Authors note: I don't own any of the characters, they all belong to HIT Entertainment. And please excuse my poor english, I'm norwegian and didn't pay too much attention in my english class...

My Sweet Sentinel

Chapter 7: A trail of broken hearts…

Dart hadn't returned to the dieselworks after Den had rejected him over a week ago. The big sentinel caught himself staring at the tunnel, hoping to see the little shunter coming towards the yard. But Dart never came.

Den sighed. Luckily, there hadn't been too much to do lately, so he managed on his own. He wondered if Dart would ever return, or if he had to ask Sir Topham Hatt to find someone to take his place.

Today was a very quiet day, he and Diesel 10 were both bored. They had cleaned up the whole yard, organized all the tools and all the shelves. Now there was nothing left to keep them occupied.

"I am a terrible engine… I actually wish someone would have an accident, so I could get something to do…" Den mumbled as he and Diesel 10 stood side by side in the back shed, looking out at the yard.

For the time being, Diesel 10 was filling in for Dart, but it was just temporary. The warship had other jobs and were needed elsewhere.

"I could go cause an accident, but I don't think Fat Hatt would be very pleased…" the clawed engine muttered with a grin.

Den perked up as he heard someone in the tunnel. Was it Dart this time? Or at least someone who needed his help?

It was a certain black quarry diesel. Den felt his cheeks burn as he spotted her coming out of the tunnel. He turned even redder as Diesel 10 nudged him with his claw.

"I'll leave you two alone…" the warship smirked and blew a wolf whistle. Then he smoothly oiled over to the main shed, greeting Mavis as he passed her.

Den was still blushing from Diesel 10's comment as Mavis approached him, she slid to a stop right in front of him, smiling. He smiled shy back.

"Hello, Den." She said softly.

"Hello, Mavis…" he whispered, retreating into the shed. For some reason, he felt intimidated by her presence, but at the same time he was attracted to her.

She giggled. "Are you afraid of me, Den?"

"No… I mean… I…" he stuttered as his buffers touched the wall, preventing him from retreating any further.

"What you mean is… you're not sure if the kiss we shared meant anything to me?" she said softly and moved after him.

"Well… yes…" Den didn't dare to look at her. His cheeks were burning. His pistons pounded hard.

Mavis carefully coupled to his chain, pulling him closer.

"It did, Den…" she whispered, placing her lips over his, kissing him softly.

Den closed his eyes, replying to her kiss with passion. His RPMs skyrocketed and he let out a hiss from his hydraulics. It caused Mavis to laugh low between the kisses.

"You're so adorably shy, Den. And so incredibly handsome… and hot… I like you a whole lot." She whispered against his lips. He could feel her breath against his face.

"I… like you a lot too…" he breathed out, this time, it was him who pulled her close and kissed her affectionately. Mavis pressed her buffers against his, all the way in.

Den couldn't help but moan as she slipped a tongue into his mouth, just like she had in his dream. For a second he had to open his eyes, just to check that it was really her this time, and not Dart.

"I had some time off… I just needed to see you again." Mavis said as they broke the kiss. Her eyes were dark from lust. "Too bad I have to go back to the quarry, or I would have spent the night here…"

Den swallowed hard, his undercarriage ached. He was not unaffected by their make out session.

"Maybe next time…" he whispered and wet his lips. His mouth felt dry, and all he wanted was to close those shed doors and force her to spend a few extra hours here. "Do you have to go…?"

Mavis kissed the cleft in his chin. "I am sorry… I would have loved to stay, but they are waiting for me. I don't want them to come looking for me and run in on us…"

"Good point…" Den said, letting his lips brush over her forehead. "See you later, then…"

"I look forward to that, Den." She bit his lower lip playfully. "I'm yours now, handsome."

Den remained in the same place as she thundered across the yard, headed towards the quarry. He still felt dizzy and had a goofy smile on his lips when Diesel 10 returned seconds later.

"So… were you allowed to spill your oil, or wasn't she in the mood?" the clawed warship teased.

Den flushed red, his undercarriage was still stiff and aching, longing for the black female diesel.

"She was in a hurry…" he coughed, trying to clear his throat.

"I see… so she just aroused you and left, huh? What a tease!" Diesel 10 chuckled and nudged him with his claw. Then he pointed his claw to a wet stain on the floor, where Mavis had stood not long ago. "You seem to have an effect on her too, Casanova!"

Den looked away, his cheeks were flaming red now.

Dart had sought refuge at the china clay pits. Even though Bill and Ben could be a pain in the ass, BoCo was a great friend. The green diesel always offered him a buffer to cry on if the heartache became too intense. There was also Derek, who was such a jolly engine he lifted everyone's spirit. Dart felt somewhat normal as long as he could work alongside the engines at the pits. Only BoCo knew the full story, and Dart knew he hadn't said anything to the other engines, but they must have sensed something was wrong, as they treated him extra nice.

His mind wandered off to the dieselworks now and then. To Den. He just wasn't able to forget about him. He still had a huge place in his heart.

Sometimes he pondered over who Den had been dreaming of that night of their fatal kiss. Was it a female or a male? It couldn't be Arry… because then the iron-diesel wouldn't have been so sad… and Arry had stated it was a "she".

Could it be…? A sudden realization struck him. What if Den and Arry had a crush on the same engine? Had Arry been rejected because that engine was in love with Den?

Or was it just a coincidence? Dart chewed on his lower lip. Was it Mavis? She had been hanging around Den an awful lot lately, even though he had never seen them do anything that would prove their relationship… he still wasn't sure. Did Arry have a crush on Mavis? And Den too?

If so, would they end up fighting over her?

Dart shuddered. Even though Den was big and probably stronger than Arry, the ironworks diesel was a lot more aggressive and violent. It would be ugly, no doubt about that…

He cringed by the thought of Den being hurt. The inner images of the sentinel lying in a pool of blood and oil almost made him whimper.

He had to talk to Arry! He had to find out if he and Den loved the same girl… and if so, he had to warn Den! He didn't want him to get beaten up.

"BoCo…" he trundled over to the green diesel. "I need to go see someone… I'll be back soon."

Then he thundered off to the ironworks.

He shuddered as he entered the scrapyard surrounding the smelters. It was like a graveyard. Dead, faceless engines scattered around. Once as alive as he was. Now just waiting to be smelted to an unidentifiable mass along with others.

He jumped as he heard a crash beside him. A green and yellow diesel shunted a line of empty trucks to a siding. He narrowed his eyes towards Dart.

"What are you doing here, Dart? Having a death wish?" Bert growled eerie.

"No… I… I was looking for your brother. I need to talk to him." Dart squeaked. He had to admit the place was creepy… and Bert added to that feeling.

"He's in the shed. Sulking." Bert snorted and biffed the trucks again, even though it was not necessary. "Tell him to come out and work soon, or I'll have him scrapped!"

Dart shuddered and scurried over to the shed. The doors were open. Arry was backed in, his face was partially obscured by the shadows. He looked just as spooky as the rest of the place.

"Arry?" Dart slid to a stop.

"What now, tiny?" grumbled Arry.

"I need to know… is it Mavis who broke your heart?" Dart said without beating around the bush.

"Didn't I tell you to let it go?" Arry backed even more, almost being swallowed by the shadows.

"Please, Arry. It's important." Dart begged, daring to drive a little forward.

"How the hell can that be important to you?!" the hazard-striped shunter barked from his dark hideout.

Dart sighed. "Not really… but I might be able to help you if I knew… you know, as a favor for giving me a pep talk that night at the cliff…"

"That was a lousy pep talk."

"Maybe, but I appreciated it anyway. And I would like to return the favor."

Arry sighed. "No, you can't help me, but thanks for the offer."

"Is it Mavis?" Dart tried to pierce the dark with his eyes, so he could look at Arry.

"No."

"Are you sure?" Dart whispered, not daring to hope.

"Of course I'm sure! Now get the hell out of here and leave me alone!" Arry shot out of the shadows and biffed him, sending him flying backwards into a siding full of aluminum trucks. Dart yelped as he hit the train hard. The shed doors slammed shut.

Dart's buffers ached as he drove off the siding. He stopped by Bert again.

"Bert. Do you know why Arry locks himself up in the shed?"

"It's that damned steamie's fault." Bert grumbled, coupling to an old brakevan. It was going to be broken up and smelted.

"Arry is in love with a steamie?" Dart gasped. That was the last thing he had expected.

Bert snorted and thundered off to the smelters. "Yeah, but she's taken. I told him steamies aren't worthy of us anyway, but he wouldn't listen. So now he's the laughing stock of Tidmouth."

Dart followed him. "Who is she?"

Bert hissed. "Hell if I know… I never bothered to learn her name. She's yellow, quite strong I have to admit. Looks sad all the time. And she's with James."

"Oh… ok. Thanks, Bert." Dart slumped low. He knew who she was, but if she was taken, there was nothing he could do to help Arry. He drove out of Killdane, trying to figure out what to do next. He couldn't stay in the china clay pits forever.

"But still I am not ready to go back to Vicarstown…"

So, once again, he returned to the china clay pits, being greeted by his new friends there.

At least it was a place to stay for the time being. Until he was ready to go home.

Maybe tomorrow…

To be continued…