I do not own Cars, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. I do, however, own all the Original Characters.

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CHAPTER TEN

It was noon. As the start of the racing season approached, the Headquarters increasingly became busier and busier. Teams from around the state were making their way to the coast and gathering at the compound to prepare for the first race. Brian had just gotten his racing tires put on and was maneuvering alone through the crowds toward the main track.

He drove down the bustling pit row and toward the ramp which led up to the concrete overhang that jetted out above the starting line. It was where the flag waver and officials would be on race day, but for today, Brian wanted to use it to survey the competition. Just as his tires were about to touch the ramp, a car called for his attention.

"Mr. Cartona," the voice started. "I heard you were in town. Who's your racer?"

Brian rolled backwards and turned to confront who was speaking to him. The car he saw must have been waiting for him; he looked comfortable where he was parked by the railing. He didn't recognize him but his instinct told him it was another trainer.

The green car didn't answer him right away. He was unsure of the stranger's intentions. He looked behind the other trainer and down the side of the railing to a mass of cars that were obviously talking amongst themselves about him. A few of them stole glances their direction every few seconds. He guessed the car in front of him was the one who volunteered to approach.

Brian finally nodded in the direction of the individual who had the number seventy eight painted on his doors and had M S Williams Racing on his hood. His friend was talking with other racers off to the side; fellow cars that Colton knew from around town. "Colton Dannelley," he told him.

The trainer looked at Colton and then back to Brian with a nod. "We respect your accomplishments and look forward to racing with you."

Brian remained silent - he didn't care for the sentiment of those he didn't want to know. As the trainer returned to his group, he made eye contact with each one; his stance dominant. He turned back to the ramp and went up the incline to the overhang. He parked at the end by the flag box and peered over the side of the railing.

There was a group of ten cars running in a mock practice race. He wasn't eager to put Colton on the track with them just yet. Very intently, he studied the racers. How they drove, what place they were in, searching for their strengths and their weaknesses as the group rounded the final turn and sped past the finish line underneath him. He narrowed his eyes and quietly continued making mental notes of their habits, seeing what most others usually did not.

"Hey, Brian!" James called up to the car from the middle of pit row. "You're next to get your logos put on!"

But Brian didn't bother to look down and over at his team member. He continued to survey the track. "Nope, not happening," he told him, watching the group of racers come back by again.

James tilted to the side and cocked a windshield at him. "What do you mean 'not happening'?"

Brian would rather have a cut in pay than wear the name of a company that didn't know or care about him. "My name is enough of a statement. I don't need to have that sponsor shit all over me…"

James sighed loudly in frustration. "Oh, c'mon, Brian!" he whined. "We have to do it and so do you - you're part of the team and need to represent that to the public!"

The green car rolled his eyes and turned just enough to look at James and give him his attention. He titled the front of his frame down to better speak to the man, and saw the new logos on him. "Trust me, being seen with you guys will mean that I'm with you, okay? I don't need advertisement on me to confirm that." James didn't seem amused or convinced. "I tell you what - ask Dave to put those stickers on too and see what he says. If he does it, so will I."

James shook his hood and sighed again. There was no sense in arguing with Brian. "Yeah, yeah, you say that knowing Dave's vanity can't handle such a look…"

Brian gave a smirk and resumed his research of who Colton would be racing against. On the next restart, he was going to put him in with the group to see how he would handle the simulation.

Dave had left work well after nightfall and was on his way to the Headquarters. The maroon car had every intention of keeping his promise to Colton and his team to be more present throughout the processes. He could see the stadium lighting from the main road like a beacon that guided the way. As he made a left onto the dirt path to the inner compound, he could hear a lone engine.

The car paused once on the other side of the clearing. To the left by the tree line he saw Colton running by himself on a smaller track; his bright orange body glowing under the fluorescent lights. He continued on his way to Brian and the pit crew who were parked by the railing and watching their racer.

Dave quietly approached Brian's left side, who could feel his presence before he even came to a stop. Colton's engine was nearly deafening as it echoed in the forest behind the track. For a moment he watched the race car slide along the red, packed clay on the inclined slick track. "Wow, he sure can move," Dave said.

Brian's concentration never broke from his watch over Colton. "He needs to work on tightening his turns on these smaller tracks," he told him, almost correcting him; his critic side to being a trainer shining through. He saw things that Dave couldn't. He cleared his pipes as Colton came around their side of the turn. "Less throttle! Pitch it harder!" he yelled, and Dave winced at the outburst. "Sorry," he said as he gave the maroon car a quick glance. "We get our radios installed tomorrow."

Harris had waited until closer to grand opening to purchase the latest and most updated communications.

Colton seemed to heed Brian's instructions. As he slid sideways through the turn, his grille was more perpendicular with the railing. His transition out of the turn was much smoother.

"Good!" Brian yelled, smiling in approval. He decided to teach Dave now that he was here. He leaned closer to the manager who also took the cue to lean in to hear him better. "Moves like that can kill momentum, but it gains positions that can be defended. It works best on these types of tracks." He paused as Colton passed again. "Bigger tracks take similar effort but more, constant speed. More exciting, too…"

Dave nodded; it was starting to make sense to him. "He seems to learn fast," he commented.

"Yeah," Brian added quickly. "he really does. All of this seems to come naturally to him, much more so than I've seen with others." The green car slipped into his own thoughts. He felt an overwhelming urge to help him reach his dreams and be happy. He had never experienced that with any other team. He wanted him to have the bright and promising future that he deserved, and he was glad to not only his trainer, but his friend. "I put him in a mock race today," Brian said, coming out of his mind.

"Oh?" Dave asked, settling on his tires.

"He did great - second place. Not bad for first try. Some of who he was up against today will be in the race. Last time I checked the roster, there should be about twenty total." Brian moved forward and away from Dave to approach the railing. "Alright, Colt, you're can bring it in!" The sound of Colton's engine started to dwindle and he waved him over with a tire.

Colton, out of breath but smiling, drove up to Brian on the other side of the railing from inside the track. He placed a tire on the top wooden beam and sighed. "How'd I do?" he asked, shutting off his engine. The quiet calmness of the night resumed.

"I say you're on your way to becoming worthy," Brian joked, gaining a chuckle from the orange car. "We can call it a night. We'll do this again tomorrow and I'll join you. I want to make sure you can do that with a car on either side of you. This is a contact sport but you'll need to be able to refine this art form yourself for these smaller tracks, understand?"

Colton eagerly nodded. "I'll try not to take your mirrors off," he said with a laugh.

"Oh, don't worry," Brian said, smiling. "I won't let you do that. Have James and Mason help you outta your dirt track tires and we'll all go home." As Colton nodded and turned to exit the track, Brian returned to Dave. "So, what do you think? Is this something you can learn to like?"

Dave glanced over to James and Mason who were assisting Colton with his tires; the three were having their own conversation off to the side about today's events while they put on his street set. "I'm already enjoying it. But I gotta be honest, you all make the difference…"

Brian's smile had remained, but as he watched the maroon car closer it faded into a more flat expression. He could tell that something was distracting Dave more than usual. "What's on your mind?"

Dave was snapped from his thoughts and he looked back at Brian sharply, almost surprised. "How do you mean?" he questioned; Brian's expression growing more concerned. For a moment he felt withdrawn, although he soon sighed in defeat. He felt guilty he had not had any time to call his wife today. "Joanna is probably wondering where I am by now. She's waiting up for me like always…"

"Go on home, then," Brian urged, the sincerity in his voice evident. He was not much for monogamy, but he admired those that could make a marriage work.

Dave looked down at his hood and gave another sigh. "You know," he started, scoffing to himself as he shuffled a tire in the dirt. "I bet she hung up that wall piece all by herself today." He looked back up at Brian. "Thanks for that, by the way. It was nice of you."

Brian shook his grille. "I can't take credit for that. It was Colton's idea; I'll pass on your comment for you, though." The maroon car seemed hesitant; the silence was thick. "You should get going. You do what you have to for your relationship..."

Dave gave Brian a mutual, thankful look before he reversed and turned to exit the Headquarters. Over a bumpy path, he struggled to see Brian join the rest of the team through his side view mirror.

Brian and Colton were drinking beer at his apartment during late hours of the same night. The two had been discussing race strategy and who they thought they needed to keep an eye on, when a pause in the conversation arose; Brian's thoughts began to wander.

"Y'know," Brian started, taking a swig from his beer. "it was good of Dave to invite us over. But aside from the obvious that he's a workaholic, we still don't know that much about him. What ever he does to earn those paychecks, it's gotta be some big time stress."

"Well maybe the man doesn't wanna talk about it," Colton suggested. "We didn't hear too much from him last night."

Brian chuckled to himself. "Of course we didn't - you were too busy talking your hood off to give him a chance to speak," he joked, receiving a lighthearted glare from the car. "You know what this means, right? Have an idea of what I'm getting at?"

Colton lazily nodded. "That we should get to know him better?"

"Yep," the green car said, finishing his beer.

Colton agreed; it was the proper thing to do. "When do you think we should do that?"

"Soon," Brian told him. "Before the start of the season. I think there's gonna be too much going on to try and do it afterwards." He began to reflect on his first night over there and how Joanna reacted to Dave's comment about the company taking up most of his time. It was subtle, but had caught his attention. His thoughts roamed. He was curious yet concerned.

"Damn, I'm so exhausted," Colton said softly with a yawn, breaking Brian from his silent musings. He stretched his frame and gave a hefty sigh.

Brian watched his beer can crumple and fold as he flattened it with a tire. "You can stay here tonight if you need to," he said.

The orange car could barely focus on his friend. "You mean it?"

"Colt," Brian said, giving him a blank stare. "of course. You know that. I gave you a key anyway…"

He managed a smile. "Thanks, man. I appreciate that."

Brian nodded and sighed too. "My stuff is your stuff," he said as he drove out of the living room and down the hallway to leave him alone. "See you in the morning…"

"G'night!" Colton called to him, but Brian had already shut his bedroom door. With empty cans gathered in his left tire, he drove into the kitchen to dump them in the trashcan. He returned to the living room and backed himself against one of the walls. He parked and pulled the cord to the single lamp in the room. The darkness consumed him.