Behind the Most Cherished Smile is the Saddest Frown Ch. 10

A/N. For all those who say Lady is in the story, or that she healed a character- I'm sorry, but she isn't in this story. No characters are healed right now.

…

Thomas smiled at all his friends, with such radiance and happiness, he, for a moment, forgot all about his wounds. "I'm so glad you're all safe." He said.

James wheeled himself forward, and placed his hand on Thomas' and smiled. "And we're glad you're ok too."

Thomas looked down, then back up at the red headed boy, smiling. But realization quickly dawned on him as he shot up in his bed.

"Diesel 10!- OW!" He gasped as he fell back onto the bed, gasping harshly, a pale hand clutching his chest in agony.

Edward rushed forwards, and helped Thomas sit up so he could take some pain killers. "You must stop moving so fast Thomas." He said, helping his brother lie back down.

Thomas gave a pained sheepish smile before nodding. "I know… I'm sorry." He said. "But still- where's Diesel 10?"

Then they all heard the door open to Thomas' room, and everyone looked towards it just in time to see Gordon leave the room, a hopeful look on his face.

Toby smiled. "I believe we're going to find out soon." He said.

About ten minutes later, Gordon came back into the room… wheeling Diesel 10 in a wheelchair.

Thomas let out a quick sob of relief at seeing the older man. "Diesel 10!" He cried.

He had bandages around nearly half of his face, especially around his left cheek and forehead. His arm was in a cast, his legs were covered in bruises, and there were bandages around his chest, and most likely his torso and stomach. But Thomas couldn't see due to the hospital gown.

The man in mention however gave a weak smile. "Hey kid…"

Thomas scanned him over with both fear and relief in his eyes. "Are you ok?" He asked.

Diesel 10 chuckled. "Never better, Thomas. I'm just glad you're ok."

Edward smiled, happy that they were all healing, slowly, but still healing.

"Thomas." He said comfortingly. "Will you be alright?" The twenty nine year old asked. "I mean, your Father is finally in jail, but now…"

"You don't really have any blood family now…" Rosie said.

Everyone then looked at the small blue haired boy as he quietly put his head down, and thought of an answer.

Slowly, Thomas smiled. "I know my Mother isn't here anymore." He said. "I know my Father isn't with me anymore, as well. But I could care less. I know my Mother is safe up there, and I know my Father will see justice- but you know what?" He said as he looked back up at his friends. "I don't need a Father. I have you." He said as he smiled at Edward, Rosie, and Gordon. "My siblings. And that's all I need."

Edward, Rosie, and Gordon all smiled. "You also have your friends, and Annie, Clarabel, Ashima, and Gina." Gordon said.

"And me." Diesel 10 smiled. Thomas smiled back.

"But, what are you going to do, Thomas?" James asked, the fear in his eyes unmistakable.

Thomas sighed. "I don't know. I do know court will most likely be involved, however." He said. "And I will do everything in my power, to make sure Alan never hurts anyone ever again. I'll see to it that all of us, and finally, my Mother, gets justice." He said. "Something, long overdue."

Despite the pain in his lower body, James hoisted himself out of his wheelchair, and pushed himself forward, his upper body landing on Thomas' bed, and his knees hitting the ground.

Hiro's eyes widened as he rushed forward. "James! James, my brother, what are you thinking?! You are far too weak to walk at this moment!" He said as he picked James up, about ready to place him back in his wheelchair.

"No!" James protested. "Please, I want to be with Thomas." He begged, clutching onto his older brother's suit.

Hiro smiled, and looked over at Thomas. "Is that alright with you, my best friend?" He then quickly realized that even after Thomas helped him all those years ago, he still referred to Thomas as his best friend, which made Percy chuckle.

Regardless, Thomas smiled. "Yes, that's fine with me." Then he slowly crossed his legs, making space for James.

Gently, Hiro placed James onto Thomas' bed, then backed away.

James looked at Thomas, and smiled. The blue haired boy instantly smiled back.

James placed a soft hand on his shoulder. "You know things will get better, right?" James asked, gently squeezing Thomas' shoulder.

Thomas nodded. "I know.., it'll take time, though." James nodded in agreement.

Then James silently placed his forehead on Thomas' and pulled him into a hug. "But we'll get through it."

Thomas hugged back, a relieved look on his face. "Together." He said

Then James pulled away. "Ok, you can, put me back in my wheelchair now." He said slowly, his eyes not leaving Thomas.

Hiro nodded, and gently picked James up, and placed him back into his wheelchair.

Edward, Rosie, and Gordon then stepped forward, and sat down.

Thomas smiled as he quickly hugged them. "I love you guys. So, so much…"

All three of the older Hill siblings smiled and hugged back.

"We love you too, Thomas." Edward said.

Just then, a nurse came into the room.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but visiting hours are over." She said.

She sighed softly with a small smile on her face when she saw the uneasy looks on their faces. "Don't worry. We'll keep a close eye on anything or anyone suspicious that enters the hospital." She reassured.

Everyone quietly nodded in understanding.

"You get better soon Thomas!" Percy exclaimed as Henry wheeled him out of the room.

"Goodbye Thomas!"

"See you tomorrow kid!"

"Get some rest."

"Goodnight, little brother!"

Then one by one, everyone left Thomas' room.

Thomas smiled, and silently waved to his friends and family as they all left.

Thomas stayed awake for about an hour longer, looking out his window at the starry sky, before quietly slipping into a dreamless sleep.

Silently, the window to Thomas' room slowly opened up.

Then a man jumped in, landing on the smooth floor without a sound.

Alan stood up from his crouched position on the floor, and walked over to his estranged son's bed, and quietly observed him.

Alan was wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, and the handcuffs around his wrists and ankles were broken, now looking like metal bracelets. He also hand bandages around his head, and around his stomach, from where he was shot. But that mattered little to him.

Quite amused, he smirked to himself. "Amazing how dense these Sodor police men are." He mumbled to himself. "I bet they still don't know I'm gone." He chuckled.

Quietly, he reached into his shirt, and pulled out two items: a chloroform soaked cloth, and a syringe full of sedatives.

He looked down at Thomas with absolute detestation in his eyes. "I told you not to run away, boy." He rumbled. "Now you're going to learn what happens when you disobey the rules."

Then he quickly injected the sedatives into Thomas' arm and placed the chloroform rag over Thomas' mouth and nose, to help muffle any sounds.

Thomas' eyes flew open in fright and agony. He quickly found himself staring into the dark blue eyes of his Father's. He tried to fight him away, but with the sedatives, chloroform, and Alan's strength combined all together, it made Thomas extremely drowsy and helpless very fast.

Alan grinned maniacally as he watched Thomas fall into a drug induced sleep. "Night-night, Thomas." He sneered.

When he was sure that Thomas was unconscious, Alan pulled away.

Quickly, he wrenched the wires and tubes out from Thomas' body, leaving harsh red tape marks, and blood oozing from the puncture wounds, and picked up the small boy, throwing him over his shoulder.

"Have fun finding you 'Precious Child', now Sodor." He laughed as he jumped out the window, and ran away, disappearing into the night…