Chapter Text
Valentino was taking his helmet off when Uccio approached him with a very concerned look on his face, surely not due to his position in FP1.
“Jorge crashed at turn 7. It looks bad, he’s in Clinica Mobile right now.”
The Italian closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. This weren’t the place and the moment to let his worries show, his team getting all around him to have his impressions on the first practice session, something he clearly couldn’t focus on when his mind was drowned to his former team-mate.
If Uccio, who’s the only one with Dani to know about the way he feels towards Jorge and everything that passed between them, felt the need to inform him, it must be serious but he can’t just run and see how the Spaniard is without raising tons of questions.
So he had to wait and act like he usually does, hoping it will soon be over so that he can go and check on Jorge.
People from HRC were at Clinica Mobile, of course, but Valentino knew how to move in there and someone from the medical staff helped him to have some private time in the room were Jorge was waiting to have news.
“Hey…”
Jorge’s voice was just above a whisper. He looked awfully in pain even if he tried to give Vale a smile. The older rider went to seat on the chair near the table and took the other’s hand.
“You made Uccio worry, that’s saying something… how are you? And don’t tell me you’re fine because you don’t fool me.”
The Spaniard closed his eyes to hold back the tears ready to fall. Both for the pain and for the look, full of concern and tenderness, into the other man’s eyes. He was the one who ended things between them, to run after an illusion…. and yet, Vale was still on his side, like he’s always been since he left Yamaha. He felt like he didn’t deserve it but he was happy and grateful to have him here.
“There isn’t a single part of my body that doesn’t ache… even talking and breathing is difficult.”
“I’m so sorry. Don’t talk then, just rest, I’m here, ok?”
Vale squeezed his hand tighter and Jorge smiled again, and this time it wasn’t forced or fake. They stayed there in silence, just smiling at each other until someone from the medical staff came in to announce they’ll take Jorge to the city hospital for further investigation.
That made him snort but Vale looked deeply into his green eyes.
“Don’t worry. Let them do everything they have to heal you. I’ll come to the hospital after FP2, ok?”
He should have told him that there was no need for him to, they weren’t together anymore and surely Vale had more important things to do than looking after such a failure like he was feeling right now. But he couldn’t deny that his former lover’s presence was the only able to ease the pain and what he needed to forget about one of his worst seasons in MotoGP ever.
He nodded and Vale smiled, stroking his cheek gently when the doctor wasn’t looking at them, a familiar touch that made him already feel better.
*****
After FP2, the news regarding Jorge’s accident were already spreading in the paddock so Vale got to know that he had a fractured vertebra.
That made him frown… karma was really being a bitch with the Spaniard lately.
He honestly didn’t remember Jorge ever crashing that much as since he started to ride his Honda, right from the start in Qatar. He can’t even begin to heal from one injury that he crashes again and new pain is added.
And Vale knew it’s not just physical. That’s why, even if Jorge was supposed to have a new boyfriend who could take care of him, the Italian never stopped to be at his side in this troubled first part of the season.
And speaking of boyfriends, he couldn’t stop himself from going to who was supposed to be the one wanting to go to the hospital and ask what his intentions were.
“Maverick, did you hear about Jorge?”
“Of course, everyone knows.”
“And?”
“And what?”
Valentino couldn’t believe his team-mate was acting so coldly. He knew Jorge and him weren’t on speaking terms after Barcelona and probably things weren’t going on well even before between them, but he could have never imagined Maverick being that insensitive.
“You’re not planning to go to the hospital and check how he’s doing? Ora maybe just call him, I don’t know! It seems like you don’t care, you’ve been together for months!”
“We weren’t together. We fucked, we found our escape from our bike problems but we’ve never been a couple. And honestly, after what he did two weeks ago, even having sex with him again is the last thing I could think of.”
The older rider was speechless. And angry… he let Jorge go because he thought Maverick and him could be happy together. Dani told him he was making a mistake, that he should fight to keep him and finally tell him that he’s in love with him but when Jorge told him he wanted to try and stay with his team-mate because he liked him a lot, he gave up.
Vale has always thought that what there was between them, that strange new ‘friendship with benefits’ that started during the first half of 2017 season, wasn’t important for Jorge like it was for him, so he acted according to this and never said a word against the Spaniard’s new relationship. They still had their time together alone during race weekend and that was enough for him… or so he kept telling it to himself.
“I can’t believe you really don’t care!”
“I’m sorry he’s injured, but this doesn’t affect me. I wasn’t in love with him, it was just sex and it was already ending before what happened in Barcelona.”
Maverick shrugged and Vale run outside before his hands could move to punch him in the face. He needed to see Jorge now, more than ever.
His phone rang on the way to the hospital.
“Dani.”
“Ciao, I saw the crash and heard the news, how is he?”
“I’m going to the hospital to see. When I checked him this morning he was in pain, he looked so wrecked… I’ve never seen him like this.”
“I can easily imagine it. Another crash was the last thing he needed and for sure he’ll have to stay away for a while.”
“Luckily we have the summer break after Sachsenring, it will help.”
“Maverick is with you?”
“Don’t make me talk about him… he’s an asshole, I could have never imagined him being so heartless. He doesn’t care!”
“I can’t say I’m surprised to hear this…”
“I know, but that’s not the right moment to give me a lecture on this.”
“Ok, I’m not going to tell you that I told you then… but Vale, this is your chance to win Jorge back. Tell him how you feel, show him how much you care about him, that you’re the right one for him.”
“I’m not sure it’s the right moment, he may want me just because he’s sad and alone.”
“Are you kidding me? How can you be so blind not to see that he loves you too?”
“Dani, he left me for Maverick.”
He heard the former rider sighing on the other side of the line. He was probably shaking his head and rolling his eyes too, if he knew his long term friend well enough.
“Vale, trust me… talk with Jorge.”
*****
At the hospital, Valentino talked with someone from Jorge’s team and managed to sneak in his room without people making questions about it.
This time, he set on the bed.
“So, a fractured vertebra. And they’re saying you’re flying to Barcelona for a MRI?”
“They wanted to, because in the nearest hospital the machine isn’t working but the X-ray is clear enough, 6th and 8th vertebra fractured. I told them I only want to go home, if there’s the need to do some extra exams, I’ll do them in Lugano the next days.”
“For how long you’ll be out?”
“I have to wear an orthopaedic corset for at least three weeks in which I can’t do absolutely nothing… then we’ll see.”
“How’s the pain now?”
“Bearable, but they gave me enough painkillers to kill a horse…”
Jorge smiled but Vale could read the sadness in his eyes and automatically a hand raised to pose on the younger man’s face and started to stroke it with his thumb.
“It’s so unfair. Whom am I supposed to talk to after my horrible practices? You’ve become my best listener…”
“I guess you have to try to do better FP and QP then until I’m back.”
They laughed. Valentino considered a miracle the way they were able to joke around each other that easily now, after all the years spent fighting when they were team-mates. They have lost so much time…
“I’m happy you’re here, Vale. I’m sure you have other things to do and I really appreciate your concern.”
“You’re the only thing that matters to me now…”
Valentino realised what he just said only when he saw Jorge’s eyes going wide for the surprise. Shit! How could he have been so stupid?
“I’m sorry… I didn’t want… I…”
He let his hand fall and started to stand up but Jorge took his arm.
“Do you really mean it?”
The Italian nodded. Jorge smiled and pulled him to seat in the bed again, winching from the pain of the sudden movement.
“Jorge, are you ok? There’s something I can do?”
“Kiss me.”
Now it was Vale’s eyes turn to go wide. Probably it was the painkillers speaking for Jorge.
“What?”
“If you want to ease my pain, kiss me…”
With shaking hands, the older man framed the Spaniard’s face and leant in for a soft kiss, followed by another and another and another until they had to break to breathe, smiling.
“Feeling better?”
“Definitely!”
“Can I come to Lugano on Monday? I guess we need to talk and I want to be sure you have enough healing kisses to survive during Sachsenring weekend.”
Jorge smiled brightly and, for the first time after the horrible crash, all the pain was like carried away from his body and he knew it wasn’t because of the drugs he took.