~Katherine POV~
"Looks like you'll die a happy man then, Kelly." I hear Oscar Delancey say, menacingly. He stands next to Morris. They both have brass knuckles on. I squeeze Jack's hand. His jaw clenches-something he does when he's angry.

"What do you want?" He snaps angrily. Medda stands to the side, shocked.

"You. In the refuge. Where you belong. Convict." Morris snarls.

"He ain't a convict!" Race yells.

"Oh yeah? Well then why did we catch him stealing food?" Oscar growls, smirking.

"He wasn't stealing for himself! He was stealing for those kids you two always beat up!" I speak up. Jack looks at me. A look that says 'stay out of this. I don't want you getting hurt again.' I just roll my eyes.

"SOAK 'EM FOR CRUTCHIE, SPOT, DAVEY, AND LES!" Buttons yells. Everyone follows his instructions, jumping in the Delanceys. Jack lingers next to me.

"Stay outta this Ace. I don't need you gettin' hurt again. Please." He says, tears in his eyes. I nod. He walks over to the scuffle. The newsies look like they're winning. "Just take me. Stop hurting these boys and take me. Do it." Jack says, holding out his hands.

"Look at that. He wants to play nice." Morris chuckles.

"Keep battering me like that and I'll play mean real quick. Just take me." Jack says, getting angry.

"Jack, what're you doin'?" Romeo asks, worried.

"I don't like seein' you'se get hurt. I don't like seein' Katherine get cut with a knife by these boys right here." He says, gesturing to Morris and Oscar. "Get back to the lodging house safely and get Katherine home. Do it for me, okay?" He says. I feel tears in my eyes. It's not long before the spill out and down my face.

"If you take him, you'll have to take me." I say, getting up and taking a stand. The Delanceys look at me and laugh.

"Little miss Pulitzer, trying to be a hero. Well ya never will. Cuz you is a girl. And, if we took ya, what would ya father think?" Morris laughs. I glare at him, through my tears.

"If you take him, you'll have to take me." I say, more defiantly. Jack's eyes seem to be pleading with me to stop.

"And me!" Mush yells.

"And me!" Yells Race.

"And me!" Romeo shouts.

"And all of the rest of us!" Buttons yells.

"Guys, GUYS! As much as I appreciate this, I need you all to stay here. Let them take me. Please." Jack says. I start to open my mouth but he shoots me a look and continues. "I love all of you'se, but I need to know you'se is safe. Stay here." He pleads. The Delanceys take a firm grip on his wrists. They start to lead him out.

"WAIT!" I yell. They turn. "At least let us say goodbye." I say. The brothers shrug and let him go, but keep him under a hawks eye watch. The boys all run up and hug him. They depart and I run up to him and jump in his arms. I smash my lips onto his, one last time. "I love you." I say quietly.

"I love you too Ace. Stick to the plan and I'll see you again real soon." He says.

"For sure?"

"For sure." I kiss him once more and then the Delanceys lead him away. As soon as they do, I break down into sobs and the boys, along with a still dazed Medda comfort me. Some of the boys are crying. They escort me home and then go back to the lodging house. I pass my father on the way to my room.

"How was your day, Katherine?" He asks. Knowing Jack's being in the refuge is all his fault, I ignore him and walk to my room, slamming my door and flipping on my bed. I let the tears fall as I cry myself to sleep.

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~Crutchie POV~
I hope they're coming to save us. The refuge is not a good place. We ain't seen Davey since they dumped us here. Les is terrified. We try to comfort him, but it just doesn't work. He's scared over the fact that we don't know where Davey is. They beat him up pretty bad, I hope he's hanging on. I know Jack and the Brooklyn newsies will rescue us soon. They have to. Jack and I are brothers. Plus, Jack couldn't get caught. He's smart, right? I hear the door to the refuge creak open and slam shut. Then I hear them Delanceys talking. Another new arrival. Hopefully not from Manhattan or Brooklyn. All of a sudden, Les screams and runs towards the door.

"Les! Get back here kid! Don't go running into people!" I yell, desperately trying to get him to come back. It doesn't work. I see his small figure jump onto one of the taller figures. "Les! Stop! It's not worth beating them up anymore, kid!"

"No, Crutchie! It's Jack!" He yells. My jaw drops. Jack Kelly, here!? He can't have failed to rescue us...he just can't have. He's Jack! He never fails, never admits defeat, never surrrenders. How could he be here? I try to get up, to hobble to Jack, but as soon as I stand, I fall. Spot comes up to me.

"I'll get him over here, Crutchie. Don't hurt yourself more." He says. Spot's really a nice fella. He seems intimidating when ya first meet him, but he's a softie. I nod. Spot gets up and soon enough, a slightly bruised Jack comes up to me, carrying Les. Jack sees me and basically drops Les, rushing over next to me. He hugs me.

"Oh my gosh, Crutch!" He says, genuine surprise and sadness laced in his voice. "What'd they do to ya?" He says, squeezing my shoulder.

"They only beat me once. It's okay Jack, it's Davey we gotta worry about." I say.

"Only once! Can you even stand, or walk!?" He asks. I shake my head. "Oh Crutchie! I'se is so sorry we didn't come sooner!" He says, regret on his face.

"It's okay Jack. Did you guys find Katherine?" I ask, suddenly remembering how she was hurt.

"Yeah, we's found her. She was hurt, but not as bad as you." He looks around. "Where's Davey?"

"We's ain't seen him since they brought us here." Les says, starting to tear up at the thought of his brother. Spot puts a hand on his shoulder. Then Jack pulls him onto his lap. Les is crying now.

"How bad is he hurt?" Jack asks.

"Real bad. It was real bad before we got here. I can only imagine it's worse now." Spot responds.

"I think I know where he is." Jack says. Les looks up hopefully. "I'll be back soon. If I'm not, Davey will be." He says. "Keep this secretive though guys. The boys have a plan. They're gonna bust us outta here. Stay put and don't put up a fight. I'll be back." He says before he gets up and leaves. He goes around the corner and disappears.

"I hope he find Davey." Les says.

"So do I, Les, so do I. I also hope they'll both come back alive. I think I know where he went." I say.

"Where?" Spot asks.

"The dungeon." I mutter quietly.

"What?" Les asks, looking scared. "What's the dungeon?"

"It's a cell. In the basement. I don't know how to get there, but I'm sure Jack does, cuz he's been down there. It's where they take the kids they really don't like. They can beat 'em more down there without anyone seeing and stopping it. The bulls don't know about it, otherwise this place wouldn't be here."

"So that's where they took Davey? Down there to hurt him?" Les asks.

"Probably, kid." Spot responds. Les starts crying again and I give him a hug. There's a bang and some distant yells. Wonder what that could be.

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1336 words

A/N
I like this chapter. Crutchie was harder to write in because I think his accent isn't as strong as Jack's. Thanks for reading!!

🗞~K