***Disclaimer***I don't own Newsies, Disney does. I don't own any of the
characters except, Leigh, Ten, (Aunt) Claire, Rick, Conlon, Donna, Charles,
and Red (There might be more, I think that's it though).
***Warning***Swearing and violence are in this chapter.
"It's time to say goodbye, I know that in time It will just fade away, it's time to say goodbye." (Adieu; Good-Bye: Cowboy Bebop)
"Tim! Where ya been kid? It's been a while since I'se seen ya." Conlon moved toward Tim, they were both crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. Tim looked up at Conlon. His face looked as if someone had taken a club to it. Conlon, knowing that Tim's father was abusive, figured that's what had happened to him. Tim held his side and he looked like he was favoring his right leg as he walked.
"Shit kid! What da hell did your pops do to ya?" Conlon hurried to Tim's side.
"It ain't dat bad." Tim said as he gratefully let Conlon wrap his arm around his waist to help him walk. As Conlon placed his arm around the small boy's waist he felt a wet substance. Removing his arm to see what it was he was taken aback by the bloodstained shirt that Tim wore.
"Oh god Tim! You're bleedin'!" Conlon quickly took his vest off to cover the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.
"I am?" Tim asked. Conlon noticed how dazed and out of it the boy sounded. Tim sat on Colon's knee while he treated the wound. Conlon's one arm supported Tim's back, and the other treated the wound. Tim became unconscious.
Conlon took care of him for the rest of the day and until he awoke, early the next morning. "Kid, you're not goin' back ta your old man. You're gonna stay here width me from now on." Tim looked at Conlon.
"But I can't. What if he comes lookin' for me?" Thinking about what would happen to him if he did runaway and was found made him shudder.
"He won't look for ya." Conlon paused for a moment. "Ta him you're nothin'." He regretfully said. Tim nodded his head in agreement. "The way I see it is dat he'll be so drunk that'll never realize it. You'll be safe here width us kid." After a few moments of thinking Tim spat into his hand and held it out to Conlon, accepting his offer.
"So from then on I was a true newsie." Spot looked up and saw that they had already reached the Manhattan Lodging House. "That's funny."
"What's funny?" Confused she looked at Spot to see him smiling.
"We're already here. I don't remember nothin' accept walkin' across da bridge." Leigh looked to see where they were. To her surprise they were at the Lodging House.
"I guess we didn't-"
"Hey guys! How ya doin'?" Mush asked, unknowingly interrupting Leigh, as he approached the two. Spot smiled at his friend.
"We're doin' good." Spot looked over at Leigh and he read her eyes, which said, 'we'll finish this latter.'
The night went by quickly. The group went to a show and now resided at the Manhattan Lodging House. A game of poker was taking place and re- enactments of past fights or occurrences filled everyone's ears. Leigh, Spot, and the others sat listening and watching Kid Blink tell a story about the fight he had witnessed three years ago, between Spot and Jack.
"and then Jack takes his bottle of whisky and flings it at Spot's head." Kid Blink did the motions of throwing a bottle while he spoke. "The bottle misses his head just barley! Spot looks at the broken bottle that is next ta him on da ground, then looks at Jack, who's got his arms crossed like dis." Kid Blink crosses his arms in front of his chest. "He then charges em, knocking dem both down to da ground!" Laughter fills the small bunkroom. "So da two of dem, drunk off their asses, are rollin' in the street fightin'."
Jack gets up from where he was sitting. "I think that it's time for ya ta get a new story Blink. You'se been tellin' da same one for tree years now." Everyone laughs; they've all heard the story at least once before.
"Yeah, but it's still funny as hell." Kid Blink says in defense while flashing a smile.
"Ah, come on Jack. It's hilarious ta hear about you and Spot duken it out." Jake says.
"I'm shocked! You shouldn't be saying such dings, your cousin bein' a priest and all." Jack says with a smile.
"That's my cousin, not me, I can still enjoy hearin' about dat kind of stuff." Jack shakes his head.
"Besides, we don't even know if it really happened." Jack says as he walks towards the entrance of the laboratory.
"Oh it happened! You two were just too drunk ta remember it!" Kid Blink says while laughing. "Besides, how else would you explain how you got all dem bruises the next mornin' when you woke up?" Jack already entered the laboratory, ignoring Kid Blink's question.
Leigh grabs Spot's hand, which rested on his leg. He looks at her to see her motion to go outside. He nods his head and the two of them get up and make their way to the window and out onto the fire escape.
"What's da matter?" Spot asks, concern coating his voice. Leigh pulls herself up onto the railing and sits down.
"Nothing." She says with a smile. "I just need some fresh air. The smoke was startin' ta get to me." Spot nods his head, even though he hadn't been bothered by it. Leigh takes a deep breath of the cool air that hinted fall was on its way. "Finish the story Spot."
"I can't. I don't remember what happened." Leigh looks at him strangely.
"Oh, no! Not dat story. I want ta hear about your past." Spot's head tilts up as he let out a small laugh.
"Oh, dat one." He walks over to Leigh and hoists himself up onto the railing to sit next to her. "Well after deciding ta stay width Conlon and his newsies life got a lot bedder." Leigh watches Spot's eyes, as they grow distant, they seem to be seeing the past. "I stayed in Brooklyn and quickly became one of da best Brooklyn newsies. I thought dat Rick had forgotten all about me. But it ends up dat I was wrong."
"Governor's dog gives birth ta two cats! Extra! Extra! Tim shouted out the headline that he was 'improving.' A curious woman purchased a paper and continued on her way. He counted how many papers he had left to sell. "Only six left." Satisfied he continued hawking the headline until he felt his arm being grabbed by someone. He turned around, expecting it to be a customer. But his eyes fell upon his father's face.
"You little shit!" He screamed as he pulled the boy into an alleyway. Tim struggled to break the grip that his father had on him, but to no avail, he was forced into the alley.
"Let me go!!" He screamed loudly. His father only laughed. He forced him into a corner and began to attack him. Tim tried to viciously fight back. But he was pinned against the wall and was unable to move much. Rick drew his hand back to get more force in-between his punches. But as he was about to bring his hand toward his son's face it was stopped. Rick turned to see what held his hand back. His eyes met a boy in his late teens.
"I don't think so!" With his free hand Conlon punched Rick in the nose.
"What da!" Was all Rick could say when he grabbed his now broken nose. A knee landed in the man's stomach.
"He's not your concern anymore!" Hate and anger left Conlon's voice as he continued to let his rage out upon the man. Tim watched in awe. As the fight progressed Rick began to return his share of punches. Conlon fell to the ground after a hard punch made contact with his left cheek. As he started to get up Rick bent over and pulled a small knife out of his boot.
"Look out!" Tim shouted, seeing the weapon. Conlon looked up, but it was too late. The knife pierced through his right upper arm. Conlon shouted out in pain. The knife went in deep. Rick pulled it out and went to stab him again. Tim raced over and jumped on his father's back. This gave Conlon time to get up from the ground. Rick thrashed back and forth until he finally flung his son off of him. Tim's head hit the ground hard, knocking him out.
Conlon charged Rick as he had his back turned. The two fell upon the ground. Rick, still holding the knife, thrusted it into Conlon's side. Conlon squeezed his eyes tightly shut, while he felt his ribs beneath the blade break. Opening his eyes he saw Tim lying on the ground. Anger filling him entirely he lashed out at Rick. Surprised, Rick dropped the knife. Conlon reached for it, and when he finally held it in his hand he jabbed it into Rick's chest. Blood began to escape Rick's mouth. He struggled, trying to fight his death, but finally it over took him. Tim regained consciousness. He looked over to see his father unmoving on the ground. He then heard a cry of pain. His eyes fell upon a bleeding Conlon.
"Conlon!" He quickly forgot about his father and ran to Conlon. He reached him as he was falling. Tim caught him before he hit the ground. Conlon began to cough, allowing blood to escape from his parted lips. "Oh no!!" Tim screamed as tears freely fell from his eyes. He placed his hand over the stab wound on Conlon's side, hoping to slow the blood that flowed from it. Conlon began to shake with convulsions. Tim held him tightly, trying to comfort him.
"Don't die on me Conlon! You're all I'se have! You can't leave me. You can't!" Conlon looked up at him. He slowly began to speak with much effort.
"I ain't gonna-" Conlon stopped as he tried to fill his lungs with air. "leave ya kid." Tears began to fall down his cheeks. "I'm always gonna be here." Violent coughs of blood reign upon him. He gasps for air. "Don't look back..you're strong an you'll be okay."
"NO Conlon! I'm not strong! I need you! You're da leader, you're da leader Conlon!" Conlon reached his shaking hand up to Tim's face.
"No, you are." His hand fell as his eyes closed.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Conlon!! CONLON!!!!!!!!!!!"
Spot's hands tightly gripped the railing. All color left them, leaving them white as the first winter frost. "After dat I was the leader of Brooklyn. Of course I had ta fight ta get and keep dat position. Ya see, da older boys didn't want to take orders from a kid." Spot looked at Leigh when he felt her hand on his. He smiled and was comforted by her presence. "Well soon I gained everyone's respect, and dat's how I became Spot Conlon..the greatest newsie ever! " Spot added in an arrogant tone with a grin on his face. Leigh elbowed him in the side while laughing. She then grew serious.
"Spot, don't ever let the past hold you back, you never know what you're missing." She said as she kissed him.
"Well I don't want ta miss you, dat's for sure." He said while he kissed her back.
***Warning***Swearing and violence are in this chapter.
"It's time to say goodbye, I know that in time It will just fade away, it's time to say goodbye." (Adieu; Good-Bye: Cowboy Bebop)
"Tim! Where ya been kid? It's been a while since I'se seen ya." Conlon moved toward Tim, they were both crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. Tim looked up at Conlon. His face looked as if someone had taken a club to it. Conlon, knowing that Tim's father was abusive, figured that's what had happened to him. Tim held his side and he looked like he was favoring his right leg as he walked.
"Shit kid! What da hell did your pops do to ya?" Conlon hurried to Tim's side.
"It ain't dat bad." Tim said as he gratefully let Conlon wrap his arm around his waist to help him walk. As Conlon placed his arm around the small boy's waist he felt a wet substance. Removing his arm to see what it was he was taken aback by the bloodstained shirt that Tim wore.
"Oh god Tim! You're bleedin'!" Conlon quickly took his vest off to cover the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.
"I am?" Tim asked. Conlon noticed how dazed and out of it the boy sounded. Tim sat on Colon's knee while he treated the wound. Conlon's one arm supported Tim's back, and the other treated the wound. Tim became unconscious.
Conlon took care of him for the rest of the day and until he awoke, early the next morning. "Kid, you're not goin' back ta your old man. You're gonna stay here width me from now on." Tim looked at Conlon.
"But I can't. What if he comes lookin' for me?" Thinking about what would happen to him if he did runaway and was found made him shudder.
"He won't look for ya." Conlon paused for a moment. "Ta him you're nothin'." He regretfully said. Tim nodded his head in agreement. "The way I see it is dat he'll be so drunk that'll never realize it. You'll be safe here width us kid." After a few moments of thinking Tim spat into his hand and held it out to Conlon, accepting his offer.
"So from then on I was a true newsie." Spot looked up and saw that they had already reached the Manhattan Lodging House. "That's funny."
"What's funny?" Confused she looked at Spot to see him smiling.
"We're already here. I don't remember nothin' accept walkin' across da bridge." Leigh looked to see where they were. To her surprise they were at the Lodging House.
"I guess we didn't-"
"Hey guys! How ya doin'?" Mush asked, unknowingly interrupting Leigh, as he approached the two. Spot smiled at his friend.
"We're doin' good." Spot looked over at Leigh and he read her eyes, which said, 'we'll finish this latter.'
The night went by quickly. The group went to a show and now resided at the Manhattan Lodging House. A game of poker was taking place and re- enactments of past fights or occurrences filled everyone's ears. Leigh, Spot, and the others sat listening and watching Kid Blink tell a story about the fight he had witnessed three years ago, between Spot and Jack.
"and then Jack takes his bottle of whisky and flings it at Spot's head." Kid Blink did the motions of throwing a bottle while he spoke. "The bottle misses his head just barley! Spot looks at the broken bottle that is next ta him on da ground, then looks at Jack, who's got his arms crossed like dis." Kid Blink crosses his arms in front of his chest. "He then charges em, knocking dem both down to da ground!" Laughter fills the small bunkroom. "So da two of dem, drunk off their asses, are rollin' in the street fightin'."
Jack gets up from where he was sitting. "I think that it's time for ya ta get a new story Blink. You'se been tellin' da same one for tree years now." Everyone laughs; they've all heard the story at least once before.
"Yeah, but it's still funny as hell." Kid Blink says in defense while flashing a smile.
"Ah, come on Jack. It's hilarious ta hear about you and Spot duken it out." Jake says.
"I'm shocked! You shouldn't be saying such dings, your cousin bein' a priest and all." Jack says with a smile.
"That's my cousin, not me, I can still enjoy hearin' about dat kind of stuff." Jack shakes his head.
"Besides, we don't even know if it really happened." Jack says as he walks towards the entrance of the laboratory.
"Oh it happened! You two were just too drunk ta remember it!" Kid Blink says while laughing. "Besides, how else would you explain how you got all dem bruises the next mornin' when you woke up?" Jack already entered the laboratory, ignoring Kid Blink's question.
Leigh grabs Spot's hand, which rested on his leg. He looks at her to see her motion to go outside. He nods his head and the two of them get up and make their way to the window and out onto the fire escape.
"What's da matter?" Spot asks, concern coating his voice. Leigh pulls herself up onto the railing and sits down.
"Nothing." She says with a smile. "I just need some fresh air. The smoke was startin' ta get to me." Spot nods his head, even though he hadn't been bothered by it. Leigh takes a deep breath of the cool air that hinted fall was on its way. "Finish the story Spot."
"I can't. I don't remember what happened." Leigh looks at him strangely.
"Oh, no! Not dat story. I want ta hear about your past." Spot's head tilts up as he let out a small laugh.
"Oh, dat one." He walks over to Leigh and hoists himself up onto the railing to sit next to her. "Well after deciding ta stay width Conlon and his newsies life got a lot bedder." Leigh watches Spot's eyes, as they grow distant, they seem to be seeing the past. "I stayed in Brooklyn and quickly became one of da best Brooklyn newsies. I thought dat Rick had forgotten all about me. But it ends up dat I was wrong."
"Governor's dog gives birth ta two cats! Extra! Extra! Tim shouted out the headline that he was 'improving.' A curious woman purchased a paper and continued on her way. He counted how many papers he had left to sell. "Only six left." Satisfied he continued hawking the headline until he felt his arm being grabbed by someone. He turned around, expecting it to be a customer. But his eyes fell upon his father's face.
"You little shit!" He screamed as he pulled the boy into an alleyway. Tim struggled to break the grip that his father had on him, but to no avail, he was forced into the alley.
"Let me go!!" He screamed loudly. His father only laughed. He forced him into a corner and began to attack him. Tim tried to viciously fight back. But he was pinned against the wall and was unable to move much. Rick drew his hand back to get more force in-between his punches. But as he was about to bring his hand toward his son's face it was stopped. Rick turned to see what held his hand back. His eyes met a boy in his late teens.
"I don't think so!" With his free hand Conlon punched Rick in the nose.
"What da!" Was all Rick could say when he grabbed his now broken nose. A knee landed in the man's stomach.
"He's not your concern anymore!" Hate and anger left Conlon's voice as he continued to let his rage out upon the man. Tim watched in awe. As the fight progressed Rick began to return his share of punches. Conlon fell to the ground after a hard punch made contact with his left cheek. As he started to get up Rick bent over and pulled a small knife out of his boot.
"Look out!" Tim shouted, seeing the weapon. Conlon looked up, but it was too late. The knife pierced through his right upper arm. Conlon shouted out in pain. The knife went in deep. Rick pulled it out and went to stab him again. Tim raced over and jumped on his father's back. This gave Conlon time to get up from the ground. Rick thrashed back and forth until he finally flung his son off of him. Tim's head hit the ground hard, knocking him out.
Conlon charged Rick as he had his back turned. The two fell upon the ground. Rick, still holding the knife, thrusted it into Conlon's side. Conlon squeezed his eyes tightly shut, while he felt his ribs beneath the blade break. Opening his eyes he saw Tim lying on the ground. Anger filling him entirely he lashed out at Rick. Surprised, Rick dropped the knife. Conlon reached for it, and when he finally held it in his hand he jabbed it into Rick's chest. Blood began to escape Rick's mouth. He struggled, trying to fight his death, but finally it over took him. Tim regained consciousness. He looked over to see his father unmoving on the ground. He then heard a cry of pain. His eyes fell upon a bleeding Conlon.
"Conlon!" He quickly forgot about his father and ran to Conlon. He reached him as he was falling. Tim caught him before he hit the ground. Conlon began to cough, allowing blood to escape from his parted lips. "Oh no!!" Tim screamed as tears freely fell from his eyes. He placed his hand over the stab wound on Conlon's side, hoping to slow the blood that flowed from it. Conlon began to shake with convulsions. Tim held him tightly, trying to comfort him.
"Don't die on me Conlon! You're all I'se have! You can't leave me. You can't!" Conlon looked up at him. He slowly began to speak with much effort.
"I ain't gonna-" Conlon stopped as he tried to fill his lungs with air. "leave ya kid." Tears began to fall down his cheeks. "I'm always gonna be here." Violent coughs of blood reign upon him. He gasps for air. "Don't look back..you're strong an you'll be okay."
"NO Conlon! I'm not strong! I need you! You're da leader, you're da leader Conlon!" Conlon reached his shaking hand up to Tim's face.
"No, you are." His hand fell as his eyes closed.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Conlon!! CONLON!!!!!!!!!!!"
Spot's hands tightly gripped the railing. All color left them, leaving them white as the first winter frost. "After dat I was the leader of Brooklyn. Of course I had ta fight ta get and keep dat position. Ya see, da older boys didn't want to take orders from a kid." Spot looked at Leigh when he felt her hand on his. He smiled and was comforted by her presence. "Well soon I gained everyone's respect, and dat's how I became Spot Conlon..the greatest newsie ever! " Spot added in an arrogant tone with a grin on his face. Leigh elbowed him in the side while laughing. She then grew serious.
"Spot, don't ever let the past hold you back, you never know what you're missing." She said as she kissed him.
"Well I don't want ta miss you, dat's for sure." He said while he kissed her back.