Chapter Two
Author's Note: So here I am again today, and with chapter two. I will now thank all of you who reviewed, and I appreciate it! TeamJacob1998: Thank you for wanting more of this story, nice to know that it's appreciated and here's more! Sis21k: I know, most stories are like that, it's true, and I am happy that you like my writing, which is even more reason to continue! Thank you two for that, and the rest of you for reading it as well and now on with the chapter…
There was a sound of voices and the feeling of blankets. Crutchie opened his eyes slowly and looked up and around. Jack was sitting on the floor next to him, and he was talking to Katherine, who had appeared. Crutchie lay there making no sound and listened to the conversation they were having since they hadn't seen him open his eyes or move his head slightly around.
"Jack, I already told you. He wasn't looking okay earlier and I felt his forehead and it was warm. That's what happened. Then I came and told you." Katherine was saying.
"There ain't no reason why he shoulda refused to tell me." said Jack.
"Yes there was and is. He already told me that he always got sick at this time of the year and didn't want to worry you anymore." she said. "I know you're stressed about everything. Did Race show up yet?"
"No. He ain't come home for days, Katherine, he ain't comin' home now. I almost given up hope."
"Don't do that. I'm sure he'll be back. He is almost your age, he can take care of himself."
"Dat's what they all tell me. But ya know, Ace, I doubt that's what happened. An' then there's Romeo and Mush. They been dis way for a while. But now Crutchie's sick an'…" Jack trailed off, uncertainly.
"I know. Trust me on this." said Katherine, quietly.
There was silence. Crutchie felt his fever seem to gain and feel worse. He was scared now, because the fever felt really bad. He started to wonder if it was something horrible that he had. He'd never felt his body feel this hot before.
"Jack…" he said quietly.
"Crutchie, does it feel worse?" asked Jack, and Crutchie faced him.
"I ain't gonna tell you dat. I ain't gonna tell you what this is, 'cause I don' know what it is." he replied.
"If you… how do you not know? Isn't it just a fever?" asked Katherine.
"Ise don't."
"Crutchie, you're gonna get better. It's just a fever." said Jack, looking alarmed.
Crutchie looked at him again and then shrugged. He knew very well what that would trigger, and indeed, Jack looked terrified.
"It ain't that bad, it can't be." he said.
"It is. I gotta bad fevah, Jack. An' I nose it." replied Crutchie.
"It's nearly Christmas, an' you're tellin' me that you are boining up an' …."
Crutchie looked away from Jack, seeing tears in the older boy's eyes. Katherine had remained silent and Crutchie only glanced at her, but she looked frightened. He looked at the ceiling. There was luck on his side, though, and he knew it.
For the rest of the night, Jack stayed by his side. Katherine went home. Crutchie fell asleep and he knew Jack did too, and was glad for that because the older newsie hadn't gotten much sleep for a while.
The morning was slow and quiet. Romeo was the first one up because he threw up in the bathroom and when Jojo went in there to clean, he had run back out shouting something. Everyone woke up at that point. Crutchie moaned and looked at Jack. He could see that Jack was struggling between staying with him and going over to clean up the bathroom. Crutchie gave him a look that meant he had to go help and then looked at the other newsies that were getting ready. He didn't want to be the one to tell them why he wasn't getting up or anything. He didn't want to see them looked more worried than they already were.
Everyone knew why Mush had been getting into fights. He had been fighting a lot of newsies that made jokes off of Race's disappearance. Everyone knew why Romeo had the stomach bug. He had gotten it on a trip to the Bronx one day. Everyone could guess why Race was gone, not that they knew, but they guessed. Most figured Spot had kidnapped Race or the newsie had gotten into a fight and not won, or something horrible of the sort. But now they would have him to worry about, which wasn't something Crutchie enjoyed thinking about. They would have to worry about him and for him.
It was Jack who explained to them before everyone left why Crutchie was downstairs in a bed and wasn't going anywhere. The minute he said "bad fevah" and such, Crutchie saw faces pale and heard the mutters of alarm. He looked at Jack from his bed and knew that the leader was now more worried than ever. He felt terrible for causing more pain.
Once everyone had left, he knew Jack was still there. He didn't want to hold the leader back. He wanted to go out too, but causing Jack to stay here wasn't something Crutchie enjoyed. It made him feel weak. He could still walk and move around. Maybe it was something mild. Crutchie continued to hope.
Romeo was still around and he was in another bed with a bucket next to him. But the boy still looked alert. Mush was stuck here too, he had a broken arm and a black eye, not to mention the bruises and cuts all over his body. Crutchie wasn't alone. He was in an infirmary.
The day passed slowly and Crutchie spent a lot of time asleep or thinking. There wasn't much he could do besides that, and he didn't feel like talking to Mush or Romeo. Those two talked amongst themselves most of the day, at least, during the times they weren't asleep or Romeo wasn't getting sick in his bucket. No one else was around and the whole world seemed silent. He couldn't hear anything from the outside world.
When Jack came back, he came straight over to Crutchie. His worried expression made Crutchie feel worse.
"Are ya feeling any woise?" he asked him.
"I…Jack, Ise don' wanna tell ya dat." Crutchie said, looking at him.
"Look, I know it ain't good, but ya gotta get bettah."
"Jack!" yelled Albert from the door. "Jack!"
He came running over, panic on his face. Jack stood up, and Crutchie looked at Albert, wondering what was going on.
"Jack! It's Race!" said Albert. "He, dey got, Spot's got 'im! Heah, now!"
"What?" asked Jack, looking amazed.
"Yeah, Spot foun' him. He's all cut up an'…." the other newsie trailed off.
"Where?" said Jack. Albert grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of the lodging house.
Crutchie dragged himself out of the bed. Jack looked back and motioned him not to follow, but he hobbled outside. There was Spot, carrying Race, who was bloody with a lot of cuts all along his body.
Author's Note: Alright, there's chapter two! Thank you and please review, review, review!
