Lightning walked up to us pits. There he found Leon. Lighting immediately and rudely asked, What the hell are you doing here? Didn't I fire you?" Leon crossed his arms answering, "Rusty called me back here. Said you needed some help today. Told me what happened." Lightning's scowling expression faded as he frowned. No crew. Only his Coach and Mack. He sighed and began wondering if he made the right decision firing every single one of his crew members. Mack noticed Lightning's emotion and asked, "You alright, Kid?" Lightning looked at his friend and nodded, "Yeah, for sure." But his tone was a fake uplifting one. Leon walked up and placed a hand on the kid's shoulder and reminded, "No crew means long pit stops. You can't be pitting countless times tomorrow. You try and get pole today when you qualify." "How can I even qualify? I don't have a car." The racer reminded. Leon smiled and corrected, "You do actually. Thanks to one of your future employers." Lightning raised a brow, not understanding. Leon smiled and reminded, "O'Reilly. His daughter, Tiffany set you up." "Really?" "Really. You have a car. You aren't missing the race because of one stupid crew member." Leon assured. Lightning nodded.

Sure, the racer was thankful that Tiffany helped him out but.. It was suspicious. So Lightning headed to Tiffany's garage. She was there with her team. Cleaning up her car from practice. She saw Lightning and glared. Lightning smiled nervously and asked, "How was practice?" Tiffany crossed her arms and asked, "Did you get the car?" "Not yet." "It's in your garage. You're welcome." She growled. Lightning thanked her then left. Not wanting to cause any problems between them further. Lightning walked to his garage to find Sally leaning against it waiting. "Wondering where you went off to." She mumbled. Lightning nodded then walked into his garage to see the race car. It was a plain red car with the number 95 on it where it should be and his sponsors' tags. He sighed. Sally raised. A row and asked, "Where the heck did this thing come from?" "O'Reilly. He and his daughter." "Wow. They just want you to work for them in the offseason." "Yeah," Lightning replied.

This is when it hit Sally. The Offseason.. That's when they were going to start trying for a baby. But this would also be the same time they moved to another state. She was a little worried that wouldn't be a good idea. But she chose not to say anything about it for now. It was a ways away right now. First, they had to get married. Suddenly a knock on the door. The couple turned to see Bobby who leaned on the door's frame and asked, "Think I could borrow you, McQueen?" Lightning glanced at Sally who smiled, "Go on." LIghtning walked out and along with his friend. Asking, "What's up, Bobby."

Bobby motioned for Lightning to follow him through the trailers. All the way to another racer's trailer. Tony's. Lightning raised. a row and asked, "What exactly are we doing, Bobby?" Bobby shooshed Lightning then walked around and opened the door to the trailer on the side. Bobby quickly walked inside and Lightning nervously waited outside. "Bobby..." He called quietly. "We shouldn't be in Tony's stuff.." Bobby then peeked out and grabbed Lightning by the collar and pulled him into the trailer, slamming the door closed behind them. Lightning looked around. "Wow.." He muttered. Lots of pictures of girls. Bobby snickered and said, "Seems like this guy jerks a bit much." "Bobby..." Lightning growled, "What are we doing here?" He asked.

Bobby grabbed a bag out of his jacket. Filled with what looked like little miniature penises. Lightning's brows lowered as he asks,d "Do I want to know what you are going to do with those?" Bobby chuckled, "Probably not but here. Hold these." He said as he shoved the bag of miniature plastic penises at Lightning. Lightning's lips curled at that. Bobby then grabbed super glue and began taking one or two and gluing them in places in the trailer. Lightning's jaw dropped slightly as he began scolding, "Bobby.. This is so bad.. What if we get caught?" "Nah. Not gonna happen." He assured as he glued the little offensive body parts all over the trailer.

All over it! On the light switches, a trophy, some of the pictures of women, tools, photo frames. He took one last one and glued it right near the mouth on a poster of Tony himself! Bobby smiled proudly and said, "There. A work of art!" Lightning stared at the poster a moment before whining, "This is a bad idea.. Let's.. Just get out of here before we get in trouble. I can not believe you dragged me into this." Bobby snickered and admitted, "I had to have someone to share this with." The two stepped out of the trailer and closed the door. Just as Tony and his coach walked up. Tony's brows lowered as he asked, "What are you two doing here?" LIghtning smiled nervously as Bobby answered, "Just checking out the competition." Tony glared. Not believe that at all.

Tony looked at Lightning who seemed nervous. Bobby then pushed Lightning a little saying, "We should go. Good, tomorrow." Tony rolled his eyes and opened the door to the trailer. Lightning and Bobby walked away. "Act natural.." Bobby muttered quietly as they walked but then they heard Tony scream! "BOBBY!" The two friends stopped and glanced back at a very angry Tony! Tony saw them and shouted, "MCQUEEN!" Bobby looked at Lighting and asked, "Think he knows?" LIghtning glared and snarled, "You think?" Tony growled loudly then began running at them and shouting, "You two are dead!" BObby laughed replying, "Gotta catch us first!" Then took off running! LIghtning's eyes widened as he saw Bobby leave him! SO Lightning quickly took off running right behind Bobby with Tony close behind!

Bobby ran between Cal and his trailer, Lightning following close behind! Cal noticed and shouted, "Watch it!" Tony then came running right behind them! Cal's brows lowered as he knew something was going on now. Bobby ran straight through the pit entrance, dodging a few people walking around as he shouted, "Excuse me! COming though! Out of the way!" People gasped and stared. A man with a hot dog kart stopped and stared as well. Lightning came running right behind! "Sorry!, Sorry! Look out!" He shouted as he ran and scurried through the crowd! He saw the hot dog kart and ran straight into it! "AH!" THUD! He fell and shook his head. Then heard behind him, Tony, "You are dead McQueen!" Lightnin glanced back to see Tony running towards him. Lightning stood up, grabbed the kart from the guy, and slung it right towards Tony! Tony stopped and dodges it. The kart falling over. Tony looked even angrier with Lightning.

Lighting's eyes widened before he took off again! Tony running right behind him! Lightning ran through the crowds and back into the pits! Jumping over two barriers into other racer's pits with Tony behind him! Honestly, how the hell was he still running!? He thought! Then Lightning turned sharp and ran to the restrooms where he barged in and closed the door only to see a bunch of women staring at him. He panted heavily then blushed and apologized before peeking out. Tony ran by so Lightning ran out of the bathroom, only to be stopped by Cal who snapped, "What is going on, Lightning? What did you do?" Lightning glanced back to see TOny stop and see him. Lightning pushed Cal out of the way and ran! Cal shouting, "HEY! MCQUEEN!" Tony then ran after him.

Lightning ran to the trailers, running and swerving between them all until he was so out of breath he just couldn't! He ran behind a trailer and leaned don it. Trying to hide. He could hear Tony's steps as he slowed down. Looking for Lightning. Lightning tried controlling his breathing so he wouldn't get caught. Tony was getting closer and closer. Lightning slowly walked around the trailer as he heard Tony coming. Tony stopped. Looking around then peeking underneath the trailer before shouting, "I got you, McQueen! Just give it up!" "Why? What are we going to do? Hit me?" "Maybe. Or maybe I just want a picture with you." "Oh sure, yeah. If that's all, just make your way to the rustieze tent and wait in line like everyone else." "Ha! NO special privilege? I thought we were closer than that!" Lightning snickered and panted. Still catching his breath.

"Why don't we settle this on the track? Like real men? It was just a harmless prank after all." Lightning tried reasoning. Tony chuckled replying, "Sure. Why not. It was harmless after all. I'll see you out on the track tomorrow, McQueen." Then walked away. Lightning sighed. Starting to think that maybe he needed better friends...

And McQueen makes a risky move cutting Tony there. You know Tony won't be letting him slide by like that again.

Lightning looked in his rearview to see Tony. Shifting the car into the turn as he asked, "How many more laps again?"

Sally answered in the mic of the radio, "Eighty. You doing alright, Stickers?"

"Yup. I'm alright, Sal. Leon, I'm losing grip out here with every turn."

Leon then watched Lighting from the pits as he asked, "You wanna bring it in?"

Lightning hesitated before sighing, "How long was the last stop?"

Leon glanced down at Mack. Mack pulled out the stopwatch and showed the coach. Leon sighed before answering, "Sixteen. But if it's slick now, it's gonna get real bad before the checkered flag."

"I can hold out. I've done it before."

"You were lucky before, kid. Need a game plan. The slicker they get, the closer Tony's gonna ride you. He's already angry with you. That's playing with fire." Warned Leon. Sally then butted in with, "You should pit. Now while you have time to catch up."

Lightning glanced behind him then at the pits. Staring at the track. He was in first. Better than had he been doing. He sighed and asked, "Sixteen seconds, huh?" Leon nodded answering, "I think we can make it fourteen." Glancing at Mack who put a thumbs up and began getting the tires rolled out.

Lightning decided to turn the bolt onto the pit lane. Slowing her down and watching Tony take the lead from him. Followed by Cal and Bobby on his tail. Lightning sighed. He was going to have a lot of ground to make up...

Lightning waves to the fans as he stood up onto the he stages along with Cal and Tony. Third. Not bad with no crew. Not bad at all. Tony looked over and called, "Hey, McQueen." Lightning glanced back. Tony snickered, "Nice race." Lightning just glared at mumbled, "Fuck you." Then went back to smiling and waving at the fans and cameras flashing. Tony smiled. He loved the game between him and Lightning. So Lightning began making his way down the stage. A few fans shoving things at him to sign. He was able to sign a. Few but it was overwhelming. He made a few happy enough to please the crowd and cameras getting photos of him signing and interacting with the people before he finally made his way into the pits. There, sitting on one of the toolboxes of his pits was Sally. Smiling and waiting for him. Lightning smiled seeing her. Dressed up in her boot-cut jeans and baby blue button-up. Her hair down and straight and make-up. Always so dressed up. Even for races.

"Hey, Beautiful." He greeted her as he stood in front of her. Grabbing her hips as he looked up at her. Sally smiled and leaned down to kiss him. Just a quick and cute kiss. "You did well today." She complimented. Lightning snickered and leaned on the toolbox as he joked, "Well I did have you as a crew member today. I think you kept me level-headed out there." Sally rolled her eyes and admitted, "I know nothing out there. You are just lucky that Rusty called Leon." Lightning nodded. Yeah, it was nice how Rusteze always looked out for him. Lightning sighed and asked, "Why don't you come to more of my races?" Sally raised a brow. "You know why I can't do that, Lightning." She answered. Lightning frowned arguing, "You work too much. Being the town's attorney, my attorney, two motels, it's too much on you." "It's not really." "Sal.." Lightning began as he pulled her down from the toolbox. Holding her close in front of him. "I want more of you. I want to see you more. Can't you let go of something?" "You are cute, Stickers. You will have more of me. In a few weeks, I'll be your wife. That's as much as I can give of myself to anyone." She smiled.

Lightning could not wait to marry her but that's not what he meant. "I meant that I want more of you physically with me." "You will get that once we are married to." She joked. Lightning sighed with a bit of a growl and corrected, "You know what I mean." Sally sighed and nodded replying, "Yeah... But I can't. I don't belong on these race tracks. You need a real crew. A real coach. I am useless out here!" She giggled. Lightning smiled and corrected, "You are not useless. Don't ever let me hear you say that about yourself again either. You keep me grounded. From doing stupid things. If it weren't for you, I know I'd be a much bigger jerk. A loose cannon on these tracks. I'd have nothing to lose." "So I'm your weakness?" Salt questioned. Lightning snickered and pulled her close. Hugging her and taking in her scent through her hair. "You are my something to live for. A reason to take the safer route and come home at the end of the day. Not a weakness." Sally wrapped her arms around her love. That was a super sweet thing to say. It made her feel special and loved. And a little bad that she worked so much. But she could never give all that up. She could never give all the things she worked so hard for up for anything!...