"don't do this kid. remember what I said, just because you've given up, doesn't mean Doc has. he's out there yelling at Harv." Flo chuckled. "I've never seen him this angry. he's threatening to go and beat Harv into the ground." Flo added. Lightning laughed a little at that and smiled at her. she hugged him again and winked, getting up. she took the plate with her and headed back out to the Cozy Cone. the others watched walk back over with the empty plate.

"what happened? you were gone for like 30 minutes." Sarge ask. Flo held up the plate.

"I got him to eat something... and he already knew Harv dropped him." Flo said. Doc glared at her slightly. "but, I was able to knock some sense into him. he's not ready to get back out there just yet, but he's going to." Flo smiled.

"good. I'm tired of him feeling sorry for himself." Doc huffed.

"he's not feeling sorry for himself Doc, he's upset Harv dropped him. one big wreck and-" Sally said.

"I know what happened Sally, but moping around isn't helping." Doc said.

"you did it for 20 years." Sally muttered.

"yeah I did and I'm trying everything I can to keep him from making the same mistakes I did." Doc said firmly.

"any luck with The Kings agent?" Flo ask.

"he's on vacation. I gave Strip my number and told him to have the guy call me as soon as he could." Doc said, heading back for his house.

"if he's as excited as Strip said, he'll call soon." Mack assured. Doc nodded as he walked. he was surprised to open the door and see Lightning standing there, his arm sling gone, his casted arm limp at his side along with his other arm. he looked up at Doc.

"kid?" Doc ask walking over to him with an eye brow raised. Lightning held up his notebook.

I'm sorry.

Doc looked at the words and was surprised, Flo really had gotten to him. he looked back at Lightning.

"don't be sorry kid. I get it. we just have to get you back out there." Doc assured, patting his shoulder. Lightning immediately through his arms around the older man, hugging him. Doc sat shocked. thats not what he expected. he awkwardly patted the kids back and looked over at the clock. 5pm. Lightning stepped back looked at him. "how about we sit on the couch and watch some tv with a beer and that frozen pizza?" Doc ask. Lightning nodded and headed to follow him to the kitchen. "sit. you need to prop that foot up for a bit." Doc said. Lightning let out a noise arguing with the older. "sit." Doc repeated. Lightning huffed and sat down on the couch, but watched Doc put the pizza in the oven, then open the fridge. he paused a moment with a frown, looking at the medicine on his counter, before deciding one drink couldn't hurt. he grabbed two beers and opened them easily, bringing one over to Lightning. he sat beside him on the couch.

should I be drinking this?

"one won't hurt, but if you don't want it, I'll drink it." Doc said, holding it out to him. Lightning shrugged and took the bottle, if he decided half way through or so, he didn't want it, he'd give it to Doc. they settled onto the couch watching tv. "I expect you to actually eat some of this pizza." Doc said. Lightning frowned and grabbed his notebook.

whatever you say mom.

he smirked and passed the notebook to him.

"you're lucky your arms already broken, or I'd break it." Doc glared. Lightning grinned and turned back to the tv. when the pizza was done, Doc got up and brought them both a few slices. he didn't out right watch the younger, but he did occasionally glance over to make sure he was eating. he thought he was being sneaky but every time he looked over, Lightning would look him dead in the eye's and take the biggest bite he could, then turn back to the tv. Doc chuckled silently to himself turning back to the tv. it didn't take long for Lightning to start falling asleep, leaning against the older. Doc gently pushed him off. "don't fall asleep on me again. I'm not afraid to dump you in the floor again when I get up to go to bed." Doc warned. Lightning shook his head, looking slightly confused before blinking and nodded. he slowly stood and shuffled towards the spare bedroom. Doc chuckled slightly and turned the tv off, deciding to go to bed as well. the clock in his room read 8PM in bright red letters. he nodded and laid on the bed, hoping Lightning wouldn't need him.

Doc jerked awake and mumbled, looking over at the clock, 3:45 AM. he blinked in confusion, what had woken him. he shook his head and rolled over on to his side, ready to go back to sleep when he heard a loud thump from the kitchen. immediately he was out of bed and running towards the kitchen. Lightning was laying in the floor shaking all over. there was blood and water on the floor, he could see the remains of a shattered glass surrounding the kid. he ran for his cell phone then came back to Lightning. he ran over, carefully kicking glass out of his way and kneeling beside Lightning. he was still now. Doc felt his neck gently while pressing the phone to his ear.

"Doc?" Sheriff muttered tiredly.

"get up. I need a police escort." Doc grunted, grabbing hold of Lightning.

"to where? what happened?" Sheriff ask, slightly more awake.

"kid just had a seizure in my kitchen I gotta get him back to the hospital." Doc said, pulling Lighting to the living room and out of the glass and water.

"I'll be right there." Sheriff said hanging up. Doc dropped the phone onto the floor before kneeling back down beside Lightning. he knew he didn't need to move him, but he had to get him out of the glass before he got hurt even more.

"kid? kid! can you here me?" Doc ask, leaning over him. "Lightning?" Doc ask. the man groaned quietly. he heard his front door bust open and two sets of feet came running in. Doc looked up. Sheriff had stopped to wake Mack up, good idea, someone would need to carry him. "get him up, come on." Doc said.

"wouldn't an ambulance be faster?" Mack ask.

"no. they'd have to get ready, drive out here and drive all the way back. we only have to go one way." Doc said. Mack nodded and scooped up the limp body of his boss.

"he's soaked." Mack frowned.

"he dropped a cup of water and it shattered." Doc said, grabbing his keys and phone before running out to the car. not giving a single fuck that he was barefoot and in his pjs. Sheriff and Mack followed. Mack got in Docs car while Sheriff got in his own. he didn't turn his sirens on until they got out of town, no use waking everyone up.

rolling up to the hospital, Doc parked the Hudson in the emergency lane and jumped out. he ran around to the back, watching Mack pull Lightnings unconscious body out of the seat. he turned and ran inside, explaining the situation to the first person he saw. Mack carried him in and immediately doctors took Lightning from them running off. they all three watched them go.

"go, get back to town." Doc said, heading to park his car.

"but what about-" Mack started.

"go. if anything happens I'll call." Doc assured. Sheriff nodded for Mack to follow him, both waiting for Doc to park and go back in before leaving.

Doc waited for answers for what seemed like days, but was really only a few hours. a doctor came out eventually and explained, Lightning had bled into his brain and they'd performed emergency surgery, but that he was going to be just fine. they eventually led him to a room where Lightning was laying asleep with his head wrapped up. Doc took his place in the plastic chair beside the bed and waited.

he woke up to a nurse shaking him.

"Doc Hudson?" she ask. he nodded.

"yeah, whats up? kid okay?" Doc muttered.

"oh he's fine. someone dropped off some clothes for you." she said, holding out a bag. Doc nodded taking it and watching her walk off. he decided to go a head a change so he headed to the bathroom. his feet were freezing from the cold floor and he was thankful to have his sneakers on again. he headed out of the bathroom and paused. someone was talking, it sounded like a child, but the voice was familiar. he looked up at Lightning, who was talking gibberish.

"kid." Doc smiled, relieved. he walked over and grabbed the notebook from the bag of clothes he'd been brought. Lightning looked at the notebook confused. "you're speaking son, but it's gibberish. can't understand you. you got so much crap pumped into your system." Doc said, handing it to him.

what happened? I remember going to bed, then boom, I wake up here again.

"you had a seizure. you were bleeding into your brain. they got you all fixed up though. they'll keep you for a few days, just to make sure, then I'll take you back home. how do you feel?" Doc ask. more mumbled gibberish.

you can't understand me? I sound just fine to me.

"let the drugs clear from your system and you'll be fine." Doc assured. he nodded slightly and grabbed onto Docs arm when he sat down. Doc let him. "whats up kid?" he ask. Lightning motioned to the cuts on his hands, that weren't just fingernail markings anymore, but much more. he rubbed his thumb over one of them then raised an eye brow at Doc. "you dropped a cup then fell into the shattered glass." Doc explained. Lightning winced some and let him go, his eye's fluttering shut with a mumble of more gibberish.

a week later and the two finally pulled back into town, immediately their friends all rushed to greet.

"where have you been!? you've been gone a week!" Sally shouted. Doc looked confused.

"Sheriff and Mack didn't tell you guys?" Doc ask.

"no. we didn't." Sheriff said.

"kid had a seizure and his brain started bleeding." Doc said. Red walked over anxiously, looking Lightning over. except for his boot, bandages on his head, and new scars he looked like nothing had ever happened. he looked better. Lightning rolled his eyes a little and opened his arms. Red immediately ran over, careful of the cast on his arm, and hugged him tightly, picking him up off the ground and holding him. Lightning snorted and hugged him. as soon as Red put him down, he was almost tackled by his other friends, all hugging him and looking him over. he laughed and let them do so.

"can you talk yet Stickers?" Sally ask.

"sort of." Doc said. "he'll be okay, just have to let him heal, his brains still all wonky." Doc added. Lightning let out a string of annoyed gibberish, frowning. Sally stepped back and looked at him.

"what?" she ask. Lightning repeated himself, knowing it would no good.

"I told you he's still healing." Doc shrugged.

"it's better than being silent." Flo chuckled.

"suits Red, but not you buddy." Mater grinned hugging Lightning tightly. Lightning yelped and struggled with him.

"Mater! put him down before you hurt him!" Sheriff warned. Mater grinned and sat him back down. even more annoyed gibberish flew from Lightnings mouth, pointing a finger at Maters chest.