An angry Denton was not what the newsies signed up for.

"You can't go."

The phrase they had unanimously decided to avoid at all costs.

Bryan Denton was a reporter, which meant he often had to leave 17-year-old Kayleigh with the newsies.

Usually, this was fine, but now he would be gone for 2 weeks in Maine.

That was too far for Kayleigh.

-

Jennifer had tried reasoning with her.

"It's only for two weeks," Jennifer had said yet again. "He's been away longer."

"Never this far away," Kayleigh had insisted.

That failed.

-

Ella had tried comforting her.

"He'll be back for you know it," she consoled.

"No, he won't," Kayleigh snapped, not to be treated like a child.

That failed.

-

Les and Jane had tried to distract her.

They had begged for a story, and that had kept Kayleigh busy for about an hour. Then she went and paced in another room. 

That failed.

-

Luna tried to snap her friend out of it.

"I ain't got a father," she said. "He left. You're lucky."

Kayleigh gave her a sad look and went back to pacing.

That failed.

-

Finally, the newsies and friends decided Jack should try.

Jack just opened his arms, and the two just hugged in silence.

Kayleigh fake yawned.

"I'm tired, Jack," she whispered.

"Alright, Ace. Go to sleep," Jack replied, and left her alone.

Kayleigh smiled slightly.

She would follow her father, if it was the last thing she did.

-

Jack knocked on Kayleigh's door again.

"Kay, come out. It's 9 in the mornin'."

Jack pushed the door open and found the window open, the bed not slept in.

Jack cursed. Kay had left anyway.

-

Three weeks later, Kayleigh returned, her father with her. Jack refused to speak to her for all of two hours, like a two-year-old angry with his sister.

Finally, Kayleigh stuck up behind him, up on the roof. She hugged him from behind.

"Love you, Jack."

"Love you, Ace."

That made her want to stay.

That worked.