Winter, 1895

Romeo sent a longing glance toward where the nuns usually stood every morning. The whistling wind and near-freezing weather had prevented them from making an appearance for nearly a week now. Romeo scoffed, turning away. He never thought he'd miss stale bread and lukewarm coffee until it was gone.

"Hey, Rome," Race said, appearing at his elbow.

The younger boy jumped, startled out of his thoughts.

"Here ya go, pal," Race said, shoving a still-warm roll into Romeo's hands. "Go on, eat it," he said when his brother hesitated.

That was enough for Romeo. "Where'd ya get it?" he asked between bites.

Race felt a twinge in his heart, watching his brother devour the roll. "Don't you mind that," he said. "Meet ya for lunch?"

"Deal," Romeo said, swallowing the last bite. He spat into his hand, and they shook on it.

Racetrack kept his head down, trying to shield his face from the biting wind and clutching his prize his chest. He had the streets of Manhattan memorized anyways, and it wasn't likely there would be many people out in weather like this. So when Jack Kelly grabbed his arm, of course he yelped in surprise.

"Settle down, kid, it's just me," Jack said.

Race relaxed some, jerking his arm out of the older boy's grasp. "Whatcha want, Cowboy?" he asked.

Jack shoved his hands unto his pockets, hunching up his shoulders as he fell into step beside Race. "When did ya eat last?" he asked bluntly.

Race's head snapped up. "Ya saw me with a roll this mornin'," he said, dodging the question.

"And then I saw ya give it ta Romeo," Jack finished. "The nuns are gone and it's been a rotten week of sellin'. When did ya eat last?"

Race scowled. He didn't like being confronted. "Day before last," he muttered.

Jack softened some. "I don't got any money ta give ya," he said. "Not now, anyway. But I can get ya some food."

"I already got food," Race said, showing him the bread he had hidden under his jacket.

Jack's brows drew together, and his eyes grew stormy. "Race, if I find out you's been stealin' I'll soak ya inta next week," he said. "That's the kinda stuff that lands kids in the Refuge. Is that where you wanna be?"

When Race didn't answer, Jack shook him by the collar. "Huh?"

"No!" Race said finally. "I just wanna feed my little brother. Romeo's countin' on me."

Some of the anger faded from Jack's gaze. "I'll get the two of ya some supper tonight," he promised. "For now, promise me you'll eat some of that." He gestured to the loaf of bread, squeezed so tightly that Race's fingers left dents in it.

"I promise."

Jack smiled slightly. "Good."

"Whaddaya think Jack's gonna bring?" Romeo chirped, trotting along beside Racetrack.

"I dunno, kid," Race said, biting down on his cigar. He hated asking for help, and he hated seeming weak. But Romeo didn't deserve to starve, so he had passed on Jack's message.

"Race!" someone called from behind him. The voice was filled with panic, almost a sob. "RACE!"

Whirling around, he caught sight of Crutchie hobbling toward him as fast as his leg and crutch could take him. Just before he reached them his leg gave out, pitching him forward.

Race dove forward, catching the younger boy before he hit the ground. "Geez, Cructhie, wouldja calm down?" he said. Then he noticed the tears trailing down his brother's face.

"It's Jack," Crutchie choked out. "He got caught stealin' some food. They took 'im ta the Refuge, Race."

The words hit Race like a ton of bricks. The Refuge. Stealin' food. Caught.

The Refuge. Jack was there. Beside him, Romeo gave a quiet sob. For a brief instant, Race hated Jack. Hated him for dredging up memories in Romeo's mind. Did he know how long it would take to get that kid to sleep tonight? How could Jack tell him not to steal, then turn around and get caught doing just that? Was twice in the Refuge not enough for him?

But then that horrible second passed, and all Race felt was guilt.

"He was stealin' it for me," he said in a low voice.

Crutchie looked up, his tears momentarily subsiding. "What?"

Race didn't answer, only bent down to hoist Romeo onto his back. "Nothin'," he said. "C'mon."

Carrying Romeo and supporting Crutchie, he led them back to the lodging house.

Race collapsed on the couch, exhausted. It was past midnight, and Romeo had just fallen asleep.

"How's the kid holdin' up?" Lou asked quietly.

Race lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "I finally got him ta sleep. He'll be up in an hour or two with a nightmare."

He cursed under his breath, pounding his fist against the wall. "How could Jack do this ta us?" he demanded. "He tells me not to steal, even though I'm just tryin' ya feed my brother, and then he goes and does the same thing! He spooks us all with horror stories 'bout the Refuge, scarin' Romeo 'bout outta his skin, then goes off and lands himself there! Don't he know what that does ta us? What it does ta me, and Romeo, and Crutchie?"

Lou's dark eyes glinted, and he grabbed Race by the collar. "You listen here," he said. "I'm on my way outta this life. I try ta stay outta stuff like this, but you ain't givin' me a choice. Everythin' Jack does, he does for you boys. Ya wanna know why Jack's a better leader than Butch? 'Cause he ain't just a leader. He's a brother ta every boy sleepin' upstairs right now. He landed himself in the Refuge tryin' ta feed you and your brother. Every time he's been ta that place, it's for one of you boys. And each time he's there, Snyder squeezes his fist tighter. One of these days, Jack's gonna be stuck there and he won't get out."

The older boy relaxed his grip on Race's collar some, but his words remained harsh. "You and me, Race, we ain't never been there. But Jack has, and so has Butch. They's the two stronger guys I know, and I's listened to both of 'em all broken up after a nightmare 'bout that place. So you don't get ta sit on your high horse and judge Jack for what he did. If he thinks you boys are worth the risk... it just proves ta me that Butch was right 'bout him bein' the best leader 'Hattan'll ever see."

Race fell silent, humbled by Lou's words. A muffled cry sounded from upstairs, followed by Romeo's small voice calling out.

"Race!"

"I... I gotta go," Race said, finding his voice. "G'night, Lou." He slipped upstairs, ready to comfort Romeo... and think about a few things.

"Fellas!" Crutchie yelled, throwing open the door to the lodging house. "Fellas, look! Jack's here!"

"Jack?" several voices echoed.

Sure enough, just after him came the fearless Manhattan leader. He walked with a swagger in his step, filled to the brim with confidence. Aside from a few bruises on his face, Jack looked none the worse for wear from three days in the Refuge.

"Wait'll ya hear the story Jack's got!" Crutchie declared. He was practically giddy with excitement, his gaze resting almost worshipfully on the older boy. "He got ta meet the governor!"

"Soon to be governor," Jack corrected, pulling up a chair and sitting in it backwards. "He ain't got the votes yet. He came ta the Refuge, showing he cared about orphans and garbage like that. I got my butt in the backseat of his fancy carriage, and here we are."

He grinned, pleased with the effect his words had on the boys. Romeo was the only one who looked worried.

"Are ya okay, Jack?" he asked softly, his dark eyes troubled. Jack's grin faltered for a moment, but he collected himself quickly and ruffled the younger boy's hair.

"Aw, it takes more than a few days in jail ta scare me," he said brashly. "I ain't scared of no one!"

Only Crutchie noticed the pain behind Jack's smile, the way he carefully kept his sleeves pulled down to his wrists and his collar buttoned up to his chin.

"Leave it to the kid ta break down Jack's walls," he whispered. As excited as he was about his brother's return, he would have his work cut out for him these next few weeks.

Race lay awake in his bunk, staring at the ceiling. Jack was back, so everything should be fine. Everything was resolved. So why did it it feel... off?

He heard the bed below his creak, indicating that Romeo had woken up.

"It's okay, Rome," he said. "I'm here."

Romeo shook his head vigorously. "No," he said. "I want Jack."

The words were like a blow to the stomach. "What?" Race said, sitting up. He smacked his head on the ceiling and cursed, causing someone a few beds over to shush him.

"Can it, Specs," he hissed. Moving in the dark, he climbed down to sit on Romeo's bed.

The younger boy had his knees drawn up to his chest, looking so small in a too-big nightshirt.

"What's wrong, pal?" Race asked. "Why do ya need Jack?"

"I need ta ask him somethin'," Romeo sniffed, dragging his sleeve under his nose.

"Whaddaya need ta ask him?" Race said patiently.

Romeo looked away, wrapping his arms around his knees. "He was in the Refuge," he said. "And look at 'im! He's fine! So why do I still have nightmares every night? Jack's been there three times now, and he ain't even scared!"

"Romeo, Jack is scared," Race said firmly. "He just..."

He paused, struggling to put what Lou had told him into words. "He loves us more than he's scared of Snyder," he said finally.

Romeo looked up, his dark eyes wide. "Even me?"

Race bumped his shoulder lightly. "Yeah, even you. And ya know what, Rome? I'd go ta the Refuge for you."

"It's easy for ya ta say that," Romeo said sleepily. "Ya ain't never been there."

Race eased the younger boy into bed, pulling the blanket up to cover him. "G'night, Rome."

"G'night, Race."

In spite of his bold words, Race couldn't help but remember what Lou had said. He hadn't ever been to the Refuge. He didn't know its horrors like the other boys did. If he experienced it firsthand, would he still be willing to go through it for Romeo?

As he tried to fall asleep, Race hoped fervently that he would never have to find out.

(A/N): Hey everybody! So sorry for the long wait. I was super busy with camp, and I actually wrote half the chapter last weekend, but it ended up being longer and deeper than expected. Thank you to everyone who's reviewed, favorited, and followed this story! I don't have time to address you all personally, but I see you and I love you for it.

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