His Lucky Charm

Slowly but Surely

She pushed past McQueen and charged towards Chick.

He looked at her but she suddenly shoved him. He looked at her. Fear filled his eyes.

"If he dies it's because of you!" She yelled. Tears ran down her face. McQueen was rushing over to her.

"Lynda-"

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" She screamed in anger.  Anger and rage filled her eyes. Chick knew she had every right.

"Isn't he going to be okay-"

"No! He wasn't breathing!" She held her head as Lightning walked over to her.

"Enjoy your stupid championship! You wouldn't have gotten it without almost killing my husband! I hope you know that!" McQueen gently grabbed her and pulled her towards his car.

He helped her in and then raced to the hospital.

Chick stood there looking at Strips crumbled blue car.

"What... have I done..."

Lynda rushed into the hospital. She realized she didn't even have her shoes on. Oh she didn't care. She got to the front desk with Lightning.

"Strip Weathers?!" She said panicked.

"He's in intensive care ma'am. He isn't allowed any guests." The woman said nonchalantly, as if this was normal.

Lynda teared up. Lightning walked over. "Um, she's his wife. Does that help?"

"No. She can't go in. His situation is too fragile she has to stay out here and wait for the all clear." Lynda's tears started to fall.

Lightning nodded. He thanked the lady, and brought her over to a chair in the corner. Her tears just fell as she sat there, staring at the ground.

"He may not even make it..." she said quietly. Lightning knelt down in front of her. "Don't think that way."

She looked at her wedding ring. "He would've told me that too..."

The two waited for hours. 6 long hours. Lynda told Tex not to bring the girls until he woke up. She was there alone with lightning.

She paced.

Holding her head as she heard a person approaching her quickly.

"Mrs. Weathers?"

She turned towards a nurse. "Your husband is in a recovery suite. Want to see him?"

Lynda nearly broke into tears hearing he was alive. She just nodded. McQueen followed behind her.

The nurse looked at Strips file. "He is... in rough shape. He isn't even awake yet. His left leg is broken, broken left arm, collapsed lung, which was caused by cracked and or broken ribs. He also has a concussion..." the nurse said.

"Do you want more info?" The nurse asked. Lynda teared up and nodded.

"He... he technically died and was revived."

Lynda stopped walking and looked at the nurse in disbelief. She felt like crying again. "He called out for you when he came to."

Lynda then immediately started walking again.

They came to his room. McQueen told her he'd wait outside to give her a moment. Lynda just nodded a bit. She couldn't even imagine what he would look like.

She entered ahead of the nurse.

There laid her husband. He wasn't awake. A bruise covered the left side of his face. She teared up as she stepped closer to him. She saw his leg in a brace, his arm as well.

He looked so weak laying there. She let her tears fall. "Chances of waking up?" She said, trying to hard to sound strong.

"The doctor said 50%."

Lynda shook her head. "So he wakes up... or he doesn't."

"Yes ma'am."

"Oh baby..." Lynda's voice broke as she kissed his forehead. He was attached to a ventilator, so many other machines, and had a neck brace.

"Don't leave..." she gently put her forehead against his.

McQueen came in a little while later. She was sitting in a chair, looking at Strip. Never taking her eyes off of him.

He stood next to her. He was silent.

"He has a 50/50 chance of waking up." Lynda said quietly. Those words struck a nerve in lightning.

"He was always defeating the odds... but this one..." she didn't have any more tears to cry.

"There's a chance he won't."

McQueen looked at his idol lay there. He just seemed so lifeless. "He'll be okay..."

She chuckled sadly. "I hope so."

Hours went by. She had been at the hospital for an additional 8 hours.

She fell asleep on the side where his hand was only scratched up. She held his hand as she slept. McQueen slept as he leaned against the wall.

As she slept, his hand squeezed hers slightly. Lynda lifted her head slightly. She saw him and squeezed his hand slightly.

She looked at his face and saw his eyes barely opened. She teared up as she looked at him. She kissed his hand as he squeezed it tighter.

He couldn't speak because of the tube going down his throat to help him breathe. He teared up a little bit as he looked at her.

She pressed the call button for the nurse, but didn't dare leave him. "Hey baby."

She gently caressed his face. He teared up more. She knew he was in pain... "I know. I know."

The nurses came in. They attempted to make him let go of her hand, but he slightly shook his head. Lynda stayed right by him as they did their checks.

The doctor came in for the first time. "Mrs. Weathers?"

She looked up. "Hi."

"Hi. Can I talk to you about your husbands situation?" The doctor said as she sat down.

"Of course." Lynda was tired.

"Well... do you want bad or good news first?" Lynda's heart nearly stopped when she heard that.

"Um... good news."

"He will be able to make a full recovery." Lynda felt relief from that. But she knew the bad news still loomed.

"And the bad?"

"He will never race again."

Strip gripped Lynda's hand as he closed his eyes tight. Lynda nodded a bit as she could feel strips anguish in her hand. His hand was shaking slightly.

"I'm sorry..."

Lynda nodded a bit.

"It's not your fault. He's alive. That's most important."