Author's Note: An update, say you? Yes, say I! Dark side, this chapter is! Sorry, I'm speaking Yoda So, anyway, someone does die in this chapter, unfortunately. I was going to make it longer, but I had to write a summarize chapter. So, here's the fight scene, and Tish, yeah. You and Spell kick major ass in the next chapter:
Chapter 13
Street Wars
Rachel screamed and started running towards Mush before Spot grabbed her around the waist to stop her. "No," she yelled, hitting the arms that were holding her. "Let me go! MUSH!" She cried, tears streaming down her cheeks. The rest of the Newsies were running out of the lodging house, Manhattan and Brooklyn. Ricky ran out first, followed closely by Spell and Catherine. They all stopped short at the site of Mush on the ground and Rachel trying to tear Spot's hands off her. Tears came to Ricky's eyes as Mush struggled up and collapsed into Blink's arms, who ran out to get him. Luckily, Mush wasn't close to Oscar or Morris, but Race and Jack were being held by four of Oscar's thugs. Rachel screamed loudly before giving in to the tears that racked her body. She collapsed into Spots arms, and her body went limp as she practically dragged Spot to the ground, crying the tears that mixed with rain that splashed onto her face. Oscar smiled at Rachel's breakdown as she covered her face with her hands, sobbing for everything that had gone wrong in her life.
Spell spotted Jack and her eyes went wide. "Jack!" She yelled, trying to run to him, but Ricky grabbed her and held her close, whispering that he'd be alright. "JACK!"
Whisper had run over to Mush and Blink, ripping off her shawl and tying it around Mush's stomach, which had a gash in it from Oscar's knife. She was crying, as well as Blink. Spot's Newsies gathered around him, and Manhattan Newsies had already spread out, ready to get back Race and Jack, by force if necessary. Spot was giving Oscar a glare that could kill, but Oscar seemed undisturbed by it. Spot gently took Rachel's hands off her face and looked her in the eyes. "Ssshhh, it's gonna okay," he said softly, lightly squeezing her hand.
Oscar was watching this all with avid interest, crossing his arms in front of him before starting to walk to where Rachel and Spot were. Rachel looked up as he came closer and she and Spot both stood up, Rachel giving Oscar the death glare. Oscar smiled at her and un-crossed his arms. He put one hand in his pocket and enclosed it around the small knife he had. "Rachel, come here." He said, almost sweetly, but Rachel knew better.
"Leave Oscar, just leave me alone." She said coldly. "Get out, and never come back. I don't want to see you ever again."
"Now, now Rachel." Oscar said, his grip on the knife handle tightening, "that's no way to talk to an old friend."
Rachel let out a growl. "I'm not your friend Oscar, nor shall I ever be. I won't even be a mere acquaintance to you…ever!"
Oscar let out a growl before reaching out with his free hand and grabbing Rachel by the wrist. He twisted her around so that his arm was slung across the front of her body and her back was pushed into his chest. He whipped the knife out of his pocket and held the blade to her throat. She gasped and leaned back into him instinctively. Immediately, she cursed herself for doing so, as she heard Oscar laugh. "Love me, don't you?" He whispered in her ear. Spot looked from Oscar to Rachel, then back to Oscar with the utmost hatred. At this point, the Newsies had their own knives, clubs, bats, sticks, and whatever else they could use against the thugs, including glass bottles. Oscar smiled again at Spot before laying a kiss on Rachel's neck, making her shudder.
"Let me go Oscar!" She said, trying to wrestle out of his grip, but he only pressed the blade closer to her neck, making her gasp and almost shrink away from the uncertain death.
"Don't yell, princess," Oscar whispered, breathing a trail down her slender neck until he got to the shoulder where he kissed it. "I have you right where I want you." Rachel shuddered again, much to Oscar's delight, and Spot's distaste.
"Let her alone, Delancey." Spot said, taking a step forward. Oscar's eyes flitted upward as he gave Spot a warning glare.
"Wouldn't come any closer, Spotty, or else her pretty little neck will be slit," Oscar said, and Rachel closed her eyes tight, wishing this was all just a dream.
Spot's eyes began to water for the first time in his life as he looked at the girl he had fallen in love in a matter of days being held by the worst person he'd met in his life. He felt his heart clench up and wondered if he would be able to save Rachel from Oscar for the rest of her life. Looking at her now, though, he decided he'd rather die in her place, instead of losing her. He loved her, that was it. He couldn't and wouldn't stand to see her suffer. He had made his decision. He'd take her place, die for her.
Rachel saw it in his eyes, she knew exactly what he was planning to do. A fresh batch of tears slide down her face as she looked to Spot's sisters, pleading with her eyes to get him away from this place. Spell, who had calmed enough so that Ricky could let go of her, started slowly edging towards Spot, looking at Rachel the entire time. Kid had instructed about five Newsies to take Mush inside the Brooklyn lodging house so that the owner could take care of him. Catherine was already at Spot's side, her hand on his arm. He looked at her, then back at Rachel.
"I have a deal for you Oscar," he said, gently taking Catherine's hand off his arm. "A trade."
Oscar scoffed. "A trade? What kind of trade would you do, eh Spot?"
"Me for her. You can kill me, just don't kill her, that's my trade."
Oscar considered this for a moment. True, he really did come for Rachel, but taking down Brooklyn's leader would be wonderful and give him space to take over, possibly. Besides, he thought, he'd have Rachel all to himself, something he's wanted ever since he stole her innocence on that cold pavement. Oscar knew Spot's only weaknesses were his sisters and Rachel. The girls in his life, the weakness for any guy he supposed. But, what to do? It seemed to easy to him, take Spot's life and then take Rachel. But, he did hate Rachel. After all, it was her that turned in his father for the murder of her parents. He wanted her dead, but he wanted…her. To take advantage of, to train like a puppy. Yes, that's what he wanted her for. Yet, Sarah was there too. Oscar figured he could use them both, couldn't he? Suddenly, an idea dawned on him.
"Okay, Spotty. Here's my deal." He said, tightening his grip on Rachel. "I won't hurt Rachel, if you give up Brooklyn. And Rachel cannot be always watched by you, because if she is, I'll kill her, then your sisters." He said, indicating Spell and Catherine with a wave of his knife. Rachel had been waiting for this opportunity. She shoved her elbow into Oscar's stomach, throwing him off balance and making him topple to the ground. He landed on his elbows and screamed out in pain as his knife went skittering out of his hand. Ricky ran and picked it up, holding it towards Oscar as Spot grabbed Rachel and pulled her towards him.
"Spot," she said breathlessly, hugging him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.
"Rachel," he said, kissing her with all the passion he could muster. When he pulled back he was crying again. "I love you, Rachel Sullivan."
Rachel's eyes widened at this and she smiled. "I love you too, Spot Conlon."
Spell and Catherine looked at each other before Ricky interrupted the couple. "Hey, I knows ya got all dat lovey dovey stuff, but can't ya do's it lata? We's kinda got a problem heah." He said, indicating Oscar, who had stood up and was glaring at Rachel and holding his stomach.
"Rach," Spot said, taking her hand in his own. "Get outta here. Take Spell and Catherine wit ya. Just get out." He said, dropping his voice to a whisper that only Ricky, and the girls could hear. "Go ta Queens, or Bronx. Bronx will protect ya bettah than anyone else can. Go, now."
Rachel shook her head. "I ain't goin' anywhere without you, Spot." She said, stubbornly.
Spot sighed. "Please, do this for me. I'll be dere soon as I can…I promise." He said before turning his attention towards to Catherine and Spell. "Go to da lodging house." He said, loud enough for Oscar to hear. "Stay in dere."
Rachel slid her hand out of Spot's and turned to the girls. "C'mon. We gotta go in to da lodging house."
Catherine and Spell gave Rachel a weird glance but she just shook her head. "C'mon…" she said, before turning back to Spot. "Come home…" she said in a barely audible whisper.
She then turned, with tears in her eyes, back to Spell and Catherine. The three of them started walking to the lodging house, Spell and Catherine looking back at Spot every few seconds. As they passed Blink, Catherine stopped and gave a passionate kiss and whispered her love to him. Spell looked at Jack and Rachel put her arm around Spell's shoulders and probed her forward. "He'll be alright, I know it," she whispered in Spell's ear. Spell nodded, biting her lip.
When they opened the door to the lodging house, Crutchy came up to them. "Ssshhh," he said, putting a finger to his lips. "Mush is sleepin'." He said, indicating to Mush who was lying on the couch, his wound bandaged up.
Rachel walked quickly into the room, bending down to Mush. "Oohh, Mush…what have I done?" She said, sighing deeply.
Catherine came up behind Rachel and put her hand on her shoulder. Rachel turned and stood up, tears threatening to pour over again. "Rachel," Catherine said. "It's not your fault. It's Oscar, if he just let you alone, this would never have happened. Don't blame yourself. Spot would hate it if you did."
Spell came up to stand beside Catherine. "Yeah…," she said, looking out the window where the Newsies and thugs were still assembled. They could see Spot and Oscar talking heatedly to each other. "Damnit!" Spell yelled, stomping her foot. "I can't stand it! I need to somethin!"
"Let's go," Rachel said, suddenly, grabbing Spell and Catherine's hand. "We aint sittin' in heah while our boys are out dere fightin' for us." She threw open the back door and ran out, only to be greeted by Sarah. "Sarah," Rachel said in a growl.
"Hello there, Rachel." Sarah smirked. "I see your in trouble, yet again."
"Only because you're a bitch and a whore!" Rachel screamed.
"Tsk, tsk." Sarah said, being annoyingly calm. "That's no way to talk to me."
"Spell, Catherine. Get outa heah."
"But, Rach-," Spell started, but stopped when she saw Rachel's eyes full of hatred.
"Dis is between me and Sarah. I'll be alright, though I can't say that she will." Rachel said, indicating Sarah.
Spell wanted to stay, but Catherine started tugging her around to the other side of the building. When they got there they could feel the heat between Spot and Oscar. Spot noticed Spell and Catherine walking over, flanked by Skittery and Pie Eater, and scowled. "Why's you back here?" He asked, panicking because he couldn't see Rachel.
"Cus we was order to, by Rach." Catherine said, stepping behind Kid with Spell. "She's takin' care of a Sarah."
Oscar's gaze flicked over to Catherine then back at Spot. "You better hope she aint' doin' anythin' bad to her Spotty, or else she'll get it."
Spot growled and launched himself at Oscar, throwing him off balance. As soon as the fight started to break out, both Newsies and the thugs were gathering around the fight, cheering on their leader. Oscar may have had force, but Spot was the one who was used to these kinds of fights, and had brutality, as well as the fury from all things that Oscar did to Rachel.
Back to where Rachel and Sarah were, Sarah had shoved Rachel to the ground. Rachel pushed herself up on her elbows, wincing from the pain. "What's the matter, huh Rach?" Sarah said, tauntingly. "Can't take it? Weak bitch! Why don't you go crawling back to your little pathetic cousin? Or worse, get yourself pregnant by Spot!"
Rachel had it, Sarah could insult her, but when she started on people she cared about, Rachel lost it. She threw herself into Sarah's knees and started punching her in the face. Sarah started screaming as she bled from the nose. She then shoved Rachel off her, making Rachel land on a piece of broken glass. Rachel screamed out as her right forearm came down on a piece of it. Sarah jumped on top of her, and pushed her head down into the dirt. Rachel then kneed Sarah in the stomach, making her grab her stomach in pain and fall off to the side. Rachel quickly stood up, gasping for breath. She clutched her arm in pain as she stared down at Sarah. "Now, who's the pathetic one?" She asked, starting to walk away when Sarah grabbed her leg and pulled her down. Grabbing an abandoned glass next to her, Sarah slammed it into the side of Rachel's face. Rachel screamed in agony, grabbing the side of her face before falling down on her knees. She could feel the tiny pieces of glass cutting into her skin. Sarah jumped on top of her, pushing her into the ground again. But Rachel had enough, she was tired of being nice to anyone. She threw Sarah off and kicked her in the stomach. "STAY THE HELL OUT OF MY LIFE!" She screamed before picking Sarah up by her hair and throwing her into a nearby garbage can. "Get out of here, now. Don't make me do anything I may regret," Rachel said.
Sarah, now bleeding and crying ran away, limping on her right leg. That's when Rachel heard it, the two shots. They came from the front of the building, where the man she loved was. Running at full force, and not caring about the pain of the glass that had shattered into her face, Rachel came to the front of the building where chaos had taken over. The thugs were running in all different directions, and Race and Jack were looking dumbfoundly at a spot ahead of her. Turning her attention towards it she didn't see what it was at first. Then she saw the bodies. Two of them. Rachel shakily stepped forward and saw Oscar's body first. Then she saw the other one.
Ricky stared up at her with dead eyes and a bullet through the chest.
A/N: WAHHHHHH! I know…hate me…hate me….hate me…I killed him. And I CRIED!