DISCLAIMER: The Newsies do not belong to me save for Honey and Flame. So
puh-lease don't sue me because you won't get very much. Muah ha ha!
A.N. CooKieS to all my reviewers!! Thanks everybody for those REVIEWS! I Love 'em! Keep them rolling in! Hope ya'll enjoy this chappie!
Switching Spots
Within the following week, newsies from Staten Island had finally launched an attack against the borough of Brooklyn, taking the lodging house by sudden siege with not only their fists, but also other weapons that caused a number of fatalities. The brawl had carried on for nearly two hours, causing much bloodshed upon the already dirty streets of New York, until a squad of police officers had finally arrived at the scene to break up the youths and fine them for their wrongdoings. In total, there had been over twenty-six boys who suffered fractured bones of some sort, and unfortunately, four newsies between the ages of fifteen and eighteen had lost their lives during the mini war.
It was indeed a tragic day in the history of newsies everywhere and there was much mourning between every borough as they commemorated the lives of those who had fallen, never to again rise up. Although Brooklyn was greatly outnumbered by the boys from Staten Island, Manhattan and Queens had come to their rescue just in time, making the fight for power a fierce one between the worse of rivals. Even so, Brooklyn and its allies had come out triumphant in the end.
And all the while, leader Spot Conlon had been dozing off in a hospital bed, oblivious to the storm that was raging against his newsies. Even if he wished to, there was nothing he could do to change the tides of fortune, for after he had seen the blurry image of a doctor administer some sort of vaccination into his veins, his eyes rolled back into his head and he had drifted off into the deepest slumber he had ever known as of yet.
Honey sat at his bedside the whole while, squeezing his hand as his body managed to fight the illness it had contracted with no immediate effect. Jack stood behind her, supportive, as he had always been, with a hand upon her shoulder.
"Ya need some sleep," he told her softly. "It's been four days already and I'se haven't seen youse get so much as a short nap."
"But what if he wakes up while I'se busy gettin rest? What if he intakes his last breath and I'se aint there tah heah him or be wid him?"
Jack kneeled down so that the girl was taller than him. "Listen, youse gots tah stop talkin like that. If ya don't believe Spot's gunna pull through, why are ya waitin fer him tah do so?" He combed his fingers through her hair and smiled. She had a beautiful inner spirit that made him want to continue pursuing life, and it was an odd feeling he had never received from any other girl. It was as if she was put into his life to be a wonderful influence upon him. "Ya gotta have faith, sweety." The words did not feel right coming from his mouth; he was ever doubting any matter that crossed his path and faith was something he never relied on.
Just then, a man in a white coat entered the room, interrupting the two friends' conversation. "Excuse me, could you both please stand outside while I check up on the young man?"
Honey and Jack arose and left Spot to the learned hands of the doctor. As they stood in the hallway, a mischievous grin came upon the Manhattan leader's lips. "It's still going around how youse kissed the hell outta Flame at that pokah game."
"Oh my god!" Honey's cheeks turned a deep crimson and she buried her face in her hands in sheer embarrassment. "Can't people keep their mouths shut?"
"It's not sumthin Spot would do, and so it spread real fast." His heart lightened when she at least offered him a short laugh. "So, youse interested in Flame or sumthin?"
The girl fixed Spot's hat over her blonde locks and shrugged. "After what I did, I don't think he wants anything tah do wid the Conlon family!"
"Ah, ya never know." He would have said more but the doctor came out into the hall and stood before them with a sullen face. "What's da mattah!?"
"I regret to inform you that your friend has just slipped into a deep coma."
Honey shrieked with disbelief. "No! No! Youse gotta be mistaken! He can't fall into a coma! No, he's okay! Please check him again!" Crying out uncontrollably, she ran for the door to Spot's room but was held back when Jack wrapped his arms around her waist and kept her still.
"I am sorry," the doctor went out with sympathetic eyes. "We will have our staff on alert all hours of the night while he sleeps, but we cannot guarantee any miracles. All we can do now is pray."
"No!" Honey was sobbing incoherently onto Jack's vest, clutching its ends with trembling fingers. "There has to be a mistake!"
But there was no mistake at all. Spot's life could only be determined by the hands of fate now.
* * * * *
"Heya Flame, what is youse doing heah in Manhattan?" Race took the cigar out of his mouth to better articulate his words and spit shook with the Queens leader.
Flame looked around the lodging house. "I'se lookin fer Jack, is he anywhere around? I wanted tah know how Spot's sistah is holdin up."
"Then why didn't youse go tah Spot tah find out?" Blink slyly asked as he descended the staircase.
"Did ya really have tah ask that, Cyclops?" Blink smacked the leader's arm and Flame burst out laughing. "Ah, Blink, ya knows I'se just messin wid youse. At the moment, I'se aint on speakin terms wid his high and mighty, as I'se shoah ya all already know."
Mush looked confused. "What d'ya mean?"
Blink nudged the innocent boy and winked. "Ol' Spotty made a move on Flame heah."
"What?! I didn't know Spot...was, uh..."
Flame rolled his eyes. "Listen, I'se guessin the kid's been havin a hard time wid his sistah being sick and all. Either that or he's been chugging down a daily pack of beer."
"I didn't know Spot had a sistah," Mush said as he brought a deck of cards from his pocket.
"Shaddup!" Race hissed as he elbowed him in the ribs.
Flame arched an eyebrow. "Right, well anyways, tell Jacky that I'se was heah tah see him. See ya!"
* * * * *
Jack sat on the roof of the Brooklyn Lodging House and gazed up at the heavenly bodies of stars lighting the skies above him. Since Brooklyn currently lacked a leader, he had taken up the role for now, leaving Manhattan under the orders of Race and Blink, though he did not know how wise a decision that was. Those two caused so much trouble within a day's time, he was surprised they had not stayed a night in the Refuge yet with all the mayhem they were known to create.
One particular star caught the would-be cowboy's attention and he studied it from his perch, marveling at its beauty and grace. "I'se doesn't know whether this is a wish or a prayer, I'se don't remember the last time either one came from me mouth! But I'se like tah think sumthin's gotta be up there watchin over us, and it'd be nice if that sumthin's listening tah me right now. Me best friend Spot's in a coma, the kid got pneumonia, and the mere fact showers so much guilt on me I feel as if I should be the one in that hospital bed instead of him. I mean, if we hadn't been arguing that night, I wouldn't have pushed him into the freezing river by the docks....and I was the one that started the fight. Damn, I'se can't ever remember what we'se were arguing over.
"But I'se sorry fer making a big deal outta nothing. And I'se sorry fer having lost me faith in miracles these days, but I'se hoping youse could woik this out fer me either way. If ya could just make him better, even if it's just so that his sistah would be all right, I wouldn't let a day pass without thankin youse. So....please?"
* * * * *
Half a week later, Honey was sharing a seat with Jack in Spot's hospital room as she began to fall asleep on the Manhattan leader's shoulder. Her hand, however, was still laced in that of her brother's and she was still conscious of the feel of his cold skin. Jack, on the other hand, was practically snoring and had no concept of where he was or of what time it was.
Honey yawned and snuggled closer into Jack. No, youse gots tah stay awake, she told herself. Ya can't leave him alone like this! He could need your help any moment! Her eyes snapped open and she stared at her twin sibling unmoving where he lay. "Spot, can youse heah me? Please, Spot, come back tah us. We'se needs ya. We'se love ya!"
She frowned when she received no response. Was this a lost cause? Was all her devotion to him in vain? She had lost record of how long it had been now, and she was beginning to tire from it all. Hating to admit that her creed was dwindling, the girl sat straight up and hummed the melody of a lullaby her mother used to sing to Spot and her when they were younger. Its words were so soothing that they comforted her almost instantly.
"Oh hush, my pretty baby, sleeping in the arms of love..." She choked on the last word and closed her eyes to keep tears from falling. His life was ending, she could feel it. His breathing was steadily slowing down and his body shuddered with pain. Honey refused to be let down. "Oh hush, my pretty baby," she sang louder with eyes still closed "sleeping in the arms of love..." His fingers twitched in her own; she sobbed. He could not leave her!
"...while your mother sings this lullaby, a lullaby from above..." The voice was so soft, Honey had not even heard it at first. She risked a look at Spot, afraid that her delusions had gotten the best of her. Could it be? Was it possible? SPOT!!!" She screamed in immeasurable excitement and passion. "OH GOD, Youse is ALIVE!!!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and nearly choked the boy in all her exhilaration. "SPOT, I can't believe this! Youse is alive!!!" She basically repeated the same thing for at least two more minutes, during which Jack came to wake with a start and fell off his chair.
However, when he had climbed to his feet and saw a jubilant sister embracing her once nearly deceased brother, he could not help but laugh. Before exchanging any words with his best friend, he stuck his head out the window, and found that one star he had directed his priceless requests to the other night.
"Thanks," was all he could muster to say, for it was not until now that he finally believed in miracles.
* * * * *
OnE mOrE cHaPtEr To CoMe! REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVIEEEEEEEEEEW, and it might be updated sooner! : ) REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! Love ya all!
A.N. CooKieS to all my reviewers!! Thanks everybody for those REVIEWS! I Love 'em! Keep them rolling in! Hope ya'll enjoy this chappie!
Switching Spots
Within the following week, newsies from Staten Island had finally launched an attack against the borough of Brooklyn, taking the lodging house by sudden siege with not only their fists, but also other weapons that caused a number of fatalities. The brawl had carried on for nearly two hours, causing much bloodshed upon the already dirty streets of New York, until a squad of police officers had finally arrived at the scene to break up the youths and fine them for their wrongdoings. In total, there had been over twenty-six boys who suffered fractured bones of some sort, and unfortunately, four newsies between the ages of fifteen and eighteen had lost their lives during the mini war.
It was indeed a tragic day in the history of newsies everywhere and there was much mourning between every borough as they commemorated the lives of those who had fallen, never to again rise up. Although Brooklyn was greatly outnumbered by the boys from Staten Island, Manhattan and Queens had come to their rescue just in time, making the fight for power a fierce one between the worse of rivals. Even so, Brooklyn and its allies had come out triumphant in the end.
And all the while, leader Spot Conlon had been dozing off in a hospital bed, oblivious to the storm that was raging against his newsies. Even if he wished to, there was nothing he could do to change the tides of fortune, for after he had seen the blurry image of a doctor administer some sort of vaccination into his veins, his eyes rolled back into his head and he had drifted off into the deepest slumber he had ever known as of yet.
Honey sat at his bedside the whole while, squeezing his hand as his body managed to fight the illness it had contracted with no immediate effect. Jack stood behind her, supportive, as he had always been, with a hand upon her shoulder.
"Ya need some sleep," he told her softly. "It's been four days already and I'se haven't seen youse get so much as a short nap."
"But what if he wakes up while I'se busy gettin rest? What if he intakes his last breath and I'se aint there tah heah him or be wid him?"
Jack kneeled down so that the girl was taller than him. "Listen, youse gots tah stop talkin like that. If ya don't believe Spot's gunna pull through, why are ya waitin fer him tah do so?" He combed his fingers through her hair and smiled. She had a beautiful inner spirit that made him want to continue pursuing life, and it was an odd feeling he had never received from any other girl. It was as if she was put into his life to be a wonderful influence upon him. "Ya gotta have faith, sweety." The words did not feel right coming from his mouth; he was ever doubting any matter that crossed his path and faith was something he never relied on.
Just then, a man in a white coat entered the room, interrupting the two friends' conversation. "Excuse me, could you both please stand outside while I check up on the young man?"
Honey and Jack arose and left Spot to the learned hands of the doctor. As they stood in the hallway, a mischievous grin came upon the Manhattan leader's lips. "It's still going around how youse kissed the hell outta Flame at that pokah game."
"Oh my god!" Honey's cheeks turned a deep crimson and she buried her face in her hands in sheer embarrassment. "Can't people keep their mouths shut?"
"It's not sumthin Spot would do, and so it spread real fast." His heart lightened when she at least offered him a short laugh. "So, youse interested in Flame or sumthin?"
The girl fixed Spot's hat over her blonde locks and shrugged. "After what I did, I don't think he wants anything tah do wid the Conlon family!"
"Ah, ya never know." He would have said more but the doctor came out into the hall and stood before them with a sullen face. "What's da mattah!?"
"I regret to inform you that your friend has just slipped into a deep coma."
Honey shrieked with disbelief. "No! No! Youse gotta be mistaken! He can't fall into a coma! No, he's okay! Please check him again!" Crying out uncontrollably, she ran for the door to Spot's room but was held back when Jack wrapped his arms around her waist and kept her still.
"I am sorry," the doctor went out with sympathetic eyes. "We will have our staff on alert all hours of the night while he sleeps, but we cannot guarantee any miracles. All we can do now is pray."
"No!" Honey was sobbing incoherently onto Jack's vest, clutching its ends with trembling fingers. "There has to be a mistake!"
But there was no mistake at all. Spot's life could only be determined by the hands of fate now.
* * * * *
"Heya Flame, what is youse doing heah in Manhattan?" Race took the cigar out of his mouth to better articulate his words and spit shook with the Queens leader.
Flame looked around the lodging house. "I'se lookin fer Jack, is he anywhere around? I wanted tah know how Spot's sistah is holdin up."
"Then why didn't youse go tah Spot tah find out?" Blink slyly asked as he descended the staircase.
"Did ya really have tah ask that, Cyclops?" Blink smacked the leader's arm and Flame burst out laughing. "Ah, Blink, ya knows I'se just messin wid youse. At the moment, I'se aint on speakin terms wid his high and mighty, as I'se shoah ya all already know."
Mush looked confused. "What d'ya mean?"
Blink nudged the innocent boy and winked. "Ol' Spotty made a move on Flame heah."
"What?! I didn't know Spot...was, uh..."
Flame rolled his eyes. "Listen, I'se guessin the kid's been havin a hard time wid his sistah being sick and all. Either that or he's been chugging down a daily pack of beer."
"I didn't know Spot had a sistah," Mush said as he brought a deck of cards from his pocket.
"Shaddup!" Race hissed as he elbowed him in the ribs.
Flame arched an eyebrow. "Right, well anyways, tell Jacky that I'se was heah tah see him. See ya!"
* * * * *
Jack sat on the roof of the Brooklyn Lodging House and gazed up at the heavenly bodies of stars lighting the skies above him. Since Brooklyn currently lacked a leader, he had taken up the role for now, leaving Manhattan under the orders of Race and Blink, though he did not know how wise a decision that was. Those two caused so much trouble within a day's time, he was surprised they had not stayed a night in the Refuge yet with all the mayhem they were known to create.
One particular star caught the would-be cowboy's attention and he studied it from his perch, marveling at its beauty and grace. "I'se doesn't know whether this is a wish or a prayer, I'se don't remember the last time either one came from me mouth! But I'se like tah think sumthin's gotta be up there watchin over us, and it'd be nice if that sumthin's listening tah me right now. Me best friend Spot's in a coma, the kid got pneumonia, and the mere fact showers so much guilt on me I feel as if I should be the one in that hospital bed instead of him. I mean, if we hadn't been arguing that night, I wouldn't have pushed him into the freezing river by the docks....and I was the one that started the fight. Damn, I'se can't ever remember what we'se were arguing over.
"But I'se sorry fer making a big deal outta nothing. And I'se sorry fer having lost me faith in miracles these days, but I'se hoping youse could woik this out fer me either way. If ya could just make him better, even if it's just so that his sistah would be all right, I wouldn't let a day pass without thankin youse. So....please?"
* * * * *
Half a week later, Honey was sharing a seat with Jack in Spot's hospital room as she began to fall asleep on the Manhattan leader's shoulder. Her hand, however, was still laced in that of her brother's and she was still conscious of the feel of his cold skin. Jack, on the other hand, was practically snoring and had no concept of where he was or of what time it was.
Honey yawned and snuggled closer into Jack. No, youse gots tah stay awake, she told herself. Ya can't leave him alone like this! He could need your help any moment! Her eyes snapped open and she stared at her twin sibling unmoving where he lay. "Spot, can youse heah me? Please, Spot, come back tah us. We'se needs ya. We'se love ya!"
She frowned when she received no response. Was this a lost cause? Was all her devotion to him in vain? She had lost record of how long it had been now, and she was beginning to tire from it all. Hating to admit that her creed was dwindling, the girl sat straight up and hummed the melody of a lullaby her mother used to sing to Spot and her when they were younger. Its words were so soothing that they comforted her almost instantly.
"Oh hush, my pretty baby, sleeping in the arms of love..." She choked on the last word and closed her eyes to keep tears from falling. His life was ending, she could feel it. His breathing was steadily slowing down and his body shuddered with pain. Honey refused to be let down. "Oh hush, my pretty baby," she sang louder with eyes still closed "sleeping in the arms of love..." His fingers twitched in her own; she sobbed. He could not leave her!
"...while your mother sings this lullaby, a lullaby from above..." The voice was so soft, Honey had not even heard it at first. She risked a look at Spot, afraid that her delusions had gotten the best of her. Could it be? Was it possible? SPOT!!!" She screamed in immeasurable excitement and passion. "OH GOD, Youse is ALIVE!!!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and nearly choked the boy in all her exhilaration. "SPOT, I can't believe this! Youse is alive!!!" She basically repeated the same thing for at least two more minutes, during which Jack came to wake with a start and fell off his chair.
However, when he had climbed to his feet and saw a jubilant sister embracing her once nearly deceased brother, he could not help but laugh. Before exchanging any words with his best friend, he stuck his head out the window, and found that one star he had directed his priceless requests to the other night.
"Thanks," was all he could muster to say, for it was not until now that he finally believed in miracles.
* * * * *
OnE mOrE cHaPtEr To CoMe! REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEVIEEEEEEEEEEW, and it might be updated sooner! : ) REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! Love ya all!