Jack had just finished putting a few of the younger newsies to bed when Crutchie hobbled into the cramped lodging room, his face as white as a sheet and completely void of all emotion. Glancing around to see that all of the kids were asleep, Crutchie beckoned for his best friend to follow him before going back out of the room. Jack's brow furrowed in confusion but he got to his feet anyways, following the crippled newsie out of the room. Specs, Race, Romeo, and Crutchie all greeted him with solemn faces, confusing him even more.

"What's goin' on, fellas? Did I miss somethin'?" Jack asked nervously, not surprised when none of the boys laughed. "It's the Delancey brothers. Oscar's here, and he wants to see you," Crutchie grumbled, making the other boys shift on their feet in discomfort. Jack's jaw clenched at the mention of every newsies' sworn enemy, and he folded his arms across his chest in slight defiance.

"What does he want?" Crutchie shrugged. "Dunno. But he don't look so good. He looks like he's been cryin' or somethin', and there's blood all over 'im," Crutchie said, a slight flicker of concern in his usually blithe eyes. Jack's eyes widened and he shoved past Crutchie, making his way to the entrance of the lodging house, knowing that the boys never would have let Oscar in if their lives depended on it. He hesitated slightly before pushing the doors open, gasping at the sight before him.

Oscar Delancey stood on the steps of the lodging house, his face pale and his eyes wide with terror. His hands hung limp at his sides, stained so red with blood they didn't even look like hands anymore. There was blood on his pants and shirt too, staining the garments with deep crimson splotches. He was breathing hard, like he had run a long way, his usually sleek black hair was wild and sticking to his forehead with sweat, and the light of the lamp posts made the tear tracks on his face glisten.

"J-Jack," Oscar croaked, stumbling forward a few steps before falling to his knees. He bowed his head, his shoulders shaking as he started to sob. "P-Please help! It's Morris! He's... It's... Oh God, please!" Oscar wailed, grabbing at his hair and bending forward so that Jack couldn't see his face. Shocked, the older teen grabbed Oscar by the back of his shirt and hauled him to his feet, wrinkling his nose slightly in disgust at the thought of aiding the enemy. But, he'd never seen Oscar like this. Ever.

"Slow down, okay? Just tell me nice 'n easy what's goin' on," Jack said calmly, trying to ease the shaking teen's anxiety. Oscar hiccuped a few more times before rambling off an explanation, telling Jack how Morris had gotten jumped. "We was comin' home from work, goin' to find a place to eat or somethin', and Morris and I was just talkin' about anything that came to our heads. Morris and I is real close, see. Anyways, everything was goin' fine until... u-until Morris noticed we was being followed. We started runnin' but he stopped to fight 'em off. I tried to help, I wanted to, but he told me to run. And I did, like a coward. I heard him screamin', and I could hear the knife goin' into him over and over again. It was so bad... There was blood all over the place! J-Jack, please help! He'll... He'll die!" When Oscar was finished he'd started sobbing again, burying his head in his hands.

Explains the blood. And maybe the crying, Jack thought, pulling Oscar gently into the lodging house. The other teen followed obediently, not saying a word. He only let out a few whimpers and sniffles on occasion.

"Specs, Race, Crutchie, get over here!" Jack called, pushing Oscar into a chair and sitting in the one next to him. Oscar was staring blankly off into space, murmuring softly under his breath and wringing his hands, tears still rolling down his cheeks. The three teens entered the room and they immediately bristled at the sight of the Delancey, snarls twisting their features. Specs even went so far as to stand in front of Crutchie and Racetrack protectively, his eyes narrowed.

"Ah, good! Specs, I need ya to go get a doctor. Remember, he lives two doors down from us? And be quick about it! It's an emergency!" Specs blinked in surprise at his leader's command, but gave a curt nod and raced past them out the open door behind them.

"Race, you's gonna come with me. Oscar and I'll need help carryin' Morris." Race pulled the the unlit cigar from his mouth, grumbling complaints and curses under his breath as he shoved it into his pocket.

"Crutchie?" Jack resisted the urge to smile as his best friend stood at attention when his name was called, looking all business. "You'll be in charge while I'm gone. Watch over the young ones. Got it?" Crutchie grinned and waved his hand in a sort-of newsie salute before turning to go back into the lodging room with the other newsies.

"Oscar, show us where Morris is," Jack said, turning back to the boy in the chair. Oscar looked up at Jack with wide, fearful eyes before bolting to his feet and sprinting out the door. Race and Jack ran as fast as they could to keep up with Oscar, not wanting to lose him in the inky darkness of the night. It had started to rain, and all three boys were drenched within seconds. Jack followed Oscar blindly as they entered a part of the city even he didn't know, squinting to keep the pesky water out of his eyes.

"Morris!" Oscar was calling, "Morris, where are ya?!" Jack watched with slight pity as Oscar came to a halt, looking around wildly in search of his brother. Oscar was breathing heavily, both from the run and from panic. He could've sworn this was where he left Morris! Looking at the ground confirmed this; the rain still hadn't washed away all of the blood on the pavement. They were in the right place. Oscar was starting to get frantic, twitching as he tried to decide which way to go. He couldn't lose Morris, not like this!

"MORRIS!" Oscar screamed to the heavens, his hands clenched at his sides. He failed. He failed to keep the one person he cared about safe. Oscar's shoulders started to shake and he gritted his teeth, fighting back the urge to scream again. He felt a hand grasp his shoulder and he hung hung his head in shame and grief. Jack gripped Oscar's shoulder tightly and was about to say something, anything, when the three heard a small come come from the alleyway beside them.

"I'm right here, Oscar..." a voice said softly. Oscar rushed into the alleyway and immediately spotted his brother curled up on his side next to the wall. Oscar fell to his knees and scooped Morris into his arms. The bleeding in his stomach and chest had stopped or at least slowed, but Morris face was paler than death, and Oscar could tell he was trying as hard as he could to stay conscious. Oscar blinked back tears and buried his face in his brother's mussed, damp, brown hair, glancing at the newsies before softly murmuring to his brother that everything was going to be okay. They were going to get him help, and he'd be okay. Jack and Race were shocked at the sensitivity displayed before them, but Jack quickly came to his senses and knelt at Morris' side.

"Morris, this is goin' to hurt, but we gotta move ya. Okay?" Jack said softly. Morris started to tear up in anticipation of the pain and managed to nod slightly, squeezing his eyes shut and trying to take slow, even breaths. Oscar let go of Morris and Race took his place. Race and Jack slid their arms under Morris' legs and grabbed each others' wrists. Morris slung his arms around both of their shoulders, wincing slightly. They put their arms behind his back and slowly, gently lifted him off of the ground. Morris let out a strangled gasp and his eyes shot wide open, filled with pain. Oscar's face paled and he looked away, as if he were about to vomit. Jack and Race moved as quickly as they could, trying their best not to jostle Morris as they made their way back to the lodging house.