!!" He yelled, he came over and picked me up and spun me round "someone get her in a car" I laughed and was placed back on my feet infront of Daniel, himself, Michael and Blake were throwing their basketball into the hoop attached to the door.
"If you're going to play, at least put it somewhere no one is going to get smacked in the face" I said, Michael nodded and moved the hoop
"Go on then" Daniel winked
"What?" He looked down at my hands where I was still holding the ball
"Not a chance" I chucked the ball in the air behind me and walked to the counter to get a drink, cheers filled the room and I turned wide eyed, not a chance that happened. Daniel lifted me in the air cheering
"Weheyyyyy" he cheered with the guys
"That was a fluke" I laughed "why do I keep getting lifted into the air, my legs work fine" I chuckled as i returned to my normal height in front of Daniel. He kissed my cheek and smiled
"Play with us" Blake said
"Five minutes" I shrugged as I undid the lid on my water "then they've got to go" I said. They all nodded and so I threw the ball around with them all.

The weekend passed through quickly, I was a lot more free coming to the summer break so I was able to hang around a lot more when I didn't need to catch up with Zak. I walked down to the garage with Sophie and Ben and they took their normal seats ahead of the race.

"Mhmm yes, thank you" I smiled as Blake handed me a coffee and I leaned against the counter next to him as Dan was doing some reflex training with Michael quickly. I waved over at Lando who was with his engineer.
"You're welcome" Blake smiled
"Got you boys whipped" I winked at him, Michael and Dan laughed "So Mr Ricciardo, only a win today" I said as he put his arm round me
"What happens if I don't win?" He asked
"Nothing, but you'll win anyway" I said
"Good boosting" Michael smiled.

The group sat in the garage as the lights went out for the start of the race. Dan was 4th, and Lando in 5th after both of them had some issues with getting the speed up for Q3 yesterday, but there was no issues today for Dan who got a great start and by turn 2 was up to second. I was extremely happy, Lando had made up one place and was now in fourth and I was looking forward to the race in its entirety.

"My tyres are going"

"Box this lap Daniel, box this lap"

We had a bad weekend of pit stops for some reason, little practise ahead of the weekend and then the ones for FP2 and 3 were shocking, I was praying for a good stop for Dan.

"They're doing a double" Michael said, I turned to him with a frown before realising Lando was coming in directly behind Daniel, a weekend of bad stops and now this, I put my head in my hands and prayed. I looked out to the front of the garage and saw Daniel come in, tyres swapped and he was off, Lando directly behind, his tyres changed and he was off as well. It was brilliant, both stops were 2.2 and 2.4 seconds respectively and it was the best they'd been all weekend, the mechanics high-fived and the guys came out 3rd and 4th. Charles and Max were the ones ahead of our boys and it was to make for an interesting stop.

After power issues for Charles, and a bad stop for Max, it all fell into McLarens lap. Daniel was first, Lando second. Lap 69 of 70, Daniel put in the fastest lap as well which made everything all the more beautiful. I told him he would win, and he would. As Michael's hand fell on my shoulder, a crackled radio came through.

"Check the car, somethings wrong. I don't think I'll make it" My eyes widened at Daniels voice.
"Copy Daniel, we're checking on it. Lando will defend what he can, Lando is defending"

I sighed quietly and slightly hoped Lando wouldn't take that order too hard. The car was slower and Daniel was struggling, and that made it all the more sweeter when Michael pulled me from my chair and we watched the screen as Daniel crossed the line. P1 at Paul Ricard. It was beautiful, it was all the more beautiful when he practically limped home and Lando put in some good team work and pushed it home with him. I let out a breathe I didn't know I was holding in and enjoyed the celebrations, they would need to check the car later to see the problem but we got the results we wanted!