Disclaimer: Still don't own newsies

"He's here!" a kid in the crowd shouted.

"Who's here?" Crutchie asked, looking at Fox.

"Only the most famous person to ever come to the Refuge," Fox said as his eyes sparkled.

"The governor?" Crutchie asked, still confused. Then the door opened and Crutchie was surprised. It didn't look like someone famous. They weren't dressed in fancy clothes or standing tall. They didn't look strong. No, they were dragged in by the guards and dropped on the floor. They were in pain. They were covered in blood and bruises. But then they stood up and Crutchie gasped.

"He's the only kid to ever escape the Refuge," Fox was saying but Crutchie wasn't listening.

"Jack!" he cried out. All the boys backed away from Jack, leaving a clear path between the two friends.

"Crutchie!" Jack called out and tried to run to his best friend. That was the first time Crutchie noticed the chains around Jack's wrist and stopped him and he hit the ground hard. A couple of boys quickly help him up and he brushed them away as soon as he was standing. The boys backed off, thinking he no longer needed help. Jack could fool these kids, but Crutchie could see the growing pain with each step he took.

Once Jack reached him, Crutchie wrapped his arms around his brother. Jack let out a sharp hiss of pain and Crutchie quickly let go. Most of the boys had already lost interest in their hero, so Crutchie and Fox led him to a bed up against the wall underneath a window. He collapsed and passed out as soon as he hit the bed. Crutchie had seen him injured before, but nothing quite like this. Even in sleep, he was restless and whimpered in pain. Crutchie sat with his brother's head in his lap, his fingers running through Jack's short hair like Jack had done so many times when the other newises were injured. He seemed to relax more and Crutchie smiled.

"How do you know Jack Kelly?" Fox asked, amazed.

"He saved my life," Crutchie said, smiling down at the older boy in his lap and thought back to when he first joined the newsies.

Crutchie had found the Lower Manhattan newsies about a month after the boy had taken the fall for him. He hadn't seen the boy since then, but a boy named Hunter had found him on the street and invited him to come with him. Maybe this was the place the boy had been talking about, Crutchie thought. A place with a family. Hunter had taken him under his wing and was teaching him how to sell papes.

"This way, kid," The older kid said, pointing to a line of boys. "This is where we buy papes. How much money do you have?"

Crutchie dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled up piece of papers, a large clump of lint, and a couple coins. "10 cents," he whispered.

"Alright," the older boy, Hunter, said, "you can get 20 papes with that. Buy your papes and you can sell with me until you get settled in and we find a place for you to sell."

Crutchie smiled towards the ground and Hunter put his hand on the smaller boy's shoulder.

They got in line and it wasn't long before Crutchie was putting down his 10 cents.

"20 papes, please," Crutchie said and hobbled over to Oscar who was handing out the papers.

"Ooh," Oscar said, "you've found yourself a cripple. I wonder how long he'll last." But Hunter stood behind Crutchie and made it clear he wasn't to be messed with. The two walked over to Central Park where Crutchie sold his papes in record time.

"That limp of yours is a gold mine, kid," Hunter said, laughing. Crutchie helped Hunter get rid of the rest of his papers and the two returned to the lodging house together. Hunter showed him to an empty bed.

"This is the only empty bed we have right now. There will probably be someone on the top bunk later, but enjoy it for now. I think some of the boys are playing cards if you want to join them." Then he left and went to joy the other older boys. It was obvious everyone looked up to Hunter and he seemed to be their leader. Crutchie glanced over at the kids his age playing poker with pieces of paper as chips but then limped after Hunter.

Hunter was engaged in a heated conversation. "So no one's seen him?" The other boys shook their heads.

"He's been gone for a month, Hunter. I know you don't want to admit it, but there's only one place he could be."

Hunter nodded and frowned. "I know," he said, "but I don't want to believe he ended up there. How could we let this happen?"

"You know exactly how it happened. That kid is a bleeding heart. He was constantly stealin' food, medicine, and blankets for the younger kids. He must've gotten caught. We'se just lucky he didn't bring any of us down with him."

Hunter hit the boy talking in the back of the head.

"Hey, what was that for?" the boy complained.

"Don't talk about Jack like that. I've never met a more selfless kid than him." Then Hunter walked away from the group. He sat down on a bed and buried his head in his hands.

"What was that about?" Crutchie asked, pointing at the boys.

"Nothing, just we...we lost a boy about a month ago. A kid named Jack. I mean, he's a dreamer. Been wanting to get out of New York since the day I met him, so maybe he just ran off. But… but more likely, Snyder got him. I should just go down to the Refuge and check, but I'm too scared to get caught."

"What's Jack like?" Crutchie asked, hoping to change the subject.

"Jack, well, he's a dreamer like I said. He's cocky and arrogant, but also humble and selfless. Hell, he'd probably go to the Refuge for a kid he never met." Hunter scoffed a little at that. "He's one of the younger kids, but looks out for everyone. Definitely better than me or any of the older boys can. Sometimes he gives his food to the other kids and will go a week without anything to eat, but he never complains. Sometimes I have to force him to eat. He's reckless, but never puts anyone else in danger. Jack's not scared of anything, at least, that's what everyone thinks. Don't tell him I told you this, but sometimes I hear him in the middle of the night, crying. But everyday he's ready for anything. He's the most mysterious and confusing person I've ever met." The more Hunter said about Jack, the more Crutchie compared him to the boy that had saved him.

Then Mush ran into the room, yelling Hunter's name and interrupting his description. "Jack's back," Mush said, breathlessly.

"Crutchie… C-Crutch." Jack's whispering brought him out of his thoughts.

"Jack?" he asked. "What happened? Why are you here?"

"I-I'se went to talk to Pulitzer. He told me that I had to speak against the rally or he'd send us to the Refuge."

"I'm guessin' ya refused," Crutchie said, looking around the dark room. "Is he goin' afta' the others?"

"No, no. I'se made a deal with the Spider. As long as I'se here, he ain't gonna touch you or the boys."

Crutchie gasped. "No, no. They'se gonna kill you." Jack just mumbled and rolled over. Crutchie was so glad that Jack wasn't coherent enough to feel the pain that he would be in. "Did he do this to you because of me?"

Jack nodded, too out of it to understand the burden he had just placed on Crutchie. Tears burned Crutchie's eyes and they dripped into Jack's hair. Jack started to shiver and Crutchie realized for the first time how cold he was. The shivering progressed through the night and, without a blanket, didn't seem to end. Eventually, Fox managed to convince Crutchie to move to the top bunk and let Jack sleep. Just as he was moving, Jack weakly grabbed his wrist and opened his eyes for the first time since passing out.

"Thanks, Crutchie," he whispered and Crutchie smiled at him. He ruffled the older boy's hair one last time.

Crutchie awoke in the morning to Jack coughing. The coughs sounded painful even if he hadn't been beaten.

"Shut it!" a kid yelled from the other side of the room and Crutchie could hear Jack try to stifle the coughs, and they eventually just turned to groans.

"C—," he heard from underneath him and finally, Crutchie gathered the strength to brave the cold and he joined Jack on his bed. The two sat in silence and Jack snuggled into his side, hoping to absorb some body heat. Then finally Crutchie spoke.

"Why did you take Snyder's deal?"

"I told you about that?"

"Yeah, Jack, last night. You was pretty out of it."

"It's my fault you'se here, Crutchie. The least I can do is makes sure you don't get hurt."

"Jack, Snyder will kill you. You'se only been here a day and I swear I thought you was gonna die."

"Actually," Jack said, "I think I'se been here for three or four days. Snyder kept me in the basement. And, as much as I love you, I didn't just take the deal for you. Snyder promised not to touch any of the other boys. He won't bring any of them to the Refuge."

"But he'll kill you."

"Ya mentioned," Jack replied, sarcastically.

Crutchie sighed. "I think you'se sick, too."

Jack shook his head, but couldn't keep himself from shaking and coughing. Crutchie looked at him pointedly and Jack rolled away. Crutchie grabbed his wrist and Jack hissed as his fingers moved one of the cuffs that cut deeply into his skin.

"You okay?" Crutchie asked, worried.

Jack shook his head and held up his hands. "Snyder put 'em on really tight. Everytime I move or walk, they cut into my skin."

"Why?" Crutchie asked. "Mine were never that tight and they took 'em off as soon as we got here."

"I guess the Spider just really don't want me to escape."

"Why do all the boys here think you'se famous?" Crutchie asked, hoping to change the subject.

"Why do you think?" he said with a laugh. "I'm Jack Kelly." Crutchie laughed and lightly punched him in the shoulder.

"No," Jack continued, "They say I'se the only kid to ever escape the Refuge. I ain't sure if that's true or not, but everyone looks up to me, I guess. And sometimes I bring the kids here blankets and food. I'se a 'hero'. All the times I'se been here, I thought I was gonna die. Maybe I can helps some of them kids." He looked like he had more to say, but another coughing fit stopped him. It hurt so bad and Jack started to whimper. Then a hand on his arm calmed him down. Crutchie rubbed his arm and smiled.

"I don't think too many people smile in the Refuge as much as you do," Jack said, then continued in a much quieter voice. "I'm cold, Crutchie. Will you stay with me?" Crutchie nodded and laid down beside Jack. Jack snuggled into his side until Snyder came for him a couple hours later.

A/N: Hope y'all enjoyed that. Next chapter we'll be hearing from Race.