Lightning ran into the hospital! Almost sliding as he asked "Where is she! Where's Sally!?" he asked. But before the woman at the desk could answer Francesco spoke up in a mutter calling "McQueen..." Lightning immediately turned to Francesco. He was already furious and just stared at Francesco. Francesco frowned and began "I am sorry.. I know my reappearance isn't... Exactly in good timing.." Lightning wanted to beat this guy to a pulp! But only asked "Where's... Sally..." Francesco nodded and took Lightning to her room. The moment he saw Sally he rushed in and to her side, basically shoving Francesco out of the way! "Sally! Are you okay?" he asked. She nodded. "Where are the kids?" "I had a nurse take them to another room.. Tell him to leave.." she begged. Lightning stood firm like he was ready for a fight and said "You heard her.." Francesco frowned and tried saying "Sally I"-"Leave!" Lightning ordered. Francesco nodded and left.
Lightning immediately turned back to Sally and asked "Did he?"-"No. No I.. I fainted.. Again.." Lightning sighed. At least Francesco didn't hurt her. "What is he doing back here?" he asked. Sally shook her head. She had no idea. "Well I'll get rid of him." Lightning exclaimed. Sally grabbed Lightning's hand and said "I think.. He and Cleo might be working together.. Somethings not right.." Lightning nodded. "Don't worry. I'll take care of Cleo." Sally put on a smile. Lightning brushed her hair out of her face and kissed her forehead. Francesco was a threat, Cleo was a threat, Cal.. Was beginning to look like a threat...
Cruz just got off the simulator when Tex walked up with Chick. "Hey Tex!" Cruz greeted. Tex smiled and greeted back "How you doin Cruz?" "Not bad. And by not bad I mean pushin to be makin a new track record!" Tex chuckled with a smile "Good for you Cruz! I just wanted to let you know, Chick will be accompanying you for this weekends race and every race until after the cup." "What?" Cruz stared at Chick. "Um.. What about Cal?" "Cal was fired. Don't worry. I don't plan on it being permanent.. But he needs some time off." Chick snickered amd added in saying "Yeah, I'd say it's permanent after what he did to old kachow."
Cruz raised a brow and asked "What did he do Lightning?" "That's not important. But I want you and Chick to get along. I'm tired of the drama around here. This keeps up I'm gonna find me new employees AND students. None of this is good for anyone. Got it Cruz." Cruz nodded replying "Yes sir." "Good. Now, I need a drink and a bucket of chicken." Tex muttered with a wink as he went off. Chick smiled and said "Looks like I'll be your new crew chief." Cruz laughed. "What's so funny?" he asked. Cruz sighed and admitted "I'm sorry Chick.. It's just.. There's no way you can be half as good as coaches like Cal or Lightning. I'm sorry.. But you can sit there and pretend to coach me. I believe I can handle myself on the track."
Cruz walked off. She was pretty confident she didn't need Chick helping her on the track. But she did need to speak to Lightning and make things better between them...
Lightning stayed with Sally for a while. His phone buzzed. Sally asked "Do you need to get that?" Lightning saw it was Cruz so answered "Uh, no.. it's nothing important." He ignored her. A nurse knocked and came in announcing "Doctor says your free to go Miss Carrera. Just make sure you drink plenty of fluids and take it easy." Sally nodded and thanked the woman then turned to Lightning and asked "Drive me home?" Lightning eyes widened for a second then he had to explain "I.. Can't.. I lost my license." "What? How?" "Cleo..." he growled. Sally shook her head. "We have to get rid of her Lightning.." "I know.." he whined. Sally sighed but reminded "The quickest way to do that is you running for mayor." Lightning glared and snapped "I'm not a mayor. I can't do it. Even with your help, I'd probably screw up the town worse than her!" Sally rolled her eyes.
"Lightning come on.. The town needs you.." He sighed and turned away. "I need you.." She added softly. Lightning slowly looked at her. Her eyes. It was a face that was hard to say no to. Sally stood up and put on a smile "Well I need to get the kids home.." she exclaimed. "I don't want Francesco showing up again at your house.. Why don't you and the kids stay with me tonight?" Lightning offered. It was sweet of him but Sally declined. "Then I'll come by in an hour or so and check on you guys.. Okay?" he added. Sally nodded replying "Thank you. I'll see you shortly than." Lightning smiled and nodded. As he walked to the elevator to leave himself he grabbed his phone out and called Cruz back. It rang a few times but she answered.
Hey.
"Hey.. I missed your call."
Yes. Well.. I was hoping we could talk. After how things went last time we spoke you know?.. And could we just meet at the academy?
"Sure. We should talk.."
Great! I'm on my way there now. I'll see you in a few minutes.
She hung up before another word was said. Lightning sighed. He needed to let Cruz hear the truth...
Lightning walked into the entrance of the academy where Cruz was waiting. "Hey! What took you so long?" she asked immediately. Lightning frowned and explained "Sally was in the hospital." Cruz raised a brow replying "Wow? Really?.. Okay.. Um.. So I was.. I've been thinking. And.. You were at the least honest with me. Even if it hurt.. You told me what you did and.." "Cruz.." "No, wait. Listen... I have thought about it and yeah?.. We started as...An affair so.. Maybe I can.. Let.. I don't know. You were honest and I.." Lightning rolled his eyes but listened as Cruz went on. He saw Bobby and Heather over in the corner. That didn't matter. Cruz needed to hear the truth again.
"Cruz I slept with her again." Cruz paused upon hearing that. "What?.. Are you two back together or something!?" Cruz asked in heart break! Lightning frowned answering "No..No but I wish we could be.." Cruz's jaw dropped. But her look of pain turned to anger. "Fuck you.." she snarled. She pushed him out of the way "Don't you dare ever come to me again when she leaves you!" and just left. Lightning sighed. He hated hurting people but it was best this way. He looked over at Bobby and Heather. They didn't say a word. Lightning accepted this then looked at Bobby again and had an idea. "Bobby.." He said. "I need you to race a cop." Bobby's eyed widened but he smiled and said "Now we're talkin my kind of fun."...
"So you think Cleo is behind all of this?" Heather asked. Lightning nodded. "We gotta get rid of her as mayor. There's only two legal ways to do that. Get her voted out of office.. Which we need some serious dirt on her to make that happen. Or get someone else voted into office." "Like Sally again?" Bobby asked. Lightning sighed and tried explaining "She can't.. Not for a few years.." Bobby thought for a moment. "How are you gonna get dirt on Cleo? She won't let you or really anyone she doesn't trust near her or her office?" That was a problem. "I don't plan to get near her at all. That's what your for. I need you to take my car and keep the cop busy. I'm gonna get into her office while she's with her kids. There has to be something illegal or some kind of dirt in that office.." Lightning explained. Bobby nodded.
Heather cocked her head a bit and asked curiously "What if she catches you? Or Bobby?" Lightning and Bobby glanced at each other. "She won't catch us." Bobby assured. "You just better find what your looking for in that office McQueen." Bobby snapped a little. Lightning nodded admitting "Me and you both are hoping for that one. But right now.. I gotta go check on Sally and the kids.. Francesco's back.." "The nut job!? Seriously?" Bobby asked. Lightning nodded. Bobby slapped his hands to his hips and snarled "You're making more enemies than friends McQueen. This ain't gonna end pretty." Lightning knew that and nodded before heading out and over to Sally's for a while. He thought long and hard. He needed Sally and his kids to be safe if he was going to go up agaisnt so many enemies.
Lightning was dropped off by Bobby at Sally's. Lightning stared at her home. He needed to tell her the truth. That and what je was going to do about Cleo. Bobby asked "You okay?" Lightning nodded and replied "Go on.. Thanks for bringin me up.. I can find a ride back home later." Bobby nodded "Call me McQueen." Then he left. Lightning took a deep breath and walked up to the door. He rang the bell and Sally opened the door. "Hey." She greeted. Lightning smiled and came on inside. The family had a late night snack and Lightning helped Sally put thr kids to bed before they sat down in the living room. Both. little exhausted.
"Thanks.. For coming by and checking on us. I don't know why Francesco thinks I'd want anything to do with him." "Yeah well, I'll bring him hell before he touches you again." Lightning said with a snicker. Sally took Lightning's hand. It surprised him a little. He stared at their hands and frowned. "I'm gonna break into Cleo's office." Sally's eyes widened. "What?.. Why?" "I'm gonna find something to make her step down. There's gotta be some kind of dirt on that woman." Lightning explained. Sally was surprised and scolded "You can't go breaking the law over her? That's crazy! That's not you!" She shouted with anger. Lightning's brows lowered as he snapped back "Well the man you knew is dead! You know that by now." That hurt her. He didn't know it, but it did.
"This isn't you... you're just angry.." Lightning stood up, pulling away he snapped "Ofcorse I'm angry! Cleo is taking everything from me and she's doing it slowly!.." "Shshshshh.. You'll wake the kids.." Sally whined. Lightning sighed and frowned. He was braking. Sally stood up and tried ti hold onto him but he pulled away. "Stop pulling away..." she snapped. Lightning was hurt and wanted to rip the band aid off! Rip the very thing he loved away for good! "Lightning.. Please.. You're not yourself.." She added. Lightning closed his eyes and took one more deep breath before turning and admitting "You're right. I've been lying to you.. Believe me, I know I've stooped pretty low.. But I can't be the good guy and win anymore.." "That's not true.." Sally muttered.
Lightning sighed continuing "I can't be the man you love. Chester.. He isn't even real. I played you Sally.. I lied to you and made Chester up!. I'm Chester Vitte.." Sally sighed. She didn't seem half as upset as he thought she'd be. His expression changed.. "You knew... Didn't you?.." he asked softly. Sally frowned a little at first but she nodded silently. Lightning shook his head in disbelief and asked "Why didn't you say something?" Sally's eyes te me teared up as she explained "I didn't know how... I didn't know at first.. but then.. I mean I figured it out and I was hurt.. But then.. We.." Her eyes were so filled with tears. "We made love again.. We made love and I didn't want to let that go.." Lightning stared at her. She was on the verge of just balling.
Lightning rubbed his hands through his hair. He didn't know what to say. He was stunned, shocked, shooken. "Fuck..." He groaned. Sally was confused. "What do you mean fuck?" "I mean fuck! That's exactly what I mean! You push me away for so long and now? NOW you want this?.. I.. I have to.. Deal with Cleo now and NOW you want us?.. How selfish can you be!?" Sally was confused. "Why are you pulling away?" She asked in a whimper. Lightning was furious. More with himself. "I don't want Cleo to use you against me.. I can't risk the kids.." "What are you saying Lightning?" Sally asked firmly. Lightning sighed and looked into her eyes. "That if you really want us?.. You have to wait now.. We have to wait..." Sally was distraught!
She shook her head and snarled "What?.. Why? If you love me you won't let people like Cleo get in the way of that!" Lightning only came back with "And if you love me you'll understand and wait!" They stared at each other for a few minutes. "I don't understand.. You aren't?.. You.." Sally mumbled in a whimper. Lightning frowned but agreed saying "You're right.. That man is dead.." Sally shook her head and the tears rolled down her cheeks. "This isn't good for either of us.. I'm toxic.. Until I can get this.. Things.. Sorted out with Cleo.. I want you to do something for me.. And I promise you we can be together." Sally glared at him and asked "What? What do you want from me now?.." Lightning took a deep breath before asking something big. "Leave town.."
Sally's eyes widened "Excuse me? Aren't you being drastic!?" Lightning nodded answering "Probably. But it's best. Go stay with your dad or your brother.. Some place Cleo and Francesco can't touch you. Please.." "Why can't you just run for dam mayor and take the town! What are you afraid of!?" she yelled! Lightning stared. He was afraid of losing her. For good. "Sally come on.. I don't mean forver. Just for.. A while.. Until I can get Cleo out of here. Think about it? Francesco won't know where you are, Cleo won't hurt you and mess with you, kids get to see their grandpa and maybe uncle or aunt Sam?" "I thought you wanted me to work for you!?" She asked loudly again.
"Yes! You can! But not yet.." "I can help Lightning. I am so much stronger than you think." Sally reminded and defended. Lightning knew that and snickered. "Sally you are one of the strongest people I know.. But that's why I need you to leave. I can't let Cleo destroy you or use you against me.." Sally frowned. "I'll.. Think about it.." She finally muttered. Lightning smiled a little and wrapped his arms around her. But it hurt her. Lightning was changing. He wasn't her Lightning that she fell in love with. He wasn't thinking straight and nothing made sense.
"Sally.. Things are gonna get messy.. You don't need to see this.." He added. It only worried Sally more and wonder what Lightning was up to...