Back at Spot's fort, the newsies were beside themselves in worry.

"We have to go back! We have to get them out!" Mush kept saying as he paced the small room.

"We need a plan!" Blink said.

"Yea, better then the last one?" Jack asked nastily.

"Shut up! You agreed to it!" Mush shot back in defence of his best friend.

"Yeah, and who thought it up in the first place!" Jack spat.

"GUYS!"

Everyone turned to look at Mouse. Her small figure leaning dependantly against one of the walls, her hands shaking slightly.

"We need to keep ourselves together," She said more quietly.

The one (and possibly the only) good thing about the previousnight's escapade was that they did manage to grab a bottle of the medication and it was helping with Mouse's breathing. Other then that, they couldn't see any positive outcome.

"Mouse's right," Racetrack said, "we need to stick together as a group and come up with a plan,"

"Alright," Jack said, looking around the room, "any ideas?"

---

Star opened her eyes slowly. They stung. She tried to move but her entire body was seized up in pain. She felt paralized. She did manage to turn her head slightly and she saw Switch laying right next to her. His arm resting on her side.

'Holy shit' Star thought. She did a quick scan. Both still fully clothed. 'Okay good'. Her first impulse was to move away but she didn't, for two reasons: One; she couldn't really move at all, two; she remembered kissing him last night. She remembered liking it.

After about an hour she tried to move again, this time with some success. She managed to sit up a little and turn so that she was facing Switch. He woke up.

"Hey," he said softly, his voice muffled from sleep. Star gave him a weak smile. Switch tried to sit up but froze in pain. However, he seemed determined not to give in so he kept pushing himself off the groud until he was upright. Star noticed that half of his face was bruised and realized that she probably didn't look any better. As if reading her thoughts, Switch sent her an understanding look.

"How bad is it?" Star asked, willing herself not to cry.

"You're still beautiful," Switch said, extending his hand again, this time he recoiled in pain, "damn, I think my ribs really are broken," he said trying to lighten the atmosphere by laughing. It sounded more like a dying animal trying to breathe so he stopped. Star looked into his eyes again. They were beautiful. She contemplated telling him so, but she didn't. Instead she looked down at her brusied body.

"That guy is an animal," she said coldly.

"No kidding," Switch agreed, "we weren't even in the damn store,"

"Do you think he'll let us go?" Star asked, she felt like a small child asking for reassurance.

"Doubt it," Switch said truthfully.

---

Meanwhile, back at the fort the newsies had agreed on a plan. They were going to send one newsie into the store to distract the man. This newsie would be Race, seeing as he was the only one who didn't show up the night before. While Race was inside doing what he did best (pretending to haggle) the other newsies would work at breaking into the cellar and freeing Switch and Star. The only problem was, they would have to wait a few days until the man patched up his shop and reopened for business.

"Are you sure we can wait that long?" Mush asked worridly.

"Don't worry Mush," Jack patted his friend on the back, "it's not like she's alone in there,"

"Yeah, I know..." Mush trailed off. Secretly, that was what worried him most. Despite his lighter thoughts towards Switch in the past little while, he was uncomfortable with the thought of not being there in case Star needed him. He was still far from trusting Switch.

---

The door to the cellar flung open and the beefy man walked in again. Star and Switch had propped themselves against the far wall and looked up suddenly. The man's large body blocked nearly all sunlight from the cellar door. He stepped in and locked it behind him.

"Now..." he said. His voice was rough and repelling. He took three giant strides over to where Star sat against the wall and made to pick her up by the waist.

"Get off!" Star screamed, spitting in his face. The man recoiled at the wad of saliva then raised his fist. He swung but his shot was thrown off when Switch collided with his back, knocking him to the ground. Crying out in pain, Switch began pummelling the man as hard as he could. Blows to the face, the stomach, the jewels. The man threw him off and kicked him out of his way. He moved towards Star again, but his time she was ready. She brought her arm back and then deeked him out by elbowing him instead. The man stumbled backwards and Switch, getting up off the floor, kicked his legs out from underneath him.

"You stay the fuck away from her!" Switch screamed, spitting at the man's feet.

The man got to his feet, his face red with fury. "Watch yourselves," was all he said and he stumbled back out of the cellar. The two newsies heard to lock click and his heavy footsteps as he left then in the dark again.

To her own suprise, Star began to sob. Uncontrolably. Switch moved over to her, limping and panting. He wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her close, stroking her hair.

"It's okay," he said, trying to sound convincing, "I'll never let him touch you,"

Star sobbed into Switch's dirty t-shirt but nodded her head. She looked up at him, noting the fresh gash above his right eyebrow.

"I'm so sorry," she said through her tears.

"It's not your fault," Switch said. Star took a breath and then brought her face to his. Their lips met again and the farmilliar sensation took over Star's stomach. The feeling was that of being Taboo. She was breaking rules with this boy. It was a feeling she liked. Ingnoring the stabbing pain all over her body, Star kissed him more passionatly. Switch returning the favour. They lowered themselves down to the ground. Star, slowly and gently began to lift Switch's shirt over his head. Switch winced in pain but didn't stop her. Star began to kiss her way down his body. She paused when she reached his scar. She looked at it and then up at him.

"Old battle wound," he said. He kissed her again. Letting his tongue explore the inside of Star's mouth. He reached around Star's back and began lifting her shirt off as well. It was proving more difficult so Star helped him. Switch rolled himself on top of Star, easing her boyish pants off of her hips and onto the floor. Star did the same to him. Her thoughts were swimming. She basked in Switch's power over her. She wrapped her naked legs around his back. Switch kissed her again. They kissed and kissed. There was so much pain, aching ribs, pounding heads... but there was good pain as well.

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End of Chapter 6:..

Please read and reply! PLEASE! lol... :P