Work Text:
Day 20 A
What Might Have Been
Sister
Joem rolled up alongside Cassandra. The Tank engine was sitting on the docks.
The two J72’s sat on the dock quietly.for a long moment.
“You really don't want to be a J72. Do you?” Joem asked softly.
Cassandra sighed, “I don't want to be anything. For over seventy years I believed my original builders abandoned me, that they didn't even care enough to look for me. They hadn't even bothered giving me a builder's plate, or painted a number on me…” she sighed in frustration.
“They thought you were dead.” Joem said quietly.
Cassandra sighed, “I had long decided I was a North Western E2, and that was it. Now…”
“You had another family that wanted you.”
Cassandra snorted, “did they?”
“Our older siblings used to tell us about you.” Joem said softly. “The sister we never got to meet. Gone before any of us laid eyes on you. They wanted us to know you existed.”
Cassandra sighed, “I’m not NER No.2203, Joem. The only number I’ve ever known is NWR No.1...I may have been built as your sibling, but I was rebuilt long before you were built.”
“You're still our sibling.” Joem said firmly, “rebuild or not. We're not letting you get away again.”
The North Western engine raised an eyebrow, “Oh? You're not letting me?”
Joem smirked.
“Our old sisters are scarier than you.” He said seriously.
“Of course they are.”
“They may have heard about you and already be on their way here.”
Cassandra sighed.