His Lucky Charm

Relationships

Strip just looked at Lynda after the doctor left. He looked heartbroken.

She couldn't look at him for long. "I know..." she said as she looked at his hand. "I know..."

She kissed his hand as he laid there. "McQueen..." she said quietly.

Lightning looked at her. "Can... can you get Tex, call him to bring the girls?"

"Of course, Mrs. The king." He said as he fixed his racing suit.

"And ask him to bring him you some clothes. I know those suits ain't comfortable for long term." She said as she looked at him.

"They're fine-"

"Just tell him to bring you some. And also.. just call me Lynda." She said with a tired smile. Lightning just nodded and walked out to find a phone.

The couple stayed there in silence. She looked at him. He still had a loving look in his eyes even though he could barely move, talk, or breathe on his own.

"How do you feel?"

His hand shook as he squeezed her hand.

"I know you're in pain..." she sighed and teared up again. Her mind played the image him of being brought of the car. He wasn't alive at that point.

He rubbed her hand with his thumb, as if asking her what's wrong. She just chuckled as tears started to fall.

"You died hun."

His thumb stopped moving. "When they pulled you out of the car... you weren't breathing." Her tears fell faster.

"I had lost you." She put her forehead against his hand as she squeezed his hand.

"I thought you died...." She continued to cry. "I saw chick hit you... it was so blatantly..." she didn't finish her sentence.

She just looked at him. Strip let go of her hand, and wiped her tears.

He winced as he lifted his good arm. He pointed at himself and then gave her a thumbs up. He lowered his hand but poked her cheek gently.

She was so thankful he was okay. 

About an hour later, Tex arrived. The girls were behind him. They hadn't slept since his crash. Tex saw McQueen and nodded at him as he handed him a bag, and rushed over to Strip.

"Oh son..."

The girls teared up as they came to his side. The two held his hand as he laid there. He squeezed their hands as Lynda walked over to McQueen.

McQueen handed her her clothes and shoes. "Need anything else?" He asked. She just shook her head. She went to the mini bathroom and got chanced.

Lightning just pulled his fireproofs off and put the T-shirt on.

As the girls chatted with their father. Tex walked over to Lightning. "McQueen..."

Lightning looked at him. Tex just hugged him. "Thank you..."

Lightning hugged him a bit back. "No problem sir."

Tex pulled from the hug. "He... the paramedics told me, if you weren't helping them do CPR, he wouldn't have made it off the track."

Lightning was shocked by that. "I just did what was right sir."

"And I appreciate it."

Tex took the girls to go get food. Yes they were adults, but he needs to get them out of there. Lynda didn't budge.

She somehow convinced McQueen to leave. He did. Doc came to pick him up with Sally.

Lynda stayed by his side until she heard the door open. "Lightning... I told you to-"

Chick.

She immediately stood. All of the anger she had for him came rushing back. As she stood there, strip was asleep.

"Lynda-"

"It is Mrs. Weathers to you." She snapped. Chick immediately stopped talking.

"So... champ. How does it feel? To be a champion at the expense of another racer?" She said walking towards him.

Chick felt so much guilt. He hadn't even looked at his Piston Cup. He turned his head from her gaze.

"Look at me."

He turned his head towards her. She pointed at her husband. "That... the fact he can't breathe... the fact he won't race again, is all on you." She said sadly.

Chick just looked down.

"The fact that no one believes you're a champion says all it needs to. You killed for a championship just cause he was better than you?"

"Lynda... you don't know how much guilt I feel. I- I didn't mean for it to get to this point-"

"You let it!!!" She yelled. Chick knew she was right.

"He reached out to you for years. EVER SINCE YOU GUYS FOUGHT!" She shoved his chest sharply.

"And all you did was see him as an enemy. Chick he still sees you as a friend after you did this to him!" Lynda was furious.

Chick accepted her anger. He let her say everything she needed. She was right.

He regretted what he did to Strip the moment he hit the back of his car.

"I will never, ever! Forgive you... two days ago, I would've. But now, I can't."

"I'm sorry."

Lynda just laughed in disbelief. She looked at her husband and then him. "It's too damn late for apologies for me." She shook her head.

"He may forgive you. I don't know what he wants. He can't speak.... But knowing him..." she sighed as she held her head.

"He will still open his arms to you. He's a saint." She turned towards her husband and grabbed her purse.

"I need to calm down. You can talk to him." She just walked out of the room. She was fuming.

Chick stood there looking at Strip. He slowly walked over to his side. He sat down by the bed. He looked at Strips hand.

"I don't know what happened..." Chick said quietly. He teared up and held his head.

"I... I didn't mean for it to turn out like this." Tears welled up in his eyes.

"I never wanted to not be your friend. I don't know why I pushed you away." His tears fell.

"I wanted to be your equal, and I thought me being able to beat you would lead to that. But... the way I went about it was so so so so bad."

He covered his face. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry. I- I know sorry will never be enough. I ruined your life. You can't even get into the car again..."

Chick sobbed as he closed his eyes. "I-"

As he sat there, he saw Strips hand open towards him. Strip was looking at him as he did. Chick held his hand as he cried more.

"I'm sorry, Strip."

Strip just squeezed his hand.