Starting Again (A Charles Leclerc Fic)

032 : send off

"Do you really have to go?" Katrina asked, her voice filled with reluctance as she watched Charles finish packing his bags.

"I have to, mi amor," Charles replied softly, clearly feeling the weight of the moment as well.

"I don't know when I'll see you again," she admitted, her voice wavering.

"Don't be like this, K... You know I have to leave," Charles said, his words full of sadness as he zipped up his suitcase.

"I know, my love. The past week you were home was perfect. We just got together and now you're leaving again. I know it's part of your job, but that doesn't mean I'm not sad," she said, her heart heavy with the thought of him leaving.

"If only I could stay here and still race, I would do it in a heartbeat, but we both know I can't," he replied with a sigh.

"Will you call me?" she asked, her voice filled with hope.

"Every chance I get, I'll call you. I asked you to join me, but you said you're not ready, my love," he reminded her gently.

"I think it's too fast. I don't want to distract you with my presence," she replied, her voice soft but filled with uncertainty.

"You know you can never be a distraction to me," Charles said, his tone reassuring.

A loud shout from downstairs interrupted their moment. "Charles, we have to go now!" It was clear the Leclerc family was already preparing to send him off.

"Will you come send me off?" Charles asked, his eyes full of hope.

"As much as I don't want to see you go, I can't let you leave without saying goodbye," Katrina said, her heart torn.

Charles gently took one of her hands and squeezed it, his eyes soft. "I love you, Katrina Hale."

"I love you too, Charles Leclerc," she replied, her voice steady despite the emotions swirling within her.

The Leclerc family was in full force today as they sent Charles off. Lorenzo was kind enough to drive them all to the airport, and Charles sat at the back of the car with Katrina, while Pascale sat in the front passenger seat. The ride was quiet, each of them lost in their thoughts. Although they had done this countless times, there was still an undeniable tension in the air, especially from his mother. This wasn't Katrina's first time sending Charles off to a race, but it was the first time she was doing it as his girlfriend. The nerves she had as a friend had only intensified with the deeper bond they now shared.

"You nervous?" Arthur asked, breaking the silence.

"I am. I can't help but feel nervous just thinking about what could happen when he's inside the car," Katrina confessed.

"Charles isn't as crash-prone as everyone makes him out to be. People like to highlight all his crashes, but if you look at the stats, he doesn't crash that much," Arthur explained, trying to reassure her.

"I know that, I've been watching old races. It's just hard not to overthink when I know not only Charles but all the other drivers as well. It's hard not knowing what could happen when things go wrong."

"My love, I promise... I'll always be safe. All of us will be safe. There's no way to predict what happens in a race, but we've promised to do our best to always come home unscathed," Charles said, his voice full of determination.

"And if, only if, something does happen, I'll make sure to call you. I'll inform Charles' manager too, so they can contact you if I'm not in the race," Arthur added, his voice serious.