Double Sided Tracks

Halo

On the other side, Max was mortified at how everything went down. He told Brad they needed to go to the hospital. No point in staying at the paddock, the race resumed but his car was retired.

"For Lewis or for Nora?" Brad had asked. Max didn't say anything, but Brad knew the answer. Max saw the reply and it had included a clip of Nora and Angela, cornered somewhere in the garage. Nora had looked like she was in shock, nothing in her eyes. Fingers cradling each side of the headphones.

He caused that, he knows.

Max rushed to the hospital where Lewis went to get checked out, his heart was hammering. He spotted Nora right away, it wasn't hard when he knew where to go and seeing all the red minions surrounding her.

He approached her slowly, and like parting sea they made way for him and left them alone. He sat himself beside her.

She stared at him, Max wanted to drop to the ground. Wanting to be on his knees, hands wrapped around her knees, begging for forgiveness. Anything to wipe the cold and empty stares she's giving him.

"Are you okay?" she asked and Max wanted to say he's surprised but he isn't, not the least bit. He nodded, "have you been checked?" he nodded again.

She bit her lips, eyes looking like they were just rubbed raw with how red and bloodshot they were. Max didn't even realise he had her hands in his until she not-so gently pushed them away, "You almost killed my husband, I don't want you here." She said coldly, looking straight to the wall.

He squeezed his eyes shut, a tension headache forming. He wanted to fucking die. "Nora–"

"No, Max." She whispered coldly, and anger coursed through him. Because, he's just a man at the end of the day. He's a man who just lost, and being reminded how he will always lose against Hamilton. The reminder is sitting right beside him, asking him to leave.

"It's a racing accident, he left no space." He whispered angrily. He knew it was the wrong thing to say even before he finished the sentence.

Nora stared at him with furrowed brows, "the steward said otherwise." She said calmly, "had it not been for the halo, I would've lost my husband today." She said, spitting it out like venom. "My son would've lost his father today," she added and then angrily wiped out her tears like she found it's embarrassing to show any emotions in front of him.

"So," she continued, her voice cracked. "Don't tell me it's a racing accident, Max. I could've lost everything," she said and started to sob.

Max haul her in his arms, holding her tightly. This reminded him so much how he was the one picking up the pieces of her heart that Hamilton broke years ago. This time she didn't hold on to him like Max is her lifeline, and it hurts but at least she doesn't push him away.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, "I'm so sorry," because he is sorry, he's sorry that he hurt her by proxy. That she thought she was going to lose everything. He is sorry.

"I'm pregnant," she whispered. Max must've had a whiplash with how fast he turned to her. "Lewis doesn't know."

Max gave her a look.

"The baby is underweight, we might not make it. I'm counting down my luck." She said it so fast, like she didn't just delivered a devastating news.