After Rheneas returned Sir Handel's trucks to the Skarloey Railway's No. 3 and apologised for Skarloey's outburst, which Sir Handel graciously forgave, thankfully, he took the empties back up to the Upper Terrace, still weeping about Luke's predicament. Fortunately for him, Luke had wisely moved back to his regular tunnel, as Rheneas and Rusty needed access to the Upper Terrace tunnel, so the old engine didn't have to worry about his young Irish friend seeing him cry.

He sped past Merrick and returned to Owen as fast as he could, his vision still blurred and watery from his sadness.

"Hello, Rheneas!" Rusty greeted cheerfully, happy to see his friend with the empty trucks; Peter Sam needed them to collect stone from the Upper Terrace to take back to Owen; which he would then send down on his trusted incline.

"Hi, Rusty." Rheneas chuffed weakly, his voice thick in his smokebox.

"My goodness Rheneas, are you alright?" the little diesel asked worriedly, suddenly noticing that his old friend was crying.

"Yes- you don't look like you're feeling yourself, boyo," added Owen kindly. "Would you like to talk to us?"

"I... I'm not okay." Rheneas choked out, much to Rusty and Owen's concern. He bit his lip to force back sobs, hesitating as he saw his two friends blinking curiously at him. "Merrick told me this morning that Luke tried to commit suicide last night."

The gasps of shock and horror in response told Rheneas that this was the first either of them had heard about what was really going on in poor Luke's mind.

"What happened?" the little diesel asked bravely, even though he was reeling with shock from what he had heard.

"Merrick told me that Luke had attempted to jump off Blondin Bridge last night." His companion replied weakly. He sniffed. "I'm sorry- I'm just having a hard time processing that Luke had attempted to commit suicide last night. But Skarloey thought I was upset with Sir Handel, so now he and I have fallen out." He added, and he explained the matter in detail. "I haven't told him about Luke yet; in fact, you're the only other engine I've told."

"I see." Rusty said, thoughtfully.

"... so, now I feel terrible, Rusty." Rheneas finished. "Not only have I upset my best friend, but now Luke's in danger and only you, Merrick, Owen and I know about it… as far as I know."

"You mean my best friend's willing to take his own life- just like that?" Owen asked gloomily.

"It seems that way," sighed Rheneas. "I don't know what to do, you two…"

Hearing this hopeless admission sent the trio into silence, both pondering how to deal with this crisis that lay before them. How could they help Luke? They weren't used to dealing with suicide in engines. Human intervention was needed- but who to ask?

Neither engine could answer that question, each feeling as helpless as the other. Suddenly, from down below, they heard Duncan shout strong words at the trucks in a fit of fury, and some mischievous sounding giggling.

"Poor Duncan," Rusty winced. "Sounds like the trucks are winding him up again. He's been more irascible ever since he was blinded. I hope he"-

But he was stopped when he saw a timid green shape crawl over to curiously observe the operations the Scottish engine was currently undertaking.

...

"Fit noo, Luke?" Duncan snapped impatiently.

Luke took a deep breath and attempted to not say anything back. He was still flushed and weary, not to mention depressed, but he wanted to help Duncan.

"Are the trucks annoying you about...?" He trailed off, finally looking at his friend's face for the first time since the fire; and he wished that Duncan could open his beautiful eyes.

"Well, it'd be hard tae keep track o' hoo they've been winding me up!" The yellow engine fumed. "Noo get lost, will ye?"

"No- I want to help you." Luke said, though he sounded weary. Duncan had quickly picked up on this, and he was concerned about his friend.

"Ye okay, pal? Ye sound drained."

"How can I possibly be okay, Duncan? I feel so tired, weak and fed up with all of this. I just want my pain to end via whatever means necessary; I've lost a friend I care about, and you're still blind thanks to me." Luke said, tearing up again.

"Luke...just stop this, right now." Duncan growled warningly. "It wisnae"-

But the Irish engine ignored his companion and continued; "... I honestly don't know if I'll ever find a light at the end of this tunnel. I wish I had died last night."

"Fit noo?" Duncan gasped, shocked. The trucks stopped laughing at this, and they were now deadly silent.

"I know you're going to think less of me for wanting to die rather than face the truth about what I did...but it's eating my conscience. I'm nothing more than a disgrace- a disgrace to Mr Kerr Stuart, a disgrace to my siblings, a disgrace to God, and a disgrace to you all. I'm a disgrace to my crew, and I'm...I'm a disgrace to myself."

"Ye jist haud yer wheest richt noo lad, or else!" Duncan snarled. "Ye're nae a disgrace, Luke, and ye know it! Ye're haudin' on tae what ye do hae wi' far worse and ye still tried to encourage me tae nae gi' up. Ye held on this long. What makes ye think ye canna haud on any longer?"

"I...just don't think me conscience can take much more of it." Luke sighed apologetically. "Please, Duncan, I...I just can't cope with the pain. I just want it to end."

"And it will end, Luke- it jist wouldn't end wi' ye dead. We'll help ye yet, Luke, or we're nae engines o' the Skarloey Railway!" Promised Duncan fiercely.

For the first time in what felt like a long, long time, Luke managed a smile… for Duncan. "Thank you, Duncan. That...that means a lot."

"Nae worries." Duncan smiled back. "We're both part o'... well, a very odd sort of family, and we dinna turn tail lamps on each other, that's a'. And dinna ye forget that, lad, or I'll hae plenty to say to ye!"

"I figured," Luke grinned, a shiver running up his boiler at the threat, "I'm very honoured to be part this family too, Duncan."

...

Meanwhile, Geoffrey sighed as he finished his text and sent it. Come on, would Rich hold that much of a grudge to their hurting friend who wanted to take his own life, nonetheless? He wondered.

He waited until Duncan was finished his speech before calling his friend. Unfortunately, it went straight to voicemail. Geoffrey swore and hung up, inhaling deeply before composing himself and a reasonably articulate apology for Luke.

"Any luck, Mr. Heron, sir?" Asked Luke, as Geoffrey returned.

"With what?" Asked Duncan curiously.

"Well, I'm sorry Luke- but he didn't answer, so… I'm not sure when Richard will come back, boy." Geoffrey said to Luke apologetically. "He's really… well peeved off at you. He hasn't answered my calls or texts- even Kirsty tried to get a hold of him for me, and he hung up on her."

"Well, in his defence, sir, I tricked the both of you into helping me commit suicide- or least, before Merrick intervened. Oh, Mr Heron, I'm sorry!" Luke cried out, clearly still anguished from the night before.

"Hey, hey, it's okay- I forgave you, remember? Come on, don't fret, little buddy." Geoffrey replied, patting Luke's cheek in a paternal manner.

"And, erm, if ye're fireman's a real pal, Luke, he'll come back- but if he disnae, then dinna fash yersel' ower it." Duncan spoke up quietly. He felt awkward, but he also felt sorry for Luke, and his sympathy overrode his social ineptness.

Luke knew Duncan had a point, but he didn't want to think that Mr Wilson had deserted him. After all, besides Owen and Rheneas, his crew were his best friends.