October 14th, 2002
Lincoln Loud eyes slowly popped open, the anastatic effect still being strong. Eventually the young man was able to get to his senses.
"Agh… I crashed, didn't I?" Lincoln said out loud.
"Yes you did, and you were lucky!" the team principal David Richards said.
"Ugh… damn!" Lincoln looked down on himself his neck was still in a cervical collar and his left hand is in a cast as well as the lower part of his left leg where his shin plus his ankle and foot is completely broken in several places.
"Do you want to hear the damage report?"
"Yeah I don't care just throw it at me," Lincoln thinks he was at fault for the accident and is muttering his tone.
"Well you have a major lower back injury as well as a major injury in the spinal lumbar region and a cervical injury. Add that with the all the broken bones in your hands and leg and your gonna be out of commission for a while."
Lincoln exhaled and looked away.
"Do you want more good news or bad news?"
"Don't care," Lincoln replied.
"Bad news is you're going to be paralyzed, good news is not permanent, and you eventually may be able to walk again. But not for a long time and a long period of physical therapy."
"I guess it's good overall, but I think my racing career is over!" Lincoln sniffled and tears started to roll down his eyes. At the beginning of his career he wasn't very fond of racing but after unexpectedly winning the Formula Atlantic's Series he started like racing for a living.
"Stay positive Lincoln soon you'll be out of this hospital and you'll start at step one, don't believe that your career is over alright?"
"Alright."
"Well I need to get back home, but I'll do a press conference about your condition, so it calms down the media. It's nice knowing you Lincoln, your truly a great driver and after you recover, I'm sure you can still win championships wherever you go!" Richards shake Lincoln's hand and left Lincoln's phone in his right palm, "They been trying to call you like mad."
Richards then left the room and immediately after that his phone rang. Lincoln hit the answer button.
"Lincoln are you okay sweetie!?" Lincoln immediately knew it was Rita.
"Yeah I'm alive mom," Lincoln said trying to sound happy.
"The team told us about some of the injuries, I worried that you'll not walk again!" Rita squeaked over the phone."
"I know but I'll start walking before you know it!" Lincoln promised.
"I love that sprit son!" Lynn Sr. yelled in the background.
"Well I love you guys and… oh where is?"
Rita interjected, "They went home, I'll call them later but they're all distraught about it. But less reactionary then me obviously!" Rita laughed.
"Yeah I imagine your guys day didn't went well, I am truly sorry about that."
"It's okay, we're calmed down now. I need to go now I don't want to run up the phone bill."
"Okay, love you always bye," Lincoln said and depressingly exhaled.
Lincoln kept toying with the blocky phone in his hand, he then got a call from a person he knew well.
"Hey Lincoln…" The woman over the phone said stalely.
"Oh Ronnie Anne… look I'm sorry…" Lincoln was cut off.
"I just wanted to know that you were okay, damn I hope the time that we were able to talk to each other again wouldn't be like this."
"I know, I can't believe I screw up that badly. Now I probably won't be able to race again and at worse walk."
"Your such an idiot Linc, I saw the replay of your crash and you were not at fault for any of it. The guy you crashed into suspension failed and he just spun into you so don't put the blame on yourself okay!"
"Um… okay I guess!" Lincoln said surprised.
"Damn I wonder how you were my boyfriend in the first place," she said sighing.
Lincoln and Ronnie Anne were in a good relationship until they mutually broke up on good terms with Ronnie Anne not wanting to impede on his upcoming racing career.
"It's a shame that the media wants to get into our relationship, well it should be fine now my loss is your gain I guess," Lincoln laughed.
"Heh, well you should have taken that offer of staying in JGTC I mean it looks like a safer sport?"
"There is always a risk to racing, Shingo Tachi died in a GT300 car. Anyways I always wanted to do Formula One since I got here so I have no regrets about it. Those JGTC starts were just fill ins," Lincoln said.
"I see… well I have to go now my phone bill is probably racking up right now, love you lots as always!" Ronnie Anne abruptly said before hanging up the phone.
"Love you too, see you later Ronnie Anne!" Lincoln managed to get in before the phone line was cut, "It seems it's only down from here with her." he muttered.
Lincoln let his arm go limp to the surface of the hospital bed and let out a deep sigh soon his eyes started to get heavy and soon fallen asleep.
The next month was hell for Lincoln, every time he needed to urinate, he was handed a bottle and after he was finished, he handed it off to the nurse to be disposed of. He passed the time watching dramas and anime on the television, he didn't really mind is the only thing he does is watch TV all day. But the fact of not being able to move an inch was a depressing fact to him, the fact doctors were saying that eventually that Lincoln will be able to walk again was a distant reality. Also his parents, sisters, and his other friends weren't even able to visit him in hospital costs of flying across the Pacific Ocean is not an affordable prospect to him. With hospital and healthcare bills rising Lincoln took a second look at forking out the money for some of his family members coming over to see him.
Eventually doctors removed the casts on his legs and his left hand mostly due to the successful surgery for repairing of his broken bones. Then Lincoln tried out his wheelchair and after that the date was set for Lincoln to be discharged from the hospital. But to Lincoln it seemed like time passed by him so fast while there.
December 6th, 2002
Lincoln is wheeled out of the front doors of the hospital to the many flashes of cameras around him, he gave a gentle wave to the press who shouted questions in English and Japanese. Even though he barley even know enough Japanese to have a conversation with someone. He then was wheeled into a modified 1995 Toyota HiAce and then was driven to his Apartment in Osaka.
"Okay thank you!" Lincoln said before the door shut in front of him.
Lincoln then looked into his bag of snacks and sighed.
"I have to live on this for two nights huh?" Lincoln said, "It's gonna be two days of hell isn't it?"
Those two nights through were more than hell, Lincoln had trouble going to the bathroom and after almost falling to the ground during one of those trips he decided he didn't want to go through the trouble getting in and out of his bed. Instead, he decided to just place himself in front of the television and watch it all night soon falling asleep to what's ever on the screen.
Two days later
*Bing Bong*
Lincoln blinked out of his sleep and saw that his television is still on.
"Bloody hell... I feel like a damn wreak right now."
Lincoln sighed and sat back into his chair; he didn't seem to question on why no one was assigned to assist him.
The doorbell ringed again *Ding Dong!*
Lincoln checked the time on his phone, "Who the hell would visit my apartment at six in the morning!"
"Hello is anyone there?" A girlish sounding voice is heard from the door.
Lincoln slightly surprised with a little, "Hold on, I'll be there!"
He wheeled over to his front door and opened it.
"Uh… um… hey remember me Lincoln, Cristina Hartigan?" Cristina stuttered, "And I'll will be in your care!" She then shouted.
"Um… okay!?" Lincoln chuckled, "Also keep your voice down I don't want to ruin anyone's morning!"
Lincoln then backed off and let Cristina in through the front door.
"Pardon my intrusion!" She said politely.
"It's okay!" Lincoln said smiling.
She then sat down on the couch and sighed with her eyes closed.
"So let's get it straight why are you caretaking for me and also how the hell did you get here?!" Lincoln asked still stunned slightly.
"Well I heard about your accident at Suzuka month ago and I wondered who was going to care for you once your out of the hospital. Lynn called me, she had my number, anyway she told me that they weren't able to fly you home because of your disability so I offered to help take part in your recovery."
"Okay," Lincoln said plainly.
"Anyways, I moved to Japan to attend university and after graduating with my bachelor's degree I decided to stay! I got a job at Chuo Mitsui it pays very well!" Cristina smiled fondly and proudly at her achievements.
"She kind of acts like an anime girl!" Lincoln thought in his mind.
"Lincoln… you look like a wreak!" Christina commented.
Lincoln snapped back into reality and slouched back into his wheelchair, "Yeah I do!"
"You probably didn't eat anything during those pass two days!"
"Your right again."
"Well it is 6:10 right now I think we should get moving, it's gonna be a long drive from here to Saitama!" Christina exclaimed.
"Wait… SAITAMA! How did you get here in the first place!" Lincoln said.
"I obviously drove here, and I stayed in a business hotel overnight!" Christina responded.
"You could of… you know what never mind!" Lincoln who was already astonished that his former crush was living in the same foreign country as he is and that she's very committed to care for him that she drove seven hours to Osaka."
Fortunately, Lincoln's apartment is situated on the first floor on the two-story upper-class apartment building. Christina pushed Lincoln out of his apartment and helped him into her 2000 Toyota Camry, he then waited for her to load his bags into her trunk and her back seat.
"Alright I've got everything you need, so shall we procced?" Cristina cheekily said.
"At once!" Lincoln exclaimed.
Before heading onto National Route 1 for the majority length of the journey they stopped at McDonalds for breakfast and after that they went on their way. The drive was mostly a bore but the two mostly talked to pass the time on the road. While driving through Nagoya she told Lincoln the memories that she made here.
"Lincoln, I had fond memories of this place, Nagoya."
"Really? When I visited a couple years ago it wasn't special in my opinion."
"I visited Nagoya Castle with my friends, it was an incredibly special day and I'll never forget it. I know what I'm explaining is vague, but I like to keep it mostly a secret."
Lincoln turned his head towards Cristina and noticed how she is more beautiful than ever before; she still have her ginger curly hair, but she grew more taller than Lincoln imagined. Her face is more beautiful than ever.
"Did you meet your boyfriend there?" Lincoln asked cautiously
"Heh, no!" Cristina said laughing.
"What really, I thought of that event at Nagoya was romantic you know!?"
"Lincoln the whole thing wasn't very interesting, I just had a lot of fun there that's all!"
"Ah, okay," Lincoln replied, "There must be something else to this," He then thought.
Several Hours Later
Lincoln waked up from being half asleep.
"Agh… what time is it, where are we?"
"It's around nine, we're passing by Fuji right about now."
"What we're already past Shizuoka?!" Lincoln said surprised.
"Yeah after we pass Nagoya you fell asleep very fast and it's very funny to see you try to stay awake!"
"Oh really it must be entertaining… I mean you could have kept listening to the radio."
"Heh, heh!" Cristina laughed.
They soon entered the Greater Tokyo Area and were an hour away from Cristina's home.
"Cristina, I need to tell you this, now remembering this I'm sorry for obsessing over you all those years ago. I didn't have the chance to say I'm sorry when I finally grew up," Lincoln said.
"Oh okay," Cristina blushed a little while keeping her eyes on the road, "But it's never good to dwell on the past too much so I already forgiven you in the past so don't think about it."
"Alright," Lincoln plainly said, "Also where are we going anyway?"
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. We're going to my house in Kawaguchi."
"Ah Kawaguchi not that far away from Tokyo," Lincoln said.
They drove through central Tokyo and went underground through Chiyoda City they than entered on the Shuto Expressway until they reached Kawaguchi. Then the Toyota Camry pulled into the driveway, the house itself is looks fairly new and sizeable.
"Wow nice house!" Lincoln commented.
"Wait until you see the inside, let me get your bags first," Christina shut off the engine and quickly got out of the car to move his bags into her house, she than rushed out to help carry him out of her car.
"Damn, don't rush it I have all day you know!" Lincoln said smiling.
"It's a bit cold out here you know!" Cristina laughed.
"Thank you again for caring for me, it still astonishes me that you would care for me like this!" Lincoln slightly blushed.
"No problem, I'm just here to help a long-lost friend!"
"She definitely lost her shyness," Lincoln thought as she pushed him through her front doorway, "Oh wow!" Lincoln said as he views the first glimpses of her new terrace house.
The floors were lined with hardwood which complements nicely with the white cream-colored walls the living room is complemented with a medium sized Sony Trinitron television. With a nice hardwood table in the middle of the room on the far end of the living room are pictures of family members and friends with a picture of her mom with candles right beside it.
"Who is that?" Lincoln said pointing at the picture.
"Oh that's my mom… she was killed on 9/11 hence the candles," Cristina stuttered with her head pointed down.
"My god… I'm sorry," Lincoln apologized for bringing on the topic.
"It's okay... I've pretty much gotten over it now, I knew my mom would hate herself if she saw me being sad and depressed all the time so I'm good now don't worry about me," her expression turned from a frown to a smile.
Lincoln smiled back; Cristina pushed his wheelchair to top side of the Kotatsu.
"Ah, do you want me to help you sit down on the zabuton?"
"No it's alright I don't want to put you in anymore trouble!"
Cristina acknowledged and then went into the kitchen make up some lunch, after eight minutes it was ready. It was a ham sandwich with whole grain bread.
"Dōmo arigatōgozaimashita," Lincoln thanked Cristina by bowing his head.
"Dōitashimashite Loud-kun," Cristina sat down and replied bowing her head in return.
Ten Minutes Later
"My goodness what did you put in those sandwiches!?" Lincoln asked.
"Oh just some ham, mayo, pickles and toasted bread. That's it!"
"What, there should be something that you put in here that makes it this good!"
Cristina blushed a little, and Lincoln smiled in return.
Several Hours Later
"Be careful, be careful!" Lincoln said as he's being helped up the stairs.
"Damn your pretty heavy you know!" Cristina complained.
"I weigh a hundred and seventy pounds it's not that bloody heavy, also I'm holding on to this damn railing!"
"What not heavy?!" She replied.
Eventually the two made it upstairs and moved into one of the three bedrooms, with Cristina sat Lincoln down. She then went downstairs to grab his wheelchair
"Alright you'll stay here during your stay, I hope that climbing onto your wheelchair isn't a hassle for you. I know it's difficult."
Lincoln nodded and Cristina almost walked out of the room but then turned around.
"Have a good night's rest!" Cristina smiled.
"Uh… goodnight?" Lincoln said with a weary smile. After she closed the door carefully Lincoln said to himself, "My god she definitely acts like an anime girl!"
He then climbed into his wheelchair and went over to the bathroom brushed his teeth and hesitatingly changed into his pajamas and went back to his futon.
"I wonder how all of this is going to turn out, *sigh* it's definitely going to be interesting for sure."
December 12th, 2002, 2:30 PM
Lincoln was sitting in front of the television playing on her Ps2 playing the new Rachet & Clank game that came out over a month ago. He's having easy pickings with the platformer until the house's doorbell interrupted his concentration.
"Kon'nichiwa, koko ni dareka imasu ka?" A man said shouting through the door.
Lincoln paused the game and set his controller down on the Kotatsu and moved over to the front door. He unlocked the door turned the knob to open it revealing two delivery men, who were also surprised at the sight of him.
Lincoln smiled, "Anata wa eigo o hanasemasu ka?"
"Ah yes, we have a mattress on order for a Hartigan Cristina?" One of the men said.
"Oh… um… uh she's at work right now but you can set up the mattress on the upstairs bedroom."
"Which room sir?"
"First room to the left."
"Arigato," The man said.
The two of them proceeded to bring the mattress into the house and proceeded upstairs and into the bedroom, one of the men went back to their truck to get a box containing something relating to the mattress. After thirty minutes of work the two men were finished with their job and soon left.
2 Hours Later
"I'm home!" Cristina yelled after she closed the door behind her.
"Uh hey?" Lincoln said in return.
"Oh, you must of see the delivery arrived today!"
"Uh yea."
"Well I was being considerate, and I thought that your back would heal better if you had an actual mattress as well as a more comfortable sleep!"
"Ok… um thank you!" Lincoln smiled.
"No problem!"
"It seems like I'm going to have a different experience than I thought here!" Lincoln happily thought.
Hey guys back with another chapter!
This is going to be a long story detailing Lincoln's recovery and his attempts to return to racing. As well is his relationship with Cristina.
So chapters will have several months detailed in it.
If you guys have any questions leave a review or a PM.
As always have a nice day.