The wait was eternal. We ended up heading to a small Italian joint near the docks. It was hardly lit and pretty run down, but it was one of the few places in Brooklyn that didn't object to our presence.

Most of us ordered the cheapest food on the menu; noodles with a meat sauce, most likely rat.

Since I had very little intention of eating much and because I wanted to bring something back to Doug, I choose instead to get some sort of sandwich. I sat in my seat watching the others talk as I drank my third cup of coffee. Train and Topper chatted away with the leaders of the other boroughs and I piped in when necessary, if for nothing else than to appear to care.

I, however, preferred to observe. I sat next to Kelly who was deferring to Train on most topics. Considering his age and the low standing of his bunch, it was a wise move. If it wasn't for his cocky attitude towards me and that grin making me want to punch him, I could almost like the guy.

If the meal had lasted much longer I would most likely come to blows with Racetrack. He blathered on half the time about the greatness of Italy, their food and their women. As if he had ever spoken to or been with one.

When most of the boys had finished eating they began to get restless and Train stood up to catch everyone's attention. When the tables of boys quieted down his face went serious, and he finally told them his reason for asking them all there. He pretty much said the same things he had said to the group of Brooklyn Newsies the night before. I felt all eyes shift to me when he announced me as his successor. I felt them sizing me up and did my best to seem indifferent to their gazes.

I continued to appear enraptured by Train's speech as I sipped from my cup a bit more and slowly puffed on my last cigarette. A few older boys from Bronx and Queens admitted they had thoughts of enlisting as well. Which was good news to me; if all the older boys left everywhere, the playing field would stay even, and very little power struggle would occur.

Once he was through speaking he told them that to celebrate the night they were all welcome to come back to the docks for a bit of games and drinks. This brought about a lot of chatter among the boys and most got up quickly to head out. I began stuffing the sandwich into my news bag when Train called me over to where he stood with Topper and Jumper. He told us to find some booze and then meet back home. He and Kelly were going to nab some as well.

We hurried through the streets searching for an easy bar to target. When Topper spotted one that might work the two of us slipped inside the crowd of drunken men, while leaving Jumper waiting on the corner outside. When we made it to the back, Topper reached around the end of the bar and grabbed a bottle of booze, which he quickly hid under his vest. I looked around and saw the door to the back room slightly open. I peeked inside and saw no one, so I quickly slipped a bottle inside my newspaper bag. As I turned to leave I saw boxes of cigs and cigars on a shelf and quickly tossed in a box of each. We were heading to the front door when I saw a cop eyeing us. Topper turned slowly towards a table and the officer began stepping towards me. I continued to walk to the door, knowing he would follow me out. So I abruptly turned and bumped into him. The man looked startled as I apologize and stuck my head back in the pub.

I slipped into my native accent and yelled "Da? Da, ya hear me?" I saw a number of men through out the place turn to look at me. Once I had their attention I continued my performance. "We gotta get home Da, Mum needs us to bring home the milk for baby Margaret." Most of the men just waved me off or ignored me, so I turned and stormed out of the place, bumping the cop once again. "I beg your pardon sir." And tipped my hat and sat on the curb outside the place.

After eyeing me for a moment more he began walking away.

Once it was clear I waved at Topper through the window, and we began quickly making our way towards Jumper and home .I walked faster than was probably necessary to get back. Topper and Jumper didn't bother to keep up; they were content to stroll slowly through the streets.

It was crowded all around the building; most of our boys were seated around the docks playing cards or swimming. When I entered the room I could see that Train and Kelly had beat us back. The older boys were already passing the 3 bottles they had nabbed around and I added the bottle of whiskey I had taken to the table. Once I had most of them looking my way I slowly drew out the box of cigars from my bag. Several guys moved in closer to take a look at the goods. I saw Racetrack drooling a bit as Train opened the box.

"Cubans? Where ya dig these up?" I could see the cocky look on Race's face fade, fighting to hide his smile at the sight.

Train took a few and passed them out to the leaders. Kelly took the offered cigar and handed it to Racetrack, "You owe me Race." The loudmouth nodded and began sniffing his treasure. "Anyone got a match?"

Train looked over at me, and with a sigh I went into the bathroom to get some candles and a match. With the sun setting it was time to light the oil lamps anyways. I knew I'd offer up some of the cigarettes, but dumped a handful into my pocket first, and threw my bag back up onto a hook. I lit candles and placed them in tin shaving cups before heading back into the main room. Two of the younger boys took a candle each and began going around the room lighting lamps. As it brightened, I carried my single candle back to where everyone was gathered with the cigars. I threw the box of cigs down on the table to another round of excited mutterings, and everyone dove in to light what they could get.

I was tired of this crowd. I had had enough of all these leeches, and the only thing I cared about was upstairs in Topper's room. I looked around at everyone playing poker and rummy, and my eyes rested on a half full bottle of rum. I knew there was enough left to get me numb for a couple of nights. I took a swig of it and talked myself into going upstairs. At the last minute I remembered the sandwich in my bag and ran back to grab it.

When I reached the room I found Blink propped up in the bed, with Mush sitting there trying to entertain him with a story. The latter gave me an odd look. "You bring food?"

I sighed and walked towards him while ripping off a section of the sandwich. "There's whiskey and cigars downstairs."

He jumped up at that point and ran to the door. With a large portion of the food stuffed in his mouth he yelled back, "You mind if I go for a bit, Kid?"

I watched as Blink waved him off with a smile on his face. Closing the door part way behind me, I took another swig from the bottle I had carried up with me before setting it on the floor by the bed. "I got ya a sandwich. It's not much."

He lifted his hand and I grasped it, placing the sandwich in his hold. He propped himself up further on his side and slowly ate a few bites.

"This is really good."

"Best not tell Racetrack that, he'll never shut up. Especially once he starts comparin' the buns to big breasted Italian women." He laughed, but I soon watched his smile fade. He stopped eating a moment later and looked ill. He started sinking forward onto his hands while still holding the sandwich. I grabbed him by the shoulders and helped him lay back onto the bed.

"I guess my head still ain't ready to sit up." He joked as he slowly pulled off pieces of bread and popped them into his mouth.

I picked up the bottle from the floor and had a third drink. I decided then to tell him about Train and Topper leaving, and me taking over. He didn't seem surprised much, and asked me a few things about it. After my fourth chug, he looked towards me funny.

"My eye is doing a bit better, I can see that bottle."

I hoped he wasn't seeing well enough, as my cheeks reddened. "Just a bit that we picked up to celebrate." He nodded and winced. "You wanna sip? Might make your head stop hurting." I hated seeing him in pain. "Even Jesus drank wine, ya know."

He looked at me hard for a minute, and then slowly started propping himself up, "I guess it can't hurt."

When he began to sway I swung my arm around his shoulders and pulled him up towards myself. His hands seemed shaky as I handed him the bottle, so I helped him guide it to his mouth. He made an awful face as he swallowed and set it back down on the bed. I continued to hold him against me, and he didn't seem to mind. He laughed and then put the bottle back to his lips and took about 3 chugs more.

"Woah, careful there, you might not have a stomach for this stuff."

I took it from his hands, downed another few gulps and set it on the floor. I felt him begin to shift around so I helped him lower himself back down to the bed. He was quiet for a very long time, I assumed he had drifted of, so I got up to light the lamp with the candle I had carried up. The sun had set and the moon was just starting to shine into the bedroom window as I stared out, watching the boys below jumping into the bright water.

I heard a laugh come from behind me and when I turned back to Doug, he was looking my way. Despite the swollen eye and the patch, he still looked like a god to me.

"You know Kyndall, all the time we were apart, it gave me time to think. You know I missed you more than my family? More than my real brother. It was like you were the brother I was supposed to have. Like we weren't supposed to be apart."

I wasn't sure if it was really him talking or if the alcohol had already taken hold in his head. He reached down and picked the bottle up from the floor and drank from it again. I walked over to him and took it when offered. I tilted it back and finished the last few swigs myself, wondering how we had finished half the bottle already. My heart was racing and I was starting to feel real warm from head to toe.

I sat next to him on the bed and reached over to hold his hand. He placed his other hand over mine and began to trace his finger around the back of my knuckles and down around my wrist. I could feel myself becoming aroused at the sensation of his skin on mine. I bit my lip as I sat there waiting, afraid to move. I felt pins and needles all over my skin; I couldn't speak and forced myself to breath slowly. I was afraid he might stop if I said a word. It seemed like an eternity before he broke the silence.

"I almost miss the Refuge, and the nights we had to huddle together for warmth." He said sounding almost sleepy.

I took a deep breath and replied in a whisper, "Me too." I said turning towards him.

I felt him release my hand and I immediately felt a cold emptiness inside. He moved towards the wall, and suddenly his hand was clutching the sleeve of my shirt, pulling me to lie down beside him. I felt my heart beat faster as I froze, his leg had brushed up against my already tightened pants as he moved to make room for me. He didn't seem to notice and I gritted my teeth to fight back the sound trying to escape. I pulled my hips back, almost hanging off the bed in an effort to avoid further contact.

As I laid my head down on the pillow he smiled and looked up at me. "Much easier to see you now."

I crossed my arms over my chest and stared back at him. I fought hard to resist my urge to touch him, but then his left hand reached up to my cheek and began tracing my ear. I felt like I was melting. His hand moved to the back of my neck and his fingers ran through the ends of my hair; the moan that I had been fighting to hold back escaped from my lips.

His smile grew and I couldn't help but smile back. We stared at each other in silence. Before I knew what was happening his mouth was pressed up against mine. It took me a shocked second to react and for my own lips to match the flowing movement of his. I was in heaven. I moved my arm around him and pulled him closer. For a long moment I felt his body pressed up against my own; his stomach coming in contact with my ache. He froze suddenly, then slowly drew away from me.

"I really did miss you Kyndall."

I could only nod back at him and say, "I missed you too."

With that, he smiled and caressed my cheek again before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep. I cursed my body and myself, but at least he hadn't asked me to leave. I lay awake for a long time after, fighting off the daydreams in my mind. I could hear the ruckus coming from down stairs. Shouting here, a crash there. The light faded as the oil in the lamp went out.

I must have drifted off at some point because I was woken up by the sounds of Topper entering the room. I lifted my head to look at him and he nodded with a smile on his face. He removed the key from around his neck and locked the door from outside. Soon after I heard him slide it under the door. I smiled to myself, and knew that despite its small size and leaking roof, I'd stay in this room when the others left. It had its perks.

I fell asleep happy that night, My Doug in my arms.