Disclaimer: Don't own any of the newsies, Spirit is my own and some other randoms.

A/N: Once again sorry for the long delay, I ran into some blocks but I think I know where this is headed again.

Thanks to Switchblade Conlon: Thanks for the new reviews, this may become a race/oc..youll just have to keep reading!. Blue Fangs and Water vs. Fire and Mackenzie thanks for all your reviews! Im glad people are still reading this and I hope you continue to enjoy it.

I wasn't sure what I time I actually woke up. I groaned heavily as I opened my eyes. I froze and took in the room before trying to piece together last night. Why wasn't I in the bunk room and why was I in Spot's room? I sat up slowly still trying to get my mind working. I remember walking back from Medda's, I remember leaving Race at the bridge. The rest was getting fuzzy. I raised my hand up to rub my eyes, since they were still heavy with sleep.

The pain I got in return made me frown even more. I pushed myself out of bed and took the short walk to the washroom. I stood in front of the mirror and sighed. The bruises were evident on my face, as was my slightly crooked nose. The dark circles under my eye helped to highlight the fact that my nose was in fact broken last night. There was no use trying to reset it now, I could live with it.

I splashed some water on my face but that was about all I had the energy to do. I made my way back to Spot's room. As I passed the bunkroom I noticed that it was empty. Well at least I knew it was late morning or afternoon. I crawled back into Spot's bed, knowing if I went to the bunkroom I would be disturbed sooner or later. All I knew was at this moment I needed more sleep…my head was about to explode.

I woke up later on, feeling a little better. I guess I shouldn't have drank as much as I did last night. I gave a heavy sigh as I finally opened my eyes again. I was actually surprised Spot didn't kick me out of his room yet. Maybe he wasn't back from selling…that would make sense.

I pulled my body into a sitting position, casting a glance out the window. Behind the dirt it looked to be the afternoon still. Maybe I didn't fall asleep for that long the second time. I shrugged and was about to move when the door opened.

Spot walked in like he owned the place; well I guess he actually did this time. He spared me a look while he set his cane down and emptied his pockets. After he was done with his routine he turned to fully face me. I couldn't quite figure out the look on his face, it was somewhere between anger and worry.

We stayed in silence for a little; neither of us knew what to say or who to go first. I was still trying to figure out all of what happened last night.

"So," I finally started, sick of sitting in silence under his glare, "what happened last night?" I hoped he had the answers even if he wasn't there.

I heard a soft laugh come from his lips, well that wasn't the first reaction I had expected.

"Either ya hit your head harder than we thought or ya really did have a lot to drink. You were jumped in Brooklyn, by Factor's boy."

I nodded, I had assumed I got jumped by the way I looked and felt but I didn't know who did it.

"Lucky for you Race followed you over the bridge and got there in time."

My head snapped up at that, I forgot he found me. I could remember someone helping me and trying to get me to walk back but that was the last thing I remembered.

"He head back to 'hattan?" I would have to thank him sometime. It wasn't the smartest decision I've had to walk home alone when I wasn't sober, and from the look on Spot's face he wasn't happy either.

"He left this mornin'." Spot paused for a moment, "Eagle shouldn't have left ya."

I sighed, "But ya can't blame him. If this was any other time or Factor wasn't still out for us you wouldn't be mad at him." I shot him a look, it was true, and Spot was acting differently.

"It's not safe out there Spirit." He shot me his own look back, trying to end the discussion.

"It's never been safe out there Spot, it I don't think it will ever change. Yet you sent me away to Queens putting me in more danger?"

He scowled; I had definitely hit a sore spot. From his look I can tell he was regretting this whole thing of sending me away, he didn't need to tell me and I slowly nodded at him in understanding.

"Listen Spot what's done is done, any trouble I get into is my own fault"

He stayed silent for a minute then snapped back to reality, "Get outta my room."

I laughed and made my way back to the bunkroom, back to my own place. Once inside the bunkroom I was met with chatter from the other newsies. It was nice to be alone in Spots room but that was never going to happen again. I sighed and found Eagle on his bunk. I smirked and headed towards him.

He was laying down when I reached him and I could see his eyes were closed tight, like he was trying to force himself to sleep.

"Ya look like shit," I said standing over him. He cracked his eyes and looked over my own face.

"Youse don't look so hot either."

I shrugged and sat down on his bunk, pushing his legs over. He groaned in protest but made room for me.

"Where'd youse run off to last night?" I asked, he looked guilty for a second but it quickly went away. Brooklyn wasn't one for showing its emotions.

"Found Medda's singer tryin' to walk home alone. I did the gentlemen thing and walked her home, maybe stayed the night," he smirked at me and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. But it was my fault for asking.

We were silent for a moment before he spoke again, softer this time, "I didn't know youse weren't alright to walk home." That was Brooklyn for a sorry.

I gave him a small smile to show I wasn't mad, "If I had known I wasn't either I would have been angry but seems I thought I was alright, besides Race saw me most of the way."

"Yeah I heard he came to ya rescue," he wiggled his eyebrows at me and I hit him on the shoulder to shut him up.

"Spot let ya have it?" I asked hoping Spot didn't yell at him too much since I didn't blame Eagle for any of this.

"He was pretty clear that next time we go to 'hattan at night, he wants to know"

I forgot we never told Spot we left Brooklyn. I would probably get yelled at for that at some point too. "He'll get over it" I laughed at the look Eagle gave me for that comment.

We sat on his bunk for awhile, Eagle looked too hung over still to move and I was honestly still tired. I watched the others around me settle down for the night and I finally made myself move to my own bunk.

As I settled down for the night I thought back over the day before, and then I realized something….Cricket had been here. That was another mystery I would have to figure out soon.

It was two long days later that I stood at the Brooklyn Bridge. My body felt better, enough that I didn't come back from selling and take a nap. But my face still looked like it got hit by a…well fist. The shade of bruise around my eye was turning an ugly purple yellow. At least my nose didn't look too crooked. I sighed and took the few steps across the bridge. Spot would probably let me have it later but I didn't care. Last night he gave me another lecture about going off alone.

Yet here I was. I couldn't help but smirk a little at that. Like Conlon's ever played by the rules. Besides Spot didn't say anything about wandering off during the daytime, so here I was leaving Brooklyn around noontime. I would have plenty of time to be back by night time.

I fumbled in my pockets for a cigarette only pausing in my steps to light it. I took a sharp left and headed over towards Tibby's. I passed some wealthy ladies as I crossed the street, their stares not going unnoticed. I shrugged them off; I was used to being looked at like this, I was even used to the whispers that followed. Whether it was from the bruises or from the fact I was just a street rat I wasn't sure.

I paused by the door glancing in to see it filled with newsies. I sighed; I wasn't in the mood to mingle with Manhattan newsies. Instead I leaned against the brick wall finishing off my cigarette. I had seen Race sitting by the window and figured I'd just wait until they came out.

Besides I didn't have a message for Jack and since I was back to being a runner I felt weird confronting newsies in Tibby's without a message. A strange newsie in Brooklyn was never taken well but Manhattan didn't mind much, yet I opted to stay outside. Maybe another reason was the fact I didn't want to thank Race in front of the other newsies.

I went into a kind of down time as I waited. But just as I threw the last ashes to the ground the doors swung open. Large groups came pouring out, with me still in the shadows. I waited for Race to appear and it took a while before I saw him talking wildly with a few lingering newsies.

I smirked as his hands moved too fast to follow; apparently this was an exciting story.

"Heya Race!" I yelled pushing my body off of the building. I took a few steps towards the retreating group.

Race paused his story and cast a look backwards. He halted his steps when he saw me coming towards him.

"I'll catch up fellas," I heard him say to the others.

I closed the gap between us as I watched the other newsies regarded me with curiosity.

"Heya Spirit, what brings ya to lovely 'hattan on this fine day?" Race offered a smile as he took in my appearance.

I returned the smile, "Well I was just passin' through. But while I'm heah and all I thought I'd say thanks for the other night."

Race shrugged, "Ain't gonna lie ya kinda scared me for a minute but I'm glad your alright. I would never been allowed back to Brooklyn if I left ya there." His smile grew as he spoke.

"I see how it is, savin' me all to get on Spot's good side."

"Did it work?" Race asked as he started to walk down the street with me. Luckily the distribution center was on the way back to Brooklyn.

"Spot couldn't stop talkin' about you." I laughed even at my own words.

We neared the distribution center when Race looked at me seriously, "I meant what I said I'm glad ya alright, things coulda turn out worse"

I gave a small smile, "Ya they could of, and I meant it, thanks, Brooklyn doesn't say that often either."

I heard him mutter "don't I know it" before we joined up with the other newsies.

I saw them all lining up and realized I should be heading back to Brooklyn. I wasn't going to sell the afternoon edition but I should be back before Spot looks for me.

I saw Jack eyeing me from the group, and before I could say bye to Race he was on his way over.

"Spirit," was Jack's only introduction to me, he didn't offer a hand. I didn't know why Jack didn't really trust me much, I was a runner, he had to believe what I said, but even before the whole Queens mess I feel like he wasn't sure about me.

I pulled my face back to a neutral look, "Jack."

"Spot already came through heah." I frowned at that statement, why was Spot here. Jack seemed to take in my confusion, "So I guess you weren't heah to give me a message?"

I shook my head, "Nah I was heah on personal business. Did Spot head back?" I changed the subject hoping Jack wouldn't press the matter.

"Yeah he just left," Jack looked like he was about to say more when I heard I voice behind me.

"I should get back," I nodded to each of them before taking my leave. I took a few short cuts and got to the bridge in record time. I smirked as I saw Spot lazily walking at the end of the bridge. Even with the other people on the bridge you could pick out his walk. He was swinging his cane to his own beat.

I caught up with him easily and I could tell he knew I was behind him. There was a small pause in the swinging of his cane, but he took it back up not acknowledging me.

"What ya doin' in 'hattan?" I heard him speak after a few minutes.

"Could ask ya the same thing." He was silent, waiting for me to answer him.

I sighed, "I went to talk to Race, that alright?"

He finally turned and smirked at me. He just smirked as he walked, he didn't offer any words and I wasn't sure what to make of it.

"What about you?"

This time I got an answer, which actually surprised me. "Spoke to Jacky boy, told 'im about Factor."

"Did you tell him how he wants a Conlon?" I was curious if Jack had figured that part out yet.

"I just told 'im he went after my newsie. Which I'm sure he figured out was you from your looks."

I shot him a look for that comment, which he ignored as usual.

"Why'd ya tell Jack when you got boirds lookin' out for Factor."

He steered me off of the main streets and I followed. I wasn't sure why we weren't heading to the docks or the lodging house but I followed to find out.

When we were further into our territory, in some of the lesser known allies he spoke. It was soft and direct, "I'm thinkin' there might be a trader."

I frowned, I could feel the anger building up. But I didn't say anything, what was there to say? I wasn't going to act shocked, since these things do happen…hell I was just a trader in Queens.

"Any idea?" I asked after I let my anger die down a little, I need to think this through with Spot, not sit here angry.

He shook his head slowly, "Could be a boird, might not be though."

And so we stood in silence, in that small alley for awhile. Thinking over our options, we would have to go through every newsie carefully. Now this made things much harder than just dealin' with Factor.