Hello fansies! I'm so glad if you're following this story from my last one. If you haven't yet read it, go check out the first story of this series, Start of a Rebellion.

KatherineRoseTiggular: I didn't read your question in time to answer in my first story but my favorite character above all is Race. He's my everything. What's your guys? I'd love to hear it!

Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy my prologue of An Unexpected Cry For Help!

It had been a long day. Jack hadn't expected Crutchie to start getting sick or for Race to not have a place to stay the night or for Jacobi to tell him it was his turn to close up. Davey tried to take the load off of him by taking Race home with him but the boy in question refused, saying he wouldn't stay anywhere but with Jack. Only the leader of the boys knew why. Race must've had a nightmare and/or a beating the night before.

Crutchie was up on Jack's back, he was nodding off which explained the lack of complaint of being carried around. The boy's crutch was held by Jack, underneath the kid's knees. Race walked next to them, Jack's school bag on his back, his own satchel strapped to his side and Crutchie's in his hand.

"I'm sorry for causin' trouble Jack." Race sighed.

"Ey!" Jack whispered, trying not to startle the sleeping boy on his back. "You ain't eva' any trouble, ya hear?" Slowly, Racetrack nodded and Jack nudged him, playfully, before turning onto their street. "Is everything alright Race?" Jack finally asked. He'd barely had time to talk to any of the boys all day.

"I'm fine. It's just been a long day, ya know?" Race sighed again, looking down at the ground, trying his best to avoid Jack's gaze. "And last night... it was no cake walk... in this new house,

it neva' is."

"Were they all ova' ya?" Race was silent but he nodded again. "Is that why ya wouldn't stay at Dave's tonight?" Jack asked, his voice still hushed. They made it to the stairs that lead up to their apartment and Race let Jack take Crutchie up first, walking right behind them.

"It's nothin' against the Jacobs." Race quickly defended, as if he was trying to convince Jack of that fact, but they both knew he didn't need to. Jack knew that Race cared about David and Les a lot. "It's just... Davey don't get it."

Jack sighed as he put the key into the apartment door. He opened the door and lead Race inside before shutting and locking it. "I know Racer. It's ok." Jack assured as he walked over to the single, queen sized mattress that lay on the ground, against the back wall of the small apartment. He gently lay his little brother down on the bed, before grabbing the heaviest blanket they had and laying it over the boy. Then he gently forced some water into the kid's mouth.

"J-Jack?" Crutchie's voice was small and hoarse and it broke Jack's heart. He sat on the edge of the bed at his brother's side, caressing the boy's cheek in his hand.

"I'm right here, kid." He assured, and Crutchie smiled, sleepily, at his touch, closing his eyes once again and nodding off.

"Will he be ok, Jack?" Race asked, nervously and quietly from where he stood, awkwardly behind his two best friends.

It took Jack a moment to process the fact that Race had said anything. He was too lost in thought, looking over his sick friend. But after a moment, he turned his head. "Yeah." He replied, simply. "He'll be ok."

Jack watched his younger friend nod and he smiled. Race didn't exactly know what to do at this point. In fact, Jack thought that the kid might actually be scared to do anything because of his damn, new, foster parents. "Come here, Race." He whispered. The boy hesitantly obeyed. Race sat down on the mattress, next to Crutchie's feet and, almost immediately, he was in the protection of his big brother's strong arms. "There ain't nothin ta be scared of here, kid." He assured. Jack felt the boy nod into his chest. "I got'cha. I ain't eva' gonna hurt ya. We're brothers. Brothers look out for each other." He promised.

Jack was shocked when he heard his brother sniffle and throw his arms around his torso. But he let Race cry in his arms, hoping to calm him. After a moment, Race lifted his head up and wiped at his eyes, laughing at himself.

"What's so funny?" Jack asked, lightly, helping his friend wipe away his tears. Race just shook his head.

"You'll just protect anyone won't ya?" He asked. Ever since he'd met Jack on the streets ten years ago, it had never been anything but Jack protecting and helping and caring for him. Always. Then he started doing the same for Crutchie. It was who he was.

"I'll protect anyone who needs protection." Jack nodded, smiling.

"Bet'cha ya'd even help the devil if he asked." Race teased. Jack ruffled his hair and pushed him down on the bed, silently telling him to get some sleep.

Jack watched Race get under the covers of their old mattress. He smiled at the young boy. Then he moved over to Crutchie. He pressed a brotherly kiss to the boys head and tucked the heavy blanket around the shivering form. "Feel betta' kid. I love ya." He whispered before crawling into the middle of the bed. Crutchie subconsciously rolled into him and Race consciously did the same thing. Jack wrapped an arm around them both and pulled them close. It was going to be a long, cold night.

Little did they all know, it was about to get even longer. Because, in the middle of the night, an urgent knock was heard at the door.

Race sat up quickly as he heard the knock at the door, not wanting to get reprimanded for sleeping in too long. When he realized where he was, he took in a deep breath and looked to Jack who had sat up along with him and started rubbing his back, automatically.

Crutchie heard the knock on the door and tried to sit up but quickly realized that it would take a lot more effort than usual. He felt very drowsy. So he lay still and started hitting Jack's leg with his arm, pleading through that one movement for Jack to make the pounding stop.

Jack groaned as the knock didn't cease. He grumbled as he stood and approached the door. Turning back and putting a finger to his lips, gesturing for his brothers to stay quiet, not knowing what would be on the other side of the door.

And he never expected what he found after opening the door. Standing in the dimly lit hallway was a boy. He was no older than sixteen. He was breathing in so quickly, practically hyperventilating. He was covered in blood that couldn't have belonged to him, seeing as how he had no cuts on him whatsoever. His eyes were red and puffy, as if he'd been crying. It took Jack a moment to realize it. Standing in front of Jack in the dimly lit hallways was a boy he knew. A boy he never thought he'd see at his home, at this time of night, sobbing.

"K- Kelly..." the boy stuttered out. "Please... pl-please help..."

Jack shook his head, making sure what he was seeing was real and not just s figment of his imagination. But he again looked to the person at his door and he couldn't contain his surprise.

"Oscar?"

Thanks for reading! Make sure to tell me what you guys liked, what you didn't, what you'd change or what you'd improve by leaving me a review! See ya later loves!