LIghting kissed Sally goodbye befor getting into the Bolt and speeding off to meet with Tiffany at the dirt track for training. Sally waved goodbye as she watched him go then closed the curtains and began to clean up around the house. STarting with the kitchen. Dishes done, counters wiped clean then open the fridge and set out something for dinner tonight. Next, fix some coffee as it was a daily need. Living room. Rug vacuumed, shelves and tv dusted, fireplace cleaned out. SPray some air freshener on the furniture and curtains. Light a candle or two while sipping coffee.
Laundry. Take the clothes from the dryer out and throw over the bed to fold later. Move the current clothes from the washer to the dryer and wipe down the washer before loading it with more laundry. Sally kept her house pretty clean anyway, so she was just about finished. This was tens routine while Lightning was away. Sally felt some cramping. She rubbed her abdomen. Probably her period. Rubbing her lower belly, she thought of the possibility that one day she would be pregnant. With Lightning's baby! But that also leads her to think about Meg and Cal. Tears gathering in her eyes.
What an awful thing to have to go through. LIke before, Sally didn't have a choice with her first pregnancy... But Meg... She knew that her baby was going to die. She just got to decide how and when. How awful. Sally shook her head. She couldn't think about it to much or it would send her into an emotional and painful cry. SO she continued laundry. FInding something in one of Lightninng's jeans. A tube feeling like thing. "What the heck?" She muttered then reached into his pocket.
Her eyes widened as she pulled out a tube of Red lipstick that seemed to be used. "What?.." There was something else. Felt like a card or something. "Oh god.. Please don't be a condom.." SHe whimpered as she pulled out a business card. Sighing with some relief at least. Sally turned it over and read it. "Red Carpet private suites.. A place to call home when your away from home." Flipping it back over and seeing the number and words reading 'Luxury dining, service, and private floors for the best'. Sally stared at this and the lipstick. Lightning wouldn't cheat, already? Seriously? Something about this didn't make sense...
Lightning and Tiffany sat at the dirt on the ground. Staring at the old dirt track. Tiffany tossing a few rocks. Lightning was taking the opportunity to probe Tiff abut her Father. "So.. Your Dad is very interested in me. Why?" Tiffany shrugged answering, "Don't feel super special there, Champ. My Dad has a thing for money. Anything that could bring him profit. You are famous and grab peoples attention. You are nice to look at and catch peoples eyes. You helping me improve driving is just reassurance." "But you don't want to race.." "I don't but I also don't care to." "You r4eally haven't inmprovesd, Tiffany. He's going to catch on soon." LIghtning warned.
Tiffany just sighed. She didn't want to really learn much more about the sport because she didn't really care. Lightning then asked, "What all is your Dad gaining through me anyway?" "Well.. A better racer with me, more students at the school, a few private meetings with other sponsors now sense he knows you on a more personal level. He has so many people saying they are willing to pay him to get you racing for them." "Is he trying to make me leave Rusteze?" Asked the champion.
Tiffany snickered, "I doubt that. But he might." She shrugged. "I never know everything my Dad has panned for the future. He does really like you though. It was between you and Cal, but Tex would not budge on letting Cal out during the off season. It's funny, actually." "What is?" "How in control Tex is over Cal, but Rusty and Dusty seem to let you run a muck and do whatever you want. YOu are a lucky driver. Most sponsors don't do that." "Yeah.. I know I'm lucky." Muttered McQueen. But thinking abut how O'Reilly threatened him, he continued to ask, "Your Dad told me it could be extremely good or.. Dangerous.. For me to work with him. Do you know what that means?" Tiffay stared at Lightning silently.
"Tiff... You need to tell me if I need to worry about something." Pleaded McQueen. Tiffany sighed, "MY Dad always gets what he wants, Lightning. No matter what he has to do or who he has to use to get it." LIghtning's eyes widened! "Like.. Murder?.." He stuttered. Tiffany busted out laughing! "NO!" She shouted as her laughing continued! ""He just can turn good people against good people and has ways of pushing people into what he wants. Takes priveledges away and such." "So just makes life hell until he gets his way?" Tiffany nodded. LIghtning was furious with Tiffany's Father. But that made him ask, "Has he used you?" Tiffany stared at Lightning a moment before standing up and changing the subject, "You said he may notice my racing hasn't improved if I don't do some actual work. Why don't you help me out so we don't get into trouble? HHmm?" She smiled. LIghtnihng stood up but hearing that.. Meant that O'Reilly had even used his own daughter for his biddings...
LIghtning and Tiffany got back to the McQueen home to find Sally standing in the entrance in wait. LIhtbng raised a brow and asked, "What's wrong?" Sally glared and crossed her arms. Looking at Tiffany ad ordering, "GO to your room and leave me alone with my husband." The way she said that sent a fear into Lightning! The panties.. FUck.. She found out somehow! But how!? He was still trying to figure out how they got there and didn't he get rid of theM Yea, so that wasn't it. Tiffany stared at teh floor as she left the room. The couple could hear her door close and Lightning quickly asked, "What's going on? I feel like I'm in trouble." Sally shook her head then revealed the lipstick and a card in her hand.
Lightning stared at the items and asked, "What is this?" Sally sighed and handed him the card as she explained, "I found these i the pocket of your jeans." Lightning turned pale! "Sally, I never"-"I know. At least.. I think I know. I called the motel and no one by your name has ever stayed there." "That's because I never did." Lightning defended. Sally nodded then stared at the lipstick and mumbled, "TIffany has though." Lightning was speachless. Unsure what Sally was getting at yet. "I never slept with her or anyone else for that matter. I love you." "I know, Stickers. I snooped through Tiffany's things.." "Seriously?.." "I know I shouldn't have, but after I found these I had no choice! The Lipstick is the same brand as the other's she has. She even has a new one of that exact one.. This tells me she planted it there. The suite, belongs to O'Reilly..."
Lightning grew more and more angry. Did Tiffany and her Father seriously go this far!? "IS there something going on with you and Tiffany?" "What!? No! No, not ever. I.. I never slept with her.." He mumbled. Sally sighed then came to the conclusion, "Then what is going on? Tiffany is planting suggestions." "That explains the panties.." Lightning growled. Sally's brows lowered as she asked, "What panties?" Lightning blushed a little before admitting, "I found a pair of panties in the corvette. Wedged between the seats. I knew they weren't yours but I also never slept with anyone else. I got rid of them because I didn't want you to worry and I honestly still don't know how they got there!" "When was this?" "The um.. Night we got back from Carolina." Answered Lightning.
Sally had to think about all of this for a moment. She had no reason so assume Lightning was lying. So she nodded with, "OKay, I trust you." "You should. I did not sleep with anyone else but you." "So.. All of this started when we let Tiffany into our out home.." "I'm telling O'Reilly that I will not be training her anymore. Okay?" "Obviously, but.. I'm going to confront Tiffany myself." Sally growled then began marching to the young girl's room. Lightning following with, "Me too."
The couple made their way to Tiffany's room where Sally knocked and ordered, "Open the door, Tiffany. We need to talk to you." Slowly, the door opened. Lighting stepping in and asking, "Are you trying to set me up?" TIffany's brows raised, "What!? No, no... I. I don't-didn't-wouldn't do anything to set you up. For what though exactly?.." Sally then revealed the lipstick and the card and said, "We know it's you, Tiffany." Lightning crossed his arms and and growled, "Tell me what is going on." Tiffany sighed.
Staring at the floor for a moment before answering, "I don't know what you are talking about. I never planted anything anywhere," "Who said you did?" Asked Sally. Tiffany became defensive with, "You both just came in here and asked if I'm setting Lightning up!? I'm not doing anything! I'm calling my Dad!" She shouted as she stomped out of the room Sally sighed and looked to Lightning saying, "Maybe O'Reilly will handle it and deal with Tiffany's unacceptable behavior." Lightning wasn't so sure about that though. In fact, he kind of figured that O'Reilly made Tiffany do it...
Lightning sat in his trailer. Sitting on the couch with his helmet next to him. Thinking over som things. Mostly about things going on with the O'Reilly's. No way out of this, but there had to be a reason. Besides the fact that Lightning could make the man some extra cash. It didn't make sense or add up to the racer.
Knock, knock, knock. Lightning looked at the door of his trailer and called, "Who'es there?" THe door opened and Sally walked in greeting, "Hey, Stickers." Lightning smiled as he greeted her back, "Hey, Sal." Standing as she closed the door and approached. But she didn't look happy at all. "Sal? What's wrong?" He asked. Sally took LIghtning's hands in hers and announced, "The Bolt is back. The one form the Prix. I got an email today about them finishing their investigation and the return of your property. It's being delivered back home as we speak."
Lightning swallowed nervously then asked, "They... They didn't just scrap it?" Sally shook her head. "But it was.. Was totaled." "I know." "And it's dangerous to even run. If it could, that is.. So there is no reason to even repair the thing." "I know." "I... What did they say? ABout the investigation?" Lightning asked curiously. Sally sighed, "Well, a lot... It's in some emails and files back home. And we'll have a detailed file about the Bolt once we get back home and sign for it." "Okay... I think... I think that I'd like to glance over all of that stuff.. WIth you.. If that's alright?" "Of course it is, Stickers!" Sally exclaimed then pulled him close in a hug.
"Thanks for always being here for me, Sal." Lightning murmured sweetly. Sally snickered back with. "Of course. I"lol always be here for you, Lightning." Lightning loved this woman so much with every fiber in him. She was everything he could have ever wanted...
Lightning stood in front of the large container from the freight ship. A semi dropped it off a few days ago. It was late and the couple and team had just gotten back from the weekend race. Dark out, quiet. Sally peeked out the window to see Lightning still standing and staring at the container. She sighed. It seemed this was hard for the racer.
Lightning stared. Thinking about that day. The fear in him as he saw Sally appear.. As the gun was pushed up against her, as she helplessly begged him to stay away because she didn't want to watch him die. Lightning made a promise to himself in this moment. He would never be that weak again. To let anyone come between him and the love of his life. "Lightning.." "AAH!" Lightning snapped as he jumped back! Sally frowned and stared at him. No words. Lightning let out a sigh of relief. "Sorry, I was... Thinking." He mumbled. Sally stepped closer and reminded, "You don't have to open it now. It's late. Let's go on in for the night and tomorrow you can look. IN the daylight." She said as she nudged her husband, Lightning nodded, agreeing, "Yeah, okay.".
The couple walked inside, Sally locking the door behind her. Lighting turning and asking, "Can I see the folder. Of the reports?" Sally nodded and walked to the kitchen where she handed Lightning the yellow folder. It was rather thick. A lot of written words here. Lighting sighed and took it to the living room where he sat down and opened. Sally grabbed some drinks and walked over, sitting next to him.
The 95 car, Lightning McQueen.
Car was recovered with severe damage to the front bumper, fenders, and fuel tank. Gaping hole through the bumper, engine, and dash. KIll Switch never activated, car disabled form damage.
Car was found to have a tampered fuel system and the kill switch described and disabled.
Fuel Allinol. Car was meant to heat to a boil and explode upon reaching a point of temperature, Car did not reach said point due to a failure in remote access. Car was out of range.
NO further evidence of tampering or malfunction. Car seems to meet racing criteria. Car was damaged by fuse between another vehicle. Not associated with Sir Miles Axelrod's tampering.
Car is of no further worth to investigation. Return to Lightning McQueen,
Lightning stared at this. There were many photos of the Bolt. Being stripped part by part and some put back together. "You okay?" Sally asked. Lightning nodded before closing the folder. He then looked at Sally and smiled. He brushed her hair out of her face and cooed, "I'm so happy that you are alright." Sally smiled in return. Leaning in and kissing Lightning's lips softly...