AN: I start back to work after a lengthy vacation tomorrow, so updates will definitely slow down, but I have to post this.

This is an AU, but I want to keep it in this series.

Doc read over the headline with little interest as he sat in the garage, everyone had disappeared during the heat of the day, except for those tourists who didn't know any better. He was hoping they wouldn't show up at the clinic.

What didn't people understand about heat warnings.

According to the extended forecast printed in the paper, it was expected to last a while.

With a sigh, he folded the paper over and tossed it on the desk and reached for the last letter he'd received from Thomasville, having every intention to respond before forgetting and then getting an earful the next time someone actually took the time to pick up a phone and call.

He raised a brow and glanced in the direction of the garage doors when he heard the creaking of a hinge but reached for his pen anyway. The tell tale shadow of little legs shuffling past the rear wheels of the Hudson were enough to tip him off.

Doc dated the top of the blank sheet before him. "I sure hope there're no trespassers sneaking into my garage."

He was answered by a muffled giggle as the figure crouched beside a tire.

Standing from his place at the desk, Doc started around the opposite side of the Hornet.

"You know what happens to trespassers?"

The giggling continued until she held her breath, trying to stay quiet.

Coming up behind the child he grabbed her around the middle. "They get thrown in the trunk!"

She shrieked and started giggling excitedly as he threw her over his shoulder. "No, Granddad, don't throw me in the trunk!"

"You're a trespasser, what else would I do with you?"

"Umm..." The little girl thought for a moment. "Let me go with a warning?"

Doc seemed to consider the idea for a moment before shaking his head. "No. No, it's the trunk for you."

She shrieked, giggling and squirming as he went for the trunk latch. Holding her upside down by the ankles, he commented idly. "You've lost a tooth."

"Yeah." She grinned, red faced from her position, revealing a gap in her front teeth. "This morning."

"How many is that now?"

"Four...pretty soon I'm gunna look like Miss Lizzy."

A surprised bark of laughter escaped him at that. "Your mom know you're here?"

"Yeah." She pointed out the garage doors. "She said to come straight over, and I could only come if I behaved."

Doc set her to rights and returned her to the dirt floor of the garage. "Well I guess the trunk isn't an option anymore, not if your mom knows you're here."

"I was supposed to ask if it was ok-"

He closed the trunk as she passed toward the desk. "You're always welcome here, Sweet Pea."

She climbed up and sat on his knee as he went back to his letter, but he was soon forced to put the correspondence aside after being constantly interrupted with questions.

"What's that?"

"That's a pit pass." He pulled the lanyard off the wall and handed it to her. "It lets me back where all the racers are during a race."

Jess put the lanyard around her neck and grinned widely at him before looking back up at the wall. Her expression sobered suddenly. "Is that you?"

He looked up at the framed newspaper clipping, thinking he should have had that taken down some time ago. The image of the dented and twisted frame of the Hornet that was currently parked behind them wasn't exactly something he should still be holding on to.

The little girl spoke again without him answering. "It looks bad...did it hurt?"

"Mmmhmm..." He hummed in acknowledgment, but nudged her attention away from the image. "But that was a long time ago."

Spinning the chair away from the desk he continued. "See? Car's good as new."

"You too?"

"Yeah." He smiled. "Me too."

She jumped to the floor and crouched in front of the grill. "It looks like it's smiling."

"Huh. If that car had a face I doubt it'd ever smile."

He watched her a few moments before grabbing the keys from the desk. He got up and opened the driver's side door. "Why don't we go for a drive."

"Don't tell your mom about this."

"What about Dad?"

Ye-...no, not him either, he'll tell your mom."

"Oh."

He'd let her crawl over into the driver's seat with him, and had actually offered to let her 'drive'. She wasn't really old enough to know the difference between steering a vehicle at 10mph and actually driving. Doc still had control of the gas, brake and clutch. All Jess had to do was keep it in a straight line or ease around the turn. It's wasn't like he couldn't take over at a moment's notice anyway.

They'd driven three laps without making it out of 2nd gear.

"I think this is the slowest we've ever gone around a dirt track." He smirked, putting a hand up on the wheel when she'd decided she'd had enough, huddling against him sleepily.

"Can we go fast?"

"Maybe another time."

He'd pulled up to The Cozy Cone to see both Sally and Lightning just within the lobby. Catching sight of the Hornet, Lightning had met him halfway to the door, taking the sleeping child from him.

"She wasn't too much trouble was she?"

"Of course not."

"I just know she can be a handful..."

"You are a handful. She's like her mother."

"Wow, thanks."

"Anytime, Hot Rod."

Lightning glanced down at his daughter and took the lanyard that was still around her neck. "Here, you may need this."

Pretty soon she'll need one." Doc replied, sticking the ID in his back pocket.

"Not ready for that, yet."

He gave Lightning's shoulder a hearty pat before turning back toward the Hudson.

"It'll come sooner than you think."