Disclaimer: I don't own the Newsies. I do own Kate and Lady.

Chapter 9

A few uneventful weeks passed by and Spot and Kate were falling more in love everyday. Everyday, that was until the one day that would start everything snowballing together and would change the lives of everyone involved.

Spot and Kate had just finished selling the afternoon edition of the newspaper and had decided to go back to the lodging house for some time alone. As soon as Spot opened the door, he was greeted by an unsuspected and unwanted site. A girl with dark brown hair and intense green eyes was leaning against the counter. Kate noticed that Spot's eyes had gone from a deep blue color to a steel gray color and that he had stiffened as soon as he had seen the girl. She also saw hatred pass through his eyes for a split second before they became unreadable.

"What da ya want?" Spot asked angrily.

"Why so hostile Conlon? Relax, I'm only stayin' for a couple a days." the girl replied.

"Well, you're not wanted here."

"Are you still mad at me? That was a couple a years ago Spot. You should learn to forgive people. It's not healthy to keep all that anger inside." The girl said moving her hand to touch his cheek. Spot turned his head away. Kate glared at the girl; the jealousy boiling up in her.

"Who is this?" the girl asked seeing Kate for the first time.

"None of your concern Lady, now get out."

"Oh come on Spot. Be a gentlemen and introduce us."

"Kate, this is Lady. Lady, this is Kate, my girlfriend."

"Hi." Kate said politely.

"Girlfriend? And how long have you had this one? He has a bit of reputation with the ladies, if you know what I mean."

"It's none of your business Lady and I'll tell you one more time. Get out of my lodging house."

"I really need a place to stay Spot. Please?" Lady said with her best puppy face on. Spot looked from Lady to Kate then back to Lady.

"Fine, you can stay, but only for a couple of days then you're out. You got it?"

"You never could resist a girl with the puppy dog face, could ya?"

"You wanna be out right now, 'cause if ya keep talkin' like that, you'll be out on the streets faster than you can say 'I'm sorry'."

"You need to calm down Conlon. Too much stress'll kill ya."

"Let's go Kate."

"Ok." Kate replied as he grabbed her arm.

Spot and Kate had just walked out the door when Lady came running after them.

"Where ya goin'?"

"Manhattan." Spot replied angrily.

"I think I'll come along. I haven't seen Jack and the boys for a while."

As soon as they got to Tibby's, Spot pulled Kate straight to Jack's table. Spot needed to talk to Jack anyway. After a little small talk, Kate went to talk to Blink, Race, and Mush. Spot didn't even care where Lady had disappeared to.

"So guess whose back Kelly."

Jack didn't even have time to guess when all of a sudden someone yelled right in his ear.

"Hey Jack. Did ya miss me?"

Jack's face was suddenly twisted into a look of pure disgust. Spot just smiled. He knew that would be Jack's reaction.

"Lady, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?" Jack said turning around and planting a fake smile on his face.

"Well, I was in town and I thought I'd come by and visit you and the boys."

"How long do you plan on staying?"

"Only a couple a days. At least in Brooklyn." Spot answered for her. Lady just glared at him and walked away.

"Enough days to cause trouble then leave." Jack whispered to him. Spot chuckled a little at the insult.

"Have you been havin' trouble with Harlem or the Bronx lately?"

"One of my boys had a run in with one a couple a days ago. Otherwise I haven't had any trouble. Why?"

"Are ya sure it was Brooklyn they was after?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Why?"

" 'Cause my boys have been complainin' about Harlem and Bronx newsies takin' over their sellin' spots. It's getting' pretty bad too. A couple of them ain't even awake yet. I'm startin' to wonder if it's Manhattan they're after and not Brooklyn."

"It sounds like a trap to me. They think if they let on that they want Brooklyn, I'll be too busy with defendin' my territory to help you guys." Spot said after a few moments of thought.

"That's what I'm startin' to think. So what do we do now?"

"We'll have a meetin' with all the other boroughs. Maybe we can come up with a little plan of our own."

"Sounds good to me. I'll send someone to Queens, Staten Island, and the Battery."

"And I'll send some of my boys to Midtown and Coney Island. Word'll get around to the other boroughs. Just make sure that Harlem and the Bronx don't hear about it."

"Make sure that Harlem and the Bronx don't hear what?" Kate asked overhearing the last part of their conversation.

"It's nothin' sweetheart. Just leader stuff. Nothin' you'd probably be interested in." Spot responded.

"All right. Well, I'm ready to go whenever you are."

"All right. We'll have the meetin' three weeks from taday."

"Sounds good. How about right after Medda's show?"

"Great."

"Oh by the way, Kate?"

"Yeah Jack?"

"Kloppman set up your own room at the lodgin' house for whenever you stay over."

"Tell him thanks for me."

"I will."

"Well, we'll see ya later Jack." Spot called over his shoulder as they left.

"Hey! Aren't you forgettin' someone?" Jack called to Spot and Kate's retreating backs.

"Come on Lady. Stop flirtin' with the new guys." Spot called not even bothering to turn his head.

AN: I hope you enjoy this chapter. I had a lot of fun rewriting it, especially Lady's part. Let me know if you liked it. Please review.