Update-ation in the nation.

Warning: This is a dramatic chapter. Enjoy?

"What happened to him?" I put my hand over my mouth as tears started to trickle down my face. "Oh my God, he's dead."

The uniformed military man in front of me stood tall with his hands placed neatly behind his back. Though his stance and clothing represented the strictness of the US Navy, his facial expression was sympathetic.

"Are you Mary-Jean Shay?" He asked. I nodded weakly. "I'm Lieutenant Cromwell."

"What happened? He isn't dead. Oh God, he isn't dead." I repeated my words, trying to convince myself they were true as I started to hold my breath, expecting the worst.

"Your father isn't dead," I just put my hand on my heart and silently thanked God. "But he is badly injured." Tears still trickled down my face.

"What happened?" I choked.

"It..." He paued. "It was an accident. Friendly fire."

"He's only been gone a few days!" I said, part of me refusing to believe him. "Is he gonna be okay?" Cromwell didn't answer. "Is he going to be okay?"I asked harshly. Hysteria fringed my voice, warning him I was going to either cry or scream at any moment. Which and when, neither of us knew.

"There's a 50/50 chance. Captain Shay is in Georgia. He paid for you to have a train ticket." He handed me a rectangular piece of paper. "Good day."

I nodded and he turned and left. I stood in the doorway staring down at the ticket. I wanted to scream and rip it to shreds. He should have been careful! Why did he leave? He didn't even think of me when he took that job. I stormed away as tears traced the routes the previous ones had taken. As I went out the door I violently pushed past someone who was coming in.

"Watch it" Slight said, clearly annoyed. Unable to come up with something bitchy to say back I glared. It must have been easy to see that I was crying because her look immediately softened. "Navy, what's wrong?" I didn't reply again, but instead ran down the street.

She didn't follow me. Why would she? I asked myself. Your own father left you to go join the navy, your grandparents hated your guts; why would a girl you met a few days ago give a damn where you go? I continued to mentally berate myself.

Within ten minutes I realized I was out of breath. I stopped suddenly causing someone to run into me from behind. They continued walking mumbling about my stupidity under their breath. It sent me over the edge and I stood in the middle of the sidewalk sobbing. I felt so sorry for myself.

As I stood there, my reasons for crying changed. I was being so selfish and now I was mad at myself. My father could be on his death bed and I'm having a pity party.

"I deserve to die." I said loudly. People stared but I couldn't bring myself to care. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around to face whoever it was that wanted my attention.

"Navy? Oh, come 'ere." Lori pulled me into a hug. When she pulled away from me, she asked, "What's wrong, hun?"

"I-I ... he ... It isn't fair!" I said. Lori looked at me expecting more. "My father, he-he... Oh my God, Lori. He could be dead by now."

"Oh, Navy." She said sympathetically. I didn't know what to say after that. "Why aren't you with him?"

"He's in Georgia." I showed her the train ticket. "I'm leaving tomorrow at ten."

"Where am I?" I asked, suddenly confused. I looked around me and didn't recognize anything.

"Couple blocks away from Central Park."

"I need to go home."

"Are you gonna be okay, kid?"

I shook my head and turned around. I walked back the way I came. After a few wrong turns I found my way to the Lodging House. I could hear people had gotten home as I turned the knob. Changing my mind, I decided not to go in. I wasn't ready to see them all. I sat down on the front stoop with my head cradled between my hands and massaged my temples.

"Where is Navy?" I heard someone ask from inside.

"I saw her walk out. She looked really upset." Slight answered.

"I'm gonna go see if I can find her." Skittery said. I could hear him walk towards the door, but I got up and made a point of disappearing into the crowded street.

I spent that night in an alley. The sun woke me up and I felt sicker than I had the day before. I quickly got up worried about missing the train. Upon leaving the alley and entering the wider, brighter road I asked a man with a watch on the time. He shoved me out of his way, prejudiced to my dirty clothes and tangled hair. The second man I asked told me it was 8AM. I said my 'thank you' and headed back towards the Lodging House. I assumed everyone would be gone and I was almost right. Mr. Kloppman peacefully slept in a chair by his desk.

I sneaked past him and went upstairs to the attic. Repacking my suitcase, I looked around the room, sad I was already leaving it. I finished and left, heading towards the train station. When I passed a newsie I ducked my head down and let my hair fall in my face.

I arrived far too early and made myself comfortable on a bench.

"Navy?" I heard Skittery before I saw him. "Where the hell were you?" He noticed my suitcase. "Where the hell do you think you're going?"

"Georgia." I said quietly.

"Why?" He sat down next to me

"The Captain's hurt and he's down there. I have to go."

"I'm really sorry." He seemed at a loss for words. There was an awkward silence before he continued. "When will you be back?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure I'm coming back."

"What?"

"Skittery, I don't know." I said sharply. "Why are you here?" I asked turning away from him.

"I was selling here."

"Oh."

"Listen, if there's a chance I may never see you again, you should know ..." He took my hands in his and kissed me. I immediately pulled away.

"How dare you?" I cried out, drawing attention to us. "I-I can't believe you would do that! I'm sitting here, scared my father is dying and you have the nerve to kiss me?" I slapped him and he looked at the ground. "Get away from me." I said through clenched teeth.

"I'm sor-"

"Get. Away." He rose from the bench and left.

What do you think?

Oh yes, last chapter I screw up my A/N. I've got a couple of things to say.

#1 This story is going to be updated a lot more frequently because I want to have it done by the 10th before I leave for the summer.

#2 I need your opinions my minions - Should I start a new story when this one is done and update it in large chunks every 2 weeks (My weekends that I'm at home) or save it for August. It's up to you guys. If you review, just throw what you think out there.

#3 I just needed to say thank you to everyone thats ever reviewed this story. It makes me smile a lot and you guys are amazing.