AN: I enjoyed writing The Crash 2 but these next few are what I was really looking forward to writing! :D
This is a continuation of The Crash arc.
"I want to go to Thomasville."
Doc nearly snapped the small hex key in his hand as he worked on adjusting the sides of Lightning's leg brace. He'd been healing at an incredibly fast rate and was well into his physical therapy only three months after his surgery. While the brace was still a monstrous contraption, and no little ace bandage, Lightning was nearly back to full range of motion and Doc had cleared him to walk small distances without the crutches. There was a lock on the side of the knee joint of the brace that only allowed the leg so much movement and Lightning was in the final stretch.
"Pardon?"
Lightning watched him with a raised brow from where he sat on the examination bed. "I said I want to go to Thomasville...and don't break my brace, that was expensive."
"You didn't pay a dime for this, kid. The insurance company sent it." He replied.
Lightning shrugged and continued. "Anyway, yeah, it's still the off season and we don't even know if I'll be ready for this spring. I've got some time."
"That's not just a few hours drive you realize."
"We'll fly."
"That'll be a sight..." He could just picture the kid now, hobbling his way back the aisle on a flight and getting stuck in every terminal's metal detector with his brace and crutches.
"I'm serious..."
Doc looked back up at him from the stool and gestured in defeat, setting the hex key on the table and passing the brace back to him.
"I guess I'll make some calls..."
"I already did." Lightning commented as he undid the velcro straps and replaced the brace around his knee, hopping off the table.
"Don't ever let me see you do that again while that brace is still on."
He at least had the decency to look guilty as he grabbed the phone from his pocket. "I got Smokey's number from his garage, it's on Facebook. I already talked to him."
Doc followed him out of the room and spoke through his teeth as the door clicked shut behind them.
"Perfect."
Sally sat cross legged in the chair as she watched Lightning going over the clothes he'd laid out on the bed for the tenth time. She found it adorable the way he'd talk to himself under his breath and rub the back of his neck with a hand as he went through his mental checklist. He did this before races too.
"Maybe you should start writing down these lists instead of expecting to remember them." She grinned.
"Huh?" He looked up at her, hand poised over his head. "Oh, I'm pretty sure I've got everything."
She looked around the room, pointing to different items. "Your sunglasses are on the TV, your meds are on the nightstand, and your tickets-" She held up two round trip American Airline tickets in her hand. "Are right here..."
Lightning grinned sheepishly. "That's what I have you for..."
"Why are you so nervous?" She asked as she began gathering things she knew he'd forgotten, she didn't want him to walk any more than he needed to.
"Why shouldn't I be, Sal..." He said incredulously. "I mean, this is Doc's home track right? These are all the people who knew him when he wasn't my crew chief."
"Yeah...well...maybe he's nervous too."
"Doc?" Lightning raised a brow. "Doc doesn't get nervous."
"You do know he's not made of iron, right."
"Right." He pivoted on his good leg and reached for his luggage to start packing. He unzipped the compartment and started organizing his clothes. Glancing up at Sally as he folded a shirt, he paused. "What?"
"Nothing." She shook her head. "I'm just going to miss you."
The original plan had been that Sally would go, but looking over the reservations for both The Cozy Cone and The Wheel Well, she'd opted to stay behind. Just because the Piston season was over for the year, didn't mean that tourism was slowing down.
She had the feeling that this trip was more testing the waters as opposed to anything else. Contrary to what Lightning sometimes thought, she had become pretty well versed in at least what moderate Piston Cup fans would know. That didn't mean she knew the exact date that The King had made his debut onto the track but she knew more than enough to put two and two together. There would be some heavy conversations in Thomasville within the next week, and if it went downhill, she didn't want to see the fallout.
She was content to stay home.
She'd have the broom and dustpan ready to pick up the pieces if she needed to.
She threw his pain medications in the toiletry bag and tossed it beside his clothes. Unfolding the frames of his sunglasses, she reached across the bed and slid them onto his face as he stared into the carry on.
"Text me, skype, call, send a postcard."
"I'll call you every night."
"It's going to be a long week..."
He raised the sunglasses and propped them on top of his head. "It'll be over before you know it."
It was the first time in all his years in Radiator Springs that Doc had ever ridden in Fillmore's van, and the only reason for that was because everyone had wanted to see them off at the airport. He'd commented to Sheriff as they all piled into the Volks Wagon. "I don't want anyone even going near that garage."
"But think of the insurance claim."
He'd received a withering look for that.
The crew lingered at the gate as long as possible and were lined up in front of the window as the flight boarded. Doc waited patiently as Lightning found his seat and waved out the window in the general direction of their eclectic family. He practically had his nose to the glass as the plane made the turn toward the runway.
"You think Crophopper could fly one of these?"
"I'm sure it's all relative, but there's probably different classes of license. I don't have the same license Mac does..." Doc replied as the lights in the cabin dimmed. One nice thing about a late flight was they'd be able to sleep through the trip.
"I should ask him."
Lightning seemed to be the only passenger who didn't have sleep in mind. One or two people had turned their reading lights on but for the most part the cabin had fallen abruptly silent. He'd spared no expense for this trip, First Class was roomier than Doc ever remembered and the seats much more comfortable. He had his eyes closed a full thirty seconds before Lightning spoke.
"How old were you when you started racing Piston?"
Well...so much for sleep.
Lightning had taken an intense interest in everything involving the career of The Fabulous Hudson Hornet since his own accident. Not that he hadn't before, but whereas before he would just hope for an anecdote or comment concerning the origins of Piston racing, he now took it upon himself to outright ask.
This was exactly why Doc spent so many years keeping people at arms length. He also knew this week would be nothing but answering uncomfortable questions. With a sigh, he opened his eyes and leaned his head against his hand, slouched in the chair. "Nineteen."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
Lightning questioned him about anything he could think of, messing with the window shade as he listened intently to anything his crew chief had to say.
Finally Doc had to put a stop to what felt like an interrogation. "Look, Hot Rod. You might be able to sleep in the car tomorrow, but I'm the one stuck driving..."
Lightning glanced at his phone, wincing. "Sorry."
He smirked, getting comfortable in the reclined seat and closing his eyes.
Five minutes later. "Doc?"
"What is it."
"How did you get to races, did you drive the Hornet or-"
"At first, then we had enough money to buy a trailer."
"Oh."
They both fell silent, Doc nearly asleep when he heard the kid trying to get his attention again.
"For the love of- what?"
"Nevermind, that one's not important. It can wait."
"..."
"Doc?"
"The next four words out of your mouth better be we're going to crash, or I will cuff your ears."
Lightning tried to hold back a laugh, gaining the attention of passengers behind them. "What does that even mean."
He uncrossed his arms and moved to sit up. "You wanna find out?"
Lightning shook his head no, but Doc didn't miss the grin and bright eyes. The kid knew he was goading him. He'd barely opened his mouth when Doc cut him off.
"Go to sleep."
The next morning Lightning was dragging horribly. It didn't help that as soon as they'd entered the terminal, everyone and his brother had wanted a photo. Luckily they were really under no time constraints, unlike during race weekends, and could travel at their leisure.
An extremely strong cup of...something...it might have been coffee, Doc couldn't tell, and Lightning was as excited as he was the day of a race. He nearly bounced on his toes at the car rental counter, only stopping when Doc looked toward his knee meaningfully.
"Could you have requested a larger vehicle?" Doc asked from the driver's seat as Lightning adjusted his own.
"What? I'm not going on vacation to drive around in a Ford Taurus."
"But a Caddy? Really?"
"It's a nice car!"
"Of course it is." But there were only two of them, why did they need an Escalade?
"I need room for my leg." Lightning argued, gesturing to the leg room in front of him.
Doc pushed open the cover of the sunroof as they came to the stop sign at the end of the parking lot. "Here, now maybe there's room for your head too."
"Wow. I see how it is."
They settled in for the few hour drive, Lightning constantly asking if Doc wanted him to program the GPS. He popped the cap off the Starbucks mocha coffee he'd gotten back at the gas station they'd stopped at to top off the gas tank. Out of the corner of his eye could see Doc constantly reaching for a gear shift. Lightning smirked when he finally complained aloud.
"Why did you have to get an automatic."
"Thought you could use a break."
"I've gone for the clutch a dozen times already."
Lightning leaned forward and turned the in-dash GPS on. "Should I call ahead when we're getting close?"
"...You could..."
"Well, I just didn't know if we were going straight there or to check in at the hotel first."
"That's up to you." Doc replied, checking his mirror and glancing over his shoulder as they merged from the off ramp.
"The GPS says that we shouldn't have gotten off at the exit back there..."
Doc only turned his head to look at the kid, but Lightning couldn't see his eyes behind the aviators. "I think I know my home state."
"Ok." Lightning shrugged.
"Besides." He continued, and Lightning couldn't help but notice, and grin, at how Doc couldn't stand people passing them in the passing lane. "That highway's been under construction as long as I can remember."
AN2: I have a manual transmission car and always have the worst time adjusting back to an automatic! I've accidentally put my mom's car in Park before, thinking I was starting out in first. And I ALWAYS go for the clutch at stop signs and lights before I remember there's only two pedals in an automatic!
