Author's Note: Don't get too excited, I'm not necessarily going to update every day. But I have the first 4 chapters written so I figured I'd get them up.
Things seemed uncertain at first. Doc advised most of the team to head back to Radiator Springs, while he, Sally, and Mater followed Lightning to the hospital. Luigi, Guido, Ramone, Sarge, & Fillmore were reluctant to go, but Doc assured them that he would call the second they found out anything. Doc did his best to keep Mater and Sally calm while the three of them awaited news on Lightning's condition.
Doc himself felt exhausted from the stress and honestly could have used a quart of oil. He kept replaying the events of this past season in his mind, trying to figure out where he had gone wrong and what he could have done differently. As he stared out the window in the hospital's waiting area, he wondered if this was how his own crew chief Smokey had felt when Doc had his crash.
After what seemed like ages, the attending physician informed them they had gotten Lightning stable. Doc asked him for further details on Lightning's injuries. Part of him didn't want to hear it, but as Lightning's primary doctor, he needed to know. The list of injuries was extensive and there would be a long recovery process before the kid would be ready to race again, assuming that would be possible.
Doc and Sally were in the room when Lightning woke up, Mater having gone to get them all a quart of oil from the cafeteria. Outwardly Lightning looked alright. He just had primer instead of his familiar red paint, his only stickers being a red 95. It was Sally who first noticed when Lightning started to open his eyes.
"Stickers!" Sally said with obvious relief. She gently placed a kiss on his fender.
"How are you feelin', son?" Doc asked.
"Like I fell out of a helicopter and then got hit by a train." Lightning replied weakly. He felt sore all over. "How long was I out?"
"For a few days. You had quite a wreck. How much do you remember about what happened?" Doc wanted to see if his memory of the incident was affected.
"I remember trying to chase down Storm and losing control. I don't remember anything after hitting the wall to be honest." Lightning sighed. "And I do remember you trying to get my attention Doc, sorry about that."
"Never mind about apologies, kid." Doc responded. "The important thing now is to focus on your recovery. Your attending physician says it will take awhile to get back to 100%, but I'll make sure you get there."
"And great news, Stickers." Sally chimed in. "Rusty & Dusty stopped by yesterday, and said they had no intention of replacing you. They couldn't stay because they to had get to Florida and start work on some secret project. They wouldn't give us any details."
Lightning was relieved to hear that but was starting to grow tired. He let out a yawn.
"Get some rest, Lightning" Doc said. "Sally, why don't you stay with him while I call home and let them know how he's doing? I'll also try to find out where the heck Mater has gone off to. He should have been back by now."
Sally agreed to that, and Doc drove out to go use the phone.