Understanding and Promises: Chapter Two
Disclaimer: I don't own Shining Time Station.
Authoresses Note: Here's chapter two. As always you can view it on Tidmouth Forums as well. Enjoy!
Stacy woke up the next morning and looked around with slight uncertainty. She was alone but in a room that was not her own. As she looked around and became increasingly awake, her memories of the previous night dawned on her. As she got up she noticed a robe had been laid out for her at the foot of the bed. Donning the robe, she made her way downstairs to try and find the other occupant of the house.
Following a source of noise, she was eventually led to the kitchen where she did indeed end up finding the other occupant. Schemer had his back to her when she walked in. He was busying himself over the stove top, making what she assumed to be breakfast. Unlike her, he was fully dressed and ready. He must've gotten up early and taken care not to wake her.
"Who knew you could be such an early bird?" She asked from the doorway.
He turned around, startled, at the sound of her voice. "Morning Stacy. Sorry, I didn't hear you come down." He turned around briefly to grab two plates from the counter. "Did you want to sit down? Breakfast is ready." He said as he presented one in front of her.
Thanking him, they sat down and began to eat. They could both feel a sort of awkward tension between then as they ate, which settled into an uncomfortable silence. It wasn't until they were nearly done that Schemer finally cleared his throat and began to speak.
"So... Did you want to talk about it?" He ventured awkwardly. Not the greatest conversation starter.
She placed her fork down and wiped her mouth on a napkin. "I think we should talk about what happens next." She suggested.
He blushed, "Yeah, that's what I meant." Giving a nervous version of his trademark laugh. "So where do we go from here?"
She didn't answer for awhile, finally she came up with a response. "It... depends." She said vaguely.
"What do you mean?" He asked, looking puzzled.
"Well, it depends if this is a one time thing that is never going to happen again. You know, something unspoken that we never acknowledge aloud because it never meant anything. Or if this is... something else." She said, looking away and not reaching his eyes.
Schemer looked a little confused. "If it didn't mean anything to you, why would you allow it to happen?" He asked with genuine curiosity.
"It did mean something to me!" She said, startled from his question. "I just wasn't sure if it meant something to you as well..." She trailed off.
He reached forward and put his hand on hers. "Stacy, I don't want you to think that I think it didn't mean something. I would never want it to be meaningless." He said sincerely.
She looked up to meet his gaze, his warm eyes were pleading with her, she felt herself be moved by him.
"I know Schemer. It's just that... It makes things complicated." She tried to explain. "I guess I'm just afraid, we went through so much before now. I mean, we were... are such good friends. Aren't you worried about all that being ruined?" She asked worriedly.
"Do you think that you could just go into work tomorrow, play it off like nothing happened, and be okay with that?" He asked her abruptly.
She was a little shocked by his forwardness, but he realized how true it was. "No." She said honestly.
He smiled. "Neither could I. I want, if you're willing, to try and go for the 'something else'."
She looked away, feeling uncertain. Yes it was true, she felt something. Last night is when she finally acted on her growing feelings for him. But still, there were risks to what they were potentially getting themselves into. She looked back to him, feeling like she wasn't brave enough to say yes. Feeling like ignoring everything and just letting it go. But then she just looked at him, simply looked at him. He may not have been the most handsome man in the world, though he wasn't bad looking either. He had a sort of charm that made people forgive his mishaps. He made her laugh and smile when she became grumpy at work. And despite their rivalries in the past, he had always been in her corner when things looked down. His best qualities were shining through and she couldn't help how she felt about him.
"I... I want to be 'something else'." She admitted. He smiled happily and was about to lean forward to kiss her, but found her finger blocked his path. She laid one index finger in front of his lips. "But first, there are some things that I have to say." He leaned back and nodded, waiting for her to continue.
"First of all, I can't guarantee what this 'something else' will be. Only time will tell that for sure. And secondly, and most importantly, we have to take it slow." She said, looking deep within his eyes. "Very slow." She added for emphasis.
He smiled his trademark crooked grin, but a slightly softer version. "I promise." He said and lightly pressed his hand over hers.
She smiled softly back. "I'm glad." She said.
"I need something from you too though." He said quietly. "I need you to let me know if things are changing. If you don't feel the same anymore, I want you to tell me right away. I've waited a very long time to be this close to you, I'm sure you've noticed my feelings at some points, and I couldn't stand it if we fell apart in some big blow up. We've been through too much, and I'll always need your friendship."
"Yes, I can promise you that. And to be honest I have noticed your feelings, not all the time but definitely a few times. But I'll admit it was sometimes hard to tell with you, and I just really wasn't looking for a relationship with anybody at that point." She confessed.
"I understand, I probably wasn't ready at that point anyways. I'm not sure I was mature enough for starters." He said, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck.
"It doesn't matter now anyways." She said with a gentle smile. "Now let's organize this place before we have to leave."
They cleaned up the kitchen, side by side, until Stacy went upstairs to get dressed. Both weren't scheduled to be at the station until noon, but Stacy wanted to get home and get ready and Schemer still had to pick up his nephew. The ride back to Stacy's was considerably silent, each was deep in thought about what had happened. And more importantly, what would happen. Schemer pulled up to Stacy's driveway and parked, he turned to her before she could exit.
"Hey Jonesy. I know you're worried, but please, just don't be. Heck, I'm worried too but my Mommy always used to say that things happen for a reason." He said with a small smile.
Smiling back, she replied, "I know, and I'll try. I'm still just in a bit of shock, everything happened so suddenly."
He placed one hand on the back of her neck and surprised her by not pulling her in for a kiss. Instead he brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. "I'll take it as slow as you need, heck, we need." He let go and she began to exit the car. She turned back to say goodbye before she shut the door. As Schemer watched her, he couldn't believe how beautiful she looked. Standing in the run with a light breeze blowing through her soft, brown curls.
"Thank you Schemer, for everything." She said sincerely. "I'll see you at the station in a few hours." He his response was a slow nod, with a smile on his face, as she shut the door.
"In a few hours then." He whispered before pulling out of her driveway and driving towards Dan's house.
"So when are we going to be allowed to have your house for the night Schemee? The old farmhouse and property would be cool to explore at night." Kara said from her perch on the couch arm. The group of four, Kara, Schemee, Dan and Becky, were spending some time together in Dan's basement. The girls had come over the morning after Schemee and Dan's sleepover.
Schemee shrugged nonchalantly, "Hopefully soon. I don't see why we wouldn't be allowed to just hang out there for a night when he wasn't there. I mean, it's fine when we hang out and he is there and all. But it'd be cool to have a night where we could all stay up late at my house."
Becky nodded. "It's not like it would get out of hand. It'd just be the four of us, right?"
Schemee, again, shrugged. "Yeah... Unless we invited just a few friends from school. What's the worse that could happen?"
"I don't know," Dan said nervously, "Things can get out of hand."
Schemee snorted. "Hah, I don't think it's anything I can't handle." He said in a cocky way. "Besides, I have this great idea for a casino night. We could use plastic chips and have people buy into a few games, maybe Poker and Blackjack. The winner would receive an amount and I'd keep the rest!" He exclaimed Kara looked at Becky and rolled her eyes.
"Please don't get in trouble again Schemee!" Becky pleaded. "You know that underage gambling is illegal and besides, your Uncle would never allow it. Not for teenagers anyways... Maybe don't give him any ideas."
Kara was not so gentle and challenged him immediately. "Okay big shot, next time you have the house to yourself, if that ever happens, invite a few people over. Plan something, anything." Kara dared.
Schemee scoffed, "I'll do one better Cupper. The next time my uncle is out for the night, and I will have the house to myself, I'll throw a party!" He said challengingly.
Becky's hands flew to her mouth. "Schemee... You wouldn't?" She said pleadingly.
He folded his arms across his chest. "I would, and I will. Besides, I could probably charge a cover..." He looked away thoughtfully, Becky smacked her forehead with her palm.
Dan shook his head, "Come on Schemee, you don't have to prove anything." He tried reasoning with his best friend.
But his words were lost on Schemee, who was currently staring into space and coming up with more money-making schemes. Kara was looking at him with undisguised smugness. Becky looked as worried as Dan felt. Becky and Dan met each other's eyes, Dan just shrugged as a way of suggesting that he didn't have any ideas. "Hey Schemee, are you going to the Station with your Uncle today?" He asked as a way of breaking him out of his reverie.
Schemee finally broke out of his daydreams, "I wasn't planning on it, I'm not working for my Uncle at the Arcade today."
Well we're heading out now, Becky and I were planning on visiting Stacy, would you two like to come?
"I would go but I have to work later, sorry guys." Kara said.
Schemee shrugged, "Eh, sure, why not?"
Dan inwardly sighed with relief, maybe they could distract Schemee enough. Or talk some sense into him. It was easier for him and Becky to be the voices of reason when either Kara or Schemee were separate. They were all good friends but the other two seemed to be equally hotheaded, and when they fought or disagreed someone needed to step in. At least now he and Becky could race to the station and get involved.
"Schemee! Your Uncle is here!" Dan's mother, and Stacy's sister, called from the top of the stairs.
"That's my ride, I'll see meet you two at the station. Have fun at work Kara!." He said as he raced up the stairs. After thanking Dan's mother he made his way out to the car where his Uncle was waiting.
For the second time in one morning Schemer sat through a silent car ride. He cleared his throat and tried to make some sort of conversation.
"So how was your night?"
"Oh it was alright." He said nonchalantly. Schemee was staring out the window, seemingly deep in thought.
"I know you're upset... or, or disappointed, but I'll make it up to you." Schemer said, thinking his nephew's disinterest was directed at him.
"You'll let me stay alone overnight by myself?" Schemee asked, turning his head with interest.
"Erm, we'll see about that one." Schemer replied. Schemee turned his head back to the window. Schemer looked disappointedly back to the road. He desperately wanted his nephew to be okay with the situation.
"Look, I know you may not understand. And you may think I'm being unreasonable. But I have my reasons. I'm not doing it to spite you, or make you mad. I'm just doing the best I can." Schemer admitted.
Schemee felt a brief pang of guilt, but his disappointment still swallowed it up. "I know, but... I'm not a kid anymore. I don't need constant supervision." He said, with a slight disappointment.
Schemer nodded. "No, you're not a kid." He agreed, at which point Schemee looked up. "And I'll think about certain things. But I'm not making any promises. If you can prove to me that you're mature enough to be left alone, then I will allow you to stay alone at the house."
"With friends over?" Schemee asked excitedly.
"Let's not get ambitious." Schemer said with a smirk. He had pulled into his own driveway and exited the car before Schemee could protest.
As noon arrived at Shining Time Station, both the staff and patrons had their hands full. The arcade was bustling, Stacy had her hands full with people buying tickets, and Billy was busying himself with a broken down engine.
Mr. Conductor sat with the teens in a far corner. It was so busy that he went unnoticed and his body was blocked by theirs from most angles anyways.
"Schemee, I know you and Kara have this...friendly rivalry, but the best thing to do would be to not let it break your Uncle's trust." He said solemnly.
Schemee gave a sharp gaze at Dan and Becky, who looked away innocently. He was a little annoyed that they spoke to Mr. Conductor behind his back. He turned back to their much smaller friend.
"But Mr. C," he argued gently, "He doesn't trust me anyways."
Mr. Conductor scoffed, "Nonsense. Schemee, let me ask you something. If your Uncle didn't trust you, would he put you in charge of his arcade when he's not around? In charge of all those nickels?"
Schemee looked at his Uncle, who was currently counting out what he had made in the past fifteen minutes in nickels. He turned back, "Probably not." He said finally.
"Your Uncle loves you very much. And would probably trust you with his life. But he is an adult, and although he sometimes doesn't act like one, he does know what's best for you."
Schemee shrugged. "I guess you're right." He suddenly felt guilt wash over him. "I'm, uh, going to help my Uncle in the arcade. I'll you guys later. Thanks Mr. C." He said as he walked over to the arcade.
"Thanks ." Dan said with a smile.
"No thanks necessary Dan, I just hope I got through to him." He admitted.
"I hope so too Mr. C." Becky agreed.
Meanwhile, at the arcade...
"Hey." Schemee greeted his Uncle quietly. "Did you need any help?"
Schemer had just finished counting, "No thanks, I'm actually good for now. Why aren't you with your friends?" He asked with some concern.
"Oh, they're just talking to...another friend. I'll see them a bit later. I figured I'd stay around here if that's alright." He cursed himself mentally for almost blowing Mr. Conductor's cover.
Schemer smiled, "Sure Schemee, stay as long as you like."
The two worked in a comfortable silence, occasionally exchanging jokes or playful barbs. Schemee took a quick peek into the picture machine and as Schemer looked at him he could only see him as a curious, yet lonely, six year old looking into the ancient arcade machine for some form of entertainment.
He was suddenly hit with a wave of nostalgia and found himself remembering a particular day, a day ten years ago...
It had started out as a beautiful day. Not a cloud in the sky, perfect weather, warm but with a slight breeze. Schemer was twenty three, still relatively new to Shining Time Station, but after it reopened who wasn't? Everything started out normally that day. He came in to work, cleaned the machines, started them up for the day, and hoped that the good weather would bring in plenty of people to spend their money on his arcade.
Between trains, when less people wandered into the station, Schemer would talk to either Stacy Jones or Billy Twofeathers. Rather, he'd get into minor arguments with them or make jokes at their expense. Nonetheless, they were all starting to get closer to each other, friendlier. Quite a bit more than what they were.
"Schemer, you'd think that you were a teenager with the way you act." Stacy said to him with irritation crawling into her voice.
"Nah, I'm a mature adult , don't you forget it." He gave his crooked grin and laughed his trademark laugh.
She rolled her eyes. "Please Schemer, I have lots of work to do." She turned back to her work. Normally she would put up with his antics good-naturedly but today she was in no mood to deal with him.
"Fine Jonesy, go back to your work then." He said before turning away indignantly and subsequently tripping over his own feet.
"Schemer, why can't you just be serious for once?" She hissed as he fell to the floor with a large thud.
He picked himself up, "I meant to do that." He said. "And I am serious!" He argued back.
Harry Cupper watched from his doorway quietly. "Schemer, I think Stacy is right on this one. You could do with being more serious." He checked his watch. "Now, am I okay to leave you two alone? I have to get back out to my engine." He said before sweeping past them both.
Stacy shook her head irritably and put her head down to work. Schemer turned back to his arcade and they continued to ignore each other for the better part of the day. Stacy approached the arcade a little bit later.
"Schemer," she started hesitantly. But he cut her off, "Oh, coming back to apologize . Seen the error of your ways?" He asked.
"Schemer." She tried again, in vain.
"Well it won't work. My feelings are hurt." He folded his arms across his chest and looked away.
"Schemer!"
"Geez Stacy, you don't have to yell." He said indignantly.
As he looked at her face however, his expression went from indignant to worried. She was standing in front of him, wearing a peculiar expression on her face. "What's wrong?" He asked slowly.
"Schemer... The phone, it's for you." She started but paused.
"Oh? Who is it?" He asked, feeling more and more uncomfortable.
"It's the Snarlyville Police Department." She finally spoke up. "It's about your sister." She looked up at him with large brown eyes, full of concern.
He felt his heart skip a beat and the colour rush from his face. Leaping for the phone closest to the arcade, he shakingly said, "Horace Schemer here."
Stacy watched him as he listened intently to the other end. He was leaning against the wall and had one hand touching his face. His posture was anything but relaxed, and he looked like he was going to fall over from shock. He finally hung up the phone after ending the conversation with a brief 'I'll be right there'. He started walking away from his arcade, brushing past Stacy quickly.
"Schemer, wait!" She called after him. His long legs had already carried him halfway out the door.
"I...I can't wait." He said with an expression containing a mixture of shock and sorrow, and his face was pale. "I've got to...I've got to go take care of some things. I'm sorry." He started walking towards his car but Stacy followed him again.
"I'm sorry, I truly am." She said sincerely, a tear falling down her cheek. He was halfway into his car. He was about to respond but found he couldn't find his voice at that moment. Instead he gave her a small, sad smile and nodded. She watched as he sped off towards Snarlyville and brushed away the tears that were falling from her eyes.
He drove as fast as he could without being dangerous. He was supposed to go to the police department first and then wherever it was that she was being kept. But he had to make one stop first. He screeched to a halt in front of his sister's apartment building and rushed up the stairs. He knocked on her door, wishing that she would answer and this was all just some big, terrible joke. Instead a female social worker and a police officer answered the door.
"I'm sorry sir but I'm going to have to ask you to leave." She started but he cut her off.
"I'm the boy's Godfather, and Uncle. His mother made me his legal guardian in the event something happened to her." He explained pleadingly.
She checked her records. "What's your name?" She asked.
"Horace Schemer. Here's my I.D." He said, passing it to her. She checked over it.
"He checks out." She said to the officer, and allowed him to enter the apartment.
"Where is he?" He asked worriedly.
"In his room. It's probably for the best that you're here. He hasn't said a word since we told him." She said. "You'll have to sort of some legal documents to become his official guardian, but it won't be hard. You're his unofficial guardian until then and we can leave him in your care."
The officer turned to him. "You can sort that out down at the station, you haven't been there yet right?"
Schemer shook his head no.
"Well, we'll meet you down there. You won't have to do any identifications, one of her friends already confirmed it at the scene." He informed Schemer, who breathed a mental sigh of relief yet still felt very grim.
"Thanks, and yeah, I'll meet you down there." He said as they exited. Schemer turned to his nephew's room. He walked up the closed door. Hesitating for a minute he grabbed the doorknob and let himself in.
His nephew was sitting on the edge of his bed. Small legs dangling over the side, hands folded in his lap and head gazing down, not bothering to look up and see who walked in. It was only after Schemer sat down beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder that he looked up. The tearstained face of his nephew looked up at him for a moment before he clutched his suit jacket fiercely. The sight of his Uncle, the one consistent male influence in his life, was the most comfort he'd felt all day. He buried his face into one of his Uncle's shoulders and clung tightly to his neck.
Schemee squeezed his eyes shut, willing the tears to stop falling. "They said she's gone Uncle Schemer." He whimpered.
Schemer wrapped his arms around him. "I know." He whispered gently. They sat like that for a long time until Schemee had cried himself to sleep in his Uncle's arms. Schemer drove down to the Police Department to sort out the details. Suddenly, the sleeping child in the passenger seat beside him was his responsibility. He felt infinitely older than twenty three as he drove back to his house. He'd have to arrange for the funeral and all the boy's things to arrive at his house. It was going to be a very busy week.
Still, as he placed his worn out nephew into his guest bedroom, he realized how much he would have to sacrifice. The bachelor's life was relatively simple but having a child complicated things infinitely. He didn't care though. He made a promise to Schemee when he was born, when he first held him in his arms in the hospital, that he would always be there for him. He wasn't about to go back on that promise and he cared about his nephew too much to leave him alone.
He ran his hand over the boy's head before exiting the room and heading to his own room. "I promise I'll always look after you, I won't ever let anything bad happen to you." He whispered into the room before he left.
Schemer was shocked out of his reverie. It was like waking up from a dream, the memory was so clear. Meanwhile, Schemee was lost in his own memory.
He was thinking about the day he met Mr. Conductor. Though that memory largely contained his Uncle as well. Schemee was six at the time, one year since his mother's death. He was pleading with his Uncle in Shining Time Station.
"I want to go with you Uncle!" He cried out.
"No Schemee, I have to go pick up this new machine today and it would just be easier if I went and came back as fast as possible. Now, Stacy has graciously said she would watch you and you don't want to make her change your mind do you?" He asked with eyebrows raised.
Schemee huffed. "No Uncle Schemer." He said, defeated. Schemer smiled at Stacy before he left. "I'll be back in two hours." He said with a wave. Stacy smiled and waved back as he left.
"Now Schemee, your Uncle left me some nickels for you to use in the arcade. You can busy your self there or I can find something else for you to do." She said with a bright smile. Schemee couldn't help but smile back.
"Sure." He said quietly.
Now, Schemer's pick up went smoothly. The machine was loaded into the back of his car and he began his drive back to Shining Time Station. One thing to note is that it had begun to rain gently on his drive to pick up the machine. However, on the way back it was positively storming. He was struggling to see the road and could feel the hydroplaning of the car's tires along the wet road. Schemer was a good driver, excellent in fact from experience in a past job, and wasn't having too much difficulty driving. He was just traveling much slower than usual.
Back at the station, however, Schemee was beginning to get worried. "He said he would be here in two hours! It's been two and half!" He said in a panicked voice.
Stacy smiled but deep down she was starting to get a little bit worried too. "I'm sure your Uncle is fine. Schemer has gotten himself out of bigger messes before." She said tried to reassure him.
He nodded glumly and went to go sit on a waiting bench. He brought his knees up to his chest and folded his arms around them.
Meanwhile, Schemer was continuing to drive at slow speeds. He could see a hill up ahead and knew he'd have to ride his brake all the way down it. With sweat beading on his forehead he pumped the brake with his foot to simultaneously avoid hydroplaning and going too fast. It was working, but what he couldn't see was the set of train tracks at the bottom of the hill. Or the train traveling along them. He didn't see it until the train was crossing about twenty meters in front of him. In that split second he knew he'd have to make a very quick decision. Neither looked particularly appealing but he went with the one that seemed less fatal.
He removed his foot from the brake and swerved to the right, and then braking sharply again. He avoided hitting a moving train but instead crashed headlong into a tree on the side of the road. His front end was wrapped around it's thick trunk and his head rested on the steering wheel. As he slipped in and out of consciousness all he could think of was the nephew who needed him. His airbag hadn't deployed and as such the blow wasn't absorbed. His head was bleeding slightly and he finally lost consciousness.
At Shining Time Station, about fifteen minutes later, Stacy received a phone call from the main switchboard. She hung up worriedly and looked at the boy who was quietly staring at the floor. A train conductor had reported a car had crashed into a tree beside the tracks to avoid hitting him. Paramedics were trying to get to the car but were having trouble locating it as the train couldn't tell exactly what junction it crossed due to the storm.
Should she tell him? She didn't know if she could bring up mentioning the possibility that Schemer might be injured... or worse. Schemer was three hours late now. He would've been here otherwise. She looked up once more to see Schemee staring intently at her.
"Was that my Uncle?" He asked worriedly.
She hesitated. "No." She said, shaking her head.
"Was it about him?" He asked, panic rising in his voice.
Again, hesitating. "I'm not sure." She stammered.
"Is he... Is he hurt?" He asked, praying that nothing that happened.
"I'm not sure. There's... there's been a car crash near a set of tracks. They don't know until they can reach the car." She explained worriedly. "But it might not be him, please don't worry Schemee!"
Schemee started near-hyperventilating. Stacy rushed to his side and pulled him close to attempt to calm him down. He seemed near panic-attack. All he could think of was his Uncle, right now his only family member on the planet who cared about him. The only one alive really, at least he hoped.
"Shhh, Schemee. Calm down. All we can do is wait." She said gently.
"I can't...I can't lose another parent to a car crash. Or at all." He gasped, trying to control himself.
Schemer would be touched, Stacy thought, that Schemee considered him a parent.
"I can help." A gentle voice said, followed by a sound that resembled a train whistle. Schemee gasped in shock at the twelve inch man standing on the bench beside him.
"Schemee, this is Mr. Conductor." Stacy explained. "He lives at the station. Now, Mr. Conductor, can you really help find Schemer?" She asked.
He nodded solemnly. "I know the roads well. I just got back from Sodor in time, I know I can get to him before the ambulance. Wish me luck." He said before disappearing in a cloud of gold dust.
As Stacy continued to comfort Schemee, Mr. Conductor had already found Schemer's car. He went up to it, relieved to find that he was indeed still alive. However, he was unconscious, most likely had a concussion and was getting colder by the second. He needed those paramedics to arrive. thought for a moment before disappearing to find them.
He searched as fast as he could but it took him a good ten minutes before he found them. He whistled loudly enough for the ambulance driver to hear.
"Hey, they said it was around train tracks right?" He asked one of his co-workers, who nodded. "Well I just heard this whistle." The whistle sounded again.
"Let's follow it. It should lead us to the only road that meets the train tracks around here." The other said.
Mr. Conductor sighed with relief that they got his message. He led them as fast as he could to Schemer's car. The storm had long since disappeared and it was getting slightly clearer out. Finally...
"Get the the stretched out boys! We've found the car!"
The paramedics worked quickly, just hoped he had been fast enough in finding them. He waited with baited breath as they checked Schemer's pulse.
"We've still got him, hurry and he should be okay!" One of them cried out.
Mr. Conductor released his breath and quickly returned to Shining Time where two very worried people were waiting. Schemee looked up immediately, slightly red-eyed.
"He's alive, and they've picked him up. We should get a phone call any minute now telling us which hospital he's being taken to." He explained.
Schemee gave a cry of happiness and relief. "Thank you Mr. C!" He choked out.
Mr. Conductor gave a nod and a smile. "It was my pleasure, and if you'll excuse me now it's been a very tiring day. I must go back for some sleep, all that disappearing and reappearing has wiped me out!" He said before he disappeared once more.
Stacy and Schemee drove to the hospital once they received a phone call. Before they entered his room, Stacy turned to Schemee. "I need you to do something for me. Please don't tell your Uncle about Mr. Conductor. It's not that he doesn't like him, it's just that only shows himself when the time is right. Schemer has yet to meet him." She explained. He nodded before going in to visit his Uncle.
Entering the room by himself he was greeted to the sight of his Uncle lying on the hospital bed. He didn't look too bad, though he did have an IV and there was bruising on his face and chest. He also had a stitched up cut on his forehead, just around his hairline. His eyes fluttered open as Schemee drew closer.
"Oh Uncle Schemer!" Schemee wailed before launching himself at his Uncle. Schemer caught him, feeling mildly surprised, but nonetheless happy to see his nephew.
"Schemee, it's okay. You don't have to worry, I'm fine." He said as he held his nephew close. "Just a bump on the head, really. Though this does mean that you'll have to do all my work at the arcade for me." He said jokingly. Schemee looked up, cracking a small smile.
Stacy looked on from the doorway, with relief and happiness at the sight flooding her heart.
Both Schemer and Schemee's memories ended approximately the same time. They simultaneously looked up at each other and tried to speak.
"So, uh, when do you finish work?" Schemee asked.
"Want to go play baseball after work?" Schemer asked simultaneously.
They cracked identical grins and Schemer looked at the clock. "Well...Let's just say I finish right now!" He said and the two walked off grinning like Cheshire Cats.
Stacy shook her head, amused at the sight. Schemer did sacrifice a lot to take in Schemee. But she knew he wouldn't have it any other way. The pair were almost inseparable and watching them never failed to amuse. But it was obvious how much they needed each other and how much they appreciated the other. She respected Schemer a great deal for it, a great deal indeed. Maybe it was time that he got his chance to make up for the things he had missed, while including Schemee in his life. Maybe things really did happen for a reason.