Disclaimer: I don't own "Newsies" or any of it's characters, I own (So far) Ricky, Rachel, Yuppie, Jetty, and Vinny…oh, and Ray…heehee.

Author's Note: Thankies for the reviews! Trying to make all the next chapters longer. Have fun!!!!!!

Humility: Ah, you shall find out why Oscar is chasing Ray-um, Rachel. I also love Spot's soft side. More of it to come I promise!

Candence: Yeah, maybe they will get romantic?? Who knows??? Thankies for the review!

Chapter Five:

Unwanted Visitors

Spot's POV:

After a few moments, Rachel pulled back and wiped her eyes dry. Leaning against the brick wall she sighed deeply, closing her eyes. "Hey, Rach?" I asked, daring to use the nickname Race had given her.

Her eyes slowly opened and she seemed to be studying the opposite wall. "Yes?" She asked, not looking at me.

"Um…can't ya at least tell me why Oscars chasin' ya?" I asked tentatively, unsure of whether I should be asking or not.

Rachel drew her knees up to her chest and hugged them close. "Well…do you really want to know?" She asked, resting her chin on her knees, still not looking at me.

"Um…yeah. Well, I's protectin' ya and well…I kinda want ta know why I am."

Rachel was quiet for a few moments then she picked up her head and stared at me, into my eyes. "I'm so sorry Spot. I didn't mean for ya ta have da burden of protectin' me." She said truthfully, tearing her eyes away and focusing again on the wall. "And I'm sorry bout the little temper tantrum I had back there…I shoulda listen ta ya."

I shook my head. "Naw, don't say that-." I started, but was cut off by Rachel.

"No Spot. Don't say that. I know I had a temper tantrum. My temper gets me in trouble…a lot of trouble. 'Specially with Oscar." She said, sounding faraway and lost.

"Hey…Rach…"I said, looking at her closely. "Um…why is he chasin' ya anyways? Didn't sleep wit' him or somethin'?" I asked, jokingly.

Rachel just shook her head again, her curls playfully hitting her face. "That was da most recent reason…" she trailed off.

My eyes widened. "Ya kiddin' me right?" I asked incredously. To think that Oscar had tried to make Rachel sleep with him was….unbearable. And to think that was only recently. Now I knew why Jack had wanted to get Rachel away from Manhattan, that's the first place Oscar would look for Rachel, and Brooklyn was the last…but not any longer. "When was this?"

Rachel sighed deeply. "A few months ago," she said.

"What?!" I practically yelled. "How the hell…?" I put my head between my hands and tried to think this through. "How long has he been chasing ya?" I asked, partly not wanting to hear the answer.

"Five years."

I groaned. I had only thought it was because Rachel refused him, but since that was only a few months ago and he had been chasing her for five years, he knew it must be something more serious. "What the hell happened that makes him want you?"

"Family…some crap that happened between his father and my father…he's kept a grudge since."

"Wait," I said, something dawning on me. I looked up at her. "How come I neva saw ya at last years strike?"

Rachel gave a short laughed and looked at me. "Honestly, wit' Oscar round didja think Jack woulda let me be there? I took hidin' in all sorts of places."

"On ya own?"

"Spot, I lived for a year on da streets before I found Jack…a few days ain't nothin'."

"Ya spent a whole year on da streets?"

"More or less..ya. My family was dead, I was scared…what was I gonna do?"

"Go ta a lodging house."

"I didn't trust anyone." She said simply, turning her attention back to the wall.

"Yeah, well…what happened ta ya family?"

"They were killed." She said shortly, as if it didn't bother her, but I could see that it was hard for her to hold back her tears. "'Dey were killed…by Oscar's father."

I shook my head, hoping this was some kind of sick joke. "Ya gotta be kiddin' me…" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The fact that Oscar was already a sleaze was enough, but his father killed Rachel's parents! Part of me didn't want to believe it. But part of me knew it was true. "When…how?"

"It was-." Rachel suddenly stopped talking and I looked up to see why. Ricky was standing at the end of the alley along with Yuppie and Jetty. Rachel stood up slowly, as did I.

"Spot, man…Rachel…we was lookin' for ya." Ricky said nervously.

"Why?" Rachel asked, walking forward. "What's happenin'?"

Ricky opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it again. His eyes widened when he saw Rachel. "What happened ta ya? Ya got bruises on ya neck."

Only then did I notice how dark the bruises from the thug had become. Rachel's hand immediately went to her throat and touched it, and I saw her grimace in pain from her touch. I sincerely hoped that the bruises would go away by the time Jack or Race came, or else I'd be in serious trouble. "Nothin', just some trouble. I told ya ta stay there." I said, looking back at Ricky.

Ricky glanced at Yuppie and then back at me. "Spot, Oscar's dere, and he's lookin' for ya and Rachel. Said his friends told him Rachel was here."

I looked quickly at Rachel and saw that her face had gone white. "No…" she whispered. "He can't…he can't…get me." She said, putting her hand against the wall as her knees seemed to give way. I rushed forward and caught her just as she was about to fall. "Spot," she said, holding onto my shoulders. "Don't let him get me. Please." She said desperately.

"Ricky, come here and take her." I said, as Ricky walked over and supported Rachel as she stood shakily. "Me and Jetty will go back ta the docks. Get her back ta the lodging house and keep her there until ya think it's safe. Then come back ta da docks, I'm gonna need ya."

Ricky nodded and I set off with Jetty towards the docks. It was a silent walk with Jetty looking down as we made our way to the docks. When we got there, I could see Oscar standing in front of where I usually sit, along with his brother Morris. I straightened my shoulders and took out my cane, swinging it alongside me as I walked. Oscar and Morris turned to me as I neared them, Oscar grinning.

"Well, if it isn't Spotty." Oscar said with his menacing glare. "Ya know, I heard bout ya hidin' somethin of mine."

I laughed. "Why would I got anyt'ing of yers?" I asked, knowing full well what he was talking about.

"Sure ya do, it's a gurl." Oscar said and Morris grinned. "Name's Rachel…she's a relative of Jackie boy. I know ya got her. My thugs came back with a few bruises…and they told me ya got her."

"Well, I ain't." I said, looking nonchalantly for Ricky. He was nowhere to be seen. "So, why don't ya get outta here."

"Love ta, but ya see…that gurl belongs ta me."

"No gurl belongs ta ya. No gurl would want ta be wit' ya."

Oscar frowned. "Now, don't make me make ya tell me where she is."

I shrugged. "Don't know whatcha talkin' bout." I said, crossing my arms. "And if ya really want ta challenge me in front of all my Newsies and lose…go ahead."

Oscar laughed and walked past me, with Morris at his side. I turned to face him. I spotted Ricky coming down the dock with a younger looking Newsie and inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. "Ya see Spot, I ain't alone here. Right now, dere's gonna be some rules laid down. Ya give me da girl and I won't harass ya Newsies…ya don't and I do." He said grinning.

"Don't try it," Ricky said from behind him. Oscar turned to face Ricky.

"What did ya say ta me?" He asked accusingly.

"I said ya wouln't want ta do that. Ya see, if Jack hears bout that then he'll come down here and you'll be toast, thugs or not." Ricky said, smiling.

Oscar frowned. "Yah, well I'll be back, and wit more guys. So, ya betta pay up the gurl Spot, or else." He said then he and Morris left without giving one backwards glance.

I shook Ricky's hand. "Thanks man. Can always count on ya." I said and looked next to him to the Newsie that trailed behind him. The boy wore a cap, pushed down low, with simple brown pants and a white shirt with a black vest. He had a baby doll face and was looking down. I had never seen him before. "Hey, who's are ya?" I asked him.

"Um…this here's Ray." Ricky said hastily. "He don't speak." He said, almost apologetically.

"Hey, Ray…look at me when I'ma speakin' ta ya." I said.

Ray lifted his head and I suddenly caught a glimpse of bruises on his neck…or hers for that matter. I suddenly hit the hat off and watched as curls fell out and framed Rachel's face.

"RACHEL!"

Author's Note: Heehee. So, whatcha think? Decided to make Rachel…er, um 'Ray' appear…heehee. More ta come on the reasons behind Rachel running from Oscar. Read/Review please! All comments welcomed!