Disclaimer: Unfortunately I don't own the "Newsies" or any of it's characters or songs…very unfortunate indeed. Carrying the Banner!

Chapter 2:

Saying Goodbye

Do I really want to go? Go to a total random stranger for protection? Jack said he was a good person, that he'd take care of me, better than Jack can. I was a little scared, a little excited and all together nervous. I was about to leave the person who had protected me my whole life and go to another part of New York and hide again. Granted, Jack kept telling me it wasn't my fault, that he just wanted to protect me and the only way to do it was for me to go to Brooklyn. He said that this person, Spot Conlon, wouldn't let anything happen to me. But many people in my life had said that before, and the only one who actually kept up to that promise was Jack and, of course, Race. And now he was sending me off to a stranger until the incident with Oscar Delancy calmed down a bit. Not only was I leaving my cousin who took me in, but I was leaving the Manhattan Newsies, and Race…I couldn't even imagine life without Race. I just couldn't-

"Hey, you ready?" Jack's voice penetrated through my thoughts as he looked in and saw me sitting on my bed.

I took a deep sigh and nodded, tears starting to form in the corners of my mind. "Yeah…I guess so."

"Hey," Jack said, coming into the room. "You okay?"

I nodded and smiled. "Yes…no…not really."

"What's da matter?"

"Jack…I don't think I can do this anymore. Go into hiding all the time…it's so damn hard, ya know?"

"Yeah, I knows…but hey listen. Oscar and his shrimp of a brudder ain't gonna be down near Brooklyn anytime soon." Jack said, smiling.

I laughed a bit, then got up, picking up my bag. "So, this Spot Conlon said okay to the deal?" I asked as we walked out into the street where Mush and Racetrack were waiting along with Kid Blink, Boots, and Skittery. Due to my situation, Jack called on a bunch of his Newsies to 'protect' me as we went around the city and now, on the way to Brooklyn.

"Yeah," Jack said. "At least that's what Race and Mush here say."

Race smiled. "Hey, he said yes…whys?"

I shrugged. "Seemed odd that he would say yes." I said, as we made our way down the street towards Brooklyn. "With his reputation, I would never think of him to hide someone he never saw, especially since I'm a girl."

Race shrugged. "Spots a good kid...and he ain't gonna refuse Jack's request after Jack bailed him outa situations before." Race said, then took a drag on his cigar.

"Listen, Rachel, doncha worry yourself 'bout anything. Spot'll look afta ya. I'll make sure he does." Jack said, taking my bag from me.

"Yeah," I said, then looked at my 'Newsies protection' and smiled. "What do ya think he'll think when he sees all of ya escortin' me ta Brooklyn?" I asked.

Race laughed. "Well, he ain't gonna be too happy 'bout us trampin' in his territory." Race said, putting his arm around my shoulders. "But ya got me ta protect ya." He smiled and I smiled back. Race was the closest friend I had in Manhattan and probably my whole life. When I learned that I'd be leaving his protective company to go to Brooklyn, I was heartbroken. Last night me and Race went to the races and just talked. Race didn't even place a bet, which was highly unusual for him. Instead, we just talked and talked. I just couldn't imagine waking up and not seeing Race or the rest of the Manhattan Newsies in the morning. But I knew that I would have to, and I would most likely have to get used to it. I sighed and Race noticed. "Hey," he whispered. "Don't worry. I'll visit ya. I wouldn't just leave ya in Brooklyn without any visits, even if it means I have to miss thirty Sheepshed races."

I laughed, in spite of myself. "Promise me you'll visit?" I asked, sticking out my hand.

Race laughed, "I promise," he said, then kissed me on the forehead.

I smiled and looked down at the ground as we walked. "I just…don't know if I'm ready for this." I said, looking back at Race. "I don't know…maybe I'm nervous, maybe I'm scared. But he's just a total stranger and all…" I trailed off as we started crossing the Brooklyn bridge.

"Listen Rach," Race said, taking his arm off my shoulder and walking next to me. "He'll take good care of ya. I'll make sure of it. If he don't…well that's anuther story. But it's safer here in Brooklyn than it is in Manhattan. Oscar'll know where ta find ya…but he'll neva think ta look in Brooklyn." Race stopped when he saw Jack stop.

Jack had turned to me and Race. "Ya ready?" He asked, as if it was the end of the world, which didn't help my spirits. I nodded meekly and we continued walking. Race put his arm around my shoulders again and grabbed my hand with his right. I glanced quickly at him, then down at my feet again. I had already said goodbye to the Manhattan Newsies, including Kid Blink, Boots, and Skittery. But I had yet to say my goodbyes to Jack or Race. Granted I knew that it'd be hard for me to say goodbye to Jack…but to Race? I knew that it wasn't permanent that I was going to stay in Brooklyn, but Jack had already explained that it'd be hard for any of them to visit me, in case Oscar or any one of his sleazy friends were watching. I took this hard, crying my eyes out until Race came to comfort me and said he'd sneak out whenever he could. For the past three years I had lived with Jack, Race, and the other Newsies and leaving them was extremely hard. Especially since I had realized I had feelings for Race, feelings that I thought maybe he had for me. Tears slowly slid down my cheeks as we got to the other side of the bridge and started the trek down to the docks. Race saw my tears and wiped them away with his hand.

"Hey," he whispered in my ear. "Don't cry, you'll have my crying if ya do." Race's eyes started to get a little watery as Jack looked back and gave me a weak smile. "Ya gotta be strong. I know ya are, doncha worry, I'll be back soon as I can…" He said trailing off and walking silently with me. "We're almost there," he said. I looked up to see the docks becoming clearer and clearer. Standing at the entrance were two mean looking Newsies, and as we got closer they started walking up towards us. Race gave me a kiss on the cheek then took his arm off my shoulder, but held tight to my hand. As we walked, I wiped my tears off with the back of my hand and straightened my shoulders. By the time both groups had met halfway, I was feeling a little bit better. Race quickly squeezed my hand and gave me a slight smile. When we stopped both Brooklyn Newsies nodded at Jack.

"He's waitin' Kelly," one of them said.

Jack frowned. "Yeah I expected him ta be." Jack said, and looked back at me. "Ready?" He asked.

I nodded and we set off following the two Newsies to the docks. When we got there we were greeted by whom I guessed was Spot. He was a little taller than I was with extremely blonde hair and piercing eyes. He and Jack shook hands and then he looked around at my 'bodyguards.'

"So, Jackie boy, wheres' da girl?" He asked, then saw me. "Heya Race," he said nodding to Race. Race let go of my hand and shook Spot's.

"Heya Spot, how's it rollin'?" He asked.

Spot shrugged. "Usual."

Jack pulled me forward. "Hey Spot, listen this here is Rachel, my cousin."

"Nice ta meet ya Rachel." Spot said, shaking my hand.

"You too," I said. Spot released my hand and stood uncertainly.

"Well," Jack said. "Time ta be sayin' goodbyes." He smiled weakly. He turned to me and gave me a hug. "See ya Rachel." He smiled.

As Jack turned and walked back a few feet to where Skittery, Boots, and Kid Blink were waiting. This left me alone with Race. I took a deep breath and turned to him, trying to control myself in front of Spot Conlon and his crew.

"Well, goodbye Race." I said, looking at him. "I'll miss ya." I said, tears starting to well up in my eyes.

Race took my face in his hands. "Listen, I'll come ta see ya soon. I promise…okay?" He said, looking straight into my eyes. I nodded silently, aware that Spot was looking uncomfortable standing there. "Doncha cry, Rach. Ya know ya can make me cry…so don't." I nodded and he leaned in and kissed me full on the lips. My first real kiss. When he pulled back he was smiling at me. "I'm gonna miss ya…I'll be back, soon as I can." He said then reluctantly let go of my hand and walked back to where Jack and the Newsies stood, shocked. As they walked away I picked up my bag and turned back to Spot.

"So," I said, standing quite uncomfortably with all the Newsies of Brooklyn staring at me.

"Follow me," Spot said walking past me and towards a building across the street from the docks. When we got to the front door, Spot pushed it open and we stepped inside. I tightly gripped my bag as I stared around. It was a Newsies lodging house, a bit nicer than the one in Manhattan. About fifteen or so Newsies were standing around and when I came in they all took their hats off and I could hear them murmuring. I was used it, because when I first arrived in Manhattan, they did the same thing to me. I felt a sting of pain in my heart as I thought of Manhattan and Race. Shoving the thoughts aside I realized that Spot was talking to an old man at the desk. "Yeah, shes right here." He said, and gestured for me to go to the desk. I did and when I got there the old man looked me over.

"Never had a girl here before." He said, looking at me then back at Spot. "But, maybe it'll do 'em some good." He smiled. "Go ahead, second floor. You get a room all to yourself."

I smiled my thanks and followed Spot up the stairs. When we got to the top there were two doors on my right and one on my left. He pointed to the one of my left. "That ones yours." He said, then pointed across the hall to one of the two doors there. "That ones mine, in case you need anything." He stood uncomfortably.

"Thank you," I said suddenly, catching him off guard. "Thanks for takin' me in and stuff. Ya didn't have to do it." I looked down.

"It's no problem," Spot said. "Listen, get settled in. Tomorrow…well we wake up around six in da mornin'. I'll show ya what we usually do tomorrow." He nodded and then turned and went into his room. I turned and opened the door to my room. I realized as soon as I sat down on the bed how exhausted I was. Sitting on the edge of the bed I thought of Race and everyone else over in Manhattan. I missed Race already, even though I knew I might see him sooner than I thought. Tears came to my eyes and finally spilled over. Putting my head in my hands, I cried the tears that I wouldn't let come before.

Okay, so it's a bit long, but I hoped you liked it. I wanted to establish the relationship between Rachel and Race before the whole thing actually took place. One of my friends read it and actually cried over this. I'm so proud.