Chapter 3
Sarah walked up the stairs of the Newsboys Lodging house at a quick pace, worry marring her gentle features. Mush, Race, and Kid Blink had showed up at the apartment early that morning. They were worried about Jack. He hadn't slept more than a few hours in the passed week that Ti had been missing. She had only seen him a few times this week and both times she hadn't been able to reach him. She had to now though, everyone was worried about him and he was making himself sick.
She entered the bunkroom and saw him. He was laying on his back on Ti's bunk. His hands were behind his head and he appeared to be asleep. There were dark circles under his eyes and his features were pinched with worry and sadness even in sleep. She didn't want to wake him, but she didn't have to. As soon as she neared the bunk his eyes snapped opened, "Ti!… Oh…. Sarah. Sorry, I was just…confused, I guess." He shook his head, standing up quickly, "Shoot, I gotta get out dere… sell papes. What are you doin' heah?"
"Everyone is worried about you, Jack. I thought I could talk to you."
Jack looked at his feet, "I don't want ta talk about it no more." He said sadly.
"Jack, you can't keep it all in. Please…talk to me. I'll help you get through this."
He shook his head, "Dere ain't nothin' to say, Sarah. Nothin' can help."
"I'm you're girlfriend, Jack."
He shrugged, "I gotta go sell. I'll see ya latah, Sarah." He pushed passed her and walked down the stairs.
Sarah slumped against the bed post sighing, "I'm sorry too, Jack."
Petey Filch, otherwise known as, "Sleek", the "greatest pickpocket in Brooklyn", walked slowly down the street. It was a rotten day for selling, all rainy days were, and he was in a foul mood. He was about to cross the street when a movement in the alley caught his attention. He turned and slowly sneaked into the shadows of the alleyway, walking towards the movement.
Maybe it was a drunk who passed out in the alleyway and he could pick his pocket. Sometimes they had good stuff, like a gold watch. He had gotten a few good watches off of passed out passed-out whinos in the alley.
As he approached the body he realized that it definitely wasn't a man. It appeared to be a girl, about sixteen years old. She had thick brown hair that was wet with rain, mud, and blood. Her eyes were closed and one was blackened. She was shivering, huddled into a tight ball. Her skin was incredibly pale and her lips tinted blue. He leaned closer, shaking her arm lightly. She opened her eyes briefly and they were a deep blue color, "Jack?" She questioned, in a scared little girl's voice, before her eyes closed again.
He instantly placed her, "Holy Lord!" He cried and let out a shrill whistle. One followed from far away and he squeaked out two more. A few minutes later a young boy showed up. He had brown hair, brown eyes and a serious expression, "What's da deal, Sleek?"
"C'mere, Grim, take a look. It's da goil dat Cowboy's been soichin' for. Da one Spot's been so irritated about not bein' able ta find."
The boy's eyes lit up, "Finally. Alright, come on, let's get 'er to, Spot."
Spot stared at the shivering lump in Grim's arms and couldn't believe it was the same girl that had been Jack's shadow for the passed five years. She had a black eye and her clothes were ripped. Bruises of fingerprints were scattered about her arms and legs. Spot felt a sinking in the pit of his stomach, for he knew exactly what had happened to her. He shook his head and took a shaky breath, "Alright, did ya send someone ovah ta, Manhattan?"
"Yep."
"Good, Jacky boy should be heah soon. I'm gonna clean 'er up a bit, I don't want Jack ta see 'er like dis."
The two boys nodded in unison, "Alrighty, Spot. I'll alert ya when Cowboy gets heah."
Spot nodded and turned to, Tired as they left. He sighed and gently touched her cheek. She opened her eyes and they widened in disorientation, circling around the room and trying to focus. She coughed painfully, her whole body shaking with it, and sniffed, "Jack?" She croaked out in a pain wracked voice.
Spot sighed, "Shoot, ya sick, Ti. But don't worry, everythin' is gonna be fine. Jacky'll be heah soon."
She smiled softly, her eyes focusing on his face, "Pinky?" She murmured.
Spot nodded, "Pinky."
"I hurt all over, Spot." She whispered, her voice breaking. Pain and fever making it easy to overlook her passed fears of her apparent savior.
Spot leaned over, "I know, Ti, I know. I'm gonna clean some of dis offa you so dat Jack don't go crazy when 'e sees ya, k?"
She nodded slowly, "You ain't as bad as I thought, Spot." She said softly in a odd little voice.
He leaned over and felt her forehead, "Sheesh, ya burnin' up, kid." She closed her eyes then and didn't answer. She was so still that for a moment, Spot feared she'd died, but she had only fell asleep. He leaned over and gently began to clean of the mud and blood and slip her into one of his old shirts. He had a hard time doing this, blushing at the sight of her. But when he saw all the bruises that marred her pale flesh, any embarrassment he held changed to fury. Someone had done to Molly something that no women should ever have to go through.
It took about forty-five minutes of long legged power strides for Jacky Kelly to get to Brooklyn. He ran up the stairs of the Brooklyn lodging house speaking to no one.
Spot saw him and nodded once and turned up the stairs. Jack followed him quickly and stopped dead when he saw her lying still upon Spot's bed. He made a soft sound that was half sob, half sigh of relief, before nearing her.
He sat beside her and stared down at her pale form, "What…what's happened to 'er, Spot?" He asked softly as he reached out a hand to gently stroke her cheek. It was hot to the touch.
Spot was silent for a moment, deliberating on what to say, finally he answered, "Well, Sleek found 'er in an alleyway. She was shivering and unconscience, laying in the rain all mud an'…an' blood soaked. I think she's sick and uh, she's got bruises all ovah her, Jack. I think she's been raped." He said the last sentence very bluntly, as was his way.
Jack's eyes widened with horror and fury and then squeezed shut. A hoarse sob escaped him before he got control of himself. He opened his eyes and looked back down at Ti's sleeping face, "Ti? Tired, wake up an' look at me. Please. It's, Jack. I've been so worried 'bout ya, Ti. It's been hell widout ya." Spot, took this moment to leave the room and usher everyone else away from it as well, he knew that Jack needed time alone with her.
Ti's eyes blinked open slowly and she looked up at Jack. She smiled radiantly, "Jack." She gasped in a happy whisper, "I've been waiting for you forever…"
"Aw, jeez, Ti. I'm so sorry, dis is all my fault." He felt a bit of a twinge in his heart, Tired was the only person in the World he knew who would be able to smile at a time like this, and it pleased him that it was he who made her smile. It made him love her all the more.
She shook her head, "Naw, I was stupid, Jack… I shouldn't a left on my own." A tear slipped down her cheek, "I feel so dirty." she whispered softly.
"Who did it to ya, Ti?" Jack growled, fury and anguish marring his handsome features fearsomely.
"I don't wanna talk about it, Jack." She coughed heavily and Jack reached out for her, gently holding her up while she coughed and then giving her a drink of water. He laid her back down and she reached for him, "Will you hold me, Jack? Like ya used to when we was younga and I'd have nightmares?" She asked him softly.
He nodded slowly, his eyes tearing, "Sure, thing, Ti." He lowered himself slowly beside her and pulled her into his arms. She snuggled up against him, shivering slightly, "I don't want anyone else to evah touch me again, Jack." She siad softly, coughing again.
He nodded, kissing her forehead, "No one'll evah touch ya again, Ti, 'les you want 'em too."
"Ya said almost the same thing da foist night we met."
"I'm sorry, Ti, I'm so sorry I broke my promise." He said, stroking her hair gently.
Tears trickled down her cheeks and onto his neck, "S'okay, Just Cowboy, how could you know?"
He kissed her forehead again, "I was so worried, 'bout ya, Ti. I didn't know what ta do. I searched and searched an' I couldn't find ya no where. God…it was awful."
She sniffed, "I didn't t'ink I'd evah see ya again."
"Me neither. I love you so much, Ti. I don't know what I'd do wit'out you. You're like da air I breathe. I didn't realize how much 'til ya disappeared."
"Jack," She breathed his name like a prayer, "I love you too…"
Tears tickled down his cheeks, "No one is evah goin' ta hoit ya again, Ti. I promise."
"What about, Sarah?"
"Just let me hold you, we'll talk about it all latah." He said, squeezing her closer.
She nodded, "I'd like that… I'm so sleepy…" She yawned and slowly dozed off, smiling softly, she was safe now in her Cowboy's arms, and that's all that mattered.
Jack sighed, "You're the only person I know who could evah smile aftah something like dis…an' it makes me feel special dat I'm da person who could make ya smile…" He whispered into her ear lovingly, "I ain't nevah gonna let ya go, Ti. Nevah."
"Pinky?" She whispered as she fell into sleep.
"Pinky." He swore.
THE END
For Now
Well, that's all for now folks. I hoped you liked it! Thanks for taking the time for reading it and there shall be more to come, if you're interested.
Sarah walked up the stairs of the Newsboys Lodging house at a quick pace, worry marring her gentle features. Mush, Race, and Kid Blink had showed up at the apartment early that morning. They were worried about Jack. He hadn't slept more than a few hours in the passed week that Ti had been missing. She had only seen him a few times this week and both times she hadn't been able to reach him. She had to now though, everyone was worried about him and he was making himself sick.
She entered the bunkroom and saw him. He was laying on his back on Ti's bunk. His hands were behind his head and he appeared to be asleep. There were dark circles under his eyes and his features were pinched with worry and sadness even in sleep. She didn't want to wake him, but she didn't have to. As soon as she neared the bunk his eyes snapped opened, "Ti!… Oh…. Sarah. Sorry, I was just…confused, I guess." He shook his head, standing up quickly, "Shoot, I gotta get out dere… sell papes. What are you doin' heah?"
"Everyone is worried about you, Jack. I thought I could talk to you."
Jack looked at his feet, "I don't want ta talk about it no more." He said sadly.
"Jack, you can't keep it all in. Please…talk to me. I'll help you get through this."
He shook his head, "Dere ain't nothin' to say, Sarah. Nothin' can help."
"I'm you're girlfriend, Jack."
He shrugged, "I gotta go sell. I'll see ya latah, Sarah." He pushed passed her and walked down the stairs.
Sarah slumped against the bed post sighing, "I'm sorry too, Jack."
Petey Filch, otherwise known as, "Sleek", the "greatest pickpocket in Brooklyn", walked slowly down the street. It was a rotten day for selling, all rainy days were, and he was in a foul mood. He was about to cross the street when a movement in the alley caught his attention. He turned and slowly sneaked into the shadows of the alleyway, walking towards the movement.
Maybe it was a drunk who passed out in the alleyway and he could pick his pocket. Sometimes they had good stuff, like a gold watch. He had gotten a few good watches off of passed out passed-out whinos in the alley.
As he approached the body he realized that it definitely wasn't a man. It appeared to be a girl, about sixteen years old. She had thick brown hair that was wet with rain, mud, and blood. Her eyes were closed and one was blackened. She was shivering, huddled into a tight ball. Her skin was incredibly pale and her lips tinted blue. He leaned closer, shaking her arm lightly. She opened her eyes briefly and they were a deep blue color, "Jack?" She questioned, in a scared little girl's voice, before her eyes closed again.
He instantly placed her, "Holy Lord!" He cried and let out a shrill whistle. One followed from far away and he squeaked out two more. A few minutes later a young boy showed up. He had brown hair, brown eyes and a serious expression, "What's da deal, Sleek?"
"C'mere, Grim, take a look. It's da goil dat Cowboy's been soichin' for. Da one Spot's been so irritated about not bein' able ta find."
The boy's eyes lit up, "Finally. Alright, come on, let's get 'er to, Spot."
Spot stared at the shivering lump in Grim's arms and couldn't believe it was the same girl that had been Jack's shadow for the passed five years. She had a black eye and her clothes were ripped. Bruises of fingerprints were scattered about her arms and legs. Spot felt a sinking in the pit of his stomach, for he knew exactly what had happened to her. He shook his head and took a shaky breath, "Alright, did ya send someone ovah ta, Manhattan?"
"Yep."
"Good, Jacky boy should be heah soon. I'm gonna clean 'er up a bit, I don't want Jack ta see 'er like dis."
The two boys nodded in unison, "Alrighty, Spot. I'll alert ya when Cowboy gets heah."
Spot nodded and turned to, Tired as they left. He sighed and gently touched her cheek. She opened her eyes and they widened in disorientation, circling around the room and trying to focus. She coughed painfully, her whole body shaking with it, and sniffed, "Jack?" She croaked out in a pain wracked voice.
Spot sighed, "Shoot, ya sick, Ti. But don't worry, everythin' is gonna be fine. Jacky'll be heah soon."
She smiled softly, her eyes focusing on his face, "Pinky?" She murmured.
Spot nodded, "Pinky."
"I hurt all over, Spot." She whispered, her voice breaking. Pain and fever making it easy to overlook her passed fears of her apparent savior.
Spot leaned over, "I know, Ti, I know. I'm gonna clean some of dis offa you so dat Jack don't go crazy when 'e sees ya, k?"
She nodded slowly, "You ain't as bad as I thought, Spot." She said softly in a odd little voice.
He leaned over and felt her forehead, "Sheesh, ya burnin' up, kid." She closed her eyes then and didn't answer. She was so still that for a moment, Spot feared she'd died, but she had only fell asleep. He leaned over and gently began to clean of the mud and blood and slip her into one of his old shirts. He had a hard time doing this, blushing at the sight of her. But when he saw all the bruises that marred her pale flesh, any embarrassment he held changed to fury. Someone had done to Molly something that no women should ever have to go through.
It took about forty-five minutes of long legged power strides for Jacky Kelly to get to Brooklyn. He ran up the stairs of the Brooklyn lodging house speaking to no one.
Spot saw him and nodded once and turned up the stairs. Jack followed him quickly and stopped dead when he saw her lying still upon Spot's bed. He made a soft sound that was half sob, half sigh of relief, before nearing her.
He sat beside her and stared down at her pale form, "What…what's happened to 'er, Spot?" He asked softly as he reached out a hand to gently stroke her cheek. It was hot to the touch.
Spot was silent for a moment, deliberating on what to say, finally he answered, "Well, Sleek found 'er in an alleyway. She was shivering and unconscience, laying in the rain all mud an'…an' blood soaked. I think she's sick and uh, she's got bruises all ovah her, Jack. I think she's been raped." He said the last sentence very bluntly, as was his way.
Jack's eyes widened with horror and fury and then squeezed shut. A hoarse sob escaped him before he got control of himself. He opened his eyes and looked back down at Ti's sleeping face, "Ti? Tired, wake up an' look at me. Please. It's, Jack. I've been so worried 'bout ya, Ti. It's been hell widout ya." Spot, took this moment to leave the room and usher everyone else away from it as well, he knew that Jack needed time alone with her.
Ti's eyes blinked open slowly and she looked up at Jack. She smiled radiantly, "Jack." She gasped in a happy whisper, "I've been waiting for you forever…"
"Aw, jeez, Ti. I'm so sorry, dis is all my fault." He felt a bit of a twinge in his heart, Tired was the only person in the World he knew who would be able to smile at a time like this, and it pleased him that it was he who made her smile. It made him love her all the more.
She shook her head, "Naw, I was stupid, Jack… I shouldn't a left on my own." A tear slipped down her cheek, "I feel so dirty." she whispered softly.
"Who did it to ya, Ti?" Jack growled, fury and anguish marring his handsome features fearsomely.
"I don't wanna talk about it, Jack." She coughed heavily and Jack reached out for her, gently holding her up while she coughed and then giving her a drink of water. He laid her back down and she reached for him, "Will you hold me, Jack? Like ya used to when we was younga and I'd have nightmares?" She asked him softly.
He nodded slowly, his eyes tearing, "Sure, thing, Ti." He lowered himself slowly beside her and pulled her into his arms. She snuggled up against him, shivering slightly, "I don't want anyone else to evah touch me again, Jack." She siad softly, coughing again.
He nodded, kissing her forehead, "No one'll evah touch ya again, Ti, 'les you want 'em too."
"Ya said almost the same thing da foist night we met."
"I'm sorry, Ti, I'm so sorry I broke my promise." He said, stroking her hair gently.
Tears trickled down her cheeks and onto his neck, "S'okay, Just Cowboy, how could you know?"
He kissed her forehead again, "I was so worried, 'bout ya, Ti. I didn't know what ta do. I searched and searched an' I couldn't find ya no where. God…it was awful."
She sniffed, "I didn't t'ink I'd evah see ya again."
"Me neither. I love you so much, Ti. I don't know what I'd do wit'out you. You're like da air I breathe. I didn't realize how much 'til ya disappeared."
"Jack," She breathed his name like a prayer, "I love you too…"
Tears tickled down his cheeks, "No one is evah goin' ta hoit ya again, Ti. I promise."
"What about, Sarah?"
"Just let me hold you, we'll talk about it all latah." He said, squeezing her closer.
She nodded, "I'd like that… I'm so sleepy…" She yawned and slowly dozed off, smiling softly, she was safe now in her Cowboy's arms, and that's all that mattered.
Jack sighed, "You're the only person I know who could evah smile aftah something like dis…an' it makes me feel special dat I'm da person who could make ya smile…" He whispered into her ear lovingly, "I ain't nevah gonna let ya go, Ti. Nevah."
"Pinky?" She whispered as she fell into sleep.
"Pinky." He swore.
THE END
For Now
Well, that's all for now folks. I hoped you liked it! Thanks for taking the time for reading it and there shall be more to come, if you're interested.