**For some reason, Doc Mgr isn't placing my chapter headings in the center like I want, so I'm having to resort to placing this little paragraph here to get it right on some of these chapters. It won't apply to all, but in case some are wondering why this heading is here, I'm blaming it on the formatting while trying to edit this shit on this site. It can be a real pain in the ass sometimes. So, if you see this entry here, this is why.**

Chapter 10
Promise

His parents accompanied him at his request. On his way to ICU, Monarch learned what transpired. The accident occurred at about 10:00 P.M., a little over two hours ago. Icky was at first parked at a rest area on the highway just five miles outside of Reno while his big rig carrier was taking a brief nap. He let Icky out of his cab to stretch his wheels. An intoxicated Acura SUV was driving erratically down the highway and menacing other cars. Other drivers said he was swerving all over the road prior to getting on the ramp exit and appeared to be drunk. He then came flying down the off ramp to the rest stop, witnesses said, at close to 90 mph or so, slamming face-first into the racer at the bottom. The SUV was killed on impact while Icky was left severely injured. The collision was so violent that it sent pieces of the SUV flying as far as 50 feet; he literally disintegrated. On-the-site drug tests of his splattered fluids were administered by the first highway patrol cars to arrive on the scene, which tested positive for alcohol. The vehicle was nearly five times over the limit. Icky was knocked into a violent spin almost 20 feet across the small rest stop park. He would have gone much farther than that it was determined had it not been for a tree that stopped him. He had never seen it coming, let alone had time to react to it.

According to police, the SUV's internal speedometer clocked him at 101 miles an hour at the time of the collision because that was the number it was frozen on when his dashboard was found. It wasn't a suspected suicide where the SUV was plotting to take an innocent along with him, but rather a very, VERY tragic accident. A STUPID accident, one that came about because of someone choosing to hit the road drunk rather than sleep it off, and not only did it cost him his life but potentially the life of a complete innocent. Icky was air lifted to the nearest hospital. Condition: life-threatening critical.

It had quickly been ruled out that Icky was not driving on his own on the freeway, obviously because of where the wreck happened, and being what he was he knew better than to drive on the road at night. This was the one real negative about being a professional race car, racers were restricted as to when they could drive freely. In the daytime it was no problem, they could share the open roads and surface streets of a city with other cars because it was broad daylight. But once it became dark race cars were banned from driving due to their lack of headlights. Of course they went out to night clubs and dinner at night. They could roam about in a small area like a parking lot and the like at night. But if they wanted to venture out in public at night they HAD to have a carrier escort with them at all times, be it a companion or their personal eighteen-wheeler chaperones. To be caught at night on a street or freeway without headlights was just asking for a ticket as long as their bodies were wide. Not to mention possible jail time for repeat offenders, and possibly being banned for life from professional racing. Anyone entering the race care lifestyle understood these rules and Icky was no exception. His big rig was with him obviously so it had long been quickly concluded that Icky didn't contribute to this catastrophe. Even if he had been somewhat at fault, no one deserved to be injured like this.

The plane safely landed and Monarch was escorted to the hospital. The staff generally allowed only close family members two at a time into its ICU, but Monarch was family to Icky. This car was dying so the least they could do was grant his wish and allow anyone he desired into the room with him. "I'm sorry to say that his condition is very grave. I mean very grave. We would like to be optimistic but there is a very high probability that he will not survive this. It will be a miracle if he survives the night. There is really nothing more we can do for him other than administer pain-killers to him to ease his pain, which we already have. We're trying to increase his comfort level at this point, and he's pretty sedated now. More than likely he's in so much shock that he probably can't feel anything now. Surgery would simply kill him at this point; the injuries he has sustained are too great. " the doctor somberly told Monarch, Jane, Prince and Doc. He was very polite and professional, clearly concerned for his dying patient as any good doctor would be. Like any he had to keep his collective self together when dealing with family and friends of a loved one and not let emotion get the better of him. But his quiet tone and voice spoke volumes. The ER doctor looked down briefly. "I won't lie to you," he sighed looking back up at Doc. "you're a physician like me, so I really don't need to tell you to be prepared for what you're about to see. But, prepare yourself for how he will look when you see him. It's not going to be…pleasant. But know this, the individual you see in there, is still the same individual he was before, and that's how all of you need to remember him. " he added. "He no longer has eyes so he can't see you. He can hear and he can talk with great difficulty. I think he's holding on just long enough to see everyone he loves first for the final time. " Doc swallowed, knowing as a doctor himself where this one was coming from.

The white truck meant that Icky was so badly deformed that the hospital thought it was best not even to allow his mother in to see him, let alone what they
viewed to be strangers like these four. She met her son at the hospital as soon as she learned which one he was being transported to and she saw him as he was being brought in. She totally freaked out and was now in a waiting room with other relatives, trying to be comforted. She was screaming and pleading, demanding to be let in to see her son but everyone decided against it. Some were even contemplating not even letting her attend her own son's funeral. Icky's mother was so hysterical that she started to vomit. Prince could see her down the hall and she looked at her husband. Doc only nodded.

"She needs you right now. I understand." He said to her and she disappeared down the hall to the waiting room to offer what comfort she could to Mercy.

x

Monarch steeled himself for what was to come as he slowly entered the room. The King, Chick Hicks and another one Icky's friends were already there. Monarch froze in the doorway as soon as he saw Icky. Jane gaped. "Oh my god." She whispered. She wasn't sure she could stomach this but she has to be brave. Especially for her husband. Because he really looked like he was about to crumble to rust. What should have been Icky's face was completely smashed in. His grill was now right under his eyes. He looked as though he didn't even have a face, just two blank holes where his eyes once were. He no longer had eyes. His mouth was nowhere; it had been pushed completely inside of his interior. He had no front tires, not even rims. Even they now sat at twisted angles under his carriage. One whole side of him was completely missing. Tubes protruded from him, the IVs that gave him relief. Doc went up to Icky and planted a ginger kiss to the Late Model's hood. Jane started to stroke where she thought his front tire was beneath him. She shook her head, eyes welling up.

Somehow Icky knew itwas her and Doc. His talking was very raspy, almost alien. "Tk you. F' coming." He throated out. "Your welcome son. You're like a son to us, you know that?" Doc told him as Prince came in. Once she got past her initially appalled reaction to Icky she immediately came over and embraced him with her hug, the tears coming. Her weeping was silent but Icky felt them trickling down him. He swallowed as best he could. If he could have smiled he would have. He knew it was Prince.

"M'nrck".

He was trying to say "Monarch".

Monarch swallowed hard as he was standing right in front of the pal he considered to be a brother. "Rrh'c." Icky told him. "Huh?" Monarch snapped out his struggling world not to break down in front of everyone. "T' rce t…mhrow. I want you to rrhc. Promise me." Icky struggled out. Everyone knew what he was saying. "I want you to race tomorrow. Promise me." He meant. Chick, The King, and Doc all looked at each other. Monarch shook his head. "I can't Icky. Not like this. Not with you like this, this…" Monarch started. "Race." Icky struggled.

Monarch looked at his father. Doc was at a loss of words. He didn't know what to say. He really didn't know what to tell his son. Icky appeared to swallow, and then his EKG monitor started to flat line. Monarch lost it and collapsed on top of him, sobbing uncontrollably. Everyone crowded around him in a multiple hug as doctors and nurses came in. In the waiting room, Icky's mother screamed, screeching to get down to her son's room, immediately realizing that her son had just passed away, but another distressed car was preventing her from leaving the room by grabbing at one of her spinning back tires. Prince came down the hall to help restrain her. Doc shut his eyes, fighting the urge to weep as he watched Chick coax Monarch away so thatthe staff could do their job. They drew the curtains around Icky's mat.