Spot shut the door as he came in. Medda pulled a twizzler out of her pocket, "Here eat this. Maybe it'll help make your head stop spinning." I took it and chewed on it slowly.
"Now, Ziva that guy is never coming back here to the theatre, but in order for us to help you everywhere else in the city it would help if we knew a little about your past. You don't have to tell us anything, but even small unimportant details would help." I shook my head. No way was I bringing it all back into my head after I just got rid of it.
"Well, its getting kinda late and we should be heading back to the lodging house," Jack said.
Medda nodded, then she whispered to me, "If you ever want to talk I'll listen. I won't judge you either. I've been in your place before. Also, if you ever need anything, anything at all, you come to me and I'll help you alright?" I nodded. I turned so my feet were on the floor. Mush stood up, helping me up at the same time. I never let go of his waist.
"Umm, Hush, ya gottta let go so I can leave and you can change," he said. I looked around the room, my eyes huge with fear. No they couldn't make me let go. I tried to plead with them all with my eyes, despite the fear.
Medda put her hand on my shoulder, "Sweetheart, you have to let go for just a second." I shook my head. No, I wasn't going to let go of him. I shook my head again harder this time. I looked at Jack, he was the leader, so he should know what to do.
Jack rubbed the back of his neck, "Spot, Race, Kid Blink head back to the lodging house. We'll catch up in a second." They left.
"Hush, you aren't going to let go are you?" I shook my head.
"Well, you have to get changed." I nodded. He sighed and walked over to the closet. He picked up a sash that wasn't tied. He walked over to Mush and tied it over his eyes.
"Can you see?" he asked.
"You could have just said close your eyes, I wouldn't have looked are you insane?" Mush asked. "And no, I can't see, but I'm closing my eyes anyway." Jack chuckled and left the room. Medda helped me get changed. I had to let go once so I could get my shirt on. As soon as the sleeves were on I grabbed him again.
"Ugh," I heard him grunt. Oops, maybe I grabbed him a little too hard. Medda had to button my shirt while I was holding onto him. She was having a hard time so I loosened my grip for her. She helped me out of my tights and into my pants. Then, she put my socks on and tied my shoes.
"There, Mush you can open your eyes and take that sash off your eyes, she's dressed. Jack you can come in now," Medda said. Jack walked in as Mush was getting the sash off.
"Alright, let's get home," Jack said. I tightened my grip on Mush again. He put his arm over my shoulder and we all started to walk back to the lodging house. Mush half carried me back. I heard them whispering but I was so out of it I couldn't understand a single thing they were saying. We finally arrived at the lodging house. Race, Spot and Kid Blink had started a poker game and Jack joined them.
Mush took me over to my bed, "Here Hush, ya gotta let go and go ta sleep." I just tightened my grip.
"Ziva, honey, you…" he stopped. I was pleading the best I could with my eyes. He sighed and we walked over to Jack.
"Heya, Jacky boy, we kinda got a problem," he said pointing at me. Jack looked at me, at Mush, then at everyone else at the table.
"Meeting in the sick room," he said. Everyone got up and walked in to the sick room. I laid on top of Mush on the couch and fell asleep instantly, still hanging onto his waist.
Mush's POV
"Well, what do you guys think?" Jack asked. Everyone started talking at once.
"Wait, wait, not all at once and be somewhat quiet so she stays asleep. Say anything that's on your mind, she won't hear you. Spot you go first."
"Well, I don't think there is anyway we're going to get her off Mush. So I guess it would be okay."
"Race?"
"I don't know. I mean she's really vulnerable."
"Race, are you implying that I would take advantage of her?!!" I whisper yelled. I couldn't believe it. She was practically my sister how could he think that?
"Well, not exactly, I'm just trying to keep her safe."
I sighed, "Race, I would never do that. I want to protect her more than any of you do."
"Kid Blink, what do you think?" Jack asked.
"I think she would be fine." Jack was the only one left. It didn't matter what everyone else said, if he said no there was no way I could change his mind.
"I'll be right back," he said. He walked out of the room and came back a second later with Ziva's journal. He flipped to one of the last pages.
"I was talking with Ziva today during lunch and I thought you guys should know what she said. I was teasing her about hugging Mush and she wrote 'He's like the brother I ever had. So, lay off. So far he's the only one who doesn't avoid me because they don't want to figure out what I am trying to say. Other people are getting better at it but so far he's the only newsie I would actually call family. Guys haven't been the nicest to me and since now I am surrounded by them, maybe it's cause he seems so naïve or maybe it's cause he rescued me but well, I feel safe around him," Jack closed her journal and set it down. I was shocked at what she had said. I just sat there for a minute dumbfounded.
"After hearing that, Mush would have to be completely insane to break her trust. Besides, I'm pretty sure Mush loves her like a sister even more than she loves him like a brother," Jack said. I nodded still shocked.
"Hey guys can I have a minute alone with Mush?" Jack asked. Everyone nodded and left the room.
"Mush?" I shook my head to clear my thoughts and looked at Jack.
"I trust you not to hurt her. I know it would hurt you twice as bad as if she got hurt. You can bunk with her but only until she feels safer. I don't care if you take your shirt off, but you have to wear pants and she has to wear all her clothes."
"Of course, thank you Jack." Jack got up to leave.
"Hey, Cowboy?"
"Yeah, Mush?"
"Did she really write all that or did you make it up?"
"She wrote it all." With that Jack he grabbed her journal and left the room. I sat there for a while. I could hear Jack telling everyone about the new sleeping arrangements and not to worry about it and if he heard anyone bugging me about it he would personally soak them. I picked Hush up and walked into the other room over to my bed to grab my blanket, then over to her bed. I pulled back the blanket, laid her on it, covered her up and sat next to her, she was still holding onto me. I pulled off my shirt and laid down next to her covering up with my own blanket. I laid awake for awhile listening to the others around me and eventually fell asleep.
I woke up in the middle of the night because Hush was tossing and turning. She had let go of me and I tried to wake her but she wouldn't wake up.
"Jack," I whisper yelled. He was almost instantly at my side. He may not wake up to work, but if one of his newsies is having trouble during the night, he's usually the first person awake.
"Ziva, wake up sweetheart," he said shaking her. She still didn't get up. She started tossing and turning more. Then she started to run in her sleep and kicked me, not very hard though. By now most of the newsies were up.
"Jack, Blink hold her arms. Spot help me hold her legs," I ordered. We all grabbed a limb and held her down.
"Race try and get her to wake up." She struggled to get out of our grips, it reminded me of when we found her.
"Hush doll get up. Come on wake up, it's just a nightmare." Race said shaking her. She moaned, like she was in pain.
"Wake up, it's okay it's just a nightmare. C'mon wake up, Ziva," I said. Suddenly, she moaned again and went limp. Then she cringed and screamed. She yanked her foot so hard I had to let go. She drew it back and kicked me in the right side of my face as hard as she could.
"Ahh," I grunted bringing my hand up to cover it. Race grabbed her foot before she could do it again.
"Please wake up Hush," I yelled. All the boys were awake so it didn't matter. It didn't work she just kept tossing and turning.
Crutchy came over to me, "Mush come with me your bleeding we need to fix you up." I nodded and looked and Hush one last time, she screamed again as we headed to the kitchen. Cruchy grabbed a rag and wiped the blood off my face. He took one of the bandages out of the first aid kit and folded it up so it went over my eye and my cheek. He grabbed another one and tied it around my head to keep the first one in place. Then he went to the freezer and broke a chunk of ice off the block.
He wrapped it in a rag and gave it to me, "Hold this on your eye it'll keep the swelling down. We headed back upstairs. Hush was still thrashing in her bed.
I went and sat next to her, "Hush, please calm down." It didn't work. I thought back to when I used to have nightmares and remembered my mom used to sing to me. I started singing it softly, (This song implies that they are in love. No they aren't in love. They are just like brother and sister. The song is You'll Be in My Heart by Phil Collins.)
Come stop your crying
It will be all right
Just take my hand Hold it tight
I will protect you
from all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry
For one so small,
you seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always
Why can't they understand
the way we feel
They just don't trust
what they can't explain
I know we're different but,
deep inside us
We're not that different at all
Hush had stopped tossing and turning. Slowly she opened her eyes and started singing with me.
And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more
Don't listen to them
'Cause what do they know
We need each other,
to have, to hold
They'll see in time
I know
When destiny calls you
You must be strong
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
They'll see in time
I know
We'll show them together
'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on,
Now and forever more
Oh, you'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be in my heart, always
Always
I'll be with you
I'll be there for you always.
Always, and always.
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
I'll be there .. always.
I pulled her into a hug, "Everything's alright." I held her for a little while, then something occurred to me.
"Hush, you can sing? If you can sing can't you talk?" She shook her head. She grabbed her journal.
I've always been able to sing.
No I can't talk. I try sometimes but
My mouth is liked glued shut or something.
I used to talk but then
She stopped writing. She had tears in her eyes and she was very close to crying.
"Did that guy earlier do something?" I asked. She nodded and took off her choker, revealing a long scar along the left side of her neck.
"What happened, sweetheart?" I asked. Tears had started rolling down her face and I wanted to pull her into a hug again and tell her just to forget it but I knew that it was really important that she tell us what happened.
He beat me
He threw a bottle at me and it cut my neck
Leaving pieces of glass in it.
He took me to the hospital
They took the glass out but said
I might not ever be able to talk again.
I tried to talk but every time I did
I just sounded hoarse and raspy
You couldn't understand a single
Word I said. For some reason
I could still sing though. The doctors said
My voice may come back eventually
But I am too scared to try and find out
I can't. I rather have the little hope that
I can I just haven't tried.
I want to try but I am so scared that my
Mouth just won't open or move.
By now tears were flowing freely down her face. She started sobbing. I pulled her into a hug and rocked her back and forth.
"Shh, it's okay. Thank you for telling us, we know how hard that was for you. Everything's going to be alright. Hush we don't care if you can't talk. We love you the way you are. Heck, we didn't even know you could sing until just now. C'mon now let's get some sleep alright?" I said motioning for the other boys to go back to sleep. We laid down and I set the ice Crutchy gave me on my eye and rubbed her back till she fell asleep.
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Anyone reading this?
Thank you to writer24 for reviewing, if you would like to be in the story PM me. Anyone else, review and describe your character. I need girlfriends for all the newsies for a party in one of the upcoming chapters.
Read and REVIEW please, I'm begging you,
MushSpotgoil