Lightning walked into the training center. Already dressed and ready to train. But where was Cruz? Lightning decided to warm up on the treadmill himself while he waited. It wasn't long though Cruz walked up. "Hey there, Mr. McQueen!" She greeted! Lightning stopped the treadmill and asked, "What's the plan today, Cruz?" Cruz smiled, "Loving the attitude! Sorry I was late. I was getting with the tech guys to get the Bolt down here." "The bolt? Am I finally going on the simulator?" Lightning asked with excitement.
Cruz giggled, "No, not quite. Today we get you in the Bolt on the stationary track to get the feel of her. You got to work your way up. Once I know you can control her new weight distribution, I'll have you on the simulator." "Oh.." "Come on. I think they'll have her ready by the time we get there." She said as she walked on. Lightning followed. The two walking to the stationary tracks for the cars. The three other rookies already on them in their cars. Lightning was excited to finally be in the bolt! He walked over to her and brushed his hand over the rear driver fender. "It's been a while." He said. He hadn't went very fast on the car yet. This was going to be great!…
Lightning glared at Cruz from inside the car. Then he looked at the screen above. 5mph. He sighed and glanced at the young racer next to him who was pushing 160. Lightning then leaned his head out the window and asked, "Can this thing go any faster?" Glancing down at the locks on the bolt's rims that kept it a certain speed. Cruz's voice came through the ceiling of the car as she answered, "You don't have to stick your head out the car. It has surrounding mics. You can hear me without the helmet radio. I've conserved your speed to a maximum of five miles per hour. Just imagine beating this guy."
The screen then showed a picture of Jackson Storm. "Get him! Get him Mr. McQueen!" Cruz cheered! Lightning's brows lowered as he snapped, "Get him? This things only going five miles an hour!" "We can work on building that RPM up right after you take your nap." "Nap? I'm not taking a nap!" He shouted. The three young racers laughed at him! Lightning rolled his eyes then yelled, "I am not taking a nap!"…..
Lightning heard knocking at his door. He sat up from bed. Yawning and rubbing his eyes. Fuck. Defeated by a god dam nap. Maybe he really was getting old. He walked over and opened the door to see one of the employees of the center say, "Cruz is wanting you down in the meditation room." "Meditation?" He questioned. But the employee walked off without answering. Messing on a tablet. Lightning sighed. He just wanted to get on the simulator. He had a little over a week left and felt like he was getting no where!…
Lightning yawned as he walked in to the meditation room. Cruz was there. Sitting cross crossed on the floor. Surrounded by candles and low lights. "Good evening, how was your nap Mr. McQueen?.." she greeted and asked in a mellow tone. Lightning sighed and admitted, "It was… Kind of refreshing, actually." But then raised a brow. Not sure what was going on. "Join me." She said. Lightning hesitated. Then four men rolled in the racing tires from the Bolt. Lightning watched them set them in a circle around him. "Um.. What's this?" Lightning asked.
Cruz stood up and explained, "You've been racing on tires for a long time. Have you ever stopped to get to know them?" "I'm sorry, what?.." Lightning asked. No way he heard that right. "Tires are individuals. You should give each a name." Cruz suggested. Lightning scoffing, "Name them? I won't be doing that." He growled as he crossed his arms. Cruz then exclaimed, "Mine are named Maria, Juanita, Ronaldo, and Debbie Richardson." Seeming proud of that.
Lightning raised a brow as he asked, "What?" "Long story." "Can we just put the tires back so I can try the simulator, please." Lightning asked. You could tell he was really annoyed. Cruz replying, "Name them." Lightning rolled his eyes. He was going no where with this. "Uuuh.. Lefty, righty, Backy, Backy junior, okay!?" "Does this make you mad?" "Yes it does!" "Use that!" Cruz sang! Lightning growled with frustration! This training was ridiculous!!!….
Sally walked into the cozy cones office. Finding a large bouquet of flowers. She walked up to it and grabbed the card.
Hope you enjoy and have a day as beautiful as these flowers
-Ben
She sighed. Ben was really trying. It was kind of suit. But. She crumbled the card and tossed it into the trash. "Dammit!" She shouted and shoved the flowers to the ground. The vase breaking into pieces! She fell to the floor. Beginning to cry. She missed and wanted Lightning. He never texted. Never called. Nothing! She was trying to wait patiently for him to be ready to talk to her. But he never works at this rate! Her heart hurt! How could she! She hurt him so badly! Sally raised her fist and hit the ground! "Aah!" She yelped and pulled her hand to her chest. It stung! She glanced at it and saw the glass in the side of her hand.
Blood rushing out. "Oh gosh." She whispered. Bleeding onto the floor. She stared at the blood in her hand. She ruined everything and for what?! A few crappy intimate moments for distraction!? "I'm so sorry.." She whimpered to herself. Holding her wounded hand to her chest. "I'm so sorry, Lightning.." She cried. Carson walked into the office and his eyes widened seeing the flowers and glass. "You okay?" He asked his daughter. Sally shook her head. Carson came around and saw the blood. All over the floor and her hand and clothes. "Sally! Get up. Come on." He ordered as he helped her up and took her to the clinic immediately….
The doctor finished bandaging up her hand. Explaining, "It's not bad. The stitches will desolve on their own. Be careful if you shower. Don't soak it in water." Sally nodded. Wiping her eyes. Carson then asked, "Is she alright?" The doctor nodded. Then gave Sally a prescription for the nausea and pain. Sally hopped off the table. Holding her hand close. Carson wrapped an arm around his daughter as he walked her out to his suv. "What happened?" He asked.
Sally didn't answer. She was to depressed. Broken. They got into the suv. Sally finally admitting, "He hasn't spoken with me still… Not sense he left.. I don't even know if the training is going well.." She whimpered. Carson sighed and replied, "Sally… Lightning is… He's probably hurt and thinking over some things.." "He won't stay… With me… Will he?" She asked.
Carson stared at his little girl. Frowning. He didn't believe he would. "I.. I can't say for sure.. But.. Ben will. Ben is." Carson reminded. Sally nodded. Giving up. She looked at her Father and said, "Maybe it is best.. To leave Lightning and raise the baby with Ben… Let Lightning go.. Let him have his own life without all of this drama and stress…" Carson didn't know what to say. He liked Ben. Not particularly right now.
But he liked Lightning too. He loved the kid. But he just knew how messy this was going to get with Lightning's fame. Carson nodded. No words, just nodding. Sally looked away. Silent tears rolling down her face. She wished Lightning would call. Sure, she could call him. But she wanted him to want her. Maybe she just needed to swallow her pride and call.. Talk to her husband about her feelings…
Lightning sat in his room. Sitting in the couch and looking over RSN on his phone. Storm this… Storm that.. "Chrysler…" He growled quietly. The first rookie to win a piston cup. That was his dream. His dream he gave up. Lightning sighed and tossed his phone next to him. It immediately began ringing. He glanced at it. Sally. His eyes widened. Staring. Sally!?
……"I'm.. I'm weeks pregnant.. You were in a coma.. Just.. Please don't leave me.. At least not tonight." Lightning's brows lowered, "What?.. I don't.. I don't understand.." he muttered, but he was putting the pieces together. Sally looked at him. Facing him. "It's.. It's not yours, Lightning… I made a mistake.. I thought.. I thought I lost you and so.." "Wait, no. You.." he stared at her. Not wanting to believe this. But he stared up at her eyes. Her tear filled eyes. She meant it.. She meant this!
Lightning stood up and his heart sank! "What-You-No.. No, you didn't. You wouldn't do that. You.. You're saying you… But you're perfect.. " he couldn't make the words. Just shocked and his heart broke! Sally's lips shivered as she whimpered, "I'm so sorry.. It.. I made a mistake.. I didn't mean.. I didn't think.." "Wait, you slept with someone else? And you didn't tell me until now? Now that you are pregnant? And it's not mine?.. Because you fucked another guy!?" No way this was true!?
The anger and betrayal hit him! Sally fell to her knees as she began to cry! "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it! It meant nothing! I love you! I didn't do this on purpose! And I was going to tell you!…" "When!? When I was in the fucking ground!?" Lightning asked!
Then rushed out the front door, slamming it shut! BAM! "FUCK!" He shouted outside! People nearby staring. He just faked a smile and waved. The people not minding after that. He sighed. Wanting to scream! Wanting to cry! But he could not fall apart! He could not let this get to him! Not Sally. This had to be a bad dream! Sally was his perfect saving grace! Not her! Not his wife!….
He stared at the phone as it rang and… Went to voicemail. He sighed. He should call her back. Talk to her. But… She betrayed him. She hurt him. This hurt was something he never felt before. Not this badly! Lightning got up and left the room. He needed to distract himself. Do something! Get his mind off of Sally and her dam affair. Otherwise, all he could do is imagine her body bending and being fucked by BentWheel! The noises she made for him, the way he touched her, entered her body, his wife! Nope! He couldn't do this now!…
Cruz walked into different rooms of the racing center. Looking for Lightning. She looked in his room. He wasn't there either. She sighed. "Where are you?" She asked aloud. Then she walked to his closet. The shit wasn't here. He must have been wearing it still. Cruz grabbed the tablet and located the suit with the tracking device in it. "Gotcha." She said with a smile.
Cruz walked into the gym. Finding Lightning sitting on a bench. Staring at the ground with some dumbbells on the floor. She walked over and greeted, "Hey, Mr. McQueen." Lightning looked up at Cruz. She stared. His arms. His shoulders. He had the upper half of the suit off and feasting at his hips. Just wearing a white tank top. His shoulders looked nice. He was slightly sweaty. Making his tan skin glow. She blushed a bit and asked, "What are you doing here?" "What's it look like I'm doing?" He snarled. Cruz crossed her arms and asked, "Are you pushing yourself too much?" "I'm not pushing myself enough." Then he began to continue working out with the dumbbells.
Cruz watched a moment. Thinking. She began doing some stretches. Lightning noticed and tried ignoring her. Cruz sitting on the ground in front of him and asked, "Is something bothering you?" "Yeah." "Want to talk?" Cruz asked with a smile. "No." Lightning growled. Cruz went silent. Watching him work out a bit. Watching his arms. "Wow. You're like a real beef cake there, huh?" She joked with a nervous giggle. Lightning just glared at her. She sounded stupid. Cruz nervously laughed then asked, "So what's it like in Radiator Springs?" He didn't answer. Cruz shrugged adding, "I've always wanted to see it." He didn't reply. Just continued working out.
Cruz tried to think of a way to get him to talk. "Maybe you could show me around one day?" He finally looked at her again. He sighed and set down the dumbbells. Cruz smiled at him and asked, "What's it like being so famous?" Lightning stood up answering, "I'm tired.. I'm going to go to bed.." Cruz frowned. "Oh.. Okay, yeah. Me too, I'm exhausted." No she wasn't. Lightning snickered and walked out.
Leaving and heading back to his room. Cruz sighed. Lightning was very obviously hurting. She just wished she could fix whatever it was for him. And man! Those arms. He was so much handsomer than she pictured! Really, he looked younger than he was! Sally was a lucky woman….
Sally woke up the following morning. She picked up her phone. Lightning didn't call back, no text. Nothing. She sighed. Tears gathering. She went to wipe her tears and "Ow." She yelped. Her hand hurt so much. She then smelled the air. Coffee? She got up and slowly walked into the kitchen. The scent of coffee became stronger. Then vanilla? She noticed candles in the living room. This was strange. "Dad?…" She called. No answer. She walked further than felt something on her feet.
She stared at the floor as saw the trail of rose petals. Leading to the kitchen. She followed them nervously. Growing sick to her stomach. Sally walked into the kitchen to find Ben at the table drinking coffee. He looked at her and his eyes widened! He choked up on his coffee then instantly got out the chair and dropped to his knees. "Ben, what the hell are you doing?" She asked quietly. Ben cleared his throat and took Sally's hands in his. "Sally… I want to give you more than this. I want to give you a life that makes you smile. I want to be a family with you. I want you again." "Stop…" "I'm not purposing. Relax… But.. I am asking you to come to California with me.. The sooner the better. We can start setting up for the baby!" He exclaimed!
"I've found a few homes. Nice neighborhoods! I even talked to your old law firm and they want to give you a very well earned position." "You spoke with my old law firm?…" Sally asked in shock! Ben nodded. "I even valued the motels. You don't have to fight Lightning for anything with them. They are worth so much more than I would have guessed." Sally shook her head. Growing furious. "Get out of my house, Ben.." She growled. Ben was confused. He thought she'd love the gesture. "But.. I love you. I'm trying to help." He assured. Sally stomped off to her room. Slamming the door shut and locking it. She waltzed over to her phone near the bed and grabbed it. Pulling up Lightning's name and calling. Praying he would answer. "Please… Just answer…"….
Lightning was asleep in bed. Groaning as he awoke to the sound of his phone buzzing. He slowly opened his eyes. Reaching for his phone and trying to find it. He finally grabbed it and answered, "Hello?.."
Tell me you're going to stay with me.
"What?.." He didn't even realize who it was at first.
Tell me that you are going to come back home and be supportive and that we will make it through this, Lightning. I need to hear it right now.
Lightning yawned and sat up. Sally. He sighed. "I'm coming back home and we will make it though this.."
Are you sure?
"… Yeah… " mostly because he didn't have the mental energy to start over with someone else.
That doesn't sound very convincing.
"I'm sorry, I just woke up." He yawned.
I need you, Lightning… I'm sorry for this.. I'm so sorry…
"I know…" Not really. Once is a mistake. Maybe. But multiple times. Nope. She was a whore.
I love you…
"… I love you to… Im sorry I haven't called sooner.."
It's alright… I understand… How is training going?
Lightning groaned and lay back down.
That bad?
"I don't know, Sal… It's not what I thought it'd be.."
Does it feel good driving on a real track again?
"Um… I haven't gotten to."
What?
"Yeah, I have a trainer and she won't let me drive yet."
Why not? Is something wrong?
"Yeah, something's wrong. She's a hippie nut job."
Wow. Sounds tough.
"Yeah… Um… How are you doing?"
I'm fine. Totally fine.
"And the baby?"
You want to know about the baby?
"Yeah. I'm going to be there for it. I told you I would stay. I meant it.. It… It was a mistake.. What you did.. I love you.. I forgive you." Or he would eventually.
I love you more. And you have no idea what it means to me to hear you say that right now.
"Always and forever, right?"
Always and forever.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Um… A little. I'll be fine. It's just pregnancy blues.
"Hm."
I miss you so much, Lightning..
"I'm sorry.. But we'll see each other in like a week."
Thats true. I can't wait.
"… Hey, Sal.."
Yeah?…
"…. I'm… Im gonna get off here. I got to get up and get ready before the crazy trainer comes for me."
Oh. Okay. I.. It's… It's good to hear your voice.
"Good to hear yours. Take care of yourself."
I will.
"I'll see you soon."
Okay. Love you.
"I love you too."
Goodbye…
"Bye." Lightning hung up and dropped his phone next to him. Laying there. Staring at the ceiling. Honestly?… His feelings for Sally were so numb right now. She broke him. She broke him like no one else had. He didn't care what she did. He was beginning to be unable to feel its pain. Maybe that was a good thing. It made it easier to accept it. Easier to accept that he'd be raising Ben's kid. They'd be fine. Rumors and crap would start, but this numbness would make that a breeze to handle…
Lightning glared at Cruz as she did her weird jazzy yoga dance exercise. "And merge and yield! And merge and yield. Bug in your Windshield. Bug in your windshield. Beep, beep, beep, beep!" She shouted. Lightning didn't budge. Just glared at her. Waiting for her to finish. He was tired of this training. It was stupid. And his mind wasn't for this right now. He was angry and thinking things over about Sally. Could he really do this? Ben would be in their lives forever. He was probably convincing her leave him as he stood here with the hippie nut job trainer. Lightning glanced behind Cruz to see the Bolt outside the simulator. His eyes widened. He smiled a bit and shouted, "Thanks, Cruz! I'm done!" And rushed out the room. Cruz stopped and watched him go. Confused as to where he was going.
Cruz quickly shut off the music and ran after Lightning. "Where are you going!?" She shouted as they ran down the stairs. Lightning answering around the corner, "Okay, here we go. Here we go! Cruz, Thank you for the old man training as crazy as that was, but I'm warmed up enough and I need you to launch this thing." He then jumped into the Bolt. Cruz walked up to the window and replied, "Mr. McQueen, wait until you can handle it, please? There are no short cuts." "Okay, we'll just see about that. How do I do this?" He asked. Cruz sighed, "Again…. No helmet. Radio is through the car… You just drive up onto the platform and the guys over there get it going. You need to wait though. These things can be tricky at first. Especially for someone at your"-"Don't say it." Lightning growled.
Cruz sucked her lips inward. Staring at Lightning who was glaring directly at her. Suddenly a voice came over the room, "ALRIGHT! My star racer is on the simulator!" Crux and Lightning looked over and up to see Sterling above looking and watching them. Lightning smiled and shouted, "Why yes I am!" Sterling replying, "Well, let's see you take it out for a spin." "Right away Mr. Sterling!" Lightning then turned on the engine of the Bolt. Glaring at Cruz and saying, "Owner of the company." Cruz glared back and shrugged. "Okay. Have fun." Then walked over to the control center for the thing. Lightning pulled up onto the platform.
The screen came on. "This is what I'm talking about." He growled to himself. If he trained like Storm, he'd beat Storm. That was the idea. Lightning felt two jolts at the rear of the car. "Woah… Didn't know about those.." he admitted. The screen showed the track. "Wait?.. Is it talking?" He asked. Cruz put on a headset and spoke through the ceiling of the Bolt again, "Go." "Go?" "Go!" She shouted as Lightning. So Lightning hit the gas! Shifting the Bolt. Her engine roaring loudly. Coming into the first turn, Lightning jolted a bit and virtually slid off the track. "Woah! That's.. Sensitive!" He yelped. Then swinging back in and smacking into the wall!
You have hit a wall. You have hit a wall.
"It shouldn't be this hard, should it!?" He asked Cruz. Cruz quickly explaining, "You're fighting the simulator. Just race like you always do!" "I'm trying!" Lightning growled as he shifted and turned hard. But he kept hitting walls. "There can't be this many walls on a regular track!" He whined. Then storm passed him. Lightning was confused and asked, "Wait, Storm's in here?" "For motivation! Get him, Mr. McQueen!" Cruz coached. Lightning gunned it. Still seeming to fight the virtual machine. But he kept hitting the walls, swirling everywhere. Absolutely no idea how to control this thing!
Cruz glanced up at Sterling. He was not impressed and Cruz just knew what he was thinking. She quickly tried to convince Lightning to stop. "Mr. McQueen, come down from there and we can work you up to this." "I am fine, Cruz! I can do it, okay!?" Then he bumped into something and the car jolted to the left. "Woah!" He yelped. The realism was unreal! Lightning shifted and hit the gas, swerving and trying to get the car in from York on the simulator. Fighting it and spinning the wheels fast, turning the car hard and sharp when suddenly the back wheel latched snapped! "Mr. McQueen!" Cruz shouted as the Bolt launched forward! "Aaahh!" Lightning yelled as the Bolt railed through the computer screen!
The computer repeating, you have crashed. You have crashed. You have crashed. Then it shut down from the damage. Cruz ran around the damaged simulator screen to find the nose of the bolt had went straight through. She ran up to the window. Barely able to see in and asked, "You okay!?" Lightning leaned over the steering wheel. His head bleeding a bit as he answered, "I've crashed…" Before closing his eyes and fainting. Cruz motioned for the tech guys to help her get him out then pressed a button on the tablet for medic. She glanced up to look at Sterling. But he was gone. This was bad. Suddenly the power went out. She sighed. This was really bad…..
Lightning sat on the exam table. The clinic had back up power thankfully. The doctor cleaning the dried blood from his forehead. Cruz stood next to Lightning. Felt kind of bad for him. Lightning sighed with a frown and asked, "Is Sterling mad?" Cruz nervously smiled, "Nah.. Just… He's coming up with something better. For your training. I'm sure." "Yeah…" Lightning was worried. He destroyed the million dollar simulator. He was going to have to pay for that one. Cruz placed a hand over Lightning's knee and tried to make him feel better saying, "Look, as soon as you feel better, like.. Maybe tomorrow morning? I'll have you set to sixty miles an hour on the stationary track. How's that sound?" She asked. Lightning immediately glared at his trainer asking, "Is that suppose to make me feel better?" Cruz's smile faded. She was just trying to help. The doctor finished up and Lightning hopped off the table. Immediately grabbing his shoulder. He was sore all over again.
Lightning walked out the clinic, into the dark no power halls.. Only the moon and stars making a dim light through the windows. Walking with Cruz, he asked, "How is the Bolt?" "Minor repairs. Mostly some scratched wrap and then a dent in the fender. She's actually pretty resilient." She snickered. Lightning sighed. He could not believe this. "I have a week left, Cruz… This training isn't working." He admitted. Cruz stopped and frowned. "What do you mean?" She asked. Lightning sighed and turned. Facing her. "This isn't anything like Doc taught me… I don't know.. It's not working.. That's the first time I have really driven the Bolt sense…" He paused and frowned.
Staring at the floor. Cruz finishing his sentence, "Sense the crash?" She asked. Lightning nodded. Thinking. he had to think of something! And fast! Florida was coming quick. Cruz's tablet suddenly lit up. She glanced at it. Feeling extremely worried. "Um… I'll come and get you tomorrow. I have to talk with Mr. Sterling… See you tomorrow, Mr. McQueen.." She then left. Lightning sighed. This was so bad. Then the power turned back on. At least that was fixed. But he was giving up all over again… He was never going to beat Storm… His racing career was ending…. His marriage was destroyed… His friends were gone… His own life was drowning him….