Mon Chéri

18

CL16:

A beeping was in my ears. Why the hell is my car beeping? I opened my eyes and I was in an unfamiliar room. I looked down and noticed the gown and blanket over my body. "Hot shit you're awake." I heard and looked over to see Max and Pierre. They both stood up and Max walked towards me. "I'm gonna go get his doctor." Pierre said and ran out of the room. "Do you need anything?" Max asked. I weakly pointed to my throat and made a drinking motion with my hand. "Water?" He asked and I nodded. He left the room and I quickly realized I was in a hospital but I had no idea why. The last thing I remembered was coming out back onto the track after getting intermediate tires because the rain stopped. Pierre came back with the doctor in tow a few moments after Max left. "Mr. Leclerc, my name is Dr. Cransby and you're at Maria della Scaletta Hospital in Imola." He said and I nodded. Max came back with a water bottle and I quickly drank it as my mouth felt like a desert. "What happened?" My voice was hoarse and scratchy. "You may tell him as I was not there." The doctor said to Max. "Your right front suspension broke in seven sending you into the wall. The impact destroyed the car and it caught fire. You passed out in the car." He said. "I don't remember crashing." I said. "That is to be expected. You hit that wall at 100 miles per hour with a 52G impact." The doctor said. "How bad am I?" I asked. "You were out for two days, broken ribs, fractured wrist, fractured ankle, bruised lungs, mild smoke inhalation, second-degree burns on your hands and arms, and a concussion." He said. "You won't be driving for a few months." He added. Shit.
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I spent the next two weeks in the hospital but I was able to watch the race in my room. Max won Spain with Lewis second and Fernando third. Antonio Giovinazzi filled for Nova as she didn't race in Spain due to her getting sick in Italy. Monaco went well for Max as well with him winning yet again. This time Daniel was in second and Nova in third. Sitting in my apartment sucked. Everything was healing well including the burns but it was a hassle getting around and doing things thankfully they gave me a boot instead of a cast for my ankle. I still hadn't watched my crash. I couldn't gather the nerve to do it. From what Max and Pierre told me along with Christian it wasn't something anyone would want to see happen again. During the free week between Monaco and Canada Max, Pierre, and Daniel came to Italy. I was going home to Monaco the weekend of Canada so they all felt a little better knowing I was going home. My ribs still hurt a bit and my lungs were still a little fucked but I plan to be back for Belgium.
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It had been a month since my crash and I was getting off my cast and boot finally. "You can go to the gym and work out but be cautious and don't do anything heavy." The dr said. "Got it." I replied and he nodded. I walked out and im my ankle felt better than it did stuck in that boot that's for damn sure. The days passed and the pain subsided more and more each day. It hurt less to laugh or take a deep breath, my lungs were clear and I was in the gym.
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I decided to fly out to Great Britain for the race just to get back around the atmosphere and out of my fucking house. As I landed I sent a text to Max to let him know since he was coming to pick me up. We all got off the plane and I made my way to baggage claim to grab my bag. "Sorry." Someone said as they bumped into me running towards the exit. The tattoos gave her away. It was Nova. Man can she not watch where she's going while on her feet? I shook my head and grabbed my bag off the conveyor belt. I made my way to the front and then went to text Max but I heard a horn honk and I looked up to see Max smiling like an idiot. I rolled my eyes with a laugh and walked over to his car. I threw my bag in the back seat and got in. "You look like you're doing much better." He said. "I feel much better." I replied. "Well let's get to the track. Practice starts in two hours so I need to get there before Christian kills me. Or my father." He said grimacing slightly at the end.
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As we walked into the paddock we heard yelling coming from Redbull. "What the hell?" I asked aloud. "Don't know. Let's find out." He said and we picked up the pace. That's when I heard who it was. Jos and Nova. "Okay, you sack of shit. Here's a little reality check for you, your son has more talent in his fucking hand than you have ever had in your fifty-one years of miserable life. And me being a woman doesn't change the fact that I am a fucking driver and a damn good one. You will treat me with respect. I don't give a flying fuck who you are." Yup, still a fiery little thing. "Max roept je hond af." "Woof woof lul tas." Nova shot at Jos with a smirk. "Hi Max." She said smiling like an insane person at him. "Wat gebeurd er?" Max asked. "Je vader is een seksistische klootzak en hij kan ook levenslang winnen van de meest waardeloze vader ter wereld." She replied. She didn't seem thrilled but she never did when she was taking in Dutch. "Ik zal je laten ontslaan." Jos said. "Shut the fuck up dude holy shit no one is talking to you." She said and I had to hold a chuckle. "Welcome back Charles." Christian said. "Looks like I came back to a reality show or something." I said. "They met in Austria. They hate each other with a burning passion." He said. "I can see that. How did this all start?" I asked. "She came looking for Max to return god knows. Jos decided to be a dick and say something stupid about her and Max being friends and then that happened." He said. "Well, at least we get a show." I said and he laughed.