Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies, jist Rose for now!

A/N: So… haven't written in a while…. I'm so sorry!! Freshman year of high school is really a time taker and homework is blah! I have written a few more chapters in my journal so now you know that I'm set ta give you guys more chapters more quickly, but again, sorry!!

Chapter 3:

Race and Jack were surrounded by curious newsboys, asking questions about what had happened, and if they heard already, what did the home look like.

"Was da whole place in ruins?"

"Is it da same goil?"

"Hey…Hey!" Jack called out; the boys fell silent.

"Let us tru', awright?! We jist walked in for Christ's sake!"

The boys immediately backed off as the exhausted Jack and Race sat down on the couch in the lobby. Silence drowned the room for many minutes before one of the younger newsies, Rain, piped up.

"Can we go ta bed yet?"

Jack took his head out of his hands and looked at the overly tired newsie next to him. He smiled slightly as he ruffled the kid's hair.

"Shore, Rain, jist as soon as Kloppman gits down heah."

Well, 'e definitely shaped up since oi'ler, I'll give 'im dat much. Race thought as Jack directed all of the boys into the sitting area.

I mean, 'e couldn't even figure out dat not eatin' in weeks is 'orrible! Somethin' must've been eatin' at 'im, but I'll ask 'im 'bout it latah, when it's a little more private, I's don't wanna be makin' any scenes righ' now… Race finally got up off the couch in the lobby, Rain was curled up sleeping where Jack was earlier, and made to go in with the rest of the boys when he heard Kloppman making his way down the stairs.

Kloppman had cleaned, stitched up, and even took out some glass splinters, until he was sure she wouldn't wind up sick with any infections, or from anything else for that matter. Kloppman had taken the liberty of removing the ruined, thin fabricated dress and replacing it with some dry, old clothes that boys had left behind over the years. She could have passed for a mummy if her bandages weren't covered up by the large knickers and long sleeved shirt.

The only bandages visible were the ones wrapped around her bloodied knuckles and the one wrapped around her head. It only showed her chin, mouth, nose, and one eye. The other eye had glass wedged in between her eye in general and her eye brow, but Kloppman removed the splinter and stitched the skin back up. Also, her eye was horribly bloodshot and needed to be covered up anyways from infection.

Race called for Jack and Jack's head popped out of the door way. Spotting Kloppman, he ordered the newsies to stay downstairs as him and Race approached the elderly man. Motioning them to follow, Kloppman took them up the rickety stair case, into the bunk rooms, and over to the far, right hand corner window bed. Out the window, you could see the streets below and the beauty from the anonymous glow of the street lamps.

"How is she Klopps? Will she make it?" Jack asked, staring at the bed in front of him.

"Well, boys, she looks poity bad off, from da amount of blood loss, da trauma in 'er head…sigh and shakes his head in pity… but, if she makes it tru' da night, well, dat'll jist be a miracle."

"What about after dat? Will she be awright?" Race sat on the bunk across from Rose's.

Kloppman shrugged,

"Dat ain't my decision, dere. She's da one fightin', not me. Jist keep prayin', boys. Talk ta 'er even, maybe she can heir' chyou."

It was Race's turn to shrug,

"I doubt it…" Kloppman places a comforting hand on both boys' shoulders before heading out of the room.

"C'mon', boys, off ta bed wit chyou's; Carryin' da Bannah, broit in oi'ly!" Boys groaned loudly as they walked up the stairs and into the bunk room.

"How is she, Jack? Will she make it?" Mush asked, cautiously approaching the still, girl's bed-side.

"I don't know, Mush." Jack became silent again as Mush examined the girl's face, well, what ever he could see of it.

Her eye was swollen and red; small cuts and scratches were visible on her soft face. Her breathing was shallow and weak, and her body was frail from exhaustion. Even so, she had a determined look planted on her face, a look that sad she was fighting against something, and Mush had a pretty good idea of what that was.

She's so small, but she's da same age as me 'n da rest o' da boys. sigh She loiks like she's fightin' hard ta stay alive 'n I can't blame 'er. Fifteen is too young ta die, dere is so much dat she still needs ta see, ta experience, she could go far in life if she wanted ta… oh shoot, not again… Mush was always teased about because he was the most sensitive of the bunch, and he was the mushy-gushy type to top it off. Whenever he'd catch himself being a softy, he'd think of something else instead. Putting on a tough face, he patted her hand and walked off.

"T'ink of somethin' mushy, Mush?" Kid Blink smirked; he knew that "I'm tougher than I feel" act from Mush all too well.

"Can it, Blink." Mush grumbled; he was frustrated that Blink always knew when he felt weak or vulnerable. Kid came by him and patted his shoulder.

"I's ain't blamin' chyou dis time, Mush. We all are feelin' bad for 'er. Jist stay positive, she'll pull tru'." Mush turned to face him.

"But, how do we know, Kid?" Blinks hand fell ta his side.

"Loik at 'er 'n tell me differ'nt" They both stared at her in thought and silent prayer until they heard Jack calling the newsies together.

Jack stood up on a chair, looking over the boys' heads as they, one by one, assembled around him for a speech. Jack was the leader of the Manhattan Newsies, and the boys, both now and spiritually, looked up to him. The smaller newsies crawled their way up to the front, to get a better look at their leader as he talked ta the group. Jack was nervous getting up in front of everyone, especially on what he had to say, because he didn't want his friends to laugh at his ideas him or lose respect for him in any way on his decisions. Either way, though, he had to. He motioned the boys to silence by raising his hands up and the room fell silent.

"Awright, fellas, as you kno', dis is da v'ry same goil from da fiya, and dis may be 'er last night, so, we're gonna 'ave a night watch on 'er; see if she bites it 'n such." Groans ran through the crowd of boys.

"Oh c'mon, now!" The boys fell silent again, scowls on their faces at the thought of staying up for a girl they don't even know yet and then waking up and working early in the morning.

"Would chyou rathah wake up ta a dead goil, or stay up and make shore she's outa heah before da rest of us wake up?" The boys resentfully nodded in agreement.

"Loik, I'll go foist, den ev'ry hour or so, we'll switch off; last one on da job gets anuddah hours sleep, and someone gits 'is papes for 'im… any volunteers?" The boys all shrugged and shuffled their feet on the floor, not making eye contact with Jack either.

"I'll go next, Jack." Race piped up; ya lousy bums, he thought.

"Awright, I'll go too." Mush countered; Well, if Race could 'elp, I's gis I'scould too

Boys started to call their names out for service then; they all just wanted people to volunteer first so they didn't look like idiots when no one else decided to help. After Mush was Kid Blink, then Crutchy, Skittery, and lastly, Boots. Jack was relieved that his close friends decided to help, even though they didn't like it. He knew he could count on them, and felt bad for thinking otherwise. He'd make it up to them later, he decided; buy them ice cream or lunch or something like that.

"T'anks, fellas," He tipped his hat to his friends, "now git ta bed, it's ten-thoity!" Boys scurried to vacant beds as cowboy carried the chair he was standing on over to the window-side bed. Being thoughtful, Crutchy grabbed his pillow at threw it towards Jack.

"T'anks, Crutchy." Jack nodded to Crutchy in thanks.

"No problem, Jack!" Crutchy replied in his squeaky voice and smiled brightly; pleased he could help, he lied down on the slightly lumpy bed to get some sleep before his shift.

Mush put his hands behind his head, picturing the house, the blood splatter on the broken window, the bosy bags… He shivered from the thoughts and shook his head as if to erase them from his memory. Kid Blink was worried about Mush and how he was so sensitive to these things after what's happened to him; he was wondering if he was okay. He kicked the bunk above him, and in return, received a blow to the head from Mush's pillow; he got his answer.

Lousy, street rat, he'll be fine! Blink rolled over and closed his eyes ready for sleep.

Race was picturing the alley scene over and over in his head, Jack's strange manner, the blood trail leading to Rose, her weak, burnt body lying there on the ground not being able to move… he didn't like what he saw tonight, but was glad they found her in time-hopefully. Jack fiddled with his hat as he heard the boys' breathing become low and deep in slumber. He wanted to make sure every one of them was asleep, he didn't want them to hear him.

A/N: Well, here's chapter three!! Again, I'm so sorry for not updating sooner, but please review my story! I kinda jist whipped this last bit up because I'm actually not supposed ta be on the computer, but wanted ta get the chapter out tonight, so tell me if you see errors! Thanks

ColonKellyHigginsGoil304 a.k.a. Rachel