I do not own Cars or any of its characters.

PIXAR AND DISNEY CLAIM THAT RIGHT.

READING ENJOYMENT ONLY

Please read and review! I need criticism and encouragements!

Rated M for language and sex.

Chapter 21-Victory-

Lightning pulled off the side of the track and stopped in the infield. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths; he was a little dizzy from the pain. "You did it, Rookie!" Doc exclaimed. "You got the Cup!" Lightning was grinning from fender to fender, despite the pain that was un-relentlessly pulsating throughout his entire underside. Sapphire pulled along side of Lightning, she finished second, and Chick finished third. "That was quite a race. Lightning, do you need some help?" she asked. "It's the least I can do." "Sure Sapphire. I think that I need some help getting to victory lane" Lightning said. "Can I lean on you?" "Come on Light" Sapphire said "Let's go victory lane. You finally got your cup! I'm really happy for you." "Thanks, Sapphire" Lightning said "I need a few moments, I think I'm going to vomit." Lightning swallowed hard a few times. "You okay, Rookie?" Doc asked through the intercom, genuine concern in his voice. "No," Lightning said, holding his tire off the ground." Lightning said giddiness in his voice. "But I did it, I won the Piston Cup. Sapphire is here and she has offered to help me to victory lane. I can lean on her; I think that I can get there." "I'll grab the spare brace, Riley and I will meet you there" Doc said. "Just don't do anything to injure yourself further." The pain was letting up a little but it was still radiating through his underside. "Are you ready Sapphire?" Lightning asked "The pain has gone away a little and I think I'm able to drive now." "I'm ready when ever you are" She said and genially leaned on him. "There's no rush, we're going to drive nice and slow."

Lightning drove with surprising clarity for an injured car to the stage where the awards ceremony was. Sapphire and Lightning reached the stage "I'll see you at your wedding in a few days." Sapphire said. "Thank you again Sapphire" Lightning said "You're a good friend." Sapphire returned to her pits to get cleaned up. "Lightning McQueen" said a racing official as Riley and Doc reached the stage. "You forgot your drug test, we need it before we can make the win official" Lightning groaned, he knew that he was to hurt to bad to drive to the official's tent, which was on the other side of the stadium. "I know that you're injured" said the official. "So I'm going to make it easy on you. Instead of driving all the way to the tent for a urine sample, I'll be willing to take an oil sample from you right here, right now" "We agree to it" Doc said, not giving Lightning the chance to say anything, knowing that the kid hates needles. One of the track nurses who was right behind the official drove around to Lightning. "Lightning, which of your axles doesn't hurt" The nurse asked Lightning. He thought for a moment. "My left rear feels fine" Lightning said. The nurse drove to his left rear quarter panel. She examined his axle and found an oil line that would work. With Doc's permission, the nurse rubbed a cleaner on it. Lightning was in so much pain from that was radiating from his undercarriage that he did not feel the needle as the nurse drew the oil sample. She drove around to Lightning's front so he could see her seal the sample in a medical specimen container. She filled out the paperwork, and Lightning signed the form and she gave it to the official who left with it. "Congratulations Lightning" She said "And enjoy your wedding." "Are you married?" Lightning called back "Yes" she said. "And it was one of the greatest days of my life, go on now, go accept your cup. I think you earned it."

"Not so fast Rookie" Doc said. "I want to put a brace on that axle before you move an inch. One Lightning's pitty lifted his injured side up so Doc could put the brace on. Riley moved to Lightning's uninjured side, so he could have somebody to lean on. There was so much swelling in Lightning's axle that it was impossible for Doc to put brace on. "I have a suggestion." The nurse said "Use several heavy duty ace bandages. It will stabilize his axle until the swelling goes down enough to put the brace back on." "That's a very good idea" Doc said. The nurse had the ace bandages in her medical kit and she and Doc tightly wrapped his axle. "OW! Doc!" Lightning complained "Stop! please that really fucking hurts!" "Watch your mouth Kid" Doc said. "There's a lady present" "its ok Doc" She said "I have heard worse. I know how foul mouthed racecars can be. If they are in pain it is to be expected." "I have to tightly wrap it, Kid" Doc said "I know you; you'll injure yourself more if I don't." Once they were done the pitty lowered Lightning gently to the ground. "Now, how that feel? Doc asked "Go get your cup, and don't do anything stupid while you are up there." "I won't" Lightning said "I hurt to bad to do anything other than stand there and smile for the cameras."

Lightning drove up the and onto the stage. He smiled at the crowd as streamers shot confetti into the air around him and he was awarded his large trophy and a check for two million dollars. "Lightning!" Kori Turbowitz called from the crowd. "You've been trying to get here for two years. Now that you've won the Piston Cup, how do you feel? I can't describe it," Lightning said, grinning at his favorite reporter and shifted his weight from his injured axle. "This has been a dream for me since I was six years old, and now that I've done it, it seems unreal." Kori smiled at Lightning and proceeded on with her next question. "How is your axle feeling? You lost your custom-made brace with three laps left in the race." "Doc has wrapped it and right now it doesn't feel too good." Lightning admitted, still grinning despite his pain. "Everybody, I hate to cut this short, but I have a wedding to get to! I am willing to do interviews after I return from my honeymoon. Call my agent and we can get something set up." Lightning drove down the ramp where Doc and Riley were waiting for him. He stopped next to his crew chief and father; he let out a long breath. Lightning was exhilarated, exhausted, and in pain. All of Lightning's conflicting emotions confused him considerably. "You okay, Kid?" Doc asked. His voice had an odd tone to it; something Lightning had never heard from Doc before. It seemed to swell with pride. Lightning looked at his crew chief. "Yeah," Lightning said, moderately abashed. "Just a little overwhelmed." "That's understandable," Doc said, chuckling. "Are you too sore to get back to the trailer on your own?" "No, I can get to the trailer," Lightning said, "But I need to go get my brace off the track. I lost it right after turn four, right?" "It's no use going back to get that," Doc said. "It been totaled" "It was totaled?" Lightning asked, shocked.

Lightning did not realize how hard of an impact Chick had made with him. "Yeah," Doc said. "I was ready to beat the fuck out of Chick's crew chief. I knew he was behind Chick's little stunt out on the track." Lightning laughed. "It wouldn't have done anything, but get you in trouble" he said, grinning triumphantly. "I won anyway." "Yup you did, Kiddo," Doc said, his voice still containing the same element of pride. "Now, let's get you back to the trailer so we can get to the airport in time for our flight. I don't think your fiancé would be happy with us if we missed it." "No," Lightning agreed. "We would both be in the doghouse." "Since this is the end of the season, would you like something for pain?" "Yes, please" Lightning asked wishfully. "And I don't suppose I can talk you into taking the wrap off." "No, you need to leave it on until we get to LA. Once we get on the plane I'll get you something for the pain, I don't want to give you anything now, with all the reporters around, it will just cause rumors to spread." Lightning nodded in agreement, he winced as his axle gave out. "Anseo mac, lean ar dom (Here son, lean on me)" Riley said "Just a ghlacadh mall agus éasca. Tá eitleán príobháideach, ní bheidh sí a fhágáil gan dúinn mar sin níl aon deifir a fháil chun an aerfort. (Just take slow and easy. We have a private plane; she won't leave without us so there's no rush to get to the airport)." Lightning leaned up against Riley as they drove to the trailers, grateful to have someone to lean on. Riley helped Lightning in to his and then Doc headed to his.