Since there was still time after the races, Quill decided to head to Manhattan with Racetrack.

"I'm gonna bunk there for tanight. 'Kay, Spot?"

Spot grunted. "Do what ya want."

Quill pursed his lips. "All right den..." He turned to Race. "I'm ready ta go."

"Let's go den. I guess we'll see ya tamorrow, Spot?"

Spot shrugged. "Maybe. I got stuff ta do tamorrow. We'll see."

Spot gave them a goodbye nod and trudged off into the darkness.

"Will he be okay?" Quill asked as he stared at the shadows Spot disappeared into.

"It's Spot. He'll be fine."

"I dunno... I just worry about him sometimes."

"He can take care of himself." Race playfully shoved Quill. "You should worry about yaself. I know you get sick easily."

"Heh... I don't sick dat easily." Quill shoved Race back.

Race laughed. "All right, all right. Guess I hoid wrong."

"Hey... Quill?"

"Mmmm?" Quill raised his head sleepily. "Wha?"

"Wake up."

"Why?"

"Just wake up. I wanna talk wit' ya."

Quill rubbed his eyes. "Okay... I'm up. What is it?"

"Meet me on the roof."

"Seriously..."

After several minutes of feeling his way around the bunk room trying not to wake the others up, Quill managed to get onto the roof.

"Okay, what is it, Kid?"

Kid stuck his hands in his pockets. His normal gesture when he was either nervous or excited. "Just worried about ya... I hoid that Race hoid about ya getting' sick easily and stuff."

"Don't worry 'bout me I'm fine. I know you're concerned since I'm your cousin an' all, but really, Kid, I'm find."

Kid sighed through his nose. "I can't help but worry about ya. Ya got bad lungs..." He looked into his young cousin's green eyes. "It's not too late to come ta Manhattan."

"I can't do dat, Kid. You know I can't. Spot depends on me as his right-hand man."

Kid gripped Quill's shoulders. "Quill, your life is more important dan bein' Spot's man. I'm sure he'll understand if ya explain it ta him. I don't want ta have to save your skin again because ya got sick and Spot don't know about your lungs."

Quill shrugged off Kid's hands off his shoulders and sighed through his nose. "I know... but I can't just leave Brooklyn. Not yet, Kid. Not yet."

Kid's sad blue eye begged for Quill to reconsider.

"No, Kid. I can't."

"You'll kill yaself dis way! Just like it did your fadder and mudder!"

Quill turned his back to his cousin. "It'll be okay. I can handle myself."

Kid grabbed Quill's shoulder. "Quill, come on. T'ink of your little brudder... you can't die on 'im."

Quill sighed softly. "Danny will be fine... He's got adopted parents. He don't need me anymore."

"Quill..."

"We best head off ta bed now. I got ta get back to Brooklyn before the circulation opens."

Creak.

Kid sighed softly as a cool breeze blew past him. He couldn't just let his cousin go like that. He clenched his fists. Sure, Quill was sixteen, but Kid, on the other hand was eighteen and knew more about living than his cousin. It was true that Quill had been a newsie since he was six so he knew a lot, but Kid had started at five so he had more experience. It may just be by two years, but it did make a difference. Not to mention their health differences... Quill may be a better fighter but Kid had better stamina. Also, Kid didn't get sick easily whereas Quill usually got sick even if he was out in the cold without a jacket for just a minute. Not to mention each time Quill got sick, he was always sicker than he was the time before. If only Quill would just come to Manhattan... The last thing Kid wanted was to find his cousin limp on the streets like that one time. He shuddered. Just thinking about him caused him to worry more.

Flashback

"It was really nice of ya to join me taday." Racetrack winked at Kid. "But too bad the weather didn't hold. This rain is real nasty."

Kid nodded as he shielded his head from the rain. "Yeah. It looked like it was gonna be a nice day too."

"Looks like we might have to bunk here in Brooklyn for tanight."

Kid made a face. "I'd rather not. Maybe the weather will hold long enough for us ta get back ta Manhattan."

Race glanced up at the sky. "Eh... looks like your wish might come true. Let's make a run for it for now."

"Sure, t'ing."

Splash!

Kid and Race rushed through the dark streets, dodging puddles and pausing under overhangs for short breaks.

"Agh!" Race grunted as he lost his balance and fell face first into a muddy puddle. "Yuck..."

Kid turned around and went back to help his friend. "Ya trip over your own feet?"

Race wiped the mud off his face. "No, I'm not dat clumsy. I think I tripped ova somet'ing else."

Kid glanced at Race's feet. "I don't-" He stopped short. "Hey!"

"What?" Race blinked. "Somet'ing wrong?"

Kid was on his knees. "Race, help me! We gotta get to the lodge fast."

"Why?"

"It's Quill!"

"Quill? What's wrong wit' him?"

Kid pulled the limp newsie onto his back. "I'm not sure, but one thing for sure, we gotta get 'im outta dis rain."

Ya bonehead, Quill! You shouldn't be out and about when it's rainin'! Ya know ya catch colds easily. If I hadn't found ya...

End Flashback

Kid glanced at the empty bunk that Quill had slept in the night before. He probably left before the Manhattan newsies woke up.

"Missin' your cousin already?" Mush teased playfully.

"Shut up, Mush," Kid growled.

"Whoa!" Mush held his hands up in surrender. "You don't haf ta get worked up about it."

Kid sighed. "Sorry, Mush. We... kinda got inta a fight about... you know."

Mush nodded knowingly. "He don't want ta leave Brooklyn does he? Ya can't blame 'im. After we left ta be newsies, he got sent ta an orphanage in Brooklyn an' all."

"I know... I know." Kid brushed past his friend and finished getting ready.

Splash! Crash! SPLASH!

"Yooooowwwwie!"

Kid and Mush rolled their eyes. The new recruits were as active as ever.

"Hey guys!" Skittery rushed into the wash room. "I hoid-" He was cut off as a bar of soap smacked him right between the eyes.

The was an a dreaded but also awkward silence as Skittery hit the ground with a loud thud. Kid and Mush glanced at each other and hurried to Skittery's side.

"Skitts? Skittery?" Kid shook the older newsie hard. "Hey?"

Mush shook his head. "He's out cold."

"Oops..." A newsie behind them chuckled nervously.

Kid sighed. "Mush, you handle the culprit and I'll take Skitts ta his bunk."

Mush nodded and did as Kid said.

"Hey! Did Skitts tell ya ta news?" Race yelled as he rush into the room and bumped into Mush.

Kid stood up and sighed once again. "What is wit' dis day?" He looked at Race. "We didn't get to hear what Skittery had to say since *ahem*," Kid paused and glanced at the newsie Mush was gripping by the ear, "Skitts got knocked out."

Race cocked his head. "How'd that happen?" He shook his head. "That's beside the point. Ya need ta hear the news about Brookyn."

Kid's heart tightened slightly. Please don't let it be Quill.

Race let the words rush out. "Queens declared war on Brooklyn and two newsies are already injured badly. If dis keeps up and Brooklyn doesn't do somethin', Manhattan might be next. Plus, there are rumors dat Midtown is thinkin' 'bout joinin' Queens. If they do, we're really in danger bad. Plus, dis ain't ta typical wars we have." Race's eyes had a serious expression as he paused to take a quick breath. "The Queens are bein' led by Ropes."

Kid's stomach twisted into a knot.

"Ropes wants blood... our blood."

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. ;) It's been going along very well. Kinda surprised at how well it's going compared to my other ones. Heh heh. I'm glad this one is getting off to a nice start. :3

Author's Response to Reviews:

Koo Kid: Nice chapter, can't wait for more of it to come. ;)

Heehee thanks. :) I hope this chapter was worth waiting for.

To bE mY HEaRt: I like the start of this story so far. It's a little of a quick start but really, it's great! I always love your writing!

Aw thanks. I'm glad you like it and I'm glad you like my writing. I'm flattered. :D