Drink A Beer sung by Luke Bryan

When he got the news today, he didn't know what to say. So many emotions were rambling in his head. He didn't know what to do. Looking at those tears running down Sally's face just made him stand in shock.

When he finally got back to Radiator Springs, instead of throwing his victory party like they planned days ago, everyone huddled around at Flo's, talking about Doc. Everyone visited about their favorite memories of the old race car, everyone but Lightning.

He told them he was going for a drive to clear his head. When he arrived back home, he hoped that this was all a big joke and that Doc would come back out of his shop, a huge smile plastered on his face, but he knew that would never happen.

Doc had gotten really sick the past week. Most cars knew his time was coming soon. They knew the old car was going to pass on, but Lightning remained optimistic. He told them that Doc was going to pull through.

Why did he have to leave for that race? It was just an empty cup. Why didn't he stay here when his only father-figure was dying? Lightning had so much he had to say that he didn't get to. If only he had ten more minutes with Doc.

Lightning looked up, suddenly realizing how far he had really driven. His blue eyes traveled around Willy's Butte, looking at the old race track. This was where he had his first race against the stubborn blue race car.

Just looking at the place sent shivers down his spine. This was where Lightning had formed an irreplaceable bond with Doc. They had spent hours out here, just racing each other. Doc would somehow always win.

Tears began brimming the red racer's eyes. Why? Why now? Why ever? This was why Lightning never formed friendships. This was why he distanced himself all those years ago. "Hey, Stickers." Sally softly greeted, making him jump.

"Hey, Sal." Lightning mumbled, wiping his blue eyes. He had to stay strong for Sally, for the town. Lightning was their rock, their shoulder to cry on. He had to be here for them.

"How are ya doing?" She asked, drove beside him. This was tough on all of them. Doc was buried deep inside all of their hearts. Losing him was like losing a piece of yourself.

Lightning shrugged his tires, his eyes planted in the ground. What was he supposed to say? He wanted to stay strong, but he couldn't lie to Sally. "Stickers, it's okay to tell me how you're feeling." She comforted.

Just hearing those words brought on the waterworks. He couldn't control it anymore. He shut his eyes, tears flowing out. He shook from his cries. "I feel awful, Sally." He sobbed.

She nuzzled against him, trying to comfort him. This was going to hit him the hardest. Lightning was the first car to make Doc smile in years. He was the first one to get him to open up. Lightning was like his son. "I know. I'm sorry, sweetheart." She replied.

"It's not fair. The good ones are always the first ones to go. Doc went too soon. I have so much I wanted to say to him." He cried, his lips trembling.

"Sometimes the greater plan is kinda hard to understand and right now it doesn't make sense." She answered, gently rubbing against him. She had never seen Lightning this upset. He usually kept everything bottled up.

"I can't make it all make sense," He blubbered back. She nodded her head, trying to keep her tears inside her. She was going to be his rock this time. "Ya know, I won that Cup for him."

"Don't you win all of your cups for him?"

Lightning nodded his head, staring off into the distance. "Yeah, but I hoped this win would bring a light back into his eyes. I won this to try to cheer him up and bring him hope again."

"That was really sweet of you, Stickers." She softly smiled, looking into his blue eyes. He blinked away his tears and nodded his head.

"It's hard to think that he's really gone. I keep thinking that he'll jump out from those bushes and scare me like he used to." He gently chuckled, thinking of all of their memories.

"When I first came to town, he was the first one to help me. He fixed me up and made sure I was comfortable in this little town. I like to think I had a special place in his heart because he sure has one in mine." Sally replied.

"Of course you had a special place in his heart, otherwise you wouldn't have won that court case," He fired back, a small smirk present on his face. Sally softly tapped his tires, knowing he was kidding. "Ya know, I've accidentally called him Dad a few times."

"You know, he told me that he couldn't wait for his son to come home," Sally replied. Lightning turned and looked at her, furrowing his eyebrows. "He told me that when you left for one of your races last week."

Doc thought of him like his son? Immediately, tears began to flow down his face again.

They were silent as they watched the sunset disappear behind Willy's Butte. Both of them could agree that the skies were the prettiest they had ever been. The clouds were a dark purple with a light pink underneath them. Orange and red streaked across the sky, painting a beautiful scene.

"Well, I'm gonna head back," Sally stated as the sky turned a dark blue. Stars were just starting to blink awake. "You coming?"

Lightning didn't feel like going home. He didn't want to leave this spot just yet. "Ya, I'll meet you there soon." He replied, still facing towards the track.

"Okay," she replied, looking down. "I love you."

"Love ya too." He responded. She drove away, deciding he just needed some space. He needed time with Doc in their special place. This was Lightning's and Doc's favorite spot in the whole world.

Lightning drove to the starting line. He could replay his first race here in his mind. He gently smiled as he thought of Doc making fun of him for landing in the cacti. Lightning gently rubbed his left tire in the dirt. "So long, Doc. You changed me for the better. I'll remember you every time I step out onto the race track and all the time we spent here. I won't forget what you taught me." He stated, like he was talking to Doc in person.

He drove back up to the top, looking down at the full track. "I can't wait to see you again, Dad." He softly smiled.

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