A/N: Well, I have finished all my college stuff for the year, so I have a little update! Hehe… I was meant to update sooner… but life got in the way. But, from now until the 31st, I will release the final chapters of LTL2! I just want to thank you all so much for your kind reviews- over 550?! You are too kind😊 You have all kept me motivated to keep going- even when I was struggling with writer's block and a hiatus.
Without further ado, I will begin the beginning of the end, and I would love to hear from you when I publish 'Loyalty to Luke 3- On the Other Side of the Mountain'! I will, however, be updating/have updated other stories, so please keep your eyes open if you're interested!
You are all true legends in your own right. Rock on!
Goldsaddletank
P.S. This chapter contains strong language, so apologies if anyone's offended. It also contains squabbling siblings, frustrated firemen and demented drivers! Enjoy!
…..
"Here you go, lad." Said a subdued Geoffrey as the unusual quartet entered the tunnel and got Luke settled some distance away from the tunnel mouth, in order to keep the little engine hidden.
"Thank you, Mr. Heron." Luke said quietly, his voice quite void of the joy he had experienced only moments ago.
"Yes, thank you." Agreed Dr. Moon, briskly, who immediately stepped out of Luke's cab before either Geoffrey or Richard could offer to help her down, and immediately opened her bag to look for her notebook.
"Come on, Rich, we better hop it." Geoffrey said, jerking a thumb towards the tunnel mouth, whilst offering Luke a sympathetic smile. "We'll see you later, old friend." He added, and he and Richard each gave Luke a small, gentle pat on the buffer, before they made their way back.
"Ok- I'll see you two later," Smiled Luke bravely, watching the two men leave. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Dr. Moon open her notebook.
…..
"God, this is torture, seeing Luke suffering like this for so long." Geoffrey muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Yep," Agreed Richard, gloomily. He noted that his best friend was looking the worse for wear. "Hey, did you get any sleep at all last night, mate?" He asked.
"No. I had to quit the janitor job just to get more shuteye…. But I'm terrified that if I sleep, I'll wake up to find that Luke… succeeded…." Geoffrey answered, wrapping his arms round his torso to suppress a shiver.
Richard didn't need to hear the rest; he already knew what those unspoken words were; because he himself heard them in the night, racing round in his own mind, like a whirlwind hellbent on destruction.
"I couldn't bear it- can't bear it. I can't even tell Kirsty what's going on; she might address her concerns to Mr. Percival. As far as he knows, I don't exist. Fucking hell, Rich, I might need a therapist myself."
"I don't think so," Rich disagreed quietly. "You definitely need sleep, and someone to talk to. But I'm in the same boat as you, so I can't be a new set of ears. What about your college friend?"
"Oh, Ziggy?" Asked Geoffrey, surprised. "Oh, yeah! I suppose it wouldn't hurt to talk to him, would it?" He asked. "I don't want to give Luke's secret away… but I feel at the end of my tether right now…"
"What are you two talking about?" Asked a voice from behind them. Both men, caught off their guard, jumped of their skins. Geoffrey again started cursing profusely at the unexpected scare, whilst a pissed off Richard whirled round to find Sir Handel standing there, looking very curious- which wasn't like him.
"Sir Handel, we'd appreciate it if you didn't give us heart attacks when we're trying to talk." Richard said firmly, glaring at the little blue engine.
"Sorry," Said Sir Handel, non-committedly. Richard swore that if the Skarloey Railway's No. 3 had shoulders, he would have shrugged. As it was, there was silence for a moment before Sir Handel added, "Is that Luke just gone in for his therapy?"
"Yep- you just missed him." Richard replied.
"Damn." Sir Handel muttered. Unfortunately for him, his driver, Michael Friar, heard.
"Language, Sir Handel." Mr. Friar chided his engine.
"That's not fair! Luke's driver was swearing way worse than I was!" Accused Sir Handel, whiningly. Geoffrey had quickly forgotten the fright he just received in favour of splitting his sides with laughter at the little engine's complaint; which only wound Sir Handel up even more.
"Sir Handel, Geoff isn't under my authority," his driver reminded him patiently "You, on the other hand… or buffer, are. Ergo, I can only tell you what to do, and I say you mind your language."
Sir Handel was not pleased with this answer, to say the least, so he started grumbling on unfair life was, and began muttering a few choice words about Mr. Friar.
As sympathetic as Geoffrey was to Michael and his fireman for having to put up with this every day, he couldn't resist cackling evilly (to himself, he didn't want to give Sir Handel a reason to continue plaguing the poor souls trapped inside) at the little blue engine's rant.
"So, was there any reason why you needed to speak to Luke, Sir Handel?" Asked Richard warily, ignoring Geoffrey's sniggers.
"Ah, that can wait," Replied Sir Handel carelessly, still feeling very miffed that Geoffrey was still laughing at him.
"Not if it has anything to do with Luke's safety, it can't." Richard warned him sternly, glowering at the little tank engine, who gulped in response.
"No, no, nothing like that… It's important, but it's not going to compromise his safety… you know what, I'll wait until Luke's done." He said meekly.
"You do that," Richard answered wryly, before shuffling over ever so slightly to give Geoffrey an elbow to the ribs. "Oi, you done there, mate?" he asked gruffly.
"Ow! No need for that!" Geoffrey protested, rubbing his rib, whilst giving his best friend a deathly glare. Fortunately for Richard and Sir Handel, however, he stopped laughing; and it was just as well, too, for Peter Sam came chuffing up to the unlikely cavalcade.
"Did you find him, Sir Handel?" Peter Sam asked his brother, hopefully, as he wheeshed to a stop.
"… ah, nope. I just missed him." Sir Handel replied sheepishly. "We'll have to wait until he comes out again."
"Ok."
"Alright, what the hell are you two hiding?" Asked Geoffrey sternly. He had also caught on that the two engines were hiding something, and he was very suspicious. He had to give Rich credit; the guy had instinct.
"Nothing…" Sir Handel lied, giving a 'help me!' look at Peter Sam. Peter Sam didn't look he could, or would, help, so Sir Handel gave him a death glare.
"Liar… who was at the bottom of the incline this time?" Richard asked dryly.
Sir Handel bristled at the remark. "It was nothing like that!" He protested, furious at how casually Luke's crew were tearing him to pieces… like a chicken in the teeth of wolves. "We… heard, that erm…"
"Duncan's going to Wales!" Peter Sam blurted out, unable to endure Geoffrey's glaring, or Richard's comments about the accident on the incline for a moment longer; nor was he willing to. Stiff upper lip be damned.
The blue engine looked very unimpressed at this, "Really, bro?"
"Sorry…" Peter Sam squeaked sheepishly, his face as red as Rheneas's livery. "I can't help it."
"Gee, your special funnel's given you the magical power of blabbing," retorted the Skarloey Railway's No. 3, earning a glare from his brother.
Mr. Evans, Peter Sam's driver, glanced helplessly out of his engine's cab towards Mr. Friar for help; but they both knew it was no good, for when their engines started arguing, they really went for it.
"Meanie!" Peter Sam retorted.
"Bigmouth!" Snapped Sir Handel.
"Mr. Too Big for his Big Wheels!" Peter Sam shot back. Once again, Sir Handel looked very underwhelmed.
"Really, Peter Sam? Was that meant to be an insult?" He asked indignantly. "You're not even trying!"
"Yes, of course it's meant to be an insult! Did you think it was a compliment!?"
"Well, I don't care about the size of my wheels." Sir Handel replied nonchalantly, giving a cheeky smile in Geoffrey and Richard's direction before redirecting his attention to his squabbling sibling. "If you've got nothing better to do than stare at the size of my wheels, little brother mine, then I suggest you find something more worthwhile to do." He smirked.
"You're such a pain, Sir Handel," Grunted Peter Sam in annoyance.
"Not as bad as you," Quipped Sir Handel loftily, smirking as Peter Sam merely wheeshed 'Fiddlesticks!' in response.
…
As their argument got louder and louder, Geoffrey decided that he had had enough. "Knock it off, you two! I've got three kids at home who argue every other hour! I come to work for peace and sanity!"
"That's rich," Muttered his fireman, rebelliously. "Skarloey would laugh at that, he would." But he did have some sympathy. "Never mind, Geoff, it's usually Lexi and Jack arguing anyway. And they'll grow out of it." He added, so that Geoffrey could hear him.
"So, why is Duncan going to Wales, exactly?" Asked Geoffrey, feeling half grumpy, half curious.
"Who's going to Wales?"
…
Men and engines alike got a fright as Paxton came up behind them.
"Hey, do you mind, big guy?" Asked Sir Handel, rudely, much to Peter Sam's embarrassment. "We're trying to have a conversation here!"
"Oh, sorry- I didn't mean to interrupt." Paxton replied kindly, oblivious to Sir Handel's impoliteness.
"That's alright." Peter Sam chirped in, before Sir Handel could continue his tirade. "Rusty heard that Duncan's going to visit Wales!"
"Does that mean he's going to the beach?" Asked Paxton, with an innocent confusion on his face. "It'd be hard for him to get there, being a narrow-gauge engine, after all. And his crew might lose Duncan in the sand- he's yellow, and so is the sand!" He chuckled. Peter Sam waited until his friend had finished before continuing.
"No, no, he's going to Towyn, in Wales." The little Kerr Stuart explained patiently. "He's going to work on the Talyllyn Railway because his brother Douglas needs an overhaul." He paused to stick his tongue out at his brother; which he later regretted, because Sir Handel promptly responded by wheeshing him with a cloud of steam.
"Are you alright, Sir Handel?" Asked Paxton in concern. "Do you have a leaky valve? I can fetch Rheneas for you- he can take you to Victor.
The look on the little blue engine's face was apoplectic! "I'm fine!" Sir Handel sputtered and fumed; his immature triumph quickly forgotten in his embarrassment over such an undignified implication!
"Perhaps you should go see Skarloey before things blow." Richard advised Paxton sensibly, glancing over cautiously at the engine brothers, who each looked as though they were plotting some unseemly revenge, or perhaps death, to be a tad more drastic.
"Thank you, sir! I will do, sir!" The young diesel replied cheerfully, and with a jocund jaunty of his horn, he trundled away to find Old Faithful, hauling a train of empty trucks behind him leaving his two friends in his wake.
As the pair resumed their argument, Geoffrey offered that perhaps Mike and his fireman might like to have a pint at the Boar's Head later that night. They duo gratefully accepted the invitation.
Richard made a similar offer to Mr. Evans and his fireman; who were also quick to accept without hesitation!
