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Repair Work
In a section that somehow accidentally got lost, Rusty and Flat Top get Jamie safely to Meg, the repair truck in Rusty and Flat Top's yard. Meg takes one look at Jamie and insists that he come inside where she can fix him.
Jan looked up frightened as she held her brother
Jamie looked up at Jan with terrified eyes.
Jan took a breath, it wouldn't do for Jamie to see her this upset. "Shh...shh..." she soothed, rocking him gently.
Jamie hugged her tight. "I'm scared," he whispered.
"I know..." Jan soothed, "But...it'll be okay..."
Jamie hugged her again.
Meg had been waiting until the coughing spasm had stopped, then she leaned in a bit closer.
Jamie scrubbed tears from his face. "Don't... don't let her hurt me..."
"I won't hurt you sweetheart," Meg said gently as Jan held him in what she hoped was a comforting hug.
Jamie shied away from her and whimpered, hugging Jan tighter.
Meg looked up, "Rusty, give me a hand here," she called.
"She's gonna fix you Jamie," Jan said softly, "She won't hurt you, I won't let her."
Jamie shook his head, terrified.
Rusty got up and rolled over to Jamie. "Jamie," he said softly, "This is Meg, she's the repair truck in my yard, and...she's the best I know..."
Jamie shook his head again.
Rusty sank down next to the little engine, "Jamie?"
Jamie ducked away from him.
"Jamie, it's just me."
Jamie gazed sacredly at Rusty.
"We're friends, remember?"
Jamie nodded slowly.
"And you trust me right?"
"I... I trust YOU..."
"Good," Rusty said smiling, "I'm glad you trust me..."
Jamie hugged Jan again.
"I trust you too," Jan said to Rusty softly.
"And I trust Meg," Rusty said, "With...with pretty much everything. And I hope that...if you trust me...and you'll trust who I trust in."
Jamie whimpered and shook his head, burying his face in Jan's chest.
Rusty sighed, "Please Jamie."
Jan stroked her little brother's hair, "I'll be here the whole time..." she said softly, "Nothing bad will happen to you..."
Jamie swallowed and coughed again painfully.
Meg watched him carefully and then very gently reached out and touched his throat, feeling it carefully.
Jamie swallowed with some difficulty and touched Jan's fingers with his own.
"What's your name sweetie?" Meg asked.
"J... Jamie," Jamie said softly.
"Okay Jamie," Meg said, "I'm gonna need you to do a few things for me okay? But I want you to stop as soon as anything hurts alright?"
Jamie squeezed Jan's hand and shook his head.
Meg gently set her hands on Jamie's chest, "Take a breath for me honey?" she said, "Please."
Jamie shied away from her.
"Jamie, please," Jan pleaded, having a difficult time hiding how frightened she was.
Jamie shook his head. "No."
"How come?" Jan asked softly.
"No," Jamie pleaded again, ignoring Jan's comment and trying to hide behind her.
"Meg, can you get the handcuffs off?" Rusty asked suddenly.
Jamie gasped and grabbed his wrist in his other hand.
"Yeah," Meg said, "But first I want to get him breathing properly..."
Jamie coughed again, hugging Jan tight around the waist. He was very very dizzy, and his chest was hurting more and more.
"Jamie," Jan said softly, looking down at him.
Jamie looked up at her through hazy eyes.
Jan blinked rapidly, her eyes bright with tears. She hesitated and then hugged him tighter.
Jamie hugged her, burying his face in her shoulder and sobbing softly.
Meg's eyes narrowed and she caught Jan's eyes. "I'm sorry," Meg mouthed, "But I have to do this."
Jamie didn't notice her.
Flat Top started to move forward. "Don't-"
Meg turned to Flat Top, "Can you hold him for a minute again? I want to pull out the couch." (Meg, of course, has a fold out bed in her couch.)
Flat Top growled softly, but he stepped forward and folded Jamie into his arms.
Once Jamie and Jan were clear of the couch, Meg pulled off the cushions, gave the bar underneath a yank and pulled out the bed. She locked it into place and then nodded to Flat Top.
Flat Top laid Jamie down, but Jamie then refused to let go of him.
"Jamie, let go," Jan said, sitting down next to him and gently attempting to pry him lose.
Jamie struggled. "No."
"I'm right here. We're all here. None of us are gonna leave."
Jamie held out his arms to Jan, allowing Flat Top to pull away.
Jan took Jamie's head in her lap again.
Jamie cuddled close to her.
Meg had rushed out of the room a few seconds earlier and now returned pushing a cart back into the room.
Jamie cuddled into Jan's arms, sobbing softly.
"I'm..." Jan took a breath, "I'm here. I'm here."
Meg moved over to them again.
Jamie struggled to breathe, then landed hard on the bed, gasping for breath.
Meg was over him in a second, she pressed something over his mouth and nose. "Breathe," she ordered.
Jamie struggled against her.
Meg held him firmly, but not to hurt him. Sooner or later he'd have to breathe, and the mask she'd put on him would make it a bit easier.
Jamie whimpered and began to cry, but he slowly began to breathe easier, struggling every now and then.
"You have to hold still honey," Meg said softly.
Jamie shook his head. "No," he pleaded.
"It'll make it a lot harder to fix you..."
"No," Jamie said again, looking around for Jan.
"Yes it will," Meg said, "Believe me, I know."
Jamie began to sob.
"But I'm very gentle," Meg assured him as Jan stroked her hair.
Jamie whimpered softly.
Meg slowly got off Jamie.
Jamie reached for Jan again.
Jan took one of his hands.
Meg started getting out her tools
Jamie sat up painfully.
"No, lay back down," Jan said softly.
"No," Jamie pleaded, hugging her tightly, his voice muffled by the mask.
"Come on," Jan pleaded, "For me?"
Jamie shook his head again.
"Jamie, I need you to lay back down," Meg said.
Jamie shook his head.
"Lay down."
Jamie squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.
Meg sighed, "Please don't make me make you..."
Jamie's eyes widened in terror. "You wouldn't," he whimpered.
Meg slowly moved over to gently push him down.
Jamie screamed. "Let go!"
Meg gently pushed him down onto the bed, carefully placing his head back in his sister's lap.
Jamie struggled and sobbed.
"I'm sorry," Meg said to Jan, "But I've gotta keep him still..."
"Jan," Jamie sobbed. "Don't... please..."
Jan held him close, closing her eyes so he wouldn't see her cry.
Jamie struggled and sat up again.
Meg sighed and shifted around behind him...
Jamie clutched the mask a moment, trying to catch his breath, trying to not cough again.
Jan saw what Meg was doing and looked at her pleadingly. Meg looked apologetic, but shook her head.
Flat Top started forward. "Wait, Meg, don't-"
Meg looked up, "I need him still. If you can get him to stay still..."
"Meg, he'll freak."
"I know. If you can get him to lie still..."
Flat Top moved forward. "Jamie, Jamie listen..." Jamie shook his head.
Jan looked at Flat Top hopefully.
"Jamie, you need to stay calm. Meg won't... won't hurt you," he lied, thinking back to the last time she had had to mess with him.
Rusty nodded vigorously.
Jamie struggled. "No..."
Meg looked at Flat Top a bit helplessly.
Flat Top sighed. "I don't wanna have to hold him, cause he'll never trust me again..."
Jamie began to gasp for air again, his chest aching and getting tighter and tighter.
Meg frowned, "I can't hold off any longer."
Flat Top looked away angrily. "You hurt him..." he threatened.
"I will *fix* him," Meg said.
"Without HURTING him," Flat Top growled.
"I couldn't do anything to him that would hurt him worse anyway," Meg said, "Don't worry Flat Top."
Flat Top glared and crossed his arms over his chest.
Meg swiftly threaded her cord through Jamie's couplings, pushed him down and tied him there. Then she gently touched his chest.
Jamie struggled. "No!" he wheezed.
Meg frowned at what she felt, then pulled a bunch of wires out from her toolkit.
Jamie began to scream, though he could barely breathe at all.
Meg swiftly connected the wires to various points on Jamie's frame. Jan put her arms around Jamie, as best she could.
Jamie hugged Jan tightly. "Jan, help me," he pleaded.
"Look at me," Jan said, "Don't look at her. Don't look at what she's doing."
Jamie whimpered. "Jan..."
"What?"
Rusty looked at Meg curiously, "What is that?" he asked, wondering what Meg had hooked Jamie up to.
"Yeah, I'd like to know that too," Flat Top growled.
"Generator," Meg said simply, "Now that I have a better idea what's wrong with him...I suspect it'll help..."
Jamie's eyes widened in terror. "What... are you gonna do?" he whimpered.
"You don't have to power yourself now," Meg said, "What I suspect is wrong with you is either one of two things. If it's the thing I suspect I'll have to repair your engine..."
Jamie whimpered softly.
"It's not as bad as it sounds," Meg said, "Well, it is bad, but very fixable..."
"So fix him!" Flat Top ordered as Jamie struggled for breath.
"Jamie..." Meg said softly in an even tone, "I'm gonna fix you...but there's something else I need to do..."
Jamie shook his head weakly, his eyes wide and scared.
"It won't hurt."
Jamie whimpered softly. Flat Top moved forward. "What are you going to do?"
"I need to shut him down..." Meg said softly.
"No!" Flat Top lunged for Meg and grabbed her arm.
"Let go of me."
"Meg, don't."
"I have to."
"Why?"
"Because I need to get at his engine...I need to open him up..."
"You're gonna do surgery?" Flat Top yelped.
"I need to see what exactly is wrong with him."
"Meg, that could kill him!"
"No. It won't."
"What if he gets worse?"
"He won't."
"He could."
"No, he can't."
Flat Top glared. "He's scared enough now. Don't you think he's suffered enough?"
"That's why I'm going to do this..." Meg said patiently, "He'll be fine."
"You're just gonna scare him more," Flat Top started, until Jamie began to cough again.
Meg returned to Jamie, "Okay sweetie," she said, "I'm going to make you feel better..."
Jamie whimpered and took a deep breath.
"Promise?" Jan asked Meg.
"I promise," Meg said, "And Jamie, when you wake up, you'll feel a lot better."
Jamie's eyes widened in terror. Wake up?
"How long has it been since you slept?" Meg asked gently.
Jamie curled into a ball. "A... about a day..."
Meg nodded, "You look rather tired..."
Jamie curled closer to Jan.
Jan took him in her arms.
"There's nothing bad about going to sleep, right?" Meg asked.
Jamie whimpered and curled closer to his sister, staring at Meg with wide eyes.
Jan hugged him, "I'll be here the whole time," she said soothingly. She glared up at Meg, daring her to say something different.
Jamie looked up, terrified. "No, Jan! Jan, don't let her!"
"I won't," Jan said, "I'll stay here, and keep you safe."
Jamie hugged her tight.
Meg eased a hand towards Jamie's back.
Jamie twisted away with a soft cry of terror.
"I'm not gonna hurt you..." Meg said soothingly.
Jamie sobbed softly, his eyes scared.
"Shh..." Jan soothed, "She's not touching you anymore... shh...shh..."
Jamie buried his face in Jan's shoulder.
Jan stroked Jamie's back gently.
Jamie looked up at Jan with large eyes. "Jan..."
"Yeah?"
"Jan, I... I'm scared..."
"I know honey, but I'm here. So there's no reason to be scared."
Jamie sniffed and hugged her tight again.
Jan rocked him and nodded slowly to Meg.
Meg quickly touched his back again, swiftly cutting off his power.
Jamie stiffened in Jan's arms at the sudden touch and whimpered softly.
Flat Top gasped and lunged for Meg.
Rusty gasped and grabbed Flat Top's couplings, pulling him back.
Flat Top struggled. "Lemme go!"
"No."
"Rusty!"
"No! I can't..."
"No! Jamie..."
"There's nothing else we can do for him..." Rusty said softly.
"That doesn't sound good," Flat Top growled.
"I mean, all we can do is put him in Meg's hands..."
"Like I said..."
"I trust her."
"I don't."
"I know."
Jan cuddled Jamie, rocking him gently. She looked up at Meg, "C-can you untie him?"
Jamie felt himself growing more and more heavy and tired. His breathing slowed, but he still struggled to breathe.
Meg nodded and quickly untied Jamie.
Jamie collapsed into Jan's arms, hugging her tightly, blinking sleepily. "You... promise you'll... be here... the whole... time?" he said, his voice growing faint.
"I promise," Jan said, "Now go to sleep. I'll be here while you sleep, and then when you wake up."
Jamie nodded and gave her hand a soft squeeze, then slowly drifted off into sleep in her arms.
Jan hugged him, then looked down at him, "He looks so..."
"Dead," Flat Top mumbled.
"Yeah." she said softly, blinking rapidly against the tears.
Flat Top struggled. "Lemme go," he ordered Rusty, wanting to give Jan a comforting hug.
Rusty obeyed, letting go.
Flat Top flew to Jan's side and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
Jan turned around, "Thanks..."
Flat Top smiled gently. "He... he'll be all right, Jan."
Jan smiled bravely, "Thanks..."
"I need him back down on the bed," Meg said gently, taking Jamie out of Jan's arms and putting him down.
Flat Top watched Meg warily, gently putting his arms around Jan and holding her close.
Meg turned Jamie on his back, "You three might not wanna watch..."
Flat Top gave Jan a small tug. "Come on, Jan..."
"I said I'd stay..." she protested half-heartedly.
"Well... you can if you want... We can just be over here..."
Jan nodded and let Flat top pulled her
Flat Top led her over to the other side of the room.
Rusty sank down to the ground and closed his eyes.
Meg pulled out her tool kit, took a breath, and prepared to start.
Flat Top skated in front of Jan slowly to make sure she didn't watch. "You gonna be okay?"
Jan shuddered and looked away, "I..."
"Shh. It's okay."
Jan moved into his arms, trying not to listen as whatever Meg was doing made a whirring sound.
Flat Top made a face and held Jan gently, trying to ignore the sounds.
Jan closed her eyes, "I'm glad he can't feel anything now..."
Flat Top nodded. "Yeah... He should be fine..."
"Poor guy," Meg said to no one in particular, "No wonder it hurt..."
Flat Top turned around, pushing Jan behind him so she didn't see. "What's wrong?"
"I see now why he hurt," Meg said softly.
"Why?"
"He's got some serious internal damage..." Meg said, "Painful stuff."
"Anything fatal?" Flat Top asked, biting his lip.
In another lost part, Meg explains that in order to fix Jamie she needs to rebuild a portion of his engine, which was completely crushed. Jan and Flat Top give her the okay, except that first Meg needs to get the parts, she has them for steamers, but not for diesels. Fortunately, she says she can change the parts to work. Flat Top asks if it would be easier for her to convert Jamie to being a steamer then fixing the parts. Meg said, yeah it would be, but she wouldn't change Jamie to a steamer without his permission.
Flat Top takes Jan outside while Meg works on Jamie. Jan decides that she likes this trainyard.
Eventually Meg fixes the diesel Jamie and wakes him up. Then Poppa arrives.
Jamie held his breath. He waited, expecting to see a tall, buff diesel engine with hard, glinting eyes, brandishing a chair to throttle Rusty with.
Rusty looked down at his wrist wheels and then looked up at Flat Top... bad enough he was gonna be in trouble, but he was gonna be yelled at in front of Flat Top... last time that had happened things hadn't gone too well.
Jamie clung to Jan's arms, his eyes wide and scared. He swallowed hard and nearly choked.
"Shh...shh..." Jan soothed.
Jamie whimpered softly.
The door opened and Rusty sighed. "Here it comes," he murmured softly.
Jamie clutched Jan tightly.
Flat Top remained silent, wondering if he was going to be in trouble too.
Poppa rolled into the room and Rusty automatically stood up.
Jamie's eyes went wider, and a faint gasp escaped his lips.
"Rusty." Poppa said expressionlessly. That was enough. Rusty looked down at his wheels.
Jamie squeezed Jan's arm tighter.
"Okay, lets hear it," Poppa said.
Rusty looked up and started explaining, very very quickly.
Flat Top wisely kept silent. Best to not attract attention to self.
Jamie on the other hand, was restless, wanting to speak up, but too scared to.
"Six?" Poppa repeated. Rusty looked up, "Y-yes sir..."
Jamie squirmed uneasily.
Poppa shook his head, "I'll deal with you later," he said to Rusty.
"Rusty, tell him it was my fault," Jamie interjected, his voice quivering uncontrollably.
"Shh," Rusty said to Jamie.
Jamie obediently hushed.
"Poppa," Rusty said, "This...this is Jamie, and his sister Jan..."
Jamie held tightly onto Jan and stared up at Poppa with wide, scared eyes.
Jan looked up at the old steamer, "Hello," she said softly.
Poppa smiled at them, "Hello."
The smile made Jamie feel a bit more comfortable, but he was still scared.
"So Rusty tells me that you two want to join our trainyard..." Poppa said.
Jamie was surprised. He nodded shyly.
Jan nodded, "If that's alright with you sir," she said.
Poppa nodded, "Yeah it is, I don't see any reason why not."
Jamie smiled shyly. "Really?" he asked softly.
Poppa nodded, "We take new trains in all the time lately it seems," he said, "And since you've already gotten to know Meg..."
Jamie whimpered and moved closer to Jan, his cuffs clinking softly against her chest plate.
Poppa's eyes sorta widened as he got a better look at Jamie.
"Meg sorta...was herself..." Rusty said softly, "Scared him a bit..."
Jamie buried his face on Jan's shoulder.
"He was nearly scrapped," Rusty said, "I...I had to come here first, instead of to you..."
Jamie hugged Jan tighter.
Poppa nodded, "So Meg's been taking care of you then?" he asked Jamie gently.
Jamie hugged Jan even tighter as he nodded.
Jan gasped softly, "Jamie...not so tight..."
Jamie released Jan guiltily.
Jan took a deep breath, "It's okay..." she said softly.
Jamie pulled his knees to his chest.
Poppa looked over the little engine, taking in his general scrapped appearance, the odd paint job and the handcuffs.
Jamie cowered under Poppa's stare.
"Poppa..." Rusty said softly coming up behind Poppa.
"What?" Poppa said, a bit harsher then he intended to.
Jamie flinched and ducked behind Jan.
"Poppa...don't look at him like that," Rusty said softly, "You don't know...what he's used to..."
Jamie hugged Jan around the waist, starting to cry.
"Shh..shh..." Jan soothed, "It'll be okay..."
Jamie sobbed softly.
Meg choose that moment to return, laden with blankets and pillows and other things. "Help somebody," she called, as she was about to drop something.
Flat Top glanced around, then grudgingly got up and moved to help her.
"Thanks," Meg said shifting so she could set the blankets down on the bed.
Flat Top dropped the blankets on the bed with a disgusted thump.
"I thought that you'd need these," Meg said with a smile.
Jamie looked fearful. "What for?"
"For sleeping sweetheart," Meg said, "You said you were tired, remember..."
Jamie whimpered softly and nodded. "I... I guess..."
Meg carefully arranged the blankets after saying hello to Poppa.
Jamie hugged himself tightly, his cuffs clinking again against his sides.
Meg frowned slightly, then her frown quickly faded.
"You're gonna take care of them for now?" Poppa asked, "Then I can take care of this one," he indicated Rusty, who paled.
Jamie gasped. "No!" he pleaded, reaching out to Poppa hastily.
Rusty dodged around Poppa and over to Jamie. "Meg's great," he assured Jamie, "You'll be fine here..."
"No, Rusty! Please, let me explain to him..." Jamie began.
"Shh..." Rusty soothed, "You'll get a chance."
"But-"
"What?"
"Rusty, please... I don't want you to be in trouble because of me..."
"I..." Rusty started to say something, then he yelped as Meg set a hand on him.
"That hurt?" Meg asked gently.
Jamie leaped forward to Rusty's side, his eyes scared that Meg had hurt him.
"No..." Rusty said, "Maybe...I'd forgotten...I've got so many dents anyway..."
"Uh huh," Meg said, "Been in any crashes lately?"
Flat Top raised a brow at Rusty, as if to say don't-you-dare.
"N...no...not exactly," Rusty said slowly. Meg raised an eyebrow at Rusty, waiting.
Jamie tugged on Rusty's arm. "Rusty..."
Rusty was silent.
Meg sighed, "Okay, fine, whatever... this needs some work though."
Jamie tugged on Rusty again. "Rusty, please..."
"What exactly happened out there?" Meg asked.
"Got stuck in the snow..." Rusty mumbled a bit embarrassed.
"Rusty-"
"Did you *fall* off a hill or something?" Meg asked.
Flat Top glared slightly at Rusty and shook his head ever so slightly.
"No," Rusty said, "I just...got stuck..."
"Rusty..." Jamie tried again.
Meg sighed, "Okay, you don't go anywhere 'til I've given you a closer look," she ordered Rusty. Then she turned to Jamie...
Jamie didn't notice, still trying to get Rusty's attention so he could get blamed.
Meg set a hand on Jamie's forehead expertly.
Jamie yelped and ducked away.
"Fever's going down, rapidly too," Meg said with a smile, "Good night's sleep, and that'll take care of that."
Jamie ducked behind Rusty.
Meg turned around towards Flat Top...
Flat Top glared slightly.
"Lemme see you," Meg said, "I suppose you had your share of troubles too..."
"Nothing you need to be concerned about," Flat Top growled.
Meg crossed her arms, "You've know me for awhile, have I ever *not* been concerned about anything like this?"
Flat Top glared. "I think it's none of your business."
"Again, have I ever gone with that?"
Flat Top glared. "Just leave me alone."
"I would, except that you have this tendency to ignore things until you can't walk any more..."
Flat Top scowled. "I'll live without your help."
Meg shook her head, and sighed, "sooner or later..." she muttered.
"Never."
"Ay dios mios," Meg exclaimed and went off under her breath in Spanish.
Poppa set a hand on Rusty's shoulder, "You're gonna have to tell me all about this..." he said.
Jamie grasped on Rusty's arm. "Rusty," he persisted.
"Yes sir," Rusty said to Poppa, then turned to Jamie, "Yeah?"
"Rusty, you gotta tell him... I don't want you to get in trouble," Jamie pleaded.
"You have to get better," Rusty said slowly.
"But I don't want you in trouble," Jamie protested. Who cared about being hurt?
"I told you not to worry about it," Rusty said gently.
"But-"
"If it'll make you feel better..." Rusty started slowly.
Jamie nodded.
"I already told him..." Rusty said softly.
"No, you didn't."
"I will-"
"Rusty, don't get yourself in more trouble. Please. I'm the one who should be punished, not you."
"But you didn't do anything," Rusty protested.
"If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have gotten in that fight!" Jamie said, hugging Rusty's arm tightly.
"Fight?" Meg repeated.
Poppa cleared his throat, "Ahem...somebody wanna clue me in here?"
Jamie ducked behind Rusty again at Poppa's sudden talk. "Oops."
Rusty hesitated, "Poppa...Jamie was the reason I got into the fight, I had to save him..."
"It was my fault!" Jamie protested.
"It wasn't!" Rusty said, "Poppa, you should've seen the way they treated them... the...the way he is now is because of them!"
"Rusty!" Jamie pleaded.
"Well it is!" Rusty retorted.
"It was my fault!" Jamie insisted.
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No, it wasn't...not completely. You never made them do that to you."
"But if I hadn't been so stupid in the first place, you wouldn't have gotten in that fight and gotten in trouble, Rusty. It's my fault."
"No..."
"Yes!"
"No Jamie, it wasn't your fa- what d'you mean stupid?"
Jamie ducked his head. "All the stuff I said and did. I've never.... never done that before... I was dumb..."
"What?"
Jamie looked up, confused.
"I don't understand..."
"I... I've never done any of that stuff before... to Tank and his gang..."
"What? Stood up to them? Not let them walk all over you?"
Jamie looked away ashamedly. "I... I attacked one of them..."
"You what?" Rusty smiled despite himself, his eyes blazing again.
Jamie scuffed a skate on the ground shamefully. "I... I attacked him... I didn't mean to..."
Rusty grinned.
Jamie looked up, his eyes filled with tears. "And... and Tank, he..."
Jan held her brother closer, waiting for him to finish, or not finish...
"He... he tried to... to help me... but... but the gang... they grabbed me, and..."
"Shh...shh," Jan soothed hugging him and rocking him, "It won't happen again."
Jamie began to sob, hugging Jan tightly as he suddenly felt very lightheaded and dizzy.
Rusty looked up at Poppa helplessly.
Poppa looked down at Rusty for a long minute and then nodded slowly.
Jamie struggled in Jan's arms to look at Rusty and Poppa. "Please..." he pleaded, his voice soft and weak. "Don't... don't punish him..." He suddenly seemed to grow limp in Jan's arms, swaying unsteadily on his wheels.
Jan held him up, her eyes growing wide as she felt Jamie go limp.
Jamie was trying to keep himself conscious in Jan's arms. "Jan..." he pleaded.
"I"m here."
"Jan, I... I'm scared..."
"I know... but I'll be here. Ill take care of you..."
Jamie suddenly lost it, collapsing in a heap on the bed with a soft cry.
"Jamie!" Jan exclaimed.
Jamie curled into a ball, feeling dizzy.
"Okay, I'm calling this off," Meg said, "Enough of this. No more problems in my living room tonight."
Jamie groaned softly.
"Out now, all of you," Meg said, "We're gonna let him sleep."
Jamie tried to sit up, scared. "No..."
Rusty obediently stood up.
Meg gently tucked the blanket around Jamie, "I'll take care of your wrist in the morning hon."
"No... Rusty..." Jamie tried to reach out to the engine.
"I'll be back in the morning," Rusty started.
"Please don't leave me..."
"I..."
"Please..."
"Shoo," Meg said.
Poppa smiled, "Alright Meg," he said, "Rusty, I'll talk to you later."
"Okay Poppa," Rusty said a bit hopefully.
Jamie bit his lip. "Rusty, are you... in trouble?" His voice was faint.
"No," Rusty lied with a smile.
Jamie closed his eyes weakly.
"Out!" Meg ordered as Poppa good-naturedly left.
Jamie began to cry softly. "It... it hurts..."
"What does?" Jan asked gently.
"Everything."
"You'll feel better when you wake up..." Jan started.
"But... but I don't want to sleep..."
"Why not?"
"Cause... cause I'm scared..."
"Of what?"
"I don't know..."
Meg had started turning out the lights and was shooing Rusty towards the door.
"Rusty!" Jamie pleaded.
"Meg..." Rusty started pleadingly.
"You can come back first thing in the morning," Meg said, "Now go home and get some sleep."
"But-" Jamie protested.
"I'm not..." Rusty started, then yawned.
"Yes you are," Meg said, "Go to bed before you fall asleep standing up."
Jamie whimpered softly.
"Yes ma'am," Rusty said softly.
Jan sank down on the bed next to Jamie
Jamie held out his arms to Jan. "Jan..."
"I'm here," Jan said, not looking up as Meg was trying to clear the room.
Flat Top skated over to Jan. "Is he going to be all right?"
Jan looked up, "I hope so..." she said softly.
Flat Top sat down on the edge of the bed. "Anything I can do?"
"You can let him sleep," Meg said.
Flat Top glared. "I wasn't asking you."
Jan looked up at Meg, "Then he'll be okay?" Meg nodded.
Jamie cuddled into a ball. Flat Top reached for Jan's hand.
Jan gave it a squeeze. "Thanks," she said, "But I think we'll be okay..."
Flat Top nodded. "I know..."
"You'll come back in the morning?"
"I can stay now if you like," Flat Top offered, eagerness in his voice.
Jan looked around at the living room, which didn't seem to have anywhere else for anybody to sleep. "You don't have to..."
"I can. It's no trouble."
"Well..." Jan started.
"Okay, look you two," Meg said, "Whatever you decide to do, keep it down. I want Jamie to sleep tonight. It'll be the best thing for him."
"But-" Jamie protested.
"It will be," Meg said firmly.
Jamie ducked and pulled the blankets up to his chin protectively.
Jan set a reassuring hand on him. "You think it'll really help?" she asked. Meg nodded.
"Then I guess you should go to sleep," Jan said gently to her brother.
"But you won't leave me?" Jamie pleaded.
Flat Top took Jan's hand again. "You'd be more comfortable in some place with a better bed..."
"I can't leave him..." Jan said, "I'll be fine here..."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"All right. But you're welcome to stay somewhere else so you can get some sleep too..."
"I'll sleep here," Jan said.
"Okay." Flat Top squeezed her hand again. "I'll see you both tomorrow morning?"
Jan nodded.
Meg turned off the lights. "Night Flat Top," she said pointedly.
Flat Top glared slightly, debating staying longer just to make Meg mad.
"Good night," Jan said softly, "I'll see you tomorrow."
Flat Top smiled softly and slowly leaned in to kiss her.
Jan closed her eyes and leaned in for the kiss.
Flat Top's mouth touched hers, and he held the kiss softly.
Jan sighed happily.
Flat Top smiled and touched her cheek, drawing the kiss out.
Jan reached out and hugged him.
Flat Top gathered her into his arms and held her close, his chin resting on her head.
"Thank you," Jan said softly.
"For what?" Flat Top asked softly.
"For coming, and bringing us here..."
Flat Top smiled and gave her a soft squeeze. "I wouldn't have settled for anything less."
Jan smiled and slowly pulled away.
Flat Top was sorry she wasn't hugging him anymore.
"Tomorrow you'll show me around?"
"Of course. We can go to the stars if you like."
Jan smiled. "I can't wait."
"Me either." Flat Top smiled and traced the curve of her lips with a finger. "Me either."
Jan smiled and then pulled away, "Good night."
"Good night." Flat Top smiled at her.
Jan sat there and watched him go, smiling back at him.
Flat Top slowly got up and headed for the door.
Jan leaned back, contented.
Flat Top blew her a kiss and headed out the door.
Jan caught it and, as Flat Top left, she leaned back on to the bed, next to her brother.
Jamie reached out to her weakly.
Jan took his hand. "Jan..." Meg said softly, "Can you come into the kitchen?"
"Jan," Jamie said softly.
"Yeah? I'm here..." Jan said.
"Don't leave me."
"I'll be here..."
"Don't..." Jamie suddenly closed his eyes weakly, covering a wave of dizziness.
Jan hovered over him, concerned.
Jamie opened his eyes just a bit. "I'm scared..."
"There's nothing to be scared off..."
"Don't... leave me..."
"I'll be here..." Jan said.
"Stay..."
"I'll be here..." Jan repeated.
Meg stood up and left the room.
Jamie began to shiver a bit.
Jan covered him up with the blanket.
Jamie cuddled into it gratefully and suddenly began to cry softly.
"What?" Jan asked.
Jamie sniffed and shook his head.
Meg returned with another armload of blankets and pillows, for Jan. "I was wondering..." she started.
Jamie groaned softly.
"I found..." Meg started, setting down a brown soft bear-shaped plushie, "And I dunno...he's not doing anything sitting alone in a cabinet..."
Jamie looked up at Meg in surprise through tear-streaked eyes. "For me?"
"If you want him..."
Jamie held out his arms slowly.
Meg handed him the bear.
Jamie cuddled it close to him.
Jan looked up at Meg, suddenly liking the repair truck a great deal more.
Jamie cuddled the bear to his chest, the cuffs pressing against its soft tummy. "Thank you," he said softly.
"You're welcome," Meg said, "Would you mind if I talked to your sister for a bit?"
Jamie looked up fearfully. "Will she be back?"
"Yeah, of course, I won't split you two up."
Jamie smiled gratefully and hugged the bear closer.
Jan rubbed Jamie's hair once and then got up to follow Meg
Jamie snuggled under his covers, smiling shyly up at his sister.
Jan smiled back and followed Meg into the kitchen
Jamie watched her go, suddenly feeling lonely and cold. He pulled another blanket on and held the bear closer.
Meg and Jan were in the kitchen for what seemed like quite awhile.
Jamie was starting to drift off, but he was scared to sleep without Jan coming back.
There was a sound from the kitchen...something similar to chairs moving.
Jamie was instantly wide awake, staring sacredly into the darkness, hugging the bear so close the stuffing was pushed around inside it.
One of the lights in the kitchen flicked out.
Jamie whimpered softly. "Jan..." he said ever so softly.
There was another scraping sound.
Jamie instantly sat up with a soft cry.
The murmur of talk in the kitchen stopped for a second, then the floor creaked.
Jamie sniffled and pulled the blanket closer.
The floor creaked with the sound of footsteps coming closer.
Jamie whimpered and clutched the blankets defensively.
The kitchen door opened and the lights flicked out.
Jamie gasped in terror.
There was movement in the darkness towards him.
Jamie cried out softly and hugged the bear like a shield.
His bed started to move as somebody bumped into it.
Jamie yelped in terror and squeezed his eyes shut.
"Oh Jamie...it's just me..." Jan's voice soothed.
Jamie cautiously opened one eye. "Jan?"
"Yeah?"
Jamie let out a sigh of relief.
"You okay?"
"I... I guess..."
"Good,"
Jamie sniffed softly.
Jan shifted position again, getting ready to get up to go to sleep.
"You... you will stay with me now?" Jamie pleaded, snuggling closer to her.
"Sure," Jan said shifting to lay next to him.
Jamie cuddled close to her, sighing softly, finally ready to sleep.
Jan gave him a hug and closed her eyes.
Jamie hugged her back and closed his eyes, settling into a restless sleep.
Jan quickly dozed off.
Jamie slept somewhat soundly, his dreams plaguing him with terrible memories.
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