Newsies One-Shots

Chapter 118 - Jack, Crutchie and Race (Part 2)

Home (Part 2)
Ship - Jack, Crutchie and Race (brotherly)
Era - Modern
Triggers - Mentions of injuries and abuse, crying and throwing up.

Crutchie clung to Race as the world went silent. Race was crying and Crutchie was crying so hard too that he didn't know what to do.

"Jack's gonna die," Race lamented. "He's gonna die and it's my fault."

"It's not your fault, Toni. You can't change that Snyder doesn't care about us," Crutchie promised.

"No. I was crying and Jack came into my room and Snyder caught him. If it wasn't for me Snyder wouldn't have been mad at Jack."

Race turned around, which Crutchie deemed a great feat in the cramped space, and buried his head into Crutchie's shoulder. All Crutchie could do was hold him as he cried.

The lock rattled, then there was a snapping noise and the doors to the closet opened slowly. Crutchie held onto Race tightly. Race was hiding himself and Crutchie was prepared to fight anyone who tried to take his brother from him.

A man and woman were standing there and Crutchie knew rationally that the man was a firefighter and wouldn't hurt them but when he stepped towards them, Crutchie tightened his grip around Race on instinct. The man stepped back and Crutchie glanced at the woman.

"My name's Kate," the firefighter said with a kind smile on her face. "And this is Luke. We're going to help you out. Do you want to come out or stay in the closet for a while?"

Crutchie shook Race's shoulder. "We'll come out. Toni's got a concussion. Can you make sure he's okay?"

Kate shook her head. "I can't check him but I'll make sure a paramedic comes in. They're looking after your brother right now but I'll see if one can come."

She glanced back at Luke who spoke into his radio quietly, glancing back at the two boys before adding something else.

"If you're firefighters," Race started, turning his head but still keeping it on Crutchie's chest, "why're you here? Is the building on fire?"

"The building is not on fire," Luke said slowly. "Our team is paramedics and firefighters so we were called. The paramedics are helping with injuries and we were called to break the lock on the closet."

"Oh. That sounds cool. Fire trucks are cool." Crutchie was almost glad to see the glean back in Race's eyes. He'd seemed to warm up to Luke. Crutchie couldn't find it in himself to do the same. "My school went to the fire station for a trip. I couldn't go though. Snyder wouldn't sign the form."

"How about you and your brothers come by our firehouse once you're all better?" Luke offered. "And you can sit in the truck and get to see it all."

"Really?" Race's eyes lit up like a child on Christmas. Crutchie's heart broke that that was the most exciting thing to happen in his brother's recent life.

Luke nodded and offered his hand out to Race. Race looked at it for a moment before reaching out and slowly taking it. Crutchie wanted nothing more than to hold onto Race so he couldn't be taken from him.

Kate picked up on Crutchie's discomfort and crouched down beside him. "Your brother will be okay with Luke. I'd trust him with my life."