WHAT IF

Chapter 21

Alan, Jeff, and the baby were now home for a week, adjusting to life as a family of three. The team had been visiting regularly, offering support and plenty of love for the new parents and their little one.

Babe and Charlie had also been spending time at their house, helping with whatever they could. Babe always found comfort in seeing Jeff so happy with his new family. It was a new chapter for everyone, but there was a sense of calm and contentment that came with it.

One evening, after dinner, everyone was gathered in the living room, taking turns holding the baby and sharing stories.

"This little guy is going to be a handful, huh?" North chuckled as he gently cradled Noah, who had fallen asleep in his arms.

"Yeah," Alan agreed with a smile. "But we'll handle it. He's already a part of the team now."

Sonic nodded, still smiling as he looked down at the baby. "He's going to grow up real fast."

Babe, sitting nearby with Charlie, watched the scene with a small smile.

***

After practice, Babe stepped into the locker room feeling the heat still clinging to him from the track. The sun had been unforgiving that day, and the sweat on his skin felt heavier than usual. As he reached for his locker, a sudden wave of dizziness hit him. His vision blurred for a moment, and he instinctively grabbed the edge of the locker for support.

"Shit..." he muttered under his breath, trying to steady himself. His head spun slightly, and he took a deep breath, waiting for the world to stop swaying. The dizziness lingered for a few seconds, making him worry, but eventually it began to fade.

After a moment, he shook his head, dismissing it as the result of the heat and exhaustion from practice. "Just need a shower," he told himself. Still feeling a little off, he forced himself to move, slipping into the shower to cool off and try to clear his head. The cold water hit his skin, and the refreshing sensation helped ease the last of the dizziness.

He stood under the water for a while, the coolness helping him regain his composure. "Maybe I need to hydrate more..." he thought, noting that he hadn't been drinking as much water as he should've during practice.

Feeling better, Babe finished his shower.

"Babe, do you have a minute?" Alan called out as Babe entered the garage.

"Yeah, what's up?" Babe replied.

"It's about the match tonight. Are you sure about this?" Alan's voice held a note of concern.

These matches were risky, with no rules on the track. They were typically held late at night on quiet highways, and while Babe had participated in them before, he hadn't since the incident. But now, he was considering jumping back in tonight.

Babe paused, feeling Alan's concern. He leaned against the wall of the garage, crossing his arms, and looked at Alan, who had a serious expression on his face.

"Yeah, I'm sure," Babe replied, but even as he said the words, he could feel the weight of the decision.

Alan hesitated for a moment, watching Babe closely. "If you're sure... Just don't push yourself too hard, okay? I don't want you going back into something if you're not completely in the right headspace."

Babe smiled, grateful for the support. "Thanks, I'll be fine."

With that, the two exchanged a brief nod, and Babe headed off.

***
When Babe told Charlie about the race, only an hour before the event, Charlie's expression immediately shifted. He stopped what he was doing, his hands frozen mid-motion as he stared at Babe in disbelief.