It's really hard to see, but if you look closely you can see what I almost flew over. Any Come From Away fans? I freaked out when I saw the flight path!

Spot had finished selling, though it had taken much longer than he would have liked. It was late afternoon and he wanted some peace and quiet before he headed over to Manhattan. The boys there were always loud and out of control.

Spot headed for his dock and was surprised to see someone already there. A small boy was curled up on his side, his arms under his head acting as a pillow.

"What are you doin' here?" Spot growled, not recognizing the child.

The boy didn't move and Spot moved closer, nudging him with his foot. "Kid, wake up!"

The boy slowly sat up, his hands rubbing at his eyes. He blinked groggily and squinted as he looked at Spot.

"Why are youse sleepin' on my dock?"

"I-I'm sorry. I d-didn't know that this w-was y-your dock!" The kid hurried to his feet.

"Hey, calm down. I ain't gonna hurt youse," Spot said sternly as he took in the child's bruised face. "I just wanna know why youse out here."

The boy visibly relaxed and looked up at Spot. "It's my punishment."

"Your punishment? For what?"

"I didn't pay my dues. My dues is a dollah a week but Ise only gots eighty-two cents. Hook don't like it when ya can't pay your dues."

"Your from the Bronx?" Spot asked, crossing his arms.

"Yeah. Wish I weren't, but my brother says I gots to stay 'cause Hook don't like when ya leave even more."

"Then why ain't ya still in the Bronx? Ain't ya gonna get in trouble?"

"Nah, Hook said if Ise stayed there that I'd be punished. I gotta leave 'till I can pay him. That's why I'm here, ain't got no place to stay."

Spot paused, looking over the small boy. "Where's your brother?"

The kid shrugged, his lip beginning to tremble. "Bronx I guess."

"He ain't comin' with youse?"

"He ain't been punished. He probably don't know where I am." The boy shifted on his feet with a dejected look.

"Come with me kid, I've got someone who's gonna want to talk to ya."

The boy shook his head. "I'm not leavin' unless you do me a favor."

"I'll think about it," Spot said as he grabbed the boy's arm.

"No! Youse gonna help me or else I ain't goin'!"

"What do ya want?" Spot groaned.

"I want you to get my brother."

"Your brother? No, I ain't bringin' no Bronx newsie into Brooklyn."

"Please! He's my brother! I don't wanna be alone!" The boy begged. His blue eyes watered as he sent Spot a desperate glance. Spot tried to ignore him, he never gave in to other people unless absolutely necessary, but the longer he watched the boy the more his resolve cracked.

The boy's hat had tipped on his head revealing blond hair, and that was when Spot gave in. The child reminded him to much of a moment from his past for him to say no. "I'll send one of my boys to him when we get back. That good enough?"

The boy nodded, excitedly throwing his arms around Spot's waist. "Thank you!"

"Just stop your crying," Spot said, prying the boy's arms off of him. "What's your name kid?"

"Dimples," the boy said with a grin. It was obvious where he'd gotten his name from, his bright smile deepened the indentations on the corners of his mouth. "Are you Spot Conlon?"

"Yeah, that's me," Spot said proudly as he began to lead Dimples toward Manhattan.

"Where are we goin'?"

"'Hattan," Spot responded with an annoyed sigh. This was going to be a long walk.

"Why?"

"To talk to some guys that I know."

"Why are wese talkin' to 'em if theyse from 'Hattan?"

"'Cause I said so."

"Oh," Dimples paused, thinking for a second. "Have you ever killed anyone? 'Cause Splint told me youse killed lots of people."

"That ain't none of your business kid."

"But did ya?"

"Yeah, a couple," Spot said slowly, watching the boy's reaction out of the corner of his eye.

"Why? Was it for fun? 'Cause Hook kills people when he's bored."

"No, I don't do it for fun," Spot said, hiding his disgust.

"Then why do ya?"

"'Cause they was annoyin' little kids who asked too many questions," Spot said lowly. Dimples' eyes widened and his mouth snapped shut.

"Ise was kiddin'. I ain't gonna hurt youse. I ain't done nothin' more than soakin', but if youse tell anyone that, I'll have to soak ya." Spot hadn't meant to admit any of that, but the terrified look on the child's face made him feel guilty, something he hadn't experienced in a long time.

Dimples immediately began talking again and Spot held back a groan. For the first time he could remember, Spot was excited to get to Manhattan.

***

Spot headed up to the lodging house, Dimples holding his forearm tightly. When they had walked about half of the way to Manhattan, the boy had gotten brave. He had slowly reached up and grasped Spot's arm as he spoke excitedly about himself.

Spot slid his arm out of the boy's hold and reached up to open the door.

"Ain't ya gonna knock?"

Spot ignored Dimples and swung the door open. The chatter of the Manhattan newsies died down as he stepped inside.

"You sure wese allowed here?"

Again Spot ignored him as he turned to one of his favorite Manhattan newsies. "Buttons, where's Jack?"

"U-uh, upstairs I thinks."

"Thanks Buttons," Spot smirked as he headed for the stairs, Dimples close behind.

"Conlon, who's the kid? There somethin' you'd like to tell us?" Albert questioned from the corner.

"I'd suggest youse shut ya mouth or else I'll break ya nose," Spot said as he walked past the boy, not sparing him a glance.

Albert paled and sank back into his seat, the other boys laughing at him.

"Spot! Is we goin' to see Jack Kelly?"

"Yeah, why? Ya heard of 'im too?"

"My brother told me all 'bout him and the strike! Ise really gonna meet him?"

"Youse gonna talk to him too."

Dimples grinned in anticipation as they reached the top of the steps. Spot walked into the boys' room and saw Jack seated in the middle of the room speaking to Henry. Spot cleared his throat impatiently and the two boys looked up at him.

"What brings you here Spot?" Jack asked, eyes darting toward Dimples.

"I found this kid in Brooklyn, says he's from the Bronx." Spot nudged Dimples forward and Jack stood up, moving closer to the child.

"Youse from the Bronx?"

Dimples nodded, his eyes wide as he studied Jack.

"You got a name?"

"Yeah, I'm Dimples!"

"I'm Jack Kelly," Jack smiled. "What-"

"Enough of the small talk. I thought youse should talk to him, see what he knows," Spot interrupted as he leaned against one of the bunk beds.

"I knows a lot!" Dimples chirped. "Not school stuff. I only knows a little arithmetic, not multiply or divide, and Ise learned some readin', but I knows other stuff!"

"Do ya know anythin' about Hook?" Jack asked.

"Not one to beat around the bush, is ya?"

"Youse said no small talk!" Jack hissed.

"That don't mean ya come out and say it!"

Dimples ignored the argument, choosing to answer his hero's question. "'Course I do! He runs Bronx!"

"That it?" Spot asked in disappointment.

"He's mean," Dimples said quietly. "He gets real mad sometimes." The boy's hand drifted to his cheek which held a dark bruise.

"What makes him mad?" Jack asked, sitting down on the bed and patting the seat next to him.

Dimples sat down and gave a small shrug," Just about everythin'. He likes hurtin' people, so he makes up reasons to be angry. 'Least that's what my brother told me."

"Do you know why he's been hurtin' our boys? Why does he want to have Manhattan so bad?"

"Ise don't really know. Me brother won't tell me much, just that it's about money." Dimples picked at a loose thread on his shirt, watching as it unraveled.

"Don't do that, you'll ruin the shirt," Spot said as he grabbed the boy's hand. Jack raised an eyebrow at the King of Brooklyn, observing the soft look on his face.

"Spot, let's talk for a minute."

Spot hesitated, but gave a nod. "Dimples, head downstairs and talk to some of the boys. If ya see a boy with a crutch, he's good. Most of 'em are alright, but stay away from Albert," Spot coached.

"How will I know which one's Albert?" Dimples asked as he stood up.

"Albert's the redhead that talks too much for 'is own good."

Dimples nodded seriously and left the room. Jack immediately turned his attention back to Spot.

"Playin' mother, are we?"

"Shut it Kelly. Youse just as bad around the Mouth's brother."

"Les? No I ain't."

"Yes you is Kelly. Ise seen you," Spot argued.

"Yeah, well youse Spot Conlon. You ain't nice."

"Ya want me to hit the kid?"

"No, Ise just think it's cute that youse all carin' about him," Jack teased.

"I'm not carin' for 'im, I'm just helpin' him 'till we finds his brother."

"So youse gonna talk to his brother?" Spot nodded. "Bring him here, I wanna hear what he knows too."

"When Ise find him you can come to Brooklyn to see him."

"I don't wanna go to Brooklyn," Jack complained quietly.

"If youse wanna talk to the brother, youse comin' to Brooklyn. Wese might be workin' together, but I ain't inconveniencin' myself 'cause you want somethin'."

"Fine," Jack groaned. "Let me know when youse finds him."

"Sure thing Jacky boy." Spot firmly shook Jack's hand and left the room.

Dimples was seated by Mush and Buttons, Elmer was showing him a card trick.

"C'mon Dimples, wese leavin'."

"But it was the best part!" Dimples whined.

"Don't worry kid, I'm sure you'll be back," Race said, giving the boy a grin.

Dimples hesitated, but nodded and got up to stand near Spot.

"See ya Dimples!" Ike said.

"Don't forget what wese taught ya!" Albert smirked.

"Yeah, remember that if ya wants to sell good, ya gotta smile just like I showed ya!"

"Shut up Romeo!" Jojo groaned.

"I'm just tryin' to help!" Romeo defended as Spot rolled his eyes and pulled Dimples out of the lodge.

"Youse gonna go get my brother now, right?" Dimples asked.

Spot stuffed his hands in his pockets, shaking his head. "I ain't doin' nothin'."

"But you promised! Youse said-"

"I know what Ise said. I ain't doin' it. When we get back to Broooklyn I'll send one of my birds out to find 'im."

Dimples sighed but gave Spot a reluctant nod. "Okay, I guess that's fine."

"I wasn't askin' if ya thought it was alright."

Dimples was silent for a minute. "Don't you need to know what my brother's like if youse gonna find him?"

"I ain't lookin' for your brother, so I don't need to know anythin' about him. You'll tell my bird."

"I'll tell you too! You're gonna love him! He's real smart and brave and-"

Spot let the boy continue for a minute before groaning. "Youse plannin' on talkin' about him for forever?"

"I likes talkin' about me brother," Dimples said.

"Why?"

"'Cause he's my brother."

"Kid, he let Hook throw you outta Bronx. He ain't helpin' ya. Ain't ya angry?"

"Nah, I'm sure he's got a reason," Dimples spoke without concern, not even entertaining the idea that his brother would abandon him.

"Why are you trustin' him so easy kid?"

"I'll always trust him! He's my brother! I know he wouldn't abandon me, wese a team!" Dimples rolled his eyes and continued, "Gosh, you don't know much 'bout family. Ain't you got a brother?"

"No," Spot answered quickly as he looked away.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. I did have a brother, but now Ise don't. He's dead."

"I'm sorry," Dimples said quietly.

"Don't be kid. It was a long time ago. I don't even remember him." Spot brushed Dimples off as the small boy placed a comforting hand on Spot's arm.

"You can always get new brothers. Brothers don't always gotta be blood relation. Theyse can be anyone who cares about youse."

Spot looked down at the child who stared up at him with kind blue eyes. A similar pair of eyes flashed in his mind and he gave the kid a small smile. "Yeah, I know. I gots one of those."

***

I just want to thank all of you so much for reading, reviewing, and voting for this story. I really didn't expect much feedback, especially so much positive feedback. I've always been extremely critical and self-conscious, so this really means a lot. Thank you!!!

Also, I thought I'd throw in some pictures from my trip in case anyone wanted to see them. So far we've done London and I got to Paris four hours ago.

Sorry there's so many! I couldn't decide what to show!!!

Thanks for reading!
-Anna