heh heh...did i say updating on christmas meant one had no life? i was only kidding...


As the sun was beginning to set, the newsies returned from selling. Dutchy broke away from the crowd as they reached the lodging house and headed toward the field in back. He didn't expect what he saw. He expected a well groomed Dunder standing in the middle of the field, Mustang still brushing him. Instead he saw a terrifyed looking Dunder galloping the fence line, bucking ocasionaly.(my wonderful spelling strikes again) Mustang lay flat on the ground in the middle of the field. She wasn't moving at all. He had no idea what to do. His first impulse was to get Mustang out off there, but he knew that wouldn't work. First off, he knew from experience he couldn't lift her dead weight off the ground. Second, he didn't know what a panicked horse would do to him and didn't fancy finding out. He bolted up the fire escape.

"Blink! I need your help. Where's Jack?" Everyone shrugged. He ran back down the metal stairs, followed by Kid Blink and a good deal of the other newsies. Everyone realized the issue immediatly. Racetrack had seen people deal with frightened horses before and grabbed Dunder's bridle. He managed to get the reins around his neck and hold him in a corner with some help from Snipeshooter and Mush. Blink tried to lift Mustang but his arm was still sore. Skittery lifted her and with help from Dutchy and Blink got her over the fence. Race let go of Dunder, who resumed galloping back and forth across the field.
Skittery lay Mustang down on her bed and left. Dutchy and Blink pulled up chairs. Dutchy pulled off his hat and ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head.

"Deja vu, huh?" Blink muttered.

"No kidding." He took her hat that had fallen on the ground and put it on her head. As he tucked her hair behind her ear, he noticed the hoof shaped mark on her head. "Guess we know what happened. I'll go get a rag." He stood and went upstairs to the washroom. Blink turned back to Mustang's still form.

"Just don't forget us again," he whispered. He touched the bandana around her neck and tied the knot a little tighter. He said he'd always be there, and he planned to. Dutchy came back into the room with a wet towel. "I'm gonna go tell the guys that she's fine."

"She is?"

"Well, I dunno, but I don't want them ta worry. Just take care a her." Dutchy nodded as Kid Blink left. He turned to Mustang and layed the rag on her head, gently rubbing away some of the dried blood. Knowing she couldn't hear him, he started to talk to her. He told her about his past, about how his brother had run away when he was young and how he wondered where he was. He told her about his hopes, his fears, everything. Finally, her eyes opened.

"You're awake! You didn't forget everything again, did you?" She stared at him for a moment.

"Chris? Is that you? It's been so long, I can hardly recall." She sat up, staring him in the eyes. His face fell and he looked like he was about to cry. "I'm only kidding! No, I remember everything." For a second he looked like he would kill her, but he just hugged her.

"Has anyone ever told you you're beautiful?" he asked, sitting back.(aw, so cheesy, yet so sweet)

"My older brother used to all the time, but that was a long time ago, before the fire."

"Well, thought I should remind you. Because you are." She smiled and he leaned forward and kissed her. She kissed him back and he gently stroked her hair until his hand brushed over the bruise on the side of her head and she pulled away with a gasp. "I'm sorry," he said as she held a hand to her head.

"It's fine." She lowered her hand and looked at the dried blood on her fingers. "He kicked me, huh?"

"Yeah. We don't know how or anything. I was selling, and most a the other guys were in Brooklyn."

"Well, just before it, I pulled this bit of wood out of his hoof. It would have hurt, but not enough to spook him into doing that though." She thought for a moment, rubbing the wood that was still in her hand. "Someone yelled at the same time. The two things together spooked him." Dutchy ran a hand through his hair.(you know, in that cute way he does at the restraunt when denton tells them hes going back to the war seems like it would be a habit when hes stressed)

"Racetrack had this big game of cards going, not sure what game, but there was a good deal of money up fer grabs and Race won. Everybody got mad and accused him of cheating. You know Race, he wasn't gonna stand fer dat. They started this real big fight. Betcha that's where your yell came from." Mustang nodded and picked up the rag from the bedside table. She unfolded and refolded it until she found a clean spot and held it to her head. "You're not mad at him, are ya? It wasn't his fault."

"I dunno. I mean, he did scare my horse." Dutchy laughed.

"I was talking about Dunder." Mustang smiled.

"I just hope it didn't affect him too badly. I don't want him to be jumpy and stuff."

"I wouldn't worry about him." She nodded. "Well, get some rest. I'll see ya tomorrow." He kissed her and headed upstairs, placing the door in the doorway on his way out. She had to laugh. She put out her lamp and lay down. She felt the knot of Blink's bandana and shifted it so she wasn't laying on it. How lucky she was to have the two greatest guys in the world.


(sigh) im a die hard romantic, i know. i just cant help but add in those cute little things. Mustang has become the projection of my dream life. minus all the head injuries maybe. i mean, she has a horse, no limitations at all, lives in a boarding house full of hot guys, and has the most perfect boyfriend in the world. yes, Dutchy is designed as my "mr. perfect" plus all the cute little things, like my holding hands thing, and the dancing in the rain, and the hand on the cheek, wiping away tears bit. and all the adoreable, corny things he says. makes my heart flutter. im getting sappy, arent i? ok, ill stop, im done.