Alright I am done making deadline promises! (Since I obviously can't keep them *ugh*)

Sorry Again, but please enjoy!

Signed a Terrible Human Being Who Cannot Keep Writing Deadlines

P.S. Standard disclaimers apply

It seems like it took hours to get back to the Lodging House, but she is finally back, safe in her bed. But to say she feels okay would be the overstatement of the century. She tries unsuccessfully to prop herself up in bed, but her arms won't support her weight. Jack sits down next to her and tries to help her sit up, but the look of pain that crosses her face when she is finally upright inclines him to gently force to lie back down. She grimaces, but is too weak to resist.

"Youse doin okay?" He says it even though he knows the answer.

"I was going to lie and say yes so that you won't worry, but now that seems kind of pointless."

"You know it wouldn't have worked".

"I know."

Katherine walks into the room smiling and comes to sit next to her on the other side of the bed, but not before slapping Jack soundly on the arm.

"Ouch! Ace what was dat for?"

"That, was for scaring us all half to death!"

She wraps Beth in a protective embrace, "I can't believe we almost lost you…"

Beth tries hard not to wince, but the pain is worth it to feel this safe and loved, "I'm right here Kath, I'm not going anywhere I promise…I promise."

Jack is still rubbing his shoulder and faking a scowl, "I didn't mean to scare you Ace, I was just trying to get us all out of dere alive!"

"I know, I know I just…just don't ever do it again!"

Until then he hadn't realized that she was still shaking. Softly he sneaks over to her and plants a kiss on top of her head, "Ace I swear I wish it never had to happen, but I promise it won't evah happen again."

Katherine returns the loving gesture with a breathless kiss, "I'm going to hold both of you to that promise." She looks pointedly at Beth, "Stay alive."

Her tone is somewhat playful, but it is still tinged with tears. Everything is still so fresh in her mind, but she wants to hear Beth laugh and see her smile again. It never takes much to get Beth to smile, but right now it's still too hard, too soon. Instead Beth responds somewhat grimly, "I'll do my best, but I can't promise anything."

Katherine's smile fades and Beth immediately feels bad. In a feeble attempt to rekindle a lighter mood, Beth looks at Jack and remarks teasingly, "Oh and Jack?"

He is lost in thought, "Hmm?"

She grins mischievously, "I sort of completely forgot to thank you for saving my butt in there, I'm not sure how I managed to do that but somehow I did."

He smirks back at her, "Don't mention it."

"I just did."

On a more serious note she continues, "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."

"Youse ain't evah gonna lose that smart mouth of yours are ya?"

She pretends to think about it before shaking her head, "Probably not."

Katherine willingly surrenders to the ridiculous mood they've created, "Somebody has to keep you in line Kelly when I'm too busy being anxious and dismal."

"Are youse done now?"

She smirks at him, "For now anyway."

He wraps her in his arms and swings her off the bed squealing in a most unladylike manner.

"Jack Kelly you stop that! You're disturbing Beth, she needs rest!"

Beth just laughs until every bruise on her broken body hurts, "My body is begging you to stop but the rest of me is enjoying this immensely."

Jack waggles his eyebrows dangerously at Katherine, "Does that mean we can continue?"

"We? What do you mean we Jack Kelly? You started this!"

He laughs and whispers loud enough for Katherine to hear, "She only uses my full name when I'm in trouble!"

Katherine giggles, "When he's being very bad he gets his middle name too."

"On account dat I don't have one it's different everytime."

This sends Beth into fresh peals of painful of genuinely joyful laughter. Through her giggles she starts to respond, but Race's voice unexpectedly cuts in, calling somewhat loudly from the top floor, "Jack I can't sleep I wanna see her again, and if yer gonna do it tonight I wanna come wid you. Youse will need help and even though she can't hear me I wanna…no I gotta tell her how much I…"

He suddenly stops halfway down the stairs when he catches of Beth in her bed; bruised and beaten, but alive.

"My God", for the first time in what would seem like forever it came out like a prayer, "Beth is dat really youse?"

Yes I know it's short, BUT it's only slightly cliff-hangerish... Also I sort of wrote it all in one night so let me know if there's a ton of stupid grammar mistakes or anything that just doesn't make sense LOL *leaving now*

If you keep on reading and reviewing I'll keep on writing (and if I can get at least five reviews for this chapter I'll join the Newsies Writing Competition ;)

K. Kelly