Almost Shattered Chapter 8: A Sitting Duck, a speed racer fanfic

Chapter 8: A Sitting Duck

The time finally came for Speed to go home, and Trixie and his family surrounded him as he was being pushed in a wheel chair towards the hospital doors to leave. The press had to be held back outside by the police because they were a little too eager to get to the young racer. While Speed was being pushed down the halls, closer to the exit doors, he found himself becoming more and more nervous. He kept imagining the look alike coming out of one of the rooms or walking down the hall towards him or simply just waiting for him outside.

"Wait," Speed said as Pops pushed him closer towards the doors.

Pops continued to push his son nearer to the doors since he hadn't heard Speed because of the noise the press was making.

"Wait...wait!" Speed exclaimed much louder sounding almost in a panic.

"Honey," Mom Racer said to her husband. "Speed said to stop."

"What is it?" Pops asked as he stopped pushing Speed just before going through the doors.

"I'm...I'm not ready to go home," Speed said holding on tightly to the wheel chair.

"Why?" Mom Racer asked wondering why he would want to stay in the hospital any longer.

Trixie saw the fear on Speed's face as he looked outside. Remembering how much Speed sometimes hated the attention from the press, she knew they weren't helping. "Speed," the sweet girl said kneeling down by him. "Mom's van is only a few feet away. All we have to do is ignore the press and head right for it."

"Right," Mom Racer said agreeing with Trixie. "You don't have to answer any of their questions."

Nodding his head okay, Speed still feared that the look alike was out there in the crowd just waiting for him. He became more and more paranoid as he thought of how the look alike planned on finishing him off. He wondered if he'd use a gun next time. However, Speed figured that would be too easy because the look alike obviously liked long suffering.

Suddenly Racer X walked in after pushing his way through the press. "Come on. I'll help get him to the van," he said standing in front of Speed.

Speed felt a little better since his bodyguard/brother all in one appeared. However, part of Speed still felt afraid to go outside.

Pops began pushing the wheel chair once again and Speed would have yelled out in protest to stop but in seconds he was pushed into the outside world.

The press yelled different questions to Speed over and over as he just concentrated on getting to the van. He looked down and stared at the ground, not answering one question. It felt like forever till he was finally to the van, though it only took a few seconds.

When the big side door to the van was pushed open, Racer X and Pops both helped Speed stand up.

Speed lifted his head trying to look into the van before he was to get in it, and there in his mind was the look alike sitting in the van with a smile motioning for Speed to join him.

"No!" Speed exclaimed in a panic as he tried to pull away from Racer X and Pops; causing himself pain in the process.

"Speed. What's wrong?" the Masked Racer asked after hearing the fear in his brother's voice.

"Look! He's in the van" Speed cried out, very upset.

Trixie looked into the van to not see anyone. "Speed. The van's empty. Look, I'll get in first."

"No!" Speed yelled fearing for Trixie's life as he forced himself to look back into the van again.

After climbing in, Trixie turned around and gave Speed a smile.

Seeing that the look alike really wasn't in the van, Speed realized his mind was playing tricks on him.

"Come on, Speed," Trixie said holding out her hand to him.

Speed became speechless as Pops and Racer X helped him on to the back seat next to Trixie.

Seeing how nervous he looked, she said, "Speed. You're sweating. Are you okay?"

Keeping his eyes in the van because of not wanting to look outside, he whispered, "Just...just stay by me."

"I plan on it," the sweet girl said moving closer to his side. After taking his hand, she could swear she felt him trembling so she tightened her grip to assure him that everything was okay.

On the way home, Pops and Mom tried to make conversation but Speed didn't say a thing.

Because he was being so quiet, Trixie knew he was down right scared. Releasing his hand, she put her arm around him to soothe him.

He indeed was scared - too scared to talk and too scared to even look outside. He literally felt like a sitting duck just waiting for the look alike to keep his promise of killing him.

Once in front of the Racer's home, Speed started to shake his head no.

"No what?" Trixie asked softly as Mom and Pops jumped out of the van.

"The house should be searched," Speed said looking at it as if it was haunted.

Moving away from Speed, Trixie leaned out of the van to look for Pops. Before she could call Pops over, Speed pulled her back to him by her hand.

Mom Racer then looked in with a smile on her face. "Aren't you two going to get out?"

Trixie smiled as if nothing was wrong and said, "I was just thinking that maybe the house should be searched before we go in."

At first Mom Racer didn't answer but because of the look on her son's face, she could easily tell he was worried. She then said, "A search would be a good idea."

After a good few minutes, Pops went to the van not catching how scared his son was. "The house is fine," he said as he began to guide Speed out of the van.

Once out of the van herself, Trixie quickly put her hand on Speed's shoulder so that he'd know she wasn't leaving his side. His breathing was a bit loud and she had to wonder if it was from the pain he was in or just from his being so nervous.

Unfortunately the press had shown up just after Speed had gotten into the house. Both Mom and Pops quickly ran to the front door to get rid of them.

In the den of the house, Trixie stood in front of Speed, put her hands on his shoulders and looked into his eyes. "You can calm down now. It's safe here," she said just before pulling him into a hug, and she was pleased when she felt him hug her back.

Speed very much enjoyed the feel of Trixie's small frame close to him, in his arms, and he realized he had to get a grip on being so scared. He had to stop thinking that the look alike was going to jump out from every corner. While trying to brave himself up he thanked God that just holding Trixie made him feel better.

When she released him, she said softly, "Do you want to lie down?"

Her eyes had a way of hypnotizing him so he suddenly smiled as he shook his head yes.

"Speed," she said playfully not used to this kind of teasing from him. "Not with me. I mean do you want to rest?"

Because he respected her, he smiled and said, "I knew what you meant."

"I'm glad you're talking again," she said as she took his hand and led him to the sofa.

"Wait," he said tugging back. "I wanna lie back in the recliner."

Trixie knew it was Pop's favorite chair but she wasn't about to argue with Speed in his condition.

As Speed carefully sat down in it, he then very slowly reclined himself back.

When Pops and Mom Racer were finally able to close the door on the press, they walked into their den where Speed was laying back.

Pops leaned over to his wife and pouted to her, "Honey. He's in my chair."

Mom folded her arms, looked back at her husband and whispered, "He's probably a lot more comfortable that way than sitting straight up."

"But that's my chair," Pops said with a sad face.

Before Mom could tell Pops to get over it, Spritle and Chim Chim came running in. One of the Racers' cousins had just dropped them off. Being so little, Spritle and Chim Chim had no problem sneaking through the press.

Spritle ran fast and then jumped into the air ready to land on his big brother to greet him hello.

"Wait, Spritle!" Trixie yelled, catching him in the air before he could land on Speed.

"Spritle!" Mom Racer scolded. "You can't just jump on your brother right now. He's still healing."

"Sorry, Speedy," Spritle said still in Trixie's arms.

"It's okay," Speed said now feeling a lot calmer, even after the thought of Spritle almost pouncing on him.

"Can I get you anything to drink, Speed?" Mom asked him as Trixie put Spritle down.

"No, thanks," he said as he picked up the remote control that was on the small table next to the recliner. Appearing on the TV was coverage of Speed leaving the hospital. The camera had tried to get a better shot of him but his eyes had been fixed on the ground. Because the camera crew couldn't get a view of Speed's face, they became interesting in Trixie and left the camera on her for a good while. The reporter on TV soon announced that she was Speed's navigator or spotter in a lot of races and also one of his closest friends.

"Mom, Pops," Speed said sounding nervous as he turned the sound down on the television. "If the look alike didn't know that Trixie is important to me, he knows now."

Trixie smiled glad that Speed said she was important to him, not grasping on to what he was trying to tell his parents.

However, Mom and Pops knew just what he meant.

"Trixie," Pops said looking worried. "I'm afraid Speed's right."

"What do you mean?" she asked puzzled. "Right about what?"

Mom Racer went on to explain. "We know the look alike wants to hurt Speed. Now he…might want to hurt you too."

"Why?" the young girl asked, confused.

"Because, Trixie," Speed said looking into her eyes. "He knows it would hurt me, if he hurts you."

Trixie didn't know whether to be touched or scared as she looked back into Speed's eyes.

Spritle caught the stare between the two and suddenly remembered something Sparky had said before the attack. Pulling on Trixie's hand to make her bend down to his level, the young boy whispered into her ear, not knowing it was just loud enough for Speed to hear too, "I think I know what Sparky meant when he said you got the hots for Speed. I think Speed's got the hots for you too."

"Shhh..." Trixie mumbled as she blushed while standing back up.

Speed had to smile and then wondered what conversation Sparky had with Trixie.

Mom and Pops were so used to Speed and Trixie being best friends that they didn't catch on that there was more going on between them now.

"Trixie. To be safe, you should stay here with us awhile," Pops said looking out of the window to see a policeman sitting in his car guarding the house.

So glad that his parents agreed with him, Speed said, "Good. That way I won't have to worry about Trixie. Thanks, Mom and Pops."

"You really want me to stay here?" Trixie asked while trying to hide her excitement, forgetting just how serious the situation was.

Speed smiled as he winked a yes back at her.

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Late that night Pops was awakened by a noise coming from the kitchen. Sitting up in his bed, he then looked out of the window to see the police car still parked out front. "Spritle better not be eating this late," he mumbled. "It's 3:00 in the morning."

Once he was heading down the stairs, Pops decided that having a bite to eat right about now did sound like a nice idea. Earlier he had insisted that Speed sleep on the sofa and stay away from the stairs, and Trixie was ordered more or less to stay up in Speed's room. As Pops headed to the kitchen, he looked at the sofa to check on Speed but saw that his son wasn't there. "Good," he whispered assuming Speed was the one making the noise in the kitchen. "I'm glad he got his appetite back." However, disturbing his thoughts, Pops heard some giggling and stopped just before he opened the kitchen door.

Slowly pushing the door open, Pops got a mighty big surprise. Speed and Trixie were locked in a deep kiss. Stunned, Pops just looked at the two for a few seconds then quietly backed out of the room and headed upstairs to his wife.

"You're back," Mom Racer whispered trying to pull Pops down close to her in their bed.

"We can't do anything right now," he said folding his arms and not letting her pull him down. "There's enough…kissing going on in this house right now already."

"What?" Mom Racer asked confused.

"Speed and Trixie are downstairs in the kitchen kissing."

"Kissing?" she asked in disbelief.

"More like…making out," Pops said standing up from the bed.

"What? Are you sure?" she asked sitting up.

"Unless their lips some how got accidentally glued together," Pops said beginning to pace. "I guess we should stop them," he said somewhat unsure.

"Right. I know they're not teenagers anymore but what if Spritle wakes up and sees them?" Mom said making a good point. "You said they were only kissing, right?" she asked standing up.

"Who knows what they could be doing now," Pops said walking out through the door as Mom followed behind.

Flashback to about 2:30AM that night; before the kiss:

Trixie was lying in Speed's bed not able to sleep since she couldn't get him off of her mind. She just still couldn't believe that she was now his girlfriend and snuggled in his sheets in his bed. Sitting up, she decided she needed something to drink. Carefully and quietly, she began to head down the stairs. The first thing she did once down was to look towards the sofa to see Speed.

There she saw him roughly turning his head back and forth, and soon he started to say no over and over.

Immediately she ran to him and knelt down by his side. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she very, very gently began to shake him. "Speed," she whispered, "Wake up. You're only dreaming. Wake up."

Opening his eyes, Speed immediately put a hand on his chest as if trying to catch his breath. It was very obvious that he had been dreaming about the attack.

"It's okay now," Trixie whispered while trying to comfort him by running her hand through his jet-black hair.

Turning his head to see her, he admitted, "I hate feeling this way."

"You'll be all healed before you know it," she said knowing that wasn't what he meant.

"I know physically I will feel better but mentally...I've got to tell you," he said very low. "I feel like I'm going crazy sometimes."

"That's to be expected after what you went through. But I know you're going to be alright mentally too. I'll help you every step of the way."

Speed stared back at her wondering what he would do without her. Changing the subject, he asked, "What are you doing down here?"

"I couldn't sleep so I figured I'd get something to drink."

"Are you saying that my bed isn't comfortable?" he joked.

"No," she said smiling back so glad that she didn't have to hide her real feelings for him anymore. "I just couldn't stop thinking of you."

"Good," he said smiling as he began to slowly sit up.

"Where are you going?" she asked standing up.

"I think I need something to drink, too," he said now standing. "Nice robe," he joked knowing she had borrowed it from mom.

"Nice PJs," she joked back eying him up as they started to head to the kitchen.

Once to the kitchen door, Speed stuck his head in first to make sure nothing was wrong and then he flipped the lights on.

Trixie noticed he had waited a few seconds before sticking his head in, and she knew he feared that the look alike could have been there.

When he knew it was safe, they both moved in and headed to the cabinet with the glasses. Their hands bumped when they reached up for the same cabinet causing them to forget about getting a glass as they began to stare at each other.

Speed then placed his hand on the side of her face as his eyes moved from her green eyes and to her sweet, red lips.

No words were needed as they began to lean in for a tender kiss. Plenty of minutes went by when they finally pulled apart.

"Why are we in here again?" Speed asked with a smile.

"Uh...for a drink," Trixie replied in a daze.

End of Flashback

Mom Racer and Pops were now just outside of the kitchen. "You open the door," Pops said in a loud whisper.

"You," Mom Racer said not wanting to.

"I did before," Pops said shaking his head no.

"Fine, you…big baby," his wife said and then she pushed the kitchen door open to see Speed and Trixie sitting down at the table innocently drinking some juice.

Will Mom and Pops question what is going on between Speed and Trixie? Is the look alike outside of the house? Is he in the house?