Disclaimer: I own all the OCs, so please don't take them! Other than that, enjoy!
CHAPTER TEN
He sat there, shaking so hard that he could no longer see clearly. Everything in the room, including the other cars were blurry. It got to the point when only shutting his eyes gave him a moment of peace. But sleep, he had enough sleep. Sleeping was all he did in an attempt to forget about the terrible shakes he got.
Brian had never been deprived of liquor, ever in his life. It was always there, and that's what led to his own downfall to become an alcoholic.
Sitting there on the recovery floor of the hospital in a corner all by himself, Brian tried hard to focus in on things around him. His shaking got worse the more he thought about drinking, and how long he had gone without it. He had been out cold for three months, and the past two months he had been up and getting used to his new engine, life was all about pain and misery.
Not even visits from Sadie made him happy. In fact, he didn't want her to come. For the first time in his life, he didn't want to see Sadie. Brian didn't want his wife to see him like this, it was sad. He was at his low, and acting at his lowest.
Brian became cruel, mean to the point that if you weren't his doctor, to stay away unless you wanted to be struck by him. He was always irritable, rude and nasty. Nothing could make him happy, nothing. The only thing Brian could think about is the day he got out of this damn hospital, and to a place that supplied the strongest liquor in town.
What nearly killed him, didn't phase his thoughts.
These last few days, Brian had been narrowing down his choices of the drinks he'd like to shoot down first. What brands, how many shots, and what kind of beer to chase it down with. Brian had it all planned out.
His shaking intensified as his engine starved for liquor again. The pain he was feeling was the worst he's ever felt. He didn't know it could get worse, but it did with each passing day. A new level of hell was being added each time, it seemed.
There in his little corner of the room, Brian avoided contact with everyone else. He glared at anyone who came near him, not afraid to strike at the cars who got too close. The snarl and evil eyes he wore was enough to scare anyone away.
His doctor, Colby, was the only one he allowed to come near him. He brought good news before he had Brian start his daily routine for recovery. It was a pain in the bumper, but it usually made his engine feel better, and it certainly helped to get drinking off his mind for a little while.
Brian swore that Colby was out to get him. He could swear that he wanted him to feel the pain he was now in. Like it was all some sort of payback for drinking all these years. Of course, there were consequences, but Brian somehow came to the conclusion that Colby was making things worse.
Colby refused to give Brian medicine to make the ache in his engine go away, or to help stop the shaking. The doctor said he would prescribe no medicine on his 'route to recovery' from alcohol during this time. If Brian got dependant on the medicine now, there's no doubt that the car would switch right from alcohol to the pills as an escape.
"You're almost there! If you can make it through this, you won't need the medicine or the alcohol," Colby always told Brian. But that was easier said than done. If Brian had known the withdraws for liquor would be this bad, he would have never started.
It was that never-forgiving feeling that kept nagging at him to get his next drink soon. He needed it, he craved for it, it was apart of him. It had been a part of him all his life, ever since the beginning. And that's what made it so difficult. Now it was gone, a piece of him was missing.
For two months, two months Brian begged any visitors he had to slip him a drink. But they refused. They knew better, even if it meant getting shunned and yelled at by Brian.
"Just one drink, that's all I need..." Brian said to himself as he pressed harder against the wall behind him. "Just one..." He pleaded.
He was anxious, restless to the maximum. He needed to run, run out of this place and run until he couldn't anymore. He had too much energy, more than he ever imagined that he could. But if being this healthy meant dealing with those withdraws, then he'd go back to his bad habit without hesitation.
"If you can hang on for a little while longer, there won't be anymore withdraws for drinks. Trust me, I'm a doctor, I know other patients like you." Those sentences repeated itself in Brian's mind over and over again. The more they did, the more he didn't believe Colby's words. It seemed like an eternity, living with the damn symptoms of an alcoholic, and the side effects kept getting worse.
There were other alcoholics on the recovery floor of the hospital, but none as bad as Brian. They had an idea about what he was going through, but didn't dare to approach him. They stayed on the other side of the room with the other patients to keep safe.
Brian slammed a tire against the wall next to him. Sitting here was driving him crazy, he had to get out. It was torture, absolute agony. In that moment, he wished he was dead. He quickly got rid of those thoughts, he had too much to live for. That reason was probably the only one that stopped him from doing other things to distract him from the withdraws. Thanks to him, the other cars on the recovery floor could no longer enjoy the fresh air that an open window brought.
Brian sighed, trying to calm himself. He sank down to the floor, it seemed to help his shaking a little. Finding peace was hard to do in a place filled with twenty extra cars that had nothing else to do but talk all day long.
He watched some of the new cars on this floor trying out their improved engines, the ones that just got out of their rooms and were allowed to be mobile for the first time. As others were happy to be healthy and active again, Brian was the only one who wished he was still cooped up in his hospital room knocked out cold. Exercise he could do without, even though he needed it badly.
The shaking stopped, and now his tires twitched.
Again, he slammed his tire against the wall in an attempt to knock some sense into his tires so that they'd stop. It worked, but his nerves were still on end. At any moment, he felt he might jump up and hit the roof.
Brian turned his evil glare towards a car that was coming straight at him. Lucky for that car, Brian actually tolerated this one.
"What do you want, Alex?" Brian asked, trying to suppress his annoyance.
Alex, Brian's friend in the room next to his, cautiously inched forward. "I brought you a glass of water."
Brian eyed the muscle car in front of him. The offering was so random, it made him think twice. "What for?"
He shrugged on his shocks, not looking Brian in the eye. "I dunno, I just thought maybe you'd want one..."
Brian sat there, thinking on that. The rock music Alex so loudly blared from his room from time to time might have been obnoxious, but all in all Brian liked the kid. He admired his bravery, sense of humor, and common knowledge of the world. Alex may have been obsessed with racing, but the kid knew what he was doing in life.
The green car managed a smile for him before taking the glass of water. Any other car, Brian would have flipped it out of their grip and chucked the glass towards the other side of the room. "Thanks..." He told him, before setting the empty glass next to him.
Alex still sat there, as if he was trying to find the words to say.
Brian noticed this. "You okay?"
He fidgeted on the tile floor, looking around at the pure white hospital walls around him. "I was just wondering if you were okay..." He admitted rather quietly.
"Alex, you shouldn't worry about me. I'm getting what I deserve after all these years... It's not your problem, okay?"
The muscle car nodded, looking down at the floor before him. He decided that he might as well ask his question now. "You're not gonna start drinking again after you get out, are you?"
Brian wanted the kid to look him in the face during that moment of silence between them. That way he could have noticed the hurt look that Brian wore, almost as if deeply changed by his words. He didn't expect Alex to care, so what was he supposed to say now?
Alex took that silence as a yes and turned away. The car had come so far...
Brian sighed as he watched him leave. He didn't want his only friend of two months to be disappointed with him. "Hey!" He called out.
The racer turned back without answering, expecting Brian to talk first.
"Am I still invited to your first race? You know, when you get out of here?"
Alex breathed in deep. "Only if you're sober."
Brian sank lower to the floor as Alex continued on his way back to his other friends on the recovery floor. He thought about all the anger he'd be experiencing after he, himself, got out of this hospital for good. He'd have to face Dave, his worst fear. His best friend all these years was going to give him hell. He was sure of it. All this time in the hospital, Brian had been preparing to argue with Dave. Some things were going to be said that should never be uttered.
Another thought hit Brian.
What was he going to say to the guys at the bar about his disappearance if he ever went back? He was sure that Sadie had told them the truth, but facing them was going to be tough. "You almost drank yourself to death, Brian..." He mumbled as he tipped over the glass next to him with a flip of his tire. The clank of the glass hitting the floor catching a few cars' attention. "Great way to go..."
The entrance to the recovery floor was violently slammed open as two doctors drove through and steadily approached Brian. Others in the room watched as they parked in front of him. One was Colby, the other Brian didn't know.
"Good afternoon, Brian." Colby started. "This here is my trainee. He's going to be with us all day during your routine." Brian glared at the newbie doctor as Colby continued. "I expect him to be with us until you get out of the hospital, which will be in two weeks. My trainee needs experience with difficult patients, and I decided to pick you." By now, Colby had gotten used to Brian's behavior and attitude, but that didn't mean he enjoyed being around him. Brian was lucky that Colby was the only doctor willing to put up with him.
Brian's smirk quickly turned into a childish, playful grin. The young doctor's determined face now weakened as he swallowed hard. The newbie had no idea just how difficult and stubborn Brian could be when he wanted. He was in for the worst two weeks of his life. After this, he'd no longer want to pursue his life as a doctor.
Brian was going to have fun, at least his last two weeks were going to be interesting. "Let the games begin."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The music was wonderful. The live band that performed knew just what tune to play throughout the night. The place was alive, there wasn't one car that was having a bad time. The 1954 Piston Cup celebration was what Doc always looked forward to. Here, he got to talk with the other racers, hang out with exclusive fans and party until you passed out.
February was cold, therefore the party was held inside. Which made it perfect for a certain car.
Derek kept to himself at the party to avoid being seen by any of Doc's friends. He hadn't received an invitation, and getting past the bouncers was hard enough. It was being spotted by Brian or Sadie that had him worried. He had come here for Doc, to find and talk to him. His plan was almost complete, he just needed to lure Doc away from his friends.
He stopped behind one of the many house plants that sat near the corners, watching Doc talk to his friends in the circle they formed around each other. They were talking and laughing all while enjoying one of the many drinks served at the party.
Derek knew their names, all of them. He had picked up information along the way to identify the cars in the circle. Right away he recognized Brian and Sadie who sat side by side. Remembering more names, he singled out Dave and Joanna as the married couple through pictures he stumbled across in the newspaper. He then saw Doc's crew, Mason and James. Average cars, but good cars none the less.
The next two cars in the circle, Doc and Laura. Derek needed to get Doc away from her. He knew for a fact that the blue car had never seen him, nor heard of his name. That information he had to be sure about for this plan to work.
He sat there a moment longer, looking at the couple. He almost felt sorry for her, how he was going to intentionally break them apart for his own completion. Derek smiled, he didn't feel sorry enough to call off the plans, that was for damn sure.
From what he could see sitting behind them, Laura was a good looking girl. He had never been this close to her, she was prettier up close. Thoughts of a relationship crossed his mind. "Maybe it could work out after this..." Derek got rid of those thoughts. He doubted that she'd leave this town and move to Tennessee.
Derek looked over to his side where Jill and Casey were, who sat on the other side of the room, waiting for their cue to move in. Casey was the one who was going to convince Doc to sign the papers and join their team. Jill, Casey's current girlfriend, she was going to be... well, Jill.
He started to whisper to Doc, trying to get his attention. "Hey... hey! You, the blue car!" His whispering got louder as the music advanced. "Hudson Hornet!" He finally snapped.
Doc flinched and turned around to see who called his name. He left his circle of friends and towards the direction he heard his name. "Yeah?" He called blindly.
Derek moved out from behind the plant. "Good to see you, Mr. Hornet. How are you this evening?"
Doc looked at the car oddly. Who the hell was this, and why was he talking to him like they were old friends? "What's your name?" He asked, looking the car over.
Derek smiled wide. "My name's Derek." He said, rocking back and forth on his tires. "Mind if I talk to you a minute?"
The racer considered it for a moment, briefly glancing back to look at his friends in his mirror. "No, no I don't mind. What about?"
Derek laughed to himself, his plan was working. It was all up to Casey and Jill from here on in. This was it. Tonight was either going to be a success or failure. "Come with me, there are some cars I'd like you to meet..."
Doc opened his eyes, immediately greeted by reality. He could have swore he was at the party, he felt like it. Up until today, Doc had forgotten all about it. Waking up to the small confines of his office seemed a bit weird at first. He could remember the sights and sounds of the party. And that name... the name he heard in his dream. Derek.
He wished he didn't have as many drinks as he did in 1954 that one night, because he would have never signed himself over to the team he did.
"If I ever see your face again, I'll pound your hood in." Doc said, repeating what Brian had said to him that night. Those words had stuck with him all these years. It was the only thing that he could never forget, never get rid of.
Doc started up his engine and pushed his way through the double doors to his office. Others were already gathering at Flo's, some still wandering around town. He looked over across the street to the Cozy Cone, just exiting his cone was Brian. It didn't take long for the green car to notice him, either.
The two glared at each other from a distance for a while. They were interrupted by another cone's garage door opening up. Laura rolled down the small ramp and parked beside Brian, wondering what he was looking at. Catching his gaze, she suddenly felt uneasy. Something told her she better leave, and that she did. She left Brian's side and went directly to the cafe.
The two stared at each other a moment longer before Doc decided to head towards Flo's himself.
Brian stayed on his side of the street, giving the other car some space, until he parked in one of the stalls to the cafe. If Doc was going to be difficult, so was he. He wanted to work things out, but Doc was going to have to make that move first. It was all up to him on whether or not this could be solved. Brian didn't come here to fight, and was more than willing to talk things out.
He parked in his usual spot, between Dave and Lightning. This way, he could easily glare at Doc who sat in front of him, Laura by his side.
She also needs to be glared at, he thought.
Laura noticed Brian's angry feature. He wasn't a morning car, but there was something different about him today. She figured that Brian and Doc had an exchange of words last night. So she sat there, awkward and shy, avoiding eye contact with them.
Lightning hadn't forgot anything said between those two. He knew Doc's background must have been depressing, but he didn't know why up until last night. No wonder his friends were so bitter.
The rookie was more scared of when Doc would finally figure out that he had been eaves dropping on their conversation, and now knows the whole plan behind the race. He kept wondering what Doc would say, hopefully the gruff old car wouldn't yell at him for such a thing.
Dave noticed how tense the four to his right looked. He glanced at Brian, who only offered an intense stare stating flatly to back off.
Dave glared back. He had a good idea of what was happening, but didn't know just how much had gone on the night before. "Don't start," He demanded. "Not this early in the morning, alright?"
Brian looked away from Dave, refusing to acknowledge his request to keep the peace.
Starting up his engine, Doc drove out of the cafe without excusing himself. He managed a small snarl to send in Brian's direction for all that was said between them last night. He couldn't believe the nerve Brian had, or the fact that he had lied to him already. But as he drove across the ground back to his office, he looked down at it in shame, realizing that it really was for the best. There was no backing down now, he couldn't apologize to Brian. That's something his pride wouldn't let him do at the moment.
Brian sighed, this isn't how he wanted his friendship to end... again. If only he could get that through to Doc. Then he noticed it, each dispute between them involved Laura. That thought brought out a small chuckle from him.
Laura took this time to talk to Brian, not caring that Lightning would hear her. With his eyes still on her, she spoke to him. "I'm sorry," She said. "I didn't mean for you and Hudson to start fighting. I'm sorry..."
Brian sighed again, "We're not fighting, yet. We're just refusing to have a conversation..." He looked at her deeply, confused at her actions. "Laura, why'd you tell him? Why'd you tell him you weren't married? We agreed that you'd keep it a secret."
Laura didn't have an answer.
Brian knew she shouldn't have come along, he didn't know why he wasn't firm on his decision. "What were you expecting to happen?" He was disappointed with her, she put Doc in a situation he didn't want to be in. He was sure that Doc had high expectations for this visit to be the best thing that ever happened to him.
"It doesn't have to end like this, right? I mean, this vacation can still end happy?"
Brian considered that a moment. It really depended on how the race turned out. It also depended on who apologized first. "I don't know..." He told her. There was no way he could call off the race. Brian was just hoping that Doc was true to his word, and wouldn't ask Laura to stay here with him unless he won their bet.
He sank down lower, resting his chassis on the floor of the cafe. He really couldn't center all the blame on Laura for this, but he would until a reason not to showed up.
Damn it, he thought, this was supposed to be a happy reunion.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Doc pushed a box in his office away from him sharply, the inanimate object was pissing him off. He did small circles in his office, pacing around as he thought. It did little to help, but it was better than nothing.
"What to do... what to do..." He mumbled, finally coming to a stop. He parked in front of the double doors as if he would leave, although he couldn't bring himself to head back to the cafe. He had made a dramatic exit for all to see that he was upset, and upset he was.
Laura, the love of his life was right here. The car he missed the most was in Radiator Springs, turns out to actually be single, and she doesn't hate him. It was so perfect, and perfect because it was real. But this fact of life was about to turn ugly.
Brian was right, he couldn't ask Laura to stay here with him. And if Doc didn't get himself back on track, he was going to lose his best friend.
Doc began pacing again. What if he had to choose? What if he chose Laura and she didn't want to stay, he'd lose both cars. His pacing quickened, this was a mess. He didn't know what his choices were at the moment. Apologizing to Brian wasn't an option right now, and ducking out of the race wasn't either.
Dave, he could talk to Dave about this. Yeah, he'd understand what he was going through for sure.
He stopped pacing again. He couldn't pull Dave away from the townsfolk without Brian or Laura seeing him. He'd wait until tonight to bring this up, and tell him what was going on. Dave had filled him in on past events that he missed out on, the least Doc could do was explain the reason behind Brian's attitude. Dave was a good guy, one who'd listen to him, and consider both sides of the problem before pushing his own opinion in.
The last thing Doc wanted between him and his old friends was a fight. But as long as this fight stayed between him and Brian, things could get better.
He sighed, there was a knock on his door. "Come in."
Lightning peeked through the doors. "You alright?" He was cautious not to enter without permission. Doc rolled his eyes slightly as he gestured for him to come through all the way. He parked in front of the double doors.
"What makes you think I'm not okay?" He asked, although he was pretty sure the kid had a good idea. If there was one car he didn't want involved in this, it was him.
Lightning looked over at something that caught his attention. "What happened to the box?"
Doc glanced over at it. "It fell."
"From where?"
"Don't worry about..." He said, casually sliding it away in a corner with his tire. Doc was more than ready for the kid to get out of his office and leave him to his peace. He pretended to clean his surroundings, hoping Lightning was buying it; maybe even get the hint to drop what ever conversation he wanted to have.
The rookie couldn't see past the mask. "So what's wrong?"
It was none of the kid's business. Doc turned to him with a stern look. "Nothing's wrong." He said, trying to confirm his doubts.
Lightning decided that it was now or never to tell Doc he knew. "I," He started, finding it hard to look Doc in the eye. "I know about--"
There was another knock on the door. "Come in," Doc commanded, agitated at this point.
It was Dave who pushed open the double doors, which in return smacked Lightning across his rear. The kid yelped and pulled forward, surprised by the hit. Now Doc was even more crammed in his office, he reversed farther against the wall.
The doors swung back and closed on Dave who, by now, had come halfway through. "Sorry," He directed towards Lightning, who was trying to do his best three-point turn. "I didn't know anyone else was in here. Am I interrupting anything too important?"
Doc looked from Dave to Lightning. "You were saying that you know about--"
"Nothing." Lightning said, regretting to bring up the subject. "I know about nothing and I was wondering if you could tell me what's going on." Doc looked at the kid questionably, there was something wrong in his statement. "Uhh, I've gotta go."
Dave moved out of Lightning's way as the stock car proceeded to head back to Flo's. He came back into Doc's office. "What was that all about?"
Doc sighed, he had no clue. "Dave, would it be okay if I talked to you later tonight?"
"Yeah, yeah of course. Is it about what's going on between you and Brian?" He inched forward, trying his best to read Doc's expression.
The cobalt car started to rummage through the box he bent up and began to place the things in a new one. "It is..."
Dave looked around at Doc's office, he was amazed at how many things could fit in here. "Well, I'm here for ya, Hudson. Just come and get me when you're ready..." He backed out of Doc's office and started towards Flo's. There was no sense in trying to get more information out of Doc at the moment, what ever was happening could wait until tonight.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Everyone in the town had no idea just what kind of secrecy was being transported throughout the place. Brian and Doc's dispute that was going on sat unnoticed. Laura's sad and quiet appearance at the cafe also was oblivious to the others. Sadie developed a pissy attitude due to the fact that her husband refused to tell her what was wrong until it settled, but she trusted Brian, and soon accepted his decision.
Dave, still not knowing what could possibly be wrong, entertained the townsfolk with stories from the fifties that involved Doc. Everyone was eager to learn more about their quiet town doctor, that had up until now, remained silent about his past.
Laura couldn't take it anymore, listening to him. She was sick of hearing about old memories. She faked a smile and quickly excused herself to leave the cafe that night, Laura was going to find Doc and spend time with him.
Dave stopped what story he was telling and watched her leave, that was unexpected. But the more he thought about it, he hoped he didn't offend her. Sadie, Brian and him were embracing the old times, Dave never thought that it might be harder for her.
Everyone watched as her tail lights disappeared, going towards Doc's office. They sat there, looking at Dave wondering if he could supply an answer.
But he couldn't, and if he could it wouldn't be easy. He glanced in his mirror, taking a look at the tail lights as well. His attention turned sharply to Brian next to him, who was now looking at the ground. A soft sigh followed not too shortly after.
Now Dave knew, he understood. It was about Laura, Doc and Brian were fighting about Laura. He didn't know why he didn't see it before. Then it hit him, what if the secret was out? He was sure that was the reason behind all of this. Of course, it could only be that. Laura was stuck in the middle between a guy who wanted things to be right again, and another guy who wanted the best for everyone.
Dave scoffed. If that was what Doc was going to talk to him about later, he didn't know how he was going to fix it. Fixing problems is all he's done in life, but this was a whole new category.
The maroon car looked past Brian to the rookie that sat next to him. The kid was giving Brian a look of assurance that everything would be okay. That look worried Dave, what if Lightning was in on this? What if--
"Was he going to marry her?"
Dave snapped out of his thoughts and looked across the cafe to who questioned him. He couldn't find a match to the voice, he had been so lost in his own world that the question seemed surreal. But it was surreal, because that question had been abandoned long ago, left behind and forgotten for others to etch into their memory as something that belonged in a lonely dream.
All eyes were on him, waiting to answer. He didn't know if he should answer that or not.
Dave sighed and looked at the ground. "Yes..." His voice was barely above a whisper. "He was going to ask her to marry him."
Brian looked at Dave, just how many memories was he planning on bringing up tonight? He, too, remembered the day that his best friend told him that he was going to propose to Laura. He couldn't be happier for Doc. It was 1954 all over for him.
"Don't tell the others," Doc started. "But I'm gonna ask her before the first race of the season."
To propose to the woman he loved in front of thousands of fans at the South Carolina Racing Headquarters would have been amazing. It seemed perfect, because Brian knew Laura was going to say yes. But after everything that had happened in life, there was no such thing as perfect.
"Excuse me one moment..." Dave started up his engine and backed out of the cafe. He drove over to Doc's, but when he knocked on the door no one answered. He moved around the back to his garage, again there was no one there.
Dave drove back to the main street and looked around. The only thing he could hear was the distant murmur of voices coming from Flo's. The darkness around him was cut by the street lights, but he still couldn't find Doc or Laura.
A light breeze rolled through, the trees at the back of the Cozy Cone rustling and moving along with it.
He sighed, they were gone. Not knowing when they'd be back, he figured his conversation between Doc could be brought up tomorrow. He wanted to confirm the conclusion he had made. And Dave was never, never out of the loop.