Author's Notes: Wow Chick's really sick. Let's hope Doc can help him! I'm going to have a flashback of the previous chapters so not only I know what to write, you can kinda follow along too and see we haven't switched scenes yet. Also before you comment Chick is NOT gonna die in my story. He'll just be really sick however. I suggest listening to Rascal Flatt's Stand & Won't Let Go. Both fit beautifully here and show true emotion for the scenes. Read, Review and enjoy.

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...''

Doc raised a windshield "I've seen worse rookie..."

Lightning drove over to Chick's side with Doc behind him. The Hudson Hornet hits the brakes rather fast at the stockcar's appearance. He had seen alot of wrecks plus his own but never this severe. He didn't even recognize Chick anymore! His 86 was barely able to be seen from his injuries and the mud.

"...You weren't kidding when you said ya couldn't recognize him at first glance kid..."

Lightning soon tensed up. By the way that was worded even Doc may not be able to help him. He may really not make it...

This is all my fault...I should've watch him better than I did and if we lose him...I'm to blame...

The Hudson Hornet looked at Lightning knowingly. He knew what it was like to make a mistake then take full blame. Though he'd never say it aloud to Lightning he wasn't quite sure how to help that much either but if he told his rookie this it'd make him more depressed.

"..Don't give up hope yet rookie, Chick may still have a chance..."

He drove over to the stockcar who was asleep. Lightning watched quietly and worried for Chick's life which was a stake. Doc heard the stockcar's raspy shallow breathing which he had heard only once before. He soon looked at the red stockcar.

"He's got an infection from his wounds that weren't treated...He may not make it through the night if we wait longer...He needs to get to my clinic first. Can he get up?"

Lightning looked down sadly silently shaking his hood.

"I had trouble getting him here..He'll never make it to the clinic..."

"Hmm your right..."

With this tricky predicament his medical experience soon started to come up giving Lightning some hope. Doc soon started to take command thinking he may be able to help Chick.

"Rookie go to my clinic and get my first aid kit...Watch out for rain and be quick that storm should start up again...I'll stay with Chick and keep an eye on him.."

Without hesitation Lightning nodded and wheeled around racing off as fast as he could. The rain had siesed for the moment giving the red stockcar a chance to go full speed. In the stockcar's mind he made this a timed run. The faster he got the supplies to help Chick the higher the chance he'd make it.

Doc watched the racecar till he was out of sight then turned his gaze to Chick who was still asleep but breathing heavily.

The Hudson Hornet winced a bit at the sound imagining how bad Chick must feel right now.

"You look even worse than I did...hopefully I can fix you up in time..."

Lightning raced into town skidding to Doc's clinic getting what he was told. He then raced out once again back to them.

Doc soon Lightning's red outline. Goodness rookie! I know I said be fast but I didn't mean the speed of light fast!

The red stockcar skidded to a stop panting.

"I..got it Doc..."

"Good work kid and just in time..The storm started up again..." Doc looked to see just that then drove over to Lightning to get the stuff he'd need.

"Thankfully I keep some of my clinic stuff in here for cases like Chick's...Only this is the first one this severe..."

Chick soon opened his eyes feeling just as bad as when he fell asleep. There was really no way to escape the pain..He shifted his eyes at Doc who was beside him. Chick tried to talk but he just didn't have enough strength in him. The Hudson Hornet answered for him.

"Don't worry Chick I'm gonna try and get you to feel better than you do now..." He soon got a bottle of peroxide.

"This may sting since you didn't get treatment right away..."

Doc poured the peroxide on Chick's wounds and they sizzled fizzing up very high much to the Hudson Hornet's surprise.

Chick drew in a sharp, gravelly breath of pain closing his eyes as a sharp sting of pain raged through his chassis from the peroxide. The stockcar leaned his hood heavily against the tree in pain. Oww! I regret staying the mud like I did...I shoulda kept going...

Lightning grimaced as he watched. He couldn't bear to see his rival like this...

"I know Chick but it has to be done..." Doc knew he'd be in pain with this trying to at least comfort him a little.

After a few minutes of repeating this the fizzling finally stopped meaning all of the infection in the stock car's injuries were gone. Doc soon bandaged up Chick's injuries to prevent more infection from starting.

"Did he limp at all when you brought him here Light?" Doc glanced at the rookie then continued looking for anymore injuries on Chick he missed.

"He did Doc...He seemed to be favoring his hind axle.

Doc looked to see it was fractured which he would have to set again.

"Kid you might wanna look away for this..."

"Why is it serious?"

"He's got a fractured axle which I'm gonna have to set again only without any anesthetics...since they're at the clinic.."

Lightning winced as his tank dropped at the thought of that as he looked away out into the thunderstorm.

The Hudson Hornet looked at Chick who had a nervous look.

"You ready Chick?"

The green stockcar gulped and slowly nodded his hood. The things I get into...I become so stupid as to get my axle set without any anesthetics! That idea of jumping over the railroad...'Brilliant' idea Hicks...It not only cost you your life but unbearable pain and misery!

"Lightning you may wanna comfort Chick on this..This is gonna hurt quite a good some..."

The red stockcar drove up to Chick's fender. He wasn't sure exactly how he was going to comfort Chick. He wasn't good with that kinda thing, he knew, but when it came to things like setting axles or anything like that he was pretty much pathetic on comforting. Panic just over-rid him and unlike his rival he couldn't hide it. Faintly in the back of his mind he wondered, maybe...just maybe...Chick was feeling the same amount of panic.

Chick was panicked but for a completely different reason than McQueen. He was about to get his axle set with no medicine! The agony he'd induce! While Chick felt sorry for himself he did think somewhat on Lightning saving him. He wouldn't verbally admit it but he actually was thankful for the naive rookie's arrival. From what Doc said if Light hadn't of found him he probably wouldn't even be here right now...

He was soon jerked out of thoughts by not only a sharp pain but a loud snap along with it. Doc was setting the fractured axle which was in a very bad position. Chick winced inhaling sharply and heavily put his hood against the tree. The impact made his hood shudder and a metallic thud was heard. The pain was unbearable for even him.

Just fight the pain Hicks...It'll be over soon...Just fight...the pain...

Lightning's tank dropped at the sound of his rival's axle being set. He looked at Chick who had a combination of distress and extreme agony in his eyes and grille. Lightning decided to give him the best comfort he could, though it would probably be unhelpful...

"It'll be ok Chick..."

The red stockcar actually felt quite stupid saying that. How could he say that! It was far from ok by any stretch! Here his rival was laying in agonizing pain in the cold and rain pouring on the leaves, which were hitting him by now, as Doc was fixing him up fully awake. He then thought maybe he could side track Chick's mind from the pain..

"Just-..Just don't try to think about it Chick think about something else..."

Though Chick was ill and in extreme pain he still managed to shoot a somewhat hostile glare at Lightning as if to say 'Like what..?' Catching on to this look Lightning retorted a comeback.

"Like-...Like finally beating me in the Piston Cup finals..."

Though the rookie could be annoying at times Chick found this actually comforting in a odd sense. He started to imagine the scene as Lightning described it to him.

"Just think...We're at the final turn of the race and you and me are fender and fender..You then suddenly shoot past me and cross the line winning the Piston Cup...The crowd is cheering your name, the press all around you..And the sweet taste of victory and revenge of finally beating me..."

Now Lightning knew this wouldn't ever happen, but Chick could dream right? After all...with what he's going through he could use a good daydream like that. Lightning looked at Chick as his look of pain and distress faded off into what looked like slight bliss. The rookie thought at first he was imagining because to see bliss upon Chick's grille was rare. He only ever had it after either the win of a fight of sorts or getting the upper tire on pointless feuds.

Chick's pain seemed to just go away as he pictured beating Lightning in a race with fans adoring him and calling out his name. The sweet taste of victory...Even more sweet with beating Lightning...Seeing his look between shock and disappointment amused him too. He dreamed too about being with Dinoco once again.

Seeing how Chick was out of his misery for the time being with his fantasy Lightning looked over at Doc who had a somewhat annoyed look as he was setting the axle. It apparently must've been more complicated than expected.

"This is more complicated than I expected...It's fractured in multiple areas and some are in different directions...He may never race again with these injuries..."

Chick soon snapped out of his fantasy hearing Doc say this. Not race anymore? No..this can't be! There has to be a mistake! If he couldn't race he'd have to...take surrender to the rookie beating him...

There go my dreams of being McQueen and finally getting that Piston Cup...

broken-spirited by this Chick looked down looking to the side hiding his sadly. He wouldn't dare let Lightning see him upset. It'd never be the end of it! Plus a stupid and pointless 'Oh it's not so bad things will work out' lecture he was in no mood for hearing. However much to the stockcar's disappointment Lightning saw he was upset. He winced waiting for the lecture to come but was surprised when it didn't..Instead Lightning said something to him that,for once in his life, touched his heart.

"I don't know Doc...He may not quit yet but if he does he'll lose it with honor despite his bad rep.."

Chick was actually on the verge of crying..Not from pain but from Lightning's words. They actually touched his heart of steel...Now any weaker car would've started crying but Chick was a little stronger than that. Though touched he swallowed down his urge to cry, he was a man now not a young rookie like Light was. Therefore he had to live up to it.

...That's actually the nicest thing that rookie's ever said to someone as low and ruthless as me...Maybe...Maybe the kid ain't so bad afterall...

Doc gave a smirk of satisfaction as he finally finished the axle. He then looked over at Chick and told him something he'd wanted to hear.

"Well your lucky Chick..You can still race but unfortunately your gonna be out for the rest of this season..."

The green stockcar knew he'd probably be out for the rest of this season but at least he'd be able to race again. And yet...as much as he was shocked to admit it...He wasn't really that deadset to beat Lightning...He was sure however this was a slight setback from still being sick though something deep in his tank told him otherwise.

The Hudson Hornet looked at Lightning

"You did good keeping him somewhat relaxed kid. That's all I can do for him now..He'll just have to heal on his own with daily tending to."

Lightning nodded his hood as concern slowly made it's way onto his grille

"Thanks Doc..So...He'll make it through the night right..?"

"He should but it's his breathing that concerns me...That too may be a problem for racing..."

"...How do you mean..?"

"Well his infections were pretty severe and if it got to his lungs he'll have trouble racing because he'll become out of breath faster. I don't think he'll be able to race in 500's anymore..."

Lightning looked down not sure what to say. Though he disliked his rival he was actually...heartbroken he wouldn't be able to race again...Doc broke him from his thoughts.

"Might as well sleep kid..We can't do anything till Chick gets better enough to get up and till this storms breaks.." The Hudson Hornet soon drove over to a place, lowering on his shocks and closed his eyes.

Lightning however couldn't sleep. His mind was restless. It was swarming with multiple thoughts and concerns in his head. He slowly shifted his gaze to Chick and drove over to him. The stockcar appeared to be asleep. His breathing was still gravelly and shallow but it was at least somewhat slower.

The rookie nudged Chick's wing speaking softly.

"...Chick? You awake..?"

The green stock car slowly opened his eyes and saw Lightning beside him. He wasn't as bad as he felt before he was just...exhausted now from everything. Chick soon saw Light's somewhat worried look and decided to talk with him for a lil..

"...Hey kid...Yeah..I'm up..."

Lightning wasn't used to being called that by Chick..Doc many times but never his rival. He figured this may be a good time to try and befriend him. The rookie was soon given a surprise from his rival...Something he'd never thought Chick would say to him...

Chick wasn't sure exactly how to go about thanking Light since he never really did it before. It was still hard to say alot of things however..

"Listen kid...If it weren't for you...Ya know...finding me and helping me...I probably wouldn't be here right now...So thanks for savin me..."

Lightning smiled. He had helped out the rival he disliked but in a way he thought the stockcar was a good friend.

"Your welcome Chick.."

"You better watch out..For next season rook...Cause I'm gonna beat ya.."

Lightning's smile soon turned to a frown

"About that...uhh Chick...You may not be able race...ever again..."