Made it out
Greaseball jumped up in a panic, her head spinning and eyes wide with terror. A painful cough ripped its way through her throat. Frantically looking around she saw Dinah’s body laying still on the pavement. Greaseball crawled over to her, struggling as her body fought her every step of the way. She managed to reach Dinah her fear easing a little as she saw a subtle rise and fall in Dinah’s chest. Though the seizable rip in her abdomen made Greaseball’s tank twist. She gently picked her up and held her closely in her arms. She tried to speak, to call out to her, but the words got caught in her throat. So she just held her tighter.
If I hold her tight enough nothing can take her away from me… right?
There were suddenly arms on Greaseball’s shoulders, the sudden contact made Greaseball flinch. Her eyes darted upwards to see a familiar brown steam train, his face laced with worry. He said… something, but Greaseball couldn’t hear anything. Everything was muffled and distant, like it was all happening a million worlds away. It felt like her ears were filled with cotton. The only thing she could see was Dinah, whose eyes carefully peeled open. Greaseball kelt down, with her ear closer to Dinah’s mouth she just barely make out what she was saying.
”I…okay love… I’ll be o…” Greaseball could feel tears forming in her eyes, desperately wishing she could properly hear what Dinah was saying. The adrenaline was wearing off and she became painfully aware of all the stings, and rips, and strains. It suddenly became so much harder to breathe, like her chest was filling with fluid. Dinah shifted in her arms, Greaseball tried to speak again. This time words came out.
”Dinah? Please don’t go.” She mumbled, her words were slurred but she was able to choke them out, the bitter taste of Motor oil in the back of her throat. There were more hands on her. Trying to gently pull them apart, but it made Greaseball cling tighter. “No, please don- don’t take… her away!” She cried, gasping for air like a fish out of water. Her body struggled against a world that was trying to tear them apart. Her mouth wide open and gasping, like no matter how she tried she just couldn’t get enough air.
“GB!! You need to let go.” A voice finally broke through Greaseball’s daze, Rusty’s maybe? “You have to let us help!” It said again, but she couldn’t. She was scared that if she took her eyes off Dinah for even a second she’d disappear. They’d take her away and she’d never see her again. She’d loose her just like she lost her brother. She couldn’t do that again, she only barely survived the first time, but then a white and purple hand was there too.
Pearl and Rusty were there. They wouldn’t let that happen, they’d fight for Dinah now that she can’t. It’s not Greaseball against the world anymore. She wouldn’t let that monster make her forget it. Her body relaxed. Arms took Dinah from her, she tried to follow only for her body to completely give out on her.
Greaseball slowly became aware of her surroundings after a short dreamless sleep. The first thing she noticed was an ache in her chest. It took her a moment to remember what happened. Sargent snapped once they exposed him for the monster he was. There was a fist fight, he nailed her in the gut a couple times. Then he… oh starlight that was real! He rip himself open and set his fuel on fire? There was an explosion and Dinah… DINAH!?
Greaseball’s eyes shot open and she was nearly blinded by the shed lights. She Groaned and tried to sit up, feeling a horrible pain in her chest. She tried to call out but there was something in her mouth. A tube down her throat! It deeply disturbed her to feel it all they way down. She tried turning her head, it stung. Dinah, she had to find Dinah! She tried to call out again only for a muffled whale to come out. There were voices around her, had they been there this whole time? A face appeared in her vision, Rusty. He looked scared, his eyes wide.
“Don’t try to talk Greaseball! You’ve got a bad fluid leak somewhere inside you!” An unfamiliar voice called out. Greaseball couldn’t move her head or see what was going on. “That tube is the only reason you can still breathe.”
”That was Sludge, he’s helping put you back together.” Rusty spoke this time, helping fill in some blanks. “Dinah’s here too, she’s sleeping right now. But she’s gonna be okay GB. Pearls with her” hearing that gave Greaseball a little comfort.
“Please just calm down, everything’s gonna be okay” Rusty said, trying his best to stop her from panicking. She had a sickening realization that her internals were exposed and she could feel Sludge poking around inside her trying to find the leak. Suddenly he made a wrong move and a white hot pain ripped through Greaseball’s nerves. She found herself falling back into the darkness as her eyes rolled back into her skull.
The next time Greaseball came to she could tell it had to be quite a while later. The lights in the shed go dim at night so patients can sleep. There’s still an aching heavy feeling in her chest, but things aren’t as congested now. There’s still a tube but now it’s in her nose, at least it wasn’t in her mouth anymore. Her throat burns though, it all aches. Carefully she turned her head.
Pearl was sitting in an old chair between her and Dinah, both looked fast asleep. Seeing her girlfriend sleeping peacefully brought her some relief. Things can’t be too bad if she’s sleeping that peacefully… right? Slowly Greaseball starts using her arms to push herself up. Biting her lower lip as the movement aggravates her injury. She gets a sick feeling in her guts, like everything is flowing downward. She heard a dripping sound and looked down to her left.
Turns out there was still a tube inside Greaseball, but this one was in her chest. Black fluid was draining from it. There’s still site made Greaseball queasy. Did they not fix the leak? Is there something wrong inside her? Too many questions and not enough answers.
The sounds she made as she sat up accidentally woke up Pearl. Who jumped when she saw Greaseball sitting up. “GREASEBALL!!! What in starlights name are you doing?” She stood and rolled over to her, “your internals are still out of sorts and you need to stay down!”
Greaseball flinched at how loud Pearls voice was. She got even more worried when she noticed that Dinah hadn’t woken up. “What’s going on?”
”Oh starlight where do I begin?” Pearl mutter to herself “Well first off you need to lay back down, Sludge managed to find the leaking tubes but he couldn’t clean out all the fluid.” Pearl explained “That’s what the tube in your chest is for, to help it drain. He said he was going clean you out tomorrow.” Greaseball groaned hearing that.
”Uuhhhh I hate having people poking around in me.” Greaseball groaned before asking “What about Dinah? Why is she sleeping so much?” Pearl flinched a little.
“Well… don’t freak out, but… in the impact of the explosion one of Dinah’s parts broke, Sludge didn’t have any replacements.” Pearl carefully chose her words “So he temporarily shut her down, so she wouldn’t be in any pain and wouldn’t hurt herself while he waits for the part to get delivered. She also has some burns on her back but I promise it sounds more serious than it is.” Pearl carefully finished. “Now please lay back down!”
“Help me up.” Was all Greaseball said.
”What!?” Pearl gasped
“Did I stutter? Help me up!” Greaseball snapped a dangerous look in her bright yellow eyes. “I promise I’ll lay back down again but first help me over to her… please.”
Pearl sighed “okay fine, just please be careful.” Pearl wrapped her arms around Greaseball and carefully helped Greaseball to her feet. She let out an involuntary groan as she put weight on her injured leg. Slowly she limped over to Dinah. Her racing plates had been taken off and her chest had been wrapped loosely in gauze. Her face was smeared with grim and makeup. Leaning over her Greaseball sat on the edge of her bed. Greaseball leaned down and carefully took Dinah’s face in her hands. Pearl couldn’t help but notice a small tear in Greaseball’s eye.
”Why’d you do that huh?” Greaseball quietly muttered “My crazy woman.” Her voice choked up and she carefully rested her forehead against Dinah’s “You scared me half to death you know.” Greaseball just wanted to be close to her. Being near her helped her feel better. “You know I’m going to absolutely insufferable once you wake up? You’re gonna get the spoiling of a lifetime Doll.”
“You know, Sludge probably wouldn’t mind if you shared a bed with her tonight.” Pearl said softly. Greaseball slowly straightened and shook her head.
”No I don’t wanna brush on her burns in my sleep or something. Especially when she can’t tell me.” Greaseball responded. Pearl was actually surprised that Greaseball was actually being kinda reasonable. So Pearl helped Greaseball back to her bed. She settled back down the movement still stung her chest. “Thank you Pearl for everything, and thank Rusty for me next time you see him.”
“It’s what friends do Greaseball.” Pearl responded. “That’s just what friends do.”