"don't be mean to him. he likes you." Lightning says, petting Bolts head gently. Bolt barks, wagging his tail happily.

"just remember that when he sneezes in your face." Doc frowns. Lightning shrugs a little and hugs Bolt tightly, sitting up so Doc can have room to sit comfortably. "you feeling any better kid?" Doc ask. Lightning shrugs a little.

"a little." Lightning murmurs, cuddling up to his side. he drops his head on Docs good shoulder. Doc wraps his arm around the younger gently and holds him closer. Lightning cuddles to him. "when all this shit is done, we should put in a doggie door." Lightning said. Doc looks at the door, seemingly thinking it over.

"we could do that. we'll just remodel a little whenever we repaint." Doc murmurs, kissing his head. "whatever makes this house home to all of us." Doc adds. Lightning smiles a little, holding a little tighter to Docs waist.

"by the time we get done dealing with my dad we'll probably end up having to remodel anyway." Lightning mutters.

"why is that?" Doc ask, looking down at him.

"uh, I never told you what my dad did for a living back when I was kid?" Lightning ask.

"no." Doc frowns.

"he worked in construction, he was a demolition expert or something." Lightning frowns. "though he blew up his bosses house and isn't allowed to buy explosives anymore." Lightning added.

"oh thats fun." Doc frowns, looking around the house carefully. he holds the youngers waist tightly. "we'll need to be careful." Doc adds. Lightning nods against his side. theres a loud knock on the door.

"hey Stickers!" Sally calls. Lightning and Doc share a look, but Lightning separates himself and heads for the door. he opens it and Sally immediately hugs him.

"uh, hi." Lightning frowns a little, holding her. "Sal, you okay?" Lightning ask.

"Mable told me what happened." Sally said, hugging him tighter. "are you okay?" she ask. Lightning nods a little.

"I'd be better if you'd let go, I'm still having issues breathing." Lightning said. Sally lets go immediately and steps away.

"what happened?" Sally ask, looking him over.

"I have a nut allergy." Lightning says, shrugging a little. "Mack carries an epipen for me, but I guess I didn't tell anyone in town." Lightning frowns.

"yeah well now we know." Sally said, hugging him again. she steps back and smiles, looking relieved. "glad Flo has one on hand." Sally said.

"yeah you're not the only one." Doc frowns. Lightning smiles a little.

"well, since I'm up, I should go talk to her." Lightning says.

"take Bolt with you." Doc frowns. Lightning laughs.

"c'mon Bolt." Lightning smiles. "he sneezed in Docs mouth so no Doc doesn't like him." Lightning snorts.

"thats gross and I don't blame him." Sally laughs. Bolt runs over happily and sits at Lightnings feet.

"he's a good boy." Lightning said, smiling and heading outside. he heads for the diner leaving Doc and Sally.

"you good Doc?" Sally ask, frowning.

"fucked up my arm earlier carrying him and that tylenol is not helping." Doc mutters, dropping his head back onto the couch.

"didn't the hospital give you real pain medicine?" Sally ask.

"of course they did, but I can't take it. I may be a doctor, but m'still human. I can't take that stuff and keep an eye on him, those things generally knock me out." Doc mutters.

"well, we can keep an eye on him. you know Red and Mack will keep him taken care of, maybe you should take one." Sally frowns.

"I love him, but I'm not dumping him off on you guys. none of you guys can handle him like I can." Doc mutters.

"not if you don't let us help. we can try." Sally says firmly. Doc looks over at her. he shouldn't be debating this, but his arm, shoulder, and back are aching more than normal.

"okay, but I'm telling you now, you will not wake me up." Doc mutters, getting up. Sally wants to help, let her, but he knows that if she can't handle this, he'll be no use to anyone.

"cool I'll go tell Stickers." Sally grins, heading for Flos. when she gets there, Flo and Mable both are hugging him tightly. he's just kinda standing there awkwardly. "okay girls, take it easy on him." Sally laughs. Lightning dusts off slightly.

"thanks. hope you guys washed your hands first." Lightning says awkwardly.

"of course honey." Flo assures.

"well Stickers, uh Doc took a pain pill, so you're stuck with me." Sally smiles.

"is he okay?" Lightning ask worriedly.

"his arm was hurting pretty bad." Sally says. Lightning nods a little.

"alright." he shrugs a little. "thats fine. c'mon Smokey lets go see if Reds done with your cow." Lightning says, leading the dog out to towards Reds house. "hey Red." Lightning says walking into his house.

"hey glad to see you're still alive." Red grins.

"do you have Bolts cow?" Lightning ask.

"yeah its in the dryer." Red chuckles. Bolt barks at him, tail wagging happily, but he stays firmly at Lightnings side. Lightnings still feeling a little weak and Bolt must realize it.

"apparently Doc took some pain pills and Sally wants me to stick with her, but I'd rather stick around with you if you don't mind." Lightning frowns a little, looking at him.

"no of course not." Red smiles, letting him in.

"thanks Red." Lightning smiles. "uh, you don't mind Bolt in the house right?" Lightning ask.

"he's always welcome." Red smiles.

"thanks Red." Lightning mumbles, as Red lets him in the house. he sits on the couch and Bolt curls up in his lap. "go buddy. I know like Red. its okay go on." Lightning murmurs, Bolt whines and settles into his lap, licking his hands.

"aww don't make him get up. he seems happy laying with you." Red smiles slightly. he walks over and pats Bolts head gently. Bolt wags his tail happily, licking Reds hand, before laying his head back down. "are you okay?" Red ask.

"huh?" Monty ask, looking up.

"he's sticking to you pretty close." Red says.

"I think he's just scared about what happened with me earlier." Lightning murmurs.

"its alright. just hang out here for a bit." Red smiles. he heads for the kitchen happily to make some lunch.

Doc doesn't remember passing out on the couch, but thats where he wakes up. looking at the clock, its nearing 7 am. those pain meds really knocked him out. he groans lowly getting up, his arm feels better and so does his back. he hears a noise from his and Lightnings bedroom. he gets up and heads for the bedroom. he finds Lightning curled up on the bed with Bolt.

"baby?" Doc ask. Lightning half rolls over. "hey you're bleeding." Doc says walking over quickly.

"I got hit walking back home. its not bad, but you wouldn't wake." Lightning mumbles, letting Doc look at the gash on his head.

"no I took a pain pill. I thought Sally was keeping an eye on you?" Doc growls.

"I went to stay with Red and Mack but they were supposed to have a date night so I went back to hang out with Sally but she was asleep already and had left out a key for me on the counter so I could go to a cone but when I got in there someone hit me in the head with the toilet tank lid I think. I ran away and you left the door unlocked so I came inside, but I couldn't wake you up and I didn't want to sleep when I'm sure I have a concussion." Lightning mutters. Doc kisses his head.

"okay. come here baby. its okay." Doc murmurs softly, pulling him up. "come here, lets get to the clinic. I want to make sure it didn't shatter in your head. next time you go to Red and Mack and you scream at them until they come wake me up. got it?" Doc ask.

"okay." Lightning mumbles softly, getting up and following him. Doc holds his hand tightly, leading him to the clinic.

"did they knock you out?" Doc ask.

"no." Lightning mumbles. Doc growls to himself lowly. how the hell was he supposed to trust anyone? he left his lover under Sallys care and he could've died! "m'sorry Doc." Lightning murmurs.

"sorry? baby you didn't do anything." Doc murmurs. "its my fault. I shouldn't have taken one of those pills and left you alone. I thought I could trust Sally, but apparently I can't." Doc mutters. Monty looks at him. "you never need to sleep in the cone, whether I'm asleep or not, you are always welcome in your house." Doc murmurs. Monty nods, follows Doc to the clinic.

"Doc hey! I can't- Stickers?" Sally ask