A/N: Just want to say thanks again to those of you who have reviewed and been following this story. I can't tell you how much it means to me!
I was hoping to have updated a little sooner, but life is crazy right now. (I'm going out of town this weekend to see a production of Newsies, and I am ecstatic!)
I think this is one of my favorite chapters...but I'll leave it up to you to decide if you think the same. ;)
A choked scream pierced through the night air, jerking Jack out of his restless slumber; knocking his head on the bunk above him in the process.
He rubbed at the sore spot, gears turning in his mind as he searched out the source of the sound. His eyes landed on the sight just in front of him.
Crutchie tossed in the bunk, twisting in his blankets as he cried out. His blond bangs were plastered to his forehead with sweat.
Jack leapt into action. "Hey, hey!" He caught the younger boy by the shoulders to hold him still, giving him a shake. "Wake up, kid," he urged.
Crutchie came to with a gasp, coughing and sputtering as he blinked his eyes open. His unfocused gaze met Jack's, and he whimpered. "Jack." It was barely a whisper, but the one word held so much emotion.
Jack inhaled. "Hey," he soothed, trying to keep his voice calm. "It's okay, Crutch. I'm right here."
The younger boy's chest heaved, fear apparent in his eyes, even through the dark of the lodging house. He squeezed his eyes shut and coughed.
Jack slid one hand onto Crutchie's sweat-soaked forehead, using his thumb to massage away the pained crease between the kid's eyebrows. "Shh, it's okay."
Crutchie's fingers curled around the hem of Jack's shirt, desperate for something to ground him back into reality.
Jack glanced around to make sure the sick boy's cries hadn't woken any of the other newsies. When silence met his ears, he sighed in relief and turned his attention back to Crutchie.
Jack moved his other hand to rub his brother's congested chest, encouraging him to take deep breaths. He was warmed when the boy responded to his touch, inhalations becoming steadier.
Eventually, Crutchie calmed down enough for Jack to retrieve fresh water and a cloth. He gently wiped the sheen of sticky sweat from Crutchie's face.
The blond moaned as the cool rag met his skin, blinking his eyes open.
"It's okay," Jack reassured again. "Was jus' a dream."
Crutchie tossed his head from side to side. "Wasn't," he muttered. "It—you was in The...The Refuge."
Jack caught his breath.
It had happened three years ago now, but the nightmare of a memory resurfaced fresh in his mind.
Almost all of the boys had been sick at the same time that year, even their current leader, Top. The weather was awful and the profit on papes worse. Jack Kelly would never have admitted it, but he was scared. There was no way he was letting any of them starve or freeze to death. So he'd done the only thing he'd thought reasonable—stolen the items they needed. His mission hadn't turned out the way he'd planned.
"Jack!"
The hiss pulled Jack from his restless sleep, drawing his attention to the barred window. "Racetrack? What do y' think you're doin' here?" In spite of the unbearable pain due to his bruised ribs, Jack was at the tiny window in seconds, hands curled around the metal bars. "If The Spider or his goons sees ya—"
"I had t' find out what happened to y', Jack." Race muffled a cough into his sleeve, hands pressed against the glass on his side.
Jack glanced nervously over his shoulder. "You's should get goin', Racer." To ease some of the kid's fears, he offered a reassuring smile. "I'll be back 'fore you knows it."
The younger boy hesitated, biting down on his lower lip. When his friend fixed him with an "I'm serious" look, he finally relented. "Just hurry, Jack," he pleaded. "Crutchie's been callin' for ya. Ain't nobody else can calm 'im down. An' his cough's gotten worse, too."
"Jack?" The exhausted whisper cut through the newsie's memories, bringing him back to the present. Crutchie gazed up at the older boy, fear from his recent dream still lingering in his eyes.
Jack shook his head to clear the remaining thoughts. "Look, I's here right now, ain't I?"
Crutchie nodded slowly.
"Then don't be worryin'. I's not gonna be stupid and get myself caught like that again." Never again, he swore to himself.
Some of the uncertainty drained from Crutchie's expression, replaced by exhaustion.
"Get back to sleep," Jack encouraged, eager to change the subject. "You need the rest."
Crutchie nodded agreeably, but Jack felt the boy's fist tighten its hold on his shirt.
Jack couldn't hold back a smile. Something about this kid just melted a heart, even one belonging to a tough, streetwise newsie like Jack Kelly. "G'night, Crutch."
I'll try to update sooner next time! Again, feedback is super appreciated and reviews make my day! What do you think is gonna happen next?
Have a wonderful day, fansies!