Chapter Text
It had been one week since Chris had taken him. Lance was settled in Switzerland. Hiding from the public and friends alike.
Most only knew that he had been taken for a short while. There had been some speculation, but Lance couldn't deal with the whole world knowing what had happened. They didn't have the right to know.
The only people who knew were Chloe, his hospital doctors, and his new therapist. Fernando and his father had their suspicions, and Lance preferred to keep it that way.
He knew Esteban and his other friends were concerned, but he had done his best to send a few texts to assure everyone he was okay. Playing the situation down as just some crazed new Alpha team member.
Chris was still in the wind, making him feel positively sick. But, he had faith the Alpha would be caught. Lance would make sure of it. His father would make sure of it.
They at least knew he was somewhere in the UK, his home country. He had been spotted there a few days ago. Lance doubted he would try and go anywhere else. It would be practically impossible with his face plastered everywhere. Airports and train stations alike had been notified, and the press had picked it up like starving dogs fighting over a bone.
He had missed the Brazilian Grand Prix, getting taken the Friday before. The Las Vegas Grand Prix was next weekend and he was trying to not feel too sick about missing it. But he knew he needed time away.
He was set to race in Abu Dhabi. His dad thought it was too soon, but he needed some normalcy. Needed to feel less fragile. Fernando had been supportive when he had told him. Lance had felt his smile through the phone thousands of miles apart.
Lance had been released from the hospital 4 days ago. He had been relieved, needing to leave the place that was just a constant reminder that something was wrong.
Fernando had joined him in traveling to Switzerland, the team usually traveled together, and the doctor had recommended that Lance stay close to Fernando as he tried to heal and adjust. Fernando had a small apartment there, one of the benefits of his many years in F1.
Fernando had visited him once and they had gone out for coffee. Lance had wanted to, despite the annoyance of pictures being taken of them. But they all agreed that it would be beneficial to get some good PR. Show the world that Lance was fine. Still smiling. Unbothered by his abduction.
What Chris had done had been horrible, and in no doubt would stick to him like dog shit on a shoe, but he couldn't let him ruin his life. He wouldn't let him take racing from him.
Lance tried to find a silver lining in the situation. Maybe Fernando was it. Maybe this would open the door for them.
Besides, he just needed to push through one race and then he would have the whole winter break to track Chris down. To burn him from his mind like rubber on tires.
...
He woke up with a jolt, head pounding and stomach reeling. He ran to the bathroom, spewing the contents of his stomach into his toilet.
He had been trying to sleep, but Chris had been there. In Lance’s nightmares it felt like Chris was touching him with his cruel and heavy hands. Every time Lance woke, he swore he would wake to Chris there. Standing over him.
He never was there, but it didn't make Lance any less scared.
His therapist had prescribed him some sleep medicine and it helped. It knocked him out for a few hours until Chris managed to fight his way through. An everlasting plague that had rooted throughout his mind.
Lance wanted Fernando there. Wanted Fernando to envelop him in his scent and arms. Wanted the older man to shield him.
He went to his room, switched on the light, and locked his bedroom door. Attempting to push the monster from his mind.
He looked at his phone. It was 3 in the morning.
Lance's hands shook as he clicked on Fernando's contact. Desperate for some comfort that the man had always provided him.
He remembers the first time they met as teammates at winter testing.
Lance had been nervous. All he had heard from Esteban and the public was that he was selfish, aggressive, and unwilling to be a team player. All of his previous interactions with Fernando had been cordial and left much to the imagination.
Fernando had surprised him with his friendliness, slapping Lance's back and smiling. Lance remembers his melodic accent as the Spaniard joked and talked eagerly about the coming season.
It hadn't taken them long to get along. Lance knew he was the second driver. Fernando knew Lance was the boss's son. They didn't have to fight over who would keep their seat.
Instead, they fought over stupid stuff like who got the last bottle of water or who could last the longest at a media conference without smirking.
He remembers the first time he felt that pull in his gut. The one that made him want to sink to his knees and nuzzle into the man.
It was after the first race of the season. Lance had been utterly exhausted and shaky, wrists aching and crying out for relief.
Fernando had called him his hero, and in that moment, Lance had felt infinite. The way the man had grabbed his neck and looked at him with such care had pierced him through his heart like Cupid's arrow.
Reminiscing helped. Cleared the darkness out of his mind. He was gonna be okay, he just needed to forget. To focus on the good. He wouldn't let the man win. He couldn't.
He typed out a message to Fernando, sending it before he could back out.
Fernando
Friday, November 3 at 3:15
"Can I see you today?"
Lance went back to his bathroom and brushed his teeth. Not relenting until his gums felt raw.
He went back to his bed, lying in the plush covers, leaving the lights on like some scared child, afraid of the dark. Drawing the blankets and pillows up into a nest.
His phone chimed, a piercing noise in the dead of the night.
Fernando
3:20 "Of course. Should I come over now?"
"Just having trouble sleeping, don't worry." 3:21
3:21 "Lance, I can be there in 30 minutes, just say the word."
Lance thought it over. His dad was away begrudgingly on a business trip, Lance had convinced him to go on. Just Chloe was here. There was some security at the gate but Fernando just needed the code. He was already on the list of allowed guests.
He knew maybe he shouldn’t invite the man over, but he wanted him. He craved him and his comfort.
He took a shuddering breath in, swallowing his nerves before responding.
Fernando
"Come." 3:25
"Please." 3:26
3:30 “I’m on my way.”
“The gate code is 1418. The door code is 2017.” 3:31
“You know where my room is, just come in.” 3:33
He texted Chloe letting her know Fernando was coming over, not wanting her to be alarmed when she woke up in the morning with a mysterious car in the driveway. He knew she would have questions, but they could wait.
He tucked further into the bed, chasing the comforting feeling of being enveloped. He knew the itch wouldn’t be fully scratched till Fernando got here. He tried not to dwell on the fact that comfort meant Fernando for Lance now.
He still felt uneasy, skin slightly clammy from the nightmare and his stint in the bathroom. His lids felt heavy with sleep, but the feeling of unease kept his eyes from closing.
He stared at his phone counting down the minutes till Fernando arrived.
…
Fernando floored the car, desperate to get to Lance. The last week had been a blur, heavy with emotions and thick with intensity.
He had felt uneasy since Lance was discharged, but Lawrence had assured him that Lance was untouchable under constant security.
Lance had been holding his head high. They even went out yesterday. Fernando had known it was more of Lawrence’s wish than Lance’s, but he was glad they were easing public speculation.
The speculation surrounding the incident was intense. But after Lance had released a statement saying he was okay after the abduction and maintaining the fact that it was just some crazed team member who wanted to speak with Lance, the speculation had died down a little.
It had made Fernando bristle. The fact of the matter was it never should have happened in the first place. No matter how much convincing Lance did to the public that nothing had happened or that he was okay, would convince Fernando. Him texting Fernando in the middle of the night proved that.
Fernando had set Lance’s notifications to a sound he knew would wake him. That’s why the moment Lance’s text jolted him awake, he had responded. He owed it to Lance to be here for him. Shamefully, his Alpha part needed to be there for the Canadian. Even before the incident, being away from Lance put a pit in his stomach, and now it was closer to a cavern.
He cared deeply for the younger Omega and would do anything Lance asked. If it meant driving over to his house at 3:30, he would do so. He just wanted Lance safe and happy.
He gave security the code, and drove down the elaborate driveway, parking in front of the mansion.
The door code was the same as the gate, and Fernando went to Lance’s room, knocking gently.
“Lance, it’s Fernando.”
Fernando could hear the shift of covers and light footsteps making their way to the door before it swung open. Lance stood before him, bags under his eyes and posture curved inward. The oversized shirt he was wearing swallowed him up.
It made Fernando’s heart break. Lance stepped aside, permitting him to enter. Fernando slipped his shoes off before entering, not wanting to track the outside world and scents inside.
Bedrooms were often sanctuaries, and judging by the weak attempt at a nest Lance had made, Fernando needed to proceed with caution.
“Thanks for coming,” Lance said, a tone of relief echoed throughout.
“Of course, Lance,” Fernando responded earnestly. “I meant it when I said I will do whatever you need me to.”
A weak smile adorned Lance’s face. The taller man made his way to his bed, sitting on the edge, patting the bed.
Fernando made his way over, stopping beside Lance.
“Can I enter your nest, Lance?”
“Of course,” Lance said sheepishly, face flushed. “Sorry, I didn’t even realize I had made one.”
“Nothing to be sorry for, Lance. What’s going through that mind of yours?”
“Can we just go to bed, please?”
Fernando resisted the urge to frown. If this is how Lance needed him, so be it. The reality was, though they were teammates, friends, and maybe even more, that didn’t give Fernando the right to Lance’s feelings. As much as he desired to be a listening ear to Lance, Lance had a highly qualified therapist for that. Who could give far better advice than he could.
He settled on the left side of the bed, closest to the doorway. Lance moved around him, organizing a few pillows and blankets before lying beside him on his side, facing him. Fernando mirrored him.
“I just can’t get him out of mind, Fer. Every time I close my eyes he’s there. Taunting me.” Lance’s voice wavered, he was trying to put on a brave front, but the facade couldn’t stop the tear from rolling down his face.
Fernando gingerly reached out, he let his hand stop just short of Lance’s face, letting Lance decide if he wanted the contact. Lance tilted into his palm, nuzzling into it, letting him wipe the tear away.
Fernando was seething with unbridled rage towards Chris.
“He’ll never touch you again, I’ll make sure of it.” Fernando was breathing hard, desperate to keep his scent and tone in control to not alarm Lance.
Lance’s warm eyes looked back at him, bloodshot but calm.
“I know.”
“You need to sleep, Lance.”
“I can’t.”
“Do you want to try scenting me?”
…
Lance nodded desperately, he moved his face from Fernando’s rough palm to his inner wrist, burying his nose in Fernando’s calming spiced scent. It made his heart and head stop pounding, and for the first time that night, Lance truly felt safe.
He felt the first grasps of sleep caress his temple. Lance wasn’t sure why he felt so safe with Fernando. But he also didn’t know why he wouldn’t be. The man had been intimidating when they met, sure, but always kind. As teammates, he was always advising Lance. Their awkwardness had turned to friendship, and slowly turned to something more. A connection.
Fernando shifted, lying on his back, and Lance followed, lying half on Fernando, burying his nose in Fernando’s muscular neck. Fernando moved his hand to his head, stroking through his coarse hair.
Lance’s brain slowed, and his heart settled. Lance would be lying if he said Fernando’s scent got rid of all his worries. He still felt the heartbreak of it all. Still felt the unease of what the future held. But, it was dampered in the arms of the Alpha who had rescued him. He could let himself be weak for once. He could let Fernando catch him, shield him.