(Hello readers! So it seemed that you all enjoyed the first set on one-shots for my Doc Hudson stories so I decided to add more! These next ones will be about Doc's career after racing, and later on, how he discovers Radiator Springs! Please enjoy! Feel free to leave a review below. Constructive criticism is good! Please tell me some honest answers! Thanks!)

New Beginnings

It was the beginning of September 1955, New York City. The deep blue Hornet pulled up to the school parking lot, rumbling just as low and proud as it always had. It was repainted and the sanded. The sides were plain blue, and the red racing tires had been replaced with a clean set of whitewalls. Slowly, the door opened, and Hudson stepped out. His bright eyes were covered by a pair of dark aviator glasses. For the most part, he looked the same, but any remnants of the Fabulous Hudson Hornet had been completely removed from his life. He liked it that way. He was never recognized, and if someone stopped and asked why he looked familiar, he just told them he looked like Paul Newman. It usually made them agree and redirected the conversation into a different topic.

Hudson looked at the university in front of him and took a deep breath. Part of him couldn't believe he was back, but the other part of him said it was a good decision. He hung his leather messenger bag off of his left shoulder and headed for the door. It was the first day of medical school. Hudson had started when he was younger, but it didn't interest him. Racing took up too much of his time. Now, things had changed. Hudson had time for other things. His life had made a complete turn-around. He felt like a new person. It was time to start over. He headed down the long, crowded halls. When he found his classroom, he headed inside, grabbed the papers at the front desk, and settled into his seat quickly. There were at least fifty students around him, opening up their new syllabuses, going over their orientation hand-outs, and discussing grading and assignments. This was going to be a long road, Hudson knew that. He thought about his decision for a few minutes as he waited. Was this what he really wanted to do…?

Yes, yes it was, he told himself in his head. This is what he wanted to do now.

As the weeks, months, and even years went by, Hudson excelled. He worked hard, long hours to study and succeed in his work. He avoided parties, drinking, and friends. He was always alone. Hudson never wanted to confront or speak to people. In fact, he didn't even know his own roommate's last name. Hudson was just there to pass time in his life that he had nothing to do with. He didn't feel like he was living. He was surviving. Some days he felt depressed and lonely, and other days he was content with where he was at. He wasn't the most likable person anymore. He was rude, selfish, and inconsiderate. Hudson wasn't in medical school with a passion to help and care for others. He was there to pass the time and ride through life as numbly as possible.

Hudson was heading back from a lecture, as the third year of medical school was coming to a close. It was night time, the streets were quiet and lights were starting to flicker off for the night. Hudson always walked quickly the way to his dorm. He didn't stop and talk to anyone. It was safer, anyway. That was always his excuse. Fellow students from his class followed him as they headed to their dorms. Hudson's roommate, Benny, caught up with him as they walked back to their dorm.

"Hudson?" He waved. "It's Benny," he tried to get his attention. Benny walked faster in order to keep up with Hudson's long strides. "Where are you going to do your residency?" He asked curiously. "A lot of the kids are starting to decide around now… I'm narrowing it down a few places."

Hudson shrugged, partially ignoring him. "I haven't decided yet. I'll get there…"

"Well you better decide soon, or you're going to run out of time, Hudson!" Benny advised him and laughed quietly as he walked alongside his roommate.

"It's not your career," Hudson suddenly snapped in reply. "Don't worry about my life, just worry about yours. Why do you care anyway?" He said rudely. He didn't give even a thought about Benny. Hudson simply didn't care. Benny quieted, and slowed down, as Hudson kept walking.

"I was just-" Benny cut his sentence off softly, as Hudson kept walking. He left Benny in the dark and didn't think about him anymore. Benny came home later that night but never spoke a word to Hudson. A few days later, Hudson received news that Benny requested a new dorm. Hudson never heard from Benny again.

Hudson didn't move far to continue with his residency. In fact, he stayed in the city of New York. The doctors were kind and the nurses were friendly, but Hudson was never more than acquaintances with anyone. Friends were not his thing anymore. A young woman once invited him to lunch. Hudson declined. His decline must have been rude because she never talked to him again. As ignorant and blatant as Hudson was, he was very skilled at his practice. He was a quick thinker. He made smart, clear, and decisive choices. For the time he spent in the Emergency Room, he did an exceptional job. Hudson worked well under pressure. But in reality, he closed himself off and stayed as numb as possible. He never felt bad for patients, and never felt excited when the patients responded positively. Behind his back, coworkers called him the robot doctor. They doubted Hudson would ever get a steady job with the personality that he had.

Hudson walked the aisle in 1967 and obtained his medical degree. It was the first time he had smiled in a while. He felt a sense of accomplishment and achievement that he had not felt in a long time. It was a long road, but one worth traveling. Hudson knew his satisfaction would only be temporary.

The night of graduation was chalked full of parties and celebrations. Hudson was not invited to any. He didn't grow close enough to any of his peers. Nobody wanted him at their parties. He wasn't friendly after all, and difficult to confront. The night of his graduation, Hudson walked back to his apartment quietly. There was no graduation party. No family. No friends. No nothing. Hudson had lived with the same empty feeling in his heart for twelve years and had never cared. But something felt different the night of his graduation. He worked so hard for his degree. He saw his classmates and peers celebrating, and he had nothing. The feeling stung his heart. Hudson began to realize how much trouble he was truly in. Nobody could live like this. He was empty, and he was heartbroken. Twelve years had passed of him feeling the way he did, and he never cared. But that night, he cared. He realized how bad it had gotten. It was eye-opening. Here he was, on the biggest night of his life, and nobody cared about him. Nobody knew. Tears began to leak down his cheeks as he gripped the degree in his arms. The walk back to his room felt like the longest walk of his life. He listened to the parties and celebrations. With each step he took, he felt heavier and heavier. His heart ached. Hudson felt broken and useless. By the time he got home, all he wanted to do was cry. He cursed himself and his selfishness. Tonight should have been one of the happiest nights of his life, but it felt like the complete opposite. Hudson couldn't help but grieve about it.