*Author's Note: Sorry for this tiniest of chapters! It's just the way I cut it! Thanks for the reviews! They help keep me going! I am about to sit down and write the final scene! Wish me luck! Thanks again!*

The door to the dressing room burst open and Racetrack exploded onto the scene, "Jack-I couldn't-but I heard-" the boy bent double as he tried to catch his breath.

The pair turned to face the struggling boy. "Looks like you need to quit smoking," Fawkes grinned.

"You-" Race gasped.

"Yeah, she turned up," Jack shrugged.

"I always do," Fawkes nodded.

"Not always," Jack reminded her.

"I heard-Patrick Mackey-isn't in jail-worse-he's a cop," Race was still having difficulty breathing.

Fawkes grinned, "I'm the one who told Spot that. I'll bet he took credit for it."

Jack gave her a look, "You've been to see Spot already this morning?"

"Mackey and his friends made Brooklyn the only place I could go and not get snatched."

"He knows who you are?" Race's voice cracked, but his breathing was becoming more regular.

Race was referring to Spot. "Yeah, he figured it out a couple nights ago. When I broke up that fight," Fawkes nodded to Jack. He knew the one she meant. "He told me the reason he didn't put two and two together was because I was so docile before. I am anything but now. Singing gave me away," Fawkes laughed.

"And he-?" Race was making a worried face,

"He doesn't care," Fawkes answered simply.

"Of course he doesn't," Jack laughed.

Fawkes shot Jack a look. It was part confusion, but realization was beginning to dawn. "Are you laughing because you know he has a self-proclaimed soft spot for redheads?"

"I'm laughing," Jack managed between chuckles, "because you're only now just realizing it. That's why he wanted to go to dinner with you. That's probably why he let you have your turf back,"

Fawkes was not amused. She stood stock still, shoulders thrown back, trying to make the most of her height. Jack Kelly wasn't a short kid and she knew he could brawl. He was the closest thing she had to family: a confidante and a friend. She loved him to death, but sometimes, he could say the wrong thing. "You think he let me win?" Her voice was dangerously quiet.

Jack's laugh cut off immediately, "Of course not. I don't think he knows how to lose on purpose. I do know that's the reason he didn't jump you every chance he got to rectify it. If any one of us had fought him and by some miracle came out on top, he would never let us live to tell the tale."

"And you encouraged him to chase me?"

"I didn't know about your history with boys in Brooklyn," Jack apologized. "It was fun to watch."

Fawkes waved it away. She was over it now. They had bigger problems.

"You told him?" Racetrack looked flabberghasted. This time Race was referring to Jack.

"I told him what really happened. I needed all our cards on the table. Snyder, Mackey, and a whole bunch of cops are going to turn up here looking for me and Jack. It could be they're here to bust us for previous crimes. It could be that they're going to trump up new ones. We won't know till they turn up. I do know that I've gotten too used to freedom to go back. If you've got some ideas to keep us out of the Refuge, I'd appreciate that."

"What's Mackey doing out?" Racetrack wondered.

"Working for Snyder is my best guess. He's a cop now."

"You-" Jack started.

"Yes?" Fawkes asked uncertainly.

"You have a thousand identities and we're standing in a theater. I'm sure you can come up with something."

Fawkes didn't respond to this statement. Instead she said, "Don't you have a rally to plan?"

Racetrack had recovered his breath, "Why did they say you were with the bulls then?"

"Because in order for me to find out what the hell Mackey was doing on the streets, I had to talk to him. Being where he is one, that means I had to go along with him. But I'm here now. You got a problem with that?"

Race shook his head. He dismissed himself.

Jack didn't stay long. He pulled on his hat as he stood in the open doorway. "There is one problem we haven't discussed."

Fawkes raised a brow in question.

"You're as much a part of this strike as I am. I know being Colleen will make you feel safer, but folks are gonna think it odd if you don't turn up before the show starts."

Fawkes blew out a breath.

He was right. Her loyalty would be called into question. What did she have to fear? They were already expecting to the cops. "Okay."