A/N: Fair warning: you're all going to hate me in this chapter.
Chapter Three: Sneak Attack
As much as Doc complained about it, he found getting some rest in the second trailer proved to be beneficial. Mack managed to recruit an old buddy of his to bring the second trailer and everyone departed for the Piston Cup Race. Lizzie, Red, Ramone, and Flo stayed behind to keep an eye on the town while everyone else drove off, ready for the final race of the season. Harley still refused to talk to Doc. She even denied anything was wrong when Lightning asked her. Everyone arrived in Nashville within a few days and before they knew it the evening of the race had arrived.
Doc cast a look to Harley as the brunette seemed to reluctantly take her spot beside him on the chief's perch. "Ready, kiddo?"
"Yes." Harley said bluntly, not even looking at her father.
Doc sighed, turning his attention to Lightning as the red stock car joined the other racers out on the track. "Ready, kid?"
"Ready, Doc!" Lightning confirmed.
"Now listen: don't think of this as the race to end all races." Doc said. "Just treat it like a normal, run-of-the-mill race. Think too much about the fact that it's the championship and you'll only psyche yourself out. Got it?"
"Copy that!" Lightning confirmed. It was a little hard to hide his excitement for being back in the championship, but he did as Doc said and put all his focus on the task at hand. The race began, and Lightning melted into the scenario like second nature. Doc radioed in tips and warnings now and then, but ultimately left Lightning to focus on the racers around him. Harley made a few comments now and then, but Lightning and the rest of the Radiator Springs team noticed she was mostly quiet. It was very unlike her, as the self-proclaimed cheerleader usually went wild during the races.
Halfway through the 400-lap race, Doc finally switched off his radio and looked to Harley. "All right, start talkin'. What in Ford's name is goin' on with you?"
Harley frowned. "Not a good feelin', huh? Being left in the dark."
Doc's eyes fell into a glare. "Harley Hudson, I want an answer out of you right now. I can guess that you think I did something to make you angry, but is it any fairer to give me the cold shoulder and not say why?"
Harley glared straight ahead for a moment before looking to Doc. She felt a pang of guilt, realizing she was about to reveal that she went behind Doc's back, but she swallowed. "I know about my parents. I know how my dad murdered my mother and tried to kill me when he blew up the house."
Doc's glare lessened, and he sighed heavily. "How'd you find out?"
"I kind of forced Sheriff to tell me." Harley said.
Doc cast a glare at Sheriff, who chuckled nervously. The old Hornet just rolled his eyes. "So now that you know….have your nightmares stopped?"
Harley blinked in surprise, realizing the tone of Doc's voice didn't carry a hint of anger. In fact, he sounded concerned. "Yeah…yeah they have." She looked to Doc with a new softness in her eyes. Her anger dwindled away; she felt more betrayed than anything else. "But….can you at least tell me why? Why you were so afraid to tell me? I mean…..you kept this a secret for so long. Why?"
Doc sighed. "Harley, I did promise you an answer when you turned fifteen. It wouldn't be right to keep this any longer, but can you at least wait until after the race? I promised you answers, now all I ask is patience." He nudged her gently and smiled. "Come on, when have I ever broken a promise?"
"Never." Harley admitted, her negative emotions dying down. "All right. After the race, when we get back to the hotel. You owe me."
"Deal." Doc nodded, switching on his radio and focusing on the race again. But Harley noticed the look in Doc's eyes; he seemed to be out of it, unable to fully concentrate despite his best efforts. Harley returned her gaze to the race, but worry began to eat away at her heart.
Dang, I hope I didn't make him too upset about it. Harley thought. I just wanted to know so badly. What reason could he possibly have for keeping something like this from me?
The race went on, Doc continuing with his job. But Harley could practically feel him shaking a bit. She also couldn't help but notice him rocking a little; it was subtle, but just enough for Harley to notice. She shook it off. If something was happening, Doc would let someone know. Doc couldn't exactly explain what was happening. For some reason, he felt a little lightheaded and it seemed like he couldn't balance himself on his tires. But he shook it off as the heat and needing more sleep, continuing to focus on the race. Lightning was so concentrated he didn't even notice anything wrong with Doc as he stopped in the pits. He was still holding a strong lead even as he rounded into the final lap.
Harley had been fully focused on Lightning when it happened. She watched the red stock car round the fourth turn when Doc muttered something about needing some water. She turned to ask for him to repeat but paused at the sight of Doc rocking much worse than before.
Suddenly, Doc rolled forward and fell off the platform!
Harley jumped, staring in shock as Doc crashed grill-first before tumbling over and landing back on his tires. But he began gasping, slumped very low on his chassis. Harley jumped to the ground, barking at the Radiator Springs' residents to stay back when they tried to gather around.
"Doc!" Harley called, putting her hands to the car's hood.
"Engine….seizing…." Doc rasped, gasping for air. "I can't…..breathe….."
Harley's eyes widened. Engine attack….. "Fillmore, call an ambulance!" She ordered. "Sarge, Sheriff, get a pathway clear! Mack, stay on the radio with Lightning! Everyone else give him room to breathe!" Nobody dared to question her and followed her orders promptly. Harley turned her attention to Doc, who wasn't gasping as much as before but still breathed shallowly. She spoke calmly and soothingly, despite her lingering panic. "Doc, it's okay. Just breathe. Hang on, we're gonna get you some help." She moved to stand closer to his windshield, pressing both hands to his hood. Talk about becoming a human painkiller. She thought, preparing to use her psych-man abilities. Doc stared wearily at the brunette, noticing her crystal blue eyes beginning to take on a snow-white tinge. He suddenly jerked backwards, forcing Harley's hands off his hood and breaking the connection. "Doc, stop it. I'm trying to help." Harley tried again, but this time Doc gave her a shove and forced her to roll backwards a bit. Her skates hit a fallen drill and she hit the ground. She stared at Doc, the elder Hornet giving her a pleading look as he shook his hood a bit. Harley moved towards Doc again, but an ambulance finally arrived and a forklift and human paramedic jumped out. Harley stared at Doc, her entire body and mind seeming to go numb.
Lightning shot across the finish line, cheering and whooping for his victory. "Yeah! That's what I'm talkin' about, eh Doc?" He didn't hear a response. In fact, he could hear several voices over his radio but none of them were Doc's. "Doc?" Lightning screeched to a halt, looking to the pits. His eyes nearly popped out of his windshield at the sight of the ambulance, and Doc being loaded into it. "Doc!" Lightning screamed, his tires squealing as he shot towards the pits. But the moment he arrived, the ambulance sped off and Doc was whisked away.
Sarge hurriedly moved in front of Lightning, stopping the red stock car from chasing the ambulance. "Easy there, soldier. We'll catch up to them soon enough."
Lightning stared after the ambulance, feeling like his engine was being crushed. "B-but….what…..what happened?"
"Engine attack." Harley suddenly said, drawing everyone's attention to her. "He…..he seemed like he wasn't all there…but I thought he was just tired…I…I tried to help…he pushed…..he pushed me away…." She started trembling, silent sobs wracking her body. "I just wanted to help….I don't care if it hurts….but he did…I just…" Harley bit her lower lip, tears forcing out of her eyes. Sheriff rolled up beside her, nuzzling the girl comfortingly. The girl leaned into his touch, wiping her eyes dry.
"Easy there, kiddo." Sheriff said soothingly. "Easy."
Harley would've busted right through the glass doors of the hospital if Guido didn't hold her back. Still, the entire Radiator Springs team rushed through the doors and nearly ran over a passing nurse. Harley finally broke free from Guido and shot towards the front desk.
"Paul Hudson, where is he?" The brunette demanded.
The human receptionist at the desk jumped a bit. "Um…..your relation?"
"Daughter. Now tell me where my father is now!" Harley snapped. She yelped when Guido suddenly scooped her up and pulled her back, allowing Lightning to roll forward.
"We're friends and family to Doc. Is he okay?" Lightning asked hurriedly.
The receptionist typed into the computer. "Paul Hudson. Came in about an hour ago with reports of an engine attack. Room 211 and available for visiting."
Harley scrambled out of Guido's forks and took off skating down the hall, skillfully dodging nurses and doctors along the way. Stupid post-race traffic. She thought bitterly. It took us way too long to get here. She finally found the right door and threw it open, her eyes wild as she scanned the room.
Doc looked up in surprise, having previously been reading a magazine. "Oh. Good evening, Harley."
Harley stared at her father, her eye twitching a bit. She stepped out to the hallway, slamming the door shut behind her, and took a few deep breaths. Lightning and Sheriff approached her, staring worriedly.
"Harley?" Lightning asked worriedly. "Is he…?"
Harley gave a half-sigh, half-growl. "He's alive. But I swear I'm gonna kill him."
Sheriff and Lightning blinked in surprise, then let out relieved chuckles. The three of them entered the room, and Doc openly laughed at the irritated glare on his daughter's face. "My apologies for scarin' ya, sweetheart."
Harley huffed, rolling her eyes. "Right now, I'm just too relieved that you're still alive to be super angry with you."
Doc chuckled, as did Sheriff and Lightning. "So, you feeling all right, Doc?" Lightning asked.
"I'll admit I got a bit scared back there." Doc said. "Just woke up a few minutes ago."
"But you're not gonna go into relapse or somethin'?" Sheriff asked.
"He shouldn't." A white 2002 Mercedes said as he entered the room. A name printed on his fender read Dr. Cedric Crem. "It was a minor engine attack at the most. We'd like to keep him here the rest of the night and he'll need strict bed rest for a few days when he gets home, just to be safe. But I think The Fabulous Hudson Hornet still has a few years left in him."
Doc chuckled. "It'll take more than somethin' like this for me to kick the bucket."
"But he'll be okay?" Harley asked.
"He'll be fine." Dr. Crem assured. "But like I said: bed rest. You'll be back to your usual life in no time."
"Yeah, but until then you're taking a break." Lightning said.
"I thought I was the chief here." Doc chuckled.
Dr. Crem shook his hood, but smiled. "All right, he got the all clear. But the hospital's visiting hours are closing soon, so you're going to have to leave now."
"I'm staying with him." Harley announced.
"Harley, I'll be fine." Doc assured.
"I'm not—"
"Harley Hudson." Doc said firmly, but with kindness in his eyes. "You go on now. I'll be right here in the morning."
Harley wanted to argue. She was terrified at the thought of leaving him again. But she finally sighed. "Fine. But I want you loaded into Mack first thing in the morning. And I'm riding with you on the way home."
"You got it." Doc agreed. "Now go on. It's past your bedtime anyway."
Harley rolled her eyes. "Oh what am I worried about? You're clearly fine."