Fast as You Can
(The first in the O'Shea series)

By: South MacCain

"Damn Kids!!" An angry street vendor yelled. He waved his fist in the air. A man in adark blue uniform walked up to him.

"What is wrong sir?" He asked. The street vendor pointed in the directon that the thiefhad run.

"Ta kids, they stoles me best loaf of bread!" The police officer looked in the directon the vendor was pointing. The officer blew a tiny gold whistle and soon there were cops allrunning.

"Sir could you please tell me what the theif looked like?" The officer asked mounting ahorse.

"Yes. She was uhh, blonde. Blue eyes. about yee tall, and dressed in boys clothing." Thecop looked at him quizzically."A girl in boys clothing, eh?"

"Yes sir, that's right." The vendor stood for a minute, thinking. "She was with another girl, with red hair."

"Dressed in boys clothes." The officer said. The vendor nodded.

********

"Damnit Fiona! Hurry it up!" The blond theif yelled, at the girl trailling behind her.

"I'm runnin as fast as me feet'll carry me!" The red head spit back.

The two girls turned down an alley and stopped. They heard the whistles blowing, and theshouts of 'out of the way', and 'move'.

"Ah shit!" The blonde cused under her breath. They walked to the end of the alley andthen took off full speed.

*********

"Warden Snyder...we've got some trouble down on fifth and grand." Syder folded up hisnewspaper and looked at the officer standing in the doorway.

"Yes, Sargent. What is it?" Snyder got a devilish grin, which was a sign that he wasintertested.

"Well there was a robbery today. One of the street vendors, he discribed the thiefs to be female. A blond and a red head.They were dressed as boys." Snyder nodded and stood upfrom his desk.

"Get the carrage." The Sargent nodded and walked quickly out the room.

*********

"Rabbit, wake up! Och sure, she can bitch at me if I don't run as fast as she, but she can't even wake her lazy ass up!" A mad red head pined her hair up in two barretts, and then stuffed it in a dark blue hat before it could all fall out. The blonde ,called Rabbit, rolledher eyes, and sat up.

"What are you complainin' about this time, Fiona?" Fiona looked at Rabbit and put herhands on her hips.

"I shoulda stayed in god damned Ireland." Rabbit nodded her head.

"Aye, you should have. Then I wouldn't have to listen to your constant complaints."

'Och, jist hurry it up already. We got to get to work, before we get fired again."

"That wasn't me fault, it was yours and you know it."

Fiona snorted in disgust.

"Every thing is always me fault." She cused as she walked away from Rabbit.

Rabbit watched her go and shook her head. She stood up and walked in theopposite direction.

*********

Fiona stopped to listen to the sounds of 'Morrinson's Jig', playing at an Irish Pub. Shewent in. It was full of people singing.

Oh Never, Oh never, oh never again....
If I live to A 100 or a 110.
For I fell to the ground and I coulnd't get up.
After drinking a pint of that Jonny Jump Up!

Fiona smiled it reminded her of Ireland. A young man walked over and pulled her to dance with him. She laughed and they started to do the steps to the jig. People were clapping and singing. The music stopped, and every body started to shout. The bandstarted to play

'Tell Me Ma'.Tell Me Ma when I go Home,
The boys won't leave the girls alone.
They pulled my hair, they stole my comb.
but that's alright when I go home
She is handsome, she is pretty,
She's the belle of Belfast city.
She is courting, one ,two,three.
Please will you tell me who is she?

Fiona smiled and sang along. Her partner, cleared off a counter and they started to dance on top of it. She was having the most fun she'd had since she left Ireland.

**********

Rabbit walked back to the alley hoping that maybe her stubborn sister had gone back there. She hadn't. Rabbit stamped her foot down and walked in the direction she had lastseen her sister go in.

"Jesus christ, Fiona. Why did you have to be so damn stubborn!'' She muttered to herself.

"Hiya, Rabbit. How ya been?'' Crutchy's friendly voice asked. She walked over to him.

"Top o' the morin' to ya Crutchy. You wouldn't happen to see Fiona around here somewhere? We got into anudder argument, and lost each other."

Crutchy shook his head."I haven't seen 'er." He said shaking his head. Mush walked over to them.

"Hiya Mush. Hey have ya seen Fiona, Rabbit can't find 'er again." Mush nodded.

"Yeah, I saw her going into that Irish Pub over there." Rabbit snorted.

"Och, shoulda known she'd go into a pub. She was always going into the pubs back inIreland." The three started for the pub.

**********

Fiona guzzeled down a pint of beer in a drink out with one of the regulars, Murphy.

Aibhlin O'Hagen, one of the young waitresses put two more glasses in front of them."Fiona, Fiona, Fiona!!" The crowd cheered.

Doug, had started to play B minor on the piano. Angus, the fiddle.

Rabbit, Mush, and Crutchy pushed their way through the crowd. "FIONA!" Rabbit shouted. Riona finished the glass and put it down.

"Rabbit." She smiled and hicuped, and then started to laugh.

"Get up now, we're leavin'!" Rabbit said sternly. Fiona scowled, and shook her head.

"Fiona O'Shea! Get your ass up now, we're leavin'." Rabbit pulled her sister.

The music stopped and every body looked at the two girls. The firey red head, ready to fight, thecalm blonde ready to leave.

"Your not Ma, don't tell me what to do!" Fiona shouted and sat back down on her stool.

Rabbit's face burned and she slapped Fiona. Fiona stood up slowly. She cracked herknuckles, and lunged at her sister, but Mush grabbed her and held her back.

"Damn you Rabbit! Leave me do something I want to do once in me life. Acting like your superior to me 'cause youse one fucking year older." Fiona broke free of Mush's grip andran out the pub.

"Fiona!" Rabbit yelled and took off after her. Mush and Crutchy followed her out thedoor, and watched her run.

**********

Rabbit ran as fast as she could, but Fiona had had a good head start. She knew exactlywhere Fiona was going though. Brooklyn.

Fiona knew some people there. Rabbit collided with an old woman holding a basket fullof clothes. The clothes, fell out of the basket, as it fell to the ground.

Rabbit looked backto see if the lady was alright but didn't stop. "Sorry!" She screamed. The old lady threw her fist in the air and screamed curses at her."Damnit Fiona!" Rabbit thought.

***********

Fiona ran across the Brooklyn Bridge, she was getting tired. But her pride kept her going.She pushed throught two well dressed woman.

"How rude." One lady commented.

"Get over it." Fiona yelled back. The woman put her hand up to her throat, her mouthajar. The other looked at Fiona in disgust.

***********

Snyder waited for the red head to stop running. He had created barricades at the end of all bridges. He wanted these two thiefs. And what ever he set his mind to he got.

Like Francis Sullivan. He did everything to get that boy in jail, and he was, if it wasn't for that damned reporter from the New York Sun, he would still be in there.

"She's coming sir." An officer said. Snyder smiled.

"Good." He said and got a devilish grin. "Come to me, girl, come to me." He thought.

*********

Fiona, stopped a few feet ahead of the barricade. Snyder smile widened.

"What is your name girl?" He asked.

"Why?" Fiona asked. Slowly taking a step back.

"Cause you and your friend are wanted for robbery." Fiona's eyes widened and she turnedand ran. Rabbit saw her running the other way and they collided.

"Fiona, what the hell is the matter with you!" Rabbit yelled.

"Shut up, their after us!" Fiona ordered and grabbed Rabbit's hand.

"Whose after us?" Rabbit asked, but stopped when she saw the barricade before Manhattan."Shit!" Fiona mumbled.

"Were blocked both ways?" Rabbit asked.Fiona nodded. She ran in the other direction.The police were closing in from both sides."Jump!" Fiona yelled.

"Your nuts!" Rabbit asked getting on the railing.

"Thanks!" Fiona said and they jumped.

**********

"Hey Kelley, look at that." Spot asked pointing at the two figures that just fell/jumped offthe Brooklyn Bridge. Jack, David, and Les all looked.

"Holy Shit." Jack said shaking his head.

"You know who that is?" David asked. Jack nodded."Who is it Cowboy?" Les asked.

"Them damn O'Shea sisters."Jack looked at the guys and they all started to run towardsthe edge of the docks."They're crazy!" Les yelled running behind them.

"Fiona's the crazy one, Rabbit's the smart one. They were in trouble, or they wouldn't have jumped off the god damned bridge." They watched the girls hit the water.

Spot andJack ripped off their shirt's and jumped in the water after them.

********

"Damn it!" Snyder yelled. He watched the water. The two girls have yet to surface.Snyder looked at the commtion swimming towards the girls landing.

"Sullivan." Snyder mubbled to himself and half smiled.

*********

Jack and Spot dove under and free-styled, looking for the girls. Spot connected with a small frail hand, and pulled. A cold Fiona was pulled by Spot back to the docks.

Jack notfar behind helping a more conscious Rabbit.

Spot rolled Fiona onto her stomach and pounded on her back. After a second she coughedup water. Rabbit leaned against Jack's shoulder, breathing heavily.

Fiona coughed and rolled onto her back. Spot leaned over her. Fiona woke up, his blue eyes captured her green. Jack cleared his throat. Spot helped Fiona sit up. She shivered.Spot gave her his shirt, she smiled at him.

"What in the hell possesed the two of you to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge?"David asked. Rabbit looked over at Fiona.

"What!" Fiona asked. She looked up at the bridge. The bulls were all still there. Fionastuck her middle finger at them.Every body looked up.

"Snyder." Jack said noticing his arch enimie-besides the Delancys.

"Come on lets get you two some dry clothes." David said.

"I'll get you some thing of Sarah's. I'm sure she won't mind." Jack looked at Dave. He and Sarah had just gone through a very hard break up. She had met somebody else, who hadsomething more than he did.

"Na, thank you, but I'm fine all the same." Fiona stood."I have to be going."

Rabbitlooked at her curiously.

"Where you going?" She asked when Fiona walked past her.

"Back to the Pub. I wasn't ready to go." Spot chuckled. Fiona looked back at him andblushed. Rabbit noticed.

"I think we've finally found someone who can actually tame, Fiona the great." She said to no one in general. Every body laughed. Fiona fumed and stormed off the peir.

"Come on I'll take you to Dave's, get you something warm" Jack said helping Rabbit up.

"Spot, will you watch Fiona for me, Beat some sense into her." Spot half smiled.

"Sure, can't have you two jumping off another bridge." Spot laughed at himself andwalked after Fiona.

"She is going to get herself into so much trouble!" Rabbit muttered under her breath.

"You better be careful before she drags you down with her." David said, and they walkedoff the peir

*********

"Fiona!!!" Spot yelled as he ran after her. She stopped and turned around.

"What?" She asked when he caught up to her."Where you going?''

"What do you care?" She asked. Spot tipped his hat at her.

"To be your escort me lady. And to keep you out of trouble."

Fiona nodded, understanding."Rabbit sent you to watch me didn't she?" Spot shook his head.

"No body sends Spot Conlon to do anything. I've heard you tend to get on the wild side and we can't have the bulls after you more than they already are." Fiona started to walktowards the Brooklyn Bridge. Spot grabbed her arm. "Can't go that way."

"Why not?"

"Cause it's swarming with cops, come on I know this really good Irish Pub in Brooklyn.

You'll love it." He grabbed her hand, and they went running in the opposite direction.

*********

"Hello!" David yelled and let Jack and Rabbit into the small one bedroom apartment.

Esther Jacobs appeared and kissed David and Jack's forehead. She looked over at Rabbitcuriously."David, please introduce me."

"Oh. Mom this is Rabbit O'Shea." David said. Rabbit and Esther shook hands, but Estherstill looked at her intently."Please call me Eibhlin., Mrs. Jacobs."

"You have a beautiful accent, where are you from?" Sarah asked, appearing beside hermother.

"Ireland. Me sister Fiona and I arrived t'ree months ago." Sarah nodded, and looked atJack."Sarah," Dave said drawing her attention back to Rabbit.

"Do you have anything dry, we could lend Rabbit?" Sarah nodded, and took Rabbit's handleading her over to Sarah's bed.

Sarah opened a large trunk that rested at the end of her bed. She pulled out a petticoat,blouse, a green sash, and a brown skirt and handed them to Rabbit.

"You can change over there.'' Sarah said and pointed to a wood divider.

"Thank you." Rabbit smiled and went to change.

*********

"Haaa haaa!" Fiona laughed as she and Spot danced around 'Gaelic Tavern'. The twolaughed, and twirled to 'The Hills Of Connemara'.

"Are you having fun yet?" Spot asked mocking her. Fiona laughed, and nodded.

"Yes." Everybody was either singing, dancing, drinking, or all three..

"Hey Spot!" A couple guys who had just walked in yelled. Spot and Fiona stopped andlooked.

"I never thought that the toughest newsies in all New York, would stoop to the level and become a sissy." Spot crackled his knuckles. Fiona walked past him and over to the two.

"Takes a real man, to dance. Takes a man with no balls to make fun." The two boys shut up and left the pub. People started to clap for Fiona. She looked over at Spot and smiled.

"I could have handled them." He said slightly embarassed that a girl stuck up for him."I'm sure you could've."

"Any requests?" Lance yelled holding up his fiddle. Fiona stood three feet away fromSpot."Call to the Dance." Fiona shouted. Lance smiled.

"Can you handle this Spot?" Fiona asked and started to jig. Spot watched her in awe.Her wavy~straight hair bounced along her shoulders. As the song almost ended Fiona stopped out of breath, and walked over to Spot. She threw her arms around his neck andkissed him. Everybody cheered.

*********

"So where in Ireland, are you from?" Mr. Jacobs asked as they all sat down to eat lunch."Cork." Mrs. Jacobs nodded."What about your sister?" Mr. Jacob asked.

"Fiona. She is in Brooklyn right now."
"With Spot Conlon?" Sarah asked. Rabbit nodded.

"Most likely." Rabbit smiled, and took a sip of her soup.

"Rabbit, how old are you?" Les asked.

"I'm 17. How old are you?"

"Ten...I mean eight." Rabbit laughed and looked at Jack, she had seen him selling papersbefore, and knew he had taught Les how to 'improve the truth'.

"Thank you Mrs. Jacobs, Sarah.You've been very kind, but I must go find my sister,before she gets into trouble."

Oh sure, no problem. It was nice meeting you." Jack stood up.

"I should be going too, thanks again, Mrs. Jacobs for your wonderful soup. It's the best."

Esther Jacobs blushed and swatted the towel at him. He took a quick look at Sarah andfollowed Rabbit out the door.

*********

"Sir, I am sorry that we didn't catch the girls. We weren't expecting them to jump off ofthe Brooklyn Bridge!" Sergant Miles stated.

"Yes, but I have a feeling I know where they will be." Snyder looked out the window atsome newsies that were still selling their afternoon papers.

*********

"SPOT! SPOT! SPOT!SPOT!" Fiona cheered. He was currently in an arm-wrestling match, and was winning. She stood behind him, a glass of beer in her left hand.

"Ha!" Spot shouted and slammed the other fellow's hand down. Fiona screamed and clapped."Fiona. Are you ready to go yet?" Rabbit asked as she and Jack appeared.

"Sure." Fiona said and yawned.

"You can stay In Brooklyn tonight if ya want." Spot said.

" Actually, I was going to take them back to Manhattan."

"Well , how's about You take Rabbit to Manhattan, and I'll keep Fiona here."

"I'm go for that." Fiona smiled. Rabbit, in no mood to argue, agreed. Her and Jack walkedout of the pub.

*********

"Here, Rabbit. You can sleep here." Jack said and put an extra blanket down.

Rabbityawned and sprawled out on the bed.

All the newsies piled into the bunkroom, from a hards day work. Some were leavingsome going to sleep.Mush and Crutchy walked over to Rabbit.

"Hey ya Rabbit. You okay, ya look kinda pale." Crutchy asked walking over toher.

Rabbit nodded.

"I'm fine, thank you." Crutchy, not convinced, walked away. Rabbit lied, she wasn'talright.

She had the police chasing her, she jumped of a bridge, her sister was gonna get herself into deep shit, probably killed if she didn't settle down. And she was in love, but he lovedsome one else.

"G'night Rabbit.'' Jack said from his bunk. Rabbit smiled at him and turned over onto her side, and let sleep come. Her and Fiona had to get away, as fast as they can.

*********

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Brooklyn and Echo's Newsie Junk