Hours later in the hospital Denton, Mush, Racetrack, Jack and Kid Blink, were all playing the waiting game in the bare, cold waiting area at the hospital. Anxious to hear any news Denton ran a channel in the wooden floors.
"Thank you guys for being here." Denton said has he continued to pace the floor.
"No problem. Dese past two days she's been like a sisteh ta me." Jack stated. Just then the doctor came out with a worried look on his face, but then again they almost look worried.
"Mr. Denton?"
"Yes Dr. Dolenz?" A man with whiting hair and a wrinkled face approached him with a handshake. "I'm afraid it's internal. That bullet hit some pretty vital organs. I'm sorry for the next few days, there's nothing we can do." Denton's head fell. He walked over to a red chair and sat. There were tears in his eyes, and yet it was as if he wasn't really crying.
"What does he mean?" Racetrack asked.
"He means, that in the next few days you guys better say good bye. That bastared killed her." None of the newsies have ever seen Denton like this before, so cold, so bitter. The room is silenced for a few moments.
"Can I'se see her?" Mush lifted his head up, his brown eyes saddened.
"Only family son." The doctor replied sympathetically. Denton looked up.
"These boys are family." The doctor thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Okay follow me. Only one at a time." They all looked at Denton. He looked at Mush.
"Go on." Mush walked into her room afraid of what he might see, but as she came into view, Layana looked just as beautiful as she did before. When he got into the room he stood at the head of her bed, and just watched her. She began to stir.
"Where am I?" Brassily she asked.
"In da hospital. Do ya remember whadd happened?" He asked. She thought for a moment.
"Yeah. Are you and Race okay?"
"Yeah, we'se great. Hows you feelin'? Sorry bad question."
"It's okay. Lousy. Mush, I wanna say I'm sorry."
"Sorry, for whadd? I'se da one who's sorry. Da only ding you'se guilty of is havin' a heart."
"I should of not of even talked to Morris though."
"Dat's all over now. I'se never got to tell ya how wonderful you'se look."
"You'se mean looked. Oops, I mean you." They both laughed a little at her slip up.
"You'se startin' ta learn, an I'se mean look." He bent down and gave her a kiss on the lips. A few moments later Denton came in.
"My turn." He smiled. He figured if this were to be one of the last times he had to see her, he wanted it to be nice.
"I'se love you." He whispered
"You too." Mush waved to Layana and left.
"Hey shortcake."
"Hi Bryan." The two exchanged words and talked of things that he had been wanting to since they had found each other.