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Chapter Nine
Jamie almost felt his heart shatter in his chest. All of a sudden, he felt something snap. He flung himself out of Jan's arms and raced off down the track after them, blinded by tears.
"Jamie!" Jan called, "Come back!"
Jamie ignored her, racing on. He wasn't going to let her go...
Jan sighed softly, and brushed her eyes.
He was getting closer. "Mary..."
Suddenly someone came up from behind and pounced on him, pinning him to the ground.
Jamie struggled against it, screaming. "No! No! Mary!"
One of the gang members that had caught him sat on his legs, the other held the rest of Jamie down.
Jamie screamed, fighting hard. "No! Let me go! Mary!"
One hit him in the back of the head. Hard.
Jamie saw lights dance before his eyes before his vision went white, then black as he hit the tracks, out cold.
"Good," Tank said coldly, "I think that he needs a refresher course in how to behave."
The gang members looked at each other and nodded. Two of them hauled Jamie up and dragged him along to Tank's house, where they roughly put him down on the floor.
Jamie's eyes fluttered slightly, and he moaned softly. His head hurt, the rest of him hurt...
Tank set a skate down in the center of Jamie's back.
Jamie gasped and forced his eyes open, unable to move. He whimpered softly. His throat hurt...
Tank pressed down a little harder.
Jamie cried out softly.
"Oh did that hurt?"
Jamie nodded slowly, unable to speak.
"How about this?" Tank snarled, giving Jamie a kick.
Jamie yelped and curled into a ball, squeezing his eyes shut.
"Or this?" he kicked him harder.
Jamie screamed. "Tank..."
Tank nodded to his gang and they yanked Jamie up to his wheels.
Jamie cried out and struggled. "What..."
Tank punched Jamie.
Jamie's head snapped painfully to the side, and he cried out in pain.
Tank slowly backed off.
Jamie's legs collapsed, and he slipped, held up only by the gang members.
Tank crossed his arms.
Jamie looked up at him weakly through sorrowful eyes.
The rest of the gang closed in around Jamie.
Jamie whimpered softly.
They looked at each other in anticipation.
Jamie gasped softly. "Tank... please... don't..."
"I gave you plenty of warning."
Jamie whimpered. "Tank... I loved her..."
Tank growled and nodded to his gang.
Jamie gasped and whimpered softly.
They closed in around Jamie and Tank watched.
Jamie began to sob.
*POW*
Jamie crumpled to the ground with a scream.
They did not let up.
Jamie screamed and cried, unable to move away.
Tank sat down in his chair. But Jan had kissed him. His thoughts were far away, ignoring the screams.
Jamie struggled, trying to fight back, but he couldn't even think, curling into a tight ball.
Two grabbed him and pulled him up.
Jamie cried out and struggled.
One of them swung back and punched Jamie in the stomach.
Jamie doubled over with a strangled gasp, unable to breathe. His vision went white again as he struggled to take in a breath, tasting blood in his mouth.
"Enough, let him go." Tank said. They did so.
Jamie landed face-first on the ground, coughing painfully, blood dripping from his lips.
"If you think that I am finished with you..."
Jamie couldn't even lift his head to acknowledge Tank's talking.
Tank set a skate on Jamie's side and gave him a kick.
Jamie rolled painfully onto his back, coughing painfully again. He was a mess, blood all over his face from cuts, bruises on his pale skin...
Tank leaned down over him.
Jamie whimpered softly.
"If you *dare* disobey me again..."
Jamie began to cry.
Tank reached down and grabbed Jamie by the front of his shirt, pulling him up.
Jamie struggled more out of instinct than want.
Tank gave Jamie a shove towards the wall.
Jamie hit the wall hard, his hard-won breath once again forced from his lungs. He slid down the wall, crumpling to the ground.
"Why did she do that?" Tank asked suddenly.
Jamie looked up weakly at him.
"Your sister."
Jamie couldn't even open his mouth to talk. He laid his head on the ground, unable to move or even think through the pain...
"Hmm. you can stay there 'til you think of an answer.
That suited him fine. Jamie curled up on the floor, not wanting to ever move again.
"of course, if you stay here..." Tank trailed off threateningly.
Jamie opened his eyes weakly, looking up at Tank with pleading eyes. "P... Please..." he whispered through dry, bleeding lips.
"What?" Tank asked with false sweetness.
Jamie moaned softly and closed his eyes again.
"I'm not quite sure I heard that..."
Jamie tried to lick his lips, but his mouth was completely dry from screaming and the blood that was still refusing to stop coming from his mouth.
"Still waiting..."
All he wanted was a drink of water, but he couldn't force the word out.
Tank looked back at his gang and one of them pushed Tank's chair over. The bigger engine sat down to wait.
Jamie opened his eyes weakly and looked up at Tank through bleary, red eyes, feeling very short and vulnerable on the floor.
Tank put his skates up getting comfortable.
Jamie tried to push himself up on his arms, but he couldn't force them to move, and he closed his eyes again, feeling himself wavering between reality and darkness.
"Nah," Tank said finally, "I don't want him passing out on my floor."
Jamie wanted to open his eyes, but he couldn't.
"Pull him up," Tank directed his gang, "No...don't hit him again, just hold him."
Jamie was somewhat grateful Tank told them not to hit him again.
They pulled him up. "Tie this around him..." Tank said to one of them.
Jamie tried to force his eyes open, blinking to clear his vision.
One of them tied a cloth around Jamie's mouth.
Jamie's eyes went wide, though he couldn't see very well. He whimpered ever so softly.
"All set boss," the gang member said once the gag was secure.
Jamie wobbled unsteadily on his wheels, wanting to run, but not having any strength.
"Bring him," Tank said, leading them outside and down the tracks. They dragged him along.
Jamie was too weak to fight back, letting them drag him.
Tank led them down the tracks to Jamie's house, and then into the backyard.
Jamie forced his eyes open and looked around weakly before his vision went blurry again.
Two of them held him firmly while Tank measured the distance between a tree and the house.
Jamie groaned softly.
"Fine," Tank said, firmly tying a rope around the tree.
Jamie whined softly and looked up at Tank through scared eyes.
"Give me his hands..." Tank said.
Jamie tried to pull his hands to him, but it hurt too much.
They pulled Jamie's hands out and held them out to Tank.
Jamie whimpered softly.
Tank firmly, but not painfully, bound Jamie's wrists together.
Jamie whined and struggled weakly against his holders.
Tank checked to make sure that the gag was firmly tied and then nodded.
Jamie looked up at Tank through scared, blue eyes, his gaze pleading with Tank to tell him what he was doing, to help him...
Tank nodded and the gang let go of Jamie.
Jamie landed on his knees, then collapsed on the ground face-first.
"I won't expect you to show up for work tomorrow," Tank said.
Jamie wished Tank would have said that under better circumstances. He whimpered and looked pleadingly up at him, his eyes begging him to let him go.
"Good night Jamie."
"No..." Jamie protested through his burning throat, his voice muffled painfully by the cloth around his mouth.
Tank looked at his gang.
Jamie forced his arms to move, his bound hands reaching pleadingly for Tank.
The gang nodded, a bit puzzled, but understanding.
Jamie whimpered pleadingly and gazed up at Tank with scared eyes.
They all turned and left.
Jamie screamed through the cloth, something that nearly destroyed his voice, trying desperatly to reach one of them.
Tank stopped and gave Jamie a bit of a push.
Jamie's weakened body couldn't absob the push, and he tumbled backwards, landing hard on the grass.
Tank stood over him, gazing down at the little battered enigne.
Jamie looked up at Tank, wondering if it was possible to hate him any more than he did at that moment.
"If you can get into the house and to your sister you are welcome to do so. I do not expect to see you tomorrow and you are to stay out of my sight."
Jamie cowered slightly. "Please," he begged, his words barely audible through the gag and his raw throat.
"Good Night."
"No..."
Tank spun and made to pound Jamie again.
Jamie began to cry.
"Hmm." Tank turned without hitting Jamie and started away.
Jamie broke down and sobbed, laying down on the grass and sobbing painfully.
Tank did not stop.
Jamie felt his head go light, and, a moment later, the world went black.
Jan came home, very tired, she had been looking all over for her brother and was, quite frankly, worried sick.
Jamie laid outside for a very long time before he was concious enough to try to sit up and crawl for the door.
She skated inside and did a quick search of the house.
Jamie made it only halfway to the door before he collapsed again, strength spent.
"Jamie?" Jan called peeking into his room, empty.
Jamie lay on the soft grass, closing his eyes and whimpering.
She sat down on his bed, very worried now, where could he be? What would she do if...? No! she stopped that thought.
Jamie forced himself back up onto his hands and knees again, struggling towards the door again.
She took a deep breath, when he came home she couldn't show him this. She was the strong one.
So close... Jamie forced one more move, then gasped, giving the rope a yank.
Jan stood up, brushed her eyes again and got ready to start searching again.
Jamie let out a cry and laid back down on the ground, sobbing.
Jan looked up, almost sure that she'd heard something.
Jamie sobbed, having no tears left. He just wanted to die... What was the point in going on?
"Jamie?" Jan called, louder this time.
Through the haze in his mind, Jamie thought he heard Jan's voice. He opened his eyes weakly.
"Jamie?"
Jamie wanted to call out to her, but he wasn't able to make his voice work.
Jan sighed softly and skated through the dark kitchen, flicking on the light.
Jamie saw a light come on in the kitchen. Jan was close...
She pulled out a chair and sat down to think.
Jamie swallowed hard. One cry would be enough to make her check outside... He took a deep breath and let out a feeble cry.
Jan looked up, "Jamie?"
Jamie landed on the ground with a gasp of pain, his eyes closed in agony.
She stood up, "Jamie, is that you? Say...err... make a sound!"
Jamie tried to force out another sound, but his voice was completely gone. His tired throat was dry and raw, and his mouth was filled with blood.
She listened intently. Nothing.
Jamie closed his eyes weakly. *Just give up* he told himself.
Jan stood up, it had sounded like it was coming from outside...
Jamie felt his body go limp.
She opened the door, the light from the kitchen illuminating her brother. She gasped, unable to do anything else.
Jamie felt a beam of light wash over him and wondered if he was going to heaven.
Jan did an about face and grabbed the first thing she saw that looked cabable of cutting through the rope.
Jamie forced his eyes open.
She rushed out the door and sank down next to him, taking him in her arms.
Jamie winced as she held him, silently whimpering.
She carefully removed the gag.
Jamie looked up at her, his eyes misty and unfocused.
She picked up the knife that she had brought out and sawed through the rope.
Jamie blinked painfully and closed his eyes weakly.
Finally she cut through it and freed his hands.
Jamie's hands fell limply to his sides.
She gathered her brother into her arms.
Jamie curled into her embrace.
"Please," she whispered softly.
Jamie looked up blankly at her.
She was very relieved to see him open his eyes.
Jamie curled closer to her, his blood staining her dress.
"Th-there now," she soothed, "I'm here now... I'm here."
Jamie nodded once before the world spun before his eyes.
"Hang on honey..." Jan's voice floated down to him.
Jamie closed his eyes.
She wanted to take him inside, but didn't dare move him.
Jamie felt himself slipping back into darkness again.
"Don't..." Jan pleaded softly.
Jamie forced himself back into conciousness for her sake.
"Stay..."
Jamie whimpered silently, having no voice left.
"Go to sleep, but don't leave me..."
Jamie nodded once, then closed his eyes weakly.
She held him.
Jamie slowly drifted off to sleep. His last thought before he lost conciousness was *Don't let me die...*
Jan held him all night, she did not sleep although she dozed once or twice. Finally the sun came peeking over the horizon.
Jamie's eyes opened just as the sun broke over the edge of the world. He ached all over, and his throat felt raw, like a piece of meat. His mouth was so dry... He longed for a drink of water.
Jan was dozing again.
Jamie whimpered softly, the little voice he had left.
She blinked and awoke.
Jamie looked up at her through sorrowful, pleading eyes.
She blinked sleep away and looked down at him, "yeah?"
Jamie tried to lick his lips, but his tongue felt swollen from lack of water.
Jan blinked, trying to figure it out. Then suddenly she figured it out, "Oh!"
Jamie whined softly, like a sick puppy.
"You want something else or just water...you probably don't care do you?"
Jamie shook his head weakly.
She eased him out of her arms, "I'll be right back," she promised.
Jamie closed his eyes and laid his cheek against the soft, cool grass.
She ran into the kitchen, leaving the door open and she got him a drink.
Jamie moaned softly.
"Here," she said softly, having grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.
Jamie looked pleadingly up at her, unable to reach up to hold it.
"Yeah honey, I know..." she took the top off and guided it into his mouth.
Jamie guzzled it eagerly, spilling half of it down his chin in the process.
At this point, Jan wasn't very concerned about table manners, she held the water for him until he was finished.
Jamie drank greedily until his throat didn't burn so badly and his mouth no longer tasted of blood.
She waited until he was finished and then pulled the empty bottle away.
Jamie licked his lips, wondering if anything had ever tasted so good.
Jan blinked and then smiled down at him.
Jamie smiled weakly.
"Now what?" she asked with a smile.
Jamie held out his arms weakly to her.
She leaned down and gathered him into her arms.
Jamie curled close to her, his body aching fiercely at every movement.
"I've got you..." she soothed, "You're safe now..."
Jamie nodded slowly. "Jan..."
She shifted slightly, still holding him.
"In... inside?"
"Can you move?" she asked softly.
Jamie shook his head weakly.
"I don't think that I can carry you..."
Jamie began to cry.
"I'm sorry honey! I...I can try..."
Jamie held out his arms to her.
She rose to her wheels and then leaned down.
Jamie whimpered and curled into her arms.
Jan gritted her teeth a bit as she slowly made her way into the house.
Jamie clung tightly to her, sobbing.
Slowly but surely she made her way into the house, down the hallway and into his room.
Jamie longed to curl up on his bed.
She gritted her teeth again and gently set him down.
Jamie curled onto the bed and sobbed.
Jan turned her back to him for a minute as she winced and blinked.
Jamie curled under his covers.
She tucked him in and then kissed his forehead.
Jamie closed his eyes weakly.
"I'll be right back honey..." she said.
Jamie nodded slowly.
She skated out of the room and then returned a few minutes later.
Jamie was almost asleep.
She smiled, looking at him for a few minutes, and then shut off his light.
Jamie slept all day, waking up around sunset.
Jan had taken a bubble bath in hopes of soothing her aching frame, Jamie *was* too heavy. She kept checking on him every few hours.
Jamie got up painfully and made his way into the kitchen, starving. His body felt as though it had been passed through a crusher.
Jan was sitting with her head down on the table, having dozed off again.
Jamie stumbled a bit as he made his way to the table, a plate with a sandwich in his hand.
Jan blinked and looked up, "J-Jamie? I didn't hear you..."
Jamie looked up at her. "I... I didn't mean to wake you..."
"Oh... no... it's alright."
Jamie took a bite of his sandwich.
She smiled at him and got up and stretched.
Jamie groaned. "Jan, can I have an asprin?"
"Yeah, of course." she skated away.
Jamie ate his sandwich in silence.
She returned with the pill.
Jamie took it and swallowed it, moaning softly.
She rubbed his shoulders gently.
Jamie looked down at his empty plate and sighed softly. "She's really gone, isn't she?"
Jan didn't answer, still massaging him.
Jamie sighed and pushed the plate away. "I hate him, Jan..."
"I don't blame you."
Jamie looked up at her. "Why did you kiss him?"
"What?"
"Why did you kiss Tank?"
"Because it was the only thing that I could think of to do."
"Oh."
"it was the only thik that I could think of to distract him enough."
Jamie nodded slowly and fell silent.
"It worked..."
Jamie nodded again.
"Why do you ask?"
"Just... just wondering."
"Oh..." Jan sounded far away.
Jamie sighed and took the last sip of his milk. "I don't want to have to face Tank tomorrow."
She nodded slowly, thinking.
Jamie sighed and laid his face on his arms.
"I wonder..." she said softly.
Jamie looked up.
She smiled at her brother, "never mind, just take it easy."
Jamie nodded slowly. "I can't push those heavy trains feeling like this..."
"No...you can't..."
Jamie sighed. "Tank'll kill me if I don't."
She absently rubbed his shoulders again.
Jamie sighed again. "I can't believe..."
"What?"
"That he did that..."
"I know," she said sadly.
Jamie sniffed softly.
Jan sank down to the ground and looked up at him, "Jamie? whatever happens... I'll be here."
Jamie nodded and smiled softly. "I know... Thank you, Jan. For everything."
"Hey, what are big sisters for?"
Jamie grinned.
Jan grinned back, "There we go."
Jamie smiled and stretched painfully. "Mmm, ow..."
She stood up and rubbed his sore frame again.
Jamie smiled up at her.
She hugged him again and then yawned.
Jamie yawned too. "I gotta go to work tomorrow... I should go to bed..."
She smiled softly at him, "I think that I need to go to sleep as well."
Jamie nodded and stood up stiffly.
She watched him, making sure that he could make it.
Jamie made his way to his bedroom.
Jan still watched.
Jamie silently curled up under his covers and closed his eyes.
She stood there in the doorway watching him silently for awhile.
Jamie slowly drifted off to sleep.
after awhile, Jan went to bed as well.
Jamie slept restlessly all night.
Jan rose early the next morning, wanting to beat Jamie to work.
Jamie woke up and sat up, every muscle protesting in pain as he got stiffly out of bed.
She silently prepared to leave, having taken unusual care getting ready.
Jamie made his way into the kitchen for breakfast.
There was a plate set for him.
Jamie sat down at the table and looked around for Jan.
The front door slammed shut softly.
Jamie leaped up and raced over to the door, yanking it open.
Jan was down the tracks a bit.
Jamie raced after her. "Jan?"
She stopped and turned around. She looked...nice.
Jamie stopped short and stared at her.
"Yeah honey?"
"Where are you going?"
"hmm? Oh I need to talk to someone..."
"Who?"
Jan didn't look as though she wanted to answer.
"Who?" Jamie asked again.
"...Tank..."
"Why?"
"Because I want to talk to him..."
"Why?"
"Because I...do."
"Why, Jan?"
She looked down, "I need to talk to him about what happened."
"Jan, no!" Jamie darted forward and grabbed her hand. "Please, don't."
"But-"
"Please. Tank would... he doesn't like being told what to do..."
"I'm not going to tell him what to do..." she said softly.
"Jan, he'll hurt me again if you talk to him." Jamie's eyes filled with tears.
She reached out and gave him a hug.
Jamie held her tightly.
"He won't..." she said softly.
"He will..."
"No... I won't let him."
"Jan, please..."
Jan sighed.
"Please..."
"But Jamie-"
"Jan... I don't want you to be in trouble..."
She sighed softly, "Alright..."
Jamie nodded. "Thank you."
"...yeah..."
Jamie smiled gratefully. "I'll be home for lunch... I have to go..."
"Sure..." she said a bit sadly.
Jamie looked up at her. "Jan, what's wrong?"
"All of this."
"I... I know, but..."
She smiled, "I'll be fine... go on."
Jamie smiled and gave her a gentle hug, then turned and headed down the tracks.
Jan watched him go and sighed, returning to the house.
Jamie made up his mind and headed for Tank's house, trying not to fall as his body protested the work in painful little bursts deep in his muscles.
Tank was inside, getting ready.
Jamie knocked softly on Tank's door, half-hoping he wasn't there.
"Yeah?" Tank called.
Jamie swallowed hard and pushed open the door just a bit. "Tank?"
"Oh. It's you."
Jamie nodded slowly. "Can I come in?"
"I suppose so."
Jamie slowly slipped inside, leaving the door open for easy escape.
"What do you want?"
Jamie swallowed hard and lowered his eyes. "I... I wanted to apologize..."
"Did you now?"
Jamie nodded.
"Well then..."
Jamie looked up at him.
"Get on with it then."
"With what?"
"With apologizing."
Jamie's eyes narrowed in confusion. "I... I thought I just did..."
"All you did was say that you wanted to apologize."
"Oh," Jamie said softly.
"So get on with it."
Jamie swallowed and lowered his eyes again. "I... I'm sorry for the way I acted yesterday..."
"Good. You should be."
Jamie bit his lip, hard, glaring angrily at the floor.
Tank stood up, "I accept."
Jamie nodded slowly, forcing back the unexpected tears that sprang to his eyes.
"Now get out."
Jamie turned and bolted out of the house onto the tracks. He stopped in the middle of one and swiped at his eyes with his wrist.
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