Okay. Chapter one of the sequel to Just my luck. I hop you like it. I have this great Idea that I got from Anjion that you guys can look forward to soon enough. As always I only own the names you know from my stories.

Chapter one: Trouble, again?

"Hey, Cap, get over here!" Spot called interrupting my lesson with Ricky.

I didn't answer. I only left my lesson and jogged over to his crate here he was once again sitting facing away from the rest of us. He had a bad headache and everyone was keeping away from him. They were running to me for everything today, even the serious stuff like a kid selling on their spot. I was the only one, other than Blue who was his head bird, who could talk to him today and live to tell the tale.

"You called." I said trying to sound as charming as I could.

"I'm going to get some shut eye. Call me if there's trouble." He said simply.

"Sure Spot." I replied before returning to my sparing session with Ricky. She was a really good teacher.

We continued where we left off without even asking about it. I was lucky when no one disturbed my lesson but I knew that the moment it was over I was going to be swamped with troubles again. I would have never thought that running a borough would be so damn tough. Thankfully I wasn't the one who made all of the rough choices. I was just the one who was supposed to make sure that only the most important issues made it to him and that the birds knew where to find him when he was gone.

"So where did Spot go?" Ricky asked as soon as our lesson was over.

"He's getting some shut eye. Heaven knows he needs it and we all need him to get some rest." I replied.

He was in a horrible mood today. I had to exchange driftwood for softer things three times today! I was running out of things for hit to chuck at newsies. Good thing I seemed to be immune to his temper, even more so these days. I was a lucky person for once in my life. Even Ricky had to duck away from a shoe this morning but to be fair Spot was aiming for her brother who was standing right behind her.

"Yeah, he's not in a good mood. Not that he ever is but still. He never throws things at my brother." She said shaking her head. She was beginning to lose her southern accent a little.

"Yeah, well wish me luck. I have to share a room with him tonight and if his mood keeps up I will be up half the night trying to fix his room." I told her with a shudder.

It took the others only ten minutes to begin with their usual arguments. The most common one was that Card was cheating again. He always cheated but he always denied it as much as he could. I don't blame him, he did need the money since he always lost it to Race at the tracks but one would think that he would learn by now or at least work to better his cheating.

I spent most of the afternoon sitting on my crate looking over the boys as they played games. All of the games were designed to help their fighting. They would spar, swim or wrestle each other into the water and when they were done they would simply sit around smoking while they dried off.

It was my job to make sure no newsgirls or pickpockets went through their things while they were swimming and I even had my own crate for that. I never dared to use Spot's. He was the leader after all and no one dared to sit on his crate. Rumor had it that he walked onto the docks on his first day with that crate and beat up everyone who dared to sit on it. It wasn't true though, everyone just kept away from it out of respect.

One of the birds, a kid named Curly, came barreling towards me as fast as he could. I stood up out of habit and the kid stopped right in front of me breathing hard. He had run quite a distance. I knew that much for sure, he was one of the two birds posted in the middle of the bridge. They 'sold papes' there during the day and informed me or Spot if anyone was crossing into Brooklyn uninvited.

"Jack's coming and he ain't lookin' too happy. He's got the Mouth and a new guy with him." The boy said after a few moments of catching his breath.

"Good work kid. Spot's going to be real proud of you. Tell Fire and Bricks I want to talk to them on your way out." I said handing the kid a penny.

He smiled and nodded before running off again. I shook my head as I sat back down and waited. Jack would be here soon and I wanted the boys to be intimidating. Well that was what Spot told me to do if any leaders came through this way. Besides it was always fun to see a new kid squirm when either Jack or Smalls brought them to meet Spot.

"Whatta ya need?" Fire asked as soon as he and Bricks arrived.

"Jack's coming and he is supposed to have the Mouth a new guy with him." I told them simply they knew what to do.

"Right." They said in unison and bricks ran off to tell the others.

Fire took his place behind me folding his arms over his chest threateningly and putting on the famous Brooklyn glare that even I was beginning to have. It was just something that you picked up around here and as the 'captain' I was supposed to have a threatening glare even though I didn't back it up with a bad reputation just yet.

A moment later Ricky and Robin took their places nearby and I made sure my cap was on without any hair showing. Ricky was sitting down playing around with a deck of cards while Robin leaned against a beam next to her. Even when he relaxed he looked just as threatening as Spot which was why I was supposed to have him deal with the trouble if it got a bit too much for me. I did know how to stand my own well enough though.

After another five minutes Jack and his two companions arrived. Davey was still uncomfortable around the Brooklyn boys and the new guy looked ready to jump into the water and swim for it. It was funny to see but still they were most likely here for business. The last time Jack brought a new guy here he wanted Spot to take him. The kid lasted about two days before he ran right back to Manhattan.

The only newsie from Manhattan to still make it here was Snipeshooter. The kid was as tough as they come and he got along just fine with the other newsies, especially cards and Tracks. The three of them was always together and that was a good thing I guess. It goes to show that our Boroughs can get along.

"Hey, Cap." Jack said holding out his hand for a spit shake.

I spit in my hand and shook then did the same with Davey who was finally learning that you did a spit shake with a Brooklyn newsie especially me and Spot. It was just common courtesy and it showed that he was becoming more like a newsie every day.

"So where's Spot?" Jack asked as soon as the newbie reluctantly shook my hand.

"Busy." I replied simply. Jack may know that I was a girl but I didn't know if I could trust the newbie.

"Well I really need to see him." Jack aid simply.

"Cap said he's busy." Fire said taking a step closed and Robin and Ricky followed his example.

I cleared my throat and they all took a few steps back. It was all part of the routine. Show them that I was in charge while Spot wasn't here. It also showed other boroughs to leave me alone when I enter their turf. To some it even looked like I was trying to take over from Spot which was not the case. I didn't want to get on his bad side again.

"It's important Cap. It ain't just about Skittery." Jack said pointing to the nervous kid.

"Let's take a walk." I said leading him away from the others.

Davey stayed put and the new kid looked like he was afraid the others would jump him any second. The kid was really living up to his name. He didn't have to worry though. The boys wouldn't do anything without the order and Robyn and Ricky were there. They were Spot's favorite birds. That honor came with respect. Besides, everyone was scared of the two of them. They didn't fight fair, the fought to win and each of them had a pair of brass knuckles and a switchblade on them.

"So, how's Spot treating you? I heard being second here is brutal." Jack questioned as we walked.

"It's not so bad. I like helping the boys. Just a warning Spot is in a nasty mood so if he says beat it, you better listen." I told him with a frown.

"It's leader business." He said simply.

"You know that if this is something unimportant I am going to be thrown into the water again, right?" I asked feeling a little nervous. I really didn't want to wake up Mr. Moody right now.

"It's important." He told me and I nodded.

"Wait here." I told him as we reached the stairs that led to the bunk rooms.

He nodded and I headed up the stairs taking them two at a time. I didn't really want to wake Spot but it was better to just get it over with. I didn't really have a death wish. I hoped this was as important as Jack made it sound or I was a dead girl walking. Yeah, I really hated my job sometime.

"Spot, Jack's here. He said it's really important." I said knocking on the door.

When I didn't get an answer I groaned and went in. If he was sleeping this deep I was dead. Yeah, it might just be a good idea to turn around and said he was in the middle of something. That way I could just give him a message. Then again I was dead if he had to go to Manhattan to hear what Jack had to say. They may be on good terms but Spot was still furious with Jack. That guy really knew how to hold a grudge.

"Spot jack's here." I repeated going in but freezing were I stood.

"I heard you the first time!" Spot snapped.

"Well you could have said so." I mumbled as I backed out of the room.

He was in a worse mood than I thought. Poor Jack. He was in for something, as for me I was heading back to the docks where there is a pair of boys who were most likely panicking by now. Well at least the kid, Skittery, was. He seemed like the nervous type while Davey knew that they needed Spot's okay to soak a kid from another borough. They were safe. Which was hopefully what I was when they left. I really didn't want to swim today. It was getting a little too cold for my taste.