I had some extra time today and needed a break so here's Chapter 2.

Bash: 50s slang for a great party. It's meant in a derogatory kind of way in this context


"Well, I'll be darned! It's the Fabolous Hudson Hornet!" Tex exclaimed. The Cadillac Coupe De Ville immediately rolled over towards Doc, who had come into the Dinoco tent with Rusty and Dusty behind him. Tex had missed the ex-racer earlier as he had seen someone else he needed to talk to after Rusty and Dusty.

"Doc Hudson will do," Doc replied a little gruffly, unsure about the billionaire.

"Mr. Dinoco sir," Rusty immediately sidled in front of Doc. "Thank you very much for inviting us to your fancy tent and all."

"Oh yeah!" Dusty echoed. "Sure beats our tiny thing."

"Although we have upgraded since our first race," Rusty chattered.

Doc rolled his eyes slightly. Lightning's sponsors were... interesting to say the least. Oh, well, they had given the kid his first big break and despite their clumsiness and lack of professionalism at times, Doc honestly couldn't say a bad thing about the enthusiastic cars. They were hard working, eager cars who treated Lightning with a generosity most sponsors didn't have.

To Tex's credit, the billionaire nodded at them, engaged in their conversation.

"Well, why don't you boys go get yerselves some oil," he suggested. "Everything's on the house."

"Wow, really?" Rusty said. "Thank you so much, Mr. Dinoco."

"My pleasure," the oil baron nodded at the two cars who drove off chatting, completely unaware of the stares they got for their appearance.

"So," Doc said, gruffly, looking at the richest sponsor on the circuit. "You're the big-shot I keep hearing so much about."

"Right you are," the Texan grinned, not putt off by Doc's gruff attitude. "But I hear I'm not the only big-shot around anymore." There was a glint in his eye as he looked at the ex-racer. Doc narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"If there's anything you want from me, Dinoco, I suggest you spit it out. I don't have time for beating around the bush."

"Funny you should say that," Tex said. "But don't worry, Doc Hudson. There ain't nothing I want from ya other than some conversation and perhaps a drink or two."

"You'll have it," Doc nodded, and although the scene of a big tent, dancers, loud music, and flashy lights made him want to dislike Tex, the car's amiable nature was making it extremely hard. "So long as we get out of this bash."

"It' a deal," Tex said, and led the way through the mass of cars to a side exit in the tent. Doc rolled after him but stopped when he saw Luigo and Guido.

"Luigi. Guido," he called sternly. "Don't drink too much. It's a long drive back home in the morning."

"Si si," Luigi answered. "Of course." Him and Guido sped off, ducking between the bigger cars, and Doc wasn't sure if his words had stuck with the two Italians.

Once outside, Doc took a breath of fresh air. The Dinoco tent was far too nosy in his humble opinion. But that was the racing world for you now. All flashy and full of colours and styles. It had changed. And it was only going to change more. But Doc had long since made his peace with that.

He rolled next to the Texan and the two drove towards the direction of the track so that the noise from the huge Dinoco tent faded into the background."

"I'll admit, Doc, I would love to sign McQueen up," Tex started amiably as if they'd never stopped talking. "The boy's a fine young racer and I hope to have him on team Dinoco one day."

"You're not a racer," Doc turned to look at the baron. "What do you see that's so great about him?" Doc knew what made Lightning a good racer of course. But he wanted to see what Tex saw in him. What the baron saw in any racer.

"For starters, he's got talent on the track," Tex answered as if he'd thought this through properly. "Most sponsors had his eye on him after his rookie year. But his whole attitude towards the King's final race what really showed his sportsmanlike spirit." Tex smiled slightly. "Weathers is a good racer, and a good personal friend of mine. Seeing McQueen pushing him over the track made me realize that maybe they're cut out of the same cloth."

"I can assure you they're not quite," Doc replied. "McQueen is a good racer alright, just like Weathers. But he's also reckless and irresponsible and needs a firm hand to guide him in the right direction. You'd need to be a lot harder on him - Not that he'll leave Rusteze."

"Boy's quite loyal," Tex said. "But I'm a patient car, Doc. I'll get him on the team eventually."

"Will you now?" Doc said, and was surprised by the lack of bite in his voice. It came out almost teasingly.

"All legally and ethically mind you," Tex said. "Nothing good ever did come from taking by force."

"Hard work and talent," Doc agreed. "Maybe you're not too far from a racer after all."

Tex laughed.

"I always knew I'd end up in racing eventually. Always fascinated by the sport. Never as a race car through.

"It's a risky business," Doc admitted.

"So is oil," the Texan said, and silence fell upon them. They drove slowly to a little incline in the middle of the infield. Doc drove up and took a deep breath, looking at the moonlit track. Even now in the dark, with all the lights off, all the flashy colours and fancy equipment put away, it just wasn't the same. Dirt and asphalt... So incredibly different. Truth be told, Doc thought he'd be hit with nostalgia when he came back. He thought he'd feel an overwhelming urge to get back on the track and perhaps be jealous of the racers who were doing what he couldn't. But he didn't. There was no nostalgia left because there was nothing left that he recognized. This, strangely enough, made it easier. His era was safely carved into stone, and his role in that era along with it. He could now move into his new era with a new role. That of crew chief. The Hudson Hornet's mouth turned up at the thought. Senile. He thought to himself.

He drove down back to Tex, who acted as if nothing happened, even though he had been watching Doc intently the whole time. They made their way bac to the Dinoco tent in companionable silence until Tex spoke up.

"I missed you growin' up. Too busy tryin' to make my fortune. But I've come to realize that you mean a whole lot to the people here," he nodded to the tent. "And as a big part of the racing world, I'd officially like to apologize for how you were treated."

Doc stopped in his tracks.

"And welcome you back."

A thousand pent up emotions hit the Hudson Hornet in his engine with full force. Shock, surprise, gratefulness, and old bitterness at how he was treated years ago. This Texan was determined to just fix everything it seemed. Or at least, determined to make Doc like him. But like all cars of his generation, Doc didn't allow any of these emotions to show.

"I accept yer welcome," the Hudson Hornet said, and even though he had intended it to come out stiffly, it sounded quite genuine.

Tex laughed his hearty laugh.

"I hoped you would," he said. "And I'll be expecting you to accompany Lightning to all of the fancy events he constantly gets invited to. Those younger cars need to quiver in their tires a little at the sight of you. And if there's ever anything Dinoco can do for you, just let me know."

Doc smirked. Tex was indeed an impeccable judge of character. Well, so was he.

"Oh, rest assured. I will," his grin was almost evil, like the one he had when he was planning to outsmart Lightning.

Tex wasn't thrown off though.

The two cars made it back to the noisy Dinoco tent but Doc's agitation had chipped away slightly so he went inside with Tex to get a drink.

"Tex!" A voice called from the crowd and the two turned to see Lynda coming towards them.

"Lynda," Tex greeted her.

"Miss. Weathers," Doc nodded.

"Evening Doctor Hudson," the light blue car nodded. "Listen, Tex, have you seen Strip?"

"Not since earlier, no," Tex replied. "Why, is he missing?"

"I haven't seen him since the race," Lynda replied. "It's not like him."

"Oh, don't you worry about Strip," Tex tried to assure her. "He's probably gotten himself lost in the pits somehow."

"Last time I saw him he was going to fetch Lightning," Doc supplied. "Come to think of it I haven't seen that rookie of mine in a while."

"There you go," Tex stated. "The two of them are probably running laps for old times sake."

Lynda nodded but didn't look quite convinced.

"I'll go looking for them," Doc sighed. "Rookie's probably in trouble anyway," he muttered.

"Thanks Doctor Hudson," Lynda smiled.

"No... no... don't mention it," Doc turned and rolled out of the tent, uncomfortable with the warmth the Weathers so often projected. "Just so long as Tex saves me a drink."

"You got it," Tex called out before turning to talk to the Apple Sponsor.


Lightning groaned as he woke up. There was a massive pounding in his head and he was feeling dizzy. The surface on his tires felt cold and uncomfortable and he vaguely wondered if this was some sort of prank.

"What happened?" He mumbled to himself, trying to move forward. A weight held his back tire in place. Frowning, Lightning opened his eyes, glancing foggily behind him.

"It looks like a... Ahh!" The race car exclaimed, suddenly wide awake. A boot clamp held his back tire in place, almost like when the Sheriff had caught him in Radiator Springs years ago.

"Easy there," a voice in front of him said.

Lightning turned sharply in front of him, yelling again.

He was met by the calm face of Strip Weathers, which comforted him for only a split second. The race car then looked around panicked. They appeared to be in some sort of trailer, like the one Mack towed him in, but it was completely bare except for the two cars.

"Where are we?" He asked. He felt the trailer swerve to the left and realized that they were moving. "And where are we going?"

"No idea," Strip said. "But you've only been out for about 10 minutes. I figure we're heading in East some direction. But where to, I can't tell."

"No, no, no, this is bad," Lightning started panicking. "This is really, really bad."

"Not as bad as could be I reckon," Weather said, shifting to keep his left axel from stiffening.

"Not too bad!" Lightning exclaimed, and the blue race car saw that the drama queen Doc had worked so hard on suppressing was rearing its head again. "How could this be worse?!"

"We're both alive, ain't we?" Strip replied. "That shows that they won't want to kill us." Not yet, at least, he thought to himself but knew better than to voice his thoughts out loud. The last thing he needed was to scare Lightning even more.

"Oh, right, right," Lightning said, taking deep breaths. "I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding. Maybe they mistook us for someone else."

"Not very likely," Strip replied. "But I'm sure your sponsors will pay any ransom they ask."

"True," Lightning admitted, but slumped down on his front tires after a moment of thinking. "Doc's gonna kill me though."

Despite the situation, Strip smiled slightly at the young car's gloominess and decided to lift the mood.

"'Don't hurt us'," the racer quoted Lightning's last conscious words. "Is that all you got, son?"

Lightning glared at him. "Hey, I'm a race car, ok?" He grumbled. "We're not supposed to get kidnapped. We have security teams for that." He stomped his tire sulkily. He stopped though as he noticed the King also had a boot strapped to the right back tire.

"Hey, thanks for trying back there," he said, glancing down. "Sorry I couldn't get out in time."

"It's alright, son," Strip replied. "You did what you could."

A moment of silence fell over the two race cars as Lightning gathered his thoughts and tried to come to terms with their situation.

"I wonder which one of us they came for," he finally asked.

"What you mean?" Strip asked.

"I mean, they took both of us," Lightning replied. "That can't have been on purpose."

"I figure they were after you," Strip stated. "It was at your trailer after all."

"Yeah, but why bring you with?" Lightning started to shuffle slowly around the trailer, looking for clues as to their carnappers.

"Opportunity, I guess. They probably figured someone would pay to get me back."

"Oh, they figured," Lightning shot the older car a disbelieving look. "I think we all know that Tex won't rest until you're back, no matter what the cost."

"Perhaps," Weathers shrugged.

"Oh, come on!" Lightning exclaimed, knowing Weathers was a modest car. "You were the face of Dinoco for over 10 years! Darrell calls you Dinoco's golden boy! Tex would do anything to get you back."

"So would your Doc," Strip replied. "By now we've both been reported missing and I'm sure your whole pit crew is out looking for you."

"Yeah," Lightning smiled slightly, feeling warm inside at the thought of his family worrying for him. The feeling faded away though. "I hope they're not too worried." He said this quietly, more to himself than to Strip so the blue race car didn't reply. He didn't really want them to worry, especially Sally.

Before either of the cars could say another word, the trailer they were in slowed to a stop. Lightning looked up hopefully while Strip looked confused. It had only been 10 minutes. There was no way they were out of the city!

The two cars heard the bolts on the outside of the trailer being opened and exchanged glances.

"Just cooperate," Strip said quietly. McQueen nodded, ignoring the fear building up in his engine.

The cars had to blink as bright lights penetrated the darkness of the trailer. Once their eyes adjusted, they saw the Raptors from earlier looking at them in a semicircle. McQueen noticed with some satisfaction that the grill of one of the raptors was bent and out of alignment. The blue paint on the grill showed McQueen who was responsible for that.

Lightning looked further and any hope of a quick rescue was quickly dashed to pieces as he saw an airplane waiting for them. It was a smaller plane, so he realized they wouldn't fly far. Hopefully they'd still stay in the country.

A mechanical sound drew his attention away from the plane and to the black Raptors in front of them. They had concealed weapons in their tires and were pointing to towards the two race cars.

Lightning swallowed as the Ford Fiesta from earlier unclasped the boots holding him and the King in place. The darker blue car jerked his head to the plane and summoned the two cars to follow. They did so quietly, wary of the guns being pointed in their direction. McQueen looked at Strip questioningly, wondering if they could make a break for it. Strip just shook his head slightly, knowing that the guns were too close for them to break away safely.

After they had entered the plane the two cars were restrained again with the boots. The plane was pretty bare except for some uncomfortable seats, a tv screen in front and some drinks. Clearly the drinks weren't for them as the Raptors crowded in the front, ignoring the two prisoners in the back. The Fiesta went to the front to talk to the plane as it started its engines.

"Well," Strip commented to Lightning quietly as the plane started down the runway. "Guess we're going out of state."


It didn't take Doc long to realize something was wrong upon reaching McQueen's trailer. For one, it was wide open and the kid was nowhere to be found. That was weird in itself as the kid would never leave his trailer open. Upon further inspection, he saw tire treads on the grass. They had spun at first, and then there was signs of a scuffle. If the tire tracks were anything to go by, Weathers had definitely been here. So why was there a scuffle? Did the ex-racer and the rookie have a fight? Doc banished those thoughts out of his head as soon as they entered. McQueen and Weathers might have been competitors at one point but there was no possible reason for them to get into a fight.

That did leave the possibility... No. Doc refused to believe that there had been some sort of an attack. But this was extremely unusual. As Sheriff wasn't at this race, Doc hesitated between heading to the security tent or telling Tex first. He opted for the later and made it back to the Dinoco tent.

Once he told the oil baron the ball was in the court and kept on rolling faster and faster, leaving Doc dizzy and tired after an already eventful day. Tex contacted security who hunted the entire ground. By the time the other racers, sponsors and pit crews had caught wind of the situation it was already 12 at night. Word spread quickly and no one was in the mood to celebrate with two racers missing. Dunes and Sarge quickly organized search parties and soon racers, pit crew members and sponsors alike were looking for the two race cars. Every nook and cranny of the gigantic arena was searched, but to no avail.

Dusty and Rusty were beside themselves, as was Mack, who was the closet thing McQueen had to a bodyguard. As the sun rose, security sent everybody home with instructions not to spread the word. Doc knew it would only be a matter of time before the press could get hold of the story and just hoped McQueen and Weathers would be found before then. The veteran race car used the phone in McQueen's trailer to call Sheriff to update him on the situation.

"Doc, I hate to admit it, but the best thing to do is to wait for a ransom note," Sheriff had replied.

"I know," Doc sighed. "I just hope the kid's ok."

"I don't think they'll hurt him," Sheriff assured Doc. "He's far to valuable. In either case, I'll come out there with the rest of the crew."

"It's a long drive, Sheriff," the race car said tiredly to his friend.

"We'll fly if we have to," Sheriff said determinedly. "Go get some rest, Doc. We'll be there within 24 hours."

Doc ended the call and closed his eyes. It had been a long night. Not wanting to miss any updates on McQueen's whereabouts, but also knowing he wouldn't be any use to anyone in the state he was in, Doc opted for a few hours of sleep.


"Any word?" Mack asked Gray as the Dinoco truck rolled up beside him.

"None at all," Gray replied somberly.

"Aww man," Mack replied. "I've already lost the kid once. I'm gonna get fired this time around for sure."

"You're not going to get fired," said Gray firmly. "It's hardly your fault the racers are missing. And it won't do you any good to sleep deprive yourself because of it."

"Yeah, you're probably right," Mack sighed. "How's Cal holding up?"

"Worried for his Uncle," Gray admitted. "But Mrs. Weathers took him back to the hotel and is taking care of him."

"Good," Mack admitted. "Doc Hudson's resting in McQueen's trailer. I'm sorta keeping an eye on it." He nodded back towards the trailer.

Gray could tell the Rusteze truck was shaken at the events and he sympathized. The Dinoco truck had been in the business a long time and knew that drivers tended to form a strange sort of protective friendship with their racers. Although he no longer towed Strip around, he was worried for the ex-racer. He was just better at hiding it.

"Why don't you try to sleep a few hours," Gray suggested. As Mack started protesting, Gray interrupted, "I'll watch the trailer for no. Ain't nothing gonna happen to the Hudson Hornet on my watch."