Right On Track

Chapter 62

Carlos Sainz

Carlos,still as upset about the situation of his car,sat in the garage with his arms folded.
He sat by one of the monitors,watching the race.It was close to the end and he had heard a fair amount of drivers complaining about the conditions.
Hearing it all,actually,he was a little grateful for that fuel leakage in his car.He was glad that he didn't have to race in those conditions.
He had also checked Kiara's team radio as it came up on the screen.She seemed to be  fighting it,but also struggling.He just hoped that she would manage till the end.
"Apparently Ocon threw up in his helmet."Riccardo said,sitting beside Carlos.
"Really?"Carlos arched a brow."And he's still racing?"
"I sure wish I had that determination."He shrugged with a nod.
Carlos sighed,shaking his head.
"I don't know whether you should be grateful or not."Rupert said as he walked past,giving Carlos a pat on the shoulder.
Carlos looked at his trainer and just nodded.Even Charles had complained on the radio earlier on.
As the race finally started to come to an end,Carlos frowned as he looked at Kiara's position.She had dropped down to seventh and was clearly struggling on track.
"Okay,Charles in fourth."Someone said from nearby as the checkered flag was raised.Max won the race,Ivy second and Lando third.
Carlos stood up from his chair,still looking at the monitor.
He stepped away after some time,folding his arms as he looked out the garage and saw a lot of Red Bull members cheering for Max,who had previously won the championship yesterday and had still won the race today.
Carlos looked at one of the screens nearby.He was wondering how Kiara was doing...He just looked at the nearby screen,waiting for the cameras to fall on her and her car.
It did after some time,as the cars all stopped in parc ferme.Well,it was mostly focusing on Alex as he struggled to leave his car.But Carlos just kept an eye on her,as her car was in front of Alex's.
Carlos narrowed his eyes.
She wasn't getting out of the car.And she didn't seem as if she could at first.Her helmet visor wasn't even lifted,so he couldn't even catch on glimpse of her gaze.
He looked and heaved a sigh of relief as she finally started to get out,bracing both hands on the halo and pulling herself up.
She was strong.And Carlos knew it.She normally didn't give up so easily and that's what he admired about her sometimes.
But then Carlos immediately paused as she slumped forward on the halo,almost laying down on it.Something was utterly wrong now.She looked extremely weak.
He looked on as she seemed to be breathing heavier.
And once his gaze drifted to her hands,seeing them trembling uncontrollably as she struggled,he quickly got out of that garage and ran out onto the pit lane.
"Carlos!"One of the mechanics called him back.
He ignored them and ran out onto the pit lane,moving past everyone in his way and rushing over to the other cars.
He had to almost push his way past the small crowd that had gathered for Max,apologizing to the Red Bull mechanics as he pushed by.
Eventually,he managed to run over to all the other cars that were parked behind the top three.
He looked ahead,wondering why the hell the marshals weren't helping her.
But then he looked ahead and spotted her car.
And she wasn't there.
Carlos frowned,quickly moving past the other cars to get to hers.
Please,be okay...He said to himself over and over again.
He looked to the drivers seat,seeing it empty.She wasn't there.
He mumbled her name,looking around with concern all over his face.Where could she have already gone?
Panicking a little,he dragged a hand through his hair.She was just there a moment ago...
But then he caught a glimpse of something,that being her helmet.
She was slumped against the other side of the car,sitting on the floor.
"Kiara?!"Carlos called her name,quickly running around to the other side of the car.
She didn't reply,her head low as she just sat there,helmet and HANS device still on.
"Kiara?"He called her name again,crouching down in front of her and putting a hand on her arm.
When she didnt reply at all,he panicked more and got down onto his knees in front of her.Then,he pulled her forward and she fell,limp in his lap.
Sitting on the floor with her now on his lap and in his arms,he mumbled her name again in worry,lifting the visor of her helmet.
And once he lifted it,seeing that her eyes were closed,he gently shook her,calling her name again.
Carlos took a deep breath,realizing that she had fainted from the extreme heat.
He closed his eyes for a moment,trying to calm down,telling himself that it was okay.
It was only when Carlos lifted Kiara in his arms while standing up that two of the marshals came over to help.
Everything around him didn't matter.He just held her in his arms,ignoring the marshals as he quickly started to get out of the pit lane.

At the medical tent,Carlos brought her in and immediately took her to one of the stretchers,calling over one of the medics.
Setting her down,he took off the HANS device,then her helmet.
He set both aside,along with her balaclava,also zipping down the top half of her racing suit.
After a minute,the medic asked him to move aside,to even leave the tent.He didn't  leave,though,seeing her wake up a little.He just stood next to the stretcher and watched.
And after a few minutes,Kiara opened her eyes a little.
Carlos loosed a long sigh of relief,stroking a hand down her arm as he gave her a weak smile,pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Kiara Wolff

"Everything else seems okay."The medic told Kiara as she sat up."Just try to drink a lot of water for the rest of the night.And tomorrow,too."
Kiara nodded as she sat up,shifting to sit on the edge of the stretcher next to Carlos.
He put an arm around her shoulders,holding her close as she leaned against him.
She still felt a little weak,dizzy everytime she moved a little.But she sure felt better than before.
She even remembered each exact moment building up to the point where she passed out next to her car.
After that,she had only opened her eyes a little to find herself in the medical tent,Carlos standing beside her.She didn't know what happened when she passed out,how long it probably took the marshals to find her slumped down on the floor.But she was just glad that Carlos had come to see her in the medical tent.
She felt a little embarrassed,thinking that he had probably looked at one of the tv screens in the garage and seen the paramedics or marshals finding her unconscious.
"You okay,cariño?"Carlos asked,putting  hand on her thigh as they sat together on the edge of the stretcher.
"That was probably the hardest race of my career."She let out a breath,which sounded a little like a soft laugh.
"I'm just glad you're okay."He sighed,holding her against his side and leaning his head on hers.
"I want to go home."Alex chuckled from where he was lying down on one of the other stretchers.
"At the moment,I think I can agree."Lance said from where he sat nearby,the medic also checking him for dehydration.
Kiara sighed,inhaling a little."Lucky you,Carlos."
Carlos laughed."I guess I should be grateful that I wasn't racing."
"Yeah,"Alex snickered."Or who else would have gotten Kiara to the medical tent?"
"What?"Kiara arched a brow."Didn't the-"
"Kiara?"Toto came into the tent.
Kiara saw her dad and just gave a thumbs-up,indicating that she was okay.
He sighed,quickly walking up to her and Carlos."I'm sorry.I-"
"I'm okay,Dad."She gave him a reassuring smile.
He pinched the bridge of his nose.Then,he looked at Carlos and,to Kiara's wonder and surprise,gave him a nod of acknowledgment."Thanks,Sainz."
Carlos just nodded,giving Toto a thumbs-up.
"Kiara?"Christian walked into the tent.
"Hey,you."Toto pointed a finger at him as he walked over."What are you-"
"My driver,Toto."He gave a dismissive wave,turning to Kiara."Are you okay?"
"I'm okay."Kiara said.
Christian nodded.But before he could say something more,Toto said."Yes,she's your driver.That's why it was your responsibility to check-"
"Hey,wasn't Alora here earlier too?"Christian asked."Exactly.So,don't accuse-"
"Go fight outside,please."Kiara interrupted."I'm getting a headache."
"Yeah,Christian."Toto said."Look what you-"
"Oh,for god's sake,Toto."Christian sighed,shaking his head."I'll speak to you later,Ki."
He started to walk off and Kiara just arched a brow and watched as her father ran after him,saying."Hey,I'm not finished with you."
"I'm going to pretend I saw nothing."Alex laughed after they left the tent.
"Same here."Lance said.
Kiara just shared a look with Carlos and they both smiled at each other.
Then,Carlos said."Come on,I say we get you back to the hotel."
"But Carlos,I have-"
"Interviews?Race overviews?"He sighed."Don't worry.I'll contact Lydia."
"Fine..."Kiara eventually nodded,putting her hand on his as he still kept it on her thigh.