My Best Mates Sister

26.

Rosie

Spending the weekend at the factory was such a different experience. I have missed the buzz of the garage and taking to George over the radio. In another way though it's been much more relaxing being able to go home every evening instead of staying somewhere unfamiliar. I unlock the front door letting out a sigh, it's been really quiet since the boys have been away! I've started looking for somewhere to live, I love the fact that George and Alex have set up a room for me but I know it isn't a long term solution! Jules will need her own room and I think I will need my own space to learn how to parent.

We are completely out of ice cream, it's been my craving for the last few weeks. I jump up off of the sofa grabbing my car keys from the dish by the door. I switch on the engine and pull out onto the road and navigate myself to Tesco. I park the car close to the sho and check that my purse is still in my jacket pocket. I enter the shop and make a beeline for the frozen section. Dulche De Leche has been my favourite and I scan the shelves in the freezer to try to locate some. I spot 2 tubs and pull them out before very quickly heading to the tills to pay. It's been a long weekend and I just want to be home.

As I unlock the car I place the ice cream tubs onto the front passenger seat. I start the engine and pull out of the car park. The drive home was slow and I got stuck at a cross roads as some one blocked the exit. I pull forwards as the exit clears when I suddenly hear a screeching noise before turning my head to see a lorry smashing into my side window.

Charles

I sprint through the hospital corridors, George said room 203. I scan the room numbers as I pass, making sure I am headed in the right direction. I still can't believe this happened, when George called I couldn't process his words for a few seconds. The side collision with the lorry has caused her to be hospitalised and I don't currently know what's happening with her or the baby. I stop my feet outside the room and I freeze, what is she isn't doing okay, what if this is me coming to say goodbye? The dark thoughts fill my mind and I shake my head to clear them before knocking on the door. I slowly open the door and immediately see Rosie laying peacefully in the bed, her beautiful eyes shut. George clears his throat which grabs my attention "Hey, I'm glad you are here" he tells me with a sad smile. He called as I had landed in Nice so I booked myself onto the next available flight which took me around 6 hours to finally get here. "What's happened?" I ask and he starts to cry "she isn't in a good way, she can't breathe on her own right now, she has severe injuries to her brain, lungs and liver" he starts and my vision goes blurry and my brains processes the enormity of the situation "and they don't believe that the baby will make it" George starts sobbing but I don't have it in me to comfort him, I feel like my heart has shattered into pieces as I look at her, my entire world broken in the hospital bed and I don't know how to help her.

George

From the phone call from the police to being here in the hospital, none of it has felt real. Seeing my sister motionless in this bed is tearing me apart. The rythmic noise of the ventilator is all that echos around the room. Charles is asleep holding her hand sat in the chair opposite, my parents left earlier to get us both a change of clothes and something to eat. Mum only manages to cope if she feels like she is doing something productive, Dad however isn't good, I've never seen him like this, he's been absolutely silent. I've been debating calling Lando for the past few hours to let him know but I'm aware him and Rosie aren't on the best of terms at the moment. Part of me feels like it's his baby even if he has chosen to walk away. My eyes drift over to Charles, he adores my sister and baby Jules and I know he will be here. I'm not going to call Lando, no chance.

Suzuka
Charles

It's been over 2 weeks since the accident, Rosie still isn't awake or breathing on her own. Jules is still growing at the expected rate so doctors believe if Rosie makes a recovery the baby should be absolutely fine. Me and George haven't left Rosie since the first day in the hospital, but now we are both on a flight out to Suzuka. I know the media is going to be all over us as the local papers wrote a piece about the accident and it won't take them long before they start asking. Claire Williams has been really supportive with George and the whole team are shocked that something like this could happen! It turns out the lorry driver has issues with his sight and wasn't able to see properly! It makes me beyond angry that she was placed in this situation in the first place, we still don't know why she wasn't at home.

My mind spirals into all of the possible negative scenarios that could happen whilst we are away. I worry that I won't see her again, usually I can switch off from life at home and focus on racing but I know this weekend it won't be the case. It's a 9 hour flight to Japan and all I want to do is sleep! I haven't slept properly since she was admitted into hospital, my beautiful, funny girl I miss you

Lando

There are lots of hushed whispers around the paddock this weekend and I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. It's media day today and I'm in a drivers press conference with Charles, Lewis, George and Checo, something I'm not looking forward to. I haven't spoken to Rosie since she came and collected her stuff from mine about 3 weeks ago now. I still love her, I really do but I'm not made to be a dad yet.

I take my seat luckily between Lewis and Checo so I avoid an awkward confrontation with the boys. After a few minutes everyone is in the room and the conference begins "thanks for being here guys as always but firstly we would like to wish Rosie a speedy recovery from all the work at F1" my eyes immediately look at George, what are they talking about? "Thanks, we are hoping she pulls through, thanks for the support" it's then I notice both him and Charles look like shadows of themselves "what's happened?" I asks and Charles shoots me a look "we can talk after" I nod my head in agreement and give my attention back to the interviewer.

Once the usual questions are finished I rush out of the room and wait for Charles to follow. He walks straight over to me "I suppose me and George owe you and explanation" I nod and he takes a deep breath "Two weeks go, the Sunday evening of the GP, Rosie was involved in a road traffic accident" he tells me and my mind goes blank out of pure panic "a lorry drove straight into the drivers side of her car, she is currently in hospital on a ventilator as she can't breathe for herself right now" I start to process the information "what about the baby?" My question catches us both off guard "it's touch and go right now" he tells me softly "what are her injuries?" His expression turns sour "she has a broken femur, 8 broken ribs, some of which have pierced her lung, her liver was perforated but they have fixed that in surgery and she also has a large amount of swelling in her brain" my heart sinks "she isn't awake?" Charles shakes his head "we are hopeful but she hasn't shown any signs for the past 2 weeks" I feel myself starting to panic "well this can't happen, she is a strong person" he nods "she is and I'm not sure what I will do if she doesn't wake up" I feel angry at his comment, he needs to back off. I know we haven't been together but they haven't been either.