A/N: Remember, this chapter is in Spark's perspective because Racetrack was unconscious for this part.

**on with the story**

I sat there for three days wringing cloths in my hands nervously. I hated this whole not knowing what was happening thing. I nearly went insane with worry about it. I prayed that I would get a report of the conditions every second. I wanted a play-by-play of what was happening right now, especially to Spot and Race.

"Medda?" I asked her, trying to sound innocent.

"Yes, dear?"

"I need to know. I need to get down there. Can you help me?" I said, surprised at how strong the words came off.

"I was wondering how long it would take you to ask. You remind me a lot of myself in my early years. Spunky and independent, but still kind and loving. That's a good way to be." Obviously she realized she was blabbing because a second later she returned to the topic at hand. "I can' get ya in dere but I can get ya ta da bridge an' send Roman in from dere. He'll give ya a report and den bring ya back heah. It's da safest way ta get what ya want."

I considered the plan. I wanted to protest but I couldn't - it was my only option. I tried to push myself up from the barrel but I wasn't able to stand up on my own. Medda gave me a hand and I was up in an instant. Once I was up it was easier.

Roman walked into the room and I thanked him too. "What? Now I get to be even moah of a war hero." Seeing the look of hurt on my face he quickly added, "An' help out one of me best friends in da woild."

"That's more like it," I joked, smiling. I didn't know how I could smile at a grave and solemn time like this, but I could. The danger just didn't seem real then.. The two of us set off, looking like such an odd couple, but we didn't care. Both of us were off to do what we wanted to do most: me to find out news about Race and Spot's conditions and Roman to get a glimpse of action and become more of a war hero.

"This is how bad it is outside the warehouse?" I asked wondering how bad it could be. The outside was nearly abandoned at that point.

"Most of the outside fighting dies down within the day. Most of 'em are still heah though," he said as he pulled back a stack of boxes to reveal quite a few boys injured with knife cuts. I noted with pride the whimsical "S" shape carved into them, the mark of my brave brother. The blood from the cuts was still bleeding freshly so I knew Spot at least was all right. One down, only one left to go. "Stay heah while I tell ya what's happenin'," Roman insisted. I waited as he disappeared stealthily through the doorway.

I don't know what it is about life on the streets, but it makes a person more adventurous, that's for sure. Less than a year ago I would have shook my head slowly and heeded Roman's warnings. Now I found myself recklessly sliding through the crack in the doorway and looking at the scene around me. With one simple step I saw all of the drama unfold before me. I looked around the ground, littered with bodies of boys, and I noted that at least five of them weren't breathing at all. I scanned the boys standing but to no avail - Racetrack was definitely not among them. I desperately looked and looked, praying he was standing upright. With insanity that only the woman who lost the love of her life can feel I ran amongst those on the ground, searching for Racetrack's face. One boy reached up at tugged at my skirt, I heard cries of "Help!" throughout the warehouse, but my mind was on one thing. I say the familiar poof of red hair as I nearly barreled over Mouth. I noticed a tear streaming her cheek, the first I had seen on the girl who feared weakness.

She merely pointed and I looked at the body beside her. "Dominic," she whispered. Bumlets was laying there, barely breathing. She was gripping his hand and crying. Even I knew he wasn't going to make it out of that alive. She spoke again, still filled with remorse. "Why Dominic? What'd he evah do ta anyone? He didn' even wanna fi ght, he was jus' doin' what he had da duty ta do. Why, G-d? Why?"

I knew she didn't need me there to hear her confessions so I moved on. A moment later I saw a little newsie who I remembered from the Queens meetings, Ricochet, lying bleeding on the floor. I couldn't surpass him, and I was having no luck finding Race, so with the last bit of strength in my body I grabbed the small boy and hoisted him over my shoulder, ready to run him back to Manhattan, delicate condition or not.

As I ran out of the door, crying from deep inside my heart without feeling anything I ran into Roman. He grabbed Ricochet off my shoulder and we started towards Medda's without him even reprimanding me for disobeying.

We didn't even reach the Bridge however, without Slider running after us. "Race's heah! He's unconscious, but you'se need ta take 'im wit' ya!"

After hearing that he was still alive I myself gave into my "weakened physical state" and dropped to my knees. I shook with joyful sobs as I prayed to G-d and thanked him for delivering Racetrack through the fight safely.

"Where is he?" I heard Roman ask. Slider responded and led Roman off towards where Racetrack was so he could be brought back over here. This left Ricochet and me alone.

"Spark?" he said tentatively. I glanced up, letting him know it was okay to carry on. "Do you love Racetrack?"

I was somewhat startled by his question. It was something only a ten year old boy would think to ask. "Yes," I answered, trying to sound sweet without babying him.

"Why do you love him?"

This questioned made me think even more than the other one. Why do we love people? I asked myself. I tried to find words for the feeling. "He makes me feel safe and protected, yet gives me risk and danger. He's sweet and romantic, but still hard working and can support a family. Race is funny, but knows when to be serious. He's amazing and perfect as well. I guess, to sum it all up, I just do. Can you understand that?"

Ricochet got a confused look on his face and it appeared he was trying to sort out what I had told him. He glanced up at me smiling. "No."

"Someday you will," I promised, pulling his head close to my stomach. "Someday you will."

The brief moment was interrupted quickly by Roman's staggered breathing as he brought forth Racetrack in a sort of chair on wheels to take him back to 'Hattan. It hurt to see Race like that - cold and lifeless - but I had to face the facts. We walked solemnly back to the newsboys lodging house, my heart heavy with pain and mourning.

"Kloppman!" Roman shouted as he wheeled Race in. Ricochet hopped off Roman's back as the old man approached. "We'se got two injured heah. We need ya help."

"Is that..?" Kloppman started, and I knew he just didn't want to believe his eyes. "Is Anthony okay?"

"He's supposed to be all right if we take care of him right away. Can we afford a doctor?" I said, stepping up and ready to play the role of the nurse.

Kloppman shook his head. "I don't think we can afford it, honey. We'll just have to take care of him best we can ourselves. How 'bout we fix him up a bed right now and you can have one near him and be his nurse?" the lodging house owner offered kindly.

"Is that okay? Having me in the bunkroom I mean."

"You're already a mother, Alex," Kloppman said smiling. "I doubt anything is left to happen, 'specially when the only person you want anything to happen with is out cold." I could tell he was joking but at the same time I could see the disappointment that he felt towards both Racetrack and me buried deep within his eyes. This was one of those times when I hated how well I could read people's opinions.

For some reason I felt the need to have Kloppman's approval. "Have you heard the news though?" I asked, holding up my beautiful engagement band.

I could instantly see the heavy shadows in his eyes lighten slightly. "When's the ceremony?"

"It was supposed to be on May 12, my eighteenth birthday," I told him. Then I looked down at Race's slumping figure. "I guess now it depends on a lot of things."

"I know I may just be a lodging house owner of no consequence, but if it means anything to you, you and Race have my blessing." Kloppman said, before turning his attention to the injured boys. "Roman, you get Racetrack upstairs and cleaned up so I can come up there soon. Spark, you and I will take care of Chet, okay?"

We barely had time to agree before Kloppman whisked me off to help with the young boy as Roman attempted to help Race. I worked tirelessly on Ricochet's various cuts and bruises, pouring the alcohol on his skin and bandaging it up. I knew the pain must be intense, but the boy blinked back no tears. He bit his lip and bared it. It was then that I realized how strong the newsboys had to be. Sure, they were involved in fights and had to be tough, but it was the little things that really proved it. By the time I had finished with Ric, Roman had already gotten Race's things all set up, and Kloppman and I climbed the stairs to start on him. I realized the full damage done by the other boys and nearly cried. The others cleared the room to give me a moment to take it all in. I looked down at Racetrack slowly, examining the various abrasions.

"C'mon Race, wake up," I said before pulling out the alcohol bottle. At least he doesn't have to feel it, I thought to myself. I cleaned the gash across his forehead before wrapping it with the cloth Kloppman had given me. Instantly the blood soaked through and I knew it would need stitches. I looked at the kit I had been handed earlier and located the needle. I bit my lip and winced with every stitch I sewed. Examining my handiwork I cringed yet again. Sewing someone's flesh wasn't exactly my ideal pastime. I hurried to doctor his other injuries, still refusing to accept that he was unconscious. Eventually, I knew I would have to deal with that, and soon. I called out to Roman and he came in. "How're we gonna wake him?" I asked, unsure of how to approach the situation.

"Klopp was suggestin' smellin' salts for a try. Dey got 'im right on da back of da neck, right wheah ya need ta hit ta knock 'em out for three or foah days, but he should be wakin' soon," he said. Under his breath I heard him add, "if evah."

"Well I guess that's the only option," I said, pulling the strongly scented bottle of grains from inside the bag that served as the first aid kit. I stuck it under his nose and watched as he inhaled the fumes. We sat in silence for three minutes until it was clear that wasn't going to wake him up.

"He'll be okay, Spark, jus' give 'im some time," Roman said, patting me lightly on the back. I smiled weakly as he walked out the door before collapsing on the bed beside my love.

I whispered as I feel asleep, "Please, G-d, if you do exist, this is the last thing I'll ever ask you to do. Save Anthony 'Racetrack' Higgins. Dear G-d, I swear I'll be a saint if you just give me this one wish." I could have sworn I saw a flash of light in the sky as I closed my eyes. I laid my head in the crook between his neck and his shoulder and drifted into slumber.

I opened my eyes suddenly the next morning, aware of someone running their fingers through my hair. I looked up and saw Racetrack's smiling face, eyes open wide. "I'se back, Spark. And I ain't nevah goin' away again."

"Race!!" was all I could shout as I buried my head in his chest. I've always said that was the happiest day of my life.

~*~*~*~

"Daddy's okay!" I heard little Shai shout.

His sister chimed in, "Now we can heah his side of da story!"

I heard choruses of happiness around the room. Every girl and boy was intrigued by the story of our lives. I guess it truly was an interesting story. I grinned as I let Race slide into the chair again and begin his tale.

A/N: Okay, so uncharacteristically long wait for a chapter, but blame that on ff.net's evilness. xD. At least you got a pretty long chapter.

SOs (I love doing these!):

Sweets: Haha. Gotta say, Pearl Harbor isn't quite what I would have thought to compare it to, but when you think about it.. Half asleep-ness is good too. Yep, yep. Anyway, that's the chapter you kept hounding me about, hope it was worth the wait.

Soaker: Yep. Romantic warriors are my favorite. Romeo wasn't really a warrior though. He didn't really fight except when he killed Tybalt. I just read Romeo & Juliet if you were wondering. Well.. up till Mercutio died. Then it sucked, 'cause I love Mercutio. Anyway.. glad you like my stuff so much!! Makes me feel special.

Sureshot: Well, I didn't hurry, but Race is all right. Hooray!!

Plaid Pajamas: Glad you're so excited. LOL. Keep readin'!!