A/N: We are sooooooo sorry for not updating in a while. Our lives kind of went to hell for a little bit, sorting our rooming for our next year at College, leaving us no time to Newsie (write our fanfic) but our lives have come back from hell and here we are. Also, for the first time in 110 years, Cookie and Notes are living together! Yes squeakygirl and I are rooming together next year in college. Please R&R and enjoy!
Chapter 9:
The next morning Notes was up early. Cookie rolled over, untangling her head from her blanket, "What are you doing?"
"Oh? Just picking up a little." Notes smiled and quickly changed out of her nightgown discarding it on her bed.
Cookie sat up, stretching, "Dontcha work today?"
"Mr. Murphy isn't opening today…family obligations." Notes quickly brushed out her hair, her curls fighting desperately with the brush.
Cookie got up and started to get ready for the day, "Why don't you come with me to sell papes?"
Notes laughed, "If Jack will let me out. I'm starting to feel as if I need to ask permission to breathe."
"Or walk…" Cookie winked, "We'll just stick with Jack then." She sighed and put her hat on.
…
Jack led the way to the distribution center, quickly collecting his papers, "So what do ya say Notes?" He smiled at his little sister, "Where's a good sellin' spot today?" He enjoyed having his sister with him…even though things were getting rough on the streets.
"With me?" Cookie smiled as she adjusted her papes.
He shrugged and turned back to Notes, "There's a street down by Reservoir Park. Come on…"
Cookie followed Jack and Notes, "Hey Jack! I thought it was my turn to watch the prisoner."
Jack, laughing slightly, turned around to Cookie, "After all the problems you've been causing lately, that aint a good idea." Queens and Spot were enough to handle. Something happening to Notes was the last thing he needed.
"Take it easy Jack, it aint Cookie's fault." Skittery said defending his sister after he had collected his papers, "All these problems with Queens…"
"Yeah I know…" Jack sighed, "I only want to keep her safe…." He added quietly as he looked over at Skittery, "You can understand that can't you?"
"I'm stealing Notes!" Cookie pushed passed Jack and Skittery, pulling on Note's arm. The small group separated, selling on adjacent corners.
…
"Thank you Sir!" Cookie finished selling a paper and turned to Notes, "So I heard about this news boy yesterday…" She stopped as she noticed something unusual, "What are you wearing?"
Notes looked at her curiously, "What?"
Cookie started laughing, "That!" She reached for the small tarnished key that hung around Note's neck.
"Oh." Notes blushed, snatching Spot's key away from Cookie before she could grab it, holding it in her hand tightly, "Just Spot's key."
"Just Spot's key?" Cookie handed a paper to a passing man and laughed, "You didn't give it back did you? If you want me to I'll do it…"
"I tried! He gave it back to me though." Notes looked at the small key, turning away from Cookie.
Cookie nodded, a little surprised, "So he wanted you to have it. Is this the same Spot? Spot Conlon?"
"He wanted me to hang onto it for him." Notes placed the key safely back inside the collar of her shirt.
"So are you guys together?"
Notes looked at Cookie unsure of how to answer, "I….don't know. He never asked…or"
Cookie laughed, "You gonna ask him?"
"I don't know. How'd you do it with Mush?" Notes smiled and handed a newspaper to a well dressed women who passed by.
Cookie laughed harder, "I'll tell ya when you're older Notes."
Notes' face burnt red, "Cookie! That's not what I meant and you know it."
"Yeah I know." Cookie took a deep breath.
…
"Spot sent me here to talk to ya cowboy." A small stocky boy stood in front of the leader of the Manhattan newsies.
Jack sighed shifting his papers from one arm to the other, "What's going on kid?" He looked down at the boy who looked a little more than tired, "We just talked to Spot."
"Spot says to be ready…" The boy fixed his hat, ready to walk away.
Skittery spun around and looked at Jack then back at the boy, "What?"
Jack knew what the message meant making his heart sink, "Whoa hold up there," He grabbed the boy by the shoulder, his voice a little more harsh then he intended, "That's it? Nothing else? Just…be ready?"
The boy looked around uncomfortably, wishing Spot had given him more detailed instructions, "That's all he said to tell ya. He said that he'll send word. Queens is moving, fast. I don't know how bad things are gunna get Cowboy but Spot ain't happy."
Jack sighed and let go of the boy's shoulder, "Ok…Tell Spot we'll be waiting. Thanks for comin' over kid."
"Jack do you really think…" Skittery watched the boy quickly walk down the crowded street, disappearing into the masses, "maybe Spot is…"
Jack laughed, "That's what I thought." He lit a cigarette and started walking to where Cookie and Notes were selling.
"Lawyer accidently sues himself." Cookie called out to the people passing by.
"Cookie we need to talk." Jack said pulling Cookie aside.
"I swear Jack I haven't been causing trouble." Cookie laughed.
"It aint about that. I just got word from Spot."
Cookie sighed, "What'd he say?"
"He said to be ready." Jack smiled to a passing woman, selling another paper, "I guess Queens is coming soon."
"Wonderful." Cookie said sarcastically.
…
Cookie and Notes were in their room getting ready for bed when they heard someone run up the stairs. They both walked over to the door and listened to what was going on in the other room, "What's going on?" Notes looked down at Cookie who had pressed her ear against the key hole.
"Shh!" Cookie closed her eyes and listened carefully.
"Spot heard from his birdies that Queens is coming tomorrow. He wants you guys to be in Brooklyn in the morning." A voice unfamiliar to Cookie and Notes said, short of breath.
"We'll be there." Jack's voice came through the door.
Notes looked at Cookie as she stood up, "What do you think that was about?"
Cookie simply shook her head as Jack walked in their room, "We're headed to Brooklyn tomorrow for the fight."
"Yeah we could hear that Jack." Cookie nodded, taking a deep breath.
Notes looked up at Jack, "I'll have to tell Mr. Murphy tomorrow that I can't work."
"Why?" Rubbing his forehead Jack shook his head.
Notes just stared at her brother, "Because I'm going with you guys." She nodded and walked over to the window.
"No you aint." Jack half laughed, following his sister, "You're going to work then coming right back here. No...You're not even going to work. You're staying here with Kloppmen."
"Jack you can't do that to me." Notes didn't look at Jack.
"I don't want you anywhere near the fight." Jack shook his head, his voice a little louder.
Notes thought for a moment then sighed, "I'm not going to fight Jack. I'm going to be there to help you guys."
He looked at his sister then to Cookie, "What are you talking about Notes?"
"Do any of you have medical training? I don't think so. At least let me patch you guys up. I won't actually be fighting." Notes sat on her bed.
"Maybe she's right Jack…Spot is pretty worried about all this. It could get serious. We can leave her with Murray." Cookie said putting a hand on Jack's shoulder.
Jack shook off Cookie's hand, "Fine, but I don't want you there alone."
Cookie sighed and thought about the Manhattan newsboys, "Boots…and Crutchy. They can stay with her."
"Fine." Jack looked at Notes then Cookie, "Come on Cookie. We need to strategize." He left the room, followed by Cookie.
…
The Manhattan newsies walked to Brooklyn in silence. Most were nervous about the impending fight but others like Cookie and Racetrack were brimming with excitement.
"Forget about Brooklyn we can handle these clowns on our own." Racetrack said elbowing a laughing Cookie.
"Race!" Jack called out trying to settle down his animated newsie.
Notes was just as nervous as the newsboys, "Maybe it won't be that bad, they might not even need you Race."
Racetrack laughed, "Not need me? Do you know who you're talking to Notes?" Racetrack put his arm around Notes' shoulders. "I'm Racetrack."
"Oh yes…the rich and indestructible…." Notes laughed, half hugging Race. Racetrack grumbled and walked away from Notes, playfully hitting her arm.
Cookie watched Notes, walking by her side, "You alright?"
Notes slightly smiled at her friend, "I'm nervous. This is…"
"I know…" Cookie chuckled, "We're all nervous Notes."
…
"What are you doing here Notes?" Spot asked as he surveyed the Manhattan newsies hanging around the outside of the lodging house, surprised to see her.
"In case you need me. Not to fight Spot…" Notes said defensively as Cookie walked up beside her.
Spot turned towards Cookie, "What were you thinking?"
"What?" Cookie said taken aback.
"How could you bring her here?" Spot asked
Cookie frowned at Spot, "Look I have no idea what you're talking about."
Spot put his hand on Cookie's shoulder and started shaking her. "Notes? Why did you guys bring her? She doesn't belong here." If the fight got out of hand and things got bad…He wanted Notes to be somewhere safe.
"That's enough Spot." Mush said taking Spot's hand off of Cookie, "She wanted to be here. Notes aint some defenseless gal to be tossed aside and you know it." He took another step closer to Spot, "She would have come whether or not we wanted her to."
Spot looked from Notes to Cookie then back at Notes, "Fine you can stay if you like." Spot turned around and walked away.
Notes looked up at Mush, a somewhat hurt look in her eyes. He patted her on the back, "We need you here Notes, so does he."
Notes, Crutchy, Boots and a couple other Brooklyn newsies hung around the lodging house, watching everyone else leave for the fight. Mr. Murray sat with his friend Laura who owned the diner McNeil's. Both watching the boys, wishing them luck.
…
The combined forces of the Manhattan and Brooklyn newsies walked towards the docks on the Queens-Brooklyn line. Walking in front were Maitiu, Spot, Jack, Mush, Cookie and Blink. Behind them were Pie Eater, Shortstuff, Bumlets, Racetrack, Skittery and Specs along with all the other newsies. Spot signaled everyone to stop as they got closer to the Queens line because he saw a very large group of people walking their way.
"Nails." Spot said addressing the leader of the Queens newsies. Alongside Nails were Leech, Panic and lips, "I see Bronx aint got no spine."
"You're all talk Spot." Nails said stepping towards the front line of the Manhattan and Brooklyn newsies.
"We'll see about that Nails." Spot said also stepping forward. Spot and Nails were mere feet from each other each one staring the other down.
Jack stepped forward in one last attempt to keep the fight from happening, "You guys sure we can't talk this out?"
Nails smiled and punched Jack in the face, shouts of anger erupting from the Brooklyn and especially the Manhattan newsies. The fight had begun.
…
Murray was sitting in the front room with Laura, discussing anything to try and keep their minds off of the fight. Notes paced nervously in front of the bunks, "No one's come back. Is that a good thing?"
"Well..." Boots sat on a bunk, looking down at Notes, "It might be. Maybe nothing has happened yet."
"Or they could all be dead." Crutchy said nonchalantly.
Boots elbowed Crutchy, "Crutchy, she's nervous enough as it is could you try to be cheerful?"
"I was only kidding Notes. With Spot and Cookie and Mush, Queen's don't stand a chance."
Notes nodded, "I bet everything is fine."
…
Mush dodged a kick from a Queen's newsie but was hit hard in the side, a punch delivered from an unknown newsboy from his left.
"Mush!" Cookie yelled over the swarm of fighting newsies getting punched in the shoulder. She turned her attention back to her own little fight, kneeing the groin of the newsie who had just punched her.
Jack artfully dodged a few swings, slowly fighting his way to Panic. "Out of my way you scabbers."
Blink turned away from his own fight to see a massive crowd coming towards them from behind, "What?" Blink turned back in time to get punched in the side of the head, sending him to the ground, not moving.
Mush fought his way over to his unconscious friend, "Blink." When Mush got to Blink he lifted his head to see blood trickling down onto his collar.
"What happened?" Racetrack asked as he helped Mush stand Blink up.
"I don't know, I just saw him go down. We need to get him out of here." Mush looked at Blink and then searched the crowd trying to find Cookie.
Racetrack saw the hesitation in Mush's face and supported Blink, "I'll take him back to the lodging house you stay and fight, Bumlets!" Race looked around as Bumlets fought his way to Race and the unconscious Blink, "We're bringing him back, come on."
Mush watched as Racetrack and Bumlets disappeared with Blink. Turning around he noticed the people walking towards them and gasped, "Ace."
…
"What happened?" Notes asked as Race and Bumlets dragged Blink into the Brooklyn Lodging house.
They laid Blink down on a bunk as Notes collected some supplies. Race watched her as she started wiping the blood from Blink's face, "He got hit, hard. Completely went down."
Notes nodded, "Blink can you hear me?" He moaned, but didn't open his eyes.
"He got hit pretty good Notes." Bumlets said watching a few newsies come into the lodging house nursing their wounds.
"Race can you…" She motioned toward the newsie who had just walked in.
"I got him Notes." He sat the boy down, asking him what happened.
Notes looked up at Bumlets, "How is it…back there…"
He waited a moment to answer, watching her lean over Blink, cleaning off his head. As she leaned over he spotted the key that she wore around her neck. He had seen it before…on Spot. "Well," He cleared his throat, "It's good." He saw Notes look skeptically at Blink, "Blink is the only that's really hurt." They both knew Spot would be in the middle of the fight…but he didn't want to scare her, "Everything will be fine."
…
Mush saw Ace scanning the crowd, probably looking for Cookie. He fought the urge to find her himself but he was afraid that he would lead Ace right to her. "What are you doing here Ace?"
Ace turned his attention to Mush, "What do you think Mush?" Ace watched as Mush came towards him with a look of loathing in his eyes.
Mush grabbed the collar of Ace's shirt with one hand and punched him with the other, "That's for Cookie."
Ace wiped the blood from his nose, "Jealous Mush?"
"No." Mush yelled as he took a punch from Ace.
Jack had finally made his way over to Panic, "You guys scared of Queens?"
Panic took a punch in the face from Jack, "No, we know who's gonna win this Panic."
"It aint gonna be you." Jack said as Panic punched him in the gut.
Cookie looked all around her trying to survey the fight when she saw Mush and Ace fighting. Other newsies like Jack had noticed the arrival of the newsies from Staten Island and had turned their attention to the new comers. She grumbled under her breath and tried to make her way to Mush when three news boys stood in her way.
"Where you going sweet stuff?" One of the boys said putting a hand on Cookie's shoulder.
Cookie pushed the boy's hand away, "Out of my way."
"Oh this one has some fight to her. I like that." Cookie looked at the boys standing in her way and sighed. One of them was cracking his knuckles; another was holding a club. They were going to take some time to deal with and she wanted to make her way to Mush as soon as possible.
"Let's get this over with." Cooke reared back and swung her fist making contact with the face of the closest boy.
There was a grumble of anger as the boy lunged at Cookie knocking her to the ground. Before she could catch her breath two pairs of hands grabbed her arms and roughly hauled her off the ground back to her feet. The boy she had just punched stood before and wiped blood away from the corner of his mouth. Without a word he punched Cookie hard in the stomach and laughed.
…
Notes looked around at the newsies in the bunk room. Since Blink's arrival several dozen more boys, mostly the younger ones had been sent back. Murray and Laura were helping some of the newsies while Racetrack, Bumlets and Boots were trying to keep everyone from leaving the lodging house.
"Notes, Blink's awake." Crutchy called out from his seat beside Blink's bunk.
"Where are they? Let me at them!" Blink cried out.
Notes came running over, "Blink it's alright. You got hurt in the fight. You're back at the Brooklyn lodging house now."
Blink tried standing up, "I have to go help."
Racetrack came over and pushed him back down on the bunk, "You aint going nowhere Blink. You're too hurt."
Notes looked at Racetrack frantically, "You can't go back I need you here. Please…"
"You need me huh?" Racetrack smiled to Notes.
"Racetrack! I need you here to keep them here, especially Blink." Notes said trying to coax Blink into staying at the lodging house.
Racetrack looked around the room full of injured boys, "Yeah alright Notes."
…
Cookie grunted as she took another punch to the stomach. She tried to pull away from the two that were holding her back but as much as she hated to admit it, they were too strong for her.
"Had enough yet?" The boy asked as he halted his assault of punches. Cookie didn't answer choosing to spit in his face.
The boy wiped off the spit and slapped her across the face, "You'll pay for that." He reached down and grabbed the club that his friend had dropped. He smiled as he took the club and hit Cookie's shoulder with it. Cookie refused to give him the satisfaction of hearing her cry out. She braced herself when she saw him swing the club again but something was different. As the club got closer she could see that part of it had splintered off and had left a jagged edge that was headed straight for her shoulder. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't contain the scream when the jagged edge of the club made its way across her shoulder.
Mush turned in the direction that the scream had come from. There were only two girls fighting on their side and Shortstuff wasn't anywhere near him, but Cookie was. He looked and saw Cookie being held back with someone standing in front of her carrying a club. He looked harder and saw that the left shoulder of her shirt was torn open and he could see blood…lots of blood, "Cookie!" Mush screamed over the yelling of the fighting newsies.
Jack looked from Mush to Cookie then back to Mush. Mush had just sent Ace running away with his tail between his legs and was helping Jack deal with several of the Staten Island news boys. "Go!" Jack yelled to Mush and nodding his head. He had seen how Cookie looked and it wasn't good.
Spot holstered his sling shot having run out of shooters and he grabbed his cane. He had spotted Nails and was making his way over to the leader of the Queens newsies. He looked and saw Shortstuff take a punch to the eye before kneeing a newsie in the groin. He walked up behind Nails and put a hand on his shoulder.
Nails turned around when he felt a hand on his shoulder, "If it aint the mighty Spot Conlon."
"Yeah it is." Spot said taking his cane and whacking it across Nails' knee caps. Nail stumbled back, regaining his ground. Spot was advancing on Nails when he saw Lips coming at him out of the corner of his eye. He was about to side step in an attempt to dodge Lips when Maitiu came out of nowhere tackling Lips.
"Oh no you don't." Lips yelled as Maitiu tried to crawl away. Lips kicked Maitiu hard causing him to fall back to the ground. Lips walked over to him and continued kicking him in the stomach.
Getting a better grip on his cane, Spot attacked Nails, landing a blow on his shoulder, followed by a sharp jab to the chest. Nails stood up and smiled at Spot, "Looks like you brought a cane to a knife fight."
All Cookie could feel was the pain ripping through her shoulder. The boy in front of her reared back, taking another swing at her when someone caught his arm. Cookie opened her eyes to see Mush punching the boy that had attacked her with the club. The two boys holding Cookie back let go of her, letting her fall to the ground and advanced on Mush. Cookie reached her foot out and tripped one causing him to fall into the other.
Mush pushed his way passed the boys lying on the ground and ran to Cookie. "Cookie!" He put his arm around her waist and helped her stand up.
"I'm fine." Cookie said walking away from Mush back towards the fight.
"I don't think so." Mush reached out and grabbed Cookie around the waist pulling her close to him.
Cookie tried fighting against Mush's arms, "What are you doing?"
"You aint going back in that fight." Mush said holding her closer, "Were going back to the lodging house. Now."
…
Notes wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or cry when she saw all the newsies come back to the lodging house. The newsies were celebrating which meant they had won the fight, but there were so many that were hurt. Looking up from a small bandaged newsie she saw an unharmed Dutchy walk through the door. She grabbed his arm lightly, "Where is everyone else? Jack? Spot?"
He patted her hand, "Don't worry they're all coming back." Both turned as Jack and Shortstuff entered the lodging house, followed by Maitiu, Mush, and Cookie. Maitiu and Skittery were helped onto bunks by other newsies. Spot quietly slipped in the door, leaning on the door jam. He watched Notes as she started to assess the damage. Spot didn't want to deal with Notes at the moment, there was just too much that had happened…seeing him like this…
Shortstuff seemed alright boasting only a black eye. Jack had a cut over his eye and Mush didn't have a scratch on him. She gasped when she looked at Cookie. The left shoulder of Cookie's shirt was torn open blood spreading slowly down her arm. Maitiu and Skittery were a lot worse than Cookie. It looked like Skittery had re broken his leg. Maitiu on the other hand was wincing in pain with each breath.
Notes tied up her hair and started on Skittery, sitting him down and looking at his leg, "You broke it."
"I didn't break it!" He growled as Notes lifted it onto another chair, "Someone else did..." Notes gave him a half smile, looking at the fragile leg.
She looked up, trying to find Racetrack. They had to reset the leg soon. Notes scanned the room, but before she found Race, she found Spot. Her heart started racing against her chest, unable to contain the smile that spread across her face, "Spot…" He stopped at the sound of his name, slowly looking up at Notes. He seemed fine until she noticed the dark scarlet stain spreading on his shirt. His hand held his side tightly. She felt short of breath, he was Spot Conlon, he couldn't be hurt, he just couldn't be.
"Laura! Take Skittery!" Notes quickly pushed her way through the wave of incoming newsboys. When she reached him she stood stunned by the amount of blood, "Come on..." She gently took his wrist pulling him toward the bunks. He followed reluctantly.
"I'm fine." He said pulling his wrist out of her grip.
Notes raised an eyebrow, "You're fine? Really?" Spot nodded his head and Notes sighed, "So I guess that stain on your shirt means nothing?" This time she took his hand, "Please…"
He felt her hand shake in his, letting himself be lead to a bunk. Notes looked over to see Jack busy trying to reset Skittery's leg. He might not be too happy with what she had to do. She grabbed as many bandages as she could and turned back to Spot, "Take your shirt off."
Spot raised his eyebrows, "What?"
"You need to take your shirt off…I need to see the damage." Notes said trying not to stutter.
Spot smirked, not looking at Notes, "Whatever the doctor orders." He said coldly as he started un-buttoning his shirt.
Notes turned away, getting a cloth to clean off the blood. She glanced at Spot, taken aback by his icy demeanor, "What happened?"
Spot looked at Notes and felt bad. He realized that he was cold and distant from her but he didn't realize that it would affect her so; he had noticed the hurt in her voice. "Let's just say we took care of things."
"Took care of things…" Notes nodded paying more attention to the work at hand than what he was saying. There wasn't much she could do for him, she simply wiped off the blood and put bandages over the cut on his abdomen, her hands still shaking, "It's not that bad. Try and be easy on it though." She paused, trying to look at Spot. Gently she took his hand, cleaning off the blood, "Are you ok?" His gray-blue eyes met her, but he said nothing. She took the cloth that she used to wipe up the blood and walked away to clean it out. She turned and saw Maitiu leaning up against a wall, "Sit down." He looked up, a little surprised, "Now."
"Yes Ma'am." Maitiu tried to smile but he was still in a lot of pain, "It's my side." He lifted off his shirt, discarding it on his lap. A large bruise had already started to form. As she started to push on his side, tears started to form in her eyes. Spot …maybe he was right. She didn't belong here…or he didn't want her here. Maitiu winced, looking up at Notes, "Notes…are you ok?"
"Fine…" Tears streaked silently down her cheeks, "Your ribs are broken."
Maitiu looked up and saw the tears rolling down her cheeks, no matter what she said she was not alright. "Ok but…why are you crying? A broken rib can't be that bad?" He smiled at her, but she only handed him back his shirt. He took her hand off his ribs and looked at her seriously, "What's wrong?"
Spot looked around the room and saw Notes fixing up Maitiu. He had suspected that there was something wrong with Maitiu's ribs, which was confirmed when Maitiu took his shirt off, revealing large black and blue marks. He watched the two carefully and was shaken when he saw Maitiu take Notes' hand. Notes had her back to him, but he could tell something was wrong with her and he had a guess as to what. He mentally slapped himself for treating Notes the way he had. As he watched Maitiu and Notes, he felt a twinge of jealousy towards Maitiu. He should be there to make Notes feel better, to fix things, not Maitiu.
"Hey, things will work out. You just have to give it time." Maitiu let go of her hand and smiled.
"Thank you." She smiled.
"And I'll tell you a secret," He leaned toward Notes, "He's kind of an ass." He winked and put on his shirt.
Notes nodded, got up and looked around the room for Cookie. She found her being fussed over by Mush. "Mush let me handle this." Notes pushed Mush aside and delicately looked at Cookie's shoulder. "This is no good; I need to get a better look at your wound. C'mon." She grabbed Cookie's hand and led her into the empty front room.
"I'll help." Mush said as he entered the room behind them.
Notes stopped in her tracks and turned to Mush, "I don't think so." Notes smiled at Mush and pushed him out the door, "Now what happened to you?"
Cookie snorted, "It was nothing I couldn't handle."
"Clearly." Notes carefully peeled Cookie's sleeve away from her shoulder, "I see you handled the situation very well." Notes cleaned off the blood, but noticed a faint white scar on the back of her shoulder. "Cookie…um…never mind."
"What is it Notes?" Cookie asked looking over her shoulder.
Notes thought for a moment, "What's this scar on your shoulder?"
Cookie sighed, "It happened a long time ago. One of the only things I remember from my past." Cookie looked out the window, lost in her memory. "My father wasn't the nicest guy. He had a real anger problem, especially when he was drinking. One day I did something that got him angry and he picked me up and threw me. I flew into the mirror and a shard got stuck in my shoulder."
Notes looked empathetically at Cookie. She wanted to ask more about her past and how she came to be with the newsies but she knew this wasn't the time. As she told her story she fixed up the cut, "You might need stitches Cookie."
