Ty

I laid in the hospital bed as the doctor fussed over me. I winced when he pressed on my stomach and I knew I had a broken rib. I inhaled sharply and could barely catch my breath.

"How is he?" Both Sam and I jumped when I heard my father walk into the room. He looked at the doctor, waiting for him to answer.

"He passed out on impact, no concussion, bruised ribs. Nothing is broken and he can go once we give him another IV bag, he's very dehydrated. However, if he gets a headache and it doesn't go away, call your doctor." My dad nodded and I felt myself relax a little knowing nothing broke.

The doctor left the room, leaving all three of us alone. I was still holding Sam's hand and now that I got him back, I wasn't going to let him go.

"I read your letter, Sam." We both looked up at my father who had it in his hand. "Fell out of your firesuit when they rolled you in here." I watched in horror as he opened it up, the words from Sam's heart written plain as day. "No race, checkered flag, or trophy is even worth it if I can't have you in my life, Ty. I thought I lived for racing, but it's you I live for. If I would have seen this before the race, I would have ripped it up and told you that what Sam feels for you is just lust."

"What changed?" I asked softly. He looked at Sam and then sat down on the chair next to my bed.

"He proved it. He was leading with two laps to go and the moment you flipped, he was out of his car and at your side. He was there before I could even get there." My dad was getting choked up, which shocked me. "That's true love and I can't ignore that. Samuel, I'm so sorry for everything. I can tell how much you're in love with my boy. You showed me that nothing matters more than him."

"I'd do anything for him, Sir, I love him."

"I know..." My dad trailed off, folding the letter up and handing it back to me. "I'm sorry son, I shouldn't have kept you from Sam. I thought I was doing what's best for you. I should have listened to your mother. I was just so worried he was going to take your focus away from racing."

"I would never do that, Mr. Gibbs, Ty's passion is the same as my own, if anything, I would push him to do his best and when he's not, I would be the one to encourage him." Sam's voice was so strong in this moment, I could feel his confidence in his words. What he said was the truth.

"Your actions match your words, young man, I apologize for the hurt and pain I've caused." Sam nodded, not saying a word and I turned to him.

"Mind if I have a word with my dad alone?"

"Of course, I'll be right outside the door." Sam stood up, placing a kiss on my forehead and walked out.

"I want mom to manage my career and not you."
"
Ty -"

"No, what you did this past weekend humiliated me. You tore me away from someone I loved and threatened to end my career because of it in front of my peers at the airport! I'm tired of you treating me like a child, dad, you know I've worked my ass off to get where I'm at today and it shouldn't concern you who I'm dating."

"But God..."

"Ever stop to think that God allowed this, dad? I've never been so happy in my life and you even saw how much Sam loves me. I would have done the same exact thing to him and I bet if I did that, you wouldn't be so forgiving, would you?"

"No."

"Then this was all an act, wasn't it?"

"No, Ty. I really am sorry for everything. It took you to wreck your car and almost die to realize what I'm doing is wrong. You should be happy and you haven't been over the last few days. I could tell you weren't in the right headspace but I just thought it was Sam."

"Well, it's not Sam in my head, it was you standing over me like Goliath."

"I didn't realize that, Ty, I'm so sorry."

"You always do this to me." I couldn't help but start to cry then, my dad standing up to give me a hug, crying himself.

"I really am, sorry, but things will change, I promise. I'll start to make the changes tomorrow morning, okay?"

"Okay, that's all I ask and you better apologize to Sam again on your way out, he lost the race and I know he's going to get heat for it."

"I will. Love you, son." My dad pressed a kiss to my forehead, squeezing my hand tightly.

"Love you, too."

I watched as my dad left the room, laying back down on the bed and closed my eyes. Everything was right in the world again. I had my boy by my side and I was finally going to get out from underneath my dad's constant pressure.

This was a long time coming.

A knock at the door brought me out of my thoughts. "So, funny story." I laughed in disbelief when Sam came walking in carrying a giant trophy. "Apparently I won the race and didn't even know it." Sam laughed, placing it on the stand next to my bed.

"I thought there were 2 laps to go?"

"I caught the white flag when everything happened. The race was over when the caution came out. Tower didn't relay the message and truth be told, I didn't care, I just needed you." Sam sat on my bed, bending over to give me a kiss. "I'm so glad you're okay." I smiled, pulling him back down to me.

"I love you, Sam."

"Love you, more."

"Move in with me? I need you with me." Sam didn't answer, instead crashing his lips with mine and I knew I didn't even have to ask him, he was going to follow me anywhere I went.