Hephaestus

Part VI - At What Price?

Once set in motion, Layton was amazed at the speed at which everything happened.

Given the chance to work on something different, Javier threw himself into the project and had sketches and plans in Melanie's hands within two days. He enlisted several of the other engineering apprentices who had a knack for drawing up blueprints and shared in the third engineer's enthusiasm for the new project.

A working forge was a completely new and different thing for them. And the challenge of it put every engineering skill they had between them to the test. But after two days, Javier and his crew proudly presented the sketches and plans to her.

While not entirely onboard with the project, harboring many of the same concerns Layton had voiced, Bennett had agreed finally, that they didn't really have much of a choice. Once the second engineer applied his ever present logic to the situation, it all came down to a simple equation for him. The train needed parts and this particular man seemed to have the skills.

So just as in any good bartering situation, a trade was made.

Once she had the sketches and plans in her hands, Melanie took them to Hephaestus, to show the metallurgist she was good to her word and they would begin working on building his new forge immediately.

But as the work began, Melanie quickly began to see some of what Layton had warned her about. The man's arrogance was all to evident to anyone who worked on the project. Insisting only he knew how to properly build a forge, he insisted on being a part of every second of the work. Multiple times he criticized the plans, stating they were incorrect and the design would never work. All of this Melanie quickly began to see wasn't to correct errors so much as to get him more than they had agreed on.

Alex and Bennett incorporated as much help from Javier and the apprentices as they could once they started on their part of the project. All of which served to get the new forge up and running in record time.

As for his new workers, Hes carefully screened each person Melanie brought to him. He had recommended more than the original number they had agreed on solely so he could pick out only the best among them.

But once in his new forge, all five were amazed at how fast Hes set to work. The man truly seemed to love what he did.

Several of the engineering apprentices had ventured down to the forge to see what went on there, but they were quickly sent packing by the short tempered metallurgist, stating they were not allowed in the forge.

"Only my workers and the pretty little engineer!" He yelled at them as they scrambled back to the engine car and back to the upper levels.

Melanie always hid her slight guilty pleasure in the idea that, while he threw all other intruders out, he indicated he would allow her entry. But when she once casually mentioned it to Layton one night while they were discussing the new forge while they got ready for bed, Layton was quick to issue his warning to her again.

"Don't underestimate him, Melanie. And don't be fooled by any special privileges it seems like he is extending to you. Everything Hes does, he does for a reason. Everything has a price."

Melanie pulled back slightly as she studied him. "I never noticed you were so cynical before." She finally commented.

"I like 'practical'."

Melanie fell silent again for a few seconds. "So tell me," she finally said, "does this have a price then?" She asked, gesturing between them.

Layton mimicked her gesture. "What is 'this'?"

"Us." Melanie replied. "Our relationship. Do you also have a price tag on that?"

Layton sighed to himself. "Audrey once told me you were the one who put a price tag on every relationship you ever had with anyone."

Melanie nodded slightly. "I used to."

"So what happened to that?"

Melanie gave him a small smile in return. "Someone came into my life who taught me maybe that wasn't the way it had to be. And maybe I started to learn to trust people just a little bit again." Her smile quickly turned to a frown. "And now he's sitting next to me telling me he doesn't believe that anymore."

Layton leaned forward on his legs as he turned to her over his shoulder. "'We' are not Hes." He explained. "It's a totally different relationship. I would trust you with my life. I've literally proved that to you. Hes I wouldn't trust any further than I could throw him over his forge. Simply because he isn't someone you trust. Some people are that way."

Melanie's expression softened a bit. "I know that, Layton. But as things move forward with the train and this new society you've created..."

"We've created." He corrected her gently.

She gave him a small smile. "...'we've' created..., I would like to at least try to imagine that the key players; you, me, Javi, Bennett, Ruth, Roche, Till, and all the others, now including Hephaestus, could all, on some level, trust and rely on each other."

Layton stared back at her for a moment. "That's a nice dream, Melanie." He replied. "But sometimes it just isn't reality. Sometimes a small amount of caution is needed."

Melanie turned back to the floor. But Layton nudged her a little against her leg, getting her to look at him.

"I'm not saying he isn't worth your trust, Melanie. Maybe, because of all you've done for him, he'll treat you differently. All I'm asking is for you to be careful with him. At least until he shows you he's worthy of that trust."

Melanie sat in silence for a moment, then gave him a small nod as she turned and crawled over his side of the bed to her's.

Layton sighed as he crawled under the covers on his own side. He liked that she was starting to learn to trust people again. To learn that every relationship didn't have to be a 'give and take' equation. And he hated even more to have to now tell her that wasn't always true. In a way, he felt like he had destroyed one of her best defenses against others on the train. Her survival skill of 'a friend to everyone, but no ones friend' had served her well in the seven years she ran the train. Who was he to tell her it was wrong?

And now he was sitting here telling her just the opposite about someone who she saw as a person vital to the train and wanting to help it survive.

He gave another deep but inner sigh as he stared at the ceiling. How could he keep her safe when all she seemed to want to do now was test out this new found skill of trusting people? Did the woman honestly not understand 'boundaries' any better than Audrey did at times?

As he try to push the thoughts out of his head for the night so he could get some sleep, an arm gently wrapped itself over his torso.

"Time to stop thinking about it." A soft voice told him in the darkness.

Layton reached over and wrapped his own arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him.

"How do you know what I'm thinking about?"

"Because I know you." She replied, curling up against his body as she relaxed in his embrace, reveling in the warmth on his side of the bed.

Layton didn't respond as he continued to study the ceiling in the darkness.

The arm over his torso gave him a slight shake. "Stop it." She stated.

"You don't just stop worrying about someone." He answered her.

"I already promised I wouldn't shut you out in any of this." She reminded him. "Anything that has to do with Hes, I'll come to you first about. Get your opinion, and then decide."

Layton gave her an assessing stare, then placed a soft kiss on the top of her head before settling back on the bed again.

"Go to sleep." He told her.

Melanie gave him a soft laugh followed by a contented sigh as she settled back into his embrace and quickly fell asleep.