If I owned Cars I would find a way for Carsland to have both Doc Hudson AND Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell so I could go on a super fun ride/rollercoaster with the spy cars when I go to Disneyland in about a year.

At precisely 0800 hours Holley Shiftwell politely knocks on the door to Sarge's Surplus Hut with her front tire. The large hanger door opens just enough to reveal the 1942 World War II Willy's army jeep.

"A slotted spoon doesn't hold much soup," Holley says.

"But it can catch the potato," Sarge replies, raising an eyelid and motioning for the purple Jaguar/truck to come in.

"Sorry about that," Holley says as soon as the door is secured. "I just wanted to double check."

"Don't be sorry. It is always better to be safe than stranded in the middle of a forest without your compass that you left back at base."

"Are you talking from personal experience, sir?" Holley asks with an amused smile.

"Yes," the army jeep replies, not one to waste words. "Just give me a moment," he says and drives off into the dark shadows of the hanger.

As Holley waits for Sarge to retrieve the device he is to give her, she decides to ask the gruff old car a question to break the somewhat awkward silence. "So, how did you get into helping the trainees?"

"An old friend of mine. He was one of the original founders of C.H.R.O.M.E. after the war ended. He's gone now, but he had a kid. Earl. Good boy. Serves in the British military and he's due for promotion to Corporal soon." Sarge says. Just a moment later, he emerges from the half-lit aisle towing a grey box behind him the size of a small dresser.

"What's this then?" Holley asks as he sets it in front of her.

"Your information for the remainder of your mission."

"But it's massive! The Academy's devices are much smaller than that old dinosaur."

"I'm older than this 'dinosaur,' you know." Sarge informs Holley, his displeasure written across his bumper.

Holley looks away from him, embarrassed. "I… that's not what- By technological standards this is pretty old."

Sarge smiles slightly. "Understood. But not every informant will have the most up-to-date technology."

"Of course," Holley says with a sigh as she drives up to the outdated computer, studying it. She quickly locates the power button and sets to work.

Fifteen minutes later, Holley has successfully decoded the necessary information for her mock mission. Powering down the 'dinosaur' computer, she thanks the army jeep and lets herself out of the hanger-turned-store.

Having paid for her night at the Cozy Cone before she came to Sarge's Surplus Hut, she turns on her left blinker and pulls away from the small town. Holley just barely makes it past the "Welcome" sign when she realizes that someone is following her. Glancing in her side view mirrors, she sees the rusted resident tow truck attempting to catch up with her. She contimplates simply driving away, pretending that she didn't even see-

"Hey! Hey Miss Doreen!" he calls after her. "Wait fer me!"

With a sigh, Holley gently applies her breaks and turns to face the tow truck. Hopefully this will be quick. I haven't the time to dally- the plane I have to catch leaves soon!

Mater grins at her as he approaches. "There ya are! I was lookin' fer you!"

"Yes. Very nice. Is there something I can do for you?"

"Well, uh… I was wonderin' if ya would care t' join me on a li'l adventure. It's prob'ly not the type ah thing ya do in London," he explains, scuffling his tires on the faded asphalt. "But it's purty fun."

"Look, Mater, I'm really sorry but-" Holley starts to say.

"So, Miss Doreen… would ya care t' join me tractor tippin'?" he asks with an excited gleam in his eyes.

"Mater-"

"I know, I know… It didn't go so well las' time but I was thinkin' tha'-"

"Mater, I really am sorry but I'm going to have to say no."

"Oh…ok. Oh! I got it! We can go see Willy's Butte!" the tow truck exclaims.

Holley shakes her cab. "Sorry, Mater, but I really do have to go. I haven't the time."

"Well…" Mater says, squinting at the sun, "it seems ta be jist a little past eight-thirty ta me."

The purple Jaguar smiles slightly and explains, "No, that's not what I meant. I have to be somewhere very soon and if I don't get going now I'm going to be extremely late. Sorry."

Mater's overly excited aura slowly deflates as he sinks to the pavement, resting low on his axels.

"Oh. Well… do ya think you'll ever come back fer a visit?"

"Maybe…" Holley says, not wanting to hurt the admittedly simple tow truck's feelings more than she had to. "But I doubt it."

With that, Holley shifts back into gear and starts to pull away again. Before she gets very far though, she feels Mater bump into her gently. She stops and faces him again.

"G'bye Miss Doreen," he says with downcast eyes and a sad smile on his face. He looks up at her. "Ah hope everything goes good fer you in yer life."

"Thank you sir Mater," she says, retuning his smile. "The same to you. Good bye."

Their goodbyes said, Holley drives down the long, winding Mother Road on her way to complete the mock mission.

Holley can't place her tire on the reason, but she can't shake the feeling that one day she may just see the extremely American tow truck again one day.

A/N- Ok, anyone who can tell me what is being referenced with the code Holley used to make sure Sarge was her contact gets all the awards (and maybe a cameo- but no Googleing!). It's not really a well-known thing, so I'll be interested to see who (if anyone) gets the reference. ;)

In case anyone was wondering, Holley's undercover last name ("Whitney"- as I wrote in Chapter 6) is Larry the Cable Guy's real last name. I forgot to mention it in the last chapter's AN.

Katgeek, if you are still reading this story, please send me more info on your cameo. I sort of forgot about it until now… I know it had something to do with a cat. But beyond that I don't remember :/

PLEASE SEND SUGGESTIONS MY LOVELY READERS! This is the end of the Doreen saga (for now) and I want to write some more chapters before Holley graduates/meets Finn/ ect. Thank you in advance :)

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!