A/N: Hey guys! I know it's been a while since I updated, but I've been busy with school. But I have some good news. Monday is my last day for the semester, which means that I will have more time to work on my stories! I may even be able to finish one (not this one, though, although I might be able to finish season one)! So for all of you who have been patient with me, god bless you. For those who haven't, I do not blame you. So without further ado, here is the next chapter.

Chapter 11: Thomas and the Guard

After a few weeks, Thomas had managed to get into the routine of running the branchline. The main traffic was passengers, but he would take goods trains to and from the quarry at the end of the branchline when needed. It was Saturday, which means that Annie and Clarabel were out of school. Sir Topham Hatt often allowed them to ride with Thomas as long as they did not cause any problems. Thomas was coming from Ffarquhar and heading for Knapford Junction to meet Henry. Thomas had slept in late that morning, and was in a desperate hurry to make up for lost time.

"Slow down, Thomas," Annie said. "There's still plenty of time."

"I know, Annie," Thomas said, "But I don't want to be late. We're just lucky the passengers hadn't started a riot before we got there."

Annie and Clarabel sighed. There was no getting through to him when he was like this. But they knew he only acted so hastly because he wanted to please Sir Topham Hatt.

They finally reached Knapford Junction on schedule. Only one thing was missing: Henry and his train. Thomas was not pleased at all.

"Bother that Henry," he said, "Why can't he be on time?"

After a few minutes, Henry's engine slowly puffed into the station. When Thomas saw Henry's expression, his mood changed. Henry was clearly in a state of distress.

'What's the matter, Henry?" He asked. Henry looked at Thomas with a sad expression.

"My engine is acting up again," he said, "She never was a good steamer, but ever since she got out of that tunnel her problems have only worsened. I fear that Sir Topham Hatt may scrap her if she cannot get better. I've driven her ever since I joined the railway, and I can't stand to lose her."

Thomas could only stare for a minute. Then he spoke again.

"Don't worry, Henry," Thomas said, "I'm sure Sir Topham Hatt will find a way to fix her."

Henry smiled.

"Thank you, Thomas" he said, and once his guard blew the whistle he set off. A few minutes later, Thomas's guard blew his whistle and Thomas drove out of the station. But something went wrong.

An old lady on Thomas's train had unknowingly dropped her umbrella on the platform. The guard, who had just arrived before the train was set to go and was in a hurry, tripped on it and fell. When he got to his feet, the train had rounded the corner and disappeared.

Annie and Clarabel had noticed this and tried to warn Thomas.

"We've left the guard behind! We must go back!" Clarabel wailed. Unfortunately, Thomas couldn't hear her over the sound of the engine rumbling down the track.

Eventually, they came to a red signal.

"Bother," said Thomas, "Whatever could be the trouble? I hope the guard knows."

"That's what Clarabel was trying to tell you," said Annie. "He got left behind!"

Thomas just groaned. "Oh dear, and the day was going so nicely too."

After a few minutes, the guard came running up. The passengers, who had came out to see what the problem was, got him some water to cool down.

"Here is your umbrella, miss," The guard said to the old woman, "I tripped over it on my way to the train. Please keep a better hold of your belonging next time."

"Oh, thank you," The lady said, "I am terribly sorry."

"As am I, ," Thomas said. "Clarabel tried to tell me, but I couldn't hear her."

"It's not your fault Thomas, and your apology is accepted, mrs," the guard said. "Look, the signal is green now. We better be off.

And so the train set off, reaching Ffarquhar five minutes ahead of schedule.

A/N: Well, what did you guys think? I'm sure you guys noticed the change in Thomas and Henry's conversation, notably how Thomas went from insulting him to consoling him. I changed the conversation for two reasons. For starters, in the episode (and the original story for that matter) Thomas called Henry fat and said he needed exercise in response to being told Henry was ill. That doesn't exactly translate well into a humanized story, since Henry's engine was the one that failed, not him. The second reason is because I didn't want to make Thomas look like a jerk who doesn't care about the needs of others. I'm trying to give him maturation as a character, something he has been lacking in the later seasons (even under Andrew Brenner's control. The guy is a genius, but I wish he would make Thomas act a little bit older). I won't drastically change Thomas's personality, however. He will still be cheeky, but not so much as he is portrayed as being. Let me know what you guys think, and I'll see you later.