Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies.

A/N: This is a sequel for All That's Left is Ashes in honor of Blink Week… ^_^ Enjoy… (insert evil grin and maniacal laughter here).

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Blink lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. His mind screamed with pain as he shifted his weight. Funny, he mused, these burns didn't hurt half as bad until they started to heal, but I guess that's irony for you.

Not for the first time, he found himself hating whoever pulled him out of that fire.

"Hey Blink."

The one-eyed newsie turned his head towards the door, causing the burns on the back of his neck to hurt worse. He managed to get his legs, back and arms burned pretty bad, his chest and his face held minimal damage.

All of his friends still thought it was an accident. He didn't bother to correct them. They had lost all their belongings in the fire he started during his brief moment of insanity.

He sighed, turning his attention back to the boy standing in the doorway with his dinner. "Hey, Jake."

"How're you feelin'?" Jake asked quietly as he walked over to Blink's bed and placed the tray of food on the table next to the bed.

"How do I look?" Blink asked dryly.

Jake winced. "That bad?"

Blink snorted. "Thanks."

"I didn't mean it that way."

"Then how'd you mean it."

Jake sighed. "I hate to say it, Blink, but you look like ground beef."

"I feel like it."

"Open up." Blink opened his mouth and Jake shoveled in his dinner. Blink felt helpless, having to have the others feed him because his hands were too burnt to even hold a spoon.

"I feel worthless, Jake. Even more then I did when I was out on the streets. Now I'm a poor newsie that can't do jack for himself."

Jake sighed. "You ain't worthless, Blink. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

"Until I start believing it, and that ain't gonna be anytime soon, buddy." Blink rolled his eyes.

Jake's eyes met his. "Blink, you ain't worthless." He pressed, then, as to prove his point, he leaned forward and kissed Blink softly. After a second, Blink returned the favor.

After the kiss broke Jake pulled away, blushing slightly. "Uh, g'night Blink." He said quickly, then grabbed the tray and rushed out of the room.

Blink grinned at his retreating back.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Next to Pie/Swifty slash, I love writing Jake slash the most. *dances her 'I wrote Jake slash dance'* It's so much fun. You guys have no idea how much I love this boy. *pets Jake* Ah, dude this thing sucks *laughs* Oh, well...

Alrighty, put it like PG or PG-13 or something, and here's a summery

[SLASH, Blink/Jake] Sequel to "All That's Left Is Ashes" Blink's got nothing to do all day except to lie in bed recovering from burns, and Jake helps him raise his mood.