BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
Jack, always a light sleeper, bolted upright. "What the hell was that?" He checked to see that Kat was alright. For a moment he just stared at her sleeping form. Though they'd been married for several months, there were times when he still couldn't believe she'd chosen him, a street-smart newsie, over all the rich and privileged guys she'd grown up around.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The impatient pounding at the front door of their townhouse jolted him back to reality. But this time Kat heard it, too.
"Mmm. What's that?" she mumbled sleepily.
"Shh." He kissed her. "Go back to sleep. I'll see what's goin' on."
"Mmmm," she hummed as she drifted back to sleep.
Jack hastily pulled on his pants and shirt as he ran down the stairs. He reached the front door just as the pounding began again. He threw open the door. "What the hell—!" His outrage caught in his throat as his mind registered what he was seeing.
Race, Albert, Specs, and Romeo were shivering in the cold downpour, but it was the unconscious Crutchie they were holding that caught his attention.
"Move," Race demanded as they pushed past Jack into the house.
"What the hell happened?" Jack shut the door and followed the group into the parlor.
They laid Crutchie on the floor in front of the fireplace. Specs set to starting a fire while Race and Albert worked on pulling off Crutchie's soaked coat and shoes.
"Romeo?" Jack looked to his young friend for an explanation.
Romeo circled the activity on the floor to stand beside Jack. "Dunno exactly what happened."
"Damn murderin' thieves!" Race muttered loudly.
"What!" Jack exclaimed.
"We was waitin' on Albert at Jacobi's. We didn't know when he'd get there, so Crutchie, he ain't been feelin' good lately, he left before we did. Not much, just a few minutes, I guess, 'cause it wasn't too long after that Albert got there. 'Bout a block or so past Jacobi's we heard a fight, so we went to check it out. It was three guys—" his voice cracked, "three, Jack, all bigger than even the Delancey's—and they was beatin' on Crutchie!"
Jack wrapped an arm around Romeo's shoulders.
"Murderin' bastards!" Race hadn't stopped his angry diatribe against Crutchie's attackers.
"We chases 'em off, of course, but Crutchie's already on the ground and not movin' or nothin'." Romeo continued, distraught. "We didn't know what to do, so's we brung him here."
Jack gave Romeo a quick squeeze. "It's OK. Here's where he should be."
Romeo nodded.
"He musta fell in a puddle?" Jack asked.
"Nope,"Specs had the fire going and was laying Crutchie's coat and shoes on the hearth to dry. "Wasn't rainin' when we found him. It started on the way here."
"Then what's that wet spot under him?"
Race dabbed at the dark spot on the rug. He looked at his reddened fingertips and exploded. "He's bleedin'! Christ, Jack, he's bleedin'! Those bastards knifed him!" Race tore at Crutchie's shirt.
Jack pulled Race off Crutchie. "Hold him, guys!"
Albert and Romeo each grabbed an arm and used all their strength to hold back a furious Race.
"Race, stop it!" Jack demanded. "You'll only make it worse, tugging at him like that!"
Race was beyond hearing.
"Specs, sit on him!" Jack ordered as he knelt to inspect Crutchie's wound. "Race, shut up, or you'll wake up Kat."
"Kat's awake," announced a feminine voice from the doorway. Kat was entering the room, a hastily plaited braid hung over her shoulder, and bare feet peeked out from beneath Jack's flannel robe. "Merciful heavens," she gasped when she saw Crutchie. She knelt beside him and gently started inspecting his wounds. His eyes were blackened, and he had multiple cuts and large bruises all over his face. "What happened?"
"Guys, shut up and let Romeo tell it!" Jack commanded when all four guys started talking at once.
She listened to Romeo as she lifted one side of Crutchie's shirt and groaned at what she saw. "Specs, hand me the scissors from that table, please." She carefully cut the shirt open down each sleeve, from collar to cuff. Then she cut down each pant leg.
"Guys, I need you all to be quiet, OK?" Kat explained. "It won't be easy, but yelling and shouting won't help me and it won't help Crutchie."
They reluctantly agreed, and she and Jack slowly peeled away the pieces of the shirt. Kat's breath caught in her throat as she surveyed the damage done to Crutchie. It wasn't any easier for the rest of them. Long red welts striped his torso and wrapped around to his back. Between them were large bruises and multiple cuts, all a bright, angry red but rapidly turning a horrific shade of deep purple. There were at least two deep knife wounds in his side.
"Specs, give me the shirt from that basket then go get Charles, if he's not awake already. Ask him to get Dr. Morrison. Greta's probably up already, too. If you see her, let her know we need her medicine basket and some bandages in here."
"Right!" Specs tossed the shirt to Kat and dashed out the room, glad to have something to do.
Kat pressed the shirt into the knife wounds. "Albert, Race, head to the back. We'll need lots of wood to keep Crutchie warm."
Race practically ran out to door.
"Albert," Kat called him softly.
"Yeah."
"Keep him busy."
"Ya got it," he promised, then followed after his friend.
"Romeo, when Specs gets done, the two of you bring a bed from one of the rooms upstairs and put it in the yellow parlor down here. Just move my stuff to the side for now."
Romeo headed out to search for Specs.
"Is he gonna make it?" Jack asked quietly, now that they were alone.
"I think so, but he's in a really bad way. In addition to all these wounds, he's burning up with fever. How are his legs?"
Jack pulled back Crutchie's pants and pulled the long johns up to the knees. He swore quietly but violently. Crutchie's legs were striped with deep welts across his chins and calves. "Oh, God, Kat," he choked on a sob.
"What?" she looked up in alarm.
"They've broken his legs! What they did to him wasn't enough, they had to break his legs, too!" He jumped to his feet and began angrily pacing the room.
"Jack. Jack!"
"What!"
"Calm down!"
"You want me to calm down when I see my best friend chopped up into pieces for no reason?"
"Yes! You need to calm down. You have no choice!"
"No choice?" he was incredulous. "No choice!"
"That's right! You have to remain calm or those guys out there are going to go to pieces and get themselves hurt trying to avenge this! Do you want that?"
Jack glared at her, hating that she was right. He growled, then yelled and punched the air a few times. He took a few deep breaths before rejoining Kat beside Crutchie. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. He tucked her into his side.
"You can go to pieces later, when we're in our room. I promise. But those guys need you to show them how to handle this."
"I know. I hate it, but I knows." He kissed her forehead. "You're an incredible woman, ya know?"
"Take off your shirt."
"Is this really a good time?" he lamely teased as he did as she asked.
She rolled her eyes and took the shirt from him, placing it with the other one over Crutchie's wound. "I'm frightened, too, Jack," she admitted in a wavering voice.
He gathered her as close as he could while she maintained pressure on Crutchie's wounds. "Hey, don't you fall to pieces, now, O.K.?" He kissed her forehead. "Let's make us a deal. How's 'bout you be strong for me and I'll be calm for you and together we can pretend like everythin's gonna be OK for the fellas. When we's alone in our room, we's can both cry like babies."
Kat chuckled. "It's a deal, mister. But I can't shake on it."
"Oh, I think a kiss seals the deal just as good," he cradled her face and gently kissed her.
She smiled. "I love you, Jack Kelly."
"You're a fascinatin' woman, yourself, Katherine Kelly."
They jumped at a crash in the entryway. Jack groaned, kissed her again, then headed to the commotion outside. At the door, he turned, "Take care of him," he pleaded.
She nodded. "I will."
They shared a brief look then he turned back to the fracas. "Hey, fellas, whacha doin'? How'd that happen? Kat, they busted that ugly mirror! Romeo, get a broom from the kitchen and sweep that up before someone gets hurt. Get Race in here while you's at it. He's good at this kind of stuff. Geez, Specs, how'd they ever get beds into rooms in the first place when they's bigger than the doors?"
Kat smiled at the uproar, knowing Jack's everything-as-usual bellowing was hard for him but necessary, not only for the others, but for himself as well. She looked down at Crutchie. Now, if only she could find a way to distract herself as well.
"Ma'am?"
Kat looked up to see Greta, their housekeeper crossing the room, wrapped in a warm robe against the nighttime chill, carrying a basket that Kat knew was filled with all sorts of medicines and home remedies. She took in the situation at once and began inspecting Crutchie's wounds. "I thought we were being invaded," she admitted with a smile.
"They are a bit loud when they're upset."
"Yes. But tonight there's good reason." Greta cupped Crutchie's face in her hands. "He's burning up with fever."
Crutchie groaned.
"Crutchie?" Kat called softly. "Crutchie?"
"Ma?" he queried. His hand moved, searching.
Kat looked at Greta, who indicated that Kat should play along. Kat grasped Crutchie's hand. "Crutchie?"
"Ma?"
"Yes. I'm here."
"It hurts so bad, Ma."
"I know, sweetheart. I'm sorry."
"Why's he do it, Ma?"
"I don't know. You rest, now. The doctor will be here soon and you'll be fine in no time."
"No, Ma! Not the doctor! Pa'll beat you, too, like last time," Crutchie started to sit up. "I's fine, you see," he started coughing. "I can get on fine without the doctor."
"No, Crutchie," Greta pushed on his shoulders to get him to lay down again. The bleeding in his side started up again.
"Crutchie, sweetheart, you just rest. I won't call the doctor. O.K.? Just rest."
"No doctor?"
"No. No doctor," she promised.
" 'K," and he drifted back to sleep.
"Hmmph," grunted Greta indignantly and Kat had to smile. He didn't know it yet, but Crutchie had just won one of his staunchest allies. Greta had escaped from an abusive marriage when her husband was killed in a drunken brawl. Unfortunately, his death had left her and her daughter without any income. She had barely been making ends meet when a couple of newsies told Kat about her. When they met, the two women clicked instantly. Kat offered Greta the job of housekeeper, which Greta was only too happy to accept. She moved in and took over immediately, and Kat couldn't be more delighted as Greta's presence allowed her to concentrate on her career. Kat had no idea how to run a household, and it had taken Greta a full two weeks to undo everything Kat had tried to do.
Greta began systematically removing what remained of Crutchie's clothes. Kat helped her turn his body so they could be slipped out from underneath him. A blanket from the couch was used to preserve his modesty. Annie, Greta's 15-year-old daughter, arrived during the undressing. Great quickly sent her for soap, water, and towels. "And bring the new oil cloth from the kitchen table."
In moments, Annie returned with the requested items. Greta then sent her to the yellow parlor.
"But, mama," Annie protested.
"Go," admonished her mother gently. "We are going to bathe him and it's no place for a young girl to be. Judging from the sound of things, they need some help in Miss Kat's parlor. While they're moving the bed, go on and make some sandwiches and coffee and round up some dry clothes for the boys. Once the bed's in place, it'll need fresh sheets and blankets. Then pack up Miss Kat's things and stack them neatly in Mr. Jack's study."
"Annie," Kat called, "don't hesitate to have the boys help you do any of that. They all know how to make beds and sandwiches. Romeo and Albert would be good choices."
Annie smiled. "Yes, ma'am," and she left the room.
Greta and Kat arranged the oil cloth under Crutchie then set to washing the dirt and blood off his lifeless body. When they finished his chest, stomach, and back, Greta had Kat hold up the blanket.
"But, Greta, I am certainly familiar with the masculine body by now," she protested with a blush.
"I'm sure you are," Greta agreed with a grin, "but would this young man or your husband be comfortable knowing that you know—"
Kat yanked the blanket up in front of her face with a laugh and even deeper blushing. "I see your point."
Greta chuckled and finished her task quickly. "It's alright now." She covered Crutchie with the blanket. "Here, hold this part of the blanket up. I want to take a closer look at these wounds."
Greta decided the wounds were best left to the doctor and settled for tying a bandage around him to hold clean cloths in place over it. It wasn't bleeding as badly as it had been, which she took for a good sign. She handed the soiled shirts to Kat, who tossed them in the fire. They were too easy to replace and she didn't want any reminders of tonight.
Jack came in just as they finished, carrying a tray with a few sandwiches and drinks on it. He placed the tray on a table beside the couch and joined the ladies on the floor. "How's he doin'?"
Kat refused a sandwich for herself but took a bite of his. She told him what Crutchie had said.
Jack nodded. "He ain't never said nothin' 'bout bein' a kid, but it ain't surprisin' that's how it was."
With nothing more to do for Crutchie until the doctor arrived, Greta went to check on the progress in the yellow parlor.
Kat leaned against Jack. "It's abominable," she muttered.
"I don't know that word, but if it means it's awful and unfair, then I gotta agree with ya." He kissed the top of her head. "I's scared for him, Kat," he whispered.
"Me, too."
Crutchie stirred again. "Ma?" he wailed. "Ma?"
Kat grasped his hand in one of hers, and brushed her fingers through his hair with her other hand. "I'm here, sweetheart. Shhh. Everything will be fine. You just rest."
"Ma, it hurts bad."
"I know, sweetheart. Can you rest for me? Just close your eyes and rest and it won't hurt anymore."
"Promise?"
"I promise." She kissed his forehead. "You just rest like the little man you are and everything will be just fine."
"Don't leave me alone, Ma." He mumbled.
"Never," she promised.
He was already asleep.
Jack shifted so she could lean back against him without releasing her hold on Crutchie's hand. "Jack, I don't know what to do."
"You kiddin' me?"
She looked up at him in question.
"A bunch of noisy fellas wakes you up in the middle of the night with a bleedin' boy in tow. 'Stead of fainting or screamin' 'bout getting' blood on the rug, you settle down five angry guys, sends for a doctor, sets up a bedroom, and gives the beat-up boy a bath. If that ain't knowin' what to do, I dunno what it is."
She looked surprised to realize that she'd accomplished anything at all. "I just did what needed to be done."
"That's what makes you so amazin'."
A few minutes later, Greta entered the room with the doctor. Four boys, dry, fed, and much calmer, trailed in after them. Annie circled the small crowd to stand near her mother.
Jack helped Kat stand up and they greeted Dr. Morrison.
"Charles will be along shortly," he told them. "Even at this time of night, traffic insists on creating obstacles. He stayed with my carriage so I could see to the injured boy."
"Thanks for comin', Doc," Jack shook the doctor's hand.
"Not at all. Now, let me see to this young man."
After a thorough examination, he covered Crutchie up again and looked up at Kat. "The cuts and bruises on his face and body are putting on a good show, but appear to be fairly superficial. The fever isn't surprising given the nature and number of wounds he has, and it should be watched, but I figure it will come down without a problem. You have tincture of iodine? Willowbark?"
Kat looked to Greta.
"Yes," confirmed Greta. "We have them both in good supply."
"Any leeches?"
Kat and Jack looked at each other and mouthed, "Leeches?" with expressions of fascinated disgust.
"No."
"That's a shame. They'd help with the larger bruises, but they'll still heal. It'll just take longer."
"I will get some."
Doc nodded. "Very good. I'd say for the next week or so, keep him cleaned up and treat the cuts with the iodine. If he wakes up and is still feverish, try getting willowbark tea into him. If the fever is gone, tea with honey should help the cough somewhat. If you can get some leeches, use them on the larger bruises; they'll heal faster with the swelling from the blood gone."
Greta asked a couple of questions for clarification, then indicated she understood the doctor's instructions. "What about the cuts in his side? And his legs?"
Dr. Morrison pulled the blanket down to Crutchie's waist. "He's received some pretty severe blows on his stomach, but he does not appear to be bleeding internally, which is very good news." He traced a couple of the long red stripes racing across Crutchie's midriff. "These welts? Does anyone know what caused them?"
Race answered. "I seen one of 'em had brass knuckles. One of 'em was kickin' him hard. The other was whackin' at him with his own crutch!" He was getting worked up and angry thinking about it, but Albert's hard squeeze on his shoulder reminded him to keep his temper under control.
"Three?" Doc couldn't believe it. "Three men did this to him. But why? He hasn't a malicious bone in his body."
"We don't know who did it, Doc," Specs volunteered. "Best we can figure right now it's just 'cause he got a bum leg."
"Mighty poor reason," grumbled the doctor, poking and prodding Crutchie's stomach and sides. "We'll let the knife wounds bleed out a bit longer, then stitch them up. They don't appear to have hit anything serious."
Doc lifted the blanket to reveal Crutchie's legs. Albert frog marched Race out of the room before he could do much more than choke on his outrage.
"Oh, my." The welts and cuts on his legs had changed from angry red to a deep, violent purple. The fractures above his ankles had his feet set at odd angles to his legs, made all the more horrendous due to the swelling at the breaks. He probed the bones. "They seem to be clean breaks, so that's good. Not much swelling yet. Was it recent?"
"Yeah. Best I figure, not more than an hour or so," Jack supplied, looking to Specs and Romeo for confirmation. They nodded.
"Yeah. Sounds 'bout right," agreed Romeo.
"Very good. Sooner is easier to fix than later, but it's still going to hurt."
"But he's knocked out," Specs observed. "Don't that help?"
"It could. But I've seen the pain wake grown men before."
"He's been talking a bit," Kat offered, "calling for his mother, but I don't think he's conscious."
"That's not unusual," Dr. Morrison said, continuing his inspection of Crutchie's legs. "The rest of the legs seem fine. If there are other fractures from the force of the blows, they are minor enough to heal during convalescence."
Greta nodded.
"To set the bones, I will need bandages, four strong but thin strips of wood, and men to hold him down. The ladies should probably leave for their protection."
Jack grinned. "Uh, Doc, you prob'ly shouldn't'a said that."
All three women fussed at the doctor all at once.
"He thinks I'm his mother and I will not abandon him," Kat declared.
"I have set bones before, so I will assist and help hold him down if necessary," Greta stated firmly.
"I won't ever learn what to do if I have to leave every time something happens," Annie pointed out.
"You are correct, dearest," Greta agreed with her daughter. "So we will all stay. Annie, go fetch the wooden strips the doctor needs and bring back the other two boys with you."
Annie left in search of the requested items and people.
Greta stared at the doctor and dared him to contradict her.
He chuckled. "I didn't really expect otherwise," he admitted. "I merely suggested it, just in case."
Annie returned in a few moments, Race and Albert right behind her.
Dr. Morrison arranged everything where he'd need it, then faced the boys, knowing they needed to understand what was about to happen. "I need to set his broken bones. They appear to be clean fractures, so that's good. But leg muscles are strong and will resist the pulling and twisting I'll have to do to get them back in place. The muscles in Crutchie's left leg will be very strong because he has relied on that leg as his primary leg for so many years. The muscles in his right leg will not be as strong, but they will have shrunk from how they should be," he indicated the correct position of his own leg, "to how they have become after his leg was allowed to heal in the wrong position." His fingers pinched as he twisted his foot to a position similar to Crutchie's. "Of the two legs, that one will likely hurt more. And believe me, it will be painful. I need you to understand that and know that the pain is necessary in order for Crutchie to properly heal, and it is not something I take pleasure in at all."
The boys looked to Jack, who nodded at them. Then they looked back at the doctor. "We gets it, Doc," Albert answered for the group.
"Ain't he asleep?" Romeo asked.
"He's been stirring, so he's not as under ask I'd like him to be. I'm guessing he will feel what's happening and react. I need you boys to hold him down while Greta and I set his bones."
"Doncha got nothin' to make the pain go away?" Romeo wanted to know.
"Sometimes I'll administer a small dose of laudanum to make the patient sleepy or at least take the edge off the pain. But I do not give it to anyone who is not fully conscious first."
"Oh."
"Excellent inquiry, though, Romeo. I appreciate a person who questions what's going on."
Romeo beamed.
"Now, boys, you are angry, and rightfully so, about what happened to your friend," he pinned Race with a steely glare. "Right now, I encourage you to allow that anger to give you the strength you're going to need to hold Crutchie still. But once we have him fixed up and bandaged, you need to let go of your anger and all thoughts of retribution. They will do neither you nor Crutchie any good, unless you'd like to be one of my patients, too."
"Uhh, what?" queried Race.
"He means, numbskull, to stop your fumin' 'bout what happened!" Jack translated.
"But they's—"
"I don't care!" Jack bellowed. "It's done and no amount of bellyachin' and gripin' can undo what happened. We don't know who did this or why or who's behind it, and I don't want any of you, or any other newsie, tryin' to find out. Ya got that?"
"But Jack—"
"No!" Jack cut off the protests. "Tomorrow I'll get Davey and Spot and the other leaders over here and we'll figure out what to do. Until then, no newsie is to so much as kick a rock in anybody's direction. Got that? And I don't mean just you don't do nothin'." He pointed at each of them in turn. "I mean you not only don't do nothin' but you don't go sayin' things meant to to stir up someone else so's they do somethin'. Your job is to keep everyone else calm until we—as a union—can get it figured out!"
"But I wanna bust the heads of the guys what done this!" Race exclaimed belligerently.
"Go bust your own head," Jack growled in Race's face.
"We can't help?" Specs stepped between the two men.
"Yes. Maybe. I dunno," Jack answered. "Let me talk to Davey and the others first."
"But why?"
Jack stared at them all incredulously. He took a steadying breath and explained. "OK. Let's say ya sees a fella or two that look like they might be who beat up Crutchie. Whacha gonna do? Ask 'em if they did it? Or maybe ya don't ask no questions, ya just get in there and soak 'em? What if they's not the right guys? Then someone else is dealin' with what we gots here," he waved his hand in Crutchie's direction. "You guys want that?" The guys all shook their heads. "And even if they do says they did it? Then what? All of ya said they was bigger than the Delanceys which means they's all bigger than all of you. How's it help Crutchie for you's to all get beat up and get your legs broke? Hunh? How will that help? I need your legs workin' proper so's you can help with Crutchie, not have you lyin' in a bed next to him."
Understanding dawned on their faces. Romeo, Specs, and Albert voiced their agreement.
"Race?" Jack warned.
Reluctantly, "O.K. I'm in, but I don't like it."
Jack clapped Race on the shoulder. "I knows, pal. I don't like it, neither, but Crutchie needs us to use our heads for somethin' besides punchin' bags."
Race nodded. "Yeah." He spit in his palm and held out his hand. Jack did the same and they shook on it to seal the promise. Jack repeated the ritual with the others.
"O.K., Doc. We's ready."
Doc positioned Jack and Race at Crutchie's shoulders. "Hold him down at the shoulders and chest, not his arms. I don't want him to have a dislocated shoulder on top of everything else. And watch out for the knife wound. Try not to let him twist too much."
Specs and Albert were set to lay across Crutchie's legs. "Lay across his thighs in order to keep his legs as still as possible. He'll try to kick at the source of the pain. Greta and I will appreciate it if you can keep him from kicking us."
"You got it, Doc," Specs promised.
Doc leaned in and whispered, "Keep that blanket on him, too. I wouldn't want to embarrass the ladies, if you know what I mean!"
"You got it, Doc," Specs and Albert promised, grinning.
Romeo and Annie stood by, ready to assist where and how they might be needed. Kat sat near Crutchie's head, ready to soothe him as best as she could.
Doc started with Crutchie's left leg. As he and Greta started twisting and tugging on it, Crutchie moaned.
"Ma, it hurts."
"I know, sweetheart. It'll be over soon."
"Make it stop hurting."
"I will. Rest now and everything will be O.K."
Crutchie hiccuped as tears flowed. "It hurts so bad." He was twisting and trying to push at the pain with his injured foot. He screamed.
"Shhh," Kat crooned. "Everything will be O.K. in just a minute." She combed his hair with her fingers.
A moment later, the pieces of bone lined up and Crutchie relaxed a little. Doc quickly bandaged the leg using two pieces of the wood as splints. Everyone took a deep breath and tried to relax, too. Crutchie had tried to squirm away from the pain, and he'd been stronger than they'd thought he'd be.
It wasn't long before Doc got started on Crutchie's right leg. He reminded everyone he was fighting swelling and atrophied muscles, so they'd probably be in for a rough ride.
Crutchie whimpered again as Doc got started. Kat tried to soothe him, but as Doc continued, Crutchie's cries got worse. "Make him stop, Ma. Please?"
"Baby, hold still. It's O.K. Ma's right here."
Crutchie was writhing in earnest. "Ma, untie me! I can't move! Why does he tie me up? Untie me, please?"
"Hold him down!" Doc commanded.
"No, Pa! Don't hurt me! I'll get more money tomorrow! I promise! I'll do better tomorrow! Don't hurt me, please! I can make the people give me some money!"
Doc fought with Crutchie's leg.
Crutchie screamed. "Leave Pa alone, Ma! I'm O.K.! Pa, don't hit her. Please don't hit her! I'll do better tomorrow! Ma! Get up, ma! I'm sorry I didn't get enough money today! Ma! Get up! Please! Get up, Ma! Pa, what's that stick for? No! Don't hurt me! Please! I promise I'll get more–Agghhh!" He passed out just as the last bone fell into place. Doc bandaged up that leg in complete and utter silence. There wasn't a dry eye in the room.
Charles had returned during the procedure and now he helped each of the emotionally wrung out boys from their places on the floor. Race sat on the couch, elbows braced on his knees. "Damn, Crutchie," he muttered quietly.
"Who'd'a thunk?" Specs mused.
"He's too nice a guy to have a father like that," Albert said.
"Yeah," agreed Romeo.
"Thank goodness for his mother, rest her soul," Annie said quietly.
"Yeah," they all agreed.
Jack went to help Kat up, but she refused to leave Crutchie. "Doc needs to sew up those wounds. I don't want him alone for that."
"Yes," agreed Doc. "Now's a good time; he won't feel a thing right now." He and Greta prepared the items he would need for the brief procedure.
"He won't know you're there," Jack gently pointed out.
She yanked her shoulder from his grasp. "I don't care. I don't want him to be alone."
Jack settled behind her and draped his arms around her. "I know."
They, with the others, watched in silence as Doc stitched up Crutchie's side and bandaged it. Kat combed Crutchie's hair, his head in her lap the whole time.
When Doc was done, Jack picked her up off the floor. "We've got to move him," he explained over her protests.
She nodded. "How's the parlor coming along?" she asked and followed the boys across the hall. "It's wonderful!" she approved. The bed had been set up on the far wall, between the fireplace and the bay window facing the street. Her things were gone. There was a cot set up in the corner near the fireplace.
"Why's there a cot in here?" Albert asked. "Don't Crutchie get to sleep in the bed?"
"I figured we wouldn't want Crutchie left alone for a while, but we need to sleep, too," Annie explained.
Kat hugged her. "Good thinking," she praised. "Well, shall we get him moved in?" She looked at Jack.
"Yup. Doc, whadda we do?"
"I need six or so people," his voice trailed off as he led Jack, Charles, and the newsies out of the room. The women turned down Crutchie's bed and made up the cot.
The men arrived shortly, very slowly and carefully carrying Crutchie in the oilcloth, three to a side and Jack at his head. They laid him on the bed, oilcloth and all.
"Should we remove the oilcloth?" Kat asked.
"No," Greta advised. "It won't hurt him to sleep on it, and it will protect the sheets and mattress while he might still bleed."
Kat nodded, tucking the covers around him.
"That's all we can do for tonight," Doc said. "Treat his cuts with soap, water, and iodine. Keep his legs propped up on pillows to help the swelling go down. Try and keep him cool to get that fever down. I'll come by first thing in the morning to check on him. Call me immediately if his fever gets too high."
"Right, Doc. Thanks for everything," Jack walked Doc to the door.
He returned to find everyone gathered around the bed. He joined them and pulled Kat back against his chest.
"Who's going to stay up with him tonight?" Annie asked.
"Me," Race volunteered.
"O.K.," Jack agreed, squelching Kat's protests with a squeeze. "The rest of you's stay here tonight. Longer if you want. Just pick a bedroom upstairs." He put an arm around Kat and they started across the room.
"Just one more thing," Race's quiet voice stopped them.
"Yeah?" Jack asked.
"I knows it prob'ly don't need sayin' but I wants to say it anyways."
"What?"
"Crutchie never told no one 'bout his folks. If them stupid thugs hadn't busted his legs, we wouldn't know what we does. So's I'm thinkin' that we need to let it stay here and don't go blabbin' what we heard to anyone else."
"Sounds good." "That's fair." A chorus of agreement echoed around the room. Just to be sure, Race did the hand shake ritual with everyone to seal their promise.
"G'night fellas," Jack said when the last handshake was done.
"Night," they chorused back.
NOTE: The medical care described in this and other chapters is a mix of a little bit of research, a spoonful of what I've read in other books and what I've seen on TV and in movies, and just a smidgen of dramatic license for things to be the way I needed them to be. I apologize if anything is grossly inaccurate; it's my intention to be as accurate as possible, but I also need the story to have some certain elements in it, so that's where the dramatic license comes into play. Thanks for understanding!
