Olive, Neffie, Bittah Thanks for reviewing.
Sady, you should know by now that I won't tell you anything more about my stories than you have read. It would take away your screaming for more. ;p
Caitlin awoke the next morning around seven. Iron and his boys had already left to sell papes. She opened her eyes slowly and looked around in the small room. Don't throw up! Just don't throw up! She arose and took a long shower. Like always after those nights. Her body hurt. Her soul was a mess. She tried to get at least a little bit of comfort out of the warm water running down her body. She suddenly remembered Blink and grabbed some of her pants that lay around in the washroom and pulled them on. She also found a clean black shirt and buttoned it on her way to her room. When she opened the door Blink was already awake.
"Mornin'."
"Mornin'. How are you feeling?"
"Not so good." Caitlin nodded and looked at him. His eyes seemed like glass and he was very pale. The sweat stood on his forehead.
"Are you hungry? I could make you breakfast."
"You don't have to. I'm sure Iron wouldn't like it if he'd knew how well you take care of me." Caitlin shrugged.
"He told me to take care that you until you can make it on your own. He didn't say anything about not treat you well. So why can't I somehow make it up to you?" She smiled and headed downstairs to make breakfast.
Blink looked after her and shook his head slightly. How could she stay with them? She didn't fit in here. His eyes felt heavy as stones, so heavy Blink closed them.
She came up with some bread and a glass of milk.
"Hope you can eat it." Blink swallowed down the bread and also drank the milk.
"Why am I here?" He asked suddenly. Caitlin looked at him and held her head crooked. She just sat there like this for several minutes and finally shrugged. Blink thought the shrugging must be a habit of her.
"I don't know. I wished I did but I don't. Maybe Iron wants more territory. I have no clue." She shrugged again.
Blink sighed and shook his head slightly.
Meanwhile in another part of this city, was the Manhattan distribution office.
"Dammit, where is he?" Race looked around nervously.
"Cool down, maybe he just got himself a little fun last night." Mush tried to calm his friend down. But Race just shook his head.
"Then he would be here by now. There's something wrong, I can feel it." In this minute they heard a shrill whistle and a stone flew between the boys.
"Hey, what the hell"
"Look, there's a paper around the stone." Jack took it and read the letter. He read it again, this time aloud.
We have your friend. You'll get him back if you give us what we' ask you for. Come to Central Park tomorrow at five pm. Just two of you, Jack! Or your boy will pay!
Iron
"Dammit! Out of anyone that could be involved, the Bronx is almost worse than death!" Jack nodded slowly. They had to do something.
"Boots, We're going to Brooklyn, we'll need some help from Spot."
Stone heard the conversation and a grin overcame his face when he was on his way back to the Bronx.
He walked into the LH and looked around for something to do, when his stomach began to rumble.
"Cat? Where are you?" Caitlin heard him upstairs in her room and sighed. She took the tablet with breakfast and arose from her seat, where she had watched Blink the whole morning. She hadn't even notice it had became noon by now.
When she walked downstairs she saw Stone sitting on the couch.
"Aren't you supposed to be selling papes? Or were the headlines that good this morning?" Stone stretched himself.
"No, I wasn't selling. Had some job to do for Iron." Stone arose and stood in front of Caitlin. She looked up when he laid his arms over her shoulders and made this puppy dog face.
"Can you make me something for lunch? Pleeeease?" Caitlin chuckled and shook her head slightly.
She removed his arms from her shoulders and walked towards the kitchen.
"What kind of job did you have to do?" She asked Stone over her shoulder while the tall boy walked after her.
"Ah, just brought a letter to Manhattan from Iron that we have their friend here and so on." Stone looked over Caitlin's shoulder at the table where she had placed what she needed for lunch.
"Why is he here?"
"What are you talking about?" Stone looked confused.
"The boy from Manhattan. Why is he here? What does Iron want from Manhattan?"
"Money." Caitlin was sure she had misunderstood this.
"Money?" Stone nodded and grabbed an apple from behind her that laid on the table.
"What is this shit about? Just money? What money? There just newsies, like we are!"
"Yeah, but Iron is still furious with Jack. You know, three years ago, his girl broke up with him because of Jack. She took a lot of money that Iron had saved to get away from New York. Now, he sees this as his revenge."
"That's so typical for you boys! His girl broke up with him, and three years later he's taking his revenge on a guy that doesn't have anything to do with it!" Stone eyed Caitlin suspicious.
"Leave it Cat. You know how furious Iron will get when he hears you talking like that."
"So what? The boy upstairs was almost killed by Itchy and Fight! He needs a doctor to care for his wounds!"
"Iron wouldn't let any doc come in here. You know that!" Caitlin sighed and pleaded with Stone.
"Stone, the wound on his side is real deep. And the cut on his head is also no joke! I'm afraid he's running a fever. He needs a doc or he'll die!!! Stone please! Iron doesn't needs to know about this!" Stone sighed and shook his head. It was hard for him to say 'no' to something Caitlin asked him for.
"Runner and Will are watching the LH. They are ordered no to let anyone come near here! They would attack the doc if he came here!"
"But Iron said he needs Blink alive! And I can't keep him alive without a doc!"
"Blink?! Caitlin, you're playing with the fire right now, you know that! When Iron finds out about this, okay, I'll go to a doc and ask him what to do, 'kay?" Caitlin sighed happily and nodded before throwing her arms around Stone's neck and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"I always knew there were nice guys in the Bronx!" Caitlin winked at him and continued to make lunch while Stone sat down on the table watching her.
"Don't let Iron notice you are worried so much about this boy." Caitlin turned around and placed a plate in front of Stone.
"You saw him Stone. You saw what they did to him!"
"He was in our territory!"
"Are you sure about that? And besides, I would take care of you just the same way."
"Yeah, but you wouldn't of any other guy in here. Including Iron."
"You worry too much!" Caitlin said while she took another plate of lunch for herself and sat down next to Stone.
"Maybe, but you should do! I heard Jack will get help from Spot. And it will be pretty bad here when they try to come near the LH."
"Why?" Caitlin looked up at him alarmed.
"As I said. We aren't allowed to let anyone near here. As soon as a foreign newsie comes near the Bronx he's as good as death. And if Jack or Spot come here, Iron would also kill the boy upstairs!" Caitlin swallowed hard and they ate in silence. After lunch Stone arose and made his way to the doc.
"Stone, do you have any money to pay the medicine?" Stone stopped in his tracks and shook his head.
"Wait a sec." Caitlin headed upstairs and grabbed some money from Iron.
"Here and hurry!" Stone didn't ask where the money came from and made his way to the doctor.
Caitlin walked up to the phone unsure if she should really do this.
As soon as a foreign newsie comes near the Bronx he's as good as death. Iron would also kill the boy upstairs! Stone's words echoed in her head. She took the phone and lifted it to her ear.
"Hello, please connect me with the Newsboy Lodging House in Manhattan." It took some time until someone picked up on the other end.
"Hello? Newsboy LH in Manhattan. Kloppman here."
"Ah, hello, is Jack Kelly there?"
"No he's, oh wait, he just came in. Jack, there is someone for you. Sounds like a girl." Caitlin heard the amused tone of the man and then a younger voice speaking.
"Hello?"
"Listen, You have to stay out of the Bronx. Just give Iron what he wants! Don't walk in here and try to get your friend out!"
"But…"
"No! You have to stay out. Please believe me! They will kill you. And they will kill your friend for sure before you even reach the LH!"
"Hey, wait, who are you?" there was a long silence until Jack heard a soft whisper.
"Just a friend." Then there was nothing. Jack hung up.
"Hey Jack, who was it? Your new girl?" Jack turned around to face Boots and Kloppy.
"No. Someone who told me not to walk in the Bronx to get Blink out."
"Oh, sure! Iron paid her to tell you that." Boots said. But Jack shook his head.
"She was too concern and frightened. She said they would kill us. And that they would kill Blink if we tried anything."
"So, what do we do now?"
Sady, you should know by now that I won't tell you anything more about my stories than you have read. It would take away your screaming for more. ;p
Caitlin awoke the next morning around seven. Iron and his boys had already left to sell papes. She opened her eyes slowly and looked around in the small room. Don't throw up! Just don't throw up! She arose and took a long shower. Like always after those nights. Her body hurt. Her soul was a mess. She tried to get at least a little bit of comfort out of the warm water running down her body. She suddenly remembered Blink and grabbed some of her pants that lay around in the washroom and pulled them on. She also found a clean black shirt and buttoned it on her way to her room. When she opened the door Blink was already awake.
"Mornin'."
"Mornin'. How are you feeling?"
"Not so good." Caitlin nodded and looked at him. His eyes seemed like glass and he was very pale. The sweat stood on his forehead.
"Are you hungry? I could make you breakfast."
"You don't have to. I'm sure Iron wouldn't like it if he'd knew how well you take care of me." Caitlin shrugged.
"He told me to take care that you until you can make it on your own. He didn't say anything about not treat you well. So why can't I somehow make it up to you?" She smiled and headed downstairs to make breakfast.
Blink looked after her and shook his head slightly. How could she stay with them? She didn't fit in here. His eyes felt heavy as stones, so heavy Blink closed them.
She came up with some bread and a glass of milk.
"Hope you can eat it." Blink swallowed down the bread and also drank the milk.
"Why am I here?" He asked suddenly. Caitlin looked at him and held her head crooked. She just sat there like this for several minutes and finally shrugged. Blink thought the shrugging must be a habit of her.
"I don't know. I wished I did but I don't. Maybe Iron wants more territory. I have no clue." She shrugged again.
Blink sighed and shook his head slightly.
Meanwhile in another part of this city, was the Manhattan distribution office.
"Dammit, where is he?" Race looked around nervously.
"Cool down, maybe he just got himself a little fun last night." Mush tried to calm his friend down. But Race just shook his head.
"Then he would be here by now. There's something wrong, I can feel it." In this minute they heard a shrill whistle and a stone flew between the boys.
"Hey, what the hell"
"Look, there's a paper around the stone." Jack took it and read the letter. He read it again, this time aloud.
We have your friend. You'll get him back if you give us what we' ask you for. Come to Central Park tomorrow at five pm. Just two of you, Jack! Or your boy will pay!
Iron
"Dammit! Out of anyone that could be involved, the Bronx is almost worse than death!" Jack nodded slowly. They had to do something.
"Boots, We're going to Brooklyn, we'll need some help from Spot."
Stone heard the conversation and a grin overcame his face when he was on his way back to the Bronx.
He walked into the LH and looked around for something to do, when his stomach began to rumble.
"Cat? Where are you?" Caitlin heard him upstairs in her room and sighed. She took the tablet with breakfast and arose from her seat, where she had watched Blink the whole morning. She hadn't even notice it had became noon by now.
When she walked downstairs she saw Stone sitting on the couch.
"Aren't you supposed to be selling papes? Or were the headlines that good this morning?" Stone stretched himself.
"No, I wasn't selling. Had some job to do for Iron." Stone arose and stood in front of Caitlin. She looked up when he laid his arms over her shoulders and made this puppy dog face.
"Can you make me something for lunch? Pleeeease?" Caitlin chuckled and shook her head slightly.
She removed his arms from her shoulders and walked towards the kitchen.
"What kind of job did you have to do?" She asked Stone over her shoulder while the tall boy walked after her.
"Ah, just brought a letter to Manhattan from Iron that we have their friend here and so on." Stone looked over Caitlin's shoulder at the table where she had placed what she needed for lunch.
"Why is he here?"
"What are you talking about?" Stone looked confused.
"The boy from Manhattan. Why is he here? What does Iron want from Manhattan?"
"Money." Caitlin was sure she had misunderstood this.
"Money?" Stone nodded and grabbed an apple from behind her that laid on the table.
"What is this shit about? Just money? What money? There just newsies, like we are!"
"Yeah, but Iron is still furious with Jack. You know, three years ago, his girl broke up with him because of Jack. She took a lot of money that Iron had saved to get away from New York. Now, he sees this as his revenge."
"That's so typical for you boys! His girl broke up with him, and three years later he's taking his revenge on a guy that doesn't have anything to do with it!" Stone eyed Caitlin suspicious.
"Leave it Cat. You know how furious Iron will get when he hears you talking like that."
"So what? The boy upstairs was almost killed by Itchy and Fight! He needs a doctor to care for his wounds!"
"Iron wouldn't let any doc come in here. You know that!" Caitlin sighed and pleaded with Stone.
"Stone, the wound on his side is real deep. And the cut on his head is also no joke! I'm afraid he's running a fever. He needs a doc or he'll die!!! Stone please! Iron doesn't needs to know about this!" Stone sighed and shook his head. It was hard for him to say 'no' to something Caitlin asked him for.
"Runner and Will are watching the LH. They are ordered no to let anyone come near here! They would attack the doc if he came here!"
"But Iron said he needs Blink alive! And I can't keep him alive without a doc!"
"Blink?! Caitlin, you're playing with the fire right now, you know that! When Iron finds out about this, okay, I'll go to a doc and ask him what to do, 'kay?" Caitlin sighed happily and nodded before throwing her arms around Stone's neck and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"I always knew there were nice guys in the Bronx!" Caitlin winked at him and continued to make lunch while Stone sat down on the table watching her.
"Don't let Iron notice you are worried so much about this boy." Caitlin turned around and placed a plate in front of Stone.
"You saw him Stone. You saw what they did to him!"
"He was in our territory!"
"Are you sure about that? And besides, I would take care of you just the same way."
"Yeah, but you wouldn't of any other guy in here. Including Iron."
"You worry too much!" Caitlin said while she took another plate of lunch for herself and sat down next to Stone.
"Maybe, but you should do! I heard Jack will get help from Spot. And it will be pretty bad here when they try to come near the LH."
"Why?" Caitlin looked up at him alarmed.
"As I said. We aren't allowed to let anyone near here. As soon as a foreign newsie comes near the Bronx he's as good as death. And if Jack or Spot come here, Iron would also kill the boy upstairs!" Caitlin swallowed hard and they ate in silence. After lunch Stone arose and made his way to the doc.
"Stone, do you have any money to pay the medicine?" Stone stopped in his tracks and shook his head.
"Wait a sec." Caitlin headed upstairs and grabbed some money from Iron.
"Here and hurry!" Stone didn't ask where the money came from and made his way to the doctor.
Caitlin walked up to the phone unsure if she should really do this.
As soon as a foreign newsie comes near the Bronx he's as good as death. Iron would also kill the boy upstairs! Stone's words echoed in her head. She took the phone and lifted it to her ear.
"Hello, please connect me with the Newsboy Lodging House in Manhattan." It took some time until someone picked up on the other end.
"Hello? Newsboy LH in Manhattan. Kloppman here."
"Ah, hello, is Jack Kelly there?"
"No he's, oh wait, he just came in. Jack, there is someone for you. Sounds like a girl." Caitlin heard the amused tone of the man and then a younger voice speaking.
"Hello?"
"Listen, You have to stay out of the Bronx. Just give Iron what he wants! Don't walk in here and try to get your friend out!"
"But…"
"No! You have to stay out. Please believe me! They will kill you. And they will kill your friend for sure before you even reach the LH!"
"Hey, wait, who are you?" there was a long silence until Jack heard a soft whisper.
"Just a friend." Then there was nothing. Jack hung up.
"Hey Jack, who was it? Your new girl?" Jack turned around to face Boots and Kloppy.
"No. Someone who told me not to walk in the Bronx to get Blink out."
"Oh, sure! Iron paid her to tell you that." Boots said. But Jack shook his head.
"She was too concern and frightened. She said they would kill us. And that they would kill Blink if we tried anything."
"So, what do we do now?"