A/N: I actually do a lot of Q&A in various chatrooms about this story. And one of the questions I have been asked is 'Why do you always use Bennett's full name? You never call him just 'Ben' like they do on the show.'.

Well, there is an actual reason for it, folks. In fact, it has three reasons:

1. I don't like the character, so that is my finger to him as an overall person.

2. I don't like the character, so that is my finger to the writers of the show for his character in general.

3. I don't like the character, so that is my finger to that whole 'relationship' (and I use that term loosely) he has with poor Melanie, who deserves so much better.

CHAPTER 14 WAIT! I CAN EXPLAIN PART II

Layton gave himself points that he managed to keep pace with her, as fast as she was moving.

'Woman on a mission.', he told himself.

But mission or not, whatever happened, he was determined she was not going to face it alone. Because no matter how much he didn't want to be, he was a part of this...whatever this was going to be. She had agreed to share the cabin with him, and had allowed him to sleep in her bed. At the very least, he owed it to her to be there.

Melanie wasted no time in the engine room seeking him out. Layton credited her with reigning in her panic and trying to make things look normal. Although having her burst into the engine room in thermals and a robe didn't really help much.

"Bennett."

Sitting at the helm, Bennett turned the chair to face her with a smile.

Layton's senses went on high alert. He had seen that smile before. It was the one someone gave you right before they pulled their gun and fired at you.

Getting to his feet, Bennett greeted her with open arms.

"Melanie!" His eyes quickly shifted to the man coming in behind her. "And Mr. Layton." He added, dropping his tone to a low, drolled out comment. "What a surprise."

"Mr. Knox..." Layton's own tone was positively dripping with warning aimed at the other man.

But Bennett seemed to take no notice as he smiled at them both still. "Good to see you both. Did you enjoy your breakfast this morning...together?"

Melanie stopped short a few feet from him at the comment.

"Bennett..." she began, but stopped as she caught the look in his eyes as the smile faded.

"'Bennett' what?" He asked her. "Or is this where the explanation comes in?"

During the brief exchange, Layton was taking a quick survey of the room. Thankfully there weren't many people there. But there were enough to make this ugly for her. First, Second, Third, Tail. People were the same no matter where they came from. And nothing screamed for attention quite like the possibility of a good fight or even better gossip material.

"Maybe we could take this somewhere else?" Layton quietly suggested, none of the warning from before leaving his tone.

Bennett turned to him without backing down one bit.

"Like back to her cabin?" He asked, but paused suddenly as he considered the statement. "Or would that be 'your' cabin? It's really a bit hard to tell sometimes."

Melanie stepped forward to try to defuse the situation before it got anymore out of hand.

"Bennett, you misunderstood what..."

But the man quickly cut her off. "Oh, I don't think I misunderstood anything. Except maybe the lengths you would honestly go to in order to keep control of this train. What was the problem, Melanie?" He asked her. "I wasn't of any use to you anymore, so you jumped right into bed with the one person you thought could still give you what you wanted? And when exactly did you start up with Layton? The night he took control of the train? A little 'post-revolution' celebration just between the two of you?"

Melanie stood in shocked silence for several seconds before she turned sharply and, with what dignity she could muster, marched out of the engine room without another word.

Layton remained behind as she brushed past him, staring down the man in front of him.

"I would have hoped," he stated in the same low, warning tone he had been using with the man to this point, "that even you would have been able to see the price on that pound of flesh you just took from her for no reason at all."

Bennett returned the stare. "I'd hurry to catch up to her, Layton." He replied with a small smile. "After all, she's fickle, and it gets cold in that cabin at night."

It only took Layton one sharp blow to put the other man on the floor.

"And that was for the one scrap of dignity you couldn't leave her with!" He stated. "Although right now I'd say she has a lot more dignity that you do."

Bennett lay on the floor, watching the other man turn and walk out of the engine room without a second glance at any other person there.

Wiping his hand across his mouth, he slowly looked up as he noticed how quiet the room was. Looking around he noted that every person in the room was now staring directly at him. And well past the fact that he was the one laying on the floor, the looks on their faces verified in more ways than one he had not won this fight.

Back in the cabin, Melanie stormed into the room. She wasn't sure exactly what to do with herself, so she took to just pacing the main room.

That was how Layton found her when he came back to the cabin shortly after her.

"I did try to warn you." He stated quietly after watching her for some time.

Melanie ignored him as she kept pacing, but something in his words did seemed to finally reach her as she turned to him for a moment, but then suddenly headed for the bedroom, closing the door behind her.

Layton tried to give her space. Sometimes she just worked things out best by herself.

But the one thing he did know about her was that when she was really mad, she cleaned. As he looked around the cabin, he thought for a minute it was a shame she didn't get really mad more often. Neither of them seemed to put much stock into 'tiding up' on a regular basis. As a result, the cabin tended to look like what he charitably refer to as 'lived in'.

Still, he expected to hear drawers opening and being slammed shut, the bed being straightened out to where he was sure he could bounce a quarter off of it to the ceiling when she was done, or at the very least a lot of angry grumbling.

But it was the total lack of any sound behind the door that had him finally knocking lightly on the door.

"Melanie?"

No answer didn't give him much help on what to do next.

"Melanie?" He called again a bit louder through the door to make sure she heard him. "Tell me you're OK or I'm coming in."

When no answer came again he pressed the mechanism to open the door.

Sitting as still as stone on her side of the bed in the dark, she didn't make a single move as he walked over and carefully sat down next to her. But the small amount of light that proceeded him into the bedroom lit on her face, reflecting off a single tear as it made its way slowly down her cheek.

Crouching down in front of her he gently wiped it away. "What can I do?" He asked her softly.

Melanie just shook her head slightly.

"You want me to leave?" He asked.

She slowly turned to him. For what seemed like an impossibly long time he watched her just sit in silence, staring back at him. But eventually she shook her head again slowly.

Getting up, he moved to sit on the bed next to her, wrapping an arm protectively around her shoulder.

For a long time they simply sat that way in silence as Layton let her slowly work through her process of regaining equilibrium. But he eventually readjusted himself slightly on the bed, and with a small smile turned to her.

"You know what?" He asked.

Melanie turned slightly to him.

"I think your side of the bed is actually softer."

Melanie rewarded him with a half-hearted chuckle as she turned back to the floor.

Layton gave her a slight nudge. "If it makes you feel any better, I decked him for you."

Layton didn't miss the small smile that formed on her lips even as she continued to stare at the floor.

Layton watched her for a few more minutes, but finally broke the silence again in a lower, gentler tone.

"He was angry, Melanie. And that kind of anger will make someone, even someone who loves you, do stupid things. And the more they love you, the stupider the thing they do usually is. So, I think you're pretty safe with Knox. Because that was colossally stupid."

Melanie didn't answer him.

"He didn't mean any of it, you know that." Layton added. "Not a person in that room believed what he said. And the only person who came out of it looking like a fool was Bennett."

That statement equally got no response from her.

He tugged slightly at her, trying to get her attention. "It's the truth." He told her. "And...," he paused, trying to think of something he could say to make her feel better. To make the situation hurt a little less. "And...we'll make sure there's no fuel for his fire, OK."

This time she turned to him.

Layton gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I'll move out. Find somewhere else to stay."

A small, soft whisper answered him. "That'll only make it worse."

Layton stared back at her in the darkness. "Then tell me what you need. Whatever makes this better for you, I'll do it. Anything."

Melanie only turned back to the floor in front of her. "I don't know." She whispered.

Just then a tempered knock on the front door caused both of them to look up.

Layton got to his feet before her, gently pushing her back down on the bed.

"You stay here." He said to her. "I'll handle this."

But Melanie watched him with concern as he headed for the door to the bedroom. "But this isn't your concern, Layton." She said.

Layton turned and walked back over to her. Crouching in front of her, he set his gaze on her as he took hold of her hands. "YOU'RE my concern." He stated firmly. "And I will not let him, or anyone else, hurt you like that again. So you stay here for now until I see how this is going to go."

Layton stood back up and headed for the bedroom door. As the door opened, he turned back to her.

"You stay here." He reiterated.

In the outer room, Layton went and opened the front door to the cabin.

Standing there was an extremely apologetic looking Bennett.

Layton studied the man for a moment.

"Well?" He finally asked.

Bennett had yet to look the man in the eyes. Instead he studied the floor with a great deal of interest.

"Can I talk to her?" He finally asked in a low, quiet tone.

Layton crossed his arms in front of himself as he stared down at the man. "I don't know." He replied in a level tone. "She's in the bedroom. We were just about to get down to some serious headboard banging sex in there so she can stay in my good graces. If you'd like to wait until we're finished? Maybe watch?"

To his credit, Bennett held his ground against the other man's anger.

"Look," he replied in the same quiet tone, "I'm sorry about that. About what I said. But you have to understand how I feel about her."

Layton cut the other man off as he shook his head. "I don't have to understand anything, Bennett." He stated. "It's quite frankly none of my business."

Bennett finally looked up to meet Layton's stare. But before he could say anything, Layton stopped him, leaning into the other man a little more.

"But if someone, ANYone, hurts her, THEN it becomes my business. Is that clear?"

Bennett nodded slightly.

Layton stepped back from the doorway. "I'll check if she wants to see you." He stated, shutting the door in the other man's face.

Turning around, Layton was surprised to see Melanie standing in the hallway to the bedroom.

"Well?" He asked.

Melanie stood silently for a few seconds simply staring back at him. "I guess I have to face him at some point." She finally stated. "The engine room isn't that big, after all."

"Look," he told her, walking over to where she stood, "this isn't just your problem, OK. You're not facing it alone. You know that."

Melanie stared up at him. "But it's not your problem, Layton. Why are you even getting involved in this?"

Layton gently placed his hands on her shoulders. "Because you're MY problem." He added with a half-serious smile. "And no matter how much I may not want to be a part of your...whatever it is you have with Bennett, I am now. After all, for lack of a better euphemism, we're both lying in this bed."

Melanie gave him a small laugh in return.

Layton gently stared down at her. "I know we agreed this was our secret. It wasn't anyone's business. But someone did find out. And now we BOTH have to deal with it. Agreed?"

Melanie looked up at him, and after a few moments thought, gave him a small nod.

Several minutes later the three of them were seated at the table in the main room. Layton had reheated the food Bennett had brought that morning, so they could discuss the situation over at least a nice breakfast if nothing else.

The only addition he made to the meal was to make sure they each had a cup of tea. Ruth Wardell could say what she wanted, but to Layton, 'Tea' was the 'color' of diplomacy. Especially for Bennett. Layton knew no good Englishman would ever get into an ugly fight with a cup of tea in front of him.

Both Melanie and Layton had just laid out the whole situation for the other man.

For his part, Bennett sat at the table his forehead resting in one hand as he shook his head slightly.

"Let me get this straight." He stated quietly, turning his eyes to Melanie. "Ever since Layton took over the train and you moved into this cabin, not only have you been sharing the cabin with him, but the bed as well."

Both Melanie and Layton nodded to the man.

Bennett turned to Melanie. "And this is all because you haven't had time to hook up the heating vents yet?"

Melanie nodded.

Bennett then turned a weary stare to Layton. "And you sleep in the bed with her...and this is all purely platonic."

"Except when she steals all the blankets." Layton answered, taking a sip of his tea. "Then it gets pretty ugly."

Melanie stopped from taking a bite of her bagel as she fixed a heated stare on him. "You steal all the pillows!"

Layton turned quickly to Bennett. "She snores like a bloody train horn."

Melanie gave him an indignant look. "I DO NOT!"

Bennett turned a cautious look to her. "You do."

Melanie nearly came out of her chair, but stopped herself as she fell back into it with a disgruntled huff, taking a sip of her tea.

"How do you even sleep next to her?" Layton asked, leaning towards the other man as he pointed to Melanie with a piece of toast. "It's like sleeping next to a rock. I wake up in the middle of the night and I swear, I think someone's slipped a mannequin in the bed next to me. She completely missed the last call to brace because she didn't hear the alarms going off."

Bennett stared back at the other man for a moment. The whole explanation they had given sounded a bit ludicrous to him. How could they expect him to believe that they had slept together for weeks now, but nothing had ever happened? To him, Melanie was the most beautiful woman on the whole train. From the moment he had first been introduced to her, he was utterly entranced. At that very moment he would gladly have shoved Layton off the train to take his place. To be in her bed every single night? To sleep with his body wrapped around her's, and not just for shared body warmth? How could they even remotely expect him to believe that?

But then he shifted his eyes to where Melanie sat. Two wide green eyes stared back at him. He knew all too well she wasn't a woman given to asking others to believe her. They either did or they didn't, and she left it at that. Others opinions simply didn't bother her enough to care what they thought.

But this did matter to her. On some level, he mattered. His opinion. What he thought of her. And she needed him to believe her.

Sighing quietly, he picked up his cup and took a small sip of the tea as he stared at the table.

"Tickle her." He finally replied.

Layton frowned slightly. "What?"

Bennett set the cup back down as he turned to him. "Tickle her." He repeated. "Side of the neck. Below the ear. You'll be amazed how fast she'll wake up."

Layton considered the information as he sipped at his own tea.

"Will there be repercussions for that?" He finally asked.

Bennett nodded. "Oh yeah."

Layton turned his eyes to Melanie, only to meet two narrowed eyes daring him already.

"So," Bennett went on, considering the situation, "what happens if Melanie and I...want to spend some time together?"

Layton returned a surprisingly happy smile. "Then I get the bed to myself for the night. Please feel free to spend as much time together as you want."

Layton suddenly jumped slightly as a foot nailed his shin under the table. He looked up to meet another narrowed stare.

But Bennett spoke up again, turning to Melanie. "So we can't ever...here?" He asked.

Layton immediately voice his opinion of the suggestion before Melanie could even answer. "Oh no! We have strict rules about that!"

Bennett turned to him, then back to Melanie. "Rules?"

"Several." She confirmed. "And one of them is we respect each other's side of the bed. So no...sleepovers."

Bennett raised an eyebrow. "Ever?"

Layton frowned into his cup as he returned a half-hearted reply to the suggestion. "I'd rather not have my side of the bed...sullied...with that sort of activity. Thank you."

Another slight jump as he got nailed under the table again.

Bennett considered the information, then nodded slightly. "I suppose that's fair."

Both Layton and Melanie waited as Bennett mulled over the situation.

"You do believe us, don't you, Bennett?" Melanie asked. "There's nothing between Layton and I. It's...a matter of convenience. Nothing more. And he's been the perfect gentleman. He's never tried anything. Not even once."

Bennett sighed as he sat rolling the cup in a circle on the table. "I don't suppose I have much of a choice."

Layton sighed as he turned to the other man. "I seriously don't want to mess up anything between you and Melanie, Bennett. And if it bothers you that much, I'll move out and leave the cabin to her."

Melanie sat up a little straighter in her chair. "Layton!" She steadfastly disliked someone using their position to force someone else's hand. And no matter how unintentional it may be, she felt that was what Bennett was doing.

But Layton held up a hand to stop her, still facing the other man. "I mean it." He stated. "If it makes you uncomfortable...if it makes you question her integrity in any way...if it causes problems between you...I'll move out."

Bennett sat for a moment thinking. But finally he lifted his head and turned to Melanie. "I guess...if I don't trust you...we don't have much of a relationship." He finally said. "And if you are sitting here telling me that nothing is going on between the two of you...then I'm going to believe you."

"It's not going to be forever, Bennett." Melanie said with a touch of relief. "It's just until I can find the supplies I need to fix the vents."

"What do you need?" He asked a little too quickly.

But Melanie shook her head. "I've been searching the train. I just haven't been able to find what I need yet. I would need at least six to eight more feet of duct alone. Then there's the tape and the sealant. I could probably get the duct and tape, or substitute something else for those two items, but the sealant is already in short supply and what we did still have was given over to Boki and his breechmen for repairs they need to make. I honestly don't even know if they have any left at this point."

Bennett sighed with a small smile. "Even if they did, they wouldn't tell you. Least of all if you told them what you wanted it for."

The room fell into silence again for a short while.

"Are you going to be all right with this?" Layton finally asked the other man.

Bennett paused for a minute, then turned back to him. "Just don't ever hurt her." He stated.

Layton gave him a small smile in return. "I wouldn't hurt or betray her for the world."

Melanie looked up at the comment, but said nothing.

Bennett nodded in response. "All right." He said. "As much as you don't want to interfere in my relationship with Melanie, I don't want to interfere the one between the two of you either."

"But just so we're clear," Layton added, "Melanie and I work very hard to keep this just between us. And we'd like for it to stay that way."

Bennett nodded slightly again. "Not a problem." He stated. "And I'll settle down the engine room. Don't worry about any of them."

Melanie walked Bennett to the door while Layton busied himself cleaning up the table, finally resigning himself to the kitchen to wash the dishes while giving the two of them what little privacy the room could offer.

But in a shorter time than he thought, Layton felt her step up next to him as she took the plate he was about to place in the drying rack and began drying it with a towel.

He gave her a small smile which she quickly returned.

"Well, that went better than I expected." He said, handing her another dish to dry as she put the first one away.

"I told you," Melanie replied, "he's logical. If you present him with the facts, he'll accept the situation."

"So he 'accepts' our situation?"

Melanie gave a small sigh. "He's not happy about it, but yes, he understands it. And he knows we're not lying to him about it."

"Are you going down to the engine room today?" He asked with a note of concern.

Melanie nodded slightly. "I have to face it down, Layton." She answered him. "If I run and hide, it just gives validation to everything he said."

Layton sighed as he watched her dry the last of the dishes and finally head back into the bedroom to change.

No matter how much he may not have wanted her to have to, he knew she had to face this on her own. And he knew she was right. His standing behind her threatening to take it up personally with anyone who dared so much as smirk at her wasn't going to help this go away any quicker. So instead he did what he could to make the morning as normal for her as he could, waiting for her to get dressed before meeting her at the door with his customary smile.

"See you tonight for dinner then?" He asked.

Melanie quickly returned his smile, albeit a bit tentative. "Of course." She answered him before stepping out of the cabin and heading off to the engine room.

He watched her a few minutes walk off down the corridor before stepping back into the cabin. Pausing for a minute, he lifted the corner of his shirt and gave it a quick sniff. With a slight frown he began pulling it off as he headed for the bathroom, deciding he could do with a quick shower before starting his own day.