Penny and Elise sat on a bench overlooking the East River, savoring their lunch break. Clouds were moving in, and so the girls were relishing one of the last few days of sunshine before fall really set in. They were in mid-conversation about this topic when Jack popped up, sitting nonchalantly on the bench next to Elise.

"Well, hello, Jack," Penny said with a smile, biting into an apple. "What brings you to Brooklyn?"

Noticing the newsies walking back and forth through the street, Jack slid an arm around Elise's shoulders for appearance, but his face was anything but friendly. "Look, I sent you girls over here to keep trouble outta my lodgin' house. But all you're doin' is bringin' more in." He spoke softly, not wanting anyone around to hear him. "I can't have my boys bein' beat up in the streets and nearly carted off to the Refuge on account'a you."

"Jack, this isn't our fault," Elise said, raising sad, shy eyes to him. "It's not like we asked for this."

"Skitts and Crutchy would jump in front of a damn train for you two, an' it ain't a good thing." He leaned in close, lowering his voice more. "You're really interruptin' the..." He glanced at the river behind them, searching for a word. "...Flow of things."

"You pathetic bastard!" Penny jumped up, throwing what was left of her sandwich in his face. "How dare you! You were all for having us live in your lodging house, protecting us, taking us under your all-powerful wing, because you're the great Jack Kelly, with a heart of gold and a smile to match!"

Across the street, Catch stopped and snickered at the scene with a young newsboy. "Looks like Kelly's got her Irish up," she said with a devilish grin, then continued on toward their destination.

"But the minute things start to turn sour, you slink back with your tail between your legs, pass the problem on to someone else!" Penny's eyes burned as bright as the red of her hair, staring Jack down menacingly. "And of course, soon as you realize we don't have eyes just for you, you turn us away! Jack Kelly, you are a coward, and a pompous one at that!"

"Hey!" Jack stood up, towering over her small frame and setting his body to fight. "Nobody calls me a coward, 'specially not some Mick broad on a power trip!"

At this, Penny stepped toward him, pushing him with all her might. When he hit the ground, she drove her foot into his gut and then set it on his chest. As he looked up at her in awe, she shook her head. "Don't you ever call me a 'broad' again."

"Stop it!" Elise struggled to get up, flustered and a bit breathless. "The two of you are--" She stopped mid-sentence, gaping just as Jack was at the rush of fluid that was suddenly on the ground and partially on Jack's shirt. "What is that?" She blinked, then placed her hands on her suddenly cramping stomach. "What's going on?"

"Oh, my God." Penny took her foot off Jack's chest, then looked down at him. "We have to get her back to the lodging house!" Jack remained on the ground, staring up at Elise in awe. Penny kicked him in the side. "Get up! She's in labor, you idiot!"

Jack stood up, shaking, looking back and forth up the street. He called to Catch and her friend, who reluctantly trudged to them. "Okay, um..." He pointed to the newsboy, who seemed more frustrated at the fact that he didn't know what was going on than that he had been interrupted. "You," Jack said, "help me carry her home. And Catch, I need you to run to Manhattan, get Crutchy and Skittery and maybe a couple more fellas." Catch turned and started to stroll leisurely toward the bridge. "Catch!" Jack called after her. "Run!"

Jack and the newsboy struggled with Elise a moment before figuring out a system, and headed out on the short walk to the lodging house, with Penny alongside, trying to hide her panicking.

A/N: There isn't a whole lot to say here. At least for me. There'd better be a lot for you guys to say. :) I figured I needed to bring out Jack's role a little bit more. And we needed some action. Things are getting intense, no? Anyway, I promise the next chapter will be longer, and you will find out the fate of the McKennons. In the meantime, please R&R, and maybe take a look at my other fics because I'm a review whore right now. (end shameless plug here)Thanks! -Layne