"And you're certain this was just an accident?"

Gordon's driver and fireman stood anxiously across from Sir Topham Hatt's desk. Gordon's driver, Kenneth, clutched his cap. His forehead dripped with sweat. "Yes," he said finally as he glanced over at Sean, Gordon's fireman. The young fireman looked like he would be sick. "Yes, it was just an accident."

Sir Topham Hatt dropped back in his chair with a sigh. He took a moment to peek through the blinds at the big engine in question waiting on the platform. Gordon showed no signs of grief or remorse towards the situation, but that was hardly surprising. No one had seen the big engine express anything other than aggravation since Meredith's near-death accident with Spencer many years ago. Most speculated the incident traumatized Gordon despite her having survived it. But everyone knew better than to ask.

The fat controller groaned in frustration. "You're sticking with that, huh?"

"Yes, sir." A loose strand of blonde hair had fallen into Kenneth's vision, but the driver was too nervous to fix it. "Gordon's brakes had locked up and Griffith went under to check. He wiggled something and when he did they came loose and Gordon rolled forward."

Sir Topham Hatt looked to Sean for confirmation of this story and the fireman simply nodded in agreement. Another sigh. "Very good." The controller was dressed more casual than usual. A blue polo style shirt and khaki pants. He had been up late the night before talking with police and the guard's family and he had no energy to dress in his traditional attire. He hadn't even bothered to wear his hat. Sir Topham took another look out onto the platform and noticed Meredith had pulled in beside Gordon. The pair were talking quietly with Meredith occasionally peering over at the controller's office. "You said Meredith was with him?"

"Yes," Kenneth had begun to relax, however slight it may have been. "She got scared and went back to her shed before you and the police arrived."

"I'm guessing her and Gordon were planning to…" Sir Topham Hatt waved his hand in a circular motion and Kenneth and Sean both blushed.

"Yes, sir." Kenneth said with an awkward grin.

"Explains why they were on that overgrown track I suppose." The railway controller's face turned bright red as he rubbed it repeatedly with his palm. He took in a poster across the room beside his letterboxes. It was an advertisement for Doncaster Works and at the focal point was a young, bright-eyed Gordon thundering towards the poster's viewer. Sir Topham Hatt remembered how timid Gordon was when he first arrived on the island. He was such a good, reliable engine. He just wished he knew what went wrong. "Ohhh, that engine. You're free to go. I'll call you should I need anymore from either of you."

The driver and fireman both dipped their heads respectfully before they fled out the office door. Kenneth stopped in the small entryway before the exit to the platform and grabbed Sean' arm, pulling him close so he could keep his voice low. "Are you alright?"

Sean blinked. His auburn hair was as disheveled as the rest of him. "I'm fine."

"I just know you're new to Gordon is all." Kenneth said as he lessened his grip on his friend. Kenneth had worked with Gordon for about five years at that point. He never really knew the engine as anything but nasty, but he was used to it. "If you need to change engines I understand. He's a challenge to put it lightly."

Sean managed to crack a small laugh. "Don't you worry about me none. I can handle it."

"Are you sure?" Kenneth finally fixed his hair before replacing his cap upon his head.

Sean shrugged with a smile. "I'm Irish. Always down for a good challenge."

Kenneth popped an unlit cigarette in his mouth before clapping his hand onto Sean's shoulder. "Good man." They started out to the platform again and ran into Hayden who was with Alexander, Meredith's fireman. "Oh, hello, you two." Kenneth said as he nearly bumped into his fellow driver. "Where are you off to?"

"We're going to grab some lunch. We have a bit of time before Meredith's next job."

Kenneth glanced at his wristwatch. They too had a bit of a reprieve before the next express. He turned his gaze over to Gordon who was focused on Meredith as she chatted away beside him. "Gordon," Kenneth called. He couldn't help but flinch when the big engine snapped a cold glare in his direction. "We're going to have lunch with Hayden and Alex. Don't run off now, alright?"

The big engine huffed in response, only averting his gaze once the group were out of sight down the streets of Knapford. Gordon turned to look at Meredith who had paused mid-sentence when she heard Kenneth talking to Gordon. "What did he say?" She asked with a curious tilt of her body.

"Oh, he said they're going out to lunch." Gordon rolled his eyes, but then Gordon was hit with a sudden understanding of their situation and he grinned at Meredith.

"What?"

"They've gone to lunch." Gordon repeated slowly. "Which means what?"

Meredith twisted her mouth in thought. "Uhh… it means they won't be hungry."

Gordon shook his boiler. "No, no, what does that mean for us?"

"We're stuck here until they get back." Meredith frowned.

"Ugh." The express engine started up with a rush of steam then leaned closer Meredith to whisper; "It means meet me back at my berth you silly little engine."

Emerson was chugging along the coast with his summer express. The salty sea air felt cool and refreshing in the cruel season's heat. He noticed a green pannier tank engine steaming towards him with a line of slip coaches in his stead. "Afternoon, Duck!"

"Hello, Emerson." The tank engine replied with a friendly toot of his whistle. "Delivering all these holiday-makers sure helps the time fly by, doesn't it?"

"For certain." Emerson said with a chuckle as the two passed by each other. "I'll see you later?"

"Absolutely!" Duck said and he continued on towards Arlesburgh while Emerson was headed to his next stop at Tidmouth square.

As he was passing by Tidmouth sheds, Emerson noticed an excessive amount of steam curling up from the doors to Gordon's berth. The engine chuckled. He knew exactly what that meant. "I guess Gordon was able to shake that guard." Emerson murmured to himself as he sped on towards the town square.

When Emerson pulled up to Tidmouth square he noticed Stephen, a small steam engine with a wooden boiler and tender, waiting on the track beside him. Stephen was waiting to pick up tourists to take to Ulfstead. "Afternoon, Stephen. Best avoid taking your passengers by the sheds if you can. They're… occupied."

Stephen chuckled. "Gordon and Meredith I presume?" Emerson nodded and the old engine laughed again. Stephen was a kind and wise engine. He was one of the very first steam engines to ever be built. His front driving wheels were tall, powered by cylinders that pointed up in the air. His face was gentle, with deep wrinkles around his eyes and a dewdrop of a nose. "I remember those days. The pickings were much more slim back then. Nowadays you modern engines have a slew of options."

Emerson shrugged as he watched the tourists pile into Stephen's open air carriages. "I've never actually- you know."

"Oh really?" Stephen raised his brow in disbelief. "A handsome engine such as yourself? I find that difficult to believe."

Another awkward shake from Emerson. He peered over to the Tidmouth Town Hall. Tourists crowded at the entrance, many of them admiring the engines perched at the platforms. He enjoyed the attention from the humans. Emerson just wished he got that same admiration from another engine.

The air in the sheds was wet and hot. Gordon had Meredith pinned to his berth's buffer stops in a deep kiss. It had only been a week since their last encounter but they bumped and groaned like it had been years. Gordon reluctantly pulled himself from Meredith, his breath was shaky and his face was dripping with hot condensation. He smiled at Meredith who was as much of a mess as him. She had become the only engine to ever be graced by the express engine's bright grin. It made the little tank engine's boiler bubble. Meredith adored Gordon's smile and the way it lit up his whole face.

The two sat in comfortable silence as they did their best to regulate their steam and breathing. Then Meredith nudged Gordon's buffer. "Think we should get back?"

The big engine huffed. "I suppose."

"After you." Meredith gestured towards the entrance to the berth and Gordon exhaled angrily through his nose before he shoved through the doors.

The pair managed to arrive back at Knapford and couple up to their coaches before their drivers and firemen returned from their lunch. Meredith's eyes darted around the station nervously. Engines weren't supposed to go anywhere without a driver or fireman and she worried if anyone had seen them.

"Don't worry about it, my love." Gordon had noticed Meredith's nervous glancing. "No one saw us."

"Are you sure?" Meredith's voice was low. Thomas had just pulled in with his coaches, Annie and Clarabel.

"Would I ever steer you wrong?" Gordon leaned close and gave Meredith's boiler a gentle bump. "Trust me, okay?"

"Okay." The little white tank engine wasn't entirely convinced. But she trusted Gordon and she knew he wouldn't do anything to put her at risk.

A few moments of silence passed. Meredith had begun to converse casually with Thomas while Gordon sat and listened. "I see you've had your tanks repaired after your little scuffle with James."

Thomas rolled his eyes. "Yeah. I don't know what his deal was. Sure James is pretty particular about his coaches, but I've never known him to get that mad about it."

"It might've just been the heat." Meredith said with a shrug. "I know excessive heat makes me pretty irritable."

Gordon let out a small snort coupled with an underhanded comment. "That's putting it mildly." He said, which earned him a swift knock to his footboards from his partner.

Thomas ignored Gordon's commentary. "Maybe, but he's still not apologized."

"Give him time." Meredith reassured. By then Hayden, Alexander, Kenneth, and Sean had returned and were all climbing back into their engines' cabs. "You're friends and sometimes friends fight. He'll come around."

"We'll see." Thomas dropped his gaze but quickly perked back up once he heard the whistle signal for him to depart. "Anyway, I'll see you later, Mer. Bye, Gordon."

Gordon grunted while Meredith gave a goodbye peep on her whistle as she watched Thomas and his lovely coaches depart from the station. "Did you have a nice lunch?" Meredith asked of her driver and fireman.

"Oh yeah, though it was kinda heavy." Hayden said as he dabbed the sweat that had already begun to accumulate on his brow. "I'm hoping that wasn't a mistake given this heat."

"Well, if you're gonna hurl, please make sure it's outside my cab." Meredith teased. This made Gordon chuckle. Meredith had managed to shove the gruesome events of the night before to the back of her mind, but hearing Gordon's laugh brought it all flooding back. The horrid tearing sound the guard's body made as Gordon's wheels ripped through him. The blood that had pooled and mixed in the dirt by the track. She remembered the coppery smell that wafted up from the heap of mangled organs and exposed bones. Then she remembered Gordon's smile and that deep, dark laugh. The recent years have shown Gordon in a bit of a downward spiral and she's stuck by him loyalty. But the little tank engine was starting to feel scared. Something was seriously wrong with her partner. She needed to figure out what and fast before any other engines -or humans- were caught up in it.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it and Happy Holidays for anyone else! I'm keeping the post script short as it's late and I've got a long day ahead of me! I hope you all are enjoying probably one of the most serious fics I've ever written. Lol. Feel free to ask any questions regarding the storyline/AU/etc. I'll answer everything I can in the post scripts!

Thank you for reading and don't forget to follow and review!

Much love;

Bumble