"...'kay...?" Lightning said watching him warily.

"but in exchange, if you like the ice cream, you have to tell me about your mom okay? do we have a deal?" Doc ask. Lightning tensed up a little. "okay look, hold on. I'll let you try the ice cream first before you make up your mind." Doc said. he got up from the booth.

"wh-where are you going?" Lightning ask, tensing up.

"just gonna go get the ice cream from Flo. okay?" Doc ask softly. immediately he whined throwing his arms out.

"no! don't leave! I'm sorry! I'll be good! I promise! I'll tell you what ever you want! please don't leave me!" he cried. Doc froze and looked at the little boy standing in the booth, begging him not to leave and sobbing. it made sense why he was always poking around and getting as much information as to where any of his friends were going, his mother had probably just left him unable to deal with the abuse. Lightning probably had abandonment issues.

"hey. there's no need for that. come here kid." Doc murmured, scooping him up gently. "I can take you with me up there." Doc assures gently. he wrapped his arms tightly around Docs neck, sniffling and trembling. Doc holds him carefully.

"what have you done to that poor boy?" Flo glared at Doc.

"I got up from the booth without him." Doc said, shifting Lightning gently.

"thats just mean isn't it sweetie?" Flo ask, smiling at the boy. he tightened his hold around Doc, turning away from her. "oh I get it, I'm scary too hmm?" Flo ask.

"did you get the ice cream ready?" Doc ask.

"I've gotta thaw it a little." Flo frowned. "but I do have a cookie." Flo offered holding it towards the boy. Lightning wipes at his face and looks at her, dropping his head against Docs chest, sniffling. "its just a cookie." Flo assures gently. Lightning turned his head away from her and burying his face in Docs chest.

"what you don't want a cookie?" Doc ask.

"no." Lightning mumbled, sniffling.

"okay. we're going to go sit down, let me know when its thawed enough he cant eat some." Doc said.

"give me a minute and I'll bring it over, you just go sit down." Flo said. Doc nodded slightly and walked back over to the booth. Red is there sitting with Mack.

"who made him cry." Red glared, reaching for him. Lightning reached for him immediately, shocking Doc, but he passed the younger over.

"Doc tried to get up out of the booth without him." Mack said. Doc sat across from them.

"why does he trust you?" Doc ask.

"because he's like a little brother to me." Red said. then he shrugged a shoulder. "plus Iet him wear my firefighter helmet." Red smiled slightly, handing the younger his badge. Sheriff had gotten him one that said 'chief firefighter' a few years ago. Lightning took the badge before wiggling free from Reds arms. he let the boy stand up in his lap and reach across the table. Doc pushed his drawings over once he realized the kid was reaching for them. Lightning sat the badge down and haled a page out to Red. he smiled and took it. "thank you. I'll put it in his fire truck." Red smiled, folding it up and putting it in his pocket.

"here." Flo grinned setting down a small bowl of ice cream. she'd covered it in strawberry syrup and sprinkles, the same why Lightning always ate ice cream.

"okay kid. I'll let you try it but you have to come over here." Doc said. Lightning held the badge in his hand and cuddled to Red.

"you can take my badge with you." Red assures gently. Lightning looked at the badge.

"okay." he mumbled. Red passed him over the table back to Doc. he sat quietly in Docs lap, watching the bowl. he settled into Docs lap, playing with the badge.

"I'm gonna let you try this, but if you like it and you want more, you gotta tell me about your mom right?" Doc ask.

"okay." Lightning said quietly.

"its cold though." Doc said, offering him a spoonful. Lightning took it and looked up at Doc wide eyed. "good ain't it?" Doc smiled slightly. he nods.

"mmhmm." Lightning said.

"okay. do you want another bite?" Doc ask. Lightning nodded at him, watching the bowl. "where's your mom at?" Doc ask, holding the spoon just out of his reach. Lightning stared at the spoon.

"she died last year when I was five. he killed her." Lightning said. Doc gave him the bite. he ate it happily. Doc felt guilty, using the food to bribe the poor kid, but he wanted answers.

"yeah?" Doc ask. Lightning nodded with a mouth full of ice cream.

"mmhmm." he said, cuddling into Docs lap and watching the ice cream bowl. "he shot her and then he shot me." Lightning said. he wiggled free from Docs lap and pulled up his shirt to show him. Doc couldn't ever remember seeing a scar there on Lightnings chest normally, but there it was a bullet wound.

"I see that." Doc said. he sat back down in Docs lap.

"can I have more?" he ask, almost hesitantly, tensing up some.

"yeah kid. its all yours." Doc said, handing him the spoon. Lightning grinned happily, shoving a spoonful into his mouth. Doc wouldn't ask for anymore information, he already knew enough. he rubbed the youngers back gently, letting him eat the ice cream.

"you know its only like, 3 PM right?" Mack ask. Doc nods.

"yeah. gonna take him down to Maters junkyard in a bit and let him run off all the sugar." Doc said.

"whats a junkyard?" Lightning ask, looking at Doc. the older man chuckled slightly, cleaning his face gently.

"its a place for junk." Doc said. "you'll see." Doc assures.

"can Red go?" Lightning ask.

"you'd have to ask Red if he wants to go." Doc murmurs. Lightning shook his head, cuddling back into Doc. he took a bite of ice cream and looked over Reds badge. Doc knew there was little to no chance for Lightning to actually ask Red to come with them. Doc looked at Red who nodded. "I bet he'd come with us if you ask him." Doc said softly. Lightning looked up at Red hesitantly.

"don't let him pick on you like that. I'll come with you don't have to ask." Red assures gently. Red smiled at him quietly and winked. Lightning smiled slightly, before looking back down quickly at the badge.

"you done with your ice cream?" Doc ask.

"s'cold." Lightning mumbled quietly, nodding.

"come on kid." Doc murmurs getting up.

"he doesn't have any shoe's on Doc, you sure it's safe to take him out to Maters junkyard?" Mack ask.

"yeah he should be-" Doc tried.

"why do you call him that?" Lightning ask, staring at Mack.

"what? Mack ask.

"his name is Hud." Lightning said.

"I said you could call me Hud. I didn't tell them they could call me Hud. they call me Doc cause I'm a doctor too." Doc says gently. Lightning got quiet and looked at Reds badge. Doc stood up and headed for the door. Red followed immediately while Mack cleaned up the table.

"wait." Lightning said quietly. Doc stopped in the door way, looking down at him.

"hmm?" Doc ask.

"what about Mack?" Lightning ask, looking up at Doc.

"Mack?" Doc ask looking over at the man.

"I'm coming. I promise. I'm just cleaning up the table." Mack assures gently. Lightning nods and cuddled to Doc, waiting. Doc sat him down, he had to, and let the boy walk. he was getting heavy and making his back hurt. Lightning didn't seem to mind, he liked the sand between his toes. it kept him entertained until Mack caught up to them, then they headed for Maters.

"hey hows he doing?" Sally ask, watching them.

"he's fine for now. I'm worried whats going to happen when he falls asleep." Doc said, watching the kid dig his toes into the sand.

"whats he holding?" Sally ask curiously.

"Reds badge. the one Sheriff gave him for Christmas a couple years ago." Doc said.

"whats he want that thing for?" Sally ask. Red shrugged slightly.

"he doesn't want to let go of it and I'm content to let him play with it." Red assured. Sally nodded, then winced, watching him trip over something in the sand. he landed face first in it and sat up rubbing his face.

"don't rub your eyes." Sally said quickly. Doc looked over and scooped him up, brushing his face off.

"did you get any in your eyes?" Doc ask.

"no. my eyes are okay." he mumbled, blinking up at Doc. Doc nodded slightly and sat him down on the ground.

"okay. go on." Doc said. Lightning ran off, Red following after him quickly, watching him wonder over to Luigi's tires.

"hey! get outta my tires!" Luigi called. Lightning flinched and jumped away from the tires, backing up quickly. he flinched again with the stacked tires he bumped into fell. "Guido! my tires!" Luigi cried.

"kid!!" Red shouted, running over.

"Doc." Sally said. Doc looked over, watching Red dig the boy out of the pile of tires. he's sobbing and holding his head.

"what the hell happened?" Doc snapped walking over. he took the boy from Red and held him. he looked the boy over carefully. his forehead has a large red tire print on it and there are several other marks on his arms and legs.

"Luigi startled him." Red said. he pulled his badge from the tires and put it back in his pocket.

"geez the whole tire tower fell on you." Doc murmurs softly. "damn it Luigi I told you those things have to have some sort of structure or they were going to fall on someone." Doc glared, trying to keep his tone even. the kid was already upset and hearing an angry older mans voice wouldn't help him.

"you should probably get him checked for a neck injury. those things hit him in the head dead on." Mack frowned.

"you're probably right." Doc muttered heading for the clinic and shaking his head. the boy whimpers quietly, sniffling. he sat the boy down on a table. "lay down real quick. I just want to check on your neck." Doc murmurs. Lightning sniffles and does what Doc said.

"m'sorry." he whimpers.

"for what kiddo?" Doc ask.

"makin' a mess." he sniffles.

"Luigi and Guido will clean it up." Doc assured gently.

"an knockin' over the tires." he mumbles.

"accidents happen Monty." Doc assures ruffling his hair.

"an cryin'." Lightning mumbled. Doc turned around and looked at him.

"kid, you're 6. those tires hurt. I'm older than dirt and I would've cried if a tire hit me in the head too." Doc assures gently. Lightning sniffled and laid still to let Doc do his tests.

"he was angry." Lightning mumbled.

"Luigi? he'll get over it." Doc assures.

"my head hurts Hud." Lightning said quietly.

"I know kiddo." Doc murmurs softly. "your neck looks okay though." Doc assures. "go ahead and sit up, I'll get you an ice pack." he says softly. Lightning sniffles and sits up, rubbing his head.

"m'sorry. are they angry?" Lightning ask, looking at Doc terrified.

"no Luigi loves restacking his tires." Doc smiles, handing him an ice pack. "put that on your head wear it hurts." Doc said.

"I know how an ice pack works." Lightning pouted quietly.

"okay. okay. I'm sorry." Doc says, scooping him up. he curls up in Docs arms and holds the ice pack to his head.

"oh no!" Lightning said patting himself.

"what?" Doc ask.

"I lost it! he's gonna hate me!" Lightning cried, tearing up.

"shhh. no one's gonna hate you. what did you lose?" Doc ask softly.

"th-the badge." Lightning said.

"Reds got it. it's okay I saw him pick it up." Doc assured. he carries the boy out. Red and Mack were waiting at the Cozy Cone almost nervously. Doc carried him over.

"hey he okay?" Sally ask. Doc nods, sitting him on the check in desk.

"yeah. he's okay." Doc said. Sally smiled slightly at him, holding out a sucker to him.

"he doesn't like cherry." Red murmured. Sally quickly swapped it out for a strawberry one instead. Lightning looks at the sucker, but leans against Doc, holding tightly to the mans shirt. he held his ice pack to his head with his other hand and tried to squirm away from her.

"he doesn't want it Sally." Doc says softly. she nods and smiles at him. "Red did you find your badge?" Doc ask.

"oh yeah." Red said, pulling it from his pocket and handing it out to Lightning. he whimpered quietly curling up. "thats okay. I'll put it in my pocket in case you want it later." Red assures.

"he thinks your angry. sit with him for a few minutes. I've gotta go have a chat with Luigi." Doc said.

"you're leaving..." Lightning ask tensing up.

"you are going to stay with Red. I'm going to go tell Luihi you're sorry okay?" Doc ask.

"the guy with tires?" Lightning ask. Doc nodded.

"I'll be right back." he assures.

"okay." Lightning murmured. Doc walked out. Red scooped him up.

"come on, we'll go back to Docs house and watch tv." Red smiled. Lightning cuddled him.

"can...." Lightning started. he stopped himself and curled up in Reds arms.

"hmm?" Red ask.

"c-can we watch SpongeBob?" Lightning ask softly. Red grinned at him.

"I love SpongeBob." Red smiled, carrying him to Docs house gently.

"I'll let Doc know where you're going." Mack said. Red nods gently, cuddling Lightning.

Doc found them about twenty minutes later. Red was sitting quietly on the couch, watching SpongeBob with a bored expression, while Lightning was cuddled up to him snoring softly.

"you got him to fall asleep?" Doc ask.

"it wasn't easy. he nearly cried for someone named Tommy. I don't know a Tommy." Red said. Lightning shifted and blinking tiredly.

"I want Tommy." Lightning whined quietly, rubbing his eye. Doc headed for their bedroom and grabbed the bear from their shared bed. he carried the bear to Lightning and crouched in front of him. "Tommy!" Lightning cried, grabbing the bear before reaching for Doc. Doc scooped him up and the boy cuddled him gently.

"you ready for a nap kid? after all that sugar?" Doc ask. Lightning mumbles, curling up and cuddling him. Doc nods and chuckles carrying him back to the bedroom. he'll sleep on the couch tonight, but Lightning would be okay. he laid the boy on the bed, but he held tightly to his sleeve. "whats wrong kiddo?" Doc ask.

"please don't leave me. he likes to hit me when I sleep." Lightning said quietly. Doc heaves a small sigh, but can't find it in him to tell the kid no.

"okay, give just a second to tell Red." Doc murmurs. Lightning nods watching him. Doc kicks his shoes off and poked his head out the door. "I'm gonna stay in here with him. he's afraid his dads gonna come in while he sleeps." Doc said.

"well, I'll be out here." Red said. Doc nodded and laid on the bed with Lightning.

"he doesn't like Tommy. he says he's stupid an I'm too old for him." Lightning mumbled.

"you're never too old for stuffed animals kid. sometimes you need comfort." Doc assures, gently tucking him in.

"are you gonna get cold?" Lightning ask. Doc chuckled softly.

"would you be happier if I was under the blanket with you?" Doc ask. he nods a little. Doc smiles and gets under the blanket, letting the younger man cuddle to his chest. "okay kiddo. go back to sleep. nothings going to happen with me here." Doc assures gently.

"but what about Red? will he be safe?" Lightning ask. Doc nods at him.

"yeah. go on back to sleep." Doc murmurs. Lightning nods a little, letting himself fall asleep, curled against Doc. Doc dropped his head into his pillow closing his eyes.

he wasn't sure how long he was asleep, but he woke up to pain filled moaning. he slowly sat up and looked at the clock. 12:01AM. the boy that had been beside him was gone.

"kid?" Doc called. he got up and headed for the bathroom since the light was on. he found Lightning, back to normal, puking into the toilet. "Monty, hey you okay?" Doc ask kneeling beside him.

"you people poisoned me." Lightning mumbled, before puking into the bowl. "all you fed me was sugar." he coughed. he tensed puking into the toilet again.

"yeah well you were six." Doc replies. he winced a little listening to his young lover puke into the toilet. "alright, let me go get you some sprite." Doc murmured.

"more-" Lightning cut himself off with a groan, gagging. "more sugar? no fucking thanks." Lightning mumbled.

"shhh." Doc murmured, getting up out of the floor. he walked out of the bathroom and came back with a package of crackers and some sprite. Lightning leaned back against the wall beside the toilet and looked at Doc, panting.

"guess you're gonna wanna talk 'bout all that private stuff I told ya." Lightning mumbled, watching him. Doc grabbed a wash cloth and wet it, before wiping the youngers face gently.

"I don't know what you're talking about kid." Doc murmured. he tossed the rag into the sink, looking over the bruise on the sickly mans forehead.

"ow. don' touch." he mumbled, pulling his head away a little.

"sorry." Doc murmured. "those tires fell on you pretty hard." he frowns.

"I remember." he mumbled, blinking tiredly.

"you think you're done?" Doc ask. he nods.

"I hope so." he mumbles.

"okay come on." Doc said. he stood, flushing the toilet, before scooping him up gently.

"I can walk. I know your back must hurt from carrying me around yesterday. I was a needy little bastard." Lightning mumbles.

"no you weren't. you were a kid and you were scared. you didn't know who any of us were. you were terrified." Doc said, carrying him to bed gently. "and my back will be fine." he assures, laying the younger down. he brought the cup of sprite over and sat it on the nightstand with the crackers.

"you carried me all day." Lightning frowned a little.

"a little tiger balm and I'll be fine. let me go get a trash can." Doc murmurs, heading out of the bedroom.

"Doc?" Red ask quietly.

"go back to sleep Red. just gotta get the kid a trash can. all that sugars coming back up." Doc mumbles. Red nods a little. "hey, go on to the spare room, there's a bed in there." Doc said.

"m'okay here." Red mumbled. Doc frowned and grabbed a blanket from the closet, throwing it over him gently. he headed back into their shared room, setting the track can in the floor beside Lightnings side of the bed.

"you okay?" Doc ask.

"just lay with me Hud." Lightning mumbled. Doc nods and lays with him.

"you got Tommy?" Doc ask softly. Lightning nodded. Doc pulled him close to his chest, holding him tightly. he kisses the youngers forehead. Lightning curls up closer and lets himself fall back to sleep. Doc holds him gently, rubbing his back carefully and closing his eyes.