When The Ink Dries ~Newsies Fanfic'

Chapter Nine

Skipper P.O.V

At the lodge that night, I sit in a corner, as everyone argues. "We gotta save Crutchie, Jack!" Mush says. "Yeah, Jack! Crutchie wouldn't even be in there if it weren't f-" Davey gets cut off by Jack yelling. "I know I coulda' saved im'. I tried! But the crip' just... too damn slow..." Jack's voice cracks at those words, and he pushes through the boys, climbing onto the fire escape and slamming the window shut. Race glares, and Mush exchanges a disapproving look with Davey. As everyone else goes upstairs to bed, I carefully slide the window open, climbing up the fire escape to the roof. I see Jack, angrily staring out at the moon intensely.

"I'm sorry, Crutchie... I promised to always protect you... what kinda bruddah' am I?" He says, forcing back tears. His eyes are a swirling sea of regret, anger, sadness, and something I'd never seen before in him. Fear. Now, the tears were falling, and I could tell he was in deep thought.

Jack's P.O.V

On the top of the fire escape, I stared at the moon. I didn't want to see anyone right now. Not even Skip. I just needed to think. "I'm sorry, Crutchie... I promised to always protect you... what kinda bruddah' am I?!?" I ran my hands through my hair, forcing back tears. And then... I remembered the day.

~FLASHBACK~

I ran down the dark alley, the screams and cries of agony growing louder. I turn a corner, seeing the Delancies beating a small boy in the leg, smiling violently. I jumped out over him, feeling a fist come down hard on my face. Oscar draws his hand back, laughing under his breath. I feel blood trickle from my nose, and my eye is sore. "Don't ya dare, Delancies." I stutter, my low gravelly voice says harshly. I tighten my grip on the wooden pole in my hand. "Gettin' into trouble, Kelly? You'll be back in the refuge if you stick around." Morris sneers. Oscar snickers, looking at me. "Yeah. Maybe Snyder'll beat you so hard, you'll get to see your mother." He says, looking like a king. Anger swells inside me, and I swing the pole, taking both down with one blow. "He'll havta' catch me first." I snap coldly, spitting on them. I scoop the other boy into my arms, running away from them. He shudders. I set him down on a crate. His eyes fill with fear, and he scrambles away. "Please don't hurt me anymore!" He pleads. "I'm gonna help you. It'll be okay, I promise." He sighs with relief, and I inspect the leg they beat. Lots of blood and bruises. The foot is also bent at a strange angle. I take my pole, and snap it in two. I rip my own shirt off, and use the thread to tie a piece of wood over the top. Then, I jam a stick into the main pole, and wrap my ripped shirt around the top one. I then hand it to the smaller boy. "Try this. You may not walk otherwise." He stands, wobbling around. "Thanks." He says, smiling. I nod. "I'm Jack, Jack Kelly." I spit into my hand, and hold it out. He does the same, shaking my hand. "Peter, Peter Morris. You can call me Crutchie now, I guess." He says, nodding to the crutch. "You got folks?" I ask. He shakes his head. "You?" He replies. "Nah, I work for the World, selling papes'. Hey, why don't you come with me?" I say, smiling widely. "Uh, okay!" And I lead him through the streets, chatting all the while. I saved him. I'll always protect you, kid. Always...

~END FLASHBACK~

"In Santa Fe, I won't need this..." I say to the gray moon, closing my eyes. I open them, looking up to the stars. "If you see Crutchie, tell him I said I'm sorry... Mom."

((This chapter is so full of feels omg! But yeah basically Jack sings Santa Fe while that flashback goes on :3))