The next day...

The sudden sound of military trumpet music and 'Hendrix' music began playing loudly out of nowhere as it startled me, "WILL YOU TURN OFF THAT DISRESPECTFUL JUNK OFF!" 

"Respect the classics man, It's Hendrix!" 

"What the-Ow!" I winced at the noise until it subsided, revealing that I was immobilized in a mechanical clinic on an engine lifter. This terrified me because I had an intense fear of heights, I squirmed in my immobilized state,  reflecting the overhead lights of the mechanical clinic. 

Panic coursed through my circuits as I tried to comprehend her surroundings. But it was the realization that I was suspended high above the ground that truly rattled me — heights had never been my forte.

Just then, the cacophony subsided, and a gravelly, soothing baritone voice cut through the tension, "Oh good, you're awake." I looked down and saw a familiar dark blue car that seemed older than the others. 

It was a 1951 Hudson Hornet, which seemed very handsome. The polished blue paint gleamed under the bright lights of the room. The moment my yellow eyes met his deep blue ones, time stood still, and I could hear my heart racing.

Though I didn't know this car, something told me that I did.

"Um, hello," I began, my voice trembling. "Who are you?"

My voice jolted him out of his daze, and he cleared his throat, adopting a serious expression, "The name's Doc Hudson, and I'll be your doctor for today." 

"Can...can I ask what happened to me?" I quietly asked. 

He nodded at me as he took a clipboard from his desk to scroll through notes related to my incident.

"You passed out on the road due to a gas leak in your oil tanks," he informed me. "You'd be offline by now if it weren't for the Sheriff and the little girl."

The thought of offlining was something I didn't want to do because I had a purpose in life. Watching him turn around as he gets ready to do a check-up on me, "So, care to tell me about on how you got yourself a gas leak?" 

"I'm... well, I was just passing through the road from anywhere far away from the city with my daughter, and then—" 

I paused immediately when I mentioned my daughter, and like every protective mother would react, began panicking in fear of what might have happened to her. 

"Oh my god, Heidi, where is she?" 

Noticing my fear, Doc turns around to say: "Your daughter is fine, Miss Adler." He reassured. A wave of relief washed over me, though the panic still lurked just beneath the surface. 

"Thank goodness," I murmured, trying to focus on Doc's calm demeanor, "I just... I just need to know she's safe." He nods, "We'll, if it makes you feel any better, I can tell you that she's at Flo's Cafe with the other residents of this town."

Written with confusion on my face, I furrowed a bit: "Flo's V8 Cafe?"

Doc nodded, a smile creeping onto his lips. "Yes, Flo's V8 Cafe. It's the only place in town that can handle that many residents all at once." Adjusting his glasses—an odd gesture considering he was a car, but it somehow added to his professionalism: 

'More like good-looking professionalism, whoa, okay what did I just say right now?' 

"Miss Adler, your vitals are racing." 

My headlights turn hot that I felt my engine heart racing and tried to conceal it. "I-It's nothing, must be the w-weather," I stammered. 

He raised an eyebridge in amusement but quickly shook it off before shifting to a different topic, to which I was grateful. 

"Let's check if your oil tanks are functioning properly," Doc rolls underneath me but stops midway only to look up to meet my yellow eyes for permission. 

Although I hesitated, I nodded in approval. 

His presence as a doctor made me feel safe, a feeling I hadn't experienced in a long time.

As he got to work, my thoughts raced while I remained still. I focused intently on him and the engine lifter, aware that my heart was connected to the vital machine that had begun beeping again.

"Is there something the matter?" 

"Um... there is...It's just that I'm not particularly fond of heights." I shyly but nervously confessed to him, making him pause before rolling away from me to take out his clipboard from his desk 

I thanked him as I waited for him to put me down while he continued to examine me. 

And if I'm being honest, I have never felt so embarrassed to let a doctor such as Doc check up on me, "This ain't so bad," Doc said, interrupting my spiraling thoughts: "Just need to make sure you don't try to drive fast or hit your engine with a rock or metal scratch under your oil tanks next time."

With a flicker of his tire, the engine lifter began gently lowering me down. I felt the fear wash over me with relief after Doc finally put me back on the floor from the engine lifter. He then began rechecking my vitals and oil tanks in case I got any leakage again.

"Thank you, Doc Hudson," 

Doc then says, "You can just call me Doc. Everyone here calls me that."

"Ok, Doc." I suddenly giggled at how cute it sounded. 

Unbeknownst to me, Doc secretly smiled.

As the scene shifted, Doc held the door open for me. I thanked him and stepped outside, feeling the sun's warmth on my roof. I looked up to see the bright light, wincing slightly as Doc joined me. I then asked, "By the way, what town am I in?"

"You're in Radiator Springs, " he replies. "I'm guessing you don't know it?"

The words clicked and I smiled, "Oh I've heard it," I said, "I heard it was popular back in its heyday. I've always wanted to come here." 

"Really now? Most cars would often say they don't want to." Doc frowns a bit, "Like the rest of the world does." 

"Thankfully, I'm not like those clueless cars, and neither is my daughter," I told him, making him chuckle. "I can tell, just by your voice." His charming response made my headlights warm up, and we began discussing my daughter's whereabouts and whether he could help me find her.

I agreed, and we drove to a place called 'Flo's V8 Cafe.' I remembered Doc bringing me there to see my daughter, where I encountered a 1949 Mercury Police Cruiser, presumably the Sheriff. "That's the Sheriff talking with—"

"A 1953 Motoroma Model." I finished his sentence.

"You know about cars?" 

"Yep." I continue to grin with pride, "I've done my Car history research about anyone through books so this isn't my first rodeo. And if I'm not mistaken that woman is a 1953 Motorama Model must be Flo, I presume?"

Doc nodded, a twinkle in his eye: "You've got quite the knowledge for cars that don't live around these parts of town. You'd likely fit right in with the folks." I chuckled, feeling a swell of pride, "Well, I do my best. Someone's got to keep up with all the classic models driving around."

As we rolled into Flo's V8 Café, the smell of fresh gasoline and fry grease filled the air; Making me feel a mixture of nostalgia and excitement from when I was in my youth, I would go to Cafes and Diners like these back in Motor City: 'I miss it.' 

Flo was busy chatting it up with some regulars, her vibrant colors shining nearly as bright as her personality.

"Hey there, Flo!" Doc called out, cruising up to the order window: "Got a mother here looking for her daughter." 

Flo turned with a friendly smile, her headlights flickering in acknowledgment. "Well," She replied, her voice smooth like a well-tuned engine, "you've come to the right place. If there's anyone in this town who knows how to track down a missing part, it's me."

She leaned closer, her windshield slightly lowering as if to share a secret. "What's her name, sugar?" I felt like we'd be great friends' Matching the same enthusiasm as her, "Her name is Heidi." I tell her.

"Okay, honey." She turns around to call out: "Heidi, your mama is here!" 

At the sudden mention of her daughter's name, Heidi, on the other hand, takes a peek out from behind the counter of the Cafe and spots me.

"Mommy!" She immediately drives over to me, almost crashing into me but manages to use her breaks to stop midway as I nuzzle her fender with a smile on my face: "Yes, sweetie. I'm wide awake, thanks to Doc right over here."

I glanced at Doc and mouthed a 'thank-you' who nodded at me with his sincere eyes filled with respect before he asked Flo to bring some oil for us, Flo winked and said, "Coming right up, boys! Can't let a couple of classic beauties run dry now, can we?" 

Before long, she had already left to bring out a fresh canister of oil ready, practically glimmering like it was polished to perfection. As we settled in at one of the booths, I watched Heidi bounce next to me, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Mommy, guess what? Miss Flo said that her husband owns a paint house where you can get a paint job!"

"It's actually called the House of Body Arts, which is in front of our house next to Doc's clinic." We both were a bit startled by the sudden Mexican accent but breathed in relief after noticing the Chevrolet Impala was Flo's husband, Ramone. 

"Really? That's quite interesting to know." I said, feeling relaxed. 

Ramone smiles happily: "If you want, you can have a paint job at Ramone's House of Body Art!" 

Heidi excitedly nudges me, "I want a paint job, oh mommy! Can I? Can I?" "Really? Maybe we'll check it out later since it is our first time here." I smiled, making her drive around me while cheering about it. 

Before I noticed a 1942 Willy's MB Jeep grumbling at a 1960 Volkswagen Type 2 Hippie Bus with some light bantering, a light blue Alza/Tutto Forklift, an Italian yellow 1959 Fiat 500, and a 1960 Seagrave 1000/500 D/M Pumper engine.

"Nice to meet you, ma'am." The voice clicked like clockwork, which could only be one thing, I gasped excitedly by driving around him, sure I made him nervous, while the rest were confused until I began to smile even more, just by telling them about my old reports as a teenager back at college: 

"You must be a veteran from World War 2." I continue to boost up: "Sergeant Sarge, in 1944, one of your friends lost their wheel tank in the bulge, my daughter made a history report of your past and stories in her article for her school's newspaper!" 

Heidi blushed and hid behind me, "Mommyyyyy~~~ Sshh! No one should know that!" She whined, feeling shy and embarrassed, which piqued Sarge's interest as he rolled closer to talk to her. "You interested in the Army, soldier?"

"Back then, I did...but I'm not sure what I'm interested in, s-sir." She shyly moves her left tire. Earning me a soft gaze at her and nuzzling her, as Sarge huffs and speaks gently, "It's okay. You got time in the world to find out what you wanna do when you grow up, soldier."

"Thanks, Sarge," Heidi mumbled, still tucked behind me. "Mommy always says I can be anything I want." "You're mom is right about that." Sarge grunted, a sound that could either mean agreement or disagreement, "Hmph. Just don't forget yer history, kid. Gotta learn from the past to build a better future." H

e then glances over to the Hippie Van, "Especially that hippie."

"Hey, man, what's that supposed to mean?" Fillmore, the VW Bus, drawled, his paint shimmering with psychedelic swirls. "We're all about peace and love, Sarge. Spreading good vibes, ya know?"

"Peace and love don't fix a busted axle," Sarge retorted, making Fillmore deflate a bit.

Doc chuckled, "Alright, you two. Let's not start a war in Flo's. Miss Adler and her daughter just got here." He then looks at me and winks, "Just like the old times."

"Yeah, man, welcome to Radiator Springs!" Fillmore offered, extending a friendly tire, who had an organic oil drink, "Hello, care for some organic fuel?" 

"Wow, thank you very much." I took the second fuel that Fillmore had next to Sarge, who looked in disgust: "Why would you drink that fruit juice?" 

Heidi stops cheering and drives up to him with her cute eyes by saying, "Because the oil tanks mommy uses are sensitive so the doctor told her that drinking average oil wasn't good, sir." 

Everyone nodded and hummed in understanding. 

I was introduced to Guido, Red, Lizzie, Mater, and Luigi after sharing where I'm from, where I work, and how long we've been traveling. Guido and Luigi wanted to show me some new tires to try. To avoid getting caught off guard by their 'free of charge' offer, I said I'd think it over. 

However, my daughter was eager to try everything, so I eventually agreed.

Everyone was thrilled to us, and Doc Hudson gestured for me to come to the courthouse so the community could decide if we could stay. Fortunately, luck was on my side, and we were welcomed into the small town with open tires.