McQueens big wreck

Chapter 41

"good. be happy." Doc murmurs. "don't let Chick take everything from you kid." Doc adds softly.

"I'm trying... but what happens if he kills someone? Smokey or Mater or Red or Louise? what if he kills you? what if he'd killed Sheriff? this is all my fault Doc." Lightning sighs.

"no its not kid. no one blames you for anything that has happened." Doc assures. Lightning sniffles and cuddles closer to his side.

"they will if someone dies." he mumbles.

"not they won't kiddo." Doc assures, parking the car.

"Red and Mack both hate me. avoided me. they're always gonna avoid me now after I pointed that shot gun at them." Lightning mumbles.

"shhh. no baby. no." Doc soothes gently, holding him tightly. "they don't hate you." he adds, making a mental note to get Red and Mack to both talk to him. "come on. come on lets head inside." Doc murmurs. Lightning nods and gets out of the car. Doc gets out and froze, staring at Smokey. "Smokey? what are you doing in here?" Doc ask.

"you buddy Chick Hicks, escaped. I called you. 4 times. you didn't answer. I was just about on my way to go out there and find you both." Smokey snapped. "this is a fucking rookie move! you idiot!" Smokey shouted.

"I was just out at the old paint factory with the kid. we're fine." Doc assures.

"why didn't you answer!?" Smokey glared.

"we were shooting at the paint factory! never heard it go off!" Doc argued.

"this is a rookie move!" Smokey hissed.

"Chick can't even get out here that fast! even the plane ride takes at least 26 hours!" Doc hissed.

"he got out two days ago!" Smokey hissed. "he's probably already here!" Smokey added.

"the kid and I were just fine! I had him!" Doc glares. he turns around. "kid?" Doc ask. the youngers not standing behind him anymore and Doc can feel his heart drop.
"Monty!" Doc calls.

"no need t'shout. I was jus' goin' pee." Lightning snorts, coming around the car. Doc frowns.

"get in the house." Doc says.

"m'goin'." he groans rolling his eyes. Doc and Smokey follow him inside quickly.

"any idea how he got out?" Doc ask.

"no idea but they can't find his crew chief." Smokey mumbled.

"thats great." Doc mutters reaching the bottom of the stairs. he gently grabbed Lightnings arm. "hey kid, bedroom." Doc said, gently pushing him towards the room. Lightning goes easily, quietly. he's drunk but he understands whats happening.

"no more going out huh?" Lightning ask after Doc gently pushed him to sit on the bed. Doc sighed slightly and kissed his head.

"yeah, I'm sorry." Doc murmurs softly. he nods a little. Lightning sighs softly.

"is your leg gonna be okay?" Lightning ask softly.

"yeah, my legs fine kid." Doc assures. he roles up his pants leg and shows him. "just a little scratch." he smiles.

"m'sorry Doc. I'm really sorry. this is all my fault." Lightning mumbles, bowing his head. Doc crouches in front of him, gently cupping his cheeks.

"hey Monty, kid, none of this is your fault. it's Chicks fault. okay? he's mental and for some reason has set his sights on you." Doc murmurs.

"but me wanting to go out tonight could've ruined everything. someone could've gotten hurt because of me." Lightning said. "you got hurt because of me." he sighs shoulders sagging. Doc leans forward and kisses him gently, pulling him close.

"this is not your fault. Lightning, Monty, you need you to listen to me." Doc says softly. Lightning looks at him. his big blue eyes are hazy and full of confusion and questions. Doc gently rubs his thumb over the youngers cheek, watching him a moment. "Chick made you wreck, you couldn't stop that. he hurt you, you couldn't stop that. he almost killed you, you couldn't stop that. he escaped from jail, you couldn't stop that. do you understand? none of this is your fault its all his fault. all of this is his fault. absolutely his fault. it's not yours. it's never been your fault and it will never be your fault." Doc murmurs softly. he kisses the younger carefully. he pulls the younger to his chest, holding him. "understand?" Doc ask, pulling him back so he can look in his eyes. Lightning pulls Doc closer, burying his face in his chest.

"yeah. I guess." he mumbles, fisting his hands in Docs shirt. "Doc...?" Lightning ask, looking up at him.

"yeah Monty?" he asks, smiling at him.

"I don't want you to get hurt because of him. I don't want anyone hurt by him, but you most of all. so if it comes to it, I don't want you in between me and him." Lightning says. Doc frowns and holds him tightly.

"kid, if he hurts you it's going to hurt me. I'm not letting that happen. I'm going to keep us both safe." Doc assures. "but more importantly, I'm going to keep you safe." Doc promises. Lightning nods and cuddles him. "alright come on, its late and you've had a pretty long day." Doc murmurs.

"okay Doc." he mumbles, separating himself from Doc and crawling up the bed. Doc lays beside him and pulls him close. "is... Doc is Smokey mad?" he asks.

"mad?" Doc asks confused. "why would Smokey be mad?" Doc ask.

"he was yelling as us... I thought maybe... I dunno... I mean its not like he'd..." Lightning trails, nervously.

"not like he'd what?" Doc ask. Lightning opens his mouth to say something, before closing it and curling up beside him. "not like he'd what Monty?" Doc ask softly. Lightning tightens his hold on the older.

"um... when people yell like that, it just... reminds me of things." Lightning mumbles.

"things?" Doc ask.

"my parents." Lightning mumbled. "but its, it's not like Smokey would hit us or anything right?" Lightning ask hesitantly.

"hit us? no. geez kid. they fucked you up didn't they? is that what you think every time people start yelling like that? that someone's going to hit you?" Doc ask. Lightning shrugs a little curling up more.

"yeah... kinda." Lightning mumbles. "its stupid right?" Lightning ask.

"no. it's what you grew up with kid. don't be scared of Smokey and don't be scared of me please." Doc murmurs softly. Lightning cuddles closer.

"I was afraid of you." he admits.

"what? when?" Doc ask.

"when I was trying to tell you I loved you the first time. that you were the person I wanted... I was so afraid you were going to beat my head in, that you were going to kill me." Lightning admits with nervous huff of laughter. "I-I thought... I-I was so scared you were going to hit me, that Mack and Red both, separately, had to assure me that it wasn't something you'd do. I mean I know you wouldn't do that but I thought you'd be so disgusted with me that you'd hurt me. I know its stupid Doc-" Lightning rambles. Doc places a finger over his lips gently.

"shhhh. I would never." Doc assures. "even if I hadn't felt the same about you, I would've never hurt you." Doc murmurs. "well, not on purpose at least." Doc corrects.

"I'm always scared. its what I'm used to." he sighs.

"thats okay Monty." Doc murmurs softly, kissing his head. "Smokey wouldn't hurt you. I can promise you that." Doc adds softly. Lightning nods cuddling to him. he yawns and cuddles him. Doc kisses his head gently, stroking his cheek. "get some sleep." Doc says quietly. Lightning rubs his eyes a little and yawns again, burying his face in his chest. Doc runs his fingers through his hair gently. he listens to the youngers breathing even out before letting himself fall asleep.

he mumbles feeling someone shake him.

"kid?" Doc mumbles confused.

"no." Red says. Doc blinks awake, half rolling over to look at Red.