Race and Blink searched for Gem. They had a hard time finding her with all the smoke and dust. A small fire had started. A few of the girls who hadn't been hurt went over to help Medda out of the building. Race saw a few of the other girls not moving. His heart sunk, "We've gotta find Gem." Race was panicked he didn't know how Jack would take it, "Gem?!" Race called out some more debris fell from the vibration of his voice against the walls.
Blink pushed things aside. He saw Gem's hand. She had been trapped under a beam, "Over here Race!" He exclaimed. Race rushed over and the two began to pull the stuff off of her.
The bells of the fire wagons rang through the empty city blocks and the sounds of whistles sounded. People where pushed back away from the building as the firemen rushed in to help the trapped and put out the fire. With the help of a few men, Race and Blink were able to get Gem out. They rushed her out the street where there was a doctor. He began to check her over. Blink and Race suggested they move her to the lodging house. The doctor called a wagon and they did so. He carried her up to the bunkroom placing her gently down on to her bunk. He turned to every one and made them leave. Race and Blink were out in the hall left to answer questions, "Blink go get Jack." Mush suggested. Blink nodded and ran out of the lodging house.
He dashed down the street and found Jack, "JACK!" He screamed bloody murder.
Jack turned to him, "What happened?" He asked. Jack had a bad feeling that something had happened to Gem. He could normally feel when something was wrong with her.
"There was an explosion at Medda's and Gem was there…and she was trapped." Blink tried to explain the best he could, but his thoughts raced through his head and he couldn't straighten them out.
All the blood form Jack's face drained and he turned and ran as fast as he could to the lodging house. Jack pushed into people not caring he had to get back there to Gem. He ran into the lodging house up the stairs, "Where is she?" He asked.
"In there with the doctor." Mush was brave enough to answer him. Jack went to go into the door, but a few of the guys stopped him. They figured it wasn't good for him to see her right now. Jack gave up trying to get past them and paced the hall. The other sat and watched him. No one seemed to know what to say. Every time they thought of something it wasn't right to say or they weren't sure how Jack would react.
About an hour later the doctor called Race in to tell him what was happening with Gem. He figured it would be better for every one to hear it from a friend and not him. Race nodded and the doctor left. Every one slowly returned to the bunkroom.
Jack walked into the bunkroom and saw Gem lying there in her bunk. Bandages wrapped around her chest and ribs, "The doctor said there was a lot of internal bleeding an' they ain't shoah how much longer she's got."
Jack nodded and slowly walked over to her. He knelt down next to her bunk. She looked just like an angel to him. Jack lightly brushed a piece of long black hair out of her face. Gem stirred and opened her eyes. She saw Jack there and a small smile danced across her lips like a field full of daisies, "Jack..." She said softly.
Jack watched her he tried to hold the tears back by biting his lip, but it wasn't working. Gem reached up and placed her hand lightly on his cheek, "Please don't cry Jack.... we'll always be together..." Jack took her hand from his cheek cupping it in both of his hands and kissed it lightly.
"I am so sorry Gem...." Jack looked down at her. Why did it have to be her? He almost wished it was him laying there not her, but then he would never wish this pain he felt on her. Why couldn't it of been some one he didn't care about? Jack held onto her hand tightly. He rubbed the back of it with his thumb. He didn't know how to say good-bye…. he didn't want to say good-bye to her.
"It's not your fault Jack." Her voice wavered a bit. Gem's eye glossed over with tears. Her hand shook slightly in his and tightened her own grip on Jack's hand.
Jack couldn't hold his tears back any longer they stung at the back of his eyes and pushed even harder, "Gem, I…I love you." He could barely choke out the words.
"I love you too Jack." She whispered to him. Her body was growing weaker. Gem's heartbeat began to slow as well. Jack watched her breathing grow unsteady and could tell she was in pain. He brushed her hair back out of her face, which was still in curls, "I'm sorry I couldn't sing for you tonight."
"It's alright." Jack said to her as he wiped his eyes. Jack brushed away her tears. He rested his eyes upon her watching her closely.
"I can sing for you now…. If you would like?" Gem said to him softly.
Jack nodded and could tell she wanted to sing for him, "Alright…." Every one in the bunkroom who was already silent grew even quieter. Gem started to sing Jack's favorite song. She started the song as strong as she could. Gem closed her eyes so Jack couldn't see the pain and sadness in them. Slowly it died down and at the last note Gem drew her last breath holding the note.
Jack watched her chest as her breathing became even shallower then before. He felt her grip relaxed on his hand. Her hand slowly began to slip from his. Jack kissed it lightly holding it for a few more minutes. Then he gently laid it down next to her, "You'll always be in my heart, Gem."
Jack stood up and turned from her. He wiped his eyes with his sleeves trying not to cry in front of the guys. Race walked over and put a hand on his shoulder, "It's okay." He whispered to him. Jack nodded and the tears streamed down his cheeks. Blink and Mush walked over putting their arms around him. They all knew how much Gem met to Jack. He had bragged about his plan to hear her sing tonight to every one and how he was going to ask her to be his girl.
"She never got to live her dream." Jack pulled from the guys and walked out of the lodging house. He couldn't be there any more. He walked down the street towards there spot. He looked up at the sky through the tears in his eyes.
The pale blue sky began to wash over with brilliant pink and oranges. The stars gradually began to awaken from their daylong nap. The city was unusually peaceful for this time of day. Something happened that day which would change many lives forever and affect some momentarily, but every one would remember this day for the rest of their lives. The tragedy had been so great it caused some to lose their lives, but the ones who were affected the most were the newsies.