"no its okay. we'll get new cars. it'll take an extra hour." Doc said.

"alright let me know if me and the boys need to show up guns blazing." Smokey said. Doc smirked slightly.

"he sounds like Mater." Lightning said. Doc chuckled and ruffled his hair gently.

"nah thats just Smokey. alright we'll see you as soon as we can." Doc said, hanging up.

they followed Mack and Red to the lot and traded both cars and got back on the road as fast as they could. they were in Little Rock before any of them knew it, a five hour drive made in three and a half hours, and stopped for lunch when Lightning started whining to Doc he was tired again. all the pent up energy he had from the energy drink Doc let him have, almost making him bounce in the seat. the moment Doc parked Lightning took off inside the restaurant and Doc shook his head.

"whats with the boss?" Mack ask worriedly.

"he downed that energy drink I bought him while he was sleeping and now he has to use the bathroom." Doc muttered. "he's been whining about it for the past 20 minutes, saying he was going to piss on himself if I didn't hurry up." Doc huffed. Mack laughed.

"lets go in and get a seat." Mack said. Doc nodded and locked up the rental, following them both inside. Lightning eventually came back out, grumbling as he sat with them.

"whats got you all grumpy?" Doc ask. Lightning tossed his phone on the table.

"3 text messages, 5 missed calls, and 4 voicemails." Mack muttered, picking up the phone.

"why can't he just leave me alone?" Lightning mumbled, dropping his head onto the table. Doc ruffled his hair gently, frowning.

"let me see that." Doc said. Mack handed him the cell phone. Doc shut the phone off and stuffed it into his back pocket. "there. now he can't bother you." Doc said.

"yeah thanks. my hero." Lightning muttered sarcastically.

"we're going to make one last stop. we're gonna buy some snacks and drinks from a gas station. we're going to make that our last bathroom break, then we're not stopping again." Doc said. "we need to get there asap." Doc said. the other three nodded in agreement.

"sounds like the best plan." Mack said.

"we've only got a few hours left. we can make it." Red mumbled.

"when we get there, you two are staying at the hotel. me and Lightning will be heading to Cotter Pin to meet up with my old crew chief." Doc said.

"why? why aren't we going?" Mack ask curiously.

"Cotter Pin isn't Red friendly and its not fair to make him stay by himself." Lightning said softly. Red looked away awkwardly.

"also my friends are excited to meet the kid and talk to him." Doc said.

"thats cool Red and I can stick around at the hotel and sleep. I haven't been this tired since I lost the boss on the way to Cali." Mack said. Doc nodded. they ate quickly, not really making any conversation. they hit a gas station and fueled up, got enough snacks and drinks for the rest of the trip, and took off. Lightning cuddled to Doc's side.

"Doc?" Lightning ask.

"yeah kid?" Doc ask.

"are you going to be able to make the rest of the drive without a break? Red and Mack can swap out..." Lightning said, looking at him.

"yeah. I've got this kid." Doc assured. Lightning cuddled to him.

the rest of the trip was long and uneventful. no tailing, no wrecks, no one bothered them. they dropped Red and Mack off at the hotel, then headed to Cotter Pin. Lightning tense and nervous as they pulled up to the bar. Doc looked over at him as they parked.

"Doc do we have to?" Lightning ask. Doc chuckled slightly.

"if you can handle me, you can handle them." Doc assured. Doc got out of his car and looked over at him, watching him get out.

"Hud! hey!" Smokey shouted, walking over to shake his hand and hug the man. Doc grinned and hugged the man, stepping back.

"Smokey, hey." he greets. "thats the kid." Doc said, motioning to Lightning. Lightning watched them awkwardly.

"I was beginning to think I never get the chance to meet you kid." Smokey grinned walking over to shake Lightnings hand. Lightning hesitantly shook his hand. "man the gangs gonna get a kick getting to meet your boy Hud. c'mon lets go inside for a drink." Smokey grinned turning and heading inside. Doc nodded for Lightning to follow them inside.

"he's nice." Lightning muttered.

"come on Monty." Doc said leading him inside. Lightning hated his name, but it was starting to sound pretty good coming from Docs mouth. Doc threw his arm around the younger gently.

"HEY!" Smokey shouted, throwing the doors open. Lightning jumped, but Doc held him carefully. he'd become a little jumpy to loud noises after Chick had shot Sheriff and he'd shot Chick. the whole bar went quiet. "act civilized, the Hornets in the house." Smokey grinned. there were loud cheers as Doc stepped in, arm still around Lightnings shoulders. he chuckled and led Lightning over to the table.

"well, well, well. if it ain't the Fabulous Hudson Hornet, finally decided to grace us with his presence." Junior grinned, getting up from the table. Lightning immediately separated himself quickly from Docs side as Junior walked over and hugged the older man.

"damn kid it's been 50 years!" River grinned shaking the other mans hand.

"yeah well, needed a place to hide and there's no place like home." Doc smirked.

"you must be Hud's boy." Louise grinned, walking over to him and reaching to shake his hand.

"Miss.Nash." Lightning said, shaking her hand.

"Louise kid." Louise laughed. "come on sit over here with us and have a drink." Louise smiled.

"I-I'm good really." Lightning said.

"well, well, hey hot-shot." Junior grinned, looking over at Lightning.

"well if it ain't Lightning McQueen. pleasure to meet Hud's boy." River grinned. Lightning gave an uneasy smile looking at them.

"River, Louise, Junior, Smokey, this is Monty. Monty, I know you already know these guys." Doc smirked, looking at the younger man. Lightning nodded slightly, looking at them.

"yeah." he said.

"oh we know him too." River smirked. "come on you two sit down." River grinned. Doc motioned for Lightning to sit in the booth. the younger was uncomfortable sitting trapped between Doc and his friends, but knew Doc was doing it to keep him safe. Smokey smiled at him, and scooted over so the younger could sit beside him. Doc sat down beside him.

"we also saw that wreck of yours." Junior said. Lightning tensed slightly.

"thats why we're here." Doc said. he nudged Lightning with him with his knee gently, trying to get him to relax. "the guy who made him wreck drove into Radiator Springs. destroyed the town and shot our friend Sheriff. kid put two rounds in the man for threatening to kill Sheriff. someone managed to help him out of the hospital. had us tailed for half the trip here. we finally managed to lose him." Doc said.

"gun shots. that explains why he's so jumpy. being tailed explains why he's so uneasy." Louise said. Doc frowned slightly, looking over at Lightning.

"well yeah that and the fact we've been on the road the last 30 some odd hours and he's tired." Doc said. "try not to pass out at the table kid. I'm not carrying you out of here and into the rental." Doc warned.

"damn you didn't even bring the Hornet?" River ask.

"couldn't risk it. too recognizable." Doc said.

"a lot of good the rental did. had to swap rental cars to get the damn tail off us. might as well have just drove Docs Hornet here with a big ass target on it." Lightning said.

"Doc? thats what they're calling you these days?" Smokey ask. Doc rolled his eyes.

"yeah. 35 - 40 years as a doctor." Doc shrugged. Lightning leaned against Doc, blinking tiredly. the energy drink from earlier completely out of his system. he was tired and the bright lights were making his head spin. he didn't need a drink, he needed a bed, he needed cuddles, he needed a good fuck and some time to relax.

"least you didn't waste the last 50 years." Smokey said. Lightning dropped his head onto Doc, who pushed him off his shoulder gently. these were his friends, his people, but he couldn't let them see the kid all over him like that.

"hey, 20 minutes. you'll be fine." Doc said. Lightning nodded.

"you bring the kid up here this tired Hud?" Louise chided.

"I couldn't just leave him at the hotel. this guy is out to kill him." Doc frowned.

"how about a drink kid?" River ask.

"can't." Lightning mumbled.

"he's still on a lot of medicines from the wreck. he's had a drink here or there, but he just has a seizure the other day so he can't have one." Doc said. Smokey shook his head and motioned to one of the waitresses.

"no worries kid I got you." Smokey assures. Lightning looked over confused. "I haven't been able to drink in about 3 years now, but I come up here to hang out with these guys. don't worry kid." Smokey chuckled.

"I'm not drinking either in case you're thinking of trying to get me to drink. I'm no good to the kid if I'm drunk and the big guys we brought to guard him are sound asleep at the hotel." Doc said. Lightning dropped his head onto the table until a cup was sat in front of him.

"hope you don't mind a little cola." Smokey said, small smile on his face. Lightning half smiled at him and took a drink.

"hey, maybe tomorrow we can pull out the old cars and go for a race." River said.

"I don't have my Hornet." Doc said, shaking his head.

"we don't he the Hornet but I know where we can get a Hornet." Junior said.

"I don't really race without my Hornet." Doc said.

"it'd be pretty cool to see you on the track." Lightning mumbled quietly.