A/N: Hello guys! This is my first time writing a Cars fanfic so please go easy on me. I'm asking you to suspend some disbelief as the cars will do things that are impossible for Cars to do. So please bear with me as we take this journey together. This story is a bit sad, but don't worry it will pick up soon!

Freak Accident

Cruz

I did it again. I honestly don't know how Mr. McQueen puts up with me. This is literally the second time that this happened. I promised him, I promised that I would never have another episode like that again, and yet here I am sitting in the hospital- AGAIN!

Cruz violently slammed her bright yellow diary shut and shoved it to the side with her right tire. She sighed deeply and closed her eyes. Her mind automatically flashed back to the incident. The memory was a blur, she knew that she pushed herself too hard. After Jackson beat her yesterday in the Dinoco 400 race (the last race of the new season), she just wasn't herself. She could see him now: going onto the stage and accepting the Piston Cup that she deserved. After her win in the Florida 500, she was unstoppable! She never lost a race since. Well, until that yesterday. Jackson's smug grin plastered every television screen. She could still picture the reporters asking her what happened out there on the track. Darrell Cartrip's voice pierced her engine as she recalled Jackson passing the finish line: "Jackson Storm takes back the Championship! It must not be a happy day for Team Dinoco." The cameras flashed in her eyes. The press bombarded her with endless questions. She couldn't keep up with them all. The yelling was too much for her. Lightning tried to get her away from the press but it was too late. She opened her eyes again. I don't want to have another panic attack in the hospital. That would be really ridiculous! She heard a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," she said faintly.

"How's my favorite girl doin' today?" Lightning said with a smile as he entered the room.

Cruz couldn't bare to look at his concerned blue eyes. It only made her feel worse.

"Don't let Sally hear you say that," Cruz said with a weak smile.

Lightning chuckled. "Well, you know what I meant. How are you feeling?"

Cruz didn't answer. She was too afraid to utter a word. The television was playing at a very high volume. Before Lightning could say anything else, the Chick's Picks theme song blasted through the speakers.

"Welcome back to Chick's Picks with Chick Hicks! I'm your host, former and forever Piston Cup Champion, Chick Hicks! This just in, everyone is still buzzing about Cruz Ramirez's freak accident yesterday! Aw man! What a Drama Queen! My old pal Lightning McQueen should teach her a thing or two about losing, after all that is his area of expertise! She totally lost it after the press asked her about her defeat by Jackson Storm. Her team wants to call it an "anxiety attack" but I know acting when I see it. It was ridiculous and-"

Lightning

Lightning switched the television off. He couldn't handle seeing Cruz being attacked like that. He watched as she began to cry buckets of tears. His "heart" sank. He slowly drove over to her and wiped her tears with his tires. I wish I could take her pain away. I'd give anything to have my energetic, optimistic girl back.

"Don't listen to him Cruz. As crazy as it sounds, he gets paid to make up those stupid lies. It's how he keeps his ratings up," Lightning said as he rolled his eyes.

He wanted to drive out of this hospital, go to Chick's studio and give him a piece of his mind. He knew he could handle Chick's crazy remarks, but when it came to Cruz, he had definitely crossed the line.

Cruz smiled a bit, he was happy to see her returning to normal. "That's okay Mr. McQueen. Maybe he's right," she said with a sigh.

Lightning was shocked. Are you serious Cruz? Come on, you know better than that! He tried to calm down and prevent himself from screaming at her. The last thing that she needed was someone to aggravate her again. He took a deep breath and looked at Cruz.

"What do you mean? You and I both know that what he's saying is not true. You passed out on that field! It could've been worse and he has the nerve to call it ACTING?!"

"Calm down Mr. McQueen we don't need you in the hospital too," Cruz said as she rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry but I can't stand to hear him talking about you like that!" His engine was firing up. His oil pressure was getting higher. He was about to flare up when Cruz caught his attention.

Cruz

Great. Now he's mad. I always screw things up!

"I deserve it. I deserve every negative comment."

"Cruz stop!"

"No I do! Look, I freaked out for a simple question."

"You did not freak out. It was an anxiety attack."

"That's what you keep saying Mr. McQueen but let's just face the facts. I couldn't handle losing to Jackson. My reign as champion is over! I failed my fans, I ruined my dreams, and I even disappointed you!" Uh oh! He wasn't supposed to hear that part.