"Did everyone make it back?" Spot asked as he crossed the roof of the Brooklyn LH and went down one of four fire escapes. The fire escapes of the Brooklyn Lodging house scaled the four sides of the old abandoned warehouse. It housed four floors of newsie which in total meant at least a hundred boys were lodged within its walls. Each floor had its own washroom of course while Spot had the old office on the third floor all to himself and his private business. The building was located right on the pier which was not far off from the docks, leaving the Brooklyn docks a favorite hangout for the Brooky's.

Jack conducted a mental headcount. "Deah's two missin..."

"Who?" Spot's eyes were wide with concern for his boys.

"Stash and Bee..." Tabloid spoke up from the back. "Fuckin bastahds takin us out on by one..."

"Awright...we gotta claim em back. Leave no one behind." Spot choked and spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground. It kept filling his mouth constantly and he was resigned to swallow a bit of his own blood, though the taste turned his stomach.

Jack wiped at his own face and a line of blood smeared across his sleeve.
"Tab, take six a da guys witcha an go get Chaos. Can't leave him in dat alley. " Spot said.

Tabloid nodded, tapped six Brooky's on the shoulder and they took off.
Spot then began to pace the lobby, but his normally strong stride was chopped short by a painful limp.

"Siddown would ya." Jack winced as he watched him.

Spot shoved his hand through his hair. "I know I said we would go back in a few days...but..I need ta see Ravy."

Jack was feeling the need to see Sage as well but was trying to shake the feeling. Hearing the fearless Brooklyn leader state a need for his own girl made him pine for Sage even more.

"Let's go den. We'll take da rooftops...I wanna hold Sage in my arms tanight too Spot." Jack's eyes softened at the thought of her and his baby.

"What da hell is gonna happen to us Jack? at dis rate..." He couldn't finish his thought

"We ain't gonna give up! Deah's no way we can, we can win dis an' ya know it." Jack nodded at the door Spot smirked and they took off into the night.

*******************

Raven paced the lobby, back and forth, a cigarette dangling from her lips. She had become a permanent chimney.

"Would you siddown? Ya makin me dizzy Raven." Ghost complained.

Raven shot a glare at her that made the girl gulp and immediately back down.

Sage sighed. "Look everyone's on edge. Race, ya got ya cards witcha?"

Race whipped out his well worn deck of playing cards and began shuffling.
Immediately, the mood in the LH relaxed some and everyone started chatting away as if it was a normal night.

"Somebody help me up?" Sage asked as she made her third unsuccessful attempt at getting up from the sofa.

Raven grabbed her hands and pulled her to her feet.

"Thanks" I'se stahtin ta wondah if I'se gonna be able to move at all in a few days."

Raven laughed and poked her belly lightly.

"Is it just me oah is it gettin biggah an biggah?" Sage complained rubbing it.

"Of course it's gettin biggah...da baby's gettin biggah!" Eve said excitedly looking up from her poker hand.

Sage massaged the small of her back with her fingers.
All sorts of commotion then filled the room, comments about whom the baby would most resemble, whom would be the first to hold it, Race trying to tick off Raven and of course the casual picking on Mush.

The door to the LH suddenly swung open and no one thought anything of it until Sage stopped speaking right in the middle of her sentence.

"Jack?" Her voice nearly breathless, came as a choked gasp. She reached out and grabbed the back of the sofa to steady herself.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to the door. Raven froze, dropping her cards on the table.

Jack ran to Sage and hugged her. "I missed ya baby..." He pulled away and kissed her sweetly. "The baby must be havin anuddah growth spirt." He bent and kissed her ever growing belly.

Raven half smiled at them, because that was all she could manage.

Spot stepped into the room, limping just a bit."Raven?" He tilted his head looking for her.

Raven met his gripping blue eyes and she ran to him, pulling him into a tight hug never wanting to let him go. Spot stumbled back with the force of her, but hugged her close. She pressed her face against his chest listening to the pounding of his heart, memorizing the hypnotizing rhythm.

Sage pulled back from Jack again taking in his battered appearance. "What happened?" She reached up and touched the bruised goose-egg on his forehead.

"We got in a fight...go figure...but we're alright." Jack stroked her cheek and stared deep into her eyes, letting himself get lost in them.

"What's goin on Jack? Speed said we'se at wah" Sage whispered. She was more than scared at this point.

Jack didn't know what to say, should he tell Sage outright or let her think it wasn't as bad as it really was?

"Oh God, your head!" Sage took his hand and lead him into the washroom. "Talk to me. what's going on?" She prodded while she cleaned his bloody forehead.

Jack winced slightly. "Speed's right...newsies are gettin killed..." He gulped trying to get the image of Chaos out of his mind.

"Oh, God." She gasped. Her heart jumping into her throat. "Who?"

"Chaos."

"Oh no..." She swallowed hard. "Does...does Becca know?"

"Not yet..." Jack sighed heavily and winced again as she pressed a little too hard on the cut.

"Sorry." she blew gently on the gash. "You want me ta go with when you tell her?"

"You gotta stay heah Sage." Jack shook his head. "It's too dangerous foah you ta wawk anywheah wit me."

'But...Jack, it's not Hattan's fight. They only went after you cos you was with spot right? "

"Yeah, but I gotta help Spot out, he's like me damn bruddah, I can't let him fight against 'em alone."

"I know...that's not what I meant." Sage turned and paced the length of the small room. "Just...if it isn't Hattan's fight...why do we have ta stay cooped up heah?"

"It just ain't safe baby."

Sage sighed. "Jack...why'd they kill Chaos? He aint even a Newsie now."

"He killed t'ree Bronx boys...now I gotta get involved, an' you gotta stay heah wit Ravy ta keep 'er outta trouble."

Sage didn't know what to say. She finished cleaning and bandaging his wound and sat next to him, hugging him close. She wanted to beg him to stay out of it. She wanted to ask him to take her to Santa Fe. "I need you safe, Jack." She took her hand in his and placed it on her belly. Their unborn child seemed to recognize it's father's touch and kicked in response.

"I know baby...I am, I promise..." Jack bent over her and kissed her tummy tenderly.

Sage had tears in her eyes. "But you ain't safe. Look at you...."

"I just got a little roughed up dat's all. Da uddah guy looks lots worse." Jack's cocky smirk faded and he cupped his hand over her cheek. "Don't cry..."


"We're gonna have to postpone the wedding aren't we?" She leaned her head into his hand.

"Yea..."

Sage was heartbroken. But her place, as Jack's girl was to do what he needed her to. She'd resigned herself to that a long time ago. "I love you." She said with tears in her eyes.

"I love you moah."

"Not possible." She placed her hand over his and turned her head to kiss the inside of his wrist. "You know I'll do anything ya need me to Jack. The boys are worried. They feel helpless and useless...."

"I'm gonna tawk to all of 'em. Tell 'em what's goin on. I know dey'se gonna want in."

"What happened to make you put them all in the middle Jack? I know you're close to Spot...but ..."

"You won't even undahstand If I tell ya baby, you ain't seen it." His eyes clouded over, he visualizied Shortstop in the bed and Chaos laying there in his own blood on the cold alley floor.

"Shortstop and Chaos?" she questioned holding his hands in hers. His distant look scaring her.

"Yeah. Listen Sage, you gotta stay put. I don't wantcha ta have ta see anythin dat I'se seen."

She nodded.

Jack kissed her again, savoring her sweet lips against his own.

*****

"You awright babe?" Spot asked as he leaned down to kiss Raven. Wincing just a bit as his swollen lip met hers.

Raven looked at Spot with tears in her eyes. "Yea...I just didn't t'ink you was comin back."

"Aww babe, of course, I'se comin back. Always." Spot kissed her with a tenderness that he rarely possessed.

Raven smacked him on the shoulder. "Well den don't scare me like dat!"

"OOWWWW" Spot cried out.

"Sorry! God Spot, sorry!" Raven looked at him worriedly and took his hand. "Wheah else ya hoit?" She studied his beat up knuckles that were scabbing and encrusted with dried blood.

"I'se awright...just bruises mostly." He didn't want to scare her.

"Anybody evah tell ya yer a bad liah? Don't buttah me up Conlon..."

"Really babe. I'll be awright. I just need some time witchu." Spot pulled her into a hug, his ribs a bit tender but he just ignored it. "Speed said ya wanted ta talk to me...what's up?" He raised her chin with his fingertips.

"Can we tawk...private?"

"Shoah." Spot led her into another room, leaving behind a room full of stunned newsies.

Raven took his hand and made him sit next to her.

"Tawk to me Ray...what's got ya ready ta run into da middle of hell ta tell me?"

"Speed told ya huh?" Raven smirked.

"Yeah." He gave her a halfhearted smile.

Raven sighed heavily before working up the courage to tell him. "Huntah's my bruddah Spot...I wanna fight witcha but I can't..."

Spot blinked at her. Trying to let the information sink into his overworked brain. He frowned. "Why didn't ya tell me dis befoah?"

"You remembah when I told ya bout what happened ta me..." Raven prodded.

"Bout yoah bruddah forcin ya ta...do" He gulped. "Favahs foah his friends?"

Raven nodded. "Dat wasn't everythin. He used ta beat me real good too...an' when dat wasn't enough he wanted in on what his friends was gettin..." Raven looked away from him and stood up, walking across the room, not able to meet his eyes.

Spot sat dumbfounded. It wasn't often that the outspoken leader of Brooklyn was left speechless.

Raven wanted desperately to tell him something more but knew that now was not the time for it.

Spot went to her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "He ain't nevah gonna hurtcha again Raven. I promise."

Raven nodded her head and sighed. "I love you...an' I ain't nevah loved nobody befoah..."

He was angry with Hunter before, but this news added a ton of fuel to the raging fire in him.

"Spot just be careful, I know ya don't t'ink bout nothin when ya fight, just please don't be so reckless." Raven pleaded with him, her heart was feeling the strain already.

"I love you too." He soothed. "I gotta know youse safe Ray...long as I know youse safe I'll be awright."

"I couldn't fight against him anyway Spot, even If I tried I wouldn't be able ta..." She turned around in his arms.

"Shhh. It's ok. You don't have to."

"I need ya to tell me everythin Spot...all dat's goin on."

He couldn't tell her everything. Not every detail that he'd seen. No girl should have that in her head. No one at all, should have that in their head and he wished he could push it from his mind. "I can't do dat Ravy, not everythin."

"You can't keep it all in Spot, it'll eatcha alive." Raven pleaded with him, knowing how Spot's demons could be the very thing that destroys him in the end.

He lifted her chin so he could see her chocolate eyes. "I'll tell you what's goin on, but please babe, trust me when I say ya don't wanna know every detail."

Raven nodded her head slightly and kissed him. Spot returned the kiss and held her lips to his for a long time. His fear and rage turning to passion. He wished he could just hold her forever and never let her out of his arms again.

***

"How long are you home for?" Sage asked softly, afraid, but needing to know the answer at the same time.

"Probably till mornin...we had ta see youse."
Jack replied.

"I'm glad you did." She kissed him gently. "I hate bein away from ya. Even at the best of times."

"I know, funny t'ing t'ough it was Spot's idea ta find a way heah tanight." Jack smiled. "You t'ink he's finally admittin how much Ravy means ta him?"

Sage smiled. "I hope so. She's been so upset but you know how she is."

Jack rolled his eyes. "She's a piece of woik huh?"

Sage nodded. "I promised I wouldn't say anything...but with what's happening I think there's sommat ya need ta know..."

"What's dat?" Jack raised an eyebrow at her. Sage never betrayed a confidence.

Sage swallowed hard and raised her eyes to meet his. "Huntah..." She cleared her throat. "Huntah's her brother."

"Hes what? When did she tell ya dis?"

Sage nodded. "Earlier dis moahnin." She felt terrible about breaking her friend's confidence but it was important. "She was so upset. I know she didn't tell me everythin, but...I thought you should know that."

Jack nodded and ran through the new information in his head. No wonder Hunter was being so ruthless. But why was he coming after Raven now?

***

Raven pressed herself up against him tight never breaking the kiss for a long moment.

Spot pulled back from the kiss reluctantly. "I..I wanna kiss you foahevah...but, we gotta tawk ta everyone...den da rest of da night is ours ok?"

Raven took his face in her hands and kissed him once more before they left the room.

****

"Whatcha gonna tell the guys?" Sage asked. She longed to just sit with him but knew things needed to be taken care of first.

"Gonna ask 'em if dey'se gonna help. I ain't forcin 'em intah dis."

"They'd follow you to hell and back if you axed em to Jack."

"I know dey would...but da point is dat I axe. I ain't gonna just expect it. If they don't want to..." Jack shrugged.

Sage nodded. "How close ya think it's gonna get Jack? Are they gonna be in danger even if they don't follow you?"

Jack sighed heavily. "I dunno Sagey..."

"I think we need to talk to them and get it outta the way so we can enjoy what little time we have before you need to leave again." Sage stroked his cheek and kissed him softly.

Jack nodded and headed for the door with Sage in tow.

When Sage and Jack went back into the loby of the LH it was packed and loud with chatter.

Jack clapped his hands and whistled. "Hey listen up!"

Instant silence spread through the room.