I guess I should put a warning up here, because there's some violence in this chapter. It doesn't describe anything bad happening, someone just gets pretty hurt, but it's not life threatening!!!

***

"Whoa! Slow down!" Jack exclaimed, trying to make sense of Elmer's rambling. "What happened?"

"Me and Jo and Mush was goin' to Jacobi's and wese ran into some guys from Kingsbridge. They said they was here on 'business' and then they attacked us!" Elmer exclaimed, more slowly than he had the first time.

Jack thought for a minute before he talked, trying to decide what to do. "Where's Crutchie?"

"Upstairs helpin' Specs clean up the others."

"Are they hurt?"

"Jojo's fine. Mush got it pretty bad, but he'll be alright."

"Go up there and tell Crutchie that I want to talk to him," Jack ordered.

Elmer gave a quick nod. "I'll tell him to come down here to see ya."

"No. I don't want him to have to take the stairs, tell him I'll be up to talk to him."

Elmer nodded again and scurried up the stairs. Jack faced Spot who had been watching the scene quietly.

"What should I do?" Jack asked.

Spot looked at him in shock. "Youse askin' me what to do?"

"Spot, I hate admittin' it, but youse know what you're doin'. I wanna know what you'd do."

"Okay," Spot replied, folding his arms. "First, I woulda gone after 'em at the beginnin' when they stole from Sniper. Youse lettin' 'em get outta hand."

"I can't do anythin' bout that now. Why don't ya give me some advice that I can use?"

"Go talk to them. Whoever's in charge, find 'em and lay down the rules. Soon as possible."

"Alright, I will. Tell me if anythin' gets worse for you."

"It won't," Spot scoffed. "Wese showed 'em who's in charge. We'll be fine."

Spot stood from his chair and left the lodge, walking as confidently as always. Jack waited until he had left before he headed up the stairs to the boys' room.

"Hey there fellas!" He said, walking over to the small cluster of boys. Jojo, like Elmer had said, was a little banged up, but mostly unharmed. Mush, who was laying on his bed, wasn't so lucky.

He looked terrible. His lip was busted and his right eye had already swollen shut, in addition to the cuts that littered his cheeks.

"How ya feelin' Mush?" Jack asked, sitting next to him.

"I've felt better," Mush replied thickly. Jack gently brushed some hair out of Mush's eye and gave a small smile.

"I bet you have," he agreed. "Youse just get some rest, and I'm sure you'll be good as new in no time."

Jack got up and made his way to Specs and Crutchie. Elmer immediately took over Jack's spot as Mush relaxed against his pillow.

"How is he?" Jack asked quietly when he reached the two boys.

"He'll be fine. Just lie youse said, a little rest, and I think he'll be back to normal," Specs said.

"Good. Thanks for lookin' him over Specs."

"Nothin' to thank me for. I'm just helpin' my brothers."

"Wese still 'ppreciate it," Crutchie spoke up.

"You're welcome," Specs smiled, sitting back down on his bed to continue reading a book he'd gotten from the office.

"Elmer said ya had somethin' to say to me," Crutchie spoke quietly.

"Yeah, follow me." Jack led Crutchie out of the main room and to the end of the empty hall.

"What's this about Jack? Somethin' wrong?"

"Today I had Spot over for a meetin'."

"I thought I heard him downstairs!"

"Yeah, he was here. I had Race get him. I wanted to talk to him 'bout everythin' goin' on with the Bronx. He had an issue with 'em yesterday."

Crutchie listened to Jack intently as Jack summarized his meeting with the King of Brooklyn.

"So what do you want me to do?" Crutchie asked after Jack had finished.

"I want your advice."

"But you already asked Spot," Crutchie said, eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"I did, and Spot knows lots about this kinda thing since he's always pickin' fights, but you knows I trust youse more than anyone else. I want to know what you think 'fore I make up my mind."

"Gee, Jack, I'm flattered!" Crutchie grinned, Jack responding with a small laugh before they both grew serious again.

"I think..." Crutchie spoke slowly as he thought it through. "I think youse should have the meetin' in Bronx. They ain't leavin' us alone yet, theyse just gettin' worse. Somethin' must be wrong and I think wese should figure it out."

"Thanks Crutch," Jack said, starting to plan what he'd say when he got around to meeting with them.

"Maybe just run it by Davey real quick tomorrow mornin', just to be sure."

"Okay, but not 'cause I don't trust your advice, just 'cause you told me too," Jack said, following Crutchie back to the boys' room.

***

The next afternoon, the boys had all decided to stop by Jacobi's again after selling. Race had bought Mush something good to eat with all the betting money from the previous evening. The other boys were crowded together and several groans came from them as someone suggested that Elmer retell the story of the fight, which had been told and retold countless times in the past twenty-four hours.

Jack, Crutchie, and Davey were seated at a table several feet from the group as Jack told Davey about his talk with Spot.

"What do youse think? Should I go talk to him?" Jack asked after he finished.

"I don't know, what if it's something bigger than what we're seeing? We don't really want to get mixed up in that, do we?"

"The way I see it, wese already a part of what's goin' on," Crutchie responded.

"Yeah, theyse made us part of it," Jack agreed.

"But is going there going to help anything, or is it going to get us into more trouble?"

"I don't know, but sittin' round here ain't gonna do nothin' either."

"Jack, it sounds like you've already decided, I don't know why you're asking me," Davey said.

"I want to know how ya feel 'bout it. Remember the strike? Wese a team Dave, and I don't wanna do somethin' that youse completely against."

"If you want my opinion, I say that you don't go. That'll only make things worse. They haven't done anything that bad-"

"Yet," Crutchie interrupted.

Davey glanced at him, an eyebrow raised. "Yet," he allowed. "I say we just ignore it."

"What happens if it gets worse?" Jack asked skeptically.

"Then go talk to him, but for now, leave it alone."

Jack looked at Crutchie who shrugged. "Fine, I'll leave it alone. But if it gets bad, I'm headed straight to the Bronx and I'm gonna put an end to it."

***

Jack strolled down the street, ignoring all the disgusted and curious glances he received as he headed towards the Pulitzer mansion. When he reached Katherine's house he knocked on he door loudly, grinning as a butler opened the door with a disgruntled expression.

"Hello, sir," He said, nose wrinkled as he looked at Jack.

"I'm here to see Katherine," Jack said happily, ignoring the man.

"I'll be just a minute sir, please step inside." The man winced as Jack stepped onto the nice rug, having noticed how dirty his boots were. Jack glanced around the room, though he had seen it many times, he still couldn't understand how someone could live with such luxuries as children slept, starving, on the streets.

The butler reappeared with Katherine shortly after, like he'd said, and sent one more disgusted look at Jack before leaving him alone with Katherine.

"I don't think he likes me very much," Jack laughed.

"What's wrong Jack?"

"What do ya mean, 'what's wrong'?" Jack asked, still smiling. "Ain't ya glad to see me?"

"Of course I am Jack, but why are you here?"

"I just thought that maybe you'd like to go out today, see the city," Jack sent Katherine a charming grin, but she looked away with a small frown.

"I can't Jack, I'd love to, but I'm busy."

"Youse been busy all week! I haven't seen youse in forever!" He exclaimed.

"I know Jack and I feel awful about it, but I told you I wouldn't be able to see you as much the last time we talked. You said that it was fine, you said that you were happy for me and that you understood," Katherine reminded.

"I guess I didn't understand that youse was gonna stop seein' me completely. I didn't know that youse was gonna completely ignore me!" Jack exclaimed, clenching his hat in his hand.

"I'm sorry Jack, I love you. I know you might not see it right now, but I do. It's just that my career is important to me too, and right now I need to focus on that. Maybe come by sometime next week, I should have more time by then," Katherine said, though it was the worst thing she could've said.

"Ya know what, how about Ise just don't come by at all, does that sound better? Then youse can focus on your career, and Ise can stop wastin' time on a girl I never should've been with anyway."

Katherine's mouth dropped open. "What's that supposed to mean Jack?"

"I gotta go," he replied, tugging his hat back down onto his head. "Ise got a career to focus on too, cause unlike you, if I don't work, I don't eat."

Jack pulled the door open and left, slamming it behind him. Katherine stood watching the door silently.

"Finally that wretched boy is gone," her butler sighed as he appeared beside Katherine. Katherine shoved past him and raced up the stairs to her room, angry and a bit hurt.

***

Race had just had another great day at the tracks, not quite as successful as his previous evening, but he'd still won more than he lost, so he considered the day a success.

It was late afternoon as he left Sheepshead for the lodge. The streets were still pretty busy and normally that would have ensured that someone wouldn't get home until after dark, but Race had grown up on the streets of Brooklyn and knew all the shortcuts. He slipped down the narrow alley between two buildings, a path he knew well and one that he took nearly every day.

"Hey! You! Stop right there!" Race slowly turned around, smirking when he saw the three boys from the tracks.

"I missed you guys today! Where were you? I was lookin' forward to some more easy money!" Race taunted, tilting his chin up, blue eyes sparkling.

"We was here, waitin' for youse!" The red-haired boy exclaimed, his eyes narrowed.

"Sorry to have kept ya waitin'," Race laughed, still not sensing any danger.

"That's okay, youse here now."

"Well I'm sorry fellas, but Ise gotta get back to 'Hattan, the boys are expectin' me." Race stuck his cigar back into his mouth, smirk unfaltering.

"Youse shoulda thought of that 'fore you tricked us yesterday!"

"Now that's a very serious claim that youse makin'," Race said in mock sternness.

"Well it's true, you cheated us out of our money!"

Race quickly became serious, extremely offended by their claim. "I didn't cheat none of you youse outta nothin'! It was a fair bet. I never cheat."

"I'm sick of listenin' to ya." The boy turned to his friends, his face dark. "Let's get him, boys!"

Race's eyes widened as the boys stepped closer to him. He was a good fighter, but even he knew that he'd never stand a chance against the three of them. He took a quick step back before he turned and sprinted in the opposite direction. Race quickly turned left, then right, his hands grabbing corners as he flung himself around them.

He could hear footsteps behind him, though they remained far behind, growing quieter. He threw a quick glance over his shouder and smirked as he saw the boys falling back. He slowed down a bit, his breathing heavy, but that was a mistake. Within a minute they were gaining on him again.

Race turned his full attention back to running, he jumped over a barrel in his way, and knocked more cans and boxes to the ground as he passed them. He kept one hand on the cool bricks of the buildings, easily keeping track of where he was. His breathing was growing heavier, he was gasping for air, heart burning, but he knew he couldn't stop.

Another glance over his shoulder showed that only two boys were following him now. He had no time to wonder where the other had gone, he could only hope that he'd gotten tired and fallen behind. Race threw himself down another, narrower street. He knew exactly where he was, he couldn't have much more than a mile left to the Brooklyn Bridge, and once he got there, he was safe.

Race's legs burned as he continued at a sprint, but he forced himself to run even faster. A man stepped out of a door that opened into the alley. Race slid around him, bumping his shoulder and heard a shout a minute later as the two boys barreled him over.

The bag Race had slung over his shoulder, that was used to carry his papers, kept catching on his arm. He heitated for a second before pulling it over his head, off his shoulder, and throwing it on the ground behind him.

The sounds of the city were growing louder as Race drew closer to the bridge. He came to a fork in the path and quickly took the alley to the right. It led out onto the street that would take him to the bridge. He was so close. He started down it, but skidded to a stop, boots sliding across the ground, when he realized where the third boy had gone. He was coming down the passage from the opposite end. Race spun around and hurried back, taking the left fork, cursing at himself as he realized what their plan had been.

The end of this part of the alley was a solid wall. Race had known that. A frantic glance behind him showed that the boys were gaining, he had maybe twenty seconds. His only chance was the 'fire escape', which was missing nearly every bottom rung.

He'd have to jump and catch the first level, which was about seven feet off the ground. It was a stretch, but he knew it was his only escape at this point. He sped up as he drew closer, then leaped into the air, his fingers catching the edge of the dark metal. His hands slid against it, though he barely felt the cut that had split his palm.

Race began to pull himself up as quickly as he could. He was panting, his arms shaking with the effort after his several mile sprint. He lifted himself higher, swinging one of his legs up onto the fire escape, but his time had run out.

He startled as fingers wrapped around his other ankle, his arm grasping the bottom bar of the railing as the boy yanked at his foot, effectively pulling his body off of the landing. His arm was the only thing keeping him safe from the boys. Another hand latched onto his leg and he swung out with his foot, connecting with someone's head.

The boy cried out as one of his friends grabbed Race's waist. Race tried to use his free hand to pry the boys fingers away, but it was no use. A few rough tugs and Race's arm finally gave out, loosening its hold on the bar enough for the boys to pull him down. Realizing that Race no longer had a grip on the fire escape, the boy let go of him, allowing Race to drop a few feet to the ground.

Race landed on his knees, and tried to jump up, but the redhead was there and he shoved Race to the ground, before swiftly kicking him in the side. Race groaned as his hand gripped his ribs.

"C'mon, let's teach 'im a lesson," the boy cackled.

***

When the boys finally decided to leave, it had started to grow dark.

"That'll teach you not to mess with us," The redhead said as he and his friends left the alley, laughing.

Race groaned as he lifted his head off of the ground. His palms pressed against the cool ground as he slowly pushed himself onto his knees. He wasn't sure how long he'd been there. At the beginning he'd taken a few good blows to the head and he'd spent the rest of the beating drifting in and out of consciousness.

His mind felt fuzzy and he wasn't sure if it was just quiet, or if his hearing had been affected during the soaking. He was so sore, he couldn't find it in himself to really care. Race knew he wouldn't be able to stand on his own, so he dragged himself to the wall, his fingers gripping the grooves and cracks as he pulled himself up.

Race whimpered as he tried to put weight on his left leg. It was going to be a long walk back to the lodge. He slowly made his way down the alley and then out onto the street. It was mostly empty, only a few stragglers were still out, though none of them were willing to help him. Everyone in these parts knew to stay away from teenage boys who'd been beaten, helping out was a way to get yourself into trouble.

The walk to the bridge took him five times longer than it normally would have. By the time he made it across it was completely dark. Race yawned, his body was exhausted and it was finally catching up to him. He winced as his jaw clicked.

He was going to have a ball explaining this away.

***

I'm really excited for this chapter to be up, I was excited for this one! Not because I beat up Race, he's my favorite, but it's where we get some drama! The story really has begun!!!

Sorry again about the Jack/Katherine scene. I really can't write either of them, but hey, maybe this will help me improve.

Also, I didn't have tons of time to edit(we're fixing my house so we can move out) so this chapter gets pretty ducky, but oh well!

Thanks for reading!
-Anna