Jack woke up Vixen was still in his arms and he smiled to himself. He reached over for his pocket watch. He looked at the time, "8:00…man." He rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He kissed Vixen lightly on the lips. Her eyes fluttered open, she smiled to see Jack still there. She thought he would of left.

            "Hey." She smiled at him, "I'm glad you are still here." Vixen lay on her side facing him. She could tell something was wrong. She knew Jack too long and too well not to think otherwise, "Tell me what's bothering you."

            Jack looked over at her a little surprised that she had brought up that something was wrong, "Ah...well." Jack ran his hand through his hair and then laid back in the bed again looking up at the ceiling, "Well me faddah's getting' out of jail in a few days." He said to her still looking at the ceiling. Vixen lay down next to Jack resting her head on his bare chest. She listened to his every word. She cared about him and wanted to do what ever it took to make him happy, "An' I was thinkin' about goin' tah Santa Fe. I jus' always wan'ed tah go an' now I gotta reason tah go." He wrapped his arms around her.

            Vixen felt her heartbreak when he said he was going to leave for Santa Fe, "Well what's stopping you?" She asked him quietly laying her arm across his chest. She felt his heart beat against her body.

             "Well I'se shot t'ree dollahs." Jack rubbed her arm lightly with his hand.

            "If that's all I have three dollars you can have." She said to him knowing that it would make him happy to go to Santa Fe and she wanted to make him happy.

            Jack smiled he loved how she would do anything for him, "D'eres something else too." He said to her pressing a kiss against the top of her head.

            "What?" Vixen looked up at him.

            "You…" He kissed her sweetly on the lips, "I wasn' shoah if I'se shoul' tell yah, but I'se care fer yah and I can' leave fer Santa Fe cause you'se is gonna be heah."

            Vixen smiled at him, "I care for you too, but I don't want to be the reason you don't go to Santa Fe."

            Jack took a deep breath, "Vixen I'se love you. Will yah come wid me tah Santa Fe?"  He asked her. Vixen was surprised that he had asked her to go with him.

            "You want me to go with you?!" She asked to make sure he wasn't just saying it.

            "Yeah, I wan' yah tah go. I'se will have enough money in a few days jus' before me dad gets out tah pay for you'se." He said to her.

            "Jack I have the money if you want." Vixen said to him.

            "I coul'n' ask yah tah do d'at." Jack said even though he would love to leave as soon as possible.

            "Don't have to I want to." Vixen smiled at him.

            "T'anks Vixen." Jack hugged her closer to him. They talked about leaving for Santa Fe and when they would go. It was around nine o'clock when Jack decided that he should get back to the lodging house. Jack got dressed and so did Vixen. He kissed her one more time, "I'll see you tamarra." He smiled.

            "Alright, I will have the money for the tickets by then." She said walking him back down stairs and out of The River Bank.

            Jack walked down the street towards the lodging house whistling. His day had improved, but little did he know it was about to change drastically.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

            Spit Fire glared at the door harshly, "I am going to soak him when he walks in." She said out loud, "No I am going to kill him when he walks through that door." Spit Fire was worried only because she was afraid of what might happen to Jack if his father found him, "I wish he never told me about this." Spit Fire was a chronic worrier when it came to certain things.

            "I'se woul' pay tah see d'at." Spot said from his bunk. He placed his hands behind his head and leaned back. Spit Fire just looked over at him and glared.

            "I bet any of yah d'at Spit Fire wins." Race said as he shuffled the cards. He took out a cigar and putting it in his mouth.

            "I am gonna soak you two in a minute." She said standing up and shoving Spot off his bunk and pulling the cigar out of Race's mouth.

            "Give id back Fiah." Race scowled at her standing up and grabbing for it.

            "How much yah wanna bet he ain't gettin' it back." Mush laughed as he walked over to his bunk.  It was getting late. Spit Fire taunted Race for a bit longer before giving the cigar back. She sat in a chair and continued to watch the door.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Jack's father walked through Manhattan. He was determined to find his son as soon as he could. He walked down the street Jack had just left in front of The River Bank.  Jack turned on to Duane Street he could see the lodging house.  Jack's father was closing in on Jack and Jack didn't even know it. His father turned the corner and spotted him, "Francis Sullivan!" He called out. Jack froze he knew that voice anywhere.

Jack turned around slowly and swallowed hard, "Faddah…" He said Jack felt like he was seven again.

"Thought you could avoid me for ever, huh?" He asked as he approached Jack.