Sally woke up in bed. Laying there. Her stomach felt awful. Nope! She got up and ran to the bathroom. Throwing up into the toilet again! She violently puked. There was nothing to vomit, but man she was sick. Sally flushed the toilet and sat agains the tub. The realization setting in. Sally placed her hands on her lower abdomen. Her eyes wide with panic and her heart racing. She was, wasn't she. She was really pregnant. Sally grabbed a pregnant text box and began to open it, but stopped. Sally dropped the box onto the floor and ran to the bedside table. Grabbing her phone and calling her husband.

Good morning…

Lightning sounded exhausted!

"I'm sick again!"

… I'm sorry…

"No, I'm sick! Again!"

Again?.. Maybe try taking something for it?

"Lightning!"

Sorry! I'm awake! What's wrong?

"I've been sick all of the time, smells are getting to me!"

Yeah, yeah, I know.

"I have to be pregnant. I'm pregnant, right?!"

I mean.. It would explain those things.

"I want to take a test."

Take one.

"But you're not here."

It's fine, Sal. It's not that big of a deal.

"Not a big deal? We've been trying for years!"

I know, Sally. I was there.

"Don't be snappy."

I'm not. Sorry… I'm still waking up.

"I'm scared."

….. It's going to be okay. Calm down first.

"What if I lose it. I don't want to lose our baby.."

Calm down, Sally.

"What if I make it nearly there like the last pregnancy?… What if this one is stillborn?"

Sally.

"What if I wind up in the hospital again? What am I suppose to do!?"

SALLY!

"What!?"

Calm down! You don't even know for sure. You are freaking out and you need to stop! No freaking out without me, alright!?

"… Sorry…"

Okay…. it's okay.. But you have to calm down. Stop freaking out like this. It's going to be okay. This is why I wanted to stay. I should have stayed.

"No, I'm fine."

I can tell….

"Lightning, I'm just… I'm…."

Freaking out?

"A little bit…"

Listen, calm down. I love you and it's all going to be okay. We should make it to the wedding by in a few more days, then once it's over, I'll catch a flight and be there quicker.

"What about the rental?"

Trust me, you don't want to go there.

"What?"

Long story. Are you going to be okay? Is your dad there?

"Yeah."

Good. Breathe. Please. Fuck…

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to make you mad."

I'm not mad.

"You sound mad."

I'm not mad, Sally. I just don't like being away from you when this is going on. This is horrible timing.

"I'm sorry…" she sounded like she was starting to cry.

What? No, don't do that. Are you crying?

"No…". Yeah, she was.

Oh god… Sally, stop.

"I can't… I'm sorry. You're yelling."

I'm not! … Fuck..

"I'm sorry."

Stop saying sorry..

"Sorry."

…..

"I'm freaking out."

Yeah, I know. Where is your Dad?

"In the guest room."

Go to him. Please.

"He's probably asleep…"

Give him the phone.

"I don't want to wake him."

Trust me, your Dad is up. He's always up early. Go knock on the door and give him the phone. Now.

"Okay?… Sheesh…" she agreed as she made her way to the guest room. Sniffling.

Please stop crying.

"I'm sorry."

Stop that!

"Dad?… Here… Lightning wants to talk to you.." Sally announced.

Lightning sighed and rubbed his eyes. It was too early for this.

Hello?

"Carson, hey. Sally called me this morning and she's freaking out. You got to do something."

What?

"Work with me here! She's acting like a lunatic!"

I… I don't understand.

"Your daughter is crying and apologizing and screaming and sick! She's obviously pregnant! I can't be there because I'm stuck on this stupid road trip and she needs someone to calm her down and de-freak her out! It's going to be a few more days before I'm home! You have got to figure out how to calm her down and take her to the fucking doctor because she needs something! Something could be wrong!"

There's no reason to yell….

"I'm not yelling!"

Okay… I think the both of you are freaking out right now.. I can handle Sally here. It's not that big of a deal. You, on the other hand. Breathe. Please.

"Oh my god, I can't deal with this.."

Lightning. It's fine. She's fine. She's right here with me. She's not crying anymore and she's fine. Just a bit of hormones getting to her. It's normal. You remember how she was before.

"Oh no! She was not nearly this crazy at the beginning."

Well, it's yours this time. Makes perfect sense to me.

"Carson!"

Just calm down. It's a baby, not a bomb..

"… Please…"

It's going to be okay. You both wanted this and you both can do this. I'm here with her. Just get back here when you can. Nothing it going to happen over the next few days.

"But…"

Calm down. I see what's going on with the two of you. She is safe. Everything is fine.

"But what if it's not? What if she gets hurt again?"

I know. I worry to, but calm down.

"No, she needs to go to the doctor."

She has an appointment.

"In like three ish weeks!"

Relax, she called her doctor and told her about the bleeding. She's okay. She's not going to get hurt, alright. If it were that bad, I'd take her myself.

"… SHE WAS BLEEDING!?"

Oh Chrysler…

"Nope! That's it! She's going to the doctor! I'm finding a way back now!"

She's fine! Calm the fuck down!

"But"-

-No! I am her Father! You think I'd let something happen!?

"No…"

So breathe! You don't need to send yourself into one of those episodes you have! I can take care of my daughter. You are okay, she is okay, everything is okay. I promise.

"…. Okay…."

Finally… Look, I understand that you two.. You're both scared. But it's going to be okay. I'm here. For both of you.. Right now, I'm here for Sally. I'm with her and I won't let anything happen. You just need to calm down and relax.

"I… I'm sorry."

It's fine. I get it. But you can not act this way with her. You're only going to freak her out more. You have to be the strong one through this. She is vulnerable and only going to get more hormonal and scared as this progresses. Now, what do you want me to do?

"I… Just… Take care of her…. Have her take a test and find out four sure. Make sure she takes her vitamins and eats. She forgets easily when she freaks out like this…"

Noted. I can take care of her, Lightning. I've been doing it for a while before you came along.

"Yeah, sorry…"

Alright… Good. Now… I'm gonna go and take care of Sally. Do you want to talk to her real quick?

"Yeah, put her on.."

Carson handed the phone back to sally who answered as she walked back to the bedroom, "Hey…"

Are you okay?

"Yeah, I'm alright… Sorry…"

Alright.. Why didn't you tell me you were bleeding?

"I didn't want to worry you."

Well, don't do that. Don't keep things from me.

"Okay, I'm sorry.."

Yeah, well… I love you.

"I love you to.."

Okay… Just… Call me if you need to. But please don't keep things from me.

"I won't again…"

Good. Thank you. I love you so much, Sally. I'm gonna call you later, alright?

"Sounds good. Love you too."

Please be careful…

"I will. Bye, babe."

Bye…

Lightning hung up and sighed. Rubbing his head. "Fuck…" He growled. He could not believe he left her. Of course she was pregnant! "Dammit.." He whimpered and wiped his eyes. Tears filling his eyes a little. Why was he this worried? This was ridiculous. He needed to be the strong one. Thankfully, Sally didn't have to see him like this though. Suddenly the door swung open and Mater shouted, "What's wrong!? I heard screaming! Are you having another health thingy episode!?" Lightning wiped his eyes and looked away. Mater walked up and asked, "Gee… Are you okay?" "I'm fine.." "Are you cryin?" "I said I'm fine, Mater…" Lightning mumbled softly.

Mater stared at his friend. Worried. "You can always talk to me, Lightnin…" "Yeah, I know…" replied the former racer. Still not looking at his friend. Mater stood there a moment. Worried. Something was definitely wrong. "Well… I guess… I'm gonna get ready to head out…" Mater announced softly.

Lightning nodded and wiped his eyes one last time with a sniffle. Finally looking at his friend and replying, "Yeah, we should keep going. Don't want to miss the rehearsal…" Getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom.

Lightning needed to get to this wedding and get this over with quickly. Maybe if he got Mater there sooner, he could get a flight for Mater home and then he could drive back immediately and be home with his wife sooner. He just needed to find a short cut….

The two were driving a while. Coming to an exit, Lightning turned off it and began headed down a back road. Mater looked around with confusion and pointed out, "I think we're suppose to stay on the highway." "Yeah, well… You are wanting an adventure, right?" "Shoot! There's that sponitunity on the road feeling! I knew'd you come around!" "…Yeah… Of course…" Lightning muttered. Mater raised a brow and asked, "Buddy? What's going on? You're acting weird." "I'm not acting weird." "Are to." "Are not." "Pretty sure you was crying this morning and if I'm being honest, you ain't one to try the off road route." Mater pointed out.

Lightning sighed and decided to be honest, "Yeah, alright… I'm trying a short cut…" "Short cut? You want to meet my sister that badly?! I ain't even got my speech ready!" "No, it's not that… Look… Sally is freaking out back home. I should be home now. I'm gonna get you there on the quicker route, buy you a ticket back home then drive back myself early." "What?… What's wrong with Sally?" "Nothing." "It's bad enough you want to get home early." Mater said.

Lightning glanced at his friend then explained, "It's nothing… She just needs me home. You understand, right?" "Sure, I guess…" Mater mumbled but looked away with disappointment. Sure, Lightning felt bad. But his wife needed him right now….

Driving for a few hours, Mater looked out at the deserted area of nothing, but road and asked, "Are we lost?" "No." "You sure?" "Not lost, Mater." Lightning growled. Mater sighed and sat in his seat…..

Another hour on this road. Lightning kept glancing at maps on his phone. A little confused. "You're lost, aren't you." Mater snapped. Lightning glared answering, "I'm not lost. I'm just trying to find the high way." "Why did we get off the highway than?" "It was a short cut." Lightning reminded. Mater crossed his arms and said, "It's ain't a short cut to get off one road to get back on said road." "It saved us time." "Not really." "Whatever. Just.. Do something useful." "Like give you proper directions?" Mater asked slyly. Lightning only snapped, "I know where I'm going!" "Really? Where are we?" "On the road to the highway." "You mean the road off the highway." "Mater!" Lightning snapped!

Mater snickered and muttered something under his breath. Lightning then scoffed, "Stop being like that. Just look for the insurance agreement to the Suv." "Oh… It's not in the glove box.." "Okay!? So look around! It has got to be somewhere." Lightning shouted with frustration.

Mater only argued, "No need to be so rude. Sheesh. You need a break. Let me drive!" "I got it, thanks." Lightning snarled. Mater rolled his eyes and growled, "Why are you always so controlling?" "Controlling!? Me?! We've literally stopped at every place you wanted!" Lightning shouted!

Mater scoffed back with, "And we could have been at the worlds largest yarn ball by now if we stayed on the highway." "Seriously!? Just!… Gah!… Where are the papers?" He asked. Mater crossed his arms again and looked away smarting off with, "I'm not tellin." "WHAT!?" Lightning had it and reached across, opening the glove compartment. "What did you do?" He asked with a glare. "Well… I may have… The wind took them out the window.." "WHAT!?" "Hey! It's not like I tossed them out!" "That is exactly how I see it! I needed those papers!" "It's not like you ain't got the money.. Just buy the rental a new one.." Mater suggested. Lightning growled with frustration, "Are you kidding me!" "At least I ain't lost.." "I'M NOT LOST!" Lightning shouted for the hundredth time! "Are to." Mater snarled.

Lightning rolled his eyes. Annoyed with his friend badly right now. "Just stop talking to me." Lightning growled. Mater snickered snarling, "With pleasure." "Oh my god! Are you kidding me? Why are you snappy and cranky and acting like this with me? Is this because I said I was going to try and head home earlier!?" Lightning asked loudly.

There was a slight pause before Mater rudely reminded, "You told me not to talk to you." Lightning held his tongue. Barely. What the hell!? He was going to strangle his best friend at this point. It was getting dark out, but still light.

The two were silent for a while, but then Lightning grabbed his phone and looked at maps again. Mater glanced over and rolled his eyes then snarled, "Just admit it, Lightning. You're lost." "I am not!" "Are so." "Am not!" "ARE SO!" Mater shouted. Lightning had enough and yelled, ""Cut it out, Mater! I am not!" Mater snickered arguing, "If this is navigating, then I drive a tesla pick up." Lightning rolled his eyes and growled, "Yeah, well.. I'm tired! That crummy diner you picked out, gave me gas! I didn't sleep well!" "Well you make chewy smacky sounds in your sleep. And you brag!"Mater griped. Lightning following with, "Well-yo-well, your breath smells like a carpet fire."

Mater rolled his eyes saying, "Well we just gonna have to agree to disagree." Lightning glared out the windshield replying, "I can't agree to that." "Fine then." "Fine." Lightning snapped. Mater crossed his arms and growled, "Fine.." It went silent.

Lightning driving a bit further before a loud SLAP sound came from the driver rear of the vehicle. Mater and Lightning glanced at each other. Then, a hiss sound, followed by a low tire pressure light on the dash with a ding.

Lightning sighed and slowed down. Parking the suv on the side of the road near a cliff side. "Great… Just great!" Lightning snarled loudly. Mater just rolled his eyes. Lightning getting out the suv and slamming the door shut, SLAM! Mater sat in his seat. Crossed arms and pouting a bit. Then Lightning yelled, "Get out here and help me, Mater!" Mater sighed and got out. Shutting the door. Lightning opened the trunk and began moving things around to find the jack and spare. Mater walked to the ledge then called out to his friend, "Hey, Lightning! You might wanna see this!" Lightning sighed, but walked over with an annoyed stance. Stared out at the camp fire in the distance. "If we was speaking to each other.. Which we're not. I'd say there's a camp up ahead." Mater said.

Lightning rolled his eyes replying, "And if I was answering, I'd say woo.. Hoo." The two staring at the camp. Lightning shook his head. Tired of this trip, annoyed with Mater, upset he wasn't with Sally right now.

Suddenly a deep laugh was heard behind them. Mater and Lightning turned around to see a crowd of rough looking guys. One huge, muscular man with an accent said, "I spy with my little eye.. Two little kiddies have lost their mummsies." Chuckling in an unsettling way. Lightning snickered, "Huh. Must be some kind of regional dialect." Mater then proudly announced, "I got this." Then turned to the big fella and said, "We'll be rumbling back to the rat rise, if you cut us all there's slacksly like wise, captain long leggie." Lightning's brows lowered as he stared at Mater. The group of rough strangers looked confused and baffled. Mater looked at Lightning and mumbled, "Usually that works." "Usually?" Lightning questioned.

Suddenly, two guys grabbed Lightning by the arms! One on each side then two others grabbed Mater the same! Lightning quickly shouted, "Woah! Woah! What's going on!?" The bigger guy saying, "Gonna have to take you two to the one in charge." "What!?" Lightning yelped.

Pulling a bit, but there was no way he was getting away easily. The man smiled then and ordered, "Bag'em." Mater and Lightning stared at each other with fear! Lightning shouting, "No, no, no, no, no!" Then suddenly brown bags were placed over their heads. "Fuck.." Lightning whined.

Mater then shouting, "McQueen! McQueen!" Lightning could feel his heart racing. He was panicking. "Mater!" This was bad! Really bad!….

Lightning felt a hand on his shoulder when he shoved down to his knees on the ground. He brewed a thud next to him then the bags were taken off both their heads. Lightning looked around. They were completely surrounded by the rough crowd. A fire in front of them. Next to him was Mater. Lightning glared at his friend and mocked, "Yeah, I got this… Yeah, you got this, alright.." he said with a growl. Mater looked at Lightning replying, "Well, I did! Sort of…" there were some of these guys playing with fire and gasoline, some driving these rusted, jagged and souped up rat rods around the fire, dust and smoke in the air, one of the guys here were hammering at some old drums.

Making it sound like ear drums. "This is bad…" Lightning muttered with such worry. Mater just stared in awe. Then a trumpet sounded, grabbing everyone's attention. Some older woman approached.

Lightning glared and growled, "What the fuck…" as she came closer, the two friends' eyes widened. The older woman wearing this metal, welded crown. Lightning hummed, "Hmmm. Woah… Points for pageantry…"

Mater glanced at Lightning and said, "I got this." Lightning immediately snapped, "No! Don't you dare speak." The woman then stood in front of the two and said, "Refuges from the decaying wasteland…" Stepping closer and leaning down and placing her hand under Lightning's chin, lifting his face to look up at her. Lightning nervously corrected, "We're from Radiator Springs.." Mater then added, "Maybe she means it metaphorically.." The woman let go of Lightning's face and stepped back before continuing, "You come crawling for acceptance into our ranks?" Staring at the two of them. Lightning answering, "Um… No?…" Not sure that was the correct answer for the situation.

The woman snickered then asked, "Shall we drag you to the bad lands where you will be dismantled and organs sold on the black market?" Lightning swallowed nervously. This just got even worse and terrifying!

Then the guy standing next to Lightning, took a knife out and placed it to Lightning's throat. "Ou!" Lightning yelped! The guy then laughed as he put the nice in his holster. Fuck! Lightning could feel the fear growing! The woman smiled and added, "Or… Will you prove your worth in the Thunder comb!?"

Then the guy next to Mater, leaned down and punched Mater in the stomach! Mater hunched over a bit then in panic answered, "Yeah! Comb! Comb sounds good!" The people around laughed and cheered. Excited for whatever this comb thing was. The woman, the obvious leader then stepped back and shouted, "Prepare them! The thunder comb awaits!" Lightning and Mater glanced at each other. This was bad. Really bad!….

Carson knocked then quietly walked into the bedroom where Sally was laying in bed. "You alright, Honey?" He asked as she approached the bed. Sally lay there on her side, but glanced at her father before answering with tears in her eyes, "No… I'm to sick to move…" "You got to eat something… You haven't ate sense yesterday morning.." "I can't. All I do is throw up." She whined then covered her head with the blanket. Even talking was making her more and more nauseated. Carson sighed and sat at her feet. That's when he noticed she hadn't even touched her water on the bed side table. It was late at night.

This was no good. "Sally," he began, "You got to eat and stay hydrated." "I can't, Dad. Please… I'm to tired to get up, and if I keep talking I'm just going to throw up again…" she whined. Carson stared at his daughter a moment.

He was getting worried. She needed food, she needed strength. "Sally…. Come on… I'll find something around here." "Let me sleep.. Please…" Sally begged. Carson frowned. This could not continue. "Has Lightning called tonight yet?" He asked.

Sally removed the blanket from her head, looking at her Father as she shook her head. Carson grabbed his daughters phone and glanced at it. No missed calls, no texts. Nothing. He sighed again. Thinking of how to get her to try eating. "Lightning would not want you skipping this many meals. Maybe a snack?" "No… I'm tired, my chest hurts and I don't want to throw up again…" "Have you taken your vitamins?" "Yes, and I threw up shortly after. Please… Just let me sleep…" She whimpered and begged. Sally was exhausted. Carson sighed and stood up. Setting her phone back down and leaving. Letting her rest for the remainder of the night, but fully prepared to take charge and take his daughter to the clinic tomorrow if she didn't start eating…..