Ashley POV
They finally discharged me from the hospital and we were back in my hotel. My body was a bit sore and tired but I could think and move which means I am doing that practice session tomorrow. "No you are not," James said standing in my hotel with Toto, Matt, Alex, and Theo.
"I am fine James. Theo tells him" I argued. T put his hands out. "I am on his side. It's two practice sessions, it's nothing" Theo said.
"Guys, we cannot optimize the car with data from one car," I said. "We will have two cars. I'll put a junior driver in it. You are not touching that car today " James said very strictly.
I looked at Toto for help. "No," he said in a similar strict tone.
"Fine!" I gave up sitting on the couch. I noticed Matt giving a thumbs-up to my Team Principal. I gave him a sharp look.
"I want Dorine in it," I said to James. "Done," he said.
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I may miss the practice but I am not missing watching it from the garage. I put my headphones on and sat on the pit wall near James. They didn't tell the media what happened. Just that I was sick, however, all the drivers and team principals knew.
I was watching the screens as the session started. It was Bahrain, and there was graining in the tire. And with a rookie in, it could be difficult for Dorine.
A mechanic came and gave us the first set of data from the runs. "That's way too much graining," James said beside me. "Ask her how the car feels?" I told him.
"Dorine, feedback on the car" he asked on the radio. "I don't know how this is supposed to feel but it feels alright" she replied.
"Do you feel any issues?" he asked again. "I mean- nothing as of now. But the car drains a bit of energy from me for sure" she said as she entered the pits. James looked at me asking for help.
"Dorine, this is Ashley. Relax yourself in the car and tell me which part of your body hurts the most" I asked her.
"It's..It's my back" She replied. I threw my hands up. "What? What is it?" James asked. I pushed Alex's radio button.
"Alex, is the car bouncing?"
"Like hell Ash! Like hell!" he replied. I noticed the Red Bull that flew past our pit wall. "That car is a rocket James" I whispered. Both shared a helpless look.
We finished both our sessions and were about to go back to our respective hotels. I packed my goto bag and was about to walk out of my driver's room when Theo came in.
"Ready?" he asked. I nodded and we walked out.
We walked out and found Alex to be leaving the track too. His trainer was not with him. He noticed me and walked towards me.
"Hey Patrick was sick, so I had to send him back to the hotel with my car. Can we carpool?" He asked.
"Sure. But I am driving" he said.
"No, you are not," Theo said. "I am getting into a Formula 1 car tomorrow. I am pretty sure I should be able to drive a road car today" I said. He was again about to say something. When I put a finger up at Theo.
"Fine," I said as we all walked to the car park. We were walking when we crossed paths with George and his trainer.
"Hey there you both," he said as we all walked together to the car park. "Is your car bouncing too?" Alex asked him. He gave out a restless sound.
"Massively" he replied.
"And Max was flying" I added. "Yeah, guess this season is pretty much in their bag" George added.
"Maybe we should gang up. Broke into his garage and take his car" Alex joked when my body shivered involuntarily.
I knew what it was. It was the front of our Paddock where it happened. That sense of fear also crept inside me. I wanted it to pass. I thought it would pass but something tells me it's not.
My walk became a bit slow as my breath became a bit shallow. The group walked a bit in front of me when George noticed I was behind.
"Ash" he called out and everyone stopped. Theo was back to my side when I caught my stomach with my one hand to stop the feeling.
"Hey, you alright?" He asked when my other hand caught his hand and our fingers intertwined tightly. The other three men were by my side.
"I am fine. I am Fine. Let's go" I said and swiftly walked. Only after crossing a little distance did my grip from Theo's hand loosened. I could sense George's concerned eyes on mine.
