The race had gone smoothly until there was a crash. It wasn't major but it was enough for a safety car in these conditions.

Arthur noticed Y/n tensing up and grabbed her hand.

Arthur: It was just a spin, everyone is fine.

Y/n: I know, where's Charles and Pierre?

Arthur: P5 and P9.

Y/n: How?

Arthur: Didn't you see? The debris for Pierre and slow stop for Charles?

Y/n: Oh, I must've missed that. Sorry I'm clearly not focussed.

Arthur: That's alright

Y/n closed her eyes as she watched Pierre go around a high speed corner. When she opened her eyes again there was a red flag and suddenly she was back in that haunting day.

Y/n: Who was that?

Engineer: It unfortunately looks like... it looks like it was Bianchi.

Y/n: No! No no no! What happened?

Engineer: Must've spun off in the rain. We're trying to contact him but we can't get an answer. Medics are on scene now.

Y/n was frozen. Tears now silently streaming down her cheeks as the grid went silent. Nobody knew what was happening and it terrified her. Suddenly she heard an engineer speak.

Engineer: It was a very bad crash. He's going to hospital now. Breathe miss Summers. I'm sure he'll be okay. It'll all be okay...

She snapped back to reality when she heard the loud crash of thunder rumbling over the circuit.

Y/n: What happened?! Did someone crash? Oh please no!

Arthur: Y/n, look at me. They don't know why the stewards issued the flag. They're sending a safety car to check. The drivers will be back in the pits soon.

Y/n: Where's Pierre's car? I see the whole pack but not Pierre?

Her breathing started becoming quicker by the second as she felt the burning sensation of tears in her eyes.

Arthur: He'll be here, he was behind the pack but I promise he's okay.

Y/n: You don't know that!

Arthur: Y/n, breathe. Calm down, Pierre is okay. I promise. It'll be okay.

These words sounded all too familiar and Y/n hated it.

Y/n: You can't say that! It won't be okay! It will never be okay! Everyone always says, 'oh they're okay, they'll be fine' well guess what? We can't always believe that! It wasn't okay!

Arthur flinched at her yelling and the pit crew tried to calm the commotion. Before he realized it, Y/n had tears running down her cheeks. He immediately realized Y/n was no longer referring to Pierre. He reached out for her arm but she pulled away, turning her back to him.

Arthur: Y/n...

Y/n: Leave me alone. I'm going to find Pierre, all the cars are back but I still can't see him.

She ran out of the garage and straight past Charles who tried to stop her.

Charles: What happened

Arthur: Come on Charles, do I even need to explain?

Charles: The red flag... it wasn't for a crash. Conditions are too dangerous so they stopped the race.

Arthur: She can't see Pierre and the reason for the flag was never announced. She jumped to worse case scenario.

Charles: Pierre was right behind the pack, he should be coming in to the pits now. I'm going after her.

Y/n kept running until she reached Alpha Tauri. One car, one driver... no... she almost fell to her knees but held her strength when she saw a second car pull up. The driver got out and looked in her direction.

Y/n: PIERRE! Oh Pierre!

She ran up to him and he jumped out of the car down to her, catching her as she jumped into his arms.

Pierre: Y/n? You're soaked. What's wrong?

Y/n: Oh Pierre... I was so scared, the red flag it came and- you weren't- I couldn't see your car- I thought- I-

Pierre: Shhh, I'm here. I'm okay. The flag is for the weather. Everything's okay.

Y/n was still panicking and couldn't slow her breathing. Pierre noticed this and held her tighter.

Pierre: Hey, hey, it's okay. Do you want me to get Charles? Daniel maybe?

Y/n: NO! I want you. Don't leave me. I only need you. No one else.

She held him tighter, burying her face further into his chest.

Pierre noticed Charles standing there and he heard this. Charles' face looked empathetic and concerned. Pierre simply smiled sadly and nodded to Charles who understood that this was exactly what Pierre needed to hear from Y/n. All his worries about that stupid hole from the past have fallen away in this one moment. He pulled Y/n in even tighter, kissing her head.

Pierre: I'm here and I'll never leave you Y/n... never...

******

The race wasn't resumed after the red flag given the weather and Max had won, sharing a podium with Checo and Carlos.

It wasn't until they announced this that Y/n left Pierre's side. She knew Charles would be gutted about P5 after being so strong all weekend and went down to him.

Charles: Y/n, I was so worried. Are you okay now?

Y/n: I'm okay. I'm sorry about P5

Charles: You think I care about P5 right now? You stayed the whole day at the circuit and I couldn't be prouder but you really had me scared there for a moment.

Y/n: I'm sorry, when there was a flag and I couldn't see Pierre I-

Charles: -You don't need to explain anything to me.

Arthur: There you are... look about earlier-

Y/n: -I'm sorry I shouted. You were just trying to help.

Arthur: No no it's okay. I'm just glad you're okay. I do think that tonight calls for a last sleepover before little sis goes to Milan for a while.

Charles: I agree

Y/n: I love that idea.

They shared quick hugs before Charles had media duties to attend to. Y/n made her way to the paddock when two arms grabbed her.

Daniel: You did it! I'm so proud!

Y/n: I had a meltdown in the Ferrari garage and ran out, so what exactly did I do?

Daniel: You came to the Japanese Grand Prix. You took a massive step!

Y/n: Couldn't have done it without you Danny.

Daniel smiled down at her, his gaze fixed on her. Y/n's smile softened before she pulled out of the hug.

Y/n: I best get going to Pierre. Thanks Daniel and I'll see you soon.

Daniel: Yeah, uh- see you Summers.