"are you sick kid?" Doc ask, getting up as he realizes the younger is covered in sweat.

"sick with stress. m'so nervous about tomorrow." Lightning said.

"don't be nervous. you'll be protected." Doc promises. Lightning nods slightly. "get you a shower alright? and we'll go to bed together. okay?" Doc ask. Lightning nods and gets up off the bed, heading for the bathroom. "shout if you need me." Doc murmurs.

"I will." Lightning assures gently. Doc eats, but is ready to jump up at a seconds notice, but surprising Lightning makes it through the shower without even checking on Doc. he climbed out, pulled on his boxers and walked out of the bathroom. Docs half asleep on the hotel couch. "Doc? you okay?" Lightning ask.

"mmhmm. just ready for bed kid." Doc assures. "you have a big race tomorrow." Doc murmurs.

"right. I hope I can stay awake long enough for it. I've been exhausted today." Lightning sighs.

"you've got this kid. you know we'll pump you full of coffee and energy drinks before we even get to the track." Doc assures. Lightning curls back up in bed and yawns. Doc curls up beside him, holding him tightly. "you got this baby you know he won't get close enough to hurt you." Doc murmurs nuzzling him gently. Lightning nods and cuddles to him.

the night passes uneventfully, both sleeping peacefully, but the morning is different. Lightning is stalling, its obvious. he's nervous and Doc gets that, but its a little frustrating.

"put the suit on Monty or I'm calling to pull you from the race." Doc warns. Lightning sighs and pulls on the bright red jumpsuit.

"I'm just nervous..." Lightning sighs. Doc hands him a large thermos of coffee.

"you'll be fine." Doc assures. "come on." Doc adds. Lightning takes it and takes a big gulp.

"but I-" Lightning tries.

"you're Lightning McQueen, get it together. you're supposed to be speed remember? so hurry up to the Hornet." Doc frowns. Lightning sighs and heads for the door, holding Smokey's leash.

"but what about Smokey?" Lightning ask, holding the leash tighter.

"you know I will take care of him in the pits. come on kid. everything will be fine." Doc assures. "he'll have a seat, food, water, and shade. its okay Monty." Doc murmurs, kissing his head gently. Lightning sighs and finally opens the door, heading out with Doc. he takes another drink of his coffee to keep from saying something. Doc follows after him and sighs. their friends are already waiting at the cars.

"hey we were beginning to think you two weren't coming." Smokey teases.

"kid took his sweet time trying to find his suit." Doc snorts. he's not going to flat out tell everyone in front of the younger that he's afraid.

"where's Louise and Maddie?" Lightning ask, confused.

"they're staying here to watch the hotel rooms." River shrugs. "but I think its just too hot for them out there." he adds. Lightning nods slightly, getting into the Hornet with Doc and Smokey. the dog can easily tell something is wrong with his beloved owner, and whines laying his head on Lightnings knee. he watches Lightning with big brown worried eyes.

"hey buddy." Lightning mumbles, scratching his chin and playing with the pups ears gently. Smokey licks his hands, tail wagging slightly.

"you're going to be find kid. security already has your dads picture, your car is in lock up, Mack, Guido, and Luigi are out setting things up right now and you know they won't let anything happen. all three of them plus the security guards will take care to look over everything." Doc assures. Lightning nods, leaning against him.

"I know. m'just scared." Lightning sighs.

"I know kid." Doc soothes.

it takes Doc forever to convince the younger to actually go inside to the crew. he's already feeling a little

"wow you guys okay?" Mack ask, raising an eye brow.

"we're fine Mack." Doc assures. he sees Lightning perk up a little as Rusty and Dusty walk over.

"hey kid!" Rusty grins.

"I see you're actually using that dog." Dusty smirks.

"yeah, he's pretty insistent that we feed him and walk him for some reason." Lightning smiles slightly. the two chuckle at him.

"well, we had a little area set up for him beside Docs chair." Rusty smiles.

"I appreciate that. thanks guys." Lightning smiles hesitantly, petting Bolts head.

"feeling nervous?" Dusty ask. Bolt is obviously alerting.

"yeah, had to lock up my car because of crazy people again." Lightning frowns. Bolt barks at him. "knock it off Bolt." Lightning frowns a little. Bolt whines and wags his tail.

"you going to be okay kid?" Rusty ask softly. Lightning smiles at him reassuringly.

"oh absolutely. I'll be fine once I'm behind the wheel again." he assures. Rusty nods.

"well good luck today kid." Dusty smiles.

"thanks guys." Lightning smiles. he watches them walk away and sighs slightly. Doc walks over and gently places the helmet on the youngers head. Lightning looks up at him.

"ready kid?" Doc ask.

"no." Lightning says, handing him the coffee cup.

"can you do this?" Doc ask. Lightning nods slightly and looks at him.

"yeah. I think so." he sighs. Doc pats his back.

"you got this, kid." Doc murmurs. Lightning smiles a little under his helmet.

"thanks old man." Lightning murmurs, heading for his car. Doc heads over to his stand, where their crew and friends are already set up.

"good lord." Doc mutters, looking at the shady chair and fan they've set up for Bolt. its a nice looking dog couch with food and water bowls set up under a small shady canopy with a fan to keep him cool. it wasn't Bolts choice to be out here. he was just brought out here, so they wanted to keep him content and cool. "lay down." Doc says. Bolt curls up on the couch, tail wagging, and watches everyone. "good boy." Doc nods walking to his position and pulling on his cap then his headset. "how you feeling kid?" Doc ask.

"nauseous." Lightning mumbles.

"just relax kid. we've got your back here." Doc assures.

"what if I puke?" Lightning ask.

"kid, I've seen people just piss in their cars because races are so long. puke in the car and you're finishing the race like that." Doc warns. he can hear Lightning huff quietly and mumble. "relax kid. you've got nothing to worry about and if you're serious about puking I've got medicine in my bag to prevent it." Doc assures. Lightning sighs softly. Doc moves his mic out of the way and turns to look at the others. "you guys checked over the car, the tires, the gas, everything right?" Doc ask.

"sure did Doc." Mack assures gently. Doc nods once and turns back to the race. he watches the racers take off and sighs softly. he flips the mic back down.

"how you holding up kid?" Doc ask. he watches Lightning easily take the lead.

"I think I'm okay now. told you, I'd be fine once I got the wheel back in my hands." he assures. Doc nods once to himself.

"you got this race in the bag. you've got this kid." Doc smiles.

"thanks old man." Lightning murmurs. Doc chuckles softly. he watches his young fiance easily keep his first place running, to the point that he's actually made it around the track to three stragglers and passed them. he pulled into the pits, grinning. Doc winks at the younger man, watching the team take care of him, before watching him speed off. he's always in and out before everyone else so he finds himself quickly back in the previous position.

"watch out kid, there's rogue fan throwing things on the track just a head of you. be careful." Doc says. the younger is silent. "kid? Lightning? hey! if you're having a panic attack you need to let me know! do you know that guy?!" Doc hisses. its silent on the other end Doc watches horrified as the 'fan' throws a cup filled with something straight through Lightnings windshield. the younger man immediately hits the wall and bounces off, spinning once. his car barely comes to a stop before the two of the three stragglers, slam straight into him and send him spinning back into the wall. "KID!" Doc shouts.

"Hud don't-!" Smokey shouts.

"keep Bolt here!" Doc shouts, jumping from his position. he jumps over the partial wall that separates the track from the pits and runs for Lightnings car as fast as he can. he doesn't even register the fact that they've projected him on the main screen along with his mic directly to the speakers. some sort of technology he doesn't understand. "kid! hey! answer me! kid! get out of the car!" Doc shouts. he's not stupid, he skids to a stop in the grass, in the middle of the track, he can't out run a car.