AN: Cars 3 is amazing. That is all.
It was common for Radiator Springs to look deserted around midday. The scorching sun sent residents for cover usually until early evening, when the shadows would lengthen and the blacktop was no longer reflecting heat in dizzying patterns. He was glad for the almost chilly conditions in the main lobby of the Cozy Cone as he and Sally were finishing lunch, courtesy of Flo's.
"I can't believe you spent all day in that heavy jacket." Sally commented, moving her rolling chair from one end of the desk to the other. "Can't you run practice laps in a t-shirt?"
Lightning only shrugged in response. "Can't attend a race in a t-shirt. Florida is worse."
Sally watched him silently a moment as he cleared the space in front of him and crumpled up the napkin in his hand. "Guess I'm just glad your crew chief's a medical professional too."
" 's why I'm eating lunch with you." He grinned as he tossed the napkin into the far waste can. "Doc said he wanted me to take the rest of the afternoon off and make sure I ate something."
Lightning leaned back in his swivel chair and watched out the lobby windows idly. With a contented sigh, he sunk into his chair and took in the details of the buildings across the street. He would consider Fillmore's dome abandoned if he didn't know better, and he was surprised to see that there were more flowers than weeds in the yard despite the unkempt appearance.
Sarge's was what he expected an army veteran's home to look like. Perfectly manicured lawn, straight angles and lines in the flower beds with the American flag fluttering above.
The clinic, though, reminded Lightning of Doc himself, clean with a spartan exterior that only really told you what you needed to know. He was lost in his thoughts, staring through the haze at all the little cracks running through the concrete driveway when Sally spoke again.
"Stickers, did you hear me?"
"Huh- what? Sorry Sal."
"I said, he really takes care of you." She gestured across the street. "You know that, right?"
Lightning looked back out the window, finally answering in a somewhat distracted tone. "Yeah...he does, doesn't he."
His thoughts were forcefully interrupted as Sally ran her fingers through his hair.
"Ow- ow- what're you-?"
"You said you'd talk to my parents with me today. I'd like you to look somewhat decent when I start the Skype call. I wanted to surprise dad for Father's Day."
"Oh, right. I forgot that's today..."
Sally only hummed faintly in response and started up the computer.
Doc liked to sit in the old garage once the heat of the day broke. There was nothing wrong with Flo's, he enjoyed that as well but now that the garage had finally been decluttered and reorganized he'd open up the old wooden doors and kick back at the old work desk. From there he could still watch the happenings of town but still maintain a sense of solitude. The old tungsten lighting was reminiscent of evenings in Thomasville, but the restored neon outside constantly reminded him of where he really was.
With that in mind, he turned away from the garage doors in search of a pen and paper, thinking he should get around to writing that letter he'd been planning on.
Lifting old newspaper clippings and mail off the desk he muttered to himself about how he had just cleared this desk off when his eyes fell on a tan envelope covering the latest article on the Rust-eze team.
Doc
His brows knit together in curiosity as he reached for the envelope and flipped it over a few times in his hands. Turning in the old swivel chair he glanced up at the garage doors once and back to the desk before huffing faintly and tearing the envelope open. Not sure what to expect, he was surprised to unfold a letter.
Doc,
I'm not any good at this kind of thing, I feel ridiculous writing this and know that I'd never be able to actually say it without feeling stupid. Sally told me I should just get over it, but I guess I'm still not very good at listening.
The truth is, I've never cared much for this holiday.
Doc paused and tried to find the desk calender. Holiday? What holiday?
I never knew my father, so there was never any reason to acknowledge it. My mom would always pack up our second hand station wagon and drive me out to the local small time track. It was a dragstrip, if it could even be considered that. They'd always hold a Father's Day car show and amateur day. Sometimes I think she just wanted to get me out and around father figures that held the same interests I did. So things like the Boy Scout soap box derbies are one of the biggest memories I have growing up.
I was always alone, though. I'd get paired with another father son team to be a group of three. To fit in. But it really only made the absence of my father more prevalent.
So then I crashed into Radiator Springs, literally. Looking back on it I'm really embarrassed over how I acted toward everyone in the town.
I'm sorry for how I treated you.
I should have never spoken to you the way I did, or given you the attitude I did.
In just the past few years you've taught me more than anyone ever could when it comes to racing. More than that, you've taught me more about life than anyone ever could.
Taking a deep breath Doc set the letter down a moment and reflected on late nights in the garage or sitting in the kitchen, talking till the early hours of the morning with a pot of coffee between them.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, now I have a reason to celebrate today.
Happy Father's Day
He glanced over the nearly illegible signature and set the letter aside again. Exhaling harshly, he ran a hand through his hair and let his arm fall heavily onto the armrest of the chair. Doc would heavily deny it if anyone ever mentioned it, but he was forced to dry his eyes as he grabbed the keys from the desk and got into the '51 Hudson.
Lightning spied the Hornet pulling into Flo's, feeling like there was a rock in the pit of his stomach as he watched from his usual booth. Doc was halfway to the door when he saw Lightning in the window and motioned for him to come outside. With a sigh, the younger racer excused himself from the group and left the cafe.
He frowned as Doc got back in the car. "What're we doing?"
"Going for a drive."
"Uh-...ok..."
He watched out the passenger window in awkward silence, not exactly surprised when they finally stopped at Willy's Butte. He hesitated to follow when Doc got out of the car but finally worked up the nerve and rounded the front of the vehicle to where Doc was leaning against the hood. With the mirrored aviators, it was hard for Lightning to determine what the man was thinking.
"So-"
"I've done a lot of things in my life, Hot Rod..." Doc started slowly, his gaze still averted downward. "Held records, broken records, finally got back in touch with family back east..."
He pulled the folded letter from his shirt pocket and held it up between two fingers before looking at Lightning.
"But this...this is probably what I'm most proud of."
The tension in Lightning's shoulders vanished and he grinned fully. "Well, it's true."
He was relieved to know he hadn't made a fool of himself, but was surprised when he was suddenly in a crushing embrace. He only hesitated a moment before returning the gesture, gripping the fabric of the back of Doc's shirt with white knuckles. The loneliness of childhood dulling slowly.
"I'm honored, Kiddo. Thank you."
He took a step back and gave Lightning a hearty slap on the shoulder.
"Doesn't mean I'll go easy on you now."
Lightning grinned widely, looking out over the dirt track. "Wasn't expecting you to, Old Man."
