The Midnight Train Crossing

She awoke the next day feeling much better, nearly back to normal. She got out of bed and moved to the couch where she watched the sun come up.
Jamie was still asleep, not even realizing he was late.
After awhile she went to make herself breakfast. She looked at the clock and let out a little gasp.
Jamie slept on, cozy in his blankets.
She skated into his room and looked down at him. Then she skated over to him and gently touched his face, "Jamie?"
Jamie groaned and rolled away from her.
"Jamie honey..."
"What?"
"Time to wake up..."
"No..."
"Yeah honey it is..."
"Why?"
She didn't have an answer for that one.
Jamie fell back asleep.
"Jamie..." she shook him gently, "You have to get up now."
"But..."
"Yes you do..."
Jamie sighed and opened his eyes groggily.
She carefully guided him out of bed.
Jamie groaned. "What time is it?"
"nearly 8..."
Jamie's eyes went wide. "What?"
"Yeah, come on."

Jamie leaped up and barreled for the door.
She followed him and tossed food at him, "Make sure you eat."
Jamie caught it and stuffed it in his mouth, dashing out the door.
Jan picked up the phone and called Tank, "Hi, yeah I had some..." she coughed, "Problems this morning. I needed my brother..."
"Are you alright?" Tank asked.
"Yes... so...he'll be a bit late." she answered.
"Yeah...sure... but you're feeling better?" he asked.
"Yes Tank..." she said, "Look, I've gotta go." she hung up the phone.

Jamie had just finished his last bite of breakfast when he got to his first train.
Tank was waiting.
Jamie looked up guiltily at him.
"Is your sister alright?"
Jamie nodded slowly.
"Good," Tank sounded relieved.
Jamie nodded and moved to separate his train.

The freight cars grumbled at bit as usual.
Jamie wasn't in a mood to listen to them, and he was too tired to push them.
One put on his brakes.
Jamie groaned. "Guys, not today, please..."
The cars just laughed.
Jamie sighed and tried to push them again, but his tired body protested painfully.
"Hey!" Tank snapped at the train
Jamie looked up in surprise.
"Behave," Tank ordered the cars sternly.
They were surprised but they did so.
Jamie smiled gratefully at Tank.
Tank nodded and skated away.
The freight cars didn't even grumble anymore.
Jamie smiled and pushed the cars, which were easier when they were not fighting.
They obediently rolled into place.
Jamie went back for the second half.
These cars behaved as well, not willing to disobey Tank.
Jamie grinned as he pushed the last of the cars into place. This was so much nicer.
As soon as they were in place one of the trucks hit the brakes.
Jamie almost lost his balance.
The freight train stood there innocently.

Jamie sighed and sped off down the tracks for his next train.
Vanessa intercept him.
Jamie groaned and slowed to a stop.
"Good morning."
Jamie glared.
"ah, is that how you greet me?"
"If I want."
She crossed her arms and smiled at him.
Jamie tried to step around her. "'Scuse me."
"Wait a moment..."
"I have to go-"
"You have to go pull *my* train," she said smugly.
Jamie groaned.
She hitched up.
Jamie sighed and pulled her down the tracks.
She was quiet as they reached where the other coaches were waiting.
Jamie moved so the other coaches could hitch up.

They hitched up without a break in their conversation.
Jamie sighed and began to pull them.
The coaches suddenly fell slient.
Jamie glanced back at them. That was rather strange...
Vanessa was looking back so she didn't see Jamie look back.
"What are you doing?" Jamie asked.
She turned around, "huh?"
"Why'd you all go quiet?"
"Oh," she leaned forward, "one of the girls had a little problem to take care of."
Jamie sighed and went back to pulling.

After a few minutes of traveling they came to be in a rather deserted looking area of the rails.
Jamie sighed softly. "Well, I guess this is where you're all supposed to go."
The coaches all hit their breaks.
Jamie turned to disconnect them.
Vanessa tightened her grip on his couplings.
Jamie struggled a second. "Vanessa, let go! I gotta get to my next train!"
"hmm..." she answered as the other coaches disconnected and rolled over.
Jamie turned to them with confused eyes.
"You're right," one of the coaches said to Vanessa, moving over to Jamie, "He is cute..."
Jamie backed away from her.
The coaches all looked at each other and then, as if on cue, they swarmed around him.
Jamie gasped and backed away again.
The coaches didn't give Jamie a chance to run.
Jamie struggled. "What are you doing?"
The coaches didn't answer, all five of them hanging on him now.
Jamie struggled. "Lemme go! Cut it out!"
"No." The coaches bustled him off the main tracks.
"Where are we going?"
"Where *are* we going?" one of them asked another.
Jamie whimpered. They didn't even know?
"Um..."
"My house," Vanessa said firmly.
Jamie yelped and tried to dodge out of their arms.

They held him firmly and somehow managed to get him to Vanessa's house.
Jamie struggled. "Hey, stoppit! Let go!"
They pushed him inside.
Jamie yelped. "Vanessa, what are you doing?"
She smiled, "this wasn't my idea..."
"Whose was it?"
The coaches giggled, "Sorta a group thing..."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"Why am I here?"
The coaches swarmed in again and pushed him down into one of the kitchen chairs.
Jamie struggled and hissed.
One of the coaches emerged from Vanessa's room with several scarves and other long pieces of material.
Jamie struggled. "What are those for?"
Swiftly two of them came over and bound him to the chair.
Jamie shrieked and struggled.
Soon he was bound by his skates, his arms and his back.
Jamie gazed up at Vanessa with scared eyes.
Vanessa had been watching this whole affair rather surprised, but amused.
Jamie whimpered and struggled against the bindings. "What are you gonna do? Why am I here?"
One of the coaches pinched his cheek lightly, "Because we wanted to bring you here."
"Vanessa told us about how cute you were..."
Jamie hissed and struggled. "But why am I here?"
The coach smiled, "Because we've decided that you should be."
"Why?" Jamie demanded.
"Because."
Jamie whimpered and struggled.
The coaches looked at each other and most of them skated away into another room.
Vanessa stayed.
Jamie looked up at Vanessa with half scared, half angry eyes. "Why are you doing this?"
She did not look pleased as she looked over to where the other coaches had gone.
Jamie struggled a bit. "Vanessa, let me go!"
"You'll run."
"Well, yeah..."
"Why d'you think that you're tied down?"
"So I don't..."
"Yeah."
"But why am I here? Vanessa, I have other runs to do!"
"I know you're afraid of getting into trouble, and since the whole original point of that was to keep you out of trouble I am going to help you."
"Help me?" Jamie asked softly.
"Yes."
"How?"
"Can I trust you to be quiet or do I have to put something over your mouth?"
Jamie whimpered and nodded. "I'll be quiet.
"Good," she said rolling over to the phone.
Jamie sighed and closed his eyes weakly. *Why me?*

She picked up the phone and had a soft conversation.
Jamie tried to listen, but he couldn't hear.
After a few minutes Vanessa hung up the phone.
Jamie looked up at her. "What did you tell him?"
She smiled sweetly, "That I needed to borrow you..."
Jamie swallowed.
"So now... I don't need to work around your runs..."
Jamie sighed. "Great."
"And I'll try and get rid of them..."
Jamie swallowed hard.
She patted him on the head and skated after them.
Jamie groaned and struggled against his bounds.

For some strange reason one of the coaches had picked up the skill of tying knots, and so all of the makeshift ropes were firm.
Jamie sighed and sank down in his seat. Where was Jan when he needed her?
Vanessa had a clock in her kitchen that ticked very loudly, and was doing so now.
Jamie glared at the clock, wishing he could shoot lasers out of his eyes at it.

Finally two of the coaches skated out.
Jamie looked up at them
They skated over. "I don't know why I never noticed how cute he was before..." one of them said.
Jamie glared slightly and struggled.
They leaned down on either side of him and kissed his cheeks.
Jamie yelped and twisted away.
the coaches backed away a bit, "Now that wasn't very nice...
Jamie glared at them, but he only managed to look pouty. "Stoppit!"
"what's the matter?"
"Don't kiss me!"
The coaches giggled, "You mean like this...?"
Jamie struggled. "Just let me go!"
"This might work better if we had actual rope..." one commented.
Jamie's eyes went wide. "What are you doing?"
"Yeah... then Vanessa could have her stuff back..."
Jamie whimpered softly.
"don't have any though," the first coach said, "Ah well, I bet I could donate some stuff though..."
Jamie whined like a stuck puppy.
"come on, help me carry..." she said. The other nodded and they left.
Jamie let out a scream.

Vanessa skated out, "You were going to be quiet..."
Jamie whined and struggled. "Please, Vanessa, let me go. Please..."
"I told you to be quiet."
"But-"
"That was quite a loud scream..."
"Just let me go..."
She skated up behind him and put her hands on his shoulders.
Jamie struggled. "Hey, cut it out!"
She started to rub them, not very gently.
Jamie struggled harder. "Vanessa, quit!"
She removed her hands silently.
Jamie let out a sigh of relief.
She quickly whipped out another scarf and tied it around his mouth.
Jamie yelped, struggling against it. "Don't!" he yelled, but it was muffled around the cloth.
"Too late..."
Jamie began to cry.
She skated around and gently wiped away his tears with a tissue.
Jamie pulled away from her
She sighed and stood up.
Jamie sniffed softly, tears still running down his pretty face.
"No more screaming." she ordered.
Jamie nodded slowly, looking down at his lap.
She swiftly pulled off the gag.

Jamie looked up at her with teary, blue eyes. "Vanessa, I just want to go home..."
"You're wrong if you think that we're gonna keep you here forever."
Jamie felt a bit grateful for that.
"No more whining and complaining and you'll go home tonight."
"Promise?" Jamie said softly.
She nodded.
"Okay," Jamie said softly.
"Can't tell you what time of course..."
Jamie's eyes went wide and scared.
"But you will get home tonight, in one piece..."
Jamie bit his lip. That was debatable...
"just sit tight," she said with a smile, skating away.

"Vanessa!" Jamie called after her, not wanting to be alone, even if she was the one with him.
She stopped and turned around, a bit amused.
Jamie whimpered and struggled. "Don't..."
"Don't what?"
"Don't leave me..."
She laughed, "Nobody's gonna hurt you in my kitchen..."
Jamie whined softly.
She turned around and skated back.
Jamie looked up at her with scared eyes.
She smiled, "You want me to stay?"
Jamie swallowed. "Uh..."
"That's what I thought."
Jamie swallowed hard.
She smiled sweetly and leaned closer.
Jamie instinctively leaned back in his seat.
"Alright," she said softly, "I'll stay..."
Jamie bit his lip.
She sat there and stared at him.
Jamie cowered.
"Still want me to stay?"
Jamie shook his head.
She smiled and backed away
Jamie watched her go.
She paused in the doorway and shook her head, then continued on.

Jamie sat in silence, scared of what to do and what might happen to him.
Tick-tick-tick-tick
Jamie scowled at the clock and squirmed in his seat.
tick-tick-tick-tick
Jamie sank down in his seat, feeling very hot and sleepy.
The other coaches, in pairs or small groups drifted out the door and away.
Jamie watched them with wide eyes. Were they going to leave him here? Tied up and alone?

The first two coaches returned with a armload of assorted scarves and other things.
Jamie's eyes went wide with terror. What were they going to do?"
Vanessa skated out, "Hey, what's all this stuff?"
Jamie nodded. He wanted to know too.
One of the coaches shrugged, "It's not fair to use all of your stuff to tie him up so we thought we'd donate some of ours."
Jamie whined. "Just don't tie me up."
Vanessa turned to him and looked him over, "well..."
Jamie waited nervously.
"A bit late for that..."
Jamie blinked hard to hold back tears.
"Thanks, but I'll be fine," Vanessa said, "Do either of you have to be somewhere?"
The other two shook their heads with a smile.
Jamie whimpered softly.
"Well we can dump this stuff in my room," Vanessa said gathering up some.
"But-" Jamie protested.
The three coaches vanished again.
Jamie groaned and struggled again.'
Vanessa appeared, "Don't rip anything!" then she turned and left again.
Jamie glared after her and struggled again.

tick-tick-tick
Jamie sighed and closed his eyes, feeling groggy and sleepy.
Vanessa and the other two coaches had gotten distracted and left Jamie alone in the kitchen for awhile.
Jamie was nearly asleep in his chair.

Vanessa peeked out and then smiled, returning to her room.
Jamie moaned and shifted in his chair, feeling really warm.
She slowly tip-skated in.
Jamie groaned and shifted again.
Vanessa silently slipped over to him.
Jamie opened his eyes groggily.
She gently pulled his head up.
Jamie blinked, then stared at her with terrified eyes.
"good morning sunshine."
Jamie glared slightly.

Suddenly she leaned over and kissed him.
Jamie yanked away and screamed.
In a flash she had the gag tied back around his mouth.
Jamie struggled, straining as hard as he could.
"Get me another scarf or something..."
Jamie began to sob, tears falling down his face.
The other two coaches skated around behind him.
Jamie continued to sob, trying to curl into a ball on the chair, considering he was tied up.
"If you behave I'll take the gag off..."
Jamie sniffed softly, not able to lift his head to look Vanessa in the eye.

The two coaches behind him gave the chair a push.
Jamie stirred and moaned softly.
They slowly pushed the chair towards the door to the living room.
Jamie barely noticed.
It was slow going but finally they got it there. Behind him the coaches gave each other evil looks.
Jamie whimpered softly.
They settled Jamie down. "It's warm in here," one of the coaches commented, taking off her jacket.
Jamie twisted in his seat, trying to get free.
Vanessa skated over to Jamie, and sank down to look at him.
Jamie blinked and looked at her with pain-filled eyes.
"It's getting late-" she started when the phone rang.

Jamie's head jerked up to stare at the phone, a whimper escaping his gagged lips.
Vanessa rolled her eyes, "The machine'll get it."
Jamie whined and struggled.
The answering machine clicked on and Vanessa's voice came on with the standard leave a message
Jamie went limp in the chair, crying.
"Vanessa?" Jan's voice said, she sighed, "Why aren't you home? Look... Tank said that my brother was working for you and it's getting late... where is he?"
Jamie screeched through the gag and flung himself for the phone, but the scarves held him back.
Jan sighed, "well... call me if you know. Send him home."
Jamie nodded frantically, his eyes wide.
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
Jamie sobbed softly.
Jan hesitated on the phone.
Jamie whimpered. *Jan, come save me...*
Jan almost heard something and then the recording clicked of.
Jamie sobbed again, sinking down in his chair.

"Aw cheer up Jamie, we'll take good care of you..." one of the coaches said.
Jamie shrieked, but it was muffled, and his throat hurt.
"Alright, that's it," Vanessa said, sounding annoyed.
Jamie looked up at her in terror.
She skated around behind him.
Jamie tried to turn around to look at her.
"As you didn't behave..."
Jamie whined softly.
Vanessa brandished a black cloth.
Jamie's eyes went wide.
She swiftly lowered it down around his eyes and tied it firmly.
Jamie cried out and struggled against her.
she tied it just a bit tighter.
Jamie winced and cried.
"There."
Jamie sobbed, his tears soaking the black cloth.
The coaches fell silent.

Jamie whimpered softly and lifted his head.
Silence
Jamie whimpered again and turned his head from side to side, trying to catch a sound, any sound...
Nothing.
Jamie began to shiver, whining softly.
Still silence, except for his whining.
Jamie shuddered, feeling like a little kid alone in a haunted house. He felt sick to his stomach. He whined again louder and curled into his seat as best he could, looking for the most like a scared puppy.
Suddenly someone pushed his chair from behind.
Jamie let out a wild scream.
It came out somewhat muffled and was answered with a muffled giggle.

Jamie heard the soft laughter and twisted his head around, trying to find the source.
They kept pushing him onwards
Jamie whined and struggled to get free.
Finally they came to a stop.
Jamie went silent and limp.

Hands started to undo the bindings around his chest.
Jamie's covered eyes went wide, and he held still. If they were going to untie him...
They undid his arms, except for his wrists.
Jamie stayed still, chewing on his lip nervously.
They next freed his legs, with the exception of his ankles.
Jamie resisted the urge to stretch, staying still.
There was a pause
Jamie bit his lip hard, waiting.
Hands hesitated by the blindfold.
Jamie held his breath.
"Close your eyes," Vanessa ordered, "It's light in here."
Jamie obediently closed his eyes.
She pulled the blindfold off.
Jamie slowly opened his eyes, blinking slowly to let them adjust.

They pulled off the bindings on his wrists and then removed the gag.
Jamie rubbed his sore wrists, then looked around. His eyes went wide, and he recoiled into the chair.
One of the coaches knelt down to deal with his skates.
Jamie whimpered softly. "Why are we in here?"
She removed the binding from the chair, but tied his ankles together.
Jamie curled into a ball on the chair. "I wanna go home..."

One of the coaches tipped the chair, tipping Jamie towards the bed.
Jamie landed on the mattress face-first.
Vanessa turned him over.
Jamie stared up at her in terror.
"I wish that you wouldn't look so frightened," one of the coaches said, sitting down next to him, "We aren't *that* scary..."
Jamie glared slightly.
She leaned down and brushed his hair back
Jamie pushed her hand away.
She shrugged and pull her hand back.

Jamie sat up and reached for his bound ankles.
"Ah ah..." Vanessa said, pushing him back down.
Jamie struggled.
She leaned down over him, pinning him down.
Jamie yelped and tried to push her away.
The other two coaches joined her in hovering over him.
Jamie whimpered. "What are you doing?"
"Havin' some fun...."
*At my expense* Jamie hissed inwardly. "Doing what?"
One of the coaches smiled and leaned over to give him a kiss.
Jamie shrieked and scrambled away.
They pinned him down and she planted a kiss on him.
Jamie struggled, starting to cry.
"easy now..."
Jamie whimpered and scrubbed at tears on his face.
"I keep tellin' you that we won't hurt you..." Vanessa said leaning over him.
Jamie froze. "Let me up," he pleaded.
"hmm..."
"Please..."
"...no."
"Please..."
Vanessa sat down next to him.
Jamie started to sit up.
The three coaches pounced him and pushed him down.
Jamie struggled under their combined weight.
"Now then..." Vanessa said, as one of the other two checked the bindings around his ankles.
Jamie whimpered, biting his lip hard.
They pinned him tightly to the bed.
Jamie began to sob, struggling, but he couldn't fight against all three of them.

There was a pounding on Vanessa's door.
Jamie looked up in terror. Were more of them coming to hurt him too?
Vanessa looked up and rolled her eyes, "Figures..."
Jamie whined and struggled.
The pounding stopped and Vanessa relaxed.
Jamie began to sob.
Suddenly Vanessa's door flew open with a crash.
Jamie squeezed his eyes shut, scared.
"Get. Off. Him." a very familiar female voice ordered in a dead calm tone.
Jamie's eyes flew open. "Jan?"
Vanessa backed away from the angry observation coach a step.
Jamie struggled to sit up.
The other two coaches stepped over to Vanessa as Jan glared at all three of them.
Jamie sat up quickly, struggling to untie his feet.
Jan swiftly moved over to her brother.
Jamie looked up at her with frightened eyes. "Jan..."
She reached down to untie his feet when Vanessa skated up behind her.
Jamie whimpered softly.
Jan whirled.
"He promised that I would have his services for the next few days," Vanessa said.
Jamie began to cry softly.
"And so I find him tied up on your bed?" Jan asked softly, "I don't think that this works..."
"Get out of my house..." Vanessa ordered.
Jamie clung tightly to Jan. "Jan, I wanna go home," he pleaded.
She finished untying him.
Jamie leaned in her arms, sobbing.
Jan carefully eased her brother to his wheels.
"No," Vanessa said.
Jamie whimpered softly.
"No?" Jan asked in a deadly, dangerous calm tone.
Jamie whined and hugged her tightly.
"You wouldn't think that I would come here on my own do you?" Jan asked threateningly.
Jamie looked up at her in surprise.
"What do you mean?" Vanessa asked suspiciously.
"Come on Jamie..." Jan said.
Jamie slowly got to his wheels and clung to Jan.
Vanessa blocked their path.
Jamie began to sob.

Jan let out a shout and was answered by a deep whistle.
Jamie looked up in shock.
"That's right..." Jan said softly, with a smug look at Vanessa.
Jamie cowered against his sister. "You... you brought Tank?"
She gave him a hug. "Now if you will excuse us..."
Jamie held her tightly, wanting to leave.
Jan gave him a soft pull towards the door.
Vanessa stepped aside.
Jamie followed her quickly.
Jan led her brother outside.
Jamie followed her, trying hard not to cry.

Tank was waiting outside, "No problems then?" he asked.
Jan shook her head.
Jamie began to sob, clinging tightly to Jan. "Tank, I'm sorry..."
"No no, shh..." Jan soothed, rocking him gently.
Jamie clung tightly to her, staring up at Tank with scared eyes. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean..."
Tank looked thoroughly confused.
Jamie began to sob, hugging Jan tightly.
"Come on...lets get home...."
Jamie nodded slowly.
Tank turned so Jan could hitch up.
Jamie hitched up to Jan, still fighting back tears.
Jan took Tank's couplings and he pulled them down the track.
Jamie glanced back at Vanessa's house, praying he would not have to go back tomorrow.

Soon they reached home.
Jamie hugged Jan tightly.
Tank stopped and she unhitched.
"Thank you..." she said softly.
Jamie nodded up at Tank. "Th... thanks..."
Tank nodded, "I had no idea..."
Jamie looked up in surprise.
"Yeah well..." he turned to go.
Jamie swallowed hard. "Tank... it was... was my fault..."
He turned around, "What?"
"I... I disconnected the coaches a few days ago, when Vanessa told you..."
"What?"
"When she told you there had been a problem... I abandoned them... I'm sorry..."
"You...left them?"
Jamie nodded slowly.
"That is *not* what an engine is supposed to do."
Jamie nodded miserably. "I know..."
"You are supposed to be responsible for your train..."
Jamie nodded again. "I know..."
"No Matter What."
Jamie bit back tears and nodded.
"So now what am I supposed to do?"
Jamie whimpered softly and scrubbed tears from his eyes. "Punish me?"
Tank looked down at Jamie thoughtfully.
Jamie cowered a bit.
"I will deal with you in the morning."
Jamie bit his lip and nodded. Almost twelve hours to wait before he knew what Tank was going to do...
Tank turned and rolled away down the tracks.

Jamie looked up at Jan with sad eyes. "Jan... it wasn't my fault..."
She shook her head, "I know..."
Jamie began to cry. "They... they were hurting me..."
"Come inside..."
Jamie nodded and followed her.
Jan led him into his room and helped him into bed, not commenting on the marks that the scarves had left on his wrists and face.
Jamie curled under his blankets and cried.
She rubbed his shoulders.
Jamie looked up at her sadly.
"I'm sorry honey..."
"For what?"
"For...everything."
"It's not your fault."
"Can't I still be sorry?"
Jamie smiled weakly. "I suppose..."
She leaned down and gave him a hug.
Jamie hugged her back. "Wh... what do you think Tank'll do to me?"
"If you ask me, I think that you've been punished enough."
Jamie swallowed. "I don't think he'll see it that way..."
She sat down on the bed next to him and put his head in her lap.
Jamie curled up close to her, snuggling his face against her thigh.
She rubbed his hair gently.
Jamie hugged her tightly and closed his eyes, worn out from crying.

**********************

The sun came up and Jan woke, from where she was leaning against the headboard of Jamie's bed.
Jamie was sleeping peacefully.
She looked down at her little brother and smiled, despite everything.
Jamie moaned and shifted a bit, not wanting to wake up yet.
Jan held still until Jamie had settled down.
Jamie sighed softly and blinked, unable to fall back asleep.
She gently attempted to ease out from under him.
Jamie sat up and stretched painfully.
She stood up silently.
Jamie sighed and glanced at his clock. "I gotta go to work...
Jan sighed softly, "Last night... Tank said to stay 'til he got here..."
"He did?"
She nodded.
Jamie sighed and pushed back the blankets. "Goody."
"Oh I'm sorry honey... you want me to try to stall him?"
Jamie shook his head. "No. I just wanna get it over with."
"Okay..." she said softly, "did you want breakfast?"
Jamie nodded. "Can I take a shower first?"
She nodded and skated off towards the kitchen.
Jamie headed for the bathroom to take a long, hot shower.

By the time he was finished Jan had breakfast ready.
Jamie skated out into the kitchen, a towel around his hair.
Jan wasn't in sight, but the table was set with breakfast out.
Jamie sat down at the table, letting the towel fall from his hair, his golden hair messy.

A few minutes later there was a pounding on the door.
Jamie looked up, wondering if Jan was going to get it.
The pounding got louder.
"I'm coming!" Jan called in the general direction of the door as she skated over.
Jamie quickly brushed his hair into place with his hand, quickly securing his red headband around his head.
"Have a seat," Jan said and then there was silence from the living room.
Jamie got up, swallowing his last bite of toast before skating into the living room.
Tank was seated on the couch.
Jamie moved over towards the couch, his eyes on the floor.

Tank stood up.
Jamie suddenly felt very, very short. He swallowed and waited.
"Now then..." Tank started.
Jamie looked up nervously at him.
"What to do with a little engine that abandons his train..."
Jamie whimpered softly and swallowed, his eyes lowering to his skates.
Tank circled Jamie, "Over all I think that you need to show more um...respect."
Jamie bit his lip hard and nodded.
"I'm glad you agree."
Jamie closed his eyes and nodded again.
"Now I've been thinking about how to punish you..."
Jamie opened his eyes cautiously, holding his breath.
"And I've come up with quite a few things... some are rather interesting..."
Jamie swallowed hard.
"And probably would be quite amusing for me..."
Jamie whimpered softly.
"All the same, most of them have been rejected."
Jamie looked up hopefully.
Tank gave him a Look.
Jamie bit his lip hard.
Tank looked down at the floor meaningfully.
Jamie looked up at him.
Tank looked at Jamie and then down at the floor.
Jamie got his meaning and slowly knelt down on the floor.

"Now then," Tank said, "For abandoning your train... I sentence you to..." he trailed off dramatically.
Jamie waited, biting his lip hard.
"Let me see... Vanessa was in that train.... so first of all, for the night and day after you abadoned that train you are to work for her."
"But-" Jamie protested.
Jan's eyes widened and she caught Jamie's eye and shook her head.
Jamie bit his tongue and waited.
"And then, once you are finished with that..." Tank continued.
Jan stood up, "Tank... don't you think that that's punishment enough?"
Jamie looked up hopefully at Jan.
Tank turned to her and considered.
Jamie waited, chewing on his lip.
Tank turned and sped over to Jamie.
Jamie held his breath.
Tank pushed Jamie down to all fours.
Jamie landed hard on his hands, tears stinging his eyes.
"After you finish that punishment I will let you know your next one," Tank said, "In the meantime, once you have finished you are not to go outside."
Jamie nodded slowly.
"Stay put."
Jamie nodded again.
Tank turned and rolled away.
"Tank..." Jan started, following him outside.
Jamie waited on his hands and knees, trying hard not to cry.
Outside Jan and Tank were having a soft argument.
Jamie closed his eyes, feeling his breakfast forming into a knot in his stomach.

The door opened again and shut with a soft slam.
Jamie looked up weakly.
Jan skated over, "Come on honey..." she said.
Jamie got to his wheels, terrified. "Do I have to go back to Vanessa?"
She gathered him into her arms.
Jamie hugged her tight. "I can't go back! I can't! I don't care what Tank says!"
"Jamie..." she started softly.
Jamie began to sob.
"No, Jamie, honey, listen to me..." she said with a smile.
Jamie looked up at her.
"Listen, you came home late the other night right? Where were you?"
"Va... Vanessa's..."
"And yesterday?"
"Vanessa's..."
"So..." she trailed off.
Jamie looked up hopefully. "I... I've already done it?"
She nodded.
Jamie grinned. "So... so I can just stay here?"
She nodded again.
Jamie grinned brightly.
"So... back to breakfast?"
Jamie nodded. "Okay."
She skated back into the kitchen.
Jamie followed and sat back down.

"...Jamie?"
Jamie looked up.
"I've got some errands to run tonight."
"Oh?"
She nodded, "Yeah, I mean I don't want to leave you alone..."
Jamie swallowed. "I'll... be okay."
"I mean...nobody should bother you or anything..."
Jamie nodded.
She smiled and skated over to give him a hug.
Jamie hugged her back tightly.
"There now..." she said softly.
Jamie smiled brightly.
"So... day off then."
Jamie nodded. "Yeah."
"I'm gonna go wash my hair..."
"Okay," Jamie agreed, picking up his juice.

*~*~*~*

Later that night, Jan put on her coat.
Jamie watched her from his spot on the couch. "When you gonna be back?"
"Not sure... but if I'm out too late then just go to bed..."
Jamie nodded. "Okay. Bye."
She skated over and kissed him on the forehead, "Bye..."
"Bye," Jamie said, kissing her cheek.
She smiled and started towards the door when they both heard a low whistle.
Jamie froze in his seat. "No..."
Jan rolled over to the window and looked out, "He's...not coming here."
"Oh," Jamie sighed with relief.
"yeah..." she said softly, "He better not."
Jamie curled against the couch.
"He's gone..."
"Good," Jamie sighed.
Jan sighed softly and headed over to the door.
Jamie watched her go.
She skated out onto the tracks and down just out of sight of the house where Tank was waiting.
Jamie cuddled against the couch, reading a book.

*~*~*~*

Tank pulled Jan home.
Jamie was asleep on the couch.
She skated in with a goodnight.
Jamie slept silently, his book long forgotten on the floor.
She skated over to her brother and looked down at him with a smile, then she pulled a blanket over him.
Jamie didn't even notice, sleeping on.
She smiled and then went to bed.