Finch walked into the Lodge, exhausted and ready to maybe play a game or two of poker with Race then go to bed. But when he walked in and saw Romeo on top of Kloppmann's desk with Crutchie's crutch, he knew it wouldn't be the relaxing night he wanted.

"What're you doing?" he asked warily. "Race started a game of Capture the Flag, but we're using Crutchie's crutch instead of an actual flag. Help me hide it!" Romeo hissed. Finch blinked and before he had time say what a terrible idea this was, Romeo grabbed him by the arm and pulled him down to the basement.

The boys rarely went down there, and when they did they were extra careful. Finch and Romeo ended up hiding it in a dark corner, hoping no one would see it. They cautiously made their way back upstairs and to the main room where Les, Crutchie, Specs, Henry, and Davey were waiting with their pillow cases tied around various parts of their bodies, including ankles, wrists, torso, etc.

"Where's everyone else?" Finch asked. "I don't know. We split up thirty minutes ago," Davey explained. "Dave, is this your first time playing Capture the Flag with us?" Henry asked, grinning. Davey nodded and Henry chuckled.

"This is gonna be fun."

"You know, I'm kinda glad we split you and Albert up now," Crutchie said, narrowing his eyes at the boy in suspicion and making Henry laugh.

"What's the other team's flag?" Finch asked. "One of Race's cigars," Les giggled. Finch grinned and said, "How'd ya get him to agree to that?" "We argued that if he decided to hide my crutch we got to hide his cigar," Crutchie smirked.

"Were ya seen, Romeo?" Les asked. "I don't think so," Romeo replied. "So what exactly are the rules?" Davey asked, sounding confused. "If someone pulls off your pillowcase you're out. But they have to be from the other team. Romeo, where'd you hide the crutch?" Specs asked. "In the basement," Romeo answered and the boys went silent.

"Don't worry, we made sure no one would get hurt on the way down," Finch added. "What's wrong with the basement?" Les asked, frowning in confusion. Yes, he'd been told by the older boys never to go down there, but he never thought anything of it.

"The stairs are steep and there's hardly any light down there. Those things combined usually end badly. We learned to stop going down there after Buttons broke his ankle from falling down them. Romeo, what made you think it'd be a good idea to hide it down there?" Specs scolded worriedly. The boys were low on money and didn't have enough to take someone to the doctor if they got hurt.

"It's gonna be fine, Specs! We made sure to turn on the lamp down there," Romeo said, frowning. Really, how stupid did he think he was?

Specs sighed and didn't say anything, not wanting to egg the younger boy on. "Let's go, who knows where the rest of the boys are by now," Crutchie said. He put his arm around Henry's shoulders and together they all went upstairs, searching all of the rooms. They searched the roof and all around the building.

"Where is it? We've searched everywhere!" Henry exclaimed. "Are we sure they actually hid it?" Davey asked. "Yeah, Mush wouldn't let them play without being fair," Specs told him. "So where is it?" Romeo asked.

"Maybe we should go make sure they haven't found the crutch yet," Crutchie suggested. The boys nodded and made their way to the stairs.

"Race, are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Why wouldn't be? Look, the lamp's already on so nobody's gonna fall!"

The group of boys crept down the stairs and searched for a good place to hide the cigar. "If the lamp is on it means someone was down here. Maybe the other team hid the crutch down here," Mush pointed out. "Good idea. Half of ya search for the crutch while we hide the cigar," Albert said.

So the group split up and began searching the small room. Even though the lamp provided light, it didn't give off enough light to fill the entire room so half of it was still enveloped in darkness.

"Be careful, fellas, we can't afford to take anyone to the hospital right now," Mush warned as he searched for somewhere to put the cigar.

He wasn't sure if it he had jinxed it or if they pranking him but the minute those words left his mouth he heard a thud followed by a loud, "OW!"

"Who was that?" Race asked urgently. Elmer picked up the lamp gently and held it up so the light filled more of the room. The other team had been coming down the stairs and Finch had collided with Jojo somehow.

"You two ok?" Specs asked, pulling them up.

"I think so. You good, Jojo?" Finch asked, standing. The younger boy nodded as he stood as well before letting out a cry as he put weight on his left ankle. "Great," Albert muttered under his breath.

"Um, fellas, take him upstairs. Romeo, find the first aid kit," Davey instructed. Henry helped Crutchie get his crutch before they headed upstairs. When they got there they saw Jojo sitting on one of the beds, examining his ankle.

"I don't think it's broken, just sprained," Davey said. Jojo nodded.

"Why were you guys in the basement?" Race asked in an accusing tone. "We could ask you the same thing," Specs replied, making Race be quiet. "We should get Kloppmann to block off the basement," Henry suggested. "He's out getting dinner, I'll ask him about it when he gets back," Mush answered.

The boys spent the rest of the night relaxing and vowing to never go down to the basement again.

A/N: Hey guys! I've had this written for a while, I just kept forgetting to post it. Hope you like it! Read and review, please. TTFN!