Chapter 2
"So where are we going exactly?" David asked as he followed Jack through the busy streets of Manhattan.
"To talk to a friend." Jack replied.
"That's all you're going to tell me? Come on Jack. You're taking me with you. Whatever the secret is I'll know eventually."
"Exactly. You'll know eventually. And not telling you now is for my own personal safety."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll see soon enough." Jack said. "In fact, we're here."
They stood before a large building. Probably used to be a factory, definitely abandoned. "This friend of yours lives here?"
"Along with a few others. Come on." Jack said walking around to the side and stepping through the already open door. David sighed and followed.
The room was empty. At least David thought it was.
"Hey Cowboy, what are you doing here?" David jumped at the sound of a voice behind them. Turning he saw the voice's owner was a girl who looked to be around 14. She had chestnut colored hair, and strange gold eyes. She stood from the chair she was sitting in and walked over to them. "And who's your friend?"
"Good to see you again Hawk. This here is David Jacobs. We came to talk to Eight.
Hawk raised an eyebrow. "You want to talk to Eight, and you brought him with you? Have you simply forgotten the warning you were given or are you just plain crazy?"
"It's a risk I'm willing to take." Jack paused then continued, "We really need this Hawk."
She shook her head and sighed. "Your funeral." Pointing to the fire escape visible through a window she said, "Try the roof."
"Thanks." Jack said before turning around and heading back out the door.
"Who exactly are we going to talk to?" David questioned as they made their way up.
"You'll see soon enough."
"I want to know now."
Well," Jack said as he made the last steps onto the roof. "Have a look then."
The only other person on the roof was a dark haired girl who turned to face them as soon as she heard Jack's voice. She was dressed like a newsie, long pants, loose-fitting shirt, and a vest. A cap was sticking out of one of the vest pockets.
Confused David asked, "We're here to talk to a girl?"
She walked toward them and gave them a once over before saying, "I thought we had a deal Jack." Her voice lack the thick New York accent David had been expecting. Instead it had a slight Southern drawl.
"I need help Eight. I figured if I couldn't convince you-"
"He could," she interrupted. "Because he's the one who was coming up with all the pretty words during the strike."
"Give him a chance Eight."
She turned to David and held out a hand. "Yes you came all this way to talk to a girl. I'm Eight Seconds."
"David Jacobs." He said shaking her hand.
She nodded then turned to Jack. "You said you needed help?'
Jack launched into an explanation of the situation. The unprovoked attacks, Lightning's refusal to talk, Spider and Pepper's veiled threat, everything.
She listened in silence the whole time. When he finished she asked, "What exactly do you want me to do?"
"If it comes to a fight I want you to be our backup."
She scoffed. "Really? 'Cause the last time you need extra muscle you went to Spot. Why not go to Brooklyn now?"
"They'll be expecting that."
"And you want a secret weapon."
"You'll surprise them long enough that they won't stand a chance."
"Sounds like you doubt my abilities. I'm not afraid of getting hurt Jack. I afraid of putting my girls in danger for no reason."
Before Jack could reply David jumped in. "Look, I have no idea who you are or what you're capable of, but if Jack dragged me out here to talk to you then you must be able to help us somehow. And if you can then you gotta, because if you don't then eventually the Bronx will get to you and you would have to deal with them alone. Why not stand with us and drive them back together?"
Eight raised an eyebrow. David felt slightly panicked thinking he had ruined their chances by offending her with his outburst. "Look, I'm-"
She cut him off. "Rule number six: Never say you're sorry." Then she smirked and turned to Jack. "I kinda like this one. Underneath all that quiet he's got some spunk. I can see why you won the strike."
Jack grinned. "Does that mean you're in?"
"I'll have to talk to the girls first. If they agree, we're in."
Jack nodded then spit on his hand and held it out.
Eight laughed. "You still do that?" she asked before doing the same and spit-shaking with him. "If we're in we'll meet you at the Lodging House at two."
"Hope to see you there. And thanks." Jack said before turning to climb back down.
"Oh and Jack," Eight called before he and David reached the edge. "If we do this the girls and I will end up blowing our cover. All the same keep who we are a secret. If we don't so this I want us to stay on the down low." She grinned. "And I really want to see the reactions of your boys when they find out you went to a bunch of girls for help."
He rolled his eyes. "We'll keep our mouths shut."
"So how did you meet her?" David asked as they walked back.
Two years ago she was new to town. Didn't have any money and didn't like the options she had if she wanted to make some. So she stole. One day she tried to pickpocket me. I chased her for four blocks before I caught her." Jack replied, smiling a little at the memory.
"What's the deal she mentioned?"
"More of an understanding than a deal. After she started pretending to be a boy so she could be a newsie she started saving other girls that reminded her of herself. She told me that if I ever let it slip that they were really girls she would make me feel, and I quote, 'A whole new level of pain'"
"Why does she call herself Eight Seconds?"
"Geez you ask a lot of questions. Because when she lived in Texas she spent as much time as possible around rodeos. I think she even entered in a few. If you want to know so much about her then ask her all these questions yourself."
David looked down, embarrassed. But Jack had a point. And why did he want to know so much about her anyway. Because you like her, a voice inside him whispered. He shook his head slightly. That couldn't be it, he had just met her. Yes, she was pretty, but if she wanted a guy she probably wouldn't go for him. She'd go for someone like Jack or Spot, someone tougher.
He glanced through a store window at a clock to see the time. "I've gotta go home Jack. See you tomorrow."
Hey all. Sorry this was slow. Most of the chapters will probably be slow. When I'm writing a fanfic I have to be in the mindset of whatever the fic is for. And I change from mindset to mindset like the weather. Just a heads up. In the meantime read and review. :~)
P.S. Yes I did borrow one of the Rules of Gibbs. No infringement intended. They belong to the writers of NCIS. And I will probably use more of them if the occasion arises.
