A/N: I'm considering trying a little experiment by creating another AU. I'm probably only going to use it just once though. I'll see if I want to give it a try or not, but that won't be until later. Anyway, on with the show!

After what seemed like months, Dusk was well enough to walk on her own, and was returned to the coach that had brought her to the clinic.

"Here she is, Pearl, just like I promised." the crane car smiled, and gently handed her over to the smiling observation coach.

Hm... The coach's name is Pearl.. Interesting. Now who the hell is the one that was poking me with fucking needles? Dusk looked at the crane car just as she was gingerly placed in Pearl's arms.

"It's... a girl? How could you tell?" Pearl raised an eyebrow at the crane car. The crane car rubbed the back of its neck, clearly uncomfortable with this particular question.

"Well... You just um... Look up their skirt." the crane truck shrugged. Dusk slapped a white paw on her face, and shook her head. It took all her strength to hold back her laughter. Pearl snickered, she must have seen her reaction.

"That's pretty bad if the cat face-palms." Pearl giggled. "Thanks for saving her Wrench. I owe you one." Pearl rolled away as Dusk peeked over the observation coach's shoulder to look at the crane car.

So... her name is Wrench... How fitting. Dusk's tail twitched.

Pearl had to find an owner for the cat before her break was over. She had an idea as to who would like the cat, but the coach in question also had a lover, who wasn't very fond of the idea of keeping a pet. Maybe, just maybe, the cat's appearance would make him change his mind.

Dinah was just about to head out on her break, when Pearl dropped by, cradling a black and white ball of fur in her arms.

"Hey Dinah. I'm in a little bit of a pickle here. Do you want a cat? This one," Pearl gestured to the cat, " came to me one night, and when I picked her up, I noticed she was shot."

"Shot? As in... with an actual bullet?" Dinah gasped. Who would harm such an innocent creature? Pearl nodded.

"Wrench patched her up, and gave her back to me. I can't take care of her, but I know you can. Do you want her? She's really sweet." Pearl held out the cat to her. The cat looked up at Dinah with its piercing, yet beautiful, icy blue eyes. Dinah wanted the cat, but it pained her that Greaseball probably wouldn't want anything to do with it, or worse, throw it out, but... there was one friend she knew that just might want, no scratch that, need this cat.

"Yeah," Dinah gently lifted the cat into her arms. "Her eyes are so pretty." she smiled, and rubbed the cat's white chin. The cat closed her eyes, and purred. It was a shame she couldn't keep it, but her friend needed this cat more than anything. She had overheard from several human workers that stroking a cat reduces stress, and lowers your blood pressure. Perhaps her friend could use the cat for this purpose. She waited for Pearl to leave, and then quickly skated away to the freight yard.

CB was slowly growing paranoid. It seemed that he couldn't let his guard down for a second anymore. The fact that he kept loosing sleep didn't help much either. The silence of solitude had slowly driven him off the deep end. Some days were worse than others. Sometimes he had gotten to the point to where he just broke down and cried. His shoulders were always tight, his body, and mind never receiving a break. He was surprised to see Dinah approach him, holding a ball of fur in her arms. She sat down beside him, and smiled warmly.

"I think I found something you'd like CB." Dinah let him take a look at the black and white fur ball in her arms. The cat lifted its head, and gazed at him with its piercing icy blue eyes, a stone cold color, like his very soul.

"Where did you find it?" CB gently stroked the cat's head. The cat closed its eyes, and purred.

"Pearl gave her to me, and I know Greaseball wouldn't let me keep her, but I heard stroking a cat can help relieve stress, so... I thought you would like to have her." Dinah gently sat the cat in his lap.

"It's... a girl?" CB raised an eyebrow. Dinah nodded. The cat stood on its hind legs, placed her white paws on the base of his chest box, and sniffed him curiously. CB chuckled, and gave the cat a neck scratch.

"Wrench told us it was a girl." Dinah stroked the cat's back. The cat's fur was soft, almost like down on a baby bird. CB noticed the cat's collar, and smiled.

"Heh, cool collar." CB then frowned when he touched a bare spot. He looked at the cat's flank, and noticed the cat's fur was rather thin in one area. "What happened to her?"

"Pearl told me she was shot. Poor thing. She's so sweet." Dinah touched the cat's scar, and the cat almost seemed to wince a little.

"She looks like she's still a little sore there." CB gently laid a hand over the cat's scar. This cat was rejected, left to rot, just like him. CB smiled, and scratched the cat behind her ears. "She's perfect." he looked up at Dinah. "Thanks."

"No problem. If you ever need anything, let me know." Dinah got up, and set out to head back to work. CB looked down at his new found friend, and smiled. For the first time in years, CB relaxed.

A/N: That actually has been scientifically proven. Oh, and by the way, if anyone wants to use the AU I'm working on (the one featured in the sequel to this) please feel free to use it, and my OCs, just credit me for the AU, and my characters. I might as well let everyone else have a little bit of fun with this as well! I'll see you next chapter!