'You know Racetrack?'

'Yes,'

'Well he's beaten pretty bad, I have to get the others but I don't want to leave him, he says he knows you,'

they jogged over to Racetrack,

'Ok Race I'll be back with the others in a second,'

She ran all the way to Tibby's and fell in the door, Blink ran to her when he saw her face covered in blood.

'Quick, it's Race we have to get there now, Denton's with him.'

Mush, Blink, Skittery, Specs and Dreamer all ran to where Denton and Race were.

Between them all they managed to get Race to the boarding house. At this time of day Kloppmann was out so Skittery got the bandages out of the box, when he got upstairs Dreamer had taken charge.

'Specs, get a bowl of water and a old sheet I can use,'

He passed her the sheet and she ripped it up,

'Race this is important, you got any underwear on?'

'Of course I have,'

'ok, Blink Mush take his trousers off,' Having been round Dreamer for a while they now knew she called pants trousers.

'Do you know what your doing?'

'I did a first aid course at school,' She soaked the rag in water and started to clean the wound on his leg, there was a huge cut and the bruise was coming up already.

'Jeez man dat must hoit,'

'you t'ink.'

'Ok Race except for your head do you hurt anywhere else?'

'No I don't t'ink so,'

'He ain't bleeding anywhere else.'

'Ok Race shut you eyes but don't go to sleep,'

'I ain't sleepy,'

'Good, Skittery ask him questions check his head's ok,'

'What's your name,'

'Skittery,' Race answered. Dreamer was cleaning his head wound. 'how many papes do you buy in da morning.'

'50 papes'

'if I was to challenge you to a poker game what would you say,'

'dat your a fool and you may as well give me da money now,'

'Der ain't anythin' wrong wiv his head,'

'Good,' said Dreamer she had bandaged his head and leg.

'Go sort yourself out now,' said Specs.

'Me, I'm fine,'

'No you ain't, you got blood pouring out your head,'

'God your right,' she walked into the washroom and saw the huge gash in her head she cleared up the blood but decided not to bandage it, Blink walked in and put his hand on her arm she flinched and noticed that that too was also covered in blood. He helped her slip her arm out of her sleeve, she had a huge cut on her arm and it was bleeding heavily. He wet a rag and sat her down in a chair. 'I think this is going to need a bandage.' He dabbed at the cut but she was shaking, he held her hand but the tears just came, she cried on his shoulder. When the tears had subsided he bandaged the wound

'Dream, what happened?'

'Some guys came up to us,'

'Guys?'

'Snap, Mute and Charlie,'

'Na never heard of them,'

'Snap knew Race,'

'Is dat too tight?' he asked as he finished bandaging her arm. She shook her head and they went back to see Race.

'Is Race ok?'

'Stop thinkin' bout Race you've been done in bad yourself.' Said Mush from his seat next to Race.

'I'm fine' said Race 'How you doin'?

'nothing wrong with me,' she said flinching as she put her arm back in the sleeve.

'Specs, Skittery and Denton have gone to Tibby's to tell people what happened.'

'Their not gonna flock over here are they?'

'No,'

'Good, Race I think you should get some rest,'

'I agree' said Race 'Mush, Blink would you leave us please.'

'Sure. Dream we'll be outside waitin' for ya.' They left, they understood that the two would want to discuss what happened.

'Dreamer I just wanna say that you probably just saved my life. If you hadn't of been there I don't know what would've happened.'

'Race.'

'Do me one favour, don't ever ask me who those guys were,'

'Ok' she said without hesitation. 'I promise, but I've already told Blink there names.'

'Dat's ok as long as he tells no one especially Jack or Spot.' Said Race cringing every time he moved his head.

'Sure, I'll tell him. Now get some rest. I'll bring you some food in a bit ok,'

'Yeh.' She got up to leave.

'Oh and Dreamer, thanks again.' She smiled sympathetically and left.

Blink was outside waiting for her, Mush had gone back to Tibby's his stomach was rumbling really loud.

'Blink you can't tell anyone what I told ya,'

'about der names?'

'Yes, Race has asked me not to talk about it.'

'and you promised'

'yes, if Race doesn't want to tell, then he doesn't have to.' They walked into Tibby's, Snitch was the first one to her.

'Dreamer are you ok?'

'I'm fine absolutely fine,'

'I should never of letcha go wiv Race.'

'excuse me let me? As far as I remember I don't get your permission to do things I went of my own accord, it was my fault I was hurt, not Races. Now that's all I want to say.'

The Newsies weren't too keen on dwelling on the subject either.

'and when we get back' said Dreamer 'no one must be over nice to Race, anyone found patronising him will get a black eye, ok?

The Newsies nodded it wasn't that they were afraid of Dreamer it's just they didn't want to get a black eye off a girl, now that would be mortifying.

'Bryan Denton.' He said offering his hand to Dreamer she shook it. 'Dreamer,' she said

'We didn't meet properly before, I'm a reporter for the Sun,'

'Oh did you cover the strike?' he nodded 'That's how Race knew you.' He nodded again.

After hearing about Race Jack sped over to the boarding house, up the stairs and into the bunk room.

'Jack?' said Race.

'I heard you got beaten up, Dreamer said.'

'She's a real good fighter dat goil,'

'Who beatcha up?'

'No one Jack, you don't know 'em.'

'Race your making thing very difficult.' 'No Jack, I'm keepin' it simple. I don't tell you so you don't go and bust der heads and get me into more trouble.'

Dreamer walked in. 'I got you some, oh.' She said when she noticed Jack there,

'Dreamer' he said 'tell me the names of da guys dat beat up you and Race,'

'I don't engage bullies in conversation, I saw them laying into Race and I thought I'd help.'

'Well what did dey look like?'

'covered in blood and bruises,' she said

'Jack I just don't want any more trouble,' said Race.

Jack stared at him and walked out.

'Here,' said Dreamer 'I brought you some soup.'

'Thanks,' he said painfully sitting up in bed, 'looks like we've got matching eyes.' Said Race noticing that Dreamers left eye was badly bruised too. She sat down next to him and watched him eat.

'I know what your thinkin'.'

'You only said I wasn't allowed to ask, you never mentioned anything about thinking it.'

'So' said Race, 'where did ya learn to fight like that? And bandage like a nurse.'

'Karate lessons.'

'What?'

'It's like organised fighting, I went for a few years but gave it up, I remember the basics though. And the bandaging we do it at school, You look beat Race.' Beat was a word she had picked up from the Newsies 'Maybe you should get some more sleep, we'll be back before you know it.'

She walked out of the Boarding house and heard a familiar voice,

'Hey Dreamer.' She turned.

'hi Spot,'

'Hey, who mangled your face?'

'Me and Race were selling papers and someone Race knew came along and laid into him, he's upstairs his legs really bad, so is his head.'

'Dey get you too?'

'More a case of me getting them,'

Spot smiled 'Dat's my Dreamer.' He said

'Hey, I ain't your Dreamer,' As they walked away Dreamer told Spot about having to see Pulitzer. They walked into Tibby's and sat down with Mush, Blink, Specs and Skittery.

'Hey Spot.' Said someone and Spot nodded.

'I hear Dreamer has to go see da big guy.'

'Yeah,' said Blink

'Wiv dat accent? He's gonna know somethin' ain't right, he ain't dumb. So you better start tawkin' like a Newsie.'

'I can't I'll sound weird.'

'Come on Dream try' said Blink 'say dis, dat and da otha.'

'This, that and the other ok, dish, dat and de other.'

'No otha.'

'otha,' she copied.

' di s,'

' dis,'

' dis, dat'

' dis, dat and da otha.'

'Not bad,'

After several hours of trying Dreamer could pull off a convincing accent. That evening they went back to the boarding house. Kloppmann was inside.

'Hey Kloppmann, did anyone tell ya dat Race is up der?' asked Dreamer in her new accent.

'Yes and your accent is kinda different.'

'What can I say, I'm practacin'

They walked upstairs.

'Heya Race, hows it going?'

'Not bad thanks Blink. I'm just really bored.'

'Can you put any weight on da leg yet?'

'No, hey what wiv your accent?' he asked.

'I gotta tawk like dis to Pulitzer tomorrow.'

'She's doin swell dontcha reckon?' said Mush.

'Hey Race will beating us at cards cheer you up?' asked Specs and Race nodded 'yeah.'

'Come on den.' They helped Race to the card table and pulled up chairs for themselves.

'Race that shirt has a huge rip in it, give it here,' she delved deep into her bag and fished out her pencil case and sewing box, well technically it was Kate's but Dreamer was always getting ladders in her tights and pulling buttons off so Kate gave it to her. She stitched up the shirt and handed it back to him, she suddenly thought of something and went downstairs.

'Kloppmann have you got 3 old blankets that no one wants.'

'Yeh, hold on,' the old man mumbled. He passed them to her.

'Thanks,' she carried them over her shoulder and went back upstairs. She folded two of them together and opened one out. She put the folded ones into the centre of the other. They were really thick which was good. She got her needle and thread and began to sew.

'Dreamer what are you doin'?' asked Specs

'Nothing much, concentrate on your game.' Specs made a face but carried on the game. Dreamer sang softly to herself, 'The sun'll come out, tomorrow.' 'Full house boys.' Said Race as he slammed his cards on the table and winced in pain immediately afterwards.

'Aw your s'posed to be sick, you can't win.'

'what? Jus' cos I hoit my leg don't mean I can't beat da hell outa ya.'

'Shame I might win some of the money I lost to ya ova dese years.'

Dreamer finished her sewing. Mush turned to her and in a sweet voice said 'I got a rip in dese pants would ya do 'em fer me?'

'take 'em off den.' She said.

'I'd rather not,' said Mush embarrassed

'Well show me where it is?' he showed the rip just above his knee.

'Ok,' she said and got her needle and thread and set to work.

'Ow,' he yelped in pain.

'Oh did I prick you? I'm sorry.'

'Dat's ok,' he said.

'You need someone to kiss it better?' he pondered this for a while and then nodded.

'Hey Blink, come and kiss Mush's Knee.' Blink screwed up his face and Dreamer laughed.

'Aw I thought you'd do it,'

'I thought you would. There all done.' She tapped him on the ankle and he moved away. Pie eater, Dutchy, Swifty and Snitch came in.

'Hey maybe you could sew up Pie's mouth stop him snoring.' Said Skittery.

'I don't snore.' Said Pie eater.

'You do,' all the Newsies shouted at him.

He scowled and sat on his bunk.

'I don't snore.' he said to himself.

'Look, look.' Said Swifty, he picked up two socks and started to juggle. 'hey Dutchy throw us one more.' Dutchy threw one and Swifty continued to juggle as the other Newsies entered. Swifty finished and everyone applauded.

'Come on Boots do you stuff.' Said one of the Newsies and Boots went into and Irish style Dance.

'he learned it off an Irish kid.' Said Snipes as he sat next to Dreamer. 'Race, your turn, I'll getcha harmonica,' said Specs as he fetched it. Race began to play it, he was a real pro.

'come on Dreamer, sing.' Said Race,

'ok,' she stood up. 'It's quite a happy one.' She said as she burst into Hakuna Matata from the 'Lion King'. The newsies clicked along with the song, and as she finished they heard footsteps on the stairs. They rose thinking it was Kloppmann.

'I recognise dat singin' voice.' Said Spot as he came in. 'Hey ya don't hafta stand I ain't royalty.'

'Spot, I thought you'd gone back to Brooklyn.' Said Dreamer.

'Na I thought I'd stay here da night, Race hows da leg?'

'it hoits a lot.'

'Maybe you should get some sleep.' Suggested Dreamer

'I've been sleepin' all day. I'm not tired.'

'Well I am,' said Snipes as he fell into his bunk,

'An' me,' Boots said with a yawn. Dreamer whispered to Mush 'You want some more story?' he shook his head and stared in Spots direction,

'Oh I see,'

'I'm up for a story,' said Spot.

'Jeez do you have supersonic hearing or something?' asked Dreamer

'What?'

'Never mind,' Dreamer couldn't be bothered explaining it all to him now.

'Hey Dreamer, you got my bed.' Remarked Spot pointing to Dreamer's bed, the one he slept in when he stayed in Manhattan.

'You can share wiv me,' said Blink, he didn't even want Spot suggesting that he should share with Dreamer.

'So ya gonna tell us a story or what?'

' I only know ones for little kids and there all a bit girly,'

'So some of us are girly ain't we Snoddy?' said Skittery.

'Shut up.' He growled.

'Ok the story of the three bears.' Some of the Newsies giggled 'shut your faces I told you it was girly.'

After she told the story most of the Newsies were asleep, Pie eater was snoring contentedly and Dreamer went over to bed, she pulled out the blanket she had sewed up and placed it on the floor to the right of Mush's and Skittery's bunk and got into bed.

'Your too nice to da kid,'

'No I'm not, I jus' like to help he reminds me of... of someone I knew once.'

'He'll appreciate it you'll see.'

'Night Race, if you need to wake me in the night because of the pain do ok?' she smiled, 'my mum used to say the same thing to me.'

'Thanks Dreamer.' And she turned over and went to sleep.

Mush woke up with a start, his dream about bears and porridge was too much, once again he forgot where he was, but instead of hitting the stone floor with a bang he fell on something soft with only a minuscule thud. Something was not right. He felt what he was sitting on, blankets, he remembered Dreamer sewing yesterday and smiled to himself. He hopped over to her bed. She awoke.

'You are da nicest person in da world.' And to show his gratitude to her he kissed her cheek and then skipped into the washroom.

Dreamer stretched and smiled, things were as good as they could be, then she remembered she had to Pulitzer, she felt a sick feeling in her stomach. She wanted to go to Blink's bunk but she remembered that Spot was there.

'Damn you Spot.' She whispered and went to the window, it was pretty early but it looked warm out, she shivered, that feeling in her stomach was getting worse. Mush came up to her.

'Der's no need to be nervous bout goin' to see Pulitzer.'

'I read all about him in History.'

'just pretend you feel Brave, you smart.'

Kloppmann came in and woke the other Newsies up.

Boots yawned 'hey Dreamer you know dat story, did dat really happen?'

'Talkin' bears? I don't think so Boots.'

'I jus' thought in da future y'know.'

'No, there are no talking bears in the future.'

'Will someone help me please?' Blink called

'What?' Mush and Dreamer went over to him.

'Spot is asleep and he won't let go of my leg, I can't move.' Mush and Dreamer giggled.

'Can't you just wake him up?'

'No, I did dat last time and he has a temper.' Said Mush

'Hey Blink kiss him that'll wake him up.'

'Shut up, anyway I can't reach,' said Blink

'If you could would ya?' asked Mush with a look on his face.

'No. I was just justifyin' me self. Dream, your always tryin' to get me to kiss people You kiss him.' He looked serious.

'Ok. I will.' She said and reached over and kissed Spot on the lips. His eyes opened.

'Whatcha doin'?' he asked

'Good morning sunshine. Oh yeah Blink says stop hugging his leg.' Said Dreamer as she grinned at him he let go of Blinks leg.

'Der's no feelin' in it.' Said Blink as collapsed onto the floor. Snitch walked up to him.

'She kissed Spot? I thought she was your goil.'

Blink frowned.

They arrived at the World building's doors.

'See you later, I won't be sellin' this morning.'

'Were comin' wiv you.' Said Blink.

'If I don't sell you should. And Mush should too.'

'I don't sell in Manhattan.' Said Spot.

'See I'll be with Spot nothin' for you to worry about. I'll see you in Tibby's later.' She went to kiss him but he walked away. She looked after him and then turned with Spot and went inside. When Mush was buying his papers Snitch walked up to Blink

'Dreamer with Pulitzer? He nodded 'You not with her?'

'Spot is.'

Jeez, what is it wiv those two? I mean da amount of time she spends wiv Spot you'd t'ink dey were together. See ya.' Snitch wandered off he wondered if his little comments were taking effect. He looked Blink was frowning and looking thoughtful.

Everything in the world building seemed big, the doors, the windows even Spot looked taller.

'I'm here to see Mr Pulitzer, 'bout me file.' She said in her well rehearsed accent.

'go right through,' he said and when Spot followed he added, 'not you boy.' Dreamer turned back nut Spot nodded her on. She knocked on the door which was opened by a short grey haired man. 'come in' he said in a voice too kind to be a huge newspaper tycoon. Dreamer took off her hat and flicked her hair out of her eyes and stared at the figure she was stood in front of.

'Sit' he barked, surprised at the order she did 'Now, why aren't you in my files?

'I only started to be a Newsie da otha day.'

'And they didn't tell you?'

'Der very absent minded, sir.'

'Well I need a few details, Name?'

' Dreamer' Blink had told her to say this because if you ask a newsie there name they will tell you there nickname.

'Real name.'

'Gemma Morgan.'

'Reason for being a newsie?'

Reason? No one told her she need a reason,

'Um, it's kinda personal y'know.'

'Parents dead?'

she nodded, thinking it was easier.

'Ever been in trouble with the law?'

'No sir, never.'

'Now, the photographer couldn't come.'

'Want me ta draw you a picture?' Pulitzer ignored the comment

'it's probably just as well, who did that to your face kid?'

'oh no one I fell down some stairs.'

He nodded, a likely story, he knew the Newsies always getting in trouble, yet this one seemed different maybe it was because she was female.

'Well your easily identifiable, you can go.' She obeyed the order and turned to go.

'girl,'

'my name is Dreamer,'

'Humph' he grunted, 'do you sing?'

'Yeh, why?'

'I've got some friends round a week tomorrow and the singer I employed has a fever.'

'I don't know any songs you do.'

'we want something different.'

'Next Saturday it is then. Bye Mr Pulitzer.'

'Joseph.'

'lets stick wiv Mr Pulitzer.' She said and left.

Spot was sat outside the door looking very angry.

'What's up?'

'Office boy bin givin' me an earful.' When they got outside he finally asked how it went, and she told him.

'Dat's real good Dreamer,' he patted her on the back. 'Da othas'll be busy fer ages come back ta Brooklyn fer a bit it ain't dat far to walk.'

'Sure' said Dreamer she had nothin' better to do. After a while they reached a huge bridge.'

'Dis is Brooklyn bridge.'

'It's nice,' said Dreamer Spot glared at her sarcastic remark 'sorry,' as they walked across the bridge they saw someone running towards them, another Newsies it seemed.

'Gemma?' the figure yelled and Dreamer stared harder,

'Gemma?' the figure got closer.

'Kate?' she whispered and then shouted it 'Kate?' she ran along the bridge and hugged Kate.

'What the hell are you doing here?'

'I could say the same thing to you.' Said Kate.

'I can't believe your here too.'

'Where have you been?'

'Manhattan, you?'

'Here in Brooklyn.

' Dreamer who is dis?'

' Dreamer?'

'my newsie nickname you got one?'

'your a newsie too?' Dreamer nodded. 'They call me Ice.'

'Good name, Dis is Spot.'

'Spot Conlon?'

'Yeah' said Spot

'I've heard of you, but I never thought my best friend would be friends with you.'

'You wanna come back to Manhattan? I know somewhere we can eat.'

'Yeh, sure.'

'Spot you comin'?'

'No I got things to do.'

'Ok thanks for today and I'll see you when your next in Manhattan.'

He nodded and walked off whistling to himself.

In a booth in Tibby's Ice and Dreamer sat talking.

'So have you told people your from 2000?'

'yeh, when I first got here I was in shock I blurted it out. Snap took me in though. Gemma, are you ok?

'did you say Snap?'

'yeh. Why?'

'see this,' she said pointing to her black eye. Ice nodded 'Your friend Snap did this.'

'no' said Ice 'you have to be kidding.'

'No joke, you should see what he did to a friend of mine.' Ice's face was wrinkled with worry, 'he did come back covered in blood.' Dreamer nodded at her. 'Jesus Christ.'

'Snap's a bully who beat up my friend and had a go at me as well.'

'I'm so sorry.' Dreamer held Ice's hand

'It's ok, you can stay here if you like.'

'I um, I don't want to go back at the minute.'

'that's ok, I'll introduce you to my friends and my boyfriend.'

'Boyfriend?' asked Ice with a smile

'he's lovely,' grinned Dreamer 'He'll be in later.'

And he was, he walked in with Mush, Specs and Skittery.

' Dreamer, who's your friend?'

'This is Ice she's my best friend from 2000.'

'another one?' said Skittery. 'It's getting crowded.'

'Heya Blink,' said Dreamer and sat next to him.

'where's Spot?' he said Harshly.

'Brooklyn.' He nodded.

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