Author's Notes: Here's Chapter 8 of Lessons To Be Learned. Now the next question is even though Lightning found Chick can he help him in time? And are the two slowly building a friendship? Read, review and enjoy! As I said Disney/pixar owns Cars NOT me. I ONLY own the idea for this story.

Doc was starting to get concerned. He hadn't heard from his rookie for 3 hours. Suddenly he got something on his headphones of a familiar young stockcar. The Hudson Hornet sighed relieved and quickly drove over to the headset putting them on talking to Lightning.

"Kid! Did you find Chick?"

"Yeah I found Chick Doc and he's not doing good..."

"Define not doing good..."

"He's badly dented and he's fighting for consciousness. Plus his breathing is heavy and he's coughing..."

Chick soon did cough after that was said and Doc winced a bit at the sound. Memories of his wreck came back to him a little. At this point he clearly understood how Chick was feeling at this point.

"Ok Rookie I'm coming, where are you?"

"You know where the railroad breaks RS to the interstate?"

"Yeah..I know about that.."

"That's where we are just a bit farther down..."

"Ok stay with Chick. I'm talking to you through my headset so I'll use this to keep in touch with you two.."

"Ok but be careful Doc..I'm hearing thunder roaring in the distance and it sounds close..."

Doc sped off as fast as he could but he also knew that it was dangerous to go too fast in this kind of weather no matter how much he wanted to. I better hurry...By the way Lightning described and the way he sounds he isn't going to be able to fight this much longer...He's already beating half the odds now...

The red stockcar stayed by Chick's side as told. He looked up at the sky watching the storm and rain started to lightly fall on Lightning's hood with a rumble of thunder. He then looked at the green stockcar who appeared to be shaking.

"You cold Chick?"

"Y-yeah...Y-you c-could s-say that..."

Just as Lightning was about to reply he got Doc on his radio again.

"I'm halfway there rookie this storm is kinda holdin me back. How's Chick doing?"

"He's shaking at the moment..He says he's just cold though.."

"Is he able to control it? If not he's going to into shock..."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"In Chick's case...That's a very bad thing...It may make his breathing more difficult..."

"Why is that?"

"Because during shock the muscles are tensed up which is why he's shaking. The more severe it gets the tighter the muscles will get..."

"Is there anything I can do for him?"

"This storm seems close..Move him under some kind of shelter like a tree or something...I'll check back in a few minutes. You said to the railway right?"

"I'll do that and yeah we're at the the railroad"

McQueen drove over to Chick's side and nudged him gently "Com'n Chick...We gotta move you to some place else...Doc says it's mandatory.."

Chick coughed again as fluid starting building up in his lungs. Doc had told Lightning this happens for two reasons but only one fit on Chick's account. He has an infection from his wounds and it's starting to slowly kill him.

"...McQueen...I don't think...I can get up..."

"I'll help you...Besides if you get stuck in this storm your gonna feel alot worse than now..."

"I find that...impossible McQueen..."

Chick started coughing harder making Lightning flinch and wince heavily at the sound. The infection was hitting the green stockcar faster than he hoped. The rookie tried to get Chick to get up hoping he wouldn't tire in the process.

"Com'n Chick you can do it...Your a fighter remember? your my only real competition anymore at the race track! The others just make it like they're in idle and I'm racing myself.."

"...Alright McQueen...Ya talked me into it..."

Lightning perked up hearing that. He knew Chick wasn't going to talk much but he could at least talk to him. What's left to lose? Maybe he could build a friendship between them.

"McQueen...Ya gotta...help me ya know..."

Chick grunted as he tried to get up from where he was. He was too weak to do it himself. Lightning nudged him gently and slowly but surely the stockcar got up. Chick's axles shook visibly under him as he gave Light a small tired smirk.

"See Mcqueen...? We older model racers...Don't give up so easy..."

"I see Chick...You sure showed me..." Light decided to give Chick a lil bragging right. And why not? After what he's going through he deserves something to brag about.

Chick and Light slowly drove to a tree a lil farther down from where the green stockcar's accident occurred.

As soon as they got under the tree Chick lowered down his shocks creaking eerily in protest as he leaned his somewhat good side against the tree.

"Get some rest Chick I'll look out for Doc.."

"McQueen...You don't have...to do this.."

"I know but I want to...I'm not just gonna sit back and watch you suffer like this..."

Chick couldn't believe what he was hearing. The racer he despised was actually caring about him and looking out for him.

...Why would after all these years of taunting and abuse I've done to him he'd want to help me...?

"Why would...you help me...after all these years...I've done nothing but...abuse and taunt..you..?"

Chick strained to say this words as he weakly shifted his eyes to Lightning.

Maybe if I talk with him it'll help a bit...Really all I can do now...

" Well you did do that but I'm forgiving and maybe we can change your ways. Now don't try to talk just rest...Save whatever energy that's left in you.."

"McQueen...If I...don't make it...out of this alive...just know...one thing...You were...a real good...opponent..."

He closed his eyes and leaned his hood against the tree slightly breathing heavily.

"Don't say that Chick! You will make it out of this and you will race me again..."

"Look at me...McQueen..." He coughed painfully then slightly winced before continuing "Do I look...like I'm gonna...?"

"You will Chick...I'm sure of it..."

The green stockcar leaned more against the tree closing his eyes to sleep as well as he could. Lightning decided to radio his crew chief and hope..Just hope he was really close...

"Doc? I hope your near by..."

"I'm close rookie...It's a lil harder to see through the rain...How's Chick holding up?"

"...Not too good...He's getting worse..."

"He still coughing?"

"Still coughing and even worse than before...It's enough to make you wince...I can't imagine how he must feel..."

"..That's not good...Any other updates on him?"

"Best I can tell you is he's having trouble talking at this point and he might possibly be sick..."

"Well try and get him to rest..That'll help him a little bit till I get there..."

"He's asleep right now..."

"Good..and rookie I think I can see your outline...I think I'm close or my eyes are playing tricks on me..."

"Good. I'll be nearby waiting for you.."

Doc picked up his pace some and soon came up to the tree Lightning and Chick were under..

"Ok I'm here..Let's see him.."

"You may not recognize him at first glance Doc...I didn't at first..He looks like a completely different car..."