Chapter 7:

"Mmmm," the water slid down my throat, waking me from my "sleep". I opened my eyes and saw Ink sitting on the edge of the bed holding a small cup of what looked like water.

"You was gone again there." His words sounded so sincere. 'He loves me' the thought went through my mind quickly.

"You're an angel," I said, as I saw that he had a plate of food next to him.

"You only want me fer me food," he joked.

"You know that ain't true," the scene started to fade and the cup was brought back to my lips, snapping me back. He pulled it away and offered me something that I take to be bread. I couldn't exactly taste anything at the moment. I took it gratefully.

"How's your neck?" He asked with allot of concern in his voice. I suddenly remembered everything.

"Where's Baby Bear?" He just looked at me and I immediately felt bad for breaking the moment.

"She's out sellin'," he answered, "How do you know her?"

"I think she's in the same type of situation as me." I was getting my strength back. "I need to talk to her. Is this where she stays?"

"Yes, I've been stayin' here with all the Manhattan newsies. Spot wanted to stay, but there wasn't room." Why would Spot want to stay? "He was really worried about you."

"I gotta git up," I said, attempting to sit up. I didn't get too far.

"Let's jus' take things slowly." He said, helping me back down to my pillow. I figure it was easier to agree.

"How was Jack and Spot after the fight?" I'd forgotten all about that.

"They's fine. Spot was out fer a couple of hours, Jack jus' had some bruises. As I assume you knows, Spot was back on 'is feet in time ta save ya from that thug."

"About that, did they notice that they were in the year 2004?"

"Yes, they noticed. They 'ad gone lookin' fer us and they say everythin' changed. That's when they saw the guy holdin' ya. You shoulda seen 'is face jus' before 'e hit dat guy. He was pissed." I had seen his face afterward, he did look a bit upset now that I think about it.

"I can imagine. So what, he saw us in trouble and decided to come to the rescue?"

"Mostly yes, but 'e say you and decided to come ta da rescue. H e could care less about me." He looked away. I took another bite of the bread, chewing slowly, savoring the fact that I could now taste what I was eating. I tried sitting up again, this time with better luck. I moved back and put my back against the wall.

"What time do da newsies git back from sellin'?" I thought out loud, not really expecting an answer.

"Whenever they git done sellin'" so when is that? "They been comin' home earlier lately to check on you, though. Spot's been dropping by twice daily."

"I don't care about Spot, I need to know about Baby Bear. She's the reason I came to New York, I need ta find her."

"What do ya mean? She says she's lived in Brooklyn all her life, how would you be knowing her?" he was really confused now.

"No, she hasn't lived in Brooklyn her whole life, I don't even think she's been here very often. How long ago did she show up?"

"'Bout tree weeks ago, I s'pose." Just as I suspected. This only adds to my belief that she's from my time.

I heard some indistinct chatter as some people were walking up the stairs. I think that it was Mush, Racetrack, and Boots.

"Eh, the sleepin' beauty's awake!" the one I took to be racetrack said.

"I should go find Spot, he wanted to know the second she woke up," that one was Boots.

"Wait. Who are you?"

"Oh, I forgot that we never had the chance to introduce ourselves," Mush said. "This is Racetrack Higgins and Boots," he said motioning to the other boys, "and you already know that I'm Mush."

"Spot'll be here soon enough, he always is," Ink said with a hint of bitterness in his voice.

"OK, but remember ta tell him you told me not ta go," Boots had a much thinner accent than most of the other guys.

"Do ya know when Baby Bear normally gits back from work?" These guys lived with her, they should know.

"Her work schedule isn't as clean cut as ours, so no." Mush said. Great, they don't know. That's wonderful.

Just than there was a bunch of noise coming from the stair well. The noise burst through the door suddenly stopping two steps in.

"Mandy?" Baby said, her voice drenched with hope.

"Baby, it is you! Ohmigod, do you know how worried everyone 'as been!" It is her! I was right.

"Mandy, how did ya get here?" Her voice suddenly frightened. "Boys, can we have a couple of minutes alone?"

"Ink cin stay. 'E knows everythin'. Some of de otha' Brooklyn newsies know something too." She stared me in the eye, trying to figure out if I was liying. Race, Mush, and Boots left.

"How did Ink and the Brooklyn newsies find out?"

"Well, Ink and I kissed an'-um-he sort of 'fallowed me home'." She doesn't believe me.

"What do you mean, he came back to the future?" I nodded. "What about the Brooklyn boys, did dey fallow you wid a kiss?!?" She was yelling and I got a hint that she knew a little bit more than me.

"No, the othas jist showed up in de future and saved my life from da thugs." Till I saw disbelief in her eyes. "Really, I know nothin'."

"Wait, how'd ya git to de future?"

"I don't know, I been switching back an' forth. Did that happen ta you?" Stupid question.

"No, it didn't." She sounded ashamed. "I was walkin' through Manhattan an' suddenly I was hear, in the past, standin' in front of de LH. Then I saw Race walkin' towards de door, and I asked him if he knew what year it was. Then he invited me to stay at the LH, couse he knew I was sleepin' on da street."

"So you just stayed in Newsie-Ville?"

"Yes."

___________________~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~____________________

I have nothing ta say at the moment. This is the second chapter I posted today. I have way too much time on my hands. Please review, I want to know if you think that I'm steering the story in the right direction.