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Compassion brings us to a stop, and for a moment we rise above ourselves.

—Mason Cooley—

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The next race, the Buy N Large 400, was unexpectedly put on hold due to a hurricane brewing in the Gulf Coast. Meteorologist projected it to come through Houston and inevitably the Houston Speedway. So, everyone was given a by-week. Meaning the racers had nearly a month off in the middle of the season.

Not that will do him any good.

Storm sent the gray sky a disgruntled look. He hated rain. It only splotched his coat and made the roads slippery. As to mock him, it began to sprinkle. Great, now he really would have water spots later-

"Hey, thundercloud, cheer up!" a voice perked up beside him.

Ugh… Ramirez. It's too early for this.

"Let bygones be bygones," she had told him. Storm almost felt guilty, almost. Cruz was just too trusting for her own good. It's incredulous how chummy she's gotten with him over the past month. He tried not to wince when the yellow racer bumped tires with him. "Glaring at the sky is not going to scare the rain clouds away!"

"You never know," he replied. "I'll show that hurricane who's boss and run it back into the Gulf," Storm turned to her. "So, do you have plans?"

Cruz nodded vigorously. "Yup! I'm going with Mr. McQueen to Radiator Springs to train and visit his friends. I am also gonna pay a visit to my mom since she lives along the way. Then we're coming back a week before the race. So, what are your plans?"

Storm huffed. Plans? All his plans were ruined. "Ray and Gale are gone. Ray is overseas. His brother is getting his transmission rebuild, so he left to support his family and Gale left to go to some Truckers' Convention held once every five years in Kentucky. So, I have no ride and no trainer available."

Cruz's face fell. "Well, that bites…" she said sympathetically. "What are you going to do?"

Storm shrugged. "I may just ride out the hurricane and practice on the track as soon as it's cleared."

Cruz scrunched up her face. "But that's sooo boring! Not to mention unproductive!"

Storm raised a shadebrow. "Then do you have any bright ideas?"

"Cruz! Mack is hooked up!" Lightning McQueen rode over to inform her. His eyes not on his trainee, but on Storm. Unlike his navie trainee, McQueen still had trust issues. He made sure to always intervene at the most convenient times by calling Cruz away for one reason or another. "Let's go and put as many miles between us and Hurricane Carry as we can!"

"Right, coming, Mr. McQueen!" Cruz looked back to Storm guilty. "I will see you soon…?"

Storm smiled what he hoped appeared to be friendly. Being approachable was not his forte. "Yeah. Take care."

As he was about to drive away, Ramirez abruptly stopped him. "Hey, wait a sec! Storm, I um…" Cruz suddenly looked sheepish as she grinds her right front tire against the pavement self-consciously.

She looked kind of cu—NO, just no. Storm mentally berated himself for the thought. She certainly wasn't anything akin to adorable! Rameriz was a pest needed to be rid of, like a yellow wasp in need of spraying! That would be her.

"…I was wondering if... I-I mean if you don't have other plans a-and if you want to that is!" she rambled.

Lightning sent her an uneasy look. "Cruz, what are you doing-"

"You can come with me—I-I meant us! Not just me, US to Radiator Springs!"

"WHAT?" Lightning balked.

Storm blinked, not expecting such an invite.

"Cruz! You can't just invite him like this on the spot! Storm could have other plans!"

She sent McQueen an apologetic grin. "Actually, he's free…"

"Ugh!" Lightning rolled his eyes. "Then uninvite him! We're going to be training! This isn't some leisure cruise!"

"I know, Mr. McQueen, but that's why I'm kinda inviting Storm along," Cruz persisted. "He doesn't have a coach right now. Could you give him some pointers if he decides to come?"

That outdated junk give him advice?

Lightning looked indignant as Storm felt. "Not a lemon's chance cross country! I'm your crew chief, Cruz, not his!"

Cruz huffed, her cheeks puffed out from annoyance.

Storm began to chuckle, his ire leaving him. "Do you really feel that bad for me?" he wondered. "As to offer to share your own personal trainer?"

Cruz shrugged. "I don't mind… You don't have to go, Storm, but I really wanted you to see Radiator Springs. It's a nice little town along Route 66 and the folks who live there are really nice, right Mr. McQueen?"

"It certainly has its charm..." Lightning reluctantly agreed. "Listen," his tone softened. "I know you mean well, but going to the middle of the Sonoran Desert isn't Storm's style. He probably wants to train on some fancy schmancy stimulator."

"You're right, McQueen," Jackson admitted. "I rather be doing just that, but my hauler is gone, so I don't have my portable stimulator."

Lightning looked surprised. "So, you're practically stranded?" he summed up.

"Pretty much," Storm confirmed. "I do however have unlimited access to my sponsor's stimulator, but it's located on the west coast in California."

Lightning was about to reply when Cruz interrupted, "Really? That's great!" she exclaimed. "Then why don't you hitchhike with us? It's less than a day's drive to California from Radiator Springs! And while you're there I can show you around the town! There's the Doc Hudson Museum, the track around Willy's Butte and-"

"Cruz! Just wait a mo-"

"I would like that," Storm accepted quickly before McQueen could intervene again. "Thank you, Cruz."

Cruz perked up and bounced happily on her tires. "Your welcome!"

The gobsmacked look on McQueen's face was worth accepting the invitation alone. Lightning plastered on a grin that appeared more like a grimace. "Will you excuse us for just a second?" the Dinoco crew chief didn't wait for his reply as he turned away. Cruz yelped as her mentor hauled her a short distance for a reprimand.

Storm watched them go in amusement. He was overly pleased how quickly the winds turned in his favor. No doubt he will grow closer to costume girl and maybe even learn some of her tricks before he left for INGTR's headquarters.

A cunning smirk lined his lips. Just stick to the plan and he will have her right where he wants her.

Storm lost his smirk, however, when he found himself facing McQueen's rear spoiler in the back of an outdated hauler for hours at a time.

The "Fabulous Lightning" wouldn't let him park anywhere near Cruz, even when they got out of the trailer to stretch their wheels at pit stops. Thank the manufacturer Cruz's parent lived in New Mexico. They arrived in Carlsbad, within a day by pulling an all-nighter. Unfortunately, it happened to be at noon, also the hottest part of the day.

"Whew! It's steaming out here!" Lightning panted as they exited the cool air-conditioned trailer and now stood underneath the merciless sun. Storm felt inclined to agree. His paint attracted enough heat as it is, but now he felt like he was slowly broiling over an open grill as they rode down the steamy pavement.

"Ugh…" moaned Mack, Lightning, and Storm at the same time.

"Guys, I'm heading back to the pit stop," the large semi made a U-turn, eager to get back to the shaded pavilion. "Call me when you're ready to move on!"

"I think my tires are starting to melt..." Storm muttered.

"Oh, come on, this is great weather!" Cruz laughed, circling laps around them. "It's only 102 degrees out here! Normally it's in the 120s!"

Storm glared at her. How did she even have the energy?

"Cruz, just lead the way already!" McQueen snapped irritably.

"Okay! Follow me! It's not that far. I live only 30 minutes away!" she led them down a long patched road. The landscape was dry and desolate. Brown, brown and browner, with a few cactus here and there. "Oh that reminds me, don't you guys want to visit the Carlsbad Carven before we leave the state? It's a pretty cool place to see!"

"If it's inside, then fine!" Lightning replied.

Storm sped up so he was shoulder to shoulder with Cruz. "Did you grow up here?" he wondered.

"Yup. Since I was a pre-teen when my mother finally managed to buy a house. Hey Hamilton, call Mamá!"

"Dialing the Ramirez household." said her personal assistant.

"Hola, this Camila!" a lady answered on the other end.

"Hola Mamá!" Cruz greeted her parent. "¿Qué pasa?!"

"Cruz!" she cried excitedly. "My niño querido! How wonderful it is to hear from you!"

And he just had to take French in high school, Storm huffed to himself.

"I'm in town for the day and I am bringing two guests with me, is that okay?"

"Absolutamente! Come! Come! I will have food waiting!"

Twenty minutes later they arrived at a small subdivision called Pitts Valley. Along the lanes were flat roof houses. Not impressive at all. Storm wasn't used to visiting places like this. Not since he hit the big leagues and left the hood. If Rameriz was this big shot racer, then why was her mother living in the middle of nowhere U.S.A?

Cruz was beginning to look nervous all of a sudden. "Hey, guys when we get there, play along, alright?"

"You mean be on our best behavior?" Lightning clarified.

"That too, but really, play along. Don't talk about me being a racer, alright-"

"Cruz! You've come home at last!" a lady cried out. At the end of the block was a mustard colored Hyundai Veloster. Waving to them as they approached. She tightly embraced her daughter. "It's been so long since I've last seen you," she kissed her cheeks. "...te extrañe!"

"Oh, I missed you too, Mamá!" Cruz hugged her back. "Sorry for not visiting you as often as I should!"

Lightning smiled contentedly while Strom hung back, growing increasingly uncomfortable. Seeing all this affection was beginning to make his paint shrivel.

"Mamá, I would like you to meet, Lightning McQueen," she pointed to her crew chief. "And this," motioning to him next. "Is Jackson Storm."

"Oh! You must be her students!" Ms. Ramirez assumed. "Hola and welcome to Carlsbad! Is my daughter a good instructor to you both?"

"…" Not knowing if he should be insulted or not, Storm just blinked at her slowly.

Even McQueen looked confused. "...huh? Ma'am, don't you-"

Cruz made wild motioning gestures from behind her mother. Pleading with them to agree.

"I mean, uh, yes… we're her students," Lightning answered. "She's a great teacher."

"Hm." Storm huffed. "Lectures are a bit dull though..."

"Um, Mamá we like to get out this heat!" Cruz spoke up, in hopes of distracting her. "These boys aren't used to it."

"Oh, of course! Please come inside! Food and drink are waiting!"

Ms. Ramirez was very hospitable, her home was humble but cool and the food she provided was surprisingly good. The brand of oil they consumed was something Storm had never heard before, but the blend had a rich and spicy kick to it. He didn't mind helping himself to seconds.

"I am so proud of you, Cruz!" her mother continued to gush over her daughter's alleged profession. "You got that solid Trainer's job at Rust-Eze's headquarters but two years ago and now you're the head trainer!"

"Ah heh, heh…" Cruz nervously laughed. "T-There's no need to brag-"

"No need? Ba! I must shout it to the world what a smart girl you are!" she nudged her daughter playfully. "See? That's why you always listen to Mamá!"

Cruz cringed. "Mamá, please! I am not here to talk about myself, I want to know what's been happening with you!"

McQueen and Storm shared a look. One thought passed between them: this lady knew nothing about Cruz's racing career.

Later that night, Storm found himself backed into a cramp guest bedroom. He had almost drifted off to sleep when his internal phone went off.

"Sir, you have a call from Ramirez, Cruz," Josephine, his personal assistant, sounded out.

He groaned. "Wha…" he muttered sleepily.

"Ramirez, Cruz is calling you, sir," she repeated.

"What?" Storm answered the call irritably.

At his tone, the yellow racer squeaked, "Eek! Sorry if I woke you up!"

"What is it, Ramirez?"

"Can't sleep…" she admitted.

Storm scoffed. "So, you decide to pester me? Why don't you bother McQueen?" he grumbled.

"He's kind of a worrywart who happens to sleep like a car with a dead battery. Seriously, have you ever seen him sleep?"

"I hope I never do," Storm replies.

"Well, I promise you that guy could sleep through the apocalypse! Well, anyway, Mr. McQueen doesn't have an internal phone programmed into his system like we do…"

Well, since she started their conversation, he might as well ask. "How come your Mom doesn't know about you being a famous racer, "Queen of the East"?"

"I…" Cruz hesitated. "I don't want to worry her about my career, alright?"

"Worry?" Storm laughed. "What's to worry? She's afraid you'll get hurt?"

"No, that's not it… she's worried that I won't make a good living. Racing is not considered a real job to her."

Storm rolled his eyes at the nonsense spewing from her mouth. "What do you mean it isn't a real job? You have a solid contract with one of the prominent sponsors in the business for starters-"

"She doesn't understand, Storm," Cruz cut him off in an unusual sober tone. "To Mamá, being a trainer is a real job. I can be a trainer until my transmission gives out, but with racing…" she paused. Storm imagined her shaking her head. "…it's not forever. We're the new generation now, but there will always be another… and then we too will be retired from the sport."

Jackson frowned. He was now. He is the future and it is his time to shine for a long time. That's why he wanted those old, outdated coupes gone. They were blocking the road to the future. His future.

"Try to understand from her perspective, Jack," Cruz continued. "Mamá raised me by herself as a single parent so, she only wants what's best for me."

Storm grew quiet at this reveal. "…what happened to your Dad?" he ventured.

"Oh, he was there for the most part, but that was until he…" Cruz sighed sadly. "…he couldn't take it anymore…"

Storm frowned. "Did he abandon you or something?" he guessed.

"Not in the way you think… my parents first got together, right out of high school. My Papá was an aspiring musician who tried so hard to get his big break, but it never happened… the only gigs he got were at truck pitstops… my parents struggled financially because of it…"

"Ah…" Storm really didn't know what to say. So, her father was a loser, but what does that mean?

"So Mamá became a housekeeper to help pay the bills. Sometimes she did… other things… things for the guests to get some extra money," Cruz hinted. "Mamá got a little too much extra when she accidentally ended up with me-oh, I don't know why I just told you that!" she panicked. "Please don't look down on my Mamá! She was only trying to-"

"It doesn't change my opinion on her at all," Jackson told her truthfully. "At least she took care of her kid, unlike my parents," he grumbled more acidly than he realized. "So please, go on."

"W-Well… Papá was already feeling bad that he wasn't providing for his growing family, but it got worse when he found out I wasn't even his kid…" she chuckled humorlessly. "It was obvious I wasn't a Hyundai like Mamá nor an Opel like him… instead, I was a foreign sports coupe of some sort…"

"So he did abandon you?" Storm confirmed.

"No and yes."

"…meaning?"

"He tried to be a good Papá to me regardless. Until one night… he didn't come home ever again… Mamá tried to shield me from the truth but eventually, I found out that he drove off the marine when he was fired from his only night gig."

Cruz sniffled a little.

"Mamá then raised me on her own. She told me to "Dream small, Cruz," so I wouldn't get hurt like Papá did… so I listened. I got a real career to support myself. But now... I am scared of what she'll say if she finds out. I am lucky she doesn't follow sports or watch television but eventually, she will know. I am just not ready to face it yet..."

Storm slumped down on his tires. He felt a fraction of his hatred towards her dissipate just a little. "Sorry I asked you about it…" he apologized, and for once, meant it.

"It's fine," she tried to sound chirpy and failed. "I am pestering you in the middle of the night after all."

No words were spoken between them for several minutes.

"… … … … …are you still there?"

"Unfortunately."

She giggled. "Thank you."

'Oh, don't thank me yet,' Storm thought to himself. 'I got some juicy blackmail for the win.' All he had to do now was to wait, bait and use it against her. "Did you ever try finding your real Dad?" he asked.

Cruz snorted with amusement. "His lawyers found us first. Mom had to sign some papers and then he cut us a check for my tuition and some necessaries. After that exchange, I never heard or saw him ever again. I can't be mad at that. Without his aid, I wouldn't have been able to attend college."

Unbelievable. Was she seriously this optimistic about everything?

"I gonna retire now…" Storm was ready to hang up.

"Storm, wait!"

"Yeah?"

"You said earlier. About at least my mother being present in my life… that got me wondering, what happened to your family?"

Too close, Ramirez, too close.

Cruz may have been more open to sharing her dirty laundry, but Storm wasn't. "Don't know," was the only thing he would admit. "My parents left me on the steps of an orphanage in Chicago."

"That's terrible… Storm, I'm sorry," she sounded genuinely saddened, but Storm did not want her pity. In fact, he found it funny.

"Sorry for what?" Storm chuckled. "I mean look at me now."

"…that you never knew the love of a mother," she answered quietly and so sincerely that Storm felt his oil rolling. He suddenly felt sick and wanted out of this conversation now.

"Goodnight, Cruz," Storm turned off phone abruptly before she could answer back. "Love…?" he muttered to the darkness, before scoffing, "Who needs a thing called love? Pssh."