Disclaimer: All recognisable characters belong to Pixar. All OCs belong to me.
Chapter 7 – Preparations
JFK Airport, New York City – 21 April 2018
"Sally! Over here!" Aunt May called when she saw the pale blue Porsche drive out of the arrivals lounge. Sally was closely followed by Gracie, a forklift who'd been a nanny to the McQueen family ever since Lightning had been born. In her arms was a wriggling little dark blue bundle. Now that he was a toddler, Blaze McQueen had become more than a handful.
Blaze squealed with frustration, so Gracie set him down on the floor. "Honestly! That kid is going to be the death of me!"
"Sorry he didn't sleep on the flight," Sally apologised. "I thought he would."
"Being married to Lightning, you should know by now that McQueens are never predictable!"
Aunt May giggled as the two women bickered. "Come on. Let's get back home. I don't want to leave Lightning for any longer than necessary."
"You haven't left him alone, have you?" Sally asked, shocked.
"No, of course not! My housekeeper is there. She's promised to keep an eye on him while she cleans the apartment. But I'm worried about the amount of sedatives his on. I phoned Dr Spark yesterday when I found out just how high the dosage was that he'd instructed Lightning to take, and he assured me that it was fine for a few days. I can't help worrying though."
"Understandably," Sally agreed.
At that moment, Gracie wailed. "Blaze! No! Don't touch that… Urgh! Now look! You've got chewing gun stuck to your tyre." Gracie scooped up the miscreant, doing her best not to get the gum stuck onto anything else. Then, she turned to face Sally. "I'd better get him cleaned up in the parents' room before we go."
Aunt May nodded in agreement. While she and Sally waited for Gracie to return with Blaze, she began pacing nervously.
"Relax, Aunt May," Sally soothed. "I'm sure Lightning will be fine. It's not like he's never been under the knife before."
"I know, but I can't help worrying. I know I've never had kids, but I was his surrogate mother for several years. I think caring for him triggered the maternal side of me."
Sally smiled sympathetically. "To tell you the truth, I'm not keen on watching Lightning's engine being dissected. I don't want to watch his surgery, but I want to be there when he wakes up."
"I feel the same. Why don't we go shopping while Lightning is being operated on? That should help take our minds off it."
"Let's hope so," Sally agreed.
A few minutes later, Gracie returned, carrying a nonchalant Blaze in her arms.
"He's fine now," Gracie told them. "We're ready to go."
It took about half an hour for the women to drive to the Daimler Building. When they entered the penthouse apartment, they found it unusually quiet and still. Aunt May's housekeeper, Alison, appeared from the kitchen.
"Oh, good! I'm so glad you're back!" Alison exclaimed with relief.
"Is everything okay?" Aunt May asked nervously.
"I think so. I'm just not used to Lightning being this quiet."
"Did someone call?" Lightning asked as he emerged from his room down the hallway.
"Dada!" Blaze squealed. Before Gracie could stop him, Blaze had pushed himself out of her arms. Lightning grinned as his young son sprinted down the marble hallway towards him. Blaze barely touched his brakes when he reached his father, which caused him to collide hood-on with his father.
"Ouch!" Lightning yelped, reversing slightly. "It's great to see you too, son."
"I've missed you," Blaze confessed as he hugged Lightning's tyre. "I wish you didn't have to work, so you could stay home with me and mum."
Lightning and Sally exchanged a glance. "Well, maybe one day you could start coming to work with me too. Would you like that?"
Blaze nodded enthusiastically. Sally groaned in dismay.
"Noooo! Stickers, remember what happened the last time I took him to a racetrack? We were almost squashed by the press!"
"Perhaps that's how they came to be known as the 'press'," Aunt May muttered.
"Can we have take-away for lunch, please, Aunt May?" Lightning begged, changing the subject.
"Depends on what you want."
"Pizza! Please! I know you don't like me having junk food, but I'm going have nothing but hospital food for at least week after tomorrow."
"Very well then," Aunt May acquiesced. "Alison? Could you please place the order? Have it delivered to the foyer. I'll go down and collect it when it arrives. The last thing we need is for the media to find out exactly where Lightning is hiding. They already know that he's in New York."
"Too late," Lightning muttered, frowning. "Those fans who mobbed me on Friday published my whereabouts online. I was just reading the comments. Some people have over-productive imaginations."
"Mack phoned me about that while you were having your appointment," Sally said. "He's already spoken to Tex about the possibility of getting you a personal bodyguard."
"What!" Lightning wailed. "No! I draw the line at that!"
Sally rolled her eyes. "If Doc was still alive, I think he'd want you to have one. In fact, we should've thought about getting security for you years ago. It's ridiculous that you can't go anywhere without someone taking your picture and selling it."
Lightning pouted. "I don't want a bodyguard, okay? Come on, Blaze. Let's go and watch the Piston Cup race. It's about to start, and I want to see if Cal can do a better job of coaching Cruz than I can."
"Coaching isn't a competition, Lightning," Aunt May called out as Lightning and Blaze disappeared into the lounge.
"It should be!" Lightning retorted.
Sally and Aunt May exchanged glances.
"So much for him being sedated," Gracie said with a shrug. "If we didn't know him better, we wouldn't be able to tell!"
…
A few hours later, the race was almost over. Sally drove into the lounge to check up on Lightning. She found him parked in front of the TV, with Blaze snuggled underneath Lightning's front right wheel well. Lightning's tire was resting lazily over Blaze's roof. The baby car was fast asleep. On Lightning's left-hand side lay a couple of empty pizza boxes on the floor. Sally picked them up to take them to the bin.
"Who's winning?" she whispered.
"Storm," Lightning hissed disdainfully. "My engine overhaul had better make me faster, or it won't be worth it. I can't wait to give that smug upstart a race he'll never forget!"
"Just like Doc did when he first met you, right?" Sally teased.
Lightning shot her such a look! Giggling, Sally made a quick escape towards the kitchen. Lightning returned his attention to the race. There were just three laps to go, and Cruz was sitting in third. Watching Jackson Storm race live on TV had given Lightning a different perspective into how the younger racer raced. The commentary was good too, except for when Chick Hicks spoke. Lightning automatically tuned him out whenever he made a comment.
As Lightning watched Jackson racing seemingly effortlessly around the track, everything suddenly clicked. He now understood why Smokey had tried to make him change his racing style. Jackson wasn't just fast – he was a front-runner, just like Lightning. In fact, the way Jackson drove made Lightning wonder if, after years of idolising Lightning as a fan, Jackson had learned how to copy most, if not all, of his racing tricks and techniques. The same tricks that Doc had taught him.
The only difference between myself and Jackson as rookies was that I was egotistical, and he's just…nasty. And for no reason. I did absolutely nothing to him, and he was nasty to me right from the start. Just like Chick. Why? Is Jackson just jealous of me? Or is there another reason why he hates me? If there is, I'd like to know what it is.
Lightning wasn't surprised when Jackson won the race. Cruz managed to put in a nice sprint during the final lap to finish in second place, one and a half seconds behind Jackson.
Cal did a good job. He seems to be quite comfortable as a crew chief. I wonder if he'll return to racing, or stay on as a crew chief?
As Chick started a post-race amble, Lightning turned off the TV. Beneath his wheel, he felt Blaze stir.
"Had a good nap, sport?" Lightning asked his young son.
Blaze belched loudly in reply. Lightning dry retched. "Oh! Gross! Blaze! I don't think you should have garlic anymore! Gracie!"
Gracie drove into the lounge just as Lightning threw open the door leading to the balcony. A fresh blast of cool spring air blew into the apartment. Lightning waved a tyre in front of his mouth.
"Blaze just belched," Lightning explained. "And he reeks!"
Gracie sniffed Blaze and immediately regretted it. "Yuck! You're coming to the bathroom with me. We need to get all that gas out of your system. You need to learn not to gobble your food, young man!"
After Gracie had carried Blaze out of the room, Lightning raced around spraying the room with air freshener. Just when he'd satisfied himself that there was no more eau-de-garlic in the lounge, his phone rang. Lightning answered it immediately.
"Lightnin'? It's Tex."
"Hi Tex," Lightning replied, trying desperately hard not to sneeze as he accidentally inhaled some of the floating mist from the air freshener. Unfortunately, he couldn't stop the reflex. "ACHOO!"
"Bless ya," Tex said automatically. There was a pause before he spoke again. "I hope you're not comin' down with somethin'?"
"No. It was just some air freshener I accidentally inhaled. I forgot how stinky babies can be."
Tex chuckled. "Rather you than me. Did you watch the race?"
"Yeah… I haven't watched a race live on TV for a long time. It gave me a new perspective on how Jackson races."
"And Cruz too, I hope?"
"I know how she races."
"Do you? Really?" Tex waited for Lightning to say something. When he didn't, Tex continued. "I just rang to wish you luck for your surgery. I spoke to Doctor Spark yesterday, an' he's explained it all to me. I've decided to come to New York tomorrow. I… if anything bad happens, I want to be amongst the first to know."
Lightning gulped slowly. "Sheesh! Way to make me feel better, Tex…"
"Sorry. I really do care about ya, Light. We all do. The next race is at Dover International Speedway, so I'm sure the entire team would love to visit you after you've had your surgery. Would that be okay with you?"
"Absolutely! As long as nothing ends up on social media. I don't want anyone to know about my surgery, except for those who need to know."
"Understandably. I'll make sure that everyone knows that before they decide to visit. Take care, Light, an' I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay Tex. Bye."
"Bye, Lightnin'."
Lightning hung up his phone with a sigh. Then, he drove outside onto the balcony, overlooking the Manhattan skyline. He drew in a deep breath of fresh air to help calm his nerves.
Guess my sedative is starting to wear off. I'll stay out here for a few more minutes to watch the sunset. Who knows when I'll get to watch one again?
…
The following afternoon, Lightning found himself inside a private hospital room, surrounded by the team of surgeons who were going to perform his engine overhaul the following day. They were poking and prodding at his engine, so they could see for themselves what needed to be done. Lightning didn't have much choice. Dr Spark had clamped all four of his wheels to the bed, so he couldn't move. He'd also put Lightning on oxygen via a mask, to help keep him quiet and calm while the surgeons examined him.
Lightning finally groaned with frustration. Keeping completely still was not something that came naturally to him. Dr Spark placed a reassuring tyre against Lightning's side.
"Easy, Lightning," Dr Spark soothed. "They're almost done. Just close your eyes and think about something else."
Lightning followed Dr Spark's suggestion. In his mind's eye, he saw himself chasing Jackson Storm on a racetrack. And he was gaining on him, easily. The though made Lightning smile slightly.
"Okay, we're done," one of the surgeons announced as he closed Lightning's hood. Lightning jumped and opened his eyes when he felt his hood close.
And not a moment too soon! Lightning thought with relief as Dr Spark removed the oxygen mask from Lightning's face. "About time! Can I get up again now, please?"
Dr Spark shook his front. "Uh, uh! You need to keep still now. We can't risk you doing something stupid to your oil line again. I know I'm expecting the impossible but try to relax. I'll send a nurse in shortly to get you set up on an I.V."
Lightning whimpered. "Can't that wait until later?"
"Sorry. I know how much you hate needles, but since you can't have anything to eat or drink again until after the surgery, we need to keep you hydrated somehow. I'll send your friends and family back in."
Dr Spark left the room, followed by the team of surgeons. After a few minutes, Sally, Aunt May and Tex drove into the room. They smiled sympathetically at Lightning.
"I guess clamping your wheels is the only way they can keep you from wriggling," Tex quipped.
Lightning bristled. "You have no idea how frustrating this is for me right now…"
"Right. Sorry."
"I wish Gracie could have brought Blaze here to see me," Lightning pouted.
"We've already discussed that, Stickers," Sally said. "Blaze could tear this place apart if he escaped from Gracie."
Lightning chuckled quietly in agreement. "Yeah, I know… I think he's going to take after me when he grows up."
"That wouldn't surprise any of us," Aunt May agreed.
A forklift nurse drove into the room then. She quietly set to work setting up the I.V. equipment. Nobody spoke while the nurse went about her work. Once she'd finished setting up the equipment, the nurse picked up Lightning's medical chart.
"Right, Mr McQueen… It seems that Doctor Spark wants you to have a saline I.V., and the same dose of sedative that you've been having lately."
Lightning groaned in dismay. "I'm tired of being sedated."
"It won't be for much longer," Aunt May reassured him.
Following Dr Spark's instructions, the nurse inserted the I.V. needle into an oil line in Lightning's front left wheel arch. Lightning yelped when he felt the prick, but since his wheels were still clamped, he couldn't move much or avoid it.
"Ow! Why do doctors and nurses love stabbing me?" Lightning whined. "I feel like a pincushion."
The nurse ignored his whinging, and continued setting up the I.V. Once she was satisfied that the saline solution was flowing nicely, she prepared Lightning's sedative.
"I think we should go now," Tex suggested. "I'm getting' hungry."
"Yes, we'll see you when you wake up from your surgery tomorrow," Aunt May agreed. She planted a kiss on Lightning's cheek. "Make sure you behave yourself."
"I will, Aunt May," Lightning promised.
Sally kissed Lightning on the lips. Their kiss lasted longer than it usually did, but nobody minded. Everyone could clearly see the passion between the famous couple. Finally, Sally reluctantly broke off the kiss. Tears had filled her eyes.
"I love you, Stickers. More than you'll ever know."
"I love you too, Sal," Lightning whispered. "I hope you'll be the first one I see when I wake up,"
"I'll try to be here when you do," Sally promised.
"I'm taking your family shopping tomorrow, to help distract them while you're undergoing your operation," Aunt May explained.
Lightning smiled his thanks. He watched in silence as Tex, Sally and Aunt may drove out of his hospital room. Once they were alone, the nurse cleared her throat to get Lightning's attention. She placed a plate with a pill in front of his mouth.
"Please, take your sedative, Mr McQueen."