- Chapter 57 - Sick, but Still Smart -
Warnings: Sickness?
Canon Era
Third Person POV

Requested by the lovely skitts_kiel who also thought of the idea.
Also, I need a ship name for Knobs and Dice cause my best one is Knice (pronounced nice) lol.

Knobs stumbled into the Lodge.

The boys all look up at him.

Knobs face was pale, his eyes glossed over like he was going to cry, and his knees were shaking, looking (and feeling) so weak that they might collapse under him.

"I think I- need to..." the boy's voice sounded weak and groggy. "Rest..." he didn't finish the word when he started falling.

Henry and Finch shot up, almost knocking each other over when they caught him.

Knobs wasn't as pale as some of the other boys, but his skin wasn't dark. It wasn't tan either, and it was winter.

Jack shoots up. "Specs," he starts.

Specs was already running to grab medicine and stuff.

"Boot, Blink, go get Davey please." Jack tells them, taking Knobs' hand. "Wear extra layers, it's freezing out, and I want Mush going with you as well." He states.

The three boys nod, grabbing their stuff and leaving the Lodge.

"Henry, Finch, upstairs please." Jack tells them, letting go of Knobs' hand.

His skin was freezing and his lips were turning blue.

Jack turns to face the other boys.

He looks between them. "Who can I send to Brooklyn?" He mutters to himself.

Race immediately stands up. "I'll go. I'll get Dice and get them here quickly." He tells Jack.

Jack looked conflicted as he looked at the younger boy.

"I'll wear extra layers." Race tells Jack, a bit of pleadingness in his voice. "Please, Jack. We have to get Dice here quickly and I know all of the backroads." He reminds him. "I can navigate them and figure out which ones will be quickest and warmest."

Jack sighs. "Fine, but I want Albert and the twins going with you." He states, leaving no room for argument.

Race nods, grabbing multiple layers.

Albert hands him a shirt and socks (that were Albert's) for extra protection and Race took them without argument.

Jack stops him as he tries to leave. "Be careful, Racer." He tells him softly. "I don't want you hurt, and I can't have my second freezing on me." He states.

Race goes to respond.

Jack pulls him into a hug, cutting him off. "I love him too much for that to happen." He whispers.

Race hugs him back. "I'll be back in a bit. Some of the backroads may be a bit dangerous, but I know some people and some of them block the wind," he explains.

Jack nods.

He watches them run off.

Jack sighs, heading upstairs.

One of my medics, and kinda sorta therapist-

Jack stops himself.

I guess he is kinda a therapist, now that I'm thinking about that.

Anyway, one of my medics is the one needing medical treatment right now.

Jack sighs worriedly as he enters the room.

Specs had covered Knobs in as many extra blankets that they had, including his (Knobs') own.

Knobs was sweating, but the good thing was that his lips were back to their warmer color and his breathing looked less labored.

Jack sits across from Specs, Finch, and Henry.

Specs was on his knees next to Knobs' bunk, while Finch and Henry sat on the bunk behind him.

"How's he doing?" Jack asks, his eyes studying Knobs for any sign of something concerning.

Specs bites his lip. "I don't know." He answers slowly. "He doesn't have any bruises or stuff, and doesn't look to have hypothermia." He explains. "But he's not waking up, he seems sick, and his breath finally calmed down and looked less forced," he informs Jack.

Jack nods, his arms on his knees, his hands crossed.

A few minutes later, Davey ran upstairs.

Jack stares at him, his eyes slightly wide. "Did you come without snow stuff?" He asks, a bit concerned.

Davey looks at him. "Who do you think I am?" He asks, a bit shocked Jack would think he would do.

Jack nods. "Probably shouldn't have asked," he comments.

Davey nods with an obvious look on his face, sitting down next to Jack on the bunk.

"What's happening?" Davey asks Specs softly, his voice quiet.

Specs hands him a warm cloth. "Put that on one of Knobs' hands." He instructs him calmly.

Davey nods, taking Knobs' left hand softly and placing the cloth over it.

Specs whispers what he knew and what had happened so far to Davey.

Jack just sat there, biting his fingernail as his mind buzzed like a bees hive of his thoughts.

He was snapped out of his thoughts by someone smacking his hand out of his mouth.

He looks up in protest.

Race was smiling, amused. "I've wanted to do that since you started doing it to me," he laughs softly.

Jack rolls his eyes, smacking Race with his (Jack's) hat and not even trying to hide his smile.

"Wait..." he starts softly as he puts his hat back on. "You're already back?" He questions. "Is Dice-"

Dice kneels down next to Specs, their eyes worriedly looking over their boyfriend. "What happened?" They ask.

"He stumbled into the Lodge, muttering something like 'I need a rest' and then passed out." Specs informs the Newsie softly. "I think he's sick."

"Good guess." Dice chuckles weakly, trying to offer a small smile, but their worries were obvious.

Specs pats his back softly. "We'll leave you and Jack with him." He says quietly. "If you need us, just shout."

Dice nods, sitting next to Knobs on his bunk.

Davey kisses Jack's forehead softly, before leaving with the other boys.

Dice takes Knobs' hand in their own, pressing it gently against their forehead.

His hand was cold, but not too cold.

Considering Dice liked the cold, it was the perfect temperature to them.

Knobs was perfect to them.

Everything the boy did and how he looked and everything about him was perfect to Dice.

"It's hot..." Dice's head shot up when they heard a soft mumble and whimper.

Jack's head shot up as well.

"Who left me with fifty blankets?" Knobs mutters, his glossed eyes staring at the blankets. "The others need them." He tries to weakly push them off of him.

Dice chuckles, relieved. "You bean..." they whisper softly, closing their eyes as they just held his hand to their forehead. "You went and got sick on me."

"I tried to come back, but the walk was longer than I remember..." Knobs whispers slowly, his eyes soft. "I remember having a hard time walking." He scratches his head softly.

Dice chuckles, taking Knobs' hand and pressing a soft kiss to his hand. "I love you, K." They whisper.

Knobs smiles. "I love you, Dicer." He whispers, resting his forehead against Dice's.

Dice smiles. "Thank you for trying to take a break." They mutter. "It makes it easier to help you when you know your limits and don't try to push yourself." They sneak a small glance at Jack.

The Manhattan leader rubs the temples of his forehead. "The fact that I know exactly who that was targeting..." he mutters, trailing off.

Dice and Knobs laugh softly, their foreheads still touching.

"Can I hold you so we can sleep, Mon Trésor?" Dice asks, gently snaking their arms around Knobs' waist.

Knobs nods, leaning into their lover's touch slightly, and closing his eyes.

Dice lays on the bed with their boyfriend, their arms still wrapped around his waist.

Jack gets up. "We'll check up on you two soon." He informs them, straightening his vest. "For now, I'll let you two rest, and go get cuddles from my boyfriend, who I miss because his parents don't want him selling when it's this cold." He mutters.

Dice and Knobs chuckle softly.

"Love you, Jacky." Knobs whispers, his hand clinging to Dice's, his eyes closed, and his head against Dice's shoulder.

Dice chuckles, pressing a soft kiss to their boyfriend's cheek, their arms still around his waist.

Jack smiles, leaving the room.

The two boys fell asleep soon after.

1376 Words
I have many requests lol, so bare with me. (Not stressing about this.)