A.N. Next up is Albert. I was going to do Racetrack, but I need something to write about for him. I have ideas for Davey, Katherine, Sniper, Les and Albert, but not Race, so any suggestions. Oh never mind, I've got a good idea for Race! This turned into an Albert and Delancey brothers fic, so yeah.

It was 6:30 in the morning. The sun had risen a half hour before in beautiful oranges, yellows, and reds before turning into the blue most know it to be. Walking through Manhattan it would seem perfectly serine, until you reached the World Distribution Center. As per usual, the Delancey brothers ganged up on an unfortunate newsie as he would walk in to buy his papes, and today happened to be Crutchie. The brothers thought it fit to rip the crutch out from under the boy and kick him in the ribs. Unfortunately, for the Delancey brothers, the other boys were just behind him.

"Hey, what is youse doing?!" Albert ran up to Oscar and yanked the crutch out of the bully's hand. Finch was not far behind, pulling Crutchie to his feet.

"Pick on someone youse own size. Crutchie can't defend hisself he's a gimp!" Albert was fuming as he shoved past the brothers, the other newsies following close behind glaring at Oscar and Morris.

Crutchie limped back to the Lodging House, head down. Albert thought he was weak and couldn't take care of himself? Did the other boys think that way? Crutchie stood around with the other boys halfheartedly laughing at the joke Race made. Did they really think he was the defenseless newsie who always needed help? Crutchie started to get undressed for bed when Albert walked up.

"Youse ok, youse seemed kinda sad or something?"

"Nah, Ise fine."

"Youse lying, come on, youse can tell mes." Crutchie sighed.

"It's just dat, when youse was talking ta da Delanceys dis morning youse just…"

"What do youse-oh…"

"Yeah."

"Hey, look. Ise didn't mean ta say dat. Youse tough, tougher den all a us. Ise bet youse could take Oscar in a fight any day."

"Really, youse tink so?"

"Yeah."

"Tanks, Albert." Crutchie reached over and gave Albert a hug who instantly wrapped his arms around his friend.

The next day, the Delanceys were back to picking on Crutchie. But, when Oscar made a lunge for the crutch, Crutchie moved sideways, nailing Oscar across the ribs with his crutch. Then Morris took a dive and Crutchie punched him in the nose, hearing a nice crack come from it. The brothers ran off just as the other boys jogged up.

"What's up wid dem?" Jack looked at Crutchie.

"Just showed dem a few tings."

The Delancey brothers avoided Crutchie for the next week.