Davey and Les both exchange slightly nervous looks and shrug. Katherine looks a little nervous and starts bursting at the seams with questions.

"When did you see him last? Is he alright? Did the cops catch him? Is he breaking Crutchy out of the refuge?"

"Katherine!" Davey exclaims suddenly, "We have no clue where Jack is or what he's doing. All we know is that he's not here and he's really upset about Crutchy. Les and I were going to go look for him if you want to come with us. And I have an idea. What if we got all of the Newsies in New York together at a rally>"

"I would love to. And that sounds like a very good idea," Katherine says. David notices a small flicker of hope run through her eyes when she says that. He thinks how crazy Jack is for Katherine and is beginning to wonder if she returns the feelings. The way Katherine is suddenly very worried for Jack also makes him a little curious about her feelings for Jack. Katherine can only think of one incident that happened the morning before Crutchy was caught...

He had found her taking a walk again. This time through a different part of Manhattan. She had been getting some fresh air before work, and not wanting to face those reporters who didn't approve of what she was doing. She really had not wanted any company. But, of course. That's when she ran into him.

"Ey, Plumber. Didn't expect to see youse out yet. We's barely done anyting since ya wrote dat article," He had said in a bored tone as he walked up to her. Katherine had smiled a warm smile at him and he had returned it a little too much for her liking.

"You didn't tell me about any other plans you had, so I'm not itching to get into the office just yet," She had said defiantly. Jack had looked at her kindly and asked

"Mind if I join ya? I understand if ya want some space, but it's not every day I get to be with such a wonderful woman." Katherine had blushed and nodded her head. Jack had taken her hand and that time she had not yanked it out of his grasp. Jack had given her hand a gentle squeeze almost as if to say a silent thank you. He had taken her to a small restaurant called Tibby's. She had looked around to make sure no one she knew was there. Thankfully, no one had been there so she was not hesitant to sit down at a table with Jack. They had sat down and ordered. As soon as the waiter had left, Jack had looked her in the eye and said

"Tanks for everyting." Katherine had offered him a small smile and blushed a little bit.

"You're welcome. Let's just hope nothing happens to you and the boys as you keep striking." She had said kindly. She was only there to spread the success of the strike and nothing more. She remembered having nothing but a slight friendship feeling for Jack at the time. Katherine had wanted to help and that's all she had wanted to do. Her father would have hated that she even agreed to help them get the word across. Katherine was only in this to get noticed and nothing more. She wanted attention from the right people in the newspaper business. Not one of their newsies who she was rapidly becoming good friends with.

"Katherine, I'se wants to ask you a question," Jack had suddenly stated seriously, "Will you help me even if tings get rough? Cuz you'se an ace reporter and me, well, I'se de street rats dat no one cares about." Katherine's motherly instincts had taken over the minute Jack had said that. This boy was much more to her than a nobody. He was her friend and if she was being honest with herself, she was beginning to like him. As more than a friend. She reached across the table and gently squeezed his hand.

"Of course. I would be more than happy to help. I don't think you and the boys are street rats. In fact, you are some of the hardest workers I have ever known." Katherine had said and she had meant it too. Every single word. Jack had smiled at her and she knew he believed her words. Eventually, the food had come and they had eaten and discussed more details on the strike. As soon as they were done, Jack had laid a few coins on the table and hastily pulled Katherine outside. He had pulled her around a corner and she had looked at him with curiosity.

"Katherine, I've never loved a goil as much as I've loved you and yet I've only known you a couple a days. And I'se crazy about you. I knows you don't always feel da same way. I can tell, but now you know dat if another guy doesn't tell ya he loves ya. Ya can always remember me and this." To both of their surprise and shock, Jack had leaned down and kissed her. Katherine hadn't really kissed him back and he pulled away after a couple of seconds, slightly hurt by her actions. Katherine had smiled and gently leaned up and kissed his cheek. Intimacy was not something she was comfortable with, especially with Jack, just yet. That's when she had heard an unfortunately familiar voice ring through the narrow alleyway say

"I feel terrible for the girl who he just kissed. Mr. Kelly will never be able to forgive himself for the turmoil he will put her through. Oh to be kissed by such a disgraceful person as a street rat, what a shame. What a shame." Katherine had visibly cringed at her father's stinging words. Jack had run off, but before he did, he had shot her a sad look full of longing. Katherine shakes off the memory as she walks with Davey and Les down street after street, yelling Jack's name over and over. At that moment, she wishes she would have kissed him back. More than just a simple peck on the cheek, but a real kiss just like he had given her. She vowed to herself that next time they were alone, she would kiss him and confess that she loves him too. Katherine comes back to reality when she hears Les shouting

"The theatre! Davey! Katherine! Jack must be at the theatre. He has to be. Where else would he go? He's probably hiding from the cops!"

"Les, calm down! We'll check the theatre and see if he's there. We have to go there anyways to ask Medda about using the theatre for the rally." Dave exclaims, a little irritated by his brother's excited attitude. Katherine nods her head in agreement and they walk to Medda's. As soon as they walk inside, they can hear Medda's voice carrying up from a basement in the theatre. Katherine's eyes light up when she hears Jack's voice conversing with Medda.

"Jack!" Les exclaims quietly, but David clamps a hand over Les's mouth.

"Keep it down, Les. I get the feeling Jack came here to be alone and he won't be happy that we've found him." David says, explaining his reasoning. Les looks a little sad, but shrugs and nods in agreement. David walks down the stairs and sees Jack in a painting apron with a gorgeous mural behind him. Medda is standing and talking to him. Katherine can feel her heart thump excitedly in her chest when she sees Jack. She watches as David keeps talking to Jack and the two nearly get into a small argument. Suddenly, Les runs away from her and she runs after him. Les interrupts the conversation by asking if they have the theatre and Katherine watches as David scolds his little brother. Katherine scoots by to look at Jack. His face looks upset and he has a gorgeous mural behind him. He looks so stressed and his dark hair looks messed up under his hat. Somehow, Katherine can't take her eyes off of Jack. She shakes her head and forces herself to be sensible.
"Word is you wrote a great story,"(Dialogue by Harvey Fierstein) Jack mutters sarcastically. His dark hair looking a little unruly and his face covered in bruises from the earlier fight. Katherine thinks of breakfast this morning and ignores the comment.
"Are you okay?" Katherine asks looking at him, "You don't look so good."

"I just want to get away from you people," Jack says angrily as he turns a mural around, "See dis? Dis is Santa Fe. Soon as dis strike is ovah, I'm goin and not comin back."

"Why? This "Go West, Young Man" act is getting old," (Dialogue piece from Newsies by Harvey Fierstein) Katherine says sadly. She can't believe him. Why does Santa Fe look so much better than New York? She knows she will miss him terribly if he goes, so she is bound and determined to make him stay for good. David and Katherine bring up the idea of a rally and Jack turns it down immediately.

"I ain't put dose boys in danger again. It ain't fair to dem and it ain't fair to you. Just get outta here before Pulitzer puts us all through the ringer. " Jack says angrily and flips the gorgeous mural around revealing a shoe crushing a bunch of boys, "Dis is Newsies Square tanks to my big mouth. (Dialogue from Newsies by Harvey Fierstein) I ain't lettin dat happen again. Specs gave me a letter from Crutchy at the Refuge. Crutchy's been hoit so bad dat when I went to see him, he couldn't even come to da window. What if he don't make it? Den what am I supposed ta do?"(Dialogue in Newsies by Harvey Fierstein)

"How does quitting do Crutchy any good?" Davey asks pointedly. Jack stumbles briefly for words. "Exactly," Davey says and continues telling Jack a plan. After some brief discussion in the form of singing, Jack declares that he is willing to lead the strike again. They spit shake and Les says,
"And I've got a date!" (Dialogue by Harvey Fierstein) which earns him a laugh from Katherine and gentle slaps from Jack and Davey. Katherine smiles as they go their different directions. Maybe Jack isn't so bad after all.

AN:/ He's back! Yay! That part of the movie never fails to make me happy. :) I love how sweet Jack is to Katherine even though she isn't convinced about him yet. I also love putting Katherine on an emotional roller coaster ride. She has so many conflicting feelings especially right now. She kind of likes Jack and she kind of doesn't. I think it's fun to put in a story. What did you think of the added scene? It kind of reminds her that her father knows what she's doing. I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading. I have 21 reads currently which makes me so happy! Please review and tell me what you think. Enjoy the story and see you next week on Friday or Saturday.