Connected (F1 Story)

Chapter Two: Canadian Banter

"Alright, I know your birthday isn't for a month, but I'm giving you a part of your present tonight," I explained, trying not to smirk too much. I had to keep this a surprise for another twelve hours. Oh fucking dear.

"Saskia, I think you give me a present most nights. Or mornings...or both, if I'm real lucky..." Daniel blushed and looked up at me from where he was tying his shoelace. "Or in here..."

"That's not what I meant." I croaked, using the wall to steady myself in Daniel's room upstairs in the Red Bull team unit. Dear Lord.

"Ah." If possible, he blushed more, swallowing.

"So what I was trying to say is that you and Paul are heading out tonight."

"Are we?" he gently questioned, now stretching out on the floor of his little space. His team t-shirt rode up as a single abrupt knock at the door came. Each time I would happily bet all of my wages that it was Paul...and that he'd burst in after two seconds, no matter what.

"Danny boy, we are going out tonight! Gonna paint this city mother fucking blue!" Paul entered and grinned before spotting me and winking. "Saskia is a fucking genius. Like, mate, she is unreal!"

"Cheers, Paul," I accepted the only praise I would ever receive from the personal trainer. Daniel was still laying on the floor, resembling a confused starfish. "By the way, it's red, Paul."

"What's red?"

"Painting the town. It's red, not blue."

"Is it?" Paul turned to Daniel.

"It's red. You paint the town red." He rolled his eyes, "and definitely not something you say either."

"Oh."

"Right, I must dash. Enjoy your karate warmup or whatever." I laughed, feeling quite smug.

"It's not karate!" Daniel and Paul insisted in unison. I was almost certain it was karate. It was all the same to me. Daniel wore a white headband. Oh, wait...

"Can you tell me what it is?" I heard Daniel ask as I headed for the stairs. I was needed by Josh in the media centre.

"No, Daniel! You'll only ruin it!" I shouted, and received a startled look from Rebecca and Lizzie who had just arrived at the track.

"Dare I ask?" Lizzie questioned before it clicked. "Oh, Alexis on Fire show and drinks thing."

"Yup, that's the one." I replied when we were far away enough from where the Aussie men were. With a bit of luck, meeting his idols would cheer Daniel up a bit.

---

The race was a disaster; it wasn't even comparable to last year, where Daniel had taken his first ever victory in the sport. Something which still gave me goosebumps thinking about it. And the events that happened in the truck afterwards. They were highly significant to say the least.

Josh had taken a rather sullen looking Ricciardo around the media pen and, if the time on my watch was to the minute (which it would be), Josh would be handing the Australian back in ten minutes. Perhaps then it wasn't a massive surprise that they both appeared several minutes earlier than scheduled.

"Give me a sec." Daniel sighed, sinking down in the Communications department's room (which was next door but one to Daniel's own).

"I can give you eight minutes." I said gently, glancing to Josh and shaking my head. "I'll get this press release done first...do you need anything?"

Daniel stared into space, sipping his drink. He hadn't heard me.

"Daniel?" Josh prompted firmly. Still he didn't get a response so I went and crouched down next to him.