The camera man finished and put down the camera. "Great job guys! Thanks for this opportunity. Gonna make my co workers jealous with this baby." The man joked. Tex shook his hand "Long as you don't forget to mention a Dinico add in there. Thanks for comin sport." The cameraman smiled and took his things and left. Cruz spoke up "That went extremely well Tex." Tex smiled but jumped a bit as he remembered "Oh! Cruz. I'm afraid we have some bad news. Bennet wont be at the next few races. Had a medical thing come up." Cruz looked distraught and whined "What? What happened?" Tex shrugged. Lightning asked "Wait, whose Bennet?" "My crew chief." Cruz answered quick.
Tex smiled a little and asked "You know that gives me an idea? Lightnin', How would you like to coach Cruz again? Just for a month or so?" Cruz's eyes widened. Lightning crossed his arms answering "Eehh I don't know? I don't really do that stuff anymore? Plus I'm not sure Cruz and I connect like we did?" Tex sighed replying "I'll pay you just like before? I'll even pay for Sally and the baby to come along!?" He smiled. Lightning glanced at Cruz. She stared at him. "I'll have to talk to Sally about it?.." Tex wrapped his arm around Lightning and tried convincing "It would be good for everyone to see you again Lightnin. Everyone misses you out on the track. We would even get out that fabulous Lightning McQueen car out for people to get photos? But.. I understand if not. You are a family man now?." He began to walk out but stopped and added "So call me and let me know." And then Tex left. Lightning sighed.
He did miss the track. Being out at the races. Cruz tapped Lightning's shoulder, grabbing his attention. They were alone now he realized as he turned facing her, "I'm sorry I didn't talk to you before talking to Natalie?.. I just?.. She asked about my history you know and?.. You're part of it?" she smiled awkwardly. Lightning smiled warmly and replied "It's alright. I just didn't, I don't want Sally to know." Cruz nodded and continued "Can I ask you something?" Lightning shrugged a bit unsure himelf. "What does it matter if you told her anyway? I mean she cheated first?." Lightning sighed and thought for a moment. Sally did cheat first. She cheated while he was helpless and fighting for his life in a hospital. "Because I love her." he found himself answering. Cruz stared with a bit of a frown.
Lightning didn't understand why though? Cruz added "I'd love to have you back as my crew chief. You were the best Lightning." She always had a cute smile. Lightning nodded and left...
He waited for Sally back home but she was late. Super late. So he went ahead and ate something quick at home. He got Colt put down for bed. He sat and watched rsn a bit. Thinking about Tex's offer to be back at the races!? And he could take Sally and his son!? It sounded great. It wasn't long Lightning passed out on the couch. The baby monitor laying on his chest. Sally came home finally. She felt bad for being so late. She already knew Lightning would have eaten. She locked up behind herself and heard the faint snoring from the living room.
Sally followed the sound and sighed with a smile at her sleeping Husband. She moved the monitor onto the table and sat at the end near his feet. Gently, she shook his leg. Lightning jumped up. He sat up and rubbed his eyes seeing Sally. "Hey Stickers.. I'm sorry I'm so late.. They had me get right to work. Its chaos in there." She joked. Lightning yawned and asked "It's alright.. You get your job back?" Sally smiled and explained "Sort of? I got some exciting news!" Lightning yawned again and replied "Yeah? I got some news to." He sat up more with hit feet down. Sally leaned closer asking "Okay, you first." Lightning woke up more by now and answered "Alright. Tex offered me the coaching job again. Only for a month though. He offered to pay for all of us to go to each race. You, me and Colt!? Wouldn't it be great!?" Sally smiled saying "Well? That's great for you. But I don't think Colton is ready to travel like that? He's only a few months old?"
Lightning grabbed her hands explaining "Come on it'll be great! The three of us at the races?" Sally smiled but gave her opinion "It does. If Colt was older. I'm not comfortable traveling with him so young?. Plus I just am getting back to work? We still have two hotels, a bar? Someone has to hold the fort down Stickers? But you should go? You said a month right? I know you've missed it? Go on and enjoy it. You deserve it. It's been a rough two years for us. For you.. You shouldn't have stayed by me after what I did to you?..." She caressed the side of his face. Lightning frowned. She was talking about her affair.
"You are the most amazing man in the world. I don't deserve to be treated so well by you." She finished. Lightning swallowed hard nervously. The guilt ate him. But he rather suffer than Sally. So he nodded slowly. "What's your news anyway?" He asked. Sally smiled wider with more excitement as she asked "Okay. Be open minded here okay!? I know we are already so busy but?.. I'm going to run for Mayor of Radiator Springs!" Lightning's eyes widened. He had married such an independent workaholic.
"What?" He muttered. Sally giggled explaining "I was in the office and just getting back into the system when Flo stopped by and was complaining about some things around with the town and how the mayor wasn't paying attention to the town so much but more of getting rich from what you put on here? So she mentioned how we need a mayor who cared for the town. Someone who wanted it to be like the glory days and not a star on a map. And that's when I thought me!? I have got to fix the town!?" Lightning sighed. She would be perfect for the job. "What do you think?" Sal asked. Lightning smiled answering "I?.. i think you got my vote!" Sally squealed a bit with a smile and hugged Lightning tightly. "Thank you Stickers. Gosh I have got so much to work on!?." Suddenly the monitor went off. Colt was up. Lightning and Sally stared at it as the lights on the machine went all the way up. "I got it Miss mayor." He chuckled and kissed her sweetly before getting up.
Sally touched her lips with a smile. Things were getting so much better...
The following morning Lightning had Colt as Sally would be at the court house most of the morning. So he took his son to Flo's diner for some coffee. Not for Colt of course! He pulled the car seat from the explorer and placed in some kind of click and go stroller and pushed it on inside. Flo of course greeted them. Cooing over little Colt. She smiled and asked Lightning "What will it be sugar?" Lightning answered instinctively "Coffee. The stronger the better Flo." Flo joked saying "Awe? Don't tell me this cutie is keeping you up all night? Let mama take him just for one full night. Give you kids some time together?" Lightning chuckled and answered "Maybe one of these days." "Well I'll be right back with that coffee honey." And she disappeared behind the counter. The little bell rang with the door opening.
Cruz and Natalie. Lightning glanced and greeted "Morning Cruz." Cruz smiled as she and her girlfriend walked over "Morning Mr um.. Lightning." She blushed. Natalie rolled her eyes. Lightning noticed and was a bit curious of why but wasn't gonna start anything. Instead he told her the good news "I talked to Sally and I'll take the job. But just for the month." he smiled. It felt good to say that. Knowing he would soon be watching the race from the pits podium again.
Cruz smiled and exclaimed with excitement "Really!? Oh this is incredible! I'm gonna love having things just like old times!" She hit his shoulder gently. Lightning smiled a bit awkward and chuckled. Colt was asleep. Cruz glanced down at the baby and spoke up "He's adorable." She complimented. Lightning thanked her than his coffee was brought out. "I'll tell Tex later when I see him." She said brushing his shoulder. Cruz and Natalie walked off. Lightning stared at his sleeping son with a smile. Cruz wouldn't be an issue sense things were good with everyone. It was such a relief.
Natalie stared pretty hard over at Lightning as She and Cruz sat at a table. Cruz noticed and worried some "Are you jealous?" Cruz asked. Natalie raised a brow answering, "No. But I do wonder if I should worry about him trying to hook up with you again?" Cruz glanced at Lighting then back at Natalie and reassured her, "Nat, Baby? I'm not into him okay?... Besides he seems happy. I don't think he would do those things again?" Natalie stared, unsure she said, "Once a cheater, always a cheater." Cruz rolled her eyes and glanced No, gazed at Lightning. As much as she did love Natalie... Nothing could replace her girly crush she had on Lightning. Part of Cruz... Loved him.
Natalie cleared her throat to gain back Cruz's attention. Cruz blushed and smiled awkwardly. "You know I know that look Cruz. I can never give you what he can?.." Cruz sighed and grabbed Natalie's hand replying "No, You can give me more." That cheered Natalie up some. But she was nervous with the idea of Cruz and Lightning being around each other close again...
Now within a few hours, Tex called Lighting confirming what Cruz had told him about Lightning joining the team for a month. And boy was Tex excited! He even sent out a huge email to everyone he knew for the occasion! It was on the web within the night, Lightning McQueen to be Ramirez' crew chief again! It was kinda nice being missed by fans. Lightning was home and been making dinner after getting Colt to sleep early. Sally walked inside their loving home and took a wiff of the air. The aroma of fresh and warm food made her stomach ruble. She let her hair down as she walked into the kitchen asking "Hey Stickers? Did you cook?" She sat down at the island in the kitchen. Lighting turned and smiled answering "Yep! Thought you'd like something when you got home so I made a little something special." Sally smiled as she watched her husband place a plate down in front of her of home made scallops and steak with asparagus and salad. "Wow.. It looks great Stickers." Lighting placed a rose cider down in front of Sally. Sally smiled and took the alcohol saying "And you know exactly what I like? Are you trying to seduce me?" She asked sipping the drink. Lightning chuckled answering "Maybe?" Sally rolled her eyes and began to eat along with Lightning who sat next to her to eat. Now they both chatted about their day some to each other. Lightning told her how he and Tex talked and he'd be leaving with Cruz and the team for the races already. Sally didn't mind and had no reason to worry about anything.
They began to clean up as Lighting was talking about maybe Sally bringing Colt along to at least one of the four races he would coaching at. She was hesitant only because Colt was so young and small. She didn't want to lose him or risk him getting sick over a meaningless outing? Lightning's phone rang and it was Tex, so he answered it.
"Hey Tex? How's it going? I saw the email by the way."
Did you? Woops.. That was meant for pretty much everyone but you. Anyways sense you know anyway!? Why don't you and the misses come out to celebrate!? Drinks on me tonight?
"Gee that is awful nice Tex but?.." He glanced at Sally and smiled.
"I'm gonna spend my night with my wife."
right. Okay. See you when we leave. Don't be up to long! Tex joked.
Lightning hung up as Sally walked over. "What was it about." She asked curiously sitting next to Lightning. He shrugged answering "Nothing. Tex is very happy about me coming to help out." Sally smiled at her love. "I love you." Lightning said gazing at Sally. Sally leaned forward and kissed him so passionately for a few seconds. Then pulled away. "Lets get some sleep Stickers. Before Colt wakes up." Lightning agreed and the couple headed to bed for the night...
