Ethan had been dead for nearly a week. In that time, Spot hadn't said a word to Michael or even looked at him, and South mostly kept to himself and Spot. Tension was beginning to grow between those loyal to Spot and those thirsting for change, and every one could sense it.

On this particular day, South was rummaging through Ethan's small collection of belongings--a few sets of clothing, a broken pocket watch, a cigar box filled with newspaper clippings, two torn photographs of Ethan's mother and siblings, and a canvas bag to hold newspapers--deciding if anything was worth keeping. This is where Michael Parker found him as he was thumbing through the newspaper clippings.

Michael stood before South and shoved his hands in his pockets. With a voice gentle as a whisper, he spoke, "I didn't want to shoot him, South. I respected him."

"Respect has nothing to do with it," South replied lowly. He didn't move from his spot on the floor, and he kept Ethan's belongings around him.

Michael took a moment to think. If any of his words hit a nerve, he was screwed, and he knew that. But what could he say? "I killed your friend, I'm sorry, join our side"? That wouldn't do at all.

He figured it out. "You've been gone for a year, Nathan." South's eyes raised at the mention of his name. No newsie had ever called him by his name. Michael continued, "Men change within a year. 365 days is a long time."

"Just what are you trying to say, Parker?"

"I'm trying to say that Conlon's changed. You've noticed, I know you have. He ain't as...happy as he used to be."

"Parker, the only time I've spoken to Spot at all has been after he witnessed his best friend's murder," South said with a roll of his eyes. "And I'm not about to take your word on things that happened before that." He gathered Ethan's things in a small pile and shoved it under the bed. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go speak with my parents. They're paying for the funeral of a friend of mine." He stared Michael down. "They think he killed himself last week."

South walked past Michael and went for the door, but he was stopped. "I ain't playin' games," Parker told him with a firm grip on his shoulder. "This will go down, and soon. For your sake, Nathan, I hope you stick with the winning side."

Not intimidated and fed up, South grabbed Michael's shirt collar and slammed him up against the wall. "If you don't shut the hell up, I swear to God I'll do something I'll regret. If it wasn't for Spot, I would have taken a lead pipe to your God damned head a week ago." South pulled on his collar and again slammed him to the wall. "Understand? I hate you. One of these days, I will kill you. Mark my words, Michael Parker."

South let go of Michael's shirt and left the bunkroom. Michael straightened his collar and sighed. It was obviously going to take a lot more convincing to get South against Spot, but it could be done.


"Personally, if I were you, I would have just killed him right then and there."

"Really?"

"Of course. You said Ethan was like your brother. If anyone killed my brother, I wouldn't hesitate in returning the favor."

Spot had been with Kate every day since Ethan's death, and he grew more and more fond of her with each passing moment. The two sat on the docks in Brooklyn, their faces lit only by the moon's reflection on the still waters of the river.

"So you don't blame me for not turning Parker in to the cops?" Spot asked her.

Kate shook her head. "Not at all," she replied.

"Seems kind of like an injustice to Ethan, telling 'em he killed himself and everything, but it had to be done." Spot stared out at the water. "I'll have revenge. Not tonight, not tomorrow, but someday. That son of a bitch..."

With an understanding smile, Kate swept a lock of hair from Spot's face. "Your profanities sure ain't gonna do anything to help you," she said with a bit of a laugh. She then shifted to get up. "It's getting late; I should get going. I gotta get up early and see if I can find another job."

Spot stopped her. "Hey, Kate?"

"Yeah Spot?"

"I just, uh, get this funny feeling around you," Spot told her awkwardly. "I thought you should know."

Kate laughed loudly. "Funny feelin'?" she repeated. "Like butterflies or something?"

"Somethin' like that."

She stood up and offered Spot her hand. "Well, don't feel too stupid about it, 'cause I know what you mean."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"You too?"

"Uh-huh." Spot hadn't let go of Kate's hand, and she noticed this. "...Spot?"

"Kate, I got so much to tell you. You've been in my dreams for months now, and I've always known you even though we just met a little while ago."

"Spot--"

"No, lemme finish. I almost died, but I knew I had to live 'cause of you. See?" Spot let go of her hand and pulled his shirt off. He took her hand back and touched her fingers to the long pink scar he'd received from Deuce Ross a little while before Ethan's death. Kate's fingertips lightly traced the mark from his heart to below his ribs. "Woulda killed me, but I fought it 'cause I knew I had to...had to..."

"Had to what, Spot?"

"Had to love you." The word sent a jolt through both of their bodies. Kate bit her lip and pulled her hand away from him.

"So you love me, then?" she asked quietly.

Spot nodded. "You've kept me alive. If it weren't for you, this week woulda been Hell."

Kate was beyond surprised. She was downright speechless. "I don't know what to say."

"Say you'll let me love you."

She smiled impulsively. "I'll let you love me," Kate said quietly. "But I have to go." She gave Spot one sweet, short kiss on the cheek before turning and quickly walking off towards home.

Spot felt like God. He knew Ethan was smiling down at him. Life felt so immensely wonderful at that moment, he was certain nothing could possibly go wrong. Spot was incredibly inaccurate, however. He had no idea that his and Kate's actions had been watched, and they were waiting for her as she left him.


BUM BUM BUUUUM! (cliffhanger!) THERE! Something to keep you all happy while I battle this writer's block! I realized that in killing Ethan, I just majorly screwed my plot. It's a damn good thing I wrote South in, let me tell you!

Chelsea--I love it how you're always one of the first to review. It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside!

Rede--Thanks so much!

Rae--Have fun with the thesis! While you're conquering that, I'm going to battle to keep my US history grade up.

Mage Ren--Thanks for the review. We still don't have Microsoft Word yet, so I've been double- and triple-proofreading my stuff.

Elyse--Haha! Don't worry, Ethan's death is all for the best!

MS--I think it IS best if we all imagine South as being really attractive. I like to model him on this guy in two of my classes...ahh, so delicious.

KP--I, too, quite enjoy religious!Spot. That's why I write him that way...haha, but anyways. Ethan's dead, we'll all cope and move on!

Lady Rach--I love Anastasia too! And Kate and Spot! The world is just one big ball of CUTE for me right now!

Adri--Here's your update! (A la "here's your knife!"...I love saying things like that.)

Netangel--Thanks! I update when things pop into my head, so...yeah. Keep reviewing!

Sparks--I can't believe you just called Parker a "little shit"! That's AWESOME!

time is a waste of life--Haha, more caps! I love caps! I'M PRETTY COLD TOO, I LOST MY WINTER COAT AND ALL I HAVE IS A SCARF. OH WELL. MAYBE I'LL LIVE.

Buttons--Don't cry! Maybe Ethan will miraculously come back to life and we can all love him (...or not.)

Love--short freckled kid or short lovely Gabe? I pick short lovely Gabe over short freckled kid any day.

LTNN--Haha, thanks!

Irish Lass--Well, I'm not God and I'm not pretty, but thanks so much! Keep reviewing!