Ride

Chapter 13- She's Awake!

I think you can guess by the name of this chapter what's going to happen. I hope you're excited for that.

Oh, and Chick has already retired in 2013 and has his Chick's Picks show. I wasn't sure whether to make him be still racing or have his show in this story. I decided that the show would be more appropriate for this story.

Enjoy! :)

Chapter 13- She's Awake!

"Welcome to Chick's Picks with Chick Hicks!" you-know-who declared. "I'm the Piston Cup champion who needs no introduction: Chick Hicks!"

Lightning groaned for three reasons. One, he had a pounding hoodache from his hangover (Mater had had to tow him to the hospital that morning, he was so hungover). Moreover, the reporters hanging around outside the hospital sure as hell didn't help that. Two, he was still very upset over the whole thing with Fudge, obviously. Three, Chick. Chick Hicks had retired a couple of years ago and someone at RSN (Racing Sports Network) had had the bright idea of giving him his own TV show. He and the rest of the RS gang only ever watched the show out of curiosity. Now, the rerun from the night before was on in the hospital lounge the morning after the race while the RS gang; Luigi's family and their spy friends apart from Luigi and Guido were gathered in said lounge. So, despite the fact that it was just about the last thing he wanted to do, McQueen found himself watching his old rival's TV show.

"Of course, first thing on the agenda: my old pal, Lightning McQueen! This is the first time a Piston Cup racer has voluntarily bailed out of a race. Guess racing isn't as enjoyable without me!" He laughed. "So, McQueen hasn't commented on this, but his sponsors have. Here's what they had to say!"

The screen cut to footage of Rusty and Dusty outside the Rust-Eze sponsor tent.

"We haven't heard from Lightnin' just yet", Dusty reported, "but we can easily assume that racin' is too difficult with everythin' that he's been goin' through over the past month or so. You know, with his cheerleader bein' in the hospital and all."

"Can we expect McQueen to return for next week's race?" RSN reporter, Amy Winslow, called out.

"Like we said, we haven't heard from Lightnin' yet!" Rusty responded. "We're leavin' this decision in his tyres entirely and so, we'll let you know when we hear from Lightnin'."

"Oh, man!" Chick exclaimed. "I think I might've retired a little too early! If I'd have known beating McQueen would be this easy now, I would've kept goin'! You all know how much I love to beat McQueen! Which I have done!"

Lightning gave another groan. "You gotta be kidding me!"

"How can he get away with saying that?!" Sally wondered.

"Because he's Chick!" McQueen responded. "Do you think he knows about what happened to Fudge?! Or cares?!"

"I don't know, Stickers", Sally replied sympathetically. "Chick's just a jerk!"

The stock car sighed as he started to drive away. "Let's get out of here! Chick is the last person I wanna see or hear right now!"

"Me too", the Porsche agreed, rolling off after him.

He ran into Dr. Wilson on the way past.

"How's Fudge?!" Lightning demanded.

Dr. Wilson hesitated. She knew who Lightning McQueen was, of course, and how close he was to her patient. Could she tell him? Of course she could. They were brother and sister.