Father

"Right up there, Red!" Doc shouted as the fire truck pumped water onto the burning house. "That's it, try and get it under control. There ya go!"

The rest of the Radiator Springs' residents stood a safe distance from the burning house, but close enough to see what was happening. Mater stared at the front door, remembering Sheriff's final words to him before speeding inside. Get Doc and Red. Things are going to get rough, but whatever you do, do not come after me. Only now, Mater wished he had. Fear gripped his engine, his eyes wide. But relief washed over him when he saw the flash of Sheriff's lights.

"Doc! Sheriff's comin' out!" Mater shouted.

Doc noticed the police car, and thankfully so did Red. The fire truck aimed his hose at the front door, soaking it down to give Sheriff a clear shot outside. The water drenched Sheriff and rained down on his precious cargo, but allowed him to get out safely so Red could resume his efforts on the rest of the house. He became less desperate, sending a clear message to everyone that he had it under control. The residents gave collective sighs. For a quiet fella, Red certainly knew how to do his job.

Sheriff finally got across the street and released the comforter in his teeth, coughing a bit as the fresh, clean night air rushed into his lungs. He stared worriedly at the four-year-old girl on the blanket, gingerly brushing her brunette locks, the same color as Mater's rust, from her face. Finally, the girl coughed and her eyes scrunched up before blinking open, revealing crystal blue irises that, oddly enough, were exactly the same color as Doc's eyes.

The girl looked around for a moment before settling on Sheriff's grill. "Sh-Sheriff? Is that you?"

Sheriff moved so she could better see his eyes, and he smiled. "Right here, kiddo. You're gonna be okay." The girl nodded aimlessly, still a little confused, and began pushing herself upright.

"Sheriff!" Doc called as he drove over. The other residents moved a little closer, but made sure Doc, Sheriff, and the girl had their space. Doc looked back and forth between Sheriff and the girl, assessing both for injuries. "You two all right?"

"We're a little roasted, but fine." Sheriff chuckled.

Doc rolled his eyes a little. But he suddenly noticed something. He stared at Sheriff. "Where are John and Paula?" Sheriff's face fell. He looked down, shaking his hood. Doc closed his eyes, allowing the full weight of the news to set in. The rest of the Radiator Springs' residents either lowered their hoods in mourning or stared sadly at the little girl still sitting on the comforter. The human child was more alert now, staring at everyone with confusion and a hint of fear.

The girl looked to the police car beside her. "Sheriff? Where's Mommy and Daddy?"

Sheriff looked to Doc, who finally opened his eyes and nodded. Sheriff moved to the girl and sighed. "Harley, your parents can't be here anymore. They're gone."

Harley was only four years old. But she could understand what Sheriff meant. She stared at her house, now reduced to a blackened building as Red smothered the last of the flames. Tears built up in her eyes and Harley curled into a ball, beginning to cry. Everyone stared at her sadly, mourning as she did now.

But not Doc. He immediately moved closer to Harley and nuzzled her gently. The girl immediately climbed to her knees and hugged his tire, the only thing she could get her arms around. She sobbed into him, but soon began to quiet down as his soothing yet gravelly voice shushed her and spoke words of comfort. Finally, she managed to sit back on her ankles and wipe her eyes dry, her cheek smeared with a little dirt from hugging Doc's tire.

"Harley, are you listening to me?" Doc asked gently. Harley only nodded. "Harley, you don't have to be afraid, all right? You will always have a family in Radiator Springs. You know that."

Harley sniffled. "Yeah, I know."

"And nothing is going to change that." Doc assured. "I promise, you're going to be all right. We're going to take care of you. I'mgoing to personally make sure of that."

Harley looked up to Doc, her crystal blue eyes sparkling a little despite being a bit red. "Promise? Cross your engine?"

"You bet, kiddo." Doc nodded with a smile. "Cross my engine and hope to stall."

Harley giggled a little, a smile forming on her lips. She coughed harshly into her hand.

"Come on." Doc dipped down a little and used one of his tires to help Harley climb onto his hood. "Red, can you take care of the rest of that?" The fire truck nodded to Doc's request. Doc looked to Sheriff. "Stay with Red for now and make sure that fire is completely out."

"Can do, Doc." Sheriff nodded. "You just take care of Harley."

Doc nodded and drove off to the clinic. Harley curled up as she lay on Doc's hood, and she kept her ear pressed to the metal. She could hear Doc's engine purring as it ran, steady and strong. The soothing sound made her sleepy again.

"You sound like a kitty." Harley mumbled.

Doc started a bit, but only chuckled at the four-year-old. "Oh really?"

"Ahuh." Harley yawned. "A big, metal kitty." Her eyes fluttered shut and she began sleeping again.

Doc chuckled again. A big, metal kitty. That's a new one. He finally made it to the clinic and he gently deposited Harley onto a cot in the corner. Harley breathed evenly again, with only a small cough now and then. Doc trusted that she wouldn't need oxygen, so he opened a window nearby and grabbed a soft blanket to drape over Harley. The girl unconsciously snuggled into the warmth of the blanket, and she sighed contently.

"Goodnight, kiddo." Doc breathed.

The next morning, Doc had to gently remind Harley of what happened last night with the fire. Harley didn't seem to fully understand, but she did comprehend the fact that her parents were no longer there for her. Nonetheless, she allowed Doc to lead her out of the clinic and over to Flo's for breakfast. Harley seemed to perk up when Flo made her pancakes, but she complained that her clothes smelled funny. Sheriff promised her they would get her some new clothes later today, and Mater quickly volunteered to help. Harley still felt some sadness knowing her parents were never returning to her, but she soon forgot about it as the day continued on.

After breakfast, Doc insisted on a checkup to make sure Harley wasn't injured at all. Apart from some bruising when Paula threw her behind the couch, Harley checked out with a clean bill of health. Flo, Sheriff, and Mater took her to another town to find her some new clothes, and Mater even bought her a couple new toys and books. When they returned, Doc encouraged Harley into a bath. She emerged from the clinic freshly cleaned and in new clothes, looking good as new. Mater invited Harley to go out and play at Willie's Butte, and soon the two of them were romping around and playing like the fire never happened.

But everyone could see it in Harley's eyes: she didn't like being separated from her parents, and she missed them dearly.

After making sure she wasn't majorly injured and securing some new belongings for her, the next problem came up: where Harley would stay. For the time being, Doc determined she ought to stay in the clinic. So that night, after a hearty and happy dinner with the town, Doc tucked her into the cot again and wished her a goodnight. Harley smiled broadly, cuddling the plush Tigger toy Mater bought for her. Doc couldn't stop grinning as he quietly exited the clinic, and he didn't deny that seeing Harley smile made him very relieved.

Everyone gathered at Flo's to discuss Harley's living situation. The atmosphere felt rather tense, and the residents couldn't remember the last time they had to deal with such problems. John and Paula couldn't really be buried since nothing remained of their bodies, but it was already established that they would get headstones like Paula's parents and Stanley. Now they just had to worry about Harley.

"I think it's safe to say we want Harley to stay in Radiator Springs." Sheriff said. "Agreed?"

"Agreed." Everyone replied without hesitation.

"But we need an official record of her new guardian." Doc said. "And it'll be easier on her if she physically stays with one of us; so she knows she has a house to go back to."

"It's also necessary for Child Protection Services." Sarge pointed out.

"So where should she-a stay?" Luigi asked.

"Kin I take care o' her?" Mater requested.

"No." Everyone else replied dully.

Mater pouted. "Aw, why not?"

"Mater, we know you are a good big brother for Harley." Doc explained. "But you ain't quite the father type yet."

Mater sighed. "Okay."

"Why don' you take care of her, Doc?" Sheriff suggested.

Doc blinked in surprise. "Me?"

"Yeah, good idea, Sheriff!" Ramone agreed.

"Whoa, wait a minute." Doc interjected quickly. "Why me?"

"Well, for one thing, you're the only one of us that actually has a place for her to stay." Fillmore noted.

"None of us have guest rooms and we're not going to ask her to sleep on a floor." Sarge added.

Guido said something in Italian. "Or a couch." Luigi translated.

"And it'll be good for her to be so close to a doctor." Flo pointed out. "Especially at this point in her life."

"Folks, we're talkin' about Harley's future guardian." Doc protested. "Whoever adopts her is going to be her new father or mother. Flo, Ramone, why don't you take her in?"

"She'll end up on our couch, man." Ramone said.

"Honestly, Doc, you're the best one for the job." Flo said. The other residents voiced their agreements.

Doc looked down, unsure. "Why me?"

"Because, no matter how much we all care for Harley, everyone knows you love her the most." Sheriff said. Again, a round of agreements from the residents.

"And you all expect me to know how to raise a kid?" Doc raised an eye frame.

"You are a doctor." Luigi shrugged.

"Sí." Guido nodded.

"We know you've loved that kid since you helped bring her into the world." Lizzie chuckled. "You'll be fine."

Doc wanted to protest, but looking at everyone's expressions told him it would be futile. "I'll think about it." That quelled the townsfolk for now, and everyone dispersed to go about their business. Doc turned and began driving towards the clinic again, but he glanced into his rearview mirror and noticed someone following him. He turned around to fully face his follower. "Hey Red. What do you need? Come to offer to be Harley's dad?"

Red smiled and shook his front end. "Harley needs you." Without another word, the fire truck turned and drove off.

Doc stared after him for a moment before driving into the clinic. Red never spoke much, or really at all for that matter, so the townsfolk tended to listen carefully whenever he did say something. Doc silently made his way over towards the cot where Harley slept, wanting to check on her one last time. Harley cuddled with her toy, snuggled under the blanket and sleeping soundly. Doc nodded in satisfaction, confident he could go to sleep without worrying about Harley having a problem.

But for some reason, Doc found himself unable to move. He stared at Harley, almost awed by the peaceful look on her face. The words of the Radiator Springs residents rang through his mind. He never really considered himself the fatherly type. The townsfolk were his family, but if he had to place labels he would call them his brothers and sisters (maybe with the exception of Lizzie, who was more of the mother/grandmother type). Now everyone expects him to be the surrogate father of this little girl? It couldn't be denied how much he cared for her. He often liked to keep an eye on her when her parents or grandparents were busy, especially if Mater was babysitting. Harley shared a strong bond with Mater, and if she had to choose a second favorite it seemed to be Doc. She loved talking with him, and the few moments she actually sat still were generally spent with Doc himself.

Harley needs you. That's what Red told him.

Harley needs you.

Harley needs you.

Harley needs you.

Harley needs you.

It finally clicked. Harley didn't just need a guardian. She needed a father. Someone to watch over her. To scare away her nightmares and make sure she always knows she is loved. To simply be there during the most important moments of her life, and maybe even when she wouldn't want him there. Doc came to the realization that he wanted to be that father for her. She didn't deserve a man like John as her father. Harley was such a sweet kid. She needed someone with ten times the heart and at least twice as much integrity.

Doc wanted to be her father. He wanted to be play that role in her life.

"All right, kiddo." Doc breathed, gently nuzzling Harley's head and careful to not wake her. "You want a dad? I guess I can be there for you."

And he always would be.