The following morning, Lightning met with Dianna at his office in the academy to talk about the coming re trial. Lightning waited on Dianna for some time. She knocked entering. "Hey." Greeted Lightning. Dianna walked iverand set her briefcase down onto his desk then sat down. "Shall we just get to it than?" She asked. Lightning sighed and nodded. Dianna pulled out some papers and asked "Are you gonna shoot for stockholm syndrome?" Lightning shook his head, "No.. Sally thinks there must ne another way." Dianna snickered. "Well yeah.. You could always withdrawal your claims." She joked quite rudely. Lightning frowned a little before explaining "Sally says that we can do better than that."
Dianna shook her head and onky argued "Look, I appreciate that a small town attorney wants to help and I truly admire the fact that she wants to put on some big girl panties, BUT I am your lawyer and I know what you are going up against and Cleo has the upper hand." "How? She.. Raped me... She used the town as her personal playground and blackmailed a lot of folks to do her bidding!" He hit the desk as to accentuate his words. Dianna glared and made sure to give Lightning a second to make sure he was finished whining.
"Alright, do you have proof?" She asked. Lightning opened his mouth and Dianna held her hand up, stopping him and adding "And do not say you have the word of the people or some shit. I mean proof, actual proof." Lightning stared at her. "Well.. No." He mumbled. Dianna sighed. Thinking what else she could actually and possibly do than. While Dianna thought, Lightning spoke up "Sally says that peoples' words are a much stronger weapon and mean more than any evievidence to the jury. Maybe if we just had a few of our own, my own witnesses than"-"Stop." Dianna interrupted.
"First off, Sally says that because she's a TOWN ATTORNEY. That type of court trial usually is all words and no evidence and usually end in unanimous voting. It's not like the work I do. If you want a shitty case agaisnt Cleo, fine. Let's go up there and try to swoon the jury. But if you want to win and keep Cleo in prison, let a real lawyer handle it."
Lightning's brows lowered. "Sally IS a real lawyer!" he defended! "And frankly, a much better one than you! She is at least trying to help me while you just want me to plead that what? I am crazy over Cleo!? Attatched?" Dianna stood up, hands on rhe desk and snarled back "Funny, I don't see Sally anywhere! Believe me, I am working my ass off to try and help you! It's just I know the case, I have studied the file and I know how these types of cases end! So trust me when I say, to win this, you gotta play Cleo's game. She says you were obsessed with her, so BE OBSESSED!"
Lightning glared at this woman. Angry a little and hurt maybe to. No way did he want to pretend that! "No. No, I'm not doing that. There has to be another way!" He shouted. Dianna growled in frustration. "God dammit Lightning! I am trying to help you, but you are making it impossible!" "You should do your job! Stop telling me there is one way out of this. Sally sa"-"Shut up about Sally! She is a good attorney and a nice mayor, but not for this case!" "Than you're fired." Lightning snarled. Dianna snickered and crosse her arms. "Are you threatening me?" Lightning shook his head answering "No, not threatening, you're fired. I know a much better lawyer who will actually work with me." Dianna's eyes widened for a second upon hearing the news then her brows lowered as she growled softly "I seriously doubt that. Big mistake.. That will be your downfall McQueen."
She grabbed her briefcase and left the room pretty angry. Lightning sighed and rubbed his eyes aa he leaned in his chair. He was just stressed out and Dianna wasn't really willing to work with him. BBBZZZ. Lightning felt his phone in his pocket. He adjusted to slide the phone out and seeing it was his mother, answered quickly. "Mom, how are you?"
Where are you? You should have been home a long time ago to help me with the neighbor's gutters.
"What?"
Oh no, don't WHAT me Monty! You are not getting out of work this time. So get your ass over here!
"Uh, yeah. I'm on my way right now! Don't go anywhere!" Lightning hung up and sat a moment. His mother was really going downhill in her health. He had to stil take her to the doctor. He had been putting it off in hopes ot was a fluke, that she would get better or something. She wasn't getting better at all though and it really scared Lightning a lot...
Lightning screeched the car to a hard stop in his mother's drive way! He quickly rushed to the door and pretty much barged in. "Mom!?" He called, no answer. "Mom!" He shouted nervously toned. Minty walked in and before she could say a word Lightning hugged her! This really was unexpected and surprised Minty. She pushed away snapping at her youngest son, "Where have you been!? I was so worried about you!?" "Mom.. I.. Was at work.." Lightning muttered. He wasn't sure what time period she was in this time. Minty glared and crossed her arms. "Not foolin me Mon. Chad isn't working today, which means you're not." Chad Rick's shop. Lightning worked in his brother's shop back in the day. She was thinking he was back in highschool? Seriously?
"Mom.." Lightning called softly and took her hand. "Mom.. Look at me.." He said and both looked into each other's eyes. "I am not a kid anymore.. I have a family.. I haven't been in school for a long time." Minty snickered and rolled her eyes, but then as she stared at her son she realized it and she really snapped. "Oh.. Oh my god Monty.." She frowned. She scared herself! Lightning sighed and rubbed his mother's hands. "It's okay.." He assured. Minty yanked her hands away replying "No!.. i.. What did I say this time!?" "Nothing. Everything's fine." "Did I forget you!?" She asked as tears gathered! Lightning shook his head.
Minty began breathing very frantically. Lightning pulled her close saying "Let's gwt you a drink and sit down.." Minty didn't fight him. She come to realize that something was wrong with her and she needed Lightning now. Though she knew Lightning didn't need this. They sat down on the couch together for a moment. "Monty.. You should put me in a home.. Then I won't be a burden to you and your family." Lightning's eyes widened! "What!? No! I'm not-Never, I.. I can't believe you'd even say that! You arr not a burden!" "I am Monty.. You don't need me making your life all that much harder.. You just got remarried to Sally and you have the kids and the academy and working with Cal and Jackson and this re trial with De Frank.. I.. I am nothing more than another proble.. Put me in a home!"
"No. Look, we.. We will.. Just"-"I can't take care of myself safely obviously! And you know I hate help Mon!" Minty shouted. Lightning nodded and sighed. "Mom.. I can't do that." "Then I'll have to do it myself." She snarled. Lightning snickered and shook his head. "No mom... Why.. Why don't you just live with us for a little while.. Til we figure out what's wrong and fix it. Hmm?" He smiled warmly and rubbed hee back. Minty sighed and looked into his beautiful eyes. "Thanks Monty.. But Sally"-"Will understand. Please.. Come stay with us for a little while." He asked kindly. Minty thought about that for a minute.
"But what about the kids?" She asked. Lightning shrugged assuring "They will think its awesome and like a sleepover that never ends witb grandma around to run them wild. Look, you don't have to worry about watching them. They'll still go to daycare while Sally and I work. You'll have that beautiful house all to yourself for hours a day. Please.." He asked again. Minty sighed but nodded. "First you gotta talk to Sally." she ordered. "Okay." agreed Lightning. "Come stay tonight regardless and I'll mention it to her tonight." Minty nodded.
"Go grab a few things before we go." Lightning ordered. Minty raised a brow. "Don't you have work still?" she asked. Lightning bobbed his head and shrugged, "Kinda..But it can wait until next week. Family is more important. I should have been putting my family before racing a long time ago.." He admitted with a subtle smile. Minty smiled backand then kissed his cheek "I love you Light." She exclaimed. before going to pack a small bag for the night...
Sally pulled up with the kids. She was surprised to find Lightning home before her.The kids ran in and off to play while Sally locked the door and dropped her keys on the entrance table. "Stickers?" "Yes?" "Ah! Don't scare me like that!?" Sally scolded! Lightning popped out from the corner. He chuckled a little before approaching her and apologizing. "Sorry. How was work?" he asked then planted a sweet kiss on her lips. Sally's eyes widened "What was that?" she asked. Lightning smiled and shrugged. "Well just a kiss.." "Hmm?.. Is there more to come later?" Sally asked playfully. Lightning smiled asking "Was it that good on the honeymoon?" Sally nodded.
"Better. Although, you should have used the whip. I wanted you to." She added. Lightning sighed. He just couldn't do it. "Well... Another time maybe.." He more of growled. Sally rubbed his arms. "Stickers, why couldn't you use the whip? Why didn't you?" She asked. Lightning stared into her beautiful eyes. Her most perfect and amazingly beautiful, glossy, delicate eyes. "I just.. I hate really hurting you. You know that." "But I wanted you to." She reminded. Lightning nodded. "Yeah, but.. I'm sorry. I just love you.. Can't hurt you." He explained. Sally only frowned a little. But that frown made Lightning think.. Maybe she really did want him to use it.
"If you really want me to, I can try.. Again another time.." Lightning offered. Sally looked up at him and surprised him with a nod. Lightning sighed. Part of him wasn't looking forward to that. "Oh.." He remembered and changed the subject, "My mom is staying tonight and.. I wanted to talk to you about her maybe.. Moving in.. For a while?" Sally stared at him a moment. Thinking of what if she had an episode herr and with the kids. "Um.." This was Lightning's mother though. "Yeah, sure I guess.. Did she have another episode?" Sally asked. Lightning nodded. Sally then asked "What happened?" But Lightning shook his head. "Nothing really.. I also fired Dianna."
"What!?" Snapped Sally! "Why!?" "Because she wasn't working with me! She basically was making me claim obsession rather than working to actually fight Cleo!" Lightning explained! Sally shook her head. "You need a lawyer Lightning.." She growled and rubbed her hands through her hair. "And I have one." He corrected. "You." Sally stared all wide eye. "Wait.. You fired Dianna for...You mean.. Me? Me!? Are you crazy!?" She asked! Lightning was confused. "Isn't this good?" He asked. "You can represent me better than anyone." He reminded. Sally sighed, but nodded. "Just... I haven't worked as an attorney for a long time and this is.. An emotional case.. YOUR case.." She mumbled.
Lightning grabbed her shoulders, looked into her eyes and smiled. "You can do this. You are the best. I need you on this Sally. Someone who actually cares about me and my case.. Not like Dianna who cared more about the income." Sally nodded. She understood that, but what if she couldn't win for him? Plus she would need to get her license renewed pretty quickly. Unless it was still valid. She'd have to check into it. "Maybe.." She mumbled under her breath. Then Colton ran in shouting "Mama! Grandma's here! Grandma's here!" With such excitement.It was cute. Sally looked down at him and with a smile, announced. "Mmmhmm. Grandma is going to live with us." That child's eyes never looked so big! "Really!?!?!?" he asked. Sally nodded and so did Lightning. Colton then ran back yelling "Sissy! Baby!.." He was just excited to tell his siblings the news!...