Chase opens his eyes, his nose instantly picking up a blueberry smell - blueberry pancakes. He then feels other senses hit him, causing him to sit up as he glances around.
There was no way he was where he was supposed to be. This wasn't normal at all.
"Morning Winner," he hears Alex's soft voice, easing some of the confusion as that meant familiarity. Perhaps he was having a dream as again, the senses didn't seem right at all.
"Good morning," he simply replies, rubbing his eyes to knock more of the sleepiness off. That worked as his eyes caught the man before him, followed by glancing at the tray in his hands, taking in the array of food that was before him.
"I made you breakfast." Alex sets the tray lightly in front of him, as Chase looks at it with confusion, before watching as Alex sits up beside him in the bed. "To the winner goes the spoi-"
"I'm supposed to be taking care of you..." Alex lets out a sigh, having gotten used to the rhetoric since the reveal of the concussion. It was honestly appreciated by him, as he knew there were moments that would've been 10 times harder without the tender loving care. However, he wasn't about to be the baby case of the trio.
"You worked hard for that win. You deserve to be rewarded for your effor-"
"You're supposed to be resting, focused on taking care of yourse-"
"I'm also supposed to be trying to slowly do things, one at a time, get my mind back to where it needs to be - retrain it I think were the words used by the doctor." Chase lets out a sigh, knowing those words were right on the dot as he was sitting in the office at the same time the advice was delivered. "Consider this a morning exercise - a regular morning routine to see if I can cope with it, follow everything that goes with it."
"I have to say, your cooking skills get a A+ because these pancakes are delicious." Alex smiles as he watches Chase take a couple mouthfuls, savoring the taste of the blueberries mixed into the batter as well as on top. "Your balance must be improving as you carried the tray from the kitchen to here."
"It took very slow steps, a couple pauses as I leaned against the wall - more focus than you'd think necessary." Alex lets out a sigh, as it was the only reveal he needed to know he would not be back at the race track this weekend coming. "I apologize if it got cold on the wa-"
"It's perfect, Alex. Thank you." Chase leans in, brushing a kiss on his lips as Alex just smirks back in return. He maybe shouldn't gone the breakfast route, as he could think of many other ways to spoil the winner. "Do I want to know what you're thinking?"
"How much I want to taste those lips, kiss your chest, feel you against me, and feel your cock..." Chase felt himself hardening at the thought - knowing there was nothing better than that feeling right there. However, he had to refrain himself, remember the situation they were in. There was a reason for no celebration last night.
"I think it may be against doctor's orders as you're supposed to refrain from a lot of physical activity." Alex figured that'd be the response, and probably was why Chase and Ryan both bit their tongues the night before. He also heard the shower running last night, knowing how Ryan was probably feeling.
"There's certain things that can be done without that - say kisses, or a suckles, long suckles..." Chase takes a deep breath, trying to calm everything that was telling him to tackle Alex right then and there, and ignore the delicious breakfast he was trying to consume.
"I say we save it, and enjoy it as a celebratory thing when you get the clearance to get behind the wheel." Alex lets out a sigh, laying back against the bed as the anxiety and worries he felt the entire process crept in, almost 10 fold it seemed.
"And what if that means we're waiting until December, Janua-"
"Alex, you're getting back into a car this year. I can see the progress that you've made, I can see the changes in your behavior, and I know the scores have been improving on the tests that Mickey gave you already. A couple more progressive steps, and that No. 48 will have it's familiar driver behind the wheel." Chase also knew there'd be a return to normal with the competition meetings - which would be welcome. He still couldn't believe how odd it felt at Talladega with Noah standing there alongside Greg.
"I appreciate the vote of confidence. Actually, I appreciate everything that you and Ryan keep doing for me. I don't know what I'd do without you both." Chase sets his fork down, reaching for Alex's hand, clasping it with both of his own as he looks into his eyes.
"I don't know what I'd do without you, Alex. I only got through what happened with Ryan because of you. I was only able to get through the pain because of your comfort. I was only able to get past that, and able to rebuild that friendship because I knew I had you in my corner, willing to pick up the pieces if my intuition was wrong." He then takes a shaky deep breath, flashbacks crossing his mind as he remembers the day, the chains, what she did. "I was only able to get through what Kaitlyn did to me - every part of that..." Another shaky deep breath, tears threatening to fall as the pain remained raw at times. "I only got through that because of you being there, holding me, comforting me, forcing me to face those emotions, talking it out with me. Alex, I can assure you that I wouldn't be where I am today without you. You've done way more than I've done for you - and that's why I'm willing to tell you that I am willing to make up for it in every single day by being here when you need me the most. So when I say you're getting through this, believe me - you're stronger than you realize, and you will come back stronger."
"We've always got each other's back...." They then lean in, sharing a small kiss together once again as smirks form on their faces.
They both knew one thing - the next time they got to share their love together, it'd be like a mini explosion.