Disclaimer: I don't own newsies... no duh.

A/N: Yaaa, sound the horns, blow the trumpets, I've UPDATED!!!!! Thank you all for your reviews, you guys are awesome!!!! Your what keeps this story alive. Well, enough delay. Here's Chapter 10!!!

Chapter 10

"Jacky boy we need to talk, alone." It was next day at lunch and Spot had just received a reply from the Stingers. They were all sitting at Tibbys, laughing about the morning events that had Racetrack imitating an opera singer to sell a paper, when one of Spots boys came with the letter.

Jack looked at Spot suspiciously but said nothing as he followed him out of Tibbys to the alley next door. "OK, Spot, I'se here. Now whats so important that it couldn't wait til after lunch."

"Black Ice has returned to Manhattan." Jacks face echoed shock, fear, pain, and finally anger. Spot wondered for a moment if that was what he looked like when Flame told him, and was glad that no one else was around to see him. He waited for Jack to get control of his emotions before he continued. "Yesterday Flame had a run-in with him and went home with a black eye and a warning." Spot paused, Jack was leaning against the wall and was staring at the ground, his hat covering his eyes to hide his reaction. "I'se sent a letter to the Stingers seein' if they's were interested in a truce, they weren't." He held out the letter to Jack who silently took it. It said that the Stinger would not truce and for them to watch their back, especially the leaders. "Flame said that Black Ice was gonna lay low for a few days. That gives us some time to..."

"To what Spot!" Jack expolded, "To What! You know nothing we do will stop him. We've tried before and it got someone killed!" He crumpled up the letter and threw it against the wall in a fit or rage.

"Calm down Jack." Spot said cooly. "We need to think about this." If Jack continued like this Spot was going to hit him, and not feel the least bit sorry. Jack must have taken the hint because the next words he spoke were almost a whisper.

"Whats there to think about. They basically just threatened to kill us Spot." Jack slumped against the wall defeated. "I just found my sister and now this." Spots thoughts turned to the key around his neck. He had given up all those years ago that he would ever be able to return it to its owner. When Jack had contacted him, saying that he thought his sister was back he had hope. Now all he hoped was that they would survive.

"Flame told me that Ice only strikes when a newsie is alone. He never killed when there's two of more together."

"So if we travel in pairs then he won't try to kill us?"

"That's what Flame told me, I trust him." Jack just stared at him. It had taken him a while to trust Flame, he never really was able to trust a Stinger after all they had done. But if Spot could trust him...

"We better tell the others then."

Spot nodded, "Get everyone to the lodging house before you tell them. That way you'se don't have ta worry about causing a scene." Jack agreed and they headed back to Tibby's where the newsies were beginning to trickle out.

"Heya Cowboy, Spot." Racetrack greeted. He saw their expression and turned serious. "Whats going on?"

"Get everyone to the lodging house right away, we're skipping the afternoon paper. Hurry up and don't walk alone." Racetrack knew better then to question Jack and went to gather all the newsies.

0

Ten minutes later they had everyone assembled in the bunkroom of the lodging house. Jack and Spot stood at the head of the room talking quietly as the others sat around in confusion trying to figure out what was going on.

Finally Racetrack, who was nominated by the group, asked why they were called to a meeting. The room silenced as the two leader exchanged a look. Jack stepped forward and took a deep breath.

"Um, you all remember the Stingers right?"

"Remember?" Race scoffed, "How could we forget? They caused us nothin' but problems until we beat 'em last year." A bunch of cheers went around the room and Jack held up his hands for them to quiet down.

"It seems that their leader, the murderous scumbag, Black Ice has come back to Manhattan." Like Jack, and Spot before him, their reactions showed all the pain and fear that the name Black Ice brought them. No one said anything for a minute, letting Jacks words sink in.

"I wrote to the Stingers yesterday," Spot spoke up, "hopin' ta negotiate a truce but they refused."

"They told us ta watch our backs." Jack interrupted, "I'se don't want anyone goin' anywhere alone." He warned looking at everyone in the eye. Especially the younger, more mischievous newsies.

"Are we'se still gonna sell papes?" one of the younger newsies asked quietly. Jack considered this. If they didn't sell they didn't eat, and they'd lose their spot in the lodging house. But if they did go out there was a chance of losing someone and the last thing Jack wanted was to lose another friend.

"We'll continue sellin' papes as normal. We'se are not gonna hide from that creep, and if he try's anything we'll attack full force. We did it before, we can do it again." Jack shouted, feeling the force of his own words.

"You got Brooklyns support." Spot announced. The newsies in the room cheered, their leaders word giving them confidence and well as the promised support from Brooklyn. There was one person in the room however who wasn't smiling or cheering. That person sat in the shadows of the room with an expressionless mask, watching the whole ordeal with a feeling of distain.

Cat had watched joyfully at the distress of the newsies when they found out that their enemy had returned to their great city. She had waited all morning to see their expressions, ever since Rock came to her the night before telling her that someone had squealed.

Flashback

"They know you're back Ice."

"Who knows?"

"Brooklyn, they know your in Manhattan. Conlon found out and is askin for a truce between us and the newsies. I think he's gonna tell your bro.. the Cowboy." Ice nodded, her expression hard. There was only one person who could have leaked the information to Conlon. She shook her head. She thought Flame would have more since then to blab, especially after her warning. 'I guess he really is a Brooklyn newsies,' she thought.

"Write them back. We're not gonna truce and Conlon know that. Tell them that if they don't watch out someone might end up hurt." Ice knew it was vague and cliché but she had to reply with something to make them nervous. She didn't want them lashing out before they could finish this job.

Flashback ends

She had thought that the newsies would freak after they read the letter and they did, but now they were basically calling up shouts for war. Ugh, these newsies are so infuriating. Cat had to keep reminding herself that she was here for her boys. That if she didn't get this job done, soon her gang would starve. Not that Cat would admit it but she did care for her gang and she was proud to be their leader. After this job, the newsies would be wounded then the Stingers would take over again. That is if these idiots will ever give me an opening.

Jack had just started pairing off the newsies for the evening pape. He stuck her with Spot and Racetrack while he and Blink took some of the younger boys. Cat took a deep breath as they headed out into the crowded streets. There was no way she could sneak away this time. Today she was a newsie.

A/N: OK so I'll stop there for now. I think I'm going to skip ahead a week in the next chapter. I have some thing planned for future chapters that I hope you'll enjoy. Hope you liked this chapter and I'll try to update sooner next time. Please R&R, your reviews is what keeps this story alive. Later!