"or he fired a warning shot." Mack mumbles, pointing up at the ceiling. Doc and Smokey both look up and find Macks right. there's one bullet hole in the ceiling.

"well he did say he warned him." Smokey says. he can't find it in him to be upset that his house is destroyed. can't find it in him to be angry, when the kid did such a good job of protecting not only himself, but all of them as well. "you did a good job kid, just put the gun down." Smokey murmurs, inching closer.

"I warned him." Lightning chokes, buckling slightly.

"come here, come on. it's okay." Doc murmurs, opening his arms. Lightning launches himself into Docs arms sobbing. immediately the older man grabs the gun and throws it onto the floor, holding him tightly. he kicks it backwards towards Smokey, without turning to look at him. "its okay. its all okay. I got you kid." Doc murmurs, kissing his head. Smokey quickly picks it up and stuffs it into the waist of his jeans.

"I t-told him t' leave me alone." he sobs.

"shhhh. its okay." Doc soothes. "call the cops Smokey. get some ambulances." Doc murmurs. Smokey nods and heads to find his phone. Doc immediately turns his attention back to the younger. he holds him tighter, before gently lifting his face. "hey baby, he beat you up pretty good didn't he?" Doc asks softly, gently rubbing his thumb across a small bleeding scratch on his cheek gently. Lightning whimpers quietly, pulling his face away from his hand to bury his face in Docs chest. he's still sobbing, but its quieter.

"is he going to be okay?" Red ask, creeping over.

"he'll be okay a while." Doc assures.

"alright, police and ambulance are on their way." Smokey says. Doc nods a little, wincing slightly. he's realizing he probably has a concussion. he still has no idea what Chick hit all three of them with, but it was probably the metal bar he'd hit Lightning with as well.

"okay kid come on." Doc murmurs, scooping the younger up gently and carrying him up the stairs. Reds not far behind him, intent on leading the emergency crews down to the house. Lightning is quiet, shock having set in. Doc carries him over to the Hornet their borrowing and gently sets him on the hood. "hey? you still with me?" Doc asks, gently cupping his face. Lightning stares at his lap silently. "hey, Monty." Doc murmurs. Lightning looks at him, quietly. his blue eyes looking lost and confused. "you okay?" Doc asks. he stays silent, but uses his legs to pull Doc closer. Doc goes easily until he's pressed against the bumper, then Lightning wraps his arms around him as well and just holds onto him. Doc immediately wraps his arms back around him protectively. "don't worry kid, I gotcha." he assures. Red walks over to them.

"you did it." Red murmurs, with a small smile.

"I killed a man." Lightning chokes, starting to tear up again. Doc shoots Red a nasty glare.

"no, you saved us." Red says, hugging his side. "you saved everyone. you did a good job." Red murmurs. Lightning tenses and digs his nails into Docs back.

"save it for later Red, when he's feeling better." Doc says firmly. Red nods and blinks slightly, turning his head as a bright red and blue light flashes over them. "its over." Doc murmurs, kissing the youngers head while Red walks over to lead the crew down to Chick. Doc breaks free of the youngers hold before scooping him up and heading for one of the ambulances. the younger is whisked from his arms immediately. "I'm riding with him." Doc says as they look him over.

"thats fine." one of the paramedics replies.

"do me a favor, get him loaded up before they get that guy from the house. he doesn't need to keep looking at that." Doc murmurs.

"no problem." she assures. she pauses a moment. "oh wow. Hud?" she asks.

"sorry do I know you?" Doc asks. "I might, but I got hit on the head pretty hard." Doc adds.

"Louise's granddaughter. damn. so that must be McQueen?" she asks, motioning towards Lightning. Doc nods. "and the body's Chick Hicks?" she frowns.

"yeah. can you not say that loud enough he can hear you?" Doc ask.

"oh sorry. come on," she says getting him up and into the ambulance with Lightning.

"whats your name kid?" Doc asks.

"Maddie." she smiles. she climbs up beside him. "hi Mr.McQueen. my name is Maddie, can you tell me whats going on?" Maddie asks. Lightning stares at her silently.

"he's in shock. probably got a bad concussion too." Doc says. Lightning turns his head to look at Doc, before shakily attempting to reach for his hand. Doc takes it easily and smiles at him. "I got you its okay." he assures. Maddie works on hooking him up. "Maddies not going to hurt you kid, just relax a little bit." Doc murmurs. Lightning stares her down with unsteady eyes a moment, before dropping his head back.

"I wouldn't dream of it. I'm a big fan actually." Maddie chuckles.

"hey kid, you know who that is?" Doc ask. Lightning looks at him. "thats Barnstormers granddaughter." Doc says. Lightning looks at the woman, an eye brow raised slightly. "yeah I know right?" Doc snorts. Lightning watches her silently, tensing up as they start up the ambulance. "shhh. its fine. we're just going to the hospital." Doc assures, squeezing his hand gently.

"really got the crap beat out of you." Maddie mumbles. Lightning stares at her, watching her carefully.

the ride to the hospital is long and full of silence, both Maddie and Doc having given up on getting him to talk. they immediately split up and sent for tests or getting patched up. even with all the bruises and the beating Lightning took, there's not a single broken bone amongst the 5, though everyone of them has a concussion. it seems like everything is in slow motion until Doc finds himself standing beside his young lover, whose laying asleep in a hospital bed. he can't even really seem to remember how he got there, it's like he was placed there, but he stands there and holds the youngers hand tightly. he flinches slightly at the sound of a door opening and turns his head.

"hey we good to come in?" Smokey asks.

"yeah." Doc says. Smokey nods and walks in with Red and Mack following. Doc glances over them, just to check them over, looking for broken bones or other injuries he can see. under better circumstances, he probably would have investigated a little, but he can't find himself to care too much at the moment about anything other than Lightning laying in a hospital bed, not even if Red and Mack are holding hands. his gaze flickers up to the faces, Reds staring at Lightning with a sad look on his face, but Mack meets his gaze. Doc raises a questioning eye brow, but Mack just looks away to stare at his boss. Smokey walks over to Doc and Lightning.

"he okay?" Smokey ask.

"oh yeah. he's fine. they just wanted to keep him here for a bit. he was still in shock for a while and when he finally came out of it he had a panic attack, they decided it was best to just leave him out for a bit." Doc explains. "what about you guys?" Doc asks.

"just some cuts and bruises." Smokey says.

"and concussions." Red says softly.

"oh and I got stapped in the hand." Mack says.

"I said sorry." Red replied quickly in a nervous tone.

"it was an accident Mack." Doc frowns. a soft whine catches their attention.

"Doc?" Lightning mumbles. Doc looks down at him, a small smile breaking out on his face.

"hey kid." Doc smiles. Lightning groans quietly.

"I feel like I've been drugged." he mumbles.

"technically you have." Smokey snorts.

"you're in the hospital kid, so you have been drugged." Doc chuckles softly. Lightning squeezes the hand holding his.

"why m'I here?" he asks confused. Doc frowns slightly, he'd been afraid something like this would happen.

"you don't remember saving everyones lives?" Red ask. Lightning gives a weak head shake.

"I 'member takin' a bath. then nothin'." Lightning mumbles.

"I'll explain everything later." Doc assures gently.

"m'kay." Lightning mumbles.

"hey we're heading over to the airport to pick up the others, we'll be back." Mack says. Doc nods at them, sitting beside the younger. the three leave and Doc sighs softly.

"how much do you really remember?" Doc ask. Lightning turns his head a little.

"most of it... I don't remember what happened at the end." Lightning mumbles softly.

"you shot him." Doc murmurs. Lightning looks at him confused. "you shot Chick. 8 times." Doc adds.

"I-I did?" he asks. Doc nods.

"sure did baby." Doc smiles slightly. Lightning looks up confused.

"did... is he dead?" Lightning ask.

"yeah kid. he's dead." Doc murmurs. Lightning swallows hard and lets out a shaky breath.

"i-its over?" he asks.

"yeah its over." Doc says. Lightning sobs out a half laugh.

"i-it's finally over." he manages. Doc nods smiling at him.

"sure is. still thinking of retiring?" Doc ask. Lightning shrugs a little.

"I dunno. heh, I didn't know shooting someone would feel this good." he laughs tearfully. Doc leans down and kisses him gently.

"everythings going to be okay." Doc murmurs. Lightning laughs, whole heartedly and Doc can't help but laugh with him. everything was going to be just fine.