The ReturnRound ten of the calendar, the halfway point of the season and the paddock had rolled into Hambley for qualifying, they still had a few minutes before qualifying was going to start in earnest, but the sounds of the various teams making their final preparations was evident. The two Riviere drivers
Z Kennedy and
Amy Ashton stood out in the pit lane, racing overalls on as they chatted about what they'd experienced in terms of the track in the practice sessions, the other drivers were making their way through to the pit lane from the paddock as well, some of them chatting with their engineers others getting a look at the conditions. Suddenly though Amy and Z stopped talking which seemed odd because it appeared that something had surprised Z.
"What is it?" Amy asked, Z didn't answer she walked past Amy who turned and also saw what it was standing there a few metres away leaning on a single crutch was their injured team mate
Megan Harrison. Z almost knocked Megan over in her excitement at seeing her there, something Amy managed to avoid
"You should have said something about coming down." Z said "When did you get released from the hospital?"
"This morning." Megan said she glanced at Amy "Enjoying yourself?"
"Yeah." Amy said
"You're doing well keep at it." Megan said, Amy smiled same old Megan encouraging to the last.
"Up for a stroll down the pit lane?" Z asked "Because I can think of a lot of people who'll be glad to see you up and about."
"Lead the way." Megan said
The trio walked or in Megan's case somewhat hobbled, down the pit lane, heads turned and there were smiles the paddock was happy to see the sports champion back in the fold even if all she was going to do was watch. When she saw the side pods on the Magpie Racing car with the words 'Stay Strong Megan' displayed on them, Megan wiped a tear from her eye she met Ālex Andreu of Magpie shortly after that and exchanged a quick conversation before bumping into Enric Tomās and Takeshi Nakanishi, the bromance between those two was obvious but that was the whole point wasn't it? From sport would hopefully come friendship, it was good to see it. Next up was the other Chiyoko driver Ryo Yokazura, caught just as she was putting a white helmet on - another sign of respect for Megan that like the Magpie side pods would continue to the end of the season, the two women shared a few moments in which Megan congratulated Ryo on her victory on home soil something that she'd always remember, not just because it was a home win but also because it was her first win in Formula Mundus.
Continuing up the pit lane the Riviere trio arrived at the Rytol-EMAC garage, the team that had challenged Riviere so much the previous season, there wasn't much mystery as to what was going on as the engines were revved, EMAC did after all take great pride in their speed achievements. Now came the interesting moment as Sam Halliday, Megan's championship rival from the previous season, came over - there was a hug and a conversation in which Megan inquired as to how Oliver that being the son Sam had had with Matilda Osman the former Queen of East Moreland was doing. There were more pleasantries shared as the head of Formula Mundus Matthew Baxter came over and welcomed Megan back to the paddock.
"You back to race?" Matthew asked
"Not yet." Megan said "But I will be, need to get my muscle strength back first, I feel like I lost a fair bit of it in the hospital."
"Make sure you're at your best when you come back." Matthew said
"I'll be better than my best." Megan said "After all everyone else is improving race by race, I'd better do the same."