"I don't mind. everyone calls me Doc. you call me anything you want and m'gonna answer. no matter what baby. I'll answer to whatever you call me, but" Doc mumbles. he shrugs his good shoulder and smiles at at Lightning. "but you're not just anyone. you're allowed t' call me Hud 'cause you're special. you're my fiance and the person on this planet I love the most. I love you more than anything. I love you more than I ever loved racing. I'd take that wreck in '54 again and again and again, if it gets me you everytime. I'd give up my Hornet for you, let 'im rot in some old junk yard just for you Monty. you're allowed t' call me Hud like my oldest friends, because you're special." Doc adds. Lightning smiles at him and reaches for his hand. Doc grasps his hand tightly. "you... I love you so much baby. I love you more than my Hornet and more than I ever loved racing. I love you so much. you're so special." Doc murmurs.

"I'll keep that in mind." Lightning assures gently. "you're special to me too." Lightning murmurs, kissing his cheek. "you're cute when you're all high and lovey. makes me glad to know that you love me so much that when you're high out of your mind all you can do is talk about how you love me." Lightning chuckles softly.

"you're beautiful." Doc mumbles. Lightning chuckles.

"yeah you tell me that all the time." Lightning murmurs.

"no baby, you're just beautiful. dunno how anyone could ever hurt you. I don't know how anyone could ever put their hands on you, could ever hurt you." Doc murmurs looking at him. "and I dunno how I got so lucky. so god damn lucky that you rolled into my town. I thought I was gonna die without ever getting to hold you or nothin'. m'glad I won't. never wanna let you go. never gonna let anyone hurt you." Doc murmurs. Lightning squeezes his hand gently, taking a shaky breath.

"Hud, baby, you.... you gotta stop. you're gonna make me cry here." Lightning laughs a little, leaning forward to kiss him. Doc pulls him down and kisses him deeply. Lightning gives a muffled yelp of surprise, but chuckles softly and pulls back resting his forehead against Doc. he brings both his hands up and holds Docs face gently. god he's never felt love like this in his entire life, Montys not sure how he lived without this, being loved so much he's basically being worshipped.

"don't need to cry." Doc murmurs, reaching his good hand up to pat Montys cheek. he gently rubs his thumb across the youngers cheek, with a soft smile. "I know m'all tough'n'shit, but you keep me that way. gimmie a reason not t' just stick 'round my house an drink. you give me reason t' keep going. I was ready to die in that house of mine, by myself, but now.. now its our house. I can't... can't leave you like that. can't ever leave you like that, gotta live as long as I can so I can spend all the time possible with you." Doc adds, looking ready to fall back to sleep.

"get some sleep, okay? we can talk more later." Lightning smiles, gently caressing his cheeks. Doc mumbles quietly, letting his eyes fall closed. "I love you." Lightning murmurs softly. he pulls back and sits back down in his chair, taking Docs hand gently and holding it. Doc is snoring with in minutes and Lightning sighs happily. he loves Doc, but he needs him when he's not high on pain meds. this Doc is absolutely way too lovey. its not that Lightning didn't like Doc like that, of course he did. he loves his fiance no matter what, but there was something comforting about Doc always coming out of things like nothing had actually happened to him, and now he was in a sling and a cast and high on pain meds. its nice to get a small look in on how Hud may have been before the wreck, but he didn't want this. he wants Doc. he mildly wondered how long Doc would be like this before he came back to his usual way. he gently reaches over and caresses Doc cheek gently. Doc mumbles a little and snores. Monty turns on the tv and watches it quietly.

when Doc wakes once again he mutters, reaching his good hand up to rub his face.

"hey baby, still high?" Lightning ask.

"huh?" Doc mutters, looking over at him.

"you okay?" Lightning ask, smiling a little.

"m'good. the hell happened?" he ask.

"they drugged you because you wouldn't let them touch your arm." Lightning chuckles softly. Doc scoffs a little and Lightning chuckles at him.

"any idea when they're going to let me out?" Doc ask.

"no but I can go and ask." Lightning says.

"no s'okay." Doc assures. "how stupid was I all drugged up?" Doc mutters. Lightning laughs a little.

"you weren't stupid, you were very lovey though. all cuddley and sweet. wanted to tell me you loved me every two seconds. kept trying to pull me down and kiss me. kept telling me how beautiful I am and how you'd give up the Hornet for me." Lightning chuckles, squeezing Docs hand gently. Doc smiles a little.

"thats not too bad." Doc murmurs softly. "not as bad as I thought it would've been." Doc mumbles. Lightning leans over him and kisses him.

"you were real sweet. kinda like a love sick teenager or something, it was cute but I'd rather have you like this. don't get me wrong, I enjoy hearing you tell me you love me, but I like it better when you show me. when you sit there in your silent old man way and just hold me, or all the other stuff you always do." Lightning murmurs, smiling.

"you make it sound like me showing you real affection is gross or something." Doc snorts.

"no you showing me affection is fine. you prove you love me with your actions. I've heard those words all my life and I trust you love me, but theres a difference between hearing it and seeing it. y'know?" Lightning ask, hesitantly. he hopes he's phrasing it right and not upsetting Doc. the older man is quiet for a minute, before smiling.

"that makes me feel better." Doc chuckles to himself.

"huh?" Lightning ask.

"m'from a time 44 years before you boy, saying things like that is pretty hard for me, so I'm glad you enjoy me showing instead of telling. makes me feel better." Doc murmurs softly. Lightning smiles and hugs him tightly. "besides, I like you being the more 'lovey', as you put it, one out of the two of us." Doc murmurs, reaching up to cup his face. "but don't take that to mean that I'm not going to tell you I love you here and there. 'cause I do love you, a lot, even if its hard to say sometimes." Doc says. Lightning grins a little, brushing his nose against Docs.

"well, I'm certainly not gonna tell you to stop telling me that." Lightning smiles. Doc smiles and gives him a small peck on the lips, before letting his face go gently.

"good." Doc chuckles softly. Lightning steps back when the door opens. Smokey pokes his head in.

"not in here getting nasty with each other are you?" Smokey teases. Lightning steps back and sits down. Bolt barks at Smokey, tail wagging.

"hey stop that." Doc mutters, swatting at his tail. "you're hitting me." Doc grumbles.

"hey Hud, you come down from your trip?" Smokey grins at him. Doc mutters at him dropping his head back into his pillow.

"hey Smokey, come to be an asshole?" Doc ask. Smokey snorts a little.

"look, I wanted to talk to you two." Smokey says.

"'bout Elliot?" Doc ask. Lightning tenses a little and looks at Smokey.

"yeah." Smokey nods.

"did you ask about Emily?" Lightning ask.

"I already told you kid, you're going to have to ask him about that girl." Smokey frowns. Lightning shoots him a nasty look and pats Bolts head, hugging his neck so Smokey doesn't see him getting tearful.

"Smokey be nice to him." Doc snaps.

"I am being nice, but I'm not going to baby him on this. he's not going to get better just because his dad mysteriously vanishes. he needs to face the guy before he disappears." Smokey says firmly. Doc frowns, he agrees with Smokey, but knows that they're going to have to go about this in a more gentle way.

"you and I will talk about that later." Doc mutters. "but it can wait until m'out of the hospital." Doc adds. Lightning squeezes his hand gently and smiles a little. Doc looks over at him and smiles at him. Lightning grins a little at him. even looking sickly and laying in bed, Docs eyes are still the brightest and most beautiful blue he's ever seen.

"they're gonna release you in a bit. Fillmore and Sarge are gonna take you two to their hotel, until Red and Mack are release. Mack has a pretty bad skull fracture so it'll be a while on him." Smokey says.

"sounds good." Doc mumbles. he drops his head back into his pillow and sighs a little. "not looking forward to getting car sick again on the way home." he grumbles.

"you want us to go to North Carolina but you can't drive, and can't ride along you'll get sick, so how are we getting there?" Lightning ask.

"you'll fly of course." Smokey snorts. Lightning shakes his head.

"no. I'll walk before I fly." Lightning says firmly.

"is there anything that you aren't afraid of?" Smokey frowns. Lightnings face turns a bright red.

"you leave him alone or I'm going to get out this bed and beat your ass Smokey. damn. leave him alone." Doc snaps. Smokey frowns a little.

"alright. alright. I get the picture." Smokey mutters, turning to leave. Lightning sighs a little, laying his head on the side of the bed to watch Doc. Smokey steps out of the room.

"m'sorry." Lightning mumbles.

"don't be sorry baby. its alright." Doc assures gently. he pulls his hand free and ruffles the younder hair gently. "don't worry kiddo. just relax." Doc murmurs. Lightning sighs softly and pouts.

"I still don't think he likes me." Lightning mumbles.

"kiddo, he likes you, just gotta remember he's from a different time too." Doc murmurs softly.

"m'not afraid of flying." he mutters.

"I know kid. its okay." Doc assures gently.

"I can't breathe on planes." Lightning mumbles.

"I know. you don't have to explain yourself to anyone baby. its okay." Doc assures. Lightning leans forward and pets Bolt gently. Doc reaches out with his good hand and takes hold of Lightnings hand gently. "hey," Doc says softly.

"what?" Lightning mumbles. Doc gives him a half smile.

"you haven't given me any remodeling plans to look at yet." Doc murmurs. Lightning chuckles a little.

"I don't have any yet." he mumbles. "I don't know how to make any." Lightning adds.

"thats okay." Doc assures. "grab some paper and a pencil baby. we'll work on it love." Doc murmurs, smiling at him. Monty nods and gets up, grabbing the items Doc ask for. Doc takes the items from him and scetches out the original floor plan of the house. together the two work on the house. Docs excited that Lightning is actually helping, he wants the younger to love the house.

"what about a real porch?" Lightning ask.

"whats wrong with our porch?" Doc ask.

"its not really a porch. its just... okay what about a deck. something bigger. we can put like three chairs up there and still have room for Smokey to sit. what about that?" Lightning ask.

"fine we can have a deck." Doc says, smiling a little. "and a dog door." Doc adds. Lightning nods.

"yeah he needs to be able to get in and out." Lightning smiles and scratches Bolts head. Bolts tail starts wagging happily. "right good boy?" Lightning ask. Bolt licks his hand happily and lays his head back down on Docs stomach happily. they both look up as the door opens.

"hey, you're being released Doc." Sally says.

"finally." Doc mutters. Lightning helps him up, carefully.

"here, Smokey brought clothes for you." Sally adds, putting a bag on the bed.

"alright. the kid'll help me get dressed, mind taking Smokey out for a walk?" Doc ask.

"yeah, I got you." Sally smiles, taking Smokey out of the room.

"how am I going to get this hospital gown off you?" Lightning ask.

"just be gentle." Doc mutters, helping Lightning get him out. it takes the two a bit and, eventually, they have to call Smokey in for help. he has no trouble getting pants on Doc, but Smokey has to help with the shirt. they get him up and Lightning smiles up at him. "thanks." Doc says, as Lightning help with his buttons.

"I'm going to go check Mack and Red. they should be gettin released too." Smokey says.

"not with Macks head wound. half his skull was caved in. he's lucky he got up." Doc frowns, moving his good arm out of Lightnings way. Smokey frowns a little and walks out of the room. Lightning steps back and smiles.

"there." he smiles. Doc looks down at himself. injured or not, he wants to look nice. "can you tuck my shirt into my pants?" Doc ask.

"yeah. no problem." Lightning says. he unlatches Docs belt and carefully tucks his shirt into his pants. Doc smiles once he steps back.

"thank you baby." Doc murmurs. Lightning wraps his arms around his waist tightly.

"mmhmm." Lightning sighs, cuddling closer to him. Doc smiles and kisses his head.

"thank you Monty, I appreciate your help." Doc murmurs. Lightning nods, nuzzling closer.

"you help me all the time. m'glad I can do something useful." Lightning mumbles.

"you're always useful baby." Doc assures gently, kissing his head.

"hey, Sarge and Fillmore are gonna take you two to a hotel, they're keeping Mack and Red for a bit longer." Smokey says.

"okay, sounds good." Doc says.

"m'not going anywhere with out Bolt." Lightning says firmly.

"Sallys getting him loaded up in the van right now." Smokey assures. Doc nods and throws his arm around Lightnings shoulders gently. he needs to lean on the younger man, but Lightning doesn't seem to mind. he wraps an arm firmly around Docs waist, holding him tightly.

"you going to be okay in the van?" Lightning asks, looking up at him.

"yeah. I'm just going to lay down in a seat and I'm not going to move." Doc mutters. Lightning smiles at him a little.

"its about an hour from here, the closest one they could get with two rooms." Smokey said.

"two? are you going to stay with us?" Lightning ask.

"I've been sleeping in my truck, so Sally could sleep in that room." Smokey says.

"well Sally can bunk with Sarge and Fillmore. you're not sleeping in a truck while we sleep in a hotel room." Lightning says, helping Doc outside. Smokey looks shocked and Doc chuckles a little at him. Lightnings accept Smokey as family, Smokey better listen to him.

"you better listen to the kid. if you don't he'll grab a pillow and come sleep in the truck with you." Doc snorts.

"don't tempt me." Lightning frowns.

"uh... okay?" Smokey says. he follows them down to the parking lot. "you two get the house all figured out?" Smokey ask.

"sort of. we've got most of the plans made." Doc mutters. he looks at the van with a dredfilled sigh. Sally is struggling to get Bolt in the van still.

"we have everything set up. you're fine." Sarge says with a nod. Lightning and Doc climb in, taking up the same position from before. Docs sure he'll be fine if he just lays down. Lightning looks out the window, holding Doc gently.

"as long as you don't puke in my van, we're all good." Fillmore says. Doc nods a little. he's really not looking forward to this. Lightning gently runs his fingers through Docs hair, smiling.

"you'll be fine." Lightning assures. Doc sighs a little, looking uncomfortable already. Bolt immediately jumps into the van seeing both of them in there. "hey buddy, did you give Sally a hard time?" Lightning ask. Bolt barks and licks Docs face and the older man turns away.

"stop that." Doc mutters.

"okay good boy. you sit down and leave Doc alone." Lightning said. "lay down." Lightning says more firmly. Bolt lays down at his feet, tail wagging happily. Lightning smiles at him and runs his fingers through Docs hair gently.

"alright, we'll get you two back to the hotel and settled, then we'll get dinner." Sarge says.

"okay, thanks guys." Lightning smiles at him. they head out for the hotel and Doc tries to keep himself relaxed.

"don't you dare." Doc mutters turning his head from Bolt when the dog sits up. "don't." Doc frowns.

"hey I told you to leave him alone Bolt. you lay down." Lightning says, patting his head. Bolt barks, whining. "I know you have alot of pent up energy and I promise once we get there I'll take you out for a long walk, but right now I need you to wait. just lay down baby." Lightning murmurs, patting his head. Bolt whines again and lays back down.

"we'll take him. Fillmore wanted to go for a walk anyway." Sarge mutters.

"I need to stretch my legs man." Fillmore mutters.

"are you guys sure?" Lightning ask.

"yeah. its fine kid." Sarge assures.

"okay.... he's my dog and I feel like everyone else cares for him more than I do." Lightning mutters.

"he's supposed to care for you kid. we'll handle the rest." Doc says.

"Docs right kid. until you can take care of yourself, we'll handle the dog." Sarge frowns. Lightning flinches at his words and turns away to look at the window. Doc pats his hand gently and Monty smiles a little, running his fingers through Docs hair gently.

"you'll be fine kid." Doc murmurs.

"thanks Doc." he mumbles, rubbing Docs cheek gently. Doc smiles at him and Lightning flushes a little looking out the window. Docs giving him one of those cute little love sick smiles he'd given him while pumped full of meds. Lightning assumes Docs given him that look before, but he's never really noticed it until now because it seems like a very unDoc like smile. Lightning look out the window. he wants to tease Doc by telling him not to puke on him, but he's puked on Doc, so he doesn't think it'll be funny.

"kid." Doc murmurs.

"old man." Lightning says, playing with Docs hair gently. Doc grabs his hand gently and pulling it down to his lips. he presses a soft kiss to it, smiling. Lightning smiles at him and looks away, sighing happily.

"you two okay back there?" Fillmore asks, looking up into the rearview mirror.

"I'm fine so far." Doc murmurs. his stomach is a little unhappy, but he's not puking yet, so he'll be alright. Bolt wonders up to the front, begging for pets from Sarge, who isn't actually a dog person and really doesn't like him, but pets him anyway.

"so whats going to happen with the house? Mater said he had to haul away a burnt couch." Sarge said.

"we're gonna remodel." Doc says. "we have a whole floor plan drawn and everything." Doc murmurs.

"and we put in a doggie door for Bolt so he can go out and be a happy little pup." Lightning smiles.

"put in a fence so he doesn't wonder into the road." Fillmore says, reaching over to pat Bolts head.

"don't you dare, we're not getting a dog." Sarge frowns.

"oh come on man. Dogs are mans best friend. s'unAmerican to not have a dog." Fillmore groans. Lightning chuckles a little.

"I have to agree with Fillmore on that Sarge." Lightning murmurs. his attention immediately turns to Doc when he makes an odd sound of distress.