I'm so, so, so, so sorry for taking so long, but I've been really busy and just couldn't decide how I wanted to write this. Thanks for continuing to review anyways. I was reading over some earlier and they brought tears to my eyes. Thanks y'all for all the kind words.

Also, as some of you noticed, I did change my username.

"You want me to do what?" Katherine exclaimed incredulously, staring at the hopeful faces around her.

"We need ya to talk to the governor to get the Refuge shutdown," Race said.

"Why me?" Katherine asked. This is your fight. I never asked for this, she almost said but managed to hold her tongue. She did bring herself into this even though the boys tried to get rid of her. She fought against them. She did ask for this.

"We think he might be more willin' to listen if someone with a good reputation brought it up. Otherwise he might just blow us off," Jack replied in the small voice he had been using ever since he had woken up.

Katherine raised an eyebrow and nodded. She didn't know why she was still surprised. The newsies had proved over and over again just how smart they could be. "Alright, but we'll need validation." Upon seeing the confused look on Jack and Race's faces, she quickly corrected herself. "Uh, proof, evidence. Something to show Governor Roosevelt that our accusations aren't lies."

The room stayed silent for a while, and, ever so slowly, Race and Katherine turned towards Jack. As soon as he caught their glance, he began shaking his head. "Uh uh, no way. I ain't never showing anyone my scars especially not the governor. Besides, we've all got scars. There's no way to prove it was Snyder."

"His name's literally written on ya," Race muttered.

"What?" Katherine asked, unsure she had heard right.

"Nothing," Jack quietly replied, glaring at Race and refusing to meet Katherine's gaze, so Katherine ignored it and moved on. She grasped Jack's hand and titled his chin up so he was forced to make eye contact.

"If you want to get the Refuge shutdown, this is the best way to do it. We have to show Governor Roosevelt something." Jack looked like he was about to argue again, but Katherine squeezed his hand. "I'll be with you the whole time," she whispered and Jack's eye lit up and the grim countenance turned back hopeful. Finally, Jack agreed, and the three began to plan. A rudimentary structure of an idea had been formed when David pushed through the door.

"Hey, Davey," Jack said, waving.

"Hey, Jack," David replied and clapped him on the back. "Are you feeling better?" Jack nodded and smiled. "Well, you are certainly looking much better."

"Whatcha talkin' about, Davey?" Jack asked, looking mock offended. "I'm always beautiful." Laughter erupted in the room as Jack sent a wink towards David, turning his face bright red. A smug smile slowly spread across Jack's face and it wasn't until several minutes later that the laughter finally died down.

"So, what's happening?" David finally asked.

"We'se shuttin' down the Refuge!" Race replied confidently and David's eyes widened.

"H-how?" David asked. "I thought we were staying away from Snyder especially since he's looking for Jack."

"We're not attacking Snyder," Katherine replied. "Well, not directly. We're going to Governor Roosevelt."

David's jaw dropped and any arguments from him died away.

It was well into the night before the four finally separated. Katherine hugged David and waved to Race as she headed toward the door.

"H-hey, Ace…"

Katherine paused with her hand on the door. She had never heard Jack so unsure. He always had this confident aura surrounding him whether it was faked or not.

"Yeah, Jack?" she asked, turning around.

"I, uh, before we go tomorrow, I wanted to…" he paused, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You wanted to…" Katherine prompted.

"My scars. I want you to be prepared tomorrow." Tears were already brimming in his eyes though he furiously brushed them away. Katherine's heart broke a little right there, staring at the broken boy in front of her. She sat down next to him, wrapping her arms around him.

"I helped Miss Medda right after they got you out. I saw them Jack. You don't have to show me."

"Katherine—"

"Jack, its okay," she interrupted. "I can handle it."

Katherine had no idea how wrong she was.

The next morning, Katherine and Medda helped Jack sneak into Medda's carriage. He curled up in the a ball on the seat with his bad leg propped up on Katherine. They rode across town and every bump in the road made Jack groan in pain, but otherwise they made it to the governor's office without trouble. Miss Medda cleared the sidewalk before Katherine pulled Jack out and handed him a prop crutch that Medda had once used in her show. It was a slow going process because this was the first time that Jack had supported himself since his leg was broken, but he stubbornly refused help, no matter how many times Katherine and Medda offered.

Katherine noticed a police officer who held her gaze slightly too long. Once he realized she was staring, he quickly glanced down, writing something in his notebook. He fidgeted under her gaze until her line of sight was obscured by the heavy wooden door.

"Umm, hello," Katherine asked, looking around the empty lobby. "Hello?" Once again, no response graced her ears. "I don't think anyone is here," she told Jack with an apologetic look in her eyes.

"Unacceptable," Medda responded in her loud, full voice as she marched towards the stairs behind the front desk. "Let's go kids. We are gettin' the meetin' whether Mr. Governor likes it or not." Jack laughed as Medda grabbed his hand and lifted him off his feet. The two hiked up the steep staircase with Katherine hurrying to catch up. A long empty hallway filled with doorways greeted them. It didn't deter Miss Medda though and she marched up to each and every door, knocking on them with all her strength. Most rooms were empty and the doors remained latched, but a few opened and confused people were left in Miss Medda's dust. Finally, she reached a large wooden door at the end of the hallway. She set Jack down and then banged on the door, her knocking echoing down the hall.

"Ma'am, you can't go in there," one man said, but a glare from Miss Medda silenced him. The door finally slowly creaked open and the form of the governor stood in the doorway. The sun peeked through the large window on the other side of the room and illuminated him, making him appear as every bit the savior that Jack remembered from his escape from the Refuge.

"Karen, I told you I didn't…" he stopped, finally looking up. "You aren't Karen."

"No sir, I ain't Karen but you is exactly who I is lookin' for." With those words, she pushed past Roosevelt and into his office. Katherine cautiously followed her and they both watched as Roosevelt waved away his anxious employees. He entered the office as well and the door closed behind them.

"So what can I do for you all today?" Governor Roosevelt politely asked.

"Ya should focus more on what I can help you with," Miss Medda replied, cockily. Katherine knew that a warning to watch her words when talking to one of the most powerful people in New York would be wasted. After all, Jack picked up his defiance somewhere.

"And what can you do for me, Miss…"

"Medda," she supplied, "and with the information I got, a dangerous criminal can be removed from the streets."

"And who might that be?"

"A man named Snyder, a warden at the Refuge."

"That's quite an accusation, especially since everything I've seen, heard, and read says that that boy behind you is the criminal."

Miss Medda raised an eyebrow and glanced back at Jack with a look that said 'seriously'. Katherine was so grateful that Jack missed the sympathetic look thrown his way.

"Well, I really hope you didn't come here without some type of proof."

Medda scoffed. "Jack Kelly has been sentenced to the Refuge a total of six times and has never seen in the inside of a courtroom or been offered a fair trial. The first time he was arrested it was because of 'loitering and vagrancy'. Jackie was five years old and had just lost his family. After that, he was arrested multiple times for traffickin' stolen goods. He was tryin' to help the kids he looks after and the kids who had to suffer like him in the Refuge. Now, I'se seen him after many of his releases from the Refuge. Each time, he suffered from injuries that would make a grown man cry. Now does it sound like he suffered at the hands of a law-abidin' citizen?"

Katherine noticed that Jack shifted in his seat as Medda continued with her speech and she reached out and grabbed his hand. He flinched as her hand brushed across his own but quickly grabbed it like a life preserver, shooting her a grateful smile. The governor's jaw had dropped by the time Medda finished with her story but he, unfortunately, recovered quickly.

"I'm sorry, but I still have no reason to believe you," he started. "Snyder has been trusted to hold this role and there is no reason to think that he is not fit for the position especially since the only person accusing him is the person who has been in his sights for a long time. I'm sorry but, unless there is something you can show me, I'll have someone escort you out and him back to the Refuge."

"Governor Roosevelt," Katherine interjected, "my name is Katherine Pulitzer."

"Mr. Pulitzer's daughter, I assume."

"Yes, sir. And I'm sure you know about the current strike against my father." Roosevelt nodded and Katherine continued. "I saw with my own eyes what Snyder did to Mr. Kelly, and he deserves far worse than jail. You know that I would not be here unless I had complete certainty that Jack did indeed suffer at the hands of Warden Snyder."

The governor sighed. "Yes, ma'am, I do know that, and I'm inclined to believe you. However, Snyder has been looked into before and nothing out of the ordinary was found. I can't just decide to ignore the laws just because I'm the governor. In order to launch another investigation, I must have some evidence to back up your claims. "

Katherine sat back, shaking her head, disgusted but Miss Medda kept going. "Jack," was all she said, but the boy in question understood her. Katherine rubbed his hand comfortingly and then released him from her grasp. He stood up and his fingers moved up to the buttons on his shirt. Slowly each button was unfastened until his bright blue shirt hung loosely from his skinny frame. He turned his back to the governor as the shirt was fully removed. Katherine focused intently focused on Roosevelt, grotesquely interested to see his reaction.

"The still red cuts is where he whipped me," Jack said. "The other scars is from my earlier sentences." Then he turned around slowly and, if the governor looked shocked earlier, he was absolutely horrified now. "Is this enough proof for ya?" Jack asked. The lack of emotion in his voice scared Katherine.

The governor nodded. "I believe you," he said. "I'll settle things with Snyder." Katherine didn't bother to contain the smile that appeared on her face.

The three left the office together, Katherine and Medda on either side of Jack and they were soon back outside.

"All in all," Medda said, "I think that was a successful trip."

Jack laughed and nodded. "I completely agree." They climbed back into the carriage and it wasn't long before they had reached the theater.

"Jack, I want to re-bandage your chest," Medda said as he hobbled into the back room.

"Miss Medda," Katherine said, "I can do it if you want."

"That would be great… if Jack is okay with it." Miss Medda looked at Jack and he nodded. A sense of pride swelled in her chest. Jack trusted her. Medda left the room and for the second time that day, Jack removed his shirt.

She should've been more prepared, but Katherine couldn't stifle the shocked gasp that escaped her lips. Thick, gnarly scars ran across his ribs and disappeared onto his back. Those she could handle, but they were nothing compared to the half-healed name carved into his torso. The bright red letters, some of which still required stitches to hold them together, stood out in stark contrast to his pale skin.

"This is what you showed the governor. This is why he changed his mind so quickly."

Jack looked at the ground, ashamed.

"Jack, no. I'm so sorry. There is no reason to be upset. I- I just wasn't thinking."

"It's okay," Jack whispered. "I know. I know I'se broken."

"No you're not. You are amazing and kind and so strong and powerful and I'm so privileged to have met you. I love you Jack, so much." She stopped when she realized what she had said but then continued. "You have changed my life for the better, Jack Kelly, and it doesn't matter if you don't return my feelings. I will never be ashamed to say I love you."

Silence filled the room. Well, there goes our friendship, Katherine bitterly thought.

"Fer sure?" Jack asked, breaking the silence.

"For sure," Katherine replied with a smile on her face.

"I love ya, too," he whispered in her ear and kissed her cheek. Then subsequently drifted off to sleep. Katherine realized that his chest still remained unbandaged, but she didn't care. Despite everything that had happened, Katherine felt happier than she had in a long time.

When Medda walked in the next morning, the two were side-by-side, snuggling in their sleep.

Hopefully the next chapter won't take as long. I had a hard time writing this, so let me know what you thought.