Chapter 8: solitary flier part 5

Chapter 15

As promised, the police returned the following night and Dusty was forced to relive the traumatising events as he gave his statement. Rip, Ned and Zed were sentenced with a restraining order and could not come between five miles of Propwash Junction. Within a few days the quiet town and it's residents went back to thier normal routines, apart from a few.

Chapter 16

Skipper was starting to feel the effects of disturbed sleep, he was exhausted to say the least. The old corsair had almost dropped off into sleep until the familar screams filled the air and woke him once again. Sighing, he rolled towards the source of the noise.

Dusty screamed and jumped awake, he quickly backed up until his tail hit the back wall as he watched a plane slowly approached him. He whimpered and shook violently as the plane spoke,

"Alright, Dusty. It's just me."

Skipper sat quietly. He was used to Dusty's night terrors and knew that the only thing he could do was to wait until the younger plane came too.

"...Skipper?" Dusty whimpered

"It's alright, kid. Just another nightmare."

"...I can't do it anymore, Skip" tears streamed down his face, "I just want to sleep."

Skipper shushed him gently as he nuzzled his young charge.

Dusty was truly exhausted. His eyes were no longer bright and eager and his happy demeanour was pratically non-existant.

Skipper pressed the young plane between his under belly and his wing in a desperate attempt to comfort the distraught youngster.

Eventually Dusty's cries vanished and he once again fell into a restless slumber and Skipper was left awake in silence. The old corsair sat thinking for a solution to Dusty's nightmares. He would have to speak to Dottie in the morning.

Chapter 17

Dusty and Skipper went over to Dottie's garage once the sun was up. Dusty sat quietly in the back of the hanger, which troubled Dottie more than she would like to admit.

"I don't know Skipper" she sighed "I could give him a sleeping drug but it's not a long term solution."

Skipper nodded, he didn't want to drug the kid anymore than Dottie did but if it meant giving the youngster a full nights sleep, then perhaps they would just have to.

Just as he was about to ask Dottie for the prescribed drug, Chug quietly rolled into the garage with Sparky in tow.

"We may have found the answer" the fuel truck declared,"Sparky..."

"Ta da!" Sparky grinned and held up a folded up fabric.

Dottie smiled, "what have you two been up to?"

"We have made a new tarp for Dusty!" Sparky beamed.

Skipper smiled and took the tarp onto his wing before rolling over to the tired cropduster, who had fallen into a light sleep as his friends talked around him.

The young plane jumped slightly as Skipper threw the tarp over him and straightened it up along his back.

"Perhaps this will help, Dusty. Chug and Sparky made it for you."

Dusty relaxed as the weight of the tarp made him feel secure. He smiled at his friends and thanked them before yawning and letting his eyes close.

And for the first time in a week, Dusty managed to get in a solid eight hours of undistubed sleep.

And so did Skipper.

Well, I hope this was okay for everyone. I wasn't really sure how to finish this.

Keep an eye out for more one-shots.

Take care

x