Authors Note: I know this story is something different but i just wanted to say thank you to those who are interested in it and to those who have checked it out. Things are about to get a bit rough this time in this chapter so here we go.
It had been another quiet day at the pawn shop for Mr. Gold. Not many people came in to bother him and when they did it was usually to pay him rent or other money owed. That he liked. He was standing at his desk staring a globe of the earth letting his thoughts wander when the shop door sprang open with a bang taking a toll on the bell above his door. "You do realize I require the use of that door," Gold said and looked up to see Regina glaring at him.
"What's your game Gold," she snapped.
"Game? What game are you referring to Mayor Mills," he asked calmly, limping out from behind the counter with cane in hand.
"You know damn well what I mean. You're trying to get him to remember. Why?"
"Honestly I haven't the slightest idea who or what you are talking about and frankly if you've come here to rant, I have no wish to hear it."
"Oh, come on Gold," she said raising her voice in frustration. "Jack. The picture. That train of his 'fathers' he's repaired."
"He's got it running? Good. I was worried those parts I got for his father were going to go to waste."
Regina gritted her teeth. "You've always thought you were a clever but I can tell you right now I have a few tricks of my own."
"Are you alright Madam Mayor," Gold asked with a concern look. "You don't look like you've gotten much rest lately. So instead of being here playing twenty questions with me you should be at home getting some sleep. I have a lot of work to do today so would you show yourself out?" And before she could open her mouth he added, "Please."
She couldn't find the words to say anymore and felt compelled to leave. She turned and stormed out the door.
"Have a pleasant rest," Gold said with a smile as she left.
Jack had finished shoveling what coal he could into the firebox of the engine. The fire was burning hot and steam was pouring out of the smoke stack. He looked at his watch and saw it was 2:30 pm. Unable to wait any longer he would have to get the train moving with or without Emma. He put his hand on the throttle ready to push it forward and he heard a horn honk and he looked to see Emma pulling up in her yellow bug.
"You're late," he called out to her.
"You said around two. You didn't say two on the dot," she smiled.
He shrugged his shoulders. "True. Come on up."
She got out of her car and walked up to the engine. She put one foot up on the step, he grabbed her hand and pulled her up into the cab.
"I've never seen one of these up close before. Gotta admit it's kinda cool. How do you feel?"
"Nervous and excited," he replied. "I mean it was my father's dream to get this running and he isn't here to see it."
"I'm sure that if he was here he'd be proud of you Jack," she smiled. "Come on let's get this thing moving."
"Yeah, she's waited long enough," he replied.
He pushed the throttle easily and the train lurched forward. He could hear the wheels screech a bit as they began to rotate, and he couldn't help but smile. He pushed the throttle forward slightly more and put his hand on the brake to control the speed. He was tempted to put her through her paces since he checked the tracks early that morning and found no damage or anything lying on them but he knew he had to take it easy.
Emma and Jack looked around as the train took them away from the old train platform and into the woods. The train was running just like clockwork. Emma looked over at Jack standing at the break and watched him for a moment. She had never seen anyone smile that big. After several minutes they came into a clearing and they both took the time to look around at the scenery. In the distance was more trees and beyond was the ocean. Jack had always imagined him and his father taking this ride together but the fact that Emma agreed to come meant a lot.
"I almost forgot about the best part," Jack shouted and pointed to the cord for the whistle. "You want to do the honors?"
"This is your show," she replied.
Jack grabbed the cord and gave it a tug. The whistle sounded so loud and clear that he bet everyone in town could hear it. He chuckled happily, pulling the cord a few more times. As they began to enter woods again, he applied the break more. The track was nearing its end and the only thing that was at the end was a concrete train buffer. He soon had the locomotive at a full stop. He then pulled back on the throttle putting it in reverse and in no time at all they were approaching his home again.
To his surprise he saw Mary Margaret leaning against her car that was parked next to Emma's. As they got close Jack grinned to himself let the whistle sound long and loud. Mary Margaret was beaming at him and clapping her hands. As they pulled back to the old train platform, he pulled the break, and the train came to halt.
"I though Dr. Whale said no strenuous activity," she called out.
"Strenuous? Does this look strenuous," he smiled as he and Emma jumped down from the cab.
"I can't believe you got it running. I mean I can believe it but…wow," she smiled.
As Jack walked up to Mary Margaret his head pounded. A Steam engine is like a large steel horseless carriage Snow, he heard is own voice say. It can take you anywhere you want to go. I know you'd would enjoy riding one and I'm sure little Emma would too.
Jack slightly stumbled and blinked his eyes.
"Jack are you alright," Mary Margaret asked.
"Yeah…I'm fine," he replied, rubbing his temple. "No problem. I just have a bit of a headache. Probably from the excitement and lack of sleep."
"You should had resting in the first place," Mary Margaret frowned.
"I'm sorry. I just had to get it done. I felt like I had to finish it."
"I understand this is because of your dad but you need to take care of yourself," she said then she thought for a moment. "Look I'm sure you want to show this to the town, right? How about I go to the next town council meeting this week and we can set up a date for you to show it off. I'm sure the kids at school would love to see an actual steam engine up close. Maybe you can teach them a thing or two about them."
That was Mary Margaret, always thinking about her students.
"That would be great," Jack smiled.
"But you need to promise you will rest till then. No more late nights." Jack pulled a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket and Mary Margaret smacked them to the ground. "And no more smoking," she added.
"I promise," he said.
"Good," she replied and gave him a hug. "I got to get back to town. I was able to get a day off to catch up on grading papers and I still have a few to finish."
"I have to go too Jack," Emma said. "It was definitely fun though I have to say."
"Thanks. I'm glad I had someone here with me."
Emma smiled and walked toward her car.
"I'll call you later," Mary Margaret said and got in her car.
Jack stood and watched them drive off before turning back to the steam engine. "We finally did it Dad," he said looking up and the sky. "You're work paid off."
About a week or so passes and the town sees its share of excitement. John Doe woke from his coma and wandered off into the woods where he was found by Emma, Mary Margaret and Sheriff Graham. Soon after Regina found his wife and they discovered his name is really David Nolan. David is still suffering from amnesia and Jack knows Mary Margaret had grown close to him even though he has a wife. Love is a complicated thing sometimes. And on top of everything else Emma moved in with Mary Margaret after getting kicked out of her room at the bed and breakfast and Ashley ran off and almost lost her baby to Mr. Gold. Now Graham has just offered Emma a deputy's position. The craziness never stops.
The town council had set a time and a date for the unveiling of Jack train. On Saturday at 12 Jack was supposed to drive the train to the clearing that he and Emma had went through where almost the whole town would be there waiting to see it. Vendors would be set up and a small music stage as well. Not much had very happened in the small town till recently and they were wanting to try and make an event out of this. Jack had spent most of his time cleaning the outside of the train to try and make it look its best as possible.
It was Friday and he was resting in his home after cleaning out the engines firebox when there was a knock at the door. Jack got up from his couch and opened the door to see Ruby, all dressed in red to the nines, standing there with a smile on her face and a bottle of bourbon in her hand. "Tomorrow's the big day," she said. "Time to celebrate!"
"Ruby," Jack said. "You realize it's just a little after three, right?"
"As they say, 'it's five o'clock somewhere'," she smiled and walked inside.
Jack smirked and closed the door. He walked into the kitchen to grab some glasses and he sat down next to her on the couch. He opened the bottle and poured them each a drink. "So does Granny know you're here," Jacked asked, handing her the drink.
"No," she replied. "She thinks I'm out doing errands."
"Do you really think she thinks that," Jack asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Um…No," she answered with a small smile and took a drink.
Jack chuckled a bit, grab the glass and turned it up. He could tell this wasn't the cheap stuff they usually got.
"So, where did you get this," he asked.
"Funny story actually. It was a gift."
"From who?"
"Mayor Mills," she answered.
Jack almost spit out the drink. "You're sure it isn't poisoned," he said.
"I stood right there while she bought it. She saw me go into the store and asked if I was heading to your place and then she offered to buy it," Ruby said.
"Why would she want to buy us a bottle of booze? And how does she know we drink together?"
"Mayor Mills said it her way of saying congratulations on finishing your dads project. And to answer the second question, I have no idea. She knows a lot. Too much if you ask me."
"I'll drink to that," Jack said and took another drink.
Ruby had always been able to out drink Jack and not show any sign of a hangover the next morning and so he decided this time he was going to beat her. That ended with him passed out on his couch that evening, her grabbing a blanket from his closet and covering him up and taking a cab home to get yelled at by Granny. As Jack slept his dreams began to haunt him again.
Everything was dark except for a bright light in the distance. As he walked toward it the light grew brighter then suddenly it turned into a blinding flash. He could see a woman that appeared to be Ruby but she wore a red hood and fangs protruded from her lips. An inhuman howl filled his ears as fog enveloped her. He then saw he was standing next to a steam locomotive that wasn't his fathers but a different one. In front of him stood a beautiful blue-eyed raven-haired woman. He reached out to touch her face. "I remember you," he said and as he touched her, she turned into a black cloud of smoke and disappeared. His heart felt as if it were about to burst, and the trains whistle blew loud and shrill. It began to get louder and more distorted. He felt it banging on his skull, pounding in his brain. He wanted to scream.
Jack sat up on his couch, cold sweat dripping down his face. "Am I going crazy," he asked himself. He looked at the empty bottle on the coffee table and felt a wave of nausea hit.
"No more," he swore and eased himself up off the couch. He looked at the clock on the wall and saw it was almost ten thirty. He knew he needed to pull himself together and get the train ready to go. He took a quick shower, got dressed and headed out the door.
He did his best to ignore his pounding head as he shoveled the coal into the fire box and lit the fire. He waited for the boiler to heat up and about an hour later the water was good and hot and steam was pouring from the train's smokestack. He looked at he could see Emma's car tearing down his driveway and, in the passenger's seat, was Henry.
"Hello Henry. Deputy Swan," he greeted them as they got out of the car.
"Please, leave the Deputy stuff for when I bust you for J-walking," Emma joked. "And besides I haven't fully decided to take the position just yet."
Henry smiled and saluted Jack. "Hello Sergeant," he said.
Jack almost felt compelled to salute back but he just chuckled. "You still like that code name, huh?"
"Make sense, doesn't it?"
"Because I was a Sergeant in your book?"
Henry nodded.
Jack didn't want to crush the kid's fantasy. Emma and Henry had told him about 'Operation Cobra' and since then Henry had been dying to give him a code name, Sergeant it was.
"So, what are you guys doing here," Jack asked.
"Well Henry wanted to ride to the clearing with you," Emma said.
"Did the Mayor ok this?"
"Of course she wouldn't," Henry said. "That's why we didn't tell her."
"Kid, when you say it like that it sounds really bad," Emma said and buried her head in her hands.
"It'll be fine. I think that when me and Henry come pulling up she will see how much fun he's having and she will probably let this one slide," Jack said.
Henry beamed and darted to the drain. "Come on let's go," he shouted.
Emma had a worried look on her face. "I'm sorry. He just wanted to ride so bad, and I figured you wouldn't mind the company."
"No, it's ok. If Regina does say anything tell her it was my idea, alright? Besides he can't be any safer. Tracks are clear and the old girl is running fine."
"Alright. I'll see you two at the clearing," Emma said. "Henry, do what Jack says ok?"
"Ok mom," he replied hastily.
The word 'Mom' hit her like a ton of bricks. She turned and got into her car and drove off.
"Alright Henry, ready to go," Jack asked.
"Definitely," he smiled.
Jack helped him up into the cab and he climbed up himself. He pushed the throttle forward slightly and locomotive began to move. As they began to pick up speed, he could see Henry looking around excitedly. Jack couldn't help but smile watching the kid have a good time.
"So, where's the whistle," Henry asked.
Jack pointed to the cord and Henry immediately pulled it. Down at the clearing all the townsfolk could hear the whistle. There were small tents set up, concession stands and a few rides, mostly small carnival stuff. Almost the entire town showed except for Mary Margaret who told Jack and Emma she just wanted to spend some time to herself.
Everyone waited anxiously for the train to arrive. Emma stood next to Regina explaining to her how safe Henry was on the train but for some reason no matter what she seemed to say Regina remained panicked.
As they came up on the clearing Jack began to slow the train down. The break felt a bit strange as he applied it, but he assured himself it was nothing.
"Alright Henry, sound the whistle! Long and loud this time," Jack shouted. Henry pulled the cord again and the sound of whistle and steam filled the air. As they came into the clearing everyone began clapping a cheering. Jack could feel himself swelling up with pride.
He began to apply the brake more to bring it to a stop, but the train wouldn't stop. It just kept moving. "What the hell," Jack said as the brake came lose in his hands. He went to pull back on the throttle, but it began to come loose as well. "No, no, no," he panicked.
"What's wrong Jack," Henry asked, worried.
"Just relax Henry, everything's going to be ok," he replied trying to stay calm.
Jack tried to apply the emergency break, but it wouldn't bring the train to a full stop. The crowd was full of worry and fear as they saw sparks flying from the train wheels. Jack held back on the break to keep the train from picking up speed. "Help! I can't stop it! Emma! Someone help," he cried out. Henry began waving his arms and shout for help as well.
Emma watched Henry waving his arms frantically and screaming help. She darted through the crowd toward the tracks. She ran up alongside the train and Jack was pulling as hard as he could on the break to keep the train slow.
"Emma, grab Henry! I can't get it to stop," he yelled.
Emma held out her arms and cried out, "Come on, Henry! Jump!"
Henry jumped into Emma's arms and they both fell backward to the ground. As they dropped to the ground the break broke off in Jacks hands due to the resistance. The train began to pick up speed. He tried messing with the throttle again, but it was no use. He couldn't stop it. He could see the concrete buffer coming up fast.
"Son of a bitch," he yelled out in fear and frustration as he jumped off the train.
He cried out in pain as he hit the ground hard. He sat on the ground as he watched all his fathers, and his own hard work, ram into the concrete buffer, derail and land on its side. He began to get up and he heard a shrill whistling. He moved away as quick as he could in case the boiler exploded. He ran into the woods and found a large oak for protection. He heard a loud boom as the boiler went up in a fire ball sending hot shrapnel everywhere. Luckily, he wasn't hit.
He limped out of the woods and dropped to the ground. He sat and watched with a heavy heart as the locomotive had become nothing but a ball of twisted steel and fire. "I checked everything," he said to himself as he stared blankly at the burning wreckage. "Everything twice."
He could hear sirens closing in. He looked to see two fire trucks, an ambulance, Emma's bug, and Grahams police car spending alongside the tracks toward him. The fire trucks passed him up and went to take care of the burning wreckage. Jack stood up, wincing as he felt something stab him in the chest. He knew a few of his ribs were broken. Everyone stopped and hurried out of their cars.
"Oh my god, are you alright," Emma said running up to him.
Jack didn't even know what to say.
As Emma began to look Jack over, they all saw Regina's car pull up next to Grahams. Jack could hear her shout at Henry to stay in the car. She hurried over to Jack and Emma, her face blood red with anger.
"You bastard," she screamed and Jack. She shoved him back casing him to lose his balance. He cried out in pain as he hit the ground and wrapped his arms around his ribs. "My son could have been killed," she yelled. "What the hell were you thinking!"
Graham stepped forward and grabbed Regina's arm. "Let go of me," she yelled and jerked her arm out of his hand.
"Regina just let me handle it," Graham said.
"I want this man arrest for endangering Henry's life, Graham! If anything would had happened to my son-" She bawled her hands into fists so tight her knuckled went white. "That hunk of metal of yours and your fathers should had been scrapped years ago," she shouted at Jack. Then she turned to Emma. "And you Miss Swan-"
"It was my idea to bring Henry along," Jack spoke up, still on the ground. "Emma had nothing to do with it. I convinced her to let him ride to the clearing with me. I had checked the tracks, the equipment on the train, everything twice the day before. Graham was right there during one of checks. Henry was as safe as he could be. I don't know what happened."
Regina stopped for a moment, still burning with anger. "Graham," she said turning to the Sheriff. "After he is treated see he gets a cell for himself. Understood?"
"Regina, I can vouch for Jack," Graham said. "It was an accident. I can't keep-"
"Understood," she repeated, glaring angrily at him.
"Yes, Madam Mayor," he replied with his eyes to the ground.
"Graham, why," Emma said in surprise.
He didn't answer. He just helped Jack up and took him over the paramedics. Jack knew something wasn't right. He had check everything and it was all working properly. 'Sabotage' was the word that sat in his mind. But why and who? But that doesn't matter right now. All he could really think about was his father's work lying on the ground in a ball of flames.
