The Midnight Train Crossing

James stopped outside of his house, the letter he had just gotten heavy in his hands.
Jen was inside, humming to herself as she dusted the furniture.
Finally he slowly rolled inside.
Jen looked up. "Hello, dear-" She paused. "What's wrong?"
"I got this today," he said holding out the letter for her.
Jen took it and opened it up.
James sighed and sank down, "Why now?"
Jen sighed and folded the letter slowly. "I don't know, darling... But we have to go..."
"I know we do, but I wish it wasn't *now*..."
"I know... But we'll be back soon..."
"It's too far for Jamie to make it...and we can't leave him alone, so Jan'll have to stay too..."
Jen nodded. "I think they'll be all right for a day or two. There are other engines here to watch them..."
"Yeah I know..."
Jen smiled. "We better tell them so we can go."
He nodded and stood up, "Come on.."
Jen stood up and followed him.

He knocked on Jan's door.
Jamie looked up.
"Can we talk to you two?" James asked.
"Okay," Jamie said.
Jan nodded and James rolled in to sit down on her bed.
Jen sat down next to him.
Jamie crawled onto her lap.
Jan looked at her parents, "What is it?"
Jen held Jamie still on her lap. "Well, Jan, your father and I need to leave for a few days."
James nodded, "We'll be back as soon as we can." Jan blinked.
Jamie's eyes widened. "You... you can't leave me!"
"It won't be for very long," James said quickly, "And Jan will be here."
Jamie whimpered softly, but he nodded.
Jen smiled.
"How...how long are you going to be gone?"
"Just a day or two."
"Good," Jan said, leaning into her father's arms.
Jamie snuggled close to his mother. "I wanna go with."
"I know you do," James said, "But I'm afraid that it is too far for you..."
"But-"
"I know," James soothed, "I know..."
Jamie began to cry, hugging his mom tightly. "We'll never see you again."
"Sure we will," Jan said.
Jamie whimpered and hugged his mom again. "When are you leaving?"
"Tonight," James said, "I'm sorry about the short notice..."
Jamie whimpered, but he nodded.
"You two promise to be brave?"
Jamie sniffed and nodded bravely.
Jan nodded as well.
"There we go," James said, "You two take care of each other alright?"
Jamie nodded and hugged his dad's arm.

James pulled Jamie and Jan to him and gave them hugs.
Jamie hugged him tightly.
James held his children for a few minutes.
Jamie curled close to his parents, crying softly, but trying to be brave.
James sighed, knowing that they had to leave soon.
Jamie looked up at him with scared, blue eyes. "You promise you'll be back?"
"Well of course we will, this is our home...and you're here."
Jamie nodded slowly and tried to smile.
James looked up as Jen.
Jen smiled and shifted Jamie off her lap. "We should go."
James nodded, "well be back as soon as we can..."
Jen got to her feet.
Jamie whimpered softly.
"The sooner we go, the sooner we'll get back," James explained.
Jamie nodded slowly and gripped Jan's skirt.
Jan reached down and took her brother's hand.
Jamie held her hand tightly.

Semi-pulling Jamie along, Jan followed her parents to the door.
Jamie followed, sniffing softly, still trying to be brave.
James paused at the door, "Oh come on you two, cheer up, we'll be back."
Jamie moved closer and gave both his parents a tight hug.
Jan followed suit.
Jamie hugged them tightly and looked up at them, as if trying to memorize their faces. "I love you," he whispered softly.
James nodded, "I love you too...both of you."
Jamie smiled.
Jen leaned down and kissed Jamie's head, then Jan's. "I love you, my darlings." She ruffled Jamie's hair gently. "You two be good while we're gone."
Jan nodded, "We will." She gave her parents one more hug.
Jamie hugged them tightly again, not wanting to let go, until Jen gently detached him from her skirt, gave him one more kiss, and coupled onto James.
Jan took Jamie's hand.
With a soft whistle and a wave James rolled out the door and off the porch.
Jan followed, stopping on the porch.
Jamie gripped Jan's skirt as he watched his parents vanishing on the horizon.
Jen turned and waved at her children.
Jan waved back, watching until they were out of sight.

Jamie hugged Jan tightly. "They... they're gone."
"they'll be back."
Jamie nodded slowly and held Jan tighter.
"Well...lets go inside."
Jamie nodded and followed Jan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jan slept late the next morning.
Jamie was curled up next to Jan on her bed, not wanting to get up.
Jan rolled over...
Jamie snuggled closer to her.
She opened her eyes and blinked, a bit confused.
Jamie sighed and snuggled his nose into her chest.
"Jamie...what...?"
Jamie blinked sleepily and looked up at her.
Jan sighed and gently pushed him off of her, getting up.
Jamie groaned and sat up, rubbing his eyes groggily.
She stretched.

Jamie looked around. "Where are mommy and daddy?"
"They'll be back, remember?
"Oh yeah," Jamie said softly, reaching for his stuffed puppy he had been sleeping on top of.
Jan nodded, moving over to her mirror and picking up a brush.
Jamie sighed softly and buried his face in his puppy, still trying to be brave.
"Well..." Jan said softly.
Jamie looked up at her.
Jan shrugged, "I have no idea what we do today..."
Jamie got up and moved over to her. "But I get to stay with you, right?"
"Sure..."
Jamie smiled brightly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a hesitatant knocking.
Jamie turned and bolted for the door, thinking his parents were home.
Jan followed.
Jamie yanked open the door, then scowled. "What do YOU want?"
"Good morning to you too..." Tank said.
Jamie glared.
"Good morning Tank," Jan said from behind Jamie.
Jamie moved in front of Jan. "You're not supposed to be here."
"I...uh..."
Jamie glared and tried to shut the door.
"Hey come on now..." Tank tried.
Jamie scowled and pushed the door harder.
Tank blocked it with his skate.
Jamie growled softly.
"Jamie...come on..."
"No!"
"but I-
"No!"
Jan took her brother's couplings and pulled him away from the door.
Jamie struggled. "Jan!"
"Jamie, be nice..."
"But-"
"Jamie, please?"
"What?"
"Please be nice," Jan pleaded.
"Why?" Jamie hissed.

Tank sighed a bit, getting just a little frustrated with this little engine.
Jamie struggled against Jan, trying to get to the door again.
"Come in Tank," Jan said.
Jamie hissed loudly and struggled harder.
Tank nodded and skated in, closing the door behind him.
Jamie growled. "Jan, I'm telling mom!"
Jan sighed softly, "We will get in trouble..."
"It's all my fault..." Tank said.
"But if you get in trouble again..." Jan started.
"Then you don't ever get to see her again!" Jamie crowed triumphantly.
"Yeah...maybe you'd better go..." Jan said with a sigh, "I wouldn't want to never be able to see you again."

Tank almost glared a bit at Jamie.
Jamie whimpered and shrank back against Jan.
"Oh Jamie..." Jan sighed.
Jamie looked up at Jan.
"he's not gonna hurt you..."
Jamie glared a bit.
"well he's not!"
Jamie looked back at Tank and scowled. "He should leave."
"Why?"
"Cause he's not supposed to be here."
"but he's not doing anything..."
"But he's not supposed to be here!" Jamie insisted.
"Fine," Jan said, loosing her temper a bit, "Then he'll go outside. C'mon Tank."
"But-"

Tank shrugged and went back outside.
Jan followed him out on to the tracks in front of the house.
Jamie raced out after them.
Jan and Tank stood together, talking softly.
Jamie darted between them.
Jan sighed and stepped around him.
Jamie whimpered. "Jan..."
"What?"
"Jan, don't leave me."
"I'm *not* gonna leave you. I just want to talk to him."
Jamie nodded and hugged Jan's waist tightly.
"Will you behave now?" she asked.
Jamie nodded slowly.
Jan smiled, "Thanks..."
Jamie nodded again.
"Why don't you go inside and I'll be in in a minute..."
"But-"
"I'll be in, I promise."
Jamie whimpered softly. "Can't I stay? I'll be good..."
"Well..."
"Please?" Jamie pleaded, his eyes large and wide.
"You could sit on the porch..."
Jamie's eyes filled with tears.
"Okay, okay fine..." Jan said quickly.
Jamie immediatly brightened and smiled, hugging her tight.
"Yeah yeah..."
Jamie smiled and laid his cheek on her chest and gazed up at Tank through his eyelashes.

Tank looked a bit uncomfortable.
Jamie glanced up at Jan.
She didn't notice, all her attention on Tank.
Jamie sighed and laid his cheek on her again.
Tank sighed, "Well I..."
Jamie looked up at Tank again.
He looked at Jamie, then apologetically at Jan, "I guess I'd better get to work..."
Jamie nodded and cuddled closer to Jan.
"Must you?" Jan asked with a soft sigh, "I suppose so..."
Jamie nodded again.
"Come back again tonight?"
Jamie scowled.
Tank nodded, "I wouldn't miss it." He took her hand and gave it a kiss.
Jamie growled and slapped Tank away.
"Jamie, behave!" Jan scolded.
Jamie glared.
"I mean it!"
Jamie glared deeper.
Jan meet his glare with one of her own.
Jamie whimpered and backed away.
"Until tonight then," Tank said, backing away down the tracks.
Jamie watched him go, his eyes dark.

Jan smiled and glided up to the porch to sit on the swing.
Jamie moved up next to her and sat down on the swing, giving it a push with his toe. "I don't like that guy."
"What's wrong with him?"
"He's... not... good for you," Jamie finished lamely.
"Why not? He's sweet..."
Jamie made a face.
"He is, he's very nice to me..."
Jamie scowled. "Not me."
"Yeah he is..."
"No..."
"When was he not?"
"When he let his friends hurt me."
"But he was trying to *stop* them."
"After I was hurt," Jamie hissed.
"but-"
Jamie glared.
"But he didn't want you to get hurt in the first place..."
Jamie glared.
"Jamie, I know that he's really sorry about it..."
Jamie glared harder and looked away.
"I am too..." Jan said, leaning over to him.
Jamie's glare faded as he slowly turned to look at her.

Jan's eyes were soft, "I'm sorry that you don't like him."
"Why are you sorry?" Jamie asked softly.
"Because I really like him, but I don't want you to be upset..."
"You don't?" Jamie asked.
"No! of course not!"
Jamie smiled slowly.
"You're my brother Jamie..."
Jamie nodded. "I know..."
"And I don't want you to be upset..."
Jamie moved closer to her. "Really?"
"Really."
Jamie smiled slowly.
Jan gave him a hug.
Jamie melted into her embrace and hugged her tightly.

"But I still like him..."
Jamie sighed softly.
"I want to do both..."
Jamie looked up at her. "Both what?"
"Have both of you."
Jamie nodded slowly.
"Will you let me?"
Jamie slowly nodded.
Jan smiled warmly at her little brother.
Jamie smiled back.
She gave the swing another push.
Jamie slowly cuddled into her arms and closing his eyes.
"You tired again?"
"No," Jamie said softly.
"Oh."
Jamie sighed softly.

"Jamie...?"
Jamie looked up.
"Would you mind if...later tonight..."
Jamie waited.
"If I went out with Tank..."
"And... and leave me alone?" Jamie whimpered.
"It would only be for an hour or two..."
Jamie whimpered. "I... I don't wanna be alone..."
"But I...it's our house Jamie...there's nothing scary here..."
"But... but I don't wanna be alone."
Jan sighed, "Oh..."
Jamie clung to her waist. "Take me with you."
"I won't go then..." she said softly.
Jamie smiled brightly. "Kay."
"Yeah..." she gave the swing another, very hard push.
Jamie almost lost his balance on it. He grabbed Jan tighter. "Don't!"
"Sorry," she said quickly.
Jamie nodded and laid his cheek on her shoulder.
"Well..." she started, looking out at the rails.
Jamie looked up and followed her gaze. "Whatcha looking at?"
"nothing really, just thinking..."
"About what?" Jamie asked softly.
"About what to do tonight..."
"Play with me!"
"Sure..." she said without enthusiasm.
Jamie smiled. "Okay. Whatcha wanna play?"
"I don't care."
Jamie sighed. "Me either."
"then we're stuck."
Jamie pouted.
"well you think of something then."

Jamie sighed, then looked up. "Wanna color?"
"Sure..."
"Okay!" Jamie leaped up and grabbed Jan's arm, pulling hard.
"Ow, hey be careful!" she protested.
"Come on!" Jamie said cheerfully, not noticing his force.
Jan got up, wincing a bit and she let her brother pull her along.
Jamie pulled her into the house, then towards the kitchen.
Jan didn't resist against her brother as he pulled her inside and then sat down to color.
Jamie took a crayon and began to color, handing Jan a book.
"thanks..." she said softly.
Jamie smiled brightly and nodded.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After they had been coloring for awhile there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Jan called.
Tank opened the door and rolled in.
Jamie looked up and scowled. Just what he needed to disrupt his time alone with Jan.
"Hi," Jan greeted him, "have a crayon..."
Jamie scowled. "Mine!" he growled.
"Or...not," she said.
Jamie nodded.
"Ah well, have a seat anyway," she said.
Jamie glared and started to color again.
Tank nodded and sat down across the table from the siblings.
Jamie ignored him, coloring a little more fiercely than he needed to.
Tank sighed softly and leaned back, rubbing his wrist gently.
Jamie ignored him, snatching a crayon from near Jan's arms.
Jan looked up at the expression on Tank's face, "Are you alright?" she asked concerned.
"Huh? oh yeah...I'm fine," he answered.
Jamie scowled, as if just hearing Tank's voice made him mad.
"you don't look fine," Jan said.
Jamie glared and covered his ears with his hands.
Jan stood up and rolled over to him, taking his wrist despite his protests that he was fine.
Jamie growled and hissed through his teeth.
"What happened?" she asked softly, seeing that Tank's wrist was a rather purplish color.

Jamie got down from his spot and crossing the kitchen to raid the cookie jar while Jan was preoccupied.
"I uh..." Tank started, "I feel on it," he pulled his wrist away, "It's nothing, an accident."
Jamie stuffed a cookie in his mouth and several more into his fist.
"An accident?"
"Yeah I um..." Tank very obviously was embarrassed by this.
Jamie swallowed and bit into another cookie.
"I...it happened the other night...when...when...after your father came home..."
Jamie's ears perked up.
Jan looked down at her skates, "What happened?"
Jamie listened intently, cookies forgotten.
Tank lowered his voice a little, "he...was upset about what happened and...I guess he wanted to show me..."
A slow smile spread over Jamie's face.
Jan leaned over and gave him a hug.
Jamie hissed.
"Jamie, be nice!"
Jamie scowled.
"I mean it!"
Jamie made a face.
"Jamie..." Jan sounded pleading now.
Jamie glared and stuffed another cookie in his mouth.
With a sigh Jan got up and went to the freezer to get Tank some ice.

Jamie followed her, moving so he was right behind her so she'd almost trip over him on her way back to Tank.
She didn't trip, but nearly dropped the ice on her brother.
Jamie began to cry, fakely, just to get her sympathy.
"Jamie, be careful! I nearly fell over you!"
"Not my fault!" Jamie insisted.
"well you were right behind me..."
"So?" Jamie sniffed and rubbed at the tears on his face.
"Well you should not have been..."
"So?"
"If you hadn't been then I wouldn't have tripped over you..."
Jamie made a face.
Jan gave him a hug.
Jamie hugged her back.
"you okay now?" she asked softly.
Jamie nodded.
"Good," she said with a smile, pulling away.
Jamie pouted as she left him.
She ruffled his hair and then rolled over to Tank, giving him the ice.

Jamie pouted and went back to the cookie jar.
"thanks but you don't have to..." he started.
Jamie dug out another cookie.
Tank let out a little yelp.
Jamie grinned to himself.
"that's cold," he said sheepishly.
Jamie smirked. "Baby," he muttered to himself.
Jan giggled slightly.

Jamie grabbed another cookie and stuffed it in his mouth.
"Jamie, you probably shouldn't eat them that fast.." Jan said.
Jamie made a face. "Be quiet."
"I'm the older sister here remember?"
Jamie glared and stuffed half a cookie in his mouth. "So?"
"So," she moved over to him and pulled the cookies away.
Jamie shrieked.
Tank stood up, "easy you two," he said, "I don't think that a few more cookies would hurt..."
Jamie nodded eagerly.
"Oh all right, seeing as I'm out numbered here..." she sighed.
Jamie grinned and snatched the jar back from her.
She held up her hands in defeat
Jamie grabbed another handful from the jar.
She sat down and mock pouted.
Jamie ignored her.
"eh, cookies won't hurt him," Tank repeated, "After all, as an engine he needs the extra energy..."
Jamie nodded vigorously.
"I give up," Jan said, "You win. Cookies it is..."
Jamie nodded.
Tank nodded and smiled.
Jamie sat down at the table and ate another cookie.
Tank said down next to Jan, "Ah it was a lost cause anyway."
Jamie glared slightly.
"You can't win against him..."
Jamie scowled.
Jan sighed, "Jamie, please..."
"What?"
"Please behave?"
"I AM behaving," said Jamie with a deeper scowl.
"Oh. Then I'm glad that you're not misbehaving...'cause I'd hate to see that."
Jamie glared, the next cookie crumbling in his fist in anger.

"Jamie, I...I'm sorry," Jan said quickly, "I didn't mean-"
Jamie glared and ignored her.
"Jamie?"
Jamie looked up angrily.
She stood up and moved over to her brother, starting to give him a hug,.
Jamie glared.
"Jamie? are you mad at me now?"
Jamie nodded.
"Why?"
"Cause you're being mean."
"I am?"
Jamie nodded.
"I'm sorry!"
Jamie smiled and hugged her.
"Do you forgive me?"
Jamie nodded slowly.
"good."

Jamie smiled and offered Jan a cookie.
"Thanks," she said, taking it. "do you want one?" she asked Tank.
Jamie glared. "Mine," he hissed to her.
"Ours."
"Mine," Jamie insisted.
"no, our cookies..."
"No, MY cookies."
"but-"
Jamie glared and hugged the jar closer.
Jan sighed, "Here, since it's *yours*"
Jamie hugged the jar.
Jan handed him the cookie he had handed her before.
Jamie shook his head.
"Here."
"No."
"Fine. I thought that they were *your* cookies."
Jamie glared. "I can give them away if I want."
"And I can give it back if I want!"
"But I don't want it back."
"Then leave it there."
"Okay."
"Jan," Tank said softly, "It's alright, I don't need one..."
"Why don't you give yours to Tank if you don't want it?" Jamie asked sullenly.
"fine then I will," she picked it up and set it down in front of the other engine.

Jamie went back to raiding his cookie jar.
Jan took Tank's hands, "come on, let's leave him to his cookies..." She pulled him up.
Jamie's eyes went wide. "You're leaving me?"
"Jan wait-" Tank protested as she pulled him into the living room.
Jamie screamed and raced after them, cookie jar abandoned.
"Jan I don't think that this is the best thing to do," Tank said.

Jamie raced into the room after them and almost tackled the two, sobbing frantically.
Tank steadied Jamie.
Jamie hugged Tank tightly.
"Jan calm down," Tank said to his coach, "It's okay, I don't mind..."
Jamie hugged him tighter.
Jan sighed, "Why can't you two get along?"
Tank didn't point out that he wasn't the one causing the problems.
Jamie sobbed, clinging to Tank tightly. "Don't leave me."
"Uh..." Tank started, looking down at the little engine.
Jamie looked up at Tank with adoring, blue eyes.
"I um...that is I... um..."
Jamie hugged Tank tighter.
He gasped a bit, "Jamie...not so tight..."
Jamie whimpered and let go of Tank.
"Strong little guy..."
Jamie nodded.
"He is," Jan said fondly, despite herself.
Jamie smiled brightly.

"maybe the three of us could do something?" Tank suggested.
Jamie nodded eagerly.
"Like a game or something..."
Jamie nodded.
"Do you have any cards?" Tank asked.
Jan nodded.
Jamie looked up at Tank. "What we gonna do?"
"I was thinking that we could play a game." Tank started
Jamie nodded. "Okay."
Jan returned with a deck, "He knows how to play Go Fish," she said softly.
Tank smiled, "we can play that then."
Jamie nodded slowly.
Tank sat down on the floor and Jan sat down by him.
She indicated that Jamie should sit next to her, completing the small circle.
Jamie curled next to Jan.
Tank dealt the cards.
Jamie snatched his cards.
Jan took hers with a smile at the two engines.
Jamie tried to peek at Jan's cards, as he normally did.
"Hey now," she teased.
Jamie pouted.
"I dealt, so Jamie goes first," Tank said.
Jamie looked up adoringly at Tank, then looked back at his cards.
Jan nodded and covered her cards so her little brother wouldn't be tempted.
Jamie glared slightly at Jan, remembering when she used to let him cheat when he was younger. "Any aces?"
Jan smiled at him, "Go fish."
Jamie scowled.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They played several games that afternoon.
Jamie made a face. "I lost," he pouted.
"Yeah, but you won so many of the other games," Jan pointed out.
"So?" Jamie pouted.
"so you won more times then I did."
Jamie still pouted.
"So that makes you the champion..."
Jamie brightened just a bit.
Jan nodded.
Jamie curled closer to Jan. "Now what are we gonna do?"
"Well it's getting a bit late..." she said looking at the clock.
Jamie pouted.
"We could play again," Tank offered.
Jamie shook his head.
"Oh. Okay."

Jamie rubbed at his eyes with one tiny fist.
Jan rocked her brother gently.
Jamie curled closer to her and sighed.
She smiled softly, the room fell silent.
Jamie looked up at Jan. "I miss mommy and daddy."
"I know," she said softly, "I do too..."
"When are they coming back?"
"Either late tomorrow night or early the next day..."
Jamie began to cry. "I want mommy and daddy..."
Jan rocked her little brother gently, "ssh sshh..."
Jamie looked up at Tank with teary, blue eyes.

Tank watched Jan take care of him, he didn't think that he would have known what to do.
Jamie looked up at Tank. "Can you bring them home?"
"Can I...what?"
"Can you bring them home?"
"I...um..."
Jamie looked up at Tank with adoring eyes.
Tank sighed, "I'm sorry," he looked down.
Jamie's face fell. "You can't?"
"I really wish that I could."
Jamie nodded, tears starting to slip from his eyes.
Jan cuddled him closer.
Jamie hugged Jan tightly.
She rocked him again.

Jamie looked up at Jan. "Will Tank stay with us tonight?"
"Um..." she started.
Tank looked like he wanted to, very much indeed.
Jamie looked over at Tank. "Will you?"
"If you'll have me..."
Jamie nodded. "Will we, Jan?"
Jan nodded.
Jamie smiled brightly.
"Then I will stay," Tank said.
Jamie smiled. "Okay. You can stay in my room with me!"
"Sure..."
Jamie smiled. "Okay, Jan?"
She laughed, "Sure thing."
Jamie smiled.
Tank stood up and stretched.
Jamie leaped into Tank's arms.
"Woah there..." Tank said, balancing Jamie.
Jamie cuddled into Tank's arms.
"So...which way to your room?"
"That way," Jamie said, pointing.
Tank nodded and then carried Jamie towards his room.
Jamie waved at Jan. "Night, Jan."
"good night," she said with a smile.
Jamie waved to her again, then cuddled into Tank's arms.

Tank took Jamie into his bedroom and set him down on the bed.
Jamie patted the bed next to him. "You can sleep here."
"Okay...sure..." Tank said, sitting down.
Jamie looked up at him with bright eyes. "You wanna stay with me, right?"
"Yeah..."
Jamie smiled. "Okay. Cause Jan doesn't want you staying with her."
"Uh huh..." Tank said softly.
Jamie smiled. "Cause my dad would be mad at you."
"Exactly."
Jamie nodded. "He'd chase you again."
Tank rubbed his wrist.
Jamie smiled just a bit, to himself.
"Wouldn't want that to happen again.."
"Yeah, cause you'd look silly if your friends saw you," Jamie said cheerfully.
Tank swallowed and held his tongue, Jan wouldn't like it if he got mad at Jamie.
Jamie picked up his stuffed puppy and held it out to Tank. "See?"
"Very nice," Tank said.
Jamie nodded. "My daddy bought it for me when your friends hurt me."
"Oh..." Tank said softly.
Jamie smiled. "It's nice being hurt when you get presents, isn't it?"
"I suppose so..."
Jamie smiled and hugged the puppy.

"Hey now," Jan called sticking her head in the room, "Bedtime for little engines..."
"Okay. Tank too," Jamie added.
"Yes Miss," Tank said with a wink and Jan.
Jamie scrambled under his covers. "Tuck me in?" he requested to Tank.
"Sure," Tank said, pulling the blankets over Jamie.
Jamie snuggled under them and hugged his puppy. "Good night kiss?"
"Sure," Tank said as Jan skated over and gave her little brother a kiss.
Jamie smiled up at Jan and kissed her cheek back. "Night, Jan."
"good night," she said.
Jamie closed his eyes and snuggled down against his pillow.
"do I get one too?" Tank whispered to Jan.
Jan smiled and skated over to him...
Jamie popped up. "Jan! I'm telling daddy!"
"Good night Tank," Jan said.
Jamie smiled and settled down again.
"good night," Tank said sounding a bit sorry.
Jamie waved at Jan and closed his eyes.

Tank walked her to the door and then closed it as she left.
Jamie curled up and began to breathe softly, almost asleep.
Tank returned to the bed.
Jamie sighed softly and fell asleep.

Once he was sure that the little engine was asleep, Tank got up again.
Jamie slept on.
He eased the door open.
Jamie stirred, but he slept on.
He stepped out into the hallway.
Jamie stirred and blinked.
Out in the hallway Jan gave Tank a quick kiss.
Jamie sat up, looking around for Tank.
"Good night," Tank said to her, kissing her again.
Jamie pushed back the covers and landed soundlessly on the floor.

Tank turned and went back into the bedroom.
Jamie looked up at Tank. "Where were you?"
"I just went out for a second, you were asleep and I didn't want to wake you."
"Where'd you go out to?"
"Hmm?"
"Where did you go?"
"Oh," Tank scooped Jamie up and deposited him on the bed, "To say good night to your sister again."
"Oh," Jamie said softly.
Tank tucked Jamie in again and then laid down next to the little engine.
Jamie curled up under the covers.
Tank closed his eyes.
Jamie slowly fell asleep again.

In her room Jan went to sleep as well, dreaming of the kiss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jamie woke up the next morning, blinking sleepily.
Tank was already up and gone. They were both out in the kitchen.
Jamie got up and headed into the kitchen.
"Good morning," Jan greeted her brother with a smile.
Jamie smiled up at her. "Hi."
"Sleep well?"
Jamie nodded, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
"That's good," she said a bit dreamily.
Jamie hugged her tight.

"Hey Jamie," Tank said from the kitchen.
Jamie waved at Tank.
"What'll it be? I'm doing breakfast..."
Jamie shrugged. "I don't care."
"Oh..."
Jamie cuddled closer to Jan. "What time did Tank get up?"
"Early enough to bring me breakfast..."
"In bed?"
She nodded.
Jamie glared slightly.
She didn't notice and gave her brother a hug, "He was about to do the same for you..."
"He was?"
Jan nodded, "he's making it right now..."
"Oh." Jamie sat down at the table.
Jan nodded.
Jamie pillowed his head on his arms, watching Tank.

Tank brought over a plate, "I heard that you liked pancakes..."
Jamie nodded.
He set it down on the table with a flourish.
Jamie gazed up at him with a bright smile. "Thank you."
"Your welcome," Tank said with a smile.
Jamie began to eat.
Tank went back into the kitchen as there was a knock on the door.
Jamie looked up. "Daddy?" he asked softly.
"It's too early..." she said softly.
Jamie's face fell. "Then who...?"
"I don't know..." Jan said getting up and going over to the door.
Jamie got up and followed her, breakfast forgotten.

She opened the door to see several diesel engines standing there.
Jamie gasped and backed away.
"Is Tank here?" one asked, "He missed...everything yesterday."
Jamie clung to the back of Jan's skirt.
"Um...yeah... Tank!" she called, "Your...friends are here."
Tank came skating out.
Jamie gave Jan's skirt a yank, trying to pull her back with him.
"Well...I'll see you later..." she said to Tank, backing up.
Jamie smiled. Now Jan would be his.
"Um... maybe..." Tank said, going out to talk to them.
Jamie peered around Jan at the big engines.
The other engines pushed past Tank and came inside, "Nice," one said, "I can see why you abandoned us."
Jamie gasped and clung tighter to Jan.
She swallowed and looked at Tank as the others came in and sat down.
Jamie whimpered. "Jan..."
"I know..." she said softly.
Jamie whimpered. "Make them leave..."
"Tank," Jan said softly, "They can't stay, our parents aren't home."
Jamie nodded eagerly.
Tank looked around, "Guys..." he started, "Come on now..."
One looked up and shook his head, "I sorta like it here..."
Jamie whimpered and dashed over to Tank.
"Guys I mean it!" Tank said.
Jamie looked up fearfully at Tank.
"Oh you wanna be alone with your coach?" one teased.
Jamie whimpered. "Tank, don't let them talk about Jan like that."
Tank hadn't seemed to have heard Jamie, he moved over to the engine that had spoken...
Jamie stayed where he was, watching fearfully.
Quick as lightning he grabbed the engine by the collar and yanked him to his feet, shoving him out the door and down the steps of the porch.
Jamie gasped and dove into Jan's arms.
The others were stunned into silence.
Jamie peered up at Tank with scared eyes.
"Anyone else?" Tank growled.
The others meekly shook their heads.
Jamie hugged Jan tightly.
"Good. Now. GET OUT."
Jamie grinned brightly.
The engines scrambled to their wheels and bolted.
Jamie smiled up at Tank.
"Sorry about that," Tank said, "but sometimes that's the only language that they understand..."
Jamie nodded. "They're mean."
"You got that right..."
Jamie smiled. "But they listen to you."
"I...I guess so...sometimes..."
Jamie nodded.
Tank looked up thoughtfully.
"What is it?" Jan asked.
"They did listen to me, didn't they?" Tank said with a smile.
Jamie nodded.
Tank suddenly looked very pleased with this new realization.
Jamie smiled up at Tank. "I wanna be cool like you."
"I...uh..." Tank blushed.
Jamie smiled up at Tank again.
Jan giggled, "You look cute blushing," she teased, which made Tank blush even more.
Jamie glared up at Jan.
"Doesn't he though?"
Jamie shook his head. "He looks silly."
She nodded, "My point exactly."
Jamie rolled his eyes.
She giggled again.
Jamie moved over to Tank.
He looked at them and then hung his head, "Well if you're gonna laugh at me..." he said mock-upset.
"I'm not laughing at you," Jamie said seriously.
"good," Tank said with a smile, "At least *somebody* around here doesn't tease me..."
Jamie smiled up at him. "Cause I dont' like it when people tease me."
Tank nodded.
Jamie gave Tank a hug.
Tank hugged him back, "Now I think that I'd probably get back to work."
"Okay," Jamie pouted.
Tank smiled, "I know..." he pouted as well.
Jamie looked up. "Will you be back later?"
"Yes."
Jamie smiled. "Okay."
Tank nodded, ruffled Jamie's hair and blew Jan a kiss.
Jamie gave Tank a tight hug.
Tank gently detached Jamie and then rolled away down the tracks.
Jamie waved at him.
Jan waved as well until he was out of sight.
Jamie curled back into Jan's arms.