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 11: The reunion
Dart's wheels felt wobbly the next day as he drove slowly towards the dieselworks. He hadn't been there in a long time and it felt both familiar and new at the same time. He stopped as he came to the gates, not sure if he were able to cross that invisible line. He lifted his stare, looking around. The place was not very busy. There were nobody to be seen outside, but he could hear someone working in the back shed. He swallowed hard, driving over there, spotting Den inside, working on one of the Blister twins.
The two engines froze, staring at each other. Dart's stare met Den's, and they held it for the longest time. The little shunter swallowed hard, his feelings for Den wasn't gone… they flared up inside him, burning him with its intense flame. But then… there was also something else burning beside Den in his heart, he tried to hold on to it, see who it was, but then he was brought back to reality by a deep booming voice.
"Dart? Is that really you?" the big sentinel diesel rolled slowly towards him, not daring to smile or show any feelings.
Den looked down at the small shunter in front of him, wanting nothing more than bump his buffers happily and greet him, seeing his best friend again was more than he had ever hoped for. But Dart looked so serious and emotionless, he didn't dare to touch him. He no longer knew if they were friends or if his rejection had ruined everything they once had.
"Hi, Den." Dart said low, looking up at him. A chaos of feelings swirled inside him. He wanted to run, he wanted to stay. He wanted to smile, he wanted to yell at the other diesel. He wanted to say Den was still a friend, but he also wanted to shout out how much he hated him for not feeling anything more than friendship. And then there was this unknown engine who was forcing its way into his heart, pushing Den brutally aside.
Den stared back. None of them said a word, until Den's mouth curled up in a shy, insecure smile as if he was testing the waters. Dart smiled back, without a word telling Den that they were still friends.
"I've missed you, Dart. There has been so much to do here and… Diesel 10 has helped me out but, he is not you and… I mean I… oh… " Den cursed inside himself as his nervous stutter returned with full impact. He had almost managed to get rid of it while Dart was gone, since he had to finish his own sentences.
Dart smiled softly and reassuringly. "What you mean is, you missed sharing the work with me. I know… working side by side, talking through it at the end of the day, falling asleep beside each other. Being best friends."
"Yes…" Den looked down, with a light blush in his cheeks.
"Believe it or not, I've missed that too." Dart said, driving a bit forward, bumping friendly into Den's buffers. "Even if you don't love me the same way I love you, you're still my best friend, Den."
"T-thanks, Dart." Den smiled heartfelt. "I needed to hear that."
Dart smiled back, feeling that he had come home again. It was safe, not as scary as he had imagined all the time he had been away. Den was still the same, and even if his own feelings hadn't changed a lot, it didn't hurt as much anymore.
"Are you… coming back for good, Dart?" Den almost didn't dare to ask.
"I am. But not yet, Den." Dart sighed. "I… have some unfinished business I need to take care of. And stuff to figure out. But soon… soon I will be back here with you. I promise."
"If you ever need my help… just ask." Den smiled.
Dart met his stare. "Actually, there is…"
The tiny shunter smirked as he told the big hydraulic diesel about his plans. Den looked a bit hesitant for a while, but nodded. He would help.
"So… am I getting you right? You want me to… sort of… trap Arry in the backshed?"
"Well… not really trap, but… keep him there until…. Uhh… ok, trap him there." Dart grinned goofily. "Slam the doors shut and make sure he won't leave until… you know…"
Den bit his lip. He still had some doubts, but he was more than willing to help, if that could stop Bert from sending his brother to the works all the time for no reason. There was nothing wrong with Arry, so Den was tired of having to look him over all the time.
"Oh, alright…" he mumbled at last.
"Thanks, Den! I owe you!" Dart beamed, bumping into his buffers again. "Tomorrow then! See ya!"
Den looked a bit puzzled as the little shunter trundled out of the yard again. He was a bit disappointed that Dart wasn't going to stay overnight, but now he had at least seen his friend again. Apart from some scratches in his paint, Dart seemed to be doing fine.
Den sighed, and with a small smile he drove back inside to return to work.
Dart stood at the harbor, taking a break, the sun was blinding him, so he closed his eyes. Suddenly he felt soft lips covering his, kissing him tenderly. It felt so good, he wasn't able to move away. Someone finally caring for him, loving him. He sighed delighted as he responded, opening his eyes half way to see who it was. The sun was in his eyes, making it impossible to see who it was, but whoever it was, it was a good kisser. He couldn't help himself, he kept responding to the kiss, and moaned as the other engine slipped its tongue into his mouth, meeting his in a sensual dance. His engine revved in joy. The tingling sensation in his undercarriage was growing more and more intense.
Right then… a cloud covered the sun, making the kisser appear in front of him. Dart gasped as he saw the hazardstripes and the tall, square shape in front of him, feeling the stubble tickle his face as the diesel smooched him. The white letters on Arry's sidepanels started swirling, he felt like he was falling into a deep abyss, knowing he would be crushed against the rocks at the bottom.
"Ahhhhh!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Aye! Man overboard!" Porter and Salty yelped beside him, snapping their eyes open.
Dart stared around, wild-eyed. With the panic still making his generator spark uncontrollably. Arry was nowhere to be seen. The sun was setting in the horizon, he looked sideways at the two other engines, who looked startled and confused. He grinned awkwardly. It was just a dream.
"Ehhhrr… good morning, guys." He stuttered.
"Bad dream, eh?" Salty yawned and stretched. Porter breathed out, smiling as he watched the docks coming to life.
"You can say so…" Dart mumbled, shuddering.
"Sea monsters?" the red diesel suggested.
"Well… not sure I would call it a monster, but… it was terrifying enough." Dart felt the cold chill from the sea breeze cooling down his burning cheeks.
Salty didn't ask anymore, he rolled forward, coupling up to a goods train that had arrived during the night. "See you later, Dart! I got work to do."
Dart stared after him, sighing. He would have loved to join him, just so they could chat while working. He really enjoyed the merry dockside diesel's company.
"And you're going to stand there all day, or…." Cranky looked sternly down at him. "There is enough work here, you know. We need more empty cars, and someone has to pick up a new shipment of china clay from the pits and…"
"Oh, sorry, Cranky. I'll make myself useful!" Dart zoomed out of the yard, heading for the shunting yard to pick up empty trucks.
As he arrived, he spotted Bert pushing Arry into a siding, while swearing and cursing at his twin.
"Not sure if you are ill or just lazy, Arry, but I am so tired of your antics! I have to work twice as hard so Fat Hatt won't notice." The hazard striped shunter snarled. "Maybe I should just let him know you're slacking off? It's not like I would notice if you were gone anyway! You haven't been yourself in ages now! Fat Hatt should just scrap you and get another, functioning engine to help me here!"
Bert's words stung Dart, they were heartless. But he could understand the frustration too, Arry was acting like he was dead, as if his life had no purpose. He looked over to the siding. Arry was staring into thin air as Bert backed and returned to the yard to work.
"I have no idea what's wrong with my useless brother, but I have to take him to the dieselworks AGAIN!" Bert complained as he passed Dart on his way back.
Dart swallowed hard. "I can take him to the works, Bert. I just have to deliver some empty trucks at Brendam docks."
"Thanks, man. I don't have time to push him around the island all the time!" Bert grumbled.
Dart looked over to Arry. The hazard striped diesel looked like he was trying to stop existing, his expression was so dead, it hit Dart straight in his heart.
He picked up the trucks and hurried back to the docks, leaving them there for Cranky to load.
"Is there anything that needs to be taken to the dieselworks, Cranky? I am going there later, so I might as well take it." He looked up. "I just have to finish another job first."
Cranky motioned towards two trucks full of crates. "Engine parts. No rush."
"I'll make sure it's picked up within a few hours."
He hurried out of the docks, thundering over to the yard again, quickly picking up Arry to bring him to the works.
"Arry… you can't just stop living. You have to work and be useful, or you will be sold for scrap." He said as they came closer to Vicarstown.
"Who cares?" the irondiesel snorted.
"I do…" Dart mumbled, blushing as he recalled the nightmare he had this morning. "I mean… in a friendly way… I… am not attracted or… want to… I don't want to kiss you or… what the fuck am I saying? You're just a friend and I care, because I love you… just as friends… fuck! No, not fuck as in "fuck"! I meant as in "damn, I worded that wrong"… I am trying to say I don't wanna kiss you. I don't find you attractive… umm… you ARE attractive, but not to me… and I… ugh… you know what I mean!"
A light tremble ran through the shunter in front of him, and it took Dart a few seconds to figure out that Arry was laughing.
"Yeah… very funny…" he rolled his eyes, but deep down he was relieved. It meant that the ironworker wasn't completely unable to feel joy. He smiled as he kept pushing the irondiesel towards Vicarstown. Now part one of the plan was soon done, then he would have to figure out a way to lure Molly to the dieselworks too.
He lit up as he remembered the engine parts he had promised Cranky to pick up. He could ask Molly to be his back engine. There had been no available breakvans at the docks, so she would probably buy that lie.
Satisfied with himself, he pushed Arry to the back shed of the dieselworks, throwing a glance at Den. He smiled and winked at him, the big sentinel knew what to do from here.
"Ok, Arry. Good luck. Talk to you later." He said merrily and took off with a smile, pretending it was just any other day.
He found Molly at the docks again, she had just delivered some china clay trucks. She looked down as Dart came into the yard, like she was afraid James would shoot out of nowhere and punish her if she said hi.
Dart coupled up to the trucks with engine parts, pretending to look around for a brakevan.
"Damn, there are no brakevans…" he complained, glancing over to Molly. "Molly? Could you be my back engine? It will be quick I promise…"
Molly's eyes searched the yard as if she was looking for a way out of the situation, but then finally, she looked at Dart and smiled.
"Of course, Dart."
"Thanks!" Dart smirked to himself as Molly switched tracks and coupled up behind his train.
Then they took off, thundering to the dieselworks again. Den was standing in front of the back shed, smiling to the duo coming in.
"Just push them inside, on the left track. Never mind the engine in there, I'll get to him later." Den said and rolled away.
Dart uncoupled and shifted to the parallell track, letting Molly push the trucks inside. He quickly scurried over to Den, watching the scene in distance.
The yellow steam engine froze for a second as her eyes met Arry's. Without a word, she uncoupled from the trucks, backing a little bit before she switched to the track the hazard striped shunter was on. They stood face to face, no words were spoken.
Dart didn't know what he had expected, but it wasn't this. Maybe he had hoped for a joyful reunion with lots of smiles and chatter.
There was no big, happy reunion for the two engines in the back shed. They had rolled closer to each other, leaning their foreheads against one another, both having their eyes closed with a pained expression. Now and then they gave each other a quick, small kiss, as if they expected someone to come separate them if they saw them. It was cute, yet painful to watch. They knew their relationship was impossible, so they tried to keep some distance, but the small kisses were a result of them failing to stay away from one another. Their feelings were too strong to keep bottled up, but they still managed to maintain some self-control. Enough to stop themselves from locking lips completely. They knew they would have to go separate ways soon, and that it would hurt even more now that they had gotten a small taste of what could have been.
Dart bit his lip to hold back his tears, his heart ached for the two engines. Had he made it worse for them by bringing them both here?
"They belong together…" he whispered.
Den nodded, also looking sad. "It's a shame they're not allowed…"
"James is neglecting her and being just… a huge ass!" Dart choked out. "I bet Arry wouldn't treat her like that, even if he isn't considered the nicest engine on this island."
"Arry isn't that bad once you get to know him, Dart. It just takes a long time to get through to him."
"I know… he doesn't allow anyone to get close enough…" Dart mumbled.
"Let's give them some privacy." Den said, hitting a button to shut the shed doors to let the two engines be alone without a risk of being seen.
Dart nodded, silently moving himself over to the mainshed, determined to help Den with his work for the rest of the day. Then he was going back to Brendam to spend the night there. He didn't know why, but it felt right. He knew Den would like him to stay at the dieselworks, but there was something pulling him back to the docks. Like a huge magnet… He just didn't know what it was. Perhaps it was the fresh sea breeze.
Or maybe he still needed some time to get over Den before returning home for good.
"Maybe tomorrow…" he muttered to himself. "Maybe tomorrow…
To be continued….
