A/N: Well, okay, I'm not gonna talk long cuz I'm like crying right now. But you know, the usual disclaimer. lol I think I've said it enough times for you guys to have it memorized. But…I don't own Newsies, nor its characters, Disney does.
Chapter Nineteen: Blink of an Eye
"Get yer ass up dere an' save Blink!"
Jack heard Jittery arrive back at the Manhattan Lodging House with a doctor in tow. Saying a silent prayer of thanks to whatever deity had sent this good luck their way, Jack leaped off his bunk and ran to meet the doctor.
Nearly slamming face-first into the bewildered balding old man, he waved for the man to follow him and lead him into the infirmary where he could hear a groaning sound coming from Blink's bed. An improvement, in Jack's opinion, to the deathly silence from earlier. Maybe Criss-Cross really had helped to save him. Jack had always figured she had more gifts than just her talent at fighting.
Pulling back the curtain to allow the doctor access to Blink, he was surprised to see that Air had taken Criss-Cross job of cleaning Blink's wounds. Pulling Kit Kat aside, in a hushed voice he asked, "Wheah's Criss-Cross?"
Kit Kat gave him a look and responded, "She an' Runaway went out front ta wait foah Jitts an' da doctah."
Jack's expression turned puzzled as he furrowed his brows. "But Runaway left ta sell papes."
"Criss-Cross musta gone wit' her den," Kit Kat responded, not getting why Jack was upset.
"No, she isn'. I saw Runaway walk out myself. She an' I'se chatted foah a few minutes."
"What's da mattah Jack?"
Jack Kelly sighed, shaking his head. "Nothin'," he muttered, turning and walking out. His head was a jumble, but the only thought in his head was that he needed to find Criss-Cross. Being one of Spot's good friend, and the only one left in a position to help, he felt responsible for the 14 year-old.
And so it was that Air and Whisper found themselves outside the Central Park Lodging House at noon to ask Wicked if he'd seen Criss-Cross. Jack had sent Air to do the real asking, and Whisper just because he wanted to get her out of the house.
Spying the Central Park leader lounging against an alley wall, smoking. Air grabbed the still-sobbing Whisper's hand and dragged her over to the boy.
"Ya seen Criss-Cross by any chance?" she asked, brushing a lock of chocolate brown hair out of her face.
He took a final drag on his cigarette and with a flick of his wrist sent it down the alley into a small puddle. "Yas meanin' Watson? Why yas wantin' ta see 'im?" he asked, then answered their first question. "An' nah, I'se ain't seen 'im since yestaday at da distribution centah."
Whisper gave him a soft glare, but let Air do the talking. Hands on her skirt-clad hips, she said, "Foah yer information, dat 'Watson' jus' so happens ta not be a boy. She's a goil by da name a Criss-Cross Kat Conlon. Spot lil sistah. Ya know 'er?"
Wicked's eyes drew wide as he stared at the two girls. "Sp-Spot's sistah? Y-ya mean lil Crissie Conlon?"
Whisper nodded shyly, and spoke in a voice that hung with tears, "She always went by Criss-Cross wit' us. Even gave Jack a fat lip foah callin' her Crissie one time. But you'se musta known her since she's lil. But ya ain't seen her?"
"Criminy…" Wicked said softly, internally screaming at himself for being so blind. Dat's why she's so big on hatin' Triggah. An' hatin' all da traitahs wit' 'im… he thought. Dey killed her bruddah. Her own flesh an' blood. Even if Spot did run her outta Brooklyn, she'd still love 'im. She's always adoied Spot…
"Ya ain't seen her?" Air's voice broke through his thoughts. He shook his head silently, not believing that he hadn't realized it was her. "Have yas seen Alleyway? Da two were good friends, an' maybe dey's runnin' tagethah."
Again Wicked just shook his head. Alley was his girl, but she'd disappeared at around eleven, right around when she was supposed to go on guard duty, and he'd been worried about her. "She ain' been seen since 'round 'leven. We's all gettin' worried 'bout her."
"sht…" Whisper muttered, causing Air's eyes to widen in surprise. Whisper was shy and often quiet, yet here she was saying cusswords in front of someone who was a complete stranger to her.
Hawd times lead ta odd t'ings… she thought. Not ta mention dis means Jack mad her leave Blink foah nothin'.
"T'anks," she nodded at Wicked, and then taking Whispers's hand in her own, she lead her back down the street.
"Wait!" Wicked's voice rang out down the street after them. He looked a little nervous, but he ran after them, saying, "I'se need ta talk ta Kelly…"
Back at the lodging house, Specs and Jack were holding their sobbing girls tight. Skittery stood with his hand on Mush's shoulder after giving up on trying to calm Jittery down. Tears streamed out of the rock-solid Mush's eyes as he watched a final breath escape his best friend's lungs and a solid wall of grief rent him helpless. His sole conspirator taken from him in a blink of the patched eye. Blink was dead…
A/N: Now do you see why I was crying? bursts into more tears It might just be my pathetic state, but I love these guys and don't want any of them dying! But it had to be done…
Spot: I'll rent Triggah limb from limb foah dis!
Erm, Spot, you're kinda dead.
Spot: Oh…
Shout Outs:
Bittah: Yes! A twist! lol And I do too, so, I have to make it interesting. Plus, I just thought it was funny to make Criss-Cross girly for a while. And you'll have to keep reading and reviewing to find out what Trigger's gonna do! lol You'll see more of it. But YES! You MUST write more of your fic! I'm in love with it so you HAVE to!
Spot: I'se concoi. An' foah once, I'se not da rude one! sticks tongue out
Haha! Very funny Spot! But you've seriously got to write more!
Skater: Yes. Reviews are very nice. lol And I hope this was ASAP enough for you! And I'm glad you think it's good. Also glad that I've got your character down. lol And I think she worked very well being that P.Oed. lol But who wouldn't be after only 3 hours of sleep!
Well, hope to post more later! Keep reading and reviewing and I'm sure I'll post it faster! Criss-Cross