-Sheriff was to angry to head back to town as the stars began to pop into the sky. He had to come to terms with things. Stacy had betrayed his trust; Doc had brought his trustworthiness into question. If he could hide such an important part of his life, what else could the Hornet be hiding? The light flickered on above the sign as the sun began to sink behind the mesas. Sheriff shifted, settling his weight down on his axles. He would stay here tonight, at least here no one could betray him.

…..

McQueen hung up the phone, he looked wearily over to Sally.

"Holley said she is on her way in from London, they have put out alerts on Miles and missing car alerts for Mater and Finn. She seems to think that all of this is connected to that race about a year ago."

Sally sighed,

"All this to get revenge?"

McQueen shrugged,

"I guess so, apparently that Axelrod and Zundapp guys are pretty powerful, or were more or less."

Sally nudged his front bumper,

"lets get some sleep, we can't do anything more for Mater, now it's a waiting period."

McQueen nodded looking up the road,

"Sheriff come back yet?"

Sally shook her hood,

"No, but again. Stay out of it."

…..

McQueen waited till Sally was asleep before he snuck out of their shared room attached to Sally's office. He crawled out, not starting his engine he crawled down the main street until he was on the out side of the town, he started his engine as quietly as possible as he drove down the windy stretch of road. Sure, enough Sheriff was sitting at the sign. His eyes blinked open and closed slightly, glancing down the road as McQueen approached him.

"You alright Sheriff?"

He pulled slightly off the road; Sheriff sighed heavily.

"You come all the way out here to check on me?"

McQueen shrugged,

"You seemed pretty upset."

Sheriff took in a long deep breath and let it out slowly.

"You know I know a thing or two about betrayal."

McQueen didn't move, he just looked at the Mercury.

"One thing I've learned from it is that if you don't let it go and move on from it, the bitterness will eat you alive and turn you against yourself."

Sheriff looked over at McQueen, the kid was young, rambunctious, and at times just plain stupid but then there were times where he sounded like an old car, wise beyond his years.

"So, what is it exactly you think I should do?"

McQueen smiled slightly,

"You and Doc are best friends, right?"

"and…"

"Something I learned in Italy; no fight is more important than friendship."

McQueen backed up and left leaving Sheriff to think. The road was dark, as McQueen flicked his headlights on. He smiled flicking them on and off, he still hadn't quite got used to having them and often times forgot he even had them.

"Late night drive?"

McQueen revved in surprised looking up to see Doc right in front of him.

"Doc? What are you doing out so late?"

Doc blinked,

"I asked you first."

McQueen bit his lip trying to come up with an excuse.

"I needed some air, with Mater missing I really can't sleep."

Doc blinked slowly again clearly not convinced,

"Alright well get back to bed. We can't afford to lose you again."

McQueen nodded and slowly drove by him,

"And kid…"

McQueen stopped,

"Quite playing with those things or you'll blow the fuse!"

McQueen smirked, blinking his break lights in response as he headed back to Sally. Doc just shook his hood as the young race car vanished. He looked up the road, another pair of headlights was coming down them. Doc slid back off the road, he caught a glimmer of chrome as the car came into view.

"Sheriff."

Doc whispered to himself, hiding the shadows next to his clinic as Sheriff pulled up into town and right for Docs clinic. His engine revved as he jumped backwards his headlights landing right on Doc as he turned.

"PAUL!"

He yelped. Doc was amused but kept a straight face, so that's what McQueen thought when he startled the Hudson.

"What are you doing still up?"

Doc kept his gaze on him,

"I saw McQueen head out of town, I wanted to make sure he came back."

Sheriff nodded,

"He came up to see me…look Doc…"

Doc inwardly chuckled, he called him Doc which meant he had calmed down.

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier, I know you had your reasons and I respect that. These past few weeks have just been chaos and it's getting to me."

Doc chuckled out loud this time,

"No need for apologies Sheriff, I would feel the same way if I was in your tires. Besides we have more important matters to attend too."

Sheriff nodded,

"Behind us then…"

Doc nodded

"Behind us."

…..

Mater sighed as the two pulled into a gas station,

"Where exactly are we going again?"

Finn sighed, really getting annoyed with the tow trucks consistent questions.

"The coordinates are leading us to a place called Bristol…apparently this McQueen fellow had a race there this weekend. That's where we contact him."

Mater nodded as the gas pumped into his take, something still didn't feel right about this.

…..

Bristol Race…

McQueen sat in his trailer; he wasn't mentally ready for todays race. The media had been dispersed as the racers were being called to the track. He sighed heavily as he lowered the ramp.

"Mater!"

McQueen shook his hood; Mater was sitting there next to Finn.

"I can't believe it! You are okay!"

Mater backed up,

"Uhh…I suggest you stay back."

McQueen braked he looked at Mater in confusion.

"Mater what's wrong with you?"

Mater eyed him,

"stay there and don't resist your arrest."

Finn jumped in, McQueen was now more confused, he silently activated his radio. Hoping that Doc would hear.

…..

Miles sat with a smile,

"If everything goes according to plan, I will have Finn McMissile, Sir Tow Mater, and Lightening McQueen in my grasps, and when I do the government will be forced to either release Arnim, Gerald, and our cohorts or I will kill them one by one on live tv… they will have no choice but to bend to my demands.