Cars (Human AU) - Finished

3. Bessie

We stood looking up at a road paver, tar already bubbling in the tank.

Mater towed our racecar with his truck to be hooked up.

"This here is Bessie, finest Road-Paving Machine ever built." Doc patted the side. "I'm hereby sentencing you two to community service. You're gonna fix the road under my supervision."

"WHAT!? This place is crazy!" McQueen yelled.

"So we're gonna hitch you up to sweet Bessie, and you're gonna pull her nice."

"You gotta be kidding me!" McQueen complained. "Can't I just pay for the damage? We can have a whole road crew here in less than a week!"

Doc ignored him. "You start there where the road begins, here at the courthouse, you finish down there where the road ends, when it meets the next."

"Holy shoot!" Mater yelled, looking at the road.

"How long is this gonna take, Doc?" I asked.

"Well, fella does it right, should take him about 5-days."

"5-days?! But I should be in California schmoozing Dinoco right now!"

"Then if I were you, I'd quit yapping and start working! Hook him up, Mater."

Mater tossed McQueen the keys and unlocked the parking boot.

"Let's just get it done, L," I muttered climbing in with him.

As soon as the boot clattered to the ground, the engine roared to life and McQueen hit the gas. "Freedom! Woo-hoo! Goodbye, Radiator Springs, and goodbye, Bessie! California, here I come! Yeah! Oh, fell that wind! Yes!" The car started sputtering at the city line. "No, no, no, no! Outta gas? How can I be outta gas?"

The Sheriff and Sally were waiting for us. "Boy, we ain't as dumb as you think we are."

Lightning groaned. "But, but, but how did...? How did--? You--?"

"We siphoned your gas while you were passed out in the drunk tank." Sally finger gunned out her own window, making fun of him. "KA-CHOW!"

Sheriff laughed and picked up his CB mic. "Come get 'em, Mater."

"You'll be lucky if they don't charge us with running from the fucking cops too," I scolded my friend. "You know that little voice in your head that tells you not to do dumb things? Yours must be mute. Or you must be deaf because you certainly don't listen to it!"

"Are you going to scold me the whole time, J?"

"Would you rather I punched you? Cuz that can be arranged."

"Scolding it is," McQueen sighed.

~~~

I had climbed out of the car to get our lunch while Lighting continued the work. Fillmore and Sargent were having a friendly conversation. Flo's V8 Cafe was one of the few places to get food and I had to wonder if enough people really came through to keep this tiny town alive.

"Here ya go kid," Flo said, handing me the two to-go meals.

"Thank you, ma'am," I said, handing her the money for our burgers and fries.

"At least one of you boys has some manners," Sarge laughed. "How'd you ever fall in with a boy like McQueen?"

"Don't be too hard on him, sir," I sighed. "He a cocky dumbass but he's my best friend. I promise he deserves more of a chance than he's been given."

The sherif came through the door at that moment. "Gentlemen," he acknowledged Sarge and Filmore. He looked at me. "You best get back to your friend out there. Break times almost up."