Hours after going their separate ways, Courtney sat in a room unfamiliar to hers. She was back in the apartment Spot showed her before heading to the diner. It had been his childhood home and the apartment above was where Jack grew up. However, her and Spot weren't the only ones there. "Do they have to be here? Andrew, I don't mind. However, the rest of them? Have a little respect for yourself, Spot," she whined. Spot's apartment was the Brooklyn newsboy hangout. "You really going to let her talk to you like that? I say you teach her a lesson," Spades said. Spades then tried to grab a hold of her and laughed. Courtney broke away before he could. She was already at the door when Spot had his hand on her shoulder. The place reeked of smoke and alcohol and she wanted out. "You know where to find me, Mattie. Just promise it'll just be you and me next time. I'll be with Jack tonight," she sighed and left after a kiss to his cheek.
She was at the front door of the lodge as Racetrack was going in. It was late and she was both tired and hurt. Not long after finding a seat on a crate outside, the door opened. "Race said you were out here. I thought you'd be home," Jack said. "Denton's working late and so I tried to spend the night with Spot. But that didn't go so well," she sighed. Jack took her by the hand and led her up the stairs to the rest of the gang. Yet most to all the beds were filled with sleeping newsies. "You can sleep with me tonight; if that is okay with you?" She was tucked under her brother's arm feeling safe there. "So what happened with Spot?" "Guys everywhere and the room filled with smoke and the smell of alcohol. It felt like a brothel in there." It wasn't until someone asked who Jack was talking to that they were being loud. Not long though both fell asleep. Jack was the last one to after kissing his sister's head. "I love you, Courtney."
Whispers filled the lodging home as the gang notice Jack's bunk. "Jackie-Boy seems to have a girl sleeping with him. Who could it be that he's guarding her?" Skittery laughed. Both Jack and Courtney were still asleep with still tucked under his arm. "Hey, Cowboy, who do you have there? What girl did you find last..." "Jesus, Blinky, can't a Kelly get some sleep?" Courtney swatted everyone away before going back to sleep. However, they were not very happy with her being there. "What are she doing here, Jack? You know how Kloppman feels about girls spending the night," Mush said. Speaking of Kloppman, he was standing in the doorway when that was said. "Wh… wh… what girl is here and who is she with?" Everyone just points to Jack's bunk. Kloppman took a look at Courtney as she was once again asleep in her brother's arms. Seeing also the look on Jack's face, he let it go for them. "For the rest of you, get ready for the day. Leave these two alone though. Her little heart needs the protection of her brother," he said turning to leave. "Jack's all she has left to remember their father. She truly needs him." "You knew their father?" Mush said. "Knew him? Jack was my responsibility when their uncle went got arrested."
Having been left alone, Jack woke to the feeling of someone with him. Looking at who it was, he smiled at the sight of his sister still sleeping. He also saw the bunks empty of newsies. "Sissy, I think we overslept." "Just five more minutes, Daddy. Please? Just five more minutes and I'll be fine." Jack opened his mouth to say something but closed it before getting up. He was already dressed when he nearly forgot about his sister and was headed towards the door. Returning to his bunk, he couldn't build the strength to wake her. The look on her face was peaceful. Yet he saw the look of fear, sadness and the loss of hope becoming visible. He managed to place Courtney on his back without completely to the floor. She fell from his grip and once her feet were on the ground, sleepily climbed onto his back. "I love you, Courtney." She buried her face into his shoulder. "I love you too. As long as you love me, I'll be okay. Just like you've always told me; from the beginning of time."
"What has she done to you? You treat her like she's helpless." "Having an older brother is what she needs, Race. What are all of you upset about?" David said. It was then that Skittery explained about the "No Girls Allowed" policy and how Courtney spent the night. "Ever since she showed up, he's being given special treatment. Pulitzer is now scared out of his wits of Jack. Listen, baby face, Jack was fine before you showed up. So just go home and get out of his life," Race sneered. Once Jack realized that his sister wasn't going to fight back, he stepped in. "I'm not losing my baby sister. You can mad about it all you want. Just leave her alone and mind your own business." "What are you going to do I don't?" "What's he going to do? It's me you should be afraid of, Shrimpy. You touch or harm my girl in any way, it is war," a blue eyed newsie groaned. "I'm sorry for last night, princess. I love you though."