Author's Note: After the way I left it last time, I think you deserve a couple of chapters this time around. There might not be many updates for a while though - I'm starting to get stuck with the editing, and it's proving difficult to get around.
Disclaimer: I don't own Cars, I do however own Skye Armstrong.
Staying Strong
Chapter 20
Too busy hammering on the door and trying to be heard over the storm, Lightning didn't hear the movement inside the room. His tyre fell to the ground mid-knock as the door was flung open.
"Rookie? What the hell are you doing out there?" Doc's gruff voice greeted them. "Get in."
Lightning sent Sally in front of him, scurrying in behind her as Doc slammed the door, deadening the sound of the storm.
"Skye, get the spare blankets!" Doc shouted to his daughter as Sally sank to the ground in the middle of the floor. He hurried to Sally's side, joined shortly by his daughter and Lightning. "What happened?"
"I – I think we must have had a … bad room or – or something. I- It was the storm, i – it …" Lightning broke off, barely able to find the words he wanted.
"It's OK." Doc took one of the blankets Skye held out to him and gently draped it over Sally's shaking form. He did the same for Lightning with the other blanket, gaining a thankful look from the young racer. "Just rest for now. There'll be time to talk in the morning."
Relieved to be out of his room and in safe tyres, Lightning finally let himself relax as Doc spoke quietly to Sally. He could feel his tyres trembling slightly, and had the odd sensation of someone or something watching him. Looking around he caught Skye's eye. Her expression was unreadable, but no longer cold as he was used to. He figured she only knew him through the news reports and footage of past races.
Sleep didn't come easily to the occupants of room 35 that night. Lightning slept fitfully as the night and storm wore on into the early hours. Sally seemed quite restless in the time he was awake, and nothing he and Doc did could get her to settle, the result of which meant Doc was unwilling to go to sleep, tired though he was. Skye stayed awake as long as she could to support her father and friends, though eventually she retreated to a corner and settled down to get some sleep for a while.
They hardly noticed when the storm stopped; Lightning and Doc both dozed, while Sally struggled to find a comfortable position to rest in, and in her corner Skye slept on. In fact they only realised the storm was over as dawn broke over the land, the early morning light glinting off the puddles left behind.
It was shortly after dawn when Skye woke, finding Sally leaning wearily against Lightning and her father talking quietly to the pair. She joined them after a few minutes, gaining a soft greeting and a quick hug from Doc.
"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" He asked her, seeing how tired she looked.
"I'm OK, Daddy." She smiled, and then yawned.
"Will you be able to hang on here for a minute if Lightning and I go and fetch breakfast?"
"Uh huh."
"Good girl." He nudged her fondly with his tyre, getting another smile in return.
Lightning waited until he and Doc were out of the room, and the door was closed behind them, before he said anything.
"Doc – "
"Lightning, we need to talk." He interrupted.
"What about? If it's my training, I'll get straight back into it in California. You don't need to worry about that, and Strip's been helping me anyway."
"It's about Sally." Doc sighed, casting a glanced back at the door as they drove towards the main building. "I don't think she ought to drive far today; she needs to rest."
"What about Sarge, though? I thought you wanted to get him to a hospital as soon as possible."
"I have to think about everyone else as well. I don't want to leave her behind."
"So don't."
"After last night, anything could happen. I can't risk it."
"Can't we get her to ride in one of the trailers?" Lightning looked at the pale blue and red trailers parked beside each other, remarkable undamaged after the rough night.
"What about Lizzie? She'll never be able to keep up." Doc sighed, his eyes on the grey clouds overhead. "I don't know what to do."
"I'll drive beside her, and if anything happens I can get you on the radio."
"I guess." Doc attention was diverted as they drove passed the room that Lightning and Sally had occupied. The broken window was clear to see, and soggy debris littered the floor just inside the room where it had blown through the hole. "You did the right thing last night, kid."
It took a lot of persuading, but finally Doc agreed they would all carry on together, provided Lightning or Skye drove beside Sally at all times. They were close to the border of California, but it was still a long way before they reached the 'proper hospital' Doc had mentioned the night before. He knew their best chance were in LA, and it would give Lightning a chance to train on an asphalt track before the season started.
At the start of the drive, Sally was among the more energetic cars, but as the day wore on and afternoon drew towards evening, she fell quiet again. Doc, worried about her after the rough night, kept radioing back to Lightning to check on her. He decided they needed to stop a little earlier than originally planned, and got Matt to pull into a motel a few miles outside LA.
The motel was small, and busy, but there was just enough space for them if they doubled up in some of the rooms. Doc let Fillmore bunk with Sarge that night, opting to share with Sheriff, and leaving Lightning with Sally again. Flo agreed to share with Skye and Lizzie.
They settled in the small parking lot for dinner, huddled in a small group that was almost out of place. Sally sat the edge of the group of friends beside Lightning, a little annoyed at the glances he kept sending her way periodically.
"I'm fine." She muttered. "I'm just tired. I think I might get an early night and hope for no more storms." She kissed him lightly and disappeared in the direction of the rooms with Lightning and Skye watching her leave.
"Dad's in room ten if you need him."
Skye's statement drew a raised eyebrow from Doc and a curious look from the others. Doc seemed to agree with her, for he told Lightning to go after Sally and not leave her alone for long if he could help it.
As Lightning headed for the room he was staying in, he thought about Doc and Skye. They seemed to share some unspoken connection, unless they both had similar thoughts at the same time. He found himself wondering if Skye could somehow predict what was about to happen, but on second thoughts, it was a silly idea. It was probably just coincidence, or she knew what to look for.
Sally was sleeping peacefully when he joined her. He smiled and flicked off the light, settling down beside her for the night.
"Stickers." Sally nudged the sleeping racecar with a tyre; she didn't get any answer or movement from him. "Stickers." She nudged him harder, but still no response. "Damn it, Lightning, wake up!" She thumped him.
Lightning jerked awake, flinching away from whoever was hitting him.
"Stickers!"
He opened his eyes reluctantly, blinking in the bright, artificial light, sure he had turned it off when he went to bed. A pained gasp from his side distracted him from his thoughts.
"Sally?" He turned to look at her. "What's wrong?"
She winced heavily and drew a sharp breath. "I need you to get Doc.."
"Sally …"
"Just go, please!" She sounded desperate.
"I won't be long." Lightning kissed her gently and sped off.
Lightning hurried along the path to Doc's room, remembering what Skye had told him earlier. A small street lamp lit the small patch of concrete, which was brightened periodically by the flash of the neon sign above the office. He pounded on the door, hoping Doc wasn't in bed yet. There were noises inside the room, but Lightning didn't let up until the door was opened and Sheriff appeared.
"Where's Doc?" Lightning asked immediately.
"I'm right here." Doc appeared behind Sheriff. "What's wrong?"
"Sally needs you." The young racecar looked close to panicking. "I think she might be having the baby."
"Come in." Doc indicated to Sheriff to open the door further. "I'll only be a moment."
As Doc passed Sheriff on the way to get his medical kit, he whispered a few words to the police car; "Try to keep him calm."
Author's Note: I get the impression Lightning tends to overreact in some situations (like when Sheriff is chasing him in the film), hence Doc's comment to Sheriff at the end of the chapter. Hoepfully that made up for some of the last update. I should probably stop ending chapters on cliffhangers, but then, it is fun. I'll think about that one.
Thanks to LightningAndDoc for reviewing the last few chapters.