The Midnight Train Crossing

It was a quite sad looking Rusty indeed that went to find Rocky. "Hi..." he said softly when he saw the boxcar.
"Hey.." Rocky replied.
"well.... I guess...." Rusty trailed off, "Off we go then....."
"Off we go..." Rocky led the way to the Box, "Sorry 'bout this Rusty..." he said.
"I know..."
They stopped at the door. "Don't let CB get to ya too badly..."
"Thanks....."
Rocky nodded and opened the door.
"Rocky?" Rusty asked suddenly
"Yeah?"
"would you just... make sure that Pearl's alright?"
"Sure Rusty."
"Thanks."

The steamer hesitated for a bit before going into the darker room
The caboose looked up. "Hey! Get outta my space!" he ordered.
Rusty rolled his eyes, "And it starts..." he thought to himself as he rolled further in, letting his eyes adjust to the dim light
"I said get outta my space Steamer!"
"I'd love to," Rusty muttered under his breath, out loud he gave the caboose a strange look, "What are you talkin' about?"
"All this is mine! *You* go to that corner!" CB pointed.
Rusty went over to the corner and sat down on the bed that was in that corner. He lay down and put his skates up, not looking over at CB.

CB sat on his bed, glaring at Rusty, "Nice going! Putting us both in here!"
"Nothing either of us can do about it now."
"It's *your* fault Steamer!"
"Fine," Rusty closed his eyes, "Whatever."
That caught the caboose off guard, "That's it?!"
"Yes."
"you *coward*!"
He shrugged, "What do you want me to say?"
"Ya start a fight with me out in the open where *anyone* can step ibn when ya start to *lose* but as soon as it's just you an' me, Ya chicken out!"
"There's not much point to fighting anymore."

The caboose rolled his eyes, "Wussy Rusty the Sissy Steamer!" he muttered.
When Rusty didn't answer, the caboose stood up and rolled slowly over to Rusty. "Get up!!" he demanded shaking the bed.
"No."
CB shook it harder. "I said GET UP!!"
"And I said no - now get out of 'my space'," he answered, quoting the caboose
CB slapped the steamer hard across the face. Rusty sprang up angrily.
"When I say 'get up,' GET. UP!" CB said with a smirk.
"And I suppose if you say jump..." Rusty started.
He growled.

"I don't *have* to do anything you say."
"*That* would be a mistake!"
"When has listening to you ever helped me?" Rusty shot back
"How ya know it *wouldn't?*"
"Experience."
"Ha!" he laughed nastily.
"It's true!"
"Ya never *have* listed to me Steamer!"
"'Cause I learned better," Rusty snapped.
"You learned *better*?!" CB laughed, "This *is* your fault!"
"My fault?"
"Yeah! You even admitted to it!"
"I only said that to shut *you* up!"
"You *still* admitted it!" he laughed nastily, "Lil' Rusty who can do nothin' wrong!"
Rusty backhanded CB across the face, making the caboose stumbled backwards, "It's *your* fault that we're in this mess!"
"*My* fault?"
"Yes, *Your* fault!!"

CB took another swing. "Look who CRASHED us!!" he spat. "No way you can blame that on ME!"
Rusty ducked and CB stumbled forward with the force of his swing.
The steamer backed away, as much as he could anyway, "But I only crashed you because of the trouble *you* were givin’ *me*!"
"*I* only caused trouble cuz I was getting back at *you* for the night before!"
"Gettin' back at me from the night before?" Rusty repeated
"yes!" CB said with a low growl.
"You're the one that started it!"
"You're* overly possessive!"
"What's that have to do with anything?"
"Pearl!"
He tensed a bit, "what about her?"
"Ya get jealous every time another engine goes near her! Hell! Ya practically forbidden her to go anywhere with *me*!"
"Why d'you care?"
"You act as though you don't *trust* Pearl!"

Rusty skated up behind CB and grabbed his couplers, "I don't trust *you*!" He gave them a jerk.
The caboose attempted to pull away from the steamer. He gave an "Eep!" before saying, "I'm trustworthy!"
"Yeah right!" Rusty yanked CB's couplers again, "You're a lotta things, but trustworthy ain't one of them."
"An' jus' whaddaya mean by *that* Steamer?"
"Just what I said. I. Don't. Trust. You." He gave the caboose a push forward
CB rolled a moment before he turned around. "You don't trust me?"
"No. Not a bit."
"I've been trustworthy!" he growled then.
"Not for a long time."
"What about every time we head out for *WORK*!!?” he spat.
"I always pray for a route that has no hills."
"but when there *are* hills...!!" CB started.
"Then I just hope that I can keep control of the train in case you don't feel like helpin'."
"I'd *never* harm the train!!!"
"Yeah... the *train*."
"Unfortunately *you're* a part of that train!"" he muttered.
"See?" Rusty retorted.
"I'm *still* trustworthy!!" He clenched his fists.
"But not with me."
"That's bull!!"
"Is it?" Rusty asked softly
CB was breathing heavily, worked up. "Yes!" he hissed.
"Whatever."
He took another swing at Rusty then, but missed because, again, Rusty ducked.

"Maybe the other freight can trust you - actually I'm sure that they can - but I can't."
"Fine then! Don't!" CB spat. "As of now. I can't trust *you* either!"
"Why?"
"You goin' all nusto on me a few days ago! That's why!"
"Then we're even."
He said under his breath, "that's what you think...."
"I suppose it was strange?"
"Nah! Always knew you were insane."
"Then ya had one up on me, that's for sure."
"Just wonderin' when ya'd crack,” CB replied. He held out each of the vowel sounds as he spoke being very irritating.
Rusty closed his eyes for a minute
CB gave a nasty smirk and was still holding it when the steamer opened his eyes again.

"It's no wonder I went insane then," he said, "Look at who I *used* to be friends with!"
His attitude quickly changed. "Watch yerself Steamer!"
"Why? It's the truth!"
"I *said* 'Watch. It!' "
"How about no."
The caboose growled and clenched his fists before tackling Rusty, pinning the steamer to the floor.
"Get off!" he tried to push CB off him
CB didn't budge. "Take back what ya said!"
"Which?"
"You *alluding* to the fact that I’m insane!"
"No. I won't take it back."
"Take. It. Back!!"
"No!!"
CB hit him then. "Take it back!!"
"No!!!!"
CB hit him again and repeated the demand.
Rusty wiggled and kicked.
CB cringed and "Oof"ed at each blow, but held Rusty firmly, "C'mon Steamer! " he taunted.
Rusty kicked at CB hard in the stomach, finally getting away, rolling over.

CB got to his hands and knees, the wind knocked out of if too much to stand. Once he had regained his breath, he slowly rose to his skates.
On the other side of the room, Rusty was rising to his wheels as well. He was watching the caboose warily.
"Take. It. Back!" CB said again with a slow growl, each word taking a slow step closer.
"Why? Everybody knows it's true."
"It *ain't*!"
"You can't see it - can you?" Rusty asked
"And what do you mean by *that*?"
"The way everybody looks at you - the way Greaseball won't take you on any of his runs, the way all of the freight tense just a little every time we head over a hill..."
"It's not true!"
"it is!"
"NO!!" he shouted.
"Yes!"
"NO!! I could care *less* about riding with that dumb diesel *Dirt*ball an' the rest of the guys *know* I won't hurt 'em!!"
"Not when you're sane - no."
"I'm *Always* sane!!"

"Then why d'you like to throw me off the rails?" Rusty demanded.
"None a yer business!"
"Yes it is!"
"No it isn't!"
"It's none of my business that you keep throwing *me* off the tracks??"
"No!" CB snapped.
"Why in Starlights name not?"
"Cuz it *ain't*!"
"but I"m the one that ends up dented and bruised."
"Fine! Ya deserve it!"
"Why??"
As if ya didn' know..." he sneered.
"No," he said, "I don't know."
"Stupid Engine!" he huffed.
"And you're *so* much smarter then I am I suppose."
"Yes!"
"Then tell me why I deserve to be wrecked?"
"Cuz you're jus' *that*!"
"What?"
"*there's* proof!" CB rolled his eyes.
"What *are* you talking about?"
"That *You're* just as dumb as the rest of the engines!"
"So I'm like all the rest of the engines?"
"Tell the Steamer what his won!" CB responded sarcastically.
"Well that's nice," Rusty said, "At least *somebody* thinks that I'm like the others."
CB gave a snort.

Rusty sighed, "I'm never *ever* gonna understand you."
"Well good! "
"Well I'm glad that you're happy about that then." He sat down on the bed, bringing his knees up to his chest, "Glad one of us is."
"Starlights steamer!" CB muttered.
"What now?"
"lighten up fer once, won't ya?!"
"Around you?" he laughed humorlessly, "Not likely. Not anymore..."
"C'mon, it's all in fun."
"Sure," Rusty answered sarcastically.
"It is!"
"Uh huh"
"It *is all in fun! Can't ya take a joke?"
"Ah yes, very funny," Rusty said sarcastically, "You really did have me taken in for awhile."
"You *can't take a joke!" CB decided.
"Guess not. It wasn't very funny to me."
"Yer no fun!" CB sneered.
"No. I don't find being beaten up by Greaseball's gang particularly fun."
The caboose rolled his eyes.
"But you did."
"It was amusing," he said with a smirk.
"Though I'll admit it - it made a few things very clear..."
"Oh yeah? what?"
"'The red caboose would like to be of use'," Rusty mocked, "To everyone but me."
CB growled. I helped *you* out just as much as anyone else here in the yard!"

"You *said* you'd help me win!"
"And I *did*!"
"How?"
"I *still* ache from th' re-run..." he muttered.
"there wouldn't've *been* a re-run if it hadn't been for you!"
CB swore under his breath. "Ya still *won* didn't ya!" he said harshly.
"No thanks ta you"
"No, *Thanks* ta me!" he spat back.
"If you'd meant ta crash the others you could've just gone with one of them right away," Rusty snapped
"I hada make 'em think I was on *their* side!" CB said, "that way they’d suspect nothing in the re-run."
"It's not like *you* crashed them in the re-run," Rusty pointed out
"*course* I did!" This was the only time CB would willingly admit to a crash that in all reality, he didn’t cause.

"No. You just tried to crash Pearl."
"I would *never* do *that*!" the caboose hissed.
"If I hadn't been in the re-run would you still have done that to her?"
"Yes," he admitted after a moments thought.
"And then she would've crashed."
"No." he objected, "I'd *never* allow her to crash!"
"No? Then what would you have done?"
"Fer one, I wouldn’t pushed her as hard as I did."
"Sure,” Rusty said sarcastically.
"I wouldn't’ve! You wouldn't be there ta catch her!"
"And you had that planned all along?"
"Course!"
"What if I hadn't been fast enough?"
"No worries there."
"Ah so you had faith in me then?"
CB shrugged.
"What would you have done if I hadn't caught her?"
"Ya caught her," CB said seeming to ignore Rusty question.

Rusty shook his head, “You’re impossible.”
"Am not! You are just too dumb!"
"You're just stubborn."
"Am not!"
"You won't admit it when you lose it!"
"I *don't* lose it and *didn't!"
"Starlights CB, you've always got an excuse," Rusty said
"Let's get one thing straight Steamer," he hissed. "I *never hurt coaches! Never have! Never *will*! Got it?"
"Yeah, I suppose you only hurt engines."
"Well bravo!" CB said sarcastically.

Rusty sat up and glared at CB, "I don't suppose I can expect *You* to understand!"
"Understand *what*?" he challenged.
"To have one of your best friends betray you like that and then hand you over to someone who hates your guts, and then see him laughing..."
The caboose backed at this accusation, blinking at how blunt Rusty spoke.
"I never thought you would team up with Greaseball."
"I...told ya...I had my reasons!" He tried to show that the comment before hadn't hit him.
"You didn't like him any better then I did!"
"No I didn't!" he defended.
"Then why'd you push me over to his goons?"
"Thought ya'd stop yerself and run."
"I.... can understand you not stopping them," Rusty said softly, "But you didn't have to laugh."
"I...."
Rusty turned away from CB, "You didn't have to laugh...."
"Rusty....I......" He honestly was lost for words.
Rusty faced the wall, away from the caboose.
"I didn't realize...."
"You didn't realize?" Rusty repeated
CB shook his head.
"I would have understood not stopping them - I even would've understood watching, but not laughing...."
"Rusty....."
Rusty didn't answer
"I didn't..." the steamer’s sudden silence was unnerving the caboose, "......know......"
He shook his head sadly

"I didn't know,...." he said again.
"No," Rusty said softly, "You never know."
"I didn't Rusty...honest..."
He looked up, "And you can't see why I don't trust you?"
The caboose looked down.
"If you can't now, then I guess you never will,” Rusty said softly, "And there isn't anything else I can do about it."
"Rusty?..." CB said quietly. "I...." he started and took a breath
Rusty waited
"I.....I'm s-sorry....."
That took Rusty by surprise and he looked up
"I am...."
"really?"
He gave a nod. "I had no idea...."
Rusty studied the caboose for a moment. CB seemed to be fully honest and Rusty slowly nodded.
CB looked down at the ground, he couldn’t meet Rusty’s eyes and he moved back over to his bed.

"so now what?" Rusty asked after a bit
"go on hatin' me..." CB replied not looking up from his spot as he laid down. Rusty had every right to after all.
"I just...."
"Just what?...." CB replied without looking.
"At least now you know..." Rusty said, "And.... maybe understand?"
The caboose curled up in response.

"wonder how long he's gonna keep us in here..." Rusty thought aloud
"Who knows with *him*!" CB muttered.
"All he said was that if we behaved, we'd get out sooner."
"What's th' chance of that?...."
Rusty actually smiled, "Of us behaving, or getting out sooner?"
"both.." CB didn't seem to find the humor.
"well... I don't think that we'll kill each other anymore," Rusty looked up at CB, "Unless of course, you want to."
"Course not ya stupid Steamer," CB replied offended
"Didn't think so." Rusty paused for a moment, "I..... it was a joke..."
"I know.." CB shot back, brushing his eyes and not looking to the steamer. He was trying to hide the fact that tears were running down his cheeks.
"I...."
"What?" CB shot.
"What are we going to do?" Rusty asked
"I dunno....." CB sighed.
"we can't go on like this."
"....no..."
"Otherwise, we'll probably just end up back in here again."
"meh..." was his reply, "Knowin' Control like I do, we'll prolly stay a night at least..."*
"Yeah," Rusty said, "But... when we get out..."
"Yeah?"
"I... I guess that maybe..." the steamer took a breath and looked at the caboose, "I don't really not trust you."
"Yeah?..." he asked cautiously.
"I just.... I was angry before when I said that."
"And...I'm sorry Rusty...." he said again.
He nodded

"Think Control'll let me out when he let's you out Rusty?..." CB asked suddenly, "It's jus'...he has me where he wants me now..."
"Oh," Rusty said softly
CB gave a slow nod. "He...wouldn' be *that* unfair, would he?..."
"We need a caboose on the freight runs..."
"yeah...."
"I really can't do without you..."
He looked down. "Thanks...."
"I mean it."
CB nodded. "I know...So I guess it would be almost stupid for Control ta leave me here, right?"
Rusty nodded, "Right."
The caboose gave a very small smile.
"And.... I think that's another reason why I was so upset..."
He looked to Rusty.
"I really do depend on you."
"I...I wouldn't ever really wreck ya Rusty.....not on purpose..."
He nodded slowly. "I guess.... I thought you were mad at me or something."
"I was....."CB replied quietly.
"Why?"

"Do ya remember how...we used to talk about if ya ever ran in th' Race?"
He nodded slowly
"We said we'd race together...."
"Awhile ago, yeah..."
"Well...Then Pearl came along....."
"Oh," Rusty said softly, "I see."
CB looked down again, "I know...it still don't give me th' right to do what I did.......'Sides, I'm glad ya two finally got together."
Rusty nodded slowly, "I guess I should've thought about that though.."
'Nah...it's okay. I did get ta race..."
"Yeah... But CB... we're friends and all.... but... well..." He gave a slight smile, "I'm not in love with you."
That made CB chuckle slightly. "Thank Starlights for that." He couldn't help but give Rusty a bap on the head.
Rusty laughed at that one, “Yeah.”
"I'd...understand if ya never wanna talk to me *ever* again..."
"I used to... But now..."
He looked back at Rusty.
"I don't know. But..." Rusty trailed off.

The steamer sat down on his bed again, "You didn't have to tease me about Pearl..." He looked down at his hands, "I can take pretty much anything else.... but not that."
"Yeah...guess I found that out th' hard way.." he partially joked.
He half-smiled, "Glad ya finally take me seriously."
"Yeah.."
"It's kinda nice."
"I bet.."

Rusty closed his eyes
"Tired?...." CB asked him.
"A bit."
"Get some sleep then, b...." he wanted to add 'buddy' but stopped.
"Didn't get much the last night..."
"Oh..." came CB's reply.
"Yeah," Rusty lay down
CB realized the steamer had stayed up waiting for Pearl. "It...didn't go anywhere beyond kissing...." he said, referring to his night out with Pearl. "And.....she pulled away even before that went anywhere...." He hated to think he might be the cause of them ever breaking up.
"That's what she said,” he said closing his eyes.
"Sorry Rusty....." CB gave a soft yawn then.
Rusty very quickly drifted off to sleep. The caboose stayed awake a little while longer, watching Rusty sleep a bit before turning over and falling asleep himself.

CB awoke before Rusty, but it wasn't really all that early – it didn’t feel late to him anyway. It was difficult to tell in here. He looked over to Rusty, but the steamer was still sleeping peacefully.
Eventually, Rusty awoke
"Morning Rusty," CB said. He then added, "I guess..." with a slight grin.
Rusty rubbed his eyes, "Is it?"
"I'm guessin'..." he said again. "least afternoon..."
He pushed up his sleeve and looked at his watch - which of course he wears - "Almost afternoon."
"Wonder if Control's gonna send anyone ta let us out. Least bring us somethin' to eat.."
"I'm sure he will," Rusty got up and stretched.
The caboose sat up and yawned to wake himself up.

Rusty ran his fingers through his brown hair a few times
CB attempted to fix his own hair, but only made his moptop worse.
Rusty laughed, but not meanly. "Short hair," he said with a wink
"nah thanks," CB replied. "Gives me character. 'Sides my dad wore his hair this way," he defended.
Rusty smiled and shrugged, "Have it your way."
CB continued to try and make his hair lay flat however.
"Here," Rusty said, handing over a comb
He looked at the comb, and then took it, “Thanks.”
"I've found it to be useful," he said
CB ran it through his hair a few times.
"there," Rusty said with a smile, "That helps a little."
"Yeah? Any less crazed?" he asked.
"Much better."
"Good."
Rusty smiled

"Rusty?"
"Yeah?"
"Why ya carry a comb?"
"Oh.... well..." his ears turned a bit red, "you know how the coaches are..."
CB gave a light chuckle.
"And how they all seem to like messing up my hair so... I've started carrying a comb."
"Smart."
"Every once and awhile I manage to be."
CB chuckled again. "I guess I should start to carry one, huh?" he said. "It is handy."
"Yeah... actually..." Rusty trailed off. He gave a half smile, "Well okay, it was really Pearl's idea that I carry one."
CB chuckled. "Pearl's idea huh?"
He smiled to show he didn't mind this teasing, "Yeah. She likes me to look neat." he launched his pillow at the caboose playfully
"Hey!" CB laughed as it hit him. "No fair!" He tossed the pillow back at the steamer.
Rusty laughed
The caboose stuck out his tongue. "oh, ya thinks it funny do ya?" he said with a grin, rising to his wheels.
"I do, yes."

That was when CB tackled him, pinning him to the ground.
"Get off," Rusty growled playfully.
"Not a chance steamer," CB growled back in a similar manner.
Rusty stuck out his tongue at the caboose
The caboose chuckled and mussed the engine's hair. "Ha!" he cried in triumph.
"Gah!" Rusty exclaimed as his red headband slipped down over his eyes
That caused CB to break into more laughter, “Havin’ problems?”
"Argh!"
"Give?" he asked.
"Get off me!"
The caboose rolled off Rusty. "Aww c'mon,.." he replied.
Rusty pushed his headband out of his eyes and made a good-natured face at CB
The caboose gave one in response.
Rusty sat up and tried to fix his hair again.
The caboose chuckled.
"Oh you think this is funny?" Rusty teased
"Course. It's amusin'"

Suddenly Rusty pounced the caboose, pinning him to the ground lightly
"Eep!" CB cried, falling over. "Hey! No fair!"
"Aw I thought you said this was amusin'," Rusty teased
"When *I’m* doing it," he responded making a good-natured face.
"Well that's a bit one-sided," Rusty teased
"that's how I like it," he kidded.
"Well the view is better from up here."
He stuck out his tongue and struggled some.
"Ah ah," Rusty teased
"Geoff!" he said struggling again.
"Hmm...." Rusty pretended to think about it, "Oh, alright.”
CB sat up and pretended to brush himself off.
Rusty grinned and got up to his wheels
He made another face, the chuckled.
"I've missed this...."
"Yeah..." he admitted.
Rusty gave the caboose a slight smile.

"what time is it?" CB asked suddenly.
Rusty looked at his watch, "About twelve-thirty, more or less."
"meh...bet ya he forgot about us."
"He can't have..."