Author's Note: Well, it's taken me a long time, but FINALLY I'm replacing Quest for the Cup with this new, hopefully improved version. The first thing I ought to say is: thanks to raerobgal for giving me the idea for this prologue.
This story continues on from Making It Through, and picks up the story a few weeks after the end of the last installment. And so, without further ado, here's the new story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Cars. I do however own Lilia and Samuel McQueen. Please ask me before you use them (I won't bite)!
Staying Strong
Prologue
Sally sat in Flo's V8 Café, staring along the road with apparently no notice of the cars around her. Sarge and Fillmore were arguing nearby, disturbing one or two visitors, but Sally, completely accustomed to their bickering, was able to ignore it.
Across the street, sitting outside Lizzie's Curio shop, Samuel and Lilia McQueen, Lightning's parents, were talking quietly about something. They had spent a lot of time talking in the last few days ever since they'd returned from Phoenix. Sally had noticed it particularly since Doc's call two days ago. Of all the residents in the town, Doc was the only one missing. It was lucky he hadn't been needed urgently in the two months he'd been away.
The King and his wife were looking into opening one of the old, abandoned shops, wanting to be close to their daughter again. The pair had been helping Sally in the Cozy Cone Motel, though Strip was going to continue with it, even after they'd opened their own place. Now however, Strip and Lynda were sitting on either side of Sally, holding a conversation over her hood, not that she noticed in the slightest. Only one thought was on her mind – 'Lighting's coming home!'.
The young racer had been in a nasty accident during a race part way through the season, and that was the reason why Doc had been absent for two months. He was keeping an eye on his student and friend, praying every night that Lightning would pull through. His phone call two days ago was the best news any of them could have hoped for – Lightning was finally well enough to come home, though he would have to stay under Doc's watchful eye for a while longer.
Lightning's racing headquarters were almost finished, with just a few final touches to be added. By the time he was able to move out of Doc's home, he would be able to move in to his new home. Sally would miss not having him at the motel; she had become rather fond of him in recent months.
It was getting late in the day, but still she didn't give up her vigil. He would be home soon, she kept telling herself – it made the wait marginally easier. Most of the others were still there, they too waiting for Lightning to come home.
Somewhere nearby Flo said something, and Lynda replied, but it was all background noise to Sally. She shifted on her tyres, unable to sit still for long. A soft nudge on her side shifted her attention briefly.
"Do you want Flo to get you anything, honey?" Her mother's soft voice greeted her.
She shook her head and turned back to the road. The sun had set a long time ago, and as she waited the last few visitors headed back to their respective Cozy Cones.
She suddenly spotted two sets of headlights in the distance, heading closer to them with each passing second.
"They're here!" She shouted.
"Why don't we go and make sure Doc's surgery is tidy?" Lilia suggested, alerted by Sally's words. "Doc said he'll be taking Lightning straight there."
Sally followed Lightning's parents the short distance down the road to Doc's surgery. Lilia had taken over in Doc's absence, after revealing she had been a nurse in her younger years and again when Lightning was old enough. Sally knew the surgery would be tidy already, as Lilia always cleared up before she left in the evening. Sally suspected it was more to give her something to do in the final few minutes of waiting.
Doc was the first to appear outside his home, looking thoroughly worn out, but happy to be home. He greeted Lightning's parents and Sally softly, not at all surprised to find them waiting there.
Sally sat behind Samuel and Lilia when Mack arrived. He'd gone into the city two days ago to make arrangements with Doc and fetch Lightning.
He let go of his trailer and moved around to open the back. Doc went in for a moment, and then backed out, leading Lightning.
The younger racer still looked a little worse for wear, but so much better than the last time Sally had seen him. Unlike Doc, he didn't seem to expect the welcoming committee, for the rest of the townsfolk had gathered in the small parking lot outside Doc's garage by then. He moved from one car to the next until he reached his parents on the end of the line. He hadn't seen them much during his stay in the hospital, and was clearly overjoyed to see them both properly again. He spoke to them for a few minutes until Sally couldn't hold back any longer. She drove around the others and pulled the red car into a hug so fierce it took him by surprise.
"Don't you dare scare me like that again, ya hear?" She whispered, tears running down her hood onto the asphalt beneath their tyres.
"I missed you too, Sally."
Author's Note: Ahhh, fluffy ending! I'm planning to have the next chapter uploaded tonight, so by the time you read this, you may well be able to move on to chapter 1!
Reviews would be appreciated.