A/N: Wow, you know your mind's going when you have to re-read your stuff to update! Yes, it's been THAT long since I updated…anything, pretty much! LOL! Anyways…usually the reviewers forgive me for taking awhile to update, and I'm appealing to their merciful side.

YIPPEE! THREE CHEERS FOR MY LAZY ASS FINALLY UPDATING!

Newsies: YEAH!

EvilSpot!muse: Finally!

ME: Shut up! I've had more pressing matters to attend to then sitting my butt in front of my computer. However, as there is now no more marching band, I can sit in front of computer whenever I want! (Well, kinda)

EvilSpot!muse: Shut up, already!

ME: Anyways…((baritones blare)) THE CHAPTER!

Blink!muse: What's up with you and the musical instruments blaring lately?

ME: …Shut up.

Switchblade's Story-Ch. 7

When we got to Manhattan, I'll admit, I wasn't too pleased about being there. I've always thought Jack should've played a more active role in raising his daughter, but what's done is done, I guess.

So, when we got there, Spot, in his usual blunt Irish style, barged right in, went up to the bunk room, and rudely shook Jack awake.

"What the hell do ya want!" Jack asked, none too kindly, once he was awake. Spot's only response was to shove the letter in front of Jack's nose. As Jack read it, his eyes widened, but the expression on his face only flickered.

"Well!" I demanded, twitching with impatience.

"Not a whole hell of a lot we can do, Blade" he said, not looking me in the eye.

I had to fit back an impulse to attack him and claw his eyes out.

"Jack, this is your CHILD!" I screamed, sort of losing my cool and slapping him across the face. He took a step backwards, but showed no other reaction.

"Blade, Blade, calm down!" Famous said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me back (I think she was worried I might kill Jack if she didn't restrain me.).

"I will NOT fucking calm down!" I yelled. "He has to DO something, he can't just give UP!" And I started to cry, something I hate doing in front of anybody, let alone my bastard of an ex-boyfriend.

Jack walked over to me and put his hand on my shoulder, which I started to swat away, but he caught me by the wrist, and then turned my head to look at him.

"Look, Blade" he said. "Please don't cry. You're…you're probably right. She IS my child, and…and…I'll help you find her. We'll get her back. Together."

I wiped away a few more tears, and looked at him through my rapidly swelling eyes. "Really, Jackie-boy?"

"Really really."

I squeezed his hand in appreciation. We hadn't done anything "together" since we broke up, and even if he was a stupid bastard, he was the father of my child.

"Let's get my baby back!" I said, getting up off the floor.

Jack gave me a look.

"Right. Our baby."

"Grazie."

45 Minutes Later, Outside the Office of the World

"Ever wonder what motivates Pulitzer to get up in the morning?" I asked Jack as we surveyed the grand building that housed the World.

"Money. He knows there's a lot of it in the city, and he wants to know how he can get more of it. Stupid greedy bastard."

"Kinda like you" I thought, but I kept my mouth shut.

"So…now that wese here…what're we gonna do?" asked Spot, twitching slightly.

"I dunno" Jack replied. "I didn't think we'd get this far."

I rolled my eyes, and could almost feel Famous and Spot doing likewise.

"Well…let's start with going inside, shall we?" asked Famous, sounding just a smidge condescending.

"Oh. Right."

Commence more eye-rolling.

As Jack pushed open the giant oak doors, I couldn't help but feel an ever-growing sense of dread. None of us knew what was going to happen, and worse yet, I don't know how Kathleen was holding up.

But that wasn't gonna stop me. I squared my shoulders, and marched inside after Famous, determined not to be deterred.

10 Minutes Later, at Tibby's

"Well, that couldn't have possibly gone ANY worse, do ya think?" Famous asked sardonically, sipping some of her whiskey.

"I especially loved the part where Jack attempted to beat up Jonathan" I muttered. "REAL smart, Jackie-boi" I added, glaring at him.

"Hey, he insulted me motha!" he said, glaring at me, the fire burning in his eyes that I had once found so attractive now burning with anger.

"And you should have let it roll off you!" I retorted hotly. "Your motha's DEAD, Jackie-boi, punching everyone who insults her won't bring her back." I glared at him and knocked back some of my scotch.

He glared right back and signaled for the bill. "Look, Blade, I happen to know that Joe's havin' a party tonight at his big-ass fancy mansion. We can bust in tonight, and…we'll see where it goes from there."

I raised an eyebrow at him warily. "Since when do your plans EVER work?" I asked skeptically.

He flipped me the bird, and Famous laughed tipsily. "Aw, come on, Blade. Maybe it could work. Ya never know."

I glared at her. "Thanks a lot, Fiona."

"Don't call me that."

I rolled my eyes, stuck out my tongue at her, and looked over at Jack. "All right. So what time is this party?"

8:00 that evening

"Jack, this is gonna end badly!" I whispered under my breath as we stood at Pulitzer's front door that evening. I felt that dread of the morning come back twice as strong.

"Wouldja just RELAX, Blade!" he hissed, ringing the bell.

Jonathan, Pulitzer's butler (read: lackey) answered the door.

"Hi" said Jack, being polite, for once in his life. "I'm Jack Kelly, and this is my…fiancée, Elizabeth Ryan"- (Right. I look SO Irish) "-And we're here to get our baby back that your boss had kidnapped."

Jonathan looked startled at Jack's bluntness, but I was even more so. FIANCEE!

"I think perhaps you better both…come inside" he said at last.

As we walked in, I heard voices, the clink of glasses, and loud laughter.

"Are you having a party?" I asked, to fill the silence.

"You've arrived on a rather special night. It's one of the Master's affairs" he replied.

"Lucky him" I muttered under my breath. (A/N: 200 points to whoever can name the movie that little exchange is from!)

Jack just glared over at me with a look that said "Shut the hell up!" I rolled my eyes in response.

We entered a lavishly appointed dining room full of the sickly sweet smell of cigar smoke, the odors of wonderful food, and the sound of the rich and powerful laughing at the plight of the downtrodden. (A/N: I know, I know, big words for a Newsie, but…I couldn't resist. Besides, she hangs around Dave a lot! LOL!)

Joseph Pulitzer was seated at the head of the long mahogany dining table, smoking a cigar, and talking with Mr. Hearst. He looked up as we approached, not looking at all surprised to see us.

"Ah, so you have come at last" he said, rising to greet us. "Would you excuse us for a moment, gentlemen?"

The others nodded their consent, looking slightly bemused.

We followed Pulitzer into a small study adjacent to the dining room, where he motioned us to be seated in matching wing backed chairs in front of a long oak desk. We did so, my feeling of foreboding growing exponentially with every passing moment.

"So…you two want your child back, am I correct?" he said, looking at us over the rims of his spectacles.

"Damn straight we do!" Jack said, his façade slipping off at last. "And we want to know where she is right NOW, or we'll go to the police and have you charged with kidnapping." He sat down, looking rather pleased with himself.

Pulitzer's face, however, remained impassive. He surveyed Jack with a patronizing expression, then looked over at me. "You and I shall deal with this, shall we, Ms. Elizabeth?"

I nodded. "Please…I just want to know that she's all right. I just want her safe at home."

He looked at me quizzically. "And…what would you be willing to do to ensure her safe return?"

I looked him in the eye. "Almost anything."

"Almost anything?" he asked, taking another puff on his cigar. "What won't you do, my dear?"

"Quit the strike, sleep with you, or work for you" I fired back.

"The latter two never crossed my mind" he said mildly, looking slightly taken aback. "The first option however…I believe you said that was all you had to do to see your daughter returned to you."

The anger was building up inside me, and manifesting itself in a headache that was making me quite light-headed. So, I did the only natural female thing to do in situations like these.

I fainted.

END CHAPTER

A/N: Wow…it's finally done! W00T W00T! Ummm…yeah, please forgive the cliffhanger, it was the only natural conclusion I could think up on the small amount of sleep and large amounts of caffeine coursing through my body and spirit. Anyways…please pray for me (if any of y'all do pray), I'm going through some tough times right now, I could use all the mental support you guys can muster (although some pelvic-thrusting hot boys would do WONDERS for my morale, LOL!), so…yeah, thanks. On to shoutouts!SHOUTOUTS:

Erin Go Bragh: Yeah, you were right about the Spanish. My mom forces me off the computer all the time, I don't like it either. Love ya, thanx for reviewing!

Saturday: Sorry about your missing the bus! glomps But I feel honored that you missed it to review! tear And Rounder singing Pulitzer to death isn't a bad idea...evil grin and maniacal laughter
Sexy!Blink: She's crazy. But thanx for the review!
ME: Yeah, chuckle what he said.

Checkmate: Yes, though it was hard to resist the temptation to NOT have Rook making a fool of himself. But there's always next chapter! Love ya!

Faerie Myers-Parker: I dig the penname. And the makeout scene is NEXT chapter, never fear, I haven't forgotten! Love you, thanx for the review!

ducks-go-quack-00: Yes, the penguins are evil, and they're going to KILL US ALL! Latah, love ya, bye!

Kid Blink's Dreamer: Ya know, my dear, I'm getting the impression that your muses are smarter than you! LOL, j/k!And yes, is VERY stupid. Love ya, thanx for reviewing!

NIGHT ALL!
Liz