AN: Veteran Racer will be continued, but I wanted to throw in some happy chapters before delving into that emotional roller coaster.
"Daddy...Daddy wait!"
He paused outside the doors of the racing museum, staring at his own reflection in the glass door for a moment with a smirk before turning around to see the little girl struggling with her stuffed cars.
"I told you to pick just one."
She looked up, blue eyes staring at him scandalized. "But Daddy they all wanted to come."
"Oh right...my mistake."
Lightning unlocked the door and pushed it open, watching as she scooted past his leg with plush toys under each arm.
"Remember the rules."
"Yes, Daddy."
She shot through the lobby as he started turning lights on, muttering to himself over what 6 year old would be more interested in going through a racing museum she's already seen? As opposed to...well anything else really.
Catching up to her he wasn't that surprised to see that she'd lined up all the cars on one of the benches. Her dark ponytail bobbing as she hopped between the bench and the display case. Sally had been able to do her hair that morning before she left for work and he was extremely grateful, it always looked atrocious when he attempted it.
"We can't stay too long, remember."
"I know." She chirped, bouncing on her toes as she looked up at the pictures.
As soon as she'd been able to walk she'd been entranced with the museum, he'd never really understood why but he never denied her request to go through it. Even if it meant he had to search out the keys and open it up himself.
That building was a better babysitter than anyone he knew.
If she knew she was going to the museum she was sure to be on her best behavior. Like clockwork, she asked daily if he could either take her to the museum or the track. Lightning was tempted to buy stock in sunscreen, and tried to time their visits when the sun wasn't at it's highest.
She'd carry a bucket full of metal diecast cars and create her own miniature version of the track under the Butte. He remembers an afternoon where she'd been beside herself, unable to find her favorite car.
"It was here, Daddy, and I can't find it anywhere!"
"Did you go through all your cars?"
"Yes! It's gone!"
"Alright, alright-...which one is it?"
"The blue one! My best car is missing and now they can't race!"
"Calm down, Kiddo. We'll find it, I promise."
They'd walked back to the car and he suggested that it might have fallen under the seat. He'd nearly cracked his head open for as violently as he'd jumped at her shriek of delight.
"There! My blue car! Can you reach it?"
Lightning had rubbed the back of his head with a faint groan, nearly stuck under the passenger seat. "Where, honey. Daddy doesn't see it."
"Right there." He could see her little fingers pointing from her position in the back seat. Hidden next to the seat belt clip was a miniature version of The Hudson Hornet.
With some careful maneuvering, and nearly getting his arm stuck, Lightning had been able to free the two inch vehicle from its prison. She'd gone flying back to her handmade track, and he'd followed behind, checking his hand for blood.
"Gotta say it's my favorite too."
Luckily today they were in the air conditioning, and it was much harder to lose a stuffed toy than a Hotwheels car.
"I like this one." She looked back at him, pointing up to the display. "I like that thingy on the back."
"That's a spoiler." He commented, looking at the image of the Plymouth Superbird that The King had been known for. "It helps the car."
He didn't think a 6 year old would care much about reduced turbulence or drag.
"Granddad's didn't have one."
It always threw him off when she referred to Doc as Granddad, she'd started that all on her own over a year ago and he'd never felt the need to tell her different. She knew they weren't blood related, but apparently she didn't care.
"No, his car didn't need it."
" 'Cause it was better."
"Well-" He laughed. "Yes and no-"
Her attention was drawn away from the conversation and she stood with her nose to the glass, little hands pressed up against the barrier. Lightning knew he'd have to find the Windex before they opened to the public again.
"Daddy, look." She waved him over, pressing a tiny finger over an image. "There he is."
Lightning's brow furrowed, he'd seen the image before, he'd chosen it himself for the display, but it was just an image of cars and racers at Thomasville, most likely before a race. With a frown, he looked to where she was pointing, and sure enough, in the background of the black and white image, was a much younger Doc and Smokey leaning against the inside wall.
"Huh...you got good eyes."
His attention was pulled away from the photos when he heard the doors open and saw Mater enter, fixing his hat and looking a little down with the heat.
"I was sent to remind ya's that you got company comin' this afternoon-"
Lightning glanced up at the clock and winced. "That's right-...sorry Mater, tell Sal we're on our way."
"Lucky you's didn't go out to the Butte today, would've probably ended up with heat stroke!"
Lightning smirked in agreement as his friend left, turning back to see his little girl still poring over photos.
"Jess."
No reaction.
"Jessica, we have to go. Remember who's coming?"
Her head spun toward him so fast he thought she'd get whiplash. "Aunt Cruz is coming!"
"That's right, gather up your toys so we can meet her in town..."
Jessica ran to the bench and scooped up the plush cars, waving to the display photos as she passed to catch up to her father.
"Can we go to the track tomorrow?"
"I dunno." He chuckled, locking the museum up. "Ask your aunt to take you when she gets here."
