"STOP!" A loud angry voice boomed.
Blink turned to see an imposing figure filling out the width of the door. He was dressed nicely and had a graybeard that was kept trimmed properly. His graying black hair was slicked back and his dark brow eyes were almost black as he bore holes into Blink and Rebecca.
"Can you please leave us alone." He said to the Minister and the newsies. His eyes never leaving Blink and Rebecca. "Except you." He pointed to Blink.
Snap bit her lip, and snuck behind one of the pillars. Race, Blink and Jack all hurried out the door behind the Minister.
The man walked up to them and turned his attention fully on Rebecca. "Look at you. You filthy girl." He growled and ripped her wig off. "What makes you think this will help you." He shook the wig at her and then threw it to the ground.
"But dad…"she bit her lip trying to hold back the tears.
"Leave her alone." Blink shot at him.
"Shut up, Street Rat." Rebecca's father spit out at him as if he was nothing.
"He's not a Street Rat. I love him."
Rebecca fell to the ground as her father backhanded her. "I give you a roof over your head. I give you food and this is how you repay me. You disgrace me!" he yelled in anger.
"Don't you touch her." Blink clenched his fists. How could this man treat his daughter like this? How could he say those things to her?
"I should have you thrown into jail, boy. How would you like that? Praying on innocent girls."
"You should be the one in jail. You hitting your daughter like that. You're the one who's scum!" Blink snarled.
"Why you little, shit." Her father shot a hand out quickly before Bink could react catching his fish with is eye. Blink staggered back, holding his eye. Her father started to laugh. "What are you going to do now. No one is here to protect you."
Blink let out a loud growl and pounced on him, knocking him to the ground and throwing his fists at his face. Rebecca's father easily threw off, as he was twice his size. He stood up, blood streaming down his nose and then picked Blink up by his collar, throwing him into a pillar. Blink saw stars and fell to the ground his head spinning.
"Daddy no!" Rebecca scrambled up and grabbed his arm, pulling him back away from Blink. "Ill come home with you and never defy you again."
He picked her up and shook her violently. "Oh no little girl. You are never stepping foot in my house again. You never existed to me." He smacked her and then threw her against on of the marble benches against the wall. Her body, the opposite way against the seat of it and her head slammed into the back of it. Her body then crumpled to the ground. He heard a crack and smiled satisfied, hoping he had broke her arm again. He made his way over to Blink, who was standing up, steadying himself.
"You asshole!" he threw a punch at him but her father dodged it.
"You aren't much at all, are you?" He laughed and punched Blink again. "Nothing, but a puny little boy."
Snap shook all over as she had watched the scene before her. "What have I done." She said to herself. She was afraid to go out there and help, but she saw the murderous look in the mans eye and she couldn't stand by and let him hurt Blink anymore.
"Leave him alone!" she yelled as she ran out.
"Snap?" Blink looked over at her with his swollen eye. "Stay back. I don't want you getting hurt." He was unable to stop him from hurting the woman he loved, there was no way he was going to be able to stop the man from hurting his best friend.
"Oh you want to play too?" The man laughed. "I'm on a roll."
"I can't stand by and watch him do this." She said to Blink.
"Neither can we." Jack replied as he walked inside, followed by Race, Mush, and Kloppman.
"You had better leave now." Kloppman advised the man.
"You lucked out this time boy." The man spat at Blink and then turned walking past the group and out the door.
Snap fell down next to Blink. "Are you ok?" she asked him worried.
"Becca." He said. "I have to get to Becca." He waved Snap away and crawled over to where Rebecca lay on the ground. He lifted her head up and set it in his lap. "Becca?"
Jack, Mush, Race and Kloppman rushed over. "What happened?"
"He hurt her." He frowned when he got no answer from Rebecca. He ran his hand through her hair and felt something wet. He lifted his hand and saw it was covered in blood. He started to shake and he looked up at Jack. "Get the doctor."
Jack nodded and ran out the door.
Blink pushed back the tears that burned behind his eyes, daring to spill over. "Don't leave me." He whispered to her as he buried his face into hers.
Snap stood back, biting her lip. She hadn't expected Adrianna to do this. She knew how her father was, how could she do this. Snap turned and ran out the door ignoring Kloppmans questioning look.
"Come on Blink. We should get her to a bed." Kloppman said as he walked over and tried to help Blink up.
"Becca, my flower girl. Please let me see your eyes." Blink pulled back to look at her, not seeming to have heard Kloppman.
Kloppman exchanged looks with Mush and Race. "Mush, you and I will go to the Lodging House and set up the sick room. Race you wait outside for Jack and the doctor." Kloppman ordered, knowing Blink wanted to be alone.
Mush and Race nodded. "Ill be just out the door. So if you need me…" Race trailed off and then sighed when Blink still didn't respond. The three walked out the door.
"Come on Becca. You are strong, don't do this to me. We still have a lifetime together." Blink cried, the tears finally falling down his cheeks, now that he was alone.
"Blink…"
Blink barely heard it, but it was there. "Becca! What?" he waited. He hoped it wasn't just his imagination.
"Don't cry." She opened her eyes. It hurt, but she did it. She needed to look at her husband. "Everything will be alright." She said. It was hard for her to get the words out. Her body hurt, specially her head.
"Oh Becca. You're going to be ok." He leaned down and kissed her. "The doctor will be here soon. Can you stay awake until then." He was so happy to know she was awake that he didn't see how much it hurt for her to even keep her eyes open.
"Blink…you have made me…so happy." She closed her eyes for a little bit.
"Becca. Open your eyes." Blink demanded when she didn't open them right away.
"I…love…you." She opened her eyes again. "Thank…you." She started to cough and she turned into his shirt. When she pull back she saw the blood where she had coughed.
"I love you too, but you'll be ok." He smiled at her, hoping she wouldn't give up.
"Shh…"She put a finger to his lips and then her hand dropped and her body started to jerk in spasms.
"Becca! Oh my god. RACE!" he yelled out. He didn't know what to do. She started convulsing violently and Blink could hear the gurgle of blood in her mouth.
Race ran into the door, the doctor behind him. "The doctors here!" Race called and then stopped short at the sight before him. "What…" his question died on his lips as the color in her lips visibly turned blue and she stopped convulsing. Her head turned to the side and blood trickled down her chin.
The doctor hurried over, but was too late. He picked up her limp arm and felt for a pulse. There was none. He sighed and looked up at Blink. "I'm sorry."
"No…"he shook his head. "It cant be." He turned her face to him. "Becca. Come on wake up!" he tapped her cheeks. "Becca!" He yelled at her. "I love you. Come on wake up!" He pushed her hair back and kissed her forehead and cheeks. "I'll take you to the Lodging House. You just need to get in a bed and rest." He wiped away the blood on her lips and kissed her. "She'll wake up soon. She just needs rest." He said looking up at the guys, a determined look on his face. "Will you help me?"
Jack averted his eyes and Race looked at his friend, the sadness evident on his face. "Blink she's…"
"NO!" Blink cut him off angrily. He stood up, a bit wobbly. Bracing himself against the wall he steadied himself. "I'll do it myself then." He picked Rebecca up, took a few steps and then collapsed unconscious onto the floor.