Heartattack

The News

Crusher felt like he was in heaven.

He had won a race. His first race in years. Given that Blaze and AJ had won too, but the important part is that HE himself had won.

And without cheating. It was a surprise to him, but hey, it was a once in a lifetime experience.

And now, he and his teammates were going to go back to town and celebrate with some ice cream. Pickle would have gone with them, but he had to stay and clean up his broadcasting equipment.

Everything was amazing and happy while they ate. He and Blaze were chattering like old friends, and it felt like nothing could ruin his day.

Well, almost nothing.

Just then, AJ's tablet beeped, and when he went to answer it, Officer Anna appeared on the screen.

"Oh, hey, Officer Anna," the boy greeted. "How's it going?"

["Not good, I'm afraid,"] said Officer Anna grimly. ["It's... about Crusher's grammy."]

"Grammy?" Crusher turned to the tablet, a feeling of fear creeping up on him. "Wh-What about Grammy…?"

["I don't know how to explain, so I guess I better start from the beginning. While you two were at the race, Millard was delivering mail to your grammy's farmhouse. When he knocked, the door was barely open, so he went inside, and..."]

"And… wh-what…?" Crusher gulped, tires trembling.

["She was found... unconcious on the floor, probably suffering from a heart attack."]

Crusher felt his world stop at that. Everything good about that day suddenly shattered around him, just like the ice cream he held in his tires, the very one that fell in the ground as he began to hyperventilate.

"Crusher, it'll be all right," Blaze said soothingly. "Officer Anna, call Pickle and the rest of our friends, and tell em we'll meet them at the hospital."

["Alright, we'll meet you there."] With that, the call ended.

Crusher still felt his whole mind spin and his heart sink as he began to cry.

"Come on, Crusher... lean on me and cry all you need." Blaze offered.

Crusher didn't even hesitate to do just that, sobbing into his tires and Blaze's shoulder. Blaze patted him and helped his drive off, all the way to the hospital.

All of their friends were waiting there for them, and none of them hesitated to envelope Crusher in hugs.

"We heard what happened," Darington spoke. "And we're sorry this happened, Crusher,"

"You feeling okay?" Pickle asked, holding onto him the tightest.

"N-N-N-N-Noooo..."

Crusher fell into his tires and cried harder than earlier. The friends did their best to comfort him, but his tears were life waterfalls falling down his cheeks.

"Let's get you inside," Watts said. "You need to lay down and eat something."

Crusher didn't and couldn't argue as they helped him inside. They got him some snacks, but he barely had taken a bite when he began to break down again.

"He's so sad... what are we gonna do?" Starla asked in a whisper.

"Is there any way to cheer him up?" Stripes asked.

"Maybe his Little Trucky could help?" AJ suggested.

Pickle took out Little Trucky and handed it to Crusher. The dark blue truck glanced down at the truck before bursting into tears again, hugging it tightly.

"Well... at least it helped for a second..." Pickle sighed. "Maybe it's because that toy was a present from his Grammy…"

"I... I know how he feels..." Blaze sighed. "My grandmother was in the hospital a lot when I was little."

"Really…?" Darington blinked up at him. "Why…?"

"She... had cancer."

"Oh…"

"How bad is a heart attack compared to cancer?" Pickle asked out of innocent wonder.

"Compared to cancer, it's on like a one or two on the 10 scale," AJ said. "Cancer... is like an 11."

"Oh…" Pickle's eyes widened. "Yikes,"

"Either way, on the 10 scale of sadness, Crusher has hit 20," Starla sighed, pointing to the still-sobbing dark blue truck.

"Is... Blaze grandma better?" Zeg asked quietly.

The tears trickling down Blaze's cheeks was a dead giveaway.

"Uh, Zeg," Watts cleared her throat as she whispered to the dino truck. "I… think she's… you know,"

"She passed away three months after she was diagnosed..." Blaze explained. "That's why I was so close to Grammy when she always came to town... she... she reminded me so much of her..."

"There, There, Blaze," AJ patted his back.

"Don't worry about me... Crusher needs us more." Blaze sighed.

But when they turned, Crusher was fast asleep.

"Aww, he must have cried himself to sleep!" Pickle cooed as he turned. "I'm gonna go get him a blanket,"

"We'll wait for any news." Blaze nodded and turned back to his rival, who was hiccuping and shuddering in his sleep.

"Do you think Grammy's condition is that bad?" Stripes wondered.

"I don't know..." Blaze sighed.

After a while, Pickle returned with the blanket and wrapped it around the dark blue truck.

"There, nice and warm," he smiled then turned to the group. "Nothing yet?"

"Not yet..." AJ shrugged.

Pickle sighed and went with them to wait. After a couple more minutes, the doctor soon came out.

"Doc! How's Grammy doing?" Blaze questioned.

"Not so well, unfortunately," the doctor sighed.

"Why? What happened?" Gabby asked.

"The attack… it was too massive," the doctor hissed. "I… I am not sure she will live for long,"

"Oh no..." The group gasped.

"How are we gonna tell Crusher...?" Pickle gulped.

"Mm…" they turned to see Crusher waking up. "Tell me what…?

"Uh..."

The group exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what to say. Crusher turned to the doctor instead.

"How… How is Grammy, Doc?"

"Well… as I said, not good," the doctor hesitantly spoke. "Her heartattack was massive… and she… she won't live very long…"

"N-No... this... this can't be true! She's gonna be okay!"

"I am so sorry," the doctor apologized, glancing down sadly. "There's… There's nothing we can do…"

"At least... at least let me bring her home..." Crusher begged. "Please,"

The doctor nodded. "She may head home, but only to rest, understood?"

"Yes..." Crusher gave a nod.