Next chapter coming up right now.

I do not own Thomas the Tank/Thomas & Friends or I would have kept them in their models forms.

A few weeks had passed since James's accident and luckily his arm wasn't badly damaged as it just needed a rest. Soon James was back at work with Number 5's new shiny red paint with gold and black along with proper brakes.

This new look his engine now had James loved a lot as it made him stand out from the rest though it did go to his head at times too.

He stood proud and ready when Sir Topham Hatt came to see him and Edward at Knapford.

"Ah James it's good to see you up and about. Hope the arm is good now." Sir Topham Hatt said happy that the new driver was back at work from that accident he had.

"Arm's all good sir. Good to be back." James said smiling as he was glad to be back at work seeing not being able to drive Number 5 while he was recovering was killing him. He loves his job and it burned him that he couldn't do it while he was stuck at the bunkhouse, but now he is back and he is happy to be back doing the job he loves.

"Good. Now I want you and Edward pull four Green Express Coaches part of a Stopping Passenger Train onto the Loop than to Wellsworth and I know your engine can easily pull the coaches on its own James, but it was recently repaired so I just to want to make sure it is all good before handling big trains on your own again." He said to the driver who nods in understanding despite, he rather pull the coaches on his own, but he knew better not risk it at the moment seeing his engine was only recently repaired.

Soon James coupled up to the coaches and Edward coupled up in front of him.

As they waited for the passengers to get in some people came up admiring James's engine as his red paint really stood out. They commented on how good it looked and James couldn't help, but let his ego start coming forth so thus he didn't pay attention when he accidently knocked the valve that releases steam.

Steam shot out and hit Sir Topham Hatt who was busy talking with a Porter. His new hat that he got recently was completely soaked and ruined by the steam making him very cross.

James had seen this and was glad that the guard signalled it was time to go which he quickly agreed.

"Come on let's go!" He called out and makes his engine go fast pushing Edward. "Woah! Easy there James." Edward said as he makes his engine fast enough to match James's speed.

James and Edward made good time rolling down the rails and made it to Dryaw Station in good time, but due to James going a bit too fast both engines ending stopping past the station. Two coaches were not at the platform so both Edward and James had to reverse back to make sure all coaches were at the platform so the passengers can get off.

Soon not long after they reached the Elsbridge which was Junction for Thomas's Branchline and Local Trains. Both drivers saw Thomas already there and whistled at Thomas as they arrived making Thomas whistled back in kind.

"Hello James, feeling better?" Thomas asked the other drivers as the three drivers stand on the platform chatting seeing they had some time before they had to go.

"Yeah all good now. Thanks for helping me out there, never got the chance to say thanks earlier." James said meaning what he said as he admits Thomas annoys him most time, but he still considers him a friend and felt indebted to Thomas for helping him out when he had his crash.

"No need to say thanks. I just did what anyone would do." Thomas smiled than he heard his guard's whistle. "Oh, that's my guard I got to go. I don't know what Sir Topham Hatt would do without me running this branch line." He said heading off and waved at the two who waved back as they watched leave before long they were off too.

Not long after they were running down the rails again and even past the farm that James had his crash. James shudders at the memory of crashing there and was glad they zoomed past quickly.

Soon they eventually arrived at Wellsworth letting off the last of the passengers and prepare to head back now that their run was complete. All the while, while waiting to leave James started worrying about what Sir Topham Hatt would say about him ruining his hat. These thoughts would plague James even when they left and he dreaded how mad Sir Topham Hatt would be.

As he pulled Number 5 to the sheds to see what his next run was today and much to his dread he saw Sir Topham Hatt there already waiting.

"James that was very clumsy of you to let of steam while at the station." He said sternly and James found himself unable to make eye contact with him due to fear and shame. "If you can't pay attention and be aware of your surrounds I will take away your engine's red paint and have it painted blue." He warned and James did not like that. "Now go gather your coaches and take your run."

"Yes sir…" James said quietly and timidly before driving Number 5 out of the sheds to collect his train.

Later James's ashamedness turned to anger as fetched the Orange Coaches for his train.

First he saw the three Orange Coaches that were at the station wasn't going to be enough as there were more passengers than expected. So, he had to call Thomas to see if he could borrow his two Orange Coaches so he had all five to use.

Second, even though he was luckily Thomas wasn't taking any more passengers today so he could use his coaches, but the problem was he had to go get them from Thomas's branch line which ate up time.

Third, after he had gotten back from fetching the coaches he had to fetch the other three coaches before bringing them to the platform. He was annoyed at how long it was all taking and his anger was very visible as he bumped the coaches pretty hard when he fetched them.

He snarled as he waited for the passengers, who avoided James after seeing the mood he is in, to get on board while thinking bitterly to himself. 'Gordon doesn't have to fetch his own coaches…and he is only painted blue.' He soon heard the guard's whistle and starts pulling out while muttering to himself. "I'll show them…they think Gordon is the only one that can pull coaches.'

He soon rocketed down the line and he tried to go faster and faster trying to be fast as Gordon to show anytime he did James could do better.

Problem was the Orange Coaches aren't design for this speed like the Express was. Along with him bumping them pretty hard earlier, something bad was brewing.

"Come one let's get faster." James said to himself as he made Number 5 go even faster and was too focused on it that it never occurred to him that trouble was coming his way.

As he started coming up on Henry's Tunnel he suddenly heard a loud snapping noise and the train soon came to a sudden stop.

"Oh, what now?!" He asked irritable and came out of the cab to see the Guard inspecting the coaches.

"Brake Lines have a leak…caused from that bumping and banging you did." The Guard looking at James with an annoyed look and James looked embarrassed by what he did.

"So…how do you we fix it?" James asked ashamed of himself for losing his temper and taking it out on the coaches which has caused the mess they are now in.

The Guard inspected the damage before answering. "Simple fix we just need newspaper and a leather bootlace. I got newspaper in my coach I will fetch that, but you will need to ask the passengers for the bootlace." He said before heading back to the Guard Coach while James started rounding up the passengers expanding what had happened. The passengers got very mad and blamed James than said this was a terrible railway, but James just took in stride as he starts looking for the leather bootlace.

"Excuse me sir, you have some leather bootlaces can I please use them to fix the damage?" He asked a passenger named Jeremiah Jobling who worked for a railway inspection company.

"I will not. You caused this problem with your recklessness. I will not help you fix your problems." He answered angrily, but James just simply smiled at that. "Well, I guess the train will just stay where it was. These fine people will never get to their destination now all because of you being selfish." He simply said knowing what it would do and he was right as the passengers all got mad at Jeremiah now calling him out. Soon Jeremiah reluctantly handed his bootlaces over and both James and the Guard got to the mending straight away.

Soon the leak was fixed and James got the train moving again, but gently this time and avoided bumping around again. He also knew how this was going to go down once word got around so he mentally braced himself for it as he drove the train on.

Later as everything was done and he brought the empty Orange Coaches back to the Knapford he saw Sir Topham Hatt standing very cross. James looked down at his feet refusing to look up as he was in great disgrace.

"Go to the Bunkhouse and stay there until you wanted again." Sir Topham Hatt simply said and James slowly nodded before driving off back home.

James now knew to never take his anger out on anything else again.

Hope you all enjoyed and wish you all happy holidays.