A/N: Okay, I'm sick of all this background information and I know you guys have to be as well, so I'm cutting out a chapter, but it doesn't really make a huge difference. You'll still be able to follow. Enjoy!

New York: 1898

Kale walked out of the orphanage with nothing but the clothes on her back. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she ignored the yells from the mistress that she would never be allowed to enter again. She didn't care. Kayleigh wasn't going to make it. Deep down in her soul, she knew it. Over the past two years, Kayleigh had fought one illness after another, and each time, the mistress refused to buy medicine or bring her to the doctors. And now, it was too late. Kayleigh had slipped out of conciseness earlier that morning. Kale knew that she was going to die, and with Kayleigh, a part of Kale died too. She no longer held any hope. So she packed her things and walked out, leaving the life she had known after the death of her parents.

She had no idea where she was going to go, but she walked anyway. She walked aimlessly, lost in her sorrow. She didn't pay attention to anything until she found herself looking over the side of the Brooklyn Bridge into the swirling water below. "I wonder what it's like to die." She whispered to herself. "I could end it all right now, I could jump." She backed away from the side of the bridge slowly, fear creeping into her soul. She didn't want to die… did she?

Suddenly, a figure appeared before her. "Whatcha doin' out on a night like dis, Sweet Face?" it asked, a tint of evil coloring its tone. Suddenly filled with dread, she turned and tried to run, only to sprint into a chest that felt like brick. She fell backwards landing on he ground. She heard the boys laughing. "A poity little goil like you shouldn't be all alone on a night like t'night." The voice in front of her said. She barely made out the figures coming closer. "Git away from me!" She cried, but they only laughed and crept closer. She grabbed a handful of mud from where she sat, and threw it at the figure in front of her. It hit him smack in the face and he yelled as he tried to wipe it from his eyes. "Ya gonna pay fer dat, missy!" The other boy grabbed her from behind, pulling her from the ground and pinning her arms. He easily lifted her hundred pound frame as if she weighed nothing at all.

She kicked and squirmed and fought, but he clung tighter, even after the times her feet made contact with his legs. "Let me go," she seethed, white rage killing any shred of sense she had. She kicked harder, making the boy grunt as her feet made contact with his shins.

The other boy, now recovered from the sudden hit of mud, approached her. He grabbed her shirt and got in her face, "Yer feisty, just how I like 'em" She cringed at the smell of his breath and spit in his face. He smacked her, making her gasp. "Now we can do dis da hard way, or the easy way. It's up to you, little missy."

"Let 'er go or I'll soak ya straight tru next week!" a commanding voice said from behind Kale. She felt the arms around her stiffen.

"Git lost, Conlon. Dis ain't none a yer business," the boy in front of her spat.

She felt the boy holding her release his grip and she fell to the ground. She looked up to find her rescuer grabbing the back of her former captor's neck in what looked like a painful clutch. "Ya wanna run that by me one more time, boy?" he challenged, cold eyes glinting in the darkness. Snapping out of her frozen state, Kale crawled over to the side of the bridge and watched the drama unfolding before her, shivering from the thought of what might have happened had this "Conlon" not come along.

"She shouldn't be 'ere. Not at dis time o night. Ya know dat as well as I do. She's fair game."

"Ha!" Kale's rescuer spat sarcastically. "I practically own dis city! Yer lucky I don't soak ya double fer trespassin'!" He released the neck of the boy he was holding and the boy stumbled a bit before gaining his balance.

"Come on, let's git outta 'ere!" the boy urged, rubbing the back of his neck and beginning to back away.

The other boy sent him a glare and then turned back to 'Conlon.' "Guess yer gonna hafta soak me annudah time, eh, Conlon?"

Her rescuer laughed, a cocky self-assured laugh, "Oh trust me, boy, I ain't nearly done wit chu yet! It jist ain't civil ta beat da crap outta ya in front a da lady."

As the boys walked away, Conlon turned and walked towards Kale. "Ya awight?" he questioned, holding out his hand to her. She ignored it and pulled herself to her feet, suddenly angry that she couldn't last ten minutes on her own without having to be rescued. "Yeah. Jist fine, t'anks." She brushed off her skirt and walked past the figure who watched her for a moment, as if amused.

"Where ya goin, goil?" he finally spoke, stopping her when she was ten feet away.

"None o yer business!" she snapped, but immediately felt regret, for the boy had saved her. The least she could do was thank him. She turned to apologize, only to find him standing only inches from her.

"I'se didn't 'ave to do dat, ya know, goil. Chu got no business talking to me like dat. Do you even know who I am?"

For a minute fear sliced its way through Kale. His tone was chilling. Was he going to hurt her? "No, I suppose I don't," she admitted softly.

This seemed to appease him slightly, for he paused a moment and his gaze lessened in intensity. "Ya don't got anywheres to go, do ya, goil?"

Kale set her jaw. "Coise I does."

Conlon chuckled. "Showah ya do, ya probly got a whole family waitin' up fer you to git 'ome," his voice practically dripped with sarcasm. "Nobody comes to the Brooklyn bridge in the middle of da night unless dey gots a death wish or sumptin."

"Fine!" snapped Kale, "I don' got anywheres to go! Happy?"

"Yes," he answered smugly.

"Whatevah," Kale breathed and walked past him, but he grabbed her arm and shoved her back in front of him.

"Nobody comes or goes witout me permission, got it?"

His strength and tone were unsettling, but Kale was through being pushed around. Ignoring her common sense, she glared at him, "What are you, my mastah or sumptin?"

"Yeah, sometin like that," he said cockily.

"Yeah? Well I'm not owned by anybody, so git ovah yerself!" She spun on her heel and stomped off.

"Ya showah ya wanna to dat?" His voice held a subtle warning.

She spun again, facing him once more, "Why not?" she questioned suspiciously.

"Cuz those morons are likely waitin' for ya, and I ain't inta savin' goils moah dan once."

"Well," Kale said after a short pause, "I ain't got annuda choice. I gotta go." She turned slower this time, and began to walk away, fear dancing up and down her spine. She didn't want to run into the two street rats again. Especially since there wasn't going to be anyone to save her.

"Wait!" Conlon called out.

"Yeah?"

"Ya kin stay wit me and da boys for a night, but only a night and den ya gotta go."

Kale considered this for a moment. "Only boys?"

"Yeah, 'bout thoity of 'em. We'se used ta 'ave some goils, but goils don't seem ta take a likin' ta Brooklyn."

Kale sucked in a breath, "Um…no t'anks, I t'ink I'll take my chances against two boys."

Conlon chuckled, "Dey won't 'urt you. Not me boys." His voice hardened, "Not if I tell dem not to." He turned and began to walk toward the other edge of the bridge, talking as he went. "You'll be fine. Come on."

His boys? I'll give 'im one thing… 'e's got great self confidence. Oh well, what's it gonna hoit, anyway? I guess I can go. And so Kale silently followed her strange rescuer.

0o0o0

Spot made his way towards a passage of alleyways that would lead them to the lodging house, all too aware of the girl following behind him. He was greatly amused at the way she had stood up to him. She obviously had no idea what kind of city this was, nevermind who he was. He chuckled softly to himself as he walked. He turned slightly to make sure she was still behind him. She was staring at him. He smiled to himself and turned back around. A nagging thought lingered in the back of his mind. Sometin' about 'er seems so familiar. Where 'ave I seen 'er before?

A/N: Just in case you're wondering, Spot and Kale haven't seen each other since two years ago… duh! Why else wouldn't they remember each other? (smiles) No, I don't think you're stupid, I'm just explaining to those of us who are… slower. (cough) Charlie (cough). Char, sweetie, you know I luv you! I know that this chapter was a little boring, but the best is yet to come! Thanks again to my reviewers. Luv always! Oh, and let me know what you think by dropping me a handy dandy review! Tootles!