Lightning was awake. Laying there in bed. He just kept waking up and having a hard time sleeping. Sally was still asleep. She should, she was exhausted. Lightning watched her sleep, watched her breathe. He sighed. He needed to keep them safe. He needed to get rid of Cleo.. But how? None of the things he did actually got rid of just her henchmen.
Lightning brushed some of Sally's soft blonde hair. She was beautiful. Lightning got up and put on a shirt and walked out to get a drink, checking on the kids as he walked. Colton and Landon were asleep. Ece was sitting up in bed. She saw her dad and walked over to him. Lightning happily picked up his daughter greeting "Good morning. Did you sleep good?" he asked
Ece rubbed her eyes and nodded. Oh how Lightning couldn't help but smile at her. "You are a beautiful little girl. You know that?" he asked. Ece thought a moment answering "I'm fancy." Lightning chuckled but agreed "Yes, you're fancy. Come on, let's go get you changed and get some breakfast. You want breakfast?" He asked. Ece nodded. She was quiet but it was also early morning.
Lightning and Ece walked into the kitchen where Carson was sitting, drinking some coffee and reading something on his phone. He and Lightning glanced at each other. But Lightning was taking care of getting Ece and kind of ignored Carson. Not to mention he and Carson really didn't get along all that well, cheating on Sally didn't help that either.
"You want cereal?" Lightning asked, Ece shook her head. "Um.. Pop tarts?" Ece nodded. So Lightning grabbed that out and a plate and fixed it and Ece walked over carefully holding her plate to the living room where the cofee table was accustom to her recently to eat on. Better suited for her height.
Lightning poured himself a cup of coffee, Carson watched him and asked "How are you feeling?" Lightning sighed and snapped "I rather not do this today.. I don't want to hear it Carson, I'm sorry, I know this your home and your Sally's Dad and thanks for letting me stay but I can't listen to another one of your lectures about how aweful I am for Sally. Okay? Don't worry, I'm just gonna drink this coffee, get dressed, let Sally know I'm headed back home and get out of your sight." Carson stared a moment. Did he want to scold and go off now more than ever at Lightning? Um, yes.
Carson sighed replying "Oh.. That's too bad.. I was gonna see if you'd like to stay a while longer. Talk about Sally and the kids moving here." He went back to sipping his coffee and reading his phone. Lightning's brows lowered. "I'm sorry? What?" "Hmm? Oh, I just thought sense you and I wanted the same thing kind of now we could maybe look at a few houses. Great schools here. Sally grew up here. Kids would be in a good place. I could actually see my grandchildren more, my daughter more. You'd want that if it were your kids, trust me." Lightning was a little shocked.
"Move here? And leave Radiator Springs?" Lightning asked. Carson nodded explaining "It would keep her safe permanently from that Francesco person you talked about and Cleo too." Lightning was listening. He couldn't believe it himself, he was actually listening to Carson's idea of leaving Radiator Springs. Lightning sat down across from Carson pointing out "Sally will never do it. Radiator Springs is her home." Carson shrugged "She will if you move first." he replied.
Lightning was just staring at Carson speachless. Thinking maybe. "I.. I don't"-"You want her safe? Move here. This is better than that desert town anyway." Carson interrupted. Lightning shook his head explaining "I can't.. Sally can't.. She has the motel and I have the academy now.. It.. It's not exactly a bad idea though just.. If things were that bad then yes, I'd move us out of that town in a heart beat. But I'm.. I'm gonna get that town back to how it was. How Sally made it. It's our home.." Carson sighed but dropped it. He wouldn't go on fighting about it. Lightning and Sally were grown adults.
"Well.. I wish you would consider it.." Carson muttered. Lightning nodded. The conversation dropped immediately when Sally walked in. Lightning smiled and greeted "Good morning!". She yawned "Good morning..." Sally went and poured herself some coffee. "What have you two been talking about?" She asked with a yawn. Carson and Lightning glanced at each other. But before either one could answer, Sally's phone started ringing. She glanced at it saying "It's Tex... Hello?.. Yes.. He's with me Tex." Sally held the phone toward Lightning and he took it quickly answering "Tex,"
Lightnin! I am glad you weren't in the accident. I'm at the hospital now. Cruz said you were discharged. What happened to you?
"I uh.. I got injured trying to help the racers in the accident."
Oh okay.. Have you watched RSN this morning. The president made a speach and gave the names of the ones that didn't make it out. Theres an investigation going on to.
"I haven't heard but I'll watch it.
Okay. Um.. I'm getting into contact with all the racers that are okay.. um.. How long will you be in California?
"Hmmm. I don't know... Not long probably."
Could you stay the week? Tryin to get everyone to the track this weekend and hold a service, a dedication to the racers who lost their lives.
"Definitely. I will be there."
Great. Thank ya Light.
"Anytime." Lightning hung up, handing the phone back to Sally. "Where are you going?" Sally asked. Lightning raised a brow staring at her. Just the way she asked it was like she was mad at him for something? "Tez wants me to stay the week and go to a service at the track this weekend. That's all." "Do you even have a tux?" "Probably gonna wear the suit..." "You should dress nicer. I'll come with." Sally exclaimed. Lightning smiled replying "I'd like that." Carson sighed loudly, maybe in purpose to grab attention even. "Well.. I have errands to run.. so.. Guess I'll grab some things for the week. I assume you'll be staying here? Right Lightning?" Lightning kind of glared at Carson but nodded. Carson snickered and left the room.
Sally sighed asking "Is he lecturing you already? Because I'll talk to him if I need to." "No, no. He's just worried about you." Sally looked at Lightning's neck carefully. Lightning swatted her hands away scolding "Stop that.." Sally glared then asked "Well what are your plans next? For the academy?.. With this accident, will the sport?.. I don't know? Die out?" she asked. Lightning shook his head "No.. It'll take a hard hit. Fourteen gone and who knows who else besides Dan have quit over this.. Plus the ones that'll be fired." "You mean Storm?.. He should be." Sally asked. Lightning glared and explained "It's an accident Sally.. Storm maybe more violent than most but pretty sure he didn't intend to kill all those people.. But.. He probably will be fired." "Hmm.. Well we can just agree to disagree." She muttered.
"Stop that. Being so hateful toward people." Lightning snapped. Sally raised a brow. "What?" she asked. "You're being a little hateful and mean and I don't like it. I don't like how you're just blaming anyone you can for this accident. Storm could have died just like any of the others. I could have been in that accident, Cruz was suppose to be in that race and she would have been the one with Storm if she was!" "It's just. i.." Sally stuttered as she was unsure what to say here.
"It's not just the accident either! Cruz, I know you hate her but leave her alone please! And how you act with Cleo, the stupid academy, me. Just stop!" He walked off. Sally stood there very confused as to what just happened. Lightning just going off? She told herself it was just the stress, the accident, his injury, the meds, lack of sleep. He would be okay...
Jackson's sponsor walked in and immediately he and Jackson stared at each other locking eyes. The older man walked up and started "What were you thinking out there!? Are you insane!? Do you have any idea how much work I've had to do the past few days to save your ass from getting arrested! Turning into another dam racer like that!" Jackson just sat there in his own thoughts. Cruz stood up and yelled "Hey! The police already came! And your crew chief! Said the car malfunctioned! It wasn't Jackson's fault!" The man glared at Cruz scolding "You stay out of it you dam woman racer!" Cruz's eyes widened.
The man went right back to yelling at Jackson "You stupid driver! I can not begin to explain all the work you are going to be doing for this! Consider this probation! You are gonna have to work to earn back all the trust of fans and co sponsors! I'll bet you lost that mini thing with Dinico! Are you even listening!?" he snapped loudly but still didn't stop screaming at poor Jackson. Cruz was furious and the nerve! She stepped in again yelling "He's deaf!"
It got completely silent.
"What?.." the man didn't believe that. Cruz sighed and explained "He's deaf and temporarily blind.. He can barely hear you... us.." The man looked at Jackson who was blankly staring over at the window. He couldn't see it much. Just enough of the bright blur to tell it was a window and that was the sun. "Probably can't even tell it's you.." Cruz admitted. The man shook his head staring at his racer. "How can he race?.." he muttered. "The doctor had him fit for a hearing aid. Hopefully by the weekend he'll have it then the doctor can work on his vision." Cruz explained. The man's brows lowered as he growled "Tnat doesn't matter. Jackson's damaged goods. He won't race for me again." He began to leave but Cruz grabbed his arm asking "Woah wait!.. Why not? He's not a a horse you just get rid of when they are injured!? He's a racer! The doctors will fix him." "So what?. He had not only ruined his rep, his fan base, trust, but if he's deaf and blind, he's a liability. Even with the hearing aid shit. Now let go." the man growled and pulled away from Cruz.
"You should be happy. Means you'll be the best on the track, an unbeatable racer.." He added. "Just wait.. i.. I can communicate with him. Let me help you two work this out, he doesn't deserve termination!?" Cruz defended. The man got in her face and snarled "Good! If you can communicate with him, you save me the effort of coming back! YOU tell him he's fired!" The man left after that. Cruz was shocked. She turned and stared at Jackson.
She walked up slowly and Jackson looked forward at the wall and asked "Cruz?.. Are you there?.." She took his hand, letting him know she was. Jackson swallowed loudly then continued "There's only two people who yell at me like that.. Who was that?.. My dad or sponsor?.." Cruz put his hand to her cheek, thumb to her chin answering "Sponsor.." Jackson sighed asking and looking towards her. "I'm fired.. Aren't I?.." Cruz hesitated but.. She needed to be honest and nodded slowly. Jackson pulled his hand away and just stared at the light, the window. It was a sad thing to see. Someone you knew who you raced, talked with, occasionally threatened, and even slept with.. Jackson was strong but now he was so mopy and in darkness and alone. Well not alone. Cruz gripped his hand tightly. She was here for him.
Jackson grabbed her hand tightly too but then he pulled away and snapped "Why are you here?.. Why the fuck are you here!?" Cruz just stood there. He couldn't hear her even if she knew hiw to answer him! "I am your enemy! You needed me to get fired like this! Now you can go on to be the champion you should be! Why do you even stay here!? it's been days of you stuck in here with me! You could leave and I never know it! You know I could lay here and just scream at you conatantly and never hear a thing tou say! You are a stupid little girl for pretending to care! So why!? Why are you here for someone like me!? My own parents won't even come because I'm such a disappointment! Hmmm?!.." It was so silent in the room. He sighed with a frown.
She must of left him. She should. That outburst was awfully mean. She was kind. Cruz was being kind and so helpful sense the accident. "Are.. Are you there?.." Jackson muttered. Almost like he was about to let tears fall from his face. No answer, nothing. Just his new pure silence. He sighed then.. Someone grabbed his hand tightly. Cruz stayed through that. "I.. I'm sorry.." He mumbled. Cruz just held his hand. She felt awful and Jackson was all alone here...