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Chapter Five
Blanche stared up at Flare, her eyes wide and clouded with pain
He swallowed, holding back his own tears, wishing that there was something that he could do.
Her breathing was shallow, and labored, and she could think of nothing but the pain running up through her
Once again, Flare stroked back her sweaty hair.
"Flare?"
"I'm right here," he answered, in what he hoped was a comforting tone.
"I'm... sorry..." She said with some difficulty
"No..." he said softly, "There's nothing to be sorry about."
"I...."
"I forgive you anyway," he said.
She took a deep, shaky breath, wincing at the pain
"I..." he started.
Blanche looked up at him
"We'll get you fixed," he said.
Blanche made a tiny nod
"And then... once you're fixed... I'll take you out again... like...like yesterday."
Blanche nodded again, painfully. "We'll chase the sun..."
He nodded, "I promise."
Blanche shut her eyes and shuddered again
He stroked her hair.
Blanche coughed slightly
He looked alarmed, just as Angelina skated in. He looked up at her hopefully but she shook her head.
Blanche opened her eyes to look at Angelina
She forced a smile onto her face.
"w-what's happening?" Blanche asked
"We're going to put you back to sleep so you can be fixed," Angelina said.
Blanche nodded slightly
She turned to go get the medicine.
"You'll be fine," Flare said.
Blanche shook her head uncertainly
"You will be," he said firmly.
Blanche didn't respond
Flare leaned down over her and, on impulse, kissed her forehead lightly.
Blanche gave the tiniest smile
"Blanche?"
"yeah?"
"I... I love you."
"I.....love you too..." Blanche said
"Really?" he gasped.
Blanche nodded
He smiled happily.
Blanche shuttered a bit
"You *have* to get better now," he said.
"Yeah..." Blanche whispered
Angelina returned. "I'll see you when you wake up," he said.
"okay.."
Angelina held out the glass to Blanche.
Blanche made another, very clumsy, attempt at drinking, a blush spreading up through her features as once again the liquid poured at least partially down her face
Angelina nodded, "That'll do." "How long does it take to kick in?" Flare asked. "A few minutes," She answered.
Blanche gave Flare a tortured look, as the medicine seemed to kick in to slowly
He gave her a hug, holding her until she was asleep.
He looked at Angelina, "Now what?"
"Ruby...isn't coming." she said slowly.
"what?!"
"Shh," she said.
"why not?'
"She said that the crash was Blanche's fault."
"what? no..." flare said firmly. blanche wouldn't
"I know that. But Ruby doesn't seem to care about that. She's...upset."
"But... if nobody fixes her..."
"I didn't say that nobody will fix Blanche..."
"But only Ruby..."
"I can fix minor things..." Angelina said.
"You?"
"Yeah me."
Flare looked doubtful. "We'd better start then." was all he said
She nodded, picking up the kit that Ruby had 'given' her.
"where did you get that?"
"Ruby." Angelina said, going over to the sleeping sleeper.
Flare just nodded, "Be careful with her. Please."
"Of course."
"Good..."
Angelina went to work, for several hours. finally she stopped, "There's nothing more that I can do," she said.
Flare looked blanche over critically, "But... her leg..."
"I know," Angelina said sadly, "I don't know what to do for it."
"But you have to do something..."
"I'm afraid that I'll hurt her worse..." Angelina said, "But I'll try something."
Flare nodded, worried
Angelina pulled out a roll of tape.
Flare watched silently
"Help me?" she requested.
"Yes... what do you want me to do?'
"We've got to get her leg straight..."
"Okay..."
"so... help me straighten it out," she said.
Flare took hold of Blanches leg cautiously, as if he was afraid of breaking her.
"Does it feel straight?" she asked.
"No... not completely..."
"Can you push it straight?"
Flare made a face at this request
"Flare, it needs to be straight..." Angelina said.
Flare straightened her leg as carefully as he could
"good," Angelina said, "Now hold it like that."
Flare did so
Angelina pulled out the tape and started wrapping it tightly around Banche's leg.
"Is she going to be okay now?"
"I hope so honey," Angelina said, "I hope so."
Flare nodded, his shoulders slumping as he looked at Blanche, asleep peacefully
"That's all we can do now."
"Okay..."
Angelina sighed, for once looking old.
Blanche stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering upon
Flare hadn't left her side.
"Hi..." She said. she sounded a bit better then she had before
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Better... it doesn't hurt so bad..."
"That's good," he said happily.
Blanche tried to struggle into a sitting position
"Take it easy," he said.
Blanche nodded, "Could you..." she asked, blushing a bit.
"Yes?"
"I can't... quite get up..'
"You still need to rest," he said.
"what happened to Fuse?" Blanche asked, changing the subject.
He fell silent.
"Flare?"
"He..." Flare started, "He's...."
"He isn't..." Blanche said, already knowing the answer.
"It was a really bad crash..."
"Oh starlight...." Blanche rolled over, so he wouldn't see her cry.
"Blanche?"
Blanche didn't reply... she knew if she opened her mouth she'd start sobbing
He cautiously took her into his arms.
a small sob escaped her throat.
He hugged her, rocking her gently.
"Do you know how it happened... the crash?"
He shook his head.
Blanche shuddered, and relaxed into his arms
Flare hugged her tightly.
Blanche was silent, overwhelmed by everything
"But you're okay," he assured her, "And I'm going to stay right here."
"Yes..." Blanche said faintly, "Don't go..."
"I won't go," he promised her, "Ever."
Blanche relaxed in his embrace
"I love you."
"I love you too..."
Despite what he said, Flare was not able to spend all of his time with Blanche, although he was very reluctant to leave her side and quick to return.
He was very surprised one day when he returned and Angelina said, not very happily, that Blanche didn't feel up to seeing him.
This had gone on for several days now and he was beginning to get worried as he went for yet another attempt to see her...
Flare knocked gently on Blanche's door.
Blanche didn't answer, pretending to be asleep
"Blanche?" he asked, opening the door a crack.
Blanche kept her eyes closed shut... she didn't have the heart to tell him to go away, but she didn't feel up to talking to him either
He tiptoed into the room and knelt down next to her bed.
Blanche kept her eyes closed, but she looked to tense to really be sleeping
"Aww Blanche," he whispered, "I wish you'd let me be with you....when you're awake."
Blanche's shoulder shook slightly, but she did everything she could to retain her facade of slumber.
He buried his head in his arms on the bed next to her.
Blanche couldn't do this. She opened her eyes slowly
He didn't look up.
"Flare?"
He looked up, "Hi. I hope you're not mad at me for coming in, but I just had to see you..."
"No..." Blanche's voice sounded drained. She sat up in bed
He sat up as well.
Blanche didn't say anything, she looked down at her lap dejectedly
"Blanche?" he asked, setting his hand on one of hers.
Blanche didn't look up at him. She couldn't
"What's wrong?"
"You haven't heard?"
He shook his head.
"I... the crash was my fault..."
"Oh..." he had heard, but didn't believe it.
"I don't know how... but... it was... and now..."
"Who said that?" he asked.
I've been hearing... bits... around.."
He shook his head, "It was an accident."
"But it was still my fault... I killed an engine Flare."
He didn't know how to answer her, didn't know what to say, he just hugged her.
Blanche was silent, not wanting to tell the rest, but knowing she'd have to
"Well..." he started.
Blanche listened
"We don't have to stay."
Blanche stiffened in his arms abruptly
"What?" he asked.
"I... I don't think I'm going to be going anywhere..."
"Well no," he agreed, "Not right now."
"anytime"
"Okay, not if you don't want to," he agreed.
"That's... not it..."
Something in her tone made him look at her differently. "Blanche?" he asked softly, "What is it?"
Blanche slowly through the covers off of her, sitting down at the edge of the bed. She reached out to take flare's arm
He watched her carefully, letting her take his arm.
Blanche got shakily to her feet, holding onto Flares arm. "Stand up, please..."
He slowly did as she asked.
Blanche managed a few, very clumsy steps, only while holding onto to Flare's arm. "If you let I go.." She started gravely
His eyes widened quite a bit.
Blanche looked down at her ruined leg, ashamed. "It's... Angelina can't fix it... she finally got ruby to look at me, but she said that Angelina set it wrong the first time and there's nothing she can do..."
Flare had to sit down.
Blanche sat down next to him, not able to do much else. "So... we won't be racing again. And I won't be leaving. I guess... well, I guess you can go now."
He sat there in silence.
Blanche couldn't look at him... there was no way he would want her now, especially when she considered what she had put him through.
Flare sat still. Angelina had told him to make sure that Blanche's leg was straight, she had told him!
A sob shook Blanche's frame, despite her attempts at holding it back.
He reached over and took her into his arms.
Blanche tried to push him away.
He backed away, "Do..." he started, "D'you...?"
"Do I?"
"Do you want me to leave?" he asked softly.
"aren't you going to any way?"
He shook his head.
"I..." Blanche's crying broke her off again.
Once again he took her in his arms.
"I'm s-sorry... I don't..." Blanche choked out between sobs.
"Shh..."
Blanche gave up on trying to speak to him
He held her in his arms.
Finally Blanche's crying began to slow.
Flare glanced out the window, it was nearing sunset, but that didn't seem to matter much, he didn't want to leave her, even for the night.
"what am I going to do now?" blanche asked.
"We'll figure something out."
"We'll?" Blanche repeated
"Yes. We."
Blanche hugged him tightly
"I love you Blanche."
"I love you... I'm sorry... for everything."
"I know," he said, holding her tightly, "I know."
"If I could take it all back... redo things... I would."
"I wish..." he started, and then sighed, "The sun's going down."
Blanche looked up at him, not wanting him to leave, but knowing he had to
"I... want to stay with you."
"I wish you could."
Already he felt his power draining slowly, but he continued to hold her tightly.
"Flare... the sun..."
"I'm not going to leave."
"Good..."
He was determined to keep holding her, even as he felt himself start to shut down.
Blanche began to feel his grasp loosen, as she ran out of power, so she held him.
He felt his eyes grow heavy, but forced them open to look up at her. "I want you to be the last thing I see tonight..." he mumbled.
Blanche nodded, slowly guiding him so that he was lying down besides her, on his side. She looked right into his sleepy eyes
He smiled at her and managed to give her hand a squeeze, before falling asleep.
Blanche silently rested her head in the crock of his neck, smiling for the first time in days.
The next morning, Flare stirred into life with the first beams of sunlight.
Blanche was still lying close against him, sleeping
He smiled at the sight of his coach, she was still beautiful. Flare remained still, not wanting to wake her.
Eventually Blanche's eyes fluttered open
"Hi." he said softly.
"Hi." Blanche stretched, and then relaxed back onto him in true sleeper fashion
He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
"I love you."
"I love you too," he said.
Blanche was silent for a long time, unsure of what she could say. There were serious subjects that needed to be broached, but it was early in the morning still, and she didn't want to think about them
Flare just smiled at her
"what are we going to do?" she asked finally
"About what?" he asked drowsily.
"Me..." blanche said softly, "I... can't.."
"Oh," he sat up slowly, "Oh yeah..."
Blanche looked up at him, still ashamed of her condition
"Well..." he said, "For now I'm going to take you to the kitchen for breakfast."
"But..."
"What? Aren't you hungry?"
"Yes... but I'm not sure I can."
Flare stood up and stretched.
Blanche watched doubtfully
He moved over to the window to absorb some sunlight.
Blanche sat up in bed, moving the blankets so that the only thing they covered was her ruined leg. She continued to watch Flare
After a few minutes Flare was at full power, and he rolled back over to her.
Blanche looked down at her blanket shrouded leg. There was no way she could make it to the kitchen... or let others know what had happened to her.
"Ready?" he asked.
"I don't know."
"Aw, c'mon Blanche, you need to get out of here for awhile," he said.
"I'm not sure I can face everybody... after what I did and... everything
"Everybody? It'll just be Angelina..."
"I haven't spoken to her in a few days..."
Flare sighed and skated over to the bed, "You have to sometime." He sank down to his knees and looked up at her, "Please?"
"I..."
Flare blinked and looked up at her pleadingly.
"I am hungry...'
He smiled, "Then lets go eat breakfast."
She took his hand
Flare leaned over and gathered her into his arms, lifting her off the bed.
At first Blanche was surprised by this, but she didn't protest.
Flare settled her into his arms, and then started towards the door.
Blanche rested her cheek against his shoulder, and let herself be carried. She couldn't help but thinking she would enjoy this a lot more if she at least knew she *could* have made it on her own.
Flare carried her out into the kitchen.
"Morning..." Anbi said, from her spot at the kitchen table. She looked up, slightly surprised to see Blanche outside of her room, and more surprised to see that flare was with her.
Angelina stood up when they entered and went to get another plate.
Blanche refused to look at either Angelina or Anbi, and just waited for Flare to put her down.
Flare gently set Blanche down in a chair as Angelina set a plate in front of the sleeper.
"were you *both* in my room all last night?" Anbi asked
Flare nodded, "Yeah... the sun went down."
"Ah..." said. That didn't really leave much to speculate on. The sun had gone down, and Flare had gone to sleep after that. Not very exciting. "I'm not even going to ask." She said anyway.
Flare shrugged and returned his attention to Blanche.
Blanche gave him a small smile, feeling slightly ackward
"What would you like?" he asked.
"Um... whatever you're having will be fine." Blanche said. The truth was, suddenly she was not feeling very hungry anymore
Angelina nodded and set a plate with some food in front of the sleeper. She could tell that Blanche didn't look very hungry.
Blanche pushed the food around with her fork, occasionally glancing up at Flare, but mostly at her plate
Flare sat down across from her.
Blanche took a sip of her drink
A rather uncomfortable silence fell across the breakfast table.
Blanche was beginning to wish, somebody would say something. She felt like everyone was watching her... she sat stiff, nearly frozen, not even bothering to play with her food anymore
"Blanche?" Flare asked, reaching across the table to touch her hand, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"something is wrong..."
"No... nothing"
"Please tell me?"
"Nothing's wrong!" Blanche half yelled
Flare flinched.
Blanche looked back down at her untouched food
"I'm sorry," he said softly.
"I... didn't mean..."
"I shouldn't have made you come out here yet," Flare said.
"No... it's alright..." Blanche said, painfully aware of Angelina and Anbi's presence
"Blanche," Angelina said softly, "don't worry about us."
"I'm not..."
She set a hand on Blanche's shoulder.
Blanche shrugged it off
The older coach sighed softly.
Blanche looked across the table at flare. "I'm not hungry..." she said softly
"But you said that you were..."
Blanche shook her head
"Oh," he said softly.
Blanche sighed
"Did you want to go back to your room?" he asked.
"Yes... no... it doesn't matter."
"It does," he insisted, "What do you want?"
"I... I want to go back up to the room..."
"Okay," he stood up.
Blanche didn't move
He rolled over to her, "I'll take you back."
"no.."
"But you said that you wanted to go back..."
"I... I don't want you to take me.."
"Oh."
Blanche took a deep breath
Flare waited.
"I... just..."
"Yes?"
"I don't know."
"Oh," Flare said softly.
Blanche went back to playing with her food, mostly because she had no idea what she could do from here
Flare sighed and headed towards the door.
"Flare?" Angelina asked.
"I'm going out," he said.
"Me too..." Anbi said, following after the engine.
Angelina nodded, watching her daughter and Flare leave.
Anbi followed Flare out the door
Once outside, Flare sat down on the steps of the porch.
Anbi sat down next to him, being uncharacteristically friendly towards the engine. "How much did she tell you?"
"That... she can't walk..." he started.
"Yeah, and the thing with Fuse?"
"Yeah."
"She's been locked in my bedroom for three days."
"I know, she wouldn't let me see her."
"She's been *really* upset, and weird..."
Flare buried his head in his hands, "she thinks it's her fault."
"Well... people have been doing a good enough job of making it seem that way. Especially Ruby, when she *finally* looked her over."
"Yeah," he looked up a bit angrily.
"I don't like her... she seemed to be enjoying herself way to much when she told Blanche about her leg..."
"Yeah," Flare growled softly.
Anbi shook her head.
Flare sighed and closed his eyes, "She doesn't seem to want me."
"You? You have noticed she's not talking to *anybody* right?"
He sighed, "I wish I knew what to do."
"She cries." Anbi said simply
"Yeah..." he said softly.
"At night. and she won't eat...."
Flare buried his head in his hands.
"Sorry..."
"It's not your fault..."
"It's not yours either... "
"I wish I could run at night!" he exclaimed suddenly.
Anbi got up, startled
He slammed his fist into the step to make his point.
"Flare?"
"If I could've raced..." he started.
"Who knows *what* would have happened. But you couldn't. Things are... just the way they are."
Flare sighed.
"Soo... now what? She's not gonna live in my room forever."
"I don't know..."
"Is that the best you've got?"
He nodded slowly.
"great."
Flare brushed his eyes with his fingers as nonchalantly as possible.
"You gonna be okay?"
"...yeah. Yeah."
"Doesn't seem it."
He sat up and attempted to glare at her, but wasn't successful.
Anbi sighed. "My mom's better at this..."
He sighed, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to take it out on you..."
"It's alright I guess."
"It's just... that I *don't* know what to do... and since I don't...I just feel... helpless, like the sun's gone down, but I'm still awake."
"I'm sorry... I don't know what to do with her. The race was scary enough just watching it..."
He nodded.
"But she did *cause* it so..."
"She did not cause it!"
"Yes she did! Everyone knows that!"
"'Everyone'," he said, a bit sarcastic, "Is wrong. 'Everyone' does not know Blanche, otherwise, 'everyone' would know that she wouldn't do that!"
"Well... nobody thinks she *meant* to do it... except Ruby..."
"good." he snapped.
"But she did do it."
"She couldn't have..."
"But everyone says..."
"I don't care what everyone says..."
"Even if it's true?'
"But it..." he started, and then sighed, "It just doesn't seem true."
"Because she's blanche and you love her... but it's the way things are."
He sighed.
"some of the other coaches have been talking..."
"They usually do. What about?"
"what do you think?"
"I don't know."
"Blanche."
"What about her?" he asked.
"They...'
"They?" he prompted.
"Think she got what she deserved."
He sighed.
Anbi was silent
"I want-" he started softly.
"what?"
"I want to take her away," he said.
"where?" Anbi asked skeptically, "And *how* She's not going anywhere flare."
"I don't know where, or how, I just said that that's what I want."
"Good luck." Anbi said skeptically
He sighed again.
Angelina silently picked up the empty plates
Blanche watched, silent as ever
"I think that he's upset," she said mildly.
"Yeah."
"He loves you, y'know..." she said, taking the dishes to the sink.
"I know..."
"He'd do anything for you."
"I know but..."
Angelina turned around to look at Blanche, waiting for the sleeper to finish.
"I don't feel like me."
Angelina sat down, "Why not?"
"I... just don't. The entire trainyard's changed, and it's my fault... I've changed..."
"Oh Blanche," Angelina said, brushing a few strands of Blanche's hair back, "I'm sorry."
"The way things are... I shouldn't be with him. For once I'd be holding *him* back."
"You know how I said that he'd do anything for you?"
Blanche nodded somberly
"There's one thing he wouldn't do for you..." she trailed off, "Well... maybe he would..."
"what?"
"But I don't think he would..."
"What is it?"
"Leave you."
"But... he can't..."
"He won't leave you."
"But it won't work!" Blanche said, suddenly standing up... or trying to rather. not the best idea.
"You can try as hard as you want," Angelina said, "But he won't leave you."
"But I'm.... I'll never be of any use to him now, or anybody... not like this."
"He doesn't see that."
"He will... he... he can't carry me around all the time. I'm not a trainlet." Blanche spat
"I know..."
"I *can't* get by like this... not even going to try."
"You're just going to give up?"
"Yes." Blanche said irately
"And break Flare's heart."
"No!"
"You would if you just gave up..."
"I don't know what else to do..."
"I understand..."
Blanche buried her head in her hands
Angelina rubbed her shoulders gently.
Blanche tried to shrug Angelina's hand off her shoulder. she hated feeling so helpless
"Things will get better."
Blanche didn't answer...
"They will, if you let them."
Blanche let out a muffled cry.
Angelina rubbed Blanche's shoulders, "But it's okay to be upset."
Blanche shook her head resistantly
"No one will blame you if you're upset," Angelina said, "In fact, we all understand."
Blanche just shook her head again
Angelina sighed and continued to rub Blanche's shoulders.
Blanche took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, to stop crying... but it didn't work
The bakery coach continued to rub Blanche's shoulders silently.
Blanche sat up suddenly, pushing Angelina's hand off her shoulder
She let Blanche push her away.
Blanche wiped her tears away forcefully... she had to stop acting like this.
"Blanche?" Angelina asked softly.
"What?" Blanche said
"When you lose something important, it's okay to mourn."
"I'm *not* mourning."
Angelina sat down next to Blanche.
Blanche tried to glare at her, but it didn't come out right
"Honey?"
"yeah?"
"You aren't dead."
"Not yet."
Angelina sighed, "You aren't dead, so take advantage of that fact."
"It might be better if I was..."
"don't say that!" Angelina said.
Blanche looked away from Angelina
"Do *not* say that," Angelina said, losing a bit of the sweet tone that she usually had.
"Why not? It's true!"
"No."
Blanche didn't answer this
Angelina stood up and grabbed the back of Blanche's chair.
Blanche looked back at Angelina, surprised
Angelina pulled the chair, with Blanche in it, away from the table and into the living room.
"What are you doing?" blanche asked. She would have gotten up out of the chair, but seeing as that was a bit impossible
Angelina pushed Blanche in front of the window, "There. Now Look!"
Blanche looked out the window, where flare was sitting with Anbi, "I... didn't mean to hurt him..." she said softly
"He, for one, appreciates the fact that you aren't dead."
Blanche sighed
"And so do I."
"Why should he?... not just because of the way things are now... but before the races to..."
Angelina shrugged, "I don't know. I don't know why he picked you, but he did.
Blanche looked down at her lap, "I should have never dragged him into this mess..."
"I think that he followed you quite willingly."
Blanche shook her head...
"He did," Angelina said.
"He shouldn't have."
"Whatever he should or shouldn't have done, that's what he did," Angelina said.
Blanche scowled
"And it's what he will continue to do," she said.
"so he's just going continue loving a murderer... who can't even stand on her own two feet? If he does, he's an idiot."
Angelina sighed.
Blanche crossed her arms irritatedly.
"Alright, fine," she said crossly.
Blanche didn't answer her... she didn't care anymore
"Fine, don't care. Give up if you want," Angelina said.
"I will." Blanche pouted
"But know this," Angelina said, standing in front of her, looking into the other coach's eyes.
Blanche waited for her to continue
"You will kill him." she pointed out the window towards Flare.
Blanche rested her head in her hands
"And I hope you can live with yourself after that," Angelina said, skating away.
Blanche managed to stand, grabbing onto the window sill. She took a tiny step, barely managing to keep her balance
The only sound in the house was Angelina washing the dishes.
Blanche took another step, determinedly, and another... ending up on the floor by the third step.
Angelina appeared in the doorway for a minute.
Blanche didn't move from her new place on the floor... she just couldn't do it.
"Did you want some help?" Angelina asked.
Blanche shook her head pridefully, but the tears were starting again.
"Okay..." she turned back to the kitchen.
Blanche hugged her knees, stuck to her new place on Angelina's floor
After a minute, Angelina returned and pushed the chair closer to Blanche and then rolled back into the kitchen.
Blanche crawled a few inches on her knees. This she found she could do fairly easily, but there was no way she was going to *crawl* out of Angelina's house. She pushed herself back up into the chair
The front door opened and Flare rolled back into the house.
Blanche looked at him for a brief moment, and then away.
"Are you okay?" he asked, for lack of anything better to say.
Blanche shook her head
"I'm sorry..."
"Me too."
He slowly rolled over to her.
Blanche watched him silently
Almost as if he were afraid that she would get mad at him, he gently set his hand on hers.
Blanche started to jerk her hand away, and then stopped. she didn't want to.
Flare sank to his knees next to her, looking up at her.
Blanche suddenly wrapped her arms around him.
He hesitated and then hugged her back.
"Flare... I don't know what to do anymore. tell me what I'm supposed to do now..."
"Just don't give up on yourself...on us." he said.
"But... it's like there's nothing else left not to give up on,"
He sighed softly.
Blanche buried her head in his shoulder. "I tried... just to get out of this room. I didn't even get far from the chair..."
"Well..." Flare started, "This is your first time trying to walk in awhile right?"
"No... I've been trying... on and off... it wont work. I can't..."
"It'll take time-" he started.
"No.. I can't..." Blanche insisted
"Why not?" he asked.
"I just..."
"Just?"
"I don't think I can do this."
"Why not?"
"I...I don't know..."
"You can," he said, "That's... that's one of the things that I always admired about you. That you *could* do things."
"I *could* not anymore... I can't even get from this chair to the kitchen.... I can't ride along behind you... I can't..."
"You also wouldn't ever give up before..." he said softly.
Blanche just silently rested her head on Flare's shoulder.
He rocked her gently.
She held onto him, not wanting to talk anymore, or think...
Flare just held her for as long as she wanted.
Blanche looked back up at Flare, teary eyed
He reached up and gently brushed a tear off her cheek.
"I might be able to keep going... for you..."
"Would you?" he asked softly.
"If..."
"If?" he asked.
"You're sure that's what you want... it's not something you should want... I know what they're saying about me. They'll give you a hard time. and I'll only slow you down. You don't need that. You could do better...easily." Blanche said all this quickly, tears falling as she spoke, tried to convince him to leave her be, even when she hoped he'd refuse this request
Flare blinked, "You...want me to leave you?"
"No..." Blanche half whimpered, "b-but you should... you really should."
"No."
"No?"
He shook his head, "No. I won't. I can't. That's the only thing I can't do for you."
"Not for me... for you."
"No."
Blanche watched him silently
"I won't leave you."
"I'm... I... I'm glad."
He nodded, "*We* will get through this."
"I hope so."
He nodded.
"But... promise me something.."
He waited.
"You can't *take care* of me... I'm not a trainlet... I need to be able to do things for myself... or not do them."
He looked puzzled.
"I... I just don't want to be... I don't know."
"But...." he started, "I like carrying you."
Blanche had to smile at that. "But not all the time..."
"Okay," he agreed, "Blanche? It's not that you can't walk or anything like that... I just *like* doing things for you."
"I know... it's just harder when..." Blanche trailed off, "When you carried me home after we went out racing, it was different because I knew I *could* have walked home on my own. But now when I know I can't it's harder."
"Oh," he said softly.
"I don't like this at all."
"I know..." he started.
"No you don't."
He blinked, "What?"
"You don't know."
"Yes I do-" he started.
"No... not like this. It's like I'm completely helpless, and I hate it."
"Blanche-" he started again
"yeah?"
"You're telling me that I *don't* know what it's like to feel completely helpless?"
Blanche looked away. "I'm sorry."
Flare sighed softly.
"I wasn't thinking."
"I know," he said softly.
Blanche smiled bitterly
"It's okay," he said, "Actually," he smiled, "I'm glad that you forgot."
"Yeah... most people don't forget. Or see past things. I'm sorry flare."
"It's okay," he said.
"No. It's not. I killed an engine, even if I didn't mean to, and..." Blanche touched her injured leg lightly, "I got what I deserved. But you never did anything wrong.
He sighed softly.
Blanche gave him a sad look.
He leaned towards her suddenly.
Blanche moved forward a bit
He kissed her gently.
Blanche kissed him back.
Flare held the kiss for a long time.
Blanche pulled away finally, smiling a real smile
He smiled back.
Blanche touched his cheek lightly
"I love you."
"I love you." blanche repeated
He smiled, and then suddenly pulled away from her, leaning back on his heels, "Blanche?" he asked, "Can I ask you something?"
Blanche nodded
"Would you... I mean... uh..."
"yes?'
"I... would you like to..." he mumbled the rest of the sentence.
"Flare..." a small smile was playing at the edge of Blanche's lips, "What are you trying to say?"
"Will you be my coach?" he asked suddenly.
Blanche was silent for several long moments
"But I still love you..." he said.
"Flare..." Blanche interrupted
He looked up.
"Of course I'll be your coach. There's no better engine in the trainyard."
He smiled warmly at her.
She reached out and took his hand.
He held her hand tightly.
"I'm glad I have you..."
"I'm glad you'll have me..."
Blanche hugged him tightly
He hugged her back.
Angelina appeared in the doorway.
Blanche looked up, as if surprised
Flare looked up as well, "Hi..." he said softly.
"Good news." Blanche said, elbowing Flare slightly
Flare blushed, "I...uh... I'm her coach... err.. I mean... she's my... I mean... uh..." he stammered.
"We're together."
He nodded, "yeah."
Blanche smiled at Angelina
Angelina smiled back ,"That's wonderful!"
"It is."
Flare nodded quickly. "I'm glad that you two are happy," Angelina said.
"We are... or we will be..."
"We *will* be," Flare said firmly, holding her hand tightly.
And they all live Happily ever after, until, perhaps, the next installment
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