"If it's about Christine, it concerns me, and by that logic, I deserve to know."

"You learned a lot from McQueen's crew chief, didn't you?"

"Who, Doc? I guess I did."

"But you're right. I'll tell you about it." He began telling her what had happened about three days before, and Mariana was a good listener. When he had finished, Mariana scrambled onto his hood so she could look him in the eyes.

"It might seem bad right now, Chick, but just remember, everything gets better. It might not get better right away, but it will. You just need to wait it out."

"You've really learned a lot from the others." He told her, and an expression crossed his features that Mariana thought she would never see: Sorrow mixed with slight happiness. She smiled timidly, and he glanced up at the sky to see it becoming black with clouds. "Looks like there's a storm comin' soon. Better get back." Mariana nodded, and just then, Mater came whizzing by, Foxy in his bed, riding him like a horse. He slid to a stop, then turned around and raced back towards them. She scooped Mariana off Chick's hood, then he continued bolting back towards town, Foxy barely hanging on.

Fillmore rolled up beside Chick, who had a look of confused shock on his face.

"What just happened?"

"Elizabeth's scared of thunder, man." Fillmore replied, and Chick nodded in understanding. They rolled back, Fillmore lagging slightly behind Chick. By the time they got back, it was raining pretty hard, and thunder was rumbling off in the distance, about two miles away from the town. The sky was as black as night, and the others had their headlights on, making sure everyone was here.

"Where's Elizabeth, man?"

"I saw her riding Mater into town." Lightning replied with an ill-concealed grin.

"Yeah, but did ya see where she went?"

"No, I didn't. Sorry Fillmore."

Fillmore drove over to his dome, and searched for Foxy, high and low. He couldn't find her, and did something he rarely did: Panic. He rushed back outside into the rain, switching his headlights on to try and find her. None of the others noticed when he went out into the desert to look for her. Only Roger and Chick stopped him to question him briefly about where Foxy and the others were.

He replied with the whereabouts of the others, but ignored the question about Foxy, driving off into the rain to find her. He looked underneath every bush he came across, and found nothing. Not even a shoe. His eyes darted back and forth, searching frantically for Foxy.

He drove back into the town, heading for Tailfin Pass. Nobody stopped him once again, and he checked the forest, calling both her names. When he didn't get a response, he drove up to Wheel Well, and looked for her there. He didn't find her anywhere, and was just about to drive farther along the road through Tailfin Pass when he heard thunder, then a squeak that seemed to echo. "Elizabeth? Is that you, man?"

"Fillmore, help!"

"Where are ya, man?" He asked frantically. The sound of his voice shocked her-he sounded terrified, and nearly hysterical with panic.

"I slipped off the edge again! Please, is there anything up there to pull me up with?" The sound of her voice shocked Fillmore, and his eyes widened. She sounded like she was in a living nightmare, and couldn't get out.

"Yeah, there is, man!"

"Thank god! Now, can you lower it down?"

"Sure thing, man." Fillmore replied, then extended his tire as far as it would reach down to her. She swung her legs up, and tried to latch onto his tire. He heard her yelp in pain as her broken ankle hit his tire hard, and he winced. He felt like he was slipping, and he backed up slightly, trying to get a better grip with his tires.

"Fillmore!" She shrieked a few seconds later. His eyes widened again as a bolt of lightning, long and jagged, touched down in front of him. He barely heard her scream over the crackle of electricity. It looked like it was dangerously close to electrocuting her. He gasped as he felt her feet slipping, and reached down another tire. He felt her grab for it frantically, her hands shaking so badly he thought she might let go by accident. He reversed as quickly as possible, and dragged her backwards. He let go of her when she was far enough away from the edge, but she clung to his front bumper, curling up into the fetal position.

"Hey, c'mon, ya gotta snap outta this." Fillmore nudged her gently, but she didn't respond at all. He looked around frantically for help, but realized that he was alone. He saw a cave up the road a little, and looked down at Foxy, who hadn't moved except to start shaking violently.

Not liking himself very much, he grabbed the back of her sweatshirt gently but firmly and began tugging her towards the cave. She didn't make a sound, and her shaking seemed to be getting worse, so Fillmore did the only thing he could think of. He dragged her over to the cave, and settled her in the back. She still hadn't uncurled out of the fetal position, and Fillmore nudged her every few minutes, unsure if she could even feel the nudging.

He eventually laid down at her side and tried to warm her up. He turned his radio on, hoping it would snap her out of it. He dialed across the channels until he found Rascal Flatts' 'God Bless The Broken Road'.

I set out on a narrow way, many years ago. Hopin' I would find true love along the broken road. But I got lost a time or two, wiped my brow and kept pushin' through. I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you. Every long lost dream led me to where you are. Others who broke my heart, they were like Northern stars. Pointing me on my way, into your loving arms. This much I know is true, that god bless the broken road that led me straight to you. (Yes it did.) I think about the years I've spent, just passin' through. I'd like to have the time I lost, and give it back to you! But you just smile and take my hand, you've been there, you understand. It's all part of a grander plan that is comin' true. Every long lost dream led me to where you are. Others who broke my heart, they were like Northern stars. Pointing me on my way, into your loving arms. This much I know is true, that god bless the broken road that led me straight to you! (Yeahhheayay) Now I'm just a-rollin' home, into my lover's arms. This much I know is true, that god bless the broken road that led me straight to you. That god bless the broken rooad, that led me strayyight, to youuu.

At the end of the song, he nuzzled her hair gently, cherishing how soft it was. Without thinking, he planted a gentle kiss on the top of her head. He heard her whimpering softly, and drove around so he could see her face.

"You all right?" He looked down at her in a slightly panicked way, his eyes alert and focused anxiously on her face.

"F-Fillmore? Are we dead?" She whispered, cracking her eyes open.

"What kinda question is that, man? Of course we ain't dead." He replied, relaxing once he knew that she was all right.

"How did we get here? And where is 'here', exactly?" She asked, trying to sit up. As soon as she did, she moaned and laid back down, curled up against a rock.

"We're in a cave near Wheel Well, man. Are ya all right?"

"My ankle hurts a little, but other then that, I'm all right, really." Fillmore laid down at her side, and she gently set her hand on his side. He leaned against her gently, and she moved so she was curled up against his side. "What's going to happen now?"

"We might have to stay here all night, man."

"Okay. Then we should try to get some sleep, right?"

"I think ya should, man."

"Are you sure, Fillmore?" She looked at him worriedly.

"Yeah, 'course I'm sure, man. If one of them comes lookin' for ya, then I can get to 'em faster then ya probably could." Foxy nodded, then curled up at his side, falling asleep quickly. Fillmore nuzzled her gently, then tried his best to warm her up since she was still shaking. Nothing he tried worked, but he refused to give up. He laid down at her side eventually, thinking about how to warm her up. Back in the town, the others were all parked underneath the canopies at Flo's, talking about the storm.

"Has anyone seen Foxy lately?" Lightning asked suddenly, seeing her and Fillmore were missing. "Or Fillmore?"

The others all looked around at one another, shaking their hoods.

"Do you think they're holed up over at his home?" Brian asked, and went over to check. He returned quickly, shaking his hood and sighing.

"We've got to find them."

"That's gonna be nearly impossible. It's nearly floodin' the roads, kid." Doc told Lightning.

"Plus, it's pouring rain, dude. How're we going to see them in it?"

"You guys don't get it. Foxy's terrified of thunderstorms." Lightning replied firmly, and the others looked around at one another anxiously. "I'm going out to find them." He declared, and began driving out of Flo's and down the road.

"Hey, Rook!"

Lighting stopped, sending water flying up. He looked back and saw Chick rolling up to him. "What is it, Chick?"

Chick drew back at the snappy tone of Lightning's voice, but continued. "Let's go find her."

Lightning dipped his hood in agreement, then the two set off at a steady but fast pace. Doc shook his hood, then sighed.

"They're gonna get themselves lost." He muttered, and Sheriff nodded, agreeing.

Before long, Lightning and Chick came back, covered in rainwater, shaking slightly and without a Foxy or Fillmore.

"We tried." Chick told the others glumly, watching as Lightning drove back over to his cone and shut the door. The rain continued on for days, churning the dirt up near Foxy and Fillmore's cave into deep, quicksand-like mud. They couldn't leave the cave for fear of getting stuck in the mud, and were hoping for the rain to stop soon.

Foxy was still shaking, and Fillmore was running out of options. He had tried to wring her sweatshirt out, but it hadn't helped. He began pacing the cave, frowning hard, concentrating on a way to help Foxy. He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard her coughing slightly. "Ya all right, man?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just-" The rest of her sentence was cut off by a coughing fit. Fillmore rolled over to her and nuzzled her gently, his eyes falling shut sadly.

"We're gonna get outta this soon, man. I promise." Foxy continued coughing, and this did nothing to brighten Fillmore's spirits. He laid down at her side, and she curled up against his side, pulling the hood of her sweatshirt up over her damp hair as she moaned in a quiet, hoarse tone. Fillmore seemed to wilt lower to the ground when he saw her pull up her hood. He'd never seen her do that before, and guessed that she didn't do it unless something was wrong. He gently laid a tire over her side gently, and she snuggled against his side more, wanting comfort.

She fell asleep nestled against his side, still shaking slightly. Fillmore had been awake for the majority of the days since they had been stuck in the cave, and he was tempted to fall asleep for just a little. He shook his front end firmly to prevent himself from falling asleep, then began pacing again, trying to figure out how to keep Foxy warm and to keep himself from falling asleep. The next morning, he thought he heard one of the others calling, and looked up alertly from where he had been laying at Foxy's side. "Hey, man, we're over here!" He shouted out into the rain, and thought he heard a reply. He waited and waited, but he never saw anyone. He sighed and laid back down at Foxy's side. Her coughing had gotten worse, and he rarely ever left her side anymore throughout the passing days.

"Wh-Who was it?" Foxy asked in a hoarse whisper.

"I ain't sure who it was, but I don't think they heard me, man." Fillmore replied sadly, and Foxy looked down at the ground sadly. "There ain't too many hidin' spots around the town, man. Somebody's sure to find us soon." Fillmore said, trying to cheer her up. She sighed, and her breath escaped in a wheeze. Fillmore nuzzled her gently, and she curled up facing his side, shaking, her eyes shut tightly in her pale face. Fillmore tried to get her to warm up, but he ended up just laying in front of her and trying to block the freezing wind blowing into the cave and onto her.

"Thanks, Fillmore." She whispered, and even that sent her into a tiny coughing fit.

"Ya don't sound too good, man." Fillmore told her in an almost depressed tone of voice, and he gently nuzzled her. She groaned quietly, and didn't reply, just laid on the ground, curled up into a ball. Fillmore sighed, then began slowly falling asleep. His front end lowered until he was nearly resting on the ground, then he snapped awake, looking around alertly and blinking rapidly. He sighed, then got up and drove to the entrance of the cave.

About three feet in front of him was the river of mud, and he looked sadder then ever. He drove back inside and laid down next to Foxy for lack of anything to do. Foxy's cough grew even worse, and Fillmore grew worried. He heard one of the others' voices again, and shouted as loud as he could. He saw lights towards the right of the cave opening, and shouted again.

"Fillmore, is that you?"

"Yeah, man! I'm over here!"

"Where's Foxy?"

"Inside the cave. She's not doin' too good though." He looked closely at the other car, and discovered that it was Lightning and Chick. A darker shape detached itself from them, and leapt the river of mud. When it landed in the mouth of the cave, Fillmore realized it was Thunder. "She's back there, man." Fillmore told him, and Thunder whined before heading towards the back of the cave. He nearly yelped when he saw Foxy. She had gotten thinner, making her face appear thinner and more pale. She opened her eyes with a moan and saw Thunder. "H-Hi, Thunder." She greeted him in a hoarse whisper, then began coughing again, a loud, hacking cough that carried to the front of the cave.

Fillmore winced when he heard it, and Lightning asked, "What was that?"

"That was Foxy." Fillmore replied gloomily. Thunder had gotten her onto his back, and he came trotting into view. "Make sure she's safe, all right, man?" Thunder barked softly, then backed up to get a running start before he jumped over the river of mud. Fillmore began driving back inside the cave, and Lightning called out to him.

"Fillmore, where are you going?"

"I was plannin' on waitin' until that river goes down."

"You could jump it." Chick replied, and Lightning looked over at him, almost forgetting that Chick had come along.

"Yeah, you could jump it, Fillmore." "Fillmore looked from one racecar to the other, and made up his mind. He backed up, and jumped the river. When he landed on solid ground, he sped back towards town, the other two following in his wake.

Meanwhile, Thunder had galloped back into town, and slid to a stop in front of Flo's, where the others were gathered. "Thunder!" Luigi exclaimed, and Thunder barked.

"Did you three find Foxy or Fillmore?" Flo asked, looking at him worriedly. With a moan, Foxy straightened up from hunching low behind Thunder's head.

"Here I-" She broke into a coughing fit, and the others wore varying expressions of pity and sadness. "-Am."

"No offense, but ya sound horrible." Ramone replied cautiously, and Foxy moaned softly.

"Yeah, thanks for the update." Fillmore drove into town shortly after, and slid to a stop in front of Flo's. He drove over to Foxy and looked down at her worriedly.

"Ya all right, man?" Foxy nodded, but had another coughing fit and ended up shaking her head 'no'. She slid down from Thunder's back, then sank down onto the ground underneath one of the canopies. Fillmore parked beside her, and she wasted no time in curling up at his side and falling asleep. He looked down at her with a mixture of sadness, sorrow, and exhaustion.

"Kid, bring her over to the clinic. She doesn't sound too good." Doc looked to Lightning, who nodded as he barely slowed, coming back from following Fillmore. He rolled over to her and gently lifted her onto his hood. She slept on, curled into a ball. The two departed Flo's, leaving the others to their thoughts.

Fillmore began driving off to his dome, thinking of a long nap. Nobody questioned why he was leaving, and he didn't feel up to answering any questions anyway. He laid down out of habit by Foxy's vacant chair and was passed out in seconds, his tires sprawled out.

And here we learn how Fillmore feels about Foxy. Did anyone see it coming? I'm gonna take a ewld guess and say yes. I'm such a lousy clue-giver. XD The song doesn't belong to me, it belongs to my favorite band, Rascal Flatts. :D Love them! As to why Lightning grins when he tells Fillmore about Foxy riding Mater, just think of that in a very awkward sense. XD Lightning's a dirty boy. See you next week, Liz