Henry came back to find Gordon in his berth with his tender sticking out for the 3rd day in a row since his brother had been recovered.

"Your brother woke up today," Henry said as he sidled up to him. "Very briefly but he spoke to Sir Robert."

Gordon grunted in response.

"That's good I suppose," Gordon said dismissively but Henry could hear that he was relieved.

"I get you're angry that your brother left you out of his plan, maybe he had his reasons for not telling anyone," Henry offered and Gordon glared at him.

"He's always done this, I'm just furious that it was so much worse than I thought it was!" Gordon snapped, frustrated. "I thought we were behind this. I thought he was finally opening up to me! And then he does this! Did he not realise just how badly this would affect me!"

Gordon was clearly upset and on the verge of tears.

"I don't want to see him, because I'll know I'll get angry and rant at him," Gordon said sadly. "I don't want to do that, not when he's still hurt."

Henry was silent for a few minutes.

"May I tell you something I've never told anyone Gordon?" Henry said biting his lip.

Gordon looked at his best friend curiously.

"Do you remember before we were even friends, I stayed in that tunnel? Because I said I was afraid of the rain?" Henry asked.

"Yes?" Gordon said not sure where Henry was going with this.

"Well, the previous week I had been struggling to build up steam, it got worse as the days wore on and I remembered that the Controller at the time was disappointed in me and was looking to send me back and have me replaced," he said quietly. "I started failing while pulling that train. I could barely make any steam and I didn't want to be replaced so I hid in the tunnel and lied about the rain."

Henry looked ashamed of himself.

Gordon stared at him with shock and realisation.

"I'm not afraid of rain Gordon, I was afraid of being sent away and scrapped," Henry said sadly. "I think, I think your brother had the same idea. I could be wrong but I'm just trying to see it from his point of view."

Gordon looked away from Henry and stared at the back of the shed deep in thought.

According to Pendennis Castle, Flying Scotsman had been getting increasingly sicker during his rail tours and was starting to fail a lot more frequently ever since he had been returned to steam.

It wasn't common knowledge as people were keeping hush hush about the Scotsmancs ailing condition. Rail tours being cancelled for no reason and the increasing replacements for Scotsman's express line.

It frightened him when he heard that his brother was starting to fail.

He didn't want to lose him again.

He didn't want to lose the last original brother he had.

Castle had blamed it on an improper rebuild but Gordon knew that Director Cain also had a part in it. Pushing the Scotsman to constantly run and between the rail tours and his express line, he was running Scotsman into the ground.

Gordon failed to recall when his brother had last had a lengthy break from his services.

Maybe Henry was onto something with his thoughts.

"I'm sorry for constantly teasing you about being afraid of the rain Henry," Gordon apologised softly. "Thank-you for telling me though, we weren't even friends back then."

"We became friends though, after you burst your safety valve for trying to make fun of me," Henry said with a sly smile. "And besides, I got a rebuild into a proper engine so it all turned out well in the end."

Gordon's face turned bright red in embarrassment.

"I can talk to Scotsman if you like, maybe he'll relate to me?" Henry offered and Gordon gazed at him.

"He barely knows you," Gordon said. "And I would've thought you would want to avoid him because of the whole Duck's tenders thing."

It was Henry's turn to be embarrassed and he let off steam in response.

"That was decades ago! I'm sure Scotsman has forgotten!" He argued his face turning bright red.

"Hmmmm," Gordon mused. "Maybe. But I would appreciate it if you did talk to him."

"I'm talk to the Fat Controller tomorrow, see if I can head up to the castle."

"Thanks Henry."


It rained all day the next day. It matched the Flying Scotsman's mood and his health.

Victor and Jeremy had visited him up at the castle again to assess his health and do minor maintenance on him. As always these days, Scotsman barely said anything as they tried to find out what was making him so ill.

He wasn't in pain but he was struggling to build up steam again and he felt like his boiler was full of sludge.

"We'll need to give you a thorough deep clean I think," Jeremy said as he polished Scotsman's name plate. "You've built up so much grim and dirt in that mine that it's still sticking to you. You'll have to wait till the rain stops though."

The Flying Scotsman gave a grunt of acknowledgement but nothing else. He watched the little Steamworks engine trundle around him, examining him carefully.

"There's slight rust building up in some of your joints," Victor said deeply concerned. "It might not require new parts but we won't know until we can take you into the workshop and examine you properly."

The Scotsman looked defeated.

"I've spent more of the last decade in the workshop than I have on the rails," he said bitterly. "Why do you even bother anymore? I'm just a sick old engine."

Jeremy was shocked.

He'd never heard the Scotsman speak so openly before. Especially not about his own health. He usually always insisted he was fine, that a little rust was nothing or he was having a 'slow morning'.

"We bother because we adore you Scotsman," Jeremy said with great fondness. "And every engine has flaws. Even new sparkly ones like Tornado. You're almost 100 years old Scotsman, of course you're going to have problems."

The Flying Scotsman didn't look convinced.

"Most other engines don't hear the voices of dead people in their smokebox," he admitted quietly.

Jeremy and Victor glanced at each other in surprise.

"Am I insane?" Flying Scotsman asked. "Why do I keep hearing Pegler's voice? I don't- I don't know what's going on!"

Jeremy approached Scotsman carefully before placing hands on his buffers in a sign of comfort.

"I don't have answers for you Scotsman," Jeremy said quietly. "But his ashes were put through your fire. We don't know how that affects an engine. But I do know that Pegler adored you. He would have protected you and cherished you even beyond death."

The Flying Scotsman knew Jeremy was right. Maybe his freakish behaviour while he was unconscious had something to do with that.

He knew that the engines had begun speaking about it and some of them outright feared him now calling him a ghost train or a vengeful spirit. Others said he was protected by ghosts and anyone who crossed him was in deep danger.

Green Arrow had been too terrified to even be within his eyesight or presence.

"I haven't heard his voice again since I woke up," the Scotsman admitted. "The nightmares I've had for years are… they're gone now too."

Victor and Jeremy gazed at him blankly. He could see that they didn't have any answers for him.

"I'm glad your nightmares are gone," Victor offered. "You were struggling with them significantly. Now you can focus on getting better."

The Scotsman gazed at the ground with a thoughtful gaze.

The door to the castle workshop opened and the Earl entered with the Fat Controller entered followed by a woman in a long green woollen coat. She gazed at the Flying Scotsman with a look of wonder and reverence.

"Hello Flying Scotsman, Victor and Jeremy," the Earl greeted them brightly. "I'd like to introduce you to someone if you're not too busy."

"Not at all sir," Victor said with a smile.

Flying Scotsman gazed at the strange woman. He swore he had seen her before.

She had the symbol of the Railway Museum on her clothes and was distinguished much like the former director of the Railway Museum. Only she didn't have gaudy expensive clothes and the soft complexion of Cain.

Her face looked worn as someone who drove steam locomotives and her cheeks were sharp and pointed. She had an air of sterness about her yet there was a deep kindness in her eyes as she gazed at the Flying Scotsman.

"This is Olivia Spence," Sir Robert said with a wide smile. "She has been on the railways since she was very small. She is a steam locomotive engineer; however, she has replaced Cain as the director of the Railway Museum."

Olivia stepped forward to greet the Flying Scotsman, gently running her hands over him, all the while a look of admiration in her gaze.

"I've always wanted to meet you in person," she said softly to the Flying Scotsman. "You're even more amazing than I thought. Never got to meet you as Tornado's driver as you two became acquainted after I was transferred to Caitlin."

The Flying Scotsman was surprised. It was a far cry from the abusive and horrible Cain who constantly threatened and saw him only as a thing to make money off of.

She smiled up at him and the Flying Scotsman felt himself smile slightly despite himself.

"I'm Flying Scotsman," he mumbled, seeing it only polite to introduce himself even though she clearly already knew that. "It's nice to meet you ma'am."

Olivia smiled at him, it faltered when she saw how sick he looked though.

"Goodness you poor thing, you look so ill," she said concerned.

"I feel three times as worse as I look," he groaned weakly. "So you know, that's a plus I guess."

Olivia began taking off her coat and rolling up her sleeves. She threw her coat on the Fat Controller indignantly before making her way around the Flying Scotsman examining him.

"What, what are you doing?" Scotsman asked confused. He was still very nervous about people he didn't know poking and prodding him.

"I am an engineer who specialises in engines like yourself," Olivia explained. "Maybe I can help you. I'd have to get to know you though. The only A3 I've worked with is Tornado. But each engine has their own little quirks."

The Scotsman still didn't trust her, but she obviously held a far greater respect for him than her predecessor did.

"Speaking of which," she said with a warm smile. "I brought a friend to see you, to maybe cheer you up."

The doors to the Earl's private workshop opened and a large blue engine backed into the space beside him.

At first, Scotsman thought it was Gordon, but then he realised the shade of blue was different. It was darker and silver stripes and decorations were painted on the engine.

"Tornado," he breathed with a stunned look. "You look….superb."

Tornado blushed as she came to a halt beside Scotsman.

"And you look awful," she chimed back and the Scotsman narrowed his eyes at her grumpily.

"Don't be cheeky," he huffed and Tornado only laughed at him.

"Make me old man," she teased and Flying Scotsman simply smiled at her, tears in his eyes. "I missed you more than you could ever know big brother."

"I'm sorry I scared you and I'm sorry I disappeared without telling you or anyone," Scotsman said, his expression one of deep regret. "I was a cowardly fool, an idiot. Can you ever forgive your ridiculous brother?"

"Always," Tornado said with a loving smile. "Besides, I had to learn to stand up for myself and become a lot more confident in your absence."

"So you're saying you don't need me anymore?"

"I do, I just don't need you to baby me," she huffed and Scotsman rolled his eyes.

"I babied you because you are a baby," he argued. "A Small Puff."

Tornado only huffed angrily before pouting.

Tornado went bright red and gazed at the humans and Victor watching them with deep embarrassment.

"Don't. Call. Me. That!" Tornado shrieked angrily, making the Scotsman smirk. "I am NOT a small puff!"

"Yes you are," the Scotsman teased and Tornado's face twisted into a furious expression. "A very small puff. Tiny even."

"You are deplorable," Tornado sniffed.

"I thought it would be nice to have the Scotsman, Gordon and Tornado together. So I asked the Trust if they could spare Tornado for a while," the Earl interrupted with a smile. "A sort of get together, to welcome back Scotsman."

"Gordon isn't talking to me," The Scotsman said sadly. "After what I did I don't blame him."

He looked at Tornado.

"I'm surprised you're talking to me to be honest," The Flying Scotsman said quietly. "Gordon hasn't spoken to me at all since I was recovered and I don't blame him. I put you both through so much pain and stress. Although Spencer did speak to me some what amicably which was… strange."

Tornado huffed angrily.

There was no love for Spencer from her.

"Maybe I could ask Gordon to come see you," the Fat Controller suggested helpfully.

"I appreciate the effort sir but forcing Gordon to see me is not the answer," the Flying Scotsman stated clearly. "I know him well and it will only make him resent me more. He will approach me when he is ready."

Sir Topham didn't look convinced but nevertheless relented.

Olivia smiled at the Scotsman.

"You're welcome to stay on Sodor as long as you like," she told him. "I've made it clear to the railway managers on the mainland that Flying Scotsman belongs to the museum. If they demand him to replace another engine then that's tough. I would rather you take years away from the main lines to heal rather than running you into rust."

"I-" the Scotsman was shocked.

Cain had constantly pushed him out to the public and made him cover any line that needed him to the point of exhaustion. Even when he'd broken down the previous day or had been extremely ill.

Yet here this new Director was, giving him the time he needed to recover.

"Thank-you! Thank-you ma'am!" The Scotsman almost cried tears of joy.

Olivia placed a hand on his buffer gently with a wide grin.

"That's alright, I want you to be well," she smiled at him. "Though, Sir Robert or Sir Topham may give you jobs every now and then."

"I'm perfectly okay with that ma'am," Scotsman smiled at her.

"Henry has volunteered to take you to the Steamworks tomorrow," Sir Topham addressed the Scotsman. "We'll hopefully have you back to full health as soon as we can."

"Thank you sir," the Flying Scotsman gazed at those gathered around him and despite feeling horribly ill, he felt the happiest he had been in a very long time.


Tornado was waiting at the Ulfstead Castle Station the next day after Henry had taken the Flying Scotsman to the steamworks.

She wanted to follow but Olivia still had business with Sir Robert and she couldn't really go anywhere without her engineer.

She was fine though, the sun was out today and she found herself happily humming to herself.

Visitors to the castle would often come over to look at her.

One of them even mistook her for a repainted Gordon which she laughed at and quickly corrected them.

Connor and Caitlin excitedly spoke to her as they dropped their passengers off and congratulated her gaining Sir Gresley's blessings.

She couldn't get a word in with Caitlin which would normally annoy her but she was too happy to care today.

"Is the Flying Scotsman really a ghost train like everyone says he is?" Caitlin asked excitedly and Tornado stared at her confused.

"I- What?" Tornado blurted out bewildered. "What are you talking about?"

"They say he moved on his own without steam or a crew, that he chased down Green Arrow and went on a rampage," Caitlin explained and that just confused her even more.

"There's no such thing as Ghosts Caitlin," Tornado said and Caitlin pouted at her. "Don't be absurd."

"I've always wanted to meet a ghost, I've always wanted to meet Flying Scotsman too but I guess I can do both when he comes back to the castle right?" Caitlin said excitedly. "Connor thinks it's stupid rumours but I think Flying Scotsman being half ghost is rather neat don't you think Ms Tornado?"

"I don't-"

"Well, must keep time, good-bye now!" Caitlin cheerily wheeshed at her. "I love your blue paint by the way!"

The engine hurried away before Tornado could even respond to her.

Never had Tornado been left so confused or stumped.

The Flying Scotsman moving without steam.

Ghost trains?

What?

She would have to ask Gordon next time she saw him.