Sally woke up alone in bed. She pulled the blankey over her more to keep warm. Lightning must of been up with the kids already. She sighed and glanced at the clock. 12.33. 12.33!? Sally jumped out of bed and ran downstairs. "Lightning!?" she called. As she came to the bottom she heard Ece laughing. Sally rushed into the living room and was surprised to see Sheriff playing with the kids. "Sheriff?.. What are you doing here? Where's Lightning?" Sheriff looked over answering "He called me and said you needed to sleep in. He went to that meeting thing he called for at the academy." Sally sighed. Bur Sheriff being here did make her feel a little safer.

"You should have woke me.. You want coffee or something?" Sally offered. Sheriff chuckled and pointed to a mug answering "Third cup today. Boy these kids are nothin but balls of energy. Don't know how you do it." he joked. Sally sat down and carefully brought up "Has Lightning?.. Talked to you?.. About a situation?" Sheriff frowned a bibit answering "Um.. Yeah.. About Cleo um.." "Raping him. That's what it is right? Forcing Lightning down with drugs?" Sally stated more. Sheriff nodded. "You took Cleo's key. I need that back." Sheriff said firmly. Sally nodded and walked off to grab it. She came back and handed it to the man. "Thank you." Sheriff said.

"So now you can arrest her. Right?" Sally asked. Sheriff sipped his coffee. "It's not like that. I can take her in for questioning for now but Lightning and I talked and the best thing we can do is wait until I have the video first. I.. The cops back at the station will review the tape and if Cleo did indeed.. assault Lightning, then I will personally arrest that woman." Sally sat down amd watched the kids play a moment. Sheriff stared at her a moment then said "You can go on and shower or whatever you need to do. I got these three. Lightning told me you guys were leaving town for a while.." "He did?.." Sally seemed surprised. Sheriff nodded but reminded "With Lightning reporting this, I'm gonna have to call him back here a few times.. Plus there'll be a case."

"Whose going to run the town? While Cleo is under investigation?" Sally asked. Sherrif sighed and thought a moment before answering "I'm getting a council put together after Lightning's meeting. And once Cleo is locked away, I'm gonna call you." "Me?" Sally asked. Sheriff nodded. "I've pulled a few strings but.. I think we can get you back as mayor." Sally's eyes widened. "No.. No I don't want that responsibility again.." she admitted. "But?"-"But nothing.. I don't know if Cleo will actually even be convicted.. And.. This place isn't safe enough for my family anymore.. I'm not sure we are going to come back." Sheriff was surprised and didn't believe it, wouldn't believe it. He still had to get the tape. That tape was a huge part of evidence...

Lightning sat in his office alone. It was still a mess and the bolt was still destroyed to scrap. He sat there thinking. Some about how this rape thing was going to go down publicly, some about leaving town, some about the academy. He still owned it and it was his academy. Just Cal and Bobby would keep an eye on it for now. Lightning stared at the car. Just thinking. He was almost in a trance like state as he sat there thinking. The thing that snapped him back was the sqeak of the door opening. Lightning looked over and surprised as Cruz walked in. It had been so long sense they saw each other, sense they talked. Come to think of it? When was tthe last timw they talked?

"Urm.. Hi?" Cruz said with an awkward smile. Lightning sighed and smiled a little greeting back with a soft "Hey." "So... You're really leaving?" Cruz asked. Lightning hesitated but.. "Yeah.. Sally wants to go and I kind of want her to to." Cruz raised a brow and reminded "That doesn't mean you have to go.." Lightning frowned. The two stared at each other a moment. "Cruz.. Please don't.." He quietly asked. She knew what meant. She stared at the floor. "Don't what?.. I came." she said. Lightning didn't understand. Cruz's eyes widened and she blushed quickly correcting "I mean.. I came by! I came by the hospital during.. During that disaster remember? It wasn't to check on the racers.. I wanted to see you and check on you.. I got mixed up with Jackson but.. like I said then, I came for you.. Because I still cared.. I still love.. Loved you.. Like an idiot." She admitted.

Lightning shook his head and apologized feeling the need to. "I'm sorry I ever dragged you into that disaster years ago.. I shouldn't have pushed you into my affair. I went to far and I'm so sorry I drug you into it. I should have kept my marriage and it's problems private.. I should have been your coach and nothing more.. I should have been my wife's husband." Cruz shrugged reminding "I wanted it.. I didn't care that you were married.. Because I loved you so much.. I still could.." Lightning snickered hearing that. "That's the problem with you Cruz.. You treat love like a fairy tale. What we had wasn't love, it was sex! Just sex.. The things I did to you? Shaming you, hurting you, just... Even the way we.. We had sex? It wasn't because I loved you, it was because I loved her, Sally! I couldn't.. Touch.. Sally like I touched you because I couldn't bare the thought of hurting her, but you?.." They stared at each other. "I liked hurting you.. And that's messed up." He admitted.

Cruz knew that already. That part was kind of obvious. And she kind of enjoyed it to be honest. Cruz frowned. "Can.. Can I just ask you somethin about us?. Why couldn't you love me? Don't say because of Sally please.. Because I won't believe that." Lightning stared a moment. That would be his answer. Sally. So he thought a moment. Staring at the car. "Fine. I just couldn't. I could have though. Just.. Every time I see you as.. Sexual.. All I see, all I'm reminded of is how I betrayed Sally. That's not her fault or yours.. That's on me. And you need to let whatever crush you have on me go. Because you don't want a man who looks at you like that. You deserve to be wanted by someone who will want you like you wanted me.. Like Mateo.. He wantes you.. "

Cruz frowned and didn't reply anything to that. She just didn't know what to say about it. So she changed the subject, "You shouldn't just leave?.. What about the academy?" "Cal is going to look after it for me. I'm not.. Look, I'm coming back. Just.. Gotta let Cleo... Um.. You know.. I should get back to Sally. She's probably waiting on me." he walked up to Cruz and they stared at each other a moment. "I'm.. I'm sorry." he said softly then began to walk around her but Cruz stopped him blocking him with her arm. "You asked me to marry you. Do you remember that?" she was mad or at least sounded mad. Lightning sighed answering with a nod. Cruz's brows lowered. And for a moment she just stared at him. Lightning stared back and watched her eyes begin to gloss and fill with tears. "Cruz.." He whispered. She suddenly pulled away, crossing her arms. "Just go." She snapped. Lightning stood there a moment. He did feel bad. In a way, hw loved Cruz. And he could have built a relationship with her if he hadn't had Sally. But he did. He always would. "I'm sorry.." he repeated softly and walked around her leaving.

Cruz stood there a moment before calling out "Wait!" She turned and ran up to Lightning who turned staring at her. "I'm sorry too.. For you know?.. I,I,I know I teased.. A lot.. I toyed and pushed and.. I'm sorry for making.. For me being.. Um.. Slutty?" she shrugged slighlt embarrassed as she thought of the way she acted around him before the actual affair began. You know, when they were boarder lining inappropriate. Lightning nodded and left. This time really leaving...

Lightning shut the door of the larhe suv then turned toward Sally in the passenger seat. Kids were buckled up and ready to go in the back. Lightning put on a smile and asked "Ready?" Sally sighed and gave home oone last look. Then she smiled and nodded "Ready.." She answered. Lightning put the suv in gear and backed out before puting in drive and began down the street. It was somewhat painful. Leaving Radiator Springs, the motel, the houses, friends they pretty much considered family, Lightning's mom even. It was sad but.. Lightning was confident they'd be back. They would come home and once this bad was gone and defeated, they would rebuild their lives together.

thanks for the opinions and the reviews ans everything. Yeah, srory got out of wack. Sorry!!!!! It is 100% going back to it's original idea! Which leads me to this!!!! Next chapter, BIG changes! Some ideas that i had said would probably happen in the story, WILL NOT BE HAPPENING! This story is going back to the plan!

So ofcorse there will be slight aftermath of Cleo and her crap such as Jackson's eyes and sight, L and his rape, the school, people distrusting, that hige accidnet, yata yata...Etc. But lets get back to L and S and marriage and kids and Cruz too!!!! So excited and thank you so much! Hold tight for the coming chapter!!!!