Chapter 26: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
A/N: Quite proud of this chapter actually. A bit sad, but I really enjoyed writing it. May be ever so slightly Dodger/Nancy in one part because I can't help myself. For all my wonderful reviewers, you guys rock my socks off. :-D
Warning: Contains the rougher side of gang life, a hangover, a rather mean Fagin, and Bill's continued apparent awkwardness.
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"Easy Bill," Nancy said. She helped Bill lay the boy down on a makeshift bed right beside Dodger's. Bill waved off her warning and laid the boy down amongst the pillows and blankets, at which point the sleeping child rolled over and groaned in protest to the sick feeling brewing in his stomach.
"Where did 'e come from my dears?" Fagin whispered as the three of them sat down at the table, leaving the boy to his rest.
"Can't say I know exactly," Nancy explained "the poor little thing's been in the tavern every night the past few weeks. 'E's usually drinkin' before I come in and still there when I get back, but 'e always gets to where 'e's goin' alright."
"You serve the lad on charity?" Fagin asked curiously. A grin stretched the length of Nancy's face at that question.
"Now what do you think I would mean by bringin' a charity case back 'ere Fagin? The lad's never wivout money to pay for his drink. Tha' means 'e's doin' somethin' to make 'is living." Fagin too grinned at the sound of this. A child that could pay for drinks that often and that many was certainly talented at whatever it was he did. Fagin's guess was, pickpocketing.
"Nancy my dear," Fagin said smiling over her shoulder at the little one sleeping on the floor "this may be one of your more brilliant ideas."
"That's Nance for ya," Bill agreed with a smile. "I best be off Fagin," he continued while rising to leave.
"You um....didn't say 'ow you 'appened to run into Nancy this evening my dear," Fagin said as a mischievous smile became instantly imprinted on his face.
"I jus' stopped in for a drink is all."
"Ah," Fagin said staring at Bill, who would not turn to meet Fagin's gaze for all he was worth. "I see, well you best be off as you said." Bill nodded and bounded down the house steps, exiting into the now thundering storm outside. Nancy watched him go and turned back to Fagin, a knowing smile on his face.
"What're you on about then?" she asked raising one eyebrow.
"To bed my dear, my guess is you didn't work at all tonight." Nancy cursed under her breath at the old one's wit and headed off to her bed. Sleepily she crawled in and pulled her thin blanket up to her chin, listening to the labored breathing of the newest gang member as she drifted off to sleep.
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"What is it?"
"Not what, who," Dodger corrected James.
"Man shut up."
"Is it alive?"
"Course it's alive Benjamin, the thing's snoring louder then the grinders down at the meat mill," Edward said giving his brother a rough shove. Nancy yawned sleepily as the boys' bickering pulled her from her otherwise peaceful sleep. She ran a hand awkwardly through her hair before climbing out of bed and walking towards the collection of boys around Charley's "bed". They were all standing there gawking at the still sleeping figure, arguing over how on earth he came to be there and taking turns being the one brave enough to poke his still form.
"Go on then, get!" Nancy ordered the boys shooing them away. "Leave the poor thing alone, 'e's probably got a massive 'angover." The boys stepped away from the sleeping child and towards the breakfast table, Nancy walking with them.
"Where'd 'e come from Nance?" Dodger asked.
"Found 'im, last night outside the tavern. Guess you could say 'e's our newest member Dodge." The Artful Dodger simply beamed up at the young woman before him, any and all conversations between them had the Dodger on cloud nine.
"You're dressed," Dodger noted. Nancy's eyes widened in protest to the absurdity of his statement and she laughed in spite of herself.
"Course I'm dressed Dodge, aren't I usually?"
"No," Dodger corrected, his grin widening all the more "you're dressed early." Nancy nodded again and took a bite of the sausage on her fork. "Really early." Nancy swallowed in a haughty manner and turned to face the boy fully.
"What are you playin' at Dodge?"
"Are you comin' out on the job with us today?" He asked. His grin looked as if should it grow any wider it might just snap his little face in half. She rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to her plate.
"Yes," she conceded with a smile. The child looked as though he might burst before digging into his breakfast with a new found energy. Nancy simply laughed inwardly at the boy's apparent fondness of her and continued eating with a silent smile. Everybody was just getting ready to depart for the day, Nancy included, when the newest addition to their gang finally woke up.
"What the...who....where?" He was on his feet now, and none too steadily mind you, turning about feverishly. His eyes were darting about in a confused manner and sweat was pouring from under his cap. "What the bleedin' 'ell is goin' on!"
"S'alright calm down then," Nancy said taking a step towards him.
"No, don't you come near me, I'll...I'll-" Charley's sentence was cut short by him getting caught up in his bed sheets and tumbling straight down onto his rear end. This was met by the laughter of everyone present and eventually, the boy's own. The mood lightened considerably, and the child took it upon himself to speak in a somewhat calmer tone. "Ain't you from the tavern?" he said, clutching his head that was throbbing in protest to his earlier outburst of laughter.
"Yes, and you were passed out drunk last night." Charley's face screwed up like he'd tasted something entirely too sour and it was a while before he spoke again.
"I don't remember that."
"I do," she said smiling. It was only then she was aware of the audience sitting there watching this surprisingly calm exchange. "Go on then Dodge, I'll catch up," she informed him. The smile creased on the young boy's face melted and he forlornly informed the lads it was time they were off. She waited until they were out and then took a seat on the floor next to the child. She wasn't sure where Fagin had disappeared to, probably hiding back in his room from the looks of it. "Now then, can I ask you somethin' Charley?"
"'Ow do you know my name?" he demanded.
"You told me," she said with a wilting glance.
"Oh...alrigh' then what is it?"
"You come into the tavern and drink all night long, every night of the week. Now, 'ow is it that a boy yer age comes by enough money to do such a thing and not get in trouble with the owner."
"I steal," the boy said matter of factly. He then chuckled to himself and Nancy was quickly beginning to realize he was a rather jolly lad.
"So do the rest of the boys 'round 'ere," she informed him. "What say you to stayin' wiv us a while?"
"Who is us exactly?" Charley asked raising an eyebrow.
"Me, Dodge, the boys and....FAGIN!" she hollered loudly. Fagin emerged from his room just moments later still rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Charley in the mean time, had buried his head in his hands, the ache in his skull not aided at all by Nancy's yelling.
"What on earth are you yelling about my dear?" Fagin asked.
"New kid wants to meet you," she called already half way to the door. "Ta-ta kid," she yelled. And with that she was out the door, leave Fagin to handle it as far as she was concerned. She faced with a gloomy smile the overcast of clouds in the sky that morning. Sighing, she headed off to find Dodge and earn her keep, as if she wouldn't have to do the same thing that evening. She wished now she had worked the night previous, she was so tired. Nancy could feel her steps slow before slowly she slumped down onto the cobblestone streets below her. A voice was nagging at her to go to work, somewhere in her head her brain was reminding her that Fagin would be angry if she had nothing to show for keep, the cool wetness on her face was instructing her to get out of the rain once again pouring from the sky. Nancy was not listening to any of the warnings in her head, because she had long since given way to sleep.
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"Nancy!" The young girl's eyes popped open as a hand shook her shoulder violently. It took her a while to readjust to the lighting around her and realize that the Artful Dodger's hand was the one that had awoken her.
"Wh-what?" she muttered drowsily. She was still very tired without a doubt and his constant shaking of her exhausted frame was making sleep quite impossible.
"It's nearly four," Dodger explained. Nancy's eyes widened at this news, she'd slept all day, she hadn't picked a thing. If it weren't for Dodger discovering her, the young girl did not doubt she might've spent the night in the alley.
"Fagin!" Nancy gasped. "I 'aven't picked a thing all day. Dodge what on earth am I going to do?" she cried distressed. Instantly she was on her feet and all but ready to bolt for town when Dodger wrapped a hand around her wrist to stop her. He was already pulling things out of his own pockets and handing them to her.
"Take these, the old miser'll 'ave a fit if you don't bring somethin' back." Nancy stared at the boy in awe, he never gave up pickings, never. Besides that, the stuff he was handing her was undoubtedly the most valuable objects on his person. A gold watch, two snuffboxes, and three extremely well lined wallets. "There now calm down," Dodger instructed the still frenzied girl. "Come on back with me now."
"Are you sure Dodge?" she asked confused. She was already stuffing the objects in her pocket, regardless of what his answer might be.
"Course," he replied smiling. The young boy was caught off guard by a hug from the beautiful girl he'd just chosen to help and he wasn't entirely sure what to do with himself for a moment.
"Oh God thanks Dodge," she cried laying a quick kiss on his cheek. "You're the best." She stood up ready to walk with him home, and the boy followed, his face lit up like fireworks in the night sky.
When the pair of them returned home most of the boys were already back. Judging by the loud laugh Nancy could hear before she even knocked on the door, their newest resident had decided to stay. She knocked before informing James with the password and being let in.
"Boy Nance you won't believe this new kid he says 'e's not...." But Nancy was no longer listening. It usually didn't take her long to tune James out seeing as he had a habit of talking her ear off and then some. She nodded at the red headed child winning a game of marbles as she entered the flat and hung up her rain soaked shawl.
"Alrigh' then Charley?" she asked with a smile. He nodded as Dodge came up the stairs behind Nancy.
"'Ey Nance, why you covered in mud?" Marshall asked, not being bright enough to leave well enough alone.
"I slipped," she muttered lamely. She couldn't very well tell the truth that she had been sleeping in the street all day. The child shrugged and she heaved a sigh of relief before noticing a very odd sight occurring in the center of the room. Charley had risen to his feet to greet Dodger before finding himself instantly being circled by the artful little thief. Charley was standing there with a rather uncomfortable expression engraved on his features while Dodger continuously circled him, looking him up and down. Nancy walked up behind the Artful and gave him a quick thump on the back of the head.
"Wot was that for!" Dodger demanded rubbing his freshly assaulted skull.
"You act as if you 'aven't any manners, introduce yerself for Gawd's sake." Instantly Dodger jumped as though he'd been shot and threw himself into a low bow, complete with the tipping of his hat. After straightening himself up the boy shot his hand out like a rocket and shook that of a very surprised Charley.
"My name's Jack Dawkins but I'm better known among me more intimate friends as the Artful Dodger," he said continuing to shake the child's hand enthusiastically.
"Charley Bates," the other boy stated. His lack of theatrics seemed to douse the Dodger's enthusiasm as quickly as it had been brought on and the Dodger's hand dropped instantly to his side.
"You uh...you play cards often?" Dodger inquired as nonchalantly as one can when planning to hustle the child they're speaking with.
"I've been known to play a game or two." Grumbles of protest at the child's comment informed Dodger the boy had already won against most of the house.
"After you," Dodger replied gesturing towards the table. The two of them were just about to start a game when Fagin put a quick cap on the fun.
"Not so fast, show me what you have for me first my dears," he said towards Nancy and Dodger. Nancy's face was the epitome of composure while Dodger's jolly mood seemed to go into a downward spiral. Nancy quickly emptied her pockets, avoiding the old one's eye contact and brushing off the praise he was giving her as fast as she could. She couldn't even meet the eyes of her friend, who had so generously saved her from Fagin's anger, or possibly even the streets. The young girl did not realize until Dodger emptied out his pockets, that in doing such a kind deed for Nancy he had condemned himself.
"This...isn't your usual quality of work Dodger," Fagin said clucking his tongue. Nancy raised her eyes enough to see what Dodger had put on the table. Three measly silk handkerchiefs. Instantly her breath caught in her throat, he had given her all things of value from his day's work, and now he was being scolded for it.
"Jus' a bad day out today, not as many toffs to pick off of and the like."
"Nancy had no trouble," Fagin said with a scowl. The girl in question winced as though she'd been slapped, but Dodger stood there, unwavering in his resolve to assist his good friend.
"Different part of town I s'pose," Dodger said.
"Charley..." Fagin said slowly depositing the handkerchiefs in his pocket "I don't think Dodger has time to play cards. He's going back out on the job for me this evening." Fagin looked up at his young ward "Get out," he ordered him. "and do not come back without something to show for your time away." With a rather cocky air the Dodger saluted the old man and headed back out into the pounding rain, and Nancy could do nothing but bite back tears as she watched him go.