Sweet! I can still keep him in a BMW. We'll just strip his for this, with one addition, a roll cage. As strong as the BMW bodies are, I'm not going to let this happen again, not with some extra support.

The day wore on, and I was going though ideas for the car in my head, different things to do. I decided to go home for a while and check on things and change cars. Once home, I checked the answering machine, it was blinking like crazy, so I checked it. Everyone is wondering how Darren is doing. I return a few calls, then stop by the shop, and see what's going on there. I see Dar's car there, looks worse than I remembered it. I get it inside, in the spare stall, lock up and go back to the hospital.

Back at the hospital, I stop by the gift shop and get a magazine, because stupid me forgot. Once back in the room, I look Darren over, and take a seat next to the bed and start on the magazine. A couple hours pass, and a nurse interrupts my reading to take Dar’s vitals. She asks if he moved and I tell her no, not yet. She gets done with her thing, and leaves. I resume reading an interesting article for a while, when I hear a soft moan. He must be dreaming, because one part of him did stir. His head must be getting better. I chuckled and went back to my reading.

***********************************

I was awakened with a start, someone was poking my arm, once I shook the cobwebs loose, I realized it was Darren poking my arm. I was instantly awake then. I got up and stood over him, smiling, and the first words from his mouth still shock me.

 

"Did I win?"

 

He looked serious, so I told him the truth, "Yeah, you won, but you had to show off by doing it on your roof."

 

He chuckled a bit from that. Once he woke up more, we went over what happened and what he remembered. Seems that all he remembered was nearing the finish line, when all hell broke loose. I let him rest after that. He needs to recuperate.

It's early when I wake up next. I decide to write him a note, then head home and get ready for work. I needed to keep my mind occupied for a while doing regular stuff. I have to call his work too and inform them of his situation. Once at work, I got everything ready, and got busy, getting a couple of the bigger jobs in and checked out. I should’ve put a cover over Darren’s car though. It was tough to look at. Then I remembered that I gotta get its replacement tomorrow, I want to surprise him with it. It is early afternoon when I call the hospital, and speak with Darren’s doctor, and get a report on his condition, and when he can be released.

I finish the day out, and call the guy with the BMW to set a time for pickup tomorrow, and then head home to change. While there, I grab something quick to eat, then head to the hospital to check on my man.

When I finally got there, I discovered my next problem, parking. Go figure, after work hours are busy there. I grumbled and found a parking spot in the back of the lot and went inside. Getting to his room, I see him half watching some inane show on the TV and thumbing through a magazine, trying to pass the time. Trying to be quiet, but not quiet enough, I was spotted.

 

"Dude, do you know how boring it is laying here all day?"

 

"No, but I'd like to, some of us have to work for a living."

 

"Shit, I'd rather be working. Speaking of that, did you call them?"

 

"Yeah, gimpy, I called and told them you were feeling too well to come in."

 

"Cool, what ya bring me?"

 

"Was I supposed to bring you something? Am I not enough?"

 

"Of course you’re enough, but I'm a sick boy, I need things to keep me occupied."

 

"I'll see what I can conjure up."

"So, when is the doc going let you off your back and on your ass?"

 

"I'll find out tomorrow. At least I can do something at home. This place is driving me wacko."

"I'll bet. Maybe I can find something for you to do until you go back to work, like, mow the yard."

 

"Bullshit! I won the race, even if I was on my roof."

 

"Let’s not go there yet, that is something I don't want to re-live for a while."

 

"Damn, I'm sorry, I didn't think about that, but I am still here, to live and play as I want. And I want you right there with me."

 

I couldn't think of anything else to add, so I bent down, giving Dar a light hug, and a kiss to let him know how I feel.

"Oh yeah, I have a plan for your car too, it will live on."

 

"It will, huh? How you going to pull that one off, find a copy of my car?"

 

Uh oh, was I busted?

 

"Don't know yet, something I'm working on."

 

Darren pulls the trader magazine out that I got the ad from, and opens it to the page I had dog eared. Yup, I was busted.

 

"You called about this one, huh?"

 

He shows me the ad and I can't deny it. "Yup, I’m picking it up tomorrow. What made you go through that anyway?"

 

"Boredom, there’s not much else to do around here but sleep and moan. I'll save the moaning for later. But, I came across that ad, and with a couple notes on it that looked like your writing, I just did the math."

 

"Ok, I'm busted, your car is gonna live again, bigger, better and safer this time."

 

"Any idea what happened to get it to do what it did?"

 

"No, I haven't looked at it yet. I want to see what happened so we can avoid that in the future."

 

"Nice, at least someone is looking out for me and my wild ways."

 

"Don't think that I'm gonna tame ya down, I kinda like ya wound up." He flashed me the sorriest set of puppy-dog eyes, and I was lost. I just looked at him and smiled.

With visiting time about done, I went over to Darren, and gave him one of my better kisses, and bid him adieu until tomorrow. Time to head home and get ready for the next day, as it may be a bit busy. Going to fetch the new car and doing God knows what else.

 

Once home, I notice the answering machine blinking, so I check the messages, one being Darren’s mom. Looking at the clock, I say 'Screw it' and call her.

 

"Hi Mom, how are things?"

 

"Sounds good. Darren's doing fine, he just got his bell rung really hard and the doctors want to hold him for another day."

 

"You got me there, I do want to hold him myself."

 

"You’re hilarious, mom. I'll tell him that."

 

"Sounds good, I'll tell him that too, take care, bye."

Damn, Tuesday comes way too early, but I get going, regardless. Work goes along well, no huge surprises. Then a small issue arises. I get a call from Darren. It seems the doctor has deemed him fit enough to leave, when I ask him when he can go, he says "Now damnit!"

 

"Ok, I get the hint, how about holding out till I can close the shop?"

 

I swear I heard him whimper, but he told me, "Ok, it will be tough, but come soon. I'm going stir crazy."

 

"You got it, about six o'clock, good enough for you?"

 

"I suppose. I guess I'll have to gawk at the beautiful people here until you arrive."

 

"Cool, get one for me while your at it then"

 

"I'm not gonna win, am I?"

 

"Nope, see you at six.”

 

With that, I hang the phone up and continue with my day.

After finishing a couple troublesome tasks, I remember to call the guy with the BMW, and set a time to pick it up tonight along with directions to his place. Once I got the shop closed down, I realize it's almost 6 o'clock. Silently cussing myself out, I hop in the extra flatbed wrecker, and go to the hospital to get my gimpy gearhead. When I finally get there, I see him by the main entrance, looking at his watch and shaking his head, and a look on his face that said 'It's about damn time'. I parked by the entrance, and get him wheeled to my door when he can hop out, and in the truck.

 

"What took so dang long? You get lost?"

 

"I got tied up closing the shop, and as for directions, I was looking for someone to tell me where to go, but couldn't find any takers."

 

"Ok, you’re safe for now. I'm hungry, let’s get some grub."

 

"Want anything in particular?"

 

"Yup, anything fast and greasy, other than that, it's up to you."