It was day three in Radiator Springs and Lightning was still hiding out in the Cozy Cones. Nothing that Lynda, Strip, or Cal tried would convince him to leave their little hotel room. He wasn't about to reveal himself to Mater. The redhead was faking a cold and it was making Lynda extremely mad.
"Why are we letting him hide?" Lynda frowned at Strip as he slipped on a pair of boots he'd bought at Miss Lizzie's store.
"Because, we can't force him out." His eyes silently spoke to his wife. They couldn't let him know that they knew. He might run, then they'd be in a lot more trouble.
"You nearly done with the road, Uncle Strip?" Cal grinned at his uncle as he reclined back on the couch.
"Better hush up or I'll make you help me." Strip ruffled Cal's hair. He sighed to himself, day three in the little town and he still hadn't been able to contact Tex. After his first day of paving he'd tried to call his friend. Unfortunately, a storm had knocked out the signal hindering him from making his one phone call.
"Nah, I'm good. I'm gonna explore with Mater and Sally." The teen grinned at his uncle and hopped off the couch. "I'll see you later." He darted outside and off into the distance.
"He's going to be the death of me." Lynda sighed.
"What are you going to do today?"
"I'm going to talk to Flo. I'd like to know more about the town." Her eyes told Strip that there was more to her plans, but she didn't want to risk Lightning overhearing.
"Alright, just be safe." He kissed her on the cheek before tugging her against his side.
"You stop that!" She laughed as he pressed a kiss to her forehead before leaning down to capture her lips.
"Oh wow…. I really feel sick now." Lightning's voice cut in on the pair, "Definitely didn't need to see that. I'm going to take a shower and pretend I didn't see that."
"Don't look now…but his age is showing." Lynda laughed next to Strip's ear.
"He sure looked disgusted." Strip's lips twitched. "I'm not sure why?" He kissed her lightly before turning to leave.
"Remember to drink some water."
"I will!" He grinned at her as he strolled outside.
Lightning sighed as he finished dressing after his shower. He ran a shaking hand through his damp red hair. Things were going to blow up in his face, he just knew it. Mater was going to spot him and then everything would fall apart. All his racing dreams and then he'd end up in the foster system again.
He hunched over the edge of the sink as a pain hit him in the middle of his abdomen. The young racer bit his lip until he tasted blood. It had been acting up since his last race, he'd got rammed pretty good. He winced as he recalled how hard he'd been rattled. That race had scared Mack quite a bit. As the pain eased off he straightened himself and stared into the mirror.
Staring back at him was a pale looking redhead with bags under his eyes. He'd not slept since he'd came to Radiator Springs, the fear of discovery kept him on high alert constantly. A shiver ran down his spine as he stepped out of the bathroom and entered the bedroom. He stepped towards the bed only to find himself being tackled by a flying mop topped child. His heart sunk into his shoes.
"LIGHTNIN'! YOU'RE HERE! YOU'RE REALLY HERE!" Mater's voice rang through the room.
"Tommy!" Lightning forgot himself and swung the little boy up into his arms. His face nuzzled its way into his rusty colored hair and inhaled. He'd missed his little brother. He swung the mischief maker around before tossing him lightly onto the bed. A happy squeal filled the room.
"How'd you find me!?"
"I… it's a long story." Lightning sunk down on the bed beside his brother. "Why did you decide to come here?"
"I was lookin' for Cal!" Mater grinned at his brother, his snaggle tooth smile caused Lightning to melt a bit.
"You can't let anyone know that we're related." Lightning whispered to Mater.
"Why? I missed you. You're my brother."
"Cause…They might try to separate us. I can't let them do that." The older boy decided to be extremely blunt.
"Is that why you made sure I was with Sheriff?" Mater suddenly became extra serious.
"Yeah. I can't lose you too." Lightning tugged his little brother into a tight hug. "We have to be careful. Okay?"
"Okay… But can you at least come play with me? I'll make sure I only call you Lightnin." He bit his lip. His lips trembled.
"Just wait till I'm old enough. Then you can come live with me." Lighting tugged him close again. He dared anyone to try and take Tommy away. They'd find out just how tough of a kid he'd become. "It's not safe for anyone to know we're related. So we have to be really careful. But I promise. When everything is safe, we'll be together."
"And I'll get to come to your races?"
"Every one of them, champ." Lightning ruffled his brother's hair. He'd promise his brother the world. He would lie for the rest of his life if it would keep him safe and protected.
"Come on! We're gonna do somethin' really fun!" Mater gripped his brother's hand and tugged him outside. Lightning couldn't resist the puppy eyes his brother was giving him, so he found himself taking a trek into a cow pasture.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Sure we're sure!" Sally's voice cut in from beside Cal and Mater. "What's the matter?"
"I think he's chicken!" Cal grinned at his new friends. "Here Lightning!" He tossed the redhead an airhorn.
"I don't know about this…" He glanced at Mater.
"It's really funny!" Mater grinned.
With a resolute sigh Lightning snuck up to a sleeping cow and pressed the button on the airhorn. All at once the cow tipped over and lay there mooing loudly. Laughter erupted from the kids and Lightning grinned. He hadn't had so much fun in a long time.
All at once an angry bellowing caught the group's attention and fear shot across Sally and Mater's face.
"RUNNNNNN!" Sally shot forward grabbing Cal by the arm.
"Why?" Lightning sounded perplexed.
"IT'S FRANK!" Mater started running like crazy, his little legs pumping angrily.
"Who's Frank?" Lightning turned only to catch sight of a furious looking bull.
"THAT'S FRANK!" Sally yelled.
"CHICK HICKS HE'S HUGE!" Lightning screamed and ran after Mater.
Without second thought he scooped up his brother and ran after Sally and Cal. He didn't take time to register what he was doing. His eyes were on the outline of the fence. He took a deep breath and slid under the fence with Mater still held tightly in his hold. Frank kept bellowing angrily, but the fence kept the angry bull away from the panting kids. They all heaved deep breaths and stared at one another.
"That…was… AWESOME!" Cal grinned at Sally, then he turned his grin on Lightning.
"Nope. Not doing that again. Not with Mater in tow. Guys! He's only nine!" Lightning frowned at Sally and Cal.
"What? He's the one who taught us!" Cal sounded confused.
"Mater…"
"Umm…sorry." Mater grinned sheepishly at his brother.
"You are all impossible."
"Lighten up Lightning." Sally grinned and bumped shoulders with him. "A little adventure never hurt anyone."
"I'm going to pretend that you are all simply escaped mental patients…and pretend that this never happened. If we do it next time… we have to do it closer to the fence."
"That's the spirit Lightning! We'll make a cow tipper out of you yet!" Cal high fived Sally and then Mater.
"I'm pretty sure you're all going to give me a heart attack." Lightning couldn't help but wonder what the next few days would hold. Would he be found out? Would he get dragged back into foster care? What would happen to Mater? There were so many questions left unanswered.