Across the Times
By: Nightingale
Rating: PG13
Jack felt the knife pressing into his leg from the security of his boot. The guilt of knowing and not telling was eating at him. He now saw what Gin had been trying to say earlier, but he knew her reasoning. It made him feel all the better to know that she cared enough to risk all of her morals once again for him. They all reached the meeting point and the fact that Jack was there didn't go unnoticed.
"Smart to have your girlfriend come bail you out." Yelled Deacon
Hands was missing and Jack couldn't help but grin at the thought. Still hurting from last night's encounter with Gin no doubt. That put an even bigger grin on his face. Come what may he was ready for this.
Gin sat in the lodging house in a worried frenzy. Her finger twisted around her necklace as she sat looking to the floor. It had only been minutes but it felt like days. Timid noticed and he draped his small hand over her shoulder.
"Are you alright Gin" he asked sweetly
"Yes." She half whispered
"Jack will be okay. I just know he will."
"A prayer never hurt anything though you want to join me." He nodded and grabbed her hand and they began to pray.
Before she realized it another hand grabbed hers. Gin glanced up for a moment and soon all of those who had been left behind had gathered hands with her and Timid. A tear slid down her cheek as the group prayer continued around the circle of linked hands.
Jack looked around him. It was chaos to say the least. Newsies everywhere and that's when he noticed it. Deacon started it and in a flash it seemed that over half of the Harlem newsies had knives going after Manhattan. Jack's eyes went wide and Gin's worry really began to be relevant to the fight. They were all in mortal danger.
Something inside her was causing her to start panicking. She got up and began to pace something was wrong…terribly wrong. Timid sat in his seat that was once next to her. He watched her pace with his head in his hands.
"It'll be okay Gin" the boy assured as he watched her Gin nodded and kept pacing as if she couldn't stop. Maybe she couldn't. Suddenly Kloppman walked in and Gin ran up to him.
"You have to watch the kids here." Gin ordered
"Where are you going Gin" asked Timid as he ran up to her holding onto her legs
"I have to go. I can't stay here." She answered as she tore his arms from her and ran out the door.
Jack kept his wits about him while watching out for those around him. Blink suddenly went down to his left and Jack ran to help him. It was in this swift movement when he heard a yell from somewhere it sounded like his name, but it was ignored by the stab of pain that suddenly jolted his body. He gasped grabbing his ribs where he found the knife.
Blink made it from under the guy and tackled Deacon to the ground. Jack had his eyes closed tight but a feminine voice forced him to open his eyes.
"Jack" it repeated over and over again
He forced his eyes open to reveal Gin with tears in her eyes.
"Gin"
"Oh Jack" was all she could manage He was losing blood fast and Gin knew that wasn't a good thing.
"I'll be fine.don't worry" he tried
Gin couldn't answer.
"Don't worry cause we're going to Santa Fe. Me, you, and Timid I promise" Gin nodded with tears in her eyes clouding her vision.
She never noticed the people around her stop their fighting to watch the great leader of the strike go down like this. Gin laid her head gently on Jack's chest sobbing.
"I do swear that I'll always be there. I'd give anything and everything and I will always care. Through weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow, for better, for worse, I will love you with every beat if my heart." Jack said into her hair
Gin looked up into his face.
"From this moment life has begun. From this moment you are the one."
"Right beside you is where I belong." She stated
"From this moment I have been blessed. I'd live only for your happiness and for your love I'd give my last breath."
Gin began to cry again, but Jack grabbed her cheek in his hand and her hand went up behind his.
"I'd give my hand to you with all my heart." She assured
"Can't wait to live my life with you. I can't wait to start. You and I will never be apart."
"My dreams came true because of you."
"From this moment as long as I live I will love you, I promise you this there is nothing I wouldn't give from this moment on. You're the reason I believe in love."
"And you're the answer to my prayers from up above. All we need is just the two of us."
Gin's head fell back to his chest as she noticed his face losing it's color and his breathing coming harder and harder to him.
"Shh" he said as his hand gently stroked her hair
"I should have been here sooner."
"I wasn't meant to survive this. This is what history wanted."
"What about what I wanted"
"I love you"
"I love you too. I'll never forget you Jack."
Jack didn't respond so she lifted her head and looked into his face still and lifeless.
"I will love you as long as I live from this moment on."
The cries choked her. Gin felt her body being lifted from the ground but never found out who did it. If only she wouldn't have let him go…if only.