"Okay guys, so what's the plan?" Racetrack asked eagerly, as thesix newsies (minus Switch, Star and Mouse)sat down to discuss 'operation medication'. Or that was what Star had called it when she heard. Star had been reluctant to let them go ahead with it, but she couldn't deny that Mouse's condition was worsening.

"The plan, Race, is for you to stay here and be with the sickies, we already told you that," Spot said curtly.

"Aww man, I thought you'se was kidding!" Race groaned.

"Someone has to watch them Race, and since you were the last one back, we voted you," Jack said, trying notto look Race in the eye.

"Fine, okay... fine," Race stood up and disapeared, grumbling all the way, into the Brooklyn fog.

"Anyway," Spot said, turning back to the group. Jack, Mush and Blink told Spot about their plan before anyone else and he was eager and willing. Plus, this was his domain after all, he knew his way around, "the pharmacy is just a little ways away from here... ten, fifteen minutes."

"Okay, so what time does it close?" Jack asked.

"Around ten I guess," Spot said, his brow furrowed in thought.

"Okay... so we can leave at ten tomorrow, that way the shop owner will be gone for sure," Blink said.

"Nope... he might be in bed by then though, they live right above it, always have," Spot corrected.

"Oh," Blink said.

"So it's a plan," Jack concluded.

"Wait! What can I do!" Jamie said, getting everyones attention before they left the cirlce.

"Ermm..." Spot thought, "you can be the distraction, in case anyone comes over to... window shop or somthing..."

Jamie glared at Spot. But she didn't object.

---

The following night Jack, Spot, Blink, Jamie and Mush set out at presicsly ten o'clock in direction of the Brooklyn pharmacy. Star waved after then before climbing weakly back into her bundle of blankets that she called a bed. Mouse was awake finally but not talking, just breathing slowly and wheezing a lot. Switch was up as well, sitting with his legs outstretched and tapping his fingers against the wood.

"Ya mind cutting that out," Race asked as he lit his cigar.

"The way I see it, I'm being irritating... you're sharing your bad habit," Switch said calmly.

"Why are you such an ass... I mean... more so then a normal ass," Race said, blowing smoke a little to obviously in Switch's direction.

"Shit man!" Switch said coughing and then wincing, "Some people are having trouble breathing as it is!"

Star could see that Race regretted doing that, but he didn't say anything. Once Switch recovered from his coughing fit, he glared at Race angrily. He wasn't one to let people get away with pissing him off.

"So Racetrack," he asked smoothly, "what size are those feet of yours?"

"What the hell?" Race looked genuinly confused.

"They don't look too big," Switch said... looking at Race's shoes and then examining his fingernails, "I mean... you know what they say..."

"What are you-?" Race stopped, "Oh...I get it," Race smirked, "you're trying to out-man me,"

Star sat up a little. This was bound to be interesting. Racetrack versus Switch. Battle of the testosterone.

"I think I already have," Switch said, smiling.

"Like hell you have," Race said, taking another drag on his cigarette.

"Whatever," Switch, with some difficulty, hauled himself to his feet and made for the door.

"Where are you going?" Star asked from the floor.

"Out, this place is too stuffy for me," he shot Racetrack a look and then left.

"Unbelieveable," Race remarked.

Star nodded.

Switch crossed his arms as he stepped out into the cold. It was very chilly. His lower lip began to tremble so he picked up the pace. He had no idea where he was going. For that matter, he didn't even know where he was. He walked and walked and by pure chance happend to wander down to where his fellow newsies were exsecuting their heist.

'Holy lord, can't I get away from these shits?' he thought as he contemplated turning around and pretending he never saw them but a feminine voice made him turn back around.

"Switch!" came the seductive voice of Jamie from in front of the shop. She was standing there, her long hair cascading down her front, she was shivering. As was Switch.

"You look like a hooker," Switch said as he wandered over.

Jamie gave him a look.

"So this is where the 'big scary theft' is happening huh?" he asked, scanning the building. It seemed like a big joke.

"Yea," Jamie said, shifting a little closer to Switch, "They should be inside by now, they went around back... but we have to be quiet or we'll wake the shop owners." Jamie waved her finger, indicating that that would be a bad thing to do.

"Okay, I'll shut up," Switch said. Damn it was cold. They just stood there in front of the pharmacy. They couldn't hear anything coming from inside. Nothing but the wind... all of a sudden there was a thunderous crash from behind them. Switch and Jamie turned around and saw to their mute horror that the boys in the shop had knocked over a shelf. Switch looked up as a light went on above the shop.

"They're awake," he said. Jamie just started open mouthed at the scene in the store. Nobody seemed to know what to do.

'Am I gonna have to save the day again?' Switch thought irritatedly.

As if what had just happened wasn't enough, who should come round the corner to where he and Jamie stood... Star.

"Star," Jamie said, suprised etched in her face.

"I needed some fresh air..." she said quickly, "...okay! I wanted to see how this was going but-"

"Shut up!" Switch whispered. Inside the store, Jack, Spot, Mush and Blink were just reaching the back door when down from the stairs off to the side came a large, very tall man in pajamas.

"Run!" They heard Jack yell. The newsies in the store booked it out the back and in a second were in the front with Jamie, Switch and Star.

"What are you doing here?" Mush asked, panting as he ran up to Star, he also looked inquiringly at Switch.

"Run, now!" Jack shouted again, grabbing whoever's sleeves he could reach and dragging them away from the store. All seven of them began running down the road. Within a few steps both Switch and Star slowed almost to a stop, breathing hard and leaning their upper bodies to one side in pain.

"Star!" Mush called back over his shoulder, but Jack grabbed him. The large man from the store came around behind Switch and Star and kicked them both over.

"No!" Mush yelled but before he could try and help, two enormous dogs came speeding around the corner, their teeth bared.

"Holy shit," The newsies took off again, Mush, whenever he could, looking helplessly back over his shoulder as his girlfriend and Switch were dragged into the store's cellar by the big stranger.

Once inside, the two of them were thrown onto the cold dirt floor. Both recieving multiple kicks to their already tender bodies.

"Stop!" Star screamed, she cried, she sobbed. The man wouldn't listen.

"Don't touch-!" Switch recieved an extra hard blow to the abdomin and he totally doubled over. Gasping for breath.

Finally the man left. Leaving the two aching bodies trembling on the floor.

With what strenght he had left, Switch turned himself to face Star. He extended a hand and wiped away a dirt streaked tear from her cheek. Star looked at him, and very possibly for the first time since they'd met, she actually looked straight into his eyes. She was so absorbed she didn't even see it coming. Switch inched forward until his hand was at least partially behind Star's head and he gently pulled her face towards his. Their lips met and Star tasted a combination of blood, tears and saliva as they kissed. Star felt as if it wasn't even her that was kissing him. She felt like she was above this scene, watching it. She kept waiting for her to break off, back away discusted and insulted but she didn't. Instead she kissed him back.

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End of Chapter 5 :..

I hope the whole, 'Star coming to the pharmacy right after Switch showed up' wasn't to stretching... I just needed to get them both in the same spot... oh well... please review!

Thanks again to all my awesome readers!