CHAPTER 2

Jack woke up when his body was being pushed, he instinctively grabbed the arm and twisted hard.

"Ow, man. Let go, it's me," Davey's voice said. "Get up, Jack. You gotta see this."

"It's Sunday, Davey. Can't it wait until tomorra?"

Jack noticed that most of the newsies were up and most were huddled together, he got a sick feeling in his stomach. "What's goin' on, boys?" He asked.

Crutchie limped over to him, Monday's newspaper in hand.

Jefferson Family Attacked, Seven Dead -

Jack clenched the paper to the point where it started to rip. He then dropped the paper on the floor, the pages flying everywhere. No one said anything, Davey sat down, his nose red and runny but he hid it with a cough. Jack shook his head, "she can't be…I talked to her a few days ago. She…she…"

"Jack," Crutchie said softly, "she usually comes by every day. She hasn't for almost a week now."

"No!" Jack yelled, storming out.

"Jack-"

"Let him go," Davey put a hand on Crutchie shoulder. "He's sensitive."

Jack couldn't see where he was going, but his feet knew the way. His sight was blurred by the tears that constantly fell from his eyes. Minnie wasn't dead, she couldn't be. A hard weight pulled his chest down to where he had to sit down or he would fall over. He punched the soiled ground with his fist until the pain finally set in. His leaned against the nearest building and looked up at the clouded sky. He loved Minnie, he loved her with all his heart. He knew that, hell, he had known that for a while. Why hadn't he said anything? Because of his social rank? Minnie never minded social rank, and dammit, even if he made a newsies wage he would find a better job. A respectable one, work for a bank, or a restaurant even. Work his way up then sell the place and buy them a house somewhere far outside the city. Why hadn't he told her? It was obvious he cared about her, she had to have seen that much. Did she love him too? Could she? Jack thought back to every touch she had given him. How her fingers linger on his when she handed him cash or a bag. Did her fingers linger, or was that his imagination? Didn't her eyes light up when she saw him, or was that the light of the sun in her eyes?

The newsies waited until the sun was almost down to go looking for Jack. Davey found him on the roof, somehow he had gotten past them during the day.

Davey ignored the dried blood on his hand, and sat down next to him, looking at the setting sun.

"She could be alive, Jack. They're a large family," Davey offered. Jack only nodded, resting his head on his knees. "We'll wait for the paper on Tuesday, that'll have more information."

"I love her, Davey."

"We all do."

"No, Davey. I…I love her."

"Jack," Davey turned to face him, "you can't."

"I know," Jack stood up. "I know, I know."

"It's just that she's nice to us. You're not in love with her, you just love how kind she is." Jack shook his head.

"Trust me, Davey, I wish it was that. I've tried to spin it in my head every appropriate way I could think. But it's not true, I love her. I want to spend the rest of my life making her happy. I want…" Jack broke down crying, "I want her to live. Please God, let her live."

Days past and the newspaper had no new news on the Jefferson family. Until one day a reporter came up to Jack and Davey while they were selling papers.

"Hey, boys," the reporter smiled wide, "got a few questions for ya."

"You wanna paper or not?" Jack said without expression.

"It's about Miss Minnie Jefferson. I was told she was very generous to the paperboys out here."

"Is she alive?" Jack asked.

"Is she alright?" Davey asked at the same time.

The reporter wrote down some notes while laughing, "so you do care about her. What's the relationship like between a newsie and a high class lady like Miss Jefferson?"

"Please, is she alive?" Jack pleaded.

"Yeah, she wasn't even in the house. Barley escaped the attackers, poor girl."

Jack kept the tears inside, closing and sitting down silently thanking God.

"Now, will ya answer my questions?"

"No, get out," Davey said lunging at the reporter. He flinched and walked away. "She's alive, Jack. I told ya-"

"I need to see her."

"Jack-"

"I need to see her."

"We don't know where she is," Davey explained. "You wouldn't know the first place to look." Jack nodded.

Davey left earlier than Jack, it was his turn to help clean the floors. Jack walked back slowly, trying to think of a place where Minnie would be. His thought was interrupted by a muffled voice. Then loud laughter.

"Stop," a woman's voice commanded. Jack picked up a metal pipe that was on the ground, he had dealt with this a few times before. A guy tried to feel up a girl walking home, usually a large man like Jack with a pipe scared them off.

Jack found two men pulling at the woman's arm, her body was covered in shadows but her dress was already torn.

"Hey, let her go!" Jack yelled holding up the pipe like a baseball bat.

The woman kicked one man in between his legs, he fell down with a groan. The other back-handed the woman and ran off, pulling his partner behind him. Jack hit the second one on the back with the pipe and they ran faster.

"Are ya alright, miss?" Jack knelt down placing the pipe behind him. Once he got closer, he saw the blonde color, the familiar curl of her hair. "Minnie," he placed a hand on her arm and turned her over where her back was in his lap and she was looking up at him. "God, Minnie." Her face, which usually held a smile and gleaming eyes, was now bruised and dirty.

"Jack, Jack, I'm sorry. I couldn't find you," Minnie stuttered through.

"Shh, it's okay now," Jack pulled her up, placing his hand around where her skirt met her shirt. Her shaky arms went around his neck and her face buried in his shirt. "I got you. I'll take you back to your…uh…where are ya staying?"

Minnie backed out of the hug, she pushed some stray hairs out of her face, "currently? Wherever I can find a clean spot."

"What? Minnie, you've been sleeping out here? That's too dangerous, why did you come find me?"

"I got lost, I've never been this far in the neighborhood before. All the buildings look the same and I…I couldn't go back to the house." Minnie didn't cry, her face was scrunched up like she was thinking hard about something. "I tried to find you, I looked, but…"

"I'm sorry," Jack pulled her back in for a hug, "I know, you tried. It's okay. I'm here. I'm here. You won't sleep on the floor tonight. I gotta bed for ya, it's not fancy or nothin', but it's better than the ground."

"Thank you, Jack," Jack couldn't understand why she was thanking him. After all she has done for him, he would build her a palace and she wouldn't have to thank him.

"Can ya walk?" He asked softly. Minnie nodded but kept her arm around his shoulder. He kept his arm around her waist.

Back at the house, the newsies were all talking when Jack walked in with Minnie at his side.

"Minnie!" The boys shouted all running up to greet her, they all halted once they saw the state she was in.

"Who did this to ya?" One newsie asked.

"We'll make sure they neva see the light of day again."

"Yeah!"

"Boys, that's sweet. But all I could use is a place to sleep." Minnie smiled, grabbing the hands of some of the boys.

"Alright," Davey said, "I want y'all acting like the gentlemen I hope y'all's is. We've got a real lady here, and she will be respected like the Queen."

"Thank you, so much. There are reporters practically living on my doorstep. I don't feel like answering questions just yet."

The boys watched as Jack led Minnie to a bed in the back, near his. They were more than happy to help out a woman who had shown them only kindness.