Lightning got home late after running around looking for Cal. Sally rushed over in her robe and asked "Any luck?" Lightning shook his head with a sigh. "Nothing at all. I just hope he's alright.." Sally hoped that too. "I'm gonna shower then head up to bed.. I'm tired.." Lightning whined. Sally sighed but mentioned "Okay.. But Jackson is here." "What?! Why?" Lightning was a little pissed. Sally answered "To talk I guess. He wouldn't leave and I didn't know what else to do.. I wasn't calling the cops. So he sat in the garage. Still is in there." Lightning sighed and slapped his forehead. "Alright.. I'll get him to leave." He growled then headed to the garage. His phone buzzed along the way and he stopped and glanced at it.
Cruz,
Hey, where were you? I was coming to talk to you and get that request form.
Crap. He forgot all about Cruz with this Cal missing mess. Lightning quickly texted back.
Lightning,
I'll try meeting with you tomorrow. Got hung up.
Lightning opened the garage door from the house. Jackson was sitting in a metal folding chair and greeted "McQueen... Hey.. That is you? Right?" Lightning walked up answering "What on earth are you doing here?" He sounded mad. Jackson sighed and leaned on his cane as he answered "I spoke with Cleo. She says she has the remote. Says if you go to her, talk to her. She'll tell you where." Lightning rubbed his eyes. He was done with this. Though, Jackson did give him millions.. "Jackson.. I.. I'm done going back to that woman over and over. She is just playing games. Messing with us, with you." "But what if she's not this time?" Storm asked then begged "Please.. I am asking that and to ask if.. If you think I can come back to your rehabilitation program.." Lightning was a bit surprised.
"You can definitely come back to rehab.. But.. I don't know about seeing Cleo, Jackson.. I really can't give any more of me or my time to that awful woman." Jackson frowned. "I.. I understand.. Just.. You are the only person who hasn't given up on me.." He whimpered. Lightning sighed. Part of him felt Jackson was just playing him a little here. Trying to wrap him around his finger. But Lightning replied answering "Maybe.. If you leave and don't come back to my home, I'll think about it. Is that good enough?" Jackson stood up smiling "Yes! yes, definitely. Thank you!" Lightning nodded then being dark and late asked "Well.. Actually.. You wanna stay in the guest room? Sure I have clothes that you can wear." Jackson hesitated answering "Sure... If.. If you're sure.. Just.. Show me the way to the bathroom and kitchen real quick so I can count the steps." Lightning sighed...
The following morning. Sally made a quick breakfast because she thought Lightning couod use it and they had Jackson as a guest anyway. Sally always made guest feel at home. Lightning came down to see the kids already eating well. "Morning." He greeted his family and approached Sally. Messing up Colton's hair along the way. "Dad stop!" The little one whined. It really only made Lightning chuckle a little. "Morning." Sally greeted back. "Any news about Cal?" she asked. Lightning sighed answering "Nothing.. Megan texted a group message with Linda and Strip. So now they are coming up to find him to." Sally's eyes widened. "This is getting serious.." She replied in heavy tone.
Lightning nodded. Then Jackson made his way inside. "Good morning Jackson." Sally greeted. "Made a small breakfast. You want some to eat before you boys head to the school?" she asked. Jackson felt around for a seat and nodded answering "Sure.." feeling a little like a burden over that. Lightning leaned over and kissed Sally's cheek. She smiled. A little voice then asked "Why can't you see?" Colton to Jackson. Jackson happily answered with a sarcastic smile. "Because a demon ate my soul." Everyone stared at Jackson. All three kids and Lightning ans Sally in awe of what they had just heard. Colton then asked "A demon? What a demon?" Lightning cleared his throat loudly, giving Jackson a hint there. So Jackson answered with "A kind of puppy."
"I wanna demon!" Yelled Colton! Followed by Landon cheering "Puppy!" Sally sent a pretty mean glare toward Lightning like, shut him up. meaning Jackson. Lightning sighed and spoke up "No.. No puppy.. Jackson was... He just can't see because he had an accident." The three kids looked at Jackson. Colton winced his eyes, ataring hard at Jackson before asking the young former racer "So you rrreeeaaallly can't see?" Jackson shook his head answering "Nope. I'm more blind than a bat kid." Colton still was suspicious and took a waffle from his plate, reared back then "Hey!" Snapped Lightning. Colton immediately looked at his father like he saw a ghost! "Don't you dare." Lightning warned. Colton put his food back down while looking his father in the eyes the whole time. Sally snickered a little then sighed asking "Are you going to the school or looking for Cal today after you drop Jackson off?"
Jackson heard this and spoke up "Actually I was gonna ask about you speaking with Cleo." Sally looked back at Lightning now concerned. "I thought you were done with her." Sally stated. Lightning leaned on the counter and explained "She says she'll tell me where or whatever with the remote, but I have to see her. Jackson came to tell me that because he spoke to her apparently.." Sally about quietly argued why Lightning shouldn't go, but Jackson spoke up again trying to persuade Lightning, "Cal might be there. I mean he could be.. Right?" Lightning sighed. Could Cal be? The old racer nodded saying "Alright.. I'll.. Go this last time. But don't give your hopes up Jackson.. Cleo does this sort of thing.. You know this.." Jackson frowned a little and muttered "Yeah.. I do.."...
Sally was busy at her office when the surprise visitor walked in. Megan. Megan came in and sat down without a word at first. Sally stared at her. She looked upset and tired. With silence still lingering, Sally broke it, "Did you find Cal?" Megan shook her head. At this point Sally was getting worried to. "And.. You have no clue as to where he would have went?" Sally asked. Megan shook her head. "Lightning told him about.. What happened and we fought a little then that was it. I left to give him space and haven't seen hin sense.." She replied and about broke into tears. Sally stared. She always tried not to think about what Megan and Lightning got into that night. She knew it was a huge mistake unlike Lightning's affair with Cruz.
"Aren't Linda and Strip looking to?" Sally asked. Megan nodded and that was it. She bursted into tears! It was now tueaday. This was not like Cal. "Do you think he just... Left us? What if he's not coming back!?" Megan asked crying. Sally stood up, came around and hugged her friend. Letting her cry. "I don't.. I can't lose him Sally!.. I wouldn't know what to do!.. I have been with Cal sense Highschool! I,I I need him!" She cried. Sally rubbed her friend's back and brushed her hair. "It'll be okay.. I'm sure Cal is just.. Well.." sadly Sally couldn't think of what he could be doing? "He's just held up, I'm sure of it. Why don't you go get Mera early, grab a movie and have a little night for you both. I'm sure Mera needs a distraction to. This must be confusing for her."
Megan nodded and looked at Sally's eyes and felt compelled to ask "How can you be so kind to me? After what I did to you?.." Sally sighed and shrugged "I know it was a mistake Meg.. Lightning maybe a slut, but you're not. I know you would never do that and plus, Cleo was behind it. I.. I won't-don't hold it against you." Megan smiled a little, but her grief if possibly losing her husband was too much on her right now! Sally stood up and her office door opened again. She looked over to see Lightning to which she shook her head, hinting him to not come in right now and so he left quietly. It didn't take but a second and Sally's phone went off.
Lightning,
Off to see Cleo. I'll be back shortly. Love you.
Sally,
Be careful and be safe. Protect yourself. Love you to...
On the way out, Lightning's phone began ringing. He glanced over and crap. again! Cruz. He hated that he kept forgetting about her. Actually, was that so bad with all things considering? Anyways, Lightning answered as he got into his car. "Hello?"
Hey. I'm at the school. I actually just heard. Cal is missing?
"Um.. Yeah, kinda. I gotta do something out of town real quick. Can we meet tomorrow?"
I guess.. But tomorrow is my last day here. Then I have to go all the way back to Florida so Miguel can stay back with my parents.
"Right." But what if him being Miguel's dad could fix that?
Let's just schedule a time. Or I can grab those forms tonight? I can.. Swing.. By.. Or you can meet me in town.
"Errm.. Maybe. Look, let me get this other stuff done then I'll call you. Okay?"
Yeah.. Okay..
"I'm sorry. I'm just..Busy."
Yeah.. I get it. But I need those forms Mr.McQueen.
"And you'll get them. I gotta go."
He hung up before driving. He sighed. He could use this mistake of Sally's filing to have Cruz stay. But it was not a good idea at all. He was definitely going to approve Cruz's request and sign away his rights as Miguel's father tonight!...
Lightning stood outside the visiting room a moment. Staring through the small window at Cleo who was at the little table. Surrounded by other visitors and inmates. He took a deep breath before walking in, up to the table and sat down. Cleo smiled. "How are you?" she asked kindly. Lightning glared and got to it. "Where is it?" Cleo rolled her eyes answering "With me." "With you? In prison? Yeah.. I don't think so." Cleo sighed and explained "Well go fill out a request for a conjugal visit and then you can have it. But it must be privately." she warned then leaned closer, "I can't let the guards know I have it.." Lightning only glared at her. Oh how he hated this woman. "Where's Cal?" Lightning asked.
Cleo leaned back in her seat and raised a brow. "What are we talking about now? Cal?" she asked. Lightning crossed his arms admitting "I'm a little suspicious. Cal disappears the same time that Jackson tells me you spoke to him and now you wanna hand over the remote?" Cleo giggled a little complimenting "That does sound like an awesome plan in the making, but I assure you. I have no idea of Cal Weather's where abouts." Lightning didn't completely believe her though. This was Cleo after all. "Alright.." He replied. Cleo smiled continuing "Get us another private visit and the remote is yours." Lightning stared a moment. "Do it through request though. That's the only way I'll budge." she reminded.
Lightning was unsure of her intentions. Making it by request rather than paying a guard off was just paperwork. Why did she care if he asked to see her rather than just pay off and see her secretly? "I have your word?" He asked. Cleo nodded once saying "I'd bet my life on it. And we both know how much I love life.. Though..Serving most of it here is depressing as hell.. You're gonna help me though. Right Daddy?" Lightning just glared and then stood up. "Make the request. You'll probably be denied at first.. But make a good argument, convince the judge you have to see me period. Once we're alone, I'll hand the remote over and you will NEVER have to see me again." Now THAT sounded like a plan! The perfect outcome! Lightning left there and with that in mind. Ofcorse he would make the request, get the remote and be done with this once and for all. He didn't want what happened to Cal to be for nothing after all...
The warden looked at Lightning and explained "I'm sorry. We don't do conjugal visits in this state. You will not be permitted to visit Miss De Frank privately. This is a private security prison, not a motel." Lightning sighed and explained "I need to though.. She.. And I have.." he paused. The warden glared and further explained "Those visits are for family and spouses only. How are you related to Miss De Feank anyway?" he asked. Lightning stared a moment and thought quickly. "Um.." "Are you related by blood?" The man asked. Lightning mumbled an answer "Well.. No." "Is Miss De Frank your wife?" God no. "No.." "So unless the two of you are engaged. The answer is no. I don't do favors." The warden scolded.
Lightning sat there a second and swallowed what felt like a rock down his pipe before saying "She's.. My fiancee.. Was.. Is.. Was.. Before.. Prison." He nervously faked a smile. The warden raised a brow and handed Lightning the paperwork. "Fill this out. And once approved, you'll be called with a date scheduled. You'll get twenty four to forty eight hours with your fiancee Mr?.." Lightning stared and answered "Vitte.. Chester.. Vitte.." He lied nervously.The warden nodded and continued "You are allowed to engage in sexual activities in this time but no weapons or objects, food, drinks, ect will be allowed in with you. You will be subject to a pat down and strip search upon approval. If you get approved that is.. But don't count on it.These request are rarely met witb acceptance. " Lightning nodded, finished the paperwork and left heading home for coincidently, more paperwork...