The Midnight Train Crossing

The run went on pretty uneventfully, with CB doing his job. He was only upset with Rusty and was thinking clearly enough not to do anything to hurt anyone else.
The crew took their break for lunch and CB skated past Rusty’s house on his way to the diner.
Rusty was sitting on his porch. Pearl had gone out to get food, despite his protests that they should both go.
The caboose came to a stop upon seeing Rusty "Hey! Steamer!" CB shouted, "You ain't at work today."
"I know,” Rusty answered, “Meg's orders."
The caboose gave a huff of, "yeah right..."
"It's true."
"What, that your 'thing' now Steamer?"
"What're you talking about?"
He gave another huff. "Wrecking yourself in hope ya won't hafta go into work!"
Rusty shook his head, "You're crazy."
"I ain't the crazy one here 'buddy' "
Rusty had to laugh at that one.
CB's eyes narrowed. "Ya go wacko and crash yerself, crashin' *me* in the process!"
"You've done it to me more times then I care to remember."
"*I* don't crash my*self*. That's why *you're* insane!"
Rusty rolled his eyes
"Just wait 'til Control calls you in."
"He knows that I'm off today," Rusty said sweetly with a smile.

CB gave a growl. It wasn't fair! "Wipe that smile off yer face Steamer, or *I'll* wipe it of for ya!" he threatened.
"You can't."
"Ya wanna bet? Keep talkin..." CB moved forwards.
Rusty stood up, "You wouldn't...."
“Oh believe me Steamer, I would...."
Rusty took a step back
"Scared Steamer?" CB smirked.
"No. I'm not scared...."
"Surrrrre..." he continued to have the smirk on his face.
"I'm not scared - at least not of *you*!"
He laughed. "If yer gonna try an' bluff, least make it *believable*!"
Rusty glared
The caboose rolled forward again, "Prove it Steamer! Prove ya ain't scared of me!"
"Oh we don't want to go there again..." Rusty said, standing his ground.
"You *are* scared! Lil' Scardy Steamer! Wussy Rusty! HA!"
"I'm not scared of you!!"
"Prove it!"
"I don't have to prove anything to you, *caboose*," Rusty snapped
CB shoved Rusty, hard! "Sacardy Steamer!" he spat. "Rusty the Wuss!"
Rusty fell backwards, knocking over the chair that he'd been sitting on a few minutes earlier
CB had a nasty smirk.
Rusty looked up at CB from the ground, "Shouldn't've done that..."
"Oh no?" he mocked.

"No." Rusty suddenly rushed at the caboose, ramming him hard and pushing him down the stair ramp. Once they landed on the ground, Rusty pinned the caboose down.
CB kicked, hitting the steamer, trying to throw the steamer off him.
Rusty punched him and then slammed CB into the ground.
The caboose cried out and gave him another hard kick.
A whoosh of steam escaped him and Rusty let go, allowing CB to throw Rusty off with a growl.
Rusty rolled over, trying not to let CB get the upper hand.
CB punched Rusty hard, and then went for another blow with an angry growl, but Rusty caught hold of his wrist, twisting hard.
CB growled, fighting back the pain. He landed a skate on the steamer's chest.
Rusty released him and tried to remove the skate from his chest. He groaned as CB pushed down harder, but managed to pull the caboose back down to the ground, regaining control.

"Rusty! CB!" Control's voice rang through.
Rusty ignored Control, smacking CB across the face
CB gave a cry, then *bit* Rusty in return.
"Ah!" Rusty yanked his hand back, "You little-!"
"Rusty!! CB!! ENOUGH!!" Control hollered.
CB's eyes flashed. "Don't mess with me!" he growled, giving the Steamer another kick.
Rusty flinched and grabbed CB's collar
"GAH!" CB cried, trying to pull away.
"Rockies! Report to Rusty's house! NOW!!" Control demanded. It was clear *he* was fed up.
Rusty pulled CB up a bit and then slammed him down to the ground
The caboose cried out, going for another bite.

Suddenly, a pair of strong hands hauled Rusty off the Caboose
CB was about to go after the steamer, now that he was free, when another strong pair of hands took up just in time. "LET GO!!" he demanded, not knowing who it was.
"Hey you two, knock it off," Rocky said from behind the steamer
"Rusty, turn your fire down. CB, chill." Two added.
Rusty didn't stop struggling until Rocky had pinned his arms behind his back
Two pretty much had pinned CB face down on the ground before he stopped.
Rocky sighed, "I've just about had it with you two."
The caboose growled.
"Shut it CB. You're already in more trouble with Control then we'd like to think." Two snapped.
“He started it!" CB shot.
"Yeah right!" Rusty shot back
"*Both* of you!" Two added quickly.

Rocky tightened his hold on Rusty, "We've gotta take you both back to Control now."
"He *isn't* too pleased," Two added.
"And *that's* an understatement," Three finished.
"He's never pleased," Rusty muttered
Two looked to One and Three.
"Are you going to behave yourself now Rusty?" Rocky asked.
Rusty muttered an answer.
"What?" Rocky held him tighter.
"Alright, alright... just so long as you keep *him* away," Rusty said.
CB gave a growl and lunged towards Rusty with such great force that Three had to help Two hold him back.
"Let's go," Rocky said, holding on to one of Rusty's wrists tightly.
Two and Three had to both hang onto CB
Rusty shot the caboose a smug look
CB gave a growl and made another lunge for the Steamer, "*I'll* wipe that smirk *straight* off yer face Steamer!!"
Rocky looked to Rusty, who now had a rather innocently offended look

Three took CB's legs, deciding that may be quicker for them in the long run.
They all headed to Control's office, Rusty meekly following Rocky, but whenever the boxcars weren't looking, he couldn't resist his chance to gloat over CB.
All CB could do in response was growl and struggle.

They reached Control's office where Two and Three set CB back on his wheels.
"The blocks are over in that corner," Control said simply
"No!" Rusty exclaimed
It was CB’s turn to smirk as he listened to the steamer continue to protest.
The smirk stayed on the caboose’s face as Two and Three placed the blocks on his wheels. He crossed his arms across his chest.
"Sorry Rusty," Rocky said as he blocked off the steamer's wheels
"Congrats Rusty!" CB mocked. "Ya now joined those who gotta be restrained!"
"Shut it Caboose!" Control ordered.
Rusty glared deeply at the Caboose
"What?!" he asked to context to both.

"*What* has gotten *into* you both?" Control demanded.
"He's the one that started all of this!" Rusty exclaimed
"Liar!" CB snapped.
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not! You're the liar!"
"Me?! Oh no! NOT this time Steamer! Ya ain't pinnin' fault fer *yer* insane actions on *me*!!"
"Insane actions?" Rusty repeated
"Yeah!"

The caboose turned his attention to Control. "Gettin' this? All th' time you were after *me* and on *my* case, this steamer next to me was causing jus’ as much trouble if not more!"
"So I'm insane now?" Rusty demanded
"Ya wouldn't be here with yer wheels blocked off if ya weren't," CB replied with a nasty grin.
"Well you're here too!"
"*I* ain't insane!" he replied.
"Then how do you know that I am?" he said, "After all, it takes one to know one."
"lemme rephrase that 'Steamer'," CB told him. "Yes, I'm insane but I *know* that I am. therefore, I'm not."
Rusty blinked at that one
"Rusty! CB!!" Control tried to regain order.
"You've got a warped sense of logic," Rusty said
"It's just that my logic is too much fer yer teeny, tiny steamer brain!"
"'cause I've got more important things to think about!"
"Oh, like *races* an' *COACHES* are more important?!"
Control tried again. "CB! Rusty!!
"Yes!" Rusty answered CB, ignoring Control.
"Oh PUH-LEESE!!" The caboose rolled his eyes.
"You just think that coaches ain't important 'cause ya *can't get one*!"
At that, CB growled. "Any car in this trainyard would be *proud* to be my coach!!"
"Then how come ya don't have one?"
"I. Ain't. Interested." he spat.
"'Cause ya can't get one," Rusty repeated

"ENOUGH!!!" Control shouted above the other two.
Rusty instinctively put his hands to his ears
CB didn't seem to be bothered by it. He just blinked and looked up. "Hey, no need to yell Control. We hear ya fine. Or at least *I* can." Control gave an angry sigh.
Rusty rolled his eyes, inwardly frustrated with how well CB was taking all of this
"With this being the *third* fight between you two within a short time, I'm going to have to do something about it,” Control continued.
"It's not my fault!" Rusty exclaimed
"I don't care WHOSE fault it was!" Control took a deep breath.
"but-"
"No. Buts!"
Rusty closed his mouth

Control's next line seemed to be directed at Rusty. “This'll hurt me more then it'll hurt you, but I've got to be the reprimander!"
That didn't sound good, thought Rusty
"Some time in The Box should straighten you up!"
"What??" Rusty stammered, “But- No- You can’t-“
CB's eyes were wide with childish delight at that news, "Awwwww poor widdle Wusty's afraid of the dark? Tough break Steamer."
"I'm not afraid of the dark," Rusty snapped
"Quiet!!" Control yelled, "You too CB!"
“Huh?" was how the caboose responded.
"The Box!" Control answered.
CB's eyes grew even wider. "WHA'?! Ya can't *do* this!"
"Wait - both of us?" Rusty asked
"*Both* of you!" Control said firmly.
"but that's not fair! ... Sir."
"You two wanna fight it out? Fight it out in The Box!"
"For... how long?"
"A time period to be decided by *me*."
"And... How long is that.... Sir?"
"The more you question, the longer you'll be."
CB growled at Rusty. "Shut it Steamer...." he muttered.

There was a moment of silence before Control spoke again. "Rockies, escort them to The Box."
".......sir.....?" Rusty ventured meekly
Control sighed. "What is it Rusty?"
He looked down at his wheels
"remove the blocks..." he told the Rockies, who moved to obey.
"what is it Rusty?...." Control said again.
"Nothing," he said softly.
"Two, Three? Take CB. I'll have One follow with Rusty later." Control said.
Two and Three nodded, going over to CB
"How come the Steamer gets special treatment?" CB demanded. "Cus he's an engine?"
Control gave another frustrated sigh.
"Just c'mon CB," Two said
The caboose gave a growl.
"Come on," Two said again
CB gave another growl, but left with Two on one side and Three on the other.

As soon as CB had gone Control asked Rusty again, "What's wrong?"
"I don't want to go...." he started
"You'll have to Rusty. I don't like doing it just as much as you don't want to go."
He looked down
"If you behave yourself, you may find yourself out sooner then you think."
"Yes sir........" Rusty looked up, "But... that might be hard....."
"How?"
"Being in there with *him*."
"I'm sorry Rusty, but you were *both* involved."
"but... he's the reason...."
"Rusty...you two *need* to learn how to tolerate one another!"
He sighed
"this is the only way..."
"Can..... may I say goodbye to Pearl?"
"Of course," Control replied. "I'll send for her."
"Thank you..."

Control called Pearl into his area. While they waited, Control asked. "Shall I leave you two alone?"
"I.... I'd like that...."
"Alright. Just call Rocky when you're done."
"Yes sir."
Pearl entered then. She was a bit surprised to see the steamer, but spoke to Control. "You wanted to see me sir?"
“Someone else wanted to actually," he replied and then it fell silent.
"I did...." Rusty said softly, rolling over to her
"Rusty? Couldn’t it have waited until I came home?"
Rusty shook his head silently.
"why not?"
"Because... I won't be there"
"Of course you will..."
He shook his head slowly
"Rusty....?"
"I..... got into another fight with CB....."
"Another?" she repeated
He couldn't meet her eyes, "....yes."
"what happened?..."
"Control's... I have to... He's putting both of us away in the box...”
"What? How long?"
"Until he's satisfied I guess...." he said softly, still unable to meet her eyes
"Oh no..."
"I..... I'll understand if you're mad at me..." he said softly. He looked down at her skates, "I'm sorry."
Pearl looked back at the steamer.
"Rusty...."
"It's just... whenever I see him..." he said.
"Try.... Maybe you'll get out sooner...."
"*I* will try... but it's just... he...."
"I know Rusty..."
"He says things..."
"Things?"
"about... me.... and about the races... and about...."
She placed a hand on his shoulder.
He finally looked up at her

Pearl kissed him, which surprised him slightly.
"Rusty....." she started when they parted, but then stopped.
"Yes?"
"I wish you didn't have to go...." Her eyes were moist, but she fought back tears. How long could it really be?
He put his arms around her, "don't cry," he pleaded
"I'm not..."
"Good," he said softly
She smiled, but it seemed sad. Two single tears rolled down her cheeks.
He brushed them away, "I... I think..... you should stay with Ashley and Buffy then..." he said softly, "Just for a little while..."
"A little while?”
"Yeah..."
"Promise?"
"As much as I can...."
Pearl gave another small, sad smile and dried tried to dry her eyes.
He brushed her tears away again
She cuddled against him, not knowing when she'd get the chance again. "I'll stay with Buffy and Ashley...." she agreed, "I'll miss you....."
"Me too. I'll always be thinking about you."

"Rusty..." came Control's firm voice just then.
He looked up, sighed and then looked back to Pearl, "I have to go...." He kissed her and then started to pull away
"Rusty...don't..." she said in a whisper-whimper.
"I'm in enough trouble as it is..." he said apologetically
Pearl gave a sad nod.
"Rusty, it's time." Control said.
"Yes sir..."
"good bye Rusty..." Pearl said softly. She embraced him one more time.
"I'll see you later then Pearl," he said. He hugged her tightly and then pulled away.