Author's Note: Okay first off I do not own Newsies and I never will. Second this is my first fanfiction it is canon era, and I'm not going to introduce my characters, because they pretty much do that for themselves. Oh also it is an OC fanfiction.
Chapter One
"Hey, HEY, pick on someone yer own size! Why dontcha?"
"Try an make me Kelly!" Oscar glared at the interfering newsboy.
The young boy in his grasp used this temporary distraction to his advantage, without hesitation he viciously jabbed his elbow into Oscar's gut. With a gasp Oscar doubled over loosening his grip. The boy thrashed violently, squirming from his iron hold. But before he could taste freedom Morris Delancey made him taste his fist. Meanwhile the gray-capped newsboy had joined the fray. Just as soon as Morris had landed the punch he had one coming at his own jaw.
"You okay kid?" Jack asked as he helped the kid up.
Eyes narrowed the boy refused to answer.
Jack shrugged and looked over his shoulder. "Come on we'se betta get outta here 'fore the Delancies get their second wind."
He grabbed the kid by the shoulder and they took off running. In the distance they heard "Kelly! You good for nothing street rat ya wait 'till Snyder hears about this then you'll be sorry".
Jack just laughed and called over his shoulder. "Sorry boys I guess you weren't invited to my party, when I turned 21, hah! Even if the old spidah could catch me he couldn't keep in the Refuge no more".
When he turned back the kid was gone, out of the corner of his eye he could see him running down an alley towards Harlem.
"Hey kid" he said as he caught up to the injured boy "where ya runnin to?"
Without looking him in the eye the boy mumbled "nowheah much".
"Ya gotta name?"
"Sam"
"Well, Sam howse about you come back to the lodging house with me insteada running off to 'nowheah much'?"
"Why should I?"
"Bed, job, food, and the best family you could ask for."
"Don't need no family, but mebbe a job…"
"There, now we'se gonna talk to Kloppmann and by this time tomorrow you'll be a Manhattan newsie!"
Sam smirked, obviously amused, and then grimaced his shoulder was aching, and his head was throbbing harder and faster than his heartbeat. Jack saw his face go pale.
"What's the mattah?"
"Those Delancey's got good aim and solid fists."
"They was beatin on ya pretty bad, don't worry Kloppmann will fix ya up. What hurts?"
"Nothin really Ise just gotten soft."
Jack stopped in his tracks "hey kid, no one who can beat back the Delancey's and go through a soakin is soft".
Sam just shrugged trying not to wince at the pain it caused his shoulder.
"Ya sure you can walk okay you ain't lookin too good?"
His voice sounded far away like they were in a tunnel, black specks blurred Sam's vision, and then before he knew it everything went black. No sooner had the words left Jack's mouth then he saw the kid crumple to the pavement.
"Sam!"
Jack's voice was full of concern, maybe the Delancies had hurt him worse than he thought. They were only a little ways from the lodging house. Without hesitation Jack picked up the boy and gently cradled him in his arms. He was surprised at the boy's weight, he seemed to weigh less than Crutchie, but he was probably only a year or so younger.
"Poor kid probably hasn't had a decent meal in weeks" he murmured as he walked up the set of stairs that led directly to his 'home'."
What did you think? Please review and let me know!
K. Kelly
