"okay whatever works." he mumbles. there's another knock on the door and Doc gets up, ruffling his hair gently.

"I'll be right back." Doc murmurs. Monty nods. Doc heads for the door and opens it, Mack stares at him.

"what the hell did you say to Red?" Mack ask.

"the truth." Doc scoffs. "the kid already knows that he's a lot to handle right now, he doesn't need you two rubbing it in his face. he already knows his enthusiasm annoys you, but he honestly thought you were his friends. it's not babysitting for him to be with you guys, or at least it shouldn't be, not if you're really his friends. if you were, it'd be hanging out. babysitting is what you call it when you consider someone a burden and he is not that." Doc snaps, glaring at Mack.

"I was joking. I didn't mean for the boss to hear that. I was just joking with Red." Mack says.

"well your 'joke' hurt him, a lot more than you fucking realize. he risked his life to save you. he could've told you to stand there and not move, waited for the bomb squad, put himself out of danger, but instead he stayed and saved your life. he was being a good friend. he cares about you, he enjoys spending time with both you and Red and you two refer to him as burden, as a joke? he was thrilled to go to a concert with you guys, especially since he knows Red enjoys this particular band, but instead now we're scrambling to find people who not only like the band but are free tomorrow to go to a concert. I told you I was buying these, so that you and Red would be free tomorrow to go with him, but instead, you made him feel shitty." Doc glares.

"I didn't mean it like that stop putting words in my mouth." Mack hissed.

"or what? hmm? you gonna go tell the little 'gremlin' how you truly feel about him?" Doc snaps. Mack looks confused as to how he knows that. "yeah he knows all the little names you call him. you're either his friend or you're not Mack, you don't get to go back and forth. you're either his friend who just happens to be his bodyguard and truck driver, or you're not. you're his business partner that gets paid to keep him safe, not to be his friend." Doc glares. "you can't have it both ways." he frowns, shutting the door in Macks face. Doc looks at the clock, today has been a very long and very tense day. its just now 5pm, the sun will be setting soon. "hey kid, how about we go to the Butte and run a few laps. we can take Bolt with us." Doc murmurs, grabbing his keys.

"I dunno Doc." Lightning mutters quietly.

"hmm, winner picks whats for dinner." Doc offers.

"not hungry." Lightning mumbles. Doc knows he needs to shut that down immediately, but figures he could get the youngers mind off it with a race, if he can just convince him to race.

"winner... gets to pick the radio station on the drive to the concert tomorrow." Doc says. Lightning looks at him blankly. "oh come on kid, you don't want to be stuck listening to my old Aerosmith and Eagles cassettes do you?" Doc ask. Lightning rolls his eyes. "okay fine, maybe we'll listen to some Pasty Cline or maybe some Elton John, oh you know what, I think I have an old Elvis tape somewhere." Doc says. Lightning smiles a little he gets up and grabs his keys.

"no way am I listening to Pasty Cline and Elton John." Lightning says. Doc smirks at him and leads him to the garage. after both do a thorough check, they get in and Doc opens the garage door. Bolt sits beside Lightning happily. Lightning and Doc start up their cars and Lightning throws the car into reverse. he speeds out of the garage backwards and Doc follows after, making sure the garage door is closed. Lightning speeds off towards the Butte. Docs Hornet roars after him. he misses Smokey and their friends watching the two go.

"like hell I'm going to miss a race." Louise smirks heading after them.

Lightning pulls up to the Butte and parks, getting out to set up the starting/finish line. Doc pulls his Hornet up beside the 95. he gets back into the 95.

"four laps?" Lightnings asks.

"sounds good kid." Doc nods.

"we have a crowd." Lightning murmurs.

"thats fine kiddo." Doc chuckles. Lightning starts up the 95 again. the two immediately take off. Docs in front, Doc always ends up in front in the beginning since Lightnings new car. Smokey, Louise, Maddie, River, and Junior all stood and watched the two. they haven't seen Doc race since his accident. Lightning easily over takes Doc on the first drift. Doc grins after his lover.

"whoo! did you see that? go kid go!" Junior laughs.

"don't cheer yet, Huds gonna over take him." Smokey snorts.

"no way. kids not gonna let him." Louise snorts.

"c'mon kid! you got this!" Maddie cheers.

"never thought I'd see Hud out there again." River says.

"me either." Smokey murmurs. Lightning and Doc go back and forth on the lead until Lightning crosses the finish line first, skidding to a stop. Doc slides to a stop behind him. Lightning jumps out with a grin. Doc gets out shaking his head, walking over to the younger. Bolt barks sitting in the car still.

"yes! no Elvis." Lightning grins. Doc snorts and rolls his eyes.

"alright alright. you win." Doc mutters. "but you only won because my arms in a sling." Doc snorts. Lightning laughs at him.

"should've let us know you were gonna race, we would've joined!" Junior calls down. Doc looks over the roof of Lightnings car.

"tracks not big enough for a race like that." Doc says. "big enough for two cars but not more than that." Doc calls.

"it'd be too dangerous." Lightning agrees.

"kid races pretty good." Smokey says.

"yeah when his cars not on fire." River snorts. Louise reaches over and smacks him in the back of the head.

"you stop that. the boy has enough trauma already." Louise snaps. Lightning laughs a little, and looks at Doc. the older man grips his hip gently with his good arm and chuckles.

"I eat trauma for breakfast." Lightning calls, grinning. "back to the house?" he asks.

"yeah. lets go." Doc murmurs, patting his hip and heading for the Hornet. Monty bites his lip and gets into the 95. ever since they started dating, they usually spend a little time together in the Butte after a race, generally starting with a little cuddling and maybe a kiss and usually ending with Lightning pressed against one of their cars while Doc mauls his neck. he was a little disappointed that this hadn't happened this time. he sped out of the Butte, leaving Doc chasing his cloud of dust.

Lightning pulls his car into the garage and Doc follows after him, closing the garage door. he gets out of the 95. Doc gets out and walks over to him. he pins the younger against the 95 and kisses him, before pulling back with a smirk. he ruffles the youngers hair and heads inside. Lightning lets Bolt out of the car, flushing.

"pouting is cute on you, but I'd rather kiss it off." Doc chuckles softly. he must've seen Lightning pout at the Butte. Lightning grins and follows after him, hugging his waist tightly. Doc smiles and lets him. no reason to push the younger off. Doc turns around and grabs him, kissing him deeply, holding him tightly. Lightning melts into it happily, groaning lowly. Bolt barks, growling and pulling on Docs pants. the two separate, Doc looking annoyed and Lightning looking amused, and turn to the dog. "hey, let go." Doc frowns, shaking his leg off a little. Bolt barks around the pants in his mouth and Doc frowns letting go of Lightning to turn around completely. Bolt lets go, tail wagging.

"aww, he's jealous. give him your attention." Lightning grins, hugging Docs waist again. Bolt watches them, tail wagging. he barks happily and whines watching them.

"I'm going to make dinner." Doc murmurs, kissing Lightnings head. Lightning smiles and pets Bolts head gently.

"see I wouldn't mind spending my birthday just being here with you, curled up together in bed. cuddling." Lightning murmurs, grabbing the stuffed cow and tossing it for Bolt.

"too bad. we'll have plenty of time for that later." Doc says.

"you didn't have to be so mean with Red and Mack." Lightning says randomly.

"they hurt you." Doc frowns. "and I'm tired of Mack doing shit like that. he's either your friend or he's not, but going back and forth is hurting you." Doc says.

"whatcha making?" Lightning asks, walking over.

"dinner." Doc murmurs.

"yeah, but whats for dinner?" Lightning ask, cuddling his back. he holds tightly to him and cuddles into his back.

"pork chops." Doc mutters.

"oh and mac'n'cheese?" Lightning grins.

"I'll make it if you have some, but I don't have any." Doc says. Lightning lets go and walks away.

"hows your arm?" Lightning ask.

"better. I've got it out of the sling right now. feels pretty good." Doc says, flexing his arm a little. it hurts of course, but not as bad as before. Lightning comes back over with a pot and a box of mac'n'cheese. Doc takes the items and sets them up, leaving the water to boil on the stove. "you know kid, one of these days, you're going to have to learn to cook." Doc snorts, wrapping his arms around the younger. Lightning is careful not to touch Docs bad arm, but grins wrapping an arm around over Docs good shoulder.

"but why would I need to? I have you, and I have take out. all the food I need." Lightning grins.

"yeah and what are you going to do when I have to start going back to the those mandatory crew chief bullshit things that have me out of the house for a week?" Doc ask.

"what I always do Doc, eat pizza until you come home and scold me for eating nasty foods." Lightning grins. Doc snorts and pulls him close.

"you could learn to cook like a normal person." Doc murmurs.

"I am far from normal. normal people don't have enemies like I do." Lightning huffs. Doc pulls back and ruffles his hair gently, turning back to the food on the stove.

"feed Bolt." Doc says. Lightning nods and turns to feed the pup.

"come here buddy, lets go. come on dinner." Lightning smiles, pouring food into his bowl. Bolt barks happily and digs into the food. "when are you gonna have to start going to those stupid crew chief things again?" Lightning ask.

"as soon as all this is over with." Doc says. "I refuse them while all this is going on stating that you're still having issues and they don't mind, plus Rusty and Dust have managed to get me excused until I say you're better." Doc adds. Lightning nods and cuddles to his side. "I can't cook with you all over me." Doc snorts.

"I know." Lightning pouts, stepping away. Doc leans over and kisses him deeply, pulling him closer to him. Lightning sighs and melts into him, though his is careful of Docs bad arm wrapped around his waist. Doc wants to hold him tighter, but knows he runs the risk of hurting his harm badly, so he doesn't. he pulls back and rests his forehead against the youngers, smiling at him. Lightning flashes a small smile. "dinners burning." he murmurs. Docs eyes widen quickly and he shoves the younger away turning back to the stove. Lightning laughs and heads for the living room. he lays on the couch and stretches out, looking over at the clock. its 8pm. by this time tomorrow, he'd be watching Green Day in person. after a few minutes, Doc brings their plates over.

"sit up." Doc says. Lightning sits up and moves over, letting Doc sit with him. he hands him a plate, with almost the whole box of mac'n'cheese. Lightning grins and cuddles to his side happily. "do not give Bolt any of this food. he's been eating more of your food lately than you are." Doc frowns. Lightning flushes a little and pouts.

"yeah I know." he mumbles with a sigh. he pokes at the food.

"eat that plastic crap now." Doc says holding a forkful of mac'n'cheese over to him. Lightning takes the bite off his fork and mumbles.

"I am." Lightning mutters. he cuddles closer to Docs side and nibbles his food. Lightning eats and leans against him. Bolt runs over to them, sitting on the round and barking as he watches them.

"no." Doc frowns. "you had dinner. you let us eat ours." Doc frowns.