New driver in the paddock

Unspoken Bonds: The Week After the Race

For the rest of the week, I stayed with Lewis at his hotel, helping him take it easy, even though he wasn't badly injured. The doctors had advised him to rest, to let his body and mind recover before jumping back into his usual hectic routine. Lewis, being Lewis, wanted to dive right back into the simulator or start reviewing data for the next race, but I knew he needed to slow down, at least for a little while.

Max had recovered quickly, as expected. After coming by to check on Lewis that one time, he returned to his usual training schedule, throwing himself into preparations for the upcoming race. I could tell he was still carrying the weight of what had happened on the track, though he didn't talk about it. The tension between him and Lewis hadn't eased yet, and he was keeping his distance. He didn't say much to me either, but he knew I was there if he needed anything.

Lewis, on the other hand, wasn't as good at sitting still. His injuries weren't serious, but the crash had shaken him, and though he didn't say it outright, I could tell it was weighing on him. The hotel room was quiet most of the time, with just the hum of the city outside the window and the soft sounds of whatever we had playing on the TV in the background. I spent hours there with him, just making sure he had company.

"You're wasting your time," he'd say sometimes, a half-smile on his face, clearly feeling a little guilty that I was staying with him instead of moving on to my own preparations. "You should be with the team."

But I'd just shrug it off. "The team's fine without me for a few days. I'm not leaving until I'm sure you're actually resting and not sneaking off to run laps in the simulator."

That made him chuckle, but I knew it was true. If I weren't there, he would've been tempted to throw himself back into his work. Even without a crash, Lewis was relentless about his training and preparation, and after an event like this, he probably felt the need to prove something to himself. But right now, more than anything, he needed a break. I wasn't going to let him wear himself down.

We spent our days quietly, with me bringing him meals, making sure he stayed hydrated, and keeping him distracted from thinking too much about what had happened. I'd go through my own race notes or catch up on emails, but mostly I just stayed by his side, keeping the energy around him calm.

Every once in a while, Lewis would start talking about the crash, but only briefly. He was always focused on the details, analyzing what happened in his mind, but I could tell that there was something more behind it—a frustration that it had played out the way it did.

"I hate just sitting here," he admitted one afternoon, lying on the couch with his arm draped over his forehead. "I should be doing something. Anything."

"You're doing what you need to," I reassured him. "You'll be back soon enough. Just give yourself the time to rest."

He gave me a small smile, appreciating the support, but I could see the impatience in his eyes. He wasn't used to being still, and taking a step back like this wasn't something he did easily.

On the third day, Lewis got a message from Max. It was short—just a check-in to see how Lewis was doing after the crash—but it surprised me that Max had reached out, given how tense things had been between them. Lewis read the message but didn't say much about it. He just nodded, acknowledging that Max had at least taken the step to check on him.

"Are you going to reply?" I asked, sitting next to him.

"Yeah, I will," Lewis said quietly, setting his phone down on the table beside him. "I'm glad he's okay."

And that was it. There wasn't much else to say about it. The rivalry between them still lingered, and whatever was left unspoken hung in the air. But for now, the most important thing was that both of them had come out of that crash safe.

By the end of the week, Lewis was feeling more like himself, the restless energy in him growing stronger as he prepared to get back to training. He still hadn't rushed into anything, which I was glad to see, but he was eager to return to the paddock, to get back to racing.

"You've been amazing this week," Lewis said one evening as we sat in the quiet of his hotel room, the lights dimmed as we wound down for the night. "I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't been here to keep me from losing it."

"You'd probably be running data simulations nonstop," I teased gently, smiling at him. "But seriously, I'm just glad I could be here. You needed this rest."

He smiled at that, a genuine warmth in his eyes. "Thanks for looking out for me. I appreciate it."

With that, I knew Lewis was ready to move forward. The crash had been a reminder of how fragile things could be in our world, but he was stronger for having taken the time to recover properly. We both were. Now, it was time to get back to work, back to what we did best.