A Strong Family Chapter 9: To Race Or Not, a speed racer fanfic

Chapter 9: To Race or Not

The day of the race was finally here and a plan was set to put into action. Racer X was to spy on the Zodiac Team in hopes that one of them might slip up about where Trixie was definitely being held, which would be too sweet. All Speed had to do was stay in the race and lose.

While the race would be running its course, Racer X would be going to the cabins in the woods to see if he could find anything suspicious. He had gone the day before and there was not a single clue of what cabin Trixie might be in. He refused to let himself believe that Speed and he might be wrong about Trixie being in a cabin.

"Remember, Speed," The Masked Racer said with his hands on his brother's shoulders just before the race was to start, "You have to fool everyone."

"I know," Speed said very seriously. He then thought to himself, I even have to fool you, Racer X.

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The night before after Zain's call was received and Racer X left, Speed began to go over in his head what Zain had said on the phone. Zain had said that he would glady keep Trixie and had also said that Speed had been lucky to have her. After hanging the phone up, a distraught Speed had told Racer X that he thought Zain was falling in love with Trixie. Following that statement, Speed told Racer X to just ignore what he had said, insisting that he just needed some sleep. Knowing the Masked Racer wanted him to stay in the race, Speed agreed to but in his heart, he knew what he really had to do.

So after Racer X had left from Speed's house, Speed called his good old friend Sparky. At the end of their conversation, Speed had said, "Please just do what I asked. I promise I'll tell you everything sometime after the race tomorrow."

Now it was the day of the race as Pops walked over to his son and said, "Speed. I never had a chance to catch you practicing. Sparky swears that your time has been good."

"Sure, Pops," Speed said walking away from him. With a battle going on in his head at the moment, Speed just couldn't deal with his Father.

"Talk about not talkative," Pops said watching his son's back as he walked away.

Mom Racer had just walked up to her husband and said, "Yes. I'll talk to him to see if anything's wrong."

Within seconds, Speed heard someone approaching him.

"Speed," Mom Racer said immediately sensing that something was very wrong. "Is everything okay?"

Speed turned to see his mother and he knew this was going to be extremely hard.

Before he could say anything, she smiled and said, "You look like you need a hug." She then hugged him and he hugged her back. He hugged her for a long time in fact; feeling like a little boy who once again needed his mother's help after he had gotten hurt like he had as a child. "Please let me help you," she said softly.

Releasing his mother and then not making eye contact with her, he said, "I'm okay."

"Alright. Then is Trixie okay? I haven't spoken to her in the last three days."

"She's fine," Speed said hating to lie to his Mother.

"But you just don't look right," she said tilting her head as she tried to make eye contact with him. "Are you two fighting?

"Mom. She's home since she's so far along. She didn't want the excitement of the race to get to her."

"Oh," Mom Racer said pretending to believe him. "Maybe I should just go see how she's doing."

"No, Mom!" Speed exclaimed nervously. Forcing himself to calm down and smile, he said, "I meant that…it's better if you don't disturb her. She's been so exhausted that I insisted that she just sleep today."

"Oh…okay," Mom Racer said not wanting to act like she didn't trust her beloved son. He was a married man and she had to let him live his life. Hopefully he would come to her when he truly needed her help.

Sorry, Mom, Speed thought as he walked to stand by the Mach 5. He began looking at the other racers and wondered if they knew how normal their lives were at that moment. They were getting good luck kisses from their wives or girlfriends. Speed would have given anything for Trixie to be there right at that second wishing him luck. Even is she would have been there driving him crazy that would have been fine as long as she was there with him - safe.

He looked around some more till his eyes stopped and stayed on Ben. Almost uncontrollably, his feet started to walk him towards Ben. Speed was ready to pounce on the guy as he ignored Racer X's voice in his head telling him to act like everything was completely fine.

"Speed!" Sparky called from behind him.

Not hearing Sparky, Speed kept on walking faster and faster.

"Hey! Speed!" Sparky screamed.

Speed stopped and shut his eyes; squeezing his fist tight. "Stick with your plan," he told himself out loud. Another voice in his head was telling him to attack the guy who knew where his wife was.

"Speed," Sparky said grabbing his arm as he walked in front of Speed. "Where are you going?"

"Thank God you got here to stop me," Speed said catching his breath. "Please make me walk back to the Mach 5 with you."

Sparky looked at his friend and judging from the look on his face, Speed looked like he was just coming out of temporary insanity. Sparky turned Speed around and they headed back to the Mach 5. "Speed. Are you alright?"

"No," Speed said seriously. "Not yet."

Racer X had been watching and was thankful that Sparky had gotten Speed to go back towards the Mach 5. A fight with Ben surely would have messed up everything.

"Maybe you should tell Pops whatever is wrong," Sparky said feeling that this problem was way over his head.

"No!" Speed nearly yelled as he stopped and put his hands on Sparky's shoulders. "No one can know that something is wrong."

"Okay. Okay," Sparky said wanting Speed to relax. "But I have to ask you something. Does this have anything to do with Trixie not wanting you to race anymore?"

Speed looked at Sparky not knowing what he was talking about. He then shook his head blowing it off as he remembered all the excuses Racer X had told Sparky when Speed was thought to be passed out. The Masked Racer had said anything to get Sparky to believe that Speed was drunk.

"Please, Sparky. Just tell me you're still going to help me."

Speed and Sparky had been friends for a long time so Sparky could easily see the gravity of the situation in Speed's eyes. There was no way the mechanic wasn't going to help his friend. "Speed. I already parked my car where you told me to. I'm going to do what you asked me to do."

"Thanks," Speed said so sincerely.

As they started to walk back to the Mach 5 again, Sparky asked, "How am I going to sneak into the trunk? Years ago Spritle was the expert at that."

"I'll distract Pops and the rest of the pit crew, and then you jump in. Through the years of great success, the Go Team had grown.

"How are you going to do that?" Sparky asked because of the amount of people Speed would have to fool.

"You gave me an idea before."

Five minutes later, Speed had the pit crew and of course Pops and Mom gathered around him. "I have an announcement to make."

As they all focused their eyes on Speed, he lifted an arm signaling for Sparky to get into the trunk.

Speed began with some more acting, "I think I'm…going to quit racing."

"What!" could be heard from the crew. Some whispered. Some yelled. Pops was the loudest.

"What!" Pops roared putting his face right in front of Speed's. "You're going to tell us this right before a big race!"

From the corner of his eye, Speed saw the trunk close after Sparky was in.

"I was just joking," Speed said smiling. "Everyone back to normal."

"What!" Pops roared again. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack!"

"No. I'm sorry, Pops. I just wanted everyone's attention to thank them for doing such a good job. Great job, everyone!"

Pops let out a deep breath as Mom Racer told him to calm down and then she said, "He has a baby coming, and I think he's just very nervous about it. Remember when he got morning sickness when Trixie did? Maybe her hormones are making him go a little crazy too."

Trixie had breakfast in her temporary room that morning glad not to have Zain for company. Tim soon came to see if she was finished so he could take her tray.

"I'm glad you came instead of Conrad," she said when Tim had appeared.

He smiled and said, "He and Zain are off."

"Yes. They're at the race."

"As far as I know," Tim said. "So how are you feeling?"

"I feel fine. No thanks to the situation I'm in."

Tim was thankful that her nerves hadn't made her go into an early labor. "You'll be okay soon," he said in a friendly voice. "I found a few articles about you that Zain must have cut out from racing magazines and newspapers. The articles spoke of how well you can handle all kinds of situations. They also said something about you being tough."

"I don't know about tough," Trixie said. "Maybe a little because Speed and I have often been in dangerous situations but...at least we were together."

"I know that after he loses the race today, you will be reunited with him."

Trixie only smiled but suddenly she wasn't too sure. She couldn't help but wonder why Zain hadn't mentioned anything about releasing her back to Speed the night before.

Now the race was seconds from starting and when it did, Speed took off full speed. After a couple of laps he began to slow down. It was beyond weird to him to purposely go slower than the other racers. The Mach 5 wanted to be pushed so much more that Speed could feel it.

Pops was going nuts wondering what was wrong with his son. "Sparky!" he screamed ready to complain about Speed's driving but he never got an answer from Sparky.

Once off the track and racing on the street, Speed began to push the Mach 5 like he normally did. After being way ahead, he pulled over under a bunch of trees. All he could do was just hope that the cameras from the above helicopters wouldn't catch what he was doing. He then jumped out of his car and opened the trunk just after he checked the sky once again.

Sparky got out rubbing his head while saying, "I don't know how Spritle rode in that trunk all the time."

Pulling a duffel bag out of the trunk, Speed then pulled a set of extra clothes out of it and handed them to Sparky.

"Where am I going to change?" Sparky asked becoming modest.

"I don't know. Uh...go behind that tree," Speed said pointing to it. "Make it fast."

When Sparky came back after changing, he had on Speed's famous blue shirt and white pants. He even had on the red scarf.

Though the clothes were slightly too big for Sparky, Speed knew his friend could pull him off with the helmet.

"Put this on," Speed said putting the helmet on Spark's head.

"Owe! careful!" Sparky shrieked as his eyes squinted.

"Sorry," Speed said fastening it close. "Your car is right up that hill. Right?" Speed asked ready to dash off.

"Yes," Sparky said remembering the long walk he had made back to the beginning of the race earlier that day after leaving his car there.

"If Pops starts yelling at you, ignore him," Speed said walking Sparky over to the Mach 5.

"Don't worry," Sparky said getting into the race car. "I'll just remind myself that he's really yelling at you."

"Right," Speed said closing the door after Sparky was in.

Sparky put the seat belt on with a smile on his face. "I think this is going to be a blast," he admitted.

"Look," Speed said hating to put his friend's life in danger. "Let everyone pass you. I don't want you getting yourself killed."

"Pops is going to kill you after this," Sparky said ready to drive the car he had always loved working on in an actual race.

"Remember. You must lose," Speed said knowing there was no possible way that Sparky could win even in the Mach 5.

"As if I could win," Sparky said still smiling as if reading Speed's mind.

"Sparky you know better than anyone what this car can do. So take it easy."

"I know. I know," Sparky said. The roar of other racecars began to near them.

"Wait till they pass and then pull out," Speed said sounding like a coach. "Stay far away from everyone and let them win. Remember. Whatever you do, don't take off your helmet."

"Okay already," Sparky said sounding impatient. "Let me make this car move!"

Speed was almost tempted to pull Sparky out of the Mach 5 afraid the mechanic would kill himself. But images of Trixie being trapped somewhere because of Zain made Speed realize once again that he had no choice than to let Sparky go.

When most of the cars cleared, Speed yelled, "Go!"

Sparky took off and Speed watched as the Mach 5 left with its new driver.

"Be careful, Sparky," Speed whispered then turned around to run up the hill. Within seconds of seeing Sparky's car, he said out loud, "There it is." It was a black sports car but of course nothing like the Mach 5. Speed jumped in using the spare key that had been hidden underneath the car. He then took off straight to the woods knowing that even Racer X was still at the beginning of the race.

The prisoner, Trixie, was in her jail cell like room when Zain made a phone call to Tim, who had been relaxing in the big den.

"Tim," Zain said over the phone. "Are you watching the race?"

"Yes," Tim said sitting on the sofa. "Speed's doing what you demanded. In fact…I could almost laugh because he's driving so horribly."

Zain let out a chuckle because he had to agree. He loved Speed making a disgrace of himself.

"Listen, Tim. Let my beautiful wife know that I will be coming back early. I'll watch the end of the race with her."

"Your wife?" Tim asked confused. He knew Zain didn't mean his sister, the cook. She wasn't there anyway.

"Yes. My soon to be wife, Trixie," Zain said sounding oh so proud. "She's mine now. You and Conrad did a great job bringing her to me."

"What do you mean she's yours?" Tim asked feeling his heart in his throat.

"Just what I said," Zain said happily. "Even the baby will be mine and most definitely a fine racer someday."

Tim didn't say anything.

"Forget about telling her that I'm on my way back now. I'd like to surprise her myself," Zain said just before hanging up the phone.

Tim stood there shocked just holding the phone in his hands like Speed had done after the couple of times he had spoken to Zain.

Meanwhile, Sparky was flying in the Mach 5 while laughing like he was insane. Saying he was having the time of his life was an under statement. He knew his driving lacked everything compared to a professional racer; expecially Speed, but man was he having fun. "Being Speed for a day is a blast!" he yelled, but was interrupted by Pops coming over the radio.

"What is wrong with you! You drove better than that before you even got your license!"

Sparky was quite insulted. Remembering Speed telling him to ignore Pops, Sparky turned the radio off losing all contact with Mr. Racer. As the Mach 5 continued on, so did Sparky's laughing.

Away from the race, Speed arrived by one of the four cabins that Trixie could possibly be at. He jumped out the car, trying to ignore what a voice in his head was saying. It was saying, What are you going to find today that Racer X hadn't found yesterday? Shaking his head, Speed moved to the cabin. Sneaking around as carefully as possible, he made it over to a window to see a family having what looked like brunch. Instantly he knew this was strike one. The next cabin was a half-hour away.

Back at the race a racer named Doug drove up next to the Mach 5. Sparky knew Doug was yelling something to him but he just couldn't make it out. He really didn't care to either as he floored it.

Doug yelled again, "Speed! Have you been drinking!"

Sparky was now waving good-bye as the Mach 5 moved ahead of Doug. The new driver of the Mach 5 knew he would still lose because there were still a good twenty cars ahead of him but losing was in the plan anyway. The mechanic; now racer, couldn't help but think of how much fun racing was, especially when not being pressured to win.

A half-hour later at the second cabin, Speed found it to be gone. It had burned down probably months before so there wasn't much left to it at all. Obviously, Racer X hadn't made it to the area yet. Strike two, Speed thought getting nervous. "Damn," he said out loud hoping his next choice was the right choice and not three strikes and you're out. The next two cabins were in totally opposite directions and a good bit away. He would waste even more time if he chose to go to the wrong one.

"God. Please let me pick the right Cabin," Speed prayed.

Back in the correct cabin, Trixie had been resting her tired back on the bed once again when Tim opened the door and walked in. He looked to be in another world as he actually sat down on the very end of the bed; not looking at Trixie.

Trixie knew something was wrong but she was almost too afraid to find out what it was. "Oh, no," she said sitting up. "Is Speed okay?"

"Yes," Tim said calmly. "You really want to be back with him. Don't you?"

"Of course," Trixie said wishing Tim would look at her.

"I didn't quite know what I was getting myself into," Tim said disappointed in himself. "Money can make some people like me do horrible things. I am sorry for what I have contributed to the situation you're in. I already left the money Zain had given me so far on the table. I want none of it now. He's suppose to give me more but I don't want that either."

"What are you trying to say, Tim?" Trixie asked nervously.

"I'm leaving," he said staring at the floor. "I have to get out of here and far, far away. Zain will try to find me to kill me for what I'm about to do."

Trixie bit her lip before asking if he was going to let her go.

Tim began speaking again. "I would tell you to call for help but Zain might be back before help could get here. He's headed back now."

"The race can't be over," Trixie said raising her eyebrows.

"It's not, but trust me," Tim said finally looking at her. "He's coming back to claim what he thinks is his."

Trixie saw the sorry look in Tim's eyes as she mumbled, "Me?"

He didn't answer but lifted his hand to leave a set of keys next to her on the bed. "This is for the blue car outside."

Trixie knew he meant a car for her to escape in. "Thank you," she said feeling relief wash over her.

"No," Tim said sadly. "Don't thank me. I am truly sorry. Only a sick person would kidnap a pregnant woman, or kidnap anyone for that matter."

Trixie didn't say anything but watched as he stood up and left the room. Next, she heard what had to be the front door opening. Seconds later the sound of a car starting and pulling off made her know that he was gone. "I'm awake. This is really happening," she said happily as she picked up the keys and then slowly headed down the hall.

Catching a glance at the TV, she saw that the race was in full swing. There were a bunch of cars trying their hardest to take the lead. She started to leave till she heard her husband's name. She turned to see the Mach 5 on the screen and couldn't believe how out of control Speed looked while driving. "Well. He's supposed to lose," she whispered heading to the front door. Once out the door, she looked around to see no one. There to her right was a blue car and she was almost to it when she heard an approaching car. Though she didn't see it, she could tell that it had stopped close by. She then remembered Tim saying that Zain was already headed back and she began to panic as she headed back into the cabin.

Once in the cabin, Trixie went back to her room, pretending like she had never tried to leave. What would Zain do to her if he found out? Feeling almost sick, she sat on the bed hugging herself while she rocked back and forth. She stopped when she saw the doorknob turning and she began to cry uncontrollably.

When the door opened, she let out a slight scream as she hid her face in her hands not wanting to see Zain.

The person at the door looked at the pregnant woman crying; not believing his eyes. He took fast steps towards her but it still seemed forever till he had gotten to her.

Trixie felt hands gently wrap around her wrist and then start to pull her hands away from her face.

Her teary, green eyes then met the most gorgeous blue eyes, which belonged to none other than her husband.

"Speed!" she cried out with tears streaming down her face.

"I'm here," he said relieved beyond comprehension as he sat down on the bed next to her pulling her into his arms up against him. He kissed her face, her hands and her shoulder as he took in the scent of her hair. Tears ran down his face because he was so thankful that he had found her and that she was okay.

The pregnant woman clung to her husband, holding on for dear life. He was really there holding her in his arms. Before she could ask how, the front door slammed shut making her hold on to him even tighter.

Who came through the door?

Should Speed start kissing his life good-bye now?