Sally walked down stairs and found Lightning with papers and his phone and numbers everywhere. "What are you doing?" she asked as she began pouring herself some coffee. Lightning sighed admitting "The academy is failing." "No it's not." Sally griped. The kids all ran in suddenly. "Mama I hungry." Landon said. Sally began getting pop tarts out for them and plates. Colton walked over to his dad and asked "You color?" Lightning sighed with a frown. What Sally didn't know was that all hia money was going into this place. Into the academy that was taking money every week and giving nothing back out. "No uh.. Look, mom has pop tarts. Go on and eat. Okay?" Colton walked over and Sally gave the kids each a plate.
"So what's going on?" Sally asked as she sat down and glanced at the papers. Lightning pulled them away from her and answered "The academy is going to suck me dry within five years. Five years! I gotta fix this." "I thought you were partnered with Cal now?" Sally asked. Lightning nodded. "Yes, but he gets the students.. I'm just the outdoor track that no kid wants to use. The only good thing is it seems a lot of people are forgetting imthe fuck up that screwed his trainer." Sally just stared and Lightning realized who he waa talking to. He turned a bit red and apologized. Sally remained silent to that.
Lightning sighed. He was stressing out again. Sally lay her hand over his in a way of showing support. Lightning stared at that. She just didn't seem as stressed. Actually, Sally seemed to be in a pretty peppy mood this morning. Woth her smile and not griping that Lightning mentioned Cruz. Not just Cruz, but screwing her. "You seem in a good mood?.." Lightning questioned. Sally sipped her coffee and shrugged explaining "Well after last night? How couldn't I be?" she giggled. Lightning smiled. That was good. he was glad Sally. truly enjoyed it. She needed it. She needed to feel that connection. Though again, Lightning didn't feel it so much. Lightning went back to looking at his papers and asked "Any plans today?" Sally nodded. "I gotta head down town and make becoming Mayor again official and check on the motel. Which means.. You'll have the kida today. That okay?" she asked. Lightning snickered saying "Ofcorse. The kids and I will have fun." Sally smiled. "Good." she began to walk away to get ready.
But she stopped and stared at Lightning. He was worried and stressed. "Light.." she called. Lightning looked over. "Let's.. Not worry about you moving out actually.. Why don't you sell your place and we just make it official. Move in together?" Lightning was surprised. Maybe last night did more than just give Sally what she needed from him physically. "Really?" he asked. "Cause I don't wanna push you." Sally nodded. "I'm sure. I like waking up with you." Lightning snickered and nodded. Lightning was all for that for many reasons. One, he wanted to move in together permanently anyway, and second, it meant more money for the academy. "Good. It's official." Sally said happily. Lightning stared at her with a smile. "Oh Lightning." she added. "I love you." Lightning snickered replying "Love you to Sal." Then she ran off to prepare for the day. Lightning sighed. A good sigh. At least he didn't have to move out now...
For lunch, Lightning took the kids out to Flo's mostly to get out of the house before they caused him to loose his mind. They all sat down, eating. Kids playing a little bit in their food. Then a familiar couple passed by and Megan stopped. "Hey guys!" she smiles, greeting the kids. Ece gasped and shouts "Mera!" Mera and Ece remember each other. "Friend!" Mera shouts. Lightning stares at Cal who stares back. Megan then greets Lightning asking "Hey, how are you doing?" Lightning only takes his eyes off Cal for a second to answer "Good.. Doing good." Megan glances at Cak having an idea, "This kids obviously missed each other. Why don't you bring them by the playground? After lunch? They can all run around and play."
Lightning and Cal stared at each other. With Lightning in this weaker state, Cal was alpha now and he knew it. He could have Lightning by the balls if it pleased him. Cal glared at Lightning. It was rather threatening. "Uh.." Lightning began. Megan saw Cal's glare and slapped his shoulder, grabbing her husband's attention and snapping him out of his glare. "Come on Lightning. Plus, it's about time you two made up." She added. Lightning frowned a little. With not a word from Cal, Lightning nodded answering "Sure.." "Great! See you guys after lunch!" Meg and Mera waved bye to Lightning and the kids. Cal still ignoring. Yeah, it was time they made up. But Lightning was pretty sure Cal was gonna hold events against him the rest of their lives.
The kids played and ate. Lightning sitting there watching them. Cruz walked in and walked by. She sat down at her own table. Staring at Lightning. He was.. Different. He wasn't all there. She noticed and she hated that. It was like his down days back at the training center after the crash. Henwas hurting. She stared. He looked tired. Part of her wanted to help or at least try to help. Lightning looked over and saw her staring. Cruz's eyes widened making eye contact. Lightning sighed and just stared at her. He turned away first. Something was wrong. Cruz turned away. She said she'd leave him, them, him and Sally alone. It just hurt a little though...
After lunch, as planned, Lightning went to the playground and met up with Cal, Megan, and Mera. It didn't take long for the kids to run off and go play. Megan sat between Cal and Lightning on a bench. The first thing said between them was by Meg. "Think the two of you can ever make up?" she asked. Cal sighed, crossed arms like a snooty child. Megan glared. "This is getting ridiculous.. You two are friends.. Cal, you know that bitch Cleo had A LOT to do with what happened. Not Lightning. And Lightning, you know that Cal never wanted to destroy you? Right?" she asked. Lightning looked at her. Part of him didn't believe it. Cal did personally threaten Lightning at his academy. "AND!.. Cal, Lightning did get you tenure at the school.. Remember?" she reminded.
Cal sighed and replied finally "Yeah.. Maybe we can one day.." "Sure.." Lightning agreed quietly. Megan snickered a little. Well tnat was better than nothing or fighting. They sat and watched the kids playing for a few minutes. "So.." Lightning started. "How's Storm?" he asked. Cal sighed admitting "Wouldn't know exactly.. I let him go. He was of no use to me or the team or the school anymore." Lightning stared immediately surprised! "What?.." He asked. Cal looked at Lightning confused as to why Lightning seemed surprised like he did. "You could still use Storm as a teacher, a scholar or somethin." Lightning suggested. Cal shook his head disagreeing "He's completely blind McQueen. He is absolutely useless like that." "Wow! How is Sally!?" Megan butted in before a fight could start!
Lightning sighed and watched the kids as he answered "She's good.. She's out at the court house getting the mayor thing official." "That's great!" Megan said happily. "And.. How are you two?" she asked. Lightning shrugged. "We're in therapy again.. Hey.. Cal.." Cal looked at Lightning. "Thanks for helping look after the academy while I was out." Cal stared quietly for a few seconds before adjusting in his seat and answering with a short nod. "We should do dinner sometime." Lightning suggested. "I'll talk with Sally about it and give y'all a call." at least one of them was trying. Megan smiled agreeing "Yes! That would be great Lightning. Thank you." she was glad for that. After letting the kids play a while more, they all said their goodbyes and parted ways for now...
Lightning sat in his office. His really great new office. Staring at the car. He was lost in depression again. He felt useless. No purpose. No chase. He had nothing to really even do, nothing to keep him busy. He was the owner and manager of a failing school, partners with an ex friend who was still pissed at him and Cruz. Poor Cruz. The only good thing he had was Sally. To which he was feeling this empty connection with lately. As long as she was happy though, he'd be fine. Probably. Bbbzzz. Lightning stared at the phone. Hesitating just because he didn't feel like talking to anyone.
Cruz
Just checking up on you. You seem down.. You okay?
Lightning sighed. He shouldn't talk to her at all.
Lightning
Totally fine. How have you been?
Cruz
Me? Seriously? I've been worried and concerned about you. With all the headlines and stupid paparazzi. They have been slaughtering your name. Don't worry. I handled it for you.
Lightning
What do you mean?
Cruz
I would give them silly stories about me or other racers. Steering them in another direction.
Lightning
Thanks. But I can handle them.
Cruz
I know that. I just wanted to help. You okay? Really.. You looked like you were pretty upset or tired at the diner.
Lightning
I'm fine. Thanks. Worry about yourself Cruz.
Cruz
well.. Glad you are back. I know you want me to leave you alone and I will just.. I'm here if you need anything. Maybe even a friendly race.
Nope. No, he wasn't going back down that path...
May looked at them both from across the seats and asked "So.. Let's get this one out of the way, either of you talk to Cruz this week?" Sally shook her head. May looked at Lightning. "Lightning?" he asked. Lightning looked at the therapist answering "Nope.. Never even saw her.." he lied. May smiled replying "Good. That makes that easy. So how are you two this week?" "We slept together." Sally quickly almost proudly announced. May snickered a bit saying "I see that was good for you. What about you Lightning?" he asked. Lightning wasn't even listening. His mind was some place else. "Lightning?" May asked. Lightning snapped back, looking at May. Lightning nodded. Not answering.
But Sally did, "He's been a little.. Foggy lately." "I have not." Lightning corrected kind of rudely. Sally frowned coaxing "Come on Light.." May cocked his head a bit and asked "Have you been depressed?" Lightning sighed answering "Maybe a little.. But I'm fine, really." "Have you talked to your doctor about it?" "I thought you were my doctor?" Lightning asked. May glared a bit correcting "Your other doctor." Lightning shook his head. May wrote in his notes and continued "Well.. Depression is normal.. So, you slept with Sally?" he asked. Lightning stared. "No, yeah, yeah.. That was great." Lightning wasn't all there this week. Sally frowned. The way he said that didn't exactly seem like he was happy about it. But she knew he was off lately. "And we've decided to stay living together. Lightning won't be moving out." Sally added. May smiled hearing that. "And how does that make you feel Lightning?" he asked.
Lightning stared a moment. "I.. Got what I wanted right?... I got what I wanted." "And that's good? Right?" May asked. Lightning nodded. Man he was depressed. May sighed and suggested "I think.. You should see your doctor about your depression." "What? No, I'm fine." Lightning snapped. "No suicidal thoughts?" "What?! No!? I'm not going to kill myself, I'm just.. Not as peppy as I should be I guess? I'm not going to apologize for that." he snarled. He was angered easily. "Look, I'm stressed out with work, the kids, being back here.. Things are just tough right now."May nodded continuing "I suggest you see your doctor. He may wanna put you on something." he then wrote in his notes. Lightning's brows lowered and he snapped at the therapist again "No. No I'm not going back on that." He had been on anti depressants before after the crash. He hated that. Wasn't doing that again.
May sighed and wrote more in his notes. Lightning was depressed and off today. Probably wouldn't talk much or open up easily. "Anything else interesting happen this week?" He asked. Sally took Lightning's hand. Gripping tightly. Lightning shook his head answering "No.. No.. Just.. Another day in Radiator Springs.. Sally is back as mayor now though. Makes everyone feel safer." "That's good." May exclaimed with a smile. This weeks session ended smoothly. Besides May wanting to talk to a medical doctor about his depression. Lightning felt a little guilty though. Sense Sally was clueless that he lied in there about Cruz. Why did he lie about just talking to Cruz? He wondered...