They two boys were laid carefully in front of the lodging house. When a face appeared at the window above, Cassie called out, her gang of girls standing strong behind her. "This is what happens when you invade my territory Kelly!" At her voice, many more heads poked out of the window. "Stay out! Or next time I won't be so nice." She turned away abruptly and led her gang back across the lines as the newsies thundered down the stairs to see what Cassie had left.
Cassie led her gang through her territory, remaining silent as they whooped and hollered behind her. Cassie listened with half an ear as her girls embellished their roles in the events of the night and declared their superiority over Jack's newsies. As Cassie listened to the bravado of her girls, she grew angrier and angrier. After the twelfth time she heard "We sure showed them!" Cassie couldn't stand it any longer and whirled around, her eyes flashing. "What is wrong with you all?" She yelled.
Her gang stopped in their tracks, silent, staring at Cassie in shock at her outburst. "How can you be proud of what we did tonight?" Cassie flared, glaring down at her girls. "We were so angry at Kelly and his boys for ganging up on us, saying what rotten scabbas they are. Well what do you think we did tonight? Huh?" Cassie stared at each of her girls in turn, a look of disgust on her face. "We did exactly what they did to us. We are just like them." She said quietly, punctuating every word.
She shook her head, turning away with her hands on her hips, not able to look at the girls behind her. Finally she turned back to face her gang, noticing that none of them would meet her eyes. "I'm sorry I let this happen. I took advantage of a bad situation; I'll admit it. But don't you dare start feeling proud about what you did tonight. You all just…" Cassie threw up her hands in disgust and turned away, shaking her head. "Just go home." She said quietly, moving away and breaking into a run after several strides, disappearing into the shadows.
Cassie's gang looked down at the ground, shuffling their feet nervously, unsure what to do now that their leader was gone. Finally Willow took control and led the group through the street and back to the lodging house, trudging up the stairs wearily, wondering what Jack was making of their handiwork.
At that moment, Jack was trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall, working feverishly to stop the flow of blood from the cut at the back of Bumlets' head. When he had leapt down the stairs and knelt by the side of his friends, he hadn't even been able to tell who they were at first. Then he realized it was Racetrack and Bumlets and his heart sank. He jerked the bandanna from his neck and pressed it against Racetrack's forehead, blotting a nasty cut that oozed slowly. He only noticed the terrible laceration behind Bumlets' head when the blood stared to trickle out from under it in an ugly red stream.
A doctor had been called, but unfortunately two newsies weren't too high on their list of needy patients. It might be as long as an hour before help arrived. Several of the boys wanted to carry Racetrack and Bumlets to the hospital themselves, but Jack ended talk of that right away, knowing that more damage could be inflicted by their good intentions than help.
So Jack was doing all he could with bandages and warm water, working frantically in the street as several other newsies ran back and forth with fresh bandages. Most of the cuts had been bandaged, the flow of blood stopped. The amount of cuts had been less than Jack had thought, most of them inflicted not by fists but by the rough brick walls. Racetrack seemed to be faring all right, he'd even woken up for a few moments before falling back into fitful sleep. Jack was focusing solely on Bumlets now, changing the bandage on the back of his head frequently, glancing up every couple of seconds in the hope of seeing the doctor coming to help. Finally after forty-five minutes, Jack caught a glimpse of the doctor strolling along the street toward them. As the doctor caught sight of the still forms in the street, he hurried forward, his eyes widening. "Why didn't you come get me sooner?" he asked as he knelt next to Jack, taking Bumlets' head in his hands.
"I sent my boys forty-five minutes ago." Jack said angrily, moving over to give the doctor space to work.
"Well, you should have told me it was an emergency." He retorted, opening his bag. "These boys need to be taken to a hospital."
"We were goin' to take 'em, but I didn't want to damage anythin' by moving 'em." Jack said, moving over to Racetrack and checking the ice that had been placed on his bruised face.
The doctor looked up in surprised. "Well, that was a good precaution." He said grudgingly. "How were these two hurt? In a gang fight?" He said bitterly.
Jack frowned. "They were attacked and beaten by one 'a our enemies. But it was no fair fight."
The doctor shook his head. "It never is." He placed a bandage against Bumlets' head and moved to look over Racetrack. "I think you should be able to move them without a problem. They need more medical attention than I can give. You can go ahead and take them to the hospital." He said, standing up.
Jack looked up at him in surprise and stood up as well. "That's all?"
"That's all." The doctor said, moving away.
Jack scowled. "Thanks so much for you help. The next time I want to bleed to death in the street I'll call ya." He called out harshly at the doctor's retreating back.
The doctor stiffened and paused, turning around. "If you want to get yourself killed, boy, that's not my concern." He said harshly.
Jack sneered at the man. "It seems to me that there isn't much that is your concern, old man." He said, moving aside so some of his boys could pick up Racetrack and Bumlets. The doctor raised himself up and glared at Jack a final time before turning away and walking down the street.
Jack sighed and turned back, lifting Racetrack onto his shoulder, his feet being held by Mush. The small procession made its way slowly through the quiet city, finally arriving at St. Michael's hospital ten minutes later. Luckily the nurses at St Michael's were more inclined to help, and Racetrack and Bumlets were taken to a room quickly. Jack sent the rest of the boys home, keeping Kid Blink with him as he waited for word from the doctor.
Finally, in the wee hours of the morning, Jack was shaken awake, opening his eyes with a start and finding a young man in a white coat standing in front of him. "Doc." He said, rubbing his eyes and standing up. "How're my friends?"
The doctor sighed, slipping his hand into the jacket pockets. "You friend Racetrack got off relatively light, some nasty bruises and cuts and a slight concussion. Your other friend wasn't so lucky, I'm afraid. We think he may have a serious concussion or something worse. We need to keep them both here for a few more days at least, until we're sure they're both all right."
"But they'll be okay, right?" Jack asked.
The doctor paused, thinking, but finally nodded. "Eventually…they should pull out of it."
Jack sighed. "Can I see 'em?"
The doctor shook his head. "No. They're both sleeping now and they need their rest. Go back home, get some sleep. They'll still be here tomorrow." Jack frowned but nodded, knowing the doctor was right. He thanked the doctor and left the hospital with Kid Blink.
They walked in silence for some time, Kid Blink allowing Jack the time he needed to think things through. They were almost to the lodging house when Jack finally spoke. "I don't know what happened out there tonight. The only thing I know is that Cassie and her damn girls did this. And they ain't gonna get away with it." He said harshly.
Kid Blink sighed, knowing the day had come when the differences between Cassie and Jack could no longer be ignored. "Jack, we're with you." He finally said, knowing he spoke for every newsie. "We'll follow ya to the end."
Jack smiled, touched by the devotion of his friends. "You don't need to follow me to the end, Blink, just over to Cassie's territory."
Kid Blink frowned. "Well, it's pretty much the same." He said quietly.
Jack glanced over at Kid Blink, at little surprised. He finally just shook his head and turned away, looking again at the sidewalk in front of him. "We can't let 'em get away with this. We never touched any of her girls, and now she's put two 'a ours in the hospital. We can't let this go by." Jack said, his eyes hard.
"We all knew this was gonna happen, Cowboy. Don't worry about us. Just tell us when it's gonna be. We'll be there." Kid Blink said, looking over at Jack.
Jack nodded, pleased by Kid Blink's support. He paused at the foot of the stairs to the lodging house, turning to look at Kid Blink. "Let me think about it." He said finally. "I'll let ya know tomorrow." He said, turning and walking up the stairs. "Oh, and Blink?" He said, facing Kid Blink again. "If you see any 'a Cassie's newsies? Kill 'em."
Kid Blink nodded, watching Jack turn and trudge up the stairs wearily. Oh Cassie, he thought, sitting down heavily on the stairs. If you only knew what you've started.
At that moment, Cassie couldn't care less what she had started. When she ran away from her girls, she hadn't cared where she went, as long as she was running. She ran until her lungs felt like they were going to explode, and then she went faster. She thrived on the pain, focused on it until all she felt was the burning of her lungs and the fire in her legs. She pressed forward, forcing her legs to keep moving, anything to keep her mind off the thought of those four bloody faces in the alley. She ran until her legs finally gave out, pitching her forward onto her face. She lay where she had landed for a long time, until she could breathe without wincing and her legs had stopped twitching. She finally levered herself up with her arms, her long hair hanging down in front of her, staring down at the ground beneath her.
Her eyes blurred and the tears finally fell, the harsh, bitter tears for the terrible injury she had been unable to stop, for the sweet innocent faces marred by hate. Her hands clenched into fists and she pushed herself up, staggering onto her feet. She stared around her, realizing that she was now on the border of her territory and Spot Conlon's, seeing the huge dark form of the Brooklyn Bridge looming before her in the fog. She trudged toward it, not even caring if Spot found her, knowing that if he did she would not get off easily.
She walked onto the bridge, reveling in the peace around her, even if it didn't reach into her heart. She sighed, hating Jack Kelly, furious at those boys for starting the fight, but most of all, hating herself. She had turned into what she'd always hated most, a bully who bragged about her accomplishments when she had no right to brag about anything. She paused, clutching the bridge railing until her knuckles turned white, wanting more than anything to end the torment in her heart. She stared down at the dark water, leaning farther and farther over the railing, wondering what it would feel like to be engulfed by the cold, dark water…
Suddenly Cassie heard a step behind her and whirled around, tensed to fight. Spot Conlon walked into the light, shaking his head. "Killing yourself won't solve anythin', Cassie." He said quietly.
Cassie glared at Spot, holding her ground. "Whatta ya want, Spot."
"I think I could be askin' you that, seein' as you're in my territory." He said, leaning on his gold-tipped cane. Finally he shook his head, raising a hand. "Don't worry, I'm not here to pick a fight. From what I hear you got enough problems."
Cassie nodded, not letting down her guard for a second. "You get news fast, Spot."
Spot shrugged, looking around. "Nice night." He said, walking over to the railing.
Cassie began to grow annoyed, and crossed her arms over her chest. "Spot, if you want something, you better get to the point. For, as you said, I got enough problems to worry about without waitin' around for you." She said, eyeing him.
Spot turned, his pale cat's eyes trained on her, both his hands resting lightly on his cane. "He didn't do it." He said finally.
Cassie was confused. "What?" She asked.
"Jack. He never touched your girls." Spot said quietly, studying Cassie.
Cassie watched Spot, her eyes distrustful even as she digested this new information. "How do you know?"
Spot shrugged. "Like you say, I get news fast."
Cassie frowned, "Why are you tellin' me this?"
Spot's eyes grew hard. "Because you're started somethin' tonight, Cassie, somethin' that you might regret. I thought you might wanna know all 'a the facts before you get yourself in even deeper than ya are now."
Cassie winced, knowing with a chill that Spot spoke the truth. "If Jack didn't do it, than who did?" She asked.
"That's something you're just gonna have to find out for yourself." Spot said, standing up and taking his cane into one hand. "Good luck, Cassie. For your sake and Jack's I hope ya do the right thing." He said, holding her eyes for a moment more before turning away and heading back across the bridge.
Cassie took a step forward, calling out. "Spot!" Spot paused, turning his head to look back. She stood in silence, not sure what to say. "Thanks." She said finally, attempting a smile. Spot inclined his head slightly then turned around and disappeared into the fog, the dull thumping of his cane as he made his way back across the bridge the only proof that he had been there at all.
Cassie stood in silence for several more long minutes before turning and walking back across the bridge the other way, heading back into her own territory. Her thoughts were whirling, most of them making her more confused than ever. If Jack hadn't soaked her friends, than who did? And why? And where did his two newsies come from? This was just a big mess, and unfortunately, Cassie was making it worse. Finally she made it back to her lodging house, trudging up the steps and entering the long bunkroom. Most of her friends were asleep, but a few greeted her sleepily. Cassie sighed as she walked over to her bed and climbed in, staring up at the ceiling as she listened to the steady rise and fall of the breathing around her. She didn't know what to expect from tomorrow, but for some reason she knew things were going to get worse before they got better.
Jack frowned, watching his boys as they stood in line to buy their papes, their usual joviality missing this morning. He had his usual 100 slung onto his rope, but he hadn't bothered to look them over. His eyes were hard and his gaze never wavered as he kept an eye out for anything strange in his territory. He heaved a huge sigh and turned to face Mush, who had just come up next to him. "How do things look, Cowboy?" He asked, his face downcast.
Jack shrugged, his gaze once again sweeping the distribution area. "Fine for now, Mush. I just can't get rid 'a the feelin' that things ain't right, ya know?" He said, frowning a little.
Mush nodded, fiddling with the hat he held in his hands. "I feel it too. We all do." He sighed, jamming the hat back on his head. "It just ain't right about Racetrack and Bumlets, Jack!" He burst out, his face angry.
Jack glanced over at him, his eyebrows raising a little. "I know, Mush. But don't worry. Cassie and her girls ain't gonna get away with this." He watched the crowd silently for several more moments before moving away from his post, heading out of the gates with the rest of the newsies, ready to face the day. The boys spread out, heading for their usual selling spots.
Jack glanced over at Kid Blink for a moment and then whirled back around, his eyes wide. Blink was slowly advancing on a newsgirl, one of Cassie's own, with a murderous look in his eye. Jack shook his head and trotted after Kid Blink, not wanting him to have all the fun. Jack finally caught up with him, touching him on the shoulder. Kid Blink looked back, a little surprised, and then smiled slightly, turning back to face the unsuspecting girl. The two newsies walked slowly after her, gradually creeping up on her until they were only a few steps behind her. She paused, glancing behind her, and her face turned white. Jack walked up to her and stopped, his face filled with anger. "Well, well, what do we have here?" He asked, looking down at her.
Oh shit. Lexie thought, realizing with a start that she had wandered a little too far over the border of her territory. She paused, eyeing Jack and Kid Blink, tensing her legs, readying herself to run. "Look, I ain't done nothin' to you." She said, staring them down.
Kid Blink scowled. "You've done enough. You put my friends in the hospital!" He said, advancing on her slowly.
Lexie's gaze darkened, angry at his accusation. "I wasn't even there, okay? Besides, your friends started it by goin' into our territory!" She said, refusing to back away.
"Well, where do you think you are now, huh? This is our territory, and here, we say what happens." Kid Blink said, taking a few more steps toward Lexie.
Lexie scowled. Who did this guy think he was, threatening her like this? "Oh really?" She said, glaring at him, knowing that she was going against the orders Cassie had given that morning not to fight Jack's newsies, but not really caring. "Well, I don't see you doin' anything at the moment." She shot back, her eyes flashing.
Kid Blink glowered. "Oh, don't worry, I will be." He said, taking another step toward Lexie.
Lexie had had enough of this. "Oh yeah?" She sneered, catching Kid Blink square in the chest with her palm and shoving him backward. Jack was stunned at this sudden movement and leapt forward, punching the girl soundly in the eye, sending her flying back as he pulled Kid Blink back up to his feet. Lexie glared at Jack, her face filled with hatred as she tensed herself for the battle, not even noticing Willow and Keeley running up behind her. The were at her side in seconds, the two sides facing off, both of them wary about making the next move.
"Stop it, all a youse!" Came a voice from a few yards off, carrying clearly over the bustle of the street. Lexie looked over in surprise, finding Spot striding toward them, with Cassie several steps in front of him, a murderous look on her face. She came right up to Jack and shoved him, catching him completely by surprise.
"Don't you ever touch one 'a my girls again!" She yelled, her fists clenched next to her side. Jack's eyes flashed fire and he levered himself off the wall where he had fallen, coming up to Cassie, his face inches from hers.
"That's it, Cassie." He said, barely keeping himself from hitting her. "You wanted war, well you got it! If you or any 'a your girls comes into my territory again, I'll soak ya!"
"All of you stop it!" Spot yelled, glaring at each of them. "We're ain't nothin' without each other. You of all people should know that Jack."
Jack stepped away, motioning for Kid Blink. "I'm sorry, Spot. But that's crazy. There is no way that I'm workin' with her." He said, gesturing at Cassie. "I'll see ya around." He said, walking away with Kid Blink.
Cassie's eyes flared, her jaw clenched. She turned on Spot, barely controlling her anger. "I don't know what's going on in New York, Spot, but I'll tell ya, whatever it is, it had better be something we can solve on our own. Because me and Jack…" She shook her head emphatically. "We ain't never gonna work together." She said, turning around and leading Keeley, Willow and Lexie after her.
Spot groaned and turned to glare at Jack's retreating form. "Jack!" He yelled, stopping him in his tracks.
Jack shook his head as he turned around to face Spot. "Don't even try, Spot. This little scheme 'a yours ain't gonna work, whatever it is."
"Jack, she was telling the truth. Some guys are soakin' her newsies!" Spot said, striding to him. "Listen to me." He growled, glaring when Jack opened his mouth to contradict him. Jack frowned and crossed his arms, scowling at Spot. Spot scowled right back, his eyes flashing. "You ain't above all this, Jack. What happened to her will happen to you, I guarantee. These scabs that are soakin' Cassie's newsies will come after you. And believe it or not, you're gonna need her help. You don't have to listen to me now, but don't ignore this, Jack. You're gonna regret it." Spot said finally, eyeing Jack for a moment longer before turning and walking away, disappearing down an alley.
Jack watched Spot go, angry with Cassie but most of all nervous-that what had happened to her might happen to him. He thought for a moment then turned to Kid Blink. "Get the word out." He said firmly. "Anyone new in our territory, get rid of 'em. Don't trust anyone. Spot's never wrong, and I've got a bad feelin' that things are gonna get a lot worse."
Kid Blink nodded, hefting his stack of papes onto his shoulder. "I'll get the word out." He said, stepping off the sidewalk and into the street, heading across to another selling spot.
Jack sighed, running his fingers through his hair. This whole situation was out of control, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
That night the newsie lodging house was in an uproar; news of the argument between Jack and Cassie had spread like wildfire, soon every Manhattan newsie knew the whole story and then some. Jack walked into the bunkroom and groaned, holding up his hands to end the persistent questions being thrown at him from every side. "All right, just be quiet!" He yelled, his voice finally ending the noise. "Don't worry." He soothed them, hanging his cowboy hat on his bunk. "There are some guys out there, they might come after us. But we can handle it! All we gotta do is keep an eye out. If any 'a you see any strange newsies, don't let 'em out 'a your sight. We all gotta protect each other."
The newsies all finally nodded, encouraged by the words of their leader. Jack smiled as he pulled himself up onto his bunk and untied his boots, letting them fall to the floor with a clunk. He laid down on top of the covers, lacing his fingers behind his head. Things would be all right. They had to be.