Alex was a smart kid but was severely underfed from what Crutchy could tell. They spent the after noon laughing as Alex ran around asking people to buy papers from Crutchy. Marrissa and Crutchy eventually decided that Alex should be a newsie. Crutchy met up with them everyday at the gate and they sold their papers together.

It was about two weeks after they had started selling together that Crutchy did not show up. "Mary, where's Crutchy?" Alex asked as he tugged on her skirt.

"I don't know, maybe one of the other newsies will know." Marrissa walked up to Blink as he walked out of the gates. "Blink! Ya seen Crutchy?" Blink looked up and immediately frowned.

"His legs all cramped up today, he can barely walk even wit' his crutch. He's at de lodge house if youse want to go see him." Blink tipped his newsie hat and walked off yelling fake headlines.

"Can we go see him please, Mary."

"Yeah, sure." Alex grabbed her hand and started pulling her down the street.

Crutchy lifted his head off his pillow as Alex came running in; smiling and laughing. "Hi Crutchy!" Alex jumped onto the bed and hugged him quickly.

"Hey Kid, whatcha doin' here?"

"Mary and I came to see you!" He smiled. Crutchy looked at the door as Marrissa walked through the door.

"Alex, I told you to stay with me." She frowned.

"Hey Crutchy."

"Hi." He muttered and looked down, embarrassed. Jack walked into the room from the washroom.

"Hey, you two come to cheer Crutchy up?"

"Yeah."

"Well then I should get sellin'. Alex, youse wanna come wit' me?" Alex looked up a Marrissa and smiled.

"Can I please, I'se like Jack?"

"Go on. Just make sure you do what Cowboy says, understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Alex launched himself onto Jack's shoulders.

Marrissa sat down next to Crutchy and put a gentle hand on his bad leg. "How's your leg doin'?"

"Alright, I'se guess." He shrugged.

"Liar." She frowned "I can tell it hurts or you wouldn't be in bed."

Crutchy turned his head to the side and sighed. "I'm not gonna complain." He whispered.

"It's not wrong to complain if it's genuine." Marrissa slowly started rubbing the muscle on his leg. The pain flared a little before dimming under the soft hands of the green-eyed girl. Crutchy slowly closed his eyes and reveled in the feel of her hands.

"Thank you." He murmured as his mind started shutting down.

I'm not sure what to think of this chapter. It's not really to my liking but it was the only thing I had.

Don't ya just love Crutchy! He's one of my favorites!

Indara