Author's notes: Yup, I changed the title. It's now "El Shaddai," which means "God almighty" in Hebrew. We did the song by Amy Grant in my dance show, and it really ties in later on. You'll see… you'll see…

Chapter Three: Spot's Problem, and Race's Reaction

"So Race is a daddy now too, eh?" Spot said when he heard the news. "I'll bet Cowboy's gonna have a fit."

Sam was getting handsomer and handsomer everyday. Not that his father noticed. Spot Conlon had his own problems to worry about.

One of his most trusted boys, Pipes, had run off with a girl that just happened to be Spot's cousin Julia. They eloped, and Spot was furious when he found out. Well, no one abandoned Spot Conlon. No one. Especially when the reason was Spot's only living relative.

So, Pipes got what every newsie that betrayed Spot Conlon got: an unavoidable death sentence. So, a few weeks before, Spot sent someone to murder Pipes. But Spot wasn't just satisfied with Pipes's death; now he was after Julia and the rest of his family. Julia took the loss of her husband hard, and nearly died in the birth of her daughter. Shortly after her baby girl was born, she went into hiding. After a few days of searching, Spot's boys found Julia but not Irene. Spot ordered them to kill her, and didn't care where the child was, figuring she was already dead.

But she wasn't. Julia was the young Italian girl Racetrack had found dead, and Irene was her daughter. Which is why Spot was worried.

If Race made the connection between Irene and Spot, he would turn away from Brooklyn. And if Race told Jack (which he inevitably would)… then all ties between Manhattan and Brooklyn would be severed. He didn't care if Irene lived; murdering her would be out of the question.

But how would he make sure nobody knew that he had killed Irene's mother?

Spot's thinking was interrupted by a cry; Sam had just woken up from his afternoon nap, and his diaper needed to be changed.

"Aww… shit. Someone else take care of that," he said. In his worries about whether Brooklyn and Manhattan would stay allies, he had been neglecting his son. Someone else could change his diaper- Spot was busy. Someone else could put him in bed- Spot was busy. Spot was always busy.

Spot started pacing around his room in Brooklyn, still pondering. He had never been close to Julia; they were related only by marriage. His mother's brother had married an Italian girl after his wife died on the crossing to America from Ireland, or something like that, and Julia was his uncle's adopted daughter. Spot never really cared to find out. She was his only living relative, so he had to see her sometimes. She worked in a bar, and they chatted every now and then, but he couldn't have cared less whether they were related. She was the reason that Pipes had been disloyal, and she payed her price. Of course, Spot wasn't the one who killed her. No, he didn't want her blood on his hands. He just ordered his boys to kill her- Spot never usually killed anyone by himself.

He'd just not tell Race about Julia. He'd make sure his boys would do the same. But if Race somehow found out… he'd have a plan. But what would he do?

Suddenly, it hit him- Sam! When Race became his godfather the following day, he would have to stick around. So… Manhattan and Brooklyn would have to stay allies, because of the commitment Race would have to make.

He smirked to himself.

"You did what?" Jack said. He was furious.

"I'se keepin' her, Jack," Race said.

"Where? In case you haven't noticed, Racetrack, the name of this place is The Manhattan Boys Lodging House. Not goils. Boys. Last time I'se checked, that baby ain't a boy."

"When'd you check?" Race said with his trademark smirk. "And besides- Kloppman said she could stay wit' me."

"You'se gonna go broke! Two people you'se gonna have to pay to stay here. Two mouths to feed."

"She stays for free, according to Kloppman. And I guess I'll sell more papes an' play a few less poker games."

"Why the hell is Kloppman helpin' you out? Why the hell is he compromisin' for you?" Jack said, thinking it was unfair.

"'Cause," Race answered, "I'se guess I'se just special. Irene stays, Jacky-boy- whether you'se like it or not."

Jack glared at his friend.

"By the way- we'se havin' a double baptism now for Sam and Irene. Will you be her godfather?" Race asked.

Jack was in awe. The conversation had changed fast. Almost too fast for his liking.

"I'se guess- I ain't much for church. Not as good as you'se are," he said. "But how comes you ain't askin' Conlon?"

Racetrack laughed. "Conlon? My kid's godfather? You gotta be kiddin', Cowboy. He's even worse at goin' to church then you are."

The very next day, both Sam Conlon and Irene Higgins were baptized. The ceremony wasn't huge, just a few of the top dogs from Brooklyn and Manhattan. Spot was a little hurt that Race chose Jack to be Irene's godfather, but that was expected- Spot had more titles than all the other newsies put together. Some were out of admiration, others of hate- and others just because the newsies were bored.

Before the baptism, Spot had made an announcement that no one was to talk about Julia's murder to anyone. They were to pretend that it never happened. He stated his reasons- he never lied to his own boys. Just everyone else's. Of course, he didn't know that Kid Blink had just dropped by when he was finished selling his newspapers for the day.

Racetrack was smiling and showing off his newly baptized daughter at the Manhattan party. Spot and Race decided that they should have two separate parties, just in case things got out of hand. Normally they wouldn't have cared, but since they had their children to worry about, they decided that it would be for the best.

Blink wanted to wait until the party was in full swing before he pulled Racetrack aside to tell him what he had heard.

"Uh… Race…" he said, sort of dreading the conversation he was about to have, "there's somethin' I gotta tell you'se."

"Can't ya see I'se a little busy, Blink?" Race said, slightly irritated.

Blink sighed. Jack wasn't the only one who wasn't enthusiastic about Race's decision to keep Irene- none of the newsies were exactly thrilled that their friend was suddenly a father. Race had become so serious when it came to Irene- no one else could change her, dress her, feed her- he was the exact opposite of how Spot had been acting around Sam lately. Of course, everyone was allowed to hold her. At least Irene was pretty good at sleeping through the night- it could be worse. Skittery was just happy that the little girl hadn't decided to crap on him yet.

"It's real important, Race."

Race let David hold his daughter for a while. He followed "What's up, Kid?"

"It's about Spot. An' Irene. An' that goil you found last week. Turns out, she was Spot's cousin Julia. The guy she was wit' was one of Spot's boys, an' they pissed him off. So… well, you know what happens when someone pisses Spot off…" Blink said, trailing off.

"It was Spot," Race muttered under his breath. "He killed her- it was Spot."

Blink could see the fury in his eyes. "Now, Race, don't go doin' anythin' drastic now-"

But Race was already gone.

Author's notes: The next chapter skips ahead a bit. You'll see. So, is Spot more in character in this chapter? Man, he's hard to write. But you guys (and goils) knew that.

AH! My spell check keeps spazzing out. They have it so you can set it at all different languages, but not for an NYC accent. Spell check does not like the newsie's accent one bit.

Shout outs:

Gamble 7: I most likely will… considering that I've had this chapter typed up for a few days, and the next one's almost done. Thanks for the complements!

madmbutterfly713: Yeah- it's amazing how many people are way older than us on here. Yeah- that's my first Newsies story, but I've read many others. I've written in other categories before- but not in this one.

LeftyHiggins: OMG, you reviewed my story! EVERYONE READING THIS READ HER STORY "ROSES" RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT TOTALLY ROCKS! Seriously- it does. Thanks for the review!

Silky Conlon: I don't know why people spell their muses names like that. Everyone does it, though, so I guess I do too now. By the way, Race!muse is very flattered by your compliment. He says that he thinks he's hot too. I just hope it doesn't go to his head…