"sort of. the garage got added in '42 when the top of the house burnt. I built an under ground house. all of my friends know if they need a place to go, I've got room and way to hide." Smokey explains. "I build the garage on top because no one knew there was a basement down here. a select few people know of the basement, that I actually live down here and not in the garage." Smokey adds.

"holy shit there's like a whole real house under here." Mack said. Smokey snorted.

"yup. four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchen." Smokey said. "feel free to look around, that bedroom just off the kitchen is mine. make yourselves at home." Smokey smiles, heading for the kitchen. Doc nodded for Lightning to follow him.

"you stay here a lot?" Lightning ask curiously.

"yeah." Doc says. "used to." he adds. he opened the door to an old bedroom. it was set up and had clearly been used many years ago. "a look into the off camera life of the Hudson Hornet." Doc said, letting him in. Lightning looked around. there were posters, car parts, an old Hudson Hornet helmet. it looked like a typical racing fans room. there were even pictures of Doc up on the walls. him working on the Hornet, racing, even a few with him and Smokey.

"you lived here." Lightning said.

"for a while yeah, about 6 years." Doc says, dropping his bags in a corner. "surprised he didn't change anything." Doc murmured. he looked over the room with a fond smile. "probably 23 the last time I set foot in this room, maybe 24..." Doc trailed. Lightning looked around.

"wow." he murmurs. Doc chuckles softly.

"what? didn't think I was kid at one point?" Doc ask.

"no didn't think you could ever be as messy as me at one point." Lightning said. Doc huffed.

"I was young." Doc muttered. he plops onto the bed, thats plenty big enough for 2 people, and lays back. Lightning wonders around the room, looking things over.

"whats this?" Lightning ask, pointing to a news paper clipping. Doc sat up and looked.

"uh thats from '51 if I remember correctly. my very first Piston Cup." Doc says, smiling. he watches the younger wonder the room a few minutes before he lays on the bed, curling up with him.

"any word from the others? hows Sheriff?" Lightning ask.

"they're okay. he's getting released from the hospital soon." Doc assures. "they held him a little longer because of Chick." he adds.

"so you really gonna race on that old track?" Lightning asks, changing the topic. Doc snorts.

"kid, I'm gonna blow your mind. we don't race that old track together, no anymore." Doc murmurs. "we run an old track in the woods, we can run it tonight, but Red and Mack can't drive something like that." Doc said.

"well can you? in that rental?" Lightning ask. Doc smiles and holds him tightly.

"we won't be in the rental." Doc smirks. theres a knock on the door and Red pokes his head in.

"Smokey's gonna show Mack and I to a near by store so we can stock up on some food, wanna go?" he ask.

"no, we're fine here." Doc assures. Red nodded, shutting the door. Doc smiles at Lightning, watching the younger lay beside him. "he come here kid." Doc murmurs rolling onto his back. Lightning sits up confused a looks at him, letting the older man pull him until he's straddling his lap. Doc chuckles under him.

"what?" Lightning asks, looking down at him. Doc can't help but stare at the younger straddling him, wearing his absolute favorite button up and a pair of tight jeans. his shirt is still unbuttoned and Doc can barely see the 'FHH' printed on the left side of the shirt. of course the back says 'The Fabulous Hudson Hornet' on it in bright red/yellow letters.

"nothing. you just look gorgeous wearing one of my shirts. specially a button up. my shirts are so big on you." Doc chuckles, squeezing the youngers hips gently. he grins as Lightnigns face flushes and it spreads from his cheeks to his ears and down his neck. he's blushing dark enough it looks as though he's been sunburnt and it just makes Doc laugh harder. "you're too easy to embarrass kid. big hot-shot like you can't even take a compliment." he snorts.

"shut up." he huffs.

"you're too damn cute sometimes kid." Doc chuckles. Lightning huffs crossing his arms over his chest. he opened his mouth to say something but Docs phone went off. Doc sighed and sat up, gently holding the younger so he wouldn't fall off him. he snatches his phone and answers. "hello?" he asks.

"come on outside and take a look at the ride we found you for tonight." Junior says.

"sure be up in a minute." Doc grins, hanging up. he patted the youngers thigh. "alright, up with you." Doc says. Lightning gets up off him carefully. "find your shoe's kid, we're heading upstairs." Doc adds. Lightning nods and gets up searching for his shoes. once he finds them, he and Doc head upstairs.

"whats going on?" Lightning ask.

"they found us a car to use tonight." Doc explains. Lightning nods and follows him into the garage and outside. Doc breaks out in a grin immediately.

"we don't have your Hornet, but I knew where we could get a good running Hornet. she'll race just fine." Junior grins. oh the little black rust bucket in front of him isn't his Hornet, but it's the second damn prettiest Hornet he'd ever seen, his being the first.

"damn Junior." Doc mumbles.

"pretty ain' she?" he grins.

"sure is." Doc chuckles, walking around and looking it over.

"how ya doin' kid?" Louise asks, walking over to Lightning. Lightning looks over at her and shrugs slightly. "you're a lot more vocal on tv kid, ain'cha?" she asks.

"I'm not getting guns pointed at me on tv." Lightning said flatly. Louise frowns and pats his shoulder.

"don't worry kid. that guy ain' coming back. Smokey, Junior, River, and half of Thomasville took'em outside. he didn't walk away. you don't pick on Hud or his boy and walk away." Louise assures. Lightning flushes slightly looking away.

"where is River?" Lightning asks looking around.

"out making sure the moons gonna shine t'night." Louise grins. Lightning suddenly remembers something Doc told him once upon a time, while drunk and relaxing after a hard day of training.

"me'n'the gang used t' brew shine under the light o'the moon kid. we'd get drunker then anyone ever saw and race 'round the woods 'till we puked or wrecked. whichever came second."

Lightning looks at her.

"you get me right kid? making sure the moons gonna-" Louise starts.

'"moonshine. got it." Lightning says. she pauses and raises an eye brow at him.

"so Huds told ya before huh?" she grins. Lightning shrugs looking back over to Doc, who is under the hood of the Hornet with Junior.

"yeah, something like that." Lightning replies. she smiles at him kid.

"he's more than just a mentor t' ya kid ain' he?" Louise asks. Lightning shrugged slightly.

"why would you ask that?" he asks.

"'cause Imma lesbian kid, plus I know Huds into men, we all do. 'sides you're wearing a shirt thats at least two sizes two big an it says 'Fabulous Hudson Hornet' on the back." she smirks, grinning at him. Lightning looks down at the shirt he's wearing.

"I had it specially made for him when he agreed to be my crew chief." Lightning mumbles, shrugging one shoulder. "an I can't say anything about your question, thats Doc- uh, Huds business." Lightning adds.

"why do you call him that?" Louise ask.

"hmm?" Lightning asks.

"Hud, why do you call him Doc?" Louise asks.

"its what I've called him since we met. when I crashed through Radiator Springs, everyone called him Doc. he's the town doctor and judge. I never thought to call him anything else." he admits. "everyone in town calls him Doc." Lightning adds.

"Huds been running from his past ever since he wrecked." Louise frowned. "I was sad when he quit, everyone was. didn't think one wreck would keep him down like that." Louise sighs.

"quit?" Lightning ask, raising an eye brow at her. "Doc didn't quit. he was told not to come back, that they already had a rookie to replace him. broke his heart, so he left." Lightning replies.

"really? he never said a word to us. we would've done everything to get him back." Louise frowns.

"he didn't want you to risk your careers." Lightning said, shaking his head.

"he loves you kid and if he's not already told you, then I'm telling you." she says. Lightning looks up, meeting Docs eye. the older man is studying the both of them, but nods once at the younger before turning back to the car.

"he tells me all the time." he admits. Louise smiles.

"you'll do him some good kid, you already have." Louise murmurs.

"he saved me, its the least I can do, plus I love him." he shrugs. she smiles.

"so those other two guys your with...?" Louise asks.

"Mack and Red." Lightning says. "Macks my hauler and body guard, he's the taller one with the real long hair. Reds the town fire fighter. he's pretty shy." he smiles.

"so are they...?" she trails raising an eye brow. Lightning shakes his head.

"Mack swings both ways, but he's currently dating the town attorney, my lawyer Sally." Lightning explains. "but Red... I'm not really sure honestly. I've never seen him date anyone. I know he's Asexual though." Lightning says. Louise looks confused.

"I'm not familiar with that term. isn't that when they think they're a different gender?" Louise asks curiously.

"no thats a whole slew of other things. thats Trans or Gender Fluid or Bi-Gender, things like that. Asexual means he doesn't do sexual contact. not sure if he's gay or not. like I said, never seen him date." Lightning shrugs. "but I think he does have a little crush on Mack." he adds. "they might end up together, I dunno." Lightning admits. he suddenly gets a nervous tingle down his back and he's feeling anxious again. something isn't right, he feels dizzy, like he's going to puke.

"so how long have you and Hud been shacking up?" Louise asks, looking over. but the younger doesn't answer. "kid?" Louise asks, waving a hand in his face. he staring off, tense and quiet, his breathing hard. "Hud! hey somethings wrong with the kid!" Louise shouts. Doc looks over and walks over to his young lover as quickly as he can, not even bothering to wipe his hands off.

"kid? hey, Monty?" Doc ask, looking worried. Lightning gasps after a moment, heart pounding, and he steps back. his eyes wide in fear and lost in confusion. "hey. hey. look at me. breathe." Doc murmurs, gently pushing him to sit down on the bricks by Smokey's mail box, before crouching in front of him.

"is he okay?" Louise asks. Doc gently cups the youngers face, smearing grease on his face.

"hey, kid. talk to me. whats going on?" Doc ask softly. he meets Docs gaze and his eyes are watering. his chest starts heaving and he's wheezing, his whole body trembling, his hand curled up into a fist thumping against his thigh in some pattern that doesn't make since to any one other than him. Doc can almost hear his heart beating rapidly. he's staring right at Doc but his gaze is going straight through him.

"Hud?" Louise asks. Doc frowns