AN: No Sally yet, I completely forgot I had even wanted to do this. She's coming, I promise!


About an hour had gone by and Lightning was back at the screen door, looking uncertain and for once hesitant to interrupt the conversation.

"What's up?" Smokey finally asked.

"Um- you might want to, well-"

Doc got up from the table, grabbing the coffee mug and reached for the door handle. Lightning explained a little better as he backed up a few paces to let the door open.

"The film, maybe you've seen it but I figured I'd ask and thought it might not be something I should-"

"Relax."

Lightning rarely ever tripped over his words, or spoke that fast.

Smokey came up beside his brother in the living room as Lightning rewound the reel.

"It wasn't labeled. I can go..."

To his surprise, it was Smokey that cut him off.

"You're considered family, right? Take a seat."

He'd looked toward Doc for confirmation and finally sat beside the projector when he'd nodded his approval.

Lightning flipped the switch on the projector and chewed a thumbnail idly, unsure how this was going to go. He hadn't seen much but he had an idea of what it could be.

An image of Ruth appeared on the white screen again, but this time she was working on figuring out the camera in front of her. Once satisfied, she'd backed away from it and sat on the end of her bed.

"Hopefully this will work, if not then I'll end up spending quite a while prattling on to myself for no reason. I could have asked either of you to show me how this worked, and as much as I love you both, sometimes you just take over and do things rather than let me."

She smirked and made eye contact with the camera before pulling at the sleeve of the brown jacket she wore.

"Yes, Henry I took your jacket this morning before you both left for South Carolina. I'm cold. You'll get over it, I know."

Lightning glanced up to see the other two staring at the screen. They'd looked at each other knowingly and Smokey muttered. "I knew I wasn't crazy that day."

"You sounded crazy. If we're thinking the right race."

"Ok, um-..." Ruth started and glanced down, brushing her hair behind both ears. "I'm not really sure how to say this."

She looked back up. "I haven't been able to figure out how to say this to either of you, maybe this is a practice run for the real thing. Or maybe this will just have to do. I don't see what I'm about to say getting a very warm reception."

This was where Lightning had shut the projector off the first time, feeling like he shouldn't be part of this one sided conversation. He still felt uncomfortable. Doc and Smokey's reactions had already told him they'd never seen this before. He felt like he was intruding on a private family conversation.

Ruth huffed on screen, looking away with a tense form as if working up the nerve to continue. She finally looked back at the camera.

"I feel good, I really do, and the weather has been good so far this summer. It's July by the way, in case you're watching this at a later time."

She hesitated, looking past the camera again and biting her tongue before continuing.

"I've just, had this feeling lately that I won't make it to thirty."

Lightning bit his lip, glancing sidelong to see Smokey had leaned back in the old recliner and Doc's shoulders had tensed considerably.

"That's not my wish, honestly, please don't ever think anything like that."

She made eye contact with the camera, and it was as if she were on the other side of a window and not just an image on a screen.

"We saw what happened to Momma, though, and how quickly this can turn around."

"So." She clapped her hands together and leaned back before sitting up straight again. "I'm filming this because I can't take away from either of you. I haven't made it to that many races but I know you both are in another world when you're at the tracks and I couldn't bear to know something had happened because you were too wrapped up in worrying about me."

Doc had slouched in to the corner of the couch, head rested against a clenched fist.

"So I am currently twenty-two. Happy early birthday, Hollywood. Get another Piston Cup for our birthday."

Doc shook his head with a fond smile.

"How many nicknames have you had?" Lightning suddenly asked.

"Too many."

"And don't argue with Henry when he tells you what to do with the car. You're a phenomenal driver but he knows the mechanics better. He has taught you after all."

There was a bark of laughter as Smokey backhanded his brother's shoulder. "See, she got it!"

Ruth's expression became serious again, and she seemed to draw in on herself.

"I know what'll happen when I'm not here anymore. I've seen both of you do this when I've gotten ill. I just wish there was a way to prevent it."

Her brows lowered and she started to say something before changing her mind. She looked at the camera. "I don't want either of you to worry. I know where I'm going. We've always said it was harder for the loved ones left behind, and I think I agree with that. I'll be whole, completed, and rid of the chains of a corrupted world."

She sighed. "I'm afraid of what will happen to you both, though."

Lightning was glued to his chair. He desperately wanted to get up and leave the room but was afraid of the attention he'd draw to himself in doing so.

"Jesse, don't let Henry work himself to death. I know it's how you both deal with things but slow down once in a while. Your life isn't ending because I'm not there to make it difficult."

She shifted, as if actually looking between the two of them. "And Henry, don't let Jesse shut you out. You're both stubborn and prideful to the point that you drive me insane but I know my twin well enough to know that when the walls go up that's when you have to push harder."

Ruth continued a while longer, bringing up instances and stories that Lightning didn't know the context to, but he was more comfortable listening to those than to her confessing the severity of her own illness.

It felt strangely like listening to a relative you'd never gotten the chance to meet. He learned more about her as he watched the film than he did the other two.

"Henry, Jesse, I don't know if I'll get the nerve to bring this up. I don't even know if I want to give you this film now, but I'll figure it out."

She smiled, and it was genuine, filled with vibrance and more personality than Lightning had been able to put to the name.

"It'll be hard, I'm sure, but you're both made of some pretty tough stuff. You'll hit some bumps in the road, forget which direction you're going, maybe even go completely separate ways, stop talking to each other. Neither of you know how to deal with loss." Boy had she nailed that on the head.

She nodded and made a sarcastic face at the camera. "But I know my boys, you'll figure it out."

"Smokey, don't carry the world on your shoulders." She leaned forward, getting ready to turn the camera off. "And Hollywood, learn to smile again. Little Dipper's gunna be ok."

Lightning glanced toward Doc to see that he was grinning faintly, but in the wistful sense.

When the film reached the end and automatically started to rewind, the three sat in a stunned silence in the dimly lit room.

Lightning was startled out of his thoughts when the other two started laughing.

It was pain filled, a little dumbfounded, and totally healing.

Smokey stood slowly and slapped his brother's leg. Doc hadn't moved from his slouched position but sat with his eyes closed and pinched the bridge of his nose. Neither of them knew exactly what they were laughing about.

"I need a drink-"

"Grab me one."

Lightning watched Smokey leave the room before looking toward Doc. "Hollywood, huh?

"We're a family of nicknames, Kiddo."

"Why else do you think you fit in so well?" Smokey asked upon returning, handing Doc a glass bottle before setting his own down.

"What, I only get a Sprite?" Lightning asked as he took the can.

"I keep tabs on family, kid. When I can." He added with a look toward his brother.

Lightning frowned when he continued.

"You're on pain killers that prohibit the consumption of alcohol."

He grumbled lowly as he popped the tab but was secretly thrilled at the attention and title of family.