this is a serious AU. Monty is 4, Doc is 49, Sheriff is 47, Red and Mack are 19-20, Flo and Ramone are 33-34, Sarge is 45, Fillmore is 42, Mater is 22, and Guido and Luigi are 22-23. Sally hasn't come to town yet, Mack isn't a driver for NASCAR but does drive a semi and met Red when he broke down a few years ago in Radiator Springs. Guido and Luigi just moved in about 2 years ago. Montys dad has kidnapped both him and his mother.

Sheriff's making his rounds when he smells it. somethings on fire. it doesn't take him long at all to find it. he frowns and calls it in.

"Doc, Red, I've got a car fire. a bad one just on the outside of Radiator Springs. oh god, is that a carseat?" Sheriff ask. its laying in the road next to a bloody childs shoe. it was clearly not strapped in properly or it wouldn't have been there. it's still half buckled and it looks like the kid as just slipped out of it. "shit, we have a missing child, car seat looks to be for a toddler, maybe 2 or 3 from the size. you better just grab a search team." Sheriff announces. he can hear loud sirens behind him and steps away from his car. "hey! kid? you out here!?" Sheriff calls, looking around. Red pulls up and skids to a stop and immediately works on putting the fire out. Doc, Mater, Mack and Sarge are all following behind.

"Sheriff, any idea where this kid went?" Doc ask.

"no idea Doc, but they're missing a shoe." Sheriff frowns.

"its a no go on the parents. they're crispy." Mack frowns, looking over as Red puts the fire out.

"alright we got a kid out here, probably hurt and scared. find them." Doc calls. they split up and search the area. the kid couldn't have gone too far.

"I got blood." Sarge says. Doc heads over to him and looks around.

"foot prints." Doc mutters. he looks around with his flashlight, before catching a glance at something. he flickers the light to it and sees a small boy flinch and block his face. "hey buddy. it's alright." Doc assures.

"Sheriff we got the kid." Sarge says. he inches forward and the boy clutches the teddy bear in his arms. he pulls away from the two. Doc looks him over, he's injured and only got one shoe on.

"m'doctor kid. I want to help." Doc says, stepping closer. Monty tenses up and scrambles away. "hey easy easy." Doc murmurs. "Red he's heading back for the car!" Doc calls. Red looks up and crouches immediately, putting an arm out in front of the boy gently.

"hey, thats going to be really hot. you don't want to touch it." Red says softly. he swallows hard and steps away from Red. "I'm a fire fighter. I just want to help. my names Red." Red smiles. Monty whimpers and looks around him at the car. "hey lets not look at that alright? can you tell me your name?" Red asks, blocking his view. he stares at him. "thats a nice bear you got there, can you tell me his name?" Red ask. the boy holds tighter to his bear stepping back,

"hey why don't you take him over to the fire truck?" Mack asks. Red nods and reaches for the boys hand.

"would you like to sit in my fire truck? I'll let you turn the siren on." Red smiles. he looks at Red hesitantly and opens and closes one of his hands. its crude sign language, but Reds pretty sure it means lights. "you want to turn on the lights too?" he ask. the boy nods. "cool come on, I'll show you." Red smiles, reaching for his hand. Monty takes it and lets Red lead him to the fire truck. he scoops the boy up and puts him in the seat smiling. Monty swallows a little and shows Red the name badge on his bear. "Tommy? is that your bears name?" Red ask, climbing up into the truck a little. Monty nods a little. "okay. can you tell me how old you are?" he ask. Monty holds up four fingers. "your four? wow." Red smiles.

"hey you got the kid up there?" Doc ask.

"yeah." Red says. Monty pulls on the sleeve of Reds fire fighter suit. "oh right. here this one is for sirens and this one turns on the lights." Red says, showing him. Monty grins and flicks on the sirens. Doc winces a little and shakes his head.

"see if you can convince him to let me look him over." Doc says. Red nods at him, watching the boy turn on the lights and start giggling.

"hey, I'll let you come back up in here and play again, if you let my friend take a look at you." Red murmurs. Monty holds on to Red. "I'll go with you." Red assures. Monty nods a little and holds tighter to Tommy. Red scoops him up gently and climbs out of the fire truck with him, carrying him over to Sheriffs car and sitting him on the hood.

"I found this, pretty sure its yours." Doc says, holding the shoe out to the boy. Monty holds his foot out to Doc silently. the older man snorts and checks his foot over before putting the shoe on him. "you get a name out of him? age? anything?" Doc ask, looking at Red. he patches the boy up carefully.

"he's four and his bears name is Tommy." Red says. "he isn't talking though. he used a little bit of baby sign language." Red says. Doc nods a little, looking Monty over carefully. he's pretty good with kids and decides that the kid would probably trust him more if Tommy is treated the same as him.

"okay Tommy, I'm Doc." Doc says, shaking the stuffed bears paw. Monty grins giggling.

"what are we gonna do with him?" Red ask.

"I'll keep him in the clinic tonight just to keep an eye on him, then after that, I have no idea." Doc shrugs. he looks at Monty. "alright kid, you're gonna stay with me for the night, sound good?" Doc ask. Monty gets up and stumbles to Red, clinging to him. he leaves dirty shoe prints across the hood of Sheriffs Mercury Cruiser. Doc brushes at them absently with one hand.

"I don't think he likes that Doc." Red frowns. "Mack and I can keep him, until we can find his family." Red adds. Doc frowns and looks at Monty.

"is that your mom and dad?" Doc ask, point to the car. Monty stares at Doc, cuddling to Red. he looks up at Red and makes the same hand motion as before.

"yeah come on. you can play with the lights again." Red murmurs. he carries the boy back over to the fire truck he sits Monty in the seat and points out the buttons again, before walking over to Mack. "hey you mind if the kid stay with us for the night? its this or he stays in the clinic or the Sheriff department. he doesn't deserve to be in a cage over night." Red frowns.

"yeah sure, we'll set him up on the couch, he'll be fine." Mack assures. Red smiles and nods heading back over to Doc. the boy is still playing and laughing with the lights and sirens. Red explains he and Mack will keep Monty for the night and figure out what to do in the morning.

"take him back to Sheriffs station first, he wants to finger print the kid, just in case, see if he can't find anything on him. I want to see him first thing in the morning to get a full medical work up on him." Doc says. Red nods and heads back over to his truck. Mack climbs in with him, having road with Doc previously.

"okay buddy, you can't play with the sirens anymore, we gotta go back to town, but you can play with the lights. you just have to sit with Mack." Red smiles. Monty looks over at Mack and shakes his head.

"I'm not as scary as I look." Mack promises. Monty begs to differ, holding tightly to Red.

"I can't drive and hold you at the same time." Red says. Mack frowns.

"I can drive it. I've driven before." Mack says. Red nods a little, getting out.

"probably for the best." Red says. he and Mack trade positions and Red lets the boy play with the lights, though he's more hesitant now that Mack is closer to the lights then they are. Mack lets the two out at the police department and heads over to the fire station. Red holds Monty carefully, walking inside, Sheriff would be there in a few minutes. "don't mind Mack, I know he looks scary, but he's not. he's pretty goofy actually." Red smiles. Monty blinks at him, curling up with Tommy, half asleep. Red frowns a little, but doesn't try to keep him awake.

"hey Sheriff here yet?" Mack ask.

"no, but he better hurry." Red frowns, looking down at the boy, whose already fast asleep. "he's going to have to wait until morning." Red says.

"hmm, kid really needs a bath before he lays down." Mack says. the boy is still covered in soot and ash.

"it'll have to wait. he's asleep and I don't think we should wake him." Red frowns. Mack nods.

"well, go on back to the house, I'll let Sheriff know that we'll come back in the morning." Mack murmurs. Red smiles at him and heads for their shared house. Monty shifts a little and yawns quietly, holding Tommy tightly. he walks into the house and turns on the lights he grabs a spare pillow and puts it on the couch, before looking for a blanket. he wants something the boy would like, as no matter where he stays he's taking the pillow and blanket with him. he decides Mack can part with his Ouran Highschool Host Club blanket, mostly because it has a rather large pink bunny printed on it, along with a little blond boy Red doesn't know the name of, with cupcakes and candy printed all over the blanket. he thinks its cute and kid friendly, so he wraps the little boy in it gently, he smoothes Montys hair down gently out of his face and nods once. "hey you get him to- aw, my Host Club blanket." Mack pouts. Red snort softly.

"it had a cute little bunny on it. I thought he'd like it." Red murmurs. "what did Sheriff say?" Red ask.

"he'll get the prints in the morning. tonight, the kid already asleep." Mack says. Red nods and heads for bed.

"wait, should one of us stay out here with him? what if he gets scared?" Red asks.

"we'll leave the hall light on. it'll be okay. if he gets scared I'm sure he'll let us know." Mack assures. Red nods a little and heads for their room. he makes sure to leave the hall light on and his and Macks door open, which he never does. its already nearly 3 AM, so they curl up in bed.

its nearing 4:30 AM when Red and Mack both jerk up to a scream.

"I got it." Red mutters, getting up quickly. he heads for the living room. "hey buddy, are you okay?" Red ask. Monty looks over tearfully, he clutches Tommy tightly.

"Red, just bring him to bed." Mack calls. Red walks over and kneels in front of the couch.

"remember me?" Red ask. Monty jumps at him and hugs him tightly sniffling. Red holds him and stands. "you can come lay in bed with me and Mack, okay?" Red ask, grabbing the blanket from the couch. he carries the boy to his and Macks shared bed. Mack scoots over, making sure he won't get too close and upset the boy. Red lays with him, letting Monty curl up beside him. he sniffles but near immediately goes back to sleep.

Mack shifts and mutters feeling a hand on his face. he shifts, opening his eyes. Montys face blurrily comes into view.

"mm, hey buddy, whats up?" Mack mumbles. Monty looks over at Red, whose still snoring. "hmm. I see." Mack stretches. he sits up, Monty moves quickly out of his way with a fearful look in his eyes. Mack reaches over and shakes Red.

"Mack stop." Red mumbles.

"hey your kids awake." Mack says. Red shifts a little.

"he's not my kid." Red murmurs, turning his head to smile at Monty. "hey buddy, you hungry?" Red ask. Monty nods a little, looking between them.

"lets take him to Flos, she may have some of Mables old clothes he can fit." Mack stretches. Red nods and scoops Monty up, taking him into the bathroom. he cleans the boys face gently and smiles. once the boy is cleaned up a little, he carries him back to the bedroom and to the living room.

"I'm going to change clothes so you sit here with Mack and Tommy, okay?" Red ask. Monty nods a little, letting Red sit him on the couch. he ruffles the blond curls gently and heads back to the bedroom. Monty grabs his shoes and looks over at Mack hesitantly, before walking over to him. he pats Macks leg, surprising the man. he looks down.

"hey buddy, need something?" Mack ask. Monty holds up his shoes. "yeah sure, I can put those on you." Mack assures. he crouches down and takes the shoes from him. Monty holds his feet out, watching Mack carefully. "I know I'm pretty scary, but I won't hurt you kiddo. I don't hurt people, I protect him." Mack assures gently. he stands the boy up gently and smiles. "you have a really nice bear, whats his name?" Mack ask. Monty hugs Tommy, but points to the bears name badge. "Tommy? thats cute. did you get to pick that?" Mack ask. the boy nods. Mack smiles. "do you have a name?" Mack asks. Monty stares at him. "okay, okay, you don't want to tell me thats alright." he assures.

"hey you ready?" Red ask, smiling. Mack stands up and smiles. Monty scrambles back away from him, watching Mack fearfully.

"hey, hey, easy." Mack soothes, stepping away from Monty.

"you're okay." Red assures, scooping Monty up. he hugs Tommy tighter and cuddles to Red. the three head over to Flos diner. Monty watches all the new people nervously. he sits in the booth between Mack and Red with a small stack of blank papers and some crayons that Flo had found. Doc sits in front of them a bit later.

"how'd the kid do?" Doc ask.

"pretty good." Red smiles.

"he ended up in our bed sometime last night." Mack says.

"he was scared. its a new place with a bunch of strangers. he got scared." Red frowns. Doc looks over at the boy.

"hey kid, you good this morning?" Doc ask. Monty looks up at him. "remember me?" Doc ask. Monty nods at him and goes back to drawing. Doc raises an eye brow, reaching out carefully and taking one of the drawings he'd finished. "hey kid these are pretty good." Doc murmurs.

"he likes drawing." Red says. Doc frowns and looks over the drawing. it's been drawn with crayons so it's not perfect, but it looks like Reds fire truck. Doc smiles, noticing one little detail he assumed the other two hadn't noticed.

"so Monty," Doc says. Montys eyes snap up to Doc watching him. "yeah I know your name." Doc smiles a little. Monty looks at his drawing then back up to Doc and gives him a sheepish grin back.

"how?" Mack ask.

"little artist signed his pictures." Doc said, turning around the fire truck drawing. Monty watches Doc, before standing up in the seat and reaching over towards him. "what you want something?" Doc ask. Monty points to him.

"I think he wants that pencil behind your ear." Red smiles. Doc reaches up, he's been in the clinic this morning so he tucked his pencil away, and grabs it. he hands it to Monty who grins at him and sits back down to keep drawing.

"seems pretty happy. I'd like to take him to the clinic later and look him over. get a medical background on him the best I can." Doc says. "you cool with that?" Doc ask. Monty looks at him, then looks at Red.

"don't worry, he won't hurt you, he just wants to make sure you're okay." Red assures, ruffling his hair. Monty nods a little.

"good." Doc nods with a smile. Monty hugs Tommy tightly, looking up when Flo puts a plate in front of him. he gets up and grabs Macks sleeve, since he's closer to Flo, and pulls on it.

"whats up Monty?" Mack ask. Monty points at Flo. "thats just Flo." Mack assures. Flo turns to walk away and Monty screams at her. he doesn't say anything of course, he just screams, making them all look at him. Flo laughs a little, walking back over to the table.

"oh, I'm sorry honey, did you want something?" Flo asks amused. Monty huffs out of his nose and holds out a paper towards her. its a crayon drawing of her car in detail, parked in front of the diner. he looks at her. "yeah thats my car." Flo smiles. she ruffles his hair gently. "thank you, I'll hang this up." Flo smiles. Monty plops back down into the seat and takes a bite of the grilled cheese Red had ordered him.

"do you think he can actually talk?" Mack ask looking at Doc. Doc frowns a little.

"who knows. could be that he's mute or he could be a selective mute, like Red." Doc says. "he seems to be getting on with you better this morning." Doc says, looking at Mack.

"only if he's sitting or crouching. once he stands up, kid wants nothing to do with him." Red frowns. Monty does his crude baby sign language, but Mack has no idea what it means.

"Monty, you're going to have to do that to Red. I can understand." Mack says. Monty whines and turns Red, repeating the signs.

"he wants to know what your car is Mack." Red says. "Doc doesn't have a car as far as I'm aware." Red shrugs a little.

"don't need one." Doc says.

"I drive a semi truck." Mack says. Monty jumps up looking at him, making a couple odd, but excited motions. "uh...?" Mack trails looking at Red. Red snorts.

"he wants to honk your horn." Red says. Doc rolls his eyes.

"oh yeah, sure. after Doc takes a look at you, okay?" Mack ask. Monty grins and plops back down with the pencil in his hand. Red leans over to look at his drawing, earning an angry shriek from the boy, turning away from Red with a pout.

"alright! alright! I'm sorry. I won't look until you're done." Red says, looking away. Doc snorts and watches the boy draw happily. he eats his sandwich and draws happily. Red looks down when his phone does off. "let me out. Mater set the junkyard on fire again." Red says. Mack gets up grabbing Monty and moving him out of the way. Monty watches Red go with a frown and Mack sets Monty back in the booth. he continues his drawing for a bit until Doc speaks up.

"okay kid, you ready to come with me?" Doc ask. Monty looks up at him, then to Mack.

"you go with Doc and I'll go get the Semi out so you can play with the horn." Mack says. Monty immediately grins and nods. Mack gets up out of the booth and Doc walks over, scooping him up. Monty holds his pencil and paper tightly while Mack grabs his crayons and drawings.