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!
To the Guest-Wow, this is getting better! first time I read this story I remember some part of the trial but I forgot about Justin, I don't know why, is an interesting character to create some problems between Lightning and Sally. I love how Sally does her work as attorney and even more to treat Lightning as her client and not as her boyfriend. Good Job! I'll be waiting chapter 16 :D-
I would have to agree, Justin was a difficult car to write for. I struggled for days to get this chapter to come out the way I wanted to. I know nothing about the court system other than what I have seen on TV and in the movies, so I hope its close to being correct. I used the Michael Jackson and the O.J Simpson cases as examples on how the media would just go crazy with the case. I wanted to show that Sally had a past that was not all sunshine and lollypops. So Lightning and Sally would become kindred sprits. Sally has built her reputation as one of the top attorneys in the nation, she had to put her relationship with Lightning aside, if she wanted to win the court case
Chapter 16.-Sentencing-
An hour later, the committee had reached a consensus. "Disciplinary committee, what is your conclusion?" Judge Drake asked. The courtroom was silent; no one dared to utter a sound. "We find Chick Winston Hicks, guilty of intently harming a fellow racecar" said a female car. "Chick Winston Hicks drive forward" the judge ordered. Chick stood in front of Judge Drake. His face portrayed shock and fury as he realized what was about to happen. "You have been found guilty by the disciplinary committee" Judge Drake said. "Do you have anything to say to the court or to your victim before I sentence you" "No Sir" Chick said. "Very well, since this is a civil case I can't send you to jail for your actions, however I would love to. Because what I heard on your black box, I am sending this case to the district attorney's office for review. It's up to them to determine if you or your crew chief will face any criminal charges." Judge Drake said "Chick Winston Hicks, I sentence you to suspension from any racetrack for the rest of this piston cup season. Pay for Lightning McQueen's entire legal, medical, rehabilitation expenses, and all lost wages." Lightning grinned widely, glancing over to Chick, who was glaring at him with vengeance on his face. Lightning returned his look with a dark, hateful glance. "On a personal note" Judge Drake said. "Chick, you're a great racecar. Stop all this bull crap you been doing and just focus on racing, maybe you will start winning races. Court dismissed" Judge Drake said slamming his gavel on the bench. "We did it!" Sally exclaimed happily. "You did it!" Lightning said, giving Sally a huge kiss, not caring that there were cameras recording his every move. "Doc and I wouldn't have thought about using the black boxes" Lightning felt as though a huge weight had been lifted from his hood. The bailiff gave Chick his black box back. Chick boarded his trailer immediately after leaving the courtroom without talking to anyone. The trailer then left town for parts unknown.
Once outside, Sally and Lightning was swamped with reporters wanting to talk to them. They spent nearly an hour answering questions from the media. They headed back to the Cozy Cone. Justin was waiting for them in the office. "What do you want Justin" Sally said sarcastically. Knowing full well that he wanted her back. Disregarding Sally's comment he decided to seize the moment as his chance to take her back. "Sally…I" he started. "Don't even try it." she snapped, cutting him off. Justin was puzzled; this wasn't turning out the way he had planned. "Look, Sal, I know you're mixed up about everything but I've got it sorted out, so you don't have to worry about it" he said confidently. Sally squinted her eyes in disbelief. "Let me take you away from here. We don't have to go back to L.A.; I know you don't like it there. We'll find a nice place and…," he rattled off like a programmed robot. "Justin, are you crazy? "Sally hissed "But, I thought" he said quietly. "Thought what? That I would climb happily back into my old life?" she asked rhetorically. "Well, yes" he explained. "I know I made mistakes with you Sally but I can fix them. We have to try again." "No Justin, you had your chance" Sally said. "I'm with Lightning, and I could not be happier. So go back L.A. find someone who will tolerate your male chauvinist complex. There's the door, get out." "But…Sally" "I said get out!" Sally demanded "Or should I have Scarlett through you out! "Ok, ok" Justin said and left town with out another word. Sally was unaware that she was shaking with anger. "Sally relax" Lightning said "He's leaving, come on, I think that you need a drink at Flo's" "Why, you want to get me drunk so you have your way with me" Sally angrily said. "No, I wasn't thinking that kind of drink" Lightning said. He was, but he wasn't going to tell her that. "It's that you calm down when around Flo. So I thought you wanted to go and have that fruit drink that you like so well." Sally leaned forward and gently kissed him. "I'm sorry Light, Justin makes me so furious." Sally said "I wasn't thinking straight, and yes I would love the fruit drink." "Good, that's my girl. You won't be drunk, but can I have 'my may with you tonight' anyway" Lightning said as he danced playfully around her. Sally laughed, "Only if you're a good boy till then" She said as they pulled into Flo's.
"Good, Kid" Doc said six weeks later. "Thanks," Lightning said catching his breath. "What was my time?" "Sixty-six seconds" Doc said "You're getting a lot faster" "Awesome!" grinned Lightning "Could I try one more time, please?" "You're going to re-break your fucking axle" Doc said frowning. "No I won't" Lightning retorted. "Come on, Doc it won't kill me!" "Fine," Doc said, giving in. "Go line up on the track." Lightning turned around and stopped on the starting line. "Go!" Doc yelled. He shot off towards the sloped turn. Lightning grinned as he gained speed, shooting around the turn and going down the long side. He power slid around the flat turn and sped across the finish line. "Fifty nine seconds, Kiddo" Doc said, obviously thrilled. "More awesomeness!" Lightning exclaimed. "That's my best yet!" "You're done for today." Doc said "Go get something to eat at Flo's. I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning" "Bye Doc" as Lightning turned and drove up onto the road and down to Flo's diner.
Lightning pulled in to Flo's "What will you have Sugar" Flo asked Lightning. "What do you have ready? I'm starving" Lightning asked "Doc has been working my rear finder off." The special of the day" Flo said. "Which is meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas and for desert, rice pudding" "That sounds good." Lightning said "I'll have that, but with a double serving of meatloaf." "You are hungry aren't you?" Flo said "What do you want to drink?" "Could I have a beer, please?" Lightning asked quietly "I know that Doc doesn't like me to drink while I'm training, but I feel that I need one tonight." Lightning never understood why Doc didn't like him drinking; he was almost fully recovered from the wreck, and was not taking any medication. So, there was no medical reason for him not to drink. "Sugar, you're over the legal drinking age" Flo said. "It doesn't matter to me if you have a beer once and a while. What you gone though these last few months, I'm not surprised you're not drinking more, not less. Give me a few minutes. I'll have it right out to you." While waiting for it to come, Lightning's cell phone started ringing. "Hello?" he asked. "Hey, Hon," came Skye's voice through the receiver. "Mom!" Lightning said. "It's been a while!" "I know, Honey, I'm so sorry," Skye said. "But Dodger screwed up big time, and I had to tend to some of his needs." "What did he do?" Lightning asked, not sure if he really wanted to know. "He robbed a store" Skye sighed "What! Your kidding me, is he in jail?" Lightning asked "Yes, and the tabloids are having a field day with this" Skye said. "Your dad and I have decided that we are not going to post his bail this time, he'll be in jail for a while. So I'll be able to get back to Radiator Springs." "That's great" Lightning said "We all miss you." "I miss you guys too," Skye said. "How is your training going?" "Really good" Lightning said. "I mean, a little slow for my liking, but you know me." Skye laughed. Flo brought Lightning's food out. "Hang on Mom." Lightning said "Flo, you're the best" "Any time" she said. "I gave you a special can of oil" She winked at him. "Sweetie, tell Flo hello." Skye said over the phone. "Flo, Mom says Hi" "Well tell your mom hi back" "Mom, Flo says hi." Lightning took a drink of his 'oil'; it was the beer he had asked for. Flo had disguised it as a normal can of oil. He wondered why until Doc and Sheriff pulled in to an empty spot a few cars down from were he was. "So when do you think you'll get back here?" Lightning asked. "Within a week or so," Skye said. "Great!" Lightning said happily. "I have to go now, Hon. What do you think of me bringing your dad this time?" "Sounds good," Lightning said. He and his father had never had an incredibly close relationship, but then again he hadn't had a good relationship with his mother until a couple months ago. "Okay then, bye," Skye said. "Bye," Lightning said. He hung up his phone and finished his food.
Lightning drove down to the Cozy Cone. With the 'madness' of the trial over, the town was once again quiet and peaceful. "Hey," Sally said, looking up as Lightning drove in. "Hey," Lightning said. "How did your training go?" Sally asked. "I sprinted around Willy's Butte in fifty nine seconds," Lightning said proudly. "That's great!" Sally said. She drove up to Lightning and kissed him. "You're training very well!" "Yeah," Lightning agreed happily. "I'm definitely not complaining. Oh, and my Mom called." "Oh, good," Sally said. "What did she say?" "She'll be here in a week or so," Lightning said. "And she's bringing my dad" "Great!" Sally said "Yeah," Lightning said. "Anyway, I'm going to watch some racing videos at Doc's office if you want to come." "Okay," Sally said. "Just don't get depressed or anything. You always do whenever you watch racing videos." "I'll try," Lightning said. "Come on over when you get the chance." "Okay," Sally said. Lightning drove down the main road to Doc's office. He found the DVD of his wreck and plugged it into the player. "Hey, Rookie" Doc said, coming in the door behind him. "Hey, Doc," Lightning said absentmindedly. He was scrutinizing his wreck. "Did you come from the Cozy Cone?" Doc asked. "Yeah," Lightning replied, in the same absentminded tone he had used before.
"Have you thought about proposing to Sally?" Lightning snapped to attention. "I-I-I've thought about it," he stammered. "I mean, we've only been going only about a year…" "But you're pretty sure she's the one?" Doc asked nosily "Well, yeah," Lightning said, avoiding Doc's eyes. "I mean, I'm positive she is…but I don't know how soon…right now I'm focusing recovering from the crash and on my training," Doc laughed. "Relax, Kid. I didn't mean to scare you. Your mom called me to ask those questions. She didn't want to seem overbearing like she did in your relationship with Halli, so she asked me to ask you those questions. Believe me Kiddo; I'm no longer interested in fucking up your personal life." "Oh, so you moved on to just fucking Sophia" Lightning said playfully. Doc glared at him so hard, that Lightning swore that Doc was trying to set him ablaze. "Sorry Doc, it's just the last time I was pushed into something like that, it fell through. I just don't want to rush things like the time when I proposed to Halli." "Okay, Kid," Doc said. "Sorry to scare you like that." "No problem" Lightning said, restarting the DVD of his wreck. "Don't keep watching that" Doc said "You'll drive yourself fucking crazy." "I know," Lightning sighed. "But if I had just waited and taken the inside, I would have…" "Kid, don't live where you could have done something" Doc interrupted. "What happened, happened and there's nothing we can do about it except to get back on the track and kick ass, namely Chick's." Lightning grinned "That's true," he said. "I need to keep watching though so I can see if I can find anything I can fix when I get back on the track." "Not being a hot-rod and show off would fix everything" Doc playfully said. "But I can't say I didn't do the same thing when I had my wreck. I'll see you later, Kiddo. I'll be at Sofia's if you need me, but call first" "Ok," Lightning said, once again in an absentminded tone. "Bye, Doc." Doc saw that Lightning was not really paying attention to him "Bye, Rookie, seriously call first" Doc said. "Ok, I really don't want to see you screwing Sofia so I will" Lightning said. Doc just glared at him again "You give me hell about Sally. Well now that you have Sophia, I'm just getting in some payback. I'm glad that you have found somebody. Maybe you'll stop being such a grouch, who knew, all you needed was to get laid on a regular basis." Doc grumbled something and then left his office.