A/N: This is a semi-short chapter and we apologize for it. We just wanted to give you something to tide you over with. R&R and enjoy.

Chapter 14:

Notes was sweeping the floor of the bakery letting her mind wander. She loved working at the school but it didn't give her much time to think. She looked up as a shadow crossed the floor and she almost dropped the broom, "Spot." Spot was leaning up against the doorway. "How did you know I was going to be here?"

Spot smiled, taking off his hat, "A little birdy told me." That statement was partially true seeing as he had some of his birdies in Manhattan keeping an eye on Notes. Even if Jack wouldn't let him see her, he still wanted to make sure she was ok.

She leaned the broom against the wall and brushed off her apron. Nervously she fidgeted with her hands. After everything that happened with Jack, part of her didn't expect Spot to come back, "How are you?"

"He shouldn't have kicked you out." Spot said coldly.

Notes looked up, shrugging, "He's trying to protect me…but…"

Spot shook his head looking down at his hat, "It don't matter." He sighed and took a step closer to Notes, "They've been treating you right at…um…?

Notes nodded, "David's?" Spot nodded his head, "They've been very nice to me. It's not the same though."

He nodded and walked farther into the bakery, "I've mi…" He wanted to tell her how things just haven't been the same after that kiss, "Heard you got a job at a school. I knew you were a smart one." Spot smiled, feeling quite proud of her. None of his past girls had ever been considered smart or amounted too much of anything. If she wasn't Jack's sister, most of his Brooklyn boys would have teased him for being so fond of a real lady.

Notes blushed, "Thank you." She played with the key that hung around her neck and smiled. "So what brings you around here?"

Upon noticing the necklace she was wearing, a feeling of relief fell over Spot. Part of him was worried that Jack had gotten to her. Taking a look out the window then turning back to Notes, Spot reached out and took her hand, pulling her closer to him. Tucking a lose curl behind her ear, he smiled, "I don't care what Jack says, we can…"

Notes shook her head and pulled away from Spot, "We can't." She looked up, fighting back tears, "He's my brother Spot, the only family I have and…"

He paused; another fear crossed his mind, "Look if there's another guy you can just tell me." Spot said trying to hide the disappointed look on his face.

"No! Spot there isn't anyone else. It's just that… with Jack…" Notes said sadly. "If Jack would…"

Spot nodded solemnly, "I get it." Spot started walking out the door then turned back, "Just so you know, I never give up."

"I don't want you to." She looked at him seriously.

…

Notes left the bakery and walked home thinking of her talk with Spot. She wanted things to be simple but with Jack being so stubborn, they weren't. Things would only get more complicated for Brooklyn if this went on.

"Hey Notes." Ace said coming up behind her.

Notes turned around startled, "Oh, Pint I didn't see you."

Ace saw the troubled look on Notes face and fought back a grin. He had been sneaking around the bakery when he saw none other than Spot Conlon walk in and talk to her. "Is there something wrong Notes?"

"Wrong? Why would you say that?" Notes said trying to hide the sadness in her voice.

"I can tell you're upset by something." Ace gave her a sweet smile. "You can tell me anything you know."

"Thank you…it's just been a long day…" Notes looked down, remembering Spot's face as he left the bakery. Tears started welling up in her eyes, "I'm sorry…" She quickly pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes.

"Hey now…" Ace stopped and pulled Note's over to the side of the sidewalk, "I'm here for you Notes. Is someone botherin' ya?"

"It's a long story. Do you know a newsboy called Spot Conlon?" Notes blinked away the tears in her eyes.

Ace curled his hands into fists. The reputation of the leader of the Brooklyn newsies was not unknown to him. He had only been the leader of Staten Island for a short time but he knew the power that only Spot held over the other newsboys. He also knew his reputation with girls and grinned. This was his in to getting Notes to open up completely to him. He saw this as an opportunity and he was going to use it. "I've only heard a little about him. He's the leader of the Queens Newsies right?"

Notes smiled and shook her head, "Brooklyn actually." Notes went on describing Spot to Ace who listened along pretending he didn't know who he was.

"So is he the one bothering you?" Ace asked.

Notes shook her head, "It's not like that at all." Ace walked Notes back to the Jacob's apartment as she retold everything that had happened between her and Spot and Brooklyn and Manhattan.

"So you can't be with him?" Ace asked, now truly interested in the situation, seeing it as an opportunity to truly destroy the Manhattan and Brooklyn newsies. Brooklyn had always been an impassable force…but if Spot had a weakness.

"I want to…but it's so complicated." She shook her head, "Thank you for letting me talk to you Pint."

Ace smiled, truly happy with what he had accomplished today, "Don't thank me Notes. I'm happy to help in any way I can."

…

"Are you ok?" David knocked on the door of Notes and Sarah's bedroom. Notes had been acting off all through dinner.

"You can come in David." Notes said, opening the door, "I'm fine. Just a little tired." She wished she could tell David everything that had happened, but he might have told Jack. Notes didn't want to get Spot into any more trouble.

"Are you sure because if there's something wrong you know you can tell me." He looked up at Notes, "You can tell me anything."

Notes smiled at the déjà vu, "Thank you David, but I promise it's nothing I can't handle." She really did appreciate the offer. "It's just that there's been a lot on my mind lately." She smiled at him, "I miss my friends at the lodging house."

David nodded, "How about I talk to Jack tomorrow…I'll see him when me and Les go to sell papes." He offered her a kind smile and nudged her shoulder, "Maybe Cookie can come and visit…or Mush?"

"Thank you David. I'd love that." She smiled, feeling a little better at the prospects of seeing her friends again.

…

"You aint seen Notes in a while have you?" Racetrack asked Cookie as they were out selling their papes. It was a pretty slow day so they decided to stick by the lodging house. After a few uneventful hours they were joined by Bumlets.

Cookie shook her head, "No." She looked up and saw a strange boy selling papers across the street from them. "Hey Race, you ever see him before? He aint one of us, is he a scabber?"

"Where?" Race looked to where Cookie was pointing, "I aint seen him around here before." Racetrack shoved his papers into Cookie's arms and walked towards the boy. "Hey! What's your name kid?"

"Race don't start anything!" Bumlets called after him.

"Racetrack if you give me your papes, I'm going to sell them and keep the money." Cookie yelled as she went after Racetrack.

The boy looked at Racetrack and Cookie, "I'm…umm…."

Racetrack grabbed him by the collar, "Spill it kid. We've never seen you here before so who sent you?"

"Jeez Race…maybe he's new!" Bumlets sighed, wishing Race wasn't so hot headed.

Cookie shook her head, "He aint new Bumlets. I know all the newsies in Manhattan and he aint one of them." Cookie looked over at the boy, "He probably aint from Brooklyn either."

"You sure Spot wouldn't do that?" Bumlets asked sizing up the kid.

Cookie nodded, "Maitiu and I have an…understanding even if Jack and Spot don't."

"I aint gonna ask you again, who sent you?" Racetrack said turning his attention away from Cookie and Bumlets and back to the kid.

The kid spit in Racetrack's face, "The name's Snail." He pulled free from Race's grip.

Racetrack wiped his face. "Who sent you?" He asked angrily.

"I will never betray my leader!" Snail said defiantly.

"We'll see about that." Racetrack lunged for Snail and tackled him to the ground.

Bumlets went over to Race and tried to pull Racetrack off Snail, "C'mon Race, let him go." He pulled Racetrack off revealing a few cuts and bruises on Snail's face.

Racetrack took his papers back from Cookie, "You tell whoever sent you that they can't mess with Manhattan."

Cookie rolled her eyes, "Come on Race…" She turned him around and then went to face Snail, "Listen kid, if you were smart you'd stay out of here."

"And if you were smart, you'd keep an eye open." Snail said running off.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cookie yelled after him

"Forget about it Cookie, let's just get Race outta here." Bumlets said trying to drag Racetrack back to the lodging house.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Cookie shrugged, "Need some help?"

Cookie turned around to see who she had shrugged off, "David? Yeah sure. What are you doing here?"

"I was on my way to talk to Jack."

…

"Wait slow down, what happened?" Jack asked as he ran a hand through his hair.

Cookie sighed, "Someone's sending newsies here to sell on our turf."

Jack looked up, "You think it's Queens again?"

"No." Bumlets said shaking his head.

"He's right, he wasn't threatening. You know how the newsies in Queens are. This kid wouldn't fit in there never mind being sent to do something like this." Cookie said rubbing the back of her neck and sitting down on a bunk.

"We should keep an eye on Nails, make sure he's not up to the same old tricks ya know?" Jack looked at Race, Cookie and David, "You don't think it could be…Ace do you?" Jack saw only head shaking. "I'm gonna send someone there too, to keep an eye out over there." Jack turned to David, "Did you need something David?"

David shook his head, "I just came here to let you know that Notes is doing good."

…

"Jeez, Cookie looks tired don't she?" Blink said walking over to Skittery and Mush. Skittery and Mush had been watching Cookie and Racetrack explain their fight to Jack.

Mush nodded, "Things have been tough for her since…"

"The fight between Jack and Spot." Skittery added in. "How's selling going for the others? They having problems too?"

"Once or twice I've seen a few people around but they scare off easy enough." Blink looked at Mush, "Any word from Brooklyn lately."

Mush shook his head, "Cookie hasn't talked to Maitiu or Shortstuff for a couple days and you know that Jack and Spot won't talk to each other."

"So it's going nowhere?" Skittery asked.

"Pretty much." Mush replied solemnly.

…

Mush walked around the lodging house looking for Cookie and finally found her up on the roof. "Hey."

Cookie looked up, "Hey." She patted the spot next to her, "Sit down."

Mush sat down next to her and put his arm around her drawing her close to him, "You come up here a lot don't you?"

"Of course I do." She smiled at him, "It's a good place to think."

Mush nodded, "You need to relax ya know. You've been so stressed out lately."

Cookie chuckled, "You think? If Jack and Spot would stop being so stubborn then I could relax a little but until then…." She laughed, "I bet Maitiu looks worse than me right now."

…

Maitiu sat on the docks, his head in his hands. There were large bags under his eyes, making it obvious that he hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time. Shortstuff walked up behind him, kicking him gently in the back, "Hey, how ya holdin' up?"

He looked up at her, and said with a sarcastic tone, "Oh…it's wonderful."

She nodded and joined him on the edge of the dock, "Spot?"

"Ta…and everyone else. He's off…searching Manhattan! His boys are wondering where he is and I'm left in the middle with a thousand questions that don't have logical answers!" He took a deep breath, his brogue becoming almost imposable to understand.

"You'll think of something." She smiled and watched the sun go down over the Brooklyn Bridge.