A Strong Family Chapter 8: The Waiting, a speed racer fanfic

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Chapter 8: The Waiting

Racer X had just come back to Speed's house with a bag of fast food in his hand. After tossing a hamburger to Speed, he said, "I have some good news."

"You have good news?" Speed asked lifting his face to look at the Masked Racer's.

"Yes," Racer X said seeing Speed's hopes rise. "But I'm not telling you anything more until you at least take a bite of that hamburger."

Looking down at the hamburger that he had just barely caught, Speed said, "I'm just not hungry."

"Look. I know you're weak from not eating, and I know that you are going to need energy to handle the race. If you want to know the good news…eat," he said acting like the big brother that he was; rather than just a friend.

"Fine," Speed said giving in as he stood up and opened the plastic on the hamburger. He then took a bite, chewed and swallowed it fast. "Now please tell me."

Satisfied that Speed was attempting to eat, Racer X began to speak. "Zain said that most of the Zodiac team doesn't know he took Trixie but...Ben does."

"I knew it!" Speed exclaimed with rage. "He's the son-of-a-bitch who told me I should stay out of the race!"

"Anyway," Racer X said calmly not adding to Speed's outburst, "that fool thinks I might want to be on the Zodiac team. He insisted I talk to Zain."

Speed was highly impressed that the Masked Racer had managed that. "Did he tell you where Zain is?"

"Zain is renting a place and let's just say that I have a very good idea where."

"Where?" Speed asked wanting to know so that he could rescue his wife.

"I'm not positive…but I'm pretty sure that he has Trixie in a type of house."

"Do you mean he's renting a house?" Speed asked not so sure. He had imagined that Zain had Trixie hidden very well in some very unpleasant surroundings such as a broken down warehouse.

"Ben said he wasn't in his house, but renting. I know he meant renting a place to live, not a building or something else." Speed failed to notice that Racer X had a skill to figure these things out being that he was an undercover agent.

Starting to think out loud, Speed said, "Renting a place?" Knowing about all the houses to rent by the water, Speed said, "It's one of the camps!"

"No. Ben of course didn't say where but he did admit that his leader, Zain, is not near water."

"We're practically surrounded by water," Speed said sounding paranoid not realizing at first that Ben's clue did narrow it down tremendously.

"Calm down and think, Speed," Racer X said almost with a smile.

Speed ran his hand through his not brushed hair. As if a light came on in his head, he said. "The Woods! He's renting a cabin!"

Racer X smiled. "He's got to be. It's secluded so he could feel comfortable not worrying about anyone seeing what's going on."

"And it's not that far away. When Zain called me the first time, he said that Trixie would be where he was shortly. That was in about an hour's time. You could get to the woods in about an hour from here. They have to be in one of the cabins!"

"I believe that too," Racer X said still in deep thought about it.

"Let's go then," Speed said relieved as his adrenalin rushed.

"Wait, Speed. We're jumping way too ahead of ourselves. Besides…you have to be here when Zain calls back."

"I just can't keep sitting here doing nothing," Speed said sounding so disappointed. "I should be out there looking for her, especially now that I have a clue to where she might be."

Suddenly the phone started to ring.

Speed looked at it a couple of seconds first before dodging to the coffee table to pick it up. "Hello," he said sounding very tense.

"Speed," Zain said with his sick chuckle. "Don't sound so uptight."

"Is she alright?" Speed asked so worried about his very pregnant wife.

"I assure you that she is perfectly fine and will remain fine if ...you lose the race." Zain loved the fun of upsetting Speed.

"I already said I will lose," Speed said wishing he could pull the man through the phone and smash his face in.

Suddenly in the back ground Speed could just barely hear someone's voice very low.

The voice belonged to Trixie. She was there trying to get Zain's attention as she listened to him speak to her husband. As nicely as she could, she pleaded, "Please, Zain. Let me just speak to him. Please. I'm begging you."

Zain looked into her pleading face and found himself not being able to tell her no. She was starting to mean more to him than any hostage should. "Okay, fine," he said giving in only for her. He didn't care about cheering Speed up. "No hints about where you are."

Trixie only shook her head okay.

"Hello?... Hello?" Speed said hearing the phone sounding as if it was being shuffled around.

Zain held the phone out to Trixie and she smiled a thank you as she took it from him. She then opened her mouth and said softly into the receiver, "Speed."

"Oh, God. Trixie!" Speed exclaimed lifting his other hand to the phone as he held the receiver in both of his hands now. He felt a wave of emotion wash through him as he realized it was really her.

"Speed. I'm okay," she said after hearing the ache in his voice. She wished so much that she could feel him, touch him, smell him, anything that meant she was near him.

"Oh, baby," he said feeling his heart pounding, "Are you sure you're feeling okay? Please tell me they didn't hurt you?" If only he could hold her close to him and protect her from all of this.

"No one hurt me and I feel okay. I just want to know that you're not going out of your mind," she said making him realize that she was worried about him - once again.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here when they...took you," Speed said feeling his eyes water.

A tear then rolled down Trixie's cheek while listening to him blame himself for something he had no control over. "Speed. This is not your fault."

"I promise that I'll get you back," he said sounding determined.

"I know. Just know that I'm alright until then," she said as more tears rolled out of her eyes. "I love you," she said and with that Zain quickly grabbed the phone away from her. He didn't want to hear Trixie say it again.

"I love you so much," Speed said wanting to embrace her and make her feel safe.

"Sorry. It's me," Zain said with hate in his voice. "I'll call you tomorrow."

Speed stood there holding the phone even after Zain hung up. When the dial tone sounded, Speed hung the phone up and put it down. He then covered his face with his hands wanting to scream out in frustration.

Racer X cautiously walked behind his brother and put a hand on his shoulder.

Speed removed his hands from his face and shook his head as if to wake up from what was happening.

"What did she say?" Racer X asked kindly.

"She tried to assure me that she is alright," Speed said sick of being on this emotional rollercoaster.

"I hope it eases your mind a bit," Racer X said guessing it still wasn't enough to make Speed feel better.

Not saying anything, Speed walked away and headed down the hall.

The Masked Racer quietly followed him into the baby's room.

Speed walked into the middle of the room and just stood there. "Right before I left; before they took her," Speed said knowing Racer X was behind him, "I held her in this room and told her how much I loved her and that I would protect her and the baby. I haven't done a good job so far."

"Speed. You didn't know this was going to happen," Racer X said wanting to convince him that there was nothing he could have done. The Masked Racer just couldn't let his brother blame himself.

Speed turned and looked at Racer X. "I'm still scared but now I'm also…pissed." The fury became obvious on Speed's face. "How dare he come into my house and take my wife and put her and the baby's life in danger!"

Folding his arms, the Masked Racer asked, "So are you ready to do something about it?"

"Damn right!" Speed exclaimed; his eyes full of rage. "There she is trying to console me and she's the hostage."

"I'm sure just hearing your voice made her feel better."

"She's got faith in me to find her, and I'm going to do it," Speed said sounding like he was ready to win a race.

Racer X was glad that more of Speed's confidence was coming back.

An hour later a map of all the cabins in the woods was lying across Speed's kitchen table. Racer X had picked it up earlier on the way back to Speed's house. The two of them sat down paying close attention to where each of the cabins were located.

After hours of guessing and trying to figure out where Trixie might be, Racer X told Speed he should get some sleep in his quiet bedroom. Speed was no where near tired and admitted that he couldn't sleep in his bed without Trixie.

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About an hour away Trixie lay in her temporary bed thinking of the way Speed's voice sounded on the phone. The relief in his voice when he first heard her was unquestioning but so was how fearful he was. She had wanted to hint that she was in the woods but couldn't with Zain right there. She smiled somewhat thinking of the determination in her husband's voice when he said he'd get her back. Once again for her and the baby's sake, her positive attitude took over and she believed that Speed would never give up on getting her back.

The next day, which was the day before the race, Trixie awoke to see Zain standing by the door watching her. "What are you doing here?" she asked not happy to see him.

"I was just watching you," Zain said with a smile not embarrassed in the least.

Trixie was very uncomfortable at the thought of his eyes on her.

"Don't worry. I haven't been here long," Zain said walking over to her.

"Where's Tim?" Trixie asked as if she rathered him.

"He'll be here later," Zain said not really caring about Conrad or Tim at the moment. He then held out his hand to help her up.

Trixie didn't move but only looked at his hand. The last thing she wanted to do was to take it.

"Take it," Zain said. "Yesterday I noticed how you struggled to get up at times. I'm just trying to help you."

Scared he might lose it if she didn't, Trixie took his hand and he pulled her up.

After she was standing, she pulled her hand out of his but not too abruptly because she didn't want to upset him.

He held out his arm for her to walk through the door first. He then walked with her to the bathroom and then motioned for her to go in. "When you're finished, come to the dining room."

Trixie was surprised he would trust her alone but realistically there was nothing she could do and no where she could go from in the bathroom. About twenty minutes later, she was in the dining room eating breakfast with Zain.

Like the night before they sat at the table for awhile after they ate. Once again Zain tried to pry information out of her. "So exactly when are you due?"

"In about three to four weeks," she said uncomfortably.

"Do you feel the child move inside of you?"

She wished he didn't talk about her baby as she shook her head yes.

Zain suddenly let out a breath and said, "Too bad it's Speed's child."

"Well he is the father," Trixie said automatically defending her husband.

"Don't remind me," Zain said before taking a sip of his drink.

"I'm sorry it upsets you that this baby is his," Trixie said just before telling herself that she better be nicer or she might regret it.

"Of course," Zain said, but then with a questioning face, added, "One might wonder if it's genetic."

"If what's genetic?" Trixie asked realizing he had't even hear the last thing that she had said.

"What do I mean?" Zain repeated out loud. "What I mean is…first there was Rex, then Speed, and now you might give birth to another champion racer."

Trixie felt a chill as Zain spoke of her and Speed's child. Protectively she wrapped her arms around herself and the baby.

"You look uncomfortable," Zain said standing up. "Is it your back?"

Trixie wanted to say it was him but she said nothing.

Walking over to her, Zain stood behind her. Putting his hands on her shoulders, he started to massage them.

Trixie tried to ignore the sick feeling his touch delivered to her. Her eyes started to water as his hands moved down her arms and then back again to her shoulders. "Zain," she said uncomfortably, "I have to use the bathroom."

"Oh, yes. Especially being pregnant," he said with a proud smile. Again he helped Trixie up and then allowed her to go to the bathroom.

Once in the bathroom, she stared into the mirror telling herself to calm down as she whispered, "You're imagining things, Trixie. He doesn't really want you and your baby." Again she thought of how he rubbed his hands over her arms and she shuddered.

At Speed's house, Racer X and he were still planning for the race the next day. "Remember, Speed. You have to fool everyone."

"I know. I know," Speed said while pacing in his kitchen.

On the table all of the cabins were circled on the map. The two brothers had managed, after many phone calls, to limit the cabins down to just four of them possibly being where Trixie might be.

"I'll be around the cabin area looking for anything suspicious for a while today. You wait for Zain's call to see where he plans to release Trixie back to you," Racer X said rolling up the map.

"I hope Sparky can keep my family away from me today," Speed said sounding aggravated just from the thought of Pops calling to demand why he wasn't on the track practicing.

"Remember. Pops…uh…your father, is going to drive you crazy tomorrow before and during the race. You have to just ignore him," Racer X said knowing how hard it could be at times to deal with Pops.

"If you heard his mouth when he's upset, you'd really know why I can't handle talking to him today," Speed said letting out a deep breath.

Racer X only thought to himself how well he did know.

Later that day Trixie lied and said she was tired so that she could get away from Zain. Unfortunately he had insisted that she lay on the sofa. She really wanted to be in that awful windowless room away from him. On the sofa with her eyes closed as if she was sleeping, Trixie listened in hopes of hearing Zain leave the room. It had to be a good hour and he still hadn't left. Assuming that he would never leave, Trixie finally sat up.

"So how was your nap?" Zain asked watching her again.

"Fine," Trixie said wishing he would just leave her alone.

Zain stood up, walked over to her, and then sat down on the sofa very close to her not missing how stiff her body became. "Don't be nervous," he said gently. "There's just something about you that makes me want to be close to you."

"Please," Trixie said sounding scared.

"Please what?" he asked. "I told you last night that I'm not going to hurt you. You might be the last person that I could ever hurt."

Trixie looked down not wanting to look into his eyes.

However, he put his hand on her chin and lifted her face till she was looking at him.

Petrified, she feared he was going to kiss her. She blinked back tears as he moved closer to her. "Zain. Please, no," she said turning her face away from him.

"What's wrong?" he asked as if it was normal for a stranger to kiss a married, eighth month pregnant woman. "Is it that you have never been with anyone but Speed? Surely you've kissed other men before him."

Trixie still wouldn't look at him.

"Oh, I get it," Zain said. "You may have kissed other men but you have never been with another man."

Trixie had a quick flash back of how easy it was to surrender to Speed their honeymoon night. Love had made her want to be with Speed. How dare this man even want her to kiss him.

Unexpectedly the front door opened and there stood Tim and Conrad. Zain had already stood up from when he heard the doorknob turning.

Trixie never knew she could be so happy to see the men who actually took her.

That night at Speed's house, he forced himself to stay patient as he waited for Zain's call.

"Why didn't he call yet?" Speed asked pacing up and down in his den holding the phone.

"He'll call," Racer X said wishing himself that the phone would ring soon.

A half-hour later the phone did ring. "Hello," Speed said quickly.

"Hello, Speed," Zain said knowing Speed had been waiting for this call.

Not wanting to hear Zain rattle on like he did the last few times he called, Speed quickly said, "After I lose the race, where will Trixie be?"

Zain still wanted Speed to lose and Speed was only going to lose if he thought Trixie would be returned to him. "I'll call you right after the race at your house."

Speed didn't like this at all. He wanted more specific information. "I'll come get her."

"No. You will do what I want," Zain said calmly. "Believe me I'll gladly keep her if you don't want to do it my way. She's like a rare jewel. You really had something special." There was a pause. Zain knew he had to let Speed think he would be getting Trixie back so he said, "Just lose the damn race and then I'll call you right after."

"But how do I know you will?" Speed asked, but Zain had already hung up.

Racer X couldn't help but notice the alarm on Speed's face. "What? What is it?" Racer X asked walking over to Speed.

Speed looked at Racer X and said, "I think he's falling in love with my wife."

For dinner that night in the cabin, Trixie was relieved when Zain didn't try to touch her or ask her any personal questions. She just kept telling herself that she just had to get through that night. She also told herself that she was only imagining that Zain wanted her.

Later Zain was having a glass of wine as he sat in a chair by the window. Though the race was tomorrow, he wasn't as excited as he should have been; knowing that Speed would lose. He was more happy about something else. "Trixie," he whispered to himself. "If you weren't pregnant, you would be in my room tonight, but the baby's health comes first. After the baby is born, I will be the father to it. You will become my wife and we will be a family. If not…I'll kill Speed."

Will Pops want to kill Speed for the way he drives in the race tomorrow?