So... it's been a while- but my current school schedule (3-hour break between classes) has given me a lot of time to write. I know I promised the boys in this chapter... well, I lied. But I KNOW they appear next chapter. Enjoy. =)

June 22, 1900

"Leaving?"

Jack nodded as he used his fork to push around the little bit of egg that was left on his plate. It had been a good meal; he wouldn't forget it.

"Where are you going?"

He inhaled deeply.

"Sante Fe," he said.

Sarah clapped her hand over her mouth, hiding her mad grin.

"I can't believe it! Jack- you're finally getting your dream! Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

This wasn't the reaction he was looking for. He then remembered that Sarah couldn't read his mind and probably misunderstood what he meant by 'leaving'. Before he had the chance to explain anything further, Sarah chimed in with another question.

"How many days are you going to be there?"

Jack cleared his throat and took a sip of water before answering. He stared at Sarah's face; her eyes were practically dancing. They were so excited- they expected so much from him, but this time, he could not give it. His heart broke a little- something it had been doing more often than not during the last few weeks.

"I leave in two days. As for when I come back…" He paused to remind himself that now was not the time to get emotional.

"I'm not sure."

Her expression changed immediately.

"You're not sure?" she said as she tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," he said, staring at his plate, "that I'm going to Santa Fe, and I ain't too sure how long I'm gonna be gone. It could be a few months, or it could be a few years."

He couldn't see her face- he was glad he couldn't see her face. Her voice was icy.

"I can't believe you're telling me this now. Just two days before you leave for who knows how long."

Jack gathered his courage and looked up. Sarah was now standing. Her arms were at her sides, and her fists were clenched. She wasn't looking at him.

"I'se been wanting to tell you for a while now, but I haven't exactly had the opportunity to…"

He regretted saying it before the words had even finished coming out of his mouth.

"Get out."

"Sarah, I didn't-"

"You want to leave? Fine. Go," she said, pointing to the door. "Go to Santa Fe; I won't hold you back."

He caught her eyes as he stood up, heading for the door. They were filled with water, yet were eerily calm.

"You're free to do what you want, Jack Kelly."

He wanted to argue. He wanted to stay and explain himself- but he really had nothing to explain. It was time for him to leave; he couldn't put into words why, it just was. Her words had stung, but he knew there was no use in speaking. If Sarah was going to think that way, she was going to think that way. If the past few weeks had taught Jack Kelly anything, it was that he didn't have the power to make things happen- or not happen.

"Goodbye, Sarah," he said, walking out the door.

"If you leave, you'd better not come back," she said, almost at a whisper.

He wasn't positive if he'd heard it, so he chose to believe it was never said.

Present Day

Jack used the nearest towel to pat his face dry.

Yes, he could definitely see why Sarah would be angry. He hadn't exactly gone about it in the most truthful of ways. And it wasn't the most opportune moment to refer to their issues. He tried to figure out what had convinced him that going to see Sarah first and out-of-the-blue would be a good idea. As he exited the washroom, he noticed Sarah sitting at the table, intensely focused on two needles and a pile of yarn. He also noticed the small bed in which Les usually slept. It was empty.

"Sarah, where's Les?" This question prompted another. "And where's David?" That fear of the unknown began to creep in again. He didn't like it. Not one bit.

Sarah looked up from her knitting and saw Jack eyeing Les's bed.

"Les hasn't slept there since Capelli arrived in Manhattan. He sleeps in my parents' room now," she said, monotonously. After taking a quick peak at the clock, she resumed her knitting but continued speaking.

"David left to finish up something at work about an hour ago. He should be done soon, but he goes to the lodging house every night, so I assume that's where he'll be."

"Work?" Jack said, almost not wanting to hear the answer. "You mean he ain't a newsie no more?"

"That's right. His teacher offered him a job about six months ago. He's really enjoying it so far."

Jack tried to take it in. So David was no longer a newsie. He had a different job now, and apparently, was back in school. He couldn't accept it. It was too much to come to terms with in that moment- his mind moved on to the next inquiry so it could forget the answer to the first.

"Who the hell is Capelli?"

"He's the-" She stopped and exhaled loudly. "What am I saying? You wouldn't know anything about all of this, would you?"

Jack looked around the room and scratched the back of his head before he decided not to answer. The tension was again rising in the room, but it was no longer between Sarah and him. It was between Sarah and… something else. He didn't know what. Not yet, anyway.

Jack was used to feeling confused; he was nowhere near being the smartest guy east of the Mississippi. He often found himself asking question for clarification, but this was different. He hadn't the slightest clue as to what Sarah was referring when she mentioned some guy arriving in Manhattan. However, the sudden change in her demeanor when she did mention it made him feel like this was something he, as leader of the Manhattan newsies, should know about.

He sat down at the table, in the chair directly across from her. He dropped his two small bags on the floor and said, "Sarah, what do ya mean 'all of dis'? What's going on?"

He braced himself. Whatever it was- it wasn't trivial, and it wasn't good. Les wouldn't have resorted to sleeping in Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs's room just because some guy named Capelli moved into town. There was more, much more.

Sarah looked him in the eyes. "I'd forgotten how long you've been away."

Jack was sure it sounded more bitter than she intended, at least, he hoped it did.

"Everything happened so fast after you left," she began, knitting once again. "We were waiting for you to come back- all of us. David, my parents, the newsies. The boys would say 'We'll figure out what to do when Jack gets back.' David and Les were the most optimistic; I didn't have the heart to tell them that you ab-"

Her voice broke, and she took a moment to clear her throat. "You should have seen Les when it finally sunk in; he cried more in that hour than the day we won the strike." She quickly wiped a few tears from her eyes, which she kept hidden by keeping her attention on the needles.

"I don't even know where to start." She placed her knitting materials on the table and looked up at Jack with a serious expression.

"Jack, the newsies are in trouble. Their jobs, their lives are being threatened; one's already been killed."

"Killed?"

It wasn't the question he'd most wanted to ask, but Sarah must've still known him well enough to spot this.

"It was Roller from Queens."

Jack felt a strong twinge of guilt for the relief that rushed through him. He wasn't happy about this news, though; he'd known Roller for a number of years. He was a good guy. He was the leader of the Queens newsies- and a good one at that. To think that he was no longer on this earth… Jack couldn't believe it.

"So it ain't just Manhattan that's in trouble?"

"No. It's all newsies in the city. Capelli's been…. Jack, I shouldn't be the one telling you all of this. I don't even know enough to explain it fully."

Jack stood up and grabbed his belongings from the table. "It's ok. I'm gonna head to the lodgin' house then. The boys'll be able to fill me in, right?"

Sarah nodded and said nothing else. Jack took this as his cue to open the door.

"Wait, Jack."

"What is it?"

"Don't go through the front door of the lodging house."

"Why?"

"The newsies can explain why- just don't do it. You can enter through the bunkroom window, but make certain no one sees you go in. Understood?"

Jack could tell from the firmness of her voice that she gave him this information for his own protection. He probably should have felt scared, but the only thing he could feel was the sinking feeling in his stomach begin to lift.

"Alright, alright, there ain't no need to get your skirts all ruffled," he said with a could-not-help-himself grin.

He could have sworn he saw Sarah flash a smile, which quickly faded into a throat-clearing.

"Goodbye, Jack."

"See ya around, Ms. Jacobs."