Spot tossed his few belongings into a sack. "It's not fair Cap!"

Cap sat on his bunk. "I think it is."

"No it's not! No one else is going to Brooklyn!"

"Watch that tone of voice, young man..."

Spot started mumbling under his breath.

"This is exactly the thing I was talking about earlier, Spot. You have no respect for authorities, no discipline, and you don't take responsibility for you actions, Liam. If anyone can teach you those things, it would be Cork. How long you stay is up to you."

"Cork? He sounds like..."

"You smart off to him like you're smarting off to me, and he won't be nearly as lenient. I've tried to be patient with you, but you need to get back in line and if I can't be the one to do that, then maybe he can," Cap replied. He hated to think it, and dared not say it, but the boy's attitude was making it easier to let go...for now. He knew it would be hard later, and wouldn't let up for quite some time, especially with Rae wandering sadly through the lodging house, but this was necessary; if not for Spot, then for Rae.

"I won't stay..."

"You won't be allowed back here unless you stay in Brooklyn until I say you can return."

"Rae isn't gonna be happy," Spot said, trying another tactic.

"She's already been told and she cried herself to sleep. But she understands that this is the best thing for both of you."

Spot sighed in defeat. "How long do I have to stay in Brooklyn?"

"Until I can see that you have learned respect, discipline and responsibility." Cap sighed and looked at the little boy. "Liam...I love you, little man. Just like you were my own. But I can't let you keep going like this."

"Why me, though? Why not Rae, or Jack, or Race, or even Lewis? Why do I gotta be the one you give away?" he shouted in protest, kicking one of his bags on the floor before slumping down on one of the bunks. "Like hell you love me. Just like my Da loved me."

Cap knelt in front of him. "Have I ever once beat you?"

Spot shook his head, not looking at Cap. "There are worse things than beatings...You wouldn't give Rae up, and you always say she's like your own. Why would you give me up?" he asked, still confused, his lack of understanding aided by his anger

Cap sighed. "I'm not giving you up, Liam. You will always be welcome here. This is your home."

"Welcome when you call for me, you mean..." he muttered under his breath.

Cap stood. "If ever you needed a spanking it would be now..." he said. "It's no use trying to talk to you..."

Spot looked at Cap, his eyes full of uncertainty. He wasn't sure he wanted to tempt Cap.

Cap knelt back down in front of Spot. He tried hard to keep his voice even and calm. "Do you trust me, Spot?"

Looking down at his shoelaces for a long while, as if they held some answer to the many questions he had, he finally nodded. "I trust you," he replied, almost in a whisper. "Just...promise you'll visit?"

"I swear it," Cap said, looking the small boy straight in the eyes. "I'll bring Rae, too, alright?"

"Only when she behaves, right?"

"Right."

"Great. I'll never get to see her," Spot retorted, though a small smirk showed through despite his weary expression, causing Cap to laugh in return.

Peb Kelly looked at his new friend across the filthy washroom. "We gotta get this done, Spot...or Cork will kill us..."

"It's his mess too," Spot grumbled, leaning against the wall. He had no intention of cleaning up the pigsty that was supposed to be the washroom. "He should help."

Peb sighed and looked at Spot, who was older by at least a year. In the two weeks Spot had been in Brooklyn they had become close friends, for they were at least five years younger than any of the other Brooklyn newsies. "I've told you. Cork don't think twice about beating people..."

"He won't hit me. Cap wouldn't 'llow it," Spot stated matter-of-factly, sitting down and leaning against the back wall, closing his eyes. His sawyer-esque attitude was anyone's guess, though likely brought on by a lack of sleep and general homesickness. This wasn't where he belonged, and for a while had felt held against his will, waiting for Cap to bring him back amongst familiar faces. His wishing for Cap to come diminished slowly as his attitude of not taking orders from anyone took its place. This wasn't his home, but he'd be dammed if he wasn't going to make himself comfortable.

"Cap ain't here, Spot."

"You remind me of someone..." His speech became slower as he drifted toward sleep.

"Who?"

"Some girl I knew in Manhattan..."

Peb made a face. "A girl?"

Spot nodded. "You got a sister?"

"Nope. Just me..."

"Cousin maybe?"

"I don't think so."

Cork stormed into the washroom without warning. "Why ain't you two finished yet?" he growled.

Peb gulped. It was easy to see that Cork was already mad about something and it wouldn't be a good idea to anger him more. "We was talking..."

"Clean it yourself," Spot snapped.

Cork grabbed Spot's shirt and pulled the boy off his feet. "I told you that I don't like it when people question my orders."

Rae was sweeping the front steps of the lodging house when she noticed a familiar figure walking slowly down the street. Spot was coming toward her, his hands in his pockets and his head down. "SPOT!" she squealed, racing to her friend. She skidded to a stop and they both tumbled to the ground.

"Dang it, Rae! That hurt!" he yelled, pushing her away from him and scrambling to his feet.

"Brooklyn must be making you soft," she laughed, as she stood and brushed the hair from her face. She cursed under her breath upon seeing the bruises covering every inch she could see of him. "What happened to your face?"

"Leave me alone, Rae," he muttered, as he walked past her into the lodging house. He didn't want to explain to anyone but Cap.

She watched him walk away, her feelings hurt. They had always told each other everything, and now it seemed as if he didn't even want to see her. With a sniffle, she went back to sweeping the front steps. After a few minutes she crept inside to listen to the conversation between Spot and Cap.

"Please don't make me go back..." Spot practically begged.

"Tell me what happened, Spot." It was clear that Cap was loosing patience.

"He soaked me."

Cap sighed. "I can see that. What did you do to deserve the beating you got?"

"Nothing!"

"Cork may be a jerk, but he wouldn't soak someone unless they deserved it. What did you do?"

"I didn't do nothing, Cap!"

"I guess I'll just have to go ask Cork what it was that you did..."

"NO!" Spot yelled.

Cap crossed his arms and looked down at the little boy. "Then you tell me."

Spot's sigh sounded almost like a whimper. "Will I have to go back?"

Cap nodded.

"Why!"

"The reason you were sent to Brooklyn was to learn respect, discipline, and responsibility. You haven't learned those things yet."

"Should've known you wouldn't care..."

"Spot..." he started, feeling a little strained for a moment considering the slight pang in his heart from the harsh remark, "you have to trust me here, kid. I know it's hard right now, but it won't get better unless you let it. I'm really doing this for your own good, and I know it's hard to see that now, but you also have to know I would never do something to hurt you."

Spot sighed and kicked at the floor, refusing to meet Cap's gaze.

Gently pulling Spot to him, Cap put his hands on the boy's shoulders and looked him straight in his saddened blue eyes. "Trust me, little man. Can you do that? You have to be able to trust me and know that everything is going to be alright in order to even think about learning something new from Brooklyn and from Cork. He's not a bad guy, just a tough one, and I wouldn't put you with him if I didn't think you'd be in good hands. Now, you can stay here, eat lunch, and I can put something on your cuts, but you're going back to Brooklyn."

"I guess I can trust you, Cap..."

"Good," he said, ruffling Spot's hair. Cap turned to where he knew Rae was listening just around the corner. "Come on Rae...let's go get some lunch."