"Mack carried you. I sure as hell wasn't doing it and I've seen him carry you before, when that rookie ran your foot over and he thought you broke it." Doc said amused. Lightning snorted some and motioned to his booted foot. Doc nodded some handing the notebook back, Lightning was quick to grab his wrist, confused, looking at his hand. "don't worry about it. cut my hand moving shit around so you could have the room." Doc assured. Lightning frowned at him, but let go, taking his notebook and tossing it aside. he hated not being able to talk. "hungry?" Doc ask before he could dwell on that thought too long. he shrugged a little and Doc offered a hand to him, to pull him up. "come on we'll eat on the couch. I think I have a frozen pizza." he said. Lightning snorted and took his hand, letting the older pull him up. he stumbled and slammed against Doc with a wince. "you okay?" Doc ask, surprised at how hard the kid had slammed into him. Lightning nodded against his shoulder stepping back to rub his chest. "grab your notebook and head to the living room." Doc said. he nodded and turned grabbing his notebook and scribbling onto it as he turned around. he passed it to Doc, then walked past him. 

sorry.

"don't worry about it kid." Doc said following him. the kid was still having issues doing some simple tasks sometimes, he'd hit his head pretty hard, and he hated it, but Doc kept trying to assure him it was okay. he watched the kid sit down on the couch and groaned lowly, all the stuffed animals and toys Mater had brought the kid over the months of being in the hospital were taking over his couch. Lightning swatted some of them into the floor before lowering himself onto the couch with a hiss and a wince. "take it easy kid." Doc said. Lightning held his ribs, they were still tender, he'd broken two of them and despite being almost healed, they hurt like there was no tomorrow if he moved wrong. he panted quietly a moment, before relaxing into the couch. "you can turn on the tv you know." Doc said. Lightning looked over at him, a look Doc had quickly learned meant he needed help or couldn't remember how to do something. he frowned and headed back over to the couch, he reached to grab the remote off the table, but paused when Lightning pushed his notebook towards him.

how about the diner?

Doc raised an eye brow and chuckled some.

"yeah I guess after months of crappy food, Flo's sounds pretty good, better than my crap pizza." Doc chuckled.

I didn't mean it like that.

"I know kid. come on." Doc said, reaching for Lightnings hand. Lightning took his hand and let himself be pulled up. "think you can walk over there? it's not far." Doc said. he nodded and smiled some. he immediately put his arm out against Doc, to keep from slamming into him again as he was pulled to his feet. "ready?" Doc ask. Lightning frowned some and looked down at his feet, one was as bar as it had been since they pretty much cut what had been left of his shoe off. "all pavement. come on. your foot will be fine." Doc said. Lightning shrugged and nodded, following him. Doc led him down the stairs, standing in front of him so if he fell he could catch him. he helped him to the diner down the road, but stopped him before he went in. "Red wants to say hi. he's walking over, just wait here, I'll go a head and get a table and order. I know what you eat." Doc said. Lightning nodded and looked over towards Red, who was quickly making his way towards him.

"Lightning." Red said quietly, smiling. Lightning smiled, it had taken Red a long time to warm up enough to say anything to him and it was generally just his name he said. Lightning held his notebook up smiling.

hey Red.

Red grinned slightly and made a silent motion with his arms. Lightning nodded and was immediately wrapped in a hug, that was tight and loving, but not tight enough to hurt him. Lightning used his good arm to reach up and gently pat the bigger mans back. Red smiled and let him go gently. he grabbed Lightnings face and started looking him over, making Lightning chuckle. Red smiled, ruffled his hair, and wondered off, excited now that he had finally seen for himself that Lightning was okay. Lightning smiled and turned to go into the diner, but paused hearing something. the hair on the back of his neck stood up and he looked around. he didn't have a chance to react before he was surrounded by news crews and reporters. camera's were flashing everyone was talking at once. he covered his face with his good arm, trying to block the flash. now would have been a great time to call for help if he could, but he still couldn't form words. he tried backing away from them but they surrounded him.

"McQueen is it true you're retiring?"

"McQueen how bad were your injuries?"

"do you think you'll ever race again?"

"have they fixed your car?"

"will you ever race again McQueen?"

Lightning couldn't remember the last time he was nervous with reporters surrounding him. he couldn't even talk to tell them to leave him alone! he was stressed and his leg was starting to hurt. he was thinking about trying to shove them out of his way when suddenly he found two hands on his arms, pulling him back. he looked up and Doc was shoving him behind him. he and Mack stood in front of him, arms crossed over their chests, arguing with the reporters.

"hey McQueen." Mater said coming up behind him, with Red hot on his heels. he and Red quickly helped the other two surround him. Mater flashed a grin at him, but it was hesitant and nervous. Lightning winced and stumbled against Doc, nearly knocking him over, but Mack quickly stuck his arm out to catch him.

"everyone back off the kid!" Doc hissed. the reporters got quiet and stepped back. "the kid has spent months in the hospital and all he wants is to sit down and eat something thats not garbage hospital food! now get outta my town!" Doc snapped. "Mater get the kid inside." Doc ordered.

"you got it Doc." Mater said, grabbing Lightnings arm. the injured man winced, leaning on his best friend, but Mater held him and helped him into the diner. he made sure not to hurt him. Flo immediately ran over to check he was okay, Lightning pulled away from her some with a half smile.

"honey are you sure you're okay?" Flo ask. he nodded a little, brushing off his shoulder carefully so he wouldn't hurt himself. she nodded and told him to sit down, which he did, propping his leg up in the booth and dropping his head back against the window in the diner. he sat like that even after Flo brought him his food. he didn't eat it, just sat in pain in the booth, waiting for Doc. when Doc finally showed up he was red in the face and pissed. Lightning looked at him, rubbing his leg.

are you okay Doc?

he pushed it over to the man across the table. Doc looked at the notebook and nodded.

"yeah I'm good. just nosy reporters. how about you? I see you rubbing your leg." Doc frowned. Lightning nodded and motioned to him, signaling he was okay. Doc looked up when Flo sat his food in front of him.

"you two better just get someone to bring it to you next time." Flo teased. Lightning smiled slightly, poking at his food. Doc did the same, neither feeling quite as hungry now, but there was no doubt they'd eat. Lightnings body couldn't decide whether it wanted to scream for sleep or food so it was currently doing both. he nibbled a little at the food, smiling to himself. Flo's food was always the best. he melted into the booth happily, but was still sore. Mack walked over and, before Doc could scoot over, picked up Lightnings booted leg, sat down, and put his leg on his lap. Lightning looked at his oldest friend questioningly, but he simply smiled before turning to Doc.

"how'd they even find out he was out of the hospital?" Mack ask. Lightning straightened some, wondering the same thing.

"I have no idea, but when I find out I'm not going to be nice about it. no one here would spill that. so that leaves the hospital, car shop, or the odd chance someone saw me driving him back here and reported it." Doc frowned. Lightning winced shifting in the booth.

"those guys are going to be hell for the next few weeks." Mack frowned. Lightning shifted uncomfortably, frowning. the last thing he wanted was a bunch of reporters in his face when he couldn't even talk to them. the thought actually made him sick to his stomach. they'd hound him for answers, find out he couldn't talk, and then what would happen? he'd be a laughing stock. he pushed his food away and thumped his head forward onto the table. "you okay Boss?" Mack ask. Lightning gave a slight nod, but didn't lift his head from the table. Mack sent a worried look over at Doc, who was watching Lightning closely. he looked at his watch and frowned, nearing 10 pm. he was tired and Lightning probably was too.

"ready to head back to the house?" Doc ask. Lightning sat up after a moment and looked out the window, looking for straggling reporters. he nodded once he found no one outside. Mack scooted out from underneath him, before pulling him up. Lightning stumbled again, huffing in annoyance at himself as he slammed against Mack. the bigger man didn't even budge.

"well, you guys get home. I'll see you in the morning." Mack nodded. Doc nodded at him and dumped their left overs. he loved Flo's food but it just didn't reheat properly. Mack headed out of the diner and towards the Cozy Cone. Lightning looked ready to drop and just sleep where ever he landed, but he knew he couldn't do that.

"come on kid. lets get back to my place for some sleep." Doc said, heading back for towards his house. Lightning followed him sluggishly. they managed to make it into the house and Doc watched him head for bed, before trying to decide if he should sleep on his couch to give him quicker access to Lightning if he needed him, or just sleep in his bed and get up if he was needed. on one hand he'd be closer, but his back would ache. on the other, he'd be sleeping in his bed just down the hall and would still be able to hear the kid, without hurting his back. deciding it would be best for them both if he wasn't down and out for at least two days due to his back hurting, he headed for his room, pausing briefly to feel guilt and think what would happen if he couldn't hear the Lightning, the kid would sit in there and suffer alone until he either fell back to sleep or got himself out of bed. he bit his lip, before deciding he would absolutely be no use if his back hurt, so he laid down in bed.