A/N: Yay! It's finally up! Whew! For some reason this chapter was REALLY hard to write. At least in the start and middle. The final bit (last 4 or 5 paras) just flowed. Anyway, sorry I didn't write more tonight. But anyway, please read and review! And expect several chapters tomorrow. Since I've 4 hours of riding in a car. Meaning much writing. Anyway, much love to all!

Disclaimer: I do no own Newsies, nor its character. Also, Bullet belongs to Runaway, and Tyrant belongs to Air.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Kattie's Final Hour

Criss-Cross nodded to the boys as she stepped back through the kitchen door, her old saddlebag strap slung over her shoulder. She saw smirks creep up on both boys' faces, and couldn't help but smile herself.

"Off ta Brooklyn den?" Tyrant asked, his voice low and rich. She nodded again, and the three start off, heading back to her old home.

Outside, Bullet tried to take her bag from her, but Criss-Cross waved him away saying, "I've carried this bag with me for a long time all on my own, and over much longer distances that just here to Brooklyn. I think I can manage this short trip."

He sighed, a small pouty look on his face, and so she handed it over, stating in a faux sigh-filled voice, "But if you feel you must carry it, then go ahead."

With a grin he took it, but a puzzled light flickered into his eyes, and he reached out to touch her shoulder. Tracing the two obvious letters in the tattoo, the S and C, he asked, "What's dat?"

She sighed slightly, but gave him a warm smile, responding, "Oh, that's nothing. Something I simply had Henna tattoo onto me because it represents my old crowd. From back in the west."

He nodded, not questioningly further. Criss-Cross sighed inwardly in relief, thanking whatever deity was listening that Trigger had instilled in his "subjects" a no-questions policy, typical of any gang. However, the damage by his first question was already done, and as the three started walking towards her old home in Brooklyn, the SC on her shoulder began to tingle, and her mind was lost in memories of the past…

Criss-Cross sat down on the bed in Spot's room, biting back more tears that threatened, like those of the past four days. She had just finished talking with Chris Bates, Frisk's younger brother. He was two years older than her, and the first person besides Spot that she'd seen since they'd heard the news of her surrogate sister's death.

Spot had leant her his room, allowing her the privacy of a door, and the ability to sob freely without worrying about someone seeing. He understood how close she'd been to Frisk, and he also understood that she was a Conlon, and not one to like being seen sobbing and weak.

Lying back on the bed, Criss-Cross breathed deep to stop herself from reverted back to the tears she'd taken comfort in. Hearing the running footsteps on the cobblestones out the window, she decided to see which newsie it was. Standing, she walked over and on the tips of her toes, managed to peer out the window, only to see a bleeding Advantage running up.

Eyes wide and surprised to see the slash across his face, she rushed out of Spot's room and down to the front door of the lodging house. Opening it just as he got to the threshold.

"Advantage! What happened ta yas!" she exclaimed as she watched how fast the blood was rushing. It was amazing that his scarring had been minimal.

Advantage didn't respond, he simply shot her a glare and shoved past her, heading straight for the great room where Spot sat, gambling, smoking, and joking with the other guys on the cold April evening. Criss-Cross followed, utterly confused, but a feeling of pure dread hit her stomach, and she knew that whatever was going on was not good.

Walking in, she saw Spot stand , a serious look on his face, as he walked over towards Advantage. He jerked his head upwards, cluing his friend to go upstairs. The two headed off, and hesitating a moment, Criss-Cross followed, ending up standing outside the door as Spot and Advantage talked, hints of their conversations drifting out. Snippets about Queens, and Trigger Jones, and something about Spunk turning on them. And then something about Bates and herself. Chewing her lip, she heard Spot's yell of rage and ran to grab her bag.

Since staying in Spot's room, she'd kept all of her stuff in a saddlebag she'd stolen off of a cart soon after taking on the role as one of Spot's newsies. Stuffing the quilt inside it, she threw it out the open window right and yanked her cabby hat onto her head as her furious older brother stormed into the small room.

In her three years in Brooklyn's lodging house, Criss-Cross had come to both adore Spot, and fear him. When he was in a good mood, he was often sentimental and loving, not to mention brotherly, towards his little sister. But get him mad, or get on his bad side, and he was more likely to pound your head in.

Stepping back slightly, she looked defiantly up into his eyes, but in her expression was a searching look, begging the Spot of four days before to come back. But he didn't, instead, his expression just became more menacing, as he grabbed her around the throat and shoved her hard into the wall.

Criss-Cross's eyes drew wide as she felt his grip on her throat tighten. "Wheah's yer boy Chris? An' what's ya been tellin' 'im?"

Eyes clouding in confusion, she replied, "'E left 'bout five minutes ago. An' 'e an' I'se talkin' 'bout Frisk. Dat's all. Spot, what's goin' on?"

Her brother tightened his grip more, and raised his cane, "As if you'se don' already know! I'se can' believe you! Playin' Brooklyn foah a sap! How dare yas!"

"Spot! I'se didn'!" she said, but he brought his cane straight done towards her head, not hearing what she was saying. She felt the metal bite hard into her skin and winced slightly, his grip tightening even more on her throat to the point where she could barely breathe.

"Don' lie ta me, bitch!" he said, and brought his cane down towards her head, but her speed surpassed his, and she rammed a small bony fist hard into his stomach, causing him to release her throat and hunch over slightly, his blow falling short.

Taking her chance, she dodge passed him and ran for the door. Ducking under Advantage's arm as he tried to block her escape. As he reached out to grab her, she socked him hard in the jaw and took off, sprinting down the hall, and not even bothering with the stairs, she jumped over the railing, and tucking into a roll as she landed, she was on her feet in an instance and out the door, her foot leaving Brooklyn's last step outside as she heard Spot's voice scream out in fury behind her, "I'se gonna kill yas! Ya heah dat! Nevah set foot in Brooklyn again a I'se'll kill yas Kattie!"

The tears hit from moments before overflowed in a torrent as her boot left the last step of her last permanent home for what she thought would be forever. Grabbing her bag, she fled Brooklyn, eventually running as far as Colorado four years later, where she finally stopped for a few months, before, surprisingly, running home…

Criss-Cross was shocked out of her thoughts as her foot touched the familiar bottom step of the Brooklyn Lodging House. So many times had she relived her final step off of it. And she could still remember the exact feeling of it. Stepping on it now, a different sensation swept through. One of both right and wrong. One of both home, and enemy's fort. One of joy, and sorrow. And one that reminded her of something that could be summed up in two words: Spot Conlon.

A/N: Yes! It was another memory. And most likely my final one of the book. But anyway, what did you think? I don't like this memory personally, because it's like the last one to me, really sad. Mainly because I'm really attached to both Criss-Cross and Spot, and I'm in love with their relationship, so… Anyway, please review!

Shout Outs:

Skater: lol Ain't I the meanest! And I didn't even pick up after the cliffhanger in this chappie! Now that's just gotta be worse! lol But at least I've gotten you curious…Keeps you reading! Teehee!

Angelfish: lol Yupper. It's a fun word! I've used it for years. And yes, it was another cliffhanger. And I'm mean, cuz I didn't go back to it in this chapter. But you have to admit, you probably knew I'd do that. And tell me your guess! lol Cuz maybe you're right! Teehee! And who knows how they'll vote! (I still don't! lol) And I will keep going if you'll keep reviewing!

Bittah: Yes! You gotta love cliffhangers! It works perfectly to hook readers and keep them reading your story! It's okay, you got two sections up today! And that makes me a happy Criss-Cross! Though, I still want more! lol And I'm writing as fast as me lil finfahs'll allow!

Spot: Review!

Spot…Don't be rude! But yes people…REVIEW!

Spot: And you'se call me rude? Jeez…

lol Good one. And I know I'm mean and abusive and all that jazz, but I'm yer sis, you gotta love me. And all of our fans. Anywho, I'll have a bunch up tomorrow night hopefully. 4 hour carried ya know! Criss-Cross