Disclaimer: I don't own Cars or any of its characters except Jen, Rocket, Evan, Chirstine, Zack and Dustin. James belongs to McQueenfan95.

Hey readers, We're back! This time, it's McQ. Could you tell? Anyway, enough of my chatter...

Sarge: We'd had enough chatter before you and that Ginger got here.

James: Ok Sarge, you just said the wrong thing. *catches Sarge with a net gun* Hey Mater! Help me toss this trash into the cactus!

Jen: Lets just get on with the story.

Later that evening, James unlocked the door to his building and said, "Welcome to Château James."

Rocket rolled into the garage and said, "Château? It looks more like an abandoned garage to me."

James got slightly offeneded, because, as you know, a mans home is his castle. But, he chuckled and he said, "Hey, it's nicer than your garage."

"Ding ding!" said Jen, "Back to your corners, boys."

James continued to chuckle as he got out some extra blankets and pillows. He began to muse about something to himself, "Now where did I put that...? Ah ha! There you are!" He turned around holding a tarp and car sleeping mats. "You'd be amazed what people will leave in abandoned buildings." he said, laying out the mats for Rocket to sleep on.

Rocket glared at James as Jen made her way up the stairs and said, "I'm only gonna say this once buddy, if you make one move on her, if you so much as touch her in a way she dislikes, I'll break both your legs, then snap your neck."

James chuckled, patted Rocket's hood and said, "Don't worry, Rocket. There's no danger of me needing to be serviced quite that badly this evening. I took care of that eariler."

Rocket raised an eyebrow and said, "Huh?"

James held up a fist, and shook it up and down.

Rocket continued to look at him like he was crazy.

James rolled his eyes, and lowered his fist to waist level, and continued shaking it.

At that point, Rocket slapped himself in the windshield with is antenna. (car equivelent of a face-palm) "Just go to bed. Please, just go to bed", Rocket begged.

"Ok, Night", said James as he climbed up the stairs.

Jen and James were sitting on the upstairs couch, arguing about who was gonna sleep where.

"I told you already, I don't mind sleeping on the couch," said Jen.

"And I told you", said James, "You are a guest and will be treated as such. Therefore, for the entirity of your stay, you will be sleeping in the bed, end of discussion." Jen opened her mouth to argue, but James repeated, "End... Of discussion."

Jen sighed and said, "Alright, fine. I'll sleep in your bed with you, but thats as far as it goes", she then whispered in his ear, "Maybe I'll even let you get a little feel."

"Whoa whoa whoa!", said James, "That wasn't what I was gettin' at at all. You're sleeping in the bed, I'm sleeping on the couch. I don't need your brother distroying me."

Jen sighed and said, "Alright," and whispered I'm his ear, "You can still take a quick feel if ya want."

James chuckled and said, "Tempting, but not tonight. Not that I don't want to, I don't want what's-his-grill listening in."

James tucked her into the bed, kissed her forehead and said, "Sleep tight, my little angel." He then flicked off the lamp and curled up on the couch.

XXX

He held back a nasty laugh as he set up His device.

He had decided tonight would be his night to strike. He'd get El Diablo and that stupid car. Plus, now there was that Ginger boy. All of them together in that rickity old building that would burn like tow.

Three birds, one stone. Too easy.

He leaned an old tire against the back wall, stuck a one gallon can of gas in it, and dropped a lit cigarette inside the can. He then ran for cover as the fire-bomb He had created took off.

He laughed evilly as the flames grew and spread up the side of the old building.

XXX

James snapped awake to hear the sound of the smoke alarm. "WHAT THE FUCK?" he screamed. He then realized just how warm it was. He jumped off the couch as he heard Rocket screaming downstairs.

"FIRE!" Rocket screamed.

James scrambled over to the bed and shook Jen awake.

"Wha? Whaz wrong?" she asked.

"Theres a fire!" James yelled, "We gotta go!"

Jen sprung out of the bed and was halfway to the stairs when she realized James wasn't behind her. She turned around and saw him stuffing his stuff into his rucksack.

"GO!" James screamed, "I gotta get my stuff!"

"I'm not leaving without you!" Jen yelled as smoke started to pour up the stairwell.

James stuffed the last of his stuff and his Walkman into his ruck, then grabbed his guitar and said, "Lets get the fuck outta here!"

They ran down the stairs and saw that flames were starting to roll across the ceiling.

Rocket, releaved that they were finally with him again, plowed through the door, Jen and James following right behind him.

Not fifteen seconds after they escaped, the first floor ceiling came crashing down, bringing the whole upstairs with it.

Red pulled up and went to work trying to put out the inferno.

Jen, Rocket and James watched as the building was devoured by the flames that almost took their lives.

XXX

He laughed as He heard the screams from inside the building, but cursed out loud when He saw the stupid car plow out of the front door, followed by El Diablo and that retarded boy.

He growled His distaste as He watched the three watch the building burn.

"I WILL get you, El Diablo, and when I do..." He licked his lips at the thought of all the evil things He'd have to do to punish her.

He then dissappeared into the darkness.

XXX

James put an arm around Jen to comfort her as they sat in Rocket's roof. Jen was shaking like a leaf, which could be expected when you come within a hair's width of being killed.

Red continued pouring water into the building, but the fire wasn't dying.

It was well after dawn when the fire was finally extingushed. James was picking through the remains, trying to see if he could find a cause, when he smelled it.

He took a deep wiff and said, "Gasoline." He went straight to the back wall where he found the melted remains of a plastic gas can, and the steel rings from an old tire.

"Hey Red!" He called over his shoulder, "Come take a look at this! I think I found the cause!"

Red pulled around, took one sniff, saw the evidence and said, "Hey Sheriff! We got the cause!" Sheriff pulled up and Red said, "Look at this." And pointed a tire at the evidence.

Sheriff gasped as James said, "It was arson. No doubt. But who would want to harm me, Rocket or Jen?"

Sheriff shrugged and said, "Couldn't tell ya. I'll see what I can scrape up with this evidence." He then took out a small camera and snapped some pictures of the device.

James walked over to the café, where Jen and Rocket were having breakfast, and said, "Well guys, I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we found the cause. The bad news is, it was arson".

Jen gasped and said, "James, I... I think I know who started that fire." She grabbed his hand and led him away from the café, down the street, to the building that used to be the Budville gas station. She lead him inside, close the door and said, "You're probably not gonna believe me when I say this but..." And she burst into tears.

James put an arm around her and said, "Somebody hurt you, didn't they? Someone you thought cared about you?"

Jen sniffed, nodded and said "Yes. How did you...?"

James lifted his shirt to expose several scars, but the worst were the ones the looked like someone had used a knife to make tally marks in his chest.

"Everytime I got in trouble, my Sargent would carve another line into me. I guess the rule is when you get too many, they use you first for torture practice, then they kill you."

Jen covered her mouth with one hand in shock.

"Please", said James, "I don't need your pity."

Jen hugged him and said "There's no pity. Infact..." She brushed away a tear as she turned around and lifted her shirt enough for James to see the scars.

James gasped and said "My god! Who did this to you?"

Jen drew a ragged breath and said "A man I only call, 'Him'." She told him the entire story. Everything He'd ever done to her. It all came out.

James stared in absolute shock. He didn't know what to say. What could he say? He wrapped his arms around her and said "That monster. How could He do those all those horrible things to you?"

Jen hugged James tightly and said, "Lets get out of here before He makes his next move."

They quickly left the abandoned gas station, and walked back to the café.

Well, thats all for now folks. And C'mon guys, review!

Sarge: I have cactus... in places.

James: Serves you right. Never call me a Ginger.

McQ: anyway, review and we'll see ya later. Bye!

Remember! Reading + Reviewing equals one happy Deadly Fangs and McQueenfan95!