Alone in the Sheds

**Alone in the Sheds** is the fifteenth story of the second set of *Between the Lines*. It was originally published on February 9th, 2023.

## Plot

New year's come and gone, and Edward, BoCo and Derek are in high spirits for what's to come. Derek decides to leave the couple alone, but Bill and Ben start arguing about who's turn it was to check the brakevan on the train. BoCo tells the twins they'll collect the trains themselves, while Edward tells them that Salty may not be telling them stories for a while. The twins race off, and BoCo was impressed by Edward's methods to get Bill and Ben to behave. BoCo and Edward exchange an 'I love you' before heading out to work.

The following day, all engines have to come to Tidmouth. Mr. Holden sent Sir Topham Hatt a letter that one of the Sudrians is to be an ambassador for the Bluebell Railway. The steam engines were either busy, privately owned or newly acquired, so it fell to the diesels. Bear suggests BoCo, and the other engines quickly agree that he would be a good candidate. The others are excited for BoCo, but Edward feels sad inside. The two spend one more night at Brandam sheds together.

The following day, everyone sends BoCo off with fond whistles and toots. However, Edward makes up an excuse to pick up some urgent crates from Brandam docks. His distracted behaviour is quickly caught on by James, but Edward shoots his concern down. This is made worse as Edward spends a lonely night at Brandam, which turns into many overly busy days and many lonely nights.

In February, Edward takes yet another train without thinking about it, and neglects to say hello to Trevor. When he gets to the docks, Cranky realises Edward has Derek's train of fruit and vegetables, while Derek brought in the train Edward was supposed to collect. Embarrassed, Edward apologises, and Bill and Ben catch onto what's going on. They get Edward to come to the China Clay Works. Bill and Ben urge Edward to come clean with his feelings, and the old engine begins to cry, and they begin crying too. The three engines fondly talk about BoCo and how they all met one another. Edward feels a lot better.

When meeting up for his evening run with Gordon, Edward explains the situation. When Gordon suggests Edward sleep somewhere else on the branch, Edward admits the China Clay Works sheds are full, and Salty usually stays up late telling stories. Gordon then tells Edward he could sleep at Tidmouth, because Diesel's been sleeping at Knapford to keep Harvey company. The two blue engines come to the shed, and the other engines quickly agree with the new arrangements. They all wish to help Edward through this sadness in anyway they can. They also talk positively about BoCo and how he will be missed on the Bluebell Railway. Edward falls asleep, feeling much happier.

On the Bluebell Railway, BoCo is getting along pretty well with the Bluebell Engines, and they mention how BoCo was able to turn the tide of some of the enthusiasts. BoCo however, is missing Edward very much. Primrose, however, gets an idea.

A letter is delivered to Sodor, and it's from BoCo to Edward. BoCo tells Edward that he's been missing him, and he's been having a good time visiting the Bluebell Railway already. Edward eagerly awaits the day he and BoCo would reunite...

## Characters

* Thomas
* Edward
* Henry
* Gordon
* James
* Percy
* Toby
* Duck
* Oliver
* Emily
* Harvey
* Murdoch
* BoCo
* Diesel
* Daisy
* Bear
* Derek
* Bill and Ben
* Mavis
* Stepney
* Bluebell and Primrose
* Adams
* Cromford
* Ella
* Trevor
* Cranky
* Sir Bertram Topham Hatt
* Charlie Sand
* Donald and Douglas (do not speak)
* Johnson (does not speak)
* Julie (does not speak)
* Lauren (does not speak)
* Arthur (does not speak)
* Salty (does not speak)
* Carole (mentioned)
* Lisa (mentioned)
* Simon (mentioned)
* Annabelle Regaby (mentioned)
* Paul Percival (mentioned)
* Barbara Regaby (indirectly mentioned)

## Locations

* Brendam Docks
* Wellsworth
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Knapford
* Wellsworth Vicarage Orchard
* Sodor China Clay Company
* Sheffield Park

## Voice Cast

### Official

* John Hasler as Thomas
* Keith Wickham as Edward, Henry, Gordon, Harvey and Sir Bertram Topham Hatt
* Rob Rackstraw as James and Toby
* Nigel Pilkington as Percy and Trevor
* Steven Kynman as Duck
* Joe Mills as Oliver
* Teresa Gallagher as Emily and Mavis
* Kerry Shake as Diesel
* Tracy-Ann Oberman as Daisy
* Rasmus Hardiker as Bill
* Jonathan Broadbent as Ben
* Matt Wilkinson as Cranky

### Fan chosen

* Phil LaMarr as Murdoch
* Kevin Frank as BoCo
* Bill Barretta as Bear
* Justin Fletcher as Derek
* Samuel Joslin as Stepney
* Kari Wahlgren as Bluebell
* Francesca Smith as Primrose
* William Hope as Adams
* John Bellis as Cromford
* Hailee Steinfield as Ella

Undecided for characters who speak

* Charlie Sand

## Trivia

* This story was created to be an explanation for BoCo's absence from series 8 to 19-21. It also explains why Edward had moved back to Tidmouth for a long time before eventually moving back to Wellsworth.

## Continuity

* Edward and BoCo reuniting happens in the much later story, *Philip and the Troublesome Twins*.
* Diesel mentions how BoCo was the first engine to give him a real chance, as was the case in *Not So Devious Diesel*.
* Edward, Bill and Ben mention how they met BoCo in *The Dieaseal*.
* It's unknown if Gordon knew the truth about Bill and Ben's prank in *Wrong Road*.
* Annabelle and Paul had gotten married 'last year', a nod to the yet to be written *A Skarloey Wedding*.
* Bill and Ben like listening to Salty's stories, as in *No Sleep for Cranky*.
* Annabelle being 'a baby in her mother's arms' is a nod to *A Precious Gift*.

## Links

* DeviantArt
* Fanfiction.Net (Chapter 14)