Whatever Happened to Dodger?

DISCLAIMER: Believe it or not, I am not Charles Dickens. Gasp! Sorry to disappoint all of you. I assure you that most of these characters and some of the plot belongs to him, wherever he may be buried.

SUMMARY: Did you ever wonder what happened to the Dodger? Charles Dickens gladly tells us what happened to Oliver, Fagin, Charley, Nancy, and Bill, but what happened to that funny boy with the top hat who disappeared from the text around chapter 43?

A/N: Umm…I don't really have anything to say. Here's chapter 10!

Chapter 10: Reunited

Dodger thanked the driver for getting them to London and told him they would go the rest of the way by themselves. It was dark by the time they made it back home.

"I have an idea," Dodger said suddenly. "Let's go to the Three Cripples and I'll buy you a drink to celebrate."

Timothy liked the idea and all but ran to the pub.

But just as they were entering the door, Timmy froze. Then, he ran straight for a table in the corner.

"Mamma!" he cried. "Papa!"

"Timmy!" a woman exclaimed, as Timmy barreled into her.

Dodger smiled. There, at the table, were Bet and Tom. He nodded to Hopkins at the bar and made his way over to the table where his old friends were hugging their son.

Bet looked up at him and smiled.

"Thanks for taking care of him," she said.

"Jack!" Tom exclaimed, clapping him on the shoulder. "You're a sight for sore eyes. I never thought I'd see you again."

"Yeah," Dodger said. "It's great to be back."

Timmy settled himself in his mother's lap.

"Where have you two been?" Bet asked.

Dodger held up the sacks. "On the job."

"You were always a hard worker," Tom said, clapping him on the back. "Have a seat."

"We were worried when we couldn't find the two of you," Bet said. "But Hopkins told us you had been here just a few days ago."

"When did you get back?" Dodger asked.

"I was released just two days ago, but Tom had been back for a whole week by that time."

"How long have you been here?" Tom redirected the question.

"I've lost track of time," Dodger replied. "I think it's been almost two months."

"I never thought I'd see you again," Tom kept repeating, shaking his head.

"Mother," Timmy whined. "Can I have something to eat?"

"Of course," she replied. "Go tell Hopkins what you want."

The boy slid off of his mother's lap and ran to the bar.

"He's a good kid," Tom said. "He's a little hyper at times, but who isn't at his age?"

"I know I was a handful," Dodger replied, nodding.

"Yes, Fagin liked to tell stories of how he must have been insane to take you in at such a young age," Bet laughed. "You were a lot of work for him to keep up with."

"Nancy took pretty good care of me though."

"Ay, that she did." She sighed. "Nancy was the kindest person I've ever met." And with that, she burst into tears causing several people to cast strange looks at them.

"The night she was killed," Bet continued once she had calmed down. "She had been to see those people who had been kind to Oliver Twist. Fagin sent that Morris Bolter after her to spy."

"Who?"

"Oh! Forgive me, you don't know him, do you?"

Dodger shook his head.

"He came to Fagin just after you were arrested," she continued. "In fact, it was he Fagin sent to watch your trial and come back with information about it."

"You were arrested?" Timothy asked through a mouthful of food.

"We can discuss that later," Dodger said.

"So then this Bolter told Fagin all about Nancy's conspiring against them," Bet resumed. "And Fagin told Bill who-" Here she began to cry again.

"Several days later," Tom said, taking over the story telling. "On a hunt for Bill, police rushed into every building where they had evidence that Bill went on a regular basis. This included The Three Cripples and Fagin's, of course." He paused. "You remember Charley Bates?"

"Of course."

"Yes, you would." Tom laughed. "You two were quite the pickpocketing team. Well, when Fagin's place was taken, Charley and I managed to escape together. As far as I know, we were possibly the only two to get away. Figuring it was too dangerous to travel together, I headed to Jacob's Island and Charley was to follow after dark.

But before he could arrive, who should show up than Bill Sikes himself. Charley was deathly afraid of the murderer. We could all tell, but he acted brave. Yes, he acted very brave. He threw himself at Sikes and attempted to kill him himself. He failed."

Dodger laughed. "Poor Charley. He overestimates his own strength."

"Of course, the mob was not far behind. They soon found our hideout though they couldn't get in. Bill, in a hurried attempt to get away, ended up climbing onto the roof and jumping. He got what he deserved."

"That's pleasant," Dodger muttered.

"What about you?" Bet asked. "How did you end up here again?"

"After my trial," he began. "I was sent to America where I was to do hard labor for life. After six years, I found a window of opportunity. Of course, I jumped at the chance to escape."

He paused to remember exactly what had happened.

"One night," he pursued. "My roommate, or cellmate if you wish, became violently ill. He began to vomit and have spasms. While doctors and guards rushed in to help him, I slipped past them all unnoticed through the open door. After that, it was all a matter of getting past the guards at the front entrance, which was easily done with a bit of artful dodging."

Tom laughed heartily and clapped him on the back. "Well done!" he cried. "Fagin would have been proud."

"Why were you arrested?" Timmy asked suddenly.

"For picking pockets," Tom answered. "You don't want to end up like the Dodger or your mother. So, don't get caught."

"Alright," the child replied happily.

"Tom," Dodger interrupted. "What happened to Charley after you saw him on the night Bill died? Bet mentioned something about farming?"

"Yes," he replied with a laugh. "He claimed he was so appalled at what Sikes had done to Nancy that he ran off to become a farmer's drudge. I suppose he's been there ever since."

"Where?"

"He told me he would be heading up to Northamptonshire." He shrugged.

"Mother," Timothy whined. "I'm tired."

"Oh, he didn't get much sleep last night," Dodger said.

"Maybe we should take him home," Bet suggested.

Tom agreed and the three of them bade Dodger a good night and left.

While walking home, Dodger kept thinking about his conversations with Bet and Tom. They had been most interesting. Of course, he had heard most of those stories from Bet and Hopkins, but neither of those had been as detailed and informative as Tom.

Of course Tom's stories were better. He had been there, after all. He had seen all of it firsthand.

Here, Dodger made a quick detour without even realizing it and before he knew it, he found himself at the old house where he used to live when he worked for Fagin. He must have not been thinking and had traveled the all too familiar path out of habit.

Shaking his head, he turned away and headed for his home.

Once there, he deposited the sacks of stolen goods and turned for the door once again. He had made up his mind on the way home. He was taking a trip.

And so, making sure he had money, he left his house and London and headed north.

He was going to Northamptonshire to visit a certain farmer.


A/N: A certain farmer…who could that possibly be? I know some people who should be very excited that Charley will soon come into the story.

Sorry it's taken so long to update. I was in England. Lots of fun.

pickpockets anonymous: Yeah,Timmy's not quite "artful" yet. I haven't decided yet, but he probably won't be in the story much more now that Bet and Tom are back. Thanks for reviewing. You can stop bothering me about chapter 10 now and start on chapter 11. I don't have any more prewritten. You'll have to force me to start writing again. Good luck with that.

Thanks for reading! Please leave a review.