Disclaimer/Claimer: Dum de dum......

The girls, a bit tired and restless, finally reached the lodging house. They had long since dropped off Jenny at her home, and they guessed it was around eleven o'clock. So, with Amanda leaning on Danielle's shoulder as Renee held the door open, all three entered the lodging house, heading for their bunks.

As they were about to retire, they called good-nights to each other, then pulled the covers snugly around them before sleep over took them. Each one thought of that night's events, ideas of how to save Jack spinning through their minds (even though they knew they couldn't use any of them). However, things got complicated as they heard someone heading up the stairs. Sleep had not completely claimed them all yet, so all three listened intently.

"Shh, quiet Buff, don't wanna wake up any of dem goils," a gruff female voice whispered. Footsteps creaked slowly along the floorboards, not really doing much to cover up their late arrival. However, the girls were all out cold that none but the three awake noticed.

Amanda squeezed one eye barely open, and her eyes were greeted with the shadows of the figures in the dim light. They were girls alright, but she didn't like the looks of them. Not that it was a very good look anyways.

"Ah, ain't none of 'em gonna wake up Flow, they's out too cold," a second voice whispered. They were closer to the washroom now, and all three strained their ears to hear what was going on.

"Still, don' wanna risk it," the voice of Flow, they guessed, replied, this time more faintly. The conversation was lost a bit as the water began to run though. Danielle moaned slightly into her pillow, and Renee and Amanda shot her dirty glances quickly.

Soon, all three girls picked up their act of sleeping again, for the two girls had come back. That was one thing they had learned; girls back then didn't take as long as girls from their time to get ready. They could hear the girls crawl into their beds, and immediately Danielle was semi-glad she had taken the bunk with someone else. It allowed her a better listen to what the girls were saying.

"Soon enough Buff, we'll get dem newsie boys good. Snyda'll be so happy wit us, he'll drop all charges against you and Junk," Flow said, her laugh following. It was a rough, rasping laugh. Soon, Buff's laugh joined.

"Night Flow," Buff called.

"Yeah, yeah" came Flow's reply.

There he was, fighting off the coppers as was best to his ability. His brow knitted in concentration, a few beads of sweat dripping down his tanned skin. His face was scrunched up in anger, and his mouth yelled sounds that were distant to her.

She could feel herself reaching out for him, but he wasn't answering. She screamed his name, and for a split second, she could swear that he looked her direction. But, once one of the copper's nightsticks came crashing down, her eyes widened in fear.

It was coming closer and closer to his head, and all he was doing was fighting the other coppers. He wasn't aware of the fact that another was about to hurt him. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes as she screamed, the stick coming down and contacting his head.

The scream was dull and distant, but the longer it sounded, the louder it became, until it shattered her dream and woke her up.

She woke up, her breathing hard and quick. The sweat dripped down her forehead, her friends and a few random newsie girls waking up as well. No, she would not let that happen to him, she just couldn't......

A/N: AAAAAHHH! I know, a cliffie and a majorly short update, but I felt sooooo bad for not being able to update, that I just had to write something to update it. I hope you guys liked it!

specs-65: Thanks for your review! I really enjoy writing and Newsies is one of my natural highs (LOL Amanda...), and I'm glad people are enjoying it. I was worried at first that people would think this was overdone and old, but I'm glad people like it. I'm glad you like it too, and I hope to read more reviews from you. ENJOY!!

Moonlights Sundance: AH! Haven't heard from you in a while. Sorry it took so long for this update, I hope you liked it. And don't worry, I WILL keep writing, even if it does seem like I haven't updated in forever. And I promise, when I have time, I will read and REVIEW all of your stories. I can't wait for your more reviews from you!!

--renee--