Yay! I'm excited to update this story, even though Spot was a challenge for me to write, as I do not write him all that often. I love him though. I hope I wrote his character like you guys see him.

bexlynne: Thank you so much! The little bits of Italian broke my heart too. It's such a sad story. But I'm glad you like it. And you're right, great minds do think alike. ;). I hope I do Spot justice in this chapter!

NeverlandNewsie: Thank you so much! Race will be the next/last chapter.

Teeloganroryflan: Thank you so much!

FuriedNight: Aww Thank you so much! I'm always happy to read your requests! (Look what they turn into). They're so much fun to write! Thank you for all of them and if you have more, I'm all ears.

selizabethharrisburg: I am so so so happy about your review! I'm so happy you were so excited to read this. It really made my day. And the fact that you had no critiques made it better. I'm afraid this chapter won't live up to that but I tried my best. Thank you so much for all your feedback. And I loved writing Race. He is so adorable.

BroadwayIsMyPurposeInLife: Aww Thank you so much! Race's POV will be the last chapter to this. I'm excited to write it. Also, if you would like to see another backstory (different backstory) for Race, go check out another one of my fics called "The New Kid." It's interesting. I think you'd like it. ;)

Guest: You made my whole day. Thank you so much! It means the world to me that you read a lot of my works. I love writing protective!Spot. I'm hoping it'll show up more in my other stories too. Thank you so much for reviewing!

Fanz4life: Thank you! I love your idea, as I said, just be patient. It'll be up soon. I just have to get inside Medda's head a little bit more. ;)

traitorrin: Thank you so much!

Alright, I really hope this chapter does the first one justice. Enjoy!

"Scram punk!"

I always chased away that stupid 'Hattan kid. He was always there on my bridge, on my turf, scribblin' on a dumb piece a' paper. He just rolled his eyes at me and walked away. I was satisfied. At least, fer the moment. I would be till I saw his arrogant face again, at least.

Then I just walked back. It was dark and gettin' colda. Nick neva' wanted me out anyways. He always told me how a scrawny kid like me wouldn't survive outside after the sun went down. I always rolled my eyes.

Someday it'd be different. They's didn't think I could handle Brooklyn. None of 'em. They's was wrong. They's always made fun a' me fer comin' ta Brooklyn at all. But I was tougher than they's thought. I ain't weak. And I ain't soft. Someday I's was gonna rule Brooklyn. And my boys would be the best a' the best. Then they'd see.

I walked in and they's was playin' cards. Nick walked up ta me all high and mighty, like I's was scared a' him er somethin'. "I told ya not ta be out there now! You'll get hurt out there by yourself!" I didn't say nothin'. I just kept walkin'. I's could take care a' myself. I had fer a long time. Eva' since Mark... eva' since I lost Mark... but I was fine. I could handle myself.

"Don't walk away from me, Conlon!" He grabbed my arm. I didn't care. He thought he was so scary. I ain't eva' been scared a' him. It was all just an act. And I knew it. So's I ripped my arm away from him.

"Lay off, Nick!" And I went ova' ta the table. They's was just finishin' a round. So I pulled up a chair and sat up straight. I ain't no moron. I is short. But I don't care. Just cause I's smalla' than them don't mean I can't play poka'. "Deal me in."

They's laughed at me.

"The wimp thinks he's gonna play poka'?"

"Good luck, kid!"

"Get lost, ya lousy-"

I's pounded my fist on the table. It was loud. Sure made them all shut up. I was nine. Little, fer sure, but I's could always get them ya shut up. "Deal. Me. In." So they did.

I was dealt a good hand. I had that game in the bag. I's glared at some of 'em and they's put their cards down and left the table. I coulda won. It was just me and two otha guys before the door swung open.

He care straight fer me. It was that 'Hattan kid. Jack. Jack Kelly. Damn it.

I's ain't close ta no one. No one knows me. I like it that way. But damn it, that kid always had a way a' gettin' me ta talk ta him. Sure, I's chase him away from the bridge everyday, but that don't mean we ain't at least a little bit nice ta each otha'. After all, he's the only guy that believes I belong in Brooklyn.

"The hell is this, Kelly?"

I shoulda waited. I didn't see that the thing in his arms wasn't a thing. It was a kid. I swear he was only six er seven. He was so little. But I's was wrong. He was only a year younga' than me. But he was so small.

Kelly didn't answer me. Just nodded toward the bedrooms. Damn it. I was about ta win. But somethin' 'bout those kids eyes... they looked up at me. He was so scared. I couldn't just leave him like that.

I was nine. I ain't soft.

I saw Jack try ta put him down. "No! Please!" He held onta Jack real tight. He was so small. So helpless. It reminded me a' somethin'.

"No! Please! Charlie!"

Mark...

I could see 'em draggin' him away. I could feel 'em holdin' me down. My big brotha'. He was only two years olda, but he always wanted ta protect me.

God, they were s'posed ta take me... not Mark. Damn it, Mark! Why did he have ta do that?

The kid looked so scared. I couldn't help but feel bad fer him. He just reminded me a' him. I couldn't kick 'em out like that.

"I found him. One a' the gangs had him." Damn those stupid gangs. Now I was really stuck. "He's beat bad, Spot. And Sparks ain't gonna let us in at this time a' night."

Sparks. What a scared, soft, bastard of a leader. He didn't let his boys in at night cause he was too scared the bulls were afta' him. Man up.

But I crossed my arms. Kelly was asking a lot. "Are ya askin' me ta let ya stay here?" He shouldn't be askin' such a stupid question. He knows how closed off Brooklyn is. He knows we don't like 'Hatteners on our turf. But Jack shook his head.

"Not me. Him." I ain't gonna lie, that sentence shocked me a little. Jack said he just found this kid. He was willing to sleep on the streets and leave him in the Brooklyn house so's he could have a warma' place ta sleep. So I's stepped closa' ta them.

The kid was shakin'. He was holdin' onta Jack so tight cause it was so damn cold and he musta been scared outta his mind. Then I saw everythin' else. I saw the bruises all ova' him. God, they were everywhere. How could a boy so small have taken that much abuse? I was surprised he wasn't dead by then. I saw the blood that was ova' his tiny chest. It looked dried up and all I could do was let my stupid memories start playin' 'round in my head. "The gangs had him?"

"Take the little one! He'll get us money fer sure!"

I couldn't help but scream when they grabbed me. I was only six. My pa thought it was a good idea ta steal money from a gang. Idiot.

"No!"

I wished Mark had shut up. "Take me!" God, Mark... why is he so stupid!

"Mark! Ti amo!" I rememba' screamin' in my folks language. Me and my brotha' always did. I missed it...

"Take me instead! Lasci il mio fratellino!"

They did. They listened ta him. And when they's started draggin' him away, he screamed fer me.

"No! Please! Charlie!" And everythin' went black.

"We have a boy here who says he's gotta brotha who was taken by a gang." They didn't need ta know it was me. "Said they's use 'em ta get more money. Make 'em go out tellin' sob stories and gettin' cash howeva' they could. If they don't get 'nough cash, they's don't eat." Mark starved ta death six months afta' they took him. I saw him a week before that, beggin' fer money or anythin'. I didn't even... he couldn't even recognize me. I hid the look on my face when I looked ta the ground and scratched the back a' my head. "They's get soaked real bad too."

Obviously. This little kid was beaten senseless by the looks of it. And he looked like he couldn't even stay awake fer us. The damn thing's eyes were so blue and they were so tired and all I could do was ask more questions. "What's his name?"

Kelly looked confused fer a minute. I didn't blame him. I shouldn'ta cared what the kid's name was. But I couldn't help it. I ain't soft... but this kid... he needed help.

"Says it's Tony. Tony Higgins." I looked down at the kid again. He looked too innocent fer a name like that. It didn't fit him.

"Kid needs a new name. He needs a newsie name. Tony don't suit him." The kid didn't even look like he could hear us. He was tryin' ta stay awake, but he couldn't. "What's he like?"

Kelly shook his head and shrugged his shouldas. "Don't know... he don't speak English too good." How did this kid not speak English? The gangs made their prisoners tell stories and beg for money and he didn't even know English? Lord...

"Set him down fer a minute." I nodded to a bunk. My bunk. If any a' the otha' boy's found out about this...

Jack sat down on my bed. He still held the kid like a baby in his arms. Tony didn't seem to care that he was bein' held like that. He just held onta him really tight. Wouldn't let go fer nothin'. And he was still shakin'. He musta been freezin'. And he still hadn't said a word. So I did somethin' I shoulda neva' done. I offered him somethin'. "Do ya want a shirt, kid?"

Those blue eyes found me and I regretted the question. He was reelin' me in. He had ta know what he was doin'. He looked confused. Then I remembad he didn't speak English. "Sh... shir...?"

Oh my God this kid couldn't even undastand the simplest things. He was gonna learn. I was gonna help him. I didn't know why but I was gonna do it.

I grabbed the boy's hand. He gasped and... I ain't soft... but I felt my heart hurt. He didn't deserve ta be so scared. I held his hand ta my chest. "Sh-ir-t." The kid looked up at me, like he was shocked. Then he looked back down and started ta grab at my shirt.

He hummed. It was like he was tryin' ta make sure we wouldn't hurt him fer makin' noise. I hated it. Then he started ta talk. "Sh... shir-t..." I don't know why I smiled. This kid... he had a hold on me. He was too young ta go through so much.

"Not bad, kid." I ruffled his hair and he laughed. God, how could he still be so sweet and innocent. That laugh was like bells. It could make anyone smile. So I ignore the dumb look on Kelly's face. "I'll go get'cha one."

I left 'em on my bed. What the hell was wrong with me? I needed ta get myself togetha'. Someday, I's would be the strongest newsie in New York. I couldn't waste my time with a... who was I kiddin'. I's had known this kid fer a few minutes and he already had me wrapped 'round his finga'. Now Brooklyn would really be lookin' down on me.

I found one a' my old shirts. Should keep the kid warm fer the time bein'. Even if it was too big fer him. I wanted ta find him some food. Anythin' so he wouldn't be so small no more. I took the shirt and then I saw somethin' else in the box a' old things ova' by Nick's bed. It was an old cap. My old cap. My first cap. The one that Nick hisself gave ta me.

As much as I didn't like that Nick smothered me like I was some helpless baby, he always told the group to lay off. He always made them stop makin' fun a' me. And he gave me this cap on my first day. But I didn't need it no more.

I walked back ta the 'Hattan kids. I sat back down and looked at the boy. He was snuggled up to Jack. His hand was ova' a bruise on him shoulder. He was so small.

I pulled him up. I was careful. I didn't want ta hurt him more. I helped him slid inta the shirt. He groaned when I let him sit back into Jack. Like he was relieved he didn't have ta hold hisself up no more. Then I pulled the cap outta my pocket.

"This was my first one..." I held it in my hands. I looked down at it one more time. "I figure ya need it more than I do."

It didn't look like he knew what I was sayin'. But I pulled the cap ova' his curls. And then the kid completely relaxed back inta Jack. "You's a newsie now, kid. Ya need ta look like one."

I saw the curious look in his eyes. "Newsie?"

Jack smiled and knocked the cap down ova' his eyes. I's had seen him do it before ta a lot a' his boys. "That's right, pal."

He giggled. This kid who had been beaten and starved fer years started ta laugh. It was so innocent. He took the cap off his head and hummed again. "Proprio come... Crutch... Crutchie? Specs?... mmh... Al... Albert?" Proprio come... This kid spoke Italian. He spoke the only otha' language I know.

I looked up at Jack. He was shocked. Those names sounded familiar. They musta been his boys. How on earth did the kid know 'em?

"Those... those are my friends... ya know 'em?" Jack's voice was scared. I didn't really know why. But the kid shook his head.

"Uhm... sees 'em. Them... them h-happy. A volte... them try ta... talk ta me..." Jack didn't know that. I could tell. I shrugged. I didn't know why no one would tell Jack that they's tried ta talk ta him. "I... not allowed... La gente avrebbe trovato Johnny... couldn't do it..." Johnny. It was a name I wouldn't eva' forget. The man who did it. The man who hurt a boy that became one of my only friends. My best friend.

"Well you ain't there anymore." I ran a hand through his hair. That was when I could see the blood in it. It was all ova' my hand. But I didn't care. "Do ya undastand? You ain't gettin' taken back there. You's a newsie now."

He looked at me. He didn't completely undastand. But he gave me a short nod. "... P... Per... Pertect?"

Yes. Yes kid! I'll protect ya. No more a' this. You's a newsie now.

"Yeah kid... no ones gonna hurt ya no more." Jack cradled the kid to him. He was fallin' asleep. So we waited till he did and then Jack look he up at me.

"Alright Spottie, why are ya actin' like ya care so much?" I hated it when Jack called me that. We's known each otha' fer years. He knew how ta tick me off. So I rolled my eyes and stood up.

"What's it ta you, Kelly?" It slipped out before I could stop it. But I didn't care. I sounded like myself. But Kelly slipped out from the boy, leavin' him layin' on my pillow. I glared at him.

"Ya tell me er I'll tell the everyone why ya really got your name." I hate that kid. Just cause I stuck close ta Nick don't mean I'm some kinda puppy! I don't even know how Kelly knew 'bout that. Musta told him 'bout it one a' those nights on the bridge when I's was too tired ta shoo him away.

"You tell anyone and I'll soak ya good!" He laughed and crossed his arms. I sighed. I don't know why I tell him things. I just can't help it. I leaned 'gainst the wall. "It was my brotha'." I'm an idiot. "He's gone now 'cause a' the damn gangs." I shouldn't a' told him. That stupid look he gave me. I didn't like it. I didn't want it.

"Spot I-"

"I don't need your pity, Kelly." I didn't want him ta finish that sentence. Mark was my brotha and I missed him but I didn't need his apology. It wouldn't bring him back.

I looked back ova' ta the kid on my bunk. He was shakin'. He was probably starved. Couldn't do much fer him there. Fer a minute, I could see Mark layin' there. And when I could see straight again... I don't know what happened. "Just don't let 'em get him back." I could see it in his eyes. No way that kid was eva' goin' back. But I needed ta know fer sure. "I'll let ya stay here tanight if ya let me look out fer him too."

Jack glanced back at the kid. He smiled at the boy before turnin' back ta me and spittin' in his hand. We shook on it.

I left 'em alone afta' that. Jack went back ta holdin' the kid. And the boy relaxed more when Kelly's arms were 'round him. So's I figured I could leave. But Nick was waitin' fer me outside the door.

"You goin' soft on me, Conlon?" He was leanin' 'gainst the wall, smirkin' at me.

"No." I said it quick. I ain't soft. "The kid could die. Ain't no one that heartless. Not even you!"

"Calm down short stack. I ain't here ta judge you." He ruffled my hair but I pushed him away. "Just don't get too close." That was it. Then he walked away.

I couldn't go back down afta' that. The boys wouldn't give me a break afta' they's saw me follow a 'Hattener upstairs. So I went back inside the room.

That's when I saw the little kid squirmin' in his sleep. Jack was dead asleep and T... this kid... he was too small and weak to put up much of a fight against him.

"No... no... per favore... Johnny... non intendo... lasciami andare! Papà! Aiuto! Qualcuno!" I ran ova' ta him. I put my hand ova' his mouth. He musta been havin' a nightmare. I didn't need him screamin' like that. And then his eyes shot open and he looked at me and... he was so scared.

"Hey! Johnny non è qui! Stai bene!" I told him all I could. Johnny, whoeva the bastard was, wasn't there. He was okay. He was safe with us. I wanted ta tell him I would always protect him... but I'm Brooklyn. Brooklyn don't do that kind a' thing.

He blinked at me, like he was tryin' ta figure out why he could undastand me. Then he fell back inta Jack and closed his eyes. "Grazie..."

I was happy when he went ta sleep. He looked so peaceful. He reminded me so much of Mark. The kid... I was gonna help him. I could do it. I would lead Brooklyn and I would protect this kid.

Jack took him the next mornin'. Little guy couldn't barely walk on his own. Jack practically carried him away and the kid let him. And I thought that would be it. Even with that stupid deal I made with Kelly... I's didn't think that kid would live too much longa'. I was wrong.

It was 'bout a week lata' when I's needed away from the olda' boys. I could take 'em any day. They's was just annoyin'. So I figured, what the hell? And I made my way ta 'Hattan.

I walked durin' the day. Nick told me he'd soak me if I tried ta go at night. I wasn't scared a' him, just didn't want him ta waste his energy. I made it ta the house when the sun was settin'.

"Albert! Give Romeo his cap back!"

"Cmon guys, it ain't funny!"

"Hey! Knock it off!"

I ain't neva' seen so much energy just bein' let out like that. So many boys were runnin' around, chasin' each otha'. They's was wrestlin' and playin' with each otha'. But I found Jack. He was sittin' with his crip on the old beat up couch. The kid I was lookin' for wasn't no where in sight.

"What're ya doin' here, Conlon?" Everyone froze at my name. I didn't know why. I's didn't know most a' them. But I's just shrugged 'em off.

"Where's the kid?"

Jack gave me a look. It was like he thought I wouldn't keep the promise I made. I had ta. Couldn't leave that kid ta fend fer hisself. Then he smirked. "Ya mean Racer?"

Racer?

Jack stood up and I followed him ta the bunk room. That's where he was. Alone. Up in the bedroom by himself.

"What's he up here for?"

Jack crossed his arms and sighed. "Race got in a fight with the Delanceys taday," he started ta explain. "He's been pickin' fights eva' since. He's a little hot head. Who knew?"

The kid... Race, was sittin' on a bunk. His arms were ova' his little chest. He was breathin' hard, like he was real mad at somethin'. Then he glared at Jack and I smirked. This innocent kid had a temper. I didn't hate it.

"Bastardi stupidi..." I laughed when the kid muttered that.

"Shhh Amico ... qualcuno potrebbe capire quello che dici." His eyes shot up to mine. They lit up when he realized I could undastand him.

Jack looked at me. He was shocked. I just smirked at him and walked ova' ta Race. He uncrossed his arms and didn't fight with me when I sat down, like I'm sure he did when Jack tried.

"Giornata faticosa?" I asked him. He nodded and sniffled. Poor kid was only tryin' ta adjust.

"Non riesco a capire loro... sto cercando... non funziona..." I nodded and slung an arm around him. Kelly stood close by. He watched us.

"Says he don't undastand you's. He's tryin' real hard, Jack. That's why he's so frustrated."

Kelly sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry, Race... I'm tryin' too. So're the boys."

I translated fer him. And Race was real interested in his hands afta' that. He didn't look up at neither a' us.

"Mi dispiace... non so come essere buono... mi dispiace che ero cattivo..." That was when his tears started ta fall.

I looked back up at Jack and the other kid was lookin' at me, so confused. "He said... he said he's sorry."

"Fer what?"

"Fer bein' bad..."

Jack sighed. He saw the tears on the kid's face too and all he could do was pull the kid into a hug. Race cried 'gainst him. He was expectin' a beatin'. I was sure of it. How could someone do somethin' like that to a kid like this?

"Thanks Spot..." Jack whispered ta me.

I smirked and ruffled the kid's hair while he held onta my old pal. "Prego."

I found out lata' why all the boys seemed so scared a' me. Jack had spun anotha' story. And I would owe him fer the rest a' my life. I guess, I would owe the kid too. If that kid hadn't been there, the story woulda neva' been told.

When we grew up, I took ova' Brooklyn and Jack took ova' 'Hattan. I was the most feared kid in New York. Jack was intimidatin', sure, but folks weren't scared a' him. And even though we's became the toughest Newsies eva', there was always a kid that made us feel like normal boys. He made us laugh and he let us talk ta him. He was our best friend. His name was Higgins. Racetrack Higgins. Hey, even the toughest newsies need friends. Even the toughest newsie eva' known needed a brotha' ya complain to and ya mess with. I ain't soft. But I loved Race. And I swore from the day I met him I would protect him.

I always did. Even when he didn't know it.

I love Spot.

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