"NO!" Nancy pushed through the crowd and knelt down next to Bill's body.
"Hey! You best be getting out of here!" one of the bobbies yelled.
Nancy looked up. "Please, sir, it's the top 'at. It belongs to a friend of mine."
The bobby looked at the other officers before picking the hat up and examining it. It was stained with red, but it seemed fine.
"Here you go, miss," he said, handing it to her.
"Thank you, sir," Nancy muttered, and hurried off.
Where was Dodger? Where could she look? She stopped a moment. Maybe she was over reacting. Yes, that was it. Still, she worried.
Nancy did the only thing she could think of doing - she ran to Fagin's.
----x--X--x----
"Read 'em and weep!" The boy slammed his cards down on the table. The other three boys playing cards groaned in annoyance, realizing the boy had won.
"Keep it quiet, will ya?" Fagin snapped from where he sat by the fire. Charley sat next to him, wringing his hands.
"Where's the Dodge, Charley?" Fagin asked. "'E ain't usually out this long."
Charley swallowed. "I don't know, sir. That's why I'm so nervous, see."
Before Fagin had a chance to respond, they heard a voice.
"Fagin! Open up, it's Nancy!" Nancy's hoarse voice called.
Charley jumped up and rushed to help Nancy in. All the boys started to stand up.
"Step aside, lads!" ordered Fagin. The boys slunk out of the way.
Nancy's eyes were red and puffy, and in her hands she clutched Dodger's old top hat.
"Why 'ave you got Dodger's 'at?" Fagin asked. "An' why's it got blood on it?"
Nancy gulped. "Bill's dead, Fagin."
The room went silent.
"Dead? Dead 'ow?" Fagin demanded.
"Twas runnin', an', 'e tripped. Tripped and 'it 'is fore 'ead on the ground. The traps 'ave got the body. I…I found…"
She stopped for a minute, and took a deep breath. "I found Dodger's top 'at in 'is 'ands. Bill's knuckles and boots were bloody, Fagin. And 'e 'ad a knife, wiv blood all over it. I think Dodger might…might be…"
Nancy couldn't say it, but everyone understood. "Where should I look?" she asked.
"Did ya check Bill's place?" Fagin asked her.
Nancy thought a moment. "I didn't think o' that. I'll be right off, then. Wish me luck."
----x--X--x----
Nancy ran as fast as her feet would carry her. When she reached her destination, she didn't want to go inside, afraid that her worst fears would be answered.
Summoning up her courage, Nancy opened the door. She walked in slowly. "Dodger?"
No answer.
Nancy took a step forward and looked around. Then, she found him.
He was laying on the ground, next to a table. His skin had been sliced by Bill's knife, blood staining his shirt. He had a black eye, and bruises all over.
"Dodger! Dodger, please, speak to me!"
Dodger did not move. Nancy slipped her hands under his limp form and lifted him up.
He had to be alive.
----x--X--x----
"C'mon, Dodga!"
Nancy sat next to Dodger's bedside. She held his hat in her hands; his jacket was being washed by some of the boys, and his shirt was beyond repair.
Nancy leaned forward and looked at him. Someone had moved him, so now the bandage around his chest was out of place. Nancy sighed. Must've happened when she'd dozed off. She took the bandage in her hand and moved it up a little.
"Ow."
Nancy's eyes widened. "Dodger?"
Dodger's eyes fluttered open, and he smiled weakly. "The one an' only."
Nancy's face split in a huge grin, and her eyes watered. "Dodger," she murmured, stroking his hair. "We thought-"
"I didn't peach on ya, Nancy." Dodger said the words, and then grinned wider. "Bill, 'e tried to make me, but I didn't."
"Bill's dead, Dodger," Nancy told him. Dodger's eyes widened, and then he shrugged.
"Got wot was comin' to 'im, I'd say." Dodger tried to sit up, and winced. Nancy smiled and helped him up.
"So, Oliver said that 'e wanted to save ya from a life o' thievin', afore I left 'im." Nancy had just remembered it.
"Wot?" Dodger was shocked. "Me? Wearing them fancy clothings and actin' all prim and posh?" He laughed, which hurt his ribs, so he stopped.
"It's not funny, Dodge!" Nancy snapped. "You need a future, and it's not 'ere. It can't be."
Dodge raised an eyebrow. "Are you sayin' I'm not good enough any more?"
Nancy shook her head. "No, no! I just thought that you should consider it." Knowing it was hopeless, she stood up and started to walk off.
"I'll consider it."
Nancy turned around. "Wot?"
"I said, I'll consider leavin' this fine life be'ind and goin' off to be a gentleman."
Nancy started to open her mouth.
"On one condition!"
Nancy grinned. "Anythin', Dodger."
"Give me back me top 'at!"