he jerked up at a loud scream. casting a glance over at his clock, it was 3AM. he got up quickly, he'd lasted longer than Doc thought he would. he rushed to the spare bedroom, expecting to see the man asleep and having a nightmare. thats not at all what he saw. Lightning was laying on the floor, curled up around his ribs the best he could. Doc knelt beside him quickly.

"kid? what the hell happened?" Doc ask, pushing him onto his back to check his ribs. he didn't feel any breaks, but he didn't doubt falling onto the floor hurt him. then he realized something, he'd been laying his right arm, which was still very much broken and in a sling, he winced immediately and reach to gently feel his arm. Lightning hissed in pain and pulled away from his hands. "come on kid, let me see it." Doc frowned, but his hands were smacked away. "let me see it Lightning." Doc ordered. he paused hearing a knock on his front door. he stood and frowned. "don't move and when I get back I'm looking at that arm." Doc said, heading for the door. pulling it opened, he was surprised to find Sally and Mack looking tired but worried.

"Doc? is he okay?" Sally yawned.

"we heard him shout all the way over at the cone." Mack frowned.

"he fell out of bed and landed on his arm. I can't imagine it felt too great. he'll be fine." Doc assured them. "wanna help me get him out of the floor Mack?" Doc ask. he nodded and followed Doc inside, Sally followed behind them quietly, worried. they headed for the spare room where Lightning was still curled up around his arm. Mack didn't say a word, just walked over and scooped the smaller up, setting him on the bed. "thank you." Doc muttered, walking over and pushing Lightnings hand out of the way. he glared and smacked at the olders hands. "let me look you idiot." Doc snapped. he received a nasty glare. Doc looked his arm over carefully, he understood the kid was in a lot of pain and certainly didn't want to make it worse, he just wanted to check on him.

"is it bed?" Sally ask.

"I can't tell under the cast, but it seems fine, just hurt like hell to land on it." Doc frowned, standing and turning to face the other two. Lightning curled up and held his arm with a wince. Sally looked around him and to Lightning.

"you alright Stickers?" Sally ask. Lightning rolled over, clutching his arm and put his back to them. Sally frowned and sighed, leaving. Mack followed her out, waving at Doc.

"Alright kid, you good to go back to sleep? your pain meds are in the kitchen if you're not. I can go get them." Doc offered. Lightning rolled over to get up, arm still clutched close to his side, and held his ribs as he sat up. Doc went to the kitchen for his medicine, coming back with a cup of water and two pills in his hands. the younger racer looked at them distastefully, but took them. "need me to stay up with you until they kick in?" Doc ask. immediately Lightning shook his head, he'd already inconvenience the older man enough, he didn't want him to lose even more sleep. Doc nodded slightly. "alright, you know where I am." Doc said, turning and leaving the room. he paused just outside the door way to look back just to check on him. the man was staring at the ceiling, Doc nodded once to himself. pretty soon he'd be completely out of it and asleep.

Doc was usually a very early riser, but after months of sleeping in a chair or on a couch in the hospital, he was grateful to be sleeping in his own bed and slept until nearly noon. he rolled over and blinked blurrily at the clock.

"holy shit." he muttered getting up. he immediately headed for a shower taking extra time to wash the crummy hospital soap from his hair and body, before hoping out. he cast a glance into Lightnings room, the kid looked like he just woke up and was still feeling the effects of the medicine. Doc snorted and headed for the kitchen to make some coffee and breakfast. he paused noticing his news paper was on the table, usually he'd have to go outside to get it. he shrugged, thinking nothing of it. Sally had probably brought it in, probably having come in to check on the both of them when Doc hadn't been up by 7 AM. deciding breakfast could wait he grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down in his chair to read the paper. to his utter surprise, it was a paper from months ago, probably only a few days after the wreck. "now how did this get here?" Doc muttered. he opened it up and started reading, only for someone to knock on his door. he sighed, something he'd have to get used to was people knocking on the door to check on Lightning. he stood and headed for the front door. he opened it and paused. "Weathers?" Doc ask.

"Strip." Strip chuckled. the ex-Dinoco king had swapped back to his first name after retiring. he didn't like being called "The King" anymore and the name had retired along with his racing career. Doc reached out and shook his hand.

"what are you doing all the way out here in Radiator Springs?" Doc ask.

"heard Lightning came home. heard from the folk around here, he was staying with you. just wanted to repay the gesture and come visit him like he did me." Strip said. Lightning had spent all of his free time after The Kings wreck, sitting in the hospital or, once released, going to his house to check on him. he'd gone through a whole hell of a lot of trouble to get the address from Tex, but it had been worth it. Doc nodded and moved out of the way.

"come on in." Doc muttered. "he's still in bed, but he's awake." Doc said.

"pain killers?" Strip ask. Doc nodded.

"yeah, he fell out of the bed last night and landed on his bad arm. pretty sure he's still feeling the medicine." Doc chuckled some. Strip smirked some and chuckled.

"he can't talk is what Sally was telling me." Strip said. Doc shook his head.

"they're working on it, but for now no." Doc said, pointing to the bedroom. Strip nodded and headed for the bedroom. he knocked on the door, leaning against the door way. Lightning looked over immediately and smiled some, reaching for his notebook.

"hey kid. just thought I'd drop in." he chuckled.

you didn't have to, but thanks King.

the older chuckled.

"you write like some of those rookies race." he teased. Lightning rolled his eyes, slowly sitting up. "you gonna get back out there when you can?" Strip ask. the smile fell and he looked away.

I don't think I can.

"of course you can. don't give me that crap." Strip frowned. Lightning shook his head and reached over to the nightstand beside him, grabbing a folded up picture and holding it out to him. it was a page straight from a newspaper titled : Lightning McQueen out for season, or out for good? Strips eye brows shot up as he read the article. "a rookie move made by the experienced racer Lightning McQueen could be the end of his career." Strip read. "that don't mean nothing kid-" he started.

keep reading.

Lightning shoved the notebook at him. Strip looked through the article and his eyes widened.

"McQueens agent Harv is already looking for a new rookie..." Strip muttered. he looked at the injured man, who huffed some and laid back in bed. Strip looked back at the article then narrowed his eyes. "this doesn't mean anything kid. one bad wreck and you get back up. you're young. they won't replace you that easy." Strip assured. he was ignored. he sighed looking at the paper again before he got an idea. "look at me Lightning." Strip said. the younger looked at him with a blank look. "you get better, you get you ass back out there, you figure out what you did wrong. you make yourself better and you call me. my old agent has been looking for someone for a long time since I left. doesn't want just anyone, but he'll take you because he knows you've got what it takes." Strip said. Lightning looked at him confused.

why would you do that?

he pushed it over to him and stared at the olders face in confusion. Strip chuckled after a moment with a small smile.

"because, I think you should be able to get to pick your last race like the rest of us." Strip said. "you helped me finish mine, I want you to finish yours, years from now." Strip added. he stuck his hand out. "deal?" he ask. Lightning looked at his hand a moment, before reaching up to shake it with a grunt, which Strip took to mean deal. "awesome. I gotta get out of here. Lynda is waiting for me, but I'll stop by and see you again." Strip said. Lightning nodded at him and he turned to leave, passing the new paper article back to him. he watched him go and then carefully got out of bed, making sure to tuck his article away. he'd keep it just like Doc had kept his.

"hey kiddo, breakfast?" Doc ask, raising an eye brow. he wouldn't mention to the kid he'd heard them talking, nor would he take the kids news paper article, though that did explain why he couldn't find the rest of the article he'd been reading and why this old news paper was on the table. Lightning nodded after a moment, pushing himself off the bed and nearly stumbling. Doc stuck his arm out to catch him and noticed how tired he looked. "did you sleep at all last night?" he ask. Lightning avoided his gaze. "thats a no. come on, I'll get you a cup of coffee. there's food on the table." Doc said. Lightning nodded and followed him. "was it nightmares or pain?" Doc ask. Lightning looked at him. "that kept you awake. I can help with pain, but not really with nightmares is why I'm asking." Doc assured.

little of both.

Lightning dropped his notebook on the table as he dropped himself into a seat, dropping his head onto the table. Doc frowned at his words.

"is that why you fell out of bed?" he ask, setting a cup of coffee on the table beside his plate. Lightning nodded without lifting his head. "could've told me, we could've sat up and watched some tv or something." Doc offered, sitting across from him with todays news paper.

why? so you can lose more sleep? its better that I'm the only one losing sleep. you lost enough while I was in the hospital.

Doc rolled his eyes.

"kid, I'm fine. I wouldn't have volunteered to keep you at my house if I wasn't prepared to lose a few hours of sleep." Doc said. Lightning looked up at him tiredly, sitting up to poke at the food on his plate. "look why don't you eat then go back to bed, I'm going to head out to the Willies Butte and race a bit. you'll have plenty of time, unless you want to go with me." Doc offered. Lightning paled immediately at that thought. "you can't be afraid of cars forever kid. wrecks happen." Doc said. "I was wanting to be back on the track as soon as I got out of my casts-" Doc started. Lightning slammed his notebook down on the table, practically throwing it at him.

I'm not you.

he glared at Doc.