"kid you look like you just won your first Piston Cup." Doc mused. Lightning snorted holding up his notebook.

thats because I won. the 95 stays red.

he smirked at Doc.

"I dunno it would look pretty decent in purple." Doc said. Lightning gave him a dirty look and Doc chuckled. though it had made him nervous, it seemed the ride earlier had done the kid some good. "does that mean you're getting back out there when you're healed up?" Doc ask, curiously. Lightning looked down a moment, then wrote in his notebook, holding it out to Doc.

Harv wants to drop me, he's already looking for a new rookie to take my place.

Doc frowned.

"you can find a new agent kid." Doc assured.

and if I try to get back out there and they do the same to me they did to you? then what?

Lightning stared at him. he had to make Doc face the reality he'd probably never get his career back.

you bounced right back immediately and they turned you away.

"kid, they turned down a 3 time arrogant champion over 20 years ago. you're still young, still arrogant but not quite as much as before, and you have 3 wins under your belt. they'd be an idiot not to take you back. besides I heard that Strip kid tell you his agent would die for a chance to be yours." Doc said.

I'm going to get back out there and not be the racer I was before.

Doc shook his head.

"thats true. you know what happens when you fuck up now. look kid, you can sit around and feel sorry for yourself or you can show them you're worth fighting for." Doc said firmly. Lightning couldn't find anything to say to that and simply headed back for Docs house. "listen to me Lightning, if Harv drops you he's an idiot he knows there are hundreds of other agents who are dying to be yours. I'm not full of it either. you've had people offer to be your agent in person, skipping Harv to buy you out and going straight to you for your opinion. if your agent drops you, you will find another one. you don't have to worry about that." Doc assures. Lightning sighed some and headed up the stairs, he needed a nap. Doc frowned annoyed and followed him inside to grab his cell phone. he headed back outside and went to find Mack. Mack was sitting at the Cozy Cone flirting with Sally who seemed amused. "Mack." Doc said. both jumped and looked over at him.

"Doc?" Sally ask confused.

"whats up? Lightning okay?" Mack ask.

"I need Harvs number." Doc hissed. they both looked confused, but Mack pulled out his phone and handed it to Doc so he could get the number.

"whats going on?" Sally ask. Doc put the phone to his ear, handing Mack his cell phone back and digging through Sally's old news papers. he opened one up and slammed it onto the counter. it was the picture from Lightnings wreck. the other two looked confused, so Doc grabbed a pen and circled part of the article, pushing it towards Sally.

"this is Doc Hudson, the Hudson Hornet." Doc said into the phone. "I need to speak to Harv, I'm McQueens crew chief." Doc said heading outside. Sally picked up the article and read it to herself.

"whats wrong Sally?" Mack ask confused when he saw the horrified look on her face.

"his agent is trying to drop him." Sally said.

"you mean like they did to Doc?" Mack ask. Sally nodded and looked outside.

"-I don't know who the hell you think you are but let me tell you something kid-" Doc hissed.

"yeah. exactly like they did to Doc." Sally said softly. she hadn't seen Doc this angry since Lightning had first stumbled into their town.

"-and you know what? you're a fucking idiot! every agent on the planet-" Doc shouted. Flo poked her head in worriedly.

"whats up with Doc?" Flo ask. Sally put the news paper back on her counter, pointing to the part Doc circled.

"Lightnings agent is trying to drop him and he read about it in the paper. Docs not happy." Sally said.

"-boy if you make me drive all the way out there I'm going to show you, just because I'm old doesn't mean I can't kick your ass! you better think about-" Doc growled. Flo winced.

"he on the phone with his agent?" Flo ask.

"yeah, I'm honestly surprised Harv hasn't hung up yet." Mack muttered.

"he's too scared to." Sally mused.

"whats going on with Doc?" Sarge ask, walking in with Fillmore and Sheriff.

"Lightnings agent posted in the paper he was dropping the kid." Flo said.

"-you know what Harv? I'll see you in three hours-" Doc hissed. Sheriff winced slightly.

"think he's actually going to go beat the guy?" Mack ask.

"I have no idea, it doesn't sound like Doc." Fillmore frowned.

"do we really know him? three years ago we didn't know he was a famous race car driver. who knows." Ramone said. they gather around listening to Doc yell into the phone, tearing into Harv.

"I've never seen him this angry before." Flo said softly.

"he's mad they're trying to end Lightnings career the exact same why they did his." Sheriff said.

"he wouldn't leave Lightning alone like that for several hours, not when he's the only person who really understands." Sally said. the others got silent for a moment, before agreeing.

"you're right." Sarge said. Doc hung up and stormed back inside, pausing when everyone looked at him expectantly.

"well?" Sally ask. Doc frowned.

"they've already replaced him." Doc said after a moment. the building went silent, everyone staring at either Doc or the floor.

"now what?" Flo ask. Doc frowned and sighed, before shrugging.

"I don't know... maybe I can get a hold of the Strip kid." Doc said.

"Strip Weathers? the ex-Dinoco king?" Mack ask. Doc nodded.

"he stopped by this morning. said his agent would kill to work with the kid." Doc said.

"I'll get his number." Sally said. "I'm sure I can find it somewhere." she added.

"like my cell phone." Mack said, rubbing the back of his neck. everyone looked confused.

"why do you have his number?" Ramone ask.

"he's been trying to convince me for a while now to get Lightning to leave Harv for his old agent." Mack said. "but the boss stuck with Harv, because he gave him his big break, he's afraid if he loses Harv, he'll loose Rust-eze." Mack added.

"they worship him, he'd never lose Rust-eze. Rusty and Dusty love him like a brother, plus they're friends with Mater." Sally said.

"no one says anything to the kid until I get this straightened out." Doc warned, snatching Macks cell phone and stepping back outside to make another call.

"it would kill him to find out Harv dropped him." Sally said. Flo straightened and headed for her diner.

"baby?" Ramone ask confused, following her. she walked into the diner, then came back out with a plate.

"what is she doing?" Mack ask. Sally smiled some.

"she knows he's probably hurt reading that in the paper. she's bringing him his favorite dessert. it's what she does." Sally said, watching her march towards Docs house. Doc watched her go with an eye brow raised but didn't move to follow after her.

Flo walked into Docs house and headed for the spare room. Lightning was laying on the bed staring up at the ceiling. he jumped when she opened the door, looking at her confused. he sat up and reached for his notebook, but Flo sat the plate on top of it and hugged him. Lightning was thoroughly confused.

"we read the paper. we're sorry Harv is trying to drop you... it doesn't make it any better, I know that, but I bought pie." Flo said, stepping back and offering him the plate. Lightning looked between her and the plate. she was trying to help in the best way she knew how to. he made a hint of a smile cross his lips and he moved over on the bed to let her sit down, before reaching for his notebook again. Flo sat beside him.

you read about it or Doc told you?

Flo frowned some before sighing.

"a little of both. he's out there raising hell with Harv." she chuckled. "kinda hard to miss it." Flo added. Lighting chuckled softly, leaning back against the wall.

my career is over.

"don't talk like that, it's far from over. kid, Doc is out there fighting for you. he won't let them do you wrong the way they did him. he won't let that happen." Flo assured him. she sat the plate on his lap. "just let him handle this okay? and don't worry about it. the only thing you should worry about is Ramone painting your car orange." Flo teased. Lightnings eye's widened. "don't worry honey, he didn't do that. you made yourself perfectly clear you wanted red, but he is thinking over your design. he thinks it might look amazing with a fade from red to orange to yellow." Flo said. Lightning shook his head.

red is my favorite color, I like it red.

Flo smiled.

"I know, he thought about hot pink, but I managed to convince him you'd kill him for it." Flo chuckled. Lightning smiled, amused and Flo handed him a fork.

thank Flo, I'll eat it later.

Lightning assured.

"no. I haven't seen you actually eat since you got out of the hospital. eat." Flo said firmly. "I can't believe Doc has been letting you get away without actually eating." Flo chided. Lighting sighed and took a bite of the pie. it was as good as ever.

he's been so busy he's tired...

he pushed the notebook towards her taking another bite.

"he's only tired because he doesn't want you going down the same path he did. he was angry... depressed... his career was over. it took him twenty years to get over that. he never really got over it until he went racing with you at the Butte. when we went all the way to California and he watched you, something changed in him kid. you brought the life back to him by bringing him back into the racing world. he's doing whatever it takes to make sure that you don't have to give up your dreams, your career, your life, the way he did. you saved him kid and he's trying to repay the favor." Flo explained. Lightning looked down at the pie in his lap. "but you have to give him a little help. this pity party, kid, it's got to stop. I know I've never had a wreck like that, it's terrifying, but if you want to make a difference in this world, you have to get right back out there and show them that down doesn't mean out, you can do this.... just remember how hard Doc is fighting for you." Flo said. Lightning thought a moment, before nodding.

you're right. so is he.

Lightning sighed.

"just know, no matter what happens, Doc is putting himself out there to help you." Flo said. Lightning thought about her words and she could see it click suddenly in his head.

Harvs already replaced me hasn't he?

Flo stared at the paper a moment, before looking over at him. that was the only answer he needed.

I knew he would.