I'm not sure where it is, but I do know that there is an Athens in New York

I'm not sure where it is, but I do know that there is an Athens in New York. If I'm not exactly geographically correct as to it's whereabouts, just ignore it b/c it's not that big of a deal. Now, go read and review!!! Thanks!—Kora

Chapter 6

Iolaus' eyes went wide and he ducked his head to Hercules'. "Great, the jig is up, now what do we do, now what do we do?" he whispered frantically. The newsies were used to just such a reaction. It was typical for new guys to have issues with their past and react in a panicky way when asked about it. Jack was about to speak up and tell Ryan and Dean that they didn't have to say anything if they weren't comfortable with it when Ryan spoke.

"Athens. We're from Athens." Iolaus shot a look that clearly said, 'what are you talking about?' to his best friend and was answered with a 'just trust me, I know what I'm doing.' Luckily, no one noticed the exchanged glances between the two cadets.

"Athens, there's an Athens in Greece, but you two certainly don't look or sound Greek," mused Becca aloud. Suddenly, recognition cleared the cloud of confusion from her face. "Oh yeah, Athens, New York state, I know where you're talking about. It's not that far from here." Iolaus and Hercules' shoulders slumped in relief as the newsies accepted this without further questioning. To pry any more into someone else's life would be rude, and many of the newsies came from backgrounds that they'd rather not discuss. Hercules had managed to discern this in the short time that he and Iolaus had been present in the Lodging House, and that was what he had been counting on when he responded to Spot's query.

After the room was once again full of its usual blend of multiple conversations, Hercules turned to Iolaus and was faced with bright blue eyes brimming with bewilderment. "Athens?" he asked, "Where did you come up with that one? We live weeks away from Athens. Why didn't you just say Corinth? I know how much you hate lying, and won't if you can avoid it." Hercules pressed his lips together in annoyance,

"Because we don't know where we are. Alright, we know that we're in a city called New York, and I'm guessing that this city is in a state, whatever that is, also called New York. But I've never heard of either before, and I know that you haven't also. So I figured I'd say Athens, it's a big city, someone's bound to have heard of it."

"Yeah, but she didn't seem to believe that we were from Greece. What did she mean by us not looking Greek? Everyone here looks no different from everyone back home. And as for sounding Greek…"

"Listen, Iolaus, if we just sit here and try to figure this all out, we're only going to give ourselves headaches. Believe me, I've already tried." Iolaus accepted this with a nod. It was very Hercules to worry about something until his head hurt. He, Iolaus, on the other hand, wasn't as much of a thinker. He was more a man of action. "Besides, I'm sure that the longer we're here, the more we'll learn."

"Yeah, Herc, that's another thing." Iolaus cut in. "How long do we plan on being here? For that matter, how, exactly, do we get back? The Orb didn't come with us." Hercules rubbed his aching temples,

"I'm still working on that one," he said tiredly. Iolaus recognized the tone in Hercules' voice with concern. Hercules was blaming himself for their entire situation again. Although this time, it really was his fault, but there was no doubt that Hercules was already beating himself up more than necessary over this. Iolaus was about to advise Hercules to stop over-blaming himself—it was unhealthy—when Racetrack called to the blonde youths from the center of the room.

"Hey Dean, Ryan! We're done out game and a few of us are willin' ta teach ya ta play poker if ya want." The "few" consisted of Race, Jack, Blink, Spot, Snoddy and Dutchy. Hercules and Iolaus instantly accepted Race's offer. They moved to the center of the room and joined the group. Iolaus picked up the card game almost immediately and was soon a force to be reckoned with.

"Hey Race, ya better watch out, or Dean might steal your title of master poker player. Youse created a monster," Snoddy joked.

"Yeah, yeah, beginner's luck is all," Race mumbled. It took Hercules longer to learn the game, but he soon grasped it well enough and was able to hold his own against the others. The routine was soon interrupted, however, when something finally sunk into Spot's mind.

"'Ey, wait a second!," he shouted. He focused blazing eyes on Race, who instinctively inched away slightly. "Whadda mean ya don't got no more room? Ya had a whole bunk open foah Ryan and Dean!" Spot stood, walked over to Race, and hauled him out of his seat by his collar. "Washroom! Now!" Spot marched Race into the adjoining room, Spot's and Race's expressions both resembling that of an executioner leading a criminal to his death and vice versa. It wasn't long before angry shouts followed by hasty apologies emanated from the bathroom. Hercules, ever the peacemaker, began to get up from his seat when Jack stopped him.

"Ise don't think that's a good idea. Ya don't want ta be on Spot's bad side. 'Sides, Race is one of Spot's good friends, he won't hurt him much, then Spot'll forget the whole thing. He's funny that way, just don't tell him I said that." It was about then that M&M appeared in the doorway with Scamp by his side. Iolaus started to rise from his place upon seeing Scamp, but Hercules, without even looking up from his cards, reached up and pulled Iolaus back down.

"Don't even think about it," he muttered. Clover jumped out of Skittery's lap and rushed to greet her friend. A moment later, Spot emerged from the washroom with a roughed up but relatively unhurt Race. Spot sauntered over to Scamp and after yelling at her for leaving, engulfed her in a gigantic hug. Upon Clover's suggestion, Scamp and Spot went downstairs for a long overdue conversation.

***

Ebony watched Spot holler at Race with irritation. Spot was so conceited, to blow up at one of his close friends over a practical joke. Though she had to admit that she wasn't too happy with Race either. Due to his sense of humor, she had been forced to spend an entire night in the same building as that unbearable Brooklyner. It hadn't been the most enjoyable experience she had ever been through.

Her anger with Spot deepened, however, when she saw him embrace the girl that M&M brought up to the room—Scamp, was it? But how could Spot do that? She'd never understand how he could be a total jerk/womanizer to most girls, but show a completely different side to a chosen few. Spot's attitude towards Becca she understood, she was Spot's cousin and practically younger sister to Spot; Ebony didn't know of a newsie yet who didn't show their best side around the younger Kelly sibling. But what made this other girl so special?

Ebony quickly felt her anger transform into something else. Could it be…no! Ebony shook her head, it couldn't be that. She was imagining things. Quietly excusing herself, Ebony left the bunkroom and headed for the Newsgirl's Lodging House.