Disclaimer: Yes! We got one! The Cars characters belong to Pixar and Disney. Stone Knight is mine. No touchy! I also created Seth, Josephine McQueen, Henry McQueen, Jeff McQueen, Jordan McQueen, Dakoda Knight, Ripper Knight, Ebony Talon, Julia Carson and Sumara Knight. The NASCAR people are copyright of themselves, including references of Junior, Gordon, Jarrett, Burton, Martin, Wallace and a few others to name a few. I don't own them (Kinda wish I did) their real and very talented racers that I just love. Don't sue me! I have no money anyway!

Also if by some chance you like the character Stone, he has his very own story out there. Read more about our favorite grumpy old truck in "Let Freedom Ring" and the sequel "Already There". A work in progress that will eventually span a complete set of seven stories. Happy reading!

-Note- We actually need one this time. This chapter is going to start getting a little darker. A little cursing... A little emotion... Kinda creepy at points. If you have any issues with this stop reading now. I would also like to note that the opinions stated in this story about death and the after life are not necessarily my own opinions. This is a creative licence but from here on the story will get a bit more in depth into the after life side. Once again, it's just a story but if this offends you please don't read any further. Would also like to thank all those who are leaving reviews. Thanks y'all!

And to answer a question, no you're not missing anything. I was starting chapter 3 when I put 2 up. Thanks to those slow days at work, very frequently it turns out that way. Frankly chapter three gave me the creeps while I was writing it so I decided to go ahead and up the rating. That's what I was referring to. Thank you and happy reading!

A storm...

It had blown in an hour ago and hadn't let up yet. Rain pelted his side as if someone where firing a pellet gun at him steadily. The sharp sting of the water though was nothing compared to the chill it brought with it.

From where he sat parked in the hospital parking lot, Jeff McQueen was the absolute picture of misery. A black stock car with deep red fading up his sides and across his hood. For years... He had watched his boys grow from a distance. Unable to step into their lives. That was the price he paid he supposed. He stood in the back of every graduation... Every school play... Every activity his twin boys had ever been in. Later down the road he had focused in on Lightning's races. Jordan and Lightning both had turned into fine young cars. He supposed he wasn't to thank for that in the least.

Their mother... She was the miracle worker here. He also supposed their grandfather, Jeff's father, set a tire into that one... Along with the truck. As much as he hated to watch that truck run his life... Jeff could honestly say that he himself... Just didn't deserve that kind of life.

Therefore he kept back. Back in the shadows where he belonged.

Though that horrible crash... Had driven him here. He hadn't been able to bring himself to go into the hospital at first... Lightning was surrounded by friends... People that he knew. He highly doubted the kid had ever even seen a picture of him...

He had been watching as the older car that he recognized as Lightning's crew chief had come out to the trailer to place a few calls. Still Jeff had waited... He had just about wrangled up the courage to go in... When the family had shown up.

Joe... As lovely as ever. The kids had gotten their looks from her. He was sure of that. Ripper and Dakoda... He had always liked Dakoda even through his insanity. It wasn't the truck's fault. Then finally Stone... Stone would tear into him if he saw him. He knew it. The fear of Stone was what kept him out in the storm now and not inside.

It was several more hours before misery drove him inside... If Stone jumped at him... Well he deserved it anyway. The truck would probably have quite a bit to say. He silently moved into the hospital, getting the waiting room where they where from the receptionist at the front desk and silently trudged off to locate his family.

It was an almost oppressing silence... No one really had all that much to say to each other. It was starting to edge onto midnight when most of those from radiator springs chose to head back to the hotel leaving Doc and Sheriff alone with Lightning's family.

The visiting hours that had been promised had never happened. Lightning had gone unstable again... The only condolence anyone could offer was maybe tomorrow.

It was edging on close to midnight when the waiting room doors opened, a silent stock car edging into the room. Doc and Sheriff glanced up, curious to this new comer though Stone immediately tensed.

"Uh Oh... Trouble..." Ripper muttered as Stone got to his tires and moved forward with a deep growl.

"Who is that?" Doc questioned, drawing a wince from Joe.

"Lightning's father." She responded, softly.

"Last time those two tangled Jeff made it out a mangled wreck. Stone barely had a scratch. Jeff's scared to death of that truck so don't know why he's showin' up now." Ripper muttered softly.

Stone stalked up to the stock car, who despite himself stood his ground. Any other time he would have possibly quickly backed down, though drastic circumstances caused for very drastic measures.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Stone growled out, his voice soft though he might as well bellowed it. Despite himself, Jeff took a step back.

"Well last I checked my son was hurt and in this establishment. Don't start with me Stone." Jeff shot back, eyes narrowing.

"Oh so you've finally decided to give parenthood a shot? Little late for that don't ya think?" Stone commented.

Jeff sighed heavily and closed his eyes for a moment. "Stone nothing I can say would ever make things right with you but you're not going to stand between me and my son."

Stone rolled his eyes, a deep growl given. "Oh please. That old stuffed tractor he use to drag around was more of a father than you ever where-"

"Both of you stop it!" Joe yelled, cutting them both off before the argument escalated anymore.

"Stone, he may not be much of a father but Lightning is his son and he has just as much of a right to be here as you do now sit down." She yelled, causing the gray truck to instantly back off.

Jeff smirked, though it was quickly gone at a glare form Joe herself. "Jeff if you cause any trouble what so ever, and that includes aggravating Stone I swear I will throw you out of this hospital on your fender myself." She hissed, pulling a quick nod from him.

"Good, now the both of you park it. I swear I don't know what it is about the two of you but you both become more territorial than anyone I know when you're in the same room together."

The stock car and truck exchanged a long glare before they both found a place to settle down, Jeff purposely settling himself as far away from the truck as he could. Joe sighed and rolled her eyes, parking so that she was a barrier between the two.

"What was that all about?" Sheriff whispered quietly to Ripper.

The truck only smiled and got up. "You two take a walk with me"

Doc and Sheriff exchanged a glance but after a moment followed the black truck.

"So that's Lightning's father..." Doc muttered, silently leaning against the wall of the main lobby. Normally it would be hopping but at this late of an hour it was silent.

"Yup..." Ripper offered, stretching a bit. "Left before Lightning and Jordan where born. Stayed away for years. Then one day he popped back up again. Wasn't willin' to be a parent but just kinda watched. Ya know, popped up in the back of kindergarten graduation... Popped up in the crowed when Lightning was in track... Popped up in the back of school plays where Jordan was concerned... Noticed him, just never really confronted him about it. But for some reason it made Stone nervous. He had just lost his wife and I guess he was overly protective about the kids... He confronted Jeff and told him to either be a part of their lives or butt out. Jeff wasn't to inclined to do either. So Stone tore into him."

Ripper sighed a bit and silently paced the room, slight chuckle given as Dakoda followed suite. The little truck had simply followed after a few moments, probably aware of the tension in the waiting room. Though honestly he simply found Ripper's upbeat personality comforting at times.

"Sleepy bud?" Ripper questioned, causing the deep red truck to stop, tilting on his frame.

"You tired Kodes?" He asked again, this time getting a nod.

"You want to go to bed then?" He pressed on, the little truck seeming to think on that. After a while he got a nod.

"Alright Kodes. We'll go find a hotel." Dakoda grinned and nodded, seeming more than happy to leave the hospital setting.

"You'll never find one this time of night." Doc muttered, silently producing a key card. "We're staying at the Holiday Inn, on speedway drive. Room 308. Why don't you stay there for the night?" He offered, drawing a smile from Ripper.

"Thanks... Think we will. Sorry to leave you with the trouble. If they get to bad, just tell them their acting like children. That usually shuts them both up." Ripper advised, a nod offered to the two before he silently guided Dakoda out of the hospital, the little truck making comments all the way out and talking to people who where not there.

"Well I'm goin' back to the waiting room." Doc commented, slight sigh given.

"Good luck on that..." Sheriff responded quietly. "Think I'm gonna go for a little drive."

Doc only nodded, silently making his way back to the waiting room.

Lightning sighed heavily as he paced the halls once more, making his way back to the chapel. The peace and quiet was somewhat comforting as he silently parked, deep in thought. He was still pondering his current predicament when someone pulled up beside him.

He sighed heavily a roll of his eyes given as Seth only offered a grin. "So, ready to go home yet?"

"No..." He stated flatly, sour glare shot straight ahead.

Seth shrugged and settled back, soft hum given. "You know... A lot of people come here from this hospital. Some to pray... Some to take in the silence... Some to simply... Grieve."

"Yeah..." Lightning muttered, silently glancing around the chapel. The stained glass windows where dark now, only moonlight available to filter through the elegant colors of the glass. The front of the chapel had no alter, this place not intended for services. It did however have a simple stand with a bible where a few words could be said, should someone want to.

"So... What's it like on the other side?" Lightning questioned, a soft sigh muttered.

"Well I like it. Though it's not something I can tell you because frankly it's different for everyone. You create your own after life in a way. What you see as heaven or hell might not be what the next person sees as heaven or hell. Either way that part doesn't really matter. What does matter is that you're going home. It's sort of a feeling of... Completion."

"Alright... But I'm not ready for that." Lightning insisted, drawing a deep sigh from Seth.

"Why me? Why now?"

"Your number's up kid."

"What do you mean my number is up?" Lightning challenged.

"Your name is on my lists. That's what it means."

"Well I want to see it." Lightning stated, slight smirk crossing his grill.

Seth, sighed and rolled his eyes, silently tapping his tire against the floor. A silvery glow appeared in the front of the chapel, an elaborate stand appearing out of thin air, a heavy black, leather bound book settled on it.

"Once again, theatrics, but that one never gets old." Seth commented with a smirk as Lightning pulled forward, peeking at the ageing pages. His name stood boldly along with a few others... Though beside it... A small Celtic knot.

"What's that?" He questioned, referring to the knot. "No other name has it..."

"A mark." Was Seth's simple response.

"Well I can see that. What for?"

He waited several minutes before turning around. Seth was gone. He sighed and glanced back to the book, only to find the book, along with the stand gone. "Gotcha" He muttered quietly. Seemed for the moment he was one up. Seth was probably hoping he would forget.

He rather liked the chapel. After Seth had left him the last time he had for the most part been left alone. It was edging onto two in the morning before someone disturbed his peace. He was more than a little surprised to see him there... Though he supposed he really shouldn't be.

The Sheriff silently moved into the room and parked a little ways away from Lightning.

"Hey Sheriff." Lightning muttered softly, though unsurprisingly Sheriff didn't even move.

"Don't know what to do." Sheriff muttered after a moment, instantly catching Lightning's attention. Was he talking to him?

"Not a position I'm normally in Julia... Could really use you around tellin' me what to do right about now." He muttered, drawing a puzzled gaze from Lightning. Who was Julia?

"Miss ya. Every single day."

Lightning was beginning to get the feeling this wasn't really a conversation he should be listening in on. It was part of Sheriff's personal life...

He sighed softly and silently reached out a tire, laying it against the Sheriff's side attempting to at least offer a bit of comfort. To his surprise Sheriff snapped to attention glancing around the room. Had he felt that? Lightning frowned and gave him a light thump with one tire. That seemed to be enough for Sheriff. He silently rolled out of the chapel, leaving a very stunned Lightning behind.

Silence had descended once again, Sheriff returning to find very much the same as when he left. Jeff and Stone glared at each other... Joe glared at the both of them, demanding they behave themselves... Doc ignored them all and idly flipped through an old gardening magazine. Sheriff silently parked beside Doc as the ageing car tossed down the magazine with a sigh.

"Anything?" Sheriff questioned, gaining a shake of Doc's grill.

"Nothing. I highly doubt that they'll tell us anything tonight. Visiting hours are technically over so more than likely we won't hear anything until morning unless something really big happens."

Sheriff nodded and settled back once more, staring off into space. That seemed to be about it... He could well remember waiting around for something to happen... He hadn't liked it then he certainly didn't like it now.

"So, you're Lightning's crew chief?" It was Jeff's voice that finally broke the silence drawing the attention of both Doc and Sheriff.

"Yes I am. The boy's got a lot of talent." Doc offered, smile crossing his grill. Stone growled softly, though a glare from Joe, quickly shut him up.

"Figured he would... Boy comes from a long line of race cars. Figured that was what he would wind up being." Jeff offered with a slight chuckle.

Stone growled once more, though this time he seemed not to be able to take anymore and abruptly got to his tires and left the waiting room, in an odd hobbling gait. Jeff gave a roll of his eyes, though once again with a sharp look from Joe, he didn't say a word.

"So you raced I take it?" Doc questioned, gaining a brief nod from Jeff. "Yep... His grandfather to. As well as his uncle. Think there was even a few racer's on Joe's side..."

"Yes..." She offered, the small car glancing up. "My brother. His brother wound up being a stock car as well, though Jordan never had the flair for racing that Lightning did. Actually I'm not so sure he ever liked it. I'm fairly certain he only went out to the track because Lightning and his Grandfather where out there."

"How is Jordan?" Jeff questioned, bringing a sigh from Joe. "He's alright. Hasn't really found his lot in life yet. Right now he helps Stone out at the ranch, but I don't think he really enjoys that life. It's just a job to do. Stone kinda encourages to go out and travel."

"Kinda surprising... Isn't he the one who was so stubborn when it came to Lightning."

That gained a slight glare from Joe. "Don't start Jeff. Stone never had a problem with Lightning traveling or even racing. He simply didn't want him to become you."

Jeff didn't have a response to that, instead choosing to fall silent...

Lightning paced the halls, idly circling the nurse's sation in a daze. So now what? This was starting to become a bit ridiculous...

"You know, pacing isn't going to help." It was Ebony's voice that once more startled him from his thoughts.

"You've got him on the run I think. Disappeared kinda fast."

"There was a little Celtic thing by my name. What does that mean?" Lightning questioned getting right to the point.

"That you're death is likely but not written in stone. You surviving is probable but highly unlikely. It's also probably depending on a few factors, that are currently out of your tires." She explained, a light shrug given.

"So in this case, talking to someone could help?"

"Maybe..." Ebony sighed heavily and closed her eyes, seeming to be thinking on something. "What if-" Though she abruptly cut herself off, a sharp freezing of the air taking over."

"I somehow figured you where causing trouble again, my little bird. Time to fly away home for you." Ebony spun around, Seth offering her a disarming grin. "Now see Lightning this is not the kind of person you want to be spending time with. She's a trouble maker."

Ebony growled, slowly backing up as the air brought on a heavy chill. The air seemed almost to solidify making it muggy and difficult to breath, the cold ice to the air turning itself into an almost oppressing heat. Slow growls seemed to come from the shadows themselves a soft hiss emitting from Seth. The heat seeped in from the shadows, sending a steam like hiss into the freezing air it cut through.

"Time for you to stop playing these games Ebony. Boys!" The shadows where moving... A slithering mass, that the living world seemed to walk right by, the living world in fact seeming to fade out to a dull haze. Ebony yelped and spun around, bolting out the double doors. The shadows themselves where coming alive to give chase, horrible moans and snarls emitting from them as they moved like living dead, the stench of rotting things cutting through the otherwise sterile hospital halls.

"Leave her alone!" Lightning snapped, spinning to face Seth.

Seth only rolled his eyes and snorted. "Oh please. That little tramp has been dead for years. It's time for her to go." He stated simply, glancing down the hall to see what had become of that little chase.

Ebony tore down the halls as fast as she could, attempting to avoid the shadows themselves. This late at night that wasn't an easy thing. Most of the lights where off, which meant she was driven primarily to darkness. The feel of finger like strands of shadows catching at her tires was enough to drive her on faster. Being caught at night was possibly not the smart thing... They lived in the darkness...

She turned a corner and skidded to a stop as a shadow rose up in front of her. It let out a massive scream and she ducked to the side to avoid. It grabbed at her, ice like claws scraping against her finish. The shadows that Seth had a tendency to control where horrid... Those claws scraped against her paint and sent a freeze right down to the pit of her fuel tank.

She burst in through the waiting room, her fear bringing with her a rush of bitter cold wind that snapped the double doors open and caused those in the waiting room to jump. She didn't stay there long, the doors on the other side bursting open for her, so hard that they hit the walls at either side, cracking the plaster despite the stoppers that where suppose to keep them from doing that. She set off down the hall fast, the cold grip of death closing in on her. Her wheels took her down hall after all until a stoke of genius hit her and she burst through the doors of the emergency room. The one place in the hospital that was always brightly lit. In the hallways they turned the lights down so that light was dim but not off... It tended to create quite a few shadows... But in the Emergency room... It was brightly lit. A screech of pain came from the double doors as a shadow attempted to leap into the light, the soft sizzle sending it back. She snickered softly and drove into the rush of the emergency room. She could hang around here for a while...

"You know... You are really starting to annoy me." Seth's voice froze her in her race to get away, the Viper sinking a bit lower on her tires. She let out a whimper, the Mustang circling her for a moment. "You and I have been through quite a bit Ebony. I notice you're starting to go soft. Why help at all? Think that's going to help you any? Think that's going to win you back into God's good grace?" He questioned idly, seeming to ignore the rush around him.

Ebony only smiled pleasantly and abruptly took off again, drawing a sigh from Seth. This was going to be a long night...

Alone... for the moment Lightning was left to his own thoughts, only the screech of tires that only he could hear to keep him company. Nurses moved along through the halls, oblivious to the high speed chase going on around them.

"Alright... So the shadows where a bit creepy but I can take this." Lightning muttered to himself as he pulled down another hall for the moment giving up on solitude. He found his way back to his own room, parking in a corner away from the twisting machines that where keeping his body alive and let out a heavy sigh. By now it was getting close to four in the morning.

"And how's contestant number two?" The voice caught him off guard entirely as he forced himself to pay attention. A nurse came into the room with a doctor right behind her, going on their last nightly rounds before the rounds of shift change in two hours.

"Still comatose Doctor. He's somewhat stable now."

"He's going to have to go back into surgery before the night's out." The doctor mused somewhat to himself and nodded. "Notify his family that he's still doing well. Their still out in the waiting room aren't they?"

"Yes sir."

"Alright..." He paused for a moment then sighed. "Never mind. I'll go out there myself. Keep an eye on him." He offered, shooting the tired nurse a smile.

She nodded and set about her task of checking the many machines surrounding Lightning and making certain that everything was in order as the doctor moved on ahead of her to the next patient in ICU, met up with that particular patient's nurse.

"You know, my son is a huge fan of yours." The nurse muttered picking up an idle, one sided conversation with her patient. Lightning offered her his attention, even though he knew that she only saw the broken race car. Not the very active spirit in the corner of the room.

"Always talking about McQueen this and McQueen that." She mused, taking note of what one of the machines said and jotting down what she found there. After a moment she smiled and sighed. "And here I am talking to someone who at the moment is even worse at conversation than my ex husband. Alright Mr. McQueen. I'll see you again at next rounds. They should be letting your family in to see you within' the next few hours." She offered with a smile, even though she was speaking to a comatose patient and silently made her way out of the room.

"Strange car." Lightning mused to himself. "But I like her."

Dallas Texas 1954

"And in other news, the Fabulous Hudson Hornet has taken home yet another Piston Cup. He also broke several track records in the process-"

The radio announcer's voice was abruptly cut off as Deputy Mark Carson abruptly clicked off the radio, his interest in the local racing scene about zilch. Even when everyone was going so nutty about this Hudson Hornet.

"S'pose it's a Texas thing. No movement in the heat of summer." He muttered to himself, soft chuckle given as he silently pulled around the endless city streets. Painfully quiet this afternoon, which wasn't exactly a bad thing. With the lack of calls he had taken to idly patrolling the city streets. He had broken up one quarrel between two young Chevy's, and pulled over some young hot rod for speeding but otherwise it had been silent.

"12 come back" The voice startled him from his thoughts as his radio hissed to life, his dispatcher's voice cutting through to his thoughts.

"This is 12, go ahead." He responded, halfway expecting a call though knowing it wasn't gonna happen.

"Your home HQ says that the eagle has landed. And off the record if you're late again this time you're tractor chow."

Mark laughed and silently moved on. "What time is it HQ?"

"Time for you to clock out and go home."

He chuckled and smiled to himself. Every night for the past week a call had come in just at the end of the shift, keeping him out later than expected. His wife wasn't happy in the least. That meant that dinner was ready and she wasn't taking him being late again.

"Alright, go ahead and clock me out HQ"

"10-4"

Mark only laughed in response and changed direction, heading into the suburbs. That feeling that he was almost home maybe but the area he had been patrolling wasn't that far away. He pulled down the well known streets, and finally into his own home, pulling up into the small house he shared with his wife, an upbeat, deep blue, Mercury.

"Well it's about time." She commented, teasing smile crossing her grill as he pulled into the kitchen. The patrol car smirked, light chuckle muttered and offered her a nuzzle.

"Wouldn't dare be late again sweet heart." He commented, slight snicker given.

"Just you remember that." She teased, pushing a can of oil to him and idly began wandering around the kitchen, a radio playing somewhere. He smiled to himself, a contented rumble given.

"Love you Julia." He commented, drawing a smile from her as she settled down beside him with a can of oil of her own. He only laughed as she nudged him, the light hitting the silver wings etched artfully across her hood. Angel's wings she always called them. The feathery art came down across her hood and followed the curve across her grill and door panels. Most people took one look at her and gasped at the sight of that bold tattoo. This wasn't a time that it was all that widely accepted. But she had wanted it done. So when Mark had taken her to Cancun on their honeymoon he had suggested she hit one of the many art shops and have it done if she wanted it.

He didn't care what anyone thought on that matter. She loved it and he had to admit so did he. It made her unique personality stand out.

Suddenly she turned her attention away from the oil, her steady gaze falling onto him as if she had something important to tell him. "Wake up Sheriff." She stated simply, drawing a puzzled look from Mark.

"Excuse me?"

"Wake up." She stated again, this time what was a memory of a perfect life abruptly fading and hissing like a TV out of focus.

Sheriff snatched awake as Doc nudged him again, early morning light seeping in through the lone window of the waiting room. "Wake up. The doctor's coming." He explained softly the familiar face of the doctor that had come out earlier making his way towards them.

Sheriff shook himself awake, a slight blink given. His mind hadn't gone to that old life in a long dang time... As a matter of fact he hadn't had a dream about Julia since... He gave a slight rumble and turned his full attention to what the doctor had to say. He wasn't going there. He refused. Not after all this time.

"How is he?" Doc questioned, speaking for the group as a whole, Lightning's family simply falling silent for the time.

"Still stable. There hasn't been any change through the night good or bad but he is hanging in there. We're probably going to have to take him back into surgery before the night is out and see if we can clean up a bit what we couldn't get to before. He's on full life support right now, but he's definitely hanging in there." The doctor explained, drawing a slight smile from those gathered.

"Thank you Doctor." Doc offered, drawing a nod from the vehicle as he silently pulled back through the double doors. That was that apparently. The group sighed heavily once again as the waiting room once more lapsed into complete silence.

"Lost him." Ebony happily chirped as she came into Lightning's room a few hours later. "Though I think he gave up the chase for now. Something about a shooting and someone's who's going directly to you know where... Hey you ok?" She questioned, parking beside the stock car, a soft sigh drawing from him.

"Not really..." He muttered, staring at his own comatose form. "What if I don't wake up?"

"You're going to wake up." Ebony stated, slight smile given. "Failure isn't an option. I mean look at me. I'm still here."

"Yeah but I would rather be alive. Not in limbo." He commented, heavy sigh muttered.

"Well I suppose anyone would but beggars can't be choosers." Ebony offered, a slight wince given. "Sorry. That was a bit... Cold. I mean... Eh forget it. So what do you want to do now?"

"I want to talk to someone..." Lightning muttered, watching the steady beep of a machine.

"You're officer friend is the best bet. He's been up all night with only a little half hour nap. Wait until he sleeps." She commented with a shrug. "Or you could try yelling at him and see if that works."

Lightning gave an aggravate sigh and suddenly got to his tires, heading out of the room. Ebony offered a sympathetic smile as he left, the stock car heading once again for the Chapel. A bit of silence for the moment was all he needed.

He was more than a little surprised to see the Sheriff once more parked in the chapel. Lightning had figured after he nudged him as he did, the Sheriff wouldn't be so keen on coming back. But there he was. Staring off into space and deep in thought.

A heavy sigh left the stock car as he parked beside him, sitting in companionable silence even though one of the pair didn't know the other was even there.

"Sheriff?" He questioned, attempting to catch the attention of the patrol car.

As expected... Nothing.

"Come on Sheriff. I don't know what to do. You and Doc always set me straight before. Why not now?" He questioned softly, a heavy sigh escaping him.

Sheriff continued to stare off into space as one tended to do when alone in a room. Though the briefest glimmer of recognition for a moment crossed his features. Though Lightning could have just as easily chalked that up to wishful thinking.

"Sheriff please..." He quietly begged, not really expecting him to hear anymore. "I'm desperate. I don't know who else to turn to and I need your help." He almost whispered, taking up staring at the floor in front of him. Though after a moment the Sheriff shifted, and quietly turned Lightning's world upside down.

"Boy if yer gonna talk to me, yer gonna have to speak up. I ain't talked to someone from that side in a long damn time."

To Be Continued...