Guys I am so incredibly sorry. Like... oof. I did not mean for this to happen.

But hey! We're here! It's done!

I'm not gonna ramble because you've been waiting too long already.

So here, I give you the final chapter of my most beloved fic, One More Year.

~TH~

Jack's brain felt like it had been stuffed with cotton balls. The tube that was breathing for him was uncomfortable but he was promised that it would be removed soon. He had recovered remarkably, or so they told him. He had been so in and out the last few days he couldn't exactly remember. He just knew that if he felt this bad after nearly a week of recovery then he was glad he couldn't remember.

The hand in his was a constant and welcome presence, even as his brother slept. He may not be much for physical contact, but this was Charlie. This was his brother. Even if Crutchie wanted to go somewhere, Jack had no intention of letting him go anytime soon.

His mind couldn't help but wonder what would happen next. He had been surviving for so long. He wouldn't go back to the Spider. Not that he wanted to. He didn't. But it also complicated things. Where would they send him? From his experience, nowhere good. One thing was for certain, he wouldn't leave Crutchie. Not again. They'd run if they had to. They would. Forget filing for custody. He'd do what he had to to be with his brother. But then there was Race. Could he just... leave him? He didn't want to, but if it was the only way to keep Charlie safe...

"Jacky?" The quiet voice mixed with the light squeeze of his hand brought Jack out of his thoughts. Crutchie smiled, "Thinkin' too much?" He asked lightly, "We both know ya always think too much."

He wanted to respond but the stupid tube down his throat hindered that. Free hand waving slightly, he signaled for something to write with. Charlie was quick to pull a pad of paper from under the bed, still keeping tight hold of Jack's left hand.

A knock at the door had them both looking up, Jack subconsciously squeezed his brother's hand.

"Uh, hey." Race stood awkwardly in the doorway, shifting from foot to foot. He knew that his friend had come and gone the last couple of days along with Spot, Medda, and he had a vague recolection of Davey and Katherine even showing up but he wasn't sure if that was real or a hallucination.

Charlie smiled, "You can come in y'know."

The boy in the doorway offered a shy smile before dragging the chair by the window over to the bed.

"How're ya feelin'?" Race finally asked.

Jack shook his hand in a "so-so" manner.

"You look better than before at least." Tyler shrugged.

The boy in the bed smiled at that, finally picking up the pen Charlie had given him.

"What happened?" He wrote with a shaking hand. He had yet to ask. Not that he had been lucid enough to comprehend before now. And as much as he loved Charlie, he didn't know much of the events leading up to Jack lying in a hospital bed. That's why he was glad Tyler was here.

Race let out a breath of a laugh, "Which part?"

"You okay?" As if the hospital wouldn't have checked him out too. But still. It was a place to start. He vaguely remembered Race clutching his hand when he had woken up the first time. The panic he felt when he didn't know if Race was even alive.

"I'M fine, YOU'RE stuck in the hospital." he laughed but there wasn't much humour in his voice.

Jack shrugged.

"Snyder?"

Race's face darkened as Charlie clutched his hand.

"He's gone."

Jack's eyes widened, "Dead?"

"No,"

"Unfortunately." Charlie muttered.

"But the police got 'im. And they don't take kindly to kids being stabbed." Race's tone was light but his face was dark.

"Charlie ok?"

Crutchie tapped him lightly, rolling his eyes. "I'm right here."

But Race smiled again and that was worth his brother's fake grumble. "Yeah he's fine. Just worried 'bout his big brother."

Now the question he was most anxious to ask. "Where'll I go?" He hoped it got the point across. Writing shouldn't be this exhausting.

Charlie looked away and Race looked slightly uncomfortable. So no place good then.

Another knock at the door and Jack had to force himself to relax.

Medda walked in, a soft smile on her face. Spot followed, arms crossed, looking like he would clock anyone else who tried to get in. His presence was surprisingly calming.

"How are you feelin', baby?" Medda smile approaching the bed.

Jack shrugged. The longer he'd been awake the more he hurt. Not bad, just a dull ache... everywhere. Overall he was just tired. Completely and utterly exhausted.

"I'm sure you'll be back to your full self in no time!" She responded cheerfully.

Medda glanced down at the paper in Jack's lap, causing the boy to suddenly feel slightly self conscious. But Medda had done so much for him he didn't want her to think he didn't trust her. So instead of moving the paper away, he moved it so she could see it better.

She smiled softly, "Maybe I can help you answer that last one."

Jack shrugged again, feeling the knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach.

"I've talked to your Social Worker and we've discussed the options. You clearly can't go back with that nasty man. He'll never have a child in his home even if he doesn't die rotting in prison."

Race snorted at that, crossing his arms and mumbling something under his breath.

"And you can't go back to the group home because of..." Jack glanced at Charlie who had tensed. "Previous issues." Medda finished tactfully.

"That left you with an out of city placement-"

"They can't do that!" Charlie protested suddenly, sounding angry and on the verge of tears. "This is his home!" Jack was inclided to agree. It looked like he'd be running away with Crutchie afterall. Just as soon as they took this stupid venalater out.

"But that's only if they couldn't find another placement."

That offered no consolation at all. Jack sank into the bed, feeling the despair well up inside of him. No one would take him. Who would want a broken, beaten down seventeen year old with a history of violence.

"And luckily we found a place."

Jack raised his eyebrows at that. He didn't have high hopes for a good home. But he really just didn't want it to be another single man. But really he just needed a place to keep his head down until he turned eighteen. He could sneak over to see Charlie when he needed to and-

"So you and Charlie will be coming home to stay with me for a while- hopefully permantly."

There was utter silence in the room as the words sunk in.

Wide eyes turned to Race. Tyler was smiling truly happy. He hadn't been quiet earlier because of bad news, but because he wasn't allowed to share the good news.

"Me too?" Crutchie whispered, voice full of wonder.

"That's right! We've got it all worked out. We can go get your stuff later today or we can wait until Jack is out of the hospital. Your former... guardians," she said the word with clear distaste, "Have been informed."

"But we can stay together? Both of us? In the same house? With you?" The younger brother still had a tight hold on his hand and Jack could feel him vibrating with excitement.

"Sorry boys, you're stuck with me." She said with a laugh. Her smile faded slightly as she looked at Jack. "Oh, baby, are you okay?"

Jack hadn't even realized he was crying but now felt the warm tears staining his face. He nodded as emphatically as he could with the tube down his throat. With a shaking hand he wrote in all caps, "THANK YOU".

She smiled in a way only Medda could, her voice soft and maternal. "Of course, Jack."

"So I guess we're brothers now." Race smiled, giving a light whack on Jack's leg.

A smile pulled around the tube.

"I don't want ta have to come breakup fights 'tween the two of you." Came Spot's voice, still leaning against the doorway, but his lips were upturned in a rare smile. "I know Race is a lousy roomate but you'll just have ta learn to live with 'im."

"Hey!" Race called, throwing an empty paper cup at him. Spot only smirked.

A vibration caused Race to roll his eyes, pulling out Jack's phone from his pocket. He should be surprised that Race had it but at this point he couldn't find it in himself to care. "It's from Katherine." He said, glancing up. Jack raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Oh! Right! The panic came on quickly. The project! He had completely forgotten! What day was it? Katherine was going to kill him!

"She says- hey! She says you guys got an A! She hopes you feel better soon and to let her know if you need anything."

"Ooh, who's Katherine?" Charlie asked, wagging his eyebrow at him. "Wait is that that pretty girl who came to visit?" Jack rolled his eyes.

"Yeah let's wait 'til they take the vent out. There's too much to write." Race teased.

"So a serious girl, huh? Very interestin' Jacky. That must be why she kissed ya."

Jack felt the brush creep up his face and swatted his brother away, finally letting go of the hand, but not in a malicious way. He just finally felt truly comfortable in the room with these people. He looked around, almost glad he wasn't required to say anything. He wasn't sure that he could.

A new feeling rose up in him. A new idea sparked that he hadn't thought or felt in... well ever. And he suddenly knew with stark certainty that things were going to be okay. Jack looked around the room and realized that for the first time he had a family. He'd always had Charlie but this. This was a family. A place where he wasn't the only caretaker. There were people to take care of him. He was loved by people who had no reason to love him.

He had been focusing on surviving one more year before escaping this life but now he didn't have to. He wouldn't have to survive the last year of his teens. He was surrounded by a family who loved him. Even if they still kicked him out at eighteen, which he knew Medda wouldn't, it would be okay. This last year was going to be filled with love and hope and life. This last year was gonna be awesome. 

~TH~

And that's that!

I was gonna have two more chapters after this but when I read my outline for them I realized it was really pointless. I was gonna have like a bittersweet ending but then asked myself why I would make things worse when I could just end it here on such a happy note!

I really hope you guys enjoyed this!

It was really my quarantine project. It was what I used to help me get through it so when I went to back to a busy life I had trouble keeping it up. Then I dropped back form the Broadway/Newsies fandom and... yeah.

When I started this fic I was a senior in highschool, 17, the same age as Jack. Now I'm a sophomore in college and about to turn 20. That's just.... whack.

Anyway, thank you for joining me on this chaotic ride. It's been fun! You guys have been so awesome with the way you comment and respond and just... thank you so much. This fic wouldn't have become what it is without you guys.

I've switched up fandoms but I'd love for you to check out some of my other stuff!

Come find me on Tumblr @Trekkiehood.

Much love and God bless,

Jamie