"Run for it! Come on!" cried Jack, reaching out towards Les first and pulling him down the street.

She faintly heard Davey's footsteps following them closely and she hoped both brothers were able to outrun Snyder and the goons he had with him.

"This way," she gasped out, making a sharp turn down an alleyway, dragging Les with her.

She briefly saw Davey nearly trip as he attempted to round that corner as quickly as she did. Jack slid to a halt, urging Les to keep running as she reached out towards Davey, righting him and pulling him further into the alley.

"Right, Les!" she hissed as they neared an intersection.

Les thankfully heard her and he made a right turn. The trio continued to run and, even over the laboured breathing and pounding of their footsteps, Jack could still hear the yelling of the adults on their heels.

Jack knew they needed a hiding spot and they needed one soon.

And she knew just the place.

She directed the brothers through the many alleyways until she slowed to a stop under a fire escape, already motioning for Les to come closer.

"Up! Over there!"

The ladder was much too high for Les to reach by himself and Jack quickly scooped him up. With a grunt, she lifted him over her head and he grabbed onto the last rung of the ladder.

"Climb, Les, climb!" she hissed, glancing briefly towards the other alleyways.

She wished there was a more secluded way of getting into the Bowery, to be better hidden but there just wasn't any: they needed to be fast and they needed to be as quiet as possible.

She motioned for Davey to go up next but he shook his head. "I'm taller. I'll reach it after I help you!" he whispered quickly.

Jack's eyes widened. Yes, Davey was taller but not by much! "I can –" Davey didn't let Jack finish as he nearly pushed her towards the ladder. "Alright, alright!" she hissed, using his shoulder as a hold and pushing up towards the ladder.

She grabbed onto it easily and heaved herself up. She briefly glanced back down and saw Davey readjust his hat before jumping straight up.

And missing the last rung.

"You've got to be kidding me," muttered Jack as she glanced around the area, hoping Snyder and the goons weren't nearby. "Davey!" she hissed as she started climbing back down.

"No! I've got this!" he uttered, going for another jump.

Thankfully that time he managed to grab onto the ladder and, with difficulty, pulled himself to the next one. Jack rolled her eyes as she climbed the last rungs and knelt on the walkway, holding out a hand –

She heard running footsteps not far from their hiding spot and she realized there wasn't much time left. She grabbed onto the back of Davey's clothes and heaved him onto the landing just as she heard the thudding footsteps of Snyder and the goons nearing the alleyway.

No time, she thought as she pulled Davey down to the walkway level, pushing him towards the brick wall and then making him lean flat against the metal before pressing herself against him.

He began protesting until she nearly slammed her hand against his mouth and hissed, "Shut it!"

He squirmed a bit more before finally stilling. Jack craned her neck, searching the area for his brother. She spotted Les, crouching amongst the shadows and motioned for him to stay quiet. At least Les was well out of sight.

As for her and Davey, she had to pray that being as still as possible would be enough. She couldn't risk finding a better spot in case the movement caught the men's attention.

She squeezed her eyes shut as she buried her face into Davey's chest, trying to quiet her heavy breathing. She could feel Davey trying to do the same thing, even with her hand still covering his mouth.

Come on, come on, she urged, straining to hear if the men were past their hiding spot or not. Just keep running.

The trio didn't move for several minutes, until Jack was sure she couldn't hear Snyder and the goons anymore. She exhaled, releasing her tense muscles as she just lay there.

Lay…

Her eyes widened suddenly realizing she was laying ON TOP of Davey. She quickly rolled off, rubbing her nose to try and hide the blush that was rising on her face.

She inwardly cursed herself for acting like that but, she had to admit to herself, it had felt good.

"Sorry," she mumbled towards Davey, glancing briefly towards him.

He was sitting up by then, rubbing his back. "Yeah, it's okay, Jack."

"Are they gone?" whispered Les worriedly from his hiding spot.

Jack shrugged. "Probably going to do another search of the area. They've done it in the past. I've gots a place to hide though." She stood carefully, making sure not the make any loud noise before pointing towards the end of the fire escape. "That way. Come on."

She held out a hand for Davey and he took it. She pulled him up and then led the way towards a hidden door. She easily unlocked it and entered, hearing the brothers follow suit.

"Who was that chasing us?" whispered Les and Jack felt bad when she heard the hint of fear in the kid's voice.

"That there was Snyder, the Spider. A real sweetie," she replied, disdain clear in her voice as they climbed down a set of stairs. "He runs a jail for underage kids called the Refuge. The more kids he brings in, the more city pays him. Problem is, all that money goes right into his own damn pocket."

The trio reached the rafters of the theater and Jack leaned against the wooden railing, breathing deeply. The brothers looked around the area but Jack just focused on calming her racing heart. That had been close, too close. Especially with Davey and Les with her: she couldn't let Snyder get his grubby hands on them…

"Just do yourself a favor," she began. "Stay clear of him and the Refuge."

"I hear you," whispered Davey. He eyed Jack for a moment but she just leaned against the railing, ignoring him. She felt that he probably had more to say or to ask but she said her part for the night.

"Hey! You up there! No kids allowed in the theater!"

Jack searched the area below, easily spotting her favorite lady, all dressed up in her fine pink clothes and decked in enough jewelry to make any other women faint of jealousy.

But not Jack, she adored her and found her fashion taste exquisite.

"Not even me, Miss Medda?" she asked with a laugh.

Miss Medda took a good look at the trio, recognizing her favorite newsie easily. "Jack Kelly," she said happily. "Get yourself down here and give me a hug."

And that's exactly what Jack did. She hopped down the steps until she emerged backstage, running up to the woman and engulfing her into a large hug.

Jack really did like Miss Medda. The woman not only ran the Bowery, she owned the theater as well as performing in it. And she was good. Whenever Jack could, she would sneak into the theater and watch Miss Medda and the other girls perform. None of them ever said anything about their stowaway, namely because Jack painted the backdrops they used in their shows.

"Where have you been keeping yourself, kid?" laughed Miss Medda as Jack finally pulled away.

"Never far from you, Miss Medda," she replied with a smile before turning towards the brothers. They were both glancing around in awe, Les being much more obvious than Davey. Well, it wasn't every day that kids saw what goes on behind the scenes of a theater. Especially one like the Bowery. "Boys, I'd like you to meet Miss Medda Larkin, the greatest star in the Bowery today. She also owns the joint."

"The only thing I own is the mortgage," added Miss Medda with a sigh. "Pleasure, gents."

"Pleasure," repeated Davey, nodding towards the woman.

Les, on the other hand, was gawking at two of the girls. Well, Jack couldn't exactly blame the poor kid: the girls were wearing their costumes; very revealing costumes that showed their legs from top to bottom.

Even though Jack saw Davey reprimand his brother for his manners and for staring, Jack caught the second glance Davey sent the girls' way as they headed off to finish getting ready. She nearly scoffed out loud.

Boys, she thought with a shake of her head.

"Hey, Miss Medda, do you mind if I hang around here for a bit?" asked Jack after a moment. "There's a… situation on the streets."

Even if Jack had tried to be as vague as possible, Miss Medda seemed to understand exactly what the situation was. "Is Snyder after you again?"

Jack didn't reply but the look the woman sent her told Jack that the actress knew very well what the answer was. She gave a quick nod and Jack was thankfully saved from explaining anymore when Les wondered about the escape from the Refuge in the back of the Governor's carriage.

Jack couldn't be anymore thankful to that little squirt.

"Come on," cut in Davey before Jack could explain. "Really, what would the governor be doing at a juvenile jail, anyway?"

Jack rolled her eyes. It seemed Davey hadn't believed her and Crutchie back in newsie square. "It so happens he was running for office and he wanted to show he cared about orphans and such," she began, walking up to the brothers but she mainly focused on Les seeing as his older brother was not as easily impressed. "So, while he got his mug in a pape, I got my butt in the backseat, and off we rode together."

Well, she at least hoped his older brother would be impressed by the story. Every other newsie she had told it too had been in awe. Davey, though, seemed to be a harder egg to crack.

"Do you really know the governor?" wondered Les excitedly.

"He don't," cut in Miss Medda. "But I do."

Davey sent Jack a questioning look and Jack nodded. Miss Medda had her share of customers and contacts, the governor really being one of them.

"Say, Jack," continued the woman, motioning to the back of the stage. "When you've got time, I want you to paint me another one of these backdrops. This last one you did is a doozy. Folks love it and things have been going so well that I can actually pay."

Jack quickly held up her hands. "I couldn't take your money, Miss Medda." No matter if she needed it or not, Jack did not feel comfortable taking money from the woman who had helped her out so much in the past.

"You pictured that?" cried out Les in amazement. He had gone up to the backdrop as Miss Medda had been talking and was gawking nearly as much as when he had been watching the girls in their costumes.

"Your friend is quite an artist," explained Miss Medda and Jack bit the inside of her cheek.

"Alright, take it easy. It's just a bunch of trees," she said with a sigh. Not that many people knew about her ability to draw and, honestly, she didn't think she was all that –

"You're really good."

Jack felt her face heat up at that praise from Davey as he said the exact opposite of what she had been thinking. The story of the governor did nothing for him but seeing what she had painted impressed him? Jack rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment, sending Davey a quick smile and a "thanks".

Who would have thought it would be her hobby that got his attention?