Dun dun dun….
I've updated! I know its been a while (that's the understatement of the year) I just got a little sidetracked.
Well without further ado the story….
"C'mon Mush wake up damn you." Gem patted Mush's forehead with a cold washcloth. She hadn't left his side since they found him. How could this have happened? Poor Mush who would beat up Mush the sweetest newsie in Manhattan? She would kill them. If she ever found out who did it she would kill them.
"Hey Gem." She looked up from Mush to see Jack standing at the end of the bed, but didn't smile or say anything just looked back down at Mush. Jack noticed she looked pale and scared. Gem was always either upbeat or flirting he had never seen her this way and didn't like it at all. Those bastards who did this are gonna pay! He walked over to Gem and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "He'll be ok sweetheart I promise." Gem looked back at Jack her green eyes glistened with tears.
"Why would anyone do dis ta Mush?"
"I don't know but I'se gonna find out and there gonna pay" Gem didn't like the tone in Jacks voice. It was bad enough that Mush got beat, but if Jack went and got himself in trouble…she didn't know what to think. Her two best friends.
"Now don't do anything stupid Jack. If we find out who did dis we'se gonna handle it da smart way. Don't go off thinking you can handle everything yerself. Promise me you wont go off looking for trouble by yerself." He heard the plea in her voice and nodded regretfully.
"Gem?" Both looked down at Mush who was stirring.
"Yea I'se here Mush." He smiled and winced.
"Yer beautiful…" he trailed off.
"Yer in no condition to be complementing girls… do you know who did dis to you?"
"I'se don't know, but dere was dis dark haired goil and maybe two guys… dats all I can remember."
"Don't worry Mush we'll find 'em. I'se gonna go ta Brooklyn tomorrow and see if Spot knows anything." Jack put in.
"Thanks Jack."
"No problem kid."
"Gem? Will you stay with me tonight?" Mush looked at her through a squinted eye.
"Of course I was plannin' on it anyway." She took his hand and he smiled as he fell back to sleep.
"Well well well, If it aint my dear friend Jack come all da way from manhattan ta visit…and the lovely Miss Gemini, always a pleasure." Spot greeted Jack with a spitshake, and then took Gemini's hand and kissed it gently reciving a glare from Jack. "What can I do for you two?"
"Mush was beat up pretty bad, and dosent know by who. He said it was some dark hairred girl and two thugs. He's in pretty bad shape he might remember more when he gets back to normal." Gemini explained before jack could. "Is there anyway you could help find out who did it." Spot noticed that this wasn't the normal happy go lucky Gem she looked tierd and desprate.
"Hey Gem you know I'd do anything ta help a friend. Why don't you go see what Hawk is up to while I talk wit Jack. I think shes down at the dock." Gem nodded and walked down the pier.
"Shes a little shook up." Jack explained.
"Poor girl, but dats da life of a newsie. Ya know it could just be somebody who saw a street kid and wanted some action."
"Yea I'se thought about dat too but they called him Manhattan… doesn't sound so random then dose it."
"I see yer point. I'll get me birdies to check it out see what they hear."
"Thanks Spot."
"Don't mention it. So how are things with you and Sara, or is it you and Gem now?" Jack didn't answer. "That bad huh?"
"Yea its that bad." He could still see Gem talking to Hawk. He hadn't even thought about Sara lately or how he was going to explain to her why he missed there romantic evening together.
Hawk was stunned to hear what happened to Mush. The first thing that popped into her head was Sly. It had to be. First messing with Brooklyn then Manhattan. It seemed like he was looking for real trouble. He either has some thugs backing him up or has a death wish. Gem looked beat.
"It'll be okay Gem. Spot and Jack will know what to do. They aint da leaders for nothing."
"I know its just Mush is my best friend and I cant stop thinking about how he looked and how much it scared me when I saw him in the alley. What if he had been dead?" Hawk looked around not knowing what to say. Gem looked at Hawk. "Hey I'll be fine, I'm just in shock…" She looked over at Pixie…no wait Pixie's hair is longer than that. Hawk looked at Gems confused expression and followed her gaze.
"Oh Pixie came here last night." She said offhandedly
"No Pixie was in Manhattan last night and dismorning." Both girls looked back at "Pixie".
"Theres something going on…"
"Good work sweet cheeks." Sly grinned. With Mush, one of Manhattans best fighters out, and Brooklyn pissed off... this was going to be easy. Now all he had to do was find out where Ace was hiding, and the way to do that was through his baby sister.
"Sly…don't ever call me sweet cheeks." Risk shoved his hand off her shoulders. The sooner this was over the sooner she could get on with her life. Getting revenge was so time consuming. She had hardly been able to sell any papes. "Are yer boys ready for a fight incase Brooklyn decides to act sooner than we think."
"Just like a boy scout I'se always prepared."
"Good, cause I'd like to get my hands on a girl named Hawk. That will surely get Spots blood boiling. Hes always had a soft spot for that tramp! I never saw what she had that I didn't give him."
Okay so were finally getting somewhere Mush is half dead. Gem is all shook up and knows something is up with the whole Pixie Tink thing that will all come out soon. Jack is torn by two girls along with trying to figure out who messed up Mush. Spot is cheating on Lucky with Hawk, which got everyone into this mess in the first place (I'll explain that later) Sly and Risk are planning something big…and the rest of the newsies are carrying da banner……