Sir Handel and Duncan weren't the only two worried for Rheneas's wellbeing. Luke himself had noticed his friend was looking fatigued; Rusty noticed that the older engine was struggling with speed, pace and quality of work- which was uncharacteristic of 'Gallant Old Engine'- the same engine who saved the railway during its most vulnerable period.

And of course, Skarloey noticed. Having been through thick and thin for approximately 150 years gave an engine a pretty good idea into another's health and habits. Skarloey noticed right away that Rheneas was increasingly asking Peter Sam to assist him in his duties- which was very unusual, for Rheneas prided himself on being an independent soul.

At last, Old Faithful was fed up. He tried to reason with Rheneas- but his brother knew his limits and could push them far- often pushing Skarloey's buttons in the process.

He concluded that whomever had claimed younger siblings were a pain in the bunker were more than right enough. Rheneas was being little more than a stubborn git.

So, he decided to stage an intervention.

"Rheneas, we're staging an intervention." Skarloey announced. Peter Sam and Rusty were backing him up. He'd asked them to, hoping that 3 funnels against one would show Rheneas he was being silly and needed to slow down- now- before he got really ill.

"I'm not sure if that's how we're supposed to do it"- Said Peter Sam hesitantly.

"Any other ideas, Peter Sam?"

"No…"

"Then button it. We'll discuss the technicalities later."

Rheneas was in no mood to discuss anything. He wished Skarloey would stop being so protective- unfortunately, he knew he was struggling, and he feared his brother would say something- but he didn't want to admit that there was anything wrong with him.

"Skarloey I'm fine. I"-

"No, you are exhausted." Rusty interrupted. "We appreciate that you're looking out for Luke, but you'll make yourself ill if you keep running around like a headless chicken with insomnia." On seeing the others give him a 'Rusty-that-is –a-totally-weird-thing-to- say-look,' he merely replied "Well, it's the best thing I could come up with."

"And you're the only engine who knows Shakespeare and poetry?" Peter Sam asked incredulously. "That's insane!"

Skarloey pointed out that Duke's brother Bertram knew Shakespeare as well, for some strange reason; and the resulting argument gave Rheneas the opportunity to escape from the trio and head over to the tunnels, where Luke was watching the spectacle with awe and confusion.

"What are they arguing about this time?" He asked curiously, as Rheneas chuffed up to the tunnel mouth.

Rheneas explained about Rusty's strange metaphor, and the little engine chuckled with great mirth. "That is very…erm, strange!" He puffed.

"Yeah," Agreed Rheneas, who had the niggling feeling that Skarloey would have caught up onto his trick by now and would be looking for him.

"Well, I better dash off again, Luke- so sorry, but I have…I….something…"

"Rheneas, are you alright?" The lilting Irish voice asked.

But the vermillion liveried engine couldn't hear him- he felt though as he was swimming, which was saying something, seeing as engines couldn't swim. He felt… well, the closest he could describe it was being 'light-headed' as the humans would say. His vision became so blurry he could only see Luke as a mass of ashen-faced green; his wheels went wobbly and weak, which led to him trembling violently. His face flushed and he began to perspire.

"Rheneas, my friend, don't move!" A familiar voice called out. Rheneas felt a gentle buffering behind him, before a low metal clank of a coupling hook. "It's ok, I've got you, brother mine," the voice continued, in a gentle tone.

"Skar'oey?" Rheneas mumbled weakly, allowing himself to relax. His eyes rolled back, before fluttering shut.

"Skarloey- I…"

Skarloey saw their little friend shivering in fright at the horrifying spectacle that had unfolded, and he felt his firebox soften. "It's not your fault, Luke- we old engines just push our limit time and time again. But Rheneas took this too far this time." He explained. "He'll be ok- he's just been a stubborn old sod."

"Will he need to go to the Steamworks?" Luke asked anxiously.

"He'll be fine enough once he gets some much- needed rest." The older engine assured his companion, and then frowned. "I do hope Rheneas wouldn't have to go to the Steamworks- he'd resent that."

"Why?"

"He's worried about you- well, we all are, but Rheneas has by far done the most to help you, we can see. Between him and me, he's always been the big brother if not the older one, if you take my meaning." He took Luke's silence as agreement, and he continued, "He's done so much for all his long service on the Skarloey Railway, and we appreciate him for what he has done- from saving our line from closure to helping you, and everything in between….I would be showing great disfavour if I didn't say that I was proud of my little brother…." He admitted, smiling gently at the now sleeping Rheneas.

"I'll get Rheneas to the Depot once Mr. Bailey finds out what's happened." He said.

"Skarloey! Did you find Rheneas?!" Peter Sam tooted. "I've got Mr. Bailey!"

"Oh, thank you!" Skarloey exclaimed, extremely relieved. "Rheneas passed out!"

Once he explained to Mr. Bailey the whole story, he quickly agreed to Skarloey taking Rheneas home to the Depot to rest.

….

"Skar'oey, where are we going?" Rheneas asked sleepily, as the two little old engines rattled off home to the Depot.

"Home," his big brother replied sternly, but not unkindly. "You're sick, and you need rest. Rusty's with Luke just now and you can see him again once you're recovered."

At that, Rheneas huffed and allowed the caresses of the afternoon breeze and the gentle rocking motion to send him to sleep.