Docs laying on his back on the couch, one hand buried in his young lovers hair, the other over the arm of the couch open like he'd previously had something in his hand. Lightning is settled between his legs, head on the older stomach, curled up under a blanket. both are snoring, though Doc is snoring louder than the other. Sally pauses in the doorway with Red standing behind her. the whole town knew Lightning was sick and fighting some cold. Red whines and pulls on her arm gently.

"Red we have to wake Doc. Sarge needs him." Sally murmurs. he walks in hesitantly behind her. she frowns at the coffee mug laying on the ground. its laying on it's side, cracked, and there's coffee all over the floor. Doc must've been having a cup of coffee and fell asleep. "can you get something to clean this up?" Sally ask, handing the cup up to Red when she crouches down. Red nods and grabs the cup, taking it to the kitchen. he comes back with a small towel and cleans up the floor carefully. "Doc?" Sally ask, shaking him gently.

"fever 102." he mumbles quietly. Sally shakes her head and grabs his arm shaking it. immediately Docs eyes snapped open. "hmm?" he asks.

"Doc. hey, I hate to wake you up, especially when you've probably been up all night with Stickers, but Sarge needs you." Sally said.

"hmm? what happened?" Doc asks.

"not entirely sure." Sally said. Doc nods slightly and slowly sits up.

"need someone to stay with him." Doc murmured, gently petting the youngers hair. Lightning sniffled and cuddled closer to him, not waking.

"thats what Reds here for." Sally said, getting up. Doc nods and carefully gets up, letting Red take his place. there's a sweat puddle in the shape of Lightnings curled up body on him.

"lemme go get changed." Doc mumbled, stretching. Sally nods and looks over at Red. he's taken up a similar position to Doc, except he'd pulled the younger up to his chest. Lightning shifts and mumbles quietly. "he's got a bad fever. run your fingers through his hair he'll stop squirming." Doc murmurs, following Sally out the door. Red gently brushed his fingers through the younger mans hair and the younger sighs softly.

when Doc comes back about two hours later, the two were still laying on the couch, though Red looked exhausted. he was passed out holding the younger. Doc smiles slightly and heads for the bathroom. not only does he smell like Lightnings sweat, but he also smelt like his own. he heads for the shower, stripping down and allowing himself to relax in the water, sighing. he pauses when the bathroom door opens and someone walks in.

"oh hey kid." Doc smiles slightly, when the younger pokes his head into the shower. "sorry to wake you. you feeling any better- I guess not since you're getting in with your clothes on..." Doc mutters when Lightning climbs in and cuddles to his chest. he closes his eyes and cuddles to Doc. "hey, do you feel any better at all baby?" Doc ask.

"m'all sweaty. made Red all sweaty too." he mumbles.

"thats okay." Doc assures, kissing his forehead. "come on, strip down. you're gonna need new clothes." Doc murmurs. Lightning nods and lets Doc help him strip down. Doc tosses the youngers clothes into the sink and holds him. someone knocks on the bathroom door and clears their throat, cracking the door open a little. "he's in here with me Red." Doc says.

"Cruz is here." Red murmurs quietly.

"shit." Doc murmurs.

"help me out Red." Lightning mumbles. Red frowns a little, but Doc shuts off the water and grabs his towel, wrapping it around the younger and helping him out of the shower. Red grabs him gently and leads him to the bedroom. Doc pulls his clothes on easily and heads out. he looks at the bed and Reds already got the younger in a pair of boxers and sweat pants.

"you okay baby?" Doc ask. Lightning mumbled quietly, curling up on the bed. he nodded a little and headed out into the living room.

"oh! Mr.Hudson, is Mr.McQueen here?" Cruz ask. Doc raised an eye brow at her.

"he's laying in bed. he's got a cold." Doc said.

"oh, um... well that explains why he missed training today, and yesterday.. and the day before that." Cruz frowns.

"you haven't done any training all week?" Doc ask. Cruz shakes her head.

"no Monday he said he had a headache, ask to reschedule. I said sure. he didn't show up on Tuesday so I assumed we'd do it yesterday, but he didn't show up, so I thought maybe today. when he didn't show up again I thought I'd come see if he was okay." Sally said. Doc sighed shaking his head.

"Red stay with the kid, I've gotta go training with a rookie." Doc said. Smokey walked over to him with a whine, tail wagging quietly. "yes. you can come too." Doc mutters, grabbing a leash.

"okay." Red smiles a little.

"oh hi Smokey." Cruz grinned patting his head. Smokey barked at her, letting Doc hook up his leash. Smokey barks happily wagging his tail excitedly. Lightning groans from the bedroom and Smokey whines turning to face the room.

"are you gonna stay with him or go to the Butte with me?" Doc ask, unhooking the leash. "stay or go?" Doc ask.

"go on Smokey." Lightning mumbles. Smokey wags his tail and lets Doc hook him back up.

"okay come on buddy." Doc murmurs, leading him out. "come on you can go lay with him in a bit." Doc murmurs.

"it was nice of you to get Mr.McQueen a dog! you guys are such a great team. even though he doesn't race anymore you're still supporting him and being a great friend." Cruz grins. Doc looked over almost confused. was she really this clueless? had Monty not told her they were dating?

"uh yeah sure." Doc says. Smokey trots beside him happily. tail wagging and tongue hanging out.

"hi buddy." Sally smiles looking at Smokey. he barks happily at her. it had only been about 6 months since Doc had gotten the pup, but he was already huge and generally ran around without a leash on if Lightning was with him.

Lightning sniffled curling up in the bed. Red laid beside him, watching the younger man.

"you still got a fever." Red murmurs. Lightning nods and mumbles.

"did he go with Doc?" Lightning mumbled.

"yeah." Red murmurs. Lightning sniffles and grumbles, curling up. he started coughing and Red got up to get him something to drink, these coughing fits were the worst part. once one started it was hard to stop them. his nose was stuffed up and draining, so coughing fits meant he couldn't breathe. Red helped him sit up and gave him a cup of water.

"thanks." he mumbled after a moment. he sipped the water before putting the cup on his and Docs nightstand. he curled back up and sniffled. Red laid with him. "don't. I'll get you all sweaty again." he mumbles, pulling the blanket around himself.

"I don't mind." Red assures. Lightning huffed and cuddled into the blanket, letting his eyes flutter shut. he mumbled quietly letting himself fall back to sleep. he nuzzled his face into Docs pillow, usually a comforting thing, but since he can't smell, its just a part of his routine. he hugs the pillow tightly and snores softly. Red watches him sleep.

Doc sighs walking back into the house. no wonder his husband was always so exhausted after training with Cruz. the girl was smart, Doc couldn't deny that she picked up on things faster than Lightning used to sometimes, but she was exhausting. none stop talking and questions. none stop energy. not even Lightning was like that all the time. even Smokey seemed tired. he wasted no time jumping on the bed once Doc unhooked his leash. Red jerked up immediately, blinking tiredly.

"hey Red, sorry. you're good to go on home. I got him." Doc assured. Red nodded and got up heading for the door. Doc walked over to the bed and smiled at Lightning. he was curled up in their blanket and holding tightly to Docs pillow. Smokey nudges the sleeping mans face. "no Smokey, let him sleep. he doesn't feel good buddy." Doc murmurs, patting the pups head gently. Smokey ignores him and licks Lightnings face.

"hmmm?" Lightning murmured. "hi baby." Lightning smiles and lets go of Docs pillow, to hug Smokey. "did you have fun with Hud an Cruz?" he mumbles. Smokey cuddles him happily, tail wagging.

"pretty sure he hated every moment of it." Doc murmured. Lightning half rolls over in the bed and looks at Doc smiling.

"hi Hud." Lightning murmured, letting go of Smokey to reach for Doc. "c'mere." Lightning pouted.

"let me change. I'm drenched in sweat." Doc mumbles.

"no. come lay here. you're gonna be drenched in sweat either way. come cuddle me." Lightning pouted. Doc sighs softly.

"okay move over." Doc says.

"scoot Smokey." Lightning murmured, pushing him over gently. Lightning moved over. Doc lays behind him, curling his arms around the youngers waist.

"you know, Cruz thinks I'm just your roommate and crew chief." Doc murmurs.

"don't care what she thinks. I'm pretty sure I've told her before, but I don't think she was listening." Lightning mumbles. Doc chuckles, kissing the back of his neck.

"go back to sleep kid. we'll talk later." Doc murmurs softly. Lightning mumbles, wrapping his arms around Smokey and sighing happily.

"m'kay. love you Hud." Lightning murmurs.

"I love you too Monty." Doc smiles, holding him tightly. he cuddles him with his eyes closed. both of them needed some rest and Lightning was sounding slightly better, so Doc was hopeful he'd be better in the morning.