This chapter is a little shorter. If anyone spots any mistakes I have made or if you are confused about something please review and tell me.

I woke up the next morning to Kloppman getting Hush up to get ready before us. I rolled over and pretended to sleep till she was in the bathroom. Then I went downstairs to the kitchen to talk to Kloppman.

"Morning Kloppy," I said as I interrupted him making some coffee.

"Oh Mush I didn't know you were up. My goodness boy, what happened to your face?"

I sighed, "Last night Ziva was having a nightmare. She was tossing and turning and we tried to restrain her. She thought we were trying to hurt her so she kicked me in self defense. I didn't get to see what it looked like 'cause Crutchy wrapped it right away. He gave me some ice to stop the swelling and I was wondering if I could get some more before the boys woke up."

"Sure Mush no problem, help yourself." I grabbed a rag and went into the freezer and broke a chunk off the ice block. Wrapping it in the rag I went upstairs to change into some clean clothes and wait for Hush to be finished so I could get a head start. A couple minutes later she came out of the bathroom. I was lying on the bed with the ice over my face. She came and sat next to me. She pointed at the bandage on my face.

"It's nothing," I said. She grabbed her journal,

I kicked you didn't I?

I sighed, "Yes, but you didn't mean to. You were having a nightmare and it was just self defense. She reached over and pulled on the bandage a little.

I winced, "You can take it off if you want I was going to in a little bit anyway." She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the bathroom. I looked at my self in the mirror. Other than the big bandage across my face I didn't look that bad. Ziva reached up and slowly unwrapped the first bandage. She pulled back the second one and gasped. I looked in the mirror. That whole side of my face was slightly bruised and there was a big cut along my cheek bone.

"It's not that bad," I said. Hush looked at me like I was crazy. She grabbed a clean towel and got it wet. Carefully she started dabbing at the dried blood that surrounded my cut. I winced a couple times and she finally finished. She held up a finger for one second and left the bathroom. I started getting the rest of the way ready. I washed my hair, went to the bathroom, and brushed my teeth. I skipped shoving not wanting to hurt myself even more. I was just about to leave when she came back with a small bottle. She led me to a sink, made me lean my head over it, and hold a wash cloth over my closed right eye. She uncapped the bottle and poured a little on my cut.

"Ahhh," I cried. I should have realized. The bottle had alcohol in it and she was using it to clean my cut. I groaned again as she poured more on. She grabbed another towel and dabbed the extra off. I stood up and looked in the mirror. Now the cut was bright red, at least it wouldn't get infected though. We walked back into the bunk room as Kloppman came upstairs.

"Good job, Ziva. I don't think I could have gotten him to hold still long enough to clean it," he said. She smiled. I groaned. She looked at me instantly a worried expression on her face.

"I'm fine," I said.

"Alright ya wanna help get the boys up Mush?" Kloppman asked.

"Na, I'll just watch and laugh like Hush, here," I said. We sat on her bunk and watched Kloppman start yelling for the boy's to get up. I was surprised to see Jack get up right away. He looked at my bunk, then at Ziva's and walked over quickly.

"Hey, Mush how ya feeling?" he asked.

"I'm a little sore, but I'm fine, really," I said. He gave me a really-ya-don't-look-fine look. I shrugged and followed him into the bathroom. He walked to the sink in the farthest corner.

"Really, how are you?" he asked.

"I'm fine," I said again. He stopped shaving and turned to look at me leaning against the wall.

"Mush, you don't have to act all tough. I want to know for real, does it hurt?" he asked. I was shocked, but then again I was talking to Jack. We had been friends since he was seven and I was six, ten years, wow.

"Yeah, I guess it hurts a little. I mean whenever someone touches it. The ice really helped though," I said.

"How you feeling inside though?" he asked.

"Oh, you mean happy that she feels safe around me? Happy that she thinks of me as a brother? Happy that you trust me with her? Hurt that she's having nightmares and I can't help her? Hurt that she thought I was hurting her? Hurt that in order to help her I have to put her through emotional pain? Hurt that Race thought I would hurt her?!!" I knew I sounded desperate but I didn't get why he had to keep bugging me. I didn't want to talk about it. At least not here where anyone could possibly here what I was saying.

"Mush, wait a second after everyone else leaves."

I sighed, "Kay, whatever." I started to leave and he went back to shaving.

I turned around, "Hey Cowboy?" He looked at me still shaving.

"Thanks." He nodded. I went down to the lobby and sat with Hush to wait for everyone to finish getting ready. We sat there for a while not talking. She must have known something was wrong because usually I talk to her all the time. She grabbed her journal,

Are you mad at me?

"No, I'm not mad at you. I'm just upset," I said.

Is it because of me?

"Kind of, but it's not your fault," I said quickly.

I'm sorry, Mush

"It's fine, really. That's not even bugging me," I said. She gave me a yeah right look.

What's bugging you then?

"Something Race said. Really you shouldn't concern yourself."

Well you said it's because of me so I should know.

I sighed, "Really, Ziva don't get yourself involved it's no big deal."

Than why are you upset?

"Just cause okay!" I yelled. She looked hurt.

I sighed, "Ziva, I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell at you." She didn't say anything just stood up and walked over Kid Blink, who was standing in the corner. I sighed and put my face in my hands. I flinched and laid my head on the back of the couch closing my eyes instead. I heard everyone start to come down the stairs but I just sat there and waited for Jack to come get me.

Ziva's POV

I couldn't believe he yelled at me. He was always so nice and calm. I was just trying to help. I started to leave with everyone else but I looked back and saw Mush just lying on the couch. I waited until the last person left. He just sat there. Maybe I was a little too hard on him. No, he shouldn't have yelled at me. I ran back to the front of the group to find Kid Blink.

Mush's POV

"Ready, Mush?" Jack asked. I opened my eyes and nodded. We headed out the door a couple minutes behind everyone else. We walked for awhile in silence. "Alright, out with it," Jack said. "Well, I love that she feels safe around me and stuff but, I can't help but think I'm not good enough for her. I mean I can't comfort her, I never know what to say to make her feel better, some of the boys don't even trust me with her. How am I supposed to take care of her if I know that every time I physically comfort her some boys think I am just doing it so I can take advantage of her? Not because I love her," I told him. "As a sister," I added as an after thought. "Mush, listen to yourself, are you really so scared your going to screw up your making excuses? You think you can't comfort her, who did she insist on not letting go of when she was scared? Who did she want to sleep with her after she had a night mare? Who got her to wake up in the first place?" he asked. "Well, me," I muttered. "Yep, and so far you seem to know what to say. She always calms down when she hears your voice, it doesn't matter what you're saying. And she doesn't care if you talk in the first place, she just feels comforted by you being near her. Mush, who cares what the boys think? Spot and I both know you would never hurt her, and we're the only ones who matter." "Well, none of that matters anymore because she pretty much hates me," I hollered. I sighed, "I yelled at her, like I just yelled at you. I don't know what's wrong with me Jack. I never used to yell, ever." "Hey, it's not your fault. You've been really stressed lately. And I heard you tossing and turning all night, it sounded like you didn't sleep a wink," he said. "I didn't really." We walked for a while. "Jack, how long am I going to be like this? How long am I going to worry every second I'm not with her? How long am I going to stress out because I can't do something for her? When will I be able to explain to her why I am so uptight all of a sudden?" "I don't know Mush. But you gotta just ease up and go with the flow. No ones perfect and we're all here to help you if you mess up," he said. I sighed, up ahead was the circulation office.

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Anyone reading this?

Thank you to writer24 and a star fall for reviewing. If you would like to be in the story review and describe your character. I need girlfriends for all the newsies for a party in one of the upcoming chapters.

Read and Review, I am going to wait for at least 5 reviews before I update.

MushSpotgoil