"I can't ask for help. Doc can't know thats in the house." Lightning huffs, reaching across Reds face with one arm, while the other tries shoving Reds arm off. "I can't reach anything! put me down! or move me of to the cabinet!" Lightning growls, struggling.

"I'm starting to see why Mack calls you a gremlin." Red mumbles. Lightning turns to face him the best he can, looking a little crestfallen.

"wait, he what?" Lightning ask. Red frowns immediately.

"wait. I didn't mean that." Red says quickly.

"put me down." Lightning said firmly. Bolt growls lowly, barking at Red.

"I didn't mean that Lightning." Red says.

"put me down." Lightning says more firmly this time. Red sets him down and watches him storm off to his and Docs room. "guess Sally was right. you can't pay people to be your friend." Lightning mumbles as he walks. Bolt immediately follows him whining. Red flinches at the door slamming shut and sighs, before turning back to the cabinet. maybe he can coax Lightning back out with whatever he'd been reaching for. he searches the top two shelves, the second one is more his height so the top one is probably almost eye level for Doc. if Lightning was hiding something, he wouldn't put it near Docs eye level. he ducked down and looked at the bottom shelf.

"of course." Red says, reaching in and grabbing the box of mac'n'cheese. Doc likes healthier food, but Red has yet to see Doc tell him no to any food since the whole mess with Chick. the older man is just happy Lightnings eating again. "Lightning?" Red ask, walking over to the door. he knocks gently. "hey... I grabbed your mac'n'cheese for you." Red says softly. its quiet on the other side of the door. he'd like to push it open but decides against it. it had felt like Lightning was leaning against the door when he'd knocked. he knocks again gently. "hey, you okay?" Red ask. "I didn't mean to say that Lightning." Red says. he turns when the front door opens.

"hey I'm-" Doc starts. he stops seeing Red ready to knock on the bedroom door again. "what happened? did he have another panick attack? what happened? Monty! move Red." Doc growls, walking over quickly. Red moves out of his way quickly. Doc knocks on the door firmly.

"Doc I-" Red tries hesitantly.

"baby open the door." Doc says. its quiet and he turns back around to Red. "what the hell happe- why are you holding a box of that plastic msg filled crap?" Doc asks catching a glance at the mac'n'cheese.

"uh he wanted it." Red mumbles.

"what happened?" Doc asks.

"I um... I said something.... I wasn't supposed to, I didn't mean to. I just, Mack says it all the time so I thought he knew but he didn't and I'm sorry." Red sighs.

"okay, go on. I'll deal with this." Doc mutters. he turns back around, snatching the box from Reds hands. he knocks on the door gently. "hey baby, wanna open the door for me?" Doc ask. he can hear the younger moving and the door moves a little, so he's not leaning on it again. "are you off the door?" Doc asks, leaning against his slightly. he catches a glance of Red and glares, waving him off with an angry grunt. Red nods slightly and leaves quickly. "kid, Monty, hey talk to me kid please?" Doc ask softly.

"go away." Lightning mumbles. Doc sighs a little in relief.

"hey, okay. okay, I'll go make some dinner. you hungry?" Doc ask softly. Lightning goes quiet. "I bet Bolts hungry. yeah?" Doc ask. he sniffles.

"yeah." Lightning mumbles.

"yeah, okay. do you know what you want to eat?" Doc ask, leaning against the door some. he wants so bad to hold the younger, but knows he needs to give him a few minutes.

"no." Lightning mumbles.

"okay I'll be back in a minute, I'm going to crack the door a little bit, so you can just call for me if you need me." Doc murmurs, gently opening the door. Lightning didn't answer, cuddling Bolt and sighing. Doc heads for the kitchen. "you wanna tell me what happened kid?" Doc asks, cooking. he hates the boxed mac'n'cheese, he generally makes his own, but he knows the younger loves it so he makes the box. it was probably one of the only things his mother had been able to afford before his father put a bullet in her brain, so Doc is willing to make an exception. he's learned a lot about the younger since the whole Chick incident, more than he realized he didn't even know. like the fact the younger ate so much junk food because it was the cheapest foods he could generally get away with taking from stores when was a kid, or the fact that despite being a millionaire he will always buy his clothes from target because they may be cheap but they get the job done. he wears his shoes and clothes until they're literally falling apart and someone throws them out before he even considers buying more. the kid didn't know how to use a washing machine, dishwasher, a vacuum, or even a stove when he first rolled into town. basically the only knowledge he actually had was how to fix things, which wasn't all that bad, but he did it in the weirdest ways, even if the things he fixed generally held up. mostly his car, despite the fact Rusteze hired an entire team to work on Lightnings car, the younger man had done most, if not all, the work himself. most of the car was held together with zipties and duct tape, though you'd never guess that because it always looked so nice on the outside. that was the one thing Doc had actually appreciated about Lightnings wreck. it totaled the car and they'd had to get him a completely new car, brand new, straight off the line.

Doc shakes his head and resumes cooking.

"hey kid, what about roast beef?" Doc ask. he can hear Bolt's collar jingling as he moves, but Lightning still hasn't said anything. "Monty? hey, you okay?" Doc asks. he double checks everything will be okay for a moment and he heads for the bedroom. Lightnings curled up on the bed with Bolt, facing away from the door. Doc walks over and leans over him. "hey." Doc murmurs. Lightning half rolls over and looks up at him. Doc smiles down at him. "you okay?" Doc asks.

"I guess." Lightning mumbles. Doc smiles at him and gently caresses his cheek.

"okay. hungry?" Doc ask. Lightning shrugs at him. "don't do that." Doc murmurs, grabbing his legs and pulling him closer.

"stop leave me alone." Lightning pouts. Doc chuckles and pulls him up, throwing him over his shoulder.

"nope. come on. come cook with me." Doc says.

"I can't cook." Lightning mumbles.

"thats okay, you can keep me company." Doc says. he carries the younger into the kitchen and plops him carefully onto the counter. he turns back to the stove and Lightning sighs, pulling his legs up onto the counter and crossing them, dropping his hands into his lap. he looks around and pauses, grabbing the empty box from the counter.

"you hate Kraft." Lightning mumbles, looking at him. "you say it tastes like plastic." he adds.

"yeah, but you like it." Doc chuckles. "and for that simple fact, I'll eat it with you." Doc murmurs, stirring the mac'n'cheese.

"did you make canned roast beef?" Lightning ask, raising an eye brow.

"yeah." Doc shrugs.

"are you sick or something? boxed mac'n'cheese, canned roast beef. you usually make things your own way." Lightning says. Doc chuckles softly and pats his leg gently.

"no. I'm no sick. I just know you like this stuff. can't always eat food I want when I can make simple things you like." Doc smiles at him. Lightning cracks a half smile at him.

"I love you." Lightning murmurs. Doc chuckles softly and walks over to him.

"love you too kid. go feed Bolt." Doc murmurs, pulling him off the counter. Lightning nods and walks away. Doc watches him go and turns back to the stove. "what did you do with your Glock?" Doc ask.

"the gun?" Lightning ask.

"yes Monty, the gun." Doc chuckles softly

"its in the nightstand. I... I haven't talked to Sheriff again yet." Lightning mumbles, pouring some kibble into the bowl for Bolt.

"thats okay. I'll check with him to see if he's got the permit yet." Doc murmurs softly. "and don't worry about it kid. I just want to make sure your protected." Doc says.

"I know Doc. I-oof!" Lightning groans. Doc whips around quickly and snorts. Bolt is laying on Lightnings stomach and the man is laying on his back. Docs already realized that Bolt has not been professionally trained, or maybe he didn't finish training, but he was already doing a good job with Lightning so Doc didn't mind. "Bolt c'mon. you're heavy buddy." Lightning groans. Doc snorts and takes the food off the stove. he makes them both a plate and looks over at the younger man. he's laughing and giggling, flopping the dogs ears around playfully and he still hasn't gotten up off his back, Bolts still laying on him. Doc smiles and watches him, lovingly. he could listen to the younger laugh all day, but the food is going to get cold.

"hey, dinners done." Doc murmurs. Lightning looks over and nods.

"okay buddy, get off." Lightning smiles sitting up. "eat." Lightning says, patting his head. he gets up and heads over to Doc. the younger was different, in Docs opinion, he always had to have his food separated, so Doc bought divider plates. Lightning grins at him.

"come on. maybe we can find some F1 on." Doc murmurs, heading for the living room.

"I thought you wanted to watch that MASH marathon today?" Lightning asks.

"is that today?" Doc asks looking at him. Lightning nods.

"yup." Lightning smiles sitting on the couch. Doc sits beside him, watching the younger reach over and grab the remote, before cuddling against Docs side.

"you look like you're feeling better now." Doc murmurs. Lightning nods.

"yeah, just got a little upset earlier, I'm fine now." Lightning murmurs, turning on the tv. "so, MASH?" Lightning ask.

"sure." Doc smiles, kissing his head. the two settle in happily, eating. Doc makes sure not to eat all his mac'n'cheese, because he knows he can give it to Lightning and the younger will happily devour it. he holds his plate out to Lightning.

"what?" Lightning ask, taking the plate.

"eat it. I don't want it." Doc murmurs, leaning back on the couch. he throws one arm over the back of the couch and leans into the couch happily. Lightning lights up and eats the rest happily, practically bouncing.

"mmmm." Lightning smiles, sitting the plate down on the table with his own, before leaning back against Doc and curling up to him. he cuddles up against his side, dropping his head onto the olders chest. Doc smiles and wraps his arm tightly around the younger. the youngers always cuddly when it starts getting dark outside, Docs pretty sure its because of the last three years, but it doesn't matter. he'll always hold the younger, accept his cuddles and his clinginess. he enjoys it more than the younger realizes.

"you enjoy dinner?" Doc ask. Lightning nods against his chest gently.

"mmhmm. can't go wrong with Kraft, especially when you make it." Lightning smiles, nuzzles his chest, letting his eyes fall closed.

"hey if you're going to fall asleep here, at least lay out on the couch with me so we can just sleep here." Doc murmurs.

"m'not gonna fall asleep." Lightning snorts.

"okay but I'm gonna dump you onto the floor when you do." Doc teases.

"I'm okay with that." Lightning smiles. he sighs happily content to just cuddle him. it's probably about 9 pm and it was dark so the two are settling down for the night. Bolt even jumps up and joins them on couch happily.

"you gonna go to bed with me tonight?" Doc ask. Lightning laughs.

"such a gentlemen asking me to bed." Lightning teases.

"fine you little pervert. you going to bed tonight or staying on the couch?" Doc asks.

"m'going to bed. I think I'll be fine with you and Bolt." Lightning murmurs.

"you ready to actually go to bed?" Doc asks. Lightning nods against him.

"yeah." he mumbles, getting up and stretches. Doc gets up with him and grabs him, kissing him deeply. he can't help it. god he loves this kid. Lightning smiles against him, pulling him closer happily. Doc pulls back at a knock on the door.