it had started out as one of them just moving Tommy around, because to Docs utter surprise, the younger would simply carry the thing around the house if he was having a bad day. didn't matter what was wrong. headache, upset stomach, bad practice, didn't matter. he'd carry Tommy around until his mood changed, then he'd just drop the bear where he'd been standing and have to hunt it down at night so he could curl up. Doc would move Tommy somewhere that Monty could easily find him. then Monty stopped hunting him down at night, would just wave and say 'night Tommy.' as he'd walk by for bed. Doc would smile and head to bed. then Doc would find the bear in a different place in the morning, give a confused look, but pat the bear on the head and mumble something like 'oh hey Tommy.' before heading to make coffee. now, nearly two years later, it was a game. one of them would move Tommy around the house randomly for the other to find. Doc wasn't sure then that had started, only realizing it when he walked past Tommy one morning and he was just sitting on the couch, so he'd grabbed the bear and sat him in the kitchen in a chair. he realized it was crazy, but the grin on the younger mans face as he laughed mad it worth it.

the two did it subconsciously now. if they walked into the kitchen and he was on the counter 'oh hey, morning Tommy, coffee?', find him on the shelf in the laundry room 'laundry day Tommy, don't have anything dirty do you?', find him sitting on one of the little tables near their bedroom door 'hi Tommy, hows your day?' it had become a part of their normal routine and neither of them were sure when. it had be come a regular part of their relationship that neither had bothered to question because it didn't matter, it was harmless.

usually they hid him when the others were open, in a random room, but today they hadn't remembered. Sally was over talking with Monty. Doc never even thought about it as he walked out of their room and towards the kitchen. Tommy was sitting on the lamp table, leaned against the lamp in his little suit.

"hey Tommy." he muttered, patting the bears head as he walked by. Sally looked confused raising her eye brow.

"what the hell?" Sally ask. Monty tensed slightly.

"what?" Doc ask.

"where'd the bear come from? whats with the whole 'hey Tommy' thing?" Sally ask. Monty turned his head to look at Doc, cheeks a bright red. Doc raised an eye brow at Sally.

"Tommy? he's something that I found when I woke up in the hospital from my wreck. someone dropped him off as a get well soon present. found it a while ago, not sure how this started, but now we just hide the thing around the house. Lightning started calling him Tommy and it stuck." Doc shrugged, heading into the kitchen. Sally seemed confused. "its kinda like a game." Doc added.

"you just kept a bear from your wreck?" Sally ask.

"I assume Smokey left him for me in the hospital room while I was unconscious." Doc shrugged. "I was still a kid when I wrecked Sally." Doc smirked, amused as he came out of the kitchen with a cup of coffee. "I know that seems impossible, but I was a kid when I wrecked." Doc said.

"I know that." Sally huffs, rolling her eyes. "I just didn't realize someone like you would keep something like that." Sally said.

"someone like me? what you mean old?" Doc huffs.

"okay I'm gonna go." Sally said getting up and heading out of the house. Doc shook his head and sat on the couch, setting his coffee cup on the table at the end of the couch. Lightning cuddled up to his side, throwing an arm around his waist. Doc smiled and wrapped an arm around the younger gently.

"thanks Hud." he mumbles. Doc rolls his eyes.

"I love you kid, it's fun to pick on you and embarrass you, but only when I do it. Sallys got no business in here picking on you because I said hi to Tommy without thinking about it." Doc said. "besides it's just Tommy, not like its anything harmful." Doc shrugged. Lightning cuddled his side, smiling a little.

"sometimes you're sweet." Lightning mumbles.

"I have to be sweet to you." Doc murmurs, shifting on the couch. "come here." Doc mutters, pulling on him gently. the younger gets up and settles himself into his lap, cuddling him. he holds the younger gently, smiling.

"you don't have to. you're not always sweet. sometimes you're an asshole." Lightning said, cuddling him. Doc chuckles.

"so are you kid, but we work together. we fit." Doc murmurs. Lightning laughs and flushes when Doc nuzzles his face into his hair. they were perfect for each other in everyway. attitude, racing, smarts, compassion, and games. Doc is pretty sure he's the one who started the game and all he hopes is that he's not the one to finish it one day. he's getting over, but he hopes he'll be around a long while.