Chapter 21. - In Trouble… Again -
Back at Doc's office: Lightning studied his wreck for ten more minutes and then put in the video of a race when it was clear that he was a contender for the cup. On the screen, he saw himself acting cocky.
"Wow, I was a prick." Lightning said to himself "No wonder I didn't have any friends."
Suddenly, a wave of fatigue hit Lightning. Grabbing a pillow, he stretched out in front of the TV. He fell asleep just as the race started.
Hours later:
"Lightning?" Sally asked "Are you okay? You wasn't answering your phone, so I came looking for you."
Lightning opened his eyes slowly.
"I'm fine." He replied "I'm just really tired."
"It's time for dinner." Sally said "What do you want from Flo's?"
"To tell you the truth, I'm not hungry." Lightning said "I think, I'm just going to head to my cone for the night."
"That doesn't sound like you; you're normally starving by now." Sally said "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I'm sure." Lightning said "I'm going to bed."
"Okay." Sally responded as Lightning kissed her fender "I'll check on you in a little while."
Lightning nodded before giving her fender another kiss. Sally watched Lightning drive slowly down the street to his cozy cone. Within minutes of closing the door, he was fast asleep. The next few days went by pretty much the same. Lightning ate very little and all he wanted to do was sleep. As much as she tried, Sally couldn't get him to go on a drive with her, something Lightning normally loves.
A few days later, around lunchtime: Lightning only drank a milkshake. Then he headed back to his cone for a nap. By this point, Sally had enough of Lightning's strange behavior. She headed over to the hospital and talked with Doc.
"…And to my surprise, he's not interested in anything, including food… Luigi ate more at lunch today than Lightning did." Sally said "I don't know what else I can do… I even went to a lingerie store and bought a sexy teddy. When I tried to get Light in the mood last night, all he did was roll over in bed and fall back to sleep! You know how Lightning is when it comes to sex!... It's his passion, right next to racing!"
"I've noticed he's not as sharp as he usually is." Doc said "Between the hearing, training, and everything else. I thought Lightning was just exhausted. Now, I'm not so sure. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Tomorrow, I'll drag the Rookie's butt in here and run some tests. Until then, just keep an eye on him. If anything changes, let me know immediately."
Doc woke Lightning up at six-thirty the next morning.
"Why did you wake me up so early?" Lightning asked groggily "I thought training was later this morning."
"It is, but we're going to my office. I want to examine your axles." Doc said as Lightning groaned and stiffly drove out of his cone. "Have you been sore anywhere?"
"My axles are stiff when I wake up in the morning, but they're not sore." Lightning yawned "Once I'm up and moving around, they quickly loosen up."
"Good." Doc said "Sally's worried about you. She said you've been sleeping a lot lately."
"That's because I've been training very hard." Lightning said "I'm just tired."
"As far as I'm concerned you haven't been over training." Doc said "Sally also says you haven't had much of an appetite, which is a sign that something could be wrong."
Lightning just shrugged.
"I just haven't been hungry." He said "Otherwise I feel fine."
"I want to check your engine, there might be a problem brewing." Doc said, entering his office. "It could be why you haven't been eating and why you're so tired."
"I don't think so." Lightning said "Sometimes, I go through weird eating and sleeping phases when I'm training."
"And I think that's the case." Doc said "But I just want to know for sure."
"With everything I been through, I understand why you're being cautious." Lightning said "So do you want to check my engine now?"
"No not right now." Doc said "We're going to train first and then do the procedure."
"Procedure?" Lightning asked "You didn't say anything about doing a procedure!"
"Would you relax!" Doc said "I'm going to give you a mild sedative then I'm going to thread a sensor through your engine so I can detect any glitches or potential problems."
"But why the sedative?" Lightning asked "Is it going to hurt?"
"It shouldn't, but if it does, let me know." Doc said "I'm going to give you a sedative because you're squirmy. Between the exercise and the sedative, you should hold still long enough for me to run some tests. Right now, I want to check your axles. So get your fucking tail on the table."
"Just my tail?" Lightning asked playfully "The rest of me can stay as far away from you as possible."
Doc glared at Lightning. Laughing, Lightning drove onto the exam table.
"I can tell when you're worried about something. You start cracking stupid jokes." Doc said poking around "They look great. I mean they're really scarred up, but they are as good as they're going to get."
"That's wonderful." Lightning said "When can I start training on asphalt again?"
"In a week or two… I was thinking about going to Los Angeles and have you train there." Doc said "Right now, you're strengthening your axles by training on dirt."
"When we go to LA, can Sally come?" "I figured you'd ask." Doc said smiling "She's already coming, it's her hometown after all. All right, let's get started."
"Coming." Lightning said as he drove off the table and pulled up beside Doc "What am I working on today?"
"We're going to see how many laps you can do at top speed." Doc said "Don't count on being able to do more than fifty."
Thirty minutes later: Lightning had just finished his sixty-sixth lap. He was going one hundred and fifty miles per hour as he power slid through the flat turn, only to get a searing pain from under his hood. Alarmed, Lightning slammed on his brakes, but the pain continued. It got worse with each breath. Lightning groaned and shut his eyes. He cried out for Doc as the pain continued to escalate.
"What is it Kid?" Doc asked, sprinting up to him "Where do you hurt?"
"My engine!" Lightning groaned "Doc… help!"
"Okay! Relax… it's not going to help if you freak out on me!" Doc said as he examined Lightning "I'm going to call for help."
After performing a few quick tests, Doc knew what was wrong as he called 911.
"Hurry!" Lightning cried as the pain continued to increase "I don't know…"
"Stay with me Rookie!" Doc said "Helps on the way!"
Lightning gazed at Doc through dazed eyes as blue smoke was beginning to come out from under his hood.
"I… can't…breathe…" Lightning choked out "What's… going… on?"
"You're going to be all right." Doc calmly said "Don't talk, just concentrate on breathing."
As always Doc had his medical bag with him. He pulled out his stethoscope and monitored Lightning's condition. Lightning's breathing was becoming rapid and shallow. Doc knew his protégé was having an engine attack and there was nothing he could do at the moment.
"An ambulance will be here any second." Doc said calmly as Tempest came speeding towards them with her siren and lights flashing "We'll get you to the hospital as soon as possible."
Lightning couldn't respond, he was beyond the ability to speak. The pain got so intense, he passed out. The ambulance arrived at the track a few seconds later.
"Tempest." Doc said "Do you carry a treatment for engine attack?"
"Yes I do." She said "I'm assuming Lightning is having one."
Doc nodded as she pulled out the gear. Duncan and Scarlett arrived a few minutes later. Doc quickly informed them on what was going on. Tempest knew that they would need help and she radioed back to the hospital requesting another ambulance to come and assist. Doc administered a series of drugs that would aid in stopping the attack. An ambulance named Bentley arrived within a few minutes. Not only was Bentley an ambulance, he was also a trauma surgeon. With all the commotion going on, it attracted on lookers. Duncan and Scarlett herded everyone away.
Somehow, Sally had gotten word and she came racing down to the track. Duncan caught her as she tried to go around him.
"Sally, I can't let you down there." Duncan said "I don't know what's wrong with Lightning."
He did, but he wasn't going to tell her. Sally tried to break free of his grip.
"I… have…to…" she pleaded "Let go of me!" "You'll just be in the way." Duncan said as Sally continued to get away from him "Sally, please! If you truly love Lightning, give the doctors room to work! They have their tires full and don't need you breathing down their roofs."
Sally stopped struggling, she buried her face in his side, and burst into tears. Duncan turned so she could not see what was happening to Lightning. He did his best to comfort her. Once the doctors got Lightning stable, they loaded him up and took him to the hospital. Duncan saw Flo approaching and he handed Sally of to her. Flo lead Sally to the hospital.
Two days later: Lightning awoke to gentle rhythmic beeping of one of the monitors. He was not happy to see that he was back in the hospital. Lightning saw that he was only hooked up to a few monitors and I.V.s. Neither Sally nor Doc noticed that Lightning had woken up.
"That test proves that he had an engine attack." Doc said "Luckily the drugs worked quickly. We'll have to wait and see if Lightning's engine was damaged."
"What will you do if it is?" Sally asked on the verge of panicking "Will he survive?... can he race?... Will he wake up?"
"Sally calm down!" Doc barked "Lightning is young and healthy. We'll have to wait and see if there's any damage to his engine. It responded to the treatment very quickly, which is a great sign that no damage was done. I stopped his medications this morning, so it's a matter of time before Lightning wakes up."
"So he can go back to racing?" Sally asked "How long will he have to stay in the hospital?"
"A week." Doc said "Then he can go back to training."
"You're going to let him go back to training a week after an engine attack?!" Sally said loudly "Are you nuts! Doc, he'll kill himself!"
"Would you relax! There's no reason that Lightning can't." Doc said "I would tell him to take two weeks off, but I doubt Lightning would listen."
"Doc! He was crying out there." Sally said "You know Lightning has to be in incredible amount of pain to do that."
"I know." Doc said "He nearly cried when I made you dump him."
"And don't go telling the world that either." Lightning said groggily "What happened? Did I wreck?"
"You're awake!" Sally exclaimed, as she rolled over to him "No, you didn't.*lengthy pause.* You had an engine attack."
"I had a what?!" Lightning said "That's something that only old cars have!"
"Anyone can have an engine attack, no matter how old they are." Doc said "How do you feel? Are you in pain?"
"No." Lightning said "I'm just very tired."
"That's wonderful!" Doc said, obviously satisfied "You feel tired because of the medications."
"Okay." Lightning said "Can I start training again in a week?"
"Yeah." Doc said "But I think you should wait two weeks though."
"But Doc, I have to be in shape so I don't look like an idiot!" Lightning said "All the other racecars are going to laugh at me."
"We'll see how this week goes." Doc said "But stay under one hundred or you might have another attack."
"How much longer do I have to stay here?" Lightning asked "I hate hospitals."
"Another three or four days. I want to make sure your engine is doing well." Doc said "I'll see you guys later."
Once Doc was gone, Sally drove up to Lightning, she had tears in her eyes.
"Sweetheart, come here." Lightning said as he hugged and kissed her "I'm so sorry."
"You've been training way too hard." Sally said "Just take it easy. I don't want you hurting yourself anymore."
He scooted over to make room for Sally on the bed. Lightning patted the spot beside him, inviting her to join him.
"I need someone to snuggle with." Lightning said as he gave her his best lost puppy dog look "I'm sure the nurses won't mind."
"This feels good." Sally said tiredly as she crawled into bed next to him. "I haven't slept in days."
"What do you mean you haven't slept in days?" Lightning asked "How long have I been out?"
"Your engine attack was two days ago." Sally said "Doc kept you sedated because he needed to make sure your engine was stable and functioning properly."
Then she sighed contentedly and immediately fell asleep. Lightning yawned once before snuggling down. It only took a few minutes for him to be asleep too.
Three days later:
Lightning was wide awake, feeling good, and begging to leave the hospital.
"I want to run a final set of tests on you. If I'm happy with the results, you can go home." Doc said "But I don't want you to be alone at any time. So, if Sally doesn't mind, you can stay with her."
"I would love that." Sally said "And I'll make sure Stickers follows all of your instructions."
"Perfect." Doc said "Let me go get Jackie and we can get the tests started."
Four hours later:
"All of the tests look good." Doc said "So I'm comfortable letting you go home."
Doc and Jackie removed all of the monitoring equipment, including the urinary tube.
"That didn't hurt!" Lightning said "It just stung a little."
"That's because your manhood is healed." Doc said "Once Jackie finishes the paperwork, you're free to go."
"Do you know what caused the attack?" Lightning asked "One minute I was fine and the next I was in the most pain I've ever felt."
"I really don't know; medical science has not figured out why transplants sometimes cause engine attacks. It's very rare only 1 in 100,000 cases. I'm guessing that being a racecar has something to do with it." Doc explained "Do you remember two years ago, one of the top rally cars was racing in France and he had an engine attack in the middle of a race?"
"I think so." Lightning said "But, didn't he die?"
"Yes, he was dead even before the rescue squad could get to him. Doc said "It also could be in your genetics. Do you know of anyone in your family that has a history of engine attacks?"
"Not to my knowledge." Lightning said, a little fearful "How likely is it that I'll have another attack?"
"It's not unheard of… You're still in the recovery stage." Doc said "That's why I want you to be careful. No training, no racing, no tractor tipping, and absolutely no sex."
Lightning yawned
"I'm really tired." he said, stifling another yawn "As soon as I get to Sally's apartment, I'm going to take a nap."
"Me too." Sally said "Worrying about you has worn me out."
"All right Rookie, I'm heading back to my office." Doc said "If you need anything, just call."
"Hopefully, Jackie will have the paperwork done soon." Lightning said "Do you want to snuggle with me until then?"
Again Sally climbed into bed and snuggled down.
An hour later: Jackie arrived and gave Lightning a copy of all of Doc's instructions. After that, Lightning and Sally headed back to her apartment.
At the apartment: Lightning headed straight for the bedroom. He climbed into bed and stretched out.
"Are you going to stand there and ogle me?" Lightning asked, when he saw Sally standing in the doorway "Or are you going to come in and take a nap with me?"
Sally giggled as she climbed into bed. She sighed and leaned up against him.
"I know we haven't been dating long." She said "But when I think back, I can't remember when we wasn't together."
"Same here." Lightning commented "I know it isn't time yet, but what are your thoughts on us getting married?"
"I would love that." Sally said "I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
"How many kids do you want?" Lightning asked "One, two… a dozen?"
"I don't want that many." Sally said laughing "One, possibly two would be enough for me."
"Same here." Lightning said, then Sally yawned "I'm tired."
"Me too." Sally said "Are you ready for a nap?"
"Yeah, the drive wore me out." Lightning said as he snuggled down "I feel like I could sleep for days."
"Stickers… you have." Sally said playfully "I'm the one that needs the sleep."
Lightning and Sally snuggled together and soon they were fast asleep.
COMMENTS:
Guest 2
Very hot, sexy, and dominant between Doc and Sophia there. Very vigorous Sophia was arousing Doc like that. Pure pleasure Doc was giving her with his hyperactive racecar heritage.- I knew that you would love it!
Hope Lightning gives Sally the same when they make love- We'll get to that in a little while.
I do not own Cars or any of its characters. PIXAR AND DISNEY CLAIM THAT RIGHT. READING ENJOYMENT ONLY
Please read and review! I need criticism and encouragements! Rated M for language and sex.