Author's Note: Thanks again to the people who have reviewed! I appreciate it. This was actually going to be part of the last chapter, but it was getting so long I figured I should split them up. Only one more chapter to go!
Lightning came down off the stand and went over to congratulate Cruz. Doc let them have their moment, then drove over to Lightning while he watched Cruz talk to the press.
"Kid's got a lot of stuff, ay Doc?"
"I knew she had a lot of potential," Doc responded. "She just needed the right car to help her find it. You did good, Lightning. I'm proud of ya."
Doc so rarely came right out and said those words that Lightning could distinctly remember each instance. "Thanks, Doc," he said sincerely.
Sterling unsuccessfully tried to get Cruz to race for him, but she respectfully told him she quit. Instead, Tex Dinoco offered her the chance to race for him. Lightning was excited by that prospect and Doc approved of it as well. Dinoco would be an excellent team to race for.
Not to be totally overlooked, Sterling tried to remind Lightning about holding up his end of their deal. At that moment Smokey spoke up, "You might want to hold on a minute." Smokey was looking at the jumbo-tron. Lightning's name had been added with Cruz in the first-place spot.
"Why is my name up there?"
"Well, you started it, didn't you?" Smokey pointed out.
"You know what this means, don't you, hot rod?" Doc asked him.
Sterling certainly did and started to protest, until Sally reminded him of the legalities of their agreement. At that point, Tex took Sterling aside, for what sounded like a business deal.
"Well now you get to decide when you're done racing," Sally pointed out to Lightning.
"Looks like you're not getting rid of me yet," Doc joked.
Lightning laughed. "I do want to keep racing, but there's something else I'd like to do first. I gotta go find Tex!" He raced off to look for the oil tycoon.
"Wonder what he meant by that?" Sally asked.
A realization came over Doc as he figured out what Lightning wanted to do. "I've got a pretty good idea, but I'm sure he wants it to be a surprise. All I'll say is that I reckon the student has become the teacher."
"You mean he wants to be the crew chief for Cruz?"
"Well you didn't hear it from me," Doc said with a wink, "You know I don't engage in gossip."
Sally laughed. "Oh of course not. The secret's safe with me."
"Well Smokey, you certainly picked a dramatic race to sneak into." They were all still at the track, waiting to hear back from Lightning.
"Not too different from some of yours if I remember right," Smokey replied. "You did a good job with him, Hud."
"Thanks, Smokey. He's a good kid. Just needed some guidance."
"Hey Doc!" Lightning was coming back and was shouting for him.
"Speak of the devil. It appears someone wants my attention." Doc excused himself and went over to where Lightning was. "Alright, what is it that's got you so excited?"
"Well, I wanted you to be the first to know. I'm officially Cruz's crew chief!" Lightning said proudly.
"Oh yeah?" Doc tried to act surprised. "Well congratulations. You two already seem to work well together, which is the most important thing. You sure Sterling will be okay with that?"
Lightning gave a nervous laugh. "Well, here's the funny thing. Tex convinced Sterling to let him buy Rust-eze."
In a way, Doc wasn't surprised. That was 'classic Tex' as Lightning would call it. Tex was one of the friendliest sponsors Doc had been acquainted with, but he could be persistent in getting what he wanted. "Tex has been wanting you on his team for years, I suppose in a way he finally got his wish." Doc had lost count of how many times Tex only half-jokingly told Lightning he could join Team Dinoco whenever he wished.
"Huh. I never thought about it that way, but I guess you're right. There's just one more thing though. How attached are you to that number?"
That took him off guard. "Why? Are you planning on using it?"
"Maybe. It's just that Cruz needs a number, and y'know, if you don't have any objections…" He trailed off, unsure whether Doc would be okay with what he was proposing.
"You want her to have 51," Doc finished for him.
"Yeah if we can get it approved. I just wanted to make sure you were okay with sharing it."
"I'd be glad to see her race under my number."
"Really?"
"I couldn't think of a car more deserving of it." Doc had to admit he was touched at Lightning's gesture, not that he would necessarily say so out loud.
"Thanks, Doc!" Lightning said gratefully. Excited, he drove off to inform Tex of Doc's approval.
Smokey was right, Doc thought to himself. After spending so long trying to shut out a whole part of his life, somehow that hot rod racecar had gotten through to him.