Race for the Throne | Formula One

34. Shatter

I lifted Lando's head and scooted out from under him. Daniel took my place so that Lando's head wouldn't be on the ground. Giving Pierre's hand a squeeze, I joined the Ferrari team principal.

"What is the news?" I asked quickly.

"He is out of surgery and they are monitoring him closely. Everything is looking promising right now. He needs to stay in the hospital for a few days at least because they want to keep an eye on him longer." Fred explained. "But they think that after a few days he will be good to travel back to Monaco and then we'll just have to see how he is healing for the next race."

"Can I see him?" I looked at Fred hopefully.

He nodded. "Yes, but you have to be quiet and not disturb him. Only two visitors at a time can be with him"

"I'm going to stay with him here until he is able to leave." My voice was firm.

"I assumed as much. I spoke to one of the doctors and they said that was acceptable."

I felt a weight off of my shoulders. "I'm going to tell the others."

Making my way over to the others, Lando was just waking up. I informed them of what Fred had told me. They scrambled to their feet.

"We'll wait in the hall and take turns going in," Carlos said quickly.

A nurse came over to a group to walk us to his room. Pierre was going to go in with me first while Carlos, Max, Daniel, and Lando waited in the hall.

I hesitated in the doorway. Charles was lying in the hospital bed, his left wrist was wrapped from the surgery and a bandage on his neck made him look even more pale.

"Charles." My voice broke.

He looked over to me and smiled faintly. "Princess."

I made my way to the side of his bed and put my hand over his non-injured hand. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Charles. I-I'm sorry for everything, for not being honest, for not telling you everything right away, for fighting with you."

Charles kissed my hand. "No more secrets. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left that night after our argument."

"I thought I lost you." My voice was barely a whisper.

"But you didn't, my love, I'm still here. A little bumped and a little bruised, but still here."

I fidgeted with his blanket as he spoke to Pierre. Tears blurred my vision.

"Excuse me." My voice sounded strangled as I rushed out of the room.

"Kat, wait," Charles called after me.

"One of you should go in. I-I need a minute." I passed the others in the hall.

I didn't stop until I found a deserted hallway. Charles had crashed. He could have died. My breathing quickened and my hands shook violently. He could have died. I leaned against the wall and put my head down. As soon as I saw Charles in the bed it was like a dam burst and all the emotions I had tried to keep at bay came rushing in. I bit my knuckle to muffle my sobs.

"Kat?" I heard Lando call for me.

"Did you hear that?" Daniel was searching with him.

I rubbed my face roughly, trying to get rid of the tears as they rounded the corner.

"Hey guys," I said, voice hoarse. "Just needed a breather."

"You don't have to pretend to be ok." Lando walked closer to me.

"I am ok." I was trying to convince myself more than them.

Instead of saying anything, Daniel just wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly against his chest. I grabbed onto him tightly, legs buckling, sobbing against his shoulder.He kept me from collapsing. Lando came up behind me and joined the hug. Their arms were the only things stopping me from shattering into a million pieces.

His arms tightened around me. "Let it out, let it all out, Kat."

"I almost lost him, I almost lost him." My voice was muffled by Daniel's chest.

"He's still here, he's still here." Lando rested his head on my shoulder.

We stayed in the hallway for a while. The two drivers grounding me as I sobbed until I had no tears left to cry. Even once I was out of tears they still held me.

"I think I'm ready to go back now," I whispered.

They released me and Daniel wiped the tears from my face with his sleeve. 

"Thank you both." I smiled gratefully at them.

"You've been through a lot, you're allowed to cry." Lando gave my hand a squeeze.

"And we're always here to be your shoulder to cry on." Daniel threw his arm around my shoulders.

We walked back like that to Charles room. Pierre was waiting in the hall meaning Carlos and Max must be with Charles. Taking one look at me, Pierre quickly hugged me.

"It's ok to cry in front of him," Pierre whispered so only I could hear him.

"He's been through way more than me so it felt silly," I replied in the same voice.

"It's not silly at all, you've both been through hell, you need each other." Pierre stepped back and knocked on the doorframe.

Max and Carlos came out of the room a few moments later.

"Danny, Lando, why don't you see him next? I'll see him alone afterwards." I took a deep breath.

Lando nodded before the two of them disappeared into the room.

I turned to the Dutch driver. "Are you feeling better now that you've talked to him?"

Max nodded. "He and I are good."

A few minutes later, Lando and Daniel came back out.

"Go on." Carlos nudged my arm, sensing I was stalling.

I looked around at the drivers. "Thank you guys. I love you all."

"We love you too." Lando hugged me.

Daniel, Carlos, Max, and Pierre joined the hug.

"I'll call his family to let him know what's going on for you." Pierre gave my shoulder a squeeze. "I'll be waiting for you."

"So will I," Carlos added.

I interrupted Max before he could talk. "You won't be here, you're injured too, you need to rest. Daniel, can you take him back to the hotel and make sure he stays there?"

Daniel gave me a salute. "Yes, Princess Kathrine, ma'am."

"Lando, please go with them to make sure Daniel actually takes Max back without detours."

He nodded at my request. "Let's get going guys."

Once it was just me, Pierre, and Carlos in the hall, I took a deep breath.

"I guess it's time," I sighed.