Unexpected
Doc's P.O.V.
I couldn't help but look at the pictures of my sister again. She was the one who would swim through a lake filled with piranhas to save those she loved. She was always giving people second chances and would beat you to dust if you said anything bad about what she cared about. She used to call me Sting and I would call her Wildflower. I was always the Hornet in school. She was exactly what she was named after. Her name was Rosanne Daisy Hornet. The sweetest rose you could ever meet back when we were kids. Once she married and changed her name, I could never stand to call her McQueen, though I did write it on the envelopes whenever I wrote her.
I couldn't help but let a tear fall when I saw the picture I loved the most. She was about Lightning's age, or what I thought was Lightning's age. She was seven and had gone out to play in the mud puddles. Dad told her she could and Mom just nodded, probably not hearing a word she had said. When she came back, Mom wouldn't let her off the little mat we kept at the door. She had been covered head to toe in mud and she was carrying a little frog with her. I know she asked Mom if she could keep it and she was devastated when she said no. We found the frog, which she called Mr. Slimy, in the pond the next day. It stayed there for a good three years and mysteriously hopped away one day. I had to comfort her about her pet for weeks until Dad brought home a cat for her. She had named that one Louise.
I looked up the stairs and wondered how Lightning was doing up there. Small children like him never did well in new environments at first, but it would eventually grow on him. He just had to get used to me and the rest of the town before he finally felt like he was at home. It would help when we put his father behind bars. He wouldn't have to worry about that man ever coming back to hurt him. I looked at the picture Rosanne had sent me all those years ago, her holding the little infant that had to be Lightning. I promise you this Rosie, I thought, He won't get away with any of this. I'll make sure all he sees is four concrete walls and a barred window.
I put the photo album back and heard a heart stopping scream. It came from upstairs and no one was up there but Lightning. Before I could even comprehend what was happening, I was running up the stairs and in Lightning's room.
Lightning was still screaming when I came in. There were tears running down his face and he was completely tangled in his blankets. I had no clue what to do. How do you comfort an abused child in a nightmare? He's probably not used to being held. But Rosie probably held him when he had a nightmare before, so I could probably do it, right?
Throwing caution to the wind, I went up to him and held him close. He stiffened and I doubted myself for a moment. Then he relaxed when I ran my fingers through his hair and started talking to him. He yawned and I put him back down in case he woke up. He'd start screaming even louder if he realized someone was holding him, as much as I hate to admit that.
Soon enough I was looking into sky blue eyes. He stared at me with tear filled eyes and I couldn't help but look away. He was expecting a beating that much I was sure of. "I'm not going to hurt you for something you can't control Lightning," I said, finding the courage to look at him again, "I won't hurt you for anything. Now, do you want to talk about it?"
He shook his head and tried to fall asleep again. "I'll be right back," I said.
I went to my room and dragged out an old trunk that I kept in my closet. Inside were all the things that belonged to my mother and my sister, dad's things were in another trunk in the attic. I could see Mom's wedding dress and her old photo album. Then there were Rosie's baby book and her rag dolls. But I wasn't looking for those.
Under Mom's wedding dress was a toy dog that Rosie used to carry with her all the time. It was black and white with ice blue eyes. She named the thing Popsicle and I laughed when she announced the name to the family. But I had to admit it was cute. I was surprised when she didn't take it with her to McQueen's place when she married, but I wasn't complaining.
I snatched it up and went back to Lightning's room and wasn't surprised when Lightning covered his head and started whimpering. "I told you I wasn't going to hurt you Lightning," I said, "I haven't lied to you yet, have I?"
He shook his head and lowered his arms once I came back to his side of bed. I knew he was going against every instinct in his body when he lowered his arms and I had to admit the kid was brave for that. I held Popsicle out to him.
He gently took the toy and cringed. "That used to be your mother's," I said, "She carried that thing with her everywhere. I think it's about time to give it to her son, don't you?"
He looked at the toy for a minute, then looked up at me and gave a small smile. "Thank you Uncle Doc," he said, cuddling the toy close to his chest. Within moments his breathing evened out and he was lost to the world of dreams.
That's how the next few nights went. Lightning would have a nightmare, I'd go to his room and comfort him, and he'd be asleep within a few minutes. It was odd that he was constantly having nightmares, but it wasn't at all abnormal at the same time. He was most likely an abused child and was probably having flashbacks about when his father had hurt him in the past. But I was going to fix that, no matter how long it took, I was going to make sure Lightning never had another nightmare about that man. I was going to make sure his nights were filled with sweet dreams… Dang it, the kid's making me all sentimental!
I was sitting in the living room again; reading to pass the time until Lightning had another nightmare. They always seem to come at the same time every night. Maybe it was the time that he normally hit him?
Right on cue Lightning started screaming again. I sat my book down and went upstairs to his room. I hope these stop soon, he's been taking naps at all times of day. Yesterday he fell asleep eating dinner and, though I did laugh at the fact that he had lasagna all over his face, that wasn't healthy for a growing boy. He should have a schedule to take naps, eat, and play. I remember when Mater was Lightning's age he would fall asleep after eating lunch and then wake up two hours later to play with Sally until it was dinner.
I sat next his bed and held him close, running my fingers through his hair. He looked so fragile when I held him like this, like the softest touch could break him to pieces. I was actually afraid that he might if I held him wrong.
Out of nowhere, his eyes shot open and I was afraid that he was going to jump out of my arms and try to run. He wouldn't get very far since his right ankle was broken, but he might hurt himself even worse if he did try. "Uncle Doc," he said, "Don't put me down alright? The monster can't get me if you're holding me,"
With that he snuggled deeper into my chest. I couldn't help but let a smile cross my face. He finally trusted me enough to let him hold him and protect him. But, what was the monster that Lightning was talking about? Or was the monster a who?
I reached over to pick up Popsicle and gave him to Lightning. He yawned and snuggled the little toy close to his chest. "Uncle Doc?" he asked, sleepily opening his eyes.
"Yeah Lightning?"
"Can I meet the other kids tomorrow? They look like tons of fun,"
"We can do that squirt,"
He giggled at that. "My name ain't Squirt Uncle Doc, it's Lightning,"
"I know Lightning; it's just a nickname,"
"Like Momma used to call me Shock?"
"Yeah, like that kiddo,"
Once he was asleep I put him back into bed and he did without waking up or mentioning the monsters. He was just the cutest thing since Mater and Sally and I never want anyone to hurt him like McQueen did ever again. I'd make sure of that.
Author's Note:
I've been meaning to get this chapter posted for the past few days, but I've had an awful cold and honestly, that made me pretty lazy. I just wanted to get this done, but I also wanted to rest. So, on another note, Doc is pretty out of character. I figured he would be if his family was hurt and Lightning is family. Just leave a little review and if you want to see something with the kids you can PM me. I don't have very many ideas on what to do with them except the fact that Sally's the leader and the boys just follow what she says/does. Peace out!
