Chapter 10

There he was, paint stained smock and scruffy brown hair. Davey breathed in and smiled, grabbing the newspaper from the railing he was standing by. Katherine's pape. He leaned over the railing and yelled down.

"HOW ABOUT LETTING A PAL KNOW YOU'RE ALIVE?" A wave of relief engulfed Davey as he saw his Jack alive and in the city.

But Jack wasn't happy. At least, he didn't look like it. Still, he saw Medda as she smiled at him and and he watched as she nodded to Jack and then him as she left the room.

"Jack where have you been?" He yelled, running down the steps.

Even if Jack wasn't happy, Davey wasn't about to let him out of his grip. "Where didya go?? We couldn't find ya!"

"Did you ever think maybe I didn't wanna be found?" was the response Jack spat and pushed past Davey to add some more paint to his brush. He crossed back to the painting he was working on and got back to work, completely dismissing the presence of Davey in the room.

Davey was taken aback. This was Jack. Jack with a black eye and... He looked like hell. Davey tried to stay peppy though.

"We're front page news... ABOVE the fold." Davey grinned, even though Jack acting like he didn't exist was killing him. "Yes, ABOVE the fold."

Jack turned, his expression cold and uncaring, same as his voice. "Good for you."

Davey couldn't help it now, his face fell. Why the hell was Jack acting like this? What had Davey done? He could feel the tears behind his eyes and he nearly let them spill.

Davey blinked once, and hard, to get the tears to stop before they actually fell. He couldn't understand what had happened to Jack, but he couldn't let anything come up right now. No tears, nothing.

Except figuring out what the hell was going on.

"Everyone wants to meet the famous Jack Kelly! Even Spot Conlon sent over a kid just to say next event, you can count on Brooklyn. How bout that?" Davey said, trying to bring Jack back to reality.

"We got stomped into the ground," was Jack's only reply.

Jesus, this was getting frustrating...

Davey put a hand on Jack's shoulder, trying to ground him. But the hand was pushed away, leaving Davey in silence. He pulled air into his lungs before continuing to pursue Jack.

"Yeah but we got them worried, really worried," Davey threw back. He crouched down next to Jack hoping, praying, that he would understand that Davey needed him. A glare was his response. Davey couldn't take this anymore. This was not his Jack. His Jack cared about his boys and wanted this fight to be won. This Jack was cold and unfeeling. The tears threatened him again, but now all he had was anger, so they were once again forced away.

Davey opened his mouth to argue against Jack's silence, but he didn't get a chance to as Katherine, Sarah, and Les burst into the theatre.

"There he is!" Les exclaimed.

Davey could almost see the steam rising off of Jack at the sound of more people.

"For cryin' out loud, what does a fella gotta do to get away from you people?!" Jack replied.

"There's no escaping us, pal," Davey said firmly, coldly, and matter-of-factory. "We're inevitable." Because no matter what Jack did or said, he was not going to get off of something he was so passionate about before.

Katherine and Sarah bounded down the stairs together as Davey grabbed Les's arm. He couldn't however stop the family's second walking mouth from walking.

"So Jack, we was wanting to hold a rally. Can we have the theater?" Les asked, no regard for the fact Davey was trying to shush him.

Jack whipped around to look at them, throwing paintbrushes down. Katherine got her first good look at him, as did Sarah.

"Hey you look like hell..." Katherine put a hand out to stop him from walking away. He glared at her, but she was immune to the disapproval and hate from everyone, as a female writer she had to be. Davey couldn't help agreeing with Katherine. Jack looked horrible. But before he could say anything, Les had spoken up again with a point at the painting.

"Hey Jack, where's that supposed to be?"

With a roll of his eyes, Davey spoke up before anyone else. "It's Santa Fe."

And Katherine took the thoughts out of Davey's head and turned them into words after a groan. "I gotta tell you, this 'go west, young man' routine is getting tired. Even Horace Greeley moved back to New York."

Les nodded enthusiastically. "And then he died."

Davey smacked his arm and shook his head. Les shrugged and rolled his eyes.

Sarah laughed and elbowed Katherine who was giggling.

"So, you call Davey crazy for doing this strike, but you're painting places you've never seen?" Sarah asked Jack after they were done teasing.

Jack stopped cold. Davey knew Sarah had overstepped something. And Davey was terrified of what was going to happen.

Jack was silent for a moment as he stared at the group. It was only a moment, a few seconds at most, before he spoke again.

"You wanna see a place I've seen?!" Jack asked as he stormed up to the painting he had been working on previously. He grabbed the price and roughly turned it around to reveal a painting of what almost seemed to be a cartoon.

It was a boot with the word 'Pulitzer' on it, stepping on newsboys who were practically crumbling under the weight being put on them.

Davey's eyes widened as he looked over the painting, because he didn't know what to think. And Jack's next words didn't help him.

"Newsies square, thanks to my big mouth."

Davey turned away, putting his hands in his pockets. But Jack wasn't done.

"Overflowing with failure." Davey heard the crack in Jack's voice and knew Jack was fighting back tears of his own. "Kids hurt, others arrested!" Jack was yelling now, trying to make Davey see. But he wouldn't. Davey's resolve was absolute, and frankly, he thought Jack needed to step back and think.

"Lighten up no one died." But immediately after that slipped through Davey's lips he regretted it.

"Oh, is THAT what you're goin' for?" Jack stared Davey down, a harsh coldness pierced Davey's heart as Jack looked at him with near hatred.

"Go on, go on, call me a coward, call me a quitter! Ain't no way I am puttin' them kids back in danger," Jack finished, with clear intentions of the conversation being over.

The words hurt. The way Jack was looking at him hurt more than anything. It was like an icicle was being shoved right through his heart. And though Davey wanted to back down, or yell at Jack and ask him what the hell was wrong with him, he knew he had to keep his ground.

"We're doing something that's never been done before!" Davey argued. "How could that not be dangerous?"

All of a sudden Jack got quiet. He looked down at his smock, into a pocket. "Specs brung me a note from Crutchie."

Davey looked over to Katherine and Sarah, then glanced to Les. All three were looking down or fiddling with something on their clothes.

"I tried to go see him," Jack said, the tears were present in his voice, Davey didn't have to look at him. Didn't need to see his face to know Jack had tears on his cheeks. "Went up the fire escape."

Jack chuckled a little then, as if he didn't believe anything he was saying, or hoping it was a bad dream. Davey didn't doubt what he was hearing though. He had heard the screams. Heard what had happened. He had a few bruises and cuts from the same people.

"They busted him up so bad he couldn't even come to the window!"

Jack let the tears slip down his face, and Davey couldn't bear to see them.

"Now what if we don't make it? Are you willin' yo shoulder that for half a penny a pape?" Jack asked, looking over to Davey.

Davey couldn't back down... not now. "It's not about the pennies! You said it yourself: my family wouldn't be in this mess we're in if my father had a union! This is a fight we have to win!"

Jack only shook his head. "If I wanted a sermon, I'd show up for church."

"...tell me how quitting does Crutchie any good."

Jack just mumbled something incoherent and threw his hands up. Davey stared him down, this was a fight Jack would be continuing, even if it took all of Davey's strength.

"Exactly." And Davey took a step towards Jack. "So, here's how it goes once we win and we WILL be winning."

Jack scoffed and rolled his eyes. Davey put a hand on his shoulder. "Make no mistake."

"We'll be what?" Jack pushed back and growled at him.

"We're already winning!" Davey pointed out and took a step forwards once again.

"Yeah-"

"And we'll tell them straight out, they let Crutchie go or they keep getting pounded," Davey said firmly, although he was not a very intimidating boy. Still, he meant every word of it.

They would get Crutchie back.

And they would win this.

Jack wasn't having any of it and he growled again, reaching up to shake Davey's head.

"Dave! What the hell? Did they bust up your brains or something?" Jack was yelling now, trying so hard to stay mad at this perfect man in front of him. "They won and as I recall Dave, we all got our asses kicked!"

Davey tried to reach for Jack, to make him see. To make him understand. They hadn't won everything. They hadn't beaten the boys, the boys were still all the way in this. "Won the battle," Davey yelled back, hoping Jack could pick up on what he meant.

"Oh come on," Jack replied, as if he didn't believe that Davey was actually here, fighting him on this.

"Jack-y, think about it! We've got them surrounded!" Davey pointed out but once more, Jack cut him off and tried to push past him to dismiss him once more.

"Here's what I think: Joe's a jerk. He's a rattle snake," Jack said bitterly.

"You're right! And you know why a snake starts to rattle?" Davey asked.

"No, why?" Jack replied, though he hadn't meant it. Because he honestly didn't care.

"'Cause he's scared."

"Yeah, right."

"Go and look it up! The poor gUY's head is spinning!" Davey stepped to Jack and held his shoulders firmly.

"Why would he send for the goons, the entire army?" Davey reasoned, seeing Jack's resolve starting to slip. "Dozens of goon and the cops..."

He saw it. Saw the glint in Jack's eyes return and saw him finally start to understand.

"Ok you know," Jack relented, "You may be right!"

Davey looked at the ceiling and then to Les, Sarah and Katherine. He couldn't believe that the famously stubborn Jack Kelly actually listened to him.

"THANK YOU GOD!"

"If he wasn't afraid..." Jack started and Davey felt like he could cry all over again because things were beginning to look up again. His Jack was back.

"Exactly! He knows we're winning!" Davey replied excitedly and grabbed Jack's shoulders.

This was it.

They were back. And it felt so damn good. He needed this. They all needed this. Even Jack.

It was all Davey could do not to grab Jack and kiss him senseless. Luckily, Katherine stepped up and gave Jack a high five as if to say welcome.

"Get those kids to see," Sarah started to tell Jack before Katherine cut her off.

"We're circling victory!"

Les jumped up and hugged Jack tight. But Davey saw Jack's eyes on him. They would do this together, they would lead together. They would be ok. As soon as Les let go, Jack swept Davey up into a tight hug. Davey hugged back even harder. As Jack stepped back, he nodded at him.

Everything was okay. Jack's warm arms were around him again, and Davey felt like he could explode of happiness. Though of course he wouldn't.

This was utterly amazing.

Davey couldn't help a grin at Jack, and then he looked to the ones who had helped him in this messy situation. He needed to thank them for not giving up on Jack, and helping him. This was wonderful. Things were finally coming together once again. Once more.

"So watch what happens," Sarah said, linking her arm with Katherine.

Jack still looked scared. And Davey wasn't immune to the pit forming his stomach. "We're doing something no ones even tried," Davey said, pulling Jack in for another hug.

"And yes we're terrified, but I'll watch what happens." Davey whispered into Jack's shoulder, breathing in his inky, smoky scent. He didn't want to pull away, but he did let go.

"You can't undo the past," Jack whispered, trying so hard to forget the pain of a few days ago. Trying to look forward.

"So just move on." With those words, Davey caught Jack's attention again. He took Jack's hands in his and smiled at him, showing him it would all be ok. Proving to him they could do this.

Davey gave Jack's hands a gentle squeeze. He would be there for him, and he would always find a way to him. Just like he had this time. Despite everything happening.

"And stay on track."

This was something they needed to do. More than anything. And not just for the sake of the Newsies. No, for so many more people out there...

"Cause Humpty-Dumpty is about to crack!" Les said, skipping over to Katherine.

Davey looked into Jack's eyes, knowing this man would stand behind him and beside him no matter what. Believing in them as a team. "We've got the faith."

Sarah could see her brother falling deeper in love with this boy who she knew loved him back. But with Katherine, when she looked into the eyes of her best friend, she only saw a woman who loved her like a sister. But Sarah couldn't focus on such things. She tore her gaze away and looked at Les. "We've got the plan!"

"And we've got Jack."

Because despite the effort all of the boys were putting in, and all of the credit they were getting, Jack was really behind it all. The strike was his idea to begin with.

Jack Kelly was leading this union. And Davey was honestly so incredibly proud of him for this. Because things got rough, and Jack quit.

But they brought him back, because the boys meant so much to him.

Davey looked at him, at this boy who had stolen his heart, saw the resolve coming back and knew they could face the world and Pulitzer. The city just needed to watch.

"If they just watch what happens," Sarah said in a voice barely over a whisper, echoing her earlier words, and standing a little closer to Katherine. Davey nodded to his sister, encouraging her, silently pushing her forward.

Jack saw his friends, and Davey smiling and he knew his place now. Knew what he needed to do, knew where he needed to be. Jack untied his apron and tossed it on the ground. "We're back!"

"And I've got a date!!" Les said as he stepped up to be everyone's center of attention. That only made Davey roll his eyes and pull off his cap to smack Les with it.

"Now come on. Let's get going! The other boys are worried about you too," Davey said and gestured for everyone to start towards the exit.

They needed to get this show back on the road.