Disclaimer: I don't own newsies, yeah yeah rub it in.
A/N: Hey again, thank you all for your comments, they are what keep me going. OK so heres another chapter, read on...
Chapter 9
"Full house boys, read 'em and weep." A collective amount of groans, that was all too familiar when Racetrack was playing, could be heard around the table as the boy gathered his winnings. "Another game?" Everyone mumbled their consent when Racetrack noticed someone staring at them from the doorway, her gaze as sharp as the creature from which she got her name. "Heya Kitty Cat. Wanna come and play?"
"I'm afraid that would do you no good" Cat replied walking towards them and pouting slightly, flirtatiously, "I don't have any spare money."
"That's not a problem," Blinks replied mischievously, "Youse could bet wid a kiss." Jack, who had just entered, overhead this comment and sauntered over to Cat. Putting a protective arm around her he glared at Blink.
"Hey bum, would ya stop hitting on my sista."
"SISTA!" The entire room, now in awe, could do nothing but stare at their leader and the girl who they had come to know as Cat. Observing them in this new light they could see a resemblance; same hair, same build, and most noticeably their 'tough guy' (or girl) attitude. Cowboy tried to suppress his grin as he watched all his friends try to comprehend what he had just reveiled to them.
"Guys I'd like ya ta meet my sista, Cathrine Kelly."
Cat tensed as Jack said her name. He was introducing her as a Kelly and not so long ago, the name Kelly was one that she loathed. Cat gazed around the room and found the boys staring at her with awe and respect. Apparently these boys looked up to Jack more then she realized. She felt a pang in her stomach that could only be called guilt, as the enemy looked upon her like she was their queen instead of what she really was, their executioner.
Racetrack, who had been watching everyone like Jack had, was the first to approach the two. "Glad you could finally make it girl," he said spiting in his hand and offering it to her, "I've been dying ta see what the Kelly siblings can do in Manhattan."
"You knew?"
"Sure did sweetface." Cat shot him a look that normally would have had anyone shaking in their boots. But as Cat, she didn't have the same reputation that Ice had, so the warning she sent only caused Race to smile more and that infuriated her.
"Only two guys knew about youse." Jack said, Cats anger not going unnoticed. She was still carrying some of the rage that she had from the alley and looked like she might snap at any moment. It hurt, after dreaming about this day for years it hurt to know that she felt like he had abandoned her. While he had been missing her she had been hating him, he didn't know what to think about that. What had her life been like all these years? That was something Jack would ask her later but right now he was hoping she would loosen up. "Race was one of them and the other was..."
"An old friend." All heads turned towards the door at the sound of the all to familiar voice. Cat's eyes narrowed in confusion, her anger forgotten, as she stared into the piercing gaze of the speaker.
"Spot Conlon!" He was leaning against the doorframe of the bunkroom, cane in hand and the infamous smirk he was known for danced lightly on his face. Cat liked to think she was pretty observant, that she could see or hear things and understand what they meant immediately. But right now she had no clue what Spot Conlon meant about being an old friend. Sure she thought he had looked familiar but she would know if it was someone from the past, wouldn't she? Then she saw it, the key around his neck. It was old and rusty and to anyone else it would have been worthless. But Cat recognized it, and knew what it represented.
"Zack?" She looked up at Spot, disbelief written all over her face. Yes, she could see it now in his eyes, those piercing blue that always seemed to find their way into your soul.
"In the flesh." Spot smiled, knowing that she saw the key and still remembered what it meant. "Been gone a while Cathy, where ya been?" Cats disbelief disappeared and her face became an emotionless mask. As much as Spot hated to believe it he knew she was hiding something. He knew Jack wouldn't look into it; he didn't want anything to come between him and his sister so if nothing came up, he wouldn't pursue it. Spot on the other hand, even though he was also friends with Jacks sister, knew better then to take things at face value. People change after eleven years, he knew he had, and he needed to know if Cathy had gotten involved in anything bad. He had been trying unsuccessfully to track down information about her since Cats appearance but so far nothing. It was like she just popped out of thin air and that just didn't happened. Not in his world.
Cat didn't know what to say. Sure, she had come up with a cover story but it all seemed to dissapear at the site of her once best friend. She knew everyone was watching her, waiting for a response but she didn't have one. Rock had told her that Zack, Spot, was already asking around about her. If she wasn't careful he could discover the connection between Black Ice and Cathy Sullivan. Sullivan or not, if the newsies found out about her other half there would be consequences. "I think I'll save that story for a rainy day." She looked at Spot, silently challenging him to persue it further. He simply nodded and sat down at the poker table.
"Race, ya gonna deal or what?" And that was the end of the introduction. Everyone returned to their projects, occasionally sneaking a look at Cat who at this moment was feeling slightly lightheaded. Jack asked Cat if she wanted to join in the game but she declined and said that she needed to get some air. Before he could so much as reply she was out the window. Again he was amazed at how quickly she moved. He was beginning to understand now why she called herself Cat.
0
Cat climbed onto the roof and collapsed. Zack is Spot Conlon... of all the people, he had to be Spot. Why, why, why. She was feeling lightheaded again and her emotions were surfacing with a force that she couldn't stand any longer. In one day she had become Cat the newsie, Cathrine Sullivan the returned sister, and Cathy Kelly the sister and friend. Tears began to form in her eyes and she hastened to wipe them away. She would not cry. She was Ice, the cold blooded newsie killer, she didn't cry. Cat took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. How could this happen? This was supposed to be an easy job, payback with nothing to lose. Now why do I feel like I have two things to lose?
Blast from the Past
"Come on Cathy give it back. Youse know I saw it first!" A 7-year-old Zackary O'Connell, later known as Spot Conlon, yelled as he chased after the giggling girl.
"Finders keepers." She sang out as she danced around the garden. They played this game for a while longer before Zack finally caught up with her and they fell to the ground rolling and laughing.
"Cathy?" Zack said finally calming down enough to speak. "What do youse want for your birthday?" Young Cathrines was turning 6-years-old the following day and Zack, being friends with both Sullivan kid, had invited.
"I'se don't know," Cathys lower lip puckered slightly, deep in thought. "Something nice I guess."
"Will youse be my girl?" The 7-year-old asked his friend seriously.
"Zack, I'se only turning six, we'se to 'lil."
"When then?"
"When we'se are bigger."
"You promise." Zack asked as only a child could. Cathy smiled brightly then handed him the object that he had been chasing her for. He turned it over in his hand and looked up in confusion. "Whats this for."
"Thats the key to me for when we'se get bigger." Little Cathy explained matter-of-factly. "When we'se are big enough then you give it back to me and I'll be your girl."
Back to the Present
Everything had seemed so simple then. Through her childs eyes everything was perfect. Then the next day her mother was killed and her world shattered. After finding out she had no family to return to she was adopted into the Sharks and spent the next ten years in her own personal hell; soaking and killing newsies, stealing for no reason and hating the world around her. Now both her old and new world were colliding, leaving her feeling very helpless.
Could all of this have been prevented? Cat thought as she leaned against the edge of the roof, staring up into the endless night sky. Did he know about Francis? If so why didn't he tell me? She used to worship Dominic. He had become her family and he took care of her, teaching her everything she need to know to survive in the world. She had wondered, after he left, why he did that. He was the leader of the toughest gang in New York yet he took in a young girl and treated her like family. If only he was here now. if only he could comfort her and answer all her questions. If only he could tell her that he hadn't betrayed her and that he hadn't kept her brother from her. Cat sighed and she began to drift off into a deep sleep. If only.
A/N: So there you go, another chapter up. Hope you enjoyed it (or at least got something out of it). I'll try to get another one out soon. Please R&R and tell me what you think and if you have any suggestions. Later!
