The Crutch's Sister

Home Again

~Le Time Skip~

Two Weeks Later

Kick's POV

I hobbled down the street next to Jack and Crutchie. Crutchie had taught me to use one of his old crutches so I could move around. It had been two weeks since the fire. I get nightmares that Crutchie or my friends didn't make it out. But, Jack and Crutchie are always there when I wake up. A vacant warehouse had opened its doors to shelter the newsies of Manhattan while the Lodging House was being rebuilt. I stopped in front of the door and took a deep breath.

"You okay?" Jack asked, crouching in front of me. I nodded and put on a brave smile. He smiled back at me and nudged my shoulder. "Atta kid." We walked in and everyone turned around.

"KICKS!" Les yelled. He ran at me, full speed, and locked me in a tight hug. The rest of the boys swarmed over and greeted me with warm hugs, smiles, and jokes.

"Kicks!" Race called. I looked over at him. "We got somethin' for ya!" I looked and Albert brought over a contraption of wood and metal. I gasped and smiled.

"It's a prothesis leg!" Romeo said proudly.

"Prosthetic leg, ya dummy!" Specs said, smacking him upside the head. 

"It ain't the best, but it's what we had." Crutchie smiled.

"I sketched ya leg and the boys used scraps from the Lodging House to build it." Jack said.

"I love it! I love you guys! Thank you!" I exclaimed. I sat on the ground and latched it onto my stump. "Help me up, Jack!" I exclaimed, holding my hands out. He lifted me up and I stumbled a bit, but soon stood erect. I looked at Crutchie, who was standing a few feet away. I turned around and shakily walked towards him. I stumbled on my last step, but Crutchie called me. When I stood straight again, everyone clapped. I think I even saw Race shed a happy tear.

"KICKS!" a voice shouted. I looked around and saw Davey standing in the doorway. Before I could blink, Davey ran over to me and scooped me up in his arms. He spun me around and hugged me tightly. I hugged him back and I heard his heart beating fast and heavily. I glanced up at him and smiled. He put his hands on my waist and lifted me up and spun me around. I laughed for the first time in two weeks. I looked down at him and he lowered me and wrapped my legs around his torso. I blushed slightly and looked down.

Davey's POV

I was walking to the warehouse after I sold my last paper of the day. I sighed, missing Kicks. Jack had put me in charge of keeping the boys in line while he and Crutchie stayed with Kicks in the hospital. I turned into the doorway and stopped. There, with a prosthetic, stood Kicks. She was walking towards Crutchie, slowly, but surely. After she reached him, everyone cheered. I was overflowing with happiness and relief.

"KICKS!" I shouted. She looked over at me and smiled brightly. I ran as I fast as I could to her and held her off the floor in my arms. She looked up at me and smiled her beautiful smile. I put my hands on her waist and lifted her up and spun her around. She laughed happily. God, I missed her laugh. I put her legs around my torso and held her. She blushed and looked down. I placed my pointer finger and thumb on her chin and tilted her head up to look at me.