Chapter Text
It's been three weeks. Three long weeks since Lightning has been free. Free from Harv. Harv had to leave the country and Lightning was able to recover from his concussion and arm injury at home. Harv had done it to him.
In Radiator Springs, Lightning could breathe a sigh of relief. It was like a cure. He could clear his head. In the third week, he had another race. A big race. He won it with ease. Doc was happy for his protégé. They celebrated at home with the people of Radiator Springs.
They celebrated until late at night near Doc’s house cause that’s where Lightning lived since he moved to Radiator Springs. Doc took him in at that time without hesitation.
Lightning slept in the next morning.
That was the day it began. The next stage in Lightning's life that he would have liked to avoid.
He was not a morning person. Absolutely not. Something rang. Lightning hit his alarm clock in his half-sleep. It kept ringing. He hit it again. Ringing. He groaned and covered his ears with his pillow. It didn't help at all. It kept ringing. Groaning, Lightning opened his eyes and looked at his phone. An unknown number adorned the display.
Huh, strange. Who could it be?
Lightning had saved his most important contacts. He decided not to answer it. Great. Now he was awake anyway. He looked at his phone. The unknown caller had given up and the time appeared. 10.03 am. Sighing, Lightning got up.
Now I can't go back to sleep anyway.
He got dressed and went to the bathroom to freshen up and then to Doc. Doc was sitting at the breakfast table. He also had slept in longer, which is usually very rare. He smiled at the still-sleepy Lightning.
"Hey, rookie, did you sleep well?"
"Hmm morning," came only the unclear answer.
"Want some? I made pancakes."
"Pancakes?" Lightning's eyes lit up and Doc laughed.
"Sure, favorite food for my favorite rookie," smiling he placed a few pancakes on the plate prepared for Lightning.
"Last time I checked I'm your only rookie." Lightning grinned and sat down across from Doc at the table.
"But you're still my favorite," Doc winked.
Lightning ate his beloved pancakes. "Thanks, Doc. Delicious."
"You're welcome, kid."
"What are you up to today?" Doc asked.
"Nothing special, maybe I'll go over to Mater's later. We haven't done anything together in a long time."
"What about Sally?"
"Oh, Sally is out all day today. She has a few appointments in neighboring cities."
"Lawyers are always busy."
"Yeah, you're right. But you're a judge. Aren't they usually busy too?"
"Oh, I'm just a local judge," Doc grinned. "My full-time job is taking care of you so that you don't do anything stupid."
"Oh Doc," Lightning rolled his eyes and laughed.
They finished their pancakes and Doc took the dishes to the sink. Lightning also got up and went to the door. "Thanks again for the pancakes. I'm going over to Mater's now."
"Wait a second," Doc said quickly.
"What is it?" Lightning already had his hand on the doorknob.
"It's really hot today. Don't forget your cap. And drink plenty. Oh, and take off your jacket. It's cool here but it's too hot outside."
"Okay," Lightning said and let go of the doorknob. He went into his room and heard Doc washing the dishes and the water rushing. They always took turns. One day Doc, one day Lightning. And if Lightning forgot, which happened not infrequently, then Doc reminded him.
Lightning was in his room and looked around.
Where did I put that cap again?
He scratched his head in confusion.
Ah, there it is.
A red cap with a lightning bolt on it peeked out from under the nightstand. Lightning picked it up. At that moment his phone rang, which was still lying on the nightstand. Unknown number.
Again? Lightning furrowed his brow.
Should I or shouldn't I?
Lightning decided to answer.
"Hello?"
"Well if it isn't our champion."
A cold shiver ran down Lightning's back. He gasped. No, that can't be. No, that's not true.
"Harv?" Lightning asked shocked in disbelief.
The voice on the phone laughed mockingly. "Well recognized, boy. You recognize your former agent again."
"How did you get my number? I changed it."
"Oh, I have my contacts, champion. Congratulations by the way on your insane win yesterday." You could hear Harv's false grin in his voice.
"Save it, Harv, you're out of my life. I'm hanging up now." Lightning was angry. How dare Harv call him?
"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you," Harv said calmly.
Too calmly. Lightning got goosebumps. "Why?"
"Well you know, I think you still want to race, right?"
"What do you want Harv?" Lightning began to lose patience.
"You know the penalty for illegal engines, do you?"
Lightning didn't answer. Of course, what a stupid question.
Harv continued. "What if I told you that your win yesterday was a fraud? You have an illegal engine in your beloved car."
That can't be true. No, he's just threatening. He's joking.
"Yeah right, of course. And butterflies come out of the exhaust pipe."
"Don't joke around champion," Harv said still calmly. Such a disgustingly calm voice. Something wasn't right.
Lightning trembled. Why was he trembling? No, he's just threatening. Empty threat.
"Why should I have an illegal engine in my car? Luigi and Guido checked everything before the race and besides, there was still one of the..." Lightning caught his breath. No.
"And then there was one of the mechanics from the racetrack who checked your car? Oh, you're so naive. That was my man. I hired him and he swapped your engine out for me. I have enough evidence. Photos and everything else too! Look in your car if you don't believe me."
Lightning trembled more and began to panic. He clutched his phone so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"Well has it taken your breath away Champ? If you don't answer I'll tell you more. If this little secret stays between us...and I don't think you want anyone to find out about it. I mean you could go to jail for that or get fined or lose your driver's license or get kicked out of the Piston Cup. Disqualified forever."
Stop it Harv, stop it!
"I digress...so you probably don't want all that. And no one will know it was me."
"What do you want Harv?" Lightning said softly. Barely audible but Harv heard it. Harv grinned. You could hear it.
"Lose the next race on purpose. Last place. Heard you still don't have a new agent. No one will want you if you lose."
That was true. Lightning hadn't decided on a new agent yet. He couldn't wait too long with that. But lose one race? Is that so bad?
“Harv, why?”
“You ruined me and kicked me out of the States and I’ll ruin you. Then we’re even, champ…oh, and fire your crew chief."
The words stabbed Lightning in the heart. Never, never, never ever!
"I won't do that Harv!"
"Oh yes, you will, stupid child! Decide! Jail fine and getting kicked out of Piston Cup or lose race and fire your stupid crew chief. I'll call back later. Then I want to know your decision. Otherwise, I'll send the evidence to the officials of piston cup...have a nice day." Harv laughed evilly and hung up.
Lightning stood there as if rooted to the spot. He didn't move an inch.
Was it just a nightmare?
Lightning realized what had just happened and was thrown back into reality. He threw his phone and cap on the bed and ran out. He stormed through the living area.
"Hey rookie, what's wrong?" Doc called after him.
"You forgot your cap, kid!"
But Lightning was already outside and the door slammed shut behind him. He ran to the garage. His #95 car was there, ready for another ride. But that's not why Lightning was here. He opened the hood and was shocked. That wasn't his engine. He knew what his engine looked like. That wasn't his engine! Lightning panicked.
My, my victory yesterday. Was illegal! I will, I will lose everything. No, no!
Lightning's world began to spin and he trembled. Harv will hurt me, Harv will hurt my reputation, my career, my passion, my...
He slammed the hood shut and leaned back against his car. He ran one hand hectically through his hair.
What should I do? What should I...
Harv wants me to lose the next race. Just one stupid race. And that I fire Doc. No! I won't do that! Never!
Doc...Doc promised.
He promised that Harv would have nothing more to do with me.
Lightning began to cry.
At that moment Doc came into the garage. He was worried because Lightning had stormed out of the house so suddenly. "Oh Kid, what happened?" Doc ran to his protégé and looked at him anxiously. He wanted to take him in his arms, hold him close, comfort him, but Lightning tore himself away and took a few steps back. He looked at Doc, tears in his eyes, anger in his gaze, disappointment in his heart that appeared on his face through despair.
Doc's heart shredded into a thousand pieces. His Kid is suffering again. "Oh Monty," Doc approached him and wanted to put a hand on his shoulder but Lightning ducked and ran out of the garage. He stopped briefly at the door and turned around.
Desperately, angrily and trembling he looked deep into Doc's eyes. "You promised," he said and ran away.
"Lightning wait," Doc ran out of the garage and saw his Kid running away into the desert, all alone as fast as he could in the heat without a cap.
What happened? Everything was fine at breakfast. Doc stood in front of the house clueless and desperate. The last time he had seen his Kid like this was when...no. Harv can't hurt him anymore can he?
Goodness kid, what is weighing on your young heart? Doc watched Lightning until he was no longer visible. Doc ran a hand over his face. Half an hour, if he's not back in half an hour I'll get help.
And Doc waited. He went back into the house and kept looking out of the window. He couldn't concentrate on anything. All he could see in his thoughts were Lightning's desperate look, his anger, his tears.
Is he angry with me? What did I promise him? What didn't I keep? Oh kid, I'm sorry if it's my fault.
He went back outside.
Doc looked tense at his wristwatch. The sun was beating down hot from above. Luckily he was wearing a hat, but sweat was still dripping from his forehead.
That’s it. He had waited long enough. He walked briskly to Flo's. Probably everyone is there to treat themselves to a cool drink. Usually, that's the case on hot days.
Doc swung the door open and a small bell jingled above the door. Sheriff was sitting with Mater and Sarge at a table. The others were also at other tables, but Doc had no time to look closely at who was there. He walked over to Sheriff's table.
"Well Hello Doc, what's the matter?" Sheriff asked. He knew something wasn't right.
"Sheriff, Lightning is gone. Too long. Out in the heat. I could never find him alone."
Sheriff immediately put on an alarmed face. "Since when?"
"Half an hour. Without a car. And he ran. And he was stressed."
"Shoot, that's not a good idea," Mater remarked.
"Why did the boy run away?" Sarge asked.
"I have no idea," Doc said tensely and ran a hand over his face. "He was mad at me, I think? He said I promised him something."
"What did ya promise him?" Mater asked.
"I have absolutely no idea what he meant," Doc answered.
Sheriff stood up and said. "Whatever got the boy upset, he won't stop running away until something bad happens. We know that now."
"I know, that's what worries me. And it's so hot outside." Doc said hectically.
Sarge thought for a moment. "Where did he run to?"
"Right into the desert. I don't know exactly where. I thought he would come back soon. I gave him half an hour in my mind. That's up now." Doc walked with Sheriff to the door. Mater got up and followed them. Sarge wanted to stay there. He said he wouldn't be any help anyway.
The three went out into the Arizona summer midday heat. They were almost knocked out by it. About 102°F / 39°C.
"Damn, Lightning didn't pick good weather for a desert trip," Mater stated.
Sheriff thought for a moment. "There's no way we'll find him in time with the car if we don't even know where he is."
"He'll get a heatstroke!" Doc became more panicked.
Sheriff put a hand on Doc's shoulder. "That's why we'll act quickly and approach the matter systematically."
He looked at Mater. "Do you still have the little drone that Lightning once gave you?"
"Uh, I think so."
"Get it as fast as you can. We'll meet at Lightning's headquarters." Sheriff gave him a serious look and Mater ran off. Doc wanted to say something, that Mater shouldn’t run in the heat. But he didn’t. It's only a short distance.
After a few minutes, they met at the agreed place. Doc's heart was beating fast. His kid might be in danger. He was scared.
Mater had brought the drone.
"Start that thing," Sheriff told him.
The drone started blinking and the propellers started up. A soft hum interrupted the silence. The drone took off and hovered above them.
"And now?" Mater asked a bit clueless.
"Now you fly as high as possible in that direction. Half an hour is long. He could be everywhere, but fly there first." Sheriff showed him a direction.
And the drone flew there. It had a camera, it was quite a high-tech drone that Lightning had given Mater as a gift. Sheriff and Doc stood to the right and left of Mater and looked at the small display on the remote control.
Doc had already parked his car nearby and put important things inside.
On the display, you could see nothing but desert, dust, cacti, and occasionally a small almost dried-up bush.
With each minute that passed, Doc became more restless. He simply couldn't bear doing nothing and just waiting. Did it even make sense? Lightning could be anywhere else.
"Fly higher," Sheriff instructed Mater.
The drone flew higher and the bushes got smaller. More to see at a glance, but also harder to recognize something specific. Mater occasionally changed direction. Flew here and there sometimes.
More minutes passed by. The wait was almost unbearable. Doc's thoughts followed in circles and screamed things at him about what could happen to his kid.
"There!" Doc suddenly shouted out loud when a small dot appeared on the display.
It moved quickly and glowed red and yellow. "That's Lightning in his #95 jacket."
"Fly closer," Sheriff said firmly.
The little dot grew larger, you could see Lightning's outline. he walked slower, stopped, and sat down on the ground.
"Can you send me the coordinates to my phone?" Doc asked Mater.
"Well, I don't know how, let me look," Mater said stressed out and pressed some buttons.
It all happened very quickly. Lightning took off his jacket and shortly afterwards tipped backwards, blinked a few times and then his eyes shot shut.
Doc was alarmed. "Heatstroke, exhaustion! Mater the coordinates!" he called out and ran to his car. Sheriff behind him.
"I did it! Coordinates are with ya!" Mater called after them.
Doc hastily pulled his phone out of his pocket and got into his car. He handed Sheriff his phone. "Navigate me."
The engine started and they drove off. "It's not too far away. About four minutes," Sheriff said.
"Maybe he ran unconsciously in circles or zigzagged. Lucky for him and us," Doc said driving concentrated in the direction Sheriff told him.