Okay. I know I still need to update the other three stories I have in progress, but I am still so blocked for those ones! Also, I feel if I wait any longer to get this chapter up, the idea will be lost forever and I do NOT want that to happen! I have a good feeling about this chapter!
Now, I put a name from a different Broadway musical in the last chapter and all of you were right! It was from Wicked! Which I just went to see about two weeks ago and am still freaking out because NICK ADAMS AKA FIYERO CALLED ME OUT ON STAGE! AHHH! *deep breath* Okay. All of you got it right but the first one to get it right was… Muffinsweep11! Congratulations! You get this shout-out and a plate of homemade virtual cookies! BTW, I already know I'm wicked ;) Seriously, I and my absolute best friend call each other Glinda and Elphaba. I'm obviously Elphaba.
Katherine could see spots swimming in her vision. She was close to unconsciousness. She tried desperately to take in any air but Matthew was holding her throat air tight. Suddenly, her throat opened up and she dropped onto her knees. Coughs ripped their way out of her throat as she rubbed her neck to get rid of the irritation. When she finally got her breathing under control, she managed to look up and see what had stopped Matthew's attack. Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates at the sight in front of her. Jack had Matthew pinned up against the brick wall with his arm against Matthew's throat. "I swear to God I could kill you for what you were just pullin'" Jack said through clenched teeth. Even from her spot, Katherine could see the anger blazing in his eyes. "No one, an' I mean no one does that to Katherine."
"She deserved it." Matthew said, his voice hoarse from the pressure Jack was putting on his neck. "The little slut."
With that comment, Jack threw him against the ground. He jumped on top of him and started throwing punches left and right. Matthew finally got enough brains to throw a punch of his own. Jack's head snapped to the side and he stumbled back off of Matthew. Matthew went to throw another punch but Jack grabbed his wrist and started kneeing him in the gut. After four hits to the stomach, Jack threw Matthew against the brick wall. Matthew slumped down, seemingly unconscious. For a moment, Jack stood there, breathing heavily, looking over his body. Jack tore his eyes away from the one he wanted so badly to kill for what he just did to Katherine to look at the girl in question. She was standing at the opening of the alley looking between Jack and Matthew. He saw an emotion in her eyes he thought he would never see directed at him. Fear.
He immediately rushed over to her. "Ace?" She didn't respond. "Ace? Katherine, please say something."
She finally looked at him. Her doe brown eyes connected with his chocolate brown ones. "I've only ever seen you this vicious once." She said bluntly. "During the strike. Before Crutchie got arrested." He shuddered at the memory. He hated seeing Crutchie so busted up. "Why did this happen now?"
Jack sighed. He already knew the answer to this question. "Ace, it's because of you." He responded, "You need to realize I only get this violent when someone I love is threatened or hurt." He reached up and gently brushed his fingers across the already forming bruises on her neck. "Katherine, I love you more than anythin' in the world. When I saw him hurtin' you, I just… snapped." A few stray tears leaked from beneath Katherine's eyelashes. She leaned forward and laid her head on Jack's chest. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on the top of her head. "Believe me, I'm still considerin' killin' the bastard right now."
Katherine let out a laugh. The sound was like music to Jack's ears at this point. "Jack, I love you so much." She said, her voice muffled by his chest.
"I love you too, angel." Jack whispered, "More than you'll ever know."
"Get the hell away from her!" A voice yelled behind them. Jack turned and instinctively pushed Katherine behind him, shielding her. He gritted his teeth when he saw Matthew forcing himself onto his feet. "She's mine, Kelly."
"She was never yours." Jack spat.
Katherine finally got a good look at Matthew's injuries. Well, she can definitely say that Jack could pack a punch. A black eye was forming on his left eye and there was some blood dripping out of his mouth. "No damn newsie is getting in between me and the Pulitzer fortune." Matthew threatened.
"So that's what this is about." Jack said, realization washing over him. "You don't give a damn about Katherine, you just want Ol' Joe's money! God! What kinda sick twisted bastard uses a girl to get to her daddy's money and tries to strangle her in an alley way?" Katherine say the anger building in his eyes and his fists clenching. She placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him. His fists unclenched at her touch. "I suggest if you wanna keep all yer teeth, you'll make yourself scarce. An' fast."
Matthew contemplated his options. He figured it was best just to leave… and rat on the newsboy. He started out of the alley. As he passed Jack, he shielded Katherine more and Matthew said through clenched teeth, "This isn't over, street rat." With that, Matthew left.
Jack turned to see Katherine with tears streaming down her face. His concern for her quickly replaced his anger at Matthew. "Hey, Ace. It's okay. I've got you." He cupped her cheeks and started brushing off the tears. Suddenly, he caught sight of the smudge of rouge on his thumb after brushing it across her right cheek. "You're wearing more makeup than usual." He pointed out. He started brushing away more of her makeup on her cheek.
"Jack please…" Katherine started but it was too late. Jack had removed enough makeup to reveal a small cut on her cheek. Probably a week or two old.
"Did he do this?" Jack asked in a steely voice. Katherine didn't respond. She only took one of his hands in hers and squeezed gently, hoping to calm him. "Katherine. Did he do this?"
Katherine sighed. This was the stubborn, strong-headed newsboy she fell in love with. "Yes." She answered quietly.
"He's done this before?" Jack practically shouted. Katherine cringed at the volume. He turned to start towards the entrance. "That's it. I'm gonna kill that son of a…"
"Jack, please!" Katherine cut him off, grabbing his wrist and turning him to face her. "It's nothing. Really."
"Nothing?!" Jack lashed out, "Katherine, he's been abusing you! That's definitely not a 'nothing' in my book!" Seeing fresh tears shinning in her eyes, Jack sighed defeated. "I'm sorry. It just kills me to know he's been doin' this to you while I've been sittin' around."
"You never knew about." Katherine insisted, "Based on what I just saw, I know for a fact you would've done something the first time he did it."
Jack's signature smirk made its way onto his face. "You know it, sweetheart." He leaned in and captured her lips in a gentle, loving kiss. When he pulled away, he placed his forehead on hers and whispered, "How long has it been goin' on?"
"Since the day you snuck into the bathroom at work for me." Katherine answered in a small voice.
Jack let out a groan. "My God. I am so sorry, Katherine."
"What in God's name are you sorry for?"
"I should've noticed." Jack argued. "I should've done somethin'. But I didn't."
"Jack, look at me." He obeyed her. She pointed to the cut on her cheek. "Did you do this?"
"'Course not."
"Then why the hell are you apologizing for what you didn't do?" Katherine countered. "I know you would've done something. But I hid it because I didn't want you to worry yourself to death over it." He opened his mouth but she cut him off, "And don't try to argue that you wouldn't because everyone knows you definitely would." His mouth snapped shut. "Please don't worry about me. I can take care of myself. I learned from the best."
Jack's smirk came back. He claimed her lips once more. When air became necessary, he reluctantly pulled away. He saw the look in her eyes and sighed. "You have to go don't you?"
"I'm sorry." Katherine said quietly, "If I don't, my father will connect the dots and I don't think I can survive you taking another Delancey beating." She leaned up to peck his lips and started to the entrance of the alley before he could see the tears in her eyes.
"Ace?" Jack called as she was about to leave from sight. She stopped in her tracks but didn't turn back to him. When Jack spoke again, his voice shook from fear of her answer, "Has Matthew tried anything… more than just hittin' you?"
Katherine's breath hitched at the sentence. "No." She answered and heard him breathe a sigh of relief.
"If he ever tries anythin' like that, I want you to run straight back here." Jack told her sternly. "I ain't gonna let him touch you again." Katherine still didn't turn to him. "Katherine, I want you to promise me that."
She smiled and finally got the courage to turn to him. "There's nowhere else I would go."
"Ace, I also want you to promise me something else." Jack said before she had another chance to leave. She cocked her head to the side in confusion. "I want you to promise me you'll tell your fadda about what he's been doin'. Just because he won't let me be with ya, don't mean he should let a snake be with ya."
"I promise." Katherine whispered. Without another word, she turned and started home. Once she knew she was out of Jack's sight and earshot, she let the tears flow. It couldn't be stopped. She was about to break a promise to Jack.
Okay. I know that was a somewhat short chapter, but I needed to get it out there. It's almost one am here and I kinda need to sleep because tomorrow is homework day. Yay! *Note the sarcasm Anyways, please R&R. I promise the next chapter will be longer!
Quote of the Day: Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that –Martin Luther King Jr.
Song Suggestion: Angel With A Shotgun –The Cab