Disclaimer: Okay, running through the drill as always...No newsies, take out da Ouija Board and set up a conference with Walt if you're really that adament about it. As for Tess, Thumper (ain't he cute) and Lief, I gotta say that they're mine. I can share, promise, but just let me know.

AN: This one's going to be short guys. School's picking up and my head is swarming with college this...application that...blah blah blah. I wish I could just skip the next couple weeks, hang out around Thanksgiving and then suddenly have it be Christmas.
But anyway: I'm almost at 10 reviews! Yes!

KatFightOnSkis: Cool name by the way....thanks for the review!

Miracle: Enough space? hehe...Jack's sis will be gettin more smart alecky, no worries.

Klover: Addiction is a good thing...hehe...hope you like the chappy.

Chapter 2

There were only certain days when Jack really hated being a newsie. Days when he woke up cold and empty, with nothing warm in sight. Days when the world seemed to be constantly looming over his back, nit picking his every move. He squared his shoulders, trying to twist out the tension. Days like this one.

Sliding through the late afternoon crowd he narrowly missed a flying bucket of water. The world seemed to reflect his mood, dark and stale. The air smelled sour and as he moved closer to the lodging house he cursed the sense of rejection that surged through his veins. He was frustrated with no way to relieve the energy. And everyone else seemed to be walking so freakin' slow!

She'd been using him, the tramp from outside Tibby's and what stung worse was the way she'd laughed at his obvious disappointment. As the lodging house came into view the relief was surprising. At the entrance in one large step he relaxed noticeably, smiling easily at two of the younger boys who were playing out front. He stopped to entertain them quickly, asking if they'd eaten supper and overall, making their day.

From out on the stoop he heard Kloppman's scratchy voice. He's not here yet, miss. But I'm sure that if you'se wait, he'll be back in a minute.

You don't mind? The female voice made Jack freeze and for a quick second he thought she'd come to apologize, beating him to the lodging house because he'd chosen to wander instead of returning immediately. But then her laugh echoed deeply in his ears and he clenched his fists.

You sure you're okay? Dat couldn't have felt nice. Peering inside Jack saw what Kloppman was gently referring to. Blink and Race were watching also, sitting on the steps silently as a fragile Tess leaned heavily on the counter. Her head was bent, face tensed in pain as she held her side. When Jack's heavy boots scuffed the floor, announcing his entrance she looked up slowly, eyes pleading for help from whoever entered.

Her face seemed the worst, bloody and discolored. Her lower lip was swollen, a jagged cut down the middle while a slice the color of eggplant graced the left side of her face from hair line to cheekbone. Dirt covered other smaller cuts and the vibrant curls of her hair were matted with mud. The rest of her body was arched inwards, obviously achy.

Jesus McCoy, what did you do? He titled her chin so that he had a better view of her face causing her to hiss in pain. Kloppman retreated into the kitchen, knowing from experience that her wounds needed to be cleaned.

Tess shifted herself so that she rested her right elbow on the counter, the rest of her body facing Jack. She glared at his remark, angry but too exhausted to argue with him. We found her on the way back from the track. Race explained, ignoring Tess who hadn't wanted him to spill any of her story. Just coming to the lodging house, battered and bruised, was bending her pride in the wrong direction.

Kloppman placed a bowl of warm water and a soft washcloth on the counter between Jack and Tess. Before she could reach it, Jack had swept her to a near by chair and knelt in front of her.
He started with her hands first, scrubbing as gently as possible the open cuts on her knuckles. At least you got in some of your own punches. He mumbled, jostling her hand in his as if the searing pain wasn't enough of a reminder. She chose to sit quietly and watch, slipping into an tired daze as his calloused fingers moved gently over her own. Race, did Bull get her?

As Jack moved from her hands to the scraps on her neck and face, Race and Blink retold the story she refused to tell. Seems like they jumped her, Jack. Didn't see it coming and Klover was spending da day in Brooklyn.

Tess obliged Jack's hands, tilting her neck backwards so that he could reach underneath. They must have been trailin' ya. He said, catching her eye as he finished with her face which was now free of dirt but shining a strange mix of pink, blue and green. I knew you should of been staying here.

Dat only would of caused more trouble for da boys, Jack. Tess mumbled awkwardly around her swollen lip. She focused on her fingers and the defeat in her voice made him uncomfortable. He hadn't seen her like this before, not in all the years he'd known her.

He threw the dirty rag to the ground and shifted his weight, still kneeling in front of her. Race, are Mush and Skittey upstairs? The boy nodded. Can you get em down here. We're gonna make a little trip to Harlem.

Sitting had tightened her sore muscles making standing more of a challenge but Tess rose as quickly as she could. No, I'm not dragging anyone else into dis. It's ova now. He's had his fun. She looked between Race, who had halted on the stairs, and Jack, who had stood immediately after she had. I've got more important tings to deal wit.

She stamped her foot angrily when Jack nodded for Race to continue. Come on, you get to bed. He ordered, trying to support her around the waist. As soon as his fingers graced the side of her hip she jumped away, crying in pain. She turned to face him nervously and he noticed the blood now on his fingertips. Turning her rougher than he intended he noticed for the first time the dark stain sitting right on top of her ribs. Without thinking he reached to pull her shirt off, to get a better view of the damage but she swatted his hand away in protest.

Standing awkwardly, switching between her face and the cut, he was relieved to hear his sister outside. Miracle, in here! He bellowed, shuffling Tess forward so that Miracle would understand immediately what he needed her to do.

When Miracle entered she was shocked to see Tess beaten and barely standing. But more of a surprise was the way Jack was frantically fumbling around her. He'd raced off for a new rag, knocking over the bowl of water he'd left on the ground. Tend to dat, woud ya. He called behind him, confusing Miracle as she decdied between the spilled liquid and her friend's pain. Jack came back to find the two girls slowly moving upstairs and he hurried around them, entering the bunkroom with a flourish. Out, out He commanded, shooing every newsie out of the washroom so that Miracle could clean Tess' wound.

Jack, where is that rag? Miracle asked, pumping the warmest water into the tub. Without taking off her clothes, Tess sank into the bath, the water stinging and soothing every area it reached. The two girls were composed and focused, comfortable in knowing what they had to do while Jack seemed to be running on crack, the situation making him uncomfortable. He handed over the rag and watched helplessly. The bruises on Tess' face had been one thing. But the stain had been large and simply asking for infection. He'd seen guys die from wounds less than that and the realization had made him jumpy.

Skittery and Mush entered loudly, calling attention to themselves. Ready to go, Jack? They asked tentatively, noticing how distressed Jack seemed. Rubbing his head, Jack looked between the two and Tess whose eyes closed in silent pain as Miracle added more water.

Yeah, yeah. He mumbled absently. Tess' cry seemed to snap him out of the daze and he turned his back on the washroom. We'll be back Miracle. Get her cleaned up. I need to make a stop in Harlem. The finality in his voice warned both girl not to argue and he was down the stairs before they would have known what to say.



When the trio returned to the lodging house it was late, the only light to guide them coming from the dim streetlamps. For the second time that day the sight of the lodging house had a calming affect on Jack's nerves. And sitting on the front stoop were Race, Miracle and Blink, the three people he had wanted to speak with.

Race awknowledged the three by offering his cigar to first Mush and then Skittery. Jack rolled his eyes as Miracle inhaled sharply on her cigarette, eyes challenging him to scold her. You're lucky dat dis days been crazy. He muttered, pushing her over so that he too had room on the stoop.

How'd your talk go? She asked, stubbing out the cigarette underneath her shoe.

He shrugged, pulling his hat over his head and rubbing absentmindidly at his knuckles. He knows whats what now. And won't be bothering anyone else from Manhattan.

The footsteps behind them caused all heads to turn as Klover appeared in the doorway. I hope dat shiner you gave em makes his face swell. The group chuckled easily as she moved further into the light of the streeplamp, revealing her own black eye. Jack cringed at the sight and she nodded in understanding. I was lucky, dats fo sure. He sent one of his goons after me. Tess got the big kahuna.

Jack shook his head in disgust, picturing the hurt Tess in his mind. How is she?

Klover shrugged. She's been out cold since I got here.

We bandaged the cut on her side. Miracle explained, blowing warmnth into her hands. Kloppman showed me how to clean it right, cause it was pretty deep. And the nuns from da orphanage down da street gave us clean gauze and wrappings. Said dat if we needed more, we could come get

Jack stood, pacing in front of the group in thought. I was hoping dat your offered was still good. Klover spoke.

He agreed. Breaking the awkward silence was Kloppman's voice calling them in for the night before he locked the door. They shuffled up the stairs to find most of the other boys already ready for bed. As the group split among the rows of bunks, Jack headed towards his own, surprised to find Tess sleeping peacefully in his lower bed. Miracle jumped into the bunk above his, the same bed she'd claimed since arriving at the lodging house years before.

Thanks sis. He stood in front of his bunk, just staring at the sleeping form as if that would make it move. There were no other bunks in the place, not with the addition of Klover.

Miracle peeked over the edge of her own bunk, now comfortably under the sheets. She smiled at Jack, so confused as to what to do. You two need ta get along, Jack. She said, rolling so that her back faced him.

Putting her in my bed, didn't help da peace process. He grumbled, now facing the problem by himself. He bent so that their faces were eye level, her steady breathing evidence of the deep sleep she was in. The covers (his covers!) were wrapped tightly under her neck, and all her freshly washed hair was lying every which way. The colors on her face had intensified and he hoped it was because her body was healing quickly. Brushing a stray curl from her face he whispered her name with no result.

After trying three more times, he slipped to the ground next to the bunk and rested his head on the side of the leg. Asked a little voice.

Keeping his eyes closed, Jack whispered a response. Thump, you should be in bed.

Thumper, the smallest and newest newsboy, crawled into Jack's lap so that he knelt at eye level with Tess. She was crying earlier. He explained, turing to hold Jack's shoulders instead of the side of the bunk.

Who was crying? Jack asked, eyes now opened and staring directly in Thumper's large green ones. Thumper pointed to Tess and shifted more in Jack's lap. Really? When?

When you were all outside. I tried to tell her that it was okay, cause Momma always said dat crying felt good, but she didn't wake up. Thumper explained, the wrinkles on his tiny brow expressing the amount of concern he felt.

Jack moved him out of his lap, standing him on his two little feet and kneeling again. Well, you know what. Dis is my friend Tess and she's real hurt. Next time she's awake, its your job to get her anyting she needs. Tink you can do dat? The boy nodded eagerly, puffing up his chest. Good, now off ta bed.

Thumper scampered off towards his bunk while Jack stood to survey the now quiet bunkroom. He noticed Miracle watching him and rolled his eyes. What is it wit you'se and da litte ones. She mused, teasing him in the way only a younger sister could.

Before Jack could offer a remark, Thumper's voice was heard from the other side of the room. I ain't little. He cried as Mush swung him into the bunk above his. The boy sat on the top, kicking his legs in protest.

I ain't little. Mush and Jack mimicked at the same time, making their voices distinctly higher and laughing easily afterwards.

I ain't! The few people who were still awake chuckled in their bunks. Jack sighed again, switching off the lights and sliding back to his position on the floor next to his bunk. A blanket fell on his head moments later as Miracle whispered good night. He situated himself, blanket tucked around him and waited patiently. Night, Mush. Came Thumper's voice, just like every night.

Night Miracle. Mush said, passing the ritual like before. It seemed to make Thumper sleep easier so all the older boys obliged whenever they heard their names called from the little newsboy.

Miracle shifted in her bunk before saying, Night, Jack.

Night, Thumper. Jack rounded out the game for the night.

No Jacksay goodnight ta Tess. Thumper's request was interrupted by his little yawn.

Turning his head only slightly, Jack could see the outline of Tess' features. He pushed the curl away again and laughed lightly when it fell right back into place. Night, Tess.