Unchartered Waters ✅

Chapter 133: The After Effect

Chase follows him into the house, weaving their way down the hallway to the bedsroom.

Alex walks in the room, letting out a long sigh, all the feelings of the concussion hitting him at once. He then lays down in the bed, curling up, hoping the headache and dizziness would subside with the lack of movement and light.

"Do you want anything?" Chase asks as he slides up in the bed alongside him, only earning a shake of the head in response. "You're going to be okay...."

"I know," Alex answers as he easily allows Chase to wrap his arms around him, knowing the cuddle would be feel comforting. Hopefully it'd chase away the mix of feelings and emotions that trailed through his mind right now. "I didn't even hit the wall that hard." 

"The chassis are too stiff. Anybody whose ran a late model will tell you that. It's why Denny keeps saying it. Kevin keeps saying it. I'll even straight up admit it. I understand wanting to be durable and not allow things to bend, but you need that to dissipate energy so we don't feel it." Chase then places a light kiss on Alex's shoulder, knowing the conversation was simply a detour from the truth, which they both knew needed to be addressed whether they wanted to or not. "We can let NASCAR worry about that, and they're going to have to with everyone complaining. Right now, we both need to worry about you - taking care of yourself, and feeling better." 

"I don't even know what to do. You break a rib, you let it heal. You break a body part, you let the bone heal and then go through physical therapy. What's the magic touch for a concussion?" Chase wasn't sure of the answer, thankfully having not experienced one himself through his years in the sport. 

"That's why you make the appointment. That's why you make the trip to Pittsburgh as both Dale and Ryan will tell you. That's why you take it slow, follow the advice, and do what you can. Listen to the experts, be smart, listen to your body, and do what you need to do." It sounded so simple, but Alex knew that wasn't going to the case. There was the aspect of patience, and something about that didn't sound easy in knowing what the next - hopefully a single - week had to offer in response.

"I wonder who will be your teammate...." Chase lets out a sigh, not even wanting to think about that aspect. The selfish side of him wanted to have Alex at the track every week with him. The competitor in him was slightly worried in the decision Rick and Jeff would make, knowing a weak teammate would take away from competition meetings.

"I can tell you that they'll never be as good or amazing as you." Alex snickers a little, knowing that was the truth for more reasons then they could touch on the surface. 

"I just don't want to lose my ride over thi-"

"Are you serious, Alex?" Alex takes a deep breath in hearing that in response, his career flashing before his eyes in the span of this discussion. It was a feeling he knew Chase could not understand, or Ryan for that matter. After all, they were in the position to have got the rides without the pushback or fight experienced as he had. 

"I fought with everything through everything that happened - sub-par equipment, losing my ride in a Taco Bell drive-thru line for that matter, and climbed my way back to this opportunity. I don't want to see that disappear because of this. I don't want to see it fall apart because I have to miss a race, hopefully just a race, and be out of the ca-"

"Alex..." Chase rubs his shoulders, taking in the emotions as he could see that was part of the reason his teammate was quiet as they left the office earlier that day. "Rick and Jeff aren't going to throw your ride away because of this. They'll get someone to drive the car while you're healing - probably Noah given he has a Cup opportunity lined up next year with Petty GMS. But as soon as you're healed, they will welcome you back with open arms. You have proven to deserve this opportunity. You have proven to be a race winner. You are Ally's favorite now. This isn't going to be the end of the roa-"

"What if they don't believe I can get the job done anymore? What if they think I've changed?" Chase shakes his head no, knowing that'd never be true. Instead, he expected the support to be over the top, as with Rick in any of these situations. 

"Rick has been here before with many drivers, Dale for example. He knows the time needed to heal, but he knows once healed, they can do the job necessary. I can promise you that Rick will probably be the most caring person through this, Alex. I know it sucks, but you will always have a ride after this with Rick. Trust me." Alex wanted to believe those words, and his brain told him they were truth as everything being shared by Chase made sense. However, convincing his heart - and allowing the anxiety the concussion brought to escape - was another story.

"I hate the feeling, though. Everybody is getting ready for a weekend ahead, and yet here I am lying in my bedsroom, unable to do practically anything." He then lets out a sigh. "I hate the feeling, man. I just hate it..." 

"I know..." Chase didn't know what else to say as he kept Alex held close to him, almost regretting he was one of those going to the track this weekend. He'd rather be staying here 24/7, ensuring that the best form of recovery was offered. "Other than these feelings, are you okay?"

"I have such a headache..." Alex rubs his forehead, as Chase slowly slips out from behind him. He goes out to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, followed by the bottle of Tylenol. He brings it back to the room, placing the pills on the night stand. He pops it open, placing three in Alex's hand, followed by the water in the other. "Thank you."

"I told you - if you need anything, just tell me. I want to help you and be here as much as I can." Chase then slips back into the bed behind him, wrapping his arms around as he had before. He then slips one of his hands up towards Alex's head, taking his fingers and making small light circles on the one side of his forehead. "Relax, Alex. Close your eyes. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."