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/Oscar Jack/David

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A/N: This is a one shot that was written for Lady of Tir Na Nog in honor of her birthday. Through a comedy or errors it has turned into five chapters and counting. There will be two (maybe three) more chapters. With any luck, I will finish before her next birthday.

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

Please note that I have changed the rating of this story from T to M.

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Chapter 5 – The Plan

With a considerable amount of fear and apprehension, Oscar set out for his first day of work at the distribution center. Morris walked alongside reminding him what would happen if he didn't stay away from Jack Kelly.

As they approached the gate, Oscar's eyes searched the long line of newsboys until he saw Jack standing at the front. His eyes darted away before Morris could notice. Just knowing that Jack was there helped to relieve the ache in his stomach.

Most of the newsies were thin, and some looked as though they hadn't had a meal in days. They were dressed in little more than rags, but Oscar wanted to be one of them more than anything. He wanted to toss away his new dress shirt and his ridiculous looking bowler hat, and go to join Jack at the front of the line.

"Well, well. What have we here?" a short dark haired boy laughed. "The circus must be in town. It looks like an organ-grinder and his trained monkey have come to pay us a visit!"

"I don't know, Race," Jack smirked. He gave a quick glance at Oscar and then turned his attention to Morris. "I don't think that a monkey would be caught dead in an outfit like this," he said flicking at the lapels of Morris' vest.

"Street Rat!" Morris hissed shoving Jack out of his way.

Jack bumped against Oscar and gave him a quick wink. "Who do you think you're shovin'!" Jack shouted.

"You! Ya big ape!" Oscar replied shoving back as they had planned. Morris grinned as he watched the boys scuffle. Jack and Oscar rolled around on the ground throwing punches and shouting insults until the circulation bell rang. Finally, they were pulled apart by two of the larger boys.

Their plan had worked, and nobody was the wiser.

The months went by and everything went as Jack had planned. They'd throw a few punches and call each other names when they were sure that Morris was watching. They would laugh about it later when the met in some alley or up on an empty rooftop. Jack even bought Oscar a small feather to wear brim of his bowler hat. He said it would remind them both that they were still Cowboy Kelly and Chief Running Wolf. The important thing was that Mrs. Delancey was safe and they were together.

They continued their charade for more than a year, and no one, including Morris, suspected a thing.

Unfortunately, they still had not come up with a viable solution to their problem, and Jack was becoming impatient. His daily confrontations with the brothers had taken on a more serious tone. His taunting remarks to Oscar had gone from playful to venomous, and his punches were a little harder than was necessary. Soon their personal time became less frequent. Jack came up with excuse after excuse for why they couldn't meet. When they were together their tender moments and gentle kisses were replaced by rough handling and raw desires.

Oscar's life now revolved around working at the distribution center, taking care of his failing mother, and trying to keep Jack happy. None of which was an easy task, and together they were practically unbearable.

Late one evening they sneaked into the basement of the printing office. From the time they arrived, Jack did nothing but complain.

By now the knot in Oscar's stomach had become a permanent condition. Tonight, however, it seemed more uncomfortable than ever. Still, he swallowed Jack's insults, and he swallowed his pride in a desperate attempt to make things as they were before.

"I've got a surprise for you," Oscar said as he led Jack to an empty corner of the room. Jack rolled his eyes and set his jaw in an obvious look of annoyance. He watched impatiently as the other boy counted the bricks. "Eleven down from the top and twenty from the corner," Oscar whispered looking up with a hopeful smile. He eased several loose bricks from the wall then reached inside the opening and took out a bottle of whiskey. "I thought that we could both use a treat, so I bought this the other day and hid it down here when nobody was lookin'."

After about twenty minutes, and several healthy swallows from the bottle, both boys began to relax.

"You're not gonna believe what I found this morning," Oscar beamed. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a faded strip of red cloth. It was the Indian headband that Grandpa had given him. "I thought this was gone years ago."

Jack ran his fingers over the frayed cloth and the unraveling beads. "Chief Running Wolf," he whispered. "C'mrer Chief," he said pulling Oscar down to his side.

Oscar fit comfortably into the embrace and rested his head on Jack's chest. "It was all so easy then," he sighed.

"Yeah it was," Jack said as he rubbed his cheek against Oscar's hair.

Oscar felt good in his arms. Jack closed his eyes and could almost hear the wind rustling through the leaves in the woods near Grandpa's house. He remembered the feel the sun on his face as it shown through a canopy of green, and gold, and russet. Oscar's body felt warm and comfortable against his.

Jack reached for Oscar's face and tilted it to his own. His chest ached at the sight of the clear dark eyes. He pressed their lips together and an excitement flowed through his body that he hadn't felt in a very long time.

Jack was less than gentle as he tore at the shirt buttons and pulled Oscar's undershirt over his head. The body that he'd touched so many times before felt new and exciting, and he wanted to experience every inch of it. His mouth made it's way down Oscar's neck pausing only long enough to draw a low and guttural grown from deep within the smaller boy's throat. Jack's mouth traveled the path of every muscle, and line it encountered.

Oscar shivered from the cold air in the basement, but Jack's hands and mouth warmed him with every touch. His body writhed as Jack's hands caressed him, and his tongue came closer to its destination.

Suddenly Jack stopped and pulled away.

"What?" Oscar moaned. His voice sounded more desperate than he would have liked.

"I want you," Jack whispered.

"I want you too," Oscar replied breathlessly.

"No," Jack said searching for the right words. I want you . . . that way. Ya know, like we talked about."

Oscar's eyes widened as the thought of what Jack was asking sank in. They'd talked about it briefly on several occasions, but the idea didn't appeal to him, and Jack never pushed the topic. He opened his mouth to protest, but his fear seemed to wash away when Jack pulled him closer and kissed his temple. Oscar didn't speak. He simply nodded his head against Jack's lips.

-o-o-o-o-

Jack grumbled something unintelligible when Oscar shifted from his grasp to reach for his pocket watch. "We'd better get going," he sighed.

"I don't want to move," Jack said pulling Oscar back against his chest.

"I don't want to move either, but if you're not back at the lodging house in twenty minutes you'll be locked out for the night. Then you'll have to sleep in some alley or on a park bench."

"The hell with the lodging house. I'm gonna stay right here with you."

"As much as I'd like that, Jack you know I can't stay."

"Damn-it, Oscar! Can't we have just one lousy night together? When are you gonna grow some balls, and tell Morris and your father to fuck off!"

"C'mon, Jack. You know that I'm not afraid of them anymore. There's nothing they can do to me that they haven't done already. But what about Ma, Jack? Did you for get about her? She can't take care of herself anymore. She doesn't even get out of bed. If I'm not there to feed her those bastards will let her starve."

"I know," Jack groaned. His voice sounded genuinely compassionate. He slid his arms around Oscar and rested his head on the smaller boy's shoulder. "It's just that I had such a good time tonight, and I don't want it to end."

"But it's not gonna end, Jack. You know that it won't be like this forever. You won't see me tomorrow, but I'll be back at work the next day and then - -"

"Where are you gonna be tomorrow?"

"I'm ridin' shotgun on one of the new delivery wagons over to Brooklyn. Your newsie pals out there had a problem with the distribution manager and burned three of the old wagons. Pulitzer doesn't want any more trouble, so he's sending extra guys along with the drivers."

"Well, why the hell do you have to go? Why don't they send that idiot brother of yours? He's a lot meaner than you. Those Brooklyn boys are a pretty tough bunch, and you could get yourself killed if you're not careful."

"Nobody's makin' me go, I volunteered."

"Are you crazy! Why'd you do somethin' stupid like that?"

"I had to do it, Jack. Pop's been talking about sending Ma to Blackwell's Island."

"The Insane Asylum?"

"Yeah. You've heard what that place is like. The rats, and the filth, and the stories about what they do to the patients. I won't let him send her there, Jack. Once they lock you up in that dump you never get out. I can't let that happen to her."

"A'corse you can't, but what's that got to do with you being a fool and takin' that wagon to Brooklyn?"

"I heard about this hospital they have out in St. Johnland. It's the one they call Kings Park. Ma's doctor told me about it. He says that it's a real nice place. The people that go there aren't locked up like at the Asylum. They have a farm right there on the hospital grounds, and the patients help with the work like growing vegetables and milkin' the cows. It would be like it was when Ma was growin' up in the Bronx with Grandpa. She worked on a dairy farm before she met Pop. The doctor said that it would be the best place for her. He said that she could get better if she was there."

"It sounds real nice, Oscar, but what makes you think that you can get her in a place like that? You can't just walk up to the door and ask them to take her in. Besides, a place like that's gonna cost a fortune which you ain't got."

"Ma's doctor said he could get her in, and it wouldn't cost me anything. He gave me the name of this doctor friend of his and a letter tellin' him about Ma. I figure that I could go and meet this guy and check the place out after we make the deliveries. That way Pop wouldn't find out, and I'd be back to work here the next day."

"Is your ma really sick enough to be put into the Asylum?"

"She don't act crazy or nothin' like that. She . . . I don' know how to explain it. She doesn't do anything anymore. She's just been gettin' worse and worse since Grandpa died. Now she won't even eat if I don't make her. It's like she gave up on livin'. If I can get her away from my old man, I'm sure that she'll get better. If I don't, I think that she's just gonna give up all together."

"I guess it's worth a try," Jack said. "But you be careful and watch your back with those Brooklyn guys."

"I'll be fine," Oscar said brushing Jack's hair from his eyes. I'll see you at the distribution center the day after tomorrow. Then I'll meet you back her after dark."

"Okay," Jack smiled as he went to give Oscar a kiss on the neck. Then he hesitated and started to laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"You've got a nice purple mark on the side of your neck . . . .Gee, I wonder how that got there." Jack smirked.

"Oh crap," Oscar muttered as he scurried around the room looking for something that would show his reflection. "Is it a bad one? Can you tell what it is? Can you see it if I button up my collar?"

"Will you calm down!" So you've got a love bite. Big deal. You're not the first guy to come home with one."

"And what do you think Morris is gonna do when he sees this?"

"Maybe he'll stop treatin' you like crap if the thinks that you've finally become a man!"

"I am a man!"

"Well you're actin' like a girl!"

"It's so easy for you isn't it, Jack? You march into the lodging house and give the guys a bullshit story about some girl that you've been with. It makes you some kind of a hero in their eyes, doesn't it?"

"We'll you could do the same thing ya know."

"Morris knows what I am, Jack. He's never seen me take the slightest interest in girls, so it doesn't matter what I tell him. He's gonna take one look at this and know that it was a little present from you."

A sudden flash guilt ran through Jack. He knew how much harder Oscar's life was than his own. He could come and go as he pleased, but Oscar had to account for every moment he was out of his brother's sight.

Jack rummaged through the pile of clothing that had been so quickly discarded and picked up his bandana. "Here," he said as he tied it around Oscar's neck. "Nobody will ever know that you're hiding something under this." Then, Jack stepped back and smiled. "It looks good on you too. You should think about wearin' one of these all the time."

Oscar blushed as he fiddled with the knotted cloth around his neck.

The boy's finished dressing and headed for the window. Oscar began to climb the crates that lead to their exit, but Jack pulled him back by the arm. "Are you okay with this?" Jack asked.

"Sure," Oscar smiled as he ran his hand across the bandana. You're right. Nobody's gonna know that there is anything under here."

"I don't mean the bandana," Jack said, tugging on the ends of the faded red cloth. "I mean are you okay with what we did tonight?"

Oscar blushed as he avoided looking at Jack. "Sure - - Um- - I mean, I didn't think that I would like it, but - - but it was nice,"

"Good," Jack said pulling Oscar against him. "Now we've both got something to look forward to."

Jack didn't go back to the lodging house that night. He didn't want to answer any questions about where he'd been. He curled up on a bench at the far end of the park and went to sleep.

The next morning Morris arrived for work without Oscar.

"So where's that runt your brother or yours," Jack asked. "I didn't think that you were allowed to cross the street without him holding your hand."

"Screw you!" Morris grumbled without furthering their conversation.

When Jack finished selling his papers, he went directly back to the lodging house. He turned down Racetrack's offer to play a few hands of cards and climbed into his bunk. The sooner he went to sleep the sooner tomorrow would come and he would see Oscar again.

Sleep didn't come easy that night. He lied in his bunk thinking about Oscar and their night in the basement. Suddenly, Jack realized his thoughts were having a physical effect on his body. He rolled onto his side so none of the other boys would notice the bulge under his blanket. He had to force himself to think about the time he saw Oscar's uncle kissing a drunken women at McGinty's bar. The memory of Weasel's disgusting mouth on her painted cracked lips soon made Jack's discomfort disappear.

Jack was awake and shaving when Mr. Kloppman entered the bunkroom. The old gentleman raised an eyebrow at the strange sight. Jack had always been one of the toughest of the boys to drag out of bed.

Jack sprinted alongside of Dutchy and Swifty in their daily race to see who could run the fastest. He beat Dutchy and missed catching Swifty by inches.

The circulation bell rang and the boys all laughed and wrestled their way to the window. Jack froze in his steps when he saw a strange boy standing in Oscar's place.

"Who's this mug," Jack huffed as he examined the fat redheaded boy with teeth that stuck out farther then Snitch's.

"This here is Nolan," Morris grinned placing his arm around the boy's shoulder. "He's gonna be taking Oscar's place seeing as my brother's working over in Brooklyn."

"What the hell is Oscar doing in Brooklyn?" Jack snapped. He didn't really care if Morris noticed his anger.

"My brother is doing real good out there. After them Brooklyn newsies burned the wagons, they roughed up a few of the circulation guys. One of the men quit, and Oscar's takin' his place. He's makin' some serous money, and there's a chance that he could get the job permanently."

Jack slammed his coin on the counter and took his papers. He didn't bother to sit and read the headlines. He walked out the gate without a word to anyone.

End – Chapter 5

Thanks for reading. Your reviews will be greatly appreciated.

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A/N: The area of Brooklyn referred to as St. Johnland in now known as Kings Park.