Disclaimer: I own all the OCs, so please don't take them! Other than that, enjoy!
CHAPTER TWELVE
The squeal of his tires quickly faded. He was gaining speed faster and faster, trying to catch up with his current enemy. His tires gripped the pavement, using his brakes on the turns and bends of the road up the mountain's side. He was climbing, gradually.
But he was running, running solo. The sound of his engine being the only thing cutting off his concentration. Making up for lost time was his goal at the moment, and driving steady was the only thing that could possibly help him. A miracle, more like it. There was no way that Brian would give him a chance to win this, not a single ounce of mercy.
Doc leaned with the curves, making his way to the inside of the road on a right turn. And suddenly his senses were alerted by the sound of someone else's engine. No... that couldn't be Brian already, it just couldn't be. It had to just be some traveler on a road trip... But as the cobalt car made another turn, the flash of a green car was constant. It was definitely Brian.
He was shocked, how did he catch up with him so quickly? The old car must have been slacking off. Big mistake for someone who hates racing on asphalt, something Doc didn't expect from Brian.
As he was surging closer, the green car gave a startled yelp and suddenly took off, leaving Doc to wonder just how much power that car now had. Brian had been slacking off, or maybe it had been a trick of some sort. Though Doc highly doubted that now as he pushed the accelerator more, trying his hardest.
He thought he lost him briefly around a turn, but soon found himself side by side with the other racer. That was something Brian wouldn't allow. He cut Doc off, forcing him to fall back behind him.
Doc wouldn't take that. He leaned forward and tried once again to come up beside him.
For a moment, the only sound had been of their engines straining to out-do each other, but there was grunting as Brian shoved Doc into the outside guard rail. The sound of scraping metal came after that as Doc struggled to break free of Brian's hold on him. He glanced out over the ledge, a moment of panic as he saw just how high up they were on the mountain.
He was left with no choice but to hit his brakes and fall back. He could hear Brian laugh as he pulled away, he worked hard to regain top speed. He wasn't going to let Brian win this.
With all his strength, he slammed the accelerator again, fish-tailing around a tight turn, finding Brian again.
Brian gave an aggravated growl, preparing himself to throw the other car off course. Though he had to admit, he raced badly on asphalt, and if racing dirty was going to mean winning, he'd do it. He waited for Doc to come up beside him, ready to let Doc know that he had no intention of letting him win their bet.
But Doc was in trouble, Brian taught him how to race. Everything he knew, even still today, he hadn't forgotten a single thing. Brian would know of any trick he would try to perform, it was hard. Though he had to try, it was his only option. Even if it meant getting more dents than originally planned.
Doc pretended to pass him on the outside of the upcoming left turn, Brian immediately blocking him off. But Doc tapped his brakes, soon fading into the inside of the road where Brian was vulnerable. It worked, but only because this wasn't dirt. Doc ducked lower, turning with the bend and exiting the turn with a slight lead on Brian.
"Give up, Hudson! This isn't worth it! You know this isn't right!" Brian yelled to him, pushing his engine to the limit in an attempt to regain the lead.
Another turn was coming up, and it was in Brian's favor. The green car being on the right, he'd be on the inside. Doc tried doing the same move, though it quickly failed. Brian knew how to prevent it, now that he was aware of that move being used. He swerved over, faking out the other racer, but Brian didn't take the bait.
They had a small straightaway, it'd be power now. They gunned it, though to no avail. The two were evenly matched, driving side by side along the mountain, ignoring any danger that could come when upholding this speed.
Another turn, a left turn. Doc smiled as he hugged the inside rail and gained an entire length lead after that. He could hear Brian growl in frustration, and smiled at his reaction. His only worry at the moment was Brian knocking him out of the way entirely.
Brian's hatred began to dwindle as his mind slipped out of concentration and to the better days, the 50's when times were good, when they had became better after that horrible year of 1950. Times like theses... racing for training... racing his best friend for fun on the old country roads of South Carolina... outrunning the cops... but only having to be bailed out by Dave... times of living life to the fullest... times of being complete, and happy... times that were gone... forever.
He hadn't raced Doc like this since 1953, when they went to the cabin for the weekend. The time that Doc almost died, colliding with that one irate car. But thankfully, it had only cost him a crushed fender and a broken headlight. That had scared him so bad, because all the progress he made would have been lost if he had died. It truly would have been all gone... all for nothing. He had taken Doc in, and given the cobalt car an amazing life, something that he had lost years ago, himself.
Tears stung his eyes at the thought that it had all come down to this, a race that would decide way too many things. Most likely destroy a long lost friendship. Years of guilt and regret swelled up inside him, this was the end. Thoughts of this outcome began to hurt him the more he questioned it. He wondered if Doc was thinking the same thing, though he highly doubted it. Laura meant a lot to him.
And that's what brought the hatred back, he would not let Doc win. He would not let him ask Laura to stay here with him. His concentration returned, and with that he was more than determined to make sure he won.
Doc listened to the way his engine sounded. He was growing tired, he hadn't been pushed to the limit like this in a long time. His motor ached, increasing his pain each time his pistons moved. Holding Brian off was hard, and he didn't know if he could last much longer. It was then that they passed the Wheel Well Motel, a surprise to him. Just how much further up the road was Laura?
That didn't matter. What did matter, was that Brian was driving along side him.
The two came over the top of the hill, only to be met by a stretch of road, the longest straightaway they'd be running so far. But the noise of their race was drowned out as he spotted Laura just at the end, cheering them on.
Doc and Brian exchanged a glance before giving it all they had. They were steadily increasing speed at an alarming rate, Laura was getting closer and closer. She was cheering, still cheering as she watched the enemies come flying towards her at top speed, oblivious to just how much emotion this was brewing.
And at top speed they were, both racers felt like they would be clear for take-off soon. It was a bit scary. No, it was insane, what the hell were they thinking? They were racing side by side, grill to grill for everything. This was it.
They exchanged another glance, this time panicked. Neither backing down, not yet. But no one had the lead, they couldn't.
Brian lowered his body to the asphalt as best he could, fighting the wind, hugging the ground as he barreled down the gradual hill. He was surging forward slightly, getting the edge he needed. Though Doc did the same, and they were back where they started.
Another glance, no one dared to perform a trick now. Lives were more important than playing a trick that could take one away.
Closer, closer they were. They lost count of their speed, their tires barely holding onto the ground. They could hear Laura's yelp of excitement at this event, she was sitting in the middle of the road, jumping up and down with encouragement at the finish line.
Doc gritted his teeth, giving this more effort than he thought was possible. The memories began to flash before him again, and all he could see was her, hoping she could be in his life again. Though it was too late as the two racers whipped by the cherry red car in a loud blur. Their worst nightmare had been met.
They had tied.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dave and Lightning drove side by side up the mountain's side at a decent pace, admiring the scenery as they strolled along. They tried not to think about the outcome of the races, but that didn't mean they weren't interested. The two didn't really talk to each other on the drive, instead enjoying each other's company was good enough.
"Hey, you hear that?" Lightning asked.
"I may be old," Dave started. "But yes, I do hear it."
"It wasn't supposed to be sarcastic... It was just a question..." He told him.
It was the sound of engines. They both heard it, and increased their speed until they turned a corner, seeing Sadie and Sheriff on their drive as well. Sadie was talking about something, though they couldn't quite figure it out. Sheriff, couldn't possibly look more frustrated listening to her.
Dave chuckled. "I wonder who won."
The two drove up behind them, pulling up beside them. They were four wide on the road, it wasn't like anyone else was using it.
"Hey guys!" Lightning said as he drove along side Sheriff. There was no response as he pulled away and continued driving at a higher speed. "What's wrong with him?" He asked.
Sadie laughed gently. "Ehh, he's just mad that I didn't play fair... he's also mad that he lost because of it." She sighed and continued to drive up the road between Dave and Lightning. "But I didn't hear any rules being set, either. So he can't be too mad."
It was a long drive, now that they weren't racing. Sheriff was minding his own business, leading the three up the mountain, when he about ran into Laura head on. He swerved out of the way before that could have happened. He turned back, confused. "Where are you going?"
The three pulled up next to Sheriff, also wondering what was going on. Laura appeared to be out of breath.
"I was just coming to find you guys!" She told them. "Brian and Hudson are on the verge of a total meltdown!" Dave and Lightning looked at each other with horror, that definitely didn't mean anything good. "I don't know what's wrong! I mean, I can't even get them to talk to me! They're too busy arguing over that stupid race of theirs!"
Poor Laura didn't know that she was the star of the race, let alone the argument. Dave swallowed hard before speaking. "Who won?" He asked, inching forward.
Laura rolled her eyes and smiled. "Oops, silly me, forgot to tell you..." Yeah, she was still a ditz. "They tied!" She said excitedly. Sadie and Sheriff, also oblivious, found that news pretty interesting as well. Though that was enough for Dave and Lightning to take off up the mountain.
"Where are they going in such a hurry?" Sadie asked, eyeing the pair.
"Hey!" Sheriff called to them. "The races are over! Obey the speed limit!" But it was no use, the two were gone around the bend. It was then that he, too, took off and tried to catch up with them. Laura and Sadie looked at each other, and did the same.
Dave and Lightning made it to Wheel Well, looking past it and continued down the road. At the top of the hill, the two stopped, they could hear the argument from all the way up here.
"Wow, they're serious about this!" Lightning said, Dave agreeing. They coasted down the hill, trying their hardest to listen in on what they could before they arrived. Brian and Doc didn't even notice as they pulled up to what appeared to be the finish line. It looked like Laura had gotten bored, and somehow managed to arrange twigs and rocks on the sides of the road in a pattern.
"Ditz..." Dave muttered.
Lightning didn't hear him. He was too busy listening to his crew chief argue with his own. He hoped that him and Doc wouldn't have a fight like this one day, but then he remembered this was all about Laura, and possibly settling a regret.
"I won, and you know it!" Brian boomed as he drove closer to Doc's grill. "I won! I had the advantage at the end!"
Doc pulled closer as well, the two looking as if they were ready to fight. They had stomped around, moving about as their agitation and hatred continued to grow. "Oh, that's bull and you know it!"
"You said yourself that it's all about advantages! I was still gaining ground before we reached the finish line!"
Doc slammed a tire on the ground and threw himself backwards in disgust. "I have the better engine," Doc yelled, bluffing. He knew damn well that Brian had been rebuilt in 1978. "So that makes me the winner!"
Brian scoffed loudly, followed by a mocking chuckle. "Okay, now that's bull! Give it up, Hudson! This race should have never been called, this was a waste of time!" Sheriff, Sadie and Laura pulled up at that moment, not expecting the argument to be this loud. "Because it doesn't matter now! I'm not letting you ask Laura anything, you--"
"What about me?" Laura asked, now entirely confused.
Brian and Doc stopped yelling, seeing for the first time, the other five cars that had joined over time. "Uhh--" Doc started, but he was cut off by Brian.
"Get Laura outta here, would ya?!" Brian boomed.
Laura was taken aback by that. "What the hell is your problem? It's just a stupid little race, boys. Get over it, or are you really gonna let your ego get to you like this? C'mon, let it go!" For the first time, everyone saw Laura step up and take charge.
But that didn't last long, Brian took the lead again. "No, Laura, please, this doesn't concern you right now." Truth was, it did. But he didn't want her here right now.
Doc sneered at that comment. "Oh, the hell it doesn't! Laura," He started, deciding to tell her now. "This whole race is because of--"
Though Doc didn't get to finish as Brian rammed him, pushing him into the guard rail by surprise. The doctor found himself pinned there, once again looking out over the ledge for the second time. "You don't tell her anything, got it?" Brian commanded through clenched teeth.
Laura gasped at the sudden action, now completely distraught.
Sheriff snapped to attention, alerted by the situation. He didn't expect that to happen, not really thinking of the fact that this really could turn ugly. He wasn't prepared to separate this kind of argument. "Hey!" He barked. "Cut that out before I put both of you in the impound!"
That didn't stop Brian from keeping Doc where he placed him. "I didn't get an answer, Hudson." He whispered. But he wasn't going to get an answer, as Dave lunged at him and shoved him off of Doc, freeing the ex racer. "Damn it, Dave! Stay out of this! It doesn't concern you!"
"The hell it doesn't!" He yelled, backing up next to Doc to make sure he was okay. "You alright, Hudson?" The businessman had a few things he wanted to say to that car just yet, he was waiting for his chance to bring Brian down, just like he'd done to him all these years.
Doc nodded as he glared at Brian. The green car circled him as he, too, glared daggers into him. Was this really how their friendship was going to end? The two didn't know how to solve this, but it seemed that they had more than enough fuel to add to the fire.
Sheriff drove between them. "Enough! I've seen and heard just about the most ridiculous things here. It's a race, boys, so don't turn this into something horrible. Let's just all go back into town and--"
"No offense, Sheriff, but this doesn't concern you..." Brian sneered. He was fed up with the way this was going.
Sheriff drove back away from them, he couldn't find a comeback to that command. "Keep the violence to a minimal..." He mumbled as he pulled up next to Sadie and Laura, who were just as confused as he was.
Sadie went to approach her husband, when Sheriff stopped her. "I wouldn't, if I were you." He warned.
She pushed his tire off of her and proceeded to move forward. "If he'll listen to anyone, it's me..." And that to be the best bet, what could be a hundred percent true, but not tonight. After years of listening to her, and getting along with her, that wouldn't happen now.
"Dear," She started, pulling up beside the enraged green car. "Why don't we just forget this ever happened, okay? It's just a race--"
"You don't get it!" He snapped. "This is more than a race, and I'd appreciate it if you'd just stop!" Sadie's angered expression began to break him, and it was the start of a fall that no one wanted to take. It was commencing. "Look," He said with a torn voice, pointing a tire in Laura's direction. "I care too much about that car to just let her suffer!"
There was silence as that soaked in, the others trying their hardest to decipher that statement.
"And we've worked too hard to just let Hudson take her away from us!" There, he had said it.
Doc smirked. "Now who's the one who spilled the secret?"
Brian lashed around to look at Doc just as that sentence escaped him. "Oh, you just need to shut up! If anyone broke it, it's you!"
All attention was turned to Laura as she seemed troubled. "Wha-- What do you mean? Why is this about me?" She looked from Brian, to Doc. "Hudson, what's going on?"
Her plea was so soft, so touching. He closed his eyes, ashamed now. He didn't know why he was, but he felt it, and it hurt. Somehow he knew this wasn't going to turn out well. "Laura... this race was for you..." Everyone looked at him, waiting for him to finish. "If I won... I was awarded the right to ask you to stay here with me..."
Laura inched back farther at that, she didn't know what to say. "Hudson-- I, I can't-- I can't stay here... with you." Doc looked at her desperately, all was crushed. The answer he didn't want to hear. "I love you, but that's not possible. I'm sorry, but I can't I'm sorry." Confused and afraid, she spun around and drove away going back towards town. She was on the verge of tears, Doc had gone through all that trouble for something impossible.
That had been unexpected, how could she have given him the answer he wanted? And now she had hurt him. She drove faster, farther, escaping what ever she could.
Doc watched her leave, her engine cutting through the silence that had now cast over them.
Brian glared at Doc. "Are you happy, Hudson? Look at what you did!"
"What I did?!" Doc yelled. "You mentioned it! If it wasn't for the fact that you got a rebuilt engine, I would have won the damn race!"
It was Brian's turn to offer confusion into this mix of events. "Who the hell told you about that?" He snapped, looking around at the group. Lightning and Sheriff simply backed out of the way together, letting old friends fight this out. There was nothing they could do about this.
Sadie backed out of the way, that definitely struck some nerves. Painful feelings hit her as she backed up and parked next to Sheriff. Those two couldn't possibly know just how much that hurt her.
"I told him, damn it." Dave said, driving closer to Brian. "He had every right to know just how much you don't care about us..."
"What the hell are you talking about?! I've always cared--"
"The hell you have!" Dave snapped, the temper of his that rarely showed was now present. "Does the life you lead mean anything to you, or are you still living in denial about the fact that you are constantly bringing us down with you?! I don't know why Sadie's still married to you!"
Brian drove backwards slightly, the last time he had seen Dave like this, bad things had happened. Things that hurt, and made you think. "Dave, I care! Why do you think that--"
"No, you're wrong! Everything you've done in life just hurts us more! I told Hudson about the hospital to let him know that you're not all you're cracked up to be! You self centered prick!"
"The only reason that I'm still arguing about this race is because of the fact that I wasn't going to let Hudson take Laura away from us! He has no right!"
Doc didn't protest, it was now Dave and Brian's fight.
Dave wasn't going to let Brian bring this back to Laura. "Oh, I guess you've just forgotten about every thing you do! I guess your drinking problem means nothing to you! Those doctors brought you back, and you repay them by continuing to drink!" Dave was just beginning, it was his turn to show them just who wasn't messing around anymore. "You can't tell me that you care, when all you've done is bring us down!"
Brian sat back on his shocks, that one stung. "Dave..." He said, lowering his voice. "Please... don't say that. I care about everyone, it's just--"
"It's just you apparently have a crappy way of showing it! What have you done to prove that?"
Brian sighed and looked at the ground. "I keep telling you that the company--"
"The company has been a better friend than you have, Brian."
That company would always stay, Brian should have realized that.
"I'm still at that damn company because it's all I got! You know why? Because you're not there for me! For everything else that has gone wrong in my life, you purposely made it worse!" All attention was drawn to Dave, he was about to say things that he kept locked inside for a long time. "If you could just stop, and see the damage that you've done, maybe I wouldn't still be there, working to make sure that I can support your sorry excuse for a life! I'd have that villa in Mexico by now. But no! I'm busy making sure you don't kill yourself! I'm busy making sure that you have the better life, not me! If anyone cares, it's me! And not a simple thank you, for anything I've done for you!"
No one spoke as the fire in Dave continued to intensify.
"Why do you care? You never cared before! You never cared about what anyone had to say, or whenever we tried to help you! You rejected us like we were nothing, and all of a sudden you care about my life?"
Brian truly was hurt by that. Dave was right.
"Name a time in your life when you didn't depend on me to fix something! Name a time when you weren't dependant on me, constantly coming to me, all while bringing me down to make sure that I felt just as helpless..."
Brian sighed, waiting for Dave to stop.
"But then again," Dave said sarcastically. "I care too much to just let you go. Because no matter what, you'll always be my friend. I just wish that you could have shown as much effort as me, especially after all that had happened. But no matter what I did, it wasn't good enough..."
Lightning leaned in towards Sheriff. "Where did that come from?" He whispered.
He sighed. "I don't know, kid."
"Why do you continue to keep up this act?" Dave asked Brian, staring at him with cold eyes. "I know that deep down you hate everything wrong that you've done. I just don't know why you can't let your pride down, and finally act the way you feel. You've got to be the biggest waste of time, but damn it, listen to me. Say something, and mean it! For once, listen to what I have to say, and maybe we could all smile and live our lives..."
Brian looked desperately from Dave, to Doc, and to his wife, Sadie. He was now officially broken, Dave had finally told it how it was. Something that no matter how many times he told himself the same thing, it was different coming from him. How could he have let this get so far? Everything he feared to admit, had now been thrown in his face.
But he couldn't speak, he didn't feel he had the right to. For the first time in a long time, he felt some feelings that he had purposely suppressed and tried to live without. He knew he hadn't been alone, at any point in his life, but now he did.
Doc watched as Brian drove past him, he was heading back to town himself.
The group of five looked at each other, not knowing what to say next. Dave sighed and shook himself in disgust. "I'm sorry you guys had to witness that. I'm sorry..." He knew they shouldn't have been drug into this, but he felt it was the only way he could get through to anyone.
Dave grabbed one of Sadie's tires and tugged on it gently. "C'mon, lets get going back to town..." She was silent, but she followed.
Lightning started to follow as well, briefly giving Doc a look of concern.
Sheriff pulled up next to Doc, who had slipped into a state of shock. "You coming?" He asked.
Doc nodded. "I will, soon..."
Sheriff caught up with Lightning, falling behind in pace with Dave and Sadie.
Doc sat there, listening to their engines disappear and fade away. He was saddened by the events, everything had been torn apart. Nothing worked out, it only created more drama for everyone to suffer.
He sighed and drove over to the ledge, to the guard rail that he was once pinned to and stared out over the valley. The landscape turned a golden brown as the sun began to set behind him in the mountain range. Nightfall would be here soon.
The clouds began to turn colors, their vibrant colors just the opposite of what Doc felt right now. His whole world had been turned upside down and ruined in such short time. But the more reality began to sink in, the more he knew it was over. Fixing everything seemed to be out of the question.
What happened between Dave and Brian had been their own fight, something he had nothing to do with. At the same time, it had blown him away. It certainly supplied him with enough information to keep him up at night.
Staring out over the ledge, that feeling of being the only one in the world right now was enough to cause him to shiver. The empty sound that the wind made as it whipped through the mountain range was a lonely feeling, and Doc hated it. At the moment, he was all alone, and he didn't want to feel that way any longer.
He started his engine, taking a moment to let it run. It didn't hurt as bad as before, but that dull feeling of much needed rest propelled him to head back towards town as well. He supposed, that if he needed time to think, he could do it at Willy's Butte.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Doc opened his eyes the next morning, feeling much remorse after last night. His friends had decided last night that they'd leave tomorrow morning. He tried not to pin all the blame on himself for this, but he felt it was the only thing he could do.
He glanced at the clock next to him. It read five thirty in the morning, anxiety had woken him up.
Starting up his engine, he pulled out of his office and into the gloom of the morning, only to see that there would be no sun today. Clouds covered the sky, they had moved in over night apparently. He looked around the town, not a single soul was up. That lonesome feeling came back, and again he hated it. Movement across the street caught his attention.
He drove over to the back of the Cozy Cone, seeing Laura and Sadie talking amongst themselves quietly. They noticed him, and forced a smile.
"Morning..." He said rather quietly. Seeing Laura was now an embarrassment, he didn't know how to talk to her anymore after last night. What they had was now broken... again.
Sadie sighed, the tension getting to her. "I'm gonna go wake Brian up..." She said before reversing from her place beside Laura.
She had left Laura and Doc together, to the cobalt car's agony. But all he could do was stare at her, trying to find something to say. As if anything could make things right at this moment. Speechless, for he didn't know when he'd ever see her again. The possibility being never, and thankfully Brian showed up before he consumed himself in those thoughts.
"Hey..." Brian muttered in Doc's direction. "We're gonna leave soon..."
Doc nodded, he understood. Getting a head start for the long road trip they had was a good idea. "I guess--" He stopped as he saw Dave exiting his cone that morning. The car had a box in tow, and was bringing it to him. He was confused.
"Everyone filled their tanks?" Dave asked as he pulled up in front of everyone. The three nodded, and he began to drive away.
Doc panicked, were they leaving already? The shock of them actually leaving town hadn't hit him until now, and it hurt him to a whole new level. They'd be out of his life, gone. Gone for who knows how long, after they had been reunited again. He didn't know if he'd be able to deal with that, now that he had seen them. The only wish he ever had in life had been granted, but now it seemed as if that was a bad thing. He had only felt this way once in his life, and that was the day he had left South Carolina for good.
The group of four pulled out onto the main road, Doc followed them. It was then that they turned around to face him, heavy sighs escaped them each. Doc was glad that no one else in town was up, he didn't want them to witness this goodbye.
Dave drove up to him first, pushing the box before him and to Doc. "Here," He said, nudging it again. "I was gonna give this to you earlier, but I couldn't find the right time..."
Doc looked inside the box. He was surprised when he was met with the familiar things that he had left behind at Dave's mansion all those years ago. He dug through them a moment, finding old newspaper clippings of his races, and articles about him and Brian... and his team.
Doc looked up from the box and at Dave. "You never told me what happened to James and Mason." He said quietly, just as quiet as the town had become.
Dave sighed. "They died, not too long ago..."
That was all the information Doc needed from him, no sense in digging up anymore memories for them. He continued to make his way through the cardboard box, finding documents... important documents that had drove him nuts when looking for them all these years.
And then he saw them, pictures and framed photos of him and Laura. Damn... he had missed these items so much, more than he thought. His engine began to ache at the mere thought of what these had meant to Laura over the years.
He looked up at Laura as Dave moved out of the way for her. She was approaching him, after noticing he had seen them. "I, I thought you might want to keep those..." She whispered.
He was going to miss her more than she possibly could. The abandoned feeling that he felt right now just continued to grow, until he thought life was over. She's be gone, on top of all things. Life just wasn't worth living right now, for he'd do anything to make the pain go away.
He guessed it was because of the fact that he loved her more than life. She drove him crazy, loving everything about her. From the way she moved and the way she talked, to the car she was in general. And that award winning smile that always made him melt.
Or maybe it was the fact that he felt sick when ever he was around her. It seemed like no matter what, she'd be above all others to him, she was the one to make the difference. Sitting here now with her, he felt like there was nothing he could say.
As the silence began to set between the five, Laura slowly drove closer and kissed him, keeping him there. Doc didn't know how long he had sat with her, but he knew for a fact that he didn't want that kiss to end, ever. It wasn't supposed to.
But it did end, and he felt Laura pull away. She looked deep into his crystal blue eyes, and she seemed to be asking a question. Why?
Doc stared at her desperately, that feeling of panic was back. But before he could say anything, she turned away and started to drive east. She started to drive home, to the only thing she ever had. Doc knew that the look on her face would be etched in his memory forever.
Sadie approached him and pecked his fender. "Goodbye." She turned around to catch up with Laura, not knowing really what to say to him.
But Doc hadn't even noticed that goodbye from Sadie as he stared at Laura's leaving form. She was getting distant, farther away, much like his own soul. He could feel himself being torn in two.
Dave sighed again and got Doc's attention. "Farewell, Hudson..." He said before turning around himself.
Oh, another hit to his very life, to the way he felt. That had been the same goodbye that Dave had said to him, the last time he saw him. At that party, when he never saw any of them again. For the same reason, but not the same tone. A tone of sorrow, not disappointment.
Doc breathed in deep as Brian turned to face him.
"So... I guess this is goodbye?" Doc asked, though he knew it was.
Brian nodded. "It's been... interesting, Hudson."
Doc forced a chuckle, for him.
Brian took another look at his long lost best friend before turning to follow Dave out of Radiator Springs. He could tell Doc was just as troubled as he was at the moment, though he didn't know what else he could say to him. Taking it in stride as always, he moved off at a steady pace.
Doc watched him leave, but was he really going to let them out of his life again after all this?
"Hey!" Doc called, rushing after him.
Brian turned back, "Yeah?" He asked, concern in his voice.
"I was wondering if you'd be interested in coming to Lightning's first race of the season next year. If you didn't regret coming here, maybe you'd like to join us there. I'll cover the tickets for everyone." Doc hoped that Brian would accept.
Brian smiled for the first time that morning. "Daytona 500, right?"
The cobalt car smiled in return. "Yeah, it is."
"We'll be there." Brian assured him. And for that, he turned around and continued to follow the others out of town.
Doc's brief moment of happiness was once again consumed into feelings that matched the gloom of the morning. The clouds seeming to get darker by the minute, rain was imminent today.
Lightning had been watching Doc's goodbye this morning from the lobby of the Cozy Cone. He slowly drove up to his crew chief, who was still parked in the middle of the street, careful not to startle the car who appeared to be deep in thought. "Doc, you okay?" He asked.
Doc sighed, still watching his friends disappear. And that's when he remembered something Brian had told him years and years ago. He smirked, finding ways to live a normal life until next year. "Sorry's just a word, it doesn't fix anything."
FIN