The Midnight Train Crossing

Jamie was at the racing track, practicing by himself on the deserted track.
There was a sound and several of the diesels came out, intending to practice. Tank was away working.
Jamie paused in his racing to see Tank's friends.
They looked up and noticed him, then ignored him.
Jamie ignored them to, continuing on with his racing.
Once pulled up next to the little engine, but another warned him away.
Jamie tried to ignore the engine and sped up to get away from them.
"Heads up!" one of them shouted, skidding in close to another one.
Jamie looked up and darted out of the way.
"Hey Jamie..." one of them called teasingly.
Jamie looked up nervously.
The gang member pulled up a little too close and brushed up against Jamie.
Jamie yelped and sped off in the opposite direction.
"Hold on a minute there..."
Jamie didn't dare slow down.
"I said hold up!"
Jamie ignored him. If he could make it to the guard rail, he could get out of the track...
One of the gang zoomed up and blocked Jamie's path.
Jamie almost collided with him.
*pow*
Jamie hit the ground hard and stared up in terror.
The one that had hit him jumped easily over him. "Are you satisfied now?" the lead one asked. "Yeah..." the other said. With that, they split.
Jamie stared up at their retreating forms in confusion, then sat up slowly and painfully.

Just then the tracks rumbled and Tank whoosed past, pulling a long train.
Jamie looked up at Tank. "Tank!" he called.
Tank didn't hear, if he did hear he didn't look up and he didn't stop.
Jamie stared after him, stunned.
Tank quickly vanished down the tracks.

Jamie began to cry, somehow managing to get to his feet and make it home on wobbly wheels.
Jan was outside, on her way home.
Jamie screamed and raced after her.
She stopped and turned around...
Jamie landed in her arms, sobbing.
"Jamie...what...?" she started.
Jamie looked up at her with scared eyes. "Tank, he..."
"*Tank* did this?" she asked in disbelief, taking in his appearence.
Jamie shook his head. "N... No..."
"Then...?"
"His... his friends..."
Jan's eyes widened, "Come inside."
Jamie nodded weakly and followed her.

She led him inside, "So what, did one of them crash into you?"
"He... he hit me," Jamie sobbed.
"He WHAT??"
"He hit me," Jamie said, his voice growing softer.
"Why on earth would he do that?"
"I... I don't know..."
She turned back to her little brother, "Oh Jamie, I know you don't, I'm sorry."
Jamie began to cry softly.
She took him in her arms.
Jamie hugged her close. "They... they hurt me, Jan..."
"I know, I know," she soothed, "But I'll make you feel better..."
Jamie smiled weakly. "You will?"
"Yeah..."
Jamie smiled and held her tightly.
She led him over to the couch, "I'll get some ice..."
Jamie laid down on the couch.

Jan rolled into the kitchen and got ice, rattling around a bit more then she need to, she was upset, but she couldn't let her brother see her like this. She took a deep breath and calmed herself down.
Jamie curled on the couch, hurting more on the inside than the outside. Tank had left him...
She rolled into the living room again, with ice and cookies. (of which they seem to have a neverending supply of)
Jamie looked up at Jan, but even his favorite cookies couldn't cheer him up.
"Let me see now," Jan said gently, sitting down next to him.
Jamie tilted his face towards her, his face blank from any expression.
Jan made a bit of a face, *That's gonna hurt later* she tought.
Jamie sighed softly, blinking back tears.
She carefully set the washcloth wrapped ice on his face.
Jamie flinched and pulled away. "Cold," he mumbled.
"I know sweetheart," she said.
Jamie curled his face onto a pillow so she couldn't touch his face with the cold ice.
"Jamie, I gotta put it on you," Jan said softly, "You'll hurt more later if I don't..."
Jamie whimpered. "It hurts..."
"I know, but the ice will make it stop..."
Jamie whimpered again.
"It will."
Jamie slowly turned his face to her.
She set the ice on his face again.
Jamie whimpered and struggled, but he didn't pull away.
"There now," Jan soothed.
Jamie began to cry.

She shifted and sat down on the couch, taking his head in her lap.
Jamie curled into her lap, hugging her thigh tightly.
She stroked his hair.
Jamie sniffed softly. "Tank..."
"shh...shh..."
"He... he left me..."
"I'll talk to him. See what happened."
"He left me. He didn't even stop!" Jamie wailed.
"I *will* talk to him."
Jamie sniffed softly.
Jan started to say something and then looked up as there was a familar sound of someone going past their house.
Jamie looked up, then buried his face in her lap.
"Jamie, is it okay if I go talk to him?"
Jamie whimpered, but he slowly let go of her.
"I'll be back," she said leaning down and kissing him on the head.
Jamie curled into a ball, holding the ice to his eye.

"Tank!" Jan called running outside.
"Yeah babe?" he asked, coming to a stop and pulling off his newly acquired sunglasses.
"Jamie came home..." Jan started.
"Yeah?" Tank said.
"He was hurt." she said accusingly, "And he said that you saw him and that you didn't stop."
Tank put his sunglasses back on, "Oh I see, I was in the middle of something, I couldn't very well stop..."
Jan glared at him.
"Hey babe," Tank said, "It's not like I wouldn't have stopped if I could."
"Yeah, sure," Jan said, eyes narrowing, "I don't believe you." He shrugged, "Your loss."
"What happened to you?" Jan hissed.
"Well I agreed to look after the little brother of my coach..." Tank said.
"You-" Jan started, "This isn't fair!"
"Then give me another chance..." Tank said returning to his normal tone of voice.
"How can I now?" Jan asked, "After what you did..."
Tank sighed and turned on his hind wheels and sped away.
Jan watched him and felt something crack inside her. Then she turned and slowly skated back in.

Jamie looked up from his spot on the couch. "What did he say?"
"He said...that he couldn't stop..."
Jamie's eyes filled with tears. "Why not?"
"Because he...he said that he couldn't stop..."
Jamie began to cry. "He doesn't care about me..."
"Oh Jamie," she pulled him into her lap and rocked him.
Jamie clung tightly to her.
She hugged him tightly.
Jamie sniffed softly. "I... I don't want him to hate me..."
"I don't think he does..." Jan said softly, "Just give him some time," she smiled down at him, "How could anybody hate you?"
Jamie smiled a shy, baby smile.
"That's my little brother..."
Jamie grinned broadly and gave her a tight hug.

*~*~*~*

Jamie was playing outside in the yard by himself, his black eye almost healed now.
Tank rolled down the tracks, he wore the sunglasses all the time now.
Jamie didn't notice Tank.
Tank looked up to see Jamie, and kept going.
Jamie looked up and saw Tank passing by. "Hey, Tank!"
"Hi."
Jamie smiled brightly. "Wanna play?"
"What?"
"Wanna play?"
"Um...I'm sorta busy right now..."
Jamie's face fell. "Oh."

Jan appeared in the window for a second. "On second thought..." Tank started, seeing her.
Jamie smiled eagerly.
"I suppose so then," Tank said.
"Yay!" Jamie said.
Tank rolled over to Jamie.
Jamie held out a toy to him.
Tank hesitated and then sat down on the grass next to Jamie.
Jamie smiled brightly up at him. "Why are you wearing sunglasses, Tank? It's not very bright..."
"I like them," Tank said simply.
"Oh. Well, they look silly."
Tank thought of several things that he could say, but he said none of them, instead he took off the glasses.
Jamie smiled.
He folded them and put them in his pocket.
"That's better," Jamie said cheerfully.
"Sure..."
Jamie moved closer.

There was a sound from off on the tracks.
Jamie looked up.
"Oh for oils sake," Tank groaned, putting the glasses back on.
Jamie glanced up at Tank. "Why'd you put them back on?"
"...because... look, Jamie, maybe we'd better move inside..."
"Why? It's nice outside."
"Yeah but... look, *they're* coming."
Jamie yelped and dove behind Tank with a sob. "Don't let them hurt me."
"Yeah, come on, let's go inside..."
Jamie nodded quickly. "Okay."
Tank helped Jamie gather up his toys and then pushed the little engine safely inside.
Jamie grasped Tank's hand and gave it a yank to pull him inside.
"Nah, I'll be okay, you stay inside..."
Jamie nodded and slid inside.

After making sure that Jamie was inside Tank skated around out to the tracks, preparing to make an exit.
"Hey, Tank!" called one of the engines.
He came to a stop, pushing up his glasses and then turned.
"Hey. Whatcha doing with the squirt?"
"I...uh...you know..."
They raised a brow.
He pushed his glasses down, "Well I figure that it's the best way to get her back..."
A few rolled their eyes. "Tank, there are tons of other coaches around. Why do you keep trying to get Jan?"
"Because I like her!"
The group shifted uneasily.
"Well I do...and...if you don't like it, well, I don't really care..."
The gang shrugged. "We don't care."
"Good."

"So, what's the plan for the day, boss?" one said.
"boss?" Tank asked, rasing an eyebrow.
The gang member shifted uncomfortably.
Tank looked around at all of them, "Something I should know?"
The group exchanged glances and shook their heads.
"Oh. hmm... boss... I think I like that..."
"Do you?" the engine asked.
"Yeah, I think I do."
"Oh. Okay..."
"So, back to the orginal question, I don't really have any plans for today..."
"We don't either..."
"Well this is constructive..."
The group shifted again.
"So if I'm boss...what would that make you?" he asked.
The group exchanged glances. "Um..."
Tank waited, adjusting his sunglasses.
The group shrugged as one.
"Would that make you. like my gang or something?"
The group looked surprised, exchanging looks, then slowly nodded.
"Hmm... I can't say that I've ever had a gang before..."
"Us either."
"Well..." Tank smiled, suddenly feeling much better.
"So, are we your gang then?"
"yeah."
"Cool." The group seemed pretty excited.
At this point Tank was pondering what now he was supposed to do now that he had a gang.
The group seemed to be thinking the same thing. "What are we supposed to do now?"

*~*~*~*~*

Jamie whistled happily as he zoomed around the practice track.
Tank and his gang rolled up towards the track.
Jamie didn't noticed them, zooming faster still.
"Jamie," Tank called as he passed them.
Jamie slowed down and came to a wobbly stop and looked up at Tank.
"Been practing long today?" Tank asked.
Jamie shrugged slowly. "Like an hour..."
"Ah, I think that's long enough."
Jamie went slightly pale. "I... I have to leave?"
"Yeah, clear our tracks."
Jamie turned red and quickly moved off the track.
"good, thanks."
Jamie nodded, his face red.

The gang and Tank all skated out onto the track and started warming up.
Jamie watched them sadly, leaning on the guard rail. Why couldn't he race too? He wasn't going to bother them...
The engines started pushing each other around, in their normal way, carefully avoiding Tank.
Jamie sighed softly.
"You still here?" One of them asked.
Jamie nodded slowly.
"why?"
"Well..."
The engine laughed and sped away.
Jamie sniffed and tried hard not to cry.
They continued their practice, ignoring Jamie.
Jamie sighed and watched them play around.
One misjudged the distance and nearly collided with the guard rail, right where Jamie was standing.
Jamie yelped and tumbled backwards to avoid being hit.
Tank pulled up and gave his fallen gang member a hand up.
Jamie watched in surprise. Tank had never helped another train up.
"Thanks..." the gang said a bit embarassed as he sped away.

"You'd probably better go home Jamie," Tank said, "You might get hit."
Jamie whimpered softly. "But-"
"Hey it's up to you, but sometimes these guard rails don't really keep trains on the tracks..."
Jamie gasped and backed a few paces away.
Tank spun on his rear wheels and shot away.
Jamie stayed a few feet away from the guard rails, not wanting to leave, but unsure what to do.
Tank looked over at Jamie and then edged one of his gang, who nodded.
Jamie didn't notice, staring longing at the track.
The gang that Tank had talked to, on his next lap around, fell and went skidding off the track. He did a nice dive over the rails and skidded along into the sidings.
Jamie yelped and darted out of the way, dashing into a siding and clinging tightly to it.
The gang member stood up and shook his head as if to clear it before returning to the track.
Jamie stayed huddled in the sidings for a few moments before slowly emerging.
"I don't wanna say I told you so..." Tank started.
Jamie swallowed slowly. "But, Tank, I... I wanna practice too."
"Practice later."
"But-"
"you heard me."
Jamie whimpered, but he turned and raced away.

Jan was sitting on the porch swing.
Jamie streaked right past her, into the living room, to flop on the couch.
She looked up at him puzzled.
Jamie lay on the couch, crying softly.
"Jamie?"
Jamie looked up at Jan.
"Jamie, what happened?"
"Tank... Tank and his friends... they... they kicked me off the practice track..."
"they what? why?"
Jamie shrugged.
"Did they hurt you?"
Jamie shook his head. "N... No... they almost hit me a few times, but I moved..."
"They almost hit you?"
Jamie nodded.
"Like, crashed or what?"
Jamie nodded.
"On purpose?"
Jamie nodded again.
"you sure?"
Jamie nodded.
She glared off at no one in particular.
Jamie curled close to her. "I wanna practice..."
"I know, I'll see what I can do."
Jamie smiled brightly.
She stood up.
Jamie sat up too, wiping his eyes. "Where are we going?"
"I'm going to go talk to Tank..."
"Should I go with?"
"Well..."
Jamie waited.
"Did you want to?"
"I... I don't care..."
"Okay, I'll be back in a minute," Jan said giving her little brother a kiss on the head.
Jamie smiled and curled onto the couch to await her return.

About fifteen minutes later Jan returned.
Jamie sat up and gazed at her.
"I talked to him, and he said that they'd clear out and let you race."
Jamie smiled. "Okay. Thank you, Jan." He gave his sister a big hug.
She hugged him back, "So we wait about ten minutes and then go."
"Are you coming with?"
"yeah."
"Okay."
She gave him another hug, "I'll make sure that you get your turn..."
Jamie smiled. "Okay."

Ten minutes later they started out towards the practice track/.
Jamie followed Jan, smiling brightly.
"Hold up guys, they're coming," Tank said bringing his gang to a stop.
Jamie watched as Tank and his gang stopped racing to watch them.
Jan strode over to them, "Well?"
Jamie trailed her.
"Deal's a deal, come on guys," Tank said getting off the tracks.
Jamie smiled brightly.
The gang all gave Jamie odd looks as they cleared the tracks.
Jamie cuddled closer to Jan nervously.
"Good," she said.
Jamie nodded.
"And leave him alone," she ordered the others. They nodded.
Jamie smiled brightly, giving Jan a hug.
"Clear out now," she ordered.
Jamie grinned and moved around Jan.
They all slunk away.

Jamie smiled and stepped out onto the practice track. "Thanks, Jan."
"No problem," she said with a smile.
Jamie gave her a wave. "I'll be home in an hour." He turned and sped off down the track.\
"Okay," she said with a smile turning and going home.
Jamie zoomed around the track, building up speed.

Off in the sidings, watching Jamie, Tank growled softly, "You know what?" he said to one of his gang.
The gang exchanged glances."What?"
"She would never do that for me."
"Well, you're not her brother," one said sensibly.
"But I was her engine!"
"But you don't need help getting the track."
"yeah but still, she wouldn't stand up for me...not anymore..."
The gang shrugged.
"Just for *him*" Tank growled.
"He's her brother. You know she loves him. Too much."
"Yeah, too much."
The gang nodded.
He growled softly again.
The gang shifted uneasily.
"It's not fair."
"Yeah."
"We could do something about that..." one of the gang offered.
The rest of the group nodded.
Tank's eyes narrowed and he nodded.
The gang grinned mischievously. But one spoke up. "But he'll run and tell Jan, y'know."
"I..don't care. She doesn't like me anymore anyway."
"Okay," the gang member said, shrugging.
"And anyway, I'm not gonna do it."
"You're not?"
"No," he smiled, "You guys go on and have fun."
The gang's eyes lit up, and they zoomed off towards the track.
Tank watched as the gang left, if they did it and he wasn't directly involved then that wouldn't be as bad.

Jamie whistled loudly as he zoomed around the track.
One of them zipped out in front of him.
Jamie yelped and hit the brakes.
"Well now," the lead one said as the others surrounded him, "What do we have here...?"
Jamie whimpered and backed away slightly. "You're not supposed to be here."
"Oh? and why not?"
"Cause... cause you're not."
"Is that so?"
Jamie nodded slowly, backing away again and almost bumping into another engine.
They closed in around him.
Jamie screamed and tried to run.
Two of the gang caught the little engine, holding his arms so he couldn't run.
Jamie screamed and struggled. "Lemme go!"
"No, I don't think so."
Jamie whimpered softly. "What are you gonna do?"
"What do you think?"
Jamie struggled again. "Guys, don't."
They tightened their grip.
Jamie gasped in pain. "Ouch!"
"Oh if you think that that hurts..."
Jamie gasped and recoiled in the arms of the two that held him.
*pow*
Jamie cried out in pain and felt his legs collapse under him.
Another one wound up and hit him again.
Jamie cried out, squeezing his eyes shut.
The two holding him let him go, pushing him down a bit.
Jamie landed face-first on the track, coughing softly.
One reved his engine and backed away as another kicked Jamie.
Jamie rolled over a few times on the track with a cry of pain.
The other engine raced towards him...
Jamie curled into a tight ball.
He jumped and flew over Jamie, his skates brushing across Jamie's back.
Jamie shrieked and curled tighter, sobbing.
they pulled him up again.
Jamie struggled, screaming in hopes that someone would hear and find him.
"Oh, have you had enough?"
Jamie nodded, sobbing.
"You want us to stop?"
Jamie nodded frantically.
"Why would we do that?"
Jamie whimpered and struggled.
"can you think of a reason why we should stop?" one asked. Another grinned evil, "Maybe if..."
Jamie coughed painfully and looked up at them with teary eyes. "Please..."
They let go of him, pushing him down to his knees.
Jamie stayed on his knees, squeezing his eyes closed, praying they were done.

"Now we could stop..."
Jamie nodded slowly.
"Down," one of them ordered.
Jamie looked up in confusion. "What?"
"Down," he repeated, "Hands and knees."
Jamie whimpered and swallowed, but he did as he was told, hoping that if he did, they would stop and let him go home.
"Now what do you want us to do?"
Jamie looked up with scared eyes. "Let me go?"
"Ask nicely..." another one hid a laugh.
Jamie whimpered softly. "Please let me go?"
"Whaddya think?" he asked his friends.
Jamie waited quietly.
"He begs so nicely..." another said.
Jamie bit his lip to keep from crying.
"Yeah sure I suppose that's enough."
Jamie felt relief flood through his body.
There was a general murmer of agreement.
Jamie took a deep breath to calm himself.
"Fine then."
Jamie looked up hopefully.

They started to dispurse.
Jamie sat up, brushing dirt from his hands.
"Did I say you could get up yet?"
Jamie looked up at the big engine, terrified.
"I don't think I did..."
Jamie swallowed. "But-"
He crossed his arms, "I did not say that you could get up, right?"
Jamie slowly shook his head.
"That's what I thought..." he said, slowly balling his hand into a fist.
Jamie gasped. "No!"
"Then get back down."
Jamie quickly obeyed, tears of shame burning in his eyes.
"Good."
Jamie stifled a sob.
They rolled away.
Jamie whimpered. He couldn't stay here all day, and they weren't likely to return.

Tank waited a few minutes and then slowly skated down the tracks towards Jamie.
Jamie heard someone approaching and held his breath, praying it was Jan.
"Jamie?" Tank asked, "Wha-?"
Jamie sat up quickly and stared at Tank.
"What happened?"
Jamie sniffed and swiped at tears on his face. His hand came away streaked with red from a cut under his eye and the corner of his mouth. "Your... your friends... they hurt me..."
Tank sighed and growled softly.
Jamie swallowed hard, tears falling down his face. "I... I wanna go home... Can I go home?"
"Yeah, come on, I'll take you..."
Jamie looked up at Tank in surprise.
Tank reached down to help Jamie up.
Jamie took his hand and struggled to his feet, but he hurt so bad. His legs gave out, and he fell onto the track with a crash and a cry of pain.
Tank reached down and helped Jamie up again, holding him up.
Jamie clung tightly to Tank.
Tank slowly made his way down the track to the house.
Jamie almost lost his balance, falling to his knees on the tracks. "I... I can't..."

Tank sighed and carefuly lifted Jamie off the tracks, settling him into his arms.
Jamie curled into Tank's arms, sobbing softly.
Tank slowly moved down the tracks.
Jamie stared up at Tank with sad, scared eyes. "Why were they hurting me, Tank?"
"I don't know," Tank lied.
Jamie stifled a sob. "I... I didn't do anything..."
"We're here," Tank said instead of answering him.
Jamie nodded and curled into Tank's arms again, his cheek pressed to Tank's chest.

He opened the door and then rolled into the house, setting Jamie down.
Jamie curled up on the couch, sobbing.
"Right, I'll be going then..."
Jamie looked around. "Jan...?"
She skated out into the living room and then came to a stunned stop.
Jamie held out his arms weakly to her.
She rushed over to him and gave him a hug.
Jamie sobbed, clinging tightly to her.
"Thank you for bringing him home," Jan said with a forced civil tone.
Jamie cuddled close to her.
Tank nodded.
She looked up and glared at him and he uncomfortably left.

Jamie looked up at Jan sadly. "Jan..."
"Shh..." she soothed.
Jamie sobbed softly. "I hurt..."
"I know honey... I know..." *I'm gonna kill him*
"Why did they hurt me, Jan?"
"I..."
Jamie curled into a ball.
"Don't think of them..."
Jamie nodded and swiped at his tear and blood streaked face.
She went to get a washcloth to clean him up.
Jamie lay on the sofa, not sure what to do.
She returned in a minute with the cloth, she gently washed his face.
Jamie flinched at the cold cloth on his face. "Ow."
"Sorry honey..."
Jamie nodded, but that make his neck ache, so he tried to stay still.
She carefully cleaned off the blood.
Jamie winced as she touched the cut by his eye.
"I'll put something on that one..." she soothed.
"Okay," Jamie said softly.
Carefully Jan rubbed some salve on the cut.
Jamie yelped as it stung his torn skin.
"Sorry..."

Jamie whimpered, tears starting to fall down his face again, the salt stinging his face even more.
She gathered him into her arms.
Jamie clung tightly to her, his face pressed into her shoulder.
She just held him, all the while thinking very nasty thoughts about some other engines.
Jamie hugged her tightly, unable to do anything except cry.
"Shh...shh...it's okay..."
Jamie sniffed and looked into her eyes, his own scared. "Don't let them hurt me again, Jan..."
She hugged him close.
Jamie hugged her back, having run out of tears.