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Chapter Four
"Coaches and cars to selection grid!" Susan's voice boomed over the sound system, "Engines to the parade!"
Fuse looked over at Ruby with the coaches and gave her a smile, indicating the engine she was to race with.
Ruby fluttered her bright red lashes, trying to look particularly appealing as The Prince Of Wales passed by her
The British engine approached Fuse and asked him about Ruby. Fuse pretended to consider and then nodded. The engines finished their lap of the tracks and pulled up. All of them were looking over the coaches.
The coaches stood... each trying to look appealing. Blanche looked at Fuse, confidently. Jennette also gave him a sidelong glance, nervously trying to stand in such a way that he wouldn't see the various bits of graffiti scribbled over her frame
"Engine's to select partners!" Susan ordered, "Champion gets to pick first, that's you Fuse!" He stepped forward and rolled over to the coaches.
the coaches waited.
He threw out a magnetic wave, "lassoing" Blanche and pulling her towards him.
Blanche smiled, feeling a little thrill go up through her as he did this. She eagerly hitched behind him, all thoughts of Flare leaving her mind.
"Blanche with Fuse," Susan announced, "Next up, Slick the diesel."
Slick skated out and caught Esmra's eye, nodding her over.
Esmra took his couplers, striking a pose
They skated off together as Susan called out the next engine, who choose his coach and they rolled off together.
Jennette waited, hoping *some* engine would take her.. .and feeling like she might cry.
"From Great Britain, the Prince of Wales." Susan called. The engine skated directly over to Ruby and offered her his arm.
Ruby took it eagerly... but not without a glance at Fuse
Fuse nodded ever so slightly and smiled.
gradually, all the engines and coaches paired up, until only Anbi and Jennette were left
"From Italy, the Pedalino," Susan announced.
Anbi and Jennette watched eagerly, both hoping someone would pick them
The Italian engine rolled over to the coaches and smiled at Anbi.
Anbi clapped her hands, and hitched up eagerly... Jennette crossed her arms and pouted. So, a 14 year old kid was being picked before her?
"From Japan, Hashamoto," Susan announced. Hashamoto skated directly over to Jennette.
Jennette was almost as excited as Anbi had been, when *finally* an engine picked her.
He hitched Jennette behind and moved into place, looking back at her with a smile.
Jennette smiled back, a bit speechless
"I did not know I was going to be last," he said carefully.
"Neither did I" She whispered
"I told the others not to pick you," he said.
Jennette fond herself blushing. "Really?"
He nodded.
Jennette just smiled, speechless, and held a little tighter onto Hashmato's couplings
Hashamoto smiled back at her, "Ready?"
"Ready!"
He pulled her forward over to the race track, along with the other engines in his heat.
Fuse caught Ruby's eye.
Ruby nodded, and grinned toothily
He smiled at her fondly.
Anbi held nervously onto her engine's couplings. She scanned the crowd for her mother
Pedalino moved out of the way to wait. He was racing in the second heat.
Angelina had pushed her way to the front and was looking for her daughter.
Anbi smiled, finally spotting her mother in the sidings. Part of her almost didn't want to go ahead with the race, she was so nervous...
Angelina leaned over to one of the race marshals and had a whispered conversation. Then she ducked under the guardrails and headed towards Anbi.
Anbi blushed, having her mother approach before the race
Angelina had managed a smile by the time she made it over to Anbi.
"Yeah?" Anbi asked
"I just wanted to make sure that you were alright," Angelina said, "And ready for racing..."
"I'm ready" Anbi said quickly, smiling
Angelina nodded, "Just..." she started.
"I know. I'll be careful."
Angelina smiled and gave her daughter a hug.
Anbi hugged back, and then hitched back to her new engine
"Take care of her now," Angelina ordered the engine.
He smiled good-naturedly, "Yes Madame."
"He will." Anbi agreed
Angelina smiled, remaining there.
Anbi waited a moment when her mother didn't leave. "Mom?'
"Oh," she said sheepishly, "I'm sorry." she leaned over to kiss Anbi on the cheek.
Anbi smiled. "so, I'll see you later?" she said, putting an extra emphasis on the word later
"Yeah," Angelina said, "Later." she kissed her daughter lightly on the cheek.
Anbi nodded, and watched her mother go. She looked at her engine sheepishly
Hashamoto, still wound up from the thrill of running, and winning, looked back at his partner.
"Can you believe it?" She asked, excitedly
He grinned proudly. "I picked the right coach."
Jennette blushed despite herself, "I'm lucky I was picked by such a good engine!"
"Come, we will celebrate," he said, taking her hand.
Jennette hesitated a moment, and then took his hand and held it tightly. It felt good.
Hashamoto pulled her over to him so she could hitch up.
Jennette did so, eagerly. for a moment she considered kissing him, right there. She didn't though... she'd leave that up to him.
Hashamoto moved out, going a bit faster then he needed to.
Jennette felt an inexplicable thrill rush through her at the speed
As Hashamoto rolled past him, Fuse waved in congrats, then he continued over to see Ruby, who had done her job well.
Ruby skated up to her engine, glaring daggers at Blanche, standing for to close to him.
"that race was... to easy."
He moved over to her, "Too easy for an expert like you?"
"Too easy for a trainlet on her first day out." She spat
"I am sorry," he said to her, "I did not realize that it would be that easy."
Ruby just shook her head. She would find more interesting things to do tonight
He moved to take her in his arms.
Ruby let him.
Blanche looked on, perhaps a bit ticked
He stroked her hair fondly, "All the same, I am proud of you."
"Good."
"but then again, when have I ever not been?" he purred.
Finally, Ruby smiled
"Now," he said with a grin, "watch me win the next race."
Ruby nodded, an odd little smile playing on her lips
"That's my girl," he praised her.
"Now... go win your race." Ruby half ordered
Fuse grinned.
After he had won the race, Fuse turned to give Blanche a kiss.
Blanche kissed him back, feeling only slightly strange doing so. It was meaningless
"Now," he said to her, "Aren't you glad you raced with me?"
"Yes!" Blanche said, with forced enthusiasm
"Especially when you started kissing Ruby after the first race. Way to make a girl feel special."
"Oh Blanche," he said, "I'm sorry. Ruby is my component. There's a difference."
"uh-huh." She said, not overly convinced. "Lets just get ready for the next race."
Fuse pulled Blanche towards him and dipped her, kissing her passionately.
Blanches eyes widened slightly, as Fuse's lips sent a pleasant shock of electricity through her
After a long time he parted the kiss.
Blanche grinned at him... that had been good
He smiled, "Better?"
"definitely."
He turned to let her hitch up.
Blanche did so readily
Fuse move out.
Angelina had been watching the race anxiously, and now that it was over she headed over towards her daughter.
Anbi unhitched from her engine, a little to breathless to be disappointed
Angelina smiled at her daughter.
"That was... fast!"
"Racing is," Angelina agreed.
"I've got to try that again sometime..."
"sometime," Angelina agreed, "But not tonight."
Anbi nodded, "No. I've already raced tonight"
Angelina smiled her thanks at the engine
"I told you I wouldn't get hurt..."
"I know," Angelina said, "But I'm your mother, I worry."
"He took good care of me." Anbi smiled at her engine
The engine smiled at Anbi, and then at her mother, "It was a pleasure," he said.
Anbi smiled at her engine, perhaps a bit nervously
He bowed slightly to her and headed off.
Fuse, along with the other engines had gone off to get ready for the race, leaving their coaches alone for the moment.
Ruby skated over to Blanche, a fake smile on her face
"Hello," Blanche greeted her, still a bit uneasy with the component.
"Hey." Ruby skated in very close to Blanche, still smiling a bit to broadly
Blanche took a half step back
"How you enjoying the races?"
"Very much..." Blanche said carefully.
Ruby raised an eyebrow
"You?" Blanche asked politely
"Minor problem." Ruby said sweetly
"I saw," Blanche said, "But you seemed to have come out all right."
"That's not what I meant." Ruby stepped so close to Blanche she was literally breathing down her neck, "Some little slut stole my engine."
Blanche blinked and her eyes narrowed slightly, "I did not do it on purpose."
"Yes... you accidentally raced with Fuse."
"He choose me to race with him."
"I'm aware of that." Ruby took both of Blanche's arms in hers
Blanche yanked away.
Ruby held tight, pulling the sleeping car closer to her
"What are you doing?" Blanche demanded, struggling fiercely.
"Talking to you." Ruby glared at her intensely, "So, how many engine's you been with... in... say... the past week?"
"None of your business," she snapped.
"More than one then?"
"well..." Blanche's eyes glittered, "Fuse is certainly enough for more then one engine..."
Ruby pushed Blanche back hard against the wall.
Blanche stomped on Ruby's foot.
Ruby growled at her.
"Face it girl, your *master* has a new interest," Blanche hissed.
Ruby pushed Blanche back a little harder, "And how long you think that's going to last? Do you know how many knew interests he's had? None of them last very long." Ruby grinned cruelly, as if she knew just why
"I'm sure if he had a real interest in someone he'd order you out of the picture."
"I think I'd order her out of the picture first."
Blanche, despite the fact that she was being squished, laughed, "As if you'd have that power over your master."
"You'd be surprised." This time Ruby pushed Blanches head against the wall, very hard
Blanche let out a cry.
Ruby smiled at her
"What the? RUBY!" Fuse bellowed.
Ruby let go of Blanche rather quickly
"What is going on here?" he demanded as Blanche slumped down slightly.
"Nothing."
"Doesn't look like nothing," he said, going over to Blanche.
Ruby crossed her arms, "Then having a little bit of fun before the night is out, if that's how you want to put it."
He started towards her, "Ruby..." he said warningly.
Ruby grinned at him.
He was not smiling.
"How much did you have to pay for her?"
Fuse growled.
"Girl's like that never go for free y'know..."
"Silence."
"Why? It's true y'know."
"SILENCE!"
Ruby shut her mouth
Fuse glared at her.
Ruby crossed her arms
He took a step towards her.
Ruby stood her ground
"You have no right..." Fuse started.
"Don't I?"
"No."
Ruby crossed her arms
"I think that you're not interested in the rest of the races tonight," he said.
"I don't think so."
"I do."
Ruby raised an eyebrow, and started to walk away.
"Go home," he said.
"No."
"That was not a request."
Ruby giggled
"Home," he said, "Now."
"No."
"Do you go yourself or do I take you?" he asked.
"You want to take me home?" She teased, "That's sweet of you."
Fuse turned to Blanche apologetically, "I'll be back in a minute."
Blanche nodded
Fuse rolled over to Ruby, "Come on."
Ruby followed him, actually being fairly obedient now
He waited for her to hitch up.
She did so.
Fuse moved out, picking up speed as he headed home.
"You never told me how much she was going for."
He didn't answer, although he let a line of electricity run through his couplings.
Ruby continued to bait him, as she felt the slight prick of his Electric current. "Is she any good?"
"Yes."
"Her kind always are... well trained."
"I suppose so. It shows," he smiled.
Ruby growled, and yanked one of his couplers
He sparked.
Ruby let go, putting her hands on her hips
"We aren't home yet."
"Maybe I'm not going home."
"You. Are."
Ruby laughed again.
He grabbed her firmly.
"Let go!"
He started to reverse, dragging her along with him.
Ruby let her legs go limp, so she was now kneeling on the tracks, knowing he wouldn't be able to drag her like this with out hurting her.
He growled softly, "Get up."
"No."
He let electricity run through her, "Get up!"
Ruby winced, but didn't get up.
He growled and yanked her up to her feet.
Ruby glared at him, staying mostly limp, as he held her up.
"I know that you're faking it," he said, "But I could arrange that you wouldn't need to fake."
"Yeah... like you wouldn't have any problems getting me home then." She said sarcastically
"Oh you'd be surprised..."
"Surprise me." Ruby challenged.
He let a thunderbolt roar through her.
Ruby let out a little cry, and then the world dimmed around her.
Fuse gathered her into his arms, and lifted her from the tracks.
Fuse carried Ruby home and gently set her down on her bed, pulling the blanket over her.
Ruby's eyes fluttered open
Fuse didn't notice.
Ruby moaned... she had quite a head ache.
He looked up at the sound.
Ruby tried to glare at him, but quickly gave up. It took to much effort
"Shh now," he stroked her hair.
Ruby whimpered slightly.
"Sleep," he ordered gently.
Ruby shut her eyes, unable to do anything but listen
He kissed her gently on the forehead.
Ruby sighed, trying to relax.
He tucked her in and then turned to go.
Ruby slowly drifted off into a fitful sleep.
Fuse rolled back down the tracks to find Blanche
Fuse grinned back at Blanche in readiness. He felt a little bad at making Ruby stay home, but she had deserved it, and he would make it up to her later tonight after he'd won. Blanche was fun, but not nearly as challenging as Ruby was, and that was one of the things that he liked about her. Besides, it was perfectly usual for an engine to have a coach as well as his components.
Blanche stroked one of his couplers with a finger, she had enjoyed the first race with him, and was looking forward to the second. In her experience, if the engine was pleased with his partner, it usually improved performance. Fuse was in top shape and the favorite to win. Blanche didn't see any reason to disappoint the fans.
Jennette was just astonished, but pleased that they had made it this far. She knew that Hashamoto was fast, much faster then the other engines, When Fuse won his heat, he hadn't been going nearly as fast as Hashamoto was, or so she told herself.
Esmra, next to Jennette gave her friend a wink. "No offence," she said, "But you're going to lose."
Jennette grinned, "Are you sure that you don't mean you?" she teased back.
"No, I'm sure that I mean you."
"Well, we'll see…"
And then the countdown began.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, train's gone!"
The four engines took off down the tracks. Fuse looked back at Slick, close behind him, and let off a few warning sparks to keep the diesel at a distance. He didn't want to shock the other engine, just keep him from coming too close.
Slick growled softly, "Cheap trick!" he shouted.
Fuse growled back and sped up. He would earn this race his way, and not by zapping the others, which he considered cheating.
Hashamoto zipped up behind Fuse, darting forward between Fuse and Slick, then passing Slick to pull even with Fuse.
Slick growled and moved aside, bashing into Hashamoto, pushing the other engine sideways, almost into Fuse. Fuse hit his brakes so he didn't crash into the other engine, which Slick rammed into the guardrails before taking off.
Fuse growled softly as Slick looked back at him with a smirk. He sped up, zooming past the Japanese engine to give chase to the diesel. He pulled even with Slick, but couldn't seem to pass him. The two engines kept pace with each other, almost exactly in step. If she had wanted to Blanche could have said something to Esmra, but as it was, all she was concentrating on was the race.
Fuse hissed softly, pushing himself harder, he had to win. He WAS faster. No diesel engine was going to make a fool out of him!
With a blaze of electricity that made Blanche wince, Fuse sped forward, faster. Slick gasped, that was impossible for any engine to go that fast!
Esmra tightened her grip on his couplings and the feeling energized him a bit, he sped up also to give chase.
Fuse went faster, and faster, and faster.
Suddenly he slipped and skidded, losing traction on the rails. He felt something snap up from the rails and get caught in his wheels. Frantically he hit his brakes.
Slick realized that something was wrong from the sparks coming from Fuse's wheels and he attempted to screech to a stop.
Fuse lost his balance. He reached back to unhitch the terrified Blanche, but before he could, Slick skidded into the both of them. Fuse and Blanche went flying over the guardrails and into the sidings.
"ANBI!" Angelina shrieked, fighting her way through the mess, searching for her daughter.
Anbi didn't notice her mother's cries... she was to busy trying to get closer to the site of the crash.
Angelina spotted Anbi and darted over to her, pulling her into her arms.
"Mom... I'm... okay.."
She still hugged her daughter tightly.
Anbi sighed, and hugged her mother back.
Angelina stroked her daughters hair.
"Somebody... should... I don't know, do something?"
"Come on," Angelina said, "Let's go find Ruby."
I can get her..." Anbi said
Angelina nodded, "Be careful."
"I will"
Angelina watched Anbi skate off.
"Oh my god..." Jennette was whispering, as she two skated closer to try and get a better look at the crash scene. She wound up somewhere near Angelina
Angelina had made it over to Esmra who looked like she was about to cry.
Jennette followed close behind, rushing towards her friend
Esmra was dented and bruised, but mostly scared.
"You... okay?" Jennette asked worriedly...
She shook her head, shaking slightly.
Jennette hugged Esmra tightly
"It was... awful," she stammered out.
Jennette nodded, and held her friend tighter. Then she got a glimpse of the mess behind them, and her eyes widened
Esmra closed her eyes and leaned weakly against her friend.
Jennette continued to hold Esmra, but her eyes were fixed on the huge wreck that stretched out before them.
Fuse was a mangled wreck that everybody was avoiding, due to his sparking.
"Esmra... don't look..." Jennette whispered. she looked around, hoping there would be someone nearby who would know better what to do than she did
Esmra had her eyes tightly closed, "Don't wanna look."
Jennette rubbed her back soothingly
Angelina was attempting to see to Blanche.
Blanche moaned lightly, barely conscious
Angelina gently touched her face, "Blanche?"
Blanche tried to open her eyes, or get away from Fuse's sparking frame
"Lie still now," Angelina said.
Blanche tried to, but she just needed to untangle herself from Fuse first... not that that was working very well.
Angelina brushed Blanche's hand back, wincing a bit at the electricity.
"Get him off..." She managed.
"I'm trying honey..." she said, frowning slightly when she realized that one of Blanche's legs was pinned under the engine.
Blanche tried to wriggle free, but moving was difficult
Angelina went back to just trying to calm Blanche down.
Anbi arrived with Ruby in tow. Both seemed Breathless, and Ruby seemed particularly exhausted
Angelina looked up, relieved, when she saw the repair truck.
"Out of my way..." Ruby said briskly, kneeling down besides her engine
Fuse was breath was shallow and labored.
Ruby's first task was to detach him from Blanche, which she did as quickly as possible. She didn't want that coach so close to him. She quickly took out her tool kit, her eyes wild and apprehensive
Angelina gathered Blanche into her arms and moved the coach away from the engine.
Blanche whimpered in pain at being moved
"Shh... shh... I know honey..."
Blanche shut her eyes tightly, not daring to think about what she might look like right now... not that she could really think anyway. Everything hurt.
Angelina held her and watched Ruby.
Ruby worked frantically on her engine, but his power with failing fast. she didn't know what to do.
Fuse opened his eyes.
"Lie still." Ruby ordered. Her tone was gentle, a rarity for her.
"Ruby?" he whispered in a hoarse voice.
"You're going to be a-okay..." She promised
He reached out to touch her.
Ruby took his hand
"Ruby..." he said again, "I..."
"shhh..."
He struggled to get closer to her.
Ruby hugged him tight
He reached up to touch her face.
Ruby tried not to cry as she looked at him. "I'm... gonna fix you." She insisted. She hardly knew where to start. she had never seen such a mess in her life, but she couldn't tell him that.
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't be..." It was her that should be sorry, but she couldn't say that
"I..."
"I love you."
He slowly brought one of her hands over to his mouth and kissed it.
A few tears streamed down Ruby's face
"I... love you..." he whispered.
Ruby kissed his lips
He kissed her back.
Ruby pulled away hesitantly... she was going to have to work fast, *if* she was going to save him
Fuse smiled at her, "Good girl..."
Ruby tried her hardest to smiled back.
He closed his eyes and relaxed in her arms.
Ruby began to work frantically on him, but it seemed as soon as she fixed one circuit, another one shorted out
Fuse slowly went limp.
Ruby's hands stopped working, as she felt all the power suddenly drain from her engine. He was gone
Angelina bowed her head.
Ruby sat frozen for a second, staring at her engine. Then she gently moved his broken body out of her lap and stood up
"I'm sorry," Angelina said.
Ruby glared at her, but didn't answer. "I'm going home." she said venomously
"Ruby, I'm sorry," Angelina said again.
Ruby didn't respond
"Ruby?"
"Shut it."
"Ruby... I know how you feel..." she started soothingly.
"I doubt it." Ruby growled, "I'm goin' home."
"Ruby please, Fuse would...would want you to help."
"And I wouldn't listen to him... and we'd fight about it... and I'd give in eventually. But he ain't here, so I'm just going to skip that part and go home."
"Ruby... come on... we need your help!"
"Shut it!" Ruby started to skate in the direction of her home. Blanche stirred in her restless sleep.
Angelina's eyes widened and she looked down at the coach in her arms.
Ruby skated off, at top speed, not caring who she was leaving behind
She gasped softly and held Blanche closer.
Anbi skated over to her mother, kneeling down on the ground near her. "Esmra's taking care of Jennette, she's going to be okay... Slick too..." Anbi started to give the nights news in a rush of macabre excitement
Angelina reached out with her free hand and touched her daughters face gently.
It was just then that Anbi noticed the look on her mother's face... and Blanche lying limp and broken in her arms. "What happened?"
"Honey..." Angelina started helplessly.
"Is she going to be okay? Ruby can fix her, right?"
"I... Ruby left."
"She left?" Anbi asked, not quite getting it
"Fuse... he... she couldn't..."
"Oh my god..."
Angelina reached out and pulled Anbi closer, as well as she could.
Anbi hugged her mothers neck
"Help me get Blanche home?"
Anbi nodded
"Blanche?" Angelina asked softly.
The sleeping car opened her eyes, trying to focus them on Angelina
"We're going to get you to bed," Angelina said, "Don't worry, we'll take care of you."
Blanche managed a slight nod... but even that movement was painful.
"what're we gonna do, without a repair car?" Anbi asked, in a hushed whisper
"Shh," Angelina said, standing up slowly.
"But..." Anbi started, but then she went quiet. Blanche looked bad... real bad
"Help me carry her," Angelina said.
Anbi did so, at least as best she could
Somehow the mother and daughter managed to get Blanche back to their house.
Anbi stopped in their living room, "We can put her in my room..." she suggested, "There's a bed in there, and we wont have to move her as far."
Angelina nodded.
Soon Blanche had been placed on Anbi's bed. Anbi sat down, tired, but unwilling to admit it
Angelina made sure that Blanche was as comfortable as possible before turning to Anbi.
"Now what're we gonna do?"
"You need to go to bed..."
Anbi shook her head. "No.. I want to stay up and help. I'll never get to sleep after tonight anyway."
Angelina gave Anbi a hug.
Anbi hugged her mother back, for once actually not trying to escape the closeness.
Angelina held Anbi for a long time.
Anbi finally pulled away, looking down at blanche's bent form.
"I don't know what to do..." Angelina said with a sigh.
"Me neither.. we... can't just leave her like that. She needs to be repaired, doesn't she?"
Angelina nodded, "Maybe, once we give Ruby a chance to calm down..."
"But..." Anbi looked at Blanche.
"We can hope..."
Anbi nodded... Blanche shuttered involuntarily, as she began to drift unwillingly back into wakefulness
Angelina, not quite willingly, let go of her daughter and skated over to Blanche's side.
Blanche's eyes opened, and she tried unsuccessfully to sit up.
"Shh... lay still now."
Blanche tired, a bit harder to move correctly, fear growing with in her
"Lie still," Angelina ordered gently.
"What happened?" Blanche forced coherent words from her pained throat
"There was a crash..."
"It... hurts..."
"I know honey... I know..." Blanche soothed, "I'll give you something for that... just lay still."
Blanche took a shaky breath. It was all she could do to keep from crying from the pain
"I'll get you something that will help," Angelina said.
Blanche shook her head... nothing could help...
Angelina skated away and returned a few minutes later with a glass and a small bottle.
Anbi gave her mom a confused look
Angelina sat down next to Blanche, "I'm gonna give you something to make you sleep okay?"
Blanche didn't respond...she could hardly think straight enough to understand Angelina's words
"Sleep?" Angelina asked gently.
Blanche nodded
"Open your mouth and swallow," she said, holding a glass to the coach's lips.
Blanche opened her mouth, taking a few painful gulps... much of the liquid wound up rolling down the coaches cheek, but she did swallow some of it
Angelina stroked Blanche's cheek. The medicine only took a few minutes to kick in.
Blanche slowly drifted back into sleep
Angelina stroked the sleeper's hair back away from her face.
"Where'd we get that stuff?" Anbi asked...
"We've had it for awhile..." Angelina said.
Anbi gave her mom an odd look
She shrugged, "It's in the medicine cabinet..."
"Ah..."
"Come on," Angelina gave Anbi a hug.
Anbi nodded
Angelina led her daughter into the living room.
Anbi followed numbly
She sat down on the couch silently.
Anbi leaned sleepily against Angelina
She rocked her daughter gently.
Anbi was still, not knowing what to do, in a daze from the night before.
She stroked her daughter's hair.
Anbi shut her eyes
Angelina held her daughter gently, long after Anbi had finally fallen asleep.
Flare felt his gears starting to move into motion, as the sun began to filter in through the window
Angelina had tucked Anbi in on the couch late last night before going to bed herself, she had risen early to check on everyone before sitting down in the kitchen, where she promptly fell asleep again.
After several minutes of regenerating, Flare walked downstairs, to find Angelina asleep at the kitchen table
The exhausted bakery car slept on.
Flare sat down silently next to her. Something seemed... wrong
She didn't hear Flare sit down next to her.
After a few minutes of sitting there, Flare touched her shoulder gently
She shifted and opened her eyes.
Flare looked at her questioningly
"Flare?" she sat up and rubbed her eyes.
Flare nodded. "what happened?" He asked, knowing that Angelina did not usually sleep in the kitchen
"Whew," she said, sitting up, "I guess that I dozed off..."
"How were the races?"
"Flare..." she started helplessly.
Flare looked at her steadily
"There was... a crash...."
"Anbi?" Flare looked worried
She shook her head, "She's fine."
"what happened?"
"Flare, I don't know how to tell you..." she started.
Flare was silent
"Fuse..." she started again.
"what?" Flare prompted, trying to ignore the sick feeling inside him
"He crashed... We..." She took a breath, "He's gone."
"Who?'
"Fuse."
"Gone?"
She nodded sadly, "He was too damaged..."
Flare shook his head, stunned
"And..." she trailed off, "Flare, Blanche was his partner..."
"Is she okay?" Flare asked rabidly
"She's... hurt."
"Badly?"
She hesitated and then nodded.
"where is she? at Ruby's?"
"No. After Fuse... after he... she didn't want to work anymore."
"But Blanche is hurt!" Flare said, "She has to.."
"shh," Angelina said.
"where is she?"
"In Anbi's room," she started, "But-"
"But?" Flare asked, expecting the worst
"If she's asleep, don't wake her."
"I won't." Flare promised
She nodded.
"In Anbi's room?"
She nodded again.
Flare went in there, shuddering when he saw Blanche spread out on the bed brokenly
Blanche slept on.
Flare touched her bruised cheek lightly
She whimpered softly.
Flare pulled back a bit, uncertain as to what to do
She shivered painfully in her sleep.
Flare moved the blankets up over her, so they covered her shoulders.
She whimpered and attempted to wake herself up.
Flare glanced back at Angelina
The other coach sighed softly and shrugged.
"Ruby has to fix her..." flare said more firmly
Blanche moaned softly and opened her eyes slightly.
Flare softly touched her cheek.
"F-Flare?" she croaked weakly.
"Hey..." Flare said... his voice was nervous, full of concern
She whimpered softly, trying without success to pull herself together.
"It's alright... you're going to be okay.." Flare soothed as best he could, though he was far from certain himself. she had to be okay...
She nodded and cried out, even that small movement hurt.
"Stay still..." Flare said, moving his hand so it was gently stroking her hair. He gave Angelina a panicked glance, silently begging her to somehow do something
Angelina nodded, "I'll be back." She turned back to the door and left.
Blanche leaned towards Flare's touch.
Flare nodded
"Stay with me?" Blanche pleaded to Flare.
"I wouldn't dream of leaving..."
"good..."
Flare continued to gently stroke her hair, near tears himself
Angelina sped down the tracks, going as fast as coachly possible, towards Fus-- Ruby's house.
Ruby was sitting dejectedly in her living room, not thinking, not doing anything
Angelina knocked on the door.
Ruby growled to herself, and didn't move
Angelina knocked harder.
Ruby swung the door open. "What?!"
"I wanted to see how you were doing," Angelina said calmly.
Ruby glared at her, "How do you think?"
"I understand, I am sorry for your loss."
"Then why did you take the sleeper home with you last night?" Ruby hissed
"I couldn't very well leave her out on the tracks."
"Why not? She caused the wreck..."
"What?"
"yeah." Ruby said, with a venomous smile. "Steered my engine the wrong way at the last minute. Bang! Maybe she just got confused, or maybe she meant to do it. Don't know. Don't really care."
"She wouldn't do that on purpose..."
Ruby shrugged. "Either way, I'm not fixing her."
Angelina gasped, "But you have to!"
Ruby just smirked
"You're the only one that can!"
"Then she doesn't get fixed."
"But..." Angelina sputtered, "You can't..."
"If you're so worried, you fix her."
"How?"
"Figure it out yourself."
"How?" Angelina said again.
"You think I'm gonna tell you?"
"I would hope so yes..."
"go home."
"Help me, please."
"No."
"Ruby please!" Angelina pleaded, "At least give me an idea where to start."
Ruby disappeared into her house, and soon reappeared practically throwing her tool kit at Angelina
She caught it.
"See if you can figure this out..."
Her eyes widened.
Ruby slammed thee door in Angelina's face
She gasped and numbly started going home.
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