Loud and Clear (F1 x CL16)

25. Recovery

I was recovering alright. I was three weeks into recovery, not even halfway through, and I also needed revalidation. The hours spending in bed was getting the better of me and I was starting to feel drained at everything I did. This whole situation wasn't making me any happier and even though I could spend a lot of time with the people I loved... I wasn't feeling whole. Something was missing, and maybe it would be missing forever.
I wasn't able to come along to the Hungarian Grand Prix since I had to be taken into the hospital for a two week check up. So I've been missing racing for way too long. I hadn't seen Charles since a few days as well. I still needed help even though I was recovering. Half of the things that I needed to do wasn't an option for me. So I was staying at Charles his mothers place. She had been helping me with hospital visits and other activities. And I was so thankful for her. She watched the Hungarian GP with me and took me out to get groceries. The little times out of the house were the only things keeping me going.
It was now Friday, already five days after the Hungarian GP, which meant that Charles would be getting home soon. And then we had a week break until he would go racing at Silverstone. I was excited for the grand prix. Silverstone is always a good track for me, but not racing there now was breaking my heart.
"Brie, are you up?" Pascale asked as she knocked on my door.
"Yeah I'll just need some help with my pants again!" I said as I walked over to the door. The pain in my leg numbed and I took that as a sign that I could walk a bit on it sometimes. My ribs were going extremely well as well. "Good morning, Pascale." I let her in and sat down on the bed.
It wasn't hard to get the clothing over my cast, but I couldn't bend over because of my ribs, which made it simply impossible.
Pascale quickly got my pants on and within a minute I was all ready to go outside and get a bit of air.
"I'm in for a walk, you wanna join?" I asked Pascale.
"Of course, Fille. But we need to eat first." Pascale said. And I knew she was keeping an eye on me. I had been eating badly since a week ago. I skipped breakfast by going on morning walks and with dinner half of the dish stayed on the plate.
"Alright. Shall I set some coffee for us?"
She gave me a wide smile. "I'd like that. Thank you." She said as she grabbed two plates and some bread.
I quickly made some coffee and sat down at the table with her. It was like this for the last week. Just us two at the table every morning. Arthur and Lorenzo joined us sometimes in the evening, but didn't stick around long enough to entertain me. I was starting to get into a routine that was absolutely draining me.
Within half an hour we were all set and I grabbed my crutches, getting ready for a walk outside.
"Charles will be home in a few minutes, he just texted." Pascale said as she walked up to me. "He has to pick up something from your place first though."
I nodded and just kept silent. I had missed Charles so much that it doubled the draining feeling in me. And thinking about seeing him again was going to make me sick. I just needed him by my side now. A week without him has been horrible, but we had no choice since he had the Grand Prix and work at Maranello. There was no way for him to be home in the past week.
I shook my head to let those thoughts pass and opened the door. Sunlight hit me and I breathed in the air. It was mid summer, and it was insanely hot. And I couldn't even go swimming with my cast. This recovery has been hell.

We walked for almost an hour. My arms were feeling sore by the time we almost finished the walk back to Pascale's place and I couldn't wait to sit down and watch a movie. We walked up on the driveway and I froze as I saw him.
He was leaning against his car, his arms crossed at his chest. His eyes met mine and I felt my heart sink. I wanted to take a step towards him, but I couldn't. Not just because of my leg, but because I was literally frozen. He stepped away from the car and walked up to us. I let my crutches fall and stumbled the last few feet towards him. I fell into his arms and let my whole body rest against him.
"I missed you so much." He whispered against my ear as he pulled me closer.
I couldn't bring out a word as I just clung onto him. His hard and solid chest rose rapidly under my head and it made me realise how much he missed me.
Pascale walked past us to give us a private moment and went back into her house.
I was keeping myself together, but all I wanted to do right now was cling onto him and never let go. But I didn't. I pulled back a bit and rested my back against his arms, making the pressure on my leg less. "Never leave me again." Was all I said before pulling him in and giving him the kiss I've been dreaming of the last week. He pulled me closer to him, as if that was even possible and kissed me with so much lust that I almost drowned in the moment.
The kiss lasted for so long that my lips started to swell, but it was not even long enough to make me feel fully satisfied. I needed him, more than ever.
"Brie..." Charles whispered my name against my lips. I was so close to him that I could feel what I did to him. "I can't even express how much I missed you." He continued.
"You don't have to." I said as I let my hands go through his hair. "I already know how much you missed me." I smiled up at him and his eyes turned even brighter than I've ever seen.
"I love you." He whispered against my lips before kissing me again.
It was just us in this world. It didn't matter that we were on a driveway or that anyone could see us. It didn't matter where we were as long as I was with him.