A.N.- Yes, it's true. This is the final chapter. But there is still the epilogue left to go! I think you'll like this one though. Tell me whatcha think!

Chapter 12:

"Brooke. Please wake up, please.Brooke.." Race sat by her side, whispering and holding her hands. He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips before standing up and turning around, "How bad is she Doc?"
The Brooklyn newsie shrugged his shoulders, "I can't tell how much damage dere is on da inside, but on da outside she's pretty beaten up. Her left arm's completely broken an' she's gonna have lots a bruises soon. Her back looks like someone went at it wit' a whip, it's so shredded. An' da blow ta her face came pretty close ta blindin' her, but t'ankfully it just missed."
Race closed his eyes and sent up a prayer of thanks. Jack turned to Doc, "So how long will she take ta recover?"
"Everything but da arm should be healed wit'in a month. Dat'll boost her sellin' dough, so I don't t'ink she'll mind too much. Just keep her in bed for a couple of weeks at da least," he started towards the door and then paused, "If she starts whinin' too much send Swifty ta Brooklyn ta get me."
"Will do," Jack replied, walking him out the door.
Several minutes later Jack poked his head in the door, "Hey Race, Calli'd like ta see her for a few minutes. Ya mind?"
Race looked down at Brooke's still face, "No, I could do wit' a break meself."
Calli walked in and waited a moment for the door to close behind the boys. She dropped down on her knees next to the bed and picked the other girl's hand up, rubbing it. "Brooke, what were you thinking? You shouldn't have. I can't believe you.. oh, Brooke, c'mon, please wake up. I need ta talk ta you. I miss you."
She was silent for a minute, searching Brooke's face for any movement. "Blink's real mad..." she commented miserably, "he was gone the entire night and only just got back this morning. He hasn't said a word to me since Medda's. Everytime I walk into the room he shuts up and completely ignores me."
Calli fiddled with the blanket for a minute, pretending Brooke was actually listening to her. Her voice rose and she related, "I caught him watching me a little while ago, but when I met his eyes, they were completely cold and emotionless. He just turned away like I was nothing to him."
Another long silence where Calli waited for Brooke's voice to reassure her, "Blink's scaring me, Brooke. He's so angry, I don't know what he'll do. I just.I don't know."
Her voice sounded hopeless even to her ears. She smiled sadly, recalling her earlier feeling that everything would be alright soon. Calli had assumed that now that she wasn't going with Spinz, nothing stood between Kid Blink and herself. She hadn't considered that Blink would be so angry though.
She turned back to Brooke, "I forgot to tell you, didn't I? I broke up with Spinz after Medda's. He was real nice about it. Lot of good that did though. Blink won't let me near enough to tell him."
Calli waited for several more minutes before finally standing up and sighing, "Well, I'll let you rest now. Oh, and I'll tell Race to come back in. Sweet dreams, Brooke."
She placed her hand on the doorknob when suddenly it opened beneath her. She stepped back to find Kid Blink on his way into the room.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't know you were in heah. I'll come back latah," he said shortly, seeing her. He turned around and started to walk out but Calli put her hand on his arm impulsively,
"Don't go. I'm just about done anyways," she walked over to Brooke again and knelt down one more time. With a nervous smile she listened to the door click shut and Blink walk over to a chair and sit down.
Calli took a deep breath and focused her eyes on Brooke's face, resisting the urge to turn and flee the room. "Anyway, Brooke, as I was saying. Blink's really angry. He won't let me talk to him at all," she heard Blink start to get up and spoke louder and faster.
"Not even to tell him that I broke up with Spinz." There was silence on the other side of the room and she took that as a good sign, continuing,
"I don't know why I ever agreed to that in the first place. I didn't even like him... I guess I just thought that Blink would never like me so I should stop counting on it."
Calli paused for a minute, wanting desperately to turn around and see Blink's reaction. She took another deep breath and closed her eyes, "But ya see, Brooke, I realized that I couldn't be Spinz's girl. Not when I liked someone else; it wouldn't have been at all fair to Spinz. So I told him that and now that I'm not anyone's girl.I guess I'll just wait and see what happens with Blink."
There was silence and after several minutes Calli started to get really nervous. Maybe that hadn't been the smartest thing to do after all. Blink was probably so mad at her that what she had said revolted him to no end. What was she supposed to do now? She couldn't turn around and she couldn't stay there. Blink was most likely waiting for her to leave the room so he could visit with Brooke.
After several more minutes of agony, Calli took a deep breath and turned her head around. Blink was still sitting in his chair, his expression unreadable, staring at her. She stood up, breaking eye contact, and started walking towards the door, feeling incredibly embarrassed and hurt.
"Calli," Blink said softly, just as she placed her hand on the handle. She turned to look at him hopefully. His voice no longer sounded angry or cold, merely resigned and worn out.
"Calli," he said again, standing up and walking towards her. "We have had so many problems and misunderstandings in our relationship,"
She searched his face desperately, hoping that the sinking feeling in her stomach would go away.
".dat I don't know if it's worth it."
Calli dropped her head, unable to look him in the eyes anymore. So that was it then. That was how he felt. She had wanted to know, and now that she did she felt sick. She nodded her head slowly and started to open the door again, wanting to get away before she started to cry.
But Kid Blink placed his hand on the door and pulled her back to him by the arm. She glanced up at him in confusion and was startled by the vulnerable look in his eyes.
A million different emotions expressed themselves in the brown eyes staring back at her. Blink spoke again, a grin breaking across his face, "But I'd sure like to try."
Calli caught her breath, a grin spreading across her face as well. He laughed and pulled her closer, gazing down at her in such a way that her heart started pounding and she got shivers all down her body.
"Ya know," he whispered, running his thumb down her cheek, "I don't t'ink I've evah told you dat I love you."
She shook her head, hardly daring to believe that this was really happening.
Blink paused reflectively, "Well, I don't t'ink I'm gonna."
She drew back an inch, but his hands still held her face. He half- smiled at her puzzled expression,
"Because," he whispered softly, "I'd much rather show you."
With that he leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips, wrapping his arms around her waist. She kissed him back earnestly, slipping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer.
"Hey, are you two - HELLO!! Wow. Um, guys? Blink? Calli?" was Race's reaction to the scene in front of him as he walked in the room. He laughed suddenly, opening the door wider and calling back, "Hey fellas! Ya gotta see dis!"
Blink and Calli broke apart as the whistles and catcalls from dozens of Manhattan newsies caught their attention. Blink grinned good-naturedly and Calli ducked her head in embarrassment, tucking a strand of blonde hair back behind her ear.
Blink took his hand off her waist to shoo them out laughingly, "Beat it! Can't we get any peace and quiet around heah?"
Several minutes later the room was emptied again, though not before Calli and Blink had been the object of much teasing and jokes. She looked back at him contentedly and he leaned forward to press his forehead against hers, "I love you, Charm."
She grinned again, running her hand through his hair, "I love you too Blink."

THE END

A.N- WAIT!!!!! It isn't over yet! There's still the epilogue to come, so..tune in next time for more Raising the Stakes!!!!