Alright people, 50 reviews! Thank you and GOODNIGHT! Not really, I'm still writing the other chapters. We're almost finished though, so hold on, it's about to get very interesting!

Manhattan to Brooklyn, 1899

Mafia woke up early and slipped out of the lodging house before anyone else could wake, anxious and dead set on returning to Manhattan before all the newsies were up and realized she was gone. She was going to Brooklyn, not to see Spot but a certain other two people. She had to go see Ink ad Ink about a boat…

As you very well know, it takes a long time to cross the Brooklyn Bridge, and for even Mafia Powell it's difficult to avoid the numerous Brooklyn birds staking it out. But she'd trained the four of them, and unless they'd grown completely independent over the year she'd been gone (which she doubted, since they were only kids) they wouldn't say anything until they heard her out. Once Mia got to the center of the bridge, at the dividing point between the two boroughs, she stopped and called out into the silence "Hatter, Shark, Hotshot, Dusty! Get ya lousy bums out here!"

There was silence, then immediately after four small boys appeared in front of her, looking their trainer up and down warily. "So da boss finally decides ta show err' face 'round here again, eh Maf?" Hatter, their leader, grinned, spit shaking his friend and the bird's former mentor. "Where youse been?" Mafia smiled coolly and glanced around to make sure no one was anywhere near enough to hear their conversation. "Around. How youse gettin' along?"

Dusty shrugged, wiping a smear of dirt from his face. "Ok Isa guess. Ain't da same without youse an' da giorls 'round. Life just got interestin' now dat ya back though; da guys won't believe it when we say Mafia Powell's back in town!"

Mafia shifted around uncomfortable, which caught Shark's attention. "Actually, Isa called youse all up 'cause 'o' dat. Youse can't tell anyone I'm here." Ink's little brother frowned and looked her up and down warily. "But Maf, youse love da guys! Sheesh, if youse don't want us ta tell anyone it must be serious. Watt did ya get into now?" "Yeah Maf," Hatter added. "Why shouldn't we tell Spot ya comin'? We work for im', not youse."

The street rat glared at him. "Because one, Isa gonna soak ya if ya do, two, Spot's gonna kill me if he sees me 'round here an' three 'cause it's between me, Ink an' Injun. Plus if Isa remember correctly youse owe me a favor for draggin' ya outta dat mess with Queens, Hatter." The head birds looked down, embarrassed, and nodded. "Go ahead, we wasn't gonna squeal anyways. Ya family Maf; its watt families do." Mafia smiled and ruffled the guy's hair before setting off. "Isa know," she replied. "But it feels good ta know Isa still got allies dat ain't afraid 'o' Conlon. If he asks ya watt youse saw today keep mum, alright?"

Hotshot nodded. "Our lips are sealed Maf. Ink an' Injun should be up on da roof, dey'll see ya comin'."

Thanking the boys, Mafia slinked off into the mist that engulfed the Bridge at the moment and quickly made her way towards the LH. She climbed up the fire escape and found the Lodging house's doctor and Brooklyn's second sitting there talking, up ceased once they found she was there.

"Heya Maf," Ink greeted her. "We saw ya comin' across da Bridge. Isa assumed youse don't wanna see Spot?" Word travel's fast, Mafia thought, and she shook her head. "No, Isa here ta see youse two actually."

Injun smiled friendly and motioned for her to come sit over by them. "An' how can we assist da lovely Mafia Powell dis mornin'? Problems in 'Hattan?" Mafia chuckled for a moment, and then turned serious. "Naw, we're all good, minus Jack's little situation an' all. But dat ain't why I'm here." She took a deep breath. "Da you guys know anyone in Hoboken?"

Ink stared at her, as did Injun. "Hoboken, as in Hoboken, New Jersey? Not dat Isa aware of. Maybe a couple guy's dat left da LH aft' deys grew tired 'o' bein' newsies, but as far as solid knowledge goes Isa stumped. Injun, youse know anyone?" To Mafia's surprise the medicine newsie nodded, slowly and warily but thoughtful nevertheless. "Actually, Isa gotta cousin who lives right on da river line, ova by da docks. Youse can see New York from dere, he says. Why youse askin'?"

Mafia shrugged nonchalantly, not answering the question. "Watt 'bout newsies, does Jersey have dem too?" "Well yeah, most big cities do, 'specially port towns. Isa even heard a story 'bout Savannah, Georgia havin' a couple lodging houses down dere. Maf, youse scarin' me, why da sudden interest?"

"No reason," the girl quickly countered. "Just makin' conversation-"

"Oh no youse ain't!" Ink argued. "Youse thinkin' 'bout something, ya always are. Watts eatin' youse?" Mafia looked at them both grouchily. "It ain't nothin', let me off already!" she tried to laugh it off, but Injun's gentle but firm hand on her shoulder silenced her. "Mafia, we've been keepin' each other's secrets for years," he reminded her. "We was all sellin' partners before Crypt ova threw Flyer, remember? If anything, ya can trust us." Ink nodded in agreement, and Mafia sighed. "Aright, but youse can't tell anyone, not even da giorls in Manhattan."

"We're open ears an' closed mouths Maf, now shoot."

The street girl ran her hand through her short pixie cut hair and stared off into the distance. "Ya see, Isa got ta thinkin' da other day, an' aft' all dis is ova- ya know, with Crypt an' da strike an' Spot an' all- Isa ain't gonna have a decent place ta go. Brooklyn's outta da question, Isa don't wanna stay in 'Hattan (although I'd be welcome ta stay Isa guess) an' findin' a decent job aft' da strike we're havin' gonna be impossible. Isa need some place ta start ova, get a fresh start, ya know? Jersey's just as good a place as any I reckoned."

Injun frowned thoughtfully. "Isa see youse point. I'll send word ova ta Utah, me cousin. He's always welcomin' guys from New York ova ta his LH, he'd be glad ta have ya. But seriously though, ya really thinkin' 'bout leavin' for good?"

"Not for good," Mafia corrected. "Just until all dis dies down for now, but it could turn permanent if something happened. All Isa know is Isa can't stay here no more." Ink's expression grew saddened. "Well, we'll miss ya Maf. Send letters, alright?" Mafia laughed, ruffling her friend's hair. "Hey, Isa ain't leavin' yet!" she chuckled. "Youse stuck with me a while longer. But yeah, we'll still be friends, right Injun?"

The Native American boy nodded in affirmative. "Right."

The trio talked for a while longer about Mafia's plans, but after a while the girl decided she needed to get back to Manhattan. They said their good-byes and Mafia took off, being wary of Spot and Crypt at the same time (very hard to do in her opinion) as she went. It took her a while to get back to the Distribution Center.

Manhattan Distribution Center, 1899

When she did finally get there the place was a riot.

Jack, whom she hadn't seen since the night before, was forced to stand outside with scab clothing and papers in his hand. It confirmed Mafia's worst fears; Jack had turned scab at Pulitzer's threat to hurt them, but no one in the crowd seemed to know that, or if they did they didn't care. All the newsboys that had heard her speech about scabs last night had forgotten it, and were now busy screaming and yelling at Jack so violently and profusely that all the level headed ones had to pull them back. David was up arguing with Cowboy now, and by the looks of it the turnout wasn't good. Although she tried to make out what they were saying, she could not because of the noise coming from the crowd and her position in the back.

Soon a thick boy had moved right in front of Mafia, making it impossible for her to see anything, but the next thing she knew Jack was being dragged out of view of the roaring crowd and the rest of the boys from Manhattan were huddled together talking. Mafia found herself amongst them, nearest to Mush. The girls seemed to have slept in.

"He's just foolin' 'em... so he can spy on them or something..." Les kept on trying to say with certainty. "That's it. He's spyin' on 'em. He's gotta be." Racetrack just ruffled the kid's hair halfheartedly. "Sure he is kid," the gambler muttered. "Sure he is."

Kid Blink meanwhile was sitting up against a bench next to the group, looking frustrated and thinking hard. "Somebody's gotta go talk with im'," he decided, announcing it to the rest of them. "He's gotta have a heart 'o' something, he'll listen ta at least one 'o' us!" "Sure he will Blink," David huffed, looking very angry after his fight with Jack. "He's too stubborn and conceited to care about any of us anymore."

"Don't say dat Davey, Jack's got his reasons," Mush reasoned, but even he looked down. "He'll be back… right?" Spot, who'd been there all along (Mafia inched away from his line of sight once she realized this), laughed harshly and kicked at a rock lying close by, replying sarcastically. "Oh yeah Mush, Cowboy's gonna be back. He'll definitely rejoin now dat he's got money an' a suit-"

"Spot, gripin' 'bout it ain't gonna change nothing!" Race snapped. "Now, Isa like Blink's idea. We find someone dat Jack won't run away from if deys show up an' he'll talk with em' if dey want. Dat way we now watts up an' watt our next move should be." "But who'd take on something like that?" David asked dully. "I mean, the girls won't go anywhere near him now, maybe Sarah, but I'm not dragging her into this. She's tough, maybe not street-wise but more emotionally than all of us plus she could pack a wallop if she wanted to, but it's not her fight and ever since Les and I went on strike she's the family's bread winner. If we want to eat we need her."

Mush and Blink agreed. "Ok, not Sarah then," Blink replied. "Who else is left-"

"I'll do it."

Mafia almost took it back, but as soon as the words came out of her mouth it was done. All the boys turned to her, surprised and shocked to see her sneak up on them like that. The girl could feel Spot's icy cold glare on her back, but she ignored it for the time being. "I'll take care 'o' im'," she volunteered. "He'll talk ta me, Isa know he will. Jack trusts me; I've known im' longer and well enough."

"Yeah, maybe a little too well," Spot murmured, just loud enough for Mafia and the rest to hear. Not willing to endure his mockery any longer the street girl snapped her head around to face the King of Brooklyn, her expression frosty and cruel. "If youse got something ta say Conlon spit it out," she spat at him. "Otherwise keep it ta youseself." Addressing the others, she separated herself from the group again and started off in the direction Jack had been spirited off to. "He'll be by da market, at least dat's where I'm headed. Get back ta wherever youse need ta be, all 'o' youse. Go find ya giorls, return ta ya borough, just stay outta my way."

And with that she was gone.

David shuddered as he and the Manhattaners headed back to the LH and their girlfriends. Spot was already gone, to where be anyone's guess. Les had run off to find Sarah, as it was their day to go get groceries, and no matter the circumstances the Jacobs never skipped out on chores. "If Mafia wasn't then, she's definitely on a war path now," he commented. "Do you think she'll be able to convince Jack to come back?"

Racetrack shrugged. "If she can't no one can."

Manhattan Marketplace, some random street, 1899

As she made her way down the crowded street, weaving her way through the vendors and shoppers hustling by trying to purchase their items for the day, Mafia scanned the area around her for any sign of Jack. No, it was Francis- no, Jack- Francis was dead, it had to be- or was it Francis- but then again, Jack-? Mafia nearly screamed in frustration. She didn't need this, especially not now. Everything was going wrong. Crypt was on the loose, Spot was in love- yet- hated her, her family of newsgirls was falling apart and now her best friend had abandoned her.

No, no, you can't think like that,Mafia scolded herself. Jack's still Jack. He's still reasonable, he knows you and you know him. He didn't abandon you, he's protecting you. He promised, right? This little conversation with herself frustrated Mafia even more, so she let it go for the time being and tried again to find Cowboy her efforts did not disappoint. No more than a hundred feet away soon the poor boy, dressed it a hot grungy suit that she knew he hated and carrying a stack of papers over his shoulder. He looked absolutely miserable.

"Jack!" she called out to him, pushing past other street walkers and trudging up to him. "Jack, watt happened?" She knew there was something wrong with the guy as soon as Mia could see his face. It was the look of guilt, of pain and remorse, one she'd worn all too often lately. "Jack, are youse ok?" But the newsboy just muttered something and shoved past her.

This was going to be harder than she'd originally thought, but Mafia knew she could manage. "Francis Sullivan, youse get back here dis instant!" she demanded, running up in front of him again. "Don't walk away from me when Isa talking ta youse!" Jack glared down at her and finally set his papers down to talk. "Da guys sent ya didn't dey?" he murmured, refusing to look her straight in the eyes. "Didn't deys?"

"Isa came outta me own free will," Mafia replied shortly. "But dis ain't 'bout me. Watt happened last night Jack? David was all ready ta bust ya out! We were waitin' for youse back at da LH!" Jack sighed and finally looked at her, sadness writing a story all over his face. "Youse don't understand-"

"Don't gimme dat, youse bet ya bottom, dollar Isa do!" Maf retorted angrily. "Youse ain't in for da money, no matta watt youse said ta Davey. Youse ain't goin' ta Santa Fe anytime soon, we both know dat. Pulitzer told youse something ya didn't wanna hear, didn't he? He scared ya into turnin' scab, am I right? Jack, Isa ain't stupid, da signs are dere! He bribes people all da time, but for once he couldn't with one person, an' one person only. Dat was youse, an' he knew it. So he blackmailed youse, is dat it? Did he threaten us? Don' tell me he didn't, we both know youse ain't a good liar Jack."

Jack was astonished Mafia had deduced so much out of one glance that he almost asked if she'd followed him to the mansion with David, but he knew deep down he hadn't and kept quiet, at least about that. "Sounds like youse got it all figured out, dacha Maf?" he snorted. The girl shrugged. "Like Isa said, Isa ain't stupid. Watt are ya gonna do 'bout it?"

Her friend smirked. "Youse bein' so smart? Nothin', couldn't do anything 'bout it otherwise-"

"Isa meant youse turnin' scab, ya dummy!" Mafia snapped. "Youse ain't gonna stay a turncoat forever, it ain't in ya blood. Youse also have Sarah, who, by da way, still believes in ya even aft' all dat stuff ya did, so turn around an' take off ya fancy old for nothin' suit so we can get a move on!"

Mafia's prep talk seemed to reawaken Jack and his line of thinking, and the newsboy smiled. "Ya always could smack sense into a guy," he grinned, setting down the papers he'd brought. "C'mon, we gotta strike ta finish."

Just then an earth-shattering shriek pierced the air. Both newsies snapped their heads around to see Sarah and Les being harassed by Oscar and Morris Delancy. Les was caked in mud and Sarah had just socked Morris square across his jaw, drawing blood. Mafia remembered David saying something about Sarah not being as strong physically, more in the mental and emotional department, but that obviously didn't stop her from laying one right across a Delancy's face. Jack was gone in an instant- he was already on top of Morris and beating the life out of the guy. Mafia in turn took on Oscar, who'd just finished slugging David, newly arriving on the scene, in the gut. She quickly punched the boy in the nose and wrapped her leg around his knee before caving it in. The scab went down in three short blows, something Mafia had been taught by her time in Brooklyn but perfected in the year she and her gang were incognito.

The girl turned just in time to see the brother stumble off, shouting and cursing them, as Jack helped Sarah to her feet. Les came bounding over and quickly stopped in front of Cowboy, smiling like it was his birthday. "I knew you'd come back!" Jack ruffled the small boy's hair and looked at David, who was clutching his side. Mafia went over and helped him stretch it out. "Don't lean on it too hard," she advised. "Youse won't recover an' Cloud'll have me hide."

David wasn't listening, however. He was too busy staring at Jack. "Couldn't stay away, huh?" Jack shook his head. "Guess I can't be somethin' I ain't." Mafia grinned and waved at Sarah, who mouthed a thanks and hugged Les. "A scab?" David asked. Jack snorted humorlessly and looked off in the path the Delancy's had gone. "Nah, smart."

Jacob's Apartment, Manhattan, 1899

(AN:- this was an omitted part from the movie, so I re-added it)

The four teens soon found themselves sitting on the Jacobs's apartment fire escape later that day, each crunched in some position or another to fit onto the small iron landing. "Without you the strike's falling apart…" David was saying, looking at Jack sadly. "All the guys, they're done. Spot's already thinking about drawing his forces back to Brooklyn; he was pretty mad at you this morning. I don't think we can expect any more help from him."

"Typical," Mafia muttered, ignoring the disturbed look she got from Jack. She frowned at him, and then realized she hadn't gotten the chance to tell him what had gone down between the two of them the previous night. "Me an' Spot kinda had a fallin' out," she explained thoughtlessly. "We, uh, parted ways on bad terms."

Jack grimaced. "Geez Maf, watt could ya possibly have done ta give him da slip? Spot was infatuated with youse last time Isa heard." "Still is," David replied before she had a chance to deny it. "Unfortunately, he has no idea whatsoever about how to go about coping with it." Sarah laughed shortly and handed a piece of bread to Jack. "Here, you look famished. Now I don't know much about this Spot Conlon, but from I can tell he's pretty decent if you get on his good side. Mafia, can't you go apologize to him or something? He would listen to you- all the other Brooklynites do, or so David tells me."

The street girl glanced up at her friend and shrugged, seemingly careless but on the inside weeping. "Spot's also da kind 'o' person ta not forgive easily," she scoffed. "Trust me, he ain't gonna make kindly ta seein' me in Brooklyn any time soon. Isa already took a big risk goin' ova ta visit Ink an' Injun dis mornin'. I ain't too keen ta try me luck again."

David snorted humorlessly. "From the looks of it your luck ran out a long time ago," he commented, ignoring the glare he got from his older sister. "You've been surviving off of your fists and your wit." Jack sighed, running his hand through his hair. "But back ta da point; I got no choice. Isa stay here, dey lock me up 'til I'm twenty-one."

Just then Les clambered up with a pair of shoes. "Jack, for the trip - a pair of cowboy boots! Sorta." Mayer Jacobs appeared behind his youngest son with some clothes, Ester following suit with food. She gave it to Jack, patting his arm affectionately. "Who knows what's there to eat where you're going," she said. Mayer nodded in agreement, handing over the clothing articles. "A few things of mine and David's. Wish we had money to give you..."

By the look in Jack's eyes Mafia saw he was very moved by such the loving gestures of kindness, even when he thought he didn't deserve it. "Who needs it...? I go down ta da train yards, hop me a freight, go in da best style - free..." his voice trailed off. Mayer sighed and smiled in a small way before he and his wife went back inside. "I don't know what's waiting for you in Santa Fe," he said "but you'll always have family here."

An awkward moment made its way between the five newsies, and then Jack got up and tried to move away. Sarah immediately shot her arm to and held him fast. "You're not going to run away," she told him decisively. "They'll just come after you. You have to fight them." Mafia grinned at her sharp commentary and wit. David had been right; his sister was pretty quick when it came to things like this, behind her dull façade she usually hid behind. Mafia couldn't blame her; if she were her she would too.

"They got it all wrapped up, Sarah and nothin' I can do is gonna make one bit of difference," Jack replied grudgingly. "You're wrong. You touched people you don't even know about' Sarah insisted. She removed a couple of stained papers from her shawl- the main reason she hadn't truly fought as fiercely as she could have a few hours ago. She had been hiding these. Mafia inched closer to get a look, and then grinned when she saw what it was. "Denton's story," Sarah explained. "Mafia, I don't think you were there when he gave it to David-"

"Race told me 'bout it," Mafia explained, reading it quickly. Her eyes drank in the story, her mind absorbing it like a sponge. This was the best thing she'd ever read. "Jack, ya gotta read dis- its great-"

"Denton looked out for himself just like I gotta do, so save it," Cowboy replied stubbornly. But Sarah wouldn't have it. "Just listen!" she snapped. " 'The men who run this city are terrified of the Newsies strike - because other child laborers in the factories and sweatshops are hearing the message of the Newsies leader -' "

"That's you!" Les cried out, shaking Jack's shoulder excitedly. "He's writing about you!"

" 'In the voice of Jack Kelly, these children hear strength and pride,' " Sarah continued. " 'Most of all, they hear hope...' " Mafia looked over at Jack. The poor guy was sweating, he was so shocked. He stared down at the papers questioningly, drinking it in. The entire article was completely about him... Suddenly he dropped his things and swung himself down onto the escape below them. Glancing back up, he grinned. "C'mon ya wusses!' he called up to them. "We gotta find Denton before he leaves da city!"

Mafia looked at Sarah, and the two shared a thoughtful smile. There was no more Francis Sullivan. Jack Kelly, and Jack Kelly alone- he was back.

Denton's Apartment, Manhattan, 1899

Mafia stood at the reporter's door with Jack, Sarah, David and Les, listening to Denton read his own words.

"'- And that is what terrifies the powers-that-be, for they know our city thrives on the shame of child labor. Therefore, Jack Kelly's voice must be stopped, whatever the cost..." he stopped and smiling a bit. "Good writing isn't it?"

Jack looked at the reporter somberly. "All dem sweatshop kids are listenin' ta me?" Denton shrugged. "They think if the Newsies can do it, why can't they? All they need is a leader." Jack frowned, thinking. "The minute Isa show me face Isa back in da Refuge," he muttered. Denton frowned as well, but more thoughtful than Jack's. You'd have help this time. I've been investigating the Refuge – I know somebody who's going to be very interested in Snyder's little racket."

Mafia let a ghost of a smile flutter across her face. She hated Snyder about as much as Jack did (forgetting that there wasn't as huge a price on her head as his, since she hadn't been checked into the prison yet and was basically dead to authorities. David smiled wryly as well. "What happened to the ace war correspondent?" he asked smugly. Denton shrugged and led them inside. "This war will do for now."

Sarah sat down at the table next to Mafia and drummed her fingers on the table nervously. "Whatever happens, it's Jack's decision. He's the one in danger." All paused at that, deep in thought. Les looked over at Jack. "What are you thinking Jack?"

The newsboy grinned, still deep in thought. "Yeah... I'm thinkin' 'o' Newsie Square full 'o' kids..." David at once picked up the train of thought. "... Another rally," he gasped "right under Pulitzer's nose, and not just the Newsies-"

"- Every workin' kid from every sweatshop in New York," Jack finished. "We gotta get da word out - let's go get da Newsies –"he then caught himself. "Deys still think Isa a scab." That dampened everyone's mood for a while, but then Les suddenly jumped out of his seat, thinking of something he'd said earlier. "I'll tell em' youse was a spy!"

Everyone laughed and agreed to the idea, and Denton sat down with the rest of them. "How're you gonna reach all these people?" he asked. "No paper in New York will print anything about the strike." Jack grinned slyly. "We're newsies ain't we? So we make our own paper."

"Shut up and let me think!" David snapped. "We need all the things the papers do in order to make this work."

Now the idea was starting to take off. "Whatta ya need to start a paper?" Jack thought out loud. "Writers, right? So we got Denton. What else?"

"Advertisements!" Les shouted happily, but when all the older people in the room looked him he shrank back a little. "Comics?" Denton stuck to the cold facts. "A printing press. And no paper or printer is going to defy Pulitzer." Everyone feel silent in discouragement, but then Jack got an idea. Les. Go set me straight with the Newsies, okay? Tell 'em to meet us later at the World Building." Les shot up and out the door with the energy only a child his age could and was off on his mission. Everyone looked questioning at Jack.

The newsboy grinned slyly. "Just so happens, I know a guy this a printing press." Mafia smiled wryly, catching on. "Youse sure ain't got nothin' against breakin' da law anymore den ya needs ta don't youse Jack?"

Jack grinned and shrugged, but Denton jumped and snapped his head over to look at her, like seeing her for the first time. "I'm sorry; I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Bryan Denton, reporter for the Sun." Mafia nodded and shook his hand. "Isa seen youse 'round. I'm Mafia Powell, reporter ta none. Youse da guy who wrote dat article ain't ya?"

The reporter nodded. "Indeed. You look familiar. Aren't you the young lady who performed at Irving Hall the other night? Spot Conlon told me all about you."

Mafia frowned and her mood darkened. "Isa bet he did." Denton looked at her strangely, but decided not to say anything. Glancing back at jack (who was making eyes at Sarah) he pointed out the door. "So Jack, where is this printing press you spoke of?" The newsboy snapped back to attention (with David and Mafia snickering in the background) and allowed himself a smug smile of satisfaction. "We wait until nightfall. Den Isa gonna show youse history in da makin'."

Manhattan LH, 1899

Jack carefully led Sarah, Mafia David, and Denton down the rickety stairs of the New York World's Distribution Center, a candle in hand. "They're right above us," he warned "an' if Weasel catches us, it won't be just me dey'll throw in da slammer." Mafia could barely hear over the sound of the whirring presses, but she got the message. "Oh c'mon Jack, we got out before, we can do it again." But her old friend shook his head. "It ain't you an' me Isa worried 'bout," he told her, nodding over at the Jacobs'.

Denton headed straight for the old press, checking it over expertly. "Wow, old man Pulitzer never threw anything away," he commented. "It'll take all night, but I think we'll manage." Jack meanwhile directed Sarah and David to ink, paper and other supplies they needed. "Let's get goin' guys, we don't got forever. Sarah, can youse hand me dat paper? David, go help Denton with settin' up da printin' letters-"

"Watt da youse want me ta do Jack?" Mafia piped up. Jack shot her a stern look. "Shhh, or we all go ta jail!" Mafia cringed, remembering, and nodded. "Go find Les, would ya?" Jack continued. "He can't be dat far away-"

"Here I am!" Les announced quietly, tiptoeing down the stairs and appearing next to Cowboy in an instant. "They bought it, everyone's in! Racetrack, Mush, Blink, Boots, the girls, they're all on their way. Kloppman let us borrow his old wagon; we can distribute the papers from there!" Jack patted the small boy on the back, much to Les's delight. "Good boy kid, we're in business now-"he then paused. "Watt 'bout Spot? Was he dere?"

Les shook his head. "Race said he moved all his newsies back to Brooklyn after you turned scab. I don't think he's coming." Denton frowned from his position over by the press while David smacked his hat across the wall irritably. "We'll never get the strike back off the ground at this rate!" he groaned. "All the other boroughs only followed us because Brooklyn did- without them we're toast."

"Don't say that," Sarah scolded her brother. "We can do this without anyone else's help. We got this far just with the four of us didn't we? Plus, the rest of Manhattan's coming back to rally behind us." Mafia nodded, admiring Sarah's determination. "She's right David. Who needs Brooklyn when we got each other?"

"If we don't get back our original support den da boys upstairs ain't gonna take us seriously. Dey'll say 'deys ain't got da support dey used ta' an' dey can life with dat. We gotta cause such a huge ruckus dey'll have ta lower da price."

David nodded in agreement, taking Jack's side. "You know the saying; do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you, by-"

"Thomas Jefferson," Mafia finished. "I know da sayin'." David frowned, clearly impressed. "I never knew you were a fan." The girl shrugged, handing Denton another stack of paper to copy. "Its common knowledge Davey," was all she said, but David got the feeling that she was holding back something. However, Mafia would also clam up the moment she felt pushed, so he kept quiet.

Les peered out the window to see Racetrack, Mush, Cloud, Witch, Lucky, Phantom, Daisy, Blink and Boots (who for some reason had decided to forgive Jack long before he'd turned against Pulitzer) rattling down the lane in a rickety old wagon. "They're coming guys!" he whispered excitedly. "They're almost here!"

"Hey Denton, da we got da first batch 'o' papers ready?" Jack asked.

"Almost," the reporter replied, wrapping up his work. "Just two more and they'll be ready to distribute. So, you say we're heading everywhere?" The newsboy leader nodded. "Yeah, including Brooklyn." Sarah whirled around to face them both, the look of shock beseeching her face. "Who is going to want to travel into Brooklyn, especially now? They left as soon as it got difficult."

"They left as soon as they got betrayed," David corrected. "Brooklyn and especially Spot Conlon won't stand for denial of trust. Ever." Mafia laughed humorlessly. "Dat ain't da half 'o' it," she muttered. David eyed her suspiciously again, but stayed silent. "That point is, we need him and his support again if we want to win this thing," he continued. "We'll need an ambassador. "

"Well it ain't gonna be me," Kid Blink stated plainly, trooping in quietly with the rest of his fellow strikers. It seemed that the nine newsies had finally joined the party in Pulitzer's backyard. "Ain't gonna be us either," Lucky added, referring to herself and her sister as she leaned over on her boyfriend's shoulder affectionately. "Brooklyn's too dangerous, 'specially now with all dem Brooklynites riled up ova Spot's decision. Ink an' Bowler were furious when dey had ta pull all da guys outta 'Hattan. Deys honestly thought dis strike was gonna work out."

Sarah's eyes suddenly lit up with an idea, and everyone leaned forward to listen to what she had to say. "That means we still have allies there, right?" she confirmed. When Jack and Racetrack nodded she continued. "Well, all we have to do is send someone with authority and connections over there and they'll rally around that person. It'll give hope to them, and morally that overrides anything Conlon has over them, at least temporarily. Do you think that's accurate?"

"Deys might see dat as betraying Spot though," Boots commented. "Brooklynites ain't da type ta go off aft' a new leader, however temporary he is, without some sorta already standin' trust. Dat eliminates Cowboy an' any younger newsies."

"Watt 'bout Davey," Cloud asked, threading her arm through the newsboy's. David blushed. "He's a very capable leader!" "They don't know me well enough Cloud," he replied regretfully. "And Conlon doesn't like me anyways." "I'll go," Mush offered, puffing out his chest. "Isa pretty tough, an' da guys ova dere know me."

"But da deys trust youse?" Race asked rhetorically, which silenced Mush again. Witch patted her boyfriend on the back reassuringly. "I'm glad youse not goin'. Dem boys ova dere ain't da mushy type youse are." She pecked him affectionately on the cheek. Everyone groaned. "Aw, get a room youse two!" Phantom chuckled sarcastically.

Jack stayed focused on the problem at hand. "Sarah's right; we might still have an ally in Brooklyn. If we can get someone ova dere dat da majority 'o' dem trust, den da rest will suit. Spot can't do nothin' 'bout it if someone with almost as much power challenges im'." All heads turned to a silent and brooding Mafia. The street girl's head snapped up startled. "Watt? - Wait, youse want me ta go ova ta Brooklyn don't ya?"

"Youse da only person outta all 'o' us deys like," Boots reasoned bluntly. Racetrack glared at him. "What he?" the African American boy asked. "It's da truth!"

"It won't help us much if Maf can't convince em'," Phantom replied, taking up for her best friend. "Da Brooklyn boys are a lot 'o' things, but stupid ain't one 'o' em'." "Yes, yes I think we've already established that," Denton sighed impatiently. "Miss Antoine, is there any way that we could convince you to go. At least try to rally up the newsies, would you? I don't suppose I could tempt you with your own article in the Sun, could I?"

"Thank Denton, but newspapers haven't meant a thing ta me in a long time," Mafia replied, somewhat regretfully. "But just 'cause it's for da end good I'll go, if it'll get youse all off me back." The newsgirl grinned mischievously. "Ya know watt? Dis will be da second time in 24 hours I'll have given Conlon da slip, walkin' into his territory without his permission."

Jack laughed softly (still remembering not to wake the Delancy's upstairs) and rubbed his hands together. "Alright den, it's settled. Let's get ta work everybody, da strike ain't gonna carry itself."

On that awesome note, I've got a poll going. You see, right now I've been a horrible Fansie and started another story, but this time it's about Lord of the Rings. Which one should I finish first? (Keep in mind that I'd have to take time off the other one to focus on the one chosen). OK, review and vote on my poll and I'll see what I can do!