The Midnight Train Crossing

Jamie gasped. "Oh no."
"What are you still doing here?" Tank asked, "Don't you have something waiting for you at home?"
Rusty let out a burst of steam in response.
Jamie leaped up. "Rusty, don't!" he pleaded.
"I'm going," Rusty said, though to who he was answering it wasn't clear.
Jamie shivered as he glanced over at Tank.
"Good." Tank said, moving over to give Rusty just enough room to get past.
Jamie watched in terror, not sure whether it was because Tank was there or Rusty was leaving.
"Wooooo-wooooo!" Rusty sang. He watched Tank pale and then bolted down the tracks, Flat Top in tow.

Jamie watched them go, then looked back at Tank and sat down weakly on the bed.
Tank swallowed, that whistle still unnerved him. He turned to Jamie.
Jamie ducked his head.
"How's your wrist?"
"Um... fine..."
"Let me see..."
Jamie held out his hand.
Tank took Jamie's hand and looked it over carefully.
Jamie winced a bit.
"That hurt?"
"A bit."
"Not as much as before?"
"Not that much."
"Good."
Jamie nodded.

"Now..." Tank said thoughtfully
"What?" Jamie asked softly.
"I'm trying to decide what to do with you..."
"Why?" Jamie protested.
"Why?" Tank repeated.
"Why? What did I do?"
"You've been very disobedient lately..."
"What?"
"What, having trouble hearing now?"
Jamie ducked his head. "No," he said softly.
"Then you know what I mean. You haven't been doing what I tell you to do...or tell you not to do."
Jamie ducked his head and sniffed softly.
"Now, what to do about this," Tank said thoughtfully.
Jamie clutched his pillow.
"What do I do with a little diesel engine...that can barely pull one coach..."
Jamie ducked shamefully.
"I used to think that you were completely useless..."
Jamie sniffed and swiped at his eyes.
"But y'know what?"
"What?"
"You're not."
"I... I'm not?"
"No." Tank said with a smile, "I've finally figured out what you're good for."
Jamie knew it probably wasn't good
"See any other engine would have runs or routes, and taking him away from that would cause a problem..."
Jamie waited, hugging his pillow tighter.
"But you... I don't have that problem with you."
"Is that good?"
"For me."
Jamie ducked.
Tank skated over to Jamie and grabbed the free end of the handcuff.
Jamie gasped. "What-"
"Get up." Tank ordered.
Jamie scrambled to his wheels.
"I've decided that I need some...um... assistance with several things."
"A... Assistance?"
"Yes. Things that I can't... or rather, can't be bothered to do."
Jamie ducked. "Okay..."
"Yeah, and lucky for me, now I have you."
Jamie whimpered.
"Since you don't really do anything anyway... and since you need to re-learn obedience..."
"But-"
"What?"
"But I didn't DO anything!"
"You made a promise once..."
"Yeah...?"
"That I could do whatever I wanted..."
"I... I guess..."
"And that you wouldn't fight."
Jamie looked away shamefully.
Tank gave a tug, "So come on."

Jamie followed, swiping at his eyes again.
"And you've still gotten my pillow all wet..."
"I didn't try!"
"You still did a darn good job of it," Tank said, pulling Jamie outside.
Jamie nearly tripped over the threshold. "Where we going?"
"You are going to work for me now."
"But-"
"but what?"
"...Nothing."
"Good," Tank said.
Jamie looked down at his skates shamefully.
"It'll be fun," Tank said in a tone that suggested completely the opposite to Jamie.
Jamie struggled slightly. "No-"
"Your other wrist is nearly better..."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah...so it wouldn't hurt if I..."
Jamie gasped and moved back to follow Tank, his eyes scared.
"That other pair of cuffs is around here somewhere..."
"No! Please," Jamie pleaded.
"Then come on!"
Jamie followed him again, rubbing at the tears on his cheeks.

Tank pulled Jamie along the tracks, not even trying to avoid the main tracks
Jamie stumbled after him. "Slow down!" he pleaded.
Tank slowed ever so slightly.
Jamie tried to keep up. "T... Tank?"
"What?"
"Y... You're not... not gonna let... THEM hurt me, are you?"
Tank skidded to a stop
Jamie nearly slammed into him.
"If you behave..." Tank finally said.
"You won't?" Jamie said hopefully.
"Maybe. Most likely yes."
Jamie sighed with relief.
Tank started up again abruptly.
Jamie tripped and stumbled.
Tank groaned and pulled Jamie upright again
Jamie stumbled after him. "Thanks..."

Tank pulled Jamie along back to his house.
Jamie followed, shivering a bit.
"Inside." Tank said.
Jamie nodded and tried to go inside.
Tank realized he was still holding on to Jamie, and let go
Jamie moved inside, shivering and whimpering softly.
Tank sank down in a chair.

Jamie looked around. "What do I do?"
"I want something to drink." Tank said, and proceeded to tell Jamie how to go about doing that.
Jamie obediently went into the kitchen and returned with Tank's drink.
Tank took it without a word. He put his skates up and leaned back
Jamie looked around, then sat down on the edge of Tank's bed.
"And Jamie..."
"What?"
"I suggest that you remain quiet through all of this... just for future reference."
"Okay," Jamie said softly.

Tank looked down at his skates and made a face.
Jamie looked around lazily and sighed softly.
"Must've rolled through some mud or something..." Tank grumbled to himself, reaching down.
Jamie pulled at the handcuff again.
"Don't play with that," Tank snapped, but was more distracted by the mud on his normally shiny skates.
"But-"
"I said don't play with that, unless you wanna wear the other one too!"
Jamie whimpered and let go of it."
Tank reached down to rub the mud off and got it on his fingers. He made a face.
Jamie sighed and kicked a foot lazily to make his wheels whir.
"Jamie."
Jamie looked up. "What?"
"My wheels are dirty."
"Are they?"
"Yes. Go get me a rag or something to clean them off."
Jamie got up and got Tank a rag from the bathroom and held it out to him.
"No..." Tank said
"No what?"
"No, *I* don't want it..."
Jamie turned to go.
"No," Tank said again, "I want my wheels clean."
"But if you don't want this..."
"I'm not gonna do it..."
"But-"
"You are."
"What?" Jamie protested.
"You are going to clean my skates."
"But-"
"Now."
"But-"
"But what?"
Jamie looked away ashamedly. "I... I don't want to.." he said softly.
"I didn't ask if you wanted to or not,"
"But-"
"I like them nice and shiny."
"But-"
"What, can't say anything else?"
Jamie ducked his head.
Tank held out a skate.
Jamie backed away.
"Jamie..." he said in almost a growl.
Jamie ducked his head. "Tank, please..."
"What now?"
"Please don't make me..."
"I could make you do it outside..."
Jamie whimpered and knelt down by Tank's feet.

Tank smiled a bit and shifted so Jamie could get at his wheels.
Jamie began to cry.
"Okay, so if you wanna use tears instead of water..." Tank said.
Jamie bit his lip and swiped at his tears.
Tank leaned back in his chair.
Jamie sniffed again.
Tank just sorta ignored Jamie's half-crying
Jamie sat down on the ground and pulled his knees to his chest.
"Less crying and pouting more cleaning," Tank ordered.
"But-"
"Now."
"But-"
"I said NOW!"
Jamie flinched and knelt down again, but he couldn't do it.

Tank shifted position and slammed his wheels down to the ground, standing up.
Jamie backed away, scared.
Tank moved over to where he had put the cuffs that he had used on Rusty before... he moved very slowly.
"No!" Jamie pleaded. "No! Tank, please!"
Tank tossed Jamie the rag and sat back down again wordlessly.
Jamie began to sob and knelt down next to him again.
"Get a move on it, and then maybe I'll let you go home."
With that incentive, Jamie slowly began to wipe off Tank's skates, trying not to cry. Jan would want him to be brave,
Tank leaned back and his eyes slowly closed.
Jamie continued to wipe Tank's skates, sniffing softly.
"Good..." Tank said to Jamie.
Jamie glared slightly
Tank, with his eyes closed, didn't notice, "Now the other one..."
Jamie sighed softly and started to work on it.
There was the sound of laughter from outside.
Jamie looked up in terror. "Oh no."
"You're not done..."
"But-"
"You can't argue with that Jamie, you're simply not finished."
Jamie sighed and tried to finish quickly.
"Oy boss!" a voice shouted from outside.
Jamie stood up to go.
"No..." Tank said firmly.
"But I finished!" Jamie protested.
"You got the mud off the wheels, but there's still some there..."
"But-"
"Stop saying that!"
Jamie ducked his head and closed his mouth.

"Boss, you should've seen that steamer..." one of the gang started, coming in. He broke off, seeing Jamie on the ground.
Jamie got to his feet again.
"I don't believe it..." the gang said softly.
Jamie turned to go.
"Where you going?" Tank growled.
"Home," Jamie said softly.
"Not now."
"Why?"
"Because..." Tank started softly, looking down at his skates
Jamie shook his head. "Tank, please-"
"You did a good job..." Tank said
"So why can't I go home?"
"Because... I rather like this...service."
"But-"
"I do. You *can* do something useful for a change."
Jamie nodded slowly. "Can I go home, Tank?" he pleaded.
"No."
"Why?"
"I think..." Tank looked around the room, "I think that you should get my gang here something to drink."

Jamie flinched and headed for the kitchen, his face burning in shame.
"I can't believe you did it boss, you actually got him to clean your wheels." one said.
"Of course he did," another said, "He's the boss."
Jamie glared slightly as he re-entered the room with a tray of glasses.
The nearest gang snatched one off the tray, splashing it as he did so.
Jamie had to swerve to make sure none of them spilled.
"Thanks Jamie," another one teased, patting the little engine on the head.
Jamie ducked his head and moved away.
"You've got him trained already boss," the next one said, taking his glass.
Jamie whimpered softly.
"Can I use him?" one asked.
"No!" Jamie said, nearly backing into Tank.
"didn't ask you," the gang spat, "Not like it matters what you think."
"What?"
"Easy boys," Tank said. He turned to the gang who had spoken, "No," he said, "I'd rather you didn't."
Jamie sighed with relief.
"Oy!" another shouted, "Over here with those drinks!"
Jamie moved to obey quickly.

As Jamie was about to pass one stuck a skate out.
Jamie tripped, naturally, and fell, scattering drinks left and right.
The gang laughed. Tank, snapped out of his nearly sedated state, sat up abruptly.
Jamie tried to push himself up, tears stinging his face.
Tank stepped over Jamie and snatched the glass away from the gang who had tripped him, giving it to the one who had called before.
Jamie got to his knees and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
"Aw boss, it was only fun..." the gang member protested half-heartedly.
"But it's *my* stuff spilled all over *my* floor," Tank said.
Jamie got to his wheels. "Tank, I'm sorry..."
"Quiet Jamie!" Tank hissed. He turned back to his gang, "Don't do that again!"
Jamie cowered, brushing liquid off his hands.
"Sorry boss..." the gang member said.
"Wot about us?" the remaining two that hadn't gotten drinks asked.

Jamie moved towards the door.
"Jamie," Tank started.
Jamie turned around. "What?"
"Two more."
Jamie sighed and headed for the kitchen.
"And anybody that trips him again..." Tank let the threat hang.
Jamie smiled to himself as he grabbed two more drinks and moved out.
"What r you so happy about?" one asked, taking the glass.
Jamie shook his head quickly. "Nothing."
"Oh." was the answer. The gang all let Jamie pass without trying anything.
Jamie backed away again.

"This is the best idea you've ever come up with boss," one said to Tank.
Jamie glared slightly.
"How come you never tried it before?" the gang asked.
Jamie whimpered softly.
"Never thought of it 'til now," Tank said, grabbing Jamie's wrist.
Jamie gasped.
Tank looked down, realized which wrist he was holding, and quickly let go.
Jamie rubbed his wrist painfully.
"You've trained him real good," the gang approved.
Jamie glared slightly.
"Yeah," another said in agreement
Jamie backed away again.
"So Jamie," one said turning to him, "You've finally found something you're good at."
Jamie glared at him and backed away a bit, nearly tripping over another engine.
"Careful Jamie," the engine that Jamie had almost fell over said, "Wouldn't want to fall again."
Jamie sniffed and backed away again, feeling trapped.
"Yeah..." a third teased, "Wouldn't want the boss to get mad at you..."
Jamie moved to dart behind Tank, feeling safer there.
He was blocked by a fourth, "After all, now he's your boss too..."
Jamie shook his head.
"Yeah," the second agreed, "Maybe he can be like a..." he trailed off, unable to think of anything.
Jamie moved away, scared.

"hey lay off guys..." Tank said.
Jamie felt relief wash over him.
"What can he be boss?" the gang asked, "What's under us?"
*Your IQ?* Jamie thought to himself.
"Not now..." Tank said.
Jamie almost fell into Tank's chair as he backed into it.
"Hey, get off..." Tank said, giving Jamie a light push
Jamie scrambled to his feet.
"If you're gonna fall on me then you might as well just sit down." Tank indicated the floor near the chair.
Jamie shook his head. "I'm okay," he said softly.
"Sit down."
Jamie whimpered and sat down.
"See," the gang said, "You've got it perfectly boss."
Jamie glared angrily.

"I know what you've got boss," one said eagerly, as he had been slowly working it out for quite awhile.
"What?" Tank asked.
Jamie looked up worriedly.
"A pet!"
Jamie glared and started to get to his feet.
"Jamie, sit down." Tank said softly.
"Yeah!" the gang all agreed, "That's what he is."

Jamie sat back down, curling close to the chair.
"Poor Jamie," the gang said condescendingly, "you don't like that do you?"
Jamie glared. "Leave me alone."
"Don't have to," the gang said, "Can't tell us what to do."
Jamie glared, but they were right.
"I think you made him mad," another one said teasingly.
Jamie tried to ignore them by focusing on his skates.
"Oh dear, we don't want to make Jamie mad, now do we?"
Jamie glared deeper.
"No, we can't have that. Imagine what he'd do to us."
Jamie scowled and gritted his teeth.
"Cry and beg us to stop teasing him," another said, making them all burst into laughter.
Jamie felt his face burn in anger and humiliation.
"Guys..." Tank started.
"Don't worry boss," a gang assured him, "We won't hurt your pet."
Jamie clenched his fists tightly.
"He really is your pet now," one said with a grin.
Jamie bit his lip hard to hold back a snarl.
"I suppose..." Tank said softly, "But I don't know that this'll last forever."
"Aw come on, you've got him trained for it. You said sit and he sat. Bet you said to clean your skates and he jumped right to it."
"I did not!" Jamie hissed angrily.
"Ooh he still barks," one said.
Tank shrugged, "Never said he was perfect."
Jamie glared and started to get up again.
"Sit down Jamie!" Tank ordered, "And be quiet!"
Jamie hesitated, but he sat back down and clenched his teeth.
"Good boy," the gang all chimed in.

Jamie was seeing red. He clenched his fists again. *It's okay... They can't hurt you...*
"He's gettin' mad again," one said.
"Aw, but he's doing what Tank told him to do," another said skating over to Jamie, "Aren'tca?" he patted the little engine on the head
That did it. Jamie felt something inside him snap. Without any other thought, he launched himself at the engine and tackled him, bringing them both to the ground.
The gang member under Jamie was too stunned to do anything. Everyone else was pretty much in shock as well
Jamie couldn't even think straight. With all his strength, which isn't saying much, he punched the gang member right in the face.
The punch seemed to restore the senses of everyone...
The gang member under Jamie wiggled his hands free and caught Jamie's wrists. "Get 'im off me!"
Jamie struggled. "Let go!" he ordered.
Two of the gang grabbed his arms and hauled him off the other one.
Jamie struggled and kicked.
"Ouch!" one shouted as for once, one of Jamie's kicks actually connected. He let go.
Jamie struggled to get free.
The remaining gang members all pounced on him at once.
Jamie struggled and was crying hard.
They held him firmly and pushed him down to the ground, holding him there.
Jamie struggled, but he could not get free, and he went limp.
"Look at wot he did to me!" the gang Jamie had punched complained.
Jamie closed his eyes weakly. *What have I done?*

Tank skated over to Jamie silently.
Jamie opened his eyes, then shut them again.
"Okay, get off him," Tank said.
"But boss-"
"He won't go anywhere," Tank said, "He can't."
He was right. Jamie was absolutely paralyzed with fear.
Tank sank down near Jamie as the gang hovered nearby.
Jamie opened his eyes slowly and looked up at Tank with terrified, blue eyes.
"That," Tank said, "Was not smart."
Jamie shrank down a bit.
"You still want me to protect you?" Tank asked softly, "How can I now?"
Jamie inhaled softly. "I... I didn't... didn't mean to..."
"You didn't mean to?" Tank repeated.
"I... I wasn't thinking... I was so mad..."
"Well obviously you weren't thinking!"
Jamie ducked and flinched.
"Well boss?" the gang asked.

Jamie looked up, terrified. "Tank, please... I... I'll never do it again..."
"You bet you won't."
"What?"
"You won't do it again." Tank said, "I doubt you'll have the power..."
Jamie tried to sit up. "What do you mean?"
"What d'you think's gonna happen when I let them at you?"
Jamie gasped. "No! No, Tank, please!"
Tank watched Jamie squirm, rather enjoying it.
Jamie reached out and grasped his arm. "Please... don't let them."
"Let go of me." Tank said.
Jamie whimpered and released him. "Tank..."
Tank stood up.
"Well boss?" the gang asked eagerly.
Jamie tried to get to his feet.
"You stay down." Tank barked at Jamie
Jamie whimpered and obeyed.

"Look at him," Tank said, "He's scared to death..."
Jamie cowered and curled into a tight ball.
"Yeah...so?" the gang asked.
"I like making him wait," Tank explained.
Jamie whimpered. "Tank, please..."
"Quiet," Tank hissed.
Jamie hushed and bit his lip to stop tears again.
"So you're saying we can't drag him outside and beat him up?" the gang asked.
Jamie whimpered and curled tighter.
"I didn't say that..." Tank said, "I just don't think it's a good idea right now..."
Jamie wondered when the right time would be.
"But boss..."
"I said NOT NOW!" Tank shouted.
Jamie flinched and ducked.
The gang looked startled at Tank's tone.

Tank sighed and sank down into his chair.
Jamie sat up weakly.
"You okay boss?" one of the gang asked concerned, "Do you realize what you just said?"
Tank looked up, "No...what?"
Jamie looked up, scared.
"You just told us not to beat up Jamie," the gang said.
"Yeah... I know..." Tank said.
Jamie bit his lip to stop a smile. Tank wouldn't let them hurt him.
"You...*don't* want us to beat him up?" the gang asked stunned.
Jamie let out his breath slowly. His heart was pounding, but he was feeling a lot better.
Tank nodded slowly.
Jamie glanced over at the gang member he had tackled, then looked away, wondering what had come over him. Since Rusty had come, everything had been so different.

The gang looked at each other in absolute shock. "You...sure you're okay Tank?"
Jamie pulled himself into a sitting position and pulled his knees to his chest.
At hearing his name being said by his gang, instead of being called 'boss' Tank looked up startled.
Jamie didn't notice.
The gang looked at each other and held a whispered conference
Jamie watched them, wondering if they were gonna do something.

"Boss," one of them said reluctantly, "we've decided something..."
"What?" Tank asked evenly.
Jamie backed away a bit. That didn't sound good...
"You've not been acting normal lately," the gang member, who had been elected spokes-train, said, "I mean...with *him*..." he indicated Jamie.
Jamie backed away even more.
"So?" Tank snapped.
"You won't let us do anything to him..." the gang continued, "And...well..."
Jamie bumped into Tank's chair and stopped, cowering.
"Well what?" Tank asked.
"Well it seems like..." the gang member started. Tank absently picked up the end of Jamie's "leash"
Jamie looked up, scared. "Hey!" he said, but his voice was soft.
"It seems like what?" Tank asked.
"It couldn't be, never mind..." the gang member said sheepishly. The others gave him a shove to continue.
Jamie cuddled closer to the chair, feeling safer there.
"It seems like... you aren't.... you couldn't be...but..." the gang stammered.
"Just spit it out!" Tank ordered.
Jamie flinched and ducked lower, trapped by Tank's grip on his cuff.
"It seems like you're going soft." the gang said quickly.
Jamie gasped softly.
"What?" Tank said softly, tightening his grip on the chair arm until his fingers turned white.
Jamie flinched as he felt the tug on his wrist grow tighter.
"Sorry boss," the gang said quickly, "But it's just...just making an observation..."
*Observation... riiiiight.* Jamie swallowed hard.

Tank's grip tightened again, and his eyes narrowed.
Jamie looked up at Tank, then wished he hadn't.
Tank growled and felt something hot boil up inside. Then he took a deep breath, swallowed, closed his eyes, then opened them again, slowly his grip relaxed.
Jamie felt Tank's grip relax and slowly let out his breath. He was gonna be all right...
"Me?" Tank said, "Go soft?"
Jamie closed his eyes for a moment, feeling light-headed.
"Well you were sorta acting like it..." the gang said hesitantly.
Jamie took a few deep breaths.
Tank let go of Jamie's chain. "So you think I was going soft around him?" he asked.
Jamie rubbed his face with his hands weakly.
"Well... we don't blame you at all boss!" the gang said.
Jamie froze. If it wasn't Tank's fault, that only left one train left whose fault it could be...
"No?" Tank asked. "Not at all!" was the answer.
Jamie peered out from behind his fingers.
"We think that *he* must've done something!"
"What?!" Jamie protested.
"The only reason that you were going soft was cuz of him..." the gang said.
Jamie whimpered and moved closer to the chair.
"how do you figure that?" Tank asked, starting to get madder.
"Well you seem to be protecting him, so we guessed that he did something to make you want to do that..."
"I didn't do anything!" Jamie protested.
"that's what they all say..." one said.
"What who all says?" another asked a bit confused.
"I dunno, but that's what they say," the first said, "Whenever anybody says that they always say, "that's what they all say!""
Jamie rolled his eyes. Brains did not become them.
"But it must be his fault!" they decided.
Jamie whimpered and clutched the chair tightly.
"how can it be his fault?" Tank asked, "He doesn't *do* anything..."
*Well, that's the truth* Jamie thought gratefully.

"You're doing it again boss..."
Jamie gasped softly.
"I...what?" Tank asked. "You're defending him..." the gang said.
Jamie tried to get away from the chair, but Tank still had his handcuff.
Tank gave Jamie a tug.
Jamie gasped softly.
"I'll show you who's going soft..." Tank muttered.
Jamie looked up in terror. "What?"
"Over there, in the drawer," Tank directed one of his gang. The gang looked and smiled when he saw what Tank wanted. Tank circled around to stand in front of Jamie.
Jamie felt shorter than ever, still sitting on the ground. He looked pleadingly up at Tank. "Wh... What're you gonna do?" he asked softly.
Tank sank down, "You wanna be beaten up?" he asked softly so only Jamie could hear.
Jamie shook his head. "No." Did he ever?
"Then deal with what I'm about to do..." Tank said softly.
Jamie inhaled sharply. "No!"
Tank gently took Jamie's free wrist.
Jamie struggled, tears in his eyes. "No, Tank, please. Please don't! I promise I'll never be bad again. Just please don't."
"Shh..." Tank said softly, "It's this or be beaten up again..."
Jamie sniffed and wiped at his eyes. "Please... Tank, they'll kill me."
"Then deal with me instead," Tank said, "And make it look good."
Jamie's eyes widened, and he slowly nodded, swallowing hard. "O... Okay."

Tank took the other pair of handcuffs from his gang.
Jamie gasped. "No! No, Tank, please, not those."
Tank as gently as possible loosely locked them around Jamie's wrist,
Jamie sniffed. Tank was being as gentle as he could, and obviously didn't want to hurt him, so he let him do it, not having to fake looking terrified.
Tank growled, "There. Now I feel better. Now we've got a complete set."
Jamie looked up, confused.
"both wrists," Tank explained to everybody
Jamie felt better inside. He struggled a bit to make it look like he wasn't happy with the situation. "Tank, please... Let me go..."
"No."
"Please..." Jamie struggled a bit more, but stopped if it started to hurt.
Tank growled, "Stay put!" he ordered.
Jamie shrank down, nodding obediently. *Don't have to tell me twice.*
Tank started to say something, but the phone in the other room rang.
Jamie sat up, terrified. "Don't leave me," he whispered so only Tank could hear.

"Somebody get that," Tank growled.
The gang looked at each other, "It's your phone boss...what if it's one of your coaches or somethin'?"
Jamie's eyes were wide. "Just leave it," he pleaded.
Tank looked down at Jamie and blinked, a bit confused. He growled and skated off.
Jamie gasped, watching Tank go, but not daring to call out in front of the entire gang.
Tank shook his head as if to clear it, then left the room. *maybe I am being too nice...*

Jamie gasped and looked back at the gang.
They looked at each other and shook their heads.
Jamie tried to relax. They wouldn't hurt him. Tank would be mad...
"this is all your fault," one said, giving Jamie a shove.
Jamie struggled to back away. "I didn't do anything!" he protested.
"If it weren't for you he wouldn't be acting like this!"
Jamie dodged away and tried to scramble to his feet.

Two of them grabbed the cuffs around Jamie's wrists.
Jamie screamed. "No!"
"Shh!" one hissed.
They pulled Jamie up to his wheels.
Jamie struggled. "Lemme go!"
"this is all your fault, and we're gonna deal with it now," one said.
Jamie opened his mouth to scream.
One of the gang ripped off his bandana and tied it tightly over Jamie's mouth.
Jamie struggled, starting to cry.
"Shut up," the gang said, tying it tighter, not worrying if he caught Jamie's hair in the knot or not
Jamie cried and struggled. *Tank* he pleaded in his mind, praying trains could be telepathic if they had to. *Tank, please come back.*
"Lets hurry up and get him outside," one said looking around nervously.
Jamie shrieked through the bandana. If they took him outside...

The two holding him dragged him outside.
Jamie struggled. *Rusty... Rusty...* He thought, looking around, hoping to see the familiar steam train that had saved his life before.
"Too bad we don't have Tank's keys, then we could chain him up somewhere..."
Jamie froze, then decided to count that as a blessing for now.
"eh, he doesn't move all that much anyway..."
Jamie gasped and struggled again. "Lemme go!" he tried to shout, but it was too muffled.
"Ready?" they asked each other.
Jamie inhaled and squeezed his eyes shut. *Please don't let me die* he begged to any higher deity that would listen to him.

*POW*
Jamie crumpled to the ground with a muffled cry.
The nearest one gave him a kick.
Jamie curled into a ball and tried to protect his face and head.
they hauled him up to his wheels again
Jamie struggled. One gang member landed a blow across Jamie's face, and Jamie could taste blood in his mouth.
"You owe me a new bandana," one said.
"Yeah, sure whatever," the one who had hit Jamie said.
Jamie closed his eyes again, feeling sick to his stomach.
The two holding him gave him a shove over to another pair.
The two caught him and knocked him flat on his back, then kicked him across the ground.
Another one stopped Jamie with his skate and kicked him, sending him rolling back.
Jamie tried to stop himself and tried to sit up painfully. His back hurt horribly.
*POW*
Jamie coughed, and blood spattered on the ground.
They kicked him again, sending him rolling
Jamie was dizzy as he tried to sit up.
One train hauled him up by the back of his neck and punched him, sending him whirling across the group to the other side, blood streaming from his nose.
One caught Jamie and shoved him towards another. The two sorta played catch with him for a few beats.
Jamie tripped and landed on the ground. He coughed painfully, blood covering his face, even from the corner of his eye. He had a gash high on his forehead that was bleeding profusely, thought scalps did bleed a lot...
They closed in around him.
Jamie groaned and laid his cheek down on the pavement, unsure if he had any strength left.
One of the gang kicked him in the ribs.
Jamie cried out and tried to curl up.
Another kicked him from the other side.
Jamie landed flat on his back, breathing hard.

One of the gang glared down at him and slowly reversed...
Jamie closed his eyes weakly. Forget not dying. Die now. Save some pain.
The gang member connected with Jamie with a very loud crash, even the others had to wince at the scrape of metal on metal.
For one horrible instant, Jamie couldn't breathe. Pain flooded his entire body, and he felt the world going black as pain overtook him. His breath came back, labored and painfully ever time he even inhaled the slightest bit, which he desperately needed to.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!?!?" Tank's voice boomed.
Jamie couldn't even open his eyes to look at Tank. Everything hurt. He wanted to scream as loud a he could, but he couldn't even take in enough air.
The gang looked down sheepishly as Tank pulled up.
Jamie felt his head swimming as darkness fell around him...
Tank was yelling at them all.
Jamie tried to open his eyes, but he didn't have any strength...

"Jamie." Tank said.
Jamie made out his name somehow.
"Jamie." Tank repeated.
Jamie moaned softly, unable to open his eyes or produce any other sound
"Jamie, you're okay..." Tank said.
*That's debatable* Jamie thought bitterly through the heavy pounding in his head.
"You *are* okay," Tank said.

Rusty skidded to a stop further down the rails
Flat Top skidded down next to Rusty. "Holy *^$&, this kid's a mess."
"Oh Starlight!" Rusty exclaimed.

Jamie heard a familiar voice, but his head was swimming too much to process who it was.
Rusty, without much thought, rushed over towards them.
Flat Top followed and dropped to his knees by him. "Hey, kid... Jamie... Open your eyes..."
"Jamie..." Rusty called softly, while watching the gang and Tank a bit warily.

"Rusty... I don't think that's good." Flat Top pointed to a really heavy dent in Jamie's chest frame. "I've seen that before. He needs a doctor."
"I wish..." Rusty started.
Flat Top stood up and turned to Tank. "Where's your repair truck?
"Repair truck?" Tank repeated, "I dunno...haven't seen him for awhile..."
Rusty groaned, really really wishing they were at home.
Flat Top turned to Rusty. "We don't have time to wait. He needs a doctor now."
"It's that bad?" Tank asked, "usually he just skates it all off..."
"Meg," Rusty said softly.
Flat Top glared at Tank. "He's NEVER gonna be able to shake this off. If we don't get him taken care of, he's gonna die."
Tank blinked, "What?"
"You heard me. He's gonna die."
"Yeah I heard you..." Tank said.
"Jamie," Rusty called softly.
Jamie groaned softly.
"Rusty, we gotta take him with us... Wrench can do something..."

Rusty looked up at Tank, "He's gotta come with us, back to my yard...we can fix him..."
Flat Top nodded and got to his feet.
"You...want to take him?" Tank said.
"We HAVE to take him," Flat Top corrected.
Tank's eyes widened, "So...you have to take him to get fixed..."
"Yes."
Tank looked down at Jamie. "You take him to be repaired..."
Flat Top waited, his fists clenched by his sides.
"Then he comes back!"
Flat Top glared. "He's not gonna be safe here."
"He'll come back when he's fixed!"
"Not if your cronies are gonna kill him again!"
"They won't." Tank said, growling at his gang, who backed away.
Flat Top looked over at Rusty. "We don't have a choice."
Rusty nodded, "Deal." he said to Tank.

Flat Top growled softly. "Why do you want him back anyway? He's never gonna be of any use to you."
"Fine," Tank said, "but I'm marking him as mine."
Flat Top glared. "You'll do no such thing!"
"Whatever you're gonna do, do it now," Rusty said.
Tank was still carrying the paint so he pulled the brush out again.
Flat Top glared at Rusty. "Traitor."
Tank finished marking Jamie and then backed away. "He's all yours," he said, "Just..."
"Just what?" Flat Top growled.
"Just be careful with him!" Tank said, he spun on his wheels and shot away.
Flat Top stared after him. He'd have to think about that one... Then he turned to Rusty. "Come on. We need to get back quick."

"Okay..." Rusty said, "Lets get him back to the shed." His eyes started to glow.
Flat Top backed away a bit. "Stop that!" He knelt down next to the tiny engine and slid Jamie's arms around his neck.
"Sorry," Rusty said, "you want me to push?"
Flat Top nodded. "Yeah. Be careful. I don't wanna fall."
"I'll be careful," Rusty said.
Flat Top nodded and held Jamie tighter, looking down at Jamie's face encrusted with blood. "Hang on, little guy."
"You ready?" Rusty said.
Flat Top nodded. "Yeah."
Rusty took Ft's couplings and carefully pushed him.
Flat Top steadied himself and let Rusty push him, holding Jamie as gently as he could br> Rusty carefully pushed them along down the tracks.
Flat Top held Jamie tightly, trying not to trip.
"Almost there..." Rusty said, concentrating on keeping the two upright

Jamie stirred in Flat Top's arms. "Tank..." he whispered softly, his eyes still closed.
"Shh..." Rusty soothed, "Don't worry about him now..."
"I think he's delirious," Flat Top said softly.
"Hold on Jamie," Rusty said, "We're almost there..."
Jamie groaned and shifted.
Flat Top glanced back at Rusty. "A little faster?" he pleaded.
"You got it," Rusty said, picking up the pace, "Hold on."
Flat Top managed to hold his balance.
Rusty pushed them faster, willing them not to fall.

He let out a sigh of relief as he saw the shed.
Flat Top suddenly remembered something. "Um, Rusty? Jan's gonna freak..."
"I know..." Rusty said softly.
"Okay..."
"You ready?" Rusty asked softly.
"Am I ever?"
"Well... I suspect she'll probably attack me, which means you get to comfort her..."
"She'll attack ME!" Flat Top countered. "I'M the one who promised Jamie would be okay."
"but I'm the engine..." Rusty started, "Okay, well, standing out here talkin' isn't gonna do Jamie any good..."
Flat Top nodded. "Let's go."
Rusty opened the door to the shed slowly.
Flat Top held Jamie tighter.

Jan looked up as the door opened. "Rusty?" she asked, seeing him first, "What's-" Rusty shushed her.
Flat Top moved inside and laid Jamie gently down on the ground.
"Jamie!" Jan screamed.
"Shh!" Flat Top said.
Jan dropped to her knees next to the battered frame of her little brother.
Flat Top knelt down next to her, silent until he knew whether or not he was gonna get hit.
"Jamie...." Jan pleaded, "Wake up..."
"Jan, he's unconscious. He can't hear you."
"Wh-what's wrong with him?"
"He... he got beat up pretty bad... We're taking him to our yard."
"You..." Jan started.
"What?" Flat Top held up his hands defensively.
Jan tried to glare at him, she really did, but it didn't work too well.
Flat Top backed away a bit.
Jan looked down at Jamie, then she stood up slowly, turning away from everyone.
"Jan..." Rusty said softly, "I-I'm sorry..."
Flat Top got up and gently put his arms around Jan from behind.
Jan jumped and struggled a bit, then gave up.
Flat Top held her, not daring to let go now. "Jan, listen. It'll be all right."
Jan was absolutely still and Rusty backed away, towards the door.
Flat Top looked over his shoulder. "Where are YOU going?"
"If we're gonna make it home...almost out of water..." Rusty mumbled.
"Oh." At least he wasn't leaving him alone to face Jan.

Jan hadn't turned around yet. "Y-you said you'd take care of him..."
"Jan... We tried... We really did. But we just got there too late."
"Too late..." Jan repeated softly.
Flat Top held her gently, giving her a soft squeeze. "We... we're gonna take him back to our yard and have our repair truck look at him."
"He needs it?"
"Well..." Did he dare tell her? "He... he's hurt pretty bad..."
"But he will be alright..." she said, more hopeful then anything else.
"Um... yeah. Yeah, he'll... he'll be fine..."
Jan looked down, "he'd better be," she threatened, but her heart wasn't in it.
"He will be," Flat Top insisted. "As long as we get him back in time-" He cut himself off.
"In time..." Jan repeated, she turned around, "Oh Starlight, he's gonna..." she couldn't say it. Not her brother, not Jamie
Flat Top held her tightly. "Jan, listen. He's not gonna die. Our repair truck can do anything."
Jan tried to struggle, to make herself angry, so she wouldn't break down, but she couldn't do it. Instead she sank into Flat Top's arms.
Flat Top held her against his shoulder, rubbing her back gently. "Shh now. You can cry."
Jan closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. She tried to get herself to relax, but it didn't work. Tears worked their way out from her closed eyes.
Flat Top rubbed her back again. "It's all right, darling."
Jan finally let herself cry, leaning up against her engine, err truck...
Flat Top held her, cuddling her close. "I'm here, Jan. It'll be all right. He's not gonna die..."
Jan leaned against Flat Top until she was done crying.

"Ahem," Rusty said softly.
Flat Top glared at Rusty as if to say leave-us-alone.
"Sorry," Rusty mouthed, "I was thinking that we'd probably better get going soon..."
Flat Top nodded and let go of Jan. "We should go so we can get him to a doctor."
Jan wiped her eyes, "Yeah," she said, taking a breath, "yeah, let's go."
Flat Top nodded and knelt down next to the diesel. "Jamie? Jamie, wake up."
Jan sank down next to FT, "Jamie....?"

Jamie heard his sister's voice, and his eyes fluttered painfully open.
"Jamie," Jan breathed.
Jamie blinked softly. "J... Jan?"
"Of course it's me," she said, very very relieved.
Jamie tried to sit up, but he hurt too bad and fell back with a crash and a sob.
"Shh..." Jan soothed, moving closer to him, "Just lay still..."
Jamie began to cry. "I hurt."
"I know," Jan soothed, taking his head in her lap, "Shh...shh..."
Jamie sobbed softly, clinging to her skirt.
Jan gently pushed his hair back, "I know..." she repeated, "But it'll be okay..."
Jamie sniffed and hugged her leg. "Tank..." he said softly.
"Don't worry about him, he's not here."
Jamie started to shake his head to correct her, but he hurt too bad and just laid still.
"he's not here..." Jan repeated, "He's not."
Jamie began to cry again.
Jan carefully hugged him, "We're gonna get you fixed..."
Jamie took a deep breath and coughed painfully. "I can't breathe," he whimpered.
Jan looked up at Flat Top alarmed.
Flat Top bit his lip.
"Don't worry," Jan said again, "You'll be fine."
Flat Top nodded hastily.

Rusty shifted, "We'd probably better go..." he said softly.
"Yeah."
"D'you think we can move him?"
Jamie shook his head a bit. "I... I can move myself..."
"Not for as far as we're going," Rusty said softly.
"But, Rusty, you can't carry me all the way there... I can do it," Jamie protested.
"Well..."
Jamie pushed himself up with a painful wheeze.
"Flat Top...?" Rusty called softly.
Flat Top skated to Rusty's side.
"I don't know... he looks...bad... he's not gonna be able to..."
I can!" Jamie protested, then coughed painfully.
"Just let us help you," Rusty said.
Jamie looked up at Jan.
Jan nodded.
Jamie looked back that them and nodded slowly.
"You think maybe if we kept him between us?" Rusty asked FT
Flat Top nodded. "I can hold him up if you can pull."
"Okay," Rusty said, "That'll work."
Jamie hugged Jan a bit. "You're coming with us, aren't you?" he pleaded.
"Of course I am," Jan said.
Jamie smiled weakly. "Good." He gave her another hug and tried to stand up.

Rusty skated over to give Jamie a hand up.
Jamie took Rusty's hand, but he couldn't get to his feet.
Rusty gently gave the little engine a pull, and Jan also helped.
Jamie got up painfully, and Flat Top steadied him. "Hang onto me," he told Jan.
Jan nodded, grabbing Flat Top's couplings. Rusty reversed to come in front of them
Flat Top held Jamie steady. "Okay."
"All set back there?" Rusty asked.
Jamie grasped Rusty's couplings tightly and nodded. "Yeah."
Rusty nodded and slowly moved out.
Jamie nearly toppled, but Flat Top held him steady.

Rusty inched out of the shed. The slow speed was hard to keep up without getting faster, but he tried.
"Ah!" Jamie yelped as the cold snow touched him.
Rusty winced at that, "Sorry," he said automatically, not that there was anything he could do about it
Jamie shook his head. "Not your fault."
"I know," Rusty said, picking up his speed ever so slightly.
Jamie stumbled along, held upright by Flat Top's firm grip.
Jan clung to Flat Top, trusting that the other two would take care of her brother.
After several hundred yards, Jamie suddenly slowed. "Rusty..."
Rusty stopped, "What?
"I... I think I need... to sit..."
Rusty nodded, "Hang on for just a bit longer?"
"How much?" Jamie asked, his voice faint.
"Couple more feet," Rusty said.
"Okay," Jamie agreed, gritting his teeth.

Rusty gently pulled them forward and then off to the sidings.
Jamie instantly let go and collapsed on the ground.
Jan dove to him.
Flat Top knelt next to her.
Jan shifted, setting Jamie's head in her lap
Jamie began to cry softly, hugging Jan's leg tightly.
Jan took her brother in her arms, hugging him gently. "Never again..." she murmured.
Jamie looked up at her through shiny eyes. "Huh?"
Jan smiled down at him, "I won't let this happen again."
Jamie smiled softly up at her.
"Never." Jan said.
Jamie cuddled her again. "Okay."
Jan looked up at Flat Top, "How far is it?" she asked softly
Flat Top looked down the tracks. "Um... a couple hours."
"Hours?" Jan repeated.
Flat Top nodded slowly. "It's a little ways away..."
Jan sighed, "Think we can make it?"
Flat Top nodded and squeezed her hand. "I know we can."
Jan smiled bravely at Flat Top.

Rusty lurked a bit uncomfortably a little ways away.
Flat Top glanced up at Rusty, then back at Jan. "I'll be right back," he said, smiling softly. He got up and crossed to Rusty. "You look worried."
"Yeah..." Rusty said softly, "I just wish we were home."
"Me too." Flat Top lowered his voice. "Do you think he's gonna make it?"
"I...hope so," Rusty said, "Once we get him home..."
"Not comforting," Flat Top said softly, but his heart wasn't in it. "I just can't stand to see the little guy suffer."
"Me neither," Rusty said, "We've gotta get him home...to..."
"To?"
"Straight to Meg." Rusty said softly.
Flat Top made a face.
"I know," Rusty said, "You don't have to come..."
"I'll come," Flat Top interjected.
"Oh, good," Rusty said, "I just know that once we get him to her..."
Flat Top didn't say anything, his thoughts dark.
"She'll fix him," Rusty said.
"I know," Flat Top mumbled.
"So...?" Rusty said, seeing that Flat Top had a strange expression.
"I don't see why we can't take him to Wrench."
"Because..." Rusty started softly.
"Because?"
"Because I don't know what Wrench can do! But I know what Meg can do, and I *know* she can fix him."
Flat Top sighed softly and glanced over at Jamie, who had his eyes closed and was nestled in Jan's lap. "O... Okay."
Rusty nodded, "I don't want..."
"I don't either."
"Okay, then," Rusty said, "But I don't think that we should...wait around outside here..."
Flat Top sighed and glanced at the sky. "Just give him another minute," he pleaded.
"Yeah, I don't really want to move him either," Rusty said.
Flat Top glanced over at Jamie and smiled a bit. "He looks so peaceful, I hate to disturb him."
"yeah, I know," Rusty said.

Flat Top rubbed his nose with his fingers. "What's gonna happen to them once we get back?"
"We'll take them to Meg-"
"After that."
"I...don't know."
"Jan could stay with me," Flat Top suggested eagerly.
"Of course they're gonna stay in our yard..." Rusty started
"I know that."
"I guess we'll just tell Poppa and then..."
"And then?"
"I don't know, he'll figure out somewhere to put them."
"Jan can stay with me," Flat Top insisted again.
Rusty shrugged.
Flat Top raised a brow. "What?"
"nothing, never mind."
"No, tell me."
"It's just that...even I don't live with Pearl..."
"So?"
"So..." Rusty said, "Oh well. I suppose if you can then she will."
Flat Top nodded.
Rusty looked over at the two, he knew that laying down outside probably wasn't best for Jamie, but he didn't have the heart to tell them they had to go.
Flat Top sighed. "He's gonna catch cold or something."
"Yeah...we've gotta get him moving again..." Rusty said.
Flat Top sighed again.
"I can't tell them we've gotta move though." Rusty said sadly.
"Me either..."
"But I've gotta..."
"Yeah."
"You wanna or you want me to?"
"You."
"Thought so," Rusty said. He rolled slowly over to them.
Flat Top followed him slowly.

"Jan...?" Rusty called softly, "I'm sorry but..."
Jamie groaned and cuddled closed to Jan, squeezing his eyes shut.
Jan nodded, "Jamie, honey..."
Jamie shook his head.
"But Jamie...there will be a bed for you...and warmth..."
Jamie shook his head again.
Flat Top sighed. "He's probably getting delirious. We need to at least get him out of the snow."
Jan nodded, "help me."
Flat Top reached down and bundled Jamie into his arms, trying to lift him out of Jan's lap.
Rusty rolled over to give Flat Top a hand.
Jamie struggled a bit, then broke into a fit of wheezing.
"Can you carry him?" Rusty asked FT softly.
"No!" Jamie protested through his strangled breathing.
Flat Top nodded. "If we go slower than we should."
Rusty nodded, "I'll push you two and pull Jan."
Flat Top nodded slowly and scooped Jamie into his arms.
Jamie wriggled, then set to shivering in Flat Top's arms, crying softly.
Jan took Rusty's coupling and Rusty got into place to push Flat Top
Flat Top nodded. "Go."
Rusty went.