By: Nightingale
Rating: PG13
Part 11
Sage and Gin enjoyed a wonderful lunch with many newsies and finally some girls to talk to, but it was over now as they left one by one to sell more papers. Most everyone had left Tibby's leaving Jack alone at a table. Gin would make frequent peeks to the figure sitting there.
"His girlfriend left him" voiced Sage jolting her back to reality
"That's terrible" answered Gin taking another look at him
"The relationship wasn't a long one but he was really head over heals for the girl"
Gin shook her head.
"Finish up that sandwich and we'll head back to Brooklyn"
"Getting a little brotherly already aren't we" teased Gin
Gin took one last bite following his instructions. When Sage started to lead her to the door Gin slipped her arm from his and walked over to the table where Jack sat with his head in his hands.
She kneeled in front of Jack placing her hand gently on his arm. He looked up from his hand his eyes red with hurt and pain. Gin gave a sweet smile as she got up from her knees and began to walk back to Sage when she felt a pull on her arm.
She turned and looked down at her wrist covered with his strong hand. Gin looked back into his face.
"Who are you" he asked
"Gin" she answered
"Thank you"
She went down to her knees again in front of his chair.
"She hurt you terribly. I'm sorry. If there is anything I can do."
"You don't know who I am." Jack stated astonished
"It doesn't matter."
Gin looked deep into his eyes and saw more than any words could have told her. She got up from her knees once more and took both of his hands in hers.
"If you ever need to talk. It's better if you talk about it, I'm in Brooklyn"
Gin gave one more smile and slid her hands from his and walked to Sage. Sage offered her his arm again and the two walked out of Tibby's. Gin took open last look as the last window was passed and when she did she saw Jack's gaze following them.
It was surely a surprise when Jack stumbled his way into Brooklyn not three days later. He walked along the dock just as he had the year before when he needed Brooklyn for the strike. It seemed as if nothing had changed. There were still those jumping into the water and still those glaring his way and still Spot sat on his perch.
"Well if it ain't Jack be nibble Jack be quick. How you doing Jackie boy"
"Not too bad. I came to see Gin. Do you know where she is"
Spot looked puzzled but nodded his head.
"She's in the lodging house."
Jack thanked Spot and headed towards the lodging house.
When he entered the lodging house it was very quiet. There was not a sound in the place. He called out a few times but didn't receive an answer of any kind. Jack began to walk up to the bunkroom. When he walked in he noticed that the window was open. He stuck his head out and there sitting in the corner of the fire escape was Gin with a book placed in her lap. She looked so peaceful sitting there with her nose in the book that Jack didn't want to disturb her so he was about to go back when she looked up placing a slip of paper in-between the two pages she had been reading.
"Hello" she greeted"I heard your calls I was just too involved and almost done with the page. I'm sorry."
"That's fine if you're busy"
"No not at all" she interrupted
"I like the open air and if you listen you can hear the boys down at the dock" she smiled
Jack crawled out the window and joined her.
"So may I ask why you came looking for me" "Well the past three days I've been talking to friends but they never really helped. Then I remembered your calming touch and your offer of a talk and thought I'd try you out."
"I supposed it would help if we knew each other a little better but I'll do my best."
Jack smiled a little and settled in for the long story starting from when he first met Sarah all the way to the point of her sudden break up and new boyfriend. Gin stayed silent the whole time listening. She never judged or said any word just laid her hand gently on his arm and let him continue his story.