Sally sped as fast as she could while being able to control the car! Suddenly there were headlights behind her. The car passed her so fast that she couldn't even recognize that it was Lightning.
Sally pulled up to the police station and that's when she saw Lightning leaning on his camaro. She squealed her car to a stop and didn't even turn it off as she got out yelling "What the hell was that!? What happened to you!? You.. you?.." She approached and noticed no blood. "Oh thank god!" She wrapped her arms around him tightly. "I thought she stabbed you!" Lightning held Sally in his embrace tightly. This hug never felt so good! "I'm so sorry I ran!.. I.. I knew I just"-"Don't worry about it. You had to run and I would have told you to." But then Sally pulled away and grabbed his hand "Come on! we gotta tell Sheriff! This woman is going to jail!" But when she pulled to lead him she was yanked back!?
Sally turned and looked at Lightning confused. "What are you doing? Come on! Let's go!" She shouted. Lightning felt sick but firmly said "No." Sally's jaw dropped. "No?.. what, what do you mean no!?" she was furious and scared. "I mean that we can't.. I can't let you.." He answered. Sally shook her head and reminded "But I saw her threaten you! I saw her use black mail! I saw her hurt you! She has to pay!" "And she will.. Just.. Not yet.. I can't risk you.." he explained. Sally was furious. Lightning could tell by her expression. "No! I have to tell Sheriff! He will arrest her! Then she won't hurt you and won't be able touch me! Okay!?" she explained. Lightning shook his head. Part of him wanted to let Sally go and tell what happened, what was happening. "I can't let you.." "Well I'm going to anyway!" Sally snapped and again tried to go but Lightning had a grip of her hand and wouldnt let her.
"Let me go!" Sally shouted. Lightning sighed. "Sheriff won't believe you.." Sally knew that was a lie. "Yes he will." she corrected. Lightning shook his head. "No.. He won't because I'll tell him it never happened.." Sally was shocked! "What?.. Why would you do that!? Look at your face! Anyone can see you have clearly gotten beat up!?" "I'll tell him I got into a fight at the bar." Lightning threatened. Sally was just shocked. "What?.. Why would you do that? Why would you defend her!?" she asked.
"I'm not defending her, I'm defending you.." he corrected. Sally shook her head and only yelled back "How does that make sense to you! Is that some lie you keep telling yourself!? That you're protecting me?." She was starting to cry. Lightning sighed admitting "Sally.. It's .. It's more complicated than just that.. But you need to trust me.. I need you to stay out of it." "What!?" Sally yelled. "It's like you want her to win?! To take the town and to control you!? To?.. threaten me? What about the kids?..." Lightning shook his head and held her hand. Thinking to himself. Sally pulled away though and reached in her pocket, "Well it doesn't matter." Revealing a key. "Because I have this. And I'll find out what she really has on you... Or if you made some kind of deal with her.. I'm going to take her down and unlike you, I won't let her win and continue to torement our family." Sally snarled.
Lightning sighed. Sally wasn't going to stop. "Is that what you think I'm doing?.. Letting her torment our family?!" Lightning shouted. "Yes! Because you won't just take this to the law!" "The law is useless!" he snapped back! Sally shookher he as d and trued reminding him, "It's not! Laws are there to keep us safe! To keep that stuff I just witnessed out of peoples lives! I can protect this family too, a lot better than YOU I'm starting to think!" "Would you just stop! You're not an attorney anymore! You're a hotel manager!" Sally was furious. And she wasn't going to stop and maybe she was right.
Lightning stared at her, at her staring or rather glaring at him. She was right. It was time they stopped this, he stopped this and they work together. "Why don't we go to your place.. And talk?..Really talk.." Lightning suggested. Sally was surprised. She didn't completely believe him. She crossed her arms snapping "Why? So you can just lie to me again?" She was angry. Lightning frowned. He didn't want her to know everything. But he didn't want to lose her like this. "I'll tell you whatever you want to know.." he assured. Sally still didn't quite believe him. "I'll explain everything.. I swear.." He added.
This is what she had been asking him to do. She wiped her eyes but part of her still didn't believe him. So she had to ask "Will you really tell me everything?.. Tell me all that has happened?.. Everything you are hiding from me?" She choked up on her heartbreak. Lightning stared at her. She was hurt by his actions lately. But.. She deserved to know. He nodded slowly silently. Sally wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight! "Please don't shut me out ever again!.." she cried. Lightning brushed her hair through his fingers. Caressing her. "I understand you not wanting to lose me more than you think.. Because I can't.. I can't lose you either Lightning.." She sniffled. Lightning held her close. He had a plan. Just wasn't a very good one...
Sally unlocked the door and followed by Lightning they went inside. It was quiet in the home. Lightning glanced up the stairs asking "Kids asleep or?.. Are they at my mom's or somethin?" Sally cleared her throat before answering "Well maybe asleep. I asked your mom to come over to watch them." Lightning became more concerned. "Wait? You got my mom in on this mess too?" he asked. Sally shook her head explaining "No. I told her I had.. Some things I had to take care of.." Lightning glared at Sally but before he could say anything else Minty walked in holding a coffee mug of warm tea. "Oh. Monty.. I wasn't.." She paused as she caught a glimpse of his face. Minty set the mug down on the entrance table and immediately stepped closer.
"Oh Monty... What happened to you?.." she asked as she began inspecting his face. "Who?.. What?.." She was seriously worried. Especially after Sally had told her about the neck bruise from before. Lightning swatted his mother's hands away snapping "I'm fine and it's nothing.. Please don't do this.." Minty's brows lowered. "Monty McQueen! I am your mother!.. Now, go sit down and I'm gonna go grab a few things to make sure you clean all that up properly." And she scurried off. Lightning sighed. Sally placed a hand on Lightning's shoulder. "She just cares a lot about you.." She exclaimed. Lightning snickered. Yes, but his mom could be a bit over bearing sometimes...
They sat in Sally's house. Kids in bed thanks to the help of Minty who watched them. Lightning and Sally sat in front of the fireplace downstairs, sipping coffee. Awkwardly quiet at the moment. Sally ribbed her elbows. Lightning noticed and grabbed the blanket that was over the arm and wrapped it around her. "Lightning.. I"-"Alright!." Minty interrupted. "The kids are good and.." she looked at Lightning's face. Satisfied. "Your face looks as good as it's gonna get for now." Lightning glared at her. Minty sighed. "Think I'll head out." Sally smiled and replied "Thanks Minty.. You are an amazing help to us.." "Don't I know it. You two behave yourselves.. Don't let him keep gettin into these fights." She scolded Sally.
Sally snickered answering "I'll try not to. Hey, it's already so late. Why don't you just take the guest room for the night Minty?" Minty shrugged asking "You sure?" "Ofcorse. You're family. Always and anytime." Sally assured. Oh how Lightning loved seeing that in Sally. Her caring and generosity. She was an incredible woman. Minty thanked Sally then walked over and kissed Lightning's forehead. He glared muttering "Mom.." in a quiet growl. Sally thought it was adorable. Minty smiled at the two of them before heading off to bed. The two sat there a moment. "So?.." Sally started. "You wanna?.. Tell me what'sbeen going on?" she asked. Lightning stared at her. Sitting next to her and he just.. He hated the things he had done and things he had let happen to him.
Sally sighed. "You said you'd tell me Lightning.." and he did. He frowned a bit but then Sally took his hand. "Talk to me." She said yet again. Lightning nodded and began admitting "Well.. I may.. Have done some things that I'm not really proud of. And before you ask, yes.. I mean illegal. Mostly just breaking into Cleo's office and.. Home or sabotaging a few things for her. I had to pick off her allies one by one. At the time I didn't know Jackson was even working with her which.. I don't know how trustworthy he is much anymore by the way.." Sally was concerned but she kind of figured Lightning did a few things like that. Lightning swallowed, continuing "I needed you gone to keep me from.. Realizing how risky and horrible and.. I knew you'd stop me. I framed that cop, Gage and got him kicked out. I.. I wanted to kill someone.. And I'm pretty sure if not for you, he would have killed me." he tried making it seem like a joke.
Sally's brows lowered. "Is that from the uh.. Marks?.. you had around your neck.?" she asked a little nervously. Lightning nodded. Sally thought a moment then realized and asked "Wait, you said he. It wasn't Cleo who tried to kill you?" she was definitely nervous about all this. Lightning took a deep breath before answering that one. "Not Cleo.. it was Francesco.." She gasped a little. "I found my security footage of the day Cruz fell from the bleachers and turns out Francesco was the reason she fell.. He tried to kill her and I became so angry and add that on top of the fact he took you from me. " Sally glared. Francesco didn't take her from him, Lightning chose Cruz. Sally moved on. But.. Now wasn't the time to bring that up or correct him. "So?.. What about tonight? What is?.. Going on between you and Cleo?" Sally asked cautiously. Lightning turned away. Quickly, ge began thinking out different scenarios here.
1) He tells her the truth, all of it. But she sees and treats him differently in a way that damages his ego further thus possibly damaging the little bit of a relationship they have again.
2) Lightning tells the truth and Sally continues to want to take Cleo down and maybe even is just as angry as him.
3) Lightning just doesn't tell her entirely everything and she continues on being upset but she will probably still want the law involved.
4) He lies. Makes up some excuse and lies to her, maybe she'd back off?
But what would he say? "Lightning?.." sally muttered quietly. He was worrying her taking so long to answer. Lightning put on a smile for her as he turned toward her and answered. "Cleo is threatening to hurt you. Tonight, the only reason I stopped you from going to the law was because she would have sent these guys out to harm you. The ones chasing you.. I couldn't fight all them off. They would hace gotten to you." "I can protect myself. I have a taser and"-"She was going to have you raped." Lightning interrupted. Sally just stared silent. Lightning sighed continuing "It's time I quit beating around the bush. You need to know the dangers here. Cleo has threatened you multiple times Sally. A taser is cute but it won't stop whatever Cleo wants."
Lightning stood up, pulling away. "And I KNOW she is capable of that. Tonight wasn't the first time I was beaten on her command. She was behind so many things that happened to Cal and I and Megan to. I broke into her house, her office. I.. I would have killed Francesco if he hadn't have gotten the upper hand. I believe I would. I tried.. I tried to kill Cleo. I wanted to. But I didn't. I should have." Sally couldn't believe some of the things she was hearing. "She even threatened me that. I'd regret ot of I raced and." He stopped. He paused. Sally stood up mumbling "Lightning?.. What are?.. What do you mean?" Lightning just figured it out. "The accident was because of me?..." He asked himself more or less.
"What?" Sally asked. Lightning was thinking to himself. "But that?. Doesn't make sense?.." He muttered. He waa starting to seem a little crazy honestly.
Sally grabbed his face, looking deep into his eyes. "Lightning..." she choked. "I love you.. But this all HAS to stop.. For us.. For the sake of our children.." But Lightning was in his own world. "Jackson crashed... Not me?.. Why would Jackson crash?.." He whispered. Sally swallowed hard. It was like Lightning was loosing his mind. "Stickers.. Stickers listen to me.." She tried to get through to him. Lightning turned away muttering more words "She asked me to ruin his confidence because he's?.."
..."And I suppose by destroy, you mean"-"Destroy his confidence. He was easier to control when he felt the weight of the world." Cleo admitted. ...
"He's uncontrollable..." He muttered. Sally had tears in her eyes. "Lightning stop this.. Please!" She begged. "You don't see it but I do! Cleo is taking you from me.. You have to stop.. Now." Lightning looked back to Sally. "Jackson plays a bigger part than I bet he realizes.. He's her fall out." Lightning explained. Almost with excitement. Sally shook her head. "What are you talking about?" she asked. Lightning took her face this time and smiled warmly. "I love you.. But I have to go back." "What!?" "I need you to stay here with my mom and the kids." Sally shook her head in disbelief. Lightning began out the door and Sally was right behind him.
"Stop! Lightning STOP! You can't tell me all those things and then leave!?" Lightning opened the passenger door and the glove box. Sally's eyes widened! A gun!? "A gun!? Sense when did you get a gun!?" She snapped. Lightning handed it to Sally asking "You remember how to use this?" Sally stared at it in her hands. But she knew how. "You're scaring me." She admitted. Lightning nodded and brushed her hair behind her ear explaining softly "I know.. It's okay.. I just.. Cleo is about to find out I have her fate in my hands now." Sally was speachless and confused. Lightning kissed her and said goodbye leaving.