The Final Answer

It was two days later, and things had just gotten worse. Jessie had feel into a mini coma, and her condition had worsened. Her temperature flew up beyond belief.

When Spot wasn't sitting by her side, he was right by Alex. The doctors had said, it was still to early to tell what Alex had, but they were guessing it was the same thing as Jessie. So just in case, they wanted Spot to leave her here at the hospital too.

The last two days, Spot had been at the hospital 24/7. All day he'd go back and forth from sitting at Jessie's bed side, and then to Alex's. At night, he'd sit by Jessie, and just hold her hand, and eventually fall asleep from crying and praying so much.

The next morning, Jack came by to see how the family was doing. He had just finished seeing Alex, and now he walked into Jessie's hospital room, and wasn't surprised when he saw Spot with his head resting on the edge of the bed, fast a sleep.

He hated to wake up him, especially because he really needed sleep, but he had to. He knew that Spot was killing himself basically because he hadn't slept much, and since Friday night, he hadn't eaten or drunken anything at all! But he had to get Spot out of this hospital, and get him outside to sell papes. The land lord of Spot's apartment said if Spot didn't pay the rent in the next few days, he'd kick them out on the streets.

Jack sighed and then walked over to Spot and gently shook him awake. "Spot...buddy, come on time ta wake up!"

Spot's eyes slowly drifted open. "Hey Jack...I'se guess I'se feel alseep..." He said rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand before turning back to look at Jessie, picking up her hand, and gently holding it.

"How's she doin' Spot?" Jack whispered, feeling truly sorry for his friend. For all any of them knew, Spot could lose his wife and daughter any day now.

"Not ta good Jacky-boy. She's in a mini-coma, and she has a huge fevah..."

"I'm sorry Spot....." They were both quite for a few minutes.

"Spot. I'se heah ta talk ta ya bout ya sellin'. Ya land lord came over ta da lodgin' house and is lookin' fer ya. He said if ya don't pay ya rent very soon, he'll kick ya, Jessie, and Alex out on da street! I'se know how important it is fer ya dat ya wanna stay heah wid ya family but, what good is it gonna do dem' when dey get bettah and dey don't have a home ta come back ta?"

Spot nodded. "Yeah, I'se know I'se need ta come back, Jacky-boy. I'se just afraid dat when I'se gone, something bad with happen ta dem...." He trailed off, getting a little upset at the thought.

Jack didn't know what to say.

Spot didn't say a word, he just picked up Jessie's hand and held it to his cheek, closing his eyes and quietly praying to God that nothing would happen to her or Alex while he was gone. Then he gently brought it to his lips and kissed it, before standing up, and walking towards the door.

"Alright Jack, ya can go on wid out me. I'se gonna go check in on Al, and den I'se need to go somewhere befoah I'se go buy me papes, but I'se will meet ya at Tibby's fer lunch..."

"Alright man, see ya latah." Jack called as he left the hospital.

Spot walked into the babies part of the hospital and check on Alex. He went over to the small crib she was in, and picked her up into his arms, cuddling her against his chest and whispering quietly to her.

"How's Daddy's baby gurl doin'?" He asked her, as he started to slowly walk around the room, talking to his daughter. "Ya need ta get bettah, kay? I'se need ya ta help make me strong so I'se can get threw dis, ya understand?" Alex gently sighed as if saying she was trying her hardest.

A nurse had just walked in, and saw Spot. She walked over to him and Alex and smiled when she saw the huge grin on the babies face. "She's starting to look better already....I guess all she needed was to be with her father."

Spot turned around and slightly smiled. "How has she been doin'?"

"A lot better actually! Her fever is gradually going down, and her cough has gone away. She hasn't been crying any more either."

This made Spot feel a lot better. "Dat's great!"

The nursed smiled and nodded.

After Spot was done visiting with Alex, he left the hospital and winced when he stepped out the front door from how strong the sun was. He hadn't been outside for the past 3 days, for anything.

Kid Blink was selling on that corner and when he saw Spot come out of the hospital he ran up to him. "Hey Spot! How are Al, and Jessie doin'?"

Spot told him everything, and Blink told him all the other newsies and him were praying that everything would work out alright.

"Well hey, are ya gonna sell taday?" Blink asked, trying to brighten the subject.

"Yeah...yeah, but I'se need ta go do sum'ting foist. But I'se see ya guys latah at Tibby's." Then he said good-bye, and headed down the street.

He headed towards the Bronx. After 20 minutes of walking, he went by a park that was on 22nd street, and then he found it. The building looked a lot like it had when he came here with his mother when he was a child. He sighed deeply, knowing he hadn't been here in years. Then he slowly got enough courage and walked up the stairs to his old baptist church.....

The doctors had done all they could for Alex and Jessie, but now Spot knew who he had to go to...The only person who had all of the control over Spot's hopes and dream in his hands...God.

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