The Midnight Train Crossing

Rusty slowed and came to a stop and made a face
Flat Top glared.
"Not my fault, look," Rusty said, pointing to a rather large snowdrift covering the tracks
"Okay, let's go back."
"We can't." Rusty pointed out
"Yeah we can. We tried."
"I think we can get through..."
"No."
"We have to..."
"Let's wait 'til spring."
Rusty shook his head.
Flat Top sighed.
"I can make it if you help me..."
"You mean, dig?"
"Sorta..."
"No way."
"No, you don't have to dig..."
"You go ahead."
"I'll need your help though."
"Nope."
"Flat Top..." Rusty started, "Please."
"Why?"
"Because..."
Short of Rusty kissing his skates, he was gonna make him grovel. "No."
"Okay..." Rusty started, "Don't say I didn't warn you..."
"Whaddya mean?"

Rusty sighed and backed up
Flat Top let him push him.
"Hang on."
"Why?"
"Because I'm gonna go..."
"Go through it???"
"yes."
"Oh no you don't!" Flat Top dug his brakes in.
Rusty sighed, "I gotta get Poppa to teach me that trick," he said softly to himself
Flat Top smirked.
"It doesn't look hard," Rusty continued, "He just sorta...jerks." Rusty bounced.
Flat Top yelped. "Darnnit!"

"Hold on!" Rusty commanded. He ran full speed ahead.
"AHHHH!" Flat Top screamed.
Rusty dove through the snowbank...
Flat Top got a mouthful of snow. "Ick."
Rusty's wheels spun against the rails. "Brake!" he shouted to Flat Top.
Flat Top did what he was told.
"Off!"
Flat Top released the brake.
Rusty moved forward again, pushing through the snow
Flat Top clung tight, not wanting to get lost in the snow.

Rusty stopped, panting, on the other side of the snowbank
Flat Top let go to rub snow from his face.
"W-we-we did it," Rusty panted.
"I guess," Flat Top muttered.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
Flat Top stayed silent.
Rusty wasn't moving out until he had caught his breath. "Flat Top?"
"What?"
"Thanks."
Flat Top looked away.

Rusty looked back, he had cleared the rails very nicely behind them.
Flat Top hitched up. "Can we go?"
"Hold on a second..." Rusty said.
"Fine."
Rusty took a deep breath, "Okay, lets go..."
Flat Top grabbed him.

Rusty moved out down the rails.
Flat Top followed him.
Flat Top groaned. "Slow down," he ordered again.
Rusty slowed, for real this time. "What?"
"Too fast."
"Still?"
"Yeah."
Rusty sighed and forced himself to slow down
Flat Top grinned. To make Rusty do his bidding was too fun.

Keeping the same pace Rusty moved down the rails, now looking around at the scenery.
Flat Top growled softly.
"What?"
"Nothing. Leave me alone."
"okay..."
Flat Top glared.
"It's actually kinda pretty out here, with all the snow..." Rusty said to himself
"Shut it," Flat Top mumbled.
"I should bring Pearl out sometime," Rusty continued, not hearing Flat Top
"Just what we need," Flat Top muttered.
"huh?"
"Nothing."
"No, really, what?"
"Nothing."
"okay then..."
Flat Top fell silent again.

Rusty had forgotten what it was like to travel with a silent train behind him. The only sound was his puffing down the tracks
Flat Top was getting sick of silence, but he was not about to start a conversation with Rusty.

Rusty started to speed up
Flat Top gave Rusty a jerk to slow him down.
Rusty made a face and sped up again
Flat Top jerked him again and applied his brakes.
"Flat Top would you stop doing that!"
"Then you slow down!"
"why?"
"Cause you're going too fast."
"I am not!"
"Are too!"
"No, I can show you what too fast is..."

Flat Top let go of Rusty's couplers and skidded off the track.
"What now?"
Flat Top glared. "I'm not moving from this spot."
"Flat Top, come on!"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Cause I said no."
Rusty let out a huge sigh and slid off the tracks after Flat Top
Flat Top glared at him. "Leave me alone."
"I can't go without you."
"Too bad, so sad."
Rusty groaned, "Would you just come on!"
"No."
"Please."
"No."

Rusty flopped down in the snow, "Then I guess we stay here."
"I guess so."
Rusty sighed, he was stuck. He couldn't abandon Flat Top here.
Flat Top leaned against the wall.
"Why..." Rusty started
Flat Top glared. "Why don't you just leave me alone, and I'll leave you alone, and we'll both be happy?"
"But we'll be stuck here..."
"So?"
"You want to stay here?"
"Rather stay here than go on with you."
"But..."
"But nothing."
Rusty stood up and grabbed Flat Top's couplings, trying to pull him up.
Flat Top slapped his hands away.
"Okay Flat Top, what do you want?" Rusty asked reluctantly.
"Nothing. For you to leave me alone."
"Once we're done with this I will."
"No. Now."

"How am I supposed to pull you along and leave you alone?"
"Leave me."
"I can't do that."
"Yeah you can."
"No I can't." Rusty's eyes narrowed, "And you know it too..."
"Just go, Rusty."
"I can't. I'm not gonna leave you here."
"Yeah you are. Go."
"But I *can't*"

Flat Top glared and suddenly placed his hands on Rusty's shoulders, giving him a strong shove. "GO!"
Rusty caught off balance fell. He mumbled something into the snow.
Flat Top glared down at him. "Get out of here."
"I can't abandon my train!"
"I'm not your train! Get out!"
"Yes...yes you are."
"No, I'm not. Get out of here, Rusty, before I have to beat you up to get you to go!"
"I'm pulling you, I have a responsibility to you. I can't leave you, not here, not in the middle of no where."
"I don't care."
"Flat Top, why do you hate me?"
"Just go, Rusty."
"Not until you answer me."
"Cause I do. Okay, go!"
"That's not an answer."
"Is too!"
"Fine," Rusty got up and moved around to the other side of the truck. "There, I moved."
Flat Top glared. "Go!"
"I did. I was there," he pointed, "And I went, now I'm here."

Flat Top got up and skated past Rusty, back the way they came.
Rusty took off down the rails, over taking Flat Top.
Flat Top glared. "Get out of my way."
"No."
"Now!"
"No."
"NOW!" Flat Top gave him a shove.
Rusty was ready for that one and he shoved the truck back
Flat Top glared and tackled Rusty around the legs, knocking them both to the ground.
Rusty pushed Flat Top away, floundering a bit in the snow
Flat Top got to his feet, catching himself on the wall, brushing snow from his arms.

"Don't do that again..."
"Why not?" Flat Top taunted.
"because we're both in enough trouble as it is..."
"So?"
"I don't want to get into any more..."
"Then don't." Flat Top turned and flounced away in the other direction.
Rusty groaned.

Flat Top skated away, picking up as much speed as he could. He didn't care where he went. He was running away for good this time. Forget the trainyard. He'd find his own trainyard.
"Flat Top come back..."
Flat Top ignored him and continued on.
"Flat Top Come back!" Rusty's voice grew more panicked
Flat Top groaned and skated on. Last thing he wanted to remember was Rusty's yelling at him as his last memory of the trainyard.
"At least look out!"
Flat Top turned around. "What?"
Rusty ran towards Flat Top.

Flat Top raised a brow, then suddenly felt something wrong. He turned around, his wheels still going just as he hit the incline of the hill. With a scream he slid down it, going faster than any freight ever could.
Rusty went faster, he shot over the hill after Flat Top
Flat Top hit his brakes, which turned out to be a bad idea because he started to skid off the track.
Rusty's eyes focused on Flat Top, almost there...
Flat Top hit the guard rail at the edge of the track and pitched head-first into the snowbank.
'darn' Rusty thought, 'almost caught him'...
Flat Top landed face-first in snow, scraping himself good on the ice-coated ground.

Rusty skidded to a stop.
Flat Top groaned. Everything hurt.
Rusty carefully climbed over the guard rail and into the snowbank.
Flat Top couldn't even lift his face. "Ugh..."
"This is not good," Rusty said to himself
Flat Top stirred but couldn't move, but naturally was too proud to ask for help.
"Um..." Rusty started, trying to think
"Go 'way," Flat Top mumbled into the snow.
"Okay..." Rusty said to himself, "What hurts? The most I mean..."
"Everything."
"Any thing in particular?"
"No."
"Okay, I'm gonna try to get you out of here."
"No. Just go."

Rusty started to dig Flat Top out
Flat Top managed to pull together enough strength to push Rusty's hands away.
"I gotta get you outta here..." Rusty started
Flat Top groaned. "I'm fine."
Rusty continued to dig.
Flat Top hissed. "Git!"
Rusty had gotten Flat Top's skates dug out.
Flat Top growled into the snow and managed to lift his face which now boasted an ugly scrape and a bruise on his forehead.
Rusty was making rather quick progress in digging Flat Top out of the snow.
Flat Top sighed. "Give it up already."
"I'm getting you out of here whether you like it or not..."
Flat Top growled.

Rusty rose up to his knees and brushed the snow off of him. "Okay..." he started, "You're not buried..."
Flat Top pushed himself painfully to his knees, gritting his teeth against the pain. He would never admit to Rusty how much he hurt.
"Lets get you back on the tracks."
Flat Top moaned.
"Lean on me..." Rusty started
"I'd rather be hit by a speeding bullet engine," Flat Top muttered.
Rusty sighed, "Look at it this way, I'll be doing something for you..."
"And that means I owe you. Over my dead carcass."
"No, it means that, like usual, I'll be doing all of the work."
Flat Top glared. "I resent that."
"I didn't mean it like that..." Rusty started.
Flat Top glared deeper. "Then what DID you mean?"
Rusty sighed and gently took Flat Top's arm. "I mean think about it, what other engine does as much as I do?"
Flat Top shrugged, then groaned. *Note to self, don't do that.* "I dunno..."
"I'll be careful..."
Flat Top coughed painfully, eyes squeezed shut in pain. He just wanted to lay down in the snow and rest.

"There's a shed just down the tracks...it's not far...and it'll be warmer... and we've gotta get you dried off..."
"I'll be fine."
"Flat Top, snow is water..."
"So?"
"Water and metal don't make a good combination..."
Flat Top looked up in terror. "What'reya saying?"
Rusty looked down at himself, he had been cleaned up a bit, and he wasn't AS rusty as he used to be, but still.
Flat Top panicked. "*%&%$! I don't wanna end up like you!"
"Then come on!"
"Okay!" Flat Top got painfully to his wheels, doubled over in pain.
Rusty moved in quickly, helping take some of Flat Top's weight.
Flat Top pushed him away.
Rusty used the momentum to slowly pull Flat Top towards the tracks
Flat Top stumbled along, cursing under his breath.
"It's not far," Rusty repeated, "Look," he indicated a nearby rather rundown looking smallish building.
Flat Top groaned. "We're gonna have to stay in that dump?"
"Not for long...hopefully."
Flat Top looked up at the sky. "Damn, it's darkening."
"It's getting later..." Rusty said.
"Duh."
"No, I mean it's gotta be past dinner time... we've been out longer then I thought."
"And whose fault is that?" Flat Top hissed, not acknowledging it was his own.
"No one's..." Rusty said opening the door.

Flat Top groaned as a whiff of cold, musky air hit him. "Ick."
"Whew..." Rusty exclaimed, "What's in here?"
"Nothing I want to know about."
Rusty turned on his headlights and swept them over the inside of the shed.
Flat Top made a face at the dripping dust. "This thing must be a hundred years old."
Rusty sneezed.
Flat Top gave him a push. "Inside or out. Pick one and move."
Rusty moved, inside.
Flat Top followed him. "Oww," he moaned.

Rusty managed to clear an area of dust.
Flat Top coughed again. "Watch where you're blowin' that."
"Sorry," Rusty said, "But at least you've got a spot..."
"I'm not sitting on this floor!" Flat Top screeched.
"Fine, then stand."
Flat Top swayed on his wheels. "Ooh, don't... feel..." He collapsed on the floor anyway.
Rusty set a blanket down at Flat Top's wheels. "Here."
Flat Top raised a brow. "Where'd you get that?" he demanded.
"Brought it."
"Why?"
"Just in case."
*Damn steam trains. Always overly-prepared for everything.* "I don't suppose you got any scotch on ya?"
"Scotch? No..."
"Oh."
"Why?"
"Cause I think I need a drink," Flat Top mumbled.
"Sorry, I don't have anything like that, all I can offer is water..."
Flat Top made a face. "Ick."
Rusty shrugged, "That's all I have."
Flat Top shook his head which made his whole body hurt again.

Rusty moved over to the door.
"Where you going?" Flat Top demanded.
"To look at the weather..."
"Why?"
"Because I'm hoping that it won't snow again..."
"Why?"
"Do you want to be stuck here for longer then we have to be?"
"With you? 'Course not."
"Well then."
Flat Top rolled his eyes. "We better not get stuck here all night."
"I hope not...but if you can't move..."
"I'll move if it means I don't have to stay here with you."

There was a soft hissing sound and Rusty groaned.
"What now?"
"I spoke too soon," Rusty said, the hissing sound was the snow hitting his hot boiler.
Flat Top moaned.
Rusty returned inside, brushing the snow out of his hair. He sighed and sank down to the ground
Flat Top hissed. "Great. Stuck in the snow... with YOU!"
"Hey you think I want to be here with YOU?" Rusty retorted.
Flat Top glared. "Yer asking for it, steam train!"
"Yeah I know..." Rusty said without expression
Flat Top glared and pulled the blanket closer. "Well, now what?"
Rusty shrugged.
Flat Top curled up on the floor. "Ahh, ow."

Rusty had put his head down and now he looked up at Flat Top's groaning.
Flat Top sighed.
Rusty looked down again, feeling rather helpless.
Flat Top pulled the blanket closer. He hurt so bad that he couldn't sleep.
Rusty got up, he had to do *something*
Flat Top pulled the blanket closer and rested his forehead on his knees.
Rusty moved slowly towards Flat Top, he closed his eyes and concentrated.
Flat Top looked up. "Get away from me."
Rusty didn't seem to hear.
Flat Top looked worried. "Hey, move it!"
Rusty's eyes snapped open, "What?" he asked looking a bit disoriented.
Flat Top narrowed his eyes. "Go away!"

Rusty sank to the ground and closed his eyes again.
Flat Top closed his eyes and laid his head on his knees again.
Rusty took a deep breath, concentrating his power, it had to help Flat Top, even if it only helped a little.
Flat Top looked up again. "What are you doing?"
Rusty opened his eyes, and turned to Flat Top, but his eyes looked far away.
Flat Top backed away a bit. "Stoppit!"
Rusty continued to concentrate, this had to work, it just had to.
Flat Top got to his feet quickly, every muscle protesting. "Get away from me!"
"Relax," Rusty said softly.
"No way!"
"Just relax," Rusty soothed, feeling his power encircling Flat Top.
Flat Top snarled. "No! Stoppit, Rusty! Yer scaring me!" he said angrily.
"How much do you hurt?" Rusty asked softly in an even tone.
"I'm fine," Flat Top snapped.
Rusty sighed and snapped himself out of it.
Flat Top watched him a moment, then sat back down again.

*~*~*~*~*

Rusty had started to doze off again...
Flat Top groaned and kicked the blanket savagely, sending it flying a few feet away, stirring up a cloud of dust around Rusty.
"ACHOO!"
Flat Top smirked.
Rusty blinked, "What was that for?"
"What was what for?"
"That look."
"Oh, nothing."

Rusty sighed and shifted position.
"Y'know, I just decided. After tonight, I'm never going on a run with you again. Ever."
Rusty groaned, "What have I ever done to you?"
"More than you know," Flat Top muttered.
"Then tell me!"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Cause I don't want to."
Rusty groaned, "I know you don't like me... but I don't know why. Don't I at least deserve to know that?"
"Nope."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want to tell you."
Rusty groaned. "That's not a good answer."
"Who cares?" Flat Top mumbled.
"I do..."
"So?"
"So I want to know!"
"Too bad!"
"This isn't fair..."
"Nothing's ever fair."
"You got that right," Rusty said softly.
Flat Top rolled his eyes.

Rusty looked at his watch, "It's almost midnight."
"Goody. Another six hours at least here."
Rusty sighed, "Guess so..."
Flat Top groaned and rubbed his temples with both hands.
He stood up suddenly.
Flat Top looked up. "What?"
"I have to go out..." Rusty started.
"In this weather?"
"doesn't matter."
Flat Top shrugged. "Your funeral."

Rusty stopped and turned around, fire burning behind his eyes.
Flat Top shot back. "What the?"
Rusty shrugged, "Can't help it..."
"What? Why?" Flat Top pulled the blanket closer.
"It's midnight," Rusty said, "The Stars..."
"The what?"
Rusty's eyes were glowing. "It's sometimes called the Midnight Train..."
"What is? Rusty, yer freakin' me out here..."
"I told you once before," Rusty started.
"What, you mean that whole bull**** about you being some fairytale story?"
"You don't have to believe it..."
"I don't."
"I can't make you," Rusty said, "But this happens sometimes..."
"What happens?"
Rusty indicated his eyes, "This, among other things."
"Whaddya mean, other things?" Flat Top questioned, raising a brow.
"The speed, the power, everything, this is just the most obvious part."
"Uh huh..."
Rusty smiled.
"What?"
"I like how it feels..."
"How what feels?"
"How I feel when I have this power." Rusty answered, eyes shining on top of glowing
Flat Top backed away, clutching the blanket. "Rusty, stoppit!"
"Stop what?"
"With the alien eyes!"

Rusty closed his eyes, and then opened them, "Better?"
"No! Quit it!"
"I thought I did."
"No, you didn't! Get away from me!"
"I'm sorry, I can't stop it."
"I'm sure you can."
"No I can't!"
"Rusty, quit it!"
"I can't..." Rusty said sinking back down again. He closed his eyes for a few seconds before opening them again.
"Stop that! What are you, some kind of freak?"
"I'm a steam engine..."
"No, you're a freak. Some kind of alien freak!"

Rusty sighed, and closed his eyes.
"Thank you! Now stay like that!"
"What?" Rusty asked, "With my eyes closed?"
"Yeah. You open 'em, and I swear I'll hit you with this!" Flat Top held up his brick menacingly.
"With what? I can't see, my eyes are shut..."
"Whaddya think?"
"Your brick?" he asked a bit surprised.
"Of course."
Rusty sighed, "Okay..." he said softly.
Flat Top gripped the brick. "Sheesh, Poppa sends me out with a mad train."
Rusty put his head down in his arms and slitted his eyes open, "I heard that..."
"Yeah, I know."
Rusty peered through his barely opened eyes and through his arms, "That's right, it's just me that you're talking about..."
"Of course
"And I don't matter of course..."
"Of course."
"Figures."
"What?"
"No one else ever thought I mattered," Rusty said, "Just that engine that'll do what ever he's told..."
"Naturally..."
Rusty sat up and his eyes flew open, "Things are different now."
"Ah!" Flat Top yelped, holding up his brick.
Rusty instinctively ducked.
Flat Top glared. "Close 'em. Now!"

Rusty made a face.
Flat Top tossed his brick, it coming dangerously close to Rusty's face.
"All right, all right," Rusty said, he closed his eyes.
Flat Top pulled his brick and chain back to him.
Rusty sighed and shifted position, so he was lying on the ground.
Flat Top pulled the blanket closer. "I still say the mother ship should come back for you."
"Look I'm keeping my eyes closed for you, isn't that enough?" Rusty snapped.
"I suppose."
Rusty sighed, "Well as long as I'm keeping my eyes shut..."
"What?"
"I'm going to sleep."
"Fine." *Good riddance.*
Rusty sighed and rolled over, sleep wasn't coming.
Flat Top was dozing, his cheek on his brick.

Rusty slowly opened his eyes and squinted at his watch
Flat Top groaned and rolled over.
Rusty rubbed his eyes and sat up, wondering if Flat Top was asleep or not
Flat Top felt a soft glow nearby and opened his eyes. "AHHHH!" he screamed.
Rusty jumped, startled by the shout
Flat Top raised his brick, ready to smack Rusty upside the head.
"Thought you were asleep," Rusty mumbled.
"No. Thought you were."
"Oh," Rusty answered softly.
"Close 'em," Flat Top ordered.
"Still?" Rusty half-whined, half-asked.
"Yeah. 'Til you stop being weird."
Rusty concentrated, trying to get his eyes to stop glowing.
"Rusty," Flat Top said warningly.
"What?" Rusty asked
"Close 'em. Now. Or you're gonna be a few inches shorter."

Rusty stood up slowly.
Flat Top scrambled to his feet.
Rusty headed slowly toward the door.
"Where you going?"
"Out."
"Why?"
"Cuz I can't sleep..."
"It's freezing cold out there..."
"I know." Rusty said, "But at least then I don't have to sit here with my EYES CLOSED."
"Yer freakin' me out! What else can you do?"
"I told you, I can go fast, I can pull heavy things..."
"So?"
"And my eyes glow..." Rusty said with a sigh, it *was* too cold outside.
"So?"
Rusty sank back down, not going to admit to Flat Top that it really was too cold out.
"I thought you were going out."
"I was." Rusty answered.
"So, go."
"There's nowhere TO go..."
"Go freeze somewhere."
"No."
"Do us all a favor," Flat Top mumbled.

Rusty's eyes burned at that and he glared at Flat Top
Flat Top glared back, gripping his brick tightly.
Rusty's eyes met Flat Top's evenly.
Flat Top growled softly. "Ya got somethin' ta say to me, Rust bucket?"
"Don't call me that."
"Okay, baby."
"don't call me that either!"
"Poppa's boy," Flat Top taunted.
Rusty growled, "So??"
Flat Top grinned. That one had obviously hit a nerve. With a small smirk, he started to sing softly. "Poppa grounded Rusty..."
"Poppa grounded Flat Top..." Rusty retorted.
That did it! Flat Top launched himself at Rusty, tackling them both to the ground.
"Get off me!" Rusty protested
"Take it back!"
"Why? It's the truth!"
Flat Top raised his brick to smash it into Rusty's face.

Rusty pushed Flat Top off him and shoved him away, glaring at him (with glowing eyes)
Flat Top felt a shiver run through him and got to his feet.
Rusty smiled a little.
Flat Top glared.
"What?" Rusty asked innocently,
"Poppa's boy," Flat Top spat again.
Rusty simply smiled and stared at Flat Top. That seemed to be more effective then yelling at him
Flat Top backed up uneasily. "Stoppit!"
"Stop what?" Rusty asked, "This?" His eyes glowed a bit brighter
"Quit!" Flat Top yelled.
Rusty didn't quit.
Flat Top found his back pressed against the wall. "You stay away from me!"
"I'm staying right here," Rusty pointed out.
Flat Top glared. "Smart ass."
Rusty shrugged.
Flat Top glared.
Rusty just continued to watch Flat Top
Flat Top held his brick tightly, back pressed against the wall, ready to bolt the second Rusty moved.
Rusty just continued to watch Flat Top, wondering how long he could keep this up
Flat Top was growing increasingly scared.

Rusty finally blinked, he had to.
Flat Top held his breath. Why wouldn't Rusty stop with the glowing?
"Is this really freaking you out?" Rusty asked softly
"Yes."
"Oh."
"Just... oh?"
"Yeah, just oh."
"No... Sorry Flat Top, I'll quit, I'll go away and leave you alone...?"
"No, just oh."
Flat Top glared slightly. This was going nowhere.
Rusty sighed and yawned.
Flat Top growled softly. "Go away."
"Where am I gonna go?"
"I dun care. Just away from me."
"I'm on the other side of the shed, I can't get much further away..."
"Well, go outside..."
"It's snowing out..."
"So?"
"So I'm not gonna go outside, it's too cold and snowy, if it wasn't do you think I'd be in here, with you?"
Flat Top glared. "You were willing to go out before."
"I wanted to, I tried.
"So, why didn't you go?"
"I told you, it's too cold and snowy!"
"So? You're a steamer. Go steam yourself warm."
Rusty blew a puff of steam towards Flat Top in response.
Flat Top coughed. "Ick."
"You asked for it..."
"Did not"

Rusty sighed and looked at his watch. "Oh good..." he said softly
"What?"
Rusty looked up and the light slowly dimmed from his eyes.
Flat Top breathed a sigh of relief.
"Now I can control them," Rusty started
"Good. Do it."
Rusty smiled, the light flaring up again
Flat Top shrieked. "Quit it!"
"I'm going back to sleep," Rusty said with a smile.
"Good."
Rusty dimmed his eyes and then closed them
Flat Top sank weakly down the wall, curling his knees to his chest.

Rusty opened his eyes, "Fighting aside are you sure you're okay?"
"Okay from what?"
"I mean after that crash you took into the snowbank..."
"Oh, that."
"Yeah that."
Flat Top glared.
"Okay then..." Rusty said softly.
Flat Top arched a brow. "What?"
"You're not too badly hurt then?"
"I guess not." Everything still hurt, but it was getting to be bearable.
"Good..."
Flat Top laid his brick by his side and groaned.
"Are you sure I can't do anything?"
"Nope."
"Okay..."

*~*~*~*~*

Rusty mumbled something in his sleep and rolled over.
Flat Top was snoozing against the wall, face on his brick like usual
"ouch," Rusty groaned, rolling into the wall.
Flat Top woke up with a snort. "Huh?"
Rusty sat up and looked around, very disoriented
Flat Top groaned and shifted. "Ooh, ow..."
Rusty stretched and dug around for something.
Flat Top moaned and sat up, rubbing his eyes.
Rusty didn't take too much notice of Flat Top right away, he was absorbed in his search
Flat Top shook his head and glanced around. "What are you doing?"
"Huh?" Rusty asked.
"What are you looking for?" Flat Top repeated irritably.
"My water bottle..."
"Oh." How uninteresting...
"Seen it anywhere?"
"Nope."
"darn..." Rusty continued to search for it, "It can't have rolled too far..."
Flat Top sighed and stretched lazily.

Rusty spied the bottle, on the opposite side of the shed and moved towards it.
Flat Top instantly threw up his hands. "Get away!"
"I'm not going for you," Rusty started, starting over towards FT again
Flat Top watched him warily, ready to strike if he tried anything funny.
Rusty sighed, "Fine, just pass me my water please."
Flat Top glared. "What am I, your dog?"
"No! I'm just asking," Rusty sighed and then skated over towards Flat Top and bent down to get his water
Flat Top debated kicking Rusty's feet out from under him but decided against it.
Rusty quickly pulled the bottle over, unscrewed it and started downing it, rather quickly.
Flat Top made a face. "How can you drink that?"
"Have to."
"Oh yeah, that's right."

Rusty very quickly emptied the bottle. There, now he felt better.
Flat Top groaned and shifted. "Please tell me we don't have to stay here another night." *With you and the freaky alien eyes* he added in his head.
"I hope not," Rusty said, "Come on." He moved towards the door.
"Come on. Come on," Flat Top mimicked to himself, getting painfully to his feet and attaching his brick to his waistband.
Rusty, outside, groaned.
"What now?" Flat Top asked, skating up behind him.

Rusty wordlessly pointed to the mountain of snow.
Flat Top groaned. "Great." He turned back to the deserted hut. "I get top bunk," he said sarcastically.
"No," Rusty said softly, "We're going through
"Oh no we're not!" Flat Top said quickly.
Rusty glared at Flat Top and then turned back to the snow
Flat Top glared back and sank back down against the wall closest to the door.

Rusty looked around the shed and spotted a very conveniently located shovel
Flat Top groaned and lifted his head. "What are you doing?"
"Getting us out of here," Rusty answered with a sigh
Flat Top groaned and laid his head back against the wall. "Knock yourself out."
"Look I already know that you're not gonna help so you may as well just sit there and be quiet!"
Flat Top smirked. "But it's more fun to taunt you."
"I've had enough of that thank you."
"I'm sure you have, Poppa's boy."
Rusty dug into the show with a vengeance.
Flat Top closed his eyes. "I hope you bust a radiator hose," he muttered to himself.
Since he had nowhere else to throw it Rusty tossed the snow back into the shed.
"Hey!" Flat Top yelped as the wind caught it and flung it into his face.
"Sorry," Rusty muttered, not sounding very sorry.
Flat Top glared. "No you're not," he muttered, wiping snow from his arms.
"Gee you can tell?"
Flat Top glared. "You're asking for it."
"You've been telling me that ever since we left."
"Yeah, and I've dished it out too."
"So this is nothing new then," Rusty said, panting a bit from all of the shoveling.
Flat Top glared. "I hope you freeze solid."
Rusty smiled, "I won't."
Flat Top wished he had the energy to slam the door and lock that pathetic excuse for a steam train out in the snow

Rusty, having moved most of the mountain of snow out of the way tried plowing his way through the rest of it. He made it about halfway through...
Flat Top closed his eyes lazily for a nap.
Rusty let out a whistle as his wheels spun in the snow, without him getting anywhere.
Flat Top opened one eye, then smirked.
Rusty took a breath and tried again. He was going no where fast.
Flat Top got to his feet and stood in the doorway watching the spectacle.
Rusty stopped, this was getting him no where
Flat Top smirked. "Too bad, Rust bucket."
Rusty sighed and tried again
Flat Top twirled his brick and chain lazily. "Give it up, Rusty."
"I...am...not... going...to...quit!" Rusty said, punctuating each word with another try
Flat Top smirked. "Your funeral."
Rusty sighed softly, "Uh oh..."
"What?"
Rusty reversed and again his wheels spun in the snow
Flat Top ducked to avoid the snow Rusty was churning up. "Watch it!"
Rusty came to a stop and sighed, hating the idea of what he was about to do. "Flat Top?"
"What?"
"I'm..." Rusty started
"You're...?"
"I need...help."
"From me?" Flat Top laughed. "Why?"
"I just need a pull..."
"Why?"
Rusty sighed and reversed again, and again, getting nowhere fast.
Flat Top choked on his laughter. "Holy diesel, you're stuck!"
"Just give me a pull!"
"Why should I?"
Rusty sighed, "Flat Top, please."
"Why?" It was too fun to make Rusty beg.
"You're gonna make me say it aren't you?" Rusty said with a sigh, "You're right...I...I'm stuck."
Flat Top howled with laughter. "This is just too rich!"
"Yeah...yeah...just give me a hand here!"
"...Nnnnnnno, I don't think I will."
"Flat Top!"
"What?"
"please."
"Nope."
Rusty sighed, "Why not?"
"Cause I don't want to."
Rusty groaned and spun his wheels again
Flat Top watched him, leaning against the doorframe, wondering how long he could let this go on.
"Come on Flat Top..." Rusty said.
"Um...."
"All you gotta do is just grab my rings and pull..."
"No..."
"why not?"
"Cause I think it's funnier to watch you shiver."
"Hey I didn't leave you stuck in the snow..."
"I wanted you to."
"Argh!" The snow sizzled as it hit Rusty's hot boiler.
Flat Top smirked. "Aww, poor widdle Wusty's stuck."
Rusty growled, "I told you..." his wheels ground into the snow, "not..." and again, "To call me that!"
"What? Wusty?"
"yes."
"Okay Wusty."

Rusty growled and dug into the snow with his hands.
Flat Top smiled to himself. "Gonna need some help, Wusty?"
"I told you already."
Flat Top smirked. "Aww."
Rusty turned and launched at particularly wet glop of snow at Flat Top
Flat Top yelped and wiped snow from his chrome.
Rusty stifled a laugh
Flat Top smirked, then suddenly skated backwards and slammed the door of the shed, leaving Rusty alone, helpless in the snow.

"FINE!" Rusty shouted.
"Fine!" Flat Top shouted back, snatching up Rusty's blanket and wrapping it around himself.
With energy from his annoyance with pretty much everything Rusty pushed through the snow...
Flat Top leaned against the door, warm in the blanket and smiling to himself.
There was a grinding sound from outside followed by a thump and then a triumphant whistle
"Oh no, he didn't..."

Rusty, on the other side of the snowbank, was down on all fours, breathing heavily, covered in snow, but no longer stuck.
Flat Top closed his eyes. *I'm staying here.*
There was silence from outside
Flat Top sighed. *I hope he's buried up to his boiler*
still silence
Flat Top shifted a bit and pulled the blanket closer again

Rusty stood up and debated about knocking on the door.
Flat Top was half asleep, his face buried in the folds of blanket.
Rusty finally opened the door, skated over to Flat Top and woke the truck up.
Flat Top moaned and pulled the blanket over his head, not even realizing who it was.
Rusty grabbed Flat Top's couplings, "Up."
"Ouch!" Flat Top hollered, swinging a fist out to smack the perpetrator.
Rusty dodged FT's fist and pulled Flat Top up to his wheels.
Flat Top woke up and turned to glare at him. "How did you get in here?"
"Through the door."
Flat Top rolled his eyes.
Rusty hitched Flat Top behind him and pulled out
Flat Top instantly disconnected.
Rusty sighed, "Want me to push you instead then?"
Flat Top glared. "You touch me, and I'll..."

Rusty grabbed Flat Top's couplings and shot off down the rails
"Hey!" Flat Top yelled, struggling and trying to keep his balance.
Rusty continued to go
*If I hit my brakes...* Flat Top suddenly slammed on his brakes, not caring whether or not Rusty flew over him as long as he stopped.
Rusty collided with Flat Top
Flat Top caught himself from falling and slapped Rusty's hands off his couplers. "Keep your mitts off me!"
Rusty made a face, put his hands back and pushed on
Flat Top smacked them away and turned to face him so he couldn't get the couplers. "Stoppit!" he hissed, raising a fist.

"We're going on," Rusty said.
"WE are not going on."
"Yes we are..." Rusty said, "Even if I have to push you along backwards."
Flat Top pushed himself away from Rusty. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not."
"Fine, we'll take five." Rusty said.
"How about I take forever?"
Rusty didn't answer, he started to take another drink.
Flat Top suddenly pushed past Rusty and bolted off down the rails back the way they had come.
"Flat Top stop..." Rusty called

Flat Top ignored him, watching out for hills or other unpleasant obstacles. He was leaving, and he was not going back. Ever.
"But the tracks aren't clear...."
*As if I care...*
Rusty groaned, this really was a punishment...
Flat Top plowed his way through a small pile of snow with no problem, but the problem came when he hit the big pile behind it. He struggled, but he wasn't getting that far.

Rusty brushed the snow off his frame and casually rolled over in the direction Flat Top had gone.
Flat Top pushed at the snow, but it was very heavy, and his wheels kept slipping on the icy ground. *Why oh why can't it be summer?* he thought to himself. He'd have been in another trainyard by now.

Rusty cleared his throat, standing behind Flat Top
Flat Top whirled around, his back pressed against the snow. "Get away!"
"I just want to help you out of there..."
"And drag me off on your *^$*% mission."
"Maybe, but I'll pull you out and then let go..."
"I don't trust you."
"I promise Flat Top..."
Flat Top just glared, crossing his arms over his chest.
Rusty sighed, "What do I have to do to get you to believe me?"
"Go away?"
"I mean so you'll let me pull you out."
"Nothing. Go away."
"So you want me to leave you here until you rust?"
"I won't be here that long."
"If you say so," Rusty said doubtfully.
Flat Top glared. "Just go away, Rusty. Just go." His voice held a strangeness to it, as if he were about to cry.
"Please Flat Top, just let me pull you out."
"No."
"Once I pull you out I'll let go, I promise."
"Well..."
"I PROMISE!"
Flat Top glared. "Don't yell!"
"Sorry..."

Flat Top glared, hoping the pain and sorrow in his eyes wasn't showing. "Go. Leave me alone."
"I will once I pull you out."
"I'm fine. I can get out myself. *My* wheels aren't stuck."
"Okay..." Rusty said backing away.
Flat Top watched him go, a scowl on his face.
Rusty stopped a short distance away, watching to make sure Flat Top could indeed get out

Flat Top made his way slowly out of the snowbanks, then stepped off the track to go around it.
Rusty slowly stepped out of Flat Top's way.
Flat Top shouldered past him and continued down the track.
"You're not going home then?" Rusty asked softly
"Why would I go home?"
"So you really are leaving?"
"Yeah." *As if you care...*
"Anything you want me to tell them at home?"
"No."
"What am I supposed to tell Dustin then?"
"I don't care."
"Okay, tell Dustin Flat Top doesn't care..."
Flat Top whirled around and glared. "I DO care."
"Then what do you want me to tell him? Cuz you know he's gonna ask..."
"Tell him I'm sorry and that I'll never forget him." A lump formed in Flat Top's throat, but he forced it away.

Rusty's eyes went soft. "Flat Top I..."
Flat Top glared. "Don't."
"I can't...I don't..."
"Just leave me alone."
"Look, once we're done with this I won't take you out again..."
"No. I've had it, Rusty. I'm leaving. For good this time."
Rusty blinked.

Flat Top turned on his wheels and headed off again.
"You can't do it..."
"I can, and I will."
"I don't mean leaving..."
"Then what do you mean, and make it quick."
"Sure you can leave, just like this, just around me, but you never left when you were at home."
"Yeah, cause I always had someone to stop me."
"Dustin?"
"Yeah, I guess..."
"So now that he's not here you can leave...no problems."
"Yeah."
"You know what I think?"
"No, and I don't care."
"You're scared."
"I am not!"
"Yes you are." Rusty said, "I know what it's like, I can see it in others..."
Flat Top glared. "What have I got to be afraid of?"
"Saying good-bye..."
"So?"
"There's nothing wrong with that...but if you leave now, you'll always wonder..."
"I don't care!"
"You always will though, you'll think about Dustin..."
"So?"
"So you want to live with that?"
"I'll survive."
"Where are you gonna go?"
"Go find some other trainyard."
"We were on our way to one..."
"One that Poppa picked," Flat Top spat.
"Poppa picked it because it's close by," Rusty pointed out, "And anyway it'd be easier for you to get to another one from there."
"I don't care. I'll find my own, without anyone's help."
"So you're just gonna give up then?"
"I'm not giving up. I'm starting over."
"That's it then, you're leaving everyone..."
"Yup." Flat Top turned to go.

"So tell Dustin you'll never forget him?"
"Yeah." Flat Top fought back tears. He'd visit every now and then, of course, but he would never tell Rusty that.
"What am I supposed to say when he asks why you left?"
"He'll know."
"He'll just know?"
"Yeah."
"How do you know?"
"Because I've tried to leave before."
"But you never have..."
"So?"
"Why?"
"Because I never wanted to this bad."
"And Dustin's not here..."
"Yeah."
"He'll know why you want to leave because he knows you pretty well huh?"
"Yeah."
"He's a good friend..."
"Yeah."
"I'll hate to tell him that you left..."
"Too bad."
"He's gonna take it hard..."
"He'll get over it."
"Not soon..."
Flat Top was struggling to talk through the golf-ball sized lump in his throat. "But he will."
"You're his best friend...he's not gonna get over losing you quickly..."
"Yeah..." *He's MY only friend.*
"I mean you two have...*had* something special..."
Flat Top finally turned to face Rusty. "I suppose..."
Rusty nodded. "You're lucky to have him..."
"Yeah."

Rusty didn't comment on the expression on Flat Top's face.
Flat Top swallowed hard to force away tears.
"one good thing about being alone out here..." Rusty started
Flat Top looked away, not able to look at Rusty's eyes. *Why am I listening to this?*
"No one else really knows what happens."
Flat Top looked up. "What?"
"I said that as long as the trains you're with don't say anything nobody really knows what you do out here..."
"Yeah, so?"
"So I won't say anything...nothing but telling Dustin that you'll miss him."
"Yeah."
"Well then..." Rusty started.
"For all I care, you can tell them I died. No one'll care."
"I doubt that."
"Try it and see." Flat Top turned his back to go, mainly to stop Rusty from seeing his tears.
"No, I know that they'll care..."

"Who'll care? No one likes me." There. He'd admitted it.
"That's not true..."
"Oh come on, Rusty. I'm not blind. You hate me, Pearl hates me, Poppa hates me..."
"Pearl doesn't hate you, she just got mad at you...and why d'you think Poppa hates you?"
"Cause I know he does. He's always yelling at me and getting mad at me."
"But that doesn't mean he hates you..."
"Why wouldn't he? You see how he treats me."
"How?"
"Like I just said! He's always snapping at me and putting me down."
"Does he ever do it when you don't deserve it?"
"Yeah."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Like...?"
"Like when I'm with Greaseball and his gang."
"That was during the race..." Rusty started
"So?"
"So who did you expect him to support?"
"Well, he didn't need to criticize me."
"I'm sorry... Poppa's competitive...that's just the way he is..."
"So?"
"So you can't blame him for that...but give me another example besides that..."
"Well... whenever I talk about diesel..."
"Again, how do you think he's gonna react?"
Flat Top glared. "Poppa's just old fashioned and won't admit it."
"Yeah..."
"Everyone else hates me to, so I might as well leave and end their misery."
"How did Poppa being old fashioned get to everyone hating you?"
"Because that's how we got into it."
"But...they aren't connected. Poppa may not like diesel, but that doesn't mean that he hates you. If he did..."

Flat Top shook his head. "Forget it, Rusty. I'm leaving."
"But still, Poppa doesn't constitute everyone..."
"So? I know the others do."
"the others?"
"The other trains."
"Like who?"
"The Rockies, the coaches, Electra and his group..."
"Electra doesn't matter!"
"So? He's part of the trainyard!"
"Why do you care what he thinks?"
"Because he is yet another person who doesn't like me."
"He doesn't like a lot of people..."
"So?"
"I didn't think the Rockies *hated* you...and as for the coaches...well come on, they don't like most of the freight... just on the grounds that they're freight..."
"Yeah. What's wrong with us? It's not like we're poisonous!"
"You want to carry passengers?"
"No."
"Well they don't want to carry bricks...cuz their coaches, and you're freight."
"I know, but why do they avoid us like the plague, then laugh at us?"
Rusty shrugged, "Starlight knows..."
Flat Top sighed. "That's it. I'm going." He pushed off down the track.
"But still, again, it's not *you* that they hate..."
"They do too!" Flat Top yelled, skating angrily down the track, blinded by tears.

Rusty flew after Flat Top.
Flat Top tried to pick up speed. He wasn't going back!
"Flat Top! Please!" Rusty called.
"No!" Flat Top shouted back.
Rusty sighed and slowed to a stop. He sat down in the snow.
Flat Top continued on, crying more than he ever wanted to admit.
"Starlight, what am I supposed to do?" Rusty asked.

Flat Top skated only a few hundred yards before he turned off the track and flung himself in a snow bank, sobbing.
Rusty debated what to do, he didn't want to go over to Flat Top, he'd probably scare him off again, but he also couldn't just leave him.
Flat Top sobbed into his arms that were folded under his face, sobbing his heart out. Why couldn't anyone understand?
Rusty closed his eyes for a second and then slowly stood up and rolled over to Flat Top. He sank down in the snow next to him.
Flat Top didn't even look up as Rusty sat down next to him, just continued to sob, wishing he wasn't acting so stupid in front of Rusty of all people.
Rusty hesitated and then slowly reached out a hand.
Flat Top didn't eve move.
Rusty silently waited until Flat Top was done.

Flat Top finally was able to lift his head from his arms and swiped angrily at the tears on his face.
"Like I said, nobody knows what really happens out here..."
Flat Top sniffed softly and wiped his face again. "You... you won't tell anyone?"
"No."
Flat Top smiled gratefully, then covered it with a sad look. "I guess you think I'm a baby now."
"No..."
"Sure you do."
"No, I don't."
Flat Top looked away, swallowing back the hard knot in his stomach.
"I don't Flat Top, I mean it."
Flat Top nodded. "I... I believe you."
Rusty looked a bit relieved.

Flat Top sighed and laid his face back down on his arms. "What's wrong with me?" he mumbled softly.
"Nothing," Rusty said softly, "You've just had a rough time lately..."
Flat Top shook his head, not lifting his face. "I'm just stupid."
"Nah..."
"I am, Rusty, I am! Why else would I be so dumb about leaving and stuff?"
"Because you don't know what else to do?"
Flat Top sighed and placed his face in his hands. "I'm just a fool."
"I don't think so," Rusty said.
Flat Top groaned. "I am."
"You're just annoyed and fed up with everything."
"That's for sure..."
"That doesn't make you a fool."
"Then what am I?"
"A brick truck."
Flat Top glared through his fingers. "You're brilliant," he muttered.
"Thank you."
Flat Top glared and closed his eyes again.
"You're Flat Top, currently sitting in the snow, confused about pretty much everything..."
Flat Top sighed. "Why did I ever come out here?"
"Do you really want me to answer that?"
"No."
"didn't think so." Rusty said, "So...what now?"
"I... I don't know..." Flat Top said softly.
"We could always go on..."
"I... I suppose so."
"New scenery, different point of view..."
"Goody," Flat Top mumbled.

Rusty shrugged and started to get up, "You coming with me?"
"I guess I don't have a choice."
Rusty stood and offered Flat Top his couplings.
Flat Top slowly got to his wheels and took Rusty's couplers. "You... you won't tell anyone about this, right?"
"Course not."
Flat Top actually managed a halfway smile. "Uh... thanks."
"No problem."
Flat Top nodded. "Go."

Rusty went.
Flat Top followed Rusty down the track.
Rusty picked up speed.
Flat Top let the wind whistling by soothe him.
Rusty unconsciously went faster...and faster.
Flat Top didn't mind the speed too much anymore, though he still felt sore from his graceless tumble down the hill.

*~*~*~*

Rusty slowed as they approached a tall structure. (water tower)
Flat Top stared up in half awe, half terror. "Uh, can we go home?"
"What now?" Rusty asked, filling his water bottle.
"We go home."
"But we made it all this way..." Rusty trailed off, looking ahead at the station.
"So?"
"A few hours tops and then we go home."
"Okay, okay."
Rusty took a breath, "Ready?" he asked, a bit nervously.
"No."
"Me neither."
"Then let's go home."
Rusty almost started to back up.
Flat Top gave him an encouraging pull. "Come on."
Rusty hesitated, going a bit pale.
"Come on!" Flat Top insisted.
"I can't do this," Rusty said to himself, "I thought I could, I mean I really thought I could..."
"You are not the little engine that could. COME ON!"
"The water tower's almost completely full," Rusty said, "You know what that means?"
"Uh, no."
"At home it's usually only half full...cuz there are so many steamers..."
"So... there are no steamers here?"
"Not many I'd guess," Rusty said.
Flat Top tightened his grip on Rusty's couplers. "Uh, let's go home now?"
Rusty blinked, "Flat Top, I don't know what to do..."
"Then I do. Let's go home now."
"I..I... but what's Poppa gonna say?"
"Who cares? LET'S GO!"
Rusty took a deep breath, "I *can* do this, I *can* do this..."
"Rusty?"
"What?"
"Can we go, please?"

Rusty closed his eyes, and then opened them, they glinted. He carefully looked away from Flat Top
Flat Top caught the look. "Oh no."
"Come on," Rusty said, his eyes returning to normal.
"No way! I wanna go home!"
"We will go home."
"Okay, come on."
"After we take care of what we came for."
"Aw, come on. Let's just forget it and go."
"no."
"Come on!" Flat Top gave Rusty a yank.
Rusty sighed, "Flat Top..."
"No."
"Flat Top...?"
"No."
Rusty took a deep breath, "Flat Top, I...I'm..."
"You're what?"
"I'm willing to deal."
"Oh?"
Rusty looked down, "yeah..."
"Meaning?"
"I'll...If you'll come with me...and...and behave I'll...I don't know what I'll do, what do you want?"
"To go home."
"I'll take you home when we're done."
"I wanna go NOW!"
"I can't do that..."
"Come on."
"once we deliver this stupid package we will."
"No."
"Flat Top please, I'll do...any- *almost* anything..."
"No."

Rusty sighed and mumbled something under his breath.
Flat Top raised a brow. "What?"
Rusty looked up, "I said, 'don't wanna do this anyway, and now I'm trying to convince somebody else to do this...'"
"Well, you don't want to, and I don't want to, so let's go home."
Rusty turned around, "Flat Top, Please!"
"No way!"
"What you want me to beg?"
"You can if you like but it won't work."