A/N: Hey guys! Before I begin, I want to address a reviewer whose username is bigyihsuan, whose review gave me somethings to think about. I won't always do this, but if someone points things out in the review I think are notable I will mention them. Anyway,

To Bigyihsuan: I agree that the plot of this chapter might have been a bit nonsensical. I was bound to run into this problem eventually, but I will try to adapt them as best as I can. I was originally going to have Henry fired, but that seemed a little too harsh, as engines in the series have gotten away with worse and only be sent to the sheds. I have read at least one humanized story where Henry was bricked up with the engine, which I'm pretty sure is illegal, so this seemed to be the best alternative. The bond between the drivers and their engines is what you described, just having gotten attached to it from driving it for many years. Lastly, I can understand that seeing STH after almost every sentence would get annoying, but as I said it also gets annoying writing Sir Topham Hatt after every sentence. As for why I don't use The Fat Controller instead, one it's just as long (if not more), and secondly Sir Topham Hatt is what I've always known him as, and calling him what they call him in the UK just doesn't feel right. Still I can see your point and shall stop referring him to STH. I could call him by his real name, but that was from an episode I'm sure nobody wants to remember and is the only time I can think of where he was called that. Thanks for your input!

Without a further ado, let's finish Henry's sad story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Thomas the Tank Engine

Chapter 4: Edward, Henry, and Gordon

Work on the railway had gotten harder for the engine drivers. Since Henry's engine was shut up in a tunnel for his refusal to "spoil its lovely green paint with red stripes", all of the goods and passenger work fell to Edward and Gordon, with Thomas stuck doing the shunting. Gordon hated taking trucks, and complained every time he had to do it.

"That Henry, I swear," he said grumpily, "Why can't he have been decent and done his job?"

Thomas and Edward said nothing, as they felt sorry for Henry. Meanwhile, Henry was in his home sulking. He longed to be able to work again.

"Oh, if only I hadn't been so stubborn," he sighed, "If only I could convince Sir Topham Hatt to let me work again." But he didn't know how to ask.

The next day Gordon was pulling the afternoon express. He was having a wonderful time, but wasn't paying proper attention to the steam pressure. As he neared the tunnel where Henry's engine was blocked up, it happened. One minute the engine was flying along the rails, the next steam billowed from the gears as it ground to a halt. Sir Topham Hatt, who was trying to swat away the smoke, marched to the cab.

"What has happened?" He asked Gordon.

"It looks like I burst the safety valve, sir," Gordon said sheepishly.

"Ugh, Gordon, why must you always show off," Sir Topham hatt sighed. "Well, we'll have to see if Edward can do it then."

As Gordon moved his engine on to a siding, Sir Topham hatt phoned the yards. Shortly thereafter Edward pulled up in his engine.

"Gordon's engine has failed," Sir Topham Hatt told Edward. "Can you pull the express?"

"I'll try, sir," Edward said.

He switched his engine onto the other line and coupled up to the coaches. Unfortunately, Edward's engine was older than Gordon's and therefore could not pull as heavy loads as it could. Edward opened the regulator as far as it would go, but it did no good.

"What about Henry, sir?" Gordon said, realizing that there was no other choice.

"Yes, Henry's engine should be able to do it, with a little help from Edward," Sir Topham Hatt said. He soon phoned Henry, who had just finished lunch.

"Gordon's engine has failed and Edward's engine is too weak to pull the express," he told him. "Do you think you can help?"

"Oh, yes sir," Henry said, beaming from ear to ear. He got in his car and drove their straight away. When he got there the workman had already torn down the wall in front of his engine. He made the fire and eased her out of the tunnel.

"The controls are a little stiff," he called.

"Give her a quick run and they should be fine," Sir Topham Hatt called back. "Hurry now."

Soon Henry had backed down to the train and was ready to set off. With Edward pushing from the back they made great time, and Sir Topham Hatt was pleased.

"You two," he said, "are really useful."

After that the three drivers became good friends. Henry now knows that the best way to deal with his engine's paint being spoiled is to not run into tunnels, but to give it a good washdown after the day's work is over.

A/N: And, done! How was it? Anyway, I'll try to upload the next chapter as well as my other stories soon. In the meantime, please read, review, and enjoy!