A New Normal || ClarksonHammondMay

Chapter 2

"Come on, Blea!" Richard says, slipping the border collie's collar and leash around her neck. "Let's go for a drive."

He's not sure what has possessed him to bring Blea with him to the office, but it just feels right to take her in with him. James, Jeremy, and Andy will no doubt question why he's brought his dog with him, but he doesn't care. He just feels he needs her there with him.

It's almost like some deja-vu in a way. Way back when he first returned to work after the dragster crash he would bring Top Gear Dog into work with him (although there were a couple times before the crash he brought her in with him for a couple segments). Made him feel better having her there with him.

Now he's bringing Blea in with him into work, possibly in the hopes that in some way, having her there with him, that he'll feel a bit better.

Though considering what's happened this past month... he's not sure how helpful she'll be. But just having her there, might make it bearable, considering he doesn't really want to be there.

And just over three hours later, like the good girl she is, Blea sticks right by Richard's side once they've arrived at the Grand Tour office.

They get a few odd looks from some of the other workers in the office, but not one of them questions why he's brought his dog with him. Which Richard is glad about. Though he thinks most of his colleagues are used to the weird shit he, James, and Jeremy often get up to, considering they've worked with the large majority of them for years now.

Though some of the younger interns come up to him to say hi to Blea and give her some attention. Richard allows it, until he has to excuse himself to go off to meet with James, Jeremy, and Andy.

Although, even though he should, he doesn't exactly hurry towards where the guys are waiting for him. He takes his time getting there, contemplating stopping at the DriveTribe office to give a quick hello to Lucy and Mike if they're in today, simply to buy more time before he inevitably gets to where he needs to be. But he decides against it, figuring it be best not to annoy them if they're busy. He's very late enough as it is for this meeting, and he really shouldn't delay for much longer.

And when he finally reaches where he needs to be, he chooses to ignore the looks that James, Jeremy, and Andy give him at the sight of Blea sticking right next to him. At least they're looking more confused instead of mad at him for making them wait. Although they no doubt are rather mad at him, even though they have been given the excuse that his extreme lateness is due to his medical issues, aka, him feeling like shit, and a pretty bad headache. Even though it was a total lie.

"So... I'm here now." He sighs, taking his seat at the table, Blea sitting right by his side. "Let's just get this over with."

James, Jeremy, and Andy are silent as they stare at him, not one of them daring to speak first. And Richard doesn't like the concern that's evident on all three of their faces. Like they know that something's up, just because he brought Blea in with him. Considering all the other instances he'd bring TG into work with him....

"Richard..." Jeremy starts, being the first to break the silence. "Why do you have your dog with you?"

"Does it matter?" He asks, admittedly a little defensively. "I wanted to bring her with me, so you'll just have to deal with it." He says. "Now, can we just get this over with? I don't really feel well."

It's not entirely a lie. He definitely doesn't feel like his usual self, but he's not unwell in the sense that he's sick, just... what he can only describe as a bout of depression due to the divorce.

He's just glad that he and Mindy are still on good terms, and that it wasn't a nasty divorce. They just... fell out of love, he guesses. And he still loves and cares for her very much, but... not as much as he once did he's come to find out. And turns out it was the same for Mindy.