I watched in silence as Train and Cowboy tried to wake Blink. He let out a few groans as they attempted to clean him up. My heart was breaking, and I had to resist the urge to go to him as Train adjusted Blink's hat to cover his swollen eye. When he wouldn't fully come to, he called Topper over to help get him on his feet.

"Help Kelly get him back to the docks, try to avoid the crowds."

Jumper didn't move from my side as the others hefted Blink up from the ground. As they started to leave Cowboy looked at me with eyes of ice. I didn't move from my seat against the building. Train took the cig that Jumper offered him and began to pace the width of the alley. I could tell I was one wrong word away from getting my ears boxed, so I kept my mouth shut and put my head down on my knees. I felt Jumper put his hand on my back. I held my breath for a moment so I would not jerk away from the touch. It wasn't until I turned my head to watch my friend's calm face that my anxiety calmed back down.

He glanced up at Train who had stopped pacing. When I finally looked up at him I saw he no longer appeared angry, just tired.

"I don't know what happened back there. I don't need ta know. But I am just days away from leavin' this place forever, and you are the only boy I trust to take over. How is I supposed to just walk away when ya go and slug our closest allies?"

I felt horrible now; not just for what happened, but for causing problems for Train. What kind of leader was I going to be if I couldn't keep myself together?

He turned away from me quickly and kicked a can that lay nearby. "Damn it. I try showin' Queens and Bronx that we got numbers with Manhattan and Flushing backin' us, so they will think twice about startin' somethin'. And now we gonna lose the Borough?"

I stood up and walked closer to him. "I know I lost it today, Train. I promise it will never happen again. I would never let ya down like that. Brooklyn will be so strong that the others will fear us. Bronx and Queens be damned, they won't even breathe without our ok."

He looked at me skeptically for a few moments.

"I'll work things out with Blink, and I promise I can handle Kelly."

He finally relaxed his face and reached up to mess up my cap as he started shoving me to the end of the alley. Jumper got up and followed us.

We walked rather slowly, none of us wanting to hurry and deal with what was waiting for us. We had to skirt the edges of the boxing matches as we made our way back. I could feel my heart racing. When we were almost through, a drunk rammed into us and I felt the urge to run. If it wasn't for Train stepping in front of me quickly, I'm not sure what could have happened.

When we got back to the docks I saw crowds of boys standing around. Most of Brooklyn was stripped down and swimming in the river, the other boroughs stood in clumps eyeing each other. The only one I didn't see was Manhattan; I assumed they were inside. We met Topper at the bottom of the stairs waiting. He looked frustrated, but relaxed once he had his arm around Jumper's shoulders.

"Racetrack and Mush are up there with them. We put him in my bed. He's startin' to come around, but his face looks pretty bad."

I took off my bag and handed it to Jumper, and started to climb the stairs. I heard the others behind me. When I got to the hallway I saw Race and Cowboy standing by the doorway. Race's face turned red and he stepped towards me.

"Wait til I get my hands on ya, I'll kill ya!"

Cowboy shot out his arm in front of the smaller boy and told him to wait.

"I wanna talk to Blink." I told him.

"Ya think I'm gonna let ya near any of my boys after what ya did back there?"

"I snapped, I lost my control for a minute. Ya gonna tell me none of ya has lost your temper and just swung?" I could feel my voice starting to shake. I needed to see him; I couldn't let these two stand between us.

"Go ahead beat the life out of me, break my arm if that's what ya need to do. If ya think I'm gonna hit him, leave me so bruised I can't lift a hand to hurt him." I could feel myself shaking; I wanted them to let me pass so I could see Doug, though part of me really did want them to fight. I deserved no less punishment than I had described for what I had done to the person I loved. I glanced back at Train, Topper and Jumper. "But either way you will let me through, and I will talk to him."

I could see concern in Topper's face and confusion in Jumper's, but Train nodded his agreement. I knew he understood and would back me up. Cowboy and I locked eyes for a moment longer before he turned his head back into the room.

"Conlon is here Kid; he wants to talk to you." I heard a mutter come from the room.

"Mush, Race, let's go. We'll be down stairs, Kid."

Mush looked at Cowboy in shock as he came to the door and Race glared at him, but they followed him out the door, filing past the others and me. Race took up the rear and as he approached the stairs I took a step forward; and saw him twist into a punch right to my gut. I doubled over and stumbled forward. I looked back as Topper took a step towards Race, but I

said "No." as I clenched my teeth from the pain.

Racetrack turned back to me and smiled, tipped his hat to Topper and followed the others down

the stairs, Train following behind. Topper sat down and took out his pencil and paper. Jumper sat next to him, laying his head on Topper's shoulder with a contented sigh and they began writing.

I turned away from the two and headed into our room. I saw Blink lying on the bed. He had what looked to be my spare shirt soaked with water and over his bruised eye. Someone had pulled the old couch I slept on next to the bed, a bucket full of water between them. I sat down on it and it creaked. Blink pulled the shirt away from his face and turned towards me.

"Kyndall?"

I could see the blood dried up around his nose. His eye was swollen shut and turning an awful shade of purple and black. I could see him try to open the eye, but it would hardly move.

"Yeah Doug, it's me."

We sat in silence for a few minutes before he asked, "Are you ok?"

I laughed lightly, a little surprised that he would ask me that while he lay in the bed bleeding and unable to see. "I am now." I watched his face as he just thought.

"Did he hurt you, too? I mean he tried to . . ." His voice trailed off. He turned his battered face towards me, his features falling into a frown.

I choked back the emotion threatening to overtake me. I stood up from the seat next to him and walked over to the small window in the room and looked out, quickly wiping away the small tear that formed in my eye. I took a deep breath and walked back over to the bed, sitting down next to him and grasped his hand.

"I'm the one who's supposed to ask if you're all right."

He smiled up at me and nodded; a quick wince as his head wound rubbed on the bed. "A bit sore, a bit tired. Startin' to see clearer." He squeezed my hand, and we sat in silence for awhile.I heard a knock at the door and jumped up, letting go of Blink's hand. Topper came into the room followed by Mush.

"Train wants you downstairs. He's wants ya to go get food with the big guys before the fun begins."

I looked back at Blink as Mush sat down on the couch near him. Blink lifted his head up to look my way and I told him, "I'll bring ya back some food."

He nodded and winced again, growling at his own forgetfulness as we headed out the door. When we got to the top of the stairs I heard Mush call out, "I'd like something to eat too!"