The Crutch's Sister

Suffer

Jack's POV

I had run back to the Lodging House after we lost sight Katie. When I got home, I ran up to my penthouse and cried. 

"I'm dreaming. I'm dreaming. It's not real." I thought. "Kicks is here, safe and sound. She's gonna come up here and hug me and tell me everything's alright."  I imagined.

I looked over by the ladder, hoping to see her cheerful, determined face, but saw nothing. 

I threw my hat down and screamed on the top of my lungs as tears continued to roll down my face. I heard someone walk up and saw Crutchie. He hobbled over to me, his eyes red from crying.

"It's my fault." I whimpered, collapsing onto the floor. "I promised her that no one would get caught..." Crutchie sat down next to me.

"I broke a promise, too." he whispered. I looked at him with surprise and shock. 

"You broke a promise?" 

"When Katie was born, my dad wasn't there. He was too drunk to stand up straight, let alone take Mom to the hospital. I walked my mom ten blocks to the hospital. I was the first one to hold Katie. When I saw her, all bundled up and pink with her big, beautiful eyes, I whispered to her, 'I'm not gonna let anything bad happen to you. I swear on my leg.' " He chuckled and looked down. I laughed softly.

Crutchie's POV

~Le Flashback~

I was sitting outside the hospital room where Mom was. My feet were barely touching the floor.

"Crutchie?" a nurse asked, wondering if she had said my name right. I grabbed my crutch and shot up. 

"Is my mom okay? What about the baby?" I asked frantically. The nurse smiled softly.

"Your mom is just fine. She sleeping now and recovering."

"And the baby?" I wondered.

"It's a she." the nurse declared. "She's seven pounds and has big, beautiful green eyes and thick brown hair." I started jumping up and down.

"Can I see her?" I asked. The nurse chuckled and led me inside. I looked in and saw my mom, sleeping peacefully. Next to her bed was a little cradle. I hobbled over and peeked in. My eyes fell on her. She was looking all around the room, speaking that funny baby language we all know. Her head turned to me and she smiled! I grinned back and waved at her. The nurse reached in and scooped her up.

"Sit down and you can hold her." she said. I hurried over to a chair and the nurse gently placed her down in my lap. She positioned my hands so I was holding the baby's head up. She removed her hands and watched our moment. I looked at the baby, beaming with pride. "Did your mom say what she wanted to name the baby?" the nurse asked. I shook my head.

"Mom and Dad didn't want her to come. But I did and now she's here." I explained. The nurse had a bit of a sad look on her face.

"Since your parents didn't pick a name, why don't you name her?" she said, kneeling down. I thought for a minute. I didn't know a lot of girl names.

"Katie." I announced. "Katie Grace." The nurse smiled and nodded. She walked out of the room and I put my face close to Katie's face. "I'm not gonna let anything bad happen to you. I swear on my leg."