I do not own Newsies or any of the Newsies characters. To the best of my knowledge they are owned by Disney.

I am making no money from this story.

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SLASH Jack/David Jack/Oscar.

A/N: This story was written for Lady of Tir Na Nog in honor of her birthday. I hope that I did justice to her character choices.

This story has not been beta'd. I hope that any rough patches in this story will not be too distracting.

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Chapter 4 – The Promise

Jack could hear shouting from the far end of the apartment as he knocked on the Delancey's door. He couldn't make out what they were saying, but it sounded as if Morris and Mr. Delancey were having another of their drunken arguments. Their heated discussions had become commonplace over the past two years.

Jack froze when he heard Oscar shouting. The small boy was no match for his big brother or his even bigger father. Until now, he had always stayed clear of their drunken brawls.

A flash of fear spread through Jack's body when he found the door was locked. The Delancey's never locked their door. Jack pounded frantically calling for Oscar. His breath caught in his chest as he remembered standing outside his parent's bedroom and hearing his mother's screams. Suddenly he was five years old again, and his eyes began to pool.

When he heard the click of the lock opening, Jack drew in a quick ragged breath and wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

Finally, Morris opened the door just enough for his body to fill the entrance. "What do you want, street rat?"

"I came to see Oscar and to pay my respects to your mother."

"Well, nobody in here wants to see you." Morris spat. His breath smelled like cigar smoke and stale liquor.

"Let me in, Morris or so help me I'll . . ."

"I can handle this," Oscar said, pushing past his brother.

"Remember what I said," Morris warned as the door closed between them.

"What was all that screamin' about, Oscar? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Jack, but we're kind of busy right now, so you're gonna have to go."

"Whadda you mean your kinda busy? What the hell is goin' on in there?"

"It's nothin', Jack. Everybody's upset about Grandpa, is all. It's just not a good time for you to visit."

"Since when am I a visitor? I wanna see your mother and tell her how sorry I am about Grandpa."

"She can't see you now, Jack. She's sleeping, but I'll tell her you were here."

"Don't try to tell me that your ma is sleepin' through this, cause I know she's not. There's no way anybody could sleep through that racket. Now get the hell outa my way and let me inside!"

"Jack, please don't argue with me. You'll only make things worse," Oscar whispered as he looked at the door over his shoulder. "I'll meet you in that park tomorrow morning at 6:00, but please, Jack. Please go now."

"Oscar, I - - ."

"Please, Jack."

Jack stood for a moment searching Oscar's face. He wanted to grab Oscar's hand and run from the building, but forced himself to turn and then rushed down the stairs. When he reached the sidewalk he fought the urge to stop and look up at the second story window. He didn't slow his pace until he reached the comforting sight of the lodging house.

The next morning, Jack was waiting in the park when Oscar arrived.

"What the hell is going on, Oscar? Why did you tell me to get lost last night? You're lucky that I didn't - - Jeese! What the hell happened to you?"

Oscar's lip was swollen and split, and his left eye was bruised and almost closed.

Oscar didn't answer. He was too busy looking over his shoulder and glancing around at the park. His hands were shaking so badly that he slipped them into his pockets to keep them still.

"C'mere," Jack said pulling Oscar into the woods. "What the hell happened?"

"They said I can't see you anymore, Jack. They said that they'll kill me if I do."

"Who said they'll kill you?" Jack asked, already knowing the answer.

"Pop and Morris. They said that if they caught me even talking to you that I'd be sorry, and they said they'd make Ma sorry too."

"Is you ma alright? They didn't hurt her none did they?"

"No. She's okay . . . . Well, I guess she's okay. The doctor came and gave her some tonic that's supposed to make her sleep, but she just stays in her room and cries. Pop says now that grandpa is gone things are gonna be different."

"Whadda you mean things are gonna be different? What things?"

"Pop says that Grandpa and Ma were makin' a sissy outa me. He said now that Grandpa is gone everything is gonna change."

"What - - "

"Pop used to smack Ma and us around when we were little. When Grandpa Connelly found out he beat Pop so bad that he couldn't go to work for three days. Grandpa said that if Pop ever hit us again that he was gonna kill him with his bare hands."

"Damn-it, Oscar. Why didn't you tell me about this before now?"

Oscar didn't answer. He was ashamed of his father and of having kept the beatings a secret. His eyes moved about nervously attempting to look anywhere but at Jack.

"It's okay," Jack said calmly as he squeezed Oscar's shoulder. "It's okay."

"That's why we went to Grandpa's every month. He wanted to make sure that we were okay, and give Ma a chance to get away from Pop every few of weeks. Morris never wanted to go. He was always mean, just like Pop."

"Jeese, Oscar. You shoulda known better than to get between the two of them. You coulda - -"

"Jack, you're not listening to me! They said that I can't see you anymore! They said that if they even caught me talking to you they'd kill me and then go after you! They know, Jack! They know about you and me!"

"That's crazy," Jack said as he began pacing in small circles. "There's no way they could find out. They never went to Grandpa's with us. That's the only time we were ever alone. How could they know anything?"

"I don't know, Jack, but they do. And Pop said that I can't go to school anymore either. Tomorrow me and Morris start working for my uncle at the World. That way Morris can keep an eye on both you and me at the same time. . . What am I gonna do, Jack?"

"You're gonna come with me right now. You can stay with me over at the lodging house, and I'll teach you how to sell newspapers. Morris doesn't even have to know. I'll buy the papes, and we can sell them together. It'll be great, Oscar. Your old man and Morris can't touch you there. And you'll like the guys. You're gonna fit in just fine."

"And what about Ma? What'll happen to her if I don't come home tonight?"

"We'll get her outa there tonight when Morris and your pop are getting drunk over at McGinty's."

"And then what? Are you gonna teach her to sell papers too? It's not like you can get her a bed over at the lodging house."

"We'll take her to Grandpa's house. She'll be safe there."

"Pop already nailed a for sale sigh on the house. He's waited years to get his hands on that house and Grandpa's money, and now he's got it. It's no use, Jack. I can't see you anymore."

"Don't you ever say that! Jack shouted as he shook Oscar by the shoulders. "Don't you ever say that we ain't gonna be together!"

Oscar pulled away from Jack and sat on the ground under a tree. He wrapped his arms around his knees and pulled them tight to his chest. He buried his face as if to block out the rest of the world.

'It'll be alright, Oscar. I promise you it will," Jack reassured him. "You'll go to work at the World with Morris just like your old man wants. Then you and me are gonna pretend that we ain't friends anymore. We'll make 'em think that we hate each other. That way you and your ma will be safe until we can think of a way outa this."

Jack sat down and put his arm around Oscar's shoulders.

"Everything is gonna be okay," Jack said, trying to convince himself as mush as Oscar.

"I promise"

End Chapter 4

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