-1Disclaimer: Newsies that you recognize arent mine. The ones you don't are.

Sorry about not updating in so long, I have been busy. Did any of you know what a great show Sopranos is? Seriously guy…. My sister borrowed my Newsies DVD (aka took it without asking), my friend had my Rent, they took Mighty Ducks off On Demand, and my mom took Batman Begins back to Blockbuster, so I was going through Newsie withdrawls. So I remembered that Race was on Sopranos, so I thought hey why not. Yep I am hooked.

Warning: For what I have in mind for this one, it may turn out a little TOO fluffy. Try not to gag, I promise it will get depressing soon (lol) Oh and I promise Oscar will actually be in this one to.

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Three days passed, and Shay only got worse. What she thought was just a hang over became the flu. She puked a lot, and barely got out of bed. She would get so hott, that she would get up to open a window, but by the time she got there she was so cold her entire body was shivering. More than once Rhythm came home from selling and found her passed out on the floor, from where she had just tried to stand up. At first it wasn't so bad, but it got worse and worse as each day passed.

Rhythm stayed with her every moment that she wasn't selling. He slept in the chair next to her cot, just in case she needed anything. He held her hair when she puked, waited on her, brought her food, what ever she needed Rhythm was there for. Over the three days they talked a lot, and became close friends.

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Parker sat on his bed, head in his hands his mind racked with worry. He should have seen Shay by now. He knew she had gone to Brooklyn, but she should have been back by now. It wasn't like Shay to just leave, that was more Parkers deal. So many things could have happened to her. What if Pa found out where she was, and took her back? What if she got jumped? She could be laying someone in some dark alley, bleeding to death, hurt, or worse.

Blink came into the empty bunk room, to change his clothes before he went to go see Kleio like he had promised

"Hey Skids" Blink said as he walked past his bed

Parker waved him off a little, and went back to rubbing his temples. Blink was used to Skittery being in a bad mood, so he didn't pay much attention to him. He changed out of his work clothes, and washed his face. On his way out the door he tunred back to Skittery, who hadn't moved, except to occasionally rub his temples.

"Hey Skitts, I'm headin' up to Brooklyn, I owe Flash a visit, you wanna come?"

Skittery looked up at Blink who was rubbing the back of his neck. The two had never been close, so it was a little odd for Blink to invite him with him out of no where. But the more he thought about it, it would be a chance to check on Shay, to make sure she was okay.

"Yah Blink, I tink I might." Parker said, trying to fake a little smile.

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"How's my favorite patient doing today?" Rhythm asked as he walked through the door into Shays room.

Shay smiled and sat up a little in her bed. The pain in her stomach was horrible, but she didn't want to tell Rhythm, she knew he would over react.

"Hey, I am doin good Ryth" Shay said, her voice raspy and her throat dry.

Rhythm walked to her bed side and handed her a glass of water from the table. Shay took it and started chugging it back. When she was done she handed Rhythm the glass. He started walking towards the door, to change out of his work clothes. When he was almost to the door he heard

"Oh shit" and then the sound of Shay puking into the bucket. He walked back to her and held her hair back, and waited for her to finish. When she finally did she lay back against the pillow, sweating profusely.

"Shay, I'se gitten real worried bout you." Rhythm finally said sitting down on the bed next to her, and handing her what was left of her water.

Shay swished it around her mouth for a minute and then spit it back into the bucket, trying to get the taste of puke out of her mouth.

"Don't be Ryth, I'll be fine soon, its just the flu." She answered, this time her voice a little less raspy than before.

"Don't kid yourself Shay. You manage to puke 5-6 times a day, and yet you havent eaten shit in almost 4 days. That's not healty. Ise think I shold take you to the hospital, or tell somebody. Shay you need help."

"Ryth, trust me I'll be fine." Shay said, putting her hand down on his and giving it a quick aqueeze.

"I'll give you one more day Shay, if you aint better by then, ise takin you to da hospital. Even if it means I have to carry you, your going."

"Okay" Shay nodded, smiling a little at the thought of Rhythm carrying her halfway across Brooklyn to the hospital.

Rhythm smiled back, and then turned when he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. "That weird, I didn't think any of the boys would make it home this early.." Rhythm said, standing up from Shays bed and walking over to the door, to see who was the ower of the footsteps he had heard.

"Hey Blink Skittery! How come you boys out….." Rhythm didn't get to finish his sentence because before he could Skittery lunged at him pinning him against the wall

"Where the hell is she Rhythm!" Skittery screamed, pushing his forearm into Rhythms throat.

"Where the hell is who Skitts?" Rhythm asked, still scarred shitless from Skitterys attack.

"You know damn well who ise talkin bout!" Skittery screamed, increasing the pressure on Rhythms throat.

"PARKER LET HIM GO!" Shay screamed, making Skittery immediately back away from Rhythm. Shay tried to get up from her bed but when she did, her weak legs buckled beneath her.

Blink was the closest one to her, and so he ran over to pick her up off the ground. She couldn't stand, so he gently lifted her up and placed her back in her bed.

"What the hell did you do to her!" Parker screamed, picking Rhythm up by the back of his shirt.

"Parker, he didn't do anything to me!" Shay yelled, and then turned to puke again. Rhythm fought his way out of Skittery's grasp and ran to help Shay.

"I swear Skittery, she's just sick I didn't do anything. It was Sprigs, a few nights ago, he got her drunk. At first we thought she was just hung over, that is why I didn't bring her back to Mannhattan. But everyday she just got worse. I tried to get her to go to the doctor, but she said she would be fine. I swear to god Skits, I wouldn't touch her!" Rhythm pleaded as he held Shays hair back.

For a few minutes Parker didnt say anything. He just stood there, like he was trying to stare a hole through Rhythm's head, cleanched fists held tight against his sides. Finally he broke the silence

"Blink your ma was a nurse wasn't she?" He asked, turning his attention away from Rhythm for the first time since walking up the stairs.

"Yah" Blink nodded, glad Skittery hadn't lsot his cool and attacked Rhythm again. "You want me to take a look at her?" He asked, guessing where Skittery was going to take this.

He nodded to Blink, and then turned back to Rhythm. "You….out…now" He said, trying not to lose his cool, as he clenched his fists to the point that his nails where beginning to cut into his palms.

"I'm staying" Rhythm said, not even bothering to look up at Skittery.

Skittery lost it. He grabbed Rhythm by his hair and threw him through the doorway. "I said go."

He shut the door behind him just as Shay got settled back into her bed. Blink came over and sat next to her to check on how she was. He felt her forehead with the back of his hand, and then had her open her mouth so he could see down he throat. Then he sat there thinking to himself for a moment. About 2 minutes later he finally talked again.

"How's the cut on your stomach doing?" He asked, looking her straight in the eye.

"I don't know" Shay answered truthfully.

"Lift up your shirt" Blink said, a small smirk coming across his face "Is it just me, or do I say that to you too much?"

Shay smirked a little and pulled up her shirt

"Shit…." Blink said, his smile instantly gone "Skits, go back to Manhattan, tell Klopman that we are coming, tell him Shay needs help."

"Blink what is it?" Skittery asked taking a step towards Shay's bed. When he saw her stomach, he felt like crying. It was red and swollen, obviously badly infected. She needed help and fast, but all Skittery could think about was getting revenge. He turned and walked towards the door and swung it open, causing the door knob to knock a hole in the thin wall. He picked up Rhythm by his hair again and punched him as hard as he could in the jaw. Rhythm hit the floor hard, and felt his lip, whipping away some of the blood that had already began to trickle from his lips.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" Skittery screamed, pushing Rhythm into the wall

"What are you talking about?" Rhythm asked, trying his best to shield himself from Skittery.

"How could you not know about it? How thick are you?" Skittery screamed, pointing back at Shay

"So, she is sick, I told you that!" Rhythm said, now slightly confused.

"Don't get smart with me" Skittery yelled, and let another punch fly. This time Rhythm saw it coming and ducked down. But when he did he ducked to low, and Skittery easily kicked him in his face. Rhythm fell back against the wall in pain, now wiping away the blood that was flowing from his nose.

"Parker stop it!" Shay yelled

"Stay our of this" Parker spat back. He went over and picked Rhythm up by the back of his neck, pulling him towards Shays bed.

"How the hell do you not know about that!" He yelled, pointing to Shays stomach. Rhythm instantly went pale.

"S….Sh….Shay why didn't you tell me? I could have…."

Shay cut Rhythm off before he could finish. "Rhyt, I didn't want you to worry, it'll be fine."

"I am so sorry, you should have told me Twitch…. This is…. This is bad" He said, as Skittery finally let go of his neck.

"I am going to go tell Klopman, Rhythm you stay here. Blink do you think you can carry her?"

Blink nodded somberly, and Skittery ran back out of the Lodging House. Blink slowly and gently eased one of his arms under Shays waist and the other behind her neck. He picked her off of the bed with ease and began to walk out the door when Shay stopped him. She grabbed Rhythm by the front of his shirt and kissed him softly.

"I owed you one." She said.

Rhythm just stood there in shock as Blink carried her out of the Lodging house and down the stairs. Tears began to fill in his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away. He just stood ther alone, and silently whispered

"I love you"

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Told you Fluffy to the max eh? I know I promised Oscar would be in this one, but eh, I lied. Lol I am going to update again either later tonight or tomarrow, so be ready

Skids