A/N: Sorry it took me so freakishly long to update. I've had a kind of writers block. I was writing, but I just hated everything I wrote. I'm still not completely satisfied with this chapter, but, whatever. I'm posting anyway. It's longer, so hopefully that will appease you all after having to wait all this time. Not like you were dying without my story or anything. Anyway… read on if you must. Oh, and I don't own Spot, but I do own the rest of them. (smiles)

Melanie POV (kinda sorta)

Melanie woke to find herself in a room she had never seen before. She slowly sat up, wincing at the pain it caused her.

"'ey, Spot… Kale, she's up!" a voice called from beside her. She glanced over to see a lanky boy with unruly red, curly hair standing beside her. He smiled up at her, "'ey, you was pretty beat up dere, goil. Don' worry. Whoevah did dat ta ya won't dare botha ya here. Spot'll make sure a dat."

Yeah, I know. Dat's why I came, Melanie thought. A few minutes later a girl with cinnamon brown hair pulled back into a loose ponytail and a boy with blonde hair and a gold tipped cane entered the room. Spot Conlon!

"T'anks, Clumsy," the girl said, smiling at the curly-haired messenger. Spot nodded his approval, and the boy smiled.

"Anytime, Miss Kale…Spot."

They walked up to Melanie, and Melanie immediately noticed the detached look in the boy she assumed was Spot's eyes. It was almost cold, and she shrunk back as he approached. Oh, no! He knows who I am! How could he? I didn't tell anyone…

Regular POV

Kale saw the fear in the girl's eyes and looked over at Spot to find him scowling slightly. She rolled her eyes and elbowed him in the ribs, "Knock it off wit da frown, Spot! Yer scarin' 'er!" Spot flicked his eyes over to Kale. She smiled brilliantly. "See, Spot. Ya kin do it! Jist like dis!"

"Shuddap, Kale!" he replied, but he now smiled ruefully.

Kale turned to Melanie, "Sorry, it's jist how 'e is. 'e didn't mean ta sceer ya."

Melanie jumped at the sudden address.

"Yer mighty jumpy, ain't ya?" Spot noted.

Melanie looked over at Kale and Kale gave her a smile. She knew what it was like to be new and not know anything about Spot Conlon or his moods. She tried to lift the girl's anxiety with humor. She smiled, "Don't worry, 'e only hoits ya when ya git on 'is noivs." At Melanie's frightened expression, Kale lost her grin, "Oh, I'se jist kiddin'." She paused eyeing Melanie carefully, "I kin see we ain't ready fer dat yet. Brooklyn humor takes some gettin' used to." She looked over at Spot, pleading him to be nice with her eyes.

He nodded and turned back to Melanie, "Well, is dere anytin' we can git fer ya, Miss…"

Melanie POV (sorta kinda)

Melanie knew that he was inquiring to her name. She wasn't sure if she could give it to him. She knew that she wasn't strong enough to survive another beating. "Uh…ya kin call me, um, Rachel. Yeah, Rachel." She had taken her mother's name, figuring that it was safe.

Spot narrowed his eyes and studied her. She could tell that he didn't believe her. Then he spoke, "Alright den…Rachel. Is dere anytin' dat we kin git fer ya?"

She shook her head, "No t'anks."

"Okay. Well, de boys'll be up soon, so git prepared fer some noise."

Kale spoke up then, "If ya want, we kin quiet dem, but sometimes dey don' hear so good. Spot kin make 'em hear jist fine dough, if ya want 'im to." She smiled. "Ya kin stay as long as ya like." She glanced over at Spot as if he hadn't okayed that one. He gave her an annoyed look, but didn't contradict it. She turned back to Melanie, "Is it okay if we let da boys come up now? We hafta sell papes pretty oily tammarah." Melanie nodded.

Spot turned to the red head boy who still stood in the room, "Clumsy, ya kin go git 'em."

Clumsy smiled and ran out the door.

Suddenly, Melanie saw something move out of the corner of her eye. She looked over to see a tall black-haired boy stand from one of the bunks. "Ya gonna introduce me er what, Kale?"

Kale looked over at him and smiled, "Oh, sorry, Muck." She turned to Melanie, "Dis is Muck. 'e's volunteered ta take a few days off a sellin' an take care a ya. If ya need anytin', jist ask 'im." She turned back to the boy now, who was staring at Melanie intently. Melanie cringed. He seemed to notice and immediately flicked his eyes over to Kale. Melanie did too, and she saw Kale shake her head slightly. Muck grinned, shrugged his shoulders, and walked past Kale, pulling on her ponytail as he did. Kale whirled around, glaring at the boy. "Knock it off, Muck! Ya know I don' like dat!"

He turned and smiled teasingly, his eyes sparkling at her, "Exaclty!"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Five minutes later, the room was filled with boys of all ages. Everyone eyed her curiously, but nobody commented. A few said 'heya', but most of them took one glance and then ignored her. She rolled over, ignoring the pain it caused, and turned her back to the room. She closed her eyes and fell into a restless sleep.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

A month later, Melanie was better than ever. Her injuries had healed, and she was beginning to feel as though she belonged. She had watched the boys and Kale every night as they played poker. She had learned how it was played, and when she was finally better enough to climb out of the bunk and sit with them, she was just as good as most of them. Muck had turned out to be nice and soon they became friends. It had been clear that he had wanted more than just a friendship, but she had made it abudenlty clear that she wasn't ready for that from the beginning. She had given him a few hints and then finally verbally told him she wasn't interested. He was a great guy, but she wasn't ready for a relationship. He had understood and seemed to fine with it. Kale told her that was because Muck didn't think about relationships too seriously. "He's infatuated wit anudda goil every week. But don' feel bad. 'e liked ya befoah ya looked dis good…and dat's sayin sometin." Kale had also become a fast friend, and it was Kale who saw her sell her first newspaper. Melanie loved being part of the Brooklyn newsies. It was almost like having a family again.

She awoke most mornings to Kale's irritated screeching from Spot pushing her out of bed. Today was no different. "Spot! I'se gettin' awful sick a dat!" Kale screeched.

Melanie heard Spot laugh in return, "Yep, but dat's da only way ta git ya outta bed when I wanna git ya outta bed."

"Whatevah," was Kale's response most days, and by then her voice held a smile

Melanie rolled out of bed, "Ya know, all dat screechin' ruins some people's sleep, Kale."

Kale gave her a teasing glare, "Well, if I gotta git up, so do the rest a yas!"

Melanie laughed and grabbed her clothes, running out of the door, "I call da bathroom foist!" That statement was greeted by groans, and Melanie smiled. She hadn't earned her nickname for nothing! She was able to think quickly and spot things that most people wouldn't see at first glance. Because of these two things, she had received the name Hawk, and she was the official messenger for Brooklyn. Occasionally, Spot would fondly call her one of his 'birdies'. She would roll her eyes, but she liked it when Spot was in a good mood. At first, she had thought a good mood to be way out of Spot's comfort zone, but Kale had told her that once she saw one of Spot's bad spells, she would learn to enjoy his "less than poifect good spells." Kale had received a smack from Clumsy at that, along with, ""ey! Dat's my line!" But whoever's line it was, it was true. Spot was rarely in a good mood, but when he was, it was due to Kale. Hawk had asked her about it once. She had thought that maybe Kale and Spot had something going on, but Kale told her that they just tolerated each other. Hawk thought it was more than that. They were friends, and close ones too, only neither of them would ever admit it. For Spot, it was an image thing. For Kale, Hawk wasn't too sure. Kale made friends easily, but she also had a way of keeping them at a confortable distance. Hawk was just thinking about these things when she heard a bang on the door.

"Ya bettah be almost done in dere, Hawk!" Kale called. "We don't got all mornin' ta wait fer ya!"

Hawk was out a few moments later, and ten minutes after that, everyone was waiting in line to get their papers. Clumsy or Muck usually went with Hawk. She was secretly glad to have someone with her all the time, but she never let on. To show weakness was to have to explain it to Spot, and that was definitely not something she was ready to do. Her nightmares were too vivid to allow her being found out.

Regular POV

Later that evening, Kale sat on a crate at the docks, waiting for the others to finish selling their papers. Hawk, Clumsy, Penguin, and a few others were swimming in the lake below and begging for her to join them, but she just shook her head and then blocked them out. She didn't even notice Muck sneaking up behind her until she felt a shove and suddenly she was falling into the merciless water below. "Help!" she screamed as she fell, and then she hit the water with a huge splash. Fear gripped her like a vise, and she struggled to make it back up to the top. When she did, she gulped a breath of air before she went back under. When she resurfaced again, she coughed and spat, "Help!" Then she was underwater again. Fear was making her dizzy, and she couldn't think straight. Suddenly, she felt strong arms grabbing her and pulling her up out of the water. Then she felt herself lying on the hard wood of the docks. She rolled to her side and coughed and coughed. Finally, wheezing, she rolled back over and focused on breathing.

She finally opened her eyes to see six worried faces standing over her. "Kale, are you okay?" Hawk asked.

Kale just shook her head. No I'm not okay, you idiot! I almost DIED!

"Gee, Kale, I'm really sorry, I didn't know ya couldn't swim," apologized Muck.

Kale, finally getting over her fear and shock, sat up, "Back off!" she snapped, and everyone took a step back. She stood up and fixed them all with her iciest glare, then she spun on her heel and was going to stomp off, but she ran right into Spot.

"Whoa, goil!" he cautioned, stepping back and holding out his hands. She fixed him with a glare as well. "What? Ya havin' a bad day er sumptin?" He took in her dripping hair and angry expression. When she continued to glare, he looked to the others, "What's up wit Kale?" he asked.

"Well," Hawk began, "We were all swimming, and we asked Kale to come in, but she didn't want to, she never does. Now we know why, but we didn't then, ya know."

"What are ya talkin' 'bout?" broke in Spot.

Clumsy shrugged his shoulders, "She can't swim."

Spot turned to the seething and dripping Kale, "Ya can't?"

"No, ya got a problem wit dat?" she challenged.

His eyes flashed, "Yeah, I do." He turned to the rest of the newsies. "Give me the docks," he called, loud enough for everyone to hear. The newsies in the water exchanged glances, but didn't question. Spot turned to Kale and lowered his voice, letting her know that his words were meant for her only. "I need ta talk wit cha… alone." Pretty soon it was just Kale and Spot. "Sit down," he ordered, pointing to an empty crate. Too tired to argue, she sat. "Now, why don' ya tell me what's goin' on, Kale."

"It's not a big deal, okay! I jist can't swim. Dey didn't know dat, so dey pushed me in."

He nodded slowly, as if deep in thought. Then he stood up, "Jump in," he ordered.

She squinted her eyes at him, "What?"

"Jump in," he said again, daring her to disobey.

"Are you nuts! I can't swim, Spot!"

"I know, but unless ya loin how, yer nevah gonna git ovah yer fear of da watah."

"I ain't scared of da watah, I jist can't swim in it," she argued stubbornly.

"Oh, ya ain't scared? Okay, den," he stood and walked the few feet separating them. He lifter her up by her arms and started pushing her towards the edge of the dock. Fear immediately sprang into her eyes.

"Stop it, Spot! I can't swim! Stop!" She struggled against him, but he was stronger than she was.

When she felt her feet reach the very edge, she fought harder, but he stopped pushing her, and said intensely, "Do ya trust me?"

Her eyes widened. She looked deep into his crystal blue eyes and saw something she rarely saw, concern along with an intensity that he rarely ever had. Suddenly, she realized that she did trust him. She nodded slowly, "But I'm tellin' ya, Spot, if ya push me-"

She didn't get a chance to finish her sentence, for suddenly she was falling again, and hitting the water with a splash. She was blinded by white rage. He pushed me! And he knew! I'm gonna kill 'im! She fought to reach the surface, pushing the water with all her might. When she broke through the top, she looked up to see Spot standing there, watching her with a sort of humor in his eyes. "I'se gonna kill ya, Spot!" She kicked harder. "How could you!"

He folded his arms and smiled at her, "Hey look, Kale, yer swimmin'."

Shocked for a moment, she stopped kicking the water, and immediately felt herself sinking. Fear once again gripped her, and she couldn't think. But I was… I was swimming! How? Oh, please, remember how! She felt herself sinking farther, and her lungs felt like they would burst. Then she heard a noise from above, and suddenly arms wrapped around her and pulled her to the surface and then over to the ladder that hung down from the docks. She coughed and sputtered and drew in a long ragged breath of air. Then she looked to see that Spot was the one holding her. She stared at him for a minute, and he stared back. Then he spoke softly, "Ya didn't t'ink I'd let ya drown, did ya, Kale?"

She shook her head slowly, but fear still gripped her. She shook violently and clung to Spot as he dragged her up the ladder. She sat down on the dock, still shaking. He sat next to her and merely waited for her to speak, staring out into the distance. "How could you do dat, Spot?" she finally asked. "How come ya pushed me in?"

He looked over at her, his face serious. "Cuz I knew that you'd get mad enough, and fight the water so ya could yell at me. And ya did, ya swam, but den ya realized what you were doin' and freaked out. Ya can't do da, Kale. Ya gotta keep swimmin'. Ya can't let yer fear control ya."

An hour later, a dripping Spot and Kale entered the lodging house. All of the newsies looked up. "Heya, boiys," Spot said. "Oh, and goils," he added after receiving a teasing glare from Hawk. "Well, I gotsta dry off. Dis woman, she's crazy. Made me jump right inta da freezin' lake!" He grabbed a change of clothes from under his pillow and walked to the wash room.

"Ya know, Spot," Kale called after him, a slight smile on her face, "If ya had any mannahs at all, ya'd let me dry off foist."

"Yeah," his voice shot back from down the hall, "But you ain't da leadah of Brooklyn."

She shook her head, marveling at his ego. "Well, hurry up! I'm freezin'!" She turned around to find every newsie in the room staring at her. "What?"

"Well, you were gone a long while, Kale. We'se jist been wonderin' if you'se okay," Clumsy answered timidly.

"I'se fine." She pulled the ponytail holder out of her hair and shook her head like a dog, immediately spraying anyone close by.

"Hey!" came a few protests, but Kale just laughed.

"Yup, she's fine," Hawk concluded, looking down at her shirt that was now splotched with patches of water. "Now who's up ta gittin dere tails whipped in a game a poker?"

A/N: Whaddya think? I dunno… I just don't think it's my best work, but it does have some drama/action in it. Kinda. Oh, and if you hadn't noticed, I need help with the POVs. It's not exactly entirely Melanie's POV, it's still the audiences, but it's focusing on Melanie more than Kale as opposed to what it usually is. What should I call it? Anyway, let me know what you thought of this chapter. Reviews will make me update faster! And if you absolutely hate this story and never want met to update ever again in my whole entire life, TELL ME! I just want to know what you thought. Constructive criticism, praise, hate, love, WHATEVER! Well… I guess that's all for now. Oh, yeah. Charlie… don't stop reviewing! I want you to… really! I will be so sad if you don't. (tears) Okay… now all of you… REVIEW!