8

Morning After/Embarrassment

Spot woke early the next morning. He had a horrible feeling that something had happened to Alley in the middle of the night. He realized he wasn't the only one up or the only one thinking that. Dust and Shadow exchanged looks with him as they got up and woke the others.

"Spot, somethin' wrong."

"I know Shadow. I know. I just hope it doesn't got to do with Alley." The three nodded and headed off to Manhattan to get a shock of their lives.

They all stood outside the distribution area. It was utter chaos within the ranks. When all of the sudden Spot saw Jack.

"You… You traitor. If anything has happened to Alley I'm blaming you for it. If Alley's hurt, you're a dead man Jackie-boy. Mark my words I will kill you." Shadow and Dust stood by O'Reily amazed. They couldn't believe what they were seeing. And all the Brooklyn Newsies backed away from the crowd. They heard their cue, and they all left. As David had his words with Jack. The newsies that didn't leave stood around in shock as the last of the scabs went to work. Everyone left after that.

David went home and sat outside his the window of his families apartment. Sarah walked in and started cleaning.

"Dave, maybe he had no choice."

"Why don't you go look for Alley. I've heard from the others that she hasn't been seen since the rally. Don't you think you should go help." David made no move and no sound. "Fine, I'll go and look for her myself. I'm sure they'll let me help." Sarah shook her head and headed out not knowing where she was going. Race, Bumlets, Specs, and Blink were out looking for Alley. They didn't like to look they saw on the Delancys's faces this morning they seemed to happy. They were checking out an alley when they saw a black cat emerge form another alley.

"Wait a minuet isn't that Alley's calling card." The cat moved closer too them and then brushed up against Blink's leg.

"I'd say yes." They followed the cat to the alley that Alley was in.

Alley had woken up tears in her eyes still but too weak to move on her own freewill. She was dressed thank god but there was blood all around her. She knew what had happened to her. She cried as she saw a cat walk out of the alley. Oh thank god. I wanna be found now. I want out of here. But I wish I were dead. I wish…I. Pain over came her as she heard foot steps get closer.

"OH my god. Race, Specs, Bumlets, get in here."

"What is it Bli….OH god. Spot's gonna kill us."

"No he'll kill Jack."

"No I will," came a voice from behind them. They looked around and saw David and Sarah standing there. Sarah ran to Alley who looked up at her. The fire in her eyes was almost spent. She closed them.

"David come here. Help me pick her up." Everything went black as she felt her self being lifted from the ground.

Sarah and David placed her on Sarah's bed as Sarah's Dad walked in form his morning walk.

"What's this. OH my goodness!"

"Dad you remember Alley right. Well she's been hurt."

"We haven't seen her in a while Sarah."

"I know Father she's in Brooklyn most of the time now."

"What happened?"

"I don't know. We found her this way." Alley opened an eye the only one that was going to be swollen shut.

"Don't…," she said in a really weak voice, "don't let Spot hurt Jack. Don't…Don't let Spot and Brooklyn know."

"Alley, dear don't talk you'll only hurt yourself more." "Don't…let…" She blanked out. "Dad what are we going to do?" Their mother walked in just at that time.

"Oh goodness my house is full. OH my, umm Sarah, darling get me a damp cloth."

"Yes mother." Sarah did as she was told and handed the towel to her mother. Mrs. Jacobs put the towel on Alley's head and told the boys to leave. Alley woke up and leaned over the bed and throw up in a bucket that had been placed on the floor. Tears in her eyes, she threw up again and again.

"I wish I were dead. I don't want to do this." She leaned her head back on the pillow and cried.

"Alley don't wish that."

"I…I have no dignity left. I'm nothing."

"Alley that's not true."

"Yes it is!"

"Mother it's just best not to say anything." Sarah was on the bed stroking Alley hair.

"Shhh, just go back to sleep Alley." Alley obeyed, the pain was too much to bear and throwing up wasn't helping.

Spot was wandering the streets of Manhattan when he spotted Race.

"Higgins!" Race turned around a bit surprised.

Why do I have to be alone he thought. Don't kill the messenger.

"Yay Spot."

"Have you seen Alley."

There is no use in lying. None at all. "Yes I have."

"You have where is she?"

"I don't know." Damn I hope i had my poker face.

"You're lying to me Race." He saw Spot's hand move to the cane he carried.

"Yes, yes I know where she is, but I can't take you there. She told me not too."

"Who cares what she said take me to her."

"Spot I can't do that." "Racetrack Higgins if you don't take me to her…"

"Alright. Follow me." Why am I doing this. Alley is gonna kill me. Who am I afraid of more. Oh god I have no choice either way I'm dead. Race stopped outside of David's home.

"I warn you, you don't want to go in there."

"I will do what I like."

Meanwhile Jack was sellin' papes. He wasn't really into selling today though. He was wondering about Alley. Why didn't she go to Spot? Where was she? He had been the last person to see her, he knew that. He hoped she wasn't hurt, because he didn't not want to feel Spot's wrath.

Spot knocked on the door of the Jacobs' house. David walked to the door and opened it.

"OH hello Spot." Alley eye's shot open. NO I told them not too. No, no, no, he can't come in here. He can't see me like this. He'll go crazy and hurt someone. He can't…

"I hear you have Alley in there. Let me see her Dave."

"Spot I'm afraid I can't do that. She shouldn't have visitors."

"Dave LET ME IN THERE!"

"Don't shout. Fine. Be my guest don't say you weren't warned." David hung his head as he opened the door to let Spot in.

Alley's eyes filled with tears as she leaned over the bed to throw up again. This time the only thing that came out was blood. She had nothing left in her stomach and she was losing blood fast. She'd lost enough already. It was a miracle she was even still alive. Spot walked to the bed and stopped dead. They were right. I didn't need to come in here. Oh god. She's hurt bad. Real bad. My Tru. What the hell did they do to you. He walked to her side and whispered,

"Alley, I'm here. Don't yell at me just let me hold you. Just let me stay with you." Alley threw up again and again. He tried to rub her back but she jumped away from his touch. This wasn't like her.

"Alley what happened who did this too you." Alley put her head back on the pillow crying. Spot took her hand in his, but she shuddered and pulled away.

"I can't Spot. I just can't. The…I can't." Tears were streaming down her face. I didn't want him to see me like this. He doesn't need to see me like this.

An hour later Spot left. He couldn't do anything for her he realized but he was going to track down the person or persons who did this too her. He walked back to Brooklyn and was met by Dust, Shadow, and O'Reily.

"Spot's what's up with you."

"Nothing," he snapped. They backed away.

"She's hurt isn't she."

"Yes and Jack gonna pay along with who ever hurt her."

"Spot calm down please."

"We don't like this side of you." Spot sat down on the dock.

"I know…I just can't calm down. You should have seen her. She can't move all she does is throw up. I can't stand to see her this way." He broke down in tears as the other stood by. He didn't care what they thought. He had his back to them. Shadow and Dust had tears running down their checks and O'Reily stood there in shock just thinking that the others really did have a stronger tie to her then he did. Then out of the blue a single tear fell down his check and that was all it took he started crying right along with the other.

The morning was about to bring the surprise of their lives. And if Jack was lucky he wouldn't get himself killed by Spot. That is if Alley can get to him in time to tell him to run…

The sun set over Brooklyn and Manhattan none of the boys sleep well that night…..

a/n: oo look at me two in the same day. I'm so happy. but then again my story isn't. It'll get happier though. and there is a secquel coming and my prequel is still in the making. Don't worry i'll probably update that one tomorrow. DramaQueen even if it's all for you. ElleestJenn read my prequel it might help with some stuff. that is when i get a few more things put on it lol. well i must go i'm getting sleepy and i've been staring at light for way too long. i hope i don't have too many spelling errors. peace. signing out. lol