The next day, Red was up before anyone else. She tiptoed over to her bed, to check on her little charge. He was just beginning to stir.

She watched as he stretched and yawned, then bolted straight up in bed. He frantically looked around the room, his eyes finally relaxing a little when they fell on her. He whispered to her.

"Sgìath liughaìr?"

Her eyes opened wide. He spoke Gaelic! She quickly answered him back.

"Nìhagh. Thú bruidhim Berula?"

He nodded in reply.

"Good. Do you trust me?"

He hesitantly nodded again. A smile broke across her face.

"What's your name, tyke?"

"Nìhagh, not Tyke. Is Miles Leland da tird."

She smiled. He couldn't say his h's yet. "That's a purty long name for ya. Whaddya màthair call ya?"

He smiled this time. "Tyke."

"Mind if I call you that?"

He shrugged his shoulders in indifference. She grinned. This kid was going to be a character. But suddenly his demeanor changed. His face looked up at her, sad and expectant.

"Where es màthair? Where es athair?"

She didn't have to say a word. He burst into tears as she cradled him. Soon he stopped, and looked up into her face apprehensively, as if he was afraid she'd disappear too. She tried to be comforting and distracting in her next words.

"Well, den, I'm Torii. But me friends call me Red." She stuck out her hand, trying to make him feel welcome. He very formally shook it, standing as he did so. "How old are you?"

He held up five fingers. He scrubbed a grimy hand across his eyes.

"You wanna come down and meet de guys?"

He shrugged again.

"Well, we gotta getcha some clothes anyway, so why don't we go." She held out her hand and he took it, gripping to it as if it were a life preserver in the middle of the ocean. She looked down at him. Concern and seriousness was etched deeply into his face.

"Hey, Tyke, dey won't make ya bite da head off a chicken 'til dey know ya a week. And dat's if dey don't like ya."

He was still very concentrated. "Will dey like me?"

She smiled reassuringly. "Hey, I like ya already. Dem guys are suckers fo' kids. Don't worry bout it! 'Sides," at this, she leaned in, like she was going to tell him a secret, "I'll soak any o' da bums who tries ta hoit ya."

A smile broke across his face, and he allowed himself to be led down the stairs.

- - - - - - -

"Ya sure ya kin afford dis, Jack?"

He dragged her into Tibby's, Tyke by her side. "Hey, I ain't payin'. 'Sides, ya deserve it. Dat kid, and ya sold lots more taday den yestaday."

She shrugged. "I dunno, but I think it's like ya say, Jack—a kid gets mo' attention."

He pushed her into a booth, letting Tyke scoot in beside her. The diner was almost empty, since it was around three. Red was starving.

"Hey, can't we jist go off fo' Charlie's?"

Jack ignored her pleading look. "No. Ya eatin' in taday." The bell over the door rang. He grinned. "'Sides, heah's our payoff." He slid out of his seat, heading towards whomever just came in the door. She could hear murmuring voices, then the owner of the strange voice came into sight.

"Red, I'd like ya ta meet Denton. Denton, dis is Red, da one I tole ya 'bout."

Denton slid into the booth, Jack following him. He leaned towards her. "Jack says you have a story for me. Human interest, of course."

Her eyes opened wide. "Jack! Thù gòrach!" Her glare at him clearly told him that he would have a lot of explaining to do later. With her fists.

She turned to the Sun reporter. "Nìhagh, no, I don't. Jack here is getting delusional." She rose from her seat, but Jack was there at the end, his glance daring her to move another inch. She plopped back down reluctantly. Denton continued, motioning at Tyke as he did so.

"This story, you rescued this little boy from a burning apartment building?"

She blushed. "Yeah. I spose I did."

Tyke spoke up then. "And de McConnell's baby."

Denton and Jack's eyebrows rose simultaneously. Red sank back in her seat. This was embarrassing. Denton leaned toward her, trying to keep his interest concealed but failing miserably.

"So, tell me. How exactly did you pull this off?"

- - - - - - -

"Jack," Red started, but he cut her off.

"Good food, huh?" He strode out into the sunlight, whistling. Red jogged to catch up with him, Tyke trailing.

"More than good, but 'ow could you do that?" She stared at him in utter stupefaction.

"Well, ya know, I jist went to Denton's apartment an' told 'im I had a story fo' 'im."

She sighed in exasperation. "But WHY, JACK."

Her raised tone of voice was very unnerving. But he just shrugged and whistled again, an irritating smile on his face. Red gave him a look.

"Why, you…"

"I'll drop you off, cuz me 'n Tyke heah, we're gonna 'ave a talk." Red looked up. They were already in front of the boarding house.

Tyke looked at him, excited. "Really?" He had already grown to admire the Manhattan leader, since Les, Red and Tyke had sold with him that day. Through the day he had become more open, and although it seemed like a quick turnaround, they knew there would be problems ahead. But he seemed like he was fitting into his new lifestyle. That was a good sign to Red.

"Yup, kid. And no goils allowed." Tyke's eyes widened. He looked apologetically to Red. "Dat ok, Liubhaìr?"

She nodded, adding, "You can call me Red."

"Can I call you Liubhaìr? Cuz you are."

She smiled at him. "Only if you want to."

He nodded. "Yeah. I wanna." He waved, then turned to Jack and placed his small hand in his. She watched them walk off, knowing Jack was sharing his not-so-secret tricks of the trade.

Red walked inside. The place was vacant. She knew most of the guys were probably either still selling or up in the bunkroom sleeping or playing cards, but she didn't feel like joining them. Instead, she walked over to the new chair. She sank into it. It still smelled a bit, but it was better than the last one. This one was more of a recliner.

She took her customary position, with legs swung over one arm, while she picked up Spec's copy of Hard Times. It was the same book he had given her. His had gone up in flames, but he didn't know that.

She had read towards the end of the second chapter when a cough attacked her.

This one literally took her breath away. The book became forgotten, its pages splayed on the floor where it was dropped. Her legs dropped from the arm to the floor. She keeled over, bracing herself against the wood flooring, trying to get a grip on herself.

Finally the coughing stopped. She took a careful breath, wiping her mouth.

She started when she looked at her hand. Blood was streaked across the pale skin.

- - - - - - -

Sorry I haven't been updating regularly, but i might be grounded, and we just went on vacation. So sorry. Thanks to all those who reviewed! Luv ya'll!