"except their room has two beds and ours has one." Lightning said.

"kids right." Doc said. "well be fine here." Doc assures. Red thinks a moment.

"well, swap with me and Mack. I mean, our room only has one bed. it looks exactly like yours its just two rooms down." Red shrugs. Lightning looks over at Doc, waiting for his answer.

"I won't put you two in danger when I can keep the kid safe here." Doc says. Red nods slightly.

"well, let me know if you change your mind." Red murmurs. he walks over and hugs Lightning tightly. the younger man grunts and lets Red hold him. he sends a pathetic look over to Doc, but doesn't struggle with Red. Doc chuckles softly at him until Bolt barks.

"Bolt, no! leave Red alone!" Lightning huffs, wiggling in Red grasp.

"sit." Doc ordered. Bolt sat down and whined, watching them.

"Red let go, he thinks you're hurting me." Lightning mumbles. Red lets him go and set him down gently.

"sorry." he frowns.

"its okay buddy. I'm alright." Lightning assures, petting Bolts head. "don't get like that. Red wouldn't hurt me. it's okay." Lightning murmurs, crouching down to hold him gently. Bolt is staring Red down with a dirty look. "stop that. be good boy." Lightning murmurs, scratching his chin gently. Bolt barks in disagreement.

"Bolt be good." Doc warns. he whines.

"I didn't mean to upset him." Red murmurs.

"no it's okay Red. he's got to learn the difference between friends and enemies." Lightning assures. "I just kinda always tense up when you guys hug me, not because it's uncomfortable, just because I'm preparing to be crushed in a hug. he realized I was all tense and thought you were hurting me." Lightning explains.

"kids right Red. he's gotta learn." Doc says.

"oh here, you can give him one of these." Lightning says, digging out a bag of treats from Bolts bag. "they're the only ones Doc could find. he doesn't really enjoy them, but he knows they're treats so he eats them." Lightning smiles. Red takes the bag hesitantly and grabs one. Bolts eyes are immediately on him, watching him carefully. Red smiles and crouches down, holding it out to him. Bolt turns his head.

"oh don't be like that." Doc frowns. Lightning looks confused.

"hey Doc you said he wouldn't eat it from your hand right?" Lightning ask.

"yeah refused." Doc shrugs. Lightning takes the bag from Red and shrugs, pulling one out and holding it to Bolt. the pup immediately snatches it.

"I thought you said he didn't like them?" Red ask.

"maybe he just doesn't like you guys." Lightning shrugs a little. he pulls another threat from the bag, making sure Bolts eyes are following it, before handing it to Red.

"what are you doing? don't tease him like that." Red huffs.

"now give it to him." Lightning said. Red holds it out to the pup, who glances down at the treat then back up at Red, looking almost annoyed.

"take it." Red said, pushing it towards him. Bolts pulls back away from him, giving a quiet bark.

"oh come on Bolt. it's Red, just eat it." Doc said.

"get the treat Bolt." Lightning smiles. Doc rolls his eyes, and takes it from Reds hand.

"here eat it." Doc said. Bolt huffs out his nose, barking in disagreement as he pulls away.

"leave him alone guys." Lightning said, taking the bag. "now you be nice to Red." Lightning warned, watching Bolt. Bolt watches him. Red stands up and drops the treats from both his and Docs hands into Lightnings. Lightning shrugs and holds them out. he sniffs them before giving Lightning a suspicious look. "be good boy." Lightning said. Bolt eats them after a moment, carefully watching Red.

"I mean, on the brightside, if someone tries to feed him bad things, he won't eat it because you didn't give it to him." Red smiles. Lightning shrugs a little.

"hey he hasn't had breakfast yet." Doc reminds him.

"oh! right." Lightning says. he walks over to the microwave and pulls the plate out. "Bolt breakfast!" Lightning grins. Red looks at Doc.

"you warmed up his food?" Red ask.

"the only way I could get the kid to eat yesterday was to promise fancy dog food. it's steak. I wouldn't eat cold steak." Doc shrugs. Red nods in agreement. "at this point if the kid eats, I'm pretty sure I'd do whatever it takes. even if its ordering fancy dog food." Doc adds. Lightning sets the plate on the ground.

"have you guys eaten today?" Red ask. Doc sighs slightly.

"we've eaten some donuts at that coffee shop down the road, but he might be hungry again." Doc says. he turns to Lightning. "kid, are you hungry?" Doc ask, watching Lightning pet Bolt happily. Lightning pauses a moment to think before nodding.

"yeah a little." he shrugs. Doc looks slightly shocked but nods.

"we can go get some breakfast." Doc says.

"not until Bolt is done." Lightning mumbles.

"I will order breakfast then." Doc chuckles softly, smiling. Red smiles.

"well, I should get back to Mack. bye guys." Red smiles. he pats Bolts head gently as he walks by then leaves the room.

"you don't have to order food Doc." Lightning mumbles.

"I'm not worried about it. you know this stuff is all on Nascar to pay for." Doc snorts shrugging. food and the teams rooms were paid for, though Doc generally paid extra for their rooms.

"okay whatever you say Doc." Lightning murmurs. he gets up and lays on their shared bed happily, stretching. his arms are folded behind his head and he's got his eyes closed. Doc watches him carefully and smiles, picking up his phone to order them something, but pauses as there's another knock on the door. Lightning doesn't move to get up, so Doc heads over to the door and opens it.

"hey Smokey. you guys come on in." Doc says, moving out of the way. Smokey comes in followed by Louise and Maddie. Smokey motions for Maddie to stay quiet, he doesn't want her setting the younger off again even by accident.

"hey Hud. hey kid." Smokey calls.

"hey." Lightning mumbles. Bolt jumps up onto the bed and curls up next to him, resting is head on the mans stomach and growling lowly at Maddie. Lightning, without opening his eyes reaches down and scratches the pups head. "shhh." he soothes.

"hey kid good to see you finally putting some weight on. you were getting a little sickly." Louise said.

"hey." Lightning mumbles. Bolt barks sharply watching Maddie. "hush Bolt." Lightning said.

"be good Bolt." Doc warns. Bolt whines quietly. "can you guys handle everything while I step out to order him some breakfast?" Doc ask.

"yeah we've got this." Smokey assures. Doc nods and walks out of the room.

"hey kid wanna sit up here and talk to us?" Louise ask. Lightning raised an eye brow.

"yeah I guess so, whats up... oh." Lightning said, sitting up. "thats why Bolts growling." Lightning said, scratching Bolts head gently. he's already uncomfortable around Maddie, the last time he really saw her he was laying in an ambulance freaking the fuck out and had just shot Chick. so he's already nervous, but after yesterday he's even more nervous than before. he doesn't want to ask for Doc, just because of her, but its obvious he's not comfortable and Bolt is doing his best to scare Maddie off. Lightning is holding tightly to his collar, he's not afraid the pup will hurt her, but he doesn't want the pup to leave him.

"so alright, I get it, the only two times we've ever met have not really been on good terms." Maddie says, watching him. Lightning shakes his head.

"I don't want to do this." Lightning says, holding tighter to Bolt.

"look kid, she's not trying to corner you." Smokey assures gently.

"well it feels like I'm being cornered." Lightning snaps. "you three against me." he hisses. he's already had a panic attack today and he doesn't want to have another. he holds Bolt tighter, feeling slightly sick to his stomach.

"look kid-" Smokey starts, taking a step forward. Bolt jumps up, growling. Lightning leans back slightly and Smokey steps back quickly, pushing the other two back carefully. "easy buddy." Smokey says, keeping his voice calm and even. Lightning briefly wonders if Doc learned that from Smokey, but can't dwell on it too long as Bolt is climbing over him.

"uh, hey!" Lightning huffs. Doc comes back in and shut the door behind him, pausing as he looks at everyone.

"uh, whats going on here?" Doc ask.

"that dogs crazy." Louise said.

"he is not!" Lightning huffs.

"Bolt got all protective." Smokey frowns. Doc looks at Bolt gives a sharp, loud whistle. Bolt looks over at him, watching him.

"lay down." Doc orders, snapping and pointing towards the dog couch. Bolt immediately lays across Lightning with a whine.

"not on me." Lightning grunts, but makes no effort to move him. "don't move him he's fine here!" Lightning shouts, hugging the dogs neck when Doc frowns