Tornado watched one by one as the other engines at Tidmouth Sheds were given their tasks for the day.
Today was Flying Scotsman's last day on Sodor before leaving for his rebuild. It would be even busier than most of the engines had seen for a long time as his final Rail Tour took him all over the island.
They'd dragged a few mainland diesels in to assist and a new permanent diesel named Bear who had supposed to arrive instead of the Diesel 10. A brief recovery attempt had been made to retrieve the engine but it had been deemed too dangerous and the mine was finally sealed permanently before the tracks were completely ripped up.
Sir Topham Hatt or Olivia said nothing to Tornado, waiting until all the engines had left before even acknowledging her.
"Hello Tornado, how are we feeling today?" Olivia smiled up at the Peppercorn Pacific. "Well I hope?"
"I'm better, ma'am," Tornado answered with a brave smile. "But still not great."
"I'm glad to hear you're doing better at least," Olivia said. "You'll have a special job today. You'll be double heading with Flying Scotsman in case he has a breakdown. Do you think you can handle it?"
"I um, I don't know, things are awkward between us," Tornado said nervously. "I think he's still angry at me for what I did to Green Arrow."
"Maybe at the time but my feelings on the incident don't matter compared to Arrow's," a voice said and Tornado looked up to find Flying Scotsman trundling towards them slowly.
He had an unreadable expression on his face. Tornado squirmed anxiously at the sight of him. She hadn't seen or spoken to her adoptive big brother since seeing him after Green Arrow had been taken out of the mine.
Scotsman reversed into the berth next to Tornado as the Young Iron gazed nervously at the ground.
She'd promised Gordon however. She had to try and talk to him.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I wasn't okay, I was upset and I… I don't… I wasn't-"
"It's alright Tornado, you don't have to explain yourself, you've had a rough year from what Bittern's told me," Flying Scotsman said kindly. "It doesn't excuse your actions but I'm not going to hold what happened against you. The person you need to apologise to is Green Arrow, he was the one you hurt."
Tornado looked guilty at Scotsman.
"I went to see him yesterday but I ran away like a coward," she mumbled nervously. She blinked back tears as she remembered what had happened. "I just, the fact that Green Arrow might not run again and it's my fault! I just-"
Tornado felt hot tears burn down her face.
"I never intended for anyone to get hurt, I'm really sorry, I-I- got scared when I saw him!" She burst into tears. "I'm sorry that I'm a terrible person."
"Tornado, you are not a terrible person," Flying Scotsman affirmed. "You did something stupid and you're clearly feeling regretful for what you did. But I do want you to take responsibility for what happened and work to fix it even if it takes a long time. Can you do that for me?"
"Yes, yes I can do that," Tornado said. "I promise I'll make things right."
Scotsman smiled at her. "I'm glad to hear that Tornado. But I also want you to look after yourself alright? So this doesn't happen again."
"That's easier said than done Scott," she pointed out glumly.
"I know Tornado, but Rebecca and Gordon will be here to look after you if you need someone to talk to or confide in," Scotsman said with a kind smile. "Gordon suggested that you double head with me today so we could talk."
Tornado smiled. Gordon wasn't openly affectionate but he did show his caring nature in his own way.
"I promised him I would talk to you," Tornado said. "I guess he was making sure."
"Gordon's good at that, I trust him to look after you while I'm being restored," Scotsman grinned. "Green Arrow still cares about you Tornado. Even if you aren't friends anymore, Arrow told me he still cares deeply for you and that he risked everything to save you."
Tornado was surprised.
"Really? Even after everything I said to him?"
"Of course, but you really should speak to him yourself," Scotsman smiled at her. "Arrow and I have our issues with each other but that's okay, that's for us to sort out. You don't have to choose between us, you can befriend whomever you like, you know."
"I'll talk to him," Tornado said, gaining some confidence. She was very happy to know that Arrow still cared about her despite everything. "I, I really do miss him, even after everything."
"Well, I hope you can sort everything out," Scotsman beamed at her. "Will you be alright to stay on Sodor while I'm gone?"
"Yes, yes I think I'll be fine," Tornado said. "Gordon and Rebecca will be here."
"Ms Olivia will be here too," Scotsman pointed out looking at the woman.
Tornado looked at the woman who had been quietly watching them but was now approaching Tornado.
"But Ms Olivia will be having her baby," Tornado said looking down at Olivia who was wrapped up in her huge woolen coat, a hand on her swollen stomach the other on her buffer. "She won't have time to deal with me and my silliness."
"Oh Tornado," Olivia laughed with a playful rub of her buffer. "I may not have the time to be with you everyday, but you'll always be my baby girl."
Tornado pouted.
"I am not a baby," she huffed and the Scotsman laughed.
"Well, you're certainly pouting like one," Olivia reprimanded her. "So, are you good to double head the train with Scott today?"
"As long as he doesn't pull any of his tricks," Tornado said with an annoyed look at Scotsman.
"Tricks? Me? Never!" Scotsman said innocently but blushed and dropped his coy smile when he saw Olivia glaring at him.
"You heard the lady, no tricks on your last day, I don't want to deal with your little pranks before I go on maternity leave," she scolded him.
"But you wouldn't be the one dealing with them if you're going on leave, Mr Stainer would be," Scotsman pointed out.
Olivia looked almost tempted but steeled herself.
"If it was anyone else except Tornado, I may have turned a blind eye," Olivia said snidely. "But no pranks on Tornado, she's had a rough time as it is."
"Alright then Ms Olivia," Scotsman assured her with a glance at Tornado.
Tornado just pulled a grumpy face at him, making him laugh.
"No pranks on the small puff," he teased and Tornado looked murderous at the much hated nickname.
"I AM NOT A SMALL PUFF!" She shrieked furiously to which Scotsman only laughed.
Henry Stainer was more than happy to see Tornado and Flying Scotsman double heading a train around the Island. They'd had to quickly bring in Spencer from the mainland to deliver more coaches last minute as Sodor didn't have any more coaches to spare.
"Hello Flying Scotsman, Hello Tornado!" He greeted them trying to avoid the press of people around them trying to get glimpses of the two engines as they stood at the platform, their coaches being filled.
"Hello Mr Stainer sir!" Both engines greeted him.
"I'll be taking over the museum from the start of next month which means I'll be over seeing the start of your restoration Scotsman," Stainer informed him.
"Thank-you sir, but I must stress as wonderful as the Black Fives are, I'd like to remain a Gresley Pacific sir," Scotsman said and Olivia scowled at him from next to Stainer.
"Scotsman don't be rude," she snapped at him but Stainer laughed.
"It's alright," he smiled. "It's a joke Olivia, it's fine."
"I'm sorry if I caused offense," Scotsman said and Stainer waved him off.
"It's fine Scotsman, no offense taken," Stainer then turned to Tornado.."I heard you've been having a hard time recently young Tornado."
Tornado looked at the ground guiltily.
"Yes sir, sorry sir," Tornado said quietly. "I'm trying to better myself sir."
Stainer simply smiled.
"I hope you know that you can speak to Olivia or myself if you are having trouble," he said and Tornado looked at him and found him smiling warmly at her.
"I know sir, I just find it hard to approach people. I don't want to burden them with my problems," Tornado avoided the two NRM leaders' gazes.
"Tornado, our job is to make sure that you are looked after and your needs are addressed," Stainer said supportively. "You are no burden to us sweet girl."
Tornado blushed and gave a small smile at his words.
"You make sure Scotsman behaves himself now don't you?" Olivia pointed at her and Tornado gave a giggle.
"Yes ma'am!" She said brightly and in front of her Scotsman wheeshed steam, annoyed but he was ignored.
The two leaders said a brief hello to Lydia who was coupled behind Tornado, before climbing in with the Fat Controller.
"First things first I guess," Stainer said gazing at the Fat Controller. "Green Arrow."
"Ah yes," Sir Topham said. "I knew that your visit wasn't a social one."
"Indeed not," Stainer smiled. "The board has debated and we've reached a verdict on what to do with him."
Olivia noticeably frowned but said nothing.
"The museum will sell you Green Arrow, but there are conditions," Stainer said.
"I expected nothing less," Sir Topham said.
"Green Arrow will be sold to you under the condition that he remains as part of the Museum's collection. He will be the centre piece for the Sodor Branch of the NRM and if requested, he will be pulled from services on Sodor for Museum events or functions," Stainer explained.
"That sounds agreeable to me," Sir Topham said. "I understand that we will be allowed to repair and restore him as we see fit."
"Yes and no," Olivia warned. "You're not to make any alterations to his design. He is to be preserved as close to his original design as possible. The only exceptions to be made are those with safety concerns."
Sir Topham Hatt nodded at both leaders. "We have every intention of honouring those conditions, you have my word. Green Arrow is by far the hardest working engine I have ever met, I wish to do right by him."
"The main issue is his cracked cylinder and his boiler ticket," Stainer said. "The cylinder will have to be made from scratch and any new boiler will have to be rectified."
"What about his voicebox?" Sir Topham asked concerned.
"It was found," Olivia said. "Yvonne's house was searched by police and his voice box was found hidden in a safe in her basement."
"It's being used as evidence however so it cannot be returned until legal proceedings finish," Stainer mused quietly. "It was in good condition however, which is a good sign."
"Still, I'd rather have Green Arrow with a voice," Sir Topham said. "Do you think a specialist engineer would be able to help him."
Olivia and Stainer looked at each other. They heard the two engines in front of them suddenly blast there whistles and the crowd that had gathered outside to watch celebrate.
"It's worth a shot I guess," Stainer said. "Bit of a warning though, Arrow was known to have a bit of a reputation for lies and deception."
Olivia stared at the window as the coach slowly began to move forward.
"Somehow, I don't think he'll be pulling that stuff anymore," she said watching as Knapford Station began to disappear behind them.
"Thomas?" Gordon asked as he saw the little tank engine pull into Ulfstead Castle late that night. "What are you doing here? Where's Scott?"
"Flying Scotsman took my berth at Tidmouth, he told me to go keep you company up here," Thomas said with a bright smile.
Gordon just rolled his eyes. "Just what I need, a small little tank engine chatting away while I try to sleep." He grumbled.
Bittern chortled beside him. "Oh and you'd prefer Scotsman yelling about snow for hours on end?"
"You kept antagonising him!" Gordon hissed at Bittern.
"It's funny," Bittern didn't even attempt to deny it. "Angry Scott is fun. You do realise he plays it up right? He's not actually that angry, if anything he just wants to annoy you. You never get into dumb and stupid arguments with your friends?"
Gordon huffed but didn't say anything.
"No Gordon usually sulks instead," Thomas teased and Gordon looked furious with him.
"Thomas!"
"What it's true!" Thomas defended. "You're just a big grumpy sulky bear, look you're doing it right now!"
"Shut up!"
"Oh ho ho!" Bittern grinned mischievously. "I am going to have fun with you! Does Scott ever tell you about our little escapades?"
"I'm not going to lower myself down to your childish pranks!" Gordon snapped before reversing himself into his berth without another word. "Besides, the Fat Controller would not approve of anything you do."
Bittern and Thomas were left staring at each other.
"Ah, I guess that settles that huh?" Bittern said with a yawn.
Thomas however caught Bittern's cheeky wink at him and the two engines grinned at each other.
Suddenly Scotsman's words of 'you can get to know Bittern a little better' made sense.
Scotsman had told Thomas that Bittern was a trickster and a prankster after Thomas had tried to trick Scotsman into getting stuck on Gordon's Hill despite Edward warning him that it wasn't a good idea.
Flying Scotsman had instead humoured him, playing along until he'd suddenly shunted Thomas at terrifying speed up Gordon's Hill before calling him obvious and an amateur.
In turn, Scotsman had tricked Thomas into being coupled backwards to the back of Henry's goods trains and almost pulled to the mainland without Henry even noticing. The experience had been terrifying.
For the weeks afterward, going backwards made him feel queasy.
Thomas had thought Gordon's trick with the express was bad. Scotsman's tricks were on another level entirely.
Scotsman did apologise, fearing he may have taken it too far as he usually pulled those tricks on bigger engines who could handle it but Thomas, despite feeling sick for weeks, had found the entire thing hilarious and took it in his stride.
Bittern and Scotsman were very much locked in a prank war that occasionally resurfaced every now and then.
Gordon had made both of them swear not to pull anything on him or he'd go straight to the Fat Controller. Both engines swore to not do anything to Gordon calling him a tattle tale and boring.
Gordon never said anything about Thomas though.
Thomas watched as Bittern reversed into his own berth without another word with a smug smile.
Thomas looked over and saw a sleepy Green Arrow watching him curiously. He immediately smiled and went over to him.
"Hello Arrow," Thomas said as he reversed back into the berth next to Green Arrow's.
Arrow seemed to brighten up at Thomas' presence. He smiled at the tank engine clearly happy to see a friend.
From what he'd heard from Ryan, Arrow liked having someone next to him as it helped him calm himself down whenever the pain got too much for him.
Not only that but Thomas figured that the engine could use some company.
Hello Thomas.
"Are you doing okay?"
One could be better. But one doesn't complain.
Green Arrow had been very annoyed with Scotsman and his other cousins. There fighting had kept him up long into the night and so he'd had to sleep most of the day to catch up on sleep.
"Ryan tells me that he's so happy to meet you, he never really got to meet any of his cousins until he came here. Gordon doesn't really pay any attention to him," Thomas said. "Makes sense I guess, he's up at Harwick and doesn't really see him."
Green Arrow yawned wearily before looking at Thomas.
He hoped Thomas didn't talk all night. But at least it was better than Scotsman shouting at Bittern all night.
Is Tornado okay?
"Scotsman came by and talked to her this morning, she- she had a meltdown last night and Gordon took her home," Thomas explained. "I… I really hope she's okay."
She came to see me this yesterday morning. But then she left without saying a word.
"Oh, she did?" Thomas asked.
Yes. I've never seen her so… I don't know… but I know she wasn't okay.
"Maybe talking to Scotsman helped her? She was still asleep at Tidmouth Sheds when I left this morning. Scotsman went by soon after," Thomas said. "But you'd have to talk to her yourself."
I suppose so. I'm worried she still hates me.
"Maybe she does, but you'll never know until you talk to each other," Thomas pointed out.
I guess, you're right Thomas.
The larger engine smiled at Thomas and closed his eyes, almost immediately falling asleep. Thomas soon joined him.
The next morning, Bittern, Thomas and Green Arrow woke up to Gordon's very loud and angry bellow.
"WHO THE HELL PUT AN EEL IN MY TENDER?!"
Green Arrow just sat there bewildered while Bittern giggled to himself as Gordon turned on him and started accusing him angrily.
Arrow didn't miss the cheeky smirk Thomas made before pretending to fall back to sleep.
For updates, art and small short stories from the Young Iron AU, you can find me at tornadoyoungiron on tumblr.