Lightning walked into the police station and Sheriff was at his desk with Minty sitting next to him wearing normal clothes, normal hair. She seemed okay. "Mom." Lightning called as he walked over. Minty looked so relieved in seeing Lightning! "Thank goodness!.. Would you tell this man I am okay!" she asked. Lightning looked to Sheriff and asked "What happened again?" Sheriff sighed and began to answer, but Minty stopped him and spoke up "I'll tell you what happened! This man come up to me and arrested me and then had the balls to tell me I was wandering the streets! Like I'm some idiot!" That didn't sound right. Lightning looked at Sheriff again who now explained "She was outside walking around when a neighbor called me. When I went to pick her up she just kept mumbling about looking for Arthur. She seemed a little lost like she forgot where she was.. So I brought her here and then called you."
Lightning knelt down in front of his mom and asked "Mom.. You weren't arrested. What were you doing outside this late?" Minty thought a moment before staring down at her son and amswering "I.. I can't remember.. Was I really?. No. No, this man is lying." She looked at Sheriff and pointed. He sighed. Lightning wasn't sure what was going on. "Mom?.. Don't you know who that is? That's Sheriff.." "Well.." She had to think. "Yeah.. Yes, that's Sheriff." Lightning was a little worried. "Thanks Sheriff.. I'm gonna take her home." Lightning exclaimed. Sheriff nodded and warned "Should be a little more careful mam." Minty glared at Sheriff before leaving out to Lightning's car.
Once inside, Lightning had to ask, "Mom.. What happened?" Minty shook her head and snarled "That Sheriff is a liar." "Really? Sheriff just randomly got out and came to your place and took you to the station and called me with a crazy lie?" Minty frowned. "Mom... Who is Arthur?" he then asked. Minty snickered with a smile answering "Arthur? Ha.. That's Barb's old tom cat. He ran away a while back now. Don't tell Barb.. But I think the coyotes got him.." Lightning stared a bit confused and reminded. "We're in Radiator Springs.. You know that right?" Minty laughed a little and sighed "I know... That?..." She sounded like she was asking rather than answering. Did she? "And Barbera.. She's.." "Dead. I know that. Why are you bringing up Barbera and her cat all of a sudden? Where are we going?" Lightning stared at her a moment before answering "Um.. Home.. Sally's place.."
"Sounds lovely. You two are living together still?" She asked. Lightning nodded as he drove them up the mountain. "That's so nice. When will the two of you be getting remarried? Hmm?" Lightning just didn't get it. She seemed off at first and yet now his mom seemed normal. "Uh.. Soon actually. I asked her to marry me agai"-"AND SHE SAID YES! Oh how great Monty! I am so happy for that!" Minty exclaimed happily. Lightning snickered with a smile. "Yeah, but.. Technically.. We haven't really told anyone and she doesn't know I just told you so.." "Hush hush? You got it baby. I won't let her know that I know. Yet." Lightning smiled a bit as he then drove them home. Sally had the kids in bed by this hour, but had stayed up to see Minty and Lightning back home.
The door opened and Minty thanked her youngest son again for picking her up and bringing her here for the night. Sally walked up and Minty smiled at her greeting "Good night sweetie. You have a great night." she seemed happy. Sally said goodnight and reminded Minty where the guest room was, but she knew. Lightning sighed and watched his mother walk away. Sally immediately asked "So what happened?" "Nothing.. She just... Got a little confused I guess. I don't know really. It was nothing." Sally raised a brow. "Nothing? It wasn't nothing if Sheriff called. He said she was wandering.. Was she?" Sally asked. Lightning shrugged and brushed it off. "She's fine. Just older and tired. I'm pretty tired to actually.. Wanna head to bed?" Lightning asked. Sally kissed his cheek and asked "Well aren't you going to eat?" Lightning shook his head. "Not hungry really.. Just tired." He answered. Sally nodded and lovked arms with her man before heading to bed together. Lightning was a little concerned about his mother, but it was nothing to really worry about...
The following morning, as Sally was getting the kids together, Lightning headed down to grab a cup of coffee and check up on his mom. She wasn't in her room, the living room. Lightning headed to the kitchen and there she was drinking some coffee at the table. "Morning Mom." Lightning greeted. Minty looked up from her coffee and smiled a little "I'm glad you came down real quick. Come. Sit with me Mon. I wanna talk to you." Lightning stared a moment. Almost that feeling like you were in trouble? Yea, he felt that. Lightning walked up and sat down in front of Minty. She sighed and took his hand. Okay, that was weird. A little scary. She didn't speak at first. That worried him more so Lightning asked. "Are you okay?" Minty nodded and patted his hand with hers. Rubbing her fingers across his tenderly.
"Mom?" Lightning muttered nervously. Minty smiled and began "I have been thinking. About you racing.. I know that you want to race like Robbie.. I know you want to have fun and get the girls and the fans and"-"Mom"-"Dont interrupt me." Minty snapped. Lightning stared and honestly he was a little confused. "I know you want that badly.. And I believe in you. You always had high hopes and you have always had these crazy dreams baby where you reach for the stars!.." She laughed a little. "Now, I wanted to forbid you to race.. I wanted to tell you it will not happen and I wanted you to go to school for a.. More.. Safer job.. But.. That's not what you want.. And some how.. Racing is in you. So.. I want you to race Monty.. But you gotta promise to come home." Lightning stared at her. Now he was kind of freaked out. "Is this a joke?.." he asked carefully.
Minty snickered and snarled "Do I look like I'm joking?" Lightning stared at his mom a moment. Trying to figure out what on earth was going on. Sally walked in with the kids and asked "Hey, ready to go? Just need to know if you want Lightning or me to take you back home Minty?" Minty stared at Sally a moment and she herself looked confused. "You okay?" Sally asked seeing her expression. Lightning sighed and stood up answering for his mom. "She's fine. I'll take her home on my way to the school. You have a great day beautiful." He walked over and kissed Sally's forehead gently. Sally smiled and asked "You working with Cruz today?" "Well.. Storm. Cruz might be there.. But I said you have nothing to worry about. I will handle it." He assured again. "You just let me know if you need me to come get these kids at any time." Sally snickered with a smile and nodded. The two kissed once sweetly and Sally was off with the kids. Lightning sighed and looked at hia mother again. "Mom.." He called. Minty looked at her son and assured "I'm okay Monty. Promise." Lightning wasn't all that sure but had other things on his mind to...
Storm and Cruz sat in the hall. Waiting for Lightning mostly. Jackson looked up and asked at random "What color is it?" Cruz looked at him like wtf. "Is what?.." She asked. Jackson sighed and explained "The ceiling." Cruz looked up and shrugged. "Made you look didn't I?" Jackson asked with a chuckle. Cruz glared at him. "You know, that is why no one likes you. You are a jerk." she scolded. Jackson smiled hearing that. Finally Lightning arrived. Cruz stood up and greeted "Hey." Lightning glanced at her but stopped in front of Jackson and asked him "You ready to start training?" Jackson raised a brow. "What training? Thought I'd be in some stupid therapy group or somethin?" He asked. Lightning sighed with an eye roll. "Yes." he answered. "If you wanna be.. But for now, you're with me." So Jackson stood up and grabbed Cruz's arm. She followed Lightning to a room that had some old car inside and it was in parts and peices. "Here it is. You're project." Lightning exclaimed. Jackson stared asking "What is it?" Blind.
"Something needing the same as you. To be put back together and back to it's former self." Lightning answered. Jackson used his cane to walk closer until he bumped into the metal side. His hand glided on itself smooth surface. "A car? You gotta be kidding me.. What the hell you want me to do exactly?" he asked. Lightning approached and explained "Get it running. All the parts are here. I think you can handle it." "Handle it!? Are you kidding! I am BLIND! How the fuck am I suppose to build a fucking car engine!?" Lightning glared and answered "Didn't you once brag you could race and build an engine backwards with your eyes shut?" "Well.. Yeah, but.." "Alright. Get to work." Lightning ordered. Cruz stares a moment before asking "Am I suppose to?.. Like.. Help?" Lightning glared at her answering "Cal needs you. You're his racer and you will need to get laps in. You will be leaving for the season soon." Cruz was hurtm Hearing Lightning pushing her away. He hated her. It felt that way anyway.
"Okay.." Shw muttered and turned and left. Jackson looked toward Lightning and said "You know that she is completely nuts over you. Right?" Lightning sighed answering softly "Yeah.. Kinda hard to miss.." "Hey.." Jackson had to say this next part. "Thank you.. And.. I'm sorry.." Lightning raised a brow. "For what?" Jackson snickered. There was a LIST of things he was sorry for. But mostly right now, "I'm sorry I released yhe video of you and Cruz in that hall before.. I shouldn't have. I wish I didn't.. And you shouldn't want to help me.." Lightning nodded. "You're right about that. But I want to.. So get to work. I'll check on you in a few okay?" And out Lightning went...
Sally sat back down in her chair after dropping the kids off at daycare. She really didn't want to but she needed to get work done. She needed to actually be able to work in peace. She didn't want to call Lightning for two reasons. One, admitting defeat and second, he had to work to. She didn't want to bother him.
knock knock.
"Ugh.. Come in!" Sally called. The door opened and she glanced up, down, then up. "What are you doing here?.." She asked with some slight fear. Francesco shut the door quietly. "What are you doing here!" Sally shouted and stood up, hitting her desk. Francesco stared at her and began to try to explain, but she wasn't done. "You betrayed me!.. You hurt me and my family!.. You worked with Cleo!.." "I know.." "And you tried to what!? Kill Cruz!?" Okay, maybe part of Sally wanted Cruz dead, what am I saying!? No! "I didn't do that exactly now.. She.. I just.." Francesco didn't know. He was angry and scared of losing Sally at that moment. "You should really leave.. Jackson Storm.. He told me everything about you and your role with Cleo.." Francesco frowned hearing that.
"Miss Sally.. Please let yourself hear my side of this." he begged and stepped closer. Sally only snarled "No! And don't step any closer!.. That is close enough for you.." She growled. So Francesco froze there. "You ran off on me.. You remember that?.. Out of all the shitty things men have done to me?.. That.. That was pretty painful.. A week before our wedding! You tried to hurt MY HUSBAND!.. You tried to kill people!" "No I did not! Lightning was an accident! And I never killed him! I never went that far!" "You stangled him! You literally tried to kill him!" Sally corrected. Francesco shook his head. "Please let Francesco make up for all of this.. I loved you Sally.. I just made some bad choices.." "It's too late for that. You made your choices.. You're the bad guy Francesco.. I want nothing to do with you.. Honestly, you scare me.. And I hate you.. Once upon a time, I saw us together.. I saw you and meiving peacefully together with the kids and getting along with Lightning.. But you made your choice.."
"Sally.." "No... You better leave town before I tell Lightning about your little visit.." Sally warned. Francesco frowned. She wasn't gonna hear anything he said to her. So he turned and left the office. Francesco walked to his car and got in, started up, drove slowly down the main strip. Passing the diner and gas station. Francesco pulled over and stopped to grab some gas. Swipe the card and start the pump. He stood there a moment when the camaro drove by and the two stared at each other almost like slow motion. Lightning couldn't believe this! Francesco was here!?...