AN: Sorry for such a long wait on this chapter. Lots of storms rolling through and powers been going crazy. Now that it's working I'll jump right into it. I own NOTHING of Newsies just Sand she is mine and that's about it.

Chapter 9: The Hidden Truth

The Delancey Brothers didn't know it but Spot had taken an early venture to make sure Sand was doing alright. It just so happened that on his way he ran into the little meeting with Sand and Oscar. He hid out in the shadows of a nearby alley. Once Oscar and Sand had parted ways he went to the entrance of the alley and heard what the brothers were talking about when they thought there was no one around. By the time they finished talking Spot was close to jumping out of his hiding spot and soaking them both, but somehow he kept his cool and ran for the lodge when they were well out of sight. Spot climbed the stairs and was searching for his sister when everyone was just getting out of bed. He got a lot of odd looks and he knew why. The 'Hattans never saw Spot in Manhattan. They always came to him.

"Spot? What cha doin' he'e?" Jack asked as he sped past him and to the bed he knew was Sand's.

He saw her sitting on her bed putting extra socks on. He let out the breath he was unknowingly holding and went to sit next to her. "Talkin' wit' a Delancey? Really Sand dat's a bit low furs you."

She turned and looked at him slightly shocked that he knew about Oscar. "Why yous over he'e anyway Spot? Isn' Brooklyn gunna crumble wit'out you?"

"Nah. It'll be fine fur a bit." He gave a smile and quickly said, "You shouldn' trust him…I heard what dey said afta ya left and it ain't good."

Sand put her hands to her eyes clearly avoiding her nose, "Do I really have dat bad of judgment?" She looked up from her hands waiting to hear a response.

"Nah. You jus' want ta make people betta and some people can' get no betta." Spot said putting his arm around his sister and pulling her close to him so no one else would hear. "Oscar and Morris are workin' wit' the Bull Dogs. My guess is dey tryin' ta get ya ta make ya pay for what happened. Be careful about this Delancey friendship, you undeastand?"

"Spot when did I get like dis? I use ta be much betta at tellin' if people were lyin' ta me." Sand said trying to hide the sadness that only Spot could understand.

"Well what did he tell ya?" Spot asked trying to understand the situation better.

"He said dat the Bull Dogs had him and his brudder watchin' me and that he just wanted to have a friend and be done wit' them."Sand said quietly.

"Well, maybe his brudder is keepin' him in da game and he wasn' really lyin' ta ya at all. Call him out on it. Dats what I would do." Spot said hoping he was saying the right thing.

She suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and laughed. "Spot you're da greatest." Then she got up and went down the stairs and followed the crowd to the circulation platform. Before Spot knew it everyone was gone so he headed back to Brooklyn feeling like he truly ruled the world.

Sand had caught up to everyone in a matter of seconds. She looked around the crowd that she was in the middle of trying to find Skittery. "Lookin' for someone?" She heard his voice say.

She turned and saw him smiling next to her. Sand couldn't help the smile that came to her lips. They walked the rest of the way in silence that was much needed. Sand felt like Skittery knew everything before she even knew. She hooked her arm through hi and put her head on his shoulder. They walked that way for a little while but broke apart once they reached the platform and got in line for papers. Sand spotted Oscar talking to Morris. She walked over and whispered in Oscar's ear, "We need ta talk."

He followed her not arguing or complaining about anything. Once Sand was sure that Morris couldn't hear and that they were alone she smacked him across the face.

"What was dat for?" Oscar asked confused.

"You lie to me anymore and you won't just get smacked." Sand said angrily.

"I'm sorry…" Oscar said quietly.

"You betta be." Sand said with anger controlling her voice.

"Not for lyin'. Well I am but yous is gunna hate me afta…well…"Oscar trailed off and stared at the ground.

"What did yous do?" Sand said concern taking over her anger.

"Not what I did. What dey did. Morris said they got the bait. I don' even really know what dat means but I don' tink it's good." Oscar wasn't finished when she ran to the platform. She looked at the heads then found Jack.

"Tell everyone ta be careful." She told him quickly before running out of the gate and heading for the bridge that connected her to her brother.

She ran to the lodge but it was empty. It shouldn't have scared her as much as it did. She tried to calm down some. Once she could breath somewhat normal she ran for the platform in Brooklyn. She couldn't find anyone there either. That's when she decided to run through the streets looking for any newsie who might know where Spot was. While she was tied up in her thoughts she ran into someone.

"Sorry…" Sand said not really caring who it was. When she saw the newspapers that cluttered the ground around her she looked up and saw Jet. She gave a sigh and interrupted his rant about watching where you're going. "Jet have you seen Spot?"

"Nah. He left ta check on yous. He ain't back yet. Why?" Jet asked being curious.

"No. No. No." Sand repeated over and over crouching against a wall.

"Sand? What's wrong?" Jet said kneeling next to her.

"Dey took him Jet. Dey took him." Sand said through the tears that refused to hide any longer.

"Who? Who took Spot?" Jet said looking like he was about to explode from confusion.

"The Bull Dogs Jet. Dos…dos…" Sand couldn't finish through the guilt that consumed her. "It's my fault. It's all my fault."