Chapter 13. - Lightning's Retirement?! -

A few hours later: Lightning was lying in bed, wishing that his axle would stop hurting enough for him to get some sleep. He jumped in surprise when he heard someone knocking on the door.

"Lightning? Are you okay?" Sally asked from outside "Sweetheart, please open the door."

Lightning opened the door and drove out a little.

"What do you want?" Lightning asked in the same dull tone he had been using ever since his disastrous training session. "I'm trying to get some rest. I need to figure out what I'm going to do with the rest of my life."

"I'm just checking on you." Sally said softly "You can't quit."

"Why not?" Lightning challenged "You don't like me racing."

"That's not true!" Sally countered "I worry about you, but that's normal after what I saw last season. I'm proud of you and your career. Not everybody can say they're marrying a racing superstar."

"Is that the reason you're marrying me?" Lightning asked harshly, glaring at Sally "Because I'm a famous racecar?"

"Sometimes I wonder why I ever said I'll marry you." Sally said, tears forming in her eyes "You know what, never mind."

Sally turned around and left without another word. Lightning sighed angrily. Normally he would go to Willy's Butte and race around the track until he calmed down, but in his current state, it would be impossible. Lightning wanted to go after Sally, but the intense pain racing through his axle prevented him from going anywhere. Shutting the door, Lightning glared at the picture he had sitting on the nightstand. Sally was laughing as he kissed her fender. It was taken an hour after they were engaged. Lightning knew that he loved Sally, no question there, but he loved racing nearly as much. All these demands on him was wearing him down. Noticing the time, he took another dose of painkillers and settled down on his bed. Lightning shut his eyes and finally fell asleep.

Before Lightning knew it, Jimmy Hendrix and a shrill trumpet pierced the quiet morning atmosphere.

"They have to stop doing this every morning, it's giving me a fucking hoodake." Lightning grumbled sleepily "For once I would like to wake up without hearing that shit."

Soon: He opened the door to his cone and drove out of it. Lightning drove past the cone's office, but he only saw the assistant manager at the desk. Somewhat hungry, Lightning headed to Flo's café. He received a nasty glare from Flo as she sent a waitress to wait on him. Lightning figured Sally had gone to her after their fight. Very annoyed, Lightning realized he was not hungry after all and decided to return to his cozy cone to sulk. Halfway back to his cone: a mob of reporters came out of nowhere and started harassing him.

"McQueen!" a reporter called "What's this we hear about your retirement?"

"I have no comment." Lightning said in a lifeless tone "Would you leave me alone!"

He pulled away from the reporters but they kept following and shouting questions.

"I think he told you guys to leave him alone!" Doc barked as he drove up behind the reporters "Get the fuck out of here, or I'll have you arrested for disturbing the peace!"

"Sorry, Crew Chief." One of them said "It won't happen again."

The reporters quickly scattered.

"You!" Doc said pointing at Lightning "Follow me to my office."

"Do I have too?" Lightning whined "I just want to go back to my cone and be left alone."

"That wasn't a fucking request!" Doc said in a voice that meant business "NOW!"

Lightning huffed, but he didn't want to experience Doc's legendary wrath in public and followed him to his office.

"Jackie, hold all my calls." Doc said as he and Lightning entered his office "I don't know what fucking game you're playing."

Doc slammed the office door shut.

"What do you mean?" Lightning asked angrily "I'm not playing any game!"

"Oh, yes you are!" Doc countered "With some work you could get back on the track and you know it. You've been moping around here and feeling very sorry for yourself."

"You saw me out there!" Lightning said "I couldn't even lap the track at fucking seventy!"

"It's not gonna come easy!" Doc said "Don't you remember last year? You worked your fucking bumper off to get back on the track!"

"Yeah, that's when I didn't think I would get hurt again!" Lightning said "Why are you bothering me?"

"You know what your fucking problem is?" Doc asked "You don't know how lucky you are."

"Lucky?" Lightning scoffed "How the fuck am I lucky?"

"You got hurt. Not once but twice and the racing world still wants you! You have a whole town that has your back." Doc said, slamming his tire on his desk "Not to mention, a gorgeous fiancé that loves you and would move heaven and hell to help you. But after what you said to her last night; I'm not sure how she feels about your relationship. You have everything I didn't and that includes a long and fabulous racing career ahead of you! SO GET YOUR FUCKING HOOD OUT OF YOUR FUCKING TAIL PIPE! STOP HAVING YOUR FUCKING LITTLE PITTY PARTY AND MAN UP. IF RACING WAS EASY, EVERYONE WOULD BE DOING IT!"

Lightning froze and thought about what Doc had said. He finally understood, it wasn't just Sally helping him, it was the entire town. If he quit, he would be letting the whole town down. Lightning knew he had to start mending fences, starting with Doc.

"I'm sorry." he mumbled "I don't know… can you forgive me?"

"Yes, only because I know what you are going through." Doc said "Now go, make up with Sally. The last time I saw her was at the cone and she didn't look happy."

Lightning nodded and headed to the Cozy Cone.

Lightning left Doc's office feeling numb. He drove back to the Cozy Cone's office and saw Sally fretfully asleep at her desk. Giovanni, was happily playing in his crib. To Lightning's relief, Sally was still wearing her engagement rim. Lightning parked beside her and gently nuzzled her.

"Oh! It's you." Sally said, once she saw who it was "What do you want?"

"Sally, I'm sorry." Lightning mumbled as tears started to form in his eyes "I made a really big mistake. I shouldn't have snapped at you. I know you're extremely upset, but please forgive me. I'm in pain, frustrated… I know that's not an excuse for what I said. I just lost my temper. Please, Sally… forgive me!... I'm begging you!"

Sally was silent for a few minutes.

"No matter how hard I try, I can't stay mad at you." Sally said, giving Lightning a small smile. The smile quickly turned into a frown "But you need to know I love you for who you are, not just because you're a former champion racecar."

"You're wrong about one thing." Lightning said "You said former racecar."

"You're not retiring?" Sally squealed "Are you sure? What changed your mind?"

"Doc. He knocked some sense into me." Lightning said, smiling slightly "Do you want to fondle my lumps?"

Sally laughed as she drove up to Lightning and kissed him.

"Wow!" Lightning said, his lips still touching Sally's "And I thought you didn't like me racing."

"Oh, shut up!" Sally said playfully "And kiss me again."

Later: Lightning spent the rest of the day babysitting Giovanni while Sally attended to her guests. The cone was fully booked and Sally was happy to have somebody watch him.

"You're such a delight. Do you want to hear another joke? *Giovanni giggled.* How does a penguin build it's house… Igloos it together!.. One more, Did you hear about the giant who threw up?... It was all over town." Lightning said as he and Giovanni played together "Maybe having a baby isn't such a bad idea after all."

Surprisingly, Giovanni patted Lightning's tire and babbled, almost like he was trying to say "You'll be a good dad… now shut up and get me a bottle, I'm hungry."

Laughing, Lightning headed to the kitchen.

The next morning: Lightning woke Doc up for a change. "C'mon, Doc!" Lightning said "It's time to train!"

Doc woke up with a jump "So you're back, huh?" He asked "I'm glad to hear it."

"Yeah." Lightning said, trying to suppress his happiness "Have you had time to work on the brace?"

"Yeah, Sally came over last night after you went to bed." Doc said "I added a layer of neoprene to the inside. It should absorb shock and cushion your axle."

"I hope so." Lightning said "Is it ready?"

"Yeah." Doc said "Now let's put it on. If this doesn't work, then I don't know what will."

Lightning knew that if the brace didn't support his axle, he wouldn't be racing until next season. An hour and a half later, Willy's Bute: Lightning was tearing up the track at one hundred and fifty miles per hour.

"Good work!" Doc said through the intercom "Bring it in!... How'd it feel?"

"Much better!" Lightning said excitedly "My axle is throbbing, but nothing like before."

"Good. We'll work up to four hundred laps eventually." Doc said "Since this is working, stop taking the painkillers, they need to be out of your system before the race. I'll do a drug test right before we leave, to make sure that you're clean. Now, go ice your axle."

"Okay." Lightning said "Thanks Doc!"

Lightning drove off the track, favoring his axle slightly. The drive to the Cozy Cone seemed much sunnier today; Lightning noticed how clear the sky was and he didn't mind the quarreling between Sarge and Fillmore. Lightning reached the Cozy Cone's office where Sally had a bag of ice and something for him to drink.

"Back already?" Sally asked as Lightning settled on the ice "How did your training go?"

"Really good!" Lightning said, grinning widely "I got up to one hundred and fifty today!"

"Great!" Sally said, grinning at her fiancé's enthusiasm "So you like the brace?"

"I love it." Lightning said "The neoprene is awesome. Whoever thought of it was pure genius."

"It was Doc and me. He wanted something foamy like a sponge. I did some research and found neoprene online." Sally said "It's not very foamy, but it absorbs shock and it's cushiony. Doc had some on hand. So, we lined your brace with it."

"I could kiss you." Lightning said "And some other things too."

"Then why don't you?" Sally asked, laughing a little "I can guess what the other things are."

Lightning rolled forward and kissed her. He slipped a tire under Sally and attempted to remove her bra.

"Stickers!" Sally said, smacking his tire away "Not in front of the baby!"

Lightning saw Giovanni peeking out of his crib.

"Don't worry about him." Lightning said "He can't talk yet."

"Michael and Zoë are picking him up tonight." Sally said "Afterwards, we can do that. That's if your axle will allow it."

After Michael and Zoë had picked up Giovanni:

"Now I'm bord." Lightning complained "Let's go for a drive."

"That's a good idea." Sally said "I've been cooped up in this office all day. I need to get out and stretch."

"Let's head to Willy's Butte." Lightning said "Doc said I can race, as long as I don't overdo it."

"It sounds like fun." Sally said "Then we can get cozy in the cone."

Lightning chuckled as they headed towards the butte, he knew what Sally meant by 'cozy'. About an hour later: Doc and Sophia were enjoying an after dinner drive. They happened to be passing Willy's Butte and heard the sound of racing engines.

"Sounds like someone is having fun." Sophia said "It's getting dark, should we go say something to them?"

"We better, I don't want anyone getting hurt." Doc said "One of the engines is Lightning's, I would know that sound anywhere."

Doc and Sophia drove to the track.

"You were right." Sophia said as she watched Lightning and Sally race "Sally is a good racer, even though she's not trained."

"Part of that is her breeding." Doc said "All Porsches have a natural ability to race."

Sophia noticed that Doc was breathing a little bit faster as he watched the couple.

"Hudson! Are you getting aroused?" Sophia asked, she then reached back and grabbed his codpiece "Yep, you're getting hard."

"That's because of you, not them." Doc growled as Sally raced across the finish line "Come on, Sally sees us, let's go talk to them."

"What do you think Doc?" Sally called as the couple approached her "You think I'm ready for the track?"

"If you work on your endurance you would be." Doc said "I bet you would give the Rookie a run for his money."

"Not funny Doc." Lightning said "Do you want to do a few laps Old Man?"

"You better believe it." Doc said "I may not be wearing my racing tires, but I can still kick your ass."

Sally parked beside Sophia as Lightning and Doc took their places at the starting line.

"Can I tell you something?" Sophia asked as the boys raced around the track, Sally nodded "I'm so horny right now, I can hardly stand it."

"To tell you the truth." Sally said "Watching Lightning race makes me horny too."

"That's a relief, I thought it was just me." Sophia said "There's just something when Hudson wears his headset… I want him to throw me down and thrust his huge sausage in me."

Sophia and Sally looked at each other and giggled.

"I'm so glad we're alike." Sally said "Have you ever had sex while Doc was wearing his headset?"

"Yes! And it was in the trailer too." Sophia said "Between Hud's thrusts and the movement of the trailer, it was one of the best orgasms I've ever had."

"Light and I have only had trailer sex once… and I didn't like it." Sally said "It was a couple weeks after our engagement. One thing led to another. The next thing I knew, Light was penetrating me. I normally like doggy style, but for some reason, between his thrusting and the motion of the trailer. Well, it just hurt and made me sick to my stomach. It's the only time I had to fake an orgasm. I'm pretty sure Mack knew what we were doing."

"Abby always knows when we're having sex." Sophia confessed "She's so talented, she adds a gentle sway that enhances Hud's thrusting… Oh God, it's so good."

Before they can say anything more, Doc and Lightning approached them, panting heavily.

"Not bad for an old man." Lightning said playfully "If I didn't have this injury and brace, you would've never won."

"Yeah, just keep telling yourself that." Doc growled "Are you kids ready to call it a night?"

Everyone nodded.

"How about we head to Flo's for a drink." Lightning said "I promised to buy Doc a beer if he beat me."

COMMENTS:

Guest 2 -Doc is very assuring to Lightning.- Yes, he is. Lightning is finding out that Doc only tell him what he needs to hear, not what he wants to hear. Medically, Doc will never lie to Lightning about his condition.

Lightning's very fortunate to have Sally and Doc in his life. He should never forget it. Haha!- He won't. Lightning is finding out that more people care about him than he knows.

Lightning harassing Doc about his love life is funny and then it is guys banter. Doc loves him really.- Yep and as you just read, Doc acts like Lightning's dad too. I think everyone needs someone that will slap you upside the head when you need it.

Meds only numb pain. Technically it's rest you need to recover.- Lightning is like my dog when she gets hurt, impossible to keep quiet. Only Lightning won't gnaw on his bandages.

Lightning would be a brilliant Dad being as he is with Giovanni.- Just a little preview of what he'll be like as a father.

Keep up Lightning's jokes.- I put a couple more in. As soon I can find a good place to put them, I'll put in a few more. I have a whole pile of jokes.

Lightning's plan seems to satisfy Sally's needs and getting upfront makes her happy.- Well, he trusts Sally and he's just letting her in on his plans.

Lightning's sudden example of attitude intimidated Doc but Doc took it as determination. That brace doesn't seem to of done the trick as of the impact Lightning suffered.- As with anything that is custom made, there is always some trial and error.

I can understand Lightning's upset but then we're all like that. We feel like we can't go on and then suddenly we have second thoughts. Lightning's so much stronger than he knows. He was decent enough to open up to Kori about his state knowing he can trust her.- Yes, this is a start of a lifelong friendship. Both Lightning and Kori know their boundaries and they would never cross them.

You know we have dramas in racing?- Yes I do. Some of the drivers are drama queens if you ask me… or act like spoiled brats, when they don't get their way.

Well I have another idea for you. Say there's some slight colliding throughout Lightning's race before his wedding and those two racers kick off at each other at the end of the race with stewards and Strip having to intervene. See what you think.- That's a good idea. It won't fit into this story, since the idea of stewards don't appear until the next one. I might introduce the idea at the start of the next. There is only one race left in this story and that's the championship. The rest of the story will focus on Sally and Lightning's wedding.

No doubt Merida will be hilarious being involved in Sally's bachelorette.- You better believe it. I don't know what that would look like now, but I'll think of something.

Merida should put it to guys who don't know how to keep their tyres off- I might have something written about that in a few chapters.

As you pointed out about some authors. Some like conflict. The way they write about Lightning and Sally being different to what they are in the films is just insulting and any story I see them written that way I wouldn't follow it. Lightning and Sally define a good relationship winning each other over and would never betray each other intentionally. They go together- I agree. They might have an occasional fight, but they would never betray each other by sleeping with someone else willingly.

I have another idea for you. Please involve some moments with those tight bear hugs between the family. Like you pointed out. Irish people are tight, and strong huggers. Please do some brother and sister banter between Lightning and Merida- I think I can fit that in somewhere, Probably at the championship race. At least that's where I'm planning on putting it.

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.