*Thunk*
"Oooof. Ahhh!"
"Oh! What happened? Are you okay?"
It was the transitional period in the day when the sunlight was diminished just enough to be considered 'night', but the timers on the yard lights still hadn't illuminated the working space.
Edward and Duck stood hunkered around the drive wheels of the Pannier. Having just tried to look at the brake pads to inspect a squeaking noise they'd heard, Duck hadn't judged the distance between his head and the running board too carefully. As he nursed a new welt growing on the back of his head, Edward noticed an engine crawling up the line toward them, headlamp illuminating their current workspace.
Number 37 approached carefully before coming to a full stop before the parked Pannier.
"Yoohoo! Wotcher boys!"
Rosie jumped charismatically from the cab as she approached the two, removing her driving gloves and tucking them into her back pocket.
"Rosie! How are you!" Edward smiled and held a hand to greet her.
"Hello Rosie." Duck winced as he followed up Edward's handshake with his own.
"A sight better after a day's work, that's for sure. What are you two up to?"
She looked curiously over their shoulders at the open tool kit next to the back of the wheelbase.
"Just inspecting a squeaky brake before we head back to Tidmouth." Edward replied
"Not much luck though." Duck rubbed his tender scalp. "Getting pretty dark."
"Ah! You can't let that get in your way." Rosie grinned and plucked a banded headlamp from her breast pocket and fastened it over her brow, clicking it on.
"Let's take a look shall we?"
"That's a clean reconstruction Henry. Can't even see where the box split or the trigger pin snapped."
Gordon clapped Henry on the shoulder with a grin.
"You're mad for not demanding compensation, but it's a job well done."
The two men, along with Rebecca and Victor were standing around Number 3 as the engine stood in full steam once again. Light hisses could be heard along the boiler as steam once again began heating the internal tubes. Tonight was a landmark moment for Henry's hard work. The first run.
"I appreciate the second opinion. We've really done as much as we can. A fresh set of eyes was what I needed to be sure we'd done it right."
Henry looked over at Rebecca and gave a thumbs up. Gordon followed the look at gave her a smile of his own.
"This really is a feat. A two man crew reassembling a drive wheelbase, brake rigging, a reverser, and a pony truck. All in two months time on top of that. I can not lie. It's impressive."
It wasn't a direct complement, but Rebecca felt her chest swell as she smiled back and punched Henry in the shoulder.
"Well come on then! Let's take it for a test drive!"
Victor let out a low laugh and began walking toward the controls for the SteamWorks doors.
"My friends, this is a joyous night. I leave the adventure to you all, but don't make me regret having gypsies in my palace."
He gave a wink as the large panel door slid open. He took his glasses from his shirt pocket and rubbed them methodically on his hem as he returned to the group.
"If all is successful tonight–" He breathed on his lenses and placed them on his tip of his nose.
"- Leave a report on my desk and I'll make sure the details are corrected. With any luck, you'll be back in your engine at the start of the work week Henry."
Gordon threw an arm around his friend's shoulders and Rebecca let out a small "Woohoo!"
"Good night my friends. You have my thoughts."
And as Victor grabbed his coat from the rack, he left the three friends scrambling into the cab with a fervent energy.
"That should do it! Are ya still in steam?"
Rosie stood up stretching her back as her punky little headlamp was drowned out in the bright atmosphere of the newly lit yard.
"Yea! Let me get set." Duck hurried up the cab steps as Rosie and Edward took a step back.
"You're pretty handy Rosie. We'd have been here another hour without you."
"Oh it's nothin' really!"
Rosie laughed awkwardly as Edward smiled up at Duck giving him the 'all clear.' Duck slowly opened the regulator and pulled the reverser as the Pannier rolled gently back down the line. After easing on the brake, the engine effortlessly ground to solid, and quiet, stop.
"Well done! We're in business boys!" Duck hooted as he pulled forward, returning the engine to the group.
"Pfft. Glad you boys are in business." Rosie jabbed as Duck flustered for words.
"I'm only joking. You both best get on your way. It'll be too dark by the time you even get to Wellsworth."
Edward nodded and began his way to the cab when the three of them heard a familiar 'roaaar' from across the yard.
The wind whistled around Number 3 as the powerful engine pounded the rails. Henry, Gordon, and Rebecca all excitedly watched the gauges as they remained stable. Henry anxiously was pacing the engine up to speed as they passed a speed sign, letting them know to begin slowing for an oncoming signal.
"Moment of truth."
He exhaled nervously as he gripped the brake. Number 3 handled like a dream as it's crescendo of acceleration diminished perfectly. The engine came to a full stop at the Gantry up the line.
"I think you've proved your mettle tonight." Gordon said inspecting the controls for the upteenth time. "Let's switch over the loop and head back. I may, or may not have a bottle in my boot for this very occasion."
"Depends on the year." Henry laughed. He whistled twice as the points clicked over.
"'37. So I'd suggest you hurry." Gordon licked his lips in anticipation of 'The Good Stuff.'
Rebecca laughed lightly as she leaned against the coal shute in the tender. As the signal changed, the engine lurched forward and she let her hair catch in the oncoming breeze. While Henry continued his monitoring, Gordon came over and joined her, removing his cap and letting the wind wash over him.
"You've come a long way in a short time."
"Oh. Well, Henry helped a lot with that."
She hadn't meant for the remark to sound pointed, but she knew she'd let some bitterness permeate her response.
"He's in a league of his own. Dedicated but also patient. Something that… Well that isn't my strong suit."
Gordon folded his arms and closed his eyes.
"While I may know everything, he can teach you the most. Sometimes I learn a little something myself."
Rebecca looked over at the restfulness scanning across his face. He turned and met her eyes and smiled lightly.
"And if you tell him any of that, I'll tell him your secret."
He winked and returned his gaze to the stars above.
"Wha–? Empty threat Gordon. I don't keep secrets."
Gordon closed his eyes and replaced his cap over his brow.
"He likes you too, you know."
Rosie, Edward, and Duck peeked around the bunker of the Pannier watching the Class 08 roll behind the platelayers hut and yard office with the mail train. Coming to a stop hidden from view at a goods shed with a loading bay.
"That's odd… Vicarstown is the last stop for the mail train. What's Diesel doing with it here?"
Rosie looked over at the other two with a determined smile.
"Well we won't find out standing here."
Duck bit his thumb and took another glance at the shed.
"It's not like it's wrong to go find out." He smiled back "Right Edward?"
But Edward was already walking, half hunched, toward the shed in question.
"Well I'll be!" Rosie beamed and quickly fell in step with the older engineer.
Duck bringing up the rear, the trio made their way casually, but cautiously across the yard to the steps leading into the covered bay. The large opening at the top echoed as the three heard multiple voices sound from inside.
"Oi, watch it would ya."
"Hurry it up. I'm already running late. We don't want to raise any suspicion."
Duck looked over at the other two and mouthed 'That's Diesel.'
Edward nodded and Rosie cupped her hand to her ear, listening hard. A loud 'thud' of a van door slamming caused the three of them to jump as the Class 08 'Roared' back into life. The sound of the full train clanking it's way jerkily out of the shed, the group watched as it slunk around the buildings and exited the yard.
"Well I'll say this." Edward began. "Even attempting the entire mail train in one go, there's no reason for five CCT vans. Something is definitely suspicious."
Rosie stood up and rested her fists on her hips.
"We gotta tell Sir Topham Hatt right?"
"Close." Duck stood up stretching next to her. "First we need to get some proof."
With Number 3 back in the SteamWorks and the building locked up for the night, Henry, Rebecca, and Gordon had their respective vehicles parked close together in the lot by the yard. Each haphazardly sprawled on a hood or a bumper, they were sipping the smooth whiskey Gordon had procured in celebration. Laughing amongst themselves, the three had knit a new memory between old and new acquaintanceships. The moon hung indicatively in the sky as a moment of fortune was savored by each.
Alrighty! We're back gang! I first want to give a big thank you to The White Shell Mermaid for the incredibly helpful feedback in regards to writing for the twins. My current chapters I'm editing have been much easier and fluid to write without stopping to guess linguistics and someday I'll go back and rewrite their dialogue in the earlier chapters.
Rosie's back! I had an idea for Edward and Duck to take on this detective role with Diesel. (Due to Duck's RWS history with his), but I felt the dynamic needed a third. And low and behold I had a character I'd introduced earlier that I could pull from and I think has a nice contrasting personality to our two, more goal focused, guys.
I want to start by saying I had no intention to 'ship' anyone in this fic. And Idk if it's cross pollination from other stuff I'm writing… but am declaring it was where the dynamic was always sort of heading… when it comes to Henry and Rebecca. But I'm going to treat it as a slow burn. I have another idea I can work with further down the road (Like sequel down the road.) But can consider dropping nuggets of opportunities here and there.
Also when Gordon isn't a pompous asshole, I love the idea of him just being a supportive 'big brotherish' type. And giving the respect Henry deserves but not outright felt very… right. =)
Going to have longer chapters coming out. I'm realizing to hit my 26 chapter goal I need to start expanding more in a few other aspects of my tale, so please stay tuned!
And of course, as always, thank you so very much for reading! -REN