Falling for ya
Greaseball senior and Dinah were in an unfamiliar position, sitting on the bleachers ready to watch a race. Not just any race though, their daughter’s race. Both of them sporting black and yellow face paint and cheering their hearts out as the racers came out and headed to the starting block.
“Who’s that she’s coupled up to?” Dinah asked looking at the bright pink car coupled behind Tank.
”Uhh her names… Diane I think, she’s a new Dining car. Just got here like three week ago.” Greaseball answered “Tank’s been training with her a lot. I almost think she’s got a crush.”
”Aaawww, ma babies in love.” Dinah swooned. Greaseball laughed.
”I wouldn’t go that far just yet doll.” Greaseball shrugged “but there’s definitely something there.”
“Little cuties.” Dinah giggled. Greaseball laughed.
Tank felt her adrenaline pumping as she strutted up to the starting block. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that she was gonna win this race. She trained with the best after all. Diane rolled up to her and gave her an excited hug.
“Aaahhh this is so exciting.” She grinned “Thanks for letting me race with you Tank.” She said finally releasing her from her death grip.
“Hey we’ve trained together a bunch and we have good chemistry, it’s a no brainer.” Tank said with a shrug, she looked down to try and hide the blush on her face. “Uhhh good racing chemistry is what I meant! We work well together.”
”I mean yeah… what else would you have meant?” Diane asked looking a bit confused.
”I-I uhh” Greaseball stuttered before being interrupted.
“This is control, this is control!!! Race time in 2 minutes!! All racers to the starting line!!” Greaseball breathed a sigh of relief as Diane’s attention was dragged to the announcement. Diane squealed excitedly and coupled up behind the black and yellow engine. Tank was carefully trying to hide the small crush she was picking up on the neon pink car. She was excitable, and passionate, and stunning. Tank planned to ask her out after they won the race. Tank took a minute to glance at her competitors.
Right next to her was Orange flash and a sleeping car named Belle. She actually got a long with Tank pretty well, they kinda had to look out for each other since there aren’t a whole lot of female engines. Today she was also racing against Golden eagle and Green arrow. Everyone here is a very rough racer, but that’s how Tank likes it. She revved her engine loudly as the starting countdown began.
10
9
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1
GGGGOOOOO!!!!
The young engine took off like lightning!
Things were going really well for Tank throughout the race. She started up front and had secured herself as the leader of the pack. Her and Diane had a comfortable lead on the rest of the racers heading into the final stretch. However they were coming up on something no one expected.
This track took them through pretty rough terrain, and over a high ravine. Unfortunately no one checked the bridge over that ravine was still intact. As Tank charged forward she didn’t notice that part of it collapsed until the gaping hole was right in front of her. Her gut twisted as she quickly uncoupled from Diane, using her arm to try and push her back. Diane shrieked as her body tumbled backward, Tank heaved a sigh of relief seeing her safely falling away from the edge. Even if it meant she didn’t have enough time to stop herself from going over.
Falling is a weird feeling, the weightlessness of it. The dread that comes with knowing she’s gonna hit the ground eventually. That it’s gonna hurt when she does. At that moment she felt grateful her father had taught her how to fall, and made damn sure she was wearing her helmet.
Greaseball was up before his girl went over the edge. Pushing through the crowds and jumping over barriers. No one was stupid enough to try and stop him or Dinah from reaching their baby. In fact they were the first to reach the bottom of the ravine and find Tank laying among the rocks. “Tank?! Baby?” Dinah called loudly dropping down by Tanks side, she reached down touched her face and grabbed one of her hands, giving it a gentle squeeze. They could see Tanks chest rise and fall, that helped stop Dinah from completely panicking. Dinah knew better than to try and shake her awake or try to move her, they’d have to wait for the marshals to get there and make sure her spine was okay. Greaseball looked down at the state of her and thought that was a good thing she was out cold. Her legs were twisted up at an unnatural, there was a sizeable gash in her side, and her wrist was clearly broken. She was laying on her back, he could tell from the way she landed she’d used the fall techniques he’d taught her. Spreading out for most of the fall to slow your momentum and then positioning yourself to land on the thickest part of your body right before impact.
He carefully reached down and took her helmet off. From what he could tell her head was okay, although it was hard to see her scalp through her ridiculous haircut. Greaseball’s head snapped up when he heard another train approaching, the sweet little dining car Tank had been racing with. Her eyes were red and puffy and her mascara was running. She’d probably cried all the way down the hill.
”Oh god is she-she?” The pink car stuttered as she got a look at her.
”Hehe don’t worry sweetheart, she’s still here.” Dinah said softly. The young coach fell to her knees right next to Greaseball, still crying a little. Greaseball placed a gentile hand in her shoulder.
”See her engine light?” He said pointing to the flickering yellow light on her chest.
”It’s flickering isn’t that a bad thing?” Diane asked through sobs.
”But it still lights up, meaning whatever’s broken can still be fixed.” Greaseball responded gently swiping a pice for bright yellow hair off Tanks face “She’s a tough girl, it’ll take a lot more than this to put her down.”
”She’s the kid of the two most stubborn trains in the yard, so she got a heaping double dose.” Dinah said softly, watching her daughter. “She ain’t going nowhere.”
”And I know she’ll fight twice as hard now that she has a beautiful coach waiting for her.” Greaseball joked smiling at her. He was trying his best to hide how worried he was, but he was pretty sure Dinah saw that his hands were shaking. All three of them felt a small relief when they heard the approaching sirens.
Turbo and Dinah were leaning against each other at their daughter’s bedside. The repair shop around them was quiet and calm. Tank was still sleeping fairly peacefully, all things considered. Though she’d definitely be off the track for at least a month or two. Her right arm was wrapped in a cast, her right leg was busted at the femur, her left leg was broken at the shin, and she had to get the big gash on her side wielded shut. Turbo knew she was gonna be hurting for awhile. A small groan from the child got both her parents attention. Slowly her bright yellow eyes peeled open.
”Welcome back to the land of the living squirt.” Turbo said gently rubbing Tanks face “How was your first crash?”
”First!? You mean there’s gonna be more?” Tank muttered.
”If you’re gonna be a racer yeah.” Turbo answered “unless you wanna give up and shunt trucks and haul freight the rest of your life.” Tank laughed.
”Fuck that shit.” She said, Dinah lightly slapped her not broken thigh.
“Tank Union Pacific Greaseball!!! Watch your language!” She said sternly.
”Mama I just took like a twenty foot drop, I think I earned the right to curse a little.” The little diesel whined.
”Uhg fine, just don’t go nuts with it, you’re not too old for me to wash your mouth out yet.” Dinah said rolling her eyes and crossing her arms.
”Think you could use the green soap next time, that’s my favourite flavour.” Tank said with a laugh, that she quickly regretted because it made her chest hurt. Her dad saw her wince and gently took her good hand and started rubbing small circles on her palm. The gentle touch on her hand helped distract her from the pain in her chest.
”Oh green huh? I was always more partial to blue.” Turbo said with sad smile, he knew she’d be fine he just hated seeing his little girl in pain.
”How about you Mama? What’s yours.” Tank asked with a shit eating grin.
”Guess what darling, I don’t have one because my Mama didn’t have to wash my mouth out, ever!” Dinah said with a smile. “Because I never swore.”
”Okay that is definitely a lie.” Turbo laughed. A little voice interrupted their talk and Turbo and Dinah turned to see Diane rolling up to them. She looked very shy and had a small bouquet of black and yellow flowers in her hands “Oh look at that squirt, you have a visitor.”
“Is Tank awake? I wanted to thank her.” She said very softly.
”Yeah doll I’m up.” Tank shouted. Diane squeaked with surprise when she saw the state the engine was in.
”oh my, Tank you look awful.” She said loudly. Tank winched again, but this time it was her pride that was hurting.
”Hehe don’t sugar coat it doll.” The diesel said sheepishly.
“I… I wanted to thank you. You saved me in that race yesterday” the girl was clearly nervous her cheeks glowing bright pink, but Turbo wanted to see where this was going. “So I thought… maybe once you’re better the two of us could go out to dinner or something?”
“You mean like a date?” Tank asked, her face beginning to flush just as brightly.
”NO… I mean… maybe… if you want it to be?” Diane said cringing a little. Tank smiled wide.
”Yeah I’d like that.” She said back “gives me something to look forward to while I’m stuck here.”
”Fucking finally!!” Turbo shouted, Dinah slapped him son the shoulder when he realized just how loud he’d been. “Sorry it’s just, I’ve been watching those too falling for each other for the past three weeks and the tension was killing me!!!” He said with a shrug. Dinah laughed as Turbo spoke again “I guess you literally fell for her huh squirt?”
”oh my god dad shut up!!” Tank yelled pulling her blanket up over her head.
“She’s so fucking adorable!” Diane gushed.
”No I’m not!!” The bashful diesel shouted from underneath the covers.