(Author's note: I am so glad so many of you are liking this story! Thanks for all the sweet reviews, they really make all the work I put into these stories worth it. Just a quick note, I don't know if I mentioned this in my first chapter, but this takes place very shortly after the strike, no more than a few months after. I just wanted to put that out there in case anyone wondered.

Standard disclaimers apply. I own nothing but my own imagination.)

Crutchie stopped in his tracks. The dog had a gimp leg, just like him; his front right paw was bent just a little differently from the other three. Any lingering resentment Crutchie had for the poor creature immediately melted away. They say that friendships are often formed by bonding over a common enemy, and this shared disability (though Crutchie hated to call it a disability) was certainly a common enemy. He lifted the little dog up to his chest and scratched him behind the ears.

"You-you's just like me," Crutchie stammered, taking in the irony of the situation. He felt a sort of affinity for the poor little guy, but he knew there was nothing he could do for him. He probably had a family that was looking for him, and even if he didn't, there was no way he could keep a dog at the lodging house... was there?

No, definitely not. He set the dog down so as not to get any more attached to him.

"Now, you go on and... Uh, go find your family," he said sternly, "You must have a family, and they's probly missin' you, so uh, go on home, okay little buddy?" He pushed him away gently with his crutch, but the dog merely cocked his head and whimpered.

"I mean it, just go home now." Crutchie turned sharply and headed back in the direction of the lodging house at the fastest pace he could manage, but it was no use. The little dog simply skidded alongside him loyally, occasionally slipping and knocking into Crutchie's good leg. He laughed, and eventually gave in, letting the dog follow him and being sure not to step on-or trip over-him.

About halfway back, he pulled a piece of stale bread out of his pocket, and broke off a small chunk.

"You hungry buddy?" He laughed, and the way the little dog jumped up on its hind legs and pawed at Crutchie's pant leg was answer enough. He tossed the bread to the ground, and the dog leaped after it, snapping it up in seconds. The poor thing probably hadn't had a proper meal in ages, and-knowing very well how it felt to go without food-he handed over the rest of the bread, which was accepted gratefully. Crutchie knew he had to try and help the little guy somehow, so he let the dog trot all the way back to the lodging house with him. Besides, he was starting to get attached to the little fur ball.

"Hey, uh, you got a name?" Crutchie asked, sitting on the front steps of the lodging house. The dog yipped apologetically. "Well, I guess I'll have to come up with one for ya. Can't have you goin' without a name."

He stared at the dog, and the dog stared back. Crutchie thought long and hard, but nothing seemed to fit the charismatic pup, who in the meantime, paced around the steps, his nails making quiet clicking sounds on the cement. Crutchie wracked his brain, but this whole naming business was tougher than he thought, and besides that, the little clicks of the dog's nails kept slipping into his thoughts.

"Clicks!" He exclaimed suddenly, and the dog yipped excitedly, "Ya like that? Clicks?" Crutchie laughed aloud, immensely proud of himself. Clicks seemed happy with his new name as well, barking loudly as if to show his approval.

"Hey, whatcha got there Crutch?" Crutchie looked up from his new friend to see Les, Davey, Romeo, and Jojo, all of which immediately crowded around the pair of invalids.

"His name's Clicks. I-uh-found him in the park and he followed me home," Crutchie explained, conveniently leaving out the part where he'd fallen over the dog and nearly gotten stranded in Central Park without a crutch. He'd never seen the boys melt faster than they did around Clicks. Each one took a turn holding the little dog, scratching his head or ruffling his fur lovingly. It was sweet, seeing them all with the his new friend.

Eventually, the small crowd dispersed inside to escape the freezing air, which only seemed to continue to get colder. Crutchie knew he should do the same, but he still didn't know what to do about Clicks. He certainly couldn't be brought in the lodging house, and Crutchie wasn't about to tie him up or anything. He was just contemplating this situation, cradling a sleepy Clicks in his arms, when Jack appeared, his face flushed from the wind, and Crutchie guessed he'd been helping a few of the younger, more inexperienced Newsies sell their last papes. (Just because they could sell back papes didn't mean they could always afford to. Some days they needed all the extra money they could scrounge up.)

"Hey Crutchie," he said, more than a little out of breath.

"Hey Jackie!"

Clicks barked softly and swung his yellow head around to look at Jack.

"Well, what do we have here?" Jack chuckled, and Crutchie introduced his best friend to his new friend.

"I can't bring him inside though, that's the problem, Jack. I dunno what to do with him." Jack pondered this for a minute, and Crutchie desperately hoped he would have an idea. Jack Kelly always had an idea.

"That's ah... That's a very good question," Jack mumbled, "I can't see that there is anything you can do Crutch, except maybe leave him some food over here, an' I guess if he stays, then he really is your dog. Ya know, like uh, if ya love somethin', set it free kinda thing." Crutchie hated to leave him out in the snow, but that did seem like the only option.

"Thanks Jack."

"No problem Crutchie." The two brothers exchanged smiles and Jack threw his arm around Crutchie's shoulders.

"Hey, you best get inside now, it's freezing out here," Jack commented, but Crutchie hesitated. "C'mon Crutch!"

"Okay, okay! See ya later Clicks," Crutchie chirped, giving the dog one last pat on the head, before being dragged inside by a cold and persistent Jack. Crutchie was elated. He had a new friend, one who was just like him, and he hadn't even had to tell anyone about tripping and making a fool of himself in the park! Ha! Yes, everything was turning out just-

"Hey, ain't that a new crutch?"

Fine.

(Thanks for reading! I'd love some reviews on this chapter, and I could seriously use some more ideas on how to keep this running. I have a few more chapters planned out, but I don't know exactly where I want to take it past that, and y'all seem to really like this one, so ideas would be very welcome!

Much love,
PrettyLittleMonster Xxx)