DISCLAIMER: The characters not found in the movie Newsies belong to me and those that are belong to Disney. Simple as that. Have a nice day. ^_^

A.N. Keep those reviews rolling in! Next week I have to study for my coming SAT, but I'll try to update more often this summer since I have more time on my hands. ^_^ Enjoy this chapter!

*SHOUT-OUTS*

~let: w00t w00t! Another long review! ^_^ Yea, poor Spotty has to take all the blame now. But maybe Runner will wake up once Spot realizes how bad of a cousin he's been. Or maybe not...in any case, enjoy this chapter! Haha.

~kellyanne: 'Heya Runner, we made the Favorites list!' *Runner momentarily wakes up from his coma and high-fives Morning Dew. Then he goes back to sleep* WoW, did we really make ya cry? You have no idea how much of a compliment I take that as; to be able to make someone feel the emotions of the story and all? ^_^ Thanks! And please don't steal Runner. Heehee.

~Meredith: I agree with you. Runner's parents are mean. Well, at least Father Conlon is. Here's another chapter for ya! Thanks for reviewing!

~Jessie: Yea, Snap's a cheating female dog. LoL. I feel so weird writing that considering it's what I'd write to my reviewers 9 chapters ago. ^_^ But it's all good. You'll catch up soon enough. Happy reading and thanks for your faithful reviews!

~Deanie: Yup, good ol' Runner's still around...kind of. Like you said, at least he isn't dead. : ) Mallory could in fact go to see him, though! Then it'd be like sleeping beauty, with a weird disturbing twist! We could call it 'Sleeping Newsie'. High-fiver, Deanie, we're going to go far in life. ^_^ Or maybe I'm just crazy.

~Dimples: Spot's real name is Andrew indeed. I think I may name one of my kids that. I just love the name Andy. It's one of the best! ^_^ So, any new dreams about Eric? *snickers* Enjoy this chapter!

~Random: Don't worry, Race told me the other day that after I was done using him in my story, he would have to go back home to be with you for a few weeks before starting on another project. ^_^ Thanks for reviewing! Here's another chapter!

~Gothic Author: *Jack runs away from screaming G.A.* ^_^ He hasn't practiced lassoing all day, girl! What did ya do to him? Heehee. Hope ya like this chapter!

~Spider Chick: Poor everyone, m'dear. Poor everyone. Hopefully things will brighten up, eh? ^_^ Mucho thanks for the reviews. Enjoy reading this chapter!

~Apollonia: 'Heya Becca, my girl here thinks your life story makes a good movie!' *Race swims in the millions of dollars* Muahaha. Thanks for the review! When are you going to update that new story of yours?! *pouts* Soon I hope!

~Isabelle Gibson: The meaner you are, the longer God will let you live? Dang Spot, you're going to live to be 200 years old! *Spot glares at Morning Dew* LoL. I don't know if that's necessarily true, Gibson. As a matter of fact, I've never heard that figure of speech before. ^_^ But surely it doesn't hold true all the time...hopefully it won't in this story either...but that's just my optimistic side talking. On with the show! And thanks for reviewing!

~nightowl: New reviewer! *The newsies dance to La Bamba* I always like having new readers review! I know this story is a whopper, 20 chapters long and all. But you conquered it, m'dear. *Runner applauds nightowl* Thanks for reading! Hope ya like this chapter!

~StupidChocolateGurl: w00t w00t! Thanks for reviewing, goily! Here's another chapter for youse!

~Chewy: Yea, soak Becca's father! W00t w00t! Heya, here's an idea. Maybe if you get really close to the computer screen and scream at the top of your lungs: "RUNNER, WAKE UP!!!" then maybe he will! Either that or your parents will check you into a mental institution. But if it's all the same to you, I think it's a great idea. LoL. ^_^

~asp: I got your review just as I was about to update. W00t w00t! Good timing, girly! ^_^ Yea, Spot would hate himself if Runner dies. He even hates himself while Runner's only sleeping! Haha, poor Brooklyn. Thanks for reviewing!

*Just A Little Bet*

~~~The next day was certainly an eventful one at the hospital where Runner was being kept. Angel busily flipped through a pile of hospital files she had been given in search of vaccination records when two hands seized her hips and spun her around. She found herself before the mischievous boy she knew as Blink. His eyes sparkled with trouble and his grin widened when he saw he had successfully surprised the girl.

"Heya sexy," he whispered into her ear before greeting her with a kiss that promised more than innocent words.

She was a bit taken aback by the embrace, as it had been weeks since Blink had come to visit her. After so long, she had assumed their relationship was no more. "Where have you been? Ya had me thinking you were caught by the bulls or something. Why haven't you stopped by in such a while?"

Blink shrugged. "I'se been busy," he answered simply, stepping closer for another kiss. But Angel wasn't satisfied with the reply. She wasn't about to be some easy game piece he could manipulate on the side while chasing after a dozen other skirts during the day. She wanted his loyalty, and seeing that she wasn't getting it, she pushed him away and went back to her work. "What'sa mattah?"

"I'll tell you what's the matter," she said, still focusing on the files before her. "You only coming to see me when you want a good time, that's the matter! You not bothering to stop by to say hello, that's the matter! You taking our relationship as if it's some joke, THAT'S the matter!" She turned on him then and her face was tight with anger. "I'm sick and tired of you playing me like I'm some whore you're paying for a quick bed ride!"

"Angel..."

"No, Blink, you listen to me!" She grabbed the files, tucked them under one arm, and started to walk away from him. "You're not the person I thought you were. It's over." Not caring what his response would be, she marched down the halls and left him behind.

~*~*~*~*~

Three days passed. A reasonable number of newsies from both the Brooklyn and Manhattan crew were lounging around the hospital's waiting office, for the fact that Runner was being kept in the Intensive Care Unit meant only five individuals were allowed in his room at a time, and so the rest resulted to taking turns in giving Spot their support and either played card games or talked to pass the time.

Scapegoat dealt a hand of cards to each of the newsies gathered around the coffee table before him and began a round of poker. "Alright fellahs, let's make this interestin'. Since we'se gots Vixen playin' wid us, how 'bout we'se make this into strip pokah?" He was lucky the girl was in a good mood. Other times, when someone would make a like comment, she'd pounce on them like a wildcat and beat them until he swore to never degrade her as such ever again.

Today, she was in high spirits and let the boys roar in laughter at the joke. As the noise died down, she spoke up. "I'se wouldn't mind playin' that shit, except what's in it fer me? It's not like either of youse got anything woith showin' off."

Jack grinned at her from across the table. "Baby, I'll take youse tah places ya never been before." A few boys gathered around whistled at the daring statement and patted Jack on the shoulder for his bravery.

Vixen held his haze with just as much playfulness. She liked his persistence and wit; it kept her on her feet thinking of ways to show him up. She also liked how he looked at her whenever he was trying to be seductive, much like he was now. His eyes glistened with a silver shine and drew her closer with their captivating powers. Come to think of it, she wouldn't mind playing strip poker with him at all. Seeing his broad shoulders and well toned chest, the muscles that graced his body...

"Vixen, I do believe youse is blushin'!"

The girl snapped out of her daze and glared at Scapegoat. "Oh please, I aint goin' tah bed with any one of youse, ya heah me? So ya'll go take a cold shower or somethin' and get real."

"What's the problem?" Jack tried, still wearing his grin. "Youse afraid you'll get all shy once youse got a man like me in bed wid ya?"

"That's not it at all, Jacky-boy," she replied with a devilish smirk. "I'se afraid that once youse get me in bed, ya won't know how tah handle me." She winked at him and then excused herself from the table, swaying her hips as she went to retrieve a cup of coffee from the hospital dining area. Scapegoat and the others couldn't help but laugh at Jack's having received utter rejection. The Manhattan leader only smiled knowingly. He knew he'd get Vixen sooner or later.

~*~*~*~*~

The incessant beeping of the life support machine started to grow annoying in Becca's ears and as she watched Runner lying motionless on the bed before her, she could only imagine what Spot Conlon was going through that moment. She didn't know either boy too well, but she remembered how cordial Runner had been when they had met at the Valentine's Dance through Mallory. He seemed a kind person, easy-going and good humored. She prayed he would come to himself soon, for Spot's sake and all the others who loved him.

"So how have youse been doin' Spot?" Race took a seat beside the Brooklyn leader as Becca drew nearer to the two to offer her condolences.

Spot sagged in his chair and tried to register the question. He was beyond exhausted. He hadn't slept all night, convinced that Runner would wake up any minute. "Well, this mornin', me body started feelin' like a herd of elephants walked over it." The pains he had received in Queens were starting to throb and ache, making his entire body sore and a simple action like rising from his seat or pacing around the room a difficult one. "Other than that, me cousin's dyin' and me family wants tah send me tah the refuge. Youse?"

Becca spoke then. She combed her fiery hair behind her ears and spoke in a voice that could soothe even the most unruly of spirits. "Spot, I know you know nothing about me and that my opinion is probably worth nothing, but what your cousin needs right now is people to be positive. You want him to pull through, right? Well you gotta start thinking upbeat. Be optimistic!"

She looked to Race for support and he nodded his head with a smile. She continued. "Life can be hard, believe me, I know! But you can't let what happens determine who you are. You gotta keep fighting the good fight, keep reminding yourself things could be worse. And most importantly, you gotta stay positive."

Race nudged Spot with an elbow and grinned. "That's me goil," he laughed, pulling Becca onto his lap and kissing her proudly.

Spot watched on with a smirk, thinking upon what the girl had just said. She was right. He couldn't simply sit here and proceed to mope over his failures as an older cousin. So he had been a bad friend to Runner, that was all in the past now. He admitted his shortcomings to himself and it was time he move on. Certainly dwelling on the fact that Runner might die wasn't going to bring him back to life!

A nurse walked in then and announced that a doctor wanted to examine the gash on Runner's forehead further and that she would have to take the young boy to another unit of the hospital where he would remain for an hour or so. She suggested that Spot relax in the hospital's dining area to grab a bite to eat. The Brooklyn leader decided that would be best, considering he hadn't eaten no more than a few fries and a glass of water in over a day, and so followed Race and Becca into the halls.

As they walked on in silence, Spot happened to catch a glimpse of himself as he passed a mirror hung onto the wall. He grimaced. One side of his face was swollen and bruised, complimenting a black eye and skin that puffed up near the cheekbone. He looked like someone who had come forth from their grave for revenge. He pushed the matter from his mind. They were only physical wounds, incomparable to the ones that marked his heart.

The trio met up with the rest of their friends in the waiting room, laughter and shouts filling the air. Jack caught sight of Spot and motioned to the others to quiet down. As they crowded around the Brooklyn leader, however, everyone only began to press questions. Was Runner alright? Would he pull through? Had the doctors said anything new?

Spot told them the recent updates and all fell quiet.

Jack interrupted the silence. "Heya Spot, ya uncle was just heah a few minutes ago talkin' tah the receptionist."

"He must be worried like crazy," the other replied.

"Yea, worried about how much it's costing 'im tah keep Runnah heah day by day!"

Spot opened his mouth to protest but Scapegoat gently pushed him aside to stop him. "Seriously Spot," he said. "You think that scab gives a damn about his son? Youse is the only Conlon sleepin' ovah the kid's room every night, who won't leave the place unless we'se drag ya outta there! Runnah's dad has only been heah once, and it was only a one minute visit at that!"

"Well, he's a busy guy," the leader tried.

Jack shook his head. "A guy too busy tah even come see his only son struggle wid a coma? Ya gotta stop defendin' him, Spot. Youse is the only one in ya crazy family who's always there fer Runnah. Ya keep blamin' yaself fer everything, but if it weren't fer youse, Runnah would've ended up being one of those hoity-toity richies that thinks they's above everyone."

Spot didn't question the validity of that assumption. No doubt Runner's life would've been incredibly boring without the newsies...and incredibly less dangerous, he added bitterly. The others waited for him to say something, but his eyes noticed someone then, someone peacefully sitting in the waiting room reading a book. Her raven black hair cascaded past her shoulders and her eyes were peaceful, even as they looked up and met Spot's icy gaze.

"What the hell is SHE doin' heah?!" Spot clenched his fists at his side and stormed off towards the last person he was up to seeing in his current mood. When he was a foot from her, he snatched the book from her grasp, tossed it aside, and demanded to know why she insisted in giving him a bad day.

Snap looked up at him casually. ""I'se came heah tah see Runnah, dumbass. Why else would I'se come?"

"I thought I'se told youse tah stay outta Brooklyn!"

"Yea, ya did," she said simply. "But ya never said anything 'bout Manhattan." She smiled at him and then leaned over to retrieve her book from the tile floor where it had landed. Seeing she'd have to visit Runner a later time when there wasn't so much friction in the air, she rose to her feet and stood before Spot still wearing her smile.

They remained like that for a stretching fifteen seconds before Snap reached out and caressed the Brooklyn leader's cheek with a hand. "Don't be so uptight, Spotty. It doesn't fit ya too well." She left him, but as she neared the exit, she called out an afterthought. "Oh, and by the way, nice shinah."

~*~*~*~*~

It wasn't until later that night, when the newsboys had retired to their respectful lodging houses and Spot returned to his night watch over Runner, that Mallory finally had an opportunity to visit the boy who was the center of her every thoughts.

She walked the length of the hospital halls on cat's feet and when she had finally reached room number 267, she slowly opened the door and stepped in with the utmost silence. She didn't want to wake up any of the other sleeping family members visiting their loved ones nearby and she definitely didn't want to alarm anyone to her presence. It was after hours at the hospital and technically, she wasn't supposed to be there. But she had managed to convince a janitor to bid her entrance anyways.

The first thing she saw as she entered the room was Spot's figure kneeling at Runner's bedside, his face in his hands. Mallory at first thought he was praying, but when she looked closer, she saw that he was merely on the verge of falling asleep. She cleared her throat to catch his attention, but he didn't hear. "Spot..."

Spot spun around in surprise. "Mallory!" he whispered back in the near darkness of the room. He rose to his feet and closed the distance between them. "It's late."

She nodded her head. "It's the only time I could sneak out of St. John's." She tried to smile but was afraid it would only aid her defenses in going down, and she needed them to resist any charm Spot might put on her. The memories from Valentine's night were fresh in her mind, constantly replaying and crushing her heart. Being this close to Spot worried her; she was afraid she wouldn't have the strength to deny him.

Spot noticed the discomfort almost instantly and wondered whether the girl would be wary around him from now on. He wasn't sure if he cared or not, but he did know that he had to be honest with her. She had to know the truth about everything.

"How's he doing?" Mallory stepped closer to Runner's bed and stared down at him with tear-filled eyes. His lips, the ones she had never felt against her own, were drawn in a straight line as he slept on. His eyes were closed and the lashes she had grown to love cast shadows upon his face. She reached out to stroke his golden hair and smiled at all the memories they had shared.

She remembered when he had led her out of Irving Hall and comforted her on her walk back home. How he had revealed their shared past and assured her that her mother was in a better place. How he had always been there to listen, to hold her in his arms, to...fall in love with.

A tear streaked her face and was followed by another. No, she wasn't in love. At least she didn't think so. But she would admit that she cared ever so much for Runner and felt as if following her heart meant being with him always.

"He never did those things, Mallory."

She started at the sound of the voice, having forgotten she wasn't alone. She glanced up at Spot. "I beg your pardon?"

Spot sighed. He wasn't looking forward to doing this, but he knew it had to be done. "All those things I'se told ya about on Valentine's Day, about Runnah cheatin' on youse and not carin' 'bout youse...well, it was all a lie. He never told me youse weren't his type, and he never slept wid another goil. I was lyin' 'bout everything."

"But, why? I...I don't understand. Why would you do something like that?"

He lowered his voice. "Tah win a bet."

"W-what?"

For some reason he felt ashamed. It was an eerie feeling that he couldn't easily rid himself of. Here was this innocent, beautiful girl who had put her trust in him, only to soon realize it had all been a game. To say the least, he felt like trash. "It was a bet I had made wid a few pals, a bet about youse. We'se was curious 'bout who could win ya ovah foist, so we'se put money on it." He paused to think. "If anything, Runnah was the one completely against it. He had even come tah me one day askin' that I end it 'fore I'se broke ya heart. But I was too stupid tah realize that the woild isn't just about me."

He sat down onto his rightful chair and drummed his fingers on its arms. "The night ya came by tah tell us about Runnah was poifect, but when ya started tellin' me 'bout ya feelings fer 'im, I knew I had tah act quick. So I'se made up a few lies. Just tah win a stupid, lil' bet that meant nothin'. Alls I succeeded in doin', though, is makin' a jackass outta meself."

The last pieces of Mallory's heart that hadn't broken off before, were steadily crumbling away now. How could anyone do such a thing? Had all those times she spent with Spot meant advances for a lousy bet? Had their friendship been nothing more than a step towards winning some idiotic game? Imagine if she had given Spot everything he had wanted!

She stared at Runner, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. Were these the costs Spot was willing to take to see himself as victor? Was money the only thing he held valuable to him? She let her fingers fall onto Runner's hand and traced the smoothness of his skin. Had Spot been so absorbed with winning that he had chanced losing his own cousin?

Spot seemed to hear the unspoken questions. "I know it was a big mistake, Mal. Actually, it's the biggest mistake I'se ever made in me life. And youse aint gotta go on about how stupid it was cause I know. I sit heah day after day and I see 'im not wake up and it just keeps flashin' in me face that I'se messed up big this time around. And I'm sorry."

The word didn't taste too well as it left his mouth; he afterwards felt as if the remains of some repulsive medicine were left as droplets on his tongue. He wasn't the apologetic type, never had been either. It was a humbling move, and though he didn't fancy it too well, he knew it had to be made.

Mallory was unresponsive at first. She watched the rise and fall of Runner's chest and wanted so much to yell at Spot for his mindless thinking. She wanted to chide and scold him for having been such a fool. But what was the use? He was already in enough pain as it was, and after all, he had apologized. Looking into his mournful blue eyes, she knew he really was sorry.

She walked over to him with a smile, pulled him up from his seat, and threw her arms around him in a consoling hug. "Don't worry, Spot. We all make mistakes sometimes. The good thing is, we can always count on our friends to forgive us."

Hearing those words lifted an incredibly large burden off Spot Conlon's heart that night; a burden he originally thought would follow him for the rest of his days. He hugged her back and thanked God he had one more person to help him through this.

~*~*~*~*~

Heya You, leave a review! ^_^ Love ya!