Sally waited outside Lightning's room for what seemed like forever. Fiddling with a gift shop bag. Too long, she thought it was too long. The psychologist talked to him and now the police were. She sighed and sat there thinking about that. Lightning was strangled, STRANGLED! Someone wanted to kill him! Or could it have been sexual. Lightning was into some.. Rough tactics. The door opened and the cops left. Sally waited a second then walked in, shuttinfg the door and staring at Lightning.

She sighed with relief seeing that he wasn't arrested. "Well, no handcuffs. That's good to see." She joked. Lightning snickered. Sally showed the bag she had and smiled "I bought you some clothes from the gift shop. Thought you might like some real clothes rather than putting that suit back on." Lightning smiled at her kindness and thanked her as she handed them to him. Lightning stood up slowly. He was a little dizzy if he got up too quickly. "Woah, you need any help?" Sally asked. Lightning chuckled and shook his head assuring "Relax, I can dress myself." Sally snickered and sat down.

Lightning slipped on the weird boxers and pants then took off the gown and pulled the shirt over. Ofcorse Sally watched. She sighed. "I can't wait to be home." Lightning stared at her a moment. Home. Sally's brows lowered and she made sure he knew "Oh I'm going home. it's been two weeks and if you think I'm leaving you alone after this and.. That!" Pointing to his neck. "Oh heck no. You are stuck with me mister." Lightning frowned a little. He was just afraid for Sally and the kids safety. But right now he didn't have it in him to fight..

The cheif of the investigation of this horrific accident stared out at the mess over the track in California. It was more like a graveyard of cars. The smoke had finally cleared. It was a frightening sight. The lieutenant walked up with a helmet. Jackson's helmet. "This belonged to the racer that hit the first car.." The helmet was battered up with half the side just broken off and missing. The chief sighed asking "Which one is Storm's car." The younger man pointed it out.

They walked over and looked inside the mangled up machine. Surprisingly the frame was pretty in tact, just the body and engine to bents and bits. "Can we plug up the computer?" the chief asked. "We can try." the lieutenant answered then motioned for someone to come over with the computer. They had to bend around some parts but got it plugged up in through where the passenger side floor board was pretty much. "Well? Anything?" The chief asked. It took a minute but the young man looked over answering "Actually yes. Looks like Jackson's crew chief was right. The car malfunctioned. This was an accident."

"Does that mean the charges will be dropped from Jackson Storm?" the lieutenant asked. The Cheif sighed before answering "Maybe.. I want to talk to Jackson Storm myself first. Get that helmet looked at if possible. And get the crew chief back at the station. Someone will be held responsible for all deaths here yesterday. Whether it be Storm, the crew chief, the car manufacturer. Someone has questions to answer."...

Jackson blinked his eyes open. It was really, really blurry. He let out some deep and heavy and slightly painful breaths. His vision was so blurry. He couldn't even make out his hands.

Why is it so quiet? He wondered.

He remembered the accident. His car.. Something went wrong. He shook his head, rubbing his eyes but his vision wasn't changing. He mouthed the word's What the fuck?.. His eyes widened but vision didn't change. What the fuck!? He mouthed again! He began panicking! He tried talking, yelling, anything! Fuck! What is this!? he mouthed again! His voice was gone!? This didn't make any sense. His chest vibrated and he strained at what felt like the top of his voice!He looked around. Still extremely blurred vision.

He couldn't even make out where he was, the room colors, shapes. He felt around him, felt like a hospital bed! Help!!! He tried yelling but nothing was coming out! What's wrong with my voice! He tried again but he had NO VOICE! It just sounded like he was quietly underwater. Two nurses ran into his room and up to him. He couldn't make them out. Jackson could only make out the fact that one had dark like brown on her head. Probably brown hair, was a woman.. Maybe? And wearing a giant brown paper bag? Brown clothes he guessed? She looked at him and placed a hand on Jackson's shoulder.

He tried motioning toward his throat his eyes while yelling in panic "I can't see! I can't see and my voice! MY VOICE IS GONE.. Somethings wrong!" The two nurses were pretty much silent. Just sounded like weird muffled water like soft whispers. It didn't make sense. "What?.. what are you doing? Why aren't you talking!? I don't understand you!" Jackson yelled at them in panic. The women looked at each other.

Jackson was scared and confused, How can they be so quiet. It's like they aren't even trying to talk to me!?

Jackson continued to panic and even began messing with his ears. The nurses looked at each other and one told the other "Go get Dr. Bentwheel, NOW!" The woman tried to calm Jackson down but it was almost useless. He was panicking, he couldn't see correctly and at the moment he didn't know that he was actually yelling at the top of his lungs. He just couldn't hear hardly at all...

Cruz just got to the hospital and went to the front desk slowly and nervously. "Um... Hi." she greeted. The lady raised a brow and asked "Do you need to be treated or for a racer?" "Oh um.. Kind of a racer.. I mean.. I don't want to actually see him just.. Wanted to know if he's okay.." The lady sighed and asked "Are you family?" Cruz hesitated and muttered "Haha um.. You could say I'm like family." The lady glared. "Family only right now. Not my decision. The survivors are in a lot of stress right now. Doctors don't want to risk any further harm." she explained.

Cruz frowned hearing that. What now? "Look, I just want to know how Lightning McQueen is doing? He might be under the name Monty actually.." The woman stared at Cruz with this glare. "Please?.." Cruz begged with a nervously stupid looking smile. The woman sighed and repeated a prior question "Are you family?" "Well... No.." "Than I can't give you information regarding Mr McQueen. Privacy. You understand.." She growled. Cruz did. But she just wanted to know if he was okay.

A doctor stepped back in through the entrance doors. "Oh. Mr Bentwheel. Glad you got here as quick as you did." "Storm's room? Right?" he asked. The woman at the desk nodded. Cruz's eyes widened.

Storm..

"Uh Wait!" Cruz shouted! Ben raised a brow and stared at the young woman. "I'm his... Cousin.." She lied. Ben nodded replying "Good. Come with me. He could use someone familiar." Cruz was surprised how easy that was. The woman at the desk kind of glared at her as Cruz went away following Ben, Storm's doctor.

Ben lead Cruz all the way into the I.C.U and into Storm's room where she was shook at what she saw. Storm was panicking. He was standing up but maybe disoriented or dizzy because he couldn't keep himself up and fighting off the nurses who were trying to help him. Was he crazy? He was yelling continuously at them too. Saying he can't see right and that they sound like they are drowning that he can't understand! He was deathly scared, afraid. It was a Storm she never saw before.

Ben stepped in between Jackson and the nurses and grabbed his attention "Jackson! Jackson hey! It's okay! Calm down!" "What are you saying! What do you want with me!?" Jackson yelled! Ben tried explaining "You were in an accident! You injured your head!" Jackson shook his head. It was obvious he was confused as heck!

"Jackson! Look at me!" Ben loudly ordered. Then turned to one the nurses saying "Order a C.T now and get me some straps and propofol." The nurse nodded once then ran out the room. Ben tried to calm Jackson and get him safely back into bed. Cruz spoke up asking "What's wrong with him?" Ben glanced at her answering "He had a pretty severe head injury.. I expect his vision and hearing is temporarily damaged.. But there could be futher problems and complications.. I need him to calm down or I'll have to sedate him just to get a C.T." Jackson looked around and shouted "What is it!? What are you saying!" Cruz thought for a moment.

She once had a friend whose brother was deaf. She walked up to Jackson who seeing the blurred outline of a stanger snapped "Whose there!?" She didn't answer his question but instead slowly and gently took his hand. Jackson flinched at first and snapped "Woah no! Who are you, what are you doing!?" Cruz took his hand and placed his fingers on her lips and said "Ssshhhhh" against them. Jackson did quiet down as he was confused. Then she placed his hand against her cheek, his thumb on her chin near her bottom lip and spoke "Cruz.. Cruz..." Jackson could faintly hear a muffled eewww in a soft deep feminine sound and a zzzz vibration.

His brows lowered as he calmed. "Cruz.." she repeated. Ben and the nurse stood there watching. Even if Jackson couldn't underatand her, he was calm now. "I... Am... Cruz." Cruz repeated. Jackson muttered something so quiet no one heard him. Then he said.. "I.. am...?.. You?.. Cr.. Cruz? Cruz?" he asked. Cruz smiled and nodded. Jackson stared at her face. He couldn't make her out so he stepped closer. Extremely close to her face. So close Cruz's eyes widened as she stared at his eyes and his lips.

She then said "Calm.. Down.. Calm.." Jackson tried watching her lips and feeling the way her jaw moved and the vibrations felt. "I.. I can't.. I don't understand.." He whimpered as he broke down. Ben was a little baffled that Cruz was able to moderately communicate with Storm. He cleared his throat and asked "Hey.. Cruz? Can you try telling him I need him to get a C.T. and maybe surgery.. I will help him.." Cruz nodded then tried saying "Doc.. Doc..." Jackson kept his hand on her jaw as he watched her lips closely even though he could barely see it. "D.. Doc?" he asked Cruz nodded and pointed to Ben. Jackson glanced at the blurry blobby looking person.

"Help you.. Help... You.." She said clearly. Jackson was scared. "I can't hear or see.." He said. Cruz glanced at Ben who replied "Tell him its okay, to stay calm and I will help him." Cruz did just that saying "It'ssss.. Okay. Okay." Jackson nodded. "Calm.. Calm" She said. Jackson muttered back repeating "C-Calm?.. Calm.. Yeah.. I got it.." He frowned and sat down.

Cruz placed his hand on her jaw and chin again and pulled his face extremely close to hers where she was looking into his eyes and said "Doc help.. You..." She had to repeat it a few times but Jackson nodded. He understood. Barely. Jackson looked at blurry Ben and asked "Can you make me see? Make me hear again?" Ben came closer and took Jackson's hand to his face then nodded answering "Yes." Jackson felt such relief. Cruz then began to leave but Jackson stopped her asking "Stay.. Please.. I.. I don't even know if I'm really talking at all." Cruz hesitated but.. He didn't have anyone and she knew Lightning had Sally. So Cruz walked back over and sat with Jackson her partner in racing...

Lightning and Sally began making there way out of the hospital. Oh how Lightning couldn't wait to see his kids! He had missed them these two long and rough weeks. Sally grabbed Lightning's hand as they walked through the hall. "I love you Lightning." She exclaimed. Lightning smiled softly and gripped her hand tighter replying "Love you.. Thank you.." "You're welcome." They walked by a few rooms when one caught his eye. It had the number 47 on it. Dan's number.

"Hold on.." Lightning said and stared at it. Debating to go bother Dan and whatever family he had along side him. "You should check on him." Sally exclaimed. She was right. He knocked. Knock knock. A young woman answered, opening the door. Her eyes widened seeing Lightning and she quickly let him and Sally inside. "Dan. It's Lightning." She announced. Dan sat up. He looked rough. Rough and extremely tired.

"How you doing?" Lightning asked with Sally next to him. Dan frowned but then put on a smile to answer "I'll be okay. A few weeks and I'll be up again.. Least that's what the doc says." "Glad to hear it." Lightning replied with a smile. "You'll be back up and racing in no time!" he added. But then Dan frowned and rubbed the back of his head admitting "Yeah uh.. Actually about.. About that.. Um.. I.. I don't think I want to.. Come back.. After this." Lightning's eyes widened. "What?" he said. Dan did feel some what bad but explained to his boss and sponsor "I know.. It's an accident and that happens in racing but.. This was no mere accident! This was me looking at death in the eyes!"

Lightning frowned hearing that. "So you're quitting..". Lightning stated. Dan didn't want to say it like that exactly but nodded "I.. I never expected.. I just!... that crash was!?.." "No, I.. I understand.. If you really can't I get it.. If you need to quit than.. Okay.. But think about it. Think this over and maybe try getting behind the wheel once your better and let's go from there." Lightning said. Dan shook his head replying "No.. No, I have thought about it. It's all I can think about. Getting in that car, that machine of death and going over two hundred miles per hour and wrekcing again! I can't... I'm sorry Mr McQueen but I can't do it.. I won't get back in that race car." Lightning just stared. He wasn't angry at all with Dan.

He actually could understand. He just hated that such a young and talented man's career was ended so quickly out of fear. "Okay.. Okay... Well.. If you wanna get back into it or into school, you just come to me. I'll set you up." Dan thanked Lightning but also told him not to hold his breath. Dan wasn't coming back. Leaving Lightning and his academy with no racer...