The Drifters

West had lingered back a little behind Lessa as well - he knew that the final car was behind him and Reid and he wanted to be sure that she was protected.

Up in front the two seemed to be fairly evenly matched. The Japanese car seemed to be slowly creeping closer and closer to Sabine's side when it suddenly veered toward him, forcing him toward the middle of the track. The further it pushed him the closer he became to the middle divider, and it wasn't long before his car was pressed against it hard enough to cause sparks as he continued to drive.

Lessa found herself gaining on the two in front but not nearly fast enough, she wanted so desperately to help Sabine but she knew this is what he had wanted. So she would just wait for Sabine to make his move and pray he would survive and she would not get hit.

Sabine seemed to linger in the same position for some time until his car suddenly veered sharply to the right. With so much force and nowhere to go it flipped over the Japanese car and landed heavily on the pavement with a loud crash. His car continued to skid for some time, shards of metal and glass flying off of it along with quite a few sparks, before it finally crashed into the outside divider and stilled on its side. The Japanese car, slightly crushed by the force of Sabine's car, swerved sharply and crashed head-on into the outside divider, much to the shock of the crowd.

"SABINE!" Lessa screamed into her headset upon seeing the crash, before she could even think about stopping Reid started to shout at her to keep going. He knew if she stopped it would all be over and he prayed that someone could get Sabine out in time but he didn't know if it was even possible.

By the time West's car passed the site of the crash Sabine's car was already beginning to drip fuel onto the pavement. While he was concerned he was quickly distracted by the other driver who had taken advantage of the accident to speed up ahead of him and to attempt to veer toward Reid.

The firefighters and paramedics on standby hastily began to try and extract the victims but it was a very difficult process since both cars were mangled beyond recognition.

"Focus, we are almost there," Reid scolded the two of them though there was an odd hardness in his voice. He couldn't allow his emotions to get him this time as he fought to keep the other car off of Lessa who was now starting to become a little reckless.

West frowned but immediately forced himself to focus. The other car had tried to creep up toward Lessa but between the two of them they were narrowly able to keep him pinned back. Just as Lessa's car passed the finish line a loud explosion occurred from Sabine's car, where the emergency personnel had been trying to free him. The car burst up in flames as a couple of paramedics managed to free the other Japanese victim, who was clearly dead.

As soon as she crossed the line Lessa turned around and raced back to Sabine, soft sobs could be heard over the microphone as she went back for him. Upon reaching the site of the crash she barely put her car into park before she was running for the flaming car having not seen Sabine as she pulled up.

By the time she arrived the car was up in flames and the personnel were still trying to pull Sabine out of the vehicle. He was half-out, unconscious, and bloody, and by his stillness he looked dead. By the time she had reached the car they had just freed him and were attempting to find a pulse.

Once he had crossed the finish line West stopped his car and shakily stepped out as he looked toward the sight of the crash. He couldn't believe that had happened.

Lessa ran to his side sobbing and crying out his name, he couldn't be gone. She begged for him to be okay as she clung to his limp hand.

Reid pulled to a stop facing away from the crash and just sat in his car, there was no way he could face all this again.

After a long moment one of the paramedics declared that he had found a pulse. The rest of the medics joined them and rapidly loaded him onto a gurney and into a waiting ambulance. They informed Lessa that they couldn't take another person in the ambulance just before they raced off toward the hospital, lights and sirens blazing.

Once the ambulance had left West quietly approached Lessa. He knew that she likely needed the support.

Lessa just remained where she was with silent tears running down her face as she watched the spot where the ambulance had vanished. She was just numb to the world around her, she had no idea West was even there.

Unsure of what to do West lay a soft hand on her shoulder as he carefully spoke. "Lessa, do you want me to drive you to the hospital?"

Nearby the firefighters were attempting to put out the flames that were still engulfing Sabine's crushed car. The last racer had just stepped out of his car and was watching the firefighters work with a slightly smug look.

"I just want to go home, I'm done with racing," Lessa said quietly as she stood to go.

As he stepped out of his car Reid spotted the other driver and without a moment of hesitation he walked up and decked the guy as hard as he could in the face.

"Why don't I take you then?" West offered carefully as he turned to follow her, he really wasn't sure she could safely drive at the moment.

The guy staggered back and whirled around in a very dazed shock. "The hell was that for?" He tried to snarl past a clearly broken nose.

Lessa nodded quietly, "that would be nice, thank you West."

"You know exactly what that was for you cheating bastard," Reid hissed as the man his fist still balled up and ready to strike again if he needed to.

West offered her a small, supportive smile as he guided her over to his car, then he drove her back to the base.

"Cheating? I didn't cheat," the man insisted with a small smirk. "The demon got what he deserved. He should have never taken that trophy last year."

When they arrived Lessa quietly walked up to Ortis and handed him her keys, she didn't even know what to say or even if he knew what happened.

"Then you deserve every bit of this," Reid snarled as he swung again for the man's gut.

Ortis watched her for a moment before he shook his head and pulled her into a tight hug. "He'll be okay," he assured her softly. "I know it."

The man stepped back hastily although he seemed pleased by Reid's aggression. "I'd be careful," he warned him with a wicked smile. "Don't want to be messing with the wrong folk, now do you?"

Lessa just held him tight and cried into his shoulder, she hoped he was right but he hadn't been there or seen what she had.

"Something tells me no matter what I do I have already pissed enough people off and I'm okay with that because know that I will always fight back," Reid said before turning to leave with the men who were taking Lessa's car away.

The man watched him thoughtfully for a long moment before he turned to call his boss. He knew that he'd want to be updated immediately on the outcome of the race.

Ortis held her close and invited her into one of the sitting rooms to spend some time in front of the warm fire. A few hours later he received a call from the hospital. Sabine had died twice - once in the ambulance and a second time on the operating table - but he was alive and in the ICU with severe injuries.

By the time the call came in Lessa was asleep in one of the chairs having warn herself out with her fit and all of the events leading up to this.

Instead of going back to the base Reid sought out Serith, he wanted to know more about that other guy and what he could do to bring this guy down.

Once he had spoken to the hospital Ortis made sure she was comfortable before he left her in West's care so he could step out to visit his son. Sabine would remain in a medicated coma in the ICU for several days.

Serith had been working at the precinct and was clearly surprised when Reid walked in but invited him to meet in one of the cafes nearby. He was shocked to hear of what had happened and agreed to try and find out as much as he could, although it would take several days for him to find any leads.

Not wanting to face reality Lessa spent the next few days in her room hacking into all sorts of things and prepping for future missions but avoiding anything having to do with the cars.

Reid spent the next days in his garage fixing his own car and trying to waste time waiting for Serith.

A week after the accident Sabine was allowed to wake up in a private room. Upon waking up he immediately asked if Lessa had been successful and was safe, and only settled down when he was assured that she was okay - a fact which Ortis was sure to report to her later.

The day before Sabine awoke Serith finally called Reid with news. He had uncovered a secret file on an organization called The Purge. Apparently it was a terrorist group bent on overthrowing the US government by taking down celebrities and world leaders to lower the morale and eventually induce panic among the civilians. Both men in the race had been involved in this group.