Courage

Chapter 28

AN: This chapter was going to be waaay longer but I decided to just let you guys have some Jack and Crutchie brotherly fluff instead, so you're welcome

Jack startled awake to the circulation bell ringing, a sound he felt like he hadn't heard in years. He was halfway to his feet and was about to wake Crutchie when the events of the previous few days flooded back to him - surely he could take a day off of selling? Normally he'd insist that he push through in order to make as much money as he could, but he couldn't remember his back ever hurting this much.

He pondered this for a moment, looking at the ever familiar sight of the sun beginning to rise over Manhattan, and then glanced at Crutchie, who was still sleeping soundly. After another minute, he told himself that if he tried to get up and dressed now, he'd make enough sound to wake up his brother. That was the last thing he wanted to do. So, he lowered himself back down onto his bedroll and pulled his blanket tight around his shoulders.

oOo

The next time he woke up, he was even more disoriented than before, and Crutchie was shaking him in a spot on his shoulder that didn't hurt quite as much.

"Jack."

He forced his eyes open. "Yeah?"

"Katherine's downstairs with a doctor."

Jack nodded tiredly against his pillow. "You go ahead, kid. Wake me when he wants me." He started to close his eyes again when Crutchie stopped him.

"He's already seen me."

Jack blinked up at his brother. "How long've I been asleep?"

Crutchie shrugged. "It's about  noon now."

The older boy groaned, sitting up slowly. "Don't remember the last time I slept that late."

"Yeah, well you gotta get up now." Crutchie grinned. "For the record, I've got two broken ribs, a slightly sprained wrist, and some bone in my leg is fractured."

"You're just a mess then, huh?"

"Probably not as bad as you."

"Ah, I'm fine." Jack said, standing up and grabbing his shirt. "I got thick skin."

"And a thick head."

He grinned. "Shut up."

"I don't hear you denying it."

"Hey, if anything, it's a good think my head's thick." Jack gave the younger boy a pointed look. "Means there's less of a chance of me getting a concussion."

"I wouldn't count on that."

"You's turning into Race, I swear." Jack put on his cap, grinning at the familiar comfortable feeling of it. "Now help me down this ladder so I don't get myself hurt even more before the poor doc even gets to look at me."