"where'd you get that cow from Bolt?" Red ask. Mack looks down."hey, get that from him. Mater sent that for the boss." Mack frowns.

"he isn't hurting it." Red frowns, patting Bolts head. "he's a good boy. he wouldn't destroy it. right? you're a good boy." Red smiles, scratching his ears gently. Bolt wags his tail happily.

"easy Red, we have a cat. we don't need a dog too." Mack teases.

"I don't need a dog. Wasp is enough, but there is a dog right here that is begging for attention." Red shrugs. "right buddy?" Red grins, patting his head. Bolt wags his tail laying down between Red and Mack.

by the time everyone pulls over again, Lightning is awake, seemingly for good this time, but he doesn't get out to walk around or use the bathroom, there's only about three hours left so he just stays in the semi cab. he does let Red take Bolt for a walk. Doc climbs up and looks over to Lightning.

"hey Monty, kid-" Doc murmurs.

"go away. I'm not riding with anyone else. I already told Mack and Red I'm riding with them." Lightning scoffed, hugging his knees.

"kid, listen here. I didn't realize how bad things with Smokey and you had gotten. I'm sorry." Doc murmurs.

"I really don't get what I've done wrong." Lightning sighs.

"you haven't kid." Doc murmurs gently, kissing his head. "you didn't do anything wrong." Doc assures.

"yeah well, tell that to Smokey, 'cause I've obviously done something wrong. whether its how I used to be or whatever. it doesn't matter. any idiot can see he hates my guts." Lightning muttered. "I don't understand. maybe he's mad at me? but the only thing I can think of that would piss him off is shooting Chick in his house." Lightning muttered.

"kid its, its not you. okay? just... give me a minute." Doc mutters, leaving. Lightning sighs softly.

"you okay?" Mack ask.

"no. I... I think Smokey's angry at the simple fact I'm dating Doc. I don't wanna ruin their friendship... I think I should just call this whole thing off. I'd rather not have someone like Smokey trying to beat my ass while I'm dealing with my dad... I think he's angry with Doc too and I don't want that. maybe thats the best idea." Lightning says, getting up.

"what boss?" Mack ask, confused.

"I'm gonna call it all off with Doc so Smokey isn't angry at him." Lightning said.

"hey, you can't just do that." Mack says getting up and blocking Lightning. "look boss, I know this is stressful, but you can't just break up with Doc. you're going to hurt the both of you." Mack warns. "don't you love him?" Mack ask softly.

"of course I do, thats why I'm doing this. now move Mack." Lightning mumbles.

"no. I won't let you do this." Mack said. he grabs Lightning and pushes him back onto the mattress. he leans out. "hey Doc! you better get in here boss is talking crazy!" Mack calls. Doc looks over from his obviously angry chat with Smokey. he heads back over quickly.

"whats up?" Doc ask.

"he's threatening to break up with you so Smokey won't hate you guys anymore." Mack frowned. Doc looks shocked and frowns.

"grab him and his stuff. he's riding with me." Doc says firmly. Mack nods a little, though seemingly hesitant and Doc heads for the Hornet.

"put me down! I'm riding with you guys." Lightning snaps. Mack ignores him and carries him towards the Hornet.

"just put him in." Doc says. Red looks confused, walking Bolt over.

"whats going on?" Red ask.

"he's riding with Doc." Mack said. Red nods a little and lets Bolt into the Hornet.

"I don't want to ride with you. put me down Mack." Lightning snaps. Doc locks the younger in the Hornet with Bolt and nods at the two.

"I'll take him from here." Doc said, before getting in. Lightning scolds and curls up. "look kid. we need to talk." Doc frowned.

"I don't want to." Lightning muttered.

"you can't just break off the engagement because of Smokey." Doc frowned.

"I don't want him to hate you the way he hates me." Lightning sighs softly.

"baby, he doesn't hate you." Doc assures gently. "he's.... he's my Mack." Doc says simply.

"what the hell does that mean?" Lightning snapped, glaring at him.

"it means he's trying to look out for me. he just doesn't seem to realize that I don't need that anymore. I'm 71 for godsakes. I don't need a guardian anymore, but he doesn't seem to understand that kid, but that doesn't mean I want you to leave. I don't want you to leave because of Smokey, and if he's a real problem, I'll tell him to either knock it off or leave." Doc assures.

"I don't want you to do that though." Lightning mumbles. "he's your old crew chief, he's one of your oldest friends. he cares for you. I-I'd rather just... take away the problem? ya know? and... well... I'm the problem." Lightning muttered quietly.

"no you aren't. Monty, you're not the problem, okay? so I don't want you thinking like that okay? I get it, alright, this whole situation with these past few years has been hard on you, especially with whats happened these last few days, but you can't be thinking like that. you're not a problem and you've never been one. alright?" Doc ask. Lightning hugs Bolt tightly, petting the pup gently. "look, I'll talk to Smokey again okay? this won't happen again and I'm going to make sure of it. he either drops it or I drop him. I'm not losing you." Doc said firmly. its quiet and Doc reaches his hand down gently to run his fingers through the youngers hair before grabbing the steering wheel again. "okay?" Doc ask softly.

"I don't want you to ruin you and Smokeys friendship over me." Lightning mumbles.

"I'm not kid. got that? Smokey is. Smokey is doing this not you and not me." Doc murmurs. "look alright I can't grab it myself because my arms in a sling, but your ring is in that cup holder. I want you to grab it, put it on, and think about it. alright?" Doc ask. Lightning reaches up and grabs the ring, putting it on his hand and smiles a little.

"okay." he mumbles.

"that right there, my relationship with you is way more important than any other relationship I have, any friendship I have. do you hear me? I love you more than anyone else. kid I can live without Smokey, I survived 50 years without him. I don't need him... but you kid... I fell for you in those first few days I'd met you, and yeah I thought I could push you away. I really tried. I called the news and made them come get you, but within the first hour of you being gone, I realized I couldn't do it. I went 50 years without Smokey kid, I couldn't make it a single hour without you. do you understand? you are the one I can't live without." Doc murmurs. Lightning looks at the ring and cuddles closer, pillowing his head on Docs thigh.

"I hate you." Lightning mumbles, snatching his cow from Bolt. the pup nudges him gently with his nose. Doc chuckles softly.

"yeah I know you do. I love you too kid." Doc murmurs.

"hows your arm?" Lightning ask, looking up at him.

"its fine kiddo. can't even feel it in this sling." Doc assures.

"did you only agree to let me ride with you because I was gonna stay with Mack and Red instead of riding with Louise and Maddie?" Lightning ask.

"you were supposed to ride with Louise and Junior. he was gonna swap and Maddie would ride with me so she didn't set you off, but I decided it'd be better for you to ride with me so we could talk. clear the air a little." Doc murmurs. "I don't want you thinking any of this is your fault alright? and I certainly don't want you to be angry with me." Doc adds.

"m'not angry with you." Lightning mumbles, looking at the ring on his hand. "Smokeys not going to be angry seeing me wear this will he?" Lightning ask hesitantly.

"nah. it was my ring." Doc said.

"yeah but you said he gave it to you. that you wore it for good luck." Lightning said.

"yeah well, its been mine for over 50 years now kid, now its yours." Doc murmurs. "he's not going to be angry." Doc assures.

"Doc?" Lightning ask.

"yes baby?" Doc ask.

"does he even know you gave me the ring?" Lightning ask.

"no. haven't told him yet. I'm trying to get him to understand before I tell him." Doc mutters. Lightning nods and curls up a little, yawning. "go on back to sleep baby. we'll be home in a few hours." Doc says softly.

"but I've slept the whole time." he mumbles.

"thats okay. if we're up all night thats okay. you just go back to sleep baby." Doc murmurs, running his fingers through the youngers hair before putting his hand back on the steering wheel. Lightning mutters, patting Bolts head, yawning. he falls asleep, nuzzling into Docs thigh.

Doc pulls up to the house and carefully, gets out. he locks the Hornet before he, Sheriff, Mack, and Red head into Docs house. once the whole house was checked over, Mack carried Lightning into the house, laying him in his and Docs bed. Bolt immediately curls up in his crate and Docs not sure how he got the stuffed cow again, but he lets the dog keep it.

"thanks guys." Doc nods at Mack.

"don't thank us just yet. Reds heading to pick up Wasp from Sally and you two are stuck with us until this is over." Mack snorts. Doc chuckles softly.

"spare rooms still set up to you guys I think." he says. he turns to head to bed, its late and he's exhausted, but Smokey catches his attention. when had the older man entered the house? Doc didn't know but he walked over. "want something?" Doc ask.

"I want to know how you know he's serious." Smokey said. Doc rolls his eyes and shakes his head.

"I won't talk to you about it. you either trust him and my judgement or you don't, but just remember Smokey, I lived 50 years without talking to you, I can do it again. I won't let you ruin this for me." Doc frowns.

"I don't want to ruin this. I don't want a repeat-" Smokey tried.

"I'm not 19 anymore." Doc snaps. "that was 52 years ago Smokey and we don't talk about it." Doc glares.

"maybe you don't, but I still remember the phone call I got from you. beat up and bloody in some alley way." Smokey glared.

"yeah well I was a kid. I'm an old man now and trust me I could beat that boys ass if I needed to, but I don't." Doc snaps. "so either get over it or get out Smokey. you still owe him an apology. I expect you give him one tomorrow and actually mean it, or you leave. thats it. " Doc frowns. he heads back to the bedroom, shutting the door, he curls up with Lightning on the bed.