caught in a bad dream
an F1 RPF Landoscar Omegaverse whump collection by papayabrain
For Whumptober 2025
No.13: ALT 4 Concussion
Summary: Lando crashes at the start of the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix and insists on heading back to the paddock to see his team.
Well, Oscar.
Who isn’t his Alpha.
Rating: T
Word count: 1,681
Warnings: Head injury following Lando’s Vegas Crash (crash itself is not described) and mentions of vomiting.
Read on AO3 | or read below 👇🏼
~
“Right, Doc’s cleared you. Let’s get you back to the hotel. Your dad’ll stay with you for observation.”
Lando snaps his head up to look at his trainer, immediately regretting it as the sterile room spins, and he can feel the stiffness in his neck and shoulders.
“Noooo, wha’?”
“That’s the condition of not staying here overnight. We take you back to the hotel with someone there to monitor you ourselves.”
“Well yeah, m’not staying ‘ere,” Lando presses, rubbing his forehead. The lights in the room are slightly dimmed for him, but it’s still uncomfortable. “Wanna go back with’team.”
The three men in the room all look at him with incredulous looks. Lando folds his arms as he sits against the pillows of the hospital bed. He’s sat on it, rather than in it, as they’ve finished all the necessary tests and scans, and everyone is happy with the results. He should be fine within the next few days.
Oli scoffs. “Bro, you cannot be serious. You have a head injury. You can barely talk!”
“Leave m’alone,” he snaps back. Yes, his head hurts and his mouth hasn’t quite connected back with his brain yet, but he’s an adult and he can do what he likes, thank you. Oli has his own family, including pups to go and be with.
“Boys,” Dad sighs.
“I wouldn’t recommend it, Lando. We need to keep you away from lights and noise. The team are absolutely not expecting you at debrief. You don’t need to be there.”
“Coz I’ve got nothing t’say? Cheers, m’aware,” he huffs.
“Come on, mate, it wasn’t even your fault.”
“Well, nobody else crashed there, di’they? Jus’ me.”
Dad rubs his back. “Why do you want to go back to the paddock so bad? We can set you up in your nest with all the lights off and make sure you won’t be disturbed other than for concussion checks.”
Lando whines. Of course he wants to be back in his nest, buried beneath the blankets in the darkness and sleep. But there is one big, obvious thing missing!
“Let me guess: he’s Australian, also drives a McLaren F1 car, and just happens to be an Alpha?”
Lando flips his brother off. And if he blushes, so fucking what. He sticks out his tongue for good measure. “Shuddup. M’hurt.”
“Which is exactly why we should be getting you back to the hotel,” Jon tries again.
Lando stands up and sways dangerously, saved from toppling over by his dad’s arm around his waist. He buries his head against his shoulder, sighing at the relief from the lights.
“Careful!” Dad scolds, gently kissing his head.
“Wanna see Osc n’ say sorry to th’team.”
He hears Jon sigh.
“It’ll make me feel better,” he adds. “Promise.”
There are a few seconds of silence, and Lando knows they’re silently communicating over his head. He wants to be safe in his nest. His omega instincts, even through his injuries, are screaming that he needs to be protected and cared for. Not that his family can’t do that, but Osc is his Alpha.
Except he’s not, but his omega chirps at the easy acceptance anyway.
He needs to see Osc as soon as possible.
“Don’t make us regret this,” Dad says, and Lando’s smile isn’t forced. He’s relieved and content that comfort is coming his way.
“You’re wearing sunglasses and a cap for the lights, and your hood up for the cold. I can’t promise the media won’t leave you alone, but we’ll do our best to stop them.”
“Kay. Cheers,” he manages.
“If you change your mind, you tell us.”
Lando waves them off and makes for the door. There’s a persistent itch that needs soothing, and he chirps, except it comes out as more of a grunt amidst the nausea.
~
He decides not to knock and just barges right in. Even with his eyes covered, the blazing fluorescent lights make him hiss.
There’s a beat of silence before a wall of noise.
“Lando?”
“What on earth are you doing here?”
“Who the fuck made him come back here?”
“Lando, please. Go and sleep.”
He puts his hands over his ears and screws up his eyes. It makes him lose his balance, and he panics, but then there’s a warm, steadying arm around his waist, and his breath catches because he knows it’s Osc.
His omega recognises the alpha on instinct, immediately relaxing and gripping his jacket, burying his face against his neck. Well, he tries at least, but it’s awkward with his cap and sunglasses on his face. He whines, and he feels the alpha rumble in comfort.
“I’ve got you, Lan,” comes Oscar’s voice, smooth and soft and gentle in his ear. He rests his head against his chest instead, Osc’s arms around him. Safe. Protected.
“Sorry for the surprise interruption. He didn’t want to leave without apologising, and we didn’t wanna cause him any more stress,” Jon says from the doorway.
“M’sorry, everyone,” he says, and he can feel Osc shake his head. “Fucked the car. Wanted a cuddle.”
“There’s nothing for you to apologise for, Lando. We’re just glad you’re okay, and we wish you a fast recovery. Oscar, go and take care of him. We’ll see you both in Abu Dhabi.”
Lando peeks back over at Zak, who is smiling brightly at them.
“No punishment?”
“Wouldn’t dream of it. Go and take care of yourselves, kiddos.”
There’s a general chorus of well-wishes and waves, and Osc grabs his stuff and leads him out of the room. Keeping an arm around him, he shakes hands with his dad and clasps hands with Jon before they make their way out.
Once out into the freezing November air, Osc drops his hold, but his dad is right there offering his arm. He stands and pouts as his brain can’t process what’s happening and why Osc is suddenly avoiding him when he’s standing there shivering.
“Paddock. Photographers,” Dad says as he offers his arm again. Osc gives him an encouraging nod, and he obeys.
He stays close, though, and Lando appreciates it. They’re all wearing scent blockers, which Lando’s omega despises with a passion when he’s distressed, but as soon as they’re in the car back to the hotel, the patches come off and the crisp, cold leather is quickly replaced with apples, chocolate, and lavender.
Jon drives, and Lando sits between Osc and his dad. Oli had already gone back to his wife and pups. He carefully lays his head against the alpha’s shoulder, and Osc pokes his leg periodically to keep him awake.
It’s not really needed, given that the jostling from the moving vehicle upsets his stomach, and he grabs hold of Oscar’s hand as he breathes.
~
He barely survives the trip up to his room. The lift throws his sense of balance completely off, and they barely make it inside the suite before Osc is barrelling them into the bathroom and he’s emptying his stomach into the toilet.
He moans, throat and eyes stinging. Osc rubs his back, placing the fallen sunglasses on the sink.
“You gonna be alright with him, Oscar?” Jon asks from the doorway.
“You’re under no obligations to stay,” Dad adds. “I’m more than happy to be here with him.”
Lando shakes his head, but the nausea returns and he’s quickly got his head over the bowl again, coughing and spluttering, only upright because of Osc’s firm hold. There’s a bitter note to his chocolate scent, and his omega whines at making his alpha anxious.
“I think he wants me.” Lando grips his arms like a lifeline, unable to provide a verbal answer. “I’m here, Lan, I’m not going anywhere.”
“If he throws up again while you sleep, complains of pain, or becomes confused, you call us, and we’re going back to the hospital. Anything worse, call 911.”
“Yep,” Osc replies, wiping Lando’s mouth with a towel before helping him stand up.
Dad and Jon both hug him gently before leaving them alone. Osc guides him out of the bathroom and over to his nest.
“Do you wanna get changed?”
Lando doesn’t shake his head, mindful of what happens every time he does. “No, should be fine in my underwear.”
“Okay, sit down, I’ll help you undress.”
“Take me out on a date first, Osc,” he quips, before slapping a hand over his mouth.
Osc quirks an eyebrow with a soft smile, but he’s also blushing as he helps Lando out of his layers, albeit slower than he’d have preferred, as he’s still sore. It makes Lando’s omega want to purr, and of course, it happens before he can stop it. Osc’s alpha rumbles back immediately, though, and he finds himself relaxing again. He really hopes neither of them regrets this in the morning. Lando essentially kidnapped him.
It's Osc giving him a water bottle to wash away the taste of bile that makes him tear up.
“Lan?” he asks, kneeling in front of him.
He takes a deep, shuddering breath and sniffles. “M’sorry for dragging you here. Fucking horrible teammate I am, making you take care of me. My dad’s literally here, yet my instincts are calling for you.”
Oh, he’s fully blaming his head injury for the lack of filter. He will regret this after he’s slept, and Osc no doubt regrets everything right now.
The alpha rests a hand on his knee, thumb stroking his bare skin and leaving goosebumps. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t wanna be. I wanna look after you, darling.”
“Alpha,” Lando whispers through his tears, and Osc’s hand cups his jaw. It’s so gentle and respectful, like he’s a newly fired piece of pottery.
“I’m here, Omega.”
Osc stands up, moving between his legs, and Lando hugs him around the middle, resting his head against his warm chest. Soft fingers card through his curls, and he relaxes as he feels Oscar’s alpha rumble. He’s purring back, and for just a minute as they breathe together, he feels at peace.
He smiles as the vibrations harmonise with their heartbeats.
~
<< No.12: Withholding Medical Treatment | No.14: Ignoring an Illness >>
