From Pancake: Mere has made a change on Chapter 28: It read - Steven still truly loved Sally. And he hated Lightning with a vengeance.-
The new edited version reads - Steven still wanted Sally. And he hated Lightning with a vengeance-
See the difference? Sorry. Very crucial to the story.


Chapter 29- Alive.

After Steven left, Sally was left to her thoughts. She was fuming. Why in heck did she ever go out with him! He was a good for nothing jerk!
Young and foolish was her only answer. She had been young and foolish.
There was one good thing that came out of the entire experience, and that was driving to Radiator Springs. If she hadn't done that, then she never would have met all the townsfolk who she now called family. And she never would have met...Lightning.
Lightning. She thought, setting down the papers she had been working on. She inhaled shakily. Resolving to think of good things, she opened one of her desk drawers. Inside lay a photo album.
On the red fabric cover were the words 'Lightning and Sally'.
Inside held almost every photo she owned of the two of them. She flipped it open to a bookmarked page. It held her favorite picture.
The morning they announced their engagement, Flo had said that they needed a picture to celebrate...
FLASHBACK-
"Come on, y'all. Lean in a little more." Flo instructed, trying to get Lightning and Sally t cooperate.
They both had the giggles.
"Sorry, Flo." Sally said, trying to calm down.
Lightning laughed. "Ok, we'll try."
He leaned closer to Sally, drawing her towards him, she leaned in a little closer, but her hair got caught on Lightning's jacket zipper.
"Sally!" He exclaimed.
She laughed and began trying to loose herself.
Flo sighed in exasperation. "Are we taking this picture or not?" She asked.
Lightning reached down. "Hold still, Sal." He told her, trying to untangle her hair from his zipper. She stifled a laugh. "Sally, quit giggling!" He said through a laugh of his own.
Finally she was released from him, and they attempted to take the picture again. She set her hand with the ring on top of his hand, and laid her head on his shoulder. He rested the side of his head on the top if hers, and Flo snapped the picture.
END FLASHBACK-
Sally smiled, recalling that day. She was brought out of her thoughts when the phone rang.
She lifted it to her ear. "Hello?" She said, still smiling.
Doc's voice came through. He sounded panicked. "Sally, get to the hospital, now!"

She practically ran into the hospital. Apparently, Lightning had quit breathing.
She ran up to his room, and was just about to enter when Doc and Alice came out.
They both had tears in their eyes, causing Sally to stop in shock.
"I'm sorry." Doc whispered. "We did everything we could."
Sally's mouth fell open. He couldn't just be dead, could he? Her tears were blinding her as she pushed past them and into the room. She rushed to Lightning's side.
His face was pale and his eyes were closed.
"No!" She cried, tears falling down her face. "No! Lightning! Please, don't go!" she sank to her knees, holding his hand. "Please...Don't go."
Sally began to sob. Words could not express her grief.
Doc and Alice stepped out, almost crying themselves.
Sally sat there sobbing for fifteen minutes. Finally she looked up into Lightning's peaceful face. He had been a good person. Now he was gone. To Sally, no one could even compare to him. After ten more minutes, she slowly stood. The entire room was so quiet. Except for...a small sound. What was that sound? Could it be? She leaned close to Lightning. His chest was steadily rising up and down. He was...Alive!
Sally ran into the hall. "Doc!" She shouted, seeing him in the hall. "Doc! He's breathing!"
Doc ran to the room, Alice close behind him.
Sally stood back as they started hastily checking monitors and trying to make sure he was alright.
Lightning's eyes began to open. "S-Sally?" He asked, trying to regain his senses.
She leaned forward and took his hand. "I'm right here." She said to him. The corners of his mouth turned up into a little half smile.
" What happened?" Lightning asked, hoarsely. Sally looked at him with sympathy.
"You were wrecked." She said. " By Steven, who is now banned from racing. We got you into an ambulance, brought you here, and you've been in a coma ever since."
Lightning nodded in understanding and looked up at Doc.
He looked back with a smile. "How ya feeling, rookie?"
" I hurt." Lightning said simply.
Doc sighed. "Please specify."
"All over." Lightning replied, trying to get on Doc's nerves. Doc gave Lightning a warning look.
"Hey, I will not hesitate to give you a sedative." He told Lightning. "Speaking of which, did you know that you've been out for over forty-eight hours?"
Lightning's mouth dropped. "Forty...Eight...?" he looked at Sally who nodded sadly.
" forty eight hours." She confirmed. "We were worried." Lightning was still shocked. Forty eight whole hours. Wow. Then he noticed the concern and hurt in Sally's face. Doc had also noticed this.
"I'm going to go get something." Doc said, leaving and shutting the door. Lightning pulled Sally close and kissed her lightly.
"You okay, Baby?" He asked.
She shook her head. "Since they removed you from the car, you've...quit breathing twice. I was so scared that I was going to lose you." Tears were filling her eyes.
He reached up and wiped them away. "Hey. I'm here now. And I don't plan on leaving any time soon. He noticed that she still looked upset.
"Are you okay?" He asked. "What else is bothering you?"
"I'm fine, I guess." She replied. " Worried about you. Lack of sleep. Another thing." she trailed off. Lightning was confused.
"What other thing?" He asked.
She gave him a slight glare. Then she faked a cough, and said through it, "Hormones".
"Oh." Lightning said, blushing.
" You asked." Sally retorted, though she was blushing herself. It was silent for a few minutes.
"Why don't you go get some sleep, Sal?" Lightning suggested, " I'll be fine here."
Sally looked unsure.
He smiled."I'll be fine here. " He said. " Now go get some rest." Sally leaned over and kissed him.
"I love you." He said.
She smiled. "I love you too."

Steven was fuming! Lightning was supposed to die! He'd been sitting at a table at the cafe when he heard the news.
Fine.
If he couldn't have Sally, then NO ONE COULD.

That night sally would have nightmares.

She stood at the track, watching lightning race Steven for first. Two laps to go. Steven laughed evilly and rammed Lightning. The car spun and spun and spun. Lightning called her name, but she was rooted to the spot. She tried to move, but couldn't.
" Lightning is dead." The announcers voice said over the speaker. Sally felt like her heart had been shredded. She began to cry, and then realized that Maria was sitting next to her hugging her. They were in their room at Sally's parents house.
" I just can't believe he'd dump me." Sally said through her tears. Maria was slightly annoyed.
" Sal, it's okay." She said. "Steven probably wasn't the best guy for you, anyway."
Sally glared at her. "What would you know about it?" Sally shouted.
Maria flinched backwards.
" You've never even had a boyfriend!"
Maria stood up.
" If you don't want me to help you, Sally, then I'll just leave!" She hissed, leaving and slamming the door. Sally began to pack her things.
" Maybe I'LL just leave." She said, being careful as she packed, of the stitches in her arm. Suddenly, she wasn't there anymore, she was driving down the highway. She had been driving for three days. Her car began to make a rattling noise. From her experience with cars, she knew what that particular noise meant. Get out, I'm about to explode.
Sally grabbed her backpack and jumped out of the car. It quit making that noise, but the engine turned off.
" Stupid car." She murmured, lifting the hood. Steam curled up from it. "great!" Sally said. " Now I have to go find a town!" Sally walked about a mile before coming to a little dusty town. Then, out of nowhere, a speedway appeared. She stood in the pit box, cheering on Lightning. Lightning won the race. Steven was mad, but Sally could care less. Steven came up to her after the race. She was standing by herself, waiting in line to grab a bite to eat.
" How could you?" He asked her. " Just leave me? For him?" It was Sally's turn in line.
Sally replied calmly, "I love him. Not you.
Steven was Furious. "Well, then let's just get you out of the picture! Since it won't work to kill off Lightning, I'll just kill you to make him miserable. If I can't have you, nobody can." He said before pushing her onto the hot grill. All Sally felt was heat. Choking, suffocating, unbearable heat. The smoke curled into her her face, and she couldn't breath. There was a horrible banging noise. Over and over and over.
Sally's eyes shot open. She was in the come office. She'd fallen asleep at the desk. Everything was on fire...
" smash!". A huge board fell from the ceiling, just inches from where she was. She heard the banging again. The door fell, with a glass shattering noise, and two firemen walked in.
" Help!" Sally screamed. Her clothes had caught fire. She tried screaming again, but smoke flew into her lungs. She couldn't breathe. She fell to the floor and watched as everything faded to blackness.

She opened her eyes, slowly, and squinted from the brightness. She was in a hospital. Her whole body felt hot. Her entire arm felt like it was on fire. She felt tears spring to her eyes from the pain. Sally felt a hand stroking her hair. Her eyes focused on Alice standing beside her. She was watching the monitor, and gently pushing the hair off Sally's forehead.
"Shhhh." Alice said gently. "You're going to be fine." Sally saw Doc walk over to her. He strapped a breathing mask over her face.
"Turn it on, Alice." He said. Alice flipped a switch and clean fresh air filled Sally's lungs. That was when she realized that her lungs felt like they were burning. It hurt so bad. She inhaled sharply and let out a little cry of pain. Alice looked at her, sympathy evident in her face.
"That'll wear off, sweetie." She said. "Once we get you into surgery you'll be fine." Doc assured her. Sally's eyes ?
Doc noticed her expression. " You have several third degree burns, and when a board fell from the ceiling, it nearly fractured your left arm." He told her.
" But you'll feel fine after surgery." Alice reassured her.
Sally nodded. Alice reached over and Got an IV needle ready, then she pulled out a little alcohol cloth and rubbed Sally's left wrist. Sally shuddered. She hated that feeling. Alice gently inserted the needle, then taped it down. After a few minutes, Sally felt her eyes begin to close. She fell asleep thinking of Lightning.

Once again, I'm very happy with this chapter!
Please review!