Lightning sat and played with the drink he had gotten. Giving Sally space as Meg advised. Bobby walked over to Lightning and sat down next to his friend. "McQueen.." Bobby cooed. Lightning looked at his friend and asked "Why did you have to start things between Cal and Meg?" Bobby shrugged answering. "Jesse bombed me with that crap in front of Heather. Besides, you are the one with the real problem here. Cruz? Again? Really? I mean.. I am up for banging the same side chick more than once, but.. Her again?" Lightning glared and explained what happened. "Cleo.. Cleo got me drunk.. I mean.. that was my fault, but then she called Cruz over knowing that the likely hood of something happening was really high! She set me up and now.. Now she's pregnant.." He admitted.
Bobby looked across the room at Cruz. She looked beautiful, sweet, so full of life, young. "Could be worst.." Bobby said. Lightning only glared. No, not really. "What now Bobby?.." asked Lightning. "Maybe Cal is right.. Maybe I should.. Cut the cord here." Bobby nodded and listened like a good friend. Lightning looked to Bobby asking "Are you happier? Are you happier now or when you were with Jesse and fighting for your marriage?" Bobby hesitated. He stared at Lightning as he thought about that. Thinking back to those times with Jesse. The last couple of weeks, months, that year. "Well.. I mean.. I guess if I look back at it now.. I regret losing her man.. I love Jesse.." He looked across the room and at Jesse. He really did love Jesse.
Then he looked at Heather who was alone and quite miserable actually. Bobby sighed and answered in more new found confidence. "I miss Jesse. I wish I could have been with her, but.. We fought a lot for the last year together.. We would fight all the time.. There was good.. But mostly bad.. I would kill to be with Jess again man, but... I think.. I think i'm doing better mentally with Heather really... She is so kind and we rarely fight.. She really is a great and loving mother. She's loyal to me.. She makes sure I eat right, drink less, exercise, get out and have my own time.. She really is better for me and.. I'm happy. Even if she wasn't who I.. I loved first." Lightning thought about that. This was toxic. Whoever said that was right about that.
Would he be happier without Sally? With someone else? Not Cruz. Lightning knew he wouldn't ever be truly happy with Cruz. He used her. That is really what he did. Lightning patted Bobby's back saying "Go talk to Heather. I bet you tell her what you just told me and she might forgive you. Thanks for that Bobby." Bobby nodded as Lightning left. Bobby looked at Heather and in this moment he realized just how good he had it. And Heather was an amazing young woman. He was lucky to have her. She maybe not the brightest one he had been with, but she was loving, caring, kind, giving, sweet by nature. He was a lucky man with a family. Bobby wouldn't take that for granted much longer...
Lightning returned home to find that Sally wasn't there. But she took the car.. She was probably out for a late night drive. Lightning called the sitter and asked of she'd watch the kids for the night because truly, Lightning had some deep thinking he needed to do for himself to...
Sally stretched as she woke up. She yawned and then smelled what smelt like breakfast food being cooked. She opened her eyes and panic struck. Panic and shame. She was completely naked and her hair a mess. She sat up in the bed and pulled the sheet over her body in embarrassment. She heard a knock then the door opened. Jackson looked at her kind of awkwardly and said. "Um.. I made breakfast.. Not sure what you like.. So.. Uh.. Yeah.." Sally nodded without a word. It was so intensely awkward. Jackson sighed then realized that the dress might not be that comfortable to put back on. "Um.. I think I might have something you can wear.." He walked in and opened the dresser up, pulling out one of his t shirts and a pair of jogging style like lounge pants.
"Here." He tossed them towards her. The shirt hit her in the face and covered her face. "Oh. Woops.. I.. Sorry." Jackson apologized. Sally pulled the shirt off her head and pulled it on. "Thank you." She replied. Seeing it was still kind of awkward, Jackson jumped onto the bed and lay on his side asking "Was it good for you? Last night?" With a flirty smile. He was trying to lift the vibe here. Sally snickered and smiled a little bit answering "Yeah.. I didn't even know half of those moves existed." She joked. That made Jackson chuckle. "You are actually quite a bit more limber than I figured." Sally glared a bit at that comment.
"We should do it again." Jackson added. Sally only rolled her eyes and scooted out of bed asking "Where are my panties?" Jackson playfully replied "Thought I'd keep them. As my souvenir." Sally only rolled her eyes again and stood up from the bed. She put on Jackson's pants without her panties for now and tightened them to stay up. "There. How do I look?" She asked placing her hands on her hips. Jackson snickered a little bit answering "Sexy. Makes me want to fuck you all over again." Sally shook her head then said. "You don't have to be nice.. Or lie." "About what? Last night? It was great. You surprised me. I always thought you were like some sort of seriously trained sub after the stories iv'e heard from Cruz and.. Um... I just thought I'd have to do all the work in there." he playfully said.
Sally snickered then the two walked out to the kitchen area. "Wow." Said Sally. Jackson made, (Or bought possibly ordered from the diner) Pancakes, eggs, bacon, biscuits, crescent rolls, cinnamon buns, the whole buffet! "Um.." Sally muttered. "Overwhelmed? Yeah.. I may have overdone it.. Hope you're hungry!" He exclaimed with enthusiasm. Sally looked at him saying 'You think?" With a bit of a giggle. "ow.." She griped a bit and grabbed her stomach. Jackson was quickly at her side. "You okay?" He asked with concern. Sally nodded and blushed. "Yes.. Just a little sore.." Jackson tried not to, but smiled proudly and said. "Really? Wow. Sounds like I did a hell of a job on you. You usually this sore after a good run?" Sally shook her head as she sat down to eat.
Jackson felt very proud of that. "Seems like McQueen needs to step up his game." He joked. It got a slight glare out of Sally though. "How long can you stay?" He asked as they began to eat. Sally shrugged answering "Lightning has no authority.. Or respect for that matter from me anymore. I will do what I want." That made Jackson snicker. Sally ate and sipped some coffee. "Oh man." She choked up and spit up some of her coffee. "What is it?" asked Jackson as he watched her get up and sort of panic. "This was great, but I have to go. I have kids and Lightning is going to be wondering where I am and if he drives downtown and sees his car here at your place?.. Or of someone tells him.. I just.. It's not a good idea." Jackson rose and reminded "Thought you said he had no authority over you anymore." Sally froze and thought about that. Maybe he still did.
"I'm sorry.. I got to go.." She went and grabbed her dress and then turned to find Jackson standing in her way. "Can I just.. Return these clothes later?" She asked. Jackson didn't care about them really saying "Throw them away. I don't need them." "Thanks.." Sally replied and rushed to the door. "Forgetting something?" Asked Jackson. Sally looked back to see him holding her heels. Sally sighed with a smile and took them from him. "Thanks.." Again. She opened the door and stopped dead. Lightning was already outside leaning on the hood of his car that Sally drove out with. Jackson appeared behind her and looked at Lightning who seemed furiously calm. Sally was going to be sick. "Enjoy your night?" Lightning asked.
Sally stared at him then glanced at Jackson helplessly. She frowned and opened her mouth, but Jackson stepped up and pushed her back as he stood now between her and Lightning. "You know she did." He answered. Lightning stood up and asked "So this is how you repay me Jackson?" He asked the kid. Jackson shook his head. "Nope. This has nothing to do with you. The lady wanted to feel wanted." Lightning held back. Though he wanted to kill Jackson for what had clearly happened between him and Sally. "Get in the car Sally." Lightning ordered. Sally frowned and started to walk out, but Jackson stopped her by placing his arm in front of her and saying. "No. No, she's not going with you." "Excuse me?" Asked Lightning.
Sally was a little unsure what was happening right now. Jackson shook his head saying "She's not going with you. If she needs a ride somewhere, I can give her one." Sally grabbed Jackson's arm and softly said "I have to. I have kids and he's my husband." Jackson quickly snapped lightly. "NO! You go with him and you're only going to be yelled at, hurt more, he will do nothing but defend himself and put you down for what you did last night. He is going to mistreat you very quickly once you get into that car with him! So NO! Because you do not deserve that!" Sally looked at Lightning after Jackson was finished. In a way, Jackson was right. Lightning took a deep breath then spoke up saying. "He's right.. You don't deserve this.. I do not deserve you. We've changed over the past couple of years Sal..."
Sally stepped forward asking softly, "What are you saying Lightning?..." Lightning bit his lips a bit before answering "We should cut the cord.. I think we were both happier separated at this point. That we healed and thought we could be together again, but.. The inevitable happened.." "And what about the kids?.. Cruz's kid?" Sally asked. Lightning shrugged answering "I think it would be best for them to.. Can't keep throwing them into this and we can't keep going back and fourth. I really.. I don't care anymore. I'm done fighting.. You want to stay together through.. THIS. Fine... If not, fine. But I'm not going back to you. I will never come back to you again. I think this isn't what's meant to be for us Sal."
Jackson stood there in slight shock. Sally nodded saying "Okay.." She began to walk forward, but Jackson grabbed her hand. Sally looked at him saying "It's fine. Lightning and I just need to talk agreements.. I'll call you." Hearing Sally say she'd call Jackson only hurt more and made Lightning confirm what was to come. They were separating for good. And he was actually good with that at this point. Both Sally and Lightning were exhausted and done fighting. Both were tired of the circles they were doing anymore. It was over...
Lightning sat in his office doing some paperwork and writing a letter explaining that if Ken returned the cars stolen, no charges would be pressed. BUT Either way, Ken would be done with his time at the academy and would not graduate. Lightning stopped typing and took a deep breath. He was so tired emotionally and mentally. He looked over at the picture of him and Sally. It was over. Over for good this time. He took the picture and dropped it into the trash can just as the door opened,. Cleo stared at the picture in the trash as she walked in with a stupid smile on her face. "Awe.. You and Sally have a fight boss?" She asked. Lightning glared at her then opened his desk drawer and handed Cleo a check. "What's this?" She asked.
"A bonus perhaps?" She added happily. Lightning shook his head answering "Your last check. You're fired." "What!?" Cleo snapped! "YOU CAN NOT FIRE ME! I AM PART OF THE ACADEMY!" She yelled! Lightning shook his head and explained. "I am sole owner, sole partner. You have no reason to be working here." "But the contract you signed states that"-"That as long as you have a place here where you are useful, you have a job." Lightning then leaned forward and asked "Tell me Cleo, What exactly do you do here that makes you irreplaceable?" Cleo hesitated. She really just cleaned up around the place, watched the camera, and brought Lightning his mail. Useless.
Cleo naturally threatened. "Well.. you can't just fire me.. Or.. Or I'll, I'll.." "What? Come between Sally and I with a tape? Get me to fuck some girl and get her pregnant? Push Sally and I into divorce? Take my kids? My cars? The academy? Do you even know anything about racing?" asked Lightning as he stood up. Cleo was silent. She had NOTHING on Lightning anymore. "Take that check and leave Radiator Springs.." Cleo was stuck and defeated here. Lightning opened another drawer, revealing a small pistol. "Do not come back. Am I clear?" He asked then slammed the drawer shut. Cleo stared at it then back at Lightning and nodded. "Good.. If you value your life and want to dare try and get your kids back.. You will never return here. Go before I change my mind." He warned. Cleo swallowed nervously then took the check and left the academy. What no one else knew.. Was of Lightning's plans for himself once the divorce was finalized again...
The couple sat with the judge who looked at both of them. "No lawyers?" He asked. Sally and Lightning shook their heads and Lightning explained. "No need for it." "Okay.. Well, normally I would order a couple to try a therapy or counseling, but.. I see you two have before and.. Haven't been re married for long.. I'll approve it. Just need to settle the house and stuff.." Lightning spoke up, "I have my own place still.. Sally takes everything. Including sole custody of the kids." "What?" Asked Sally in disbelief. The judge raised a brow asking "You want ti surrender your rights? Are you sure?" Lightning nodded and explained. "Yes. I have work that is going to involve so much travel and I'll be working out of state most of the time anyway. I will come visit.. I'll take them when I can, just.. It'll be rare I believe." Sally became furious, but part of her felt happy. She never had to deal with Lightning again. "Okay.. " said the judge. Sally snapped a little asking "What about Cruz's kid!? You going to give up custody of it!?" Lightning sighed and the judge spoke up saying "Let's not speak of that here. That is a personal matter for another time and.. Another woman.. Anyway, so.. Miss Carrera, you keep the house, the money in the accounts and take the kids. This leaves Mr. McQueen with the smaller um.. Pad.. and the Academy.. No requirements of child support. Legally, Mr. McQueen.. This means you have no rights to Colton, Landon and.. Ece McQueen. Are you sure about that?" Lightning nodded answering "Yes sir. I don't think I'll have any problems visiting from time to time with Sally here.." Sally just glared, but he was right. Even signing away his rights, Sally would never keep the kids away from their father. It was actually making things much easier Lightning doing it this way. He wasn't abandoning his children, just leaving Sally as the one to completely make their well being decisions. "Alright.. Sign here and the deeds done." Said the man. Sally and Lightning looked at each other. Both were tired and felt this was best sadly. They took the pens, Lightning first, then Sally. "Alright. Con.. gradualtions.." Said the judge awkwardly and shook their hands. Lightning and Sally walked out together. As they about parted ways, Lightning stopped Sally saying "Hey.. I hope you... You find someone better." He gave up. Sally nodded and asked "So what is this work out of state?" Lightning sighed as he began to explain, "I'm selling the house, the academy.. I'm opening a new academy in Georgia.. With Smoky, Doc's old trainer." Sally only shook her head in disappointment. "You are going to hurt everyone Lightning." "I know..." "Is Cruz moving with you?" Sally asked rudely. Lightning stared at her, not sure. "I.. Probably not really.. I don't want to be with her. I won't be." "Right." Snarled Sally then she walked away a little pissed off. They were divorced again. Lightning frowned and walked the opposite direction. It was finally over.