Chapter Nine
Rail Spike pulled up to the Aiko residence. Rapid Run had yet to return after taking the distraught female home three days ago. The gate opened and he headed towards the house, he wondered how Sara was doing after seeing how upset she was. As he approached the front door he was surprised that Joe wasn't there to greet him, he transformed and looked around. "Anyone here?" he called out but all that greeted him was silence, he walked towards the garden and was surprised at what he saw. Sat up against the house was Rapid Run with Sara, a blanket across her, in his hand, they were both in recharge. "She hasn't left his side since they got here." a voice said sadly gaining the bullet train leader's attention. Rail Spike looked down and saw a very sad and worried looking Joe gazing sadly at his sister. "I take it you heard what happened."
Joe gave a nod and looked at her a few more moments before looking at Rail Spike. "How is Midnight Express?" he asked.
Suddenly a female voice said "Midnight? No, he can't be... please say he isn't..."
Both Cybertronian and human looked over and saw that Sara was talking in her sleep.
Rapid Run suddenly onlined looking sadly down at the female as she tossed and turned. He gently stoked her hair while saying softly "It's okay, Sara. Midnight's gonna be fine."
A tear fell from the sleeping woman's eye, "Please don't leave me." she begged.
"I won't. Everything's going to be okay, I promise you." the light grey train said still stroking her hair.
A small smile appeared on her face and she sighed in contentment. "Thank you." and settled back down.
Rapid Run sighed as he looked at the ground, he didn't know what to do. Every time he tried to return to base she asked him to stay, when he explained that he had to return she broke into tears. He had tried to leave when she fell asleep, but every time he put her down and started to walk off she'd wake up and he was right back where he started. He heard his name called and looked at her but she was once again recharging peacefully. He heard his name again and looked over at the source.
"Rail Spike?" he asked in surprise.
The bullet train leader gave a nod, "How bad is she?"
"She's scared, Spike. Every time I try and leave she's frightened that I won't come back." he shook his head sadly "What happened to Midnight really shook her up."
"You do know why she's doing this, right?" Joe suddenly said confusing the two trains.
"She's upset over Midnight Express' actions." Rail Spike said.
Joe shook his head. "I'm not referring to Midnight Express. I'm referring to why she won't let Rapid Run leave, and you as well when she sees you, Rail Spike."
"If you know why she's keeping me here, then let's hear it." Rapid Run said slightly annoyed.
"She likes you guys."
"She likes the Autobot brothers too but I don't see her asking them not leave." the light grey train retorted.
"You don't get it, do you? She's afraid she's lost Midnight due to her own stupidity. The reason she won't let you go and stays near you is because she's worried that if you leave the same thing will happen to you." Joe explained hoping they now understood.
"Joe," Rail Spike began "Are you telling us that Sara has feelings for Midnight Express?"
"Not just Midnight, Rail Spike."
"You mean that..." Rapid Run suddenly looked down at the female as realisation dawned on him. I…I just…just felt so…hurt Sara's words to Rail Racer coming into his mind. He now knew what she meant by that. He looked over at the white and blue train. "We're in trouble." he stated making Joe laugh.
"Are we, Rapid? Can you honestly tell me that you feel nothing for her?" Rail Spike said surprising the younger bullet train.
"Midnight isn't the only one to have feelings for my sister. I watched you all very carefully when you were around here." Joe said, "You may have hid it well, Rapid, but I still saw it."
"I don't know whatcha talking about." Rapid Run said stubbornly.
Joe chuckled. "Don't you? I've seen the all the looks you've given my sis when you thought no one was looking. You've fallen for her, maybe not as much as Midnight but you've still fallen for her."
The light grey train gave a small-frustrated growl, placed the female on the ground next to her brother, got up and began to walk off. He froze when he heard a sad sleepy voice say "Rapid?" "I'm going back to base." he said sternly.
"Please stay."
"No. I've been here long enough." he didn't dare turn and face her for he knew what would happen. He didn't want to admit it, but he knew Rail Spike and Joe were probably right about him having fallen for her.
Tears began to fall down Sara's face, she then noticed Rail Spike.
"Are you leaving me as well?" she asked.
"That depends." he replied.
"On what?" she sniffed.
"On how I feel about you."
Sara sniffed again and rubbed at her left eye, confused by Rail Spike's answer. "On how you feel?" he gave a nod and she looked back at Rapid Run. "Please don't leave me, Rapid. I couldn't stand it, if it happened again."
Rapid Run sighed, started to walk off and as he heard her break into fresh tears felt his spark breaking. It was then he knew one hundred percent that the others were right, but he kept on walking as he felt it was for the best.
Sara did nothing but watch the light grey train leave, tears streaming down her face. Joe suddenly growled, "Tell him." As he saw her just stand there and watch, tears streaming down her face. He stood in front of her and shook her by her shoulders. "Tell him!" he said getting angry.
"It won't do anything." she replied.
"You want him to stay? Then tell him, tell them both."
"They already know!" she cried out "I told Rail Racer, and they are Rail Racer!"
"No Sara." Rail Spike said as he shook his head "You stopped before you told us."
The female looked up at the bullet train leader then in the distance where Rapid Run was. She looked down at the ground for a few moments then ran into the house.
"We better get to the front garden fast or we'll miss everything." Joe said sprinting into the house.
Sara swung the front door wide open not caring if it slammed against the wall and ran out. "RAPID RUN!" she shouted out.
"I'm not staying, Sara." he replied.
"I'm sorry for keeping you here. It was selfish of me." She said sadly.
Surprised by her statement the light grey train turned and looked at her. "Yeah, it was." he said before he knew it.
Sara looked down at the ground, suddenly very nervous. "I...uh...there-there's something you have to know."
"I'm listening."
"I...uh...I..." she was suddenly hit upside the head. She looked over and growled at her brother.
"Stop stalling and tell him!"
"You think it's bloody easy to tell them both that I love them as well as Midnight!" she snapped at him.
Joe smiled, "Thank you." he said almost chuckling.
Sara looked at him curiously, then remembering what she had just revealed she gasped.
"You-you what?" Rapid Run asked shocked.
"You heard her, Rapid." Rail Spike said. "Now, why don't you admit your feelings."
"Y-you have feelings for me?" Sara asked looking back at the light grey train.
Seeing Rapid Run just stare at the brown haired female Rail Spike said, "All three of us do, but differently."
"Differently?" Sara asked looking over at the white and blue train.
"That's right, Sis. Midnight Express loves you the most, Rapid Run's just realising that he's fallen in love with you, though not as much as Midnight and Rail Spike...uh...he...uh..." looking over at the mech.
Rail Spike chuckled and smiled. "I may not love you as much as the others, but I still have feelings for you."
Sara smiled which then turned into a frown when she remembered something.
"What's wrong?" Rapid Run asked.
"I wish Midnight was here." she replied sadly.
"Then how about we go see him." He replied.
"You sure that's wise? You'd never get her to leave." Joe joked.
"There are times I wish you weren't my brother." Sara said annoyed.
"Then you'd have no one to moan at." he chuckled.
Just then a small growl and bark could be heard, everyone looked and saw a small black cocker spaniel puppy growling and barking at Rapid Run. The brown haired female chuckled and picked up the puppy. "Hey you, calm down. He's a friend." the puppy looked at her curiously and began to lick her face making her laugh.
"Our parent's dogs had puppies around the time I...uh..." Joe began to explain not wanting to remind his sister of the horrible event. A devilish smile suddenly appeared on his face. "Sara, why don't you tell them the puppy's name."
Sara looked at him, then the puppy in her arms then back at him then over at the two trains before looking down at the ground blushing.
Rapid Run started to walk over to her when the puppy started barking at him again.
"Midnight, stop that. I told you he's a friend." Sara scolded the puppy who whimpered.
"Midnight?" Rail Spike asked surprised "You named it Midnight?"
The puppy barked happily and wagged its tail upon hearing its name.
Joe chuckled. "That's not all she did."
"Joe!" Sara said getting even more embarrassed.
"There's a Rapid and a Spike too."
Sara was quite sure her face was now bright red as her brother gave away her 'secret'.
"Really." Rapid Run said almost chuckling.
"I...uh..." not knowing what to say as she put the puppy down.
"You didn't happen to name them after some certain Autobots, did you?" he joked.
"She..." Joe began before getting a hand clamped over his mouth.
"How about we go see how Midnight is." Sara said changing the subject and having the puppy bark, its two front paws on up on her leg. She smiled and crouched down to it. "Not you, you little cutie." she said lovingly as she kissed it on the head.
"Well, since one of us has to stay here and… puppy watch, have fun." Joe said picking up the puppy and walking in.
"J..." she began but he had already closed the door.
"Are you ready to go?" Rail Spike asked. The woman gave a nod, both trains transformed and Sara got into Rail Spike.