Lightning gunned it hard down the straight-a-way, side by side with Bobby Swift. It was looking close! Both drivers passed the finish line with loud engines!
1. Lightning McQueen
2. Bobby Swift
3. Jeff Gorvette
4. Winford Bradford Rutherford
5. Dale E Jr.
6. Davey Apex
7. Blamer
8. Rusty Cornfuel
9. Kevin Racingtire
10. Rudy Oaks
11. Cal Weathers
12. Ryan Shields
part 1 of round 2.
Lightning walked to his garage in satisfaction. Finally! He finally won first again. He was a bit relieved. He wasn't doing so great sense Doc died. He really wasn't doing so great sense Leon was trying to take over for so long before Doc was even gone. "Ahem." Growled a low voice behind him. Lightning turned around to see the President of Racing. "Mr. President. I.. To what do I owe this pleasure?.." He asked nervously. The man sighed and shook his head before answering. "Lightning, Lightning, Lightning... You did do well today and I don't plan on taking away points this time." This time? Woah, wait.. What did I do?" Lightning asked, but.. He sort of already knew. He had no coach this race and the rules state that you must have on for the cup. "You need to get a coach before next weekend." The President firmly warned. The man began to turn and walk away, but Lighting grabbed him by the arm and stopped him. "Sir, I am your best racer out there." "Are you?" That hurt... Lightning stepped in front of the man and explained. "I do better alone. I always.. I just do." "You've been on a team for years Lightning." "Yes, but.. That was with Doc. I can't connect with just anyone like that again."
The president nodded, replying "I understand that and I respect that. I'm sorry for such a loss to your team. I know Doc was more than just another coach to you. That is why I am not taking away points and why I didn't pull you from today's race." "And thank you for that, but.. Please don't make me get a new coach. Let me race without one for the rest of the playoffs." "That's not fair to the other racers. I can't break rules just for Nascar's golden boy." Lightning really wished people would stop calling him that. "Mt. President Sir.. You remember my rookie years?" "Of course." "I can be that again. I can grab you, the sport that much attention again. Just don't make me get another coach. And if anything, it gives the other racers an advantage out there Sir! So please.." Begged Lightning. The President stared at Lightning. Thinking about it for a moment before sighing. "Okay. It's been a tough year for you and your team.. I will make the exception for you." He then walked away without another word about the matter. Lightning was very grateful, but.. He knew deep down that Doc would be scolding him for this one. Doc would tell him that he should have never fired Leon and he needs a coach out there, but.. Lightning just couldn't do it.
"Is that Lightning McQueen!" A woman shouted! Lightning was not ready mentally or emotionally for the fans now. He turned around to see about twelve or so with cameras. Bunch of fans with pit passes. Lightning took a deep breath and put on a smile for them. Faking his cheesy, but oh so good-looking, cricked smile that everyone loved. Giving them a few old kachows like they all wanted. If he could just give them what they wanted, make it through the next two rounds of the playoffs, he stood a chance at making Doc proud of him for the season. Winning that fourth cup as he promised. But was Lightning thinking clearly? Would that be what made Doc proud of him?
Lightning knew he was upset and depressed. He knew he was feeling worse by the day. He hated making Sally deal with it with him. This lead him to find the therapist that the President hired for the stressful season. He walked into the tent. Seemed pretty empty really. In a corner was a small bed set up. Looked like the ones you see in hospitals. Next to it was a stool and next to that was a computer on a desk and files. "Uh.. Hello?" Lightning called. The tent opened behind him. "Hello." "AAH!" Lightning jumped back. The man walked in further and raised a brow. "Jumpy huh?" He asked. The man was wearing a lime green button up tucked into jeans. He was slightly bald and had dorky glasses on. Not the kind of person that Lightning was expecting. "We have medicines for that sort of thing. Can't be jumpy on the track during a race." The man explained. Lightning shook his head and asked "Are you the therapist or a doctor or somethin?"
The man snickered before answering. "I am a doctor and therapist. Lightning McQueen. I honestly was expecting you to come by sooner." "Sooner?" The man nodded. "I read over your behavioral records here that the officials kept track of and.. a few of you racers need some help I think." "What records?" Lightning asked. The man sat on the stool then motioned for Lightning to take a seat on the bed. Lightning hesitated at first, but went ahead and sat on the bed. The doctor opened a drawer and took out a few basic and standard check up tools. First a thermometer. "Under the tongue please." He asked the racer. Lightning sighed then opened his mouth, allowing the doctor to place the metal probe under his tongue. "I'm Doctor Gundary. You can call Peter if that makes you more comfortable." He took the thermometer out and nodded at the reading then cleaned it and put it up. Next he took Lightning's blood pressure. "I have to ask, are you taking any sort of medication that is not prescribed and on your records?" Lightning shook his head, answering. "No, I.. I haven't taken anything that I wasn't told to in a long time." "That's good!" Peter exclaimed. Peter wrote the results down then put up the pump then grabbed a note pad out that on the front was labeled. "MCQUEEN". Made Lightning feel a little un-easy, but Peter was the doctor hired by the President. "So what brings you in Mr. McQueen? If it's not that you are a little more jumpy."
Lightning frowned and hated talking about his feelings to anyone, but here it goes. "I'm.. I'm not feeling so great.. I kind of feel broken." "Your coach passed away a while back, huh?" Asked the doctor. Lightning nodded. The man sighed then shut the notepad. "I already have the fix. You are depressed Mr. McQueen. Now.. These are experimental drugs still. I have to warn you about that since.. It's the law and I prefer to anyway. Your President of the sport did not approve any drugs that they already have for depression, but.. Sense this is neither approved or disapproved. You can take these and continue to race. But I will need to check you one day before each and every race and take your vitals. You will have to take an extra drug test a week and you have to come to me if you feel even worse or.. Feel a thousand times better. I just need information." He then walked across the tent to a safe and unlocked it carefully before taking out a pill bottle already filled with pills. He walked back over and handed them to Lightning. Lightning looked down at them then asked. "Is this safe?" Peter nodded then went over the possible symptoms and reactions and such.. "You may feel drowsy at first. So you will want to start as soon as possible so that way that side effect wears off before the next race. Also, you may feel nauseous, you may feel hungry and gain some weight, you may experience a loss of sexual drive or erectile dysfunction, lack of sleep, blurred vision in the mornings or if you take a nap it would be when you get up, constipation, dizziness, agitation, irritability, aggression, anxiety.. But all of this isn't for sure because once again.. It's experimental. You will not be the first racer taking it though. The other racer I've had on it so far is doing quite well with his depression."
Lightning stared at the pills, replying. "Wow. That's.. a lot of.. Side affects there, Doctor.. Anything good out of these?" Peter frowned a little before answering "You will feel happy again. The other race claims that he feels.. Um.. What was it he said.. Like himself. He feels normal. Like he can handle some of the things that before would send him into an emotional spiral. The only complaint from him is that it maybe causing some.. Infertility. But that's not for sure yet. I don't think you are looking to... Start a family right now though, so I think you're safe Mr. McQueen." He joked. Lightning knew it had to be Cal and Megan were seen at the fertility clinic. Cal was on these? He wondered. If Cal was and Cal said these things then surely it would help him. "I'll feel.. Happy?" He asked. Peter nodded answering "If you take to it as well as the other racer, yes. He has done extremely well on the drug." "Okay.. Yeah, I'll take them." "Great. You will have to sign a few waivers and such and again. Let me read you the instructions and come to me Mr. McQueen. For anything odd or if you feel worse. Anything." Lightning nodded, agreeing...
Lightning sat alone in his trailer that night. Thinking as he stared at the pills. He hated himself for turning to this. To help from some doctor and pills, but.. This felt like who he was now. He had nothing left to give and the faking for the fans was getting harder and harder with each smile. Fans don't like depressed and slow or unhappy and introvert celebrities. And Sally deserved better. The way he was pushing her away lately. He needed this. And Cal was on them. Cal seemed fine. Honestly, Lightning never knew that Cal was depressed. Not until now. So he opened the bottle and took the pills as instructed with a small bottle of water. He leaned back into the seat in his trailer. Staring at the Bolt. Staring at the photos on the wall. Staring at Doc. With the hope that things would get better. Things will get better-Knock, knock, knock!
Lightning jumped from his seat and dropped the bottle of pills. Luckily the lid was on! "Lightning!?.. Lightning.. You in there?" Josie's voice called from outside. Lightning grabbed the bottle from the floor and shouted "Yeah, hold on!" He put the bottle on his shelf then walked over and opened the door. "Hey." He greeted. Josie smiled a little. "Hey." She greeted so softly. The two stared at each other for a moment. It was weird. "Uh.. what's up?" Asked Lightning. Josie rubbed her elbow, answering "Nothing. I.. That was a good race today. You did really well." "Yeah.. Better than I have been at the least." "You okay?" Josie asked with concern. Lightning stared at her from above. Staring into her eyes. He could lie and fake the smile, tell her he's fine and that he is.. Just okay. Or he could be honest and talk about how he really was doing with Doc's death and these past couple of races. He would choose to lie, but for good reason. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm doing a little better each day. Today was good. Today was.. Better than most." Josie smiled hearing that. "I'm glad Baby. You know if you ever need to talk or need anything that I am here for you." Lightning nodded. "Yeah, I know. Thanks." Josie just smiled a moment more before softly bidding him a goodbye. Lightning closed the trailer door quietly. Letting out a deep sigh once alone again. He lied because she wasn't the woman he needed to vent and talk to. He lied because he didn't love her anymore and didn't need her healing. He needed Sally's...
Lightning woke up in bed next to Sally. He looked over at her. She was still asleep so it must have been early. He looked over at the clock on the bed side table. Yup. 4.02 am. He let out a short sigh. He missed Doc. He wished he could speak to him. Wished he could hug him one last time. It was too late of course now. He wondered if there was something he should have said, could have done. Probably not, but.. He wished there would have been. Lightning quietly crawled out of bed and headed to the bathroom to take his new prescription. He sighed once more as he stared at the bottle then took them as instructed. He feared falling into a routine. He felt like he was already honestly. Mope, hurt, feel broken, practice on the dirt track, shower, cuddle with Sally, mope, sleep, wake up, repeat. Unless it was a race day, but even then it was a routine. Wake up, mope, prepare, sit in silence, think about Doc, go out there, fake a smile, race, fake more smiles for the fans, friends, go mope more in the garage or trailer, sleep, wake up and then the next routine began.
This was his life now. This was it. This stupid, boring, sad routine and nothing more. This made him think about the ring. How he had such.. Such good and happy plans for the future and how one thing, one event destroyed it. Took all his happiness away. Maybe not all of it, but it took such a chunk out of him... How was he suppose to go on? To be okay? Lightning walked back to the bedroom and grabbed his phone and some clothes. He gor dressed outside the bedroom so he would be careful not to disturb his sleeping beauty. He went inside the garage and stared at the vette. The car he still hadn't fixed yet. He sighed. Like him, it was too broken to be fixed. Only, that wasn't true. He knew how to fix the car, he just.. He lacked the energy, he lacked the mental motivation. Lightning lacked the feeling he would get when he did things he loved, like.. Fixing up the car. He walked up to the car and placed his hand on the roof of it. Trying to convince himself that it was time to do one of two things. Fix this car or take it to the scrap for good. the car did hold a lot of memories.
A lot of good ones, mostly good ones, but.. It wasn't like his first Bolt. It was just an old vette that he bought after getting some money. And that made him think. Maybe.. Just maybe it was time to move on from all of those memories and make new ones. Not that he should just forget them, but he should continue life and make new ones, better ones. With the people he loved and.. With the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Lightning actually smiled a little there with that thought. Whether it was the thought of marrying Sally or the drugs or both! It was time to let go, time to continue and time to grow. Lightning reached inside the vete and took an old photo from the glovebox out. It was just a photo of him with his brother Chad, his Mother, and then girlfriend, Mollie. He smiled at the picture and put it up in a tool box for safe keeping as a memory. An old one, an old life. But now he was moving forward for the better...
Sally was in the office of the cone, doing some filing and paperwork that had needed done that she had put off. Bbbzzz. Her phone. She glanced at it seeing it was a message from Miranda.
I booked Lightning for a photo shoot next weekend after the race. Tell him to bring a suit, the editor wants to take him to dinner afterwards and speak terms of a minor sponsorship. Talking good money here.
Sally stared at that a moment. Thinking about what Miranda had said about sacrifices. Was Sally sacrificing for him? Like Meg. Meg would do anything for Cal and his career. So much so that she didn't work. Sally did work three jobs and it did take a lot of time away from her and Lightning. Was she working too much? Maybe. But part of her needed this. She needed a distraction of some kind. Like the work load. She needed the work load because of Doc's death, because of Lightning's depression, because of her own sadness of losing a close friend. It hurt a lot. And on top of that.. She wasn't getting any younger. She wanted a family soon and Lightning.. Well it had been nearly four years. Was that too long? Too short? Normal? Whose to say what exactly the normal time frame is anyway. Honestly it made her more and more excited to see Ben again. Ben and her just connected after the baby and that once a year grief they shared was something special that no one else understood. No one she knew anyway. And Lightning had always been so understanding about it too. He was the one she loved. He was the one that she wanted to marry, but.. Lightning was taking his time. Sally even debated if she should bring it up again, but he always said the same thing every time. Yes, we will get married one day or. Why would you ask that? We'll get there soon or one day I will marry you, I promise. He seemed to promise a lot, but.. She wondered if he would ever come through...
Sally finished coking the grilled chicken and had even fixed the plates already, but.. Lightning wasn't home yet. It was normal if he were practicing on the dirt track. If he was, he never even told her that he planned on practicing today. As far as she knew, he was just going to work on the vette today. So Sally decided to walk into the garage and check on the progress Lightning had come to with it. There was no car in the garage at all. Sally stared at the empty and cold room. Maybe he was test driving it and forgot to tell her. So Sally went back inside, found her phone and pulled up her boyfriend's name. Before she could even press the call button, she heard a loud car pull up. The vette. Sally set down the phone and walked over to the nearest window. It wasn't the vette that was in the garage though. Sally quickly grabbed a jacket and slipped on some shoes and headed outside. Lightning shut the driver door as he got out. He saw Sally and asked. "What do you think?" Sally stared at the obviously brand new, cherry red vette then answered. "It looks nice. What happened to fixing the old one?" She asked. Lightning walked up to her, locking the car up and shrugged. "I don't know. Time to move on I guess. I can't wait to take you for a spin in that thing." He growled as he pulled her close. Sally snickered and rolled her eyes. Lightning noticed that and her outfit. A baby blue, linen, sundress. The top went like a straight line over her chest. Covering her mounds modestly, but the bottom of the dress flared a bit just above her knees. Her hair up in a neat pony tail with little hairs hanging out in front of her ears, topped the entire look with an off-white and gold-colored cardigan and sandals.
He took her and only pulled her closer. Her breasts and hips pressing against his chest and pelvis. "Why don't we park it in the garage and.. Wear her in?" Sally could not help but giggle. "I'm sorry, but if you are going to call it her, I can't. It's too weird." She explained. Lightning rolled his eyes now, replying "Your weird. Will you just let me fuck you over the fender already?" He asked in an annoyed tone. Sally shrugged. 'I just finished dinner.. I really don't want to eat it cold." Lightning let out a sigh. Part of him felt like maybe she was avoiding being intimate right now, and maybe she was or maybe he was being paranoid. Either way, he respected her. "Okay." He huffed. "But after dinner I am going to tease you until you just rip my clothes off." He warned. sally laughed again, then kissed his cheek. "Alright Stickers. Sounds fun." She smiled. Lightning rolled his eyes yet again. This woman was a little tease herself. She turned to walk back into the house and Lightning gently SLAP. Right on her right cheek. Sally froze a moment then turned back around, giving Lightning a glare. He only shrugged, answering "Wasn't me." Sally raised a brow. More like silently asking, Really? You want to play this game? But without saying it and he knew it. She smiled at him. "You seem to be in a good mood." "I am. I just bought a new car." "Lightning.." She cooed. Lightning sighed and glanced back at the new car. "It's convertible.." Lightning added. Sally snickered then an idea, asked. "How about after dinner we go out for a drive?" "Really? At night?" Lightning asked. Sally nodded.
So after a moderately quick dinner, the couple went out for a cool night's drive. The town was quiet on the long back roads. It was perfect. Just him and Sally and the peaceful night, the stars above, the cool and crisp air biting at their skin. It was really too cold for a night out in a convertible, but they didn't care. Tonight, the drive was an escape. Top down and wind blowing through their hair. sally closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the seat. Lightning glanced at her a few times as he drive. She was absolutely beautiful. Perfect. He was happy with her. He could never ask for more. He shifted the car up and gunned down the roads. Sally never flinched. She trusted his driving and knew he was excellent as a racer. She relaxed in the passenger seat the entire time he drove fast around the old back roads. Driving out of the town, passing over the train tracks and to the lights of the highway. The came to the merge lane and Lightning slowed to a stop. The two stared out at the interstate. Watching the speeding vehicles drive by. Hearing them drive by, a few honked. Pretty busy for an interstate at night. Sally still couldn't believe that all these people and they were just passing by Radiator Springs like it didn't exist.
Lightning looked at his woman and smiled. "We could keep going." He mumbled. Sally looked at him with confusion. Lightning stared at the interstate and continued. "Just drive and drive.. Forget everything. Run away and pretend our lives don't exist for a bit." Sally never really heard Lightning talk like this before. It reminded her back to when she ran from her life in L.A. Part of her wondered if Lightning were un-happy with her, but she knew she wasn't the problem. Doc had just died a month or so ago now. He was just this broken. Sally placed her hand on Lightning's knee and assured that "If you want to run away, let's go." "What-Really?" Lightning asked in disbelief. Sally nodded with a smile. "We can go wherever you want. Forget about the town, the motels, racing. Just run away together and we don't have to think about anyone or anything else." Lightning stared. Confused. He wasn't sure if she meant it or if she were using her smarts to trick him into some sense. It was working if she was. Lighting frowned a bit. He knew they couldn't do that. Leave their friends suddenly, the fans, his career, hers. That was not okay. "You're right.. I'm sorry, I just"-"Don't apologize Lightning. We are all going through this rough patch. The thing is, we are going through it together. You have me and I have you and we have the majority of Radiator Springs." Sally assured. Lightning nodded and smiled again. Sally was so perfect with words. She barely made it clear, but she always made sense. Lightning smiled at his girl and took her hand in his. He hazed into her eyes and said "Let's go home." Sally smiled so lovingly back. Both were in love with each other a little more now. Some how, they just were...
Lightning pressed Sally's back up against the wall behind the front door. Lifting her leg up over his hip and caressing her thigh. groping up to the bottom of her cheek as they made out like animals. Groaning and moaning, tongues fighting as they dominated each other's mouths. Sally grabbed Lightning's shirt and pulled it and him as close as she could to her body. Her cardigan fell off one of her shoulders, but it only made her look more and more sexy. Lightning broke the kiss (Mostly to breathe) And glanced down as he reached under her dress and grabbed the silk like panties and pulled them. Sally set her leg down which helped Lighting pulled them down to her knees, they fell to her ankles from there. Sally kicked off the shoes and stepped out the panties, kicking them aside so that they wouldn't slip from the slickness of silk on hardwood flooring. Lightning dove back into her lips, kissing her roughly, madly as he loosened his pants and released his member between them. Sally grabbed his face to keep him in and in return, he lifted her leg again up to his hip.
Sally's hands slid to his shoulders. Lightning broke the kiss once again, but this time to plow himself into her. She was so wet that it pretty much just went in itself. Gliding in and making Lightning moan of pleasure. Pure, erotic pleasure as her insides devoured him entirely. Her back pressed hard against the wall and legs up, Lightning fucked her with a passion he had set aside for so long. He almost forgot hoe amazing, how great, how beautiful, how pleasurable this woman felt to him. Not because she was boring or anything, but because he had put intimacy on the back burner, no on the warmer. Where it has kept warm, but never touched, never fully heated, never re-heated until now. "Oh Lightning!.. Oh.. OH.. I.. I'm going to explode.." Sally heaved. Barely able to breathe as he pushed his member inside her over and over. Lightning breathed heavily in a deep and sexual tone next to Sally's ear. This only set her off further! Pushing her over the edge! "Oh yes.. Yes! I.. I'm cumming!" She exclaimed! Lightning felt her insides clamp down and pulse onto his member. Sending him into a freeze. He was barely able to move. He pushed inside as deep as he could. Her insides stroked him. Making him on that heated edge that burned. Getting him off, but not letting him cum. Sally's pulses slowed and eased up, Lightning pulled out and only pushed back in once before he exploded inside her. Letting out a low-toned moan as he did. Eyes rolling to the back of his head as he took so much pleasure in cumming from his amazing girlfriend's powers. Because that's what she had over him. Power. She had this power that controlled him so much and made him want to make her the center of his world. A power that would make him drop to his knees and do anything to make her happy. At least for now...
1. Cal Weathers
2. Lightning McQueen
3. Dale E Jr.
4. Blamer
5. Bobby Swift
6. Kevin Racingtire
7. Davey Apex
8. Rusty Cornfuel
9. Winford Bradford Rutherford
10. Jeff Gorvette
11. Rudy Oaks
12. Ryan Shields
part 2 of round 2.
Lighting was heading back to his trailer when he saw Cal talking to Kori. Kori. Oh he became angry. Probably more angry he had been with just about anyone in his entire life! He marched right up and Kori locked eyes with him quickly enough that she suddenly stopped her interview with Cal and took off. Lightning only yelled "Don't you run Kori!" Then began to chase after her. Running between a confused Cal Weathers and camera man. Kori ran behind a trailer and hid behind it. Pressing her back against it as she caught her breath. She lost him. She let out a sigh then straightened out her shirt and hair. She turned around only to be face to face with McQueen. A VERY angry Lightning McQueen. "Lightning!.. I"-"You lied about me and some random girl!" He shouted! Kori blushed and tried explaining. "I.. I had to! It's just a story anyway, no one believes that stuff.." "It's more than a story! It made me look like a.. A.." "Look, I'm sorry. I had to do what I had to do to keep my job!" Kori snapped! Lighting only snapped back "You are just like Carl! Reminding me that I have to always look out for myself! Well congrats Kori! You fucked up here! I will end your career faster than anything you've ever seen me race!" "Lightning! NO!.. I.. I didn't mean"-"It is too late! My mind is made up and I will make sure you pay for what you did!" "But I thought you already made your statement about the rumor and everything was fine now. Don't get me fired, I need my job!" "You should have thought about that before you started such crazy lies!" "That's exactly why I did that! To keep my job and my lifestyle! Please don't do this too me!" "Fuck you." Lighting growled.
He began to walk away, but then Kori said. "You do that and I'll leak everything." Lightning froze. Everything? He turned back around and asked "What do you mean everything?" Kori walked up to him. "Everything we ever did, the twins, Josephine, that model. You think I didn't take photos of more, of worse? You drunk at the race track in your rookie days, you on drugs with Bobby Swift? Even a few photos of Sally. There are even photos leaked of you from college that will make you look like a little perv. I had the decency to at least use a moderately inappropriate photo of you and some random girl out of context. I can protect you or I can make you burn with me." Lightning and Kori stared at each other. What should he do? He should call his Lawyer, but.. He didn't want Sally to see things like tat, to know things like that went down. To know about some of his reckless life before racing. Lightning nodded and asked "Is that how it's going to be?" Kori hesitated. Not sure if she was able to even do that to Lightning honestly. She nodded a little. Lightning sighed. Knowing Kori had such crap on him made him feel real uneasy. The only thing he could think of was this. "How much?" He asked. Kori raised a brow and asked "What?" "How much do I have to pay you to get all of these.. Photos from you." "You want to buy my work?" "All of it." Lightning said firmly.
Kori just couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You?.. You-you want to buy everything I have on you? You, do you realize how much my career could further if I did leak everything. How much money I could make!?" "I am well aware." "Do you realize how badly I could make you look!?" She asked. Lightning suddenly grabbed Kori by the collar of her shirt and snapped in her face. "Do you want my damn money or not!? Because I am this close to fucking ending your career! And I could do it. I can do it so easily that the next best thing you'll have are the compliments from poor people from the Breakfast house you work at! Is that what you want!? You want to be some worthless diner girl!?" Kori shook her head. Lightning sighed and let her go. Straightening up her shirt and apologizing. "I'm sorry, I.. It's been a tough.. Tough everyday.. Look.. That.. Rumor has hurt me and my.. People, so... I need it all to stop.." He admitted. Kori stared at him. Lightning really was so broken. Kori frowned and felt ashamed. "I'm sorry.. You.. You don't have to pay me anything. I understand. It was a horrible thing I did and.." She paused as her eyes teared up. "And I.." She paused again, but now she was crying. "And I hate myself for my job. I hate my life." Lightning's eyes widened as he stared at the crying woman. "Woah.. I. I didn't mean"-"I knew it was wrong! I knew what I was doing was so mean and terrible and to you!? After how nice you were to me?.." She cried. Lightning blushed red as he tried to calm her down. "No, no.. I.. I didn't mean to make you cry. I just meant that the photo,-photos need to be burned or-or something." Lightning felt incredibly uncomfortable here. Kori only continued to cry and wail as she vented. "I just needed the money to keep my house, my car!.. I wasn't trying to ruin you.." "You didn't ruin me. I'm fine.. Really.." "I just needed to get you being mean! Let the fans see a side of you that they didn't know or I was going to be fired!" She cried! Lighting snickered placed a hand on Kori's shoulder. "If you want that, fine. Lightning McQueen is now done hiding, okay? I.. I sometimes take the last of the coffee without telling my girlfriend, knowing she will want a cup in the morning and yet I still take it. And then when she ask about it, I lie. I tell her she must have forgotten to buy more, but really I already drank that to most of the time. You want more? I.. I sometimes look at other women. Yeah, I know, so rude. I also talk shit about my friends behind their backs, but that's okay because they do the same about me to. I sometimes actually hate my fans. Sometimes I want to run away. The other day, I actually drove up to the interstate and asked my girlfriend about leaving and a part of me wanted to. I wanted to give all of this up because I am dead inside right now. You want to know what Lightning McQueen is hiding?.. It's that.. He's no doing okay. I'm.. Depressed and.. Broken and taking experimental drugs just to be the man you people want. To put on a smile and have the mental and emotional energy to make love to my girlfriend.. I take pills so that I feel.. alive, but.. I'm not living. I'm just.. Getting by.. I'm not.. I'm not me now. I'm no Lightning McQueen, I'm.. I'm just a sad and.. Depressed celebrity who is barely getting by, but.. I'm still here. Like everyone wants.. You.. You know what the real story is?" He asked softly.
Kori wiped her eyes and sniffled a bit before shaking her head. Lightning sighed with a frown then answered. "The real story here is that.. Race car drivers aren't treated like family out here.. We're treated like pawns. Once we've made enough for the big company here.. We are just thrown away. We try talking about it and we get fired or have to sign legal documents that say shut up or never race again basically. I mean.. I can't even take normal medication and yet I can take anything that isn't technically approved yet.. It's making me all emotionally unstable and.. I can't control myself. If anything, I feel worse and... And that's the real story here.." Kori stared at Lightning a moment. Sniffling and wiping her tear covered cheeks. "You're right.." She replied. "That is a story. What.. What has racing really done to Lightning McQueen. Now that is a story. Would you.. Would you be willing to do a trade-off?" "What now?" Lightning was confused. Kori wiped the last of her tears then explained. "Trade me the story for everything I have on you." "But.. You Said"-"Tell me what's really going on under the hood Lightning. Does the President know about these things? What about your sponsors? I can't imagine Rusteze letting their big racer being treated this way. And.. You can't be the only racer that is being abused by the system, right?" She asked. Lightning thought about that. No. No, he couldn't be. But at the moment, he only knew of one other racer that was having any sort of problems. Cal Weathers. Lightning suddenly said. "Maybe. I'll be right back." Kori shook her head and asked. "What do you mean? Do you want to trade or not?" "I do, maybe. I just.. Give me a second. Meet me back at my trailer in about.. An hour, okay?" Kori nodded. Lightning took off rather quickly. He needed to speak with Cal. Kori sighed and turned away to head out when a man appeared from the shadows. "Miss Kori (Don't remember her last name)" Kori gasped and asked "Who are you?" The man snickered, answering. "You could say that I'm Lightning McQueen's bosses' boss's informant." Kori raised a brow. "I'm sorry, what? That was a very confusing way to put that and introduce yourself. So you're.. Rusteze's boss's informant?.." She asked slowly and confused." The man slapped his fore-head and corrected. "No, I.. I work for the President himself and." He paused and inhaled loudly as he smiled. "He will be attending this.. Meeting along with you and Mr. McQueen." Kori nodded replying. "Oooh, okay. See, now that was better. Now I know who you are sort of and-oh..." She realized the trouble and predicament she had put herself and Lightning in...
Lighting walked up to the Dinico trailer parked next to the tent. He knocked. Nothing. He knocked again and called. "Cal!.. Cal, I need to speak with you!" Nothing. Lightning sighed. Josephine suddenly appeared from around the corner of the trailer and asked. "You okay?" With a smile. Lightning stared at her. He remembered how he lied to her last time. Mostly because and for Sally. "Yeah, I just.. I need to speak with Cal." "He's in the tent Baby." She pointed. Lightning glared and scolded. "Thanks and don't call me that. I'm not a baby." He walked around her quite rudely. Josie followed him and asked "What's up your ass?" Lightning sighed and rolled his eyes. "Nothing Josie, it doesn't concern you." "Well sure, but I worry about you. You are so.. All over the place these last few months." Lightning stopped and sighed. rubbing his eyes as he felt a head ache coming on. "Do you have any dirt of the Weathers?" He asked suddenly. Josie's eyes widened. Why would Lightning want dirt on them? "What? Why would you ask me that?" "Because I can't trust anyone and especially those who can get too close too easily and I realized that Tex obviously has a special place for you. You stood out to him from the other models which really if you think about it, makes me think you slept with him." Josie's jaw dropped! But Lightning didn't stop there. "I know something went on with Cal and the girls, but I don't know what and that makes me think you can get even closer. Fuck, you played me well and teased me, dragging me along enough to make me want you. If I've learned anything, it's that you can't trust people like you."
Josie grew furious! "Excuse me Lightning? I don't know what you're on, but you can drop that shit now with me. I am genially concerned as your friend. And how dare you assume I slept with Tex, that is disgusting!" Lightning crossed his arms and just asked it. "So you didn't sleep with him?" Josie blushed, answering "That.. That's besides the point!" "MMhmm..." Lightning growled. He then made his way into the tent and began calling for his friend. "Cal! Cal Weathers!" Josie grabbed Lightning and forced him to look at her as she spoke. "first off, you will never speak to me with that tone again! Second, are you fucking high right now?" Lightning gently pushed her away. "No, I'm fine!" He snapped. Cal walked up and asked. "What's going on?" Lightning didn't waste time. "Why are you taking the experimental drugs and why didn't you tell me about the fertility clinic?" Cal's eyes widened and his face turned blood-red. The Dinico models, Josephine, the workers and a janitor all looked and Cal and Lightning. It was so quiet, but Lightning didn't seem to care. Cal nervously answered. "I.. I don't know what you're talkin about McQueen..." Lightning's brows lowered. "Yes you do. The doctor told me another racer was on the pills and was maybe having fertility problems or something, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S CALLED! And you were seen there, less than a month ago! It's you." Cal stared at his friend, but.. Honestly, right now he wasn't so sure that Lightning was his friend. "I.. I don't know what you are talkin about Lightnin.. You.. You seem to be upset and maybe you should go rest whatever it is that's bothering you off." "Nothing is bothering me Cal! Except that you, as my friend are now hiding things from me!" Lightning snapped.
Cal only snapped back with "Is this because I'm winning!? Because you're to much of an emotional wreck to actually drive!?" "You fucking kidding me!?" Lightning yelled. Cal only got into Lighting's face. "You came into my tent and come in here getting angry with me for hiding things and yet, here you are being anything but a friend right now! Yeah, I'm taking the medications, but not because the President is making me! I chose to because I needed them! You are not the only one of us going through shit Lightnin! As for the dam clinic! I was there because!... Because..." Megan stared from the distance behind Cal. She looked hurt and scared, maybe even ashamed. "Cal?..." She muttered with pain. Cal heard her. He knew she didn't want him to speak about it. So he calmed down, cleared his throat nervously then quietly replied. "Lightnin.. This isn't the place for this.. Just call me later." But Lightning wouldn't stop. "No. I want to know what is going on now. Why are you taking the pills Cal!? Why won't you talk to me about this? Why are shutting me out?! Is it her!?" He yelled, referring to Meg. Cal stared a moment. Something was wrong with Lightning. "Lightnin.. Stop." "I need to know! I am taking them to, okay? You're not alone and.. And I think that they are making me see clearly for the first time even! The system is broken!" Cal shook his head. Lightning sounded crazy!
Cal sighed as Lightning muttered on about this thing. "The president has always put our real needs aside. He's killing us and we're letting him so he can make us look good! Make him look good!" Lightning exclaimed. Cal rubbed his eyes then asked "Do you hear yourself. You are talking insane and you are goin to get us into trouble." "Exactly! Why should we fear him that much! Especially you! You're the son of racing champion, THE KING!" Cal motioned over his body guards. Two men walked over and stood by Cal. Lightning noticed them and asked. "What are you doing?" Cal hated this, but answered. "I asked you to stop..." "But you.. You can't be serious? Is this the President? Did he tell you to do this!? Are you allowed to talk about this?" Lightning was just fool of it. Cal frowned and looked down at the floor. The two men grabbed Lightning. One on each of his arms Lightning became even more angry. "Are you seriously going to do this to me!?" He yelled! Cal looked away and mumbled. "You give me no choice Lightnin.." Lightning's eyes widened with what felt and looked like betrayal. "Cal, wait.." he called, but the body guards escorted him out. Cal watched them take his friend. He hated that, but he couldn't talk to Lightning like this. He turned around to see Meg. Tears in her eyes after that. Their truth was about to come out and everyone would know her shame soon because of Lightning McQueen...
Lighting yanked away from the guards outside and snapped. "I can take it from here! I got it.' They watched him walk away from the tent. Lightning took a deep breath as he walked. He did sound insane, Why was he so... Everywhere suddenly. Just like Josie said. He rubbed his head. His emotions were getting to him like crazy. He was trying to control them like Doc told him to, but.. It was way harder than Doc said it would be. Lightning knew he was i the wrong back there, but he couldn't help it. It was like all his emotions were all bottled up inside and once they started getting out, there was no stopping them. Lightning walked to his trailer and opened the door. Inside, he shut the door and saw Kori sitting on the couch. She wasn't alone though. Of course the President was here. Leaning on the Bolt. Lightning sighed and asked. "What do you want?.." The President wasn't alone either. The doctor or therapist or whatever he was, was there to. The President smiled and explained. "I need to help you obviously. The medication isn't working well for you, so... I think you should take something else." Lightning glanced at Kori. Why was she here if they were here. I mean, he knew he asked her to meet with him, but.. Something wasn't right. "What is this about?.." Lightning asked. The President sighed and thought a moment before answering that. "Well.. You see.. I can't have you-wait.. Where is your girlfriend? Sally, right?" Lightning stared. Why would the President ask about Sally? "Home.." Lightning muttered with slight confusion.
The President seemed glad of that. "Great. I can't have you slandering my name. I also understand that you can't have Miss Jori here." "Kori." Kori corrected. "Right, Kori here... Slandering yours. So! I was hoping we could all come to a little agreement and after second-hand overhearing what you and Kori spoke about and.. Planned.." Kori again corrected that "There was no plan." The President faked a chuckle. A frustrated and angry sounding, fake chuckle. It was uneasy feeling. "Look... I am here to put a stop to all slandering and to help you feel better Mr. McQueen." Lightning stared at the man and the doctor. He wasn't sure what to do. sally would know. Sally always knew, but.. She wasn't here right now. Lightning understood why the President asked about her now. It was because she was an attorney and his lawyer. Lightning took a deep breath and answered. "No, I can't take anything else and.. I don't think we should talk without my lawyer present anymore Sir.." The President sighed and shook his head. "I was really hoping we could be decent about this situation." He muttered. Kori then spoke up with "I won't tell anyone anything, like.. I don't even understand what is going on in here honestly.. Can I just go home now?" she asked nervously.
The President looked at her and explained. "You wanted to get under the hood with Lightning McQueen and see what I have in turn done to him. Yet.. You have so many horrible things on him supposedly. You may not leave until I have those files. I have to protect my racers." Kori stared at Lightning with confusion. She thought the President was bad, but here he was sticking up for Lightning and protecting him. "I don't have them on me.. They are on a file on my laptop in my car.." Kori admitted. The President nodded and asked "What do you drive?" "Just an aqua blue puma.." The President grabbed out his phone and made a call. "Yes.. A.. What year?" "What?.. Ninety seven.." "A nineteen ninety-seven Ford Puma. Yes. Aqua blue. It will have the pass on it. Name should be under a Kori (No last name, sorry)" He then hung up. Kori was all kinds of confused. "What are you doing with my car?" She asked. The President assured nothing. "Lightning.. You can't keep thinking that I am out to harm you or out to ruin you or control you because I'm not." Lightning only got defensive. "So what about that car of tomorrow? huh? You really made me upgrade the dam car to the point you were willing to wreck me out there." "You wrecked your friends Lightning. I gave you the option to have a safer and better car that would lessen the chance of fatal accidents. You care to tell the reporter here why you refused to upgrade safety? To upgrade the survival of racers? Why you would rather drive an old fashion, broken race car than a safer one that would almost guarantee your life would be saved in the chance of a roll over?"
Lightning didn't answer. The President snickered. "That's what I thought." He growled. A knock came onto the door. The President walked over and opened it. A man in a security outfit brought a laptop bag to the man. The President took it and shut the door, telling the man to wait outside. Kori stood up and snapped. "That's my laptop! You broke into my car!?" She was furious! The President set the bag on the hood of the race car, opened it and took out the laptop. Kori ran over and shouted "Give it back!" The President took the laptop and smashed it down onto the floor in front of everyone! Parts flew everywhere! "WHAT! My work!" She yelled! The President sighed and explained. "I take care of my racers. You make sure to write about that in your next blog Kori." She began to cry and yelled "You fucking monster! That laptop was work! I needed it to keep everything on!" The man whipped out his checkbook and a pen and wrote down a number, signed it and then ripped it off and handed it to Kori asking. "Will this be enough for a replacement and for your troubles?" Kori looked at the check that read $25,000.00. Kori turned pale. Of course it was enough. A new laptop, pay her bills, catch up on them, travel fees. The works. She looked at Lightning and just stared. The President didn't seem bad at all! The President smiled and continued to make himself look good. "I take care of my racer Miss Jori." "It's.. Kori.." She corrected.
The man sighed. Ignoring that. "Yes, well.. I will not let you slander my golden racer for fun. You can go now. Security is waiting to escort you back to your car. And.. I do not want to ever see you here and hurting my racer's names or mine ever again. Am I clear?" Kori nodded then left. Once alone with just the doctor and Lightning. The President asked. "Are you happy?" Lightning frowned and stared at the race car. "No.. I'm not.." The doctor then took out a medication, walked over and handed it to Lightning. "This should help you better... I'm sorry the others didn't.." Lightning looked at the new pills. He sighed. The President only ordered Lightning to "Say thank you to the Doctor Lightning. He is helping you for free." So Lightning nodded and did as instructed. "Thanks doc.." Doc.. That hurt. Doc would never let this man do this to him. The Doctor nodded then left. The President looked at Lightning then ordered. "Take your medication." Lightning stared at the pills. He looked up and asked. "Why? It's only a temporary fix anyway, right?.." The President sighed and he did worry for the racer. "Take the medications as it says to on the label Lightning. I need my star racer back." Lightning snickered rudely and growled. "Oh, now you want me to win?" Childishly. The President then left to without replying or answering. Lightning was alone now. Again. With the pills. He stared at them. He didn't care anymore. He opened the bottle and took as the label instructed. If it would help or make him feel better, he didn't care. These were good pills. The good kind. That help...