"you're not going to drive kid. I love you, but you're not driving my Hornet. you're just sitting behind the wheel." Doc assured.

"I get that but-" Lightning started.

"not up for debate." Doc frowns, grabbing his keys. Lightning glared at him and followed him outside. no it wasn't up for debate, because unless Doc was going to pick him up and shove him into the seat, Lightning wasn't getting in, but he'd keep his mouth shut about that as they headed outside.

"oh hey!" Cal waves. "where are you guys going?" he ask.

"to get this cast off my arm." Lightning said, holding up his arm. Cal nodded.

"so you're really coming back then? it's not just a rumor? you're going to keep racing?" Cal ask. Lightning nodded.

"yeah kid I'm really coming back. not old enough to retire, unlike Doc here. he's old an retired and ow!" Lightning huffed. looking over at Doc with a pout. he rubbed the back of his head where Doc had hit him.

"I'm old not deaf." he huffed. Lightning pouted at him.

"ow. you see this Cal? abuse. abuse I tell you." Lightning huffs. Cal chuckled at them, taking his keys when Doc offered them, ignoring Lightning as he continued. "Red, Doc is abusing me." Lightning pouted. the tired shy man looked over briefly, confused, and went back to watering what was left of his flowers, not quite awake enough to understand what Lightning was saying.

"thanks for getting my car out." Cal muttered.

"get off free once. don't let it happen again." Doc warned.

"yes sir." Cal smiled. Doc snorted and watched him run off.

"abuse my ass." Doc huffed rolling his eyes at Lightning.

"it's abusive to hit people." Lightning huffed, sticking his tongue out at the older. Doc chuckled softly and got into the Hornet. Lightning got into the passenger seat, relaxing happily. "you're abusive." Lightning pouted.

"boy, I know how to hurt you and make you beg for more at the same time." Doc smirked. Lightnings face lit up bright red and he squeaked, glaring. Doc chuckled softly and kissed his cheek. he laughed softly and headed down the road. Lightning leaned against him, mumbling Doc looked at him, but shifted and let the younger man hold his arm. Doc paid little attention to him, not wanting to get distracted, but his hair did catch his attention. he paused some as he was driving. "kid whats up with your hair?" Doc ask. Lightning shifted giving him a confused look.

"hmm?" Lightning ask.

"its more red than it normally is. you're usually pretty blond." Doc said.

"haven't had a chance to bleach it recently." Lightning muttered.

"you bleach your hair?" Doc ask. Lightning looked at him confused.

"well, yeah. you've never noticed that the parts of my head that are shaved down are red not blond? I bleach it and it usually takes on a blond tint. I like it better than this stupid auburn shit I have going on. fuck natural hair color." Lightning huffed, curling up in his seat with a yawn. he laid his head against Docs shoulder and grumbled to himself, letting his eyes shift closed. Doc let him sleep, without question.

it only took four hours to drive there, get the cast removed, discuss physical therapy for his ankle, and get back home in time for a late lunch, though it wouldn't have taken quite as long if Lightning had quit trying to stall. he was still attempting to stall even as they pulled up to the house.

"we could just lay down and watch a movie or-" Lightning tried. Doc rolled his eyes.

"stop." he said. Lightning got quiet. "you're doing this for Cal." Doc said.

"no I'm getting back out and racing for Cal. sitting behind the wheel of your Hornet is suicide Doc." Lightning frowned.

"only if you're driving it, which you're not. you're just sitting there." Doc said. "knock it off. we're going to eat something and then you're getting in the Hornet." Doc said firmly.

"but-" Lightning tried.

"end of discussion." Doc said, frowning at him. Lightning sighed and crossed his arms over his chest as they entered the house.

"stupid idea." Lightning mumbled. Doc looked over at him and rolled his eyes. he turned, shoved Lightning against the door and smirked.

"look at it this way kid, you will be the only other person in history to ever sit behind the wheel of the Fabulous Hudson Hornet." Doc murmured. he'd bought the car straight off the line so many years ago. he was the only owner, the only driver. "so either you're dying or I love you enough I trust you behind the wheel of my car." Doc added, trying to appeal to the side of the younger that was still the biggest Hornet fan he'd ever met. he leaned forward kissed the youngers forehead and then stepped away, heading for the kitchen. Lightning frowned, there was a part of him that was absolutely giddy at the thought of getting to sit behind the wheel of the Hornet, but he loved Doc way to much, knew how much the older loved that car. if anything happened, it would kill him.

"but what if I-" Lightning tried.

"you won't be driving." Doc said.

"okay yeah, but what if-" Lightning tried.

"you can adjust the review all you want it's fine. it won't fall off." Doc assured.

"well what about-" Lightning tried a third time.

"the steering wheel can easily be readjusted to the way I like it." Doc said, sounding almost amused. it was a mixture of amused and annoyed. Lightning glared slightly.

"but if I move-" Lightning started.

"the mirrors move kid. I can easily put them back." Doc said, turning to look at him. "anymore questions you want to ask?" Doc ask. Lightnings face flared up bright red a mixture of embarrassment and frustration.

"I... its.... you're an ass." Lightning huffed, plopping onto the couch. Doc snorted softly. he walked over to Lightning and crouched in front of him on the couch.

"kid, I put that car back together after my race, with my own two hands. on the seriously off chance you actually break something, I will fix it, but nothings going to happen." Doc assured, patting his knee. Lightning leaned forward and thumped his head against Docs shoulder. Doc held him gently.

"but I don't want to break something. thats the fear." Lightning said.

"I know, and I know you won't break anything. it's fine. now get up, let me go check the pizza." Doc said. Lightning sat back and watched him go to the kitchen. he sighed slightly as Doc came back over and sat on the couch beside him. "you're not going to drive. just make yourself comfortable behind the wheel okay?" Doc said. Lightning sighed and nodded, leaning against him. the sat like that until the timer went off and Doc got up, grabbing the pizza and bringing it back over to them. "here, get yourself a slice." Doc said. Lightning shook his head.

"no." Lightning muttered.

"kid you need to eat something-" Doc started.

"I don't want to puke in the Hornet if this goes wrong." Lightning said firmly. Doc looked over at him and dropped his slice of pizza.

"get up." Doc said. Lightning looked confused but got up off the couch. Doc stood and grabbed his arm, pulling him outside. Lightning tensed.

"D-Doc... Doc no. come on. go eat your pizza." Lightning said nervously. Doc ignored him pulling him over to the car.

"get in." Doc said.

"Doc I-" Lightning tried.

"get in!" Doc snapped. at this point the only way he was going to get Lightning to agree was to be forceful, to be a crew chief not a friend, not a doctor, and certainly not his lover. Lightning flinched slightly and opened the driver side door to the Hornet. he looked over at Doc, who crossed his arms over his chest and waited expectantly. he hesitantly sat in the car, yelping when Doc slammed the door shut. he leaned into the window and looked at the younger. Doc watched him sit anxiously in the car, hands firmly in his lap. "can I trust you to stay in the car while I get in the passenger seat?" Doc ask. Lightning swallowed and nodded slightly, staring almost horrified at the steering wheel. "good." Doc muttered, stepping back and walking around the car. he sat in the passenger seat and looked over at Lightning. "alright kid, relax and put your hands on the wheel." Doc said.

"no way! I'm gonna end up-" Lightning tried.

"Lightning, kid, relax. just get comfortable, like its your car." Doc said.

"it's not my car! it's your Hornet!" Lightning said nervously. Doc shook his head and gently reached over taking his hand.

"kid, just breath. you're not going to break the Hornet. its a lot stronger than it looks." Doc assured. he gently took the hand he held and put it in the steering wheel, firmly clapping his own hand over it. he felt Lightning tense up more. "put your other hand on the wheel." Doc said.

"no." Lightning said nervously.

"I'm not letting your hand go. you're going to keep your hand right there." Doc said firmly. since there was no consol in the Hornet, Doc scooted across the seat. he placed his right hand firmly over Lightnings on the wheel, then reached for the youngers left. "give me your hand." Doc murmured gently. Lightning let him take his left hand and put it firmly on the steering wheel, holding them both there. Doc couldn't tell if he was just scared of the fact that it was the Hornet or if he was scared because he was behind the wheel of a car. it was probably a little of both. "look kiddo, you and I both know the only way this gets easier is if you let me help you." Doc said.

"I'm not afraid of being behind a wheel! its just your Hornet damn it!" Lightning said, trying to pull his hands free.

"hush." Doc said, holding his hands tighter. Lightning got still and looked over at him. "you're more important than anything that happens to this car. just relax. the car is not important." Doc assured gently. Lightning got quiet, looking over at Doc.

"wh-what?" Lightning ask.

"you heard me kid. this car is not as important as you. I can fix anything that happens to it. just relax." Doc said. Lightning nodded slightly and swallowed, before slowly relaxing. Doc gently pulled his hands back, letting the younger sit with his hands on the wheel quietly. "see, things get better when you listen to me." Doc murmured gently.

"yeah..." Lightning said softly. he relaxed and Doc watched him, looking for any signs that he was going to have a panic attack or something. Lightning let himself think about the fact he was sitting in the Hornet, the Hudson Hornet, and sitting behind the wheel. he had dreamed of that since he was a child, but silently realized that was stupid, as he could just take a ride in the Hornet anytime he wanted.

"are you good now?" Doc ask.

"yeah. I'm okay." Lightning said, smiling slightly. he was seemingly pleased with himself.

"so are you going to lose your mind if I start it?" Doc ask. Lightning tensed and whiped his head around.

"you promised all I had to do was sit in the seat!" Lightning shouted. Doc put his hands up.

"easy. easy. it's alright. I just wanted to see what you'd say. I don't even have the keys in my pocket kid and you can feel that yourself if you want." Doc said. he paused a moment as he realized how that sounded. "on second thought don't." Doc muttered.

"I do not want you to turn the Hornet on." Lightning said. Doc nodded.

"okay. just relax. this is fine." Doc assured. "I'm not going to turn the car on. you're not going to break the Hornet. you're just going to sit here." Doc soothed. Lightning nodded slightly and settled into the seat.

"why did you want me to do this?" Lightning ask, looking over at Doc.

"because, if I put you in a situation more uncomfortable then sitting in your own car, you'll be less bothered by yours." Doc murmured. Lightning looked over.

"h-huh?" Lightning ask.

"I wanted to make you more uncomfortable in my car than in yours." Doc said.

"I think in some way, thats sweet." Lightning mumbled. "can I get out now?" he ask.

"why?" Doc ask.

"because I don't want to sit here. its your-" Lightning started. he cut himself off and groaned lowly. Doc chuckled softly, sitting back in the passenger seat. Lightning huffed and sat in the seat, hands on the wheel quietly. he sat in the seat and looked over at Doc again."okay. I get your point. I need to be comfortable behind the wheel of any car, not just mine." Lightning murmured. Doc smiled slightly at him, pausing as he saw a shadow approaching the car. he looked over.

"guys?" Sally ask.

"whats up Sally?" Doc ask.

"what are you doing?" she ask confused.

"training." Doc said. Sally nodded.

"heard you got your cast off Stickers." Sally smiled. Lightning nodded slightly, showing her his scared up arm. missing the look on Docs face as he did so.

"yeah. now instead of red cast, not everyone can see where the metal actually went through my arm and broke it." Lightning muttered. Doc frowned slightly, forcing himself not to reach out and rub the scar.

"kid, you've seen my back. your arm looks fine." Doc assured. Lightning shrugged a little.

"well, glad to see you're actually getting better Stickers." Sally smiled, walking away. Lightning nodded waving at her. he sat back in the seat and looked over at Doc.

"ready to go eat some dinner kid?" Doc ask. Lightning looked at the wheel, before reluctantly nodding. Doc smiled and got out of the Hornet. he got what he wanted. Lightning was comfortable enough in his most prized possession, that he was reluctant to leave. Lightning got out closing the door and following Doc.

"when I start driving again, are you gonna let me beat you at the Butte?" Lightning ask. Doc snorted and opened the front door.

"no." he smirked. Lightning huffed and walked inside. Doc shut the door behind them. "don't get me wrong I love you, but no. you have to earn it. however, Mater would race with you." Doc said. Lightning rolled his eyes.