Disclaimer - Pixar owns all the chars used in this. I think Checks Yep, no original characters. Not a one! Wow! Anywho, if you happen to be reading this and are employed by Pixar, please don't sue me. I have no money. And you can't kick a dead horse and make him go. But read it anyway!
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Morning light fell across Radiator Springs as Doc quietly pulled out into the street, a good stretch given to get the hitches and kinks out of his tires. Oh he was getting way to old... He could feel the rain that was coming. This time of the year it was more common than people thought. In a few weeks the dessert would be alive again, where for months, it was nothing but dirt and dust.
A wonderful morning... Of which Doc could care less about...
Sheriff was late. Very late... After the little war of wits they had been having, Doc wasn't surprised. However it wasn't like Sheriff to just flat out skip out on the appointment. He would make excuses... He would even pull something as low as locking Doc up for the day in the town impound lot. However, he had never known him to just skip out on it.
Doc perked up just a bit, as Lightning crept his way up the street. Out a bit earlier than Lightning normally was... The car didn't normally dare to step out of his little nest until at least noon.
"Lightning!" Doc called out down the street causing the race car to stop in his tracks, turning around to offer his full attention.
"You seen Sheriff this morning?"
Lightning sighed and shook his grill, seeming to still be a little on edge from being pulled into the night before' little escapades...
"No... Thank the creators for that... I'm full and well ready to help ya out with any project ya want Doc... But please the next time you decide to pull a prank on the Sheriff, please find another minion... My nerves can't take it..." Lightning pleaded as he came back up the street so he could talk to Doc without yelling.
"Oh don't worry on it son. Sheriff won't retaliate on you. For some reason or another he likes you." Doc commented with a light chuckle.
Lightning rolled his eyes and glanced around, his frame tilting just a bit. "Didn't he have an appointment this morning?"
Doc sighed and gave a slight nod. "He did... I'm starting to think he went from wit to just flat out skipping the appointment... Though I would hate to think Sheriff a coward..." He mused softly.
"Maybe something came up..." Lightning tried softly. "Or maybe he just didn't want to come out into town during the day with those feathers and stuff..."
Doc gave a blink and let out a thoughtful humm, a small twig of guilt touching him. That... Was entirely possible. Had he humiliated Sheriff into locking himself away indoors? That had never been his intent. He wouldn't be this hard headed about making sure Sheriff had his yearly physical if he didn't care about his friend's well being... Though the thought that he had actually humiliated Sheriff into being unable to show his face in town...
He frowned deeply and quickly made his way down to the old police station that served as Sheriff's home.
It was dark inside as it normally was during the day. Sheriff had a thing about turning lights on inside when there was more than enough light outside... Aside from that he was rarely home during the day. Still Doc hadn't seen him all morning so where else would he be? He rapped lightly on the front door and waited. Silence was all he was met with. A little worried he quickly found the spare key, hidden in a loose brick, unlocked the door and went in. The place was empty...
With a thoughtful humm Doc relocked the door and rolled his way out onto the street. Now where could he be. A soft whistling rang out causing Doc to look up. Mater was making his way up the street, his tow cable happily swinging back and forth as he rolled into town... Mater... Surprisingly enough Mater frequently wound up being Sheriff's little minion when it came to what he was up to... And right about now Doc figured he was up to something.
"Mater! Could you come here for a moment?" Doc called, causing Mater to happily make his way towards Doc.
"What's up Doc?" Mater asked, and laughed once he realized his own unintentional pun.
Doc only smirked and rolled his eyes, having heard that one... Frequently... "Have you seen Sheriff this morning?"
"Yeah I saw him earlier this mornin' Doc. He was talkin' to Mack about somethin'. I think the Sheriff went with him or somethin'"
Doc gave a slight blink and glanced off down the street. Mack? "Alright thank you Mater..."
Mater nodded happily and went off on his way. So Sheriff had enlisted Mack's help... Well this should be good...
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It was nearly five in the evening before Doc's questions were answered. Through the day he wondered and worried over what the hell might be going on. Though when Mack pulled into town again it all became very clear...
Sheriff drove along behind Mack without shame...
Not a spec of tar was on him. Nowhere. No tar... Not even a single feather. He was also a solid base blue, which was why he was heading over to Ramone's. It made sense... The chemical that took off tar also took off paint. On one tire it was interesting to know that Sheriff's natural color was blue. A very dark blue actually close to his own. On the other... It seemed Mack had driven Sheriff into the next town or possibly even a couple towns over to get the tar and feathers off.
Doc remained in his clinic, quietly watching the scene unfold from the window of his office as Sheriff made his way over to Ramone's to have his police cruiser colors put back into place.
"Well I'll be danged..." Doc muttered to himself. He knew there was a reason Sheriff had been elected as such every term for the past several years. It wasn't just because for the last few terms no one else had wanted the job... It was because that car was damn smart... He had something else in the planning to get back at Doc. He already knew it. However Doc figured he could use a little something against him...
With a smirk Doc quietly sat back and waited. He had felt guilty all morning over what he had done to Sheriff, afraid he had humiliated his friend into hiding. Now it was Sheriff's turn...
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The sun was just setting by the time Sheriff finally got out of Ramone's shop. He did respect that car's talent but dang it was hard to get out of there with just a basic police coloring... He needed to look dignified and he couldn't do that with racing stripes... Which Ramone had begged to be allowed to apply. As it was, Sheriff found himself searching out a reflection to make sure the fool hadn't snuck some wild design somewhere. Though as it was Ramone had done a fine job. He always did...
He felt pretty good. He had managed to outsmart Doc with this one... He had even gotten a new paint job out of the deal which he had been needing.
He chuckled softly as he pulled into Flo's cafe at his normal spot. It was late in the evening which meant everyone was closing up their shops rather than milling about at the cafe as they normally did. Only Lightning sat parked at the cafe, who had the decency to look more than a little sheepish as Sheriff pulled up.
"Oh stop cowering boy, you're not the one I want." Sheriff commented flatly.
Lightning looked as if he didn't know weather he wanted to ignore the statement and keep cowering or simply be relieved.
"Evening boys" Flo called cheerfully as she brought them both a cup of oil. "Oh Sheriff you got a new paint job"
Sheriff chuckled and smirked. "As if you didn't know that already Flo."
Flo laughed and gave a light shrug. "Can't put one past you Sheriff." She called, heading off to get another can of oil as Sally and Mater pulled up to park near Lightning.
"Sheriff I'd like a word with you."
Sheriff tensed a bit and put a smile across his grill as Doc came up from seemingly nowhere. Couldn't let Doc sneak up on him like that if he was going to stay ahead of him.
"Don't you trust me?"
That... Wasn't what he was expecting. "Pardon?"
"As your doctor. Do you trust me?"
Sheriff gave a slight blink, glancing around the cafe briefly. This little conversation had caught the attention of everyone gathered. "Yes Doc of course I trust you..."
Doc tilted just a bit on his frame, giving Sheriff a purely sad look. "Do you? Because it seems to me that if a patient willingly travels several towns over just to see another doctor that he's lost the trust in his own... Did I do something wrong? Is there something that I've done to lose your trust in my capabilities?"
Sheriff set back just a bit, not sure of what to say... He knew that Doc was playing him... But the old racer looked so serious... Part of him was beginning to feel just a little low... He did trust Doc! Had been a nervous wreck about the simple task of getting the tar removed by another doctor... Would have gone to see Doc about it if he wasn't still in this silly prank war...
"No Doc that's not it-"
"I'm sorry if I've failed you as a doctor Sheriff. I'm an old car and sometimes I forget things that are important... I understand that, that's just not good for a doctor... Maybe I can't do my job anymore... So if I'm starting to lose the trust of my patients maybe it's time for me to retire..."
Oh the looks he was getting from the other town cars... If looks could kill... They obviously felt this little war had gone on long enough...
Though after a moment of stuttering silence Sheriff caught something. Doc was a good actor... But he wasn't that good... The briefest little look of... He was pleased with himself! It was very brief, when Doc thought that Sheriff was looking around at the others but Sheriff prided himself on spotting things. He had seen it! Doc was leading him on! Well two could play at this game.
"You're right Doc... I'm sorry I don't know what I was thinking... This silly little prank war had gone on long enough hasn't it? Anyway the physical... I'm busy all morning tomorrow but how about four tomorrow afternoon? I should be finished with all of my errands by then."
Doc tilted a little on his frame as if attempting to determine weather or not Sheriff had really given in. Doc was a good actor... But Sheriff was much better. The police cruiser slumped a bit on his tires, looking so entirely sorrowful that Doc gave a little nod, seeming pleased with himself.
"Alright then Sheriff. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon."
Sheriff smiled briefly and nodded. "Well thanks Doc. I promise I'll make that appointment."
Doc nodded, still looking a but suspicious that Sheriff had actually given in, but still headed off back towards the clinic. With that cleared up everyone went back to what they had been doing, seeming happy that the two had made up and Doc was alright.
"Hey Lightning you have any plans for tomorrow?" Sheriff whispered softly, causing the race care to freeze.
"Sheriff... I thought you two had buried the hatchet so to speak."
"Answer the question boy."
Lightning yelped and nodded. Weather or not he actually did was unknown but Sheriff smirked at him. "If I recall... You were doing well over a hundred through town last night... I have a ticket all written out for that..."
"But... You said I wasn't the one you wanted."
Sheriff smirked and shrugged. "No but you'll do..."
Lightning sighed heavily and sagged on his tires a bit.
"Oh don't worry about it Lightning I'm not gonna write you a ticket. But I do have a job for you..."