A/N: There are some ableist slurs in this chapter, so if that bothers you I would recommend not reading from the sentence that starts with "You ain't much of a protector, are ya?" to the end.

Things were much worse between Crutchie and Jennie after Crutchie's revelation.

To be fair to Crutchie, he hadn't expected things to improve. But neither had he expected things to become so tense and awkward that the two could hardly stand to be in a room together for more than a few minutes.

Everyone else noticed the new dynamic between the two, even Jack. They noticed how Jennie was quiet and pale as she went about her work, and how the light in Crutchie's eyes seemed to have gone out. No one brought it up, however, not wanting to make the situation worse. Most of the newsies knew the pain of a broken heart, and so they were quietly sympathetic from afar.

-Break-

"Crutchie!" Crutchie looked around in surprise after he heard someone call his name, spotting Katherine across the street after a few moments. He smiled half-heartedly at her and gave a little wave.

Katherine frowned slightly upon observing how subdued Crutchie was, and she quickly hurried across the street to where he was standing with his stack of newspapers. "Hello, Crutchie," she greeted.

"Heya, Katherine. Nice ta see you," Crutchie replied, absentmindedly adjusting the strap of his newspaper bag.

"What's wrong?" Katherine asked, cocking her head slightly.

"Nothin's wrong," Crutchie assured her, though his tone wasn't particularly enthusiastic.

"Are you sure?" Katherine pressed. "You seem… off. You're not getting sick are you?"

"Nah, I'se just a bit tired is all. I was up late last night, playin' poker with Race," Crutchie lied, hoping he sounded convincing.

Katherine's concerned expression morphed into one of disbelief, and she raised an eyebrow. "Really? You were playing poker with Race? I thought you gave that up after he won fifty cents off of you two months ago."

"Well, I decided ta give it another go. He only won ten cents off me this time, so I'd call that progress." Crutchie chuckled woodenly.

Katherine considered this for a minute longer, then finally nodded. "Okay," she acquiesced. "Well, I suppose I'll see you around?"

Crutchie nodded. "Yeah. See ya around, Katherine."

Katherine hesitated for a second more, then smiled back and slowly began to walk away from Crutchie. She had almost reached the corner of the street when she turned around and looked back at him. "Crutchie?" she called.

"Yeah?"

"You know you can tell me anything, right? You're Jack's brother, and that makes you mine too."

Crutchie smiled softly. "Thanks, Katherine."

"Of course, Crutchie."

-Break-

Walking back to the lodging house that evening, Crutchie thought about what Katherine had said to him. He hated the idea of lying to her, however small a lie it was, and he considered her a close friend. But he also wanted to keep his heartbreak to himself for however long he could, he hated the idea of Katherine or anyone else pitying him.

Crutchie was pulled out of his head as he rounded a corner and passed the alley next to the lodging house, from which voices- two male and one female- spilled. "Come on girlie, ya know ya wanna come with us. We can show ya a good time."

"Don't touch me!"

Crutchie stopped dead. He knew that voice. It was low and rich but soft and sweet at the same time. It was Jennie's voice. And at the moment it was laced with anger and fear.

"Come on, honey. We know all about girls like you…"

"You don't know anything about me, you bastard."

"Hey!" Crutchie cried from where he was standing in the mouth of the alley, causing all three of them to turn their heads and look at him in surprise.

"Charlie, what are you doing? Get out of here!" Jennie cried frantically, and the two men chuckled.

"You ain't much of a protector, are ya? Now, why don't you do as your girlfriend says an' get out of here, crip."

Crutchie swallowed hard, his hand tightening on his crutch. Oh, how he hated that word.

Seeing that Crutchie wasn't going anywhere, the man's triumphant grin faded. "What, are ya deaf as well as lame? I said get outta here!"

"I ain't goin' anywhere without her," Crutchie stated firmly, surprising himself with how steady his voice sounded. "Let her go now."

The other man stepped towards Crutchie from the shadows, growling menacingly. "I don't think so. We got some… unfinished business with her."

"Well, then I guess I'll have ta take her by force," Crutchie responded instantly, taking a deep breath as he prepared to fight. Spot had been teaching him self-defense down at the docks ever since the strike ended, and he was confident he could hold his own.

The men shared a glance, then laughed heartily. They both stepped forward as they glared intimidatingly down at Crutchie. "I'd like to see you try, crip."

Crutchie glared back at the two men fiercely, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He took a deep breath, said a quick silent prayer, and swung a fist at the first man's face.