(AN:

Time is a waste of life: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you liked it…I'll try to keep up the balance. :o) Let me know if I let it slip!

Katrina Van Huntington: Jack's back! Let me know whatcha think of the latest installment!

Arlene2: Oooh…"future tension". :o) I hope I live up to your expectations! Thanks for the review!

Jasmine Sparrow: Would there be any chance thee be a relationto Cap'n. Jack Sparrow? (Sorry for sounding dumb if you're not :o)

I realize I messed up the time frame here…Jack's 3 hours late for the game…and still fighting? Just pretend this is a flashback. :o)

Chappie: 3

Jack slid to a halt at the mouth of the shadowy alley.

"Hey!" He called.

There were three of them, each as tall as him, in their late teens. Two were obviously twins, each with hair so blond it was almost white, and pale, blue eyes that stared through you like cold, emotionless pools of color. And then there was Toby: Lynch, to any who feared or respected him, which were few, and none. To Jack and any other respectable newsie, he was simply Toby. He sported stringy, dark hair, and snapping, angry brown eyes. Jack's gaze darted to the ground between their legs as they turned to face him, surprise written on each face. A boy, no more than ten, lay crumpled on the filthy ground, hugging his middle with one arm, the other thrown across his face for protection.

"Y'know it's real brave…real brave whatchyou fellas is doin' heah."

Jack stood calm and relaxed, his voice gently taunting. Toby sauntered toward him, an ugly sneer on his thin lips.

"And whatchyouse gonna do about it Kelly? What, cha t'ink your gonna stop us?"

Jack shrugged and waited for him tighten the gap with one more step.

"Yeah…maybe."

Toby threw a hefty punch at Jack's open face, stumbling forward as Jack dodged and the strength of the swing pulled him off balance. Jack grabbed him roughly by his collar, pulling him close to his own face, and staring fiercely into his shocked brown eyes. As Toby struggled furiously, he could feel his two companions hesitate behind him.

"Nigel! Theo! What're ya standin' 'round for? Do somethin'!"

Jack shoved Toby forward, catching him at the last moment by the back of his collar. In the split second it took Toby to recognize the fear that tightened his throat, his face was slammed into the wall, and his fears quickly forgotten as the darkness closed in around him. Jack lunged at the other two, throwing a heavy punch at the closest twin and catching the bony knuckles of the other across his cheekbone. Turning quickly, he ducked, barely avoiding the pale fist that shot past his ear, and delivered a strong kick to Theo's (or was it Nigel's?) stomach. As one crumpled to the ground, gasping for air that refused to fill his empty lungs, his brother stood, staring in fury. The small, crying boy scrambled quickly out of the way, tucking himself between two broken crates as Jack slowly circled the silent twin, his fists raised and his eyes glowing.

The blond walked slowly around him, never taking his eyes from Jack's angry expression. Shifting slightly, Jack matched the thug's motions with his own 'till he stood facing his opponent, the open alley behind and to his left. He paused at the malicious gleam that shone from his rival's eyes.

With a start, Jack realized his back was open, unprotected, and spun just as the pale, seemingly skeletal fist of the other twin filled his vision and sent pain shooting through his face, tearing all rational thought from his mind.

He spun, pressing his left shoulder to the clammy brick wall. Nigel's fist connected with his stomach, and, partly by instinct, but mostly in pain, he dropped to his knees as Theo's fist slammed into the wall where his head had rested. Ignoring the strangled cry of pain that escaped his adversary's lips Jack grabbed his dirty shirtfront and swung him into his brother. Wasting no time, he proceeded to pummel each in his turn; 'til the sounds of deep, steady breathing assured him that the fight was over.

Jack stood over the insensible thugs, his dark eyes slowly taking in what remained of the fight. The boy sat shivering in the corner, his arms wrapped around his legs, his knees tucked under his quivering chin.

"Hey…you okay? Come on ovah heah."

Wincing from his numerous bruises and scrapes, the boy stood and stepped around the broken crates, knocking slats of wood onto the muddy ground. Jack bent down to eye level with the boy and put his strong hand on the little shoulder.

"You got a place ta stay tanight? Look, I know dis great guy, Kloppman, he'll getcha some food, clothes, whatevah you need. Foist night's free."

The boy ignored Jack's words, his eyes hopeful.

"…He called you Kelly… Jack Kelly?" He whispered.

Jack adjusted the bandana around his neck and seemed to give the question serious thought.

"Dat depends on who's askin'." Jack grinned. "You can call me Cowboy." He spit on his palm and thrust it toward the boy.

"So whaddahdey call you?"

"Tommy…only listen, I gotta tell you somethin'!" Tommy's eyes shone with a mix of fear and excitement, trembling as he rushed to explain.

"There's dese new guys, see? An' they've got dis plan, an it's big! Real big! An' I hoid it's gonna be tough on all da newsies, 'Hattan, Queens, even Brooklyn, you name it! An' dey's got a meetin', settin' everything up an all, and ya gotta do somethin' 'bout it! Spot Conlon's sendin' woid out ta all da newsies, and he sent me ta find ya, so ya gotta liste…!"

"Hey, hey hold on, wait a minute. Spot Conlon sentchyou? Alone?"

Tommy's gaze faltered.

"Well…uh, not exactly…see, I was supposed to pass da message to me bruddah, Shadow…"

Jack's brow lifted in surprise.

"You'se Shadow's kid bruddah?"

"Yeah…an he was supposed ta tell ya 'bout da new gang…only…only I nevah gave him the message. I…I've nevah been anywhere outside ah Brooklyn, nevah done anything important…an I wanted to meet you…Jack Kelly." Tommy practically whispered the name in awe and admiration.

"Ah, yes…Jack Kelly…"

A deep, crisp voice filled the air around them. Turning in surprise, Jack and Tommy stared at the dark figures outlined in the entrance of the alley's mouth. One was unremarkable; just another dark haired lout much like Toby, only shorter and, if possible, uglier. Another was squat and broad shouldered with meaty hands and a nose so crooked, it was obvious he was a veteran fighter, despite his young age. Ignoring them as they attempted to rouse their comatose companions, Jack stared at the third man…a dark, irrepressible feeling of familiarity stirring the depths of his memory. That deep voice, lightly tinged with a British inflection, spoke lightly.

"Was this absolutely necess'ry?" He spread his hands in a wide scope, encasing his dank surroundings with a mocking gesture.

"You've nearly killed Toby and Nigel, and I doubt Theo's hand will ever heal properly. I can see you're not going to make this easy…"

Jack's eyes narrowed as he tucked Tommy behind his back. With another airy sigh, the tall, mysterious man motioned toward his goons as he turned his back on them all.

"I don't care what you do to the boy…" He called over his shoulder, not noticing Jack's smoldering stare. "…but I want Kelly well alive!" He ordered as he disappeared into the night and his henchmen closed in round Jack and Tommy.

Jack lifted his fists as his two new opponents approached him from either side. The gangster with the dark hair swung first. Jack ducked, dodging the quick right hook, and threw his tight fist into the unprotected stomach. Even in the dimly lit alley, Jack could see the boys face pale and eyes widen as the air was pushed from his lungs.

The man with the crooked nose silently raised a slat of wood and swung it at the side of Jack's face. There was a sharp crack! as Jack's world exploded in white pain and blinding colors that flashed before his eyes. With a yell he threw himself toward the thug, following him to the ground. Nearly frantic, Jack grasped the man's shirtfront and threw a punch where he imagined the ugly face to be. His knuckles barely grazed the man's cheek before slamming into the stony ground, and it was in that moment of searing pain that Jack knew.

He could not see.

Somewhere behind him Jack heard Tommy's muffled shrieks. He jerked his head toward the sound, his brown eyes wide and void, and his smooth features pale with fear. The strong blow to his jaw sent him reeling. In a daze, he felt himself being lifted by his vest by one immense fist. Somewhere in the back of his wandering mind Jack realized that Tommy was no longer crying. There was one, final blow…he heard a gasp of pain, never realizing it was his own, as his head snapped back and his mind was plunged into an overpowering darkness.

Mwahahahah!!!! Lol

R&R!!! Let me know what you thought. :o)

-Italian-Goil