McQueens big wreck

Chapter 42

"hmm. bigger kid." Doc mutters. "starting to feel like a dad to you younger bigger kids. whats up?" Doc asks. Red rubs his face, stifling a yawn.

"sorry Doc, Smokey wants you." Red mumbles.

"and he sent you because?" Doc asks.

"because he knows Lightning will cuddle me better than laying by himself or laying with Mack." Red said. Doc mutters to himself and carefully pulls the younger off him. Lightning whines, gripping his shirt.

"shhhh." Doc murmurs, getting free carefully. he gets up and moves so Red can get on the bed.

"he's in the kitchen." Red murmurs, laying with him. he pulls the blanket over then gently and holds him. Red watches Doc leave, before pulling Lightning closer.

"Doc?" he ask quietly.

"he had to get up." Red murmurs softly, yawning. Lightning nods and curls up, holding onto his shirt and burying his face in his chest.

"good thing I didn't kiss you." he mumbles. he yawns and cuddles him, settling back down to sleep.

"yeah." Red snorts softly. he chuckles and pulls the blanket tighter around them. they both settle back down quietly for a few hours. until Lightning shifted. he mumbles quietly and sits up, stretching. Reds still snoring beside him. he gets up carefully, trying to keep from waking Red. he grabs some clothes and headed for a shower. he felt stupid as he got out, wearing Docs shirts because it made him feel safe. he figured Doc didn't really mind, but he felt stupid about it, even more so as he pulled his own shirt on. he dried his hair and headed for the living room. Docs sitting on the couch staring at the blank tv with a cup of coffee in his hand, when Lightning walks in. he watches the older man for a few moments before clearing his throat.

"Doc?" Lightning ask. Doc looked over at him.

"hey kid whats up?" Doc ask with a small smile.

"could ask you the same... you're acting weird." Lightning said, confused.

"I'm okay, just thinking about this whole mess and what I can do." Doc says. Lightning nods. Doc smiles at him and holds his arm up, motioning for the younger to come over and sit with him. he does quietly, settling in beside him and letting the older hold him. "are you okay?" Doc ask.

"yeah. m'okay." he mumbles. "maybe a little hungover, but I'm okay." he says.

"hungover? kid you barely had any moonshine." Doc snorts.

"yeah but I packed the hotel mini bar into my bag, so I had a little more that just moonshine." Lightning shrugs. Doc chuckles softly and holds him.

"sorry I had to get up early this morning." Doc murmurs.

"what happened?" he ask.

"uh, just some mess at Cotter Pin." Doc says.

"don't lie to me again just to protect me, its not helping." Lightning said. Doc heaves a sigh, but knows he's right.

"Chick found us, sort of. made a big mess at Cotter Pin with his crew chief, but we got it taken care of." Doc assures. Lightning nods slightly.

"taken care of like the other guy or...?" Lightning ask.

"not quite. unfortunately. they were already gone." Doc frowns. "but we got footage of them." Doc adds.

"so he's really here then?" Lightning mumbled. "we really aren't safe... no one is, not with me." Lightning sighs quietly. Doc pulls him closer.

"we'll be fine kid. I'm gonna take you out on the range today. I know you don't want to so keep your mouth shut." Doc warns. Lightning flinches a little, looking away. "I wanted to take this slow but Chick is drafting on us." Doc mutters.