A/N: Heres another chapter, I hope it came out right, I had some trouble writing what I wanted but anyways enjoyyy

-Thanks to Crepes, Jess, Racerchick and Imjustagirl0077 for reviewing :)

The newsies filed into line as they waited to receive the afternoon edition to sell. Jack was waiting in the front with the friends closely behind, but today Jack wasn't in the mood for talking and joking. After lunch and talking with Autumn he just wanted to finish up and selling and think about what to do next.

The line moved as Jack grabbed his stack and slowly walked down the steps. Race was next in line and today he decided against his usual sarcastic replies, not wanting to slow down his chance to be able to talk with Jack.

Race grabbed his stack and quickly jumped down the steps catching up to the retreating Jack.

"Heya Cowboy wait up a second." He called to his friend's form ahead of him.

Race watched as Jack's steps became slower, signaling that he was going to wait for Race to catch up. After a few more steps, Race fell into line with Jack as they continued towards the streets ahead.

"What's wrong Jack, ya know Mush didn't mean anything by what he said right?" Jack nodded slowly.

"I know, it's just don't know how to help someone this time"

"Well if I found out someone was gettin' hurt, the only way to get them out is showin' ya concerned for them. Even if they are stubborn, keep at it Cowboy, you'll figure it out" Race didn't really know the situation Jack was talking about but he had seen the girl leaving, and had noticed the red marks along her neck. Figuring she was in danger of something or someone he took it Jack wanted to help.

Jack smiled and nodded, "Alright thanks Race, lets go hawk the headlines"

With that Jack and Race split to go sell in their own spots. Today Jack had taken fewer papers than usual for the afternoon; he wanted to head over to Brooklyn before dark to talk to Spot.

Sighing as he sold his last paper, Jack turned in the direction towards the Brooklyn Bridge. He wasn't exactly looking forward to talking to Spot about Autumn again this soon; but he had no other choice, if she wouldn't listen to him maybe Spot would work.

Jack walked across the bridge taking in his surroundings. He stopped walking for a moment and smirked at the railing to his right. Without a second thought he leaned over it and yelled to the water below…which somehow always made him feel better.

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As he entered Brooklyn's territory he went straight for the docks, hoping that Spot would still be there. Jack smiled when he was Spot sitting on top of his made up throne. Spot turned feeling someone near him; he jumped down in front of Jack.

"Heya Jacky Boy" he greeted holding out his after briefly spitting into it. Jack didn't hesitate to return the gesture.

"Heya Spot, how's it rollin'?"

"Not to bad, so what brings ya to my parts?" Spot asked raising his eyebrows at Jack. For once he hoped it was newsie business and not anything about his sister. But today was no such luck.

Jack seemed to hesitate for a minute while glancing around to make sure no one was within earshot of the conversation. "It's Nicole" he paused, taking in Spot reaction, but was surprised when he was met with the normal stone face.

"She's in deep with her work. I'm not sure how but I found her today with red marks along her neck…like she was chocked or somethin'" Jack explained to the emotionless body in front of him. At the moment Jack became worried, maybe this wasn't the best idea for helping her; Autumn may be stubborn, but Spot was much worse.

"And what do ya want me to do Cowboy?" Spot asked, finally showing what seemed to be anger, although Jack had expected the anger to be towards who ever hurt Autumn, not at Autumn herself or him for bringing the news.

"Spot she's ya sista, I figured you'd want to help her out, and get her out of that place." Jack stopped his arguing, not really sure how to convince a brother to protect his sister.

"Well the way I see it, is she chose this profession and she can handle any problems with it." Jack's face turned to anger, matching Spot's in front of him.

"So that's it then Spot, ya just gonna let ya sista waste away in that place"

"It's her choice to waste away there, I'm not gonna interfere with her choices" Spot turned his back as he climbed back up to his throne, signaling that the conversation was over.

Jack sighed and turned away from Brooklyn. He pulled his cowboy hat onto his head in defeat. He knew Autumn had probably told Spot to stay away from her like she had told Jack. But he just couldn't let it slip out of his mind forever.

As he entered his territory he was left with an uneasy feeling that things wouldn't work out by themselves; he just needed to figure out how to fix all of it.

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It was becoming late and I was falling into my normal routine before my work began. But as I got ready tonight I had to leave time to cover up the marks on my neck. At least I got a chance to work that night, this wasn't as noticeable as Spring's bruised face, but I still worried about Brady finding out.

I took the extra time to look in the mirror over and over, moving my head around to see how my neck looked. I sighed hoping it would be well hidden all night. I turned and left my room…at least for now.

I took my usual place by the bar waiting for the night to begin. I smiled at Spring as I noticed her bruises were faded enough that makeup covered them well.

I nervously glanced around, scanning the room for Brady. I seemed to relax a little when I saw that he wasn't around.

The night went by slow, somehow there wasn't much work tonight so most of us sat around the bar and lounge waiting. I knew Spring had noticed my neck when she gave me a sympathetic look, but I shrugged it off not wanting that look.

I waited in my spot for another hour or two before most girls started heading towards their beds…for the night. We would be closing soon and I sighed, slow business meant less money for the night.

I stood up and yawned, it was time for me to sleep as well. As I started towards the stairs I heard my name being called.

Turning to find out who called it, I noticed it was Brady standing by his office. I felt my insides twist, as I momentarily froze. I finally snapped out of it and walked forward towards his office, I tried to take in his emotions but they were hidden. I couldn't tell why I was being called in here, was he mad? Did he find out? Questions ran through my head as he shut the door behind me.

He pointed to the seat in front of his desk, I timidly sat down. I watched as he circled around my chair, instead of sitting down across from me. I waited as he completed two circles before stopping at my side. He leaned down as if to whisper something when I felt him move my hair away from my neck. I closed my eyes, all hope shattered from my body at that point.

"Care to explain this Autumn?" I kept my eyes closed, if this was anyone else I would use my smart-ass remarks but this was Brady, my boss, the one who took me off the streets and into this business.

I sat there not sure what to say about it….what was there to say? I'm sure he could tell what it was from, and besides pointing out the obvious I wasn't sure how to address Brady's question.

All of a sudden my eyes flew open; I hadn't expected Brady to react this quickly. Before I knew what was happening I felt a hand covering the previous marks, and with little effort I was lifted into a standing position.

I tried to stay calm, or at least on the outside, as I looked into Brady's eyes. He lightened the grip on my neck but still held me close. "Did you get this tonight?" he asked in a hard tone.

I quickly shook my head, then realized that was the wrong answer as he roughly pushed me away from him. I struggled to stay standing up as I looked back at him confused.

"So you were working like this? You know I only like my girl to be perfect, not bruised like this. And you Autumn, you are one of my better ones but you cant work like this, tomorrow if this isn't gone, you are working the bar" I lowered my head and nodded.

As I looked back up I saw his hand stretched out to me, waiting for my money from that night. Sighing I handed over what I had and we settled that nights money before he dismissed me.

I dragged myself back to my bed not sure why everything was going wrong in these last few months. I shut off the lights and crawled under the covers, not even bothering to change. Right now my mind was full of questions, too many for me to focus on things on hand.

That night I dreamt of getting away from here, but it was a dream I've had before, one that never made it past the thoughts in my head.

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That night Autumn wasn't the only one dreaming of better times. Spot lay in his bed surrounded by dreams of his childhood. He wished him and his sister could be like that, but somehow the streets and time lost between them made it impossible. He had told Jack off earlier, he hadn't really wanted to but he didn't no how else to respond. Things seemed so complicated for him and for once he wasn't sure how to handle it. If this was a newsie war or strike, he could rally his boys and see it through as their leader, but this was a job for him only to fix.