A/N-and the diagnosis is. . . I have an ear infection. Oh boy, oh gee, just what I wanted. *growls* But the plus side is for these past three days that I have been out of school I have had time to write! Woohoo!! However I am suffering from pain and guess what? It's supposed to snow tonight. *growls again* damn you and your good weather JustDuck. When it gets down below freezing you can complain. :-D However, I would love to come visit you, is the park still open? Well now that you have been faced with my incessant complaining I will give you what you came for which is. . .

CHAPTER SEVEN: A SORT OF RESCUE

Aurora and Spot walked through the streets of Brooklyn, after stopping at the distribution office, each selling their papers with out as much as a word to their companion.

Aurora kept some distance between her and Spot because that cocky attitude of his, and the bet he had whispered in her ear, was still bothering her to no end. She sold a paper to a man in a business suit which made Aurora to wonder just what was going through hi head, and what it would be like to lead a life like his, to lead a normal life. A life where every morning you didn't have to worry if you would eat or not, every night you knew you would have a warm place to sleep and you didn't have to fear the terrors of the night. A life that Aurora would never have the pleasure of knowing. She turned to look at Spot, who was selling a few papers. She knew that the two of them were similar in a way, even though they seemed so different. Though they might have led a some what normal life at some point in time they were both no outsiders to a world of warmth. They were the dirty faces pressed against the clean glass window, looking in at the fire and the happy family sitting in front of it. And they were both still running from something. Aurora knew it. And no matter how firmly she grasped the concept that they were alike, he still got on her nerves.

"Hey theah sweet cheeks" Aurora's thoughts were swiftly broken by the oily voice she hadn't heard in years, and wasn't planning on hearing ever again. Her body went rigid and she dropped what was left of her papes into the dirt of the streets. "Wheah ya been all dis time?" he leered from behind her. Aurora's eyes darted around, searching for Spot who right now, as much as she detested the concept, she needed. "Why'd ya leave me sweet cheeks?" he continued on. At that moment Spot came into her vision, selling a paper to an old man.

"Spot" she gritted through clenched teeth. Spot looked over at Aurora as Giorgio began to stroke her cheek. "Help me."

"So sweet cheeks" Giorgio said, unaware of a now enraged Spot stalking over to him. "Yoah gonna come home wit me and ya won't try dat stunt again, ya heah" Giorgio was cut short as Spot's balled up fist connected with his bony jaw.

"Ya leave her alone" he growled at Giorgio who had taken his hand off of Aurora's face and stumbled back in shock. "Ya keep yoah filthy paws off of her."

"And who ah you'se ta tell me such stuff?" Giorgio threatened, taking a step forward.

"Someone who knows how ta treat a goil properly" Spot snarled back before punching Giorgio in the gut a few times an then back in the face. "So leave her alone and don come back."

"Ya dumb bastard" Giorgio growled in pain, rolling up his sleeves. "I'm takin watch a her."

"No, yoah not" Spot kicked Giorgio a few times, causing him to wince in pain. "I am. Now leave her alone unless ya want ta face me and my boys" Spot threatened, with a look in his eyes of pure murder. It was this look that sent Giorgio running down the street without as much as a glance behind him. Spot wiped some of the blood off his hands on his shirt and turned to where Aurora had been standing. However, she wasn't there anymore. Spot began looking around for her hastily in genuine concern and finally spotted her familiar form hunched over in an alley. He jogged over to the alley and stopped next to her. She slowly looked up at him, hearing him approach, her face pale and clammy and her eyes wide. One of her hands was clenched on her stomach and the other was braced on a box. Her eyes shifted downwards and Spot followed her gaze down to the puddle of vomit she stood over. Without speaking he gently led her to a crate and sat her down, then he sat on the crate next to her, letting her breath.

"Every time he said dat name ta me" she began suddenly, staring at her black boots. "Every time he touched me it would make me sick. It still does."

"I'm sorry" Spot said, not knowing what else to say.

"Why'd ya do it?" Aurora asked suddenly. "Why'd ya help me?"

"No one should jus stand by and watch someone get hoit without steppin in."

"But some people do."

"Ya know" Spot said with a slight smile. "I may be da leadah of Brooklyn, and I might have an ego dat's too big foah my head but even I have limits Aurora. I'm not about ta stand by and watch someone get abused if I know dat I can prevent it, especially if it's someone I know."

"And ya said yoah takin watch of me. . ."

"Well someone has too."

"I can watch myself" she demanded but Spot gave her a look that made her think otherwise. She looked over at him and sighed. "Well. . . thanks."

"Dat's what I'm heah foah" he said with a laugh that soon faded. "I can't do di ta you'se" he let out with a sigh.

"Can't what?" she asked in surprise.

"Aurora, I saw da look on yoah face as he stroked ya" when Spot said this Aurora shivered involuntarily. "You weah scared and we both know it. Now I can't let myself dive inta dat past of yoahs if ya feah it" Aurora looked at him, forehead wrinkled in comprehension. "I can't do dis" he said again.

"Ya backing out on da bet?" she asked him.

"No, I jus. . ." he opened his mouth, closed it, and then opened it again, formulating what he was going to say. "I know feah Aurora and I saw it in you'se. Ta be honest, ya don't seem like the type ta get scared easily and I know dat dis guy scared you'se. When I see someone strong, getting frightened, dat's when I know I'm in too deep."

"Dat's real nice of you'se and all Spot but I can't let ya jus back out like dat" Spot turned to Aurora, his head tilted in confusion. "Don give me dat look. Da deal's still on Conlon."

"Well I'm not gonna dive inta yoah past if ya feah it and if it involves dat bastard. "He said flatly.

"Fine" Aurora looked up thoughtfully. "Find out my full name. . . and what it takes ta make me smile. Bonus points if ya can make me smile."

"And yoah trying ta find out my real name?" Spot prompted.

"And wheah ya come from."

"Alright, I can do dat."

"Good" Aurora turned to Spot, a soft look in her eyes. "Hey Spot?"

"Yeah?" he said, turning to face her.

"Thanks" she said again. Spot nodded his head slowly with an understanding smile.

"What ah friends foah?"

"'Ey! I nevah said we weah friends" Aurora exclaimed getting up. "Don be gettin ahead of yoahself heah."

"Whatevah ya say Princess" he joked and Aurora shot him an irritated glare. "Well, if we'ah not friends, den what ah we?"

"We'ah" Aurora began before stopping. "Y'know, I'm not quite shoah. I'll get back ta ya on dat" Spot laughed, shaking his head and the two of them headed back out into the streets of Brooklyn.