AN: I've been asked a few times if there would be any more chapters with Doc alive. These oneshots aren't necessarily in chronological order, it just so happened that the first 4 chapters were :) No worries, there's more Doc!
"Tell me again why we're walking?"
"I thought we could use the exercise." Sally replied cheerfully, one arm linked through Lightning's as she waved to Mater.
Lightning watched his friend pass them on the old International Harvester, pulling a trailer filled with eager Piston Cup fans behind. He wasn't able to come up with a response before Sally continued. "Besides, I wanted at least a little time with you before we get stopped every 10 seconds for a picture."
With the opening of Lightning McQueen's racing headquarters and the nearly finished racing museum, Sally had coordinated the very first Radiator Springs Piston Cup Festival. The three day event would lead up to the official opening of the museum and bring attention to the town.
The Wheel Well was fully booked, as was The Cozy Cone, and Sally couldn't be happier.
The papers were already comparing the numbers of attendance to those of the state fairs, and the event had only just opened.
Walking over the crest that lead to Willy's Butte, Lightning whistled appreciatively. "Wow, Sal...you've really outdone yourself."
Both straightaways on the oval track were filled with vendors, while the infield had a rest area and a medical tent should anyone need serious attention.
"It's taken a lot of work."
"I can see why."
Vendors for nearly every driver were present, Dinoco of course being the largest, but even the smallest of sponsors were set up to sell shirts, hats, blankets, and anything that could have a driver's face or number on it. Mack had even taken the liberty of opening the #95 transport truck up to the public, children raced up and down the ramp while their parents tried to get them to move down to the next vendor.
Mater passed the couple again, this time on his way back toward town. He'd volunteered to provide shuttle services back and forth from the event, and from the look of things, the tourists were loving it.
What Lightning enjoyed the most though, was knowing that everyone from town had their own spaces set up as well. As they walked down the bank he could already see the tent Sheriff had organized with the help of the county. He still had to get used to the idea of Radiator Springs having a real police force. Meet the Troops was a program where children and parents alike were given a mock training test, could see what cadet school was like and if able to pass a small agility course, they could receive a 'badge'. Lightning wanted to try it before the festival ended.
Sarge had a tent only a few spaces down, filled of course with surplus, but also with historical artifacts from nearly every American war. Lightning could see a number of older gentleman gathered in front of his tent, he and Sally both agreed they'd have to stop by after it had cleared out a little.
"You know I've never been to anything like this?" She said as they browsed through a tent selling vintage records.
"A record store?"
"No, silly. A proper fair."
His brow furrowed. "Seriously?"
"Yeah." She shrugged. "Never really had the time when I was growing up."
"Oh." He shook his head, "Then we gotta get you the worst fair food ever."
"Worst? Why would I-?"
"Worst as in best! Trust me!" He grabbed her hand and marched back out on to the track to look for the nearest food vendor.
A slice of pizza, bag of kettle corn and one shared banana split later, they continued on their trek down the row of tents. Sally flicked him with the plastic spoon before throwing it away as they passed a trash can.
"You're right, it's the best worst food ever."
They passed Fillmore's tent, beside the organic foods there were tie-dye shirts, wind chimes, and old band posters from the '60's. Lightning wasn't that surprised to see how busy he was.
Flo of course was being nearly run ragged, they'd run out of many of their menu items so she'd sent Ramone back to the café for supplies. Luigi and Guido had opted out of setting up a tent and were instead helping Flo keep the constant stream of customers happy. Lizzie had set up right beside Flo's concession stand, and while she ended up sleeping most of the afternoon, Red took care of whatever sales she made.
Near the bend of the track, a large group of people were taking pictures with different drivers in attendance, stock cars were lined up with their respective sponsors behind them selling more Piston Cup licensed gear.
Lightning paused mid stride. "Why does that car have a face?"
Sally turned away from the Rust-eze baseball cap she was considering and looked in the direction he'd indicated. Not far ahead of them, a boy no older than 8 was carrying a bright red Rust-eze car plush, but it was smiling.
"Aw, Stickers, it's you!"
She immediately turned back toward the Rust-eze tent.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm getting a Lightning McQueen car, what do you think I'm doing?"
"What? No. I don't want a car staring at me all the time!"
It was too late, she was already walking back with one. With a smirk, she held it in front of her face, looking up at him with raised brows. "Who says it'd be staring at you?"
With an exaggerated sigh, he relented and they continued down the line of cars. He'd point out specific details on each and while Sally wasn't sure what it all meant, she enjoyed just listening to him speak so passionately about them as she hugged her new stuffed toy.
They finally came up toward the end of the stock cars where they were beginning to transition into classics. The number of people taking pictures was steadily increasing as well.
"Alright, Stickers. This one seems important if all these people are anything to go by. Tell me something about this one." She said, only partially teasing.
Lightning stared at the Hudson Hornet briefly and looked back at her. "Where do I even start?"
"Telling me where the driver is might be a nice start."
"He didn't want to come..."
Lightning had been floored, giddy as a kid on Christmas, when Doc had held out the keys. "You're letting me drive it?"
Doc had pulled the keys back faster than Lightning could say kachow, eyeing him sternly. "To the Butte, where it stays parked until you bring it back."
"I'm not taking it for a joy ride or anything, Doc-"
"If there's anything more than dirt on it, you won't race for the next three weeks."
"What? That's not-!"
"Three weeks."
He'd huffed but relented. "Ok..."
"And keep the keys with you. "
Lightning checked his pocket again just to be sure and looked back at Sally with a shrug.
She was still hugging the car plush to herself, but Lightning could tell she was thinking up something.
He'd wanted to add another Do Not Enter sign to the garage doors just for this weekend but had never really gotten around to it. Without looking up from the paper he was reading, he spoke aloud. "You know as a member of law enforcement, no trespassing signs should mean more."
"I got tired of answering questions about you." Sheriff replied.
"Me?"
"You."
Doc was silent a moment before his eyes narrowed and he set the paper down. "No, I'm not getting back into that circus."
"I think the race in California made that decision for you."
Doc had agreed to be Lightning's crew chief, that didn't mean he wanted shoved back into the spotlight. He'd had his time in racing. All those fans recognized the car but he doubted they knew him, so he had decided they didnt need to. He wasn't going to go crawling back to the sport that had kicked him so soundly in the teeth.
"The kid's got the car down there, that should be enough for people." He hadn't even wanted the Hudson to leave the garage, he hadn't even liked the idea of this festival. Did they know how much raking and ground work that track would need after this weekend?
"It's not just tourists that want you down there."
Doc eyed him silently.
"Every Piston Cup driver has asked about you."
He wasn't able to voice his smart remark, Sheriff didn't allow him.
"We would like to see you down there."
His request was met with silence, but the look he received told him he'd won.
With a sigh, Doc rolled the chair away from the desk. "An hour, that's it."
Sheriff only nodded once, and Doc was forced to stop short when he held out what he'd carried in with him. "Kid said you'd need these."
He held out the mirrored aviator sunglasses and a navy blue baseball cap. While it still sported the Rust-eze logo, it was done in the colors of The Fabulous Hudson Hornet.
Doc sighed as he took his own belongings. "Shouldn't have left the keys with him."
Three hours later, after making it all the way around the track and through all the vendors. Lightning and Sally had actually been able to visit with everyone they'd missed the first time through. Hoping to maybe say goodbye to some of his fellow racers, Lightning had started back to the stock cars.
"Hey, Lightning! I was wondering where you were."
"Right here." He smirked. "Where've you been, Jr?"
"Listening to your crew chief." He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb.
Sally nearly punched her boyfriend in the arm, smiling widely. "I told you."
Lightning looked past his fellow racer to see a group of people surrounding the '51 Hudson, and there stood Doc. From the looks of things, people were standing by taking pictures and listening intently while he swapped stories with none other than Strip Weathers. The Fabulous Hudson Hornet and The King. It was an amazing photo opportunity if he'd ever seen one.
A few of the more daring members of the crowd would pose a question, or ask for a picture and Lightning couldn't help but smile along with the racing legends, even from the distance he was at. He watched as Doc knelt between two young boys for a picture, both wearing Rust-eze hats that didn't fit, with ears that were too big and teeth that were missing, but their smiles were infectious. He turned to Sally, still holding her ridiculous car.
"I think we need to do this every year."
