A/n: Here be part two. I'm sorry about the slight delay, but with exams coming up and real life taking over everything I haven't had much time to write anything. However, I got this chapter finished last night, so I hope you enjoy it. I still don't own Cats, and this one's for Wolfjet, who suggested the... unusual pairing. Oh, and Dahlia? I hate to leave things unfinished, so I won't stop writing until the story's finished. I can't really continue after that, but you know what I mean. Hey, and if you like it, reviews might go a long way to cheering me up. Enjoy.

Oh, and you might notice a little chunk that seems to be missing later on... that's so that the rating can stay at T, so I'll let you use your own imagination there...

Edit: 28/03/08 - fixed the inconsistency with Skimble, now he speaks normal English. Thanks to Alex for pointing that out!

Chapter 2- Out Of Time

Alonzo followed Skimble along the carriage, pouting a little at the lack of answers but still very much in awe of his surroundings. He'd always wanted to go on board the train, from the very first time Skimbleshanks ever brought him to the station. He'd always been told it was too dangerous, he could get hurt or lost. He wondered idly why Skimble had changed his mind now. Lost in his thoughts, he walked right into the Railway Cat's back, before realising Skimbleshanks had stopped walking.

"Oops. Sorry," he apologised quickly, following the older tom's gaze towards the door he was standing in front of. It was the same as all the other doors on the train, made of some dark, varnished wood and standing slightly ajar. The only difference was that it did not have that clear glass pane that could be seen on the top half of every other door. Alonzo's mouth opened, but the question he had been about to ask was cut off by Skimbleshanks speaking first.

"It's okay, just follow me."

"We're going in here?"

"Yes." With that, Skimble's long tail had disappeared behind the door, leaving the patched tom no choice but to follow. He had half-expected the room to be dark and cold, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn't. It was as warm as the rest of the train, and lit by an ancient lightbulb mounted on the wall and protected by a shade, giving the room a much warmer glow than some of the harsher modern light fittings. It was a lot bigger than he expected as well, with two comfortable seats opposing each other, with a small table in the middle, mounted on the wall. It could seat four humans quite comfortably, the curtains above the table and the solid door to give them privacy.

Fortunately for the two tomcats, there were no humans in here, nor anything else. They were alone, and as soon as Alonzo entered the room properly, Skimble had pushed the door gently closed. He didn't want any interruptions. He turned back to face the room again, watching Alonzo's reaction and chuckling softly at the amazed expression on the patched tom's face.

"I tried to think of something a bit special for tonight, I'll be gone fer a week," Skimbleshanks said, breaking the silence after a moment. Alonzo smiled at that, it would be nice to spend some time together if he was going to be gone that long. The marmalade tabby made his way towards his young lover, reaching out to pull him close. Alonzo purred, looking into Skimble's green eyes, they matched in height now. Alonzo closed his eyes and smiled as the older tom nuzzled his neck, now that they were alone they could lose themselves in each other.

A while later, if any human happened to enter the private compartment, they'd find the patched tomcat curled up, half-dozing and purring contentedly with the older tabby curled up protectively around him, his deeper purr complementing the sounds coming from his lover. Skimble knew that they didn't have much time before the train left, that Alonzo would have to leave really soon to get back to the Junkyard before he was gone too long. Still, he was happy where he was, they could bask another couple of minutes in each other's presence.

A shrill whistle somewhere in the distance put an end to that idea immediately. Skimbleshanks' head snapped up at the sound, they had less time than he'd thought, he must have lost track! He jumped to his paws, just as the train gave a lurch. Too late! This was bad, very bad. They wouldn't leave without Skimble, one of the men must have known he was on here. It was too late, the train had started to edge away from the platform, away from London and towards the North. The tabby tom turned back to Alonzo, who was sitting up and looking terrified.

"What's happening Skimble?" he asked when the older tom looked at him.

"The train's leaving. It's left actually."

"What? But, I can't be on here, I have to get back to the Junkyard!" The black and white tom was on his feet now, looking around desperately for some way to get out of the train as the engine picked up speed.

"It's too late, lad. I'm sorry, but the next stop is two hours away, then it'd be two hours back as well. It's my fault, this was my idea. I'm sorry."

"Well you can come back with me, right?" Alonzo asked hopefully.

"I can't. I need to stay on the train." Skimble answered gently, feeling absolutely awful for getting Alonzo into this situation. If only he'd paid more attention, he shouldn't have let the young tom come onto the train with him, they shouldn't have done... what they did here.

"Well, how am I going to get back? What if I get off and get on the wrong train and end up in... in... somewhere else?"

"You'll just need to stay with me, once this train gets to Glasgow, then back again. You'll be alright, you'll be with me. The human's won't mind." Skimble suggested, feeling even worse. The tribe would worry, if Alonzo went missing for a week. No-one knew where he had gone tonight, at least they shouldn't have known since they hadn't told anyone about the affair. How could they have done? Jennyanydots would be crushed if she found out. "Alonzo, you didn't, by any chance, tell anybody where you were going?"

The patched tom shook his head sadly, it seemed so stupid now that he hadn't told anyone. "No, of course not, you know I wouldn't. How long did you say you'd be away for?"

"A week."

"A week," Alonzo repeated, "And no-one knows I'm here. What if something happens? What if Munk needs me? Oh Cat..." Alonzo was panicking now, and squeaked as the train gave another lurch, it was really picking up speed now as it headed north. "I don't think I like trains anymore." he muttered, digging his claws into the seat.

"Hush, lad. Don't worry too much." Skimble said soothingly, sitting beside the patched tom and pulling him into a hug. "Calm down, I'm here to look after you, we can explain to the others when we get back."

Alonzo nodded against Skimbleshanks' chest, nuzzling into the fur and slowly calming down. He would be safe, Skimble could look after him and he could take care of himself now. Skimbleshanks had already taught him how to do that. They sat in silence for what seemed like forever, the train speeding onwards towards the city limits and the open countryside beyond. The two cats could hear the normal sounds of the train as it followed the track laid out before it, they could hear the muffled voices of the human passengers as they talked of this and that. They could even smell the food that on-board stewards were already preparing for the first-class passengers. Alonzo wondered about it all, wondered about Glasgow, wondered where else they'd stop, wondered what would happen when he didn't go home, wondered what would happen when he did get home.

"Skimble?"

"Yeah?"

"You know when we get back?"

"Mm?"

"What are we going to tell the tribe?"