Fractured Ch. 12

A.N. Sorry for the long wait everyone! Though I have an important announcement.

I'll have to think this over some more, but depending on what I decide, this might be the last chapter to Fractured. :)

…

Thomas yawned as he quietly looked around the Steamworks. Just a few moments ago, he had woken up; though he could tell that he was awake a bit early. The sun had just finished rising, and it was rather quiet still.

However- "Good morning, my friend."

Thomas smiled as he saw Victor approach him. "Hi Victor."

Victor smiled back. "How are you today, Thomas."

It took him a moment to respond, but soon, he smiled. "I… I feel great."

Victor chuckled. "That is very good news. Soon, you'll be out, and working again, in no time."

Thomas giggled. "I hope so. I want to see the world."

"Well, with time, patience, and practice, I'm sure you'll get there." Victor said while smiling.

…

A few hours later, William walked into the Steamworks, carrying his toolbox, ready to repair Thomas. He stopped however when he saw Edward in front of Thomas, talking with him quietly. William slowly walked forwards to hear what they were saying.

"Thomas… you didn't?"

"No Edward… I wanted to. But I won't."

"You know you don't have to do this, right?"

"It's not that simple, Edward. People with these types of problems don't just choose this. It's something that can't really be controlled."

"Forgive me, Thomas. I just want to make sure you're safe. I don't know much about this, but I just wish you didn't do this."

"I know… and I feel the same."

William smiled tenderly and continued walking. "Hello boys."

Thomas smiled. "Hello Father!"

"Good morning, William." Edward greeted.

"Are you going to fix me?" Thomas asked, his eyes lighting up.

William chuckled. "Yes. And I think it's high time that cloth came off your face, don't you agree?"

Thomas' eyes lit up. "Really? I mean… yes!"

"Alright then." William smiled. "Beg pardon, Edward, but would you move back a bit."

"Of course, but I'm afraid I can't stay." Edward explained. "I have work to do in the yard this morning, but I'll return as soon as I can."

"You promise, Edward?"

Edward smiled. "Of course, Thomas. I promise."

"Ok… be safe!"

Edward smiled again, and quickly backed out of the Steamworks, heading to do his jobs in the yard.

Thomas sighed after he left. "Though, I wish he would've stayed long enough to see the cloth get taken off…"

William smiled. "He'll see it soon enough, Thomas." He reassured. "Now. Are you ready?"

"Mhm! Mhm! Mhm!" Thomas gasped excitedly.

William laughed, and climbed slowly onto Thomas' buffer beam, doing his best to be gentle. Then, taking an edge of the cloth, William softly peeled it away from Thomas' face.

Thomas gasped as he felt air sweep over the right side of his face and into his newly formed scars as the cloth was taken off. As William had said, scars now decorated his face.

One scar went across his entire right eyelid and just above it towards his forehead. Two more were right under his cheek. They almost looked parallel to each other, had the bottom one not curved down slightly.

All three scars were rather long and uneven. But Thomas didn't care. One, because he couldn't see them, and two, because it just meant that Thomas was getting better.

"Well Thomas." William smiled as he walked up to his little engine with a mirror. "What do you think?" He asked as he held the mirror up to Thomas' face.

Thomas gasped as he looked in the reflective surface. He looked so… different. But after a minute, he smiled. "Haha… haha… James- James was right! I do look cooler!"

"So, you're fine with how you look?" William asked. "Even with the- ahem- massive chance they'll be permanent?"

Thomas smiled. "I honestly don't care how I look." He admitted truthfully. "Just as long as I can be really useful again. Just like I promised Sir Topham Hatt when I first arrived here. I must do better!"

William chuckled. "You sure have your priorities in line, don't you?"

Thomas blushed. "Is it that obvious?"

"Yes, quite." William laughed. "Now. Let's get to work on finishing fixing your buffers, shall we?" He smiled as he held up his toolbox.

…

Edward hummed as he was coupled up to a goods train that he was supposed to take to Wellsworth.

"Ready, Edward." Dean smiled from his engine's cab. "We best be off then."

Edward's response was to blow his whistle, before departing from the yard.

As he went through the island, Edward couldn't help all the engine's crews were chattering excitedly among themselves. And from the confused look all the engines had, they had no idea what they were talking about either.

Though, Edward shrugged it off, and continued with his work. But, on his way back to the yard, he finally realised why the crews were so excited. Because Edward heard a sound he wasn't sure he would ever hear again, in all honesty; or in the very least, not for a much longer time.

Biff, biff, bash!

"Ow! Oof! Urg…"

"Steady now, Thomas. Not so hard. You just got out of the Steamworks. Plus, the Troublesome Trucks don't take too kindly to being shunted that harshly."

"Yes Father…"

Immediately, Edward steamed into the yard as fast as he could. Sure enough, he saw Thomas, moving down the tracks, while shunting empty freight cars.

The older engine immediately felt tears come to his eyes, but before he could call out to Thomas, James raced in.

The black painted tender engine sped into the yard, pulling a line of his own freight cars behind him, before screeching to a stop, right next to Thomas – though he failed to notice him just yet.

Edward saw Thomas visibly cringe, before he smiled again, just a bit.

"Tada!" James smirked. "You can take my cars away now, Thomas!" He commanded. "I'm ready for my- WAH!" He shrieked when realisation hit him. "Thomas?!" He gasped as he stared next to him at the small tank engine. "Thomas…?"

Thomas smiled softly as he backed away a bit from the freight cars. "Hello James…"

But before James could reply, Annie and Clarabel cut in, but they still were smiling.

"Oh!" Both Annie and Clarabel exclaimed at the same time.

"You're such a show off, James!" Annie chided.

James merely smirked, his attitude flicking like a switch, as he turned his attention to the two coaches. "Maybe I am! But you just wait and see if Sir Topham Hatt doesn't give me my own branchline soon!"

Thomas smiled and playfully rolled his eyes at his ruby's smugness. But after a moment, a strange smell wafted into the air. He sniffed. "Hm… there's that burning smell again…"

James looked back to Thomas, a slightly worried expression on his face, as smoke drifted towards him. He quickly tried his best to blow it away before Thomas could see.

When he did, his excitement came back. "Thomas! You're back! Out- out of the Steamworks!"

Thomas giggled. "Yes..! Though, I'm not allowed to do much at the moment."

"Thomas!"

The blue tank engine gasped and looked up, but smiled he saw Edward. "Edward! You- you came!"

Edward smiled as he moved closer to his charge. He looked… so amazing. Like nothing had ever happened. The only difference to Thomas were the scars on the right side of his face. "Oh… you look so astonishing."

Thomas blushed. "Even with… these?"

"Even with them." Edward smiled. "I told you I wouldn't mind them."

"And I was right!" James declared. "They make you look cooler!"

"I know!" Thomas smiled. "I said that earlier!"

"So what will you do now, Thomas?" Edward asked curiously.

"Well, today, Father wants me to just get used to the tracks again." Thomas explained. "And so do I. He also suggested some shunting, but for my safety, he doesn't want me to do much. As I was just repaired and…" He trailed off.

Though Edward, James, William, Annie and Clarabel all knew what he was meaning. "You don't have to say it, Thomas…" James reminded gently. "We'll help you."

"Hey," Edward said slowly. "I have an idea." He smiled.

Thomas looked to his mentor, hope in his eyes. "What is it?"

"Why don't we go to Henry's forest?" Edward suggested. "One of us could take you there. It'll get you used to the tracks again, and you get to go somewhere else besides the yard and Steamworks."

Thomas mulled over the thought for a while. "Really..? You mean it?"

"Of course Thomas." Edward smiled.

"You have all our support." James reassured.

"Everyone will go, right?" Thomas asked quietly.

"I'm sure we can free up some time." Edward said.

"Free up some time for what?"

Edward backed away from Thomas to see who spoke: Henry. He was also with Gordon and Toby. Before he could even say hello, all their eyes widened.

"Thomas…" Toby whispered.

The engine in mentioned smiled. "Hello. Toby, is it? I… never got to thank you. For helping me on the day of my accident. So thank you." He smiled.

Toby smiled back. "I was just doing what needed to be done." He explained. "And even though I don't know you that well, I'm glad you're doing better."

"So, thank you again, then." Thomas smiled.

Toby smiled again. "Well, you're welcome."

"Sorry to interrupt," Edward said. "But, are all your jobs done for today?" He asked, directing the question towards Henry, Toby, and Gordon.

"Yes, why?" Gordon asked gruffly.

Edward rolled his eyes at Gordon's attitude, but continued. "Because we're thinking about heading over to Henry's forest. One, to help Thomas get used to the rails again, and two, because he deserves to see something else on Sodor that isn't just the Steamworks or the yard. So, would you like to join us?"

"Count me in!" Henry said. "I'd love to go!"

"Me too!" Toby smiled.

Gordon snorted, although he did smile after a minute. "Me three."

"Then it's settled." Edward declared. "Since everything is done for today, we'll head out just before sunset. James has one more train to pull before then. So-"

"I'll get it done, then we'll head out." James said determinedly. "In the meantime, you all just rest."

"Woah." Gordon chuckled in amusement. "Who are you, and what have you done with James?"

James scoffed. "Oh, shove it Gordon." He said seriously before he smiled as he moved to couple up to Annie and Clarabel. "Be back soon!"

…

While James was out, the rest of the engines did as he told them to: rest.

Edward, Henry, Gordon, and Toby all listened to stories of Thomas' past before he came to Sodor. They were filled with excitement and happiness in the 8 years he was with William, with a few mix-ups and troubles as well, but it was mostly happy memories.

William sat atop Thomas' buffer beam, explaining every day he had with Thomas since on the day he was built, to the day he was sent to Sodor.

"I was so proud of him when he was to be sent here, as I knew he would be cared for, and he would do his best to be really useful." William praised. "And while we did have a rather large bump in the road-"

"I'm getting better now." Thomas finished while smiling. "Both physically and… mentally, was it, Father?"

William nodded so, Thomas continued.

"I'm getting better, both physically and mentally, and I'll soon prove to be really useful again!"

Edward smiled at his mentee's enthusiasm. "That's good, Thomas. That's exactly what is needed here on the Northwestern Railway."

"Well, that's what I'll give!" Thomas smiled.

It was almost sundown, and Thomas nearly squealed. "It's almost here, Edward! Can we go now?"

Edward chuckled. "Not just yet, Thomas. James has to come back."

Thomas blushed in embarrassment. "Oh… right." He giggled nervously. "I forgot."

No sooner had he said that, however, James pulled in. "I'm back!"

"Great!" Thomas cheered. "We can go now, right?"

James quickly and somewhat gently put Annie and Clarabel into their shed. "Yes, we can go."

After being uncoupled from his coaches, James moved forwards until he was in front of Thomas. "Ready?"

"Ready." Thomas smiled.

James smiled back before he moved until he was behind Thomas, while facing forwards. When he felt that Thomas was coupled up to him from behind, James started forwards.

Thomas gasped as he felt himself being moved backwards. "H-hey, what's the idea?" He asked in shock. "I can move myself now, r-remember?"

"Yes, but not this far." James answered from the front. "Just calm down, Thomas." He soothed. "I'll take you. You just enjoy the view."

So, Thomas did.

The sun was just starting to set as Thomas looked around as he passed vibrate green fields, trees, and bushes. Flowers of every colour of the rainbow were dotted across the landscape. The most prominent colour he noticed was purple. Thomas laughed at that thought. He inhaled deeply, and the scent of peaches, strawberries, flowers, and fresh air filled his nose.

Only then did he realise how… starved he was of new sights.

"Cinders and ashes…" Thomas breathed. "I forgot how… beautiful it was outside."

"Well, what we're doing is to remind you just how stunning it can be." Edward answered with a smile on his face.

Thomas smiled as well. "I can't wait…" He said breathily.

Once they reached the edge of Henry's forest, James was uncoupled from Thomas. "Give us a moment, Thomas." James said. "We're all gonna turn around."

Then Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, and Toby all left to turn around and after a few minutes, they returned, all facing the way Thomas was facing.

Thomas smiled. "It… feels amazing to be outside like this again."

Edward, who was next to Thomas on his left, smiled. "Well, tomorrow, after all of our jobs are done, perhaps we can do this again tomorrow evening."

"Ooh, I'd like that." James smiled.

"I think we all would." Thomas laughed. Everyone agreed.

Thomas sighed. "Everything will be ok…"

…

Just as the set completely, turning the sky a dark blue, with white stars twinkling above, James cleared his throat. "Um… could everyone… leave Thomas and me alone? I'll take him home."

"Alright." William said. "Don't stay gone for too long."

Thomas smiled. And though he was slightly confused at James' request, he was quite happy. "We won't!" He promised his Father.

Satisfied, William and Edward smiled. "Well, come along, everyone. We best get going." Then he, Henry, Gordon, and Toby set off, bidding the two engines goodbye until they return.

Sensing something personal was to ensue, Shawn, Mason, Derek, and Jason got out of their engine's cabs. "We'll be just a ways away." Shawn said. "Blow your whistles when you're done." Then they all walked off.

Thomas looked back to James. "James? Are you alright?"

James sighed in content after a moment. "More than alright. You're finally getting better. I just… wanted a while alone with you. That's all."

Thomas blushed and smiled. "So did I… it's rare that's happened."

"Indeed." James said. "I just wish this didn't have to happen."

"I know." Thomas sighed. "But… let's not think of that. It's in the past. I'm better, and I'll start working again tomorrow. Soon, everything will be back to normal."

James smiled. "I know. I can't wait." Then, he went silent. "I love you, Thomas. You know that? I really do."

Thomas felt his entire face heat up, though it wasn't easily seen in the dark. "I love you too, James. More than anything."

James took a deep breath, before he smiled again. "Come on. We should head back." Then he blew his whistle.

Almost immediately, their crews came back. "Are we ready?" Derek asked.

"Yes." Thomas confirmed.

Once their crews returned to their places, James moved until he was behind Thomas. Then he started to gently push him down the tracks, and back to Tidmouth.

When they reached Tidmouth, Thomas was almost tempted to ask why he wasn't going back to the Steamworks – until he remembered that he was finally fixed completely. Thomas smiled.

All the other engines smiled upon their arrival. Thomas and James smiled back. There were two more empty sheds that were next to each other, and James gently pushed Thomas onto the turntable, and waited for it to turn until he was facing James.

Then James pushed Thomas into the shed that was next to Edward, before moving back onto the turntable, and when facing the right way, he back into the shed next to Thomas.

"It's so good to be home…" Thomas whispered as his eyes started to close. "Goodnight, everyone."

Quiet mumbles were the answers as all the others engines fell asleep as well.

All seemed to be going well. And Thomas was right; now was not the time to be looking back. It was now the time to be looking forwards, ready to face the future head on.

Because while it might be a little confusing and scary, as long as they all had each other, they knew-

Everything would turn out just fine.