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!

Notes: This chapter just didn't want to be written apparently... Mental block! But here it is! Next chapter should be coming soon. Thanks for all the reviews y'all! Keep them coming! Y'all are the only reason these chapters are being shot out so dang fast! That and I'm really having fun with this story. Rock on!

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The sharp sting of an eclectic shock was the first thing he was aware of... A jolt that sent pain to every part of him and made him want to curl up somewhere and hide... With that things started fading to a heavy haze.

"Clear!"

Another jolt... More pain...

Things cleared almost instantly, for a moment his eyes shooting open. Chaos rained on around him, nurses hurrying to follow the orders the doctor was yelling out. He tried to speak but it was no use. There was a tube forcing its way into his mouth. The steady feeling of suffocating brought on a brief course of panic... He tried to move, only to find a horrible weak feeling through his body... He couldn't exactly move anyway though. He was strapped down to the lift...

The squeal of the alarms was the last thing he remembered... He was slowly fading back into the haze...

Something wasn't right... What once had been a hospital room had faded back to a dark haze. Like driving through a thick fog... He could hear the doctor and nurses still... But they sounded distant. As if he where listening to someone in another room...

"You're fading..."

The voice was soft, and caught him somewhat off guard.

"Who are you?" Lightning called out into the haze.

"Do you want to die?" The question floated across his senses, shocking him into what was happening.

"No!" He yelled, attempting to back up and away from the voice even though it came from all around him.

"Then fight." Female... He hadn't noticed that before but the voice was female. A voice he didn't recognize...

"Clear!"

Another jolt of pain...

"I've got something!"

Lightning pulled himself away from the sluggish feeling of the haze and just as quickly as it started... It stopped.

"Thought you where a goner that time boy."

Seth's voice caused him to jump, the stock spinning around to face the car. The room was quiet again...

"Losing time are ya?" Seth questioned, light chuckle given. "They cleared out of here an hour ago, ya know."

"That's not-"

"Possible?" Seth questioned, chipper smile given. "Must be. Look at the clock."

Henry only offered a sad smile, unable to argue that point. Time had lapsed... It wasn't exactly a good sign.

Lightning didn't even want to know. He gave a sharp shake of his grill and left the room in a well disguised rush.

Seth chuckled, Henry shooting the Mustang a harsh glare. "You are such an ass." He commented, following his grandson out.

"Language Henry!" Seth called after him, another chuckle given.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A horn blared out as the Sheriff blew through yet another traffic light, only the fact that he did in fact have his lights and sirens going keeping him from getting one hell of a ticket...

He wasn't entirely sure what had driven him into suddenly getting up and rushing out of the hotel... He wasn't even sure if he had been awake when the phone rang and now he was barreling through traffic...

He briefly hit the curb as he made a sharp turn into the hospital, cutting off a truck that brought a blare of an angry horn.

Years of high speed pursuits drove him to simply ignore that, as he pulled into the hospital. He only slowed once in the doors, hurrying down the hall to the waiting room.

He turned the corner, a sharp oof given as he abruptly ran into something solid, whatever he had run into likewise giving a sharp yelp of surprise in response and stumbling back. It took him a moment before the stars somewhat cleared away. Though when they did it was Stone that was in front of him, the massive truck looking relatively stunned, though recovering quickly.

"Sheriff?" He questioned, one eye ridge shooting upward in that way of questioning that he had. It gave the Sheriff the feeling of a superior demanding answers. "You're friend Doc has been trying to contact you. Couldn't get through at the hotel."

"I left some time ago..." Sheriff explained, a good shake given to clear his senses. "What's happening."

Stone sighed heavily, a somewhat sad look offered and nodded. "Lightning took a turn for the worse... He's on full life support now."

Sheriff flinched, a quick nod given. "Thanks Stone... Think I need to talk to Doc." He muttered only getting a quick nod from Stone as the massive truck headed out past him. "He's in the waiting room with the others. I need to go check on Rip and Kodes." The truck called back, silently making his way out.

Sheriff made his way into the waiting room, quietly bracing himself for the worst. That was about what hit him... Joe kept to herself in a corner, Stone having left Doc for the moment to comfort her. She had fallen silent for the most part, though it seemed Doc was ready for her to lose it any second. Flo quietly came up beside her, attempting to get Joe to take a cup of oil, though she didn't seem to interested in it. Jeff... Simply paced.

For the moment they seemed to be the only one's around. A bit surprising actually.

"Doc?" Sheriff's voice caused the group to snatch to attention, Flo offering him a tired smile before she silently parked on the other side of Joe.

Jeff regarded him for a long moment, then regained his pacing, driving back and forth along the length of the waiting room like a caged animal.

Doc silently got up, leaving a now whimpering Joe with Flo to cross the room to where Sheriff stood. He nudged his old friend, pushing past him and gesturing for the patrol car to follow. Without a word Sheriff turned and followed Doc out of the room.

"Lightning crashed." Doc offered as soon as they where out of ear shot. "From what I understand, they had a very difficult time getting him back. He's now on full life support..." Doc faded off, a slight shutter given and sighed. "Joe's not taking it well. Honestly no one is but she's been a bit hysterical."

"She has every right to be." Sheriff mused, a slow nod given. "She's his mother."

Doc nodded his agreement, for a brief moment staring at the floor.

"Doc when's the last time you slept?" Sheriff questioned suddenly bringing a rumble from Doc. "Never mind that Sheriff. I'm gonna go find Ramone and see where the others are." He muttered, silently making his way down the hall. Sheriff only nodded, slight roll of his eyes given. Figured.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Dallas Texas 1954

"Oh that's so sad..."

"Hm?" Mark silently glanced up from the report he was looking over.

"That Hudson Hornet... He's out for the rest of the season." Julia explained, leaning idly against a wall as she listened to the radio.

"Eh, you'll never see him again then." Mark predicted, going back to his work.

"That's what's sad about it... You know Mark, if you gave racing a chance you would become a fan. It's interesting." Julia offered, a bright smile crossing her grill.

Mark laughed and gave a light shake of his grill. "Julia my dear, I do enough racing at work. Don't need to watch it in my spare time."

Julia, rolled her eyes a soft laugh given. "High speed pursuit is different than racing dear. You would like it."

Mark only chuckled, and laid a photo on the table. It was rare he attempted this... But this particular case was a rare one.

"I thought you said that spirits came to you." Julia commented out of the blue, finely glancing over to what her husband was up to.

"Normally they do. This kid might not even be dead, so that's what I want to find out." He explained, silently staring at the picture. He logged the kid to memory... Teenager. Got mixed in with the wrong crowed probably... According to his parents not the kind to get into much trouble. That was the reason for so much concern, the first few days. It wasn't like him to disappear.

"Can I watch?" Julia questioned, gaining a slow nod from Mark. "So long as you're quiet." He muttered, silently staring at the image.

"What are you doing?" She questioned softly, her voice a soft whisper.

Mark chuckled softly, smile crossing his grill. "You know, whispering is still talking. But I have to get an image of who this kid is before I go on."

Julia smiled and nodded a bit, falling silent at that. Mark took in a deep breath, once more focusing on the picture. His name was Jake. A young hot rod, just out of driving school. Never one to break a curfew, never one to get into trouble... Then in a single month he started staying out late... Then one night... He simply didn't come home at all.

That had been a week ago. His parents where frantic... Not that Mark could blame them at all. He supposed if his kid where suddenly gone he would be a bit difficult to deal with himself. He silently pictured Jake's life... What kind of school he might have gone to... The friends that might have been his. What kind of life he had with his parents.

After a long moment he set the picture down flat in front of him and closed his eyes. Jake's image materialized itself in the darkness. Slowly things began to haze into focus. He was no longer staring at an image of Jake... He was Jake. He was driving. Very slowly down a country road. Cruising with friends. Four other vehicles of various makes and models. One... Obviously the leader of the group was a young Cadillac. Cherry red and seemed to have one hell of an attitude. He was challenging Jake... Calling him a coward if he didn't meet with their standards.

A classic tale... The kid wanted to be a part of this group. He wanted to race... The images hazed a bit and suddenly he was racing... Whipping around curves at break neck speeds...

Just as suddenly he was flying... Jake missed a curve. He could hear the panicked calls of the others that had been with him... They hadn't expected that...

He could here the flat out fear when it was realized that young Jake was really hurt... They had decided to cover for each other. Cover what they had done...

They left Jake where he had fallen...

Jake's spirit force was weak. Very weak. He almost gained the impression he was still alive... Maybe not alive... But something was keeping him from coming entirely through.

"Julia... Get me the phone." Mark muttered, silently gaining an image of the surrounding area. Something wasn't right...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was over cast again... Clouds slowly rolled in like an ocean wave, slowly pouring over the sky. It hadn't quite opened up yet but the rain wasn't far off... Ebony had found her way to the roof hours ago, silently perched on one of the many vent systems. She simply didn't know what she was going to do... What Seth offered her was an opportunity she didn't know if she could pass up. In life she would have jumped at it. Why should she care what happened to someone else? It wasn't as if it was her life that was hanging in the balance. At the same time she would have wanted to throw something back in Seth's face... After all he was only doing this to clean up his record a bit...

The position of death changed every so many years. After so much time the one who was death was allowed to retire and the next car stepped up into place. Seth's reign was over fifty years in and so far he was the only car to ever lose a victim... Before him Death's records had been flawless. One of the reasons he wanted Lightning so badly... He wanted to make up for losing Jeff... After all a few of his superiors where not happy with him in the least... They could overlook Ebony getting away from him. She was after all still in Limbo and it wouldn't have exactly been the first time someone had attempted to ditch hell... But Jeff had made it back to his body and back into the living world.

Ebony sighed heavily, hopping down from her perch and began to pace. She rather liked Lightning... And he didn't deserve to die just because Seth had something to prove... She wasn't sure if she could go through with this...

She sighed heavily and silently wandered back into the hospital, deep frown forming across her grill. She couldn't go through with this... And yet at the same time she knew she didn't have much of a choice. It was this or hell... She only hoped Lightning would see things that way.

She silently made her way down the many twisting halls into the hospital. It was now or never she supposed. If it was difficult now, it wasn't as if it was going to get any better later. That bright unnatural light hit her as she moved into the building, never entirely sure how she had made it there... Just that she had.

She was in the waiting room before she truly realized where her tired where taking her. The scene was almost to much for her to take... "Someone's trying to tell me something... "Aren't they?" She questioned, speaking predominantly to herself.

"Do you really want to do this?" The voice didn't really startle her. It wasn't exactly uncommon for someone to start hearing voices when on the other side. She only gave a quick shake of her grill, heave sigh let out.

"You don't really have to." The voice prodded on, bringing a chuckle from Ebony herself.

"What is this my sense of right and wrong? Where were you when I was a teenager?" She questioned, slight shrug given as she wandered into the waiting room. Joe was crying again. Stone parked silently beside her... Most of lightning's friends and family had dwindled down again, most going back to the hotel to meet up and grab something for dinner... Stone was attempting to con Joe into doing the same.

Doc and Sheriff where still there. Doc she didn't think had ever left. She knew he had come in with Lightning on the ambulance. He hadn't left the hospital since. Sheriff might leave... However, knowing now what he possibly did he might not either.

"I can't do this..." She muttered softly to herself, backing out of the waiting room as if she didn't belong there herself.

"Then don't..." That voice again. Whoever it was, it was getting annoying.

Sheriff briefly looked up, deep frown crossing his grill. Ebony frowned and kept backing out of the waiting room, double doors only briefly shifting as she passed through them. After a few seconds the double doors pushed open, the Sheriff pushing his way into the hall. He frowned once more, silently gazing around the hall. He couldn't see her...

Ebony breathed a sigh of relief, slight smile crossing her grill. That, however was a mistake. Sheriff perked a bit at the soft sound, tipping briefly on his shocks to better hear whatever was out there.

"Lightning?" He called out softly, once again moving forward.

"No..." Ebony offered softly, silently hoping that she was just being paranoid.

However Sheriff gave a slight start, eyes narrowing a bit. "Who is this?"

"A friend..." Ebony offered quickly, moving forward a bit.

"Who's friend?" Sheriff shot back, obviously not the trusting one of the bunch. She was almost starting to wish the other medium was about. He may have been absolutely mad, but at least he probably would have taken her word at that simple face value.

"A friend of Lightning's..." She offered slowly and winced. "Tell him not to trust Ebony." She stated quickly, taking off down the hall way as quickly as she could. She had to get out of there. Maybe if she just didn't see Lightning... Maybe Seth couldn't really call that breaking their deal... She supposed it didn't really matter... With that simple warning... No matter who it was from... She couldn't go back...

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Sheriff stood in the hall way quite some time. He wasn't entirely sure what the hell that had been about... Ebony was the Viper... He was fairly certain on that one. This was all starting to sound like a bad late night Sci Fi movie.

After a moment he was startled as one of the double doors smacked him hard across the back fender. He yelped and jumped forward into the hall, and spun around to face whoever was coming out. Doc gave a slight jump from where he stood in the doorway and offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry Sheriff, didn't know you where standing in the doorway." He offered letting the door close behind him, one eye ridge shooting up. A well known expression. He wanted to know why Sheriff was acting so funny...

"Doc..." Sheriff offered slowly, slight wince given as to what he was about to do. "We need to talk."

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"Lightning!"

"He's not here Kody!" Ripper yelled right back, attempting to get through to the Ford Ranger. Kody had been steadily getting worse since the night before. Now he was unmanageable. Entirely...

"Damn it Kody... Come on, why don't you listen to some music." He offered, silently flipping the hotel room TV onto a country music video station. Kody, however; was having none of it. He gave a quick shake of his grill, once more beginning to pace back and forth across the room. He couldn't take it...

Ripper sighed heavily, settling into the process of ignoring the young truck and closed his eyes. Though after a moment the feeling of someone being uncomfortably close caused him to reopen them, a slight start given. Kody's grill was only inches from his, the truck's sightless gaze staring at him point blank.

"I would like to go back to the hospital please." Dakoda informed him, bringing a slow nod from Ripper... Sometimes he had to admit... That truck gave him the creeps. It had startled him so badly he didn't for a moment or two catch that Kody couldn't see him. "Alright Kody..." He offered slowly. "Get ready to go."

Dakoda gave a happy little grin and quickly drove off in a slight bounce across the hotel room. Ripper gave a slow shake of his grill, slight chuckle given as he shifted into gear himself. Kody instantly perked a bit, the truck spinning around and moving to Ripper's side as he had been taught to do. He used the larger truck as a guide, pressing his front prow against Ripper's flank, and settling in as Ripper took off, Dakoda keeping perfect pace beside him.

It was a little over an hour when Ripper and Kody pulled into the hospital parking lot. Kody gave a happy yip, seeming to know by scent he had been permitted to come back to the hospital. "Lightning!" Ripper, silently pulled up to the curb, opening his mouth to tell Kody to stay close... However Kody was off like a shot. The insane little truck took off as if he had been shot from a gun. Ripper yelped and attempted to follow but the truck's weaving lost him in the crowd of patients and nurses...

"Well that's not good..." Ripper muttered to himself, setting to the task of finding a crazy little truck...

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Dallas Texas 1954

It was edging onto Midnight by the time Mark pulled onto the scene he had seen in his vision. Wasn't much... For a long time he was forced to stand there and wonder if he had seen it at all. It took several sweeps back and forth before he spotted it. The guard rail was bent... Not much... Just enough to be noticeably deformed. Could have happened at any time.

Mark silently moved closer, peering down into the crevice the hills formed... Somewhere down there he could hear a creek going through. He gave a hard swallow and silently cast a gaze down the dusty old road he was on. If he got stuck down there... Having to call for someone to pull him out wouldn't exactly be pleasant. But he had to know.

He took a deep breath and hopped the guard rail, slight flinch given as he fell the first few feet. He hit the first slope hard, sliding down the rest of the way until he came to rest against a tree. Well... He supposed it could have been worse. Was still probably going to have to call for backup to drag his fender back out of there though...

He briefly shook on his shocks, like a dog trying to shake water, sending up a light cloud of dust into the air. Slight choked out cough given and he was ready to go. He let his headlights light his way as he picked his way through the underbrush, the patrol car not in the least able to tear up the surrounding area, though he could somewhat struggle through the underbrush.

A lot worse things he could be doing on a Saturday night than getting stuck in the mud he supposed... Of course there where better things to, but damn it he was thinking positively!

He was still moving when he suddenly hit a splash, and with a yelp he was rim deep in ice cold water. He gave a slight shiver, and pulled himself out of the creek. A bit of tire spinning for traction in the slick mud and he was moving again.

It was a good half hour of searching before he found him... The kid hadn't known what hit him. Still upside down in the underbrush, entirely totaled... It hadn't been what Mark had particularly wanted to find...

"Expecting something different?" Mark spun around so quickly at the voice he almost hit the ground again. Some young Hot Rod stood somewhat above him on the embankment. Jet black... He didn't recognize the model oddly enough. One of those dang concept cars everyone was talking about maybe...

"So..." The vehicle almost chirped, hopping down from his perch and sauntering around Mark, seeming to be sizing him up. "You're the medium... Not much to look at are ya?"

Mark blinked and offered an honestly puzzled look. "How did you..."

"Oh stuff it. Deputy Mark Carson eh? You've been giving me all seven levels of hell you know that boy?"

Mark gave a soft growl, pulling himself up a bit taller on his shocks. "Now you wait just a dang minute, I ain't about to be-"

"Oh you're not are you? Do you know who you're speaking to?" The vehicle demanded, eyes narrowing at the young patrol car.

"Not a clue... But somehow I have a feeling you're going to tell me."

The car gave a somewhat, maniacal laugh and set back on his tires. "You of all people should know exactly who I am. I choose who stays and who goes. I guide the innocent and the wicked. I bring those before a judge... I-"

"Sounds like you think you're a super cop and what you're really doing is putting a damper on justice boy." Mark cut in, slight smirk given.

"Oh for the love of Saint Pete... I'm Death you idiot!" The car yelled, eyes narrowing at the patrol car.

Mark stepped back for a moment, one eye ridge raised. "Sounds to me like you're flippin' nuts..."

The sports car rolled his eyes and sighed. "Mediums today... No respect for powers beyond their control..." He mused and gave a soft growl. "Fine. Believe what you want. But you get in my way again and there will be hell to pay, understand that hot shot?" He questioned, one tire hitting the ground in quick pattern. To Mark's shock a massive tunnel opened in thin air, time itself tearing in two to allow Death to pass. With that... the car was gone...

Mark shook his grill slowly, silently pulling himself together. As unsettling as that was... He had a job to do... He swallowed hard and silently radioed in the discovery of Jake's body...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Alright..." Doc was watching Sheriff as if he just might bite him... The two had parked in what the hospital referred to as the court yard. Mostly a smoker's court for anyone who cared to use it, though some more permanent patients simply came to the quiet area as the only real place that was outside they could go to.

"Doc please don't look at me like that..." Sheriff muttered softly, slow shrug given.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" Sheriff shrugged again, soft sigh muttered. "Honestly Doc... Would you have believed me?"

Doc gave a blink and nodded. "Of cour-" He stopped himself, for a moment thinking on that one. Would he have? Now he would... He knew Sheriff. He knew the car wouldn't simply make up something of that magnitude... But before? Back when they had first met? He probably would have labeled him as a loon.

"Besides Doc... I've been labeled as a freak a good bit of my life because of this little... 'Gift'... After what happened in Dallas I suppose I just didn't want it any more."

Doc nodded slowly, deep frown crossing his grill. He knew a bit of that... He imagined now, only what Sheriff had wanted him to know. He knew the Sheriff had been married... Knew what happened with that and why he had felt he had to come to Radiator Springs... Beyond that he had never pried.

"So what do we do?" Doc questioned, drawing a brief shrug from Sheriff.

"I honestly don't know... If this... Death... Is the same one I know, that kid's in a heap of trouble... Death is to cocky for his own good..."

Doc nodded slowly, heavy sigh given. "Then we need to-"

"Lightning?" They where both cut off as the familiar little Ford Ranger poked his nose into the court yard, sniffing briefly for a failure scent. He caught it, slight smile crossing his grill as he recognized the scent of Doc and happily drove towards them, setting right down.

"Hello there Kody." Doc offered, puzzled tilt of his frame given. "Didn't Ripper take you back to the hotel?"

"Ripper's here. Not fast enough." Kody reasoned, slight smile given.

"Well then I'm certain he'll be looking for you, let's go-" Doc cut himself off as he figured out Kody wasn't listening. He had perked up a bit, driving until he was parked only inches from Sheriff's grill. "You and I are the same..." He mused, slight tilt of his frame given. "You see them?"

Sheriff shuttered quietly and sighed. "No, not any more... I hear them."

"See them in time. You have a haze... A grief haze... So sad..." Kody offered, a whine given as if in physical pain at the thought.

Sheriff gave a slight blink, even that one a bit new on him. He had a grief haze?

"You've lost someone." Kody went on, tilting a bit on his frame. "You think it would be nice to go to. You don't like life anymore..." He mused, gaining a slight flinch from Sheriff.

Doc's eyes widened a bit, for a moment taking that in. "We'll discuss this later Sheriff." He commented and nudged Kody a bit. "Come on Dakoda. Time to find Stone."

Kody gave a happy chirp, seeming to be ready to go find Stone, a happy hop to his driving.

"Hi Lightning." He called out abruptly, gaining a puzzled look from Doc. Though still the older car urged him on, Kody seeming happy to follow now. He pressed his fender to Doc's flank and followed easily enough, the two leaving Sheriff alone in the court yard.

Sheriff gave a soft grunt and settled back for a moment, folding all four tires up under him so low that his under carriage rest gently against the ground. "Well this is a fine mess..."

"Don't start taking to yourself now Sheriff. One of us has to keep sane."

Sheriff didn't jump as he probably should have. He only smiled at the sound of Lightning's voice, soft chuckle given. "Normally, I'd have something to say about that... But it's good to hear your voice Lightning. Ya had be worried."

"Had you worried? I've been walking on glass." He muttered, the stock car silently settling down beside Sheriff on the ground, tires likewise folding up under him. On Lightning's other side Henry settled himself, though the older stock car for the time remained silent.

"You got somebody else with ya?" Sheriff questioned, slight frown crossing his grill. He was picking up more than one person... He was sure of it.

"Yeah..." Lightning offered, smile crossing his grill. "My grandfather... Long story."

"Evenin'" The southern draw possibly should have come as a shock to Sheriff but he only nodded. Somehow he found it a bit strange that he was sitting here talking to Lightning and what he assumed was his dead grandfather as if it where nothing.

Maybe Doc was right... Maybe he did need more sleep. Though that did remind him of something...

"Don't trust Ebony." He stated out of the blue, slight tilt of his frame given.

"You know you're the second person to tell me that." Lightning mused, slight sigh given.

"Well, I got it from a passing spirit so don't know how much fact it holds. But be careful hot rod."

"Gotcha..."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was edging onto four in the morning when lights touched the front entrance of the hospital, headlights abruptly turning off as a little blue Porsche quietly pulled in. Sally offered a quiet smile to the Cadillac behind the front desk, the tired old car, only nodding in response.

"I'm sorry to bother you miss... Can you tell me where the people with Lightning McQueen are located?" She questioned, drawing a slow nod from the Cadillac. "Yes dear. Third floor, in the waiting room outside the CCU hall.

Sally gave a slow nod and hurried off in that direction, silently looking for signs to guide her. She made her way up to CCU, pushing her way into the waiting room. She stopped short, not entirely sure she was in the right place. A group of people she didn't know glanced up, puzzled expressions offered as to why she was there. But after a moment she caught a single familiar face... Doc was parked beside a small Ford Ranger, silently listening to a much larger black truck prattle on about something.

When he caught sight of her he smiled, gesturing her quickly over. "You made amazing time..." He mused, drawing a brief smile from Sally.

"What can I say? I'm good. How is he Doc?"

"Comatose I'm afraid... He's on full life support." He offered with a heavy sigh, briefly closing his eyes.

Sally sighed heavily and nodded. "Can I see him?"

"Probably not until morning. Why don't you go back to the hotel and-"

"No" She stated, abruptly cutting Doc off, an apologetic smile given. "I want to stay." She offered, drawing a nod from Doc.

Sally gave a curious gaze to those gathered, only Joe offering to speak for the group, a brief round of introductions made. An oddity among this maybe. To her... Lightning had never mentioned family...

"So you're his mother?" Sally questioned, drawing a nod from Joe.

"That I am. Guilty as accused I'm afraid. His brother Jordan took Stone's daughter back to the hotel for the night. They'll be back in the morning though." She offered, slight shrug given. Seemed this family tended to simply accept and move on. Now that they knew who she was, they didn't seem to bother to find out much more.

The group fell to a deathly silence, all seeming to be waiting for the worst... Though after an hour or so it was Jeff who broke the silence, the stock car abruptly getting to his tires.

"And where do you think you're going?" Stone questioned, slight tilt of his frame given.

"Where do ya think?" Jeff questioned, though didn't give much more information than that as he disappeared from the waiting room.

"Strange man..." Sally whispered softly to Doc, only gaining a nod.

"You should see him on his bad days." Ripper muttered, gaining a slight glare from Joe. He only smiled innocently at her and shut up once more. It had been a very long night...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sheriff gave a slight grunt as he opened an eye, glancing around the court yard. It took him several minutes to figure out that he was still at the hospital. Even longer to figure out he had fallen asleep and that he was now alone in the court yard.

Well that was smart... He sighed and silently got up, pulling his tires up under him with a wince. Well that hurt... He wasn't as young as he use to be and it had been a long time since he had slept in a garden... Every joint he had screamed its complaint as he stretched.

"Getting old there Sheriff ol' boy..." He muttered, closing his eyes for a moment. Maybe Lightning was right. He did tend to talk to himself a great deal these days.

He sighed and closed his eyes, a good shake given. He almost lost his balance for a moment his body, not entirely working along with his mind, though somehow he managed to stay on all four tires.

"I'm getting to old for this stuff..." He muttered, eyes briefly closing again.

"Seems that way..." Sheriff jumped a bit at the sound of the voice behind him, deep frown crossing his grill. He gave a hard swallow, knowing before he even turned who it was he was talking to.

"Hello Death..."

To Be Continued...