Mush and I laughed, then made our way down to the bunkroom. The guys had switched bunks, to let me sleep between my brother and my boyfriend. I layed down on my bunk and feel into a deep sleep, knowing that no one would hurt me that night. As I drifted off, I remember praying that no one would ever take me away from my new friends, and that Oscar and Morris would keep their promise to stay quiet about my whereabouts. I knew Oscar would, but I wasn't sure about Morris.

After a while I got tired of waiting, so I asked Kloppman about the time. He said it was 10:00, and that if I wanted to find the guys to go to Tibby's. So, I walked outside and down the street to the newsies favorite restaurant to see if I could find Mush or Rob.

I walked into Tibby's and was greeted by a chorus of "Heya's" and "How ya doin's?" I grinned, found Mush, Rob, Race, and Jack all sitting at a corner table. I walked over to the table to say hi, and Mush looked up to greet me.

"Heya Trembles! How are ya?" he said. Then Rob spoke up, "Finally up, huh? Sleep well?" he asked.

I grinned and nodded. I was getting ready to ask Mush something when Jack abruptly got up and left the restaurant. We all turned around to watch him, wondering where he was going. Rob moved to sit next to Race, leaving a spot next to Mush for me to sit. I did so, and looked at Race.

"Um...Race? What's wrong with Jack?" I asked. Race looked uncomfortable, then shook his head.

"What is it, Race? Is Jack in trouble or somethin'?" Mush asked.

Race kept his gaze to the ground. "Nah," he said. "Jacky-boy had ta go to Brooklyn to straighten somethin' out."

Race still wouldn't look at us, and we sat there and waited for him to continue. He didn't. Finally, Rob nudged him.

"Whad he hafta straighten out, Race? How come he left right afta Trembles got here? I thought he wanted to talk to her."

Now I was confused. Why would Jack want to talk to me? "What about, Race? Why would Jack want to talk to me?"

Race now looked straight up at me, and I could tell he was angry at something. I was more confused than ever, waiting for Race to explain what was going on. Finally, he took a deep breath and started talking.

"Why did you tell Spot dat Jack hoit ya? Jacky-boy didn't do nuttin to youse! He nevah even met ya before yesterday!" Race looked at Rob. "Ya know what she told Spot? She told him dat he beat her up! Dat Jacky was da reason dat she shakes all da time, cuz she's scared of him!"

I was speechless. I couldn't believe what Race had just said. Everyone within hearing range heard Race's accusation and were silent, waiting to hear what I had to say. Rob and Mush looked at me, while I tried to compose myself. "I NEVER told Spot that Jack hurt me! In fact, I told him that I hadn't met Jack! I have no idea why Spot would think that! You'll have to ask him!!"

Rob came to my defense. "Geez, Race! Spot must've hoid Trembles talking about our dad and thought dat she was talkin' bout da Cowboy!"

Race nodded. "That's what da Cowboy thought. Dat's why he went to go tawk to Spot. I just hope Spot lets him explain before he tries ta soak him."

I got up from the table quickly and started out the door. I heard Mush yelling at me, but I ignored him and kept walking. I had to get to Brooklyn to find Jack and Spot and explain. I had known that Spot was angry at the thought of Jack hurting me, but I thought I had made it clear that I hadn't met Jack yet. I guess I had been wrong.

On the way there, I began to sense somebody following me quietly. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore, so I turned around to face Oscar Delancey. He stopped abruptly.

"Oscar! Why didn't you just tell me you were there? Why did you have to follow me? You scared me!!"

Oscar looked embarassed. "I's sorry! I just...I saw ya walkin' alone, and I was worried 'bout ya, so I decided to follow youse ta make sure you was alright."

I blushed. "Thanks, Oscar. I appreciate it, but, um...you DO know that I'm seeing Mush, don't you?"

Oscar nodded. "Yeah, I know. I was just watchin' out for youse. I figured Mush wouldn't mind."

I smiled. "Well, you're probably right. Wanna walk with me? I'm sure I could probably use the company."

He agreed and walked the rest of the way to the Brooklyn bridge together. When we got to the bridge, Oscar stopped. I turned around to look at him.

"What's wrong? It's not much farther now. Just on the other side of the bridge, then about a block more to the docks."

"I know, I just don't think me an' Morris'll be welcome in Brooklyn right now. I heard trough da grapevine dat we's bein blamed for dat girl gettin' beat up da other day. Ain't she Spot's goil?"

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about that. What happened to her, anyway?"

Oscar looked pained. "I don't know, Trembles, ya gotta believe me! All's I know is dat someone said dat dey saw me an' Morris runnin' away from da alley where dey found the goil! I don't know what dere talkin' bout!"

"Me niether. I guess we'll have to wait until Bits can tell us what happened. She's going to be alright, but she's still to weak to talk to anyone. Thanks for walking me." he smiled, and I walked across the bridge to go to the docks and find Jack and Spot.

I found them just where I thought I would. They were at the end of the docks, and from the looks of things, I'd gotten there just in time.

I could see Spot and Jack at the end of the docks, and from the looks of it a fight was about to break out between my two friends. I ran to the end of the docks to stop Spot before he did something that everyone would regret.

"Spot! Spot, wait! I need to talk to you!"

Spot didn't even look at me, though Jack turned to watch me run to them. "Trembles, stay outta this. It's between me and da Cowboy here. He hoit ya, and I'm takin care of it." he said.

I was out of breath by the time I reached the boys. "That's what I'm trying to tell you, Spot. Jack Kelly never touched me. Jack Cade is the one that beat me up!"

Now Spot turned to look at me, confusion written all over his face. "Jack Cade? Who's Jack Cade? Last night you said..."

I cut him off. "Last night I said that Jack beat me up and locked me in the room. I never said what his last name was. Jack Cade is my father."

"Your...your fadda? But I don't understand. Why don't you just call him your fadda? Why do you use his first name?"

I lowered my head. "Spot, I explained it all last night, and I really don't think I can again. It's too hard. I'm sorry if you didn't hear what I said, but I'll tell you that he doesn't deserve to be called a father, so I don't call him one."

"But Trembles..."

This time Jack stopped him. "Spot, leave her alone. I'll tell you all of it later. You'll just get mad, and Trembles will get upset."

Spot accepted that and apologized to Jack for wanting to fight him. They spit shook on it and we sat down to talk for a while. After a couple hours of talking, we heard a commotion at the end of the docks and looked to see Blink, Race, Snoddy, and Mush at the end of the docks walking toward us. When Mush saw me sitting with Jack and Spot he picked up his pace a little bit.

When they reached us, Mush walked up and sat down next to me, putting his arm around me. "Trembles, where ya been, we's been worried bout ya." He said quietly.

I looked up at him and smiled. "I've been here. Jack, Spot, and I talked things out, and Spot knows what happened."

Spot interrupped quietly. "No, I don't, Trembles. You wouldn't tell me, remember?"

I looked up at him, and saw how upset he was that I wouldn't tell him what happened. I sighed. "Okay, Spot. Walk with me and I'll tell you what happened." I said while getting up to take a walk with him.

Spot stood up too, and we started walking back to the street. I tried to make small talk with him until we were away from the others. "So...how's Bits doing?"

Spot's eyes lit up. "Oh, she's gonna be fine. The docs say dat she should be able to go back ta da Lodgin' House in a couple'a days. I'm still gonna find dose Delanceys though. They're gonna get it when I get ahold of dem." The love in Spot's voice was gradually replaced by anger. I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach.

"Um, Spot? What would you say if I told you that the Delanceys weren't the ones who beat up Bits? At least, Oscar wasn't."

Spot looked up at me. "What'cha talkin' about, Trembles? Of course it was Oscar and Morris. Some people saw dem runnin' away from da alley dat Bits was in. Who else could it've been?"

"Spot, Oscar told me that he didn't hurt Bits and I believe him. I don't know why, but I believe him."

Spot was still staring at me. "Trembles, I don't know why ya believe him either, but I don't want ya tawkin' wid him no more."

Now it was my turn to stare. I couldn't believe Spot was trying to tell me who I could and couldn't be friends with. "Spot Conlon, you cannot tell me who I can and can't talk to!"

"Trembles, trust me, da Delanceys aren't da guys ya wanna be hangin' round. And we's not heya to tawk about da Delanceys. We's heya to tawk about you and your fadda."

By now I was too mad to discuss my father. "No! We're not through with this discussion yet! What makes you think you can tell me not to talk to somebody? You're not my father or by brother or my boyfriend! And even if you were, you STILL couldn't tell me who to talk to!"

I stopped myself too late. I could see the hurt expression on Spot's face when I said that he wasn't my brother. He stood up and began walking back to the docks. "Spot! Spot wait! I didn't mean that, I'm sorry, I was just mad! Please come back!"

Spot kept walking, and I could feel hot tears on my cheeks. 'Good going, Trembles. Hurt your best friend why don't you?' I watched Spot walk back to the docks, and join the other guys. I could see the guys greet him, then look to find me, but I didn't stay long enough to see the hurt looks on their faces when Spot told them what I'd said. I turned and began running, with tears begining to blind me. I didn't know where I was going and I didn't care. All I knew was that I couldn't stand to see the guys faces when they heard that I'd told Spot I didn't consider them my brothers. I couldn't take it back now, even though I knew they were more like brothers than anything I'd ever had, next to Rob.

I had run at least six blocks when I finally collapsed sobbing against a building. I didn't know what to do or where to go. The only places I knew of to stay were the Manhattan and Brooklyn Lodging Houses, and I didn't think I would be welcome at either anymore. So, I sat in an alley against the building for a very long time. I sat until dark fell, then I sat some more. I half expected Mush or Rob to come looking for me, then rethought it and decided that they didn't have a reason to come after all. I mean, would I want to be friends with someone who hurt one of my friends like I'd hurt Spot? I answered myself with a definate no.

After a while, it was completely dark and it was starting to get cold. I looked around and tried to figure out where exactly I was. I looked around, knowing the buildings seemed familiar, but I didn't know why. I heard shouting in the street near me and I ducked back into the alley so they couldn't see me.

"David! Hurry up, we were supposed to be at dinner 10 minutes ago! Mom's gonna kill us!"

As I realized who it was, I gasped aloud. I knew immediately that that was the wrong thing to do as well. The boy whirled around to face me, a smile spreading across his face as he realized who I was.

"Well, well. We've been looking for you for a long time, sis." The last thing I remember seeing was my brother's laughing face, then I passed out.

When I awoke next, I was back in my little room. I looked around and didn't see anyone, so I got up to see if the door was locked. I stood up and right away fell down again. I looked down at my legs, trying to figure out why they wouldn't work. Immediately, I saw the bruises and cuts covering my legs, and became aware of the pain radiating throughout my body. I knew Mike and Jack must have done quite a number on me while I was unconsious. I looked up at my window and began to cry. I had been so close to being free.

I cried for a long time and desparately wished I'd shown someone where my father lived. If I had, then they would have known to come and get me...that is, if I hadn't been such a jerk. I knew deep down that the newsies, especially Spot, Tracks, Mush, and Rob, would break down the door to get me if they knew where I was. It was easier though, to make myself believe that this was for the best, that Jack was right, and no one cared or needed me anyway. Then I didn't have to think of all the "what if's" of my situation. I'd pointed out the window to Spot once, but all I'd said was that it was an interesting window, since it was round and all, and he'd had his mind on something else at the time.

I cried for what seemed like hours. Then I heard footsteps on the stairs outside my door. I tensed, expecting to see Jack, and awaiting the beating I knew was coming from him for running away in the first place. This time, though, I was surprised to see Annabelle open the door with a tray in her hands.

"So Sleeping Beauty is finally awake, huh? Here, I brought you some lunch." She said, throwing the tray at my feet, and walking out of the room. I heard her walking back down the stairs and looked at the tray becoming acutely aware of how hungry I was. There was only a couple of pieces of stale toast and half an apple, and I ate rapidly.

When I was finished, I tried to figure out how long I'd been unconsious in the room. It was impossible, though, so soon my thoughts drifted back to my friends. I wondered what they were doing and if they were still looking for me. I hoped Mush and Rob would be okay at the Lodging House after I was gone. There was no doubt in my mind that Jack was going to kill me. I'd disobeyed him one too many times, and this time, I'd made him look like a fool in front of people and he'd gone to the limit and offered money to people to find me. I began to cry again, and finally fell asleep.

The next couple of days things were like they had been before I ran away all those months ago, but Jack's beatings were closer together and stronger in intensity, and Mike never came up to the room. Then one day, I awoke next to hear heavy, pounding feet coming up the stairs. The door was flung open to reveal Mike, along with a boy I didn't recognize. Mike covered the distance between us in two strides and yanked me to my feet.

"Well, my dear sweet sister, this is my friend, David, and you two are going to get to be good friends." I looked at the boy and shuddered, while they laughed. I tried to get away from Mike's vise-like grip, but realized quickly it was useless. There was no way I could get away from them.

The next day, I was hurting more than I ever had. After David and Mike were through, Jack had come up to my room and gave me a beating that, in all fairness, should have killed me. I couldn't move, even when Annabelle came up with my daily tray of stale toast. Today, however, the toast had jam on it. I looked up at Annabelle curiously.

"What?" She yelled. "I figured after the day you had yesterday, you could use more energy." She said sarcastically. For the first time, I had the feeling that my step-mother was sorry she hadn't stopped Jack before he'd gotten out of hand with his beatings. I looked into her eyes and was shocked to see sympathy there. I was able to smile at her for the first time. She scowled and left the room, slamming the door on the way out. I looked down at the tray, then turned away from it. I couldn't eat, and I figured one skipped meal wouldn't kill me, and if it did, I was just saving Jack and myself some time and energy.

The days passed in a blur, I never remembered the day before, I couldn't eat, and I slept most of the time. When I was awake, I thought of my friends, wishing things could have been different, and I could have stayed with them and not run away from Spot that day. I dreamed and prayed that the boys would find me and take me back to the Lodging House. The day came, though, when I just couldn't go on anymore, and I gave up everything, including my elusive dream of being together again with Mush and the Newsies.

It was late at night, and I decided I couldn't live like I had been anymore. I decided that my dreams would never come true and I should just forget it all and not fight Jack and Mike anymore. Then, they'd be able to kill me and be done with it. Then everyone could just go on with their lives.

The next morning I woke up and heard someone coming up the stairs again. I'd gotten used to the sound of Annabelle's footsteps, and knew these steps couldn't be those of my step-mother, and also knew they were too light to be those of my father. I heard the door open and heard the footsteps walking over to me. I kept my eyes shut, willing Mike to kill me quickly. I felt hands turn me over to face my visitor, and waited for the beating that I knew was to come.

Instead, I heard a loud gasp, and felt my head being lifted onto something soft and warm. I tried to open my eyes, but realized that I didn't have the energy. I tried to concentrate on listening to what was going on around me, but again found it difficult. I hadn't eaten in days, and just didn't have the energy anymore. I felt something warm and wet hit my face, and tried desparately to open my eyes.

"My God. Jessi? Jessi, open your eyes! C'mon Jessi! Wake up and tawk ta me!"

I again heard footsteps on the stairs, and voices shouting my name.

"Guys, come up here quick! I's found her an' she's hoit!"

I felt the floor beneath me move as what seemed like dozens of people come running to my room. I felt hands on my body and heard crying around me. Someone put a blanket over me. Then everyone got very quiet all of the sudden, and everyone backed away from me. Then, I felt someone kneel next to me, and strong arms pick me up. I was puzzled and tried to figure out who could be picking me up and where they could be taking me. I felt myself being carried down the stairs, and to the front door. Then I heard the door being slammed open.

"What in the hell is going on here?" My father screamed. I shuddered in the arms of my rescuer. I was placed on our couch, and strained to make out the heated arguement going on nearby.

"What do you think's goin' on, Dad? I'm takin Jessi back wid me, where she'll be safe and away from you!"

"Do you actually think I'm gonna let'cha take her away from me dat easily again? She's got it comin' to her, an' I aim ta give it to her! That little brat's got ta learn dat ya don't mess with Jack Cade and get away wid it! She made me look like a fool in front'a ever'body, and she's gonna pay!" I heard my father moved to come to the couch to me, then heard him stop suddenly. I wished I could see what was going on.

"Ya don't need her ta make ya look like a fool, Jack. Ya do a pretty good job of it yerself." At that remark, I heard a loud sound, and knew my brother had been hit. All heck broke loose at that one punch. I knew my father and brother were heavily outnumbered, so I waited while the fight wound down.

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I remember is lying in a soft, warm bed in a quiet room. I tried opening my eyes, and when I realized I could, I looked around the room.

I was in the hospital, that much was readily apparent. There was an IV in my arm attached to a bag of clear liquid hanging on a pole by my bed. The room had light green walls and white tiled floors. There was another bed next to my own, and chairs scattered around the room. Occupying every chair was one of my friends, and two more were sleeping in the other bed. I looked to my right and saw Mush in a chair next to the bed, his hand clasped around mine and his head resting on my bed. He was sound asleep. Rob was on my left, also asleep. They both looked so peaceful. I looked around at the rest of the newsies, and had to laugh out loud when I saw Blink and Racetrack. Blink was asleep on a chair nearby, with Race on his lap, his arm slung around Blink's shoulders. My laughing woke Mush up, and he looked at me quickly.

"Trembles! Youse awake! Are ya feelin' alright? Do ya need anything?"

I smiled at him. "I'm fine, Mush. Just a little tired and sore. I don't need anything right now but some friends, and, from the looks of this room, I've got plenty of those already! The question is: are you alright?"

Mush reached up and absently touched his bruised cheek. "Yeah." He grinned. "That old man of yours sure packs a punch."

"Tell me about it." I said wryly.

Mush's grin disappeared. He got out of his chair and manuvered around all the tubes connected to me, so he could sit next to me on the bed. When he was comfortable, he reached for me. I leaned into him and he carefully put his arms around me.

"Am I hoitin' ya?" He asked.

"No, never." I whispered.

"Good. 'Cuz I like holdin' ya and keeping ya safe. I just wish I could'a been there wid ya. Maybe then he wouldn't have hoit ya so bad. The docs didn't think you were gonna make it, ya know."

I sighed. "Well, me and Bits, we're strong that way. Just when people think we're licked, we bounce back."

Mush chuckled at that, then got quiet again. "Maybe...but ya still had us scared. Did'ya know you've been sleepin' fer three days now?"

I was shocked. "Three days!! If I've been asleep for three days, then why am I still so tired?"

Mush's arms tightened around me. "You were havin' nightmares."

"Bad ones?" I asked.

"Yeah. That first day was the woist. The docs...well, dey had ta strap youse to da bed, so ya wouldn't hoit yerself. Then dey weren't so bad, but youse just kept cryin' and nobody could get youse ta wake up or calm down."

I turned to face Mush. "I'm sorry, Mush. I didn't mean to upset anyone. I was scared because I didn't know where I was or who was here with me. I guess I kept dreaming about what happened." I yawned.

Mush pulled me back to him, so I was leaning against his chest, with my head on his shoulder. "It's okay. Go ta sleep now, alright?"

"I'm scared to. I hate having nightmares, even ones I don't remember..."

Mush hugged me again. "Go ta sleep, ya needs it. I'll be here. Nothin'll happen to youse with all of us newsies here."

I looked up at him hopefully. "You'll stay? No more nightmares?"

Mush smiled and hugged me again. "I's stayin'. No more nightmares." I smiled, then feel asleep in my boyfriend's arms. I didn't have any nightmares.

When I woke up a couple of hours later, Mush was still with me, and he'd fallen asleep as well. I looked around, and saw Jack and Spot sitting on the other bed, playing cards. Everyone else was still asleep. I guessed they were all recharging from what I knew had to have been a tremendous fight.

"Hey guys, who's winning?" I asked.

Both boys looked up, smiling widely. Spot put the cards down quickly and came over to the foot of the bed.

"Trembles! Ya feelin' betta?" he asked.

I nodded, then gestured to Mush. "I don't want to wake him. He's been through a lot lately." I whispered, smiling.

Jack laughed. "He's been through a lot?? Tremb, did you forget what you've been through the past couple of weeks?"

I stuck my chin out. "I'm tough. I can take it!" Jack and Spot both gave me a look of disbelief, then all of us broke out laughing. Of course, this woke all the sleeping newsies up, and soon I was mobbed by questions. I would open my mouth to answer one question and another would be flung at me. Finally, I just leaned back into Mush, smiling and listening to all my friends chattering around me.

Finally, Spot had had enough. "Alright, everybody shad up!" he yelled. Silence immediately followed. "She's in da hospital, fer pete's sakes! Leave da goil alone fer a two minutes!"

"Geez, Spot, youse bein' louder dan all of dem combined." A female voice caused every head to turn toward the door. Framed in the doorway was a petite blond girl with flowers in her hand.

"Bits! What are you doin' heya?" Spot ran to the girl and threw his arms around her waist, twirling her in the air. She laughed, yelling at him to let her down. Which he did, after one more twirl.

"I swear, Spot, you'd think you hadn't seen me in a year!" Bits laughed and then focused her attention on me. "Hi. I'm Bits, and you must be Trembles. Spot's told me a lot 'bout ya." She handed me the flowers, then spit in her hand. I followed her example, and we spit shook. All the newsies cheered.

Bits decided to sit on the bed with Mush and me. Spot sat in a chair and refused to let go of her hand. Everyone was smiling, and I almost forgot where we were and why. Then Race got serious.

"Hey, Bits, um... I was wonderin'..." Race stammered.

Bits looked confused. "Yeah, Race? What's on yer mind?"

Race looked uncomfortable. "Well, um, I don't know if dis is da time or place, but I's just wonderin' if youse evah remembered who soaked ya?"

Everyone fell silent. Spot glared at Racetrack. "Race, you shoa know how ta pick a bad time ta bring stuff up." he scowled

"Now, Spot, I just thought..."

Bits interrupted him. "No, Spot. It's okay. It'll be easier to just tell everyone now when we're all in da same place." She looked at Race. "Race, guys, I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I don't remember who soaked me. I've tried, and I just can't. I's sorry."

Spot hugged her. "It's okay, Bits. It's not yer fault, I just wish we could get 'em back fer ya."

"You already did, Spot." I spoke up. All heads turned to me. I saw dozens of pairs of very confused eyes staring at me.

"What do you mean, Tremb?" Tracks said slowly. "How do youse know who hoit Bits?"

I began to cry. "Because they were some of the same ones that hurt me. They told me what they did to her, and then did the same to me."

The room erupted in chaos. "WHAT?" Spot yelled. "Why didn't you tell us this earlier, Tremb? Don't you think it's kinda important?"

I began crying harder when Spot began to yell at me. Mush and Bits both came to my defense. "Spot! Leave her alone. Don't you think she's been through enough?" Mush yelled.

"Spot! Stop it! Would you have yelled at me like that? She's been thought the same thing I went through, so stop it!" She turned to me. "Trembles, stop cryin' please. Spot didn't know what he was doin'. It's okay. No one's mad at you, they's just mad at da guys to did dis to us, dat's all." I looked up at her, and saw she was smiling at me and began to calm down. Spot left the room to cool off, and all the guys got quiet to hear what I had to say.

Part Four
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