The Queen of New York

6

Race POV

"Madi!" I screamed, running over to the girl.

She was unconscious when I got to her. I picked her up and carried her back to the lodge where most of the rest of the guys had just arrived. After calling for Specs, I laid her down on her bed. Specs ran in, his First Aid kit in his hand. He patched up Madi's cuts and bruises, and wrapped her ankle tightly.

"She should wake up soon," He told me before leaving to patch up the other newsies.

About two hours later, I heard someone yell my name. I ran downstairs to see Hotshot, Spot's 2nd in command sitting in the living room.

"I said I need to talk to Kelly, not Higgins," He said.

"Jack's not here," I told him. "I'm in charge for now."

"Fine," He sighed.

"Come," I said, beckoning him to follow me.

I took him into Jack's 'office'. It's basically just a small room on the top floor where Jack had all his business meetings. I sat down behind his desk.

"What do you want, Hotshot?" I asked him.

"I have a message from Spot, Higgins," He sighed. "Next event during the strike, Brooklyn's backing you up."

"Why couldn't he tell me himself?" I questioned.

He chuckled. "Race, you and I both know that Spot is too full of himself to admit he was wrong."

I burst out laughing. "Can't argue with you on that one. I have to get back to Madi, she's not in good shape. Say hi to Spot for me."

"Will do, see you later," He smiled.

Hotshot left for Brooklyn, and I headed back to Madi's bedroom. She was awake and sitting up against her pillows.

"Race!" She exclaimed.

"Madi!" I smiled. "You woke up!"

"Yeah," I sighed. "Can you quiet down? And turn the lights down? It's really bright and loud here."

"Yeah, yeah, of course," I whispered, turning one of the sets of lights off.

"Where's Jack?" She asked.

That was the question I was dreading.

"We can't find Jack," I told her softly.

"What do you mean you can't find him?!" She yelled, jumping up.

"Hey, hey, hey, sit down, relax," I replied, pushing her back down gently. "He hasn't shown up since the fight. We don't know where he went."

"I think I might know where he is, let me go get him," She said.

"Not yet," I whispered. "Tomorrow. I'll send you with Davey and Les and Katherine when they go in the morning."

"Okay," She sighed, snuggling into her pillow. "Goodnight Race."

"Goodnight Madi," I smiled, giving her a light kiss on her forehead before leaving to let her sleep.