A/N: Hey! Sorry for the hiatus! I've been all over the state of Texas and I've been mentally ad physically exhausted from school and home and everything. Sorry again and hope you guys enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 14: Some Confessions
The minutes that the cars of the jury were gone grew into hours. Harley looked uneasily at Doc who looked just as tense as she was. Harley inhaled deeply then looked for a clock, but she couldn't find one. Glancing up at Judge Stafford, she saw that even he looked on edge. Finally, she caught a glimpse of Sheriff who tapped his tire on the wood floor. Harley looked at her hood and could barely see her reflection of her eyes. She glanced back with her mirrors and could a glance from her uncle. Strip gave her a small smile and she smiled too. Then the door suddenly opened and the courtroom of cars seemed to be lifted with interest once more. A small letter was lifted up to Judge Stafford and every car held their breath anxiously in wait of the verdict. He first read it to himself then looked up at the courtroom.
"So the decision has been made by the jury, but I would like to ask Harley something. Miss Harley, if you would come forth." Harley looked at Doc and he gave her a comforting look then urged her forward.
"Y-yes sir?" She hesitantly asked.
"Harley, I want to know before I make the final decision, where do you want to stay?" Even though the entire day had centered around that issue, the question caught her off guard. All this talk about where she would go, but she never thought about where she wanted to go. Harley glanced back at Doc, glanced at Strip then looked back up to the judge.
"Um.. w-well…." Doc held his breath. He tensed up slightly and stared at the young Cadillac CTS-V. Harley gulped and her eyes looked around the room.
"Harley, focus on me." Judge Stafford commanded. Her eyes reluctantly fell onto the intimidated Ford Mustang. "Where do you want to live?" he asked again, and she took a deep, , Doc tapped his tire anxiously on the wood floor quietly.
"I… I miss my mom…" The local doctor seemed to slump slightly onto his tires, but tried not to show his disappointment as he looked down at his hood.
"So you want to go with your mother and stepfather?" she thought for a moment then shook her hood.
"If I can't live with Uncle Strip, and if Jeremy is still going to be mean then…." she used her mirrors to look at the still upset Doc. "Then I guess…" the rest of her sentence faded into soft mumbles, but the state judge heard her anyways. His cold scowl softened and he nodded.
"Well I'm glad to hear that, because the jury is in agreement with you… and so am I." while the crowd began to mutter anxiously, Doc looked back and forth between the Cadillac and the Ford trying to decider the final decision. Then Judge Stafford seemed to lift off his wheel wells as he went to address the courtroom. Once they saw this, the muttering amongst the crowd faded. The judge rose his voice.
"I have decided where this child will be placed. After the testimony of Harley Davis Stockrim, the input of Strip Weathers and now the verdict of the jury, it is clear that Harley will indeed stay here in Radiator Springs under the official legal guardianship of Doctor Paul Hudson." Doc inhaled and lifted up slightly. A smile fought to find its way on his grille, but he suppressed it, but it didn't stop it from shining in his eyes. "Having said that," Judge Stafford continued, "The legal rights and the custody of the child must be given from the Milers to Mr. Hudson. Since this is my official ruling, it will be done.
For the safety of the child, Mr. Hudson will and I Milers will rendezvous in a later decided location and the league signing of the papers will be done." he paused and thought about his next statement. "I also want warrant an investigation on Jeremy Miller for alleged child abuse and domestic violence." he paused again then gave a nod to Doc then another to Maggie. "By the power vested in me by the state of Arizona, this decision is finalized. Case dismissed." he honked twice and the crowd started to file out as he lowered himself and left the room. Once he was out of sight, Doc let his smile break through as he drove up to Harley. She looked up and saw everyone leaving then turned to Doc.
"Wait, are we done?" she asked confused.
"Yes… yes Harley. We're done." he said kindly with a gentle smile.
"So, we can leave?" Harley asked happily and jumped up a little.
"Yes, we can leave." Sheriff said from behind them as he drove up. As the crowd thinned, the only ones remaining in the courtroom were the two old timers, Strip, and Harley.
"Yay!" Harley rushed to the door and was followed by a slow drive of the three men and chuckles from each.
"Well, you look happy." Strip said and he glanced at Doc.
"Hm?" Doc asked and met his eyes. Strip then cleared his throat then turned to Sheriff.
"Could you take Harley to Flo's? I want to privately talk to Doc for a minute." Sheriff looked at Strip, the Doc and back again.
"I guess so. Come on Harley!" he called out and sped up to catch her. "We're off to see Flo!" Strip then slowed to a stop and Doc did the same.
"What did you want to speak to me about?" Doc asked with the same sceptical look in his eyes as before the trial.
"I just wanted to say thank you." he said and Doc was taken a little off guard.
"Thank you? For what?" He asked.
"For taking care of Harley and for taking custody of her." He said with a small smile.
"Of course." Doc said, his expression softening, but only softly. "May I ask you something, Strip?"
"You just did." he chuckled slightly then nodded.
"Why did you so easily give her to me?" The King nodded and had a knowing gleam in his windshield.
"Well, I just had a feeling you know what it means to deal with obstacles. Raising a child is like racing." he paused to see his reaction. Doc tensed slightly. "You get in a wreck, you get fixed, you keep going. I have been fortunate enough not to, others have been there and never came back. But it's always nice to see that they're still kicking. Taking on new jobs outside of racing." he began to head for the door. "You just seem to know what I mean. I don't know why, but I just have a feeling if anyone can take up this job, it's you." Doc watched him leave then relaxed a little and followed him.
"Well, I've… I've never been a part of that world, but seeing that you're her uncle, in some way, I am now." Strip shrugged and nodded slightly.
"I guess so." They found there way to the front doors of the courthouse and drove out. Once back on the main road, they saw that it was sunset. "Wow, we skipped lunch." Strip stated as he looked around.
"Wonder where Harley is?" Doc asked himself and didn't notice Strip smiling at the slight concern, or more so care, in his tone.
Meanwhile, Harley had met up with the other townsfolk. They all had attended the hearing and knew the verdict. Even Lizzie. Harley was smiling brightly as she quickly drove up the small hill and found her way to Flo's side.
"Hey, slow down!" Sheriff called out and Harley gave an apologetic look at her left side mirror. Flo chuckled and shook her hood at the officer.
"Let's her be, she's just happy is all! Ain't that right, sugar?" Flo asked and Harley nuzzled her.
"Yeah… I get to stay here! And I don't ever have to see Jeremy again!" she paused and her joy seemed to fade. "But…" she looked down and Lizzie came up.
"Why are you lookin' So sad?" she asked and she looked up at the Model T.
"I just miss my mom…." Lizzie chuckled and the others looked at her confused and some shocked.
"You crazy old…. Why are you laughing?" Luigi asked.
"Laughing? Why was I… Oh!" She leaned slightly down to Harley and smiled. "You're sad about not seeing your mom. But know this; cars come and cars go. Some are meant to stay and others are not. But what really matters are the ones that stay. Those are the ones ya hold onto." Harley's expression turned into a confused one.
"What do you mean?" she asked. "She didn't leave me. I left her."
"Leave who?" she asked, her old age and forgetfulness catching up to her.
"My… my mom…" Harley asked.
"Why are we talking about her?" Lizzie asked and Flo slightly raised a tire.
"It's okay." she the lowered her voice and turned to the young car. "Don't you mind her, Harley. I'm sure you'll see your mom when the time is right, okay?" Harley smiled at her with a nod. The sound of distant motors could be heard and their attention was pulled to the road. Strip and Doc were making their way to the café and saw Harley with Flo and the others. Doc smiled a half smile and drove over, followed by Strip. Once Harley spotted Doc, she rushed over to him, but instead of hugging him, she stopped in front of him.
"Hey…" she said and looked up to meet his eyes.
"Hey…" Doc echoed, but in a happier tone than her. Strip quietly left them alone and went over to the others.
"Hey, I'm…" she thought about what she would say. "I'm sorry I was mad at you. I was still sad about my mom being scared and Jeremy being mean." she said then looked down. "You were just trying to help me." Doc smiled then shook his hood.
"It's okay. But it was my fault." Harley looked back up with confusion. "I shouldn't have taken my stress out on you. I'm the one who snapped at you, and I'm the one who should be sorry. And I am, Harley. I'm sorry." he genuinely said and Harley smiled gently.
"It's okay." Doc smiled and Harley came over to his side and nuzzled him in a hug. They then made their way to everyone else and Harley quickly found herself next to Strip.
"Hey, kid." he said and nudged her.
"Hey Uncle Strip!" she said then looked up at him curiously. "Uncle Strip, how come racing means I can't stay with you?" she asked and Strip smiled softly.
"The racing world is too much for a small child like yourself." he explained but it didn't help.
"What do you mean? I don't get it." Strip sighed quietly then slightly glanced at Doc how looked away and over
"Well, it's too much traveling, too much publicity, too much chatter. It's just too much, Harley." he said and Harley nodded, but was still slightly confused. "And speaking of which, I need to start getting on the road and heading out."
"What? You're leaving?" Harley looked up quickly and was saddened by the news.
"Yes, I got a race I need to prepare for in the next few weeks. I'm meeting my driver at my racing headquarters then we're headed across the state and up to northern California." He nudged her again in attempts to cheer her up. "But you can always listen in to the RSN radio station and keep up with me. Just like I'll be giving Doc a call every now and again to keep up with you." It worked and a giddy smile found itself on Harley's bumper.
"Okay, that sounds like a good plan." She happily said and Strip stretched out his axles.
"Well, I got a long trip ahead of me. I better get going now before it gets too late." he kissed Harley's cheek and gave a nod to Doc. He then turned to the others and slightly waved his tire. "I'll be sure to visit some time." he said and began to drive off towards Ornament Valley. Harley's small smiled faded as Strip's silhouette shrank into the coming dusk. Doc took notice and drove over top her side and have it a softy nudge.
"Hey, kid, lighten up. You and Ramone seem to be good at doing that." Ramone gave an awkward and nervous chuckle that was mimicked by Harley.
"Heh, yeah… even Uncle Strip noticed my, uh, paint job." Doc chuckled, obviously no longer mad at the paint room incident.
"Harley, Judge Stafford, Sheriff and I are going to discuss when I'm going to meet up with your parents tomorrow, okay?" Harley nodded but her urge to ask questions piped up her little voice.
"You're going to meet up with my mom and Jeremy?" Doc nodded then gestured to Flo.
"You're going to have to spend the day with Flo, okay?" Harley modded, but Flo came up and shook her hood.
"Now I'd love to be in charge of her, but Flo's gonna be busy tomorrow morning! All these cars that came in for the hearing are staying the night! I'm having to run that motel and the café for tonight and tomorrow morning!" she then looked to Harley with sad eyes. "I'm sorry sugar, but I'm going to be all over the place. We haven't had this many customers in such a long time!"
"Hm…" Doc thought for a minute then Harley thought up of something.
"Oh! What about Sarge!?" they all looked confused but none more that Doc.
"What?" Doc asked. "Sarge?"
"Yeah!" Harley said and lifted up on her tires. "I bet he has more stories about Pops!" she said and Sarge's usual stoic expression broke into a small smile.
"Oh, I have plenty. I'd love to take charge of the cadet." she said and Doc sighed.
"Okay, fine... " Doc reluctantly agreed and the night was soon upon them.
"How's about we order some dinner and then head back to the clinic, Har."
"What, no!" Harley whined and the others chuckled.
"I'd suggest you'd listen to your new caretaker, Harley." Sheriff said, making Doc smile at the new title.
"But I want to hang out with-"
"We're not leaning yet. Besides, you can hang out tomorrow, okay?" Harley sighed and looked down at her hood with a forced nod. They did as promised; ordered a bite to eat and spent more time there with everyone else. After about an hour, Doc sighed and looked down at Harley. "Let's head back." He said then looked up to everyone else "Good night everyone." Doc said and the others echoed as he headed off.
"G'night guys!" Harley called back and quickly followed Doc to the clinic.
"I'm not tired…" Harley yawned once they were inside.
"Well, sounds to me, you are."Doc said then yawned himself.
"Sounds like you are too!" Harley laughed and Doc joined her. "Oh! I know what will get us up!" she said and sped off, bumping herself on the corner of the doorway.
"Harley, careful!" Doc called out. Harley rushed back, pushing her little radio forward, but what caught Doc's attention was the small dent in her side door. "Harley!" Doc said and looked over it.
"Huh, oh!" Harley could see it in her mirror. "I didn't even feel that…"she said and Doc shook his hood.
"You have to be careful, Har… I'll talk to Ramone tomorrow and you just head over there for him to fix that, okay?" Harley tilted her hood.
"Can't you do that?" she asked and Doc shrugged.
"My tools are better for under the hood, not outside of it." Harley nodded. "I did my best the first night you were here, but even that wasn't comparable to Ramone's work."
"Oh yeah! I remember him fixing all my dents!" Harley said then thought about those dents and the memory each held. "Oh yeah…" she said and looked sadly at the ground as if it had wronged her. Doc came around to face her.
"Hey, hey, hey… that's all over. You never have to see him again.." Doc saw that it didn't help and he sighed. "Harley… that chapter of your life has ended, but your story's not over. You have a whole life ahead of you, a life that does not, will not ever involve Jeremy in it ever again. And I will be sure of that." Harley glanced up, her expression remaining the same.
"How?" she asked and he softly smiled at her.
"Leave that to me. But know this; he will never get anywhere near you so long as my engine is running. He can't hurt you anymore, and I'm going to take care of you and your going to forget that all that bad stuff ever happened and with every bolt in my body, I will be sure that you are safe." Harley smiled and nuzzled him in a hug. Doc nuzzled back then without moving away, Harley asked something she had always thought of in the back of her mind and her smiled slightly faded.
"Doc, why are you doing all this?" she asked and Doc paused for a moment, then gave in to the truth of the matter.
"Because…. Because I love you, Harley." There was silence and no one moved Doc glanced down at the Cadillac and saw that her smile had returned to its full warmth.
"I love you too." she said and Doc smiled warmly back down.
