A/N -- I decided to do an Epilogue because after rereading and reading some comments, I figured that it was a little bit of a cliff hanger ending. So here you go guys, but this will be the end for this story. Love you all and thank you SO much for all the faithful readers and reviewers, couldn't have done it without your support!! -- A/N
When I woke up, Spot was still sleeping which was unusual for him. Placing a palm on his forehead I could feel the heat radiating from him. Checking his wound I saw that it had already began to turn a deep red around the edges. Biting my lower lip I poured some iodine onto the bandage and wiped it over the wound after cleaning it with some of the leftover water.
Rewrapping his arm with fresh bandages, I went downstairs to make some coffee and scrounge for food. There was some slightly stale bread and a bottle of beer. Shaking my head I brought it upstairs and after gnawing at the bread, I shook Spot awake gently and forced him to eat.
"How do you feel?" Spot glared at me and crossly sat up before grabbing the beer bottle and downing it in a few deep swallows.
"Like shit, why bother asking?" Standing up, I contemplated pouring the dregs of water in the basin over his head but with a sigh I instead walked away and sat in his chair by the window watching more snow fall.
By mid-morning he was sleeping fitfully and moaning in his sleep. I didn't even need to touch his forehead I could feel the warmth radiating off of him. Frowning I racked my brain for a modern remedy that would help bring down some of the infection but came up with nothing. Cursing myself, I decided that all I could do was try to break the fever and keep his arm as clean as possible.
That proved to be more difficult than I thought. Spot was NOT a model patient. By late afternoon he was cross, impatient and through with sitting in bed. Finally I had had enough, and stomping out of the room, encountered Duck heading for his room.
"Have fun, his Majesty is being a fuckhead." Duck snorted at my language and gave me an incredulous look.
"You always do have the most interesting curse words in your vocabulary." Blushing, I shrugged and beat a hasty retreat to the girl's dorm where I flopped down onto my cot and lighting a cigarette, stared at the ceiling.
Was this how Spot died? Not from a gunshot directly but an infection brought upon by the injury?
Duck soon came back into the room and I glanced warily at her. Her mouth was grim and she was shaking her head.
"We need to keep cleaning it and putting cold cloths on his head. I may have to lance it and pour some carbolic acid in there directly." Making a face I sat up and nodded at her.
"Well let's do whatever it is that we have to do."
Once more we enlisted the help of some of our brawny lads and they held him down while Duck held a pocket knife over a candle. I was a little surprised that she knew enough about infections to do that but then again she and Bookworm read enough books that I had no doubt that she knew what she was doing.
Tucking a tendril of hair that had come loose from the braid wrapped around her head, she made a quick incision over Spot's wound and as he gasped, poured a bottle of some strong smelling liquid into the hole. Spot shot up bellowing and began bucking, trying to throw the boys off of him.
They managed to subdue him, and after Duck made a few new stitches, washed the gunshot with some clean hot water and dabbed iodine on it, she wrapped up his arm and gave Spot a shot of whisky.
"I could have used this first damnit," he grated out his eyes shooting daggers at us. Duck just gave him a serene smile.
"I know," was all she said before getting up and walking out of the room. Spot flopped down onto his pillow and with an impatient gesture waved the boys out and held out his hand to me. I took it and he pulled me down into the bed with him. Even though it was damp with his sweat, I pulled his head onto my chest and hummed a song until his breath was even and deep. It wasn't long before I too fell asleep.
I awoke sometime before dawn, and sat up yawning. Checking Spot, I was relieved to find that he wasn't as warm, and sweat was beading his forehead. That was always a good sign and my heart lifted.
It took Spot another few days to recover fully and when did he apologized to everyone who had helped for being such a bastard. Soon the winter weather began to disappear and with it everyone's spirits rose. It was on a wonderfully sunny day that Cinder and Spook showed up and one look at the bundle Cinder held in her arms had me rushing over to her side.
"Ohmygoodness Spot come look!" Cinder looked tired, her red hair pulled back into a messy bun but she was beaming as was Spook. Peering into the blanket I smiled brightly at the little red, wrinkled face.
"We named her Susannah Lily," Cinder said looking at me shyly her cheeks turning pink. I was touched but a little confused.
"Who is Susannah?"
"It was Sassy's real name," Spook said quietly. We all were silent for a few moments. They had buried her in Potter's field as a nameless body claimed by the rough New York streets. But we found out which marker was hers, and put flowers there regularly. She hadn't been very nice but her final act had somehow redeemed her in our eyes.
"That was big of you," I murmured to Sassy. She shrugged and shifted her grip on little Susannah.
"She deserves it none the less. She saved my Spook." Suddenly her face cleared and she held out the little bundle.
"Here, hold her." I fidgeted uncomfortably. It wasn't that I didn't like babies but I didn't want to drop the poor creature and I hadn't held too many infants. Gingerly I took the baby and supporting her head, was surprised at how fragile she was. The baby's eyes opened and she squinted up slightly at me. I was instantly enchanted and looked up, a broad smile lighting up my face.
Spot was watching me, a fond look in his eyes and when Spook and Cinder finally left, we retreated to the front stoop of our building and lit cigarettes. Smoking in a companionable silence, I leaned back and let the sun bathe me with it's warmth.
"Spook said he heard rumors of Jinx running to Baltimore. Good riddance I say," Spot said braking the quiet. I grunted in response and Spot ran his hand over my hair that I had worn loose.
"If feels like it's captured some of the sunshine," he whispered. Sitting up, I leaned against his shoulder.
"I'm glad you're not running off to look for your sister," Spot said in a gruff voice. Turning my head, I met his blue eyes and touched his jaw.
"I don't need to now, I'm here for good."
"Are you sure?" Smiling at him, I slid a hand around to grip the nape of his neck and pulled him to me, kissing him gently.
"I am a hundred percent positive," I said against his lips. He took me into his arms and deepened the kiss.
"Good, because I'm not letting you go, ever." I sighed and felt my body fill up with a glowing happiness. Hide and Seek practically leaping over our heads and running off down the sidewalk made us jerk apart in shock.
Bookworm and Emotions followed, charging down the steps and barely missing knocking us over.
"Sorry Boss, Riot. Little shit's stole my smokes and got sick all over the bathroom floor after smoking all of them," Emotions ranted. Together the two girls pelted after the twins and all Spot and I could do was life.
Standing up, Spot pulled me to my feet and as we entered the lodging house and were greeted by the many voices of the friends that I now though of as family washed over us, he leaned close.
"It's a horrible thing to think but I'm glad your sister ran away or else we wouldn't have met." Nodding my head in agreement, I thought of all that had happened in the past year I had been here.
"If she hadn't I never would have found this place...my real home." Spot tightened his arm around my waist. Fingering the key around my neck, I smiled at the chaos around me and felt so blessed. Home at last, with many more adventures to be had. I was ready, I knew it for sure. Shutting the door behind me, I entered the room and my new life with a smile and hope in my heart.
I was ready to be home for good and what a home it was. As Sprite bounced up to me with a new tale about Skittery I grinned and let the tide of my new life carry me away.