Jack's POV

Eating a meal at the Bronx is like eating in a battle zone. The buns were being tossed down the table; salt and pepper were sliding up and down the middle along with other dishes. In amongst all the commotion was Dodger making even more noise then the boys put together. The way she was acting, you would think that the past week hadn't happened at all. If a Newsie got out of line or a fight started up, she would either pelt the kid with a bun and growl or she'd be up in a flash to knock the two kid's heads together.

Just as I ask Ice to pass the butter, Dodger is up out of her seat and down the table again.

"Stabbers, you drop that knife now, or you'll be dealing with someone who actually knows what they're doing."

I saw fear flicker across Stabbers' face as he set the knife down on his plate. As she walked back to her seat, I saw a stone look over Dodger's face. She sat down in her seat and rather than starting on her food again, she grabbed her bottle of bear and downed it fast. Though I'm sure she didn't see me, I watched her very closely while we ate. Her attitude and mannerisms matched perfectly with being in the Bronx. She didn't act like a girl at all. She acted as though she was a guy. I noticed her look around.

"Gambles, want another drink?"

He nodded and she got up to get it. While she was gone, I took it as my time to talk to Gambles.

"Buddy, just how much do you know about Dodger?"

He washed down his meat and looked at me.

"Not all that much. Just that she lost a lot of her family to different things, she's one hell of a fighter and knife handler. Also, you never want to get on her bad side if she's drinking, drunk or in a bad mood."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Ice's face downcast.

"It's hard to believe she's like this. She never touched the bottle before and she only got mad if someone was in trouble. The bad mood never lasted long. How long does it stay?"

"Who knows? It depends on what she is mad about and who its at."

Just then Dodger came back to the table and handed Gambles the bottle. She snapped open her own bottle on the table and downed half of it in one gulp. Dodger took a gander down the table and gave a small smile.

"All right gang. Since most of you are finished, clean up. I'm not in the mood for whining and we don't want our guests to clean."

No one moved and I could see red build up.

"I said MOVE IT!"

Chairs and benches scraped against the floor and toppled over. Clattering of dishes and knives and forks echoed throughout the room and running made it to the kitchen, leaving Ox, Gambles, Ice, Spot, Dodger and I. All of us except for Dodger were leaning back laughing at the sight.

"Dodge, I've missed that so much. Remember when you did that back home when Tails and Sonic were still there?"

I don't think Ice realized what she had said until it was too late. A steely gaze came over Dodger's face before she stormed out of the room and down the stairs. Gambles pushed his hair out of his face and groaned.

"Ox, we had better get to her before she gets to the bar. After this past week of her worrying the brains out of us, I don't want to worry about her coming back drunk."

"I'll go get her." I said.

"Are you sure? If she's already hitting the bottle, she'll be drunk before you get there."

"I'll get her. Just tell me what bar she's at."

Ox told me that Dodger goes to the Mythology Pub and so with the directions they gave me I started out for the bar.

~*~*Dodger's POV~*~*

Just forget Sonic and Tails. Just forget what has happened and focus on the bottle.

"Alan! Another one!"

A beer bottle slid down the bar and into my open hand. On the bar was a worn spot from the many bottles I had cracked open. Once again I cracked the bottle open but unlike the others, I took my time drinking it. Though I didn't want my mind to go to the events of the past month, they did anyways.

Running to New York.

Seeing Ice.

Falling.

Drinking.

Fighting.

Jack..wait a minute. Why was I thinking about Jack?

"Man I need some more."

I signaled to Alan and he passed me down another bottle and soon I had a collection of the bottles around me. I could feel my eyes getting heavier.

"See youse Alan. I'se had betta git back to da lodging house. Bye."

I slid off the stool and started to stagger to the door. Just as I opened it, I bumped into a large person.

"Hey buddy. Move it."

I looked up to see that it was Jack.

"Oh its you."

I pushed passed him and started down to the street. I seemed to walk in a zigzag until I felt myself being picked up. I looked at my carrier to see Jack.

"Let me down. I'se can walk."

"No."

With that he just continued to carry me to the Lodging House. I finally gave up struggling when my headache started up. As he carried me up the stairs, I started mumbling that I needed something to drink. Jack carried me to my room and laid me down, leaving, then coming back with water. I pushed the glass away.

"I need stronger. Just let me up."

Jack tried to protest but soon stopped when I pulled out my knife. My speech was clearing up, but I needed my 'tonic' fast before the headache got worse.

"Jack move now or else."

I could see the wheels turning in his head as he tried to figure out what to do. I grunted and pushed him aside. Going to a shelf, I pulled a book down, opened it up and inside, it was hollowed out. A small key was in the middle along with some other items. I quickly closed it when I sensed Jack coming towards me. I put the book on the shelf and made my way to the door but didn't make it before falling down. Jack kneeled down beside me and chuckled softly.

"Need some help?"

I just nodded and Jack lifted me up to my feet.

"Where to?"

"Roof."

He looked at me oddly and then put my arm around his neck and helped me to the roof.

"Why are we here?"

"Tonic."

Was all I said as I moved away from him to a box bolted to the far wall. When I had arrived in the Bronx, I knew that my tonic would be needed so I made up a large stash and hid them up here. Kneeling over the box, I opened it and pulled out a small bottle. I normally downed half of it and in half an hour, my headache went away and I felt better. I had downed half two weeks ago so I took the already opened bottle and finished it. Putting the cork back in, I put the bottle in my pant's pocket so I remembered to wash it.

"What was in that thing?"

I turned around to see Jack standing near by. I closed the lid of the box and sat on it.

"It's just some stuff put together that helps me to sober up. I should be fine in 20-30mins. You don't have to stay here, you can go home."

I waited for him to go, but he didn't leave.

"I'm not leaving. Who knows, you could pass out and where would you be? Alone with no one knowing where you were but me and if I'm in Manhattan, I could be to late to help."

I just groaned. My head still hurt and all his talking just made it worse. I caught a twinkle in his eye as he laughed and lay back on the roof. I slid off the box and laid down as well and soon fell asleep.

~*~*Present 1960s~*~*

The famous tonic; I remember Dad telling me about the number of times Grandma would give him it when he came home drunk, and once he sobered, she flew off the handle and started screaming at him. I looked at the older generation.

"Did any of you ever get the tonic?"

Grandpa spoke up.

"It was rare for any of us to have it. I would probably get it once a year around Christmas, but other than that it was normally your father that got the tonic. Ice stayed away from the drink while these three bums," pointing to Spot, Mush and Kid Blink, "wouldn't dare go near her when they had hangovers. She would terrorize them to sober them up."

Just like Grandma. Spot looked as though he was going to burst when I caught sight of him.

"Spot, do you want to tell the next part since it has a great deal to do with you?"

He laughed and then cleared his throat.

"When Ice and I came to the Bronx the next day.."

~*~*Back to the Past~*~*

Spot's POV

Today was the day. Ever since Dodger had come back into Ice's life and the two of them found each other again, it made me realize that Ice was all I wanted. Yesterday before Jack went to the Bronx's L.H, I told him what I wanted to do. He was proud of me that I was settling down with a girl that he knew would return what I gave her. I had planned on asking Ice to marry me after dinner, but with Dodger running out on us, I decided not to.

We were joining the boys in Manhattan for a poker game and that was where I decided to propose, since that was where I had met Ice.

~*~*Flashback~*~*

Walking up the stairs to the boy's room for our poker night, I could hear the regular loudness. Last year I had given up being a Newsie and surprisingly, I inherited Brooklyn's Lodging House. It seemed that my family had owned it all along. When they found out I sold papers there, they said that the year I decide to quit being a Newsie, I get the place. Over the year I've been fixing the place up, but have been going through many helpers.

"Spot, get your butt in here. Race needs new blood, and you're just the person."

I laughed and walked over to the guys. Around the table were Racetrack, Kid Blink, Mush, Specs and Jack. Sitting beside Jack was a new person that I had never seen before. Looking at them, I was skeptical. I took my regular chair and as Race took the cards, I looked at the new person. They were slightly slouched over and looking intently on the cards.

"So boys, what is the game?"

"How about bull shit? I don't have much money on me and heard that this game was fun."

I guess it couldn't hurt. Race delt the cards to the newcomer, Jack, himself and me. Mush, Kid Blink and Specs said they would stay out of the game to see how it worked.

"Okay boys, we go by aces and we say how many we've got. If you don't believe what they've got, call bullshit. Everyone understand? We'll all put in a dollar."

Everyone nodded. Seemed easy enough. Taking our cards, Race started off by saying he had 2 aces. I didn't have any so it went around to the next person and then when Jack said he had 3 threes, the new comer spoke up.

"Bull shit."

Hearing the voice, I could tell that the person was a girl. The guys all looked at her and she just sat there smiling.

"What did you say?"

"I said bullshit."

At first Jack was shocked, but then started laughing as he took the cards. We continued the game and several more bullshits were called. Every time bull was called on her, she would flip the cards over to show that she really did have them. The time was getting close to my having to leave and it was my turn.

"2 kings."

Seconds passed by before the girl yelled bullshit. Before she did, I noticed that Jack tugged at his scarf while Race moved his cigar to the other side of his mouth. Sure it was true, but I have a feeling they've been cheating.

"This is bullshit. You are all in on this."

Flabbergasted looks came on their faces before they started laughing. The girl smiled and collected the money. Before she got all of it, I took hold of her wrist.

"Hold on, I get my dollar back. You guys cheated."

"Nope, all's fair in love and war and this was war. The guys told me they wanted to do this to you so I helped out. Plus this means I've got a place to stay for the night."

I looked at her and saw the intensity in her eyes. They were a weird colour of blue, almost white.

"What's your name?"

"I'd rather not say. It's a burden to me. Why?"

"Well I think that you need a nick name. How about Ice? Your eyes look that way."

The girl nodded.

"Ice is good. Kinda what this floor is like when they actually clean it."

I laughed. I grabbed my hat and put it on.

"Listen, if you want I can give you a job that you may like. I'm manager of the Brooklyn Lodging House and I need someone to help out. Your 'sneaky' ways might help me with putting some order in the place. What do you say?"

Ice looked around the room and then back at me.

"Okay I will. I've stayed around here long enough that new scenery might help change things for me."

I smiled and after saying good-bye to the guys, Ice and I headed out the door to Brooklyn.

~*~*End~*~*

"Ice hurry up. We've got to get over to Manhattan and no, you aren't playing bullshit."

I heard a groan come from her room as she opened the door. Even in black pants and a light blue working shirt, Ice still looked like an Angel to me. I held my elbow out to her.

"Ready to go milady?"

Ice laughed at my speaking medieval like.

"Yes m'lord."

Ice and I exited the LH and headed for Manhattan.

~*~*Three hours later, lots of money lost..~*~*

Ice's POV

Dodger didn't even look as though she had a hangover. She was up helping Les learn some new fighting skills. They were old to me, but I could see that Dodger was having fun teaching him. She had long since given up on cards and surprisingly was still working on her first bottle of beer. When she heard that Les needed to learn how to fight better, she took initiative and started to show him some jabs. I saw Jack and Spot stop Dodger's little teaching lesson and pulled her aside. They talked for several minutes and I saw a wide grin go across her face and her nodding vigorously.

"All right something is up."

I saw the three of them open up the room and Dodger put her fingers to her lips and a shrill whistle went through out the room.

"LISTEN UP! THE ALMIGHTY SPOT CONLON HAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE!"

Well Dodger always did know how to make a room listen. Everyone looked to Spot and saw a wide smile covering his face. He cleared his throat.

"As many of you know, I am the owner/keeper of the Brooklyn house."

The Brooklyn Newsies started cheering and quieted down once Spot put his hand up.

"You also know I have a partner in all of this. Ice Monroe is not only my girlfriend, but is also the cook, housekeeper, financial keeper and all out helper. Today I wish to make her something more."

Spot walked over to where I was sitting and got down on one knee. Surprise filled my eyes, I knew what was coming next.

"Savannah Maria Ice Renegade Monroe,"

'Damn, Dodger told him my middle name.'

"will you marry me?"

I looked at Spot and saw love and admiration fill his eyes.

"Yes. Yes I will."

I flung my arms around Spot's neck and pulled him into a deep kiss. Cheering went throughout the room and when Spot and I parted, I could see my best friend grinning from ear to ear and she didn't even notice Jack looking at her.

I think every Newsie came up to me that night congratulating us on our engagement. The girls that I knew well all asked to see the ring. It was a simple one with a small diamond settled between two sapphires. I finally was able to get away when I saw or rather didn't see Dodger anywhere. I found Jack though, standing with Spot.

"Hey guys. Have you seen Dodger?"

The guys looked around and realized she wasn't there.

"She was here a few minutes ago."

A breeze swept against my neck and I turned to see the window wide open.

"She's probably on the fire escape."

I walked to the window and stuck my head out. Just as I did, I noticed a shoe disappear onto the roof. I stepped out and followed up the stairs and once I was at the top, I saw Dodger sitting on the edge. I inched forward, hoping to surprise her but fate had other plans.

"Congrats Ren. He'll do you good."

"How?"

"Heard you coming up the stairs. They aren't the quietest things in the world."

I laughed and sat up beside her. We looked out over Manhattan and after a couple of minutes, I punched her in the shoulder.

"What was that for?" She asked while rubbing the sore spot.

"For telling Spot my middle name."

"Hey, don't look at me, I didn't tell him. I knew this would happen if I did."

"Then how?"

"A little thing called, birth certificate. He told me he found it in your box."

That little sneak!

"Oh don't worry, I know his full name. Plus I know how to get him back."

I looked at her and then started laughing. The evil, conniving glint that she used to get when we played pranks on Sonic when we were younger came to her face.

"Bullshit?"

"Bullshit."

We got up over the ledge and headed inside. As we walked down, I told her that since I met Spot, he had rarely lost and now was a good time to make sure he did. Spot may have said that I wasn't allowed to play bullshit, but he never said Dodger wasn't allowed. We went down the fire escape and entered the room. Jack and Spot were talking his Racetrack and his girlfriend Fastdancer. Dodger and I set up a quick plan and then started laughing loud enough for the guys to hear.

"You serious? Bullshit can't be that hard if you were able to beat Spotty- boy here."

"Oh but it is. If it hadn't been for the guy's help, I may not have won."

"Oh brother."

From the corner of our eyes, we saw mischievous smiles come to the guy's faces as they walked over.

"What's this I hear? Someone is interested in playing bullshit."

Hook, line and sinker.

"Yeah, Dodger here says she would be able to beat you with no help at all."

"Well how about we have a game. You, me, Kid and Mush."

"What are the stakes involved?"

"If you win, I'll get you anything you want. If I win, you get me what I want."

"What if one of those two wins?"

"Then you go out on a date with someone we pick."

Oh no, something is wrong here. This has been planned. I tried to signal to Dodger not to give in, but she missed my sign.

"Alright then." (spit in hand and Spot did the same)

Spot led the way to the bathroom where a table was already set. Damn, he had been planning this. Why didn't I catch it before?

Dodger took a seat across from the mirror. I saw a sad face flash over the boy's and I grinned. They had wanted her to sit in that spot. Kid Blink and Mush took spots on either side of her, causing Spot to sit in front of the mirror. Kid delt the cards and soon the game was in full motion. I watched as exasperated grew more and more on the boy's faces. Dodger was calling out bullshit whenever the guys actually did give up something that wasn't what they were supposed to.

"Bullshit boys."

Groans filled the room and they started to continue. Dodger had 2 cards left and it was her turn.

"2 sixes."

"Bullshit Dodger. That's just bull."

Dodger's cynical laughter filled the air.

"You think so? Just turn them over and weep."

Spot leaned over and turned over her two cards. They were the sixes of hearts and diamonds. She got up and was about to give me a high five, when Spot yelled bullshit.

"I didn't know you were a cheater?"

A faint growl caught in Dodger's throat as she turned around.

"What did you just call me?"

"A cheater. Kid and Mush had those two sixes. You put false cards in the deck."

I looked and saw Dodger's knife hand twitching a little.

"I did not cheat. I am not a cheater."

"Well like I said, those two cards were in the other's hands. Now tis time to pay up. Since Kid and I were tied in the number of cards you'll do the two things. You give me what I want and go out with the guy we pick."

I can't believe this is happening. I know Dodger wouldn't cheat, would she? She has changed since I last saw her. Dodger's hand was now around the knife handle.

"Fine. I'll go along with this. But only because I don't want Ren to lose her fiancée too soon."

Spot's face turned to fear but he pulled his composure together.

"All right. First, the thing I want. You're knife."

~*~*Present~*~*

"You actually asked for Grandma's knife?"

"Ya dumb thing to do."

~*~*Past~*~*

Dodger's POV

My knife? He wanted my knife? There was no way in the world he was going to get my knife.

"No."

I glared at Spot. He had some nerve to ask me for my knife.

"Well deal was that you gave me what I wanted and want your knife."

"I said no. You are not getting this knife."

I saw Spot roll up his sleeves. I have a feeling he's going to try force.

"Hand it over."

I pulled the knife out of its holster and poised it ready to strike if Spot came near me.

"Spot, don't ask her to give that up. It means too much to her and her past. Whatever you do, don't take it away."

I felt Ren put her hand on my shoulder and I moved my hand down. Ren always had a way to get me to calm down. Spot saw this.

"How about this, rest of the night I hold onto your knife? I'll give it back before Ice and I leave?"

Fair enough. Ice wouldn't leave with it and she would make sure he gave it back to me. I unclipped the holster from my boot and handed it to Ren. I didn't trust myself. She handed it to Spot and he clipped it to his belt.

"Now for the second part. We pick, you go out with."

I groaned. I hadn't been on a date since Tails tricked me.

"Who is it gonna be?"

"Jack."

What? Jack? This is not fair, but a deal is a deal.

"All right."

I heard Ren gasp behind me, surprised that I actually was going to go along with this. I took a look at Jack and saw a small smile on his face. It was that of cockiness, or the fact that Spot had gotten me to go along, but a genuine smile.

"Well we should leave and let these two figure out the details for their date."

At that, Spot, Kid Blink, Mush and Ren left the room leaving Jack and I standing across from one another.

"So."

"So. (Pause) When do you want to go on the date?"

I fidgeted around and avoided eye contact with Jack. My last dating experience had turned my whole life around and for the first time in a long time I was scared.

"Whenever is fine with me."

"I work days at the factory on Friday. How about then? We could go to Medda's or somewhere to eat?"

"Yeah ok. I've got to go."

Was the only thing that I could think of. I was very nervous and not sure if I was going to get hurt again. Before Jack could say anything, I left the room and slipped out the door. I didn't realize that I didn't have my knife with me. I just wanted to get back to the Bronx, the place I knew I had some securities.

A/N: Finished that chapter. Man it took awhile. My computer has been acting very strange lately. Well Disclaimer time once again. I don't own Ice or the Newsies. I own everything else that you don't recognize from the movie. Oh ya, I don't totally own the bullshit idea. I borrowed some of the mannerisms from "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days." I must say that is one fantastic movie. I'm actually planning on playing that little joke on a friend of mine. he won't expect a thing. Well I had better be going before everything gets completely lost. Until later, Hausta!