The second the door swung open to Tibby's Les was in Jack's arms. "Whoa, kid! Did ya miss me dat much?" Jack gently hugged the boy. Les was almost to the point of bouncing up and down.

"Do I get my hot chocolate now?"

"Oh, so dat's why youse so happy ta see me. Yeah, sure, here," Jack gave him two cents and watched the boy make a dash for the waitor. He looked over at David sitting in the booth and wondered about tonight.

Esther, Sarah and David helped with supper that night. Mayer was still at work, but would be home soon. Jack was kneeling by Les, whispering things in his ear. He had brought his rope and was trying to teach Les how to lasso an object.

"Watch me foist," Jack said as he started to twirl the rope in a big circle over his head. He let it fly and it caught on the bedpost perfectly. "Dere, now youse try."

Les unhooked it and mimicked Jacks movements. He let it fly, but it missed the bedpost by a hair. Jack encouraged him to try for a bigger target. Les looked around and found one. He twirled the rope over his head and flung it towards the kitchen, landing around David's neck.

"Ack!" was the sound that came from the older brother. He glared at Les and raised the knife he had in his hand to a stabbing position. Esther promptly took the knife away while Sarah only giggled.

"Do I pull 'em in now?" Les asked the Cowboy. Jack was hiding a grin behind his hand.

"Uh...only if ya wanna hang yer bruddah."

"Les! Give the rope back to Jack," Esther interrupted. Les obeyed his mother and took a step away from her. Jack held the rope and lightly jerked it, making it a little tighter around Dave's neck.

"Look, Les, I'se got 'em on a leash for ya." David mumbled something and lifted the rope over his head before tossing it at Jack's face. After that, Esther made a 'No Rope Playing In The House' rule.

When David was done with his kitchen chore, he went to his mother. "Ma, Jack and I have to talk privately for a moment. Is it okay if we go in your bedroom?" Esther had just turned on the radio and music filled the tenement.

"Of course, David. Don't be long, though, supper's almost ready."

"Okay. Jack, c'mere!" David called. Jack walked over and followed David into the bedroom. David shut the door behind them. Music from the other room filtered in. Jack took a look around.

"I've nevah been in here before. It's nice." He turned around to see Dave stalk towards him. He went brain numb. David kissed him forcefully and pushed him against the wall by a corner. Jack broke the kissed and whispered, "Are you crazy?! Your family's right outside da door!"

"The door is locked, Jack. The radio is on, too."

"But your family is right outside the door!" Jack said through gritted teeth. Davey smiled.

"I told you I'd pay you back."

"But..."

"Shut up." David kissed him again. Well, Jack wasn't about to argue with that. David ran a hand through his hair, brought it down his neck and to his shoulder. There he slid off a suspender. He did the same to the other side. Jack decided to play Follow The Leader and did the same to David's suspenders, but he didn't stop there. He untucked the shirt and started unbuttoning it. It was a damn miracle he didn't get impatient and just rip it off. Dave helped him before unbuttoning Jack's shirt next. While he did it, he somehow managed to remove his own shirt and send it flying across the room.

After undoing the last button on Jack's shirt, he yanked it off the boy's shoulders. Jack let it fall off his arms. David tugged at Jack's undershirt; they weren't finished yet. Jack yanked off his shirt in a flash then took off David's just as quick. They pressed their chests together. Heat radiated between them. The soft moist skin gluing one to the other. The hard kisses had turned into wild, desperate ones. They gasped for breath in between each of them.

The music from the kitchen seemed to disappear. The only music filling the room now was from their bodies. Their shallow breathing set the beat. The sound of their lips meeting and pulling apart was the tune. David traced Jack's chest and stomach with a hand that came to rest on his pants. He grabbed the waist and pulled it towards him, bringing the two impossibly closer. Jack wrapped his arms around David's torso and started to lean in the direction of the bed.

David stopped him. He pulled his lips away, "No," and planted a kiss on Jack's shoulder, "My parent's bed is where I draw the line." Jack smiled.

"So that's where you draw da line. But, ya know, dat line's some ways off." He dipped his head down to suck on the tender flesh of Dave's neck.

"Yeah...so?" David smirked.

"So dat still leaves a lotta things you'd be willin' ta do."

David shut his eyes as Jack worked on his neck. He thought about something for a while. Payback time. He pushed Jack back against the wall again and repeated that first hard kiss. Then he slowly made a pattern of kisses down Jack's neck, chest, and abs. When he finished he was on his knees. He unbuttoned the pants and freed the already hard cock inside. Dave took a deep breath, shut his eyes and took it in his mouth.

Jack clawed the opposite wall in the corner with his left hand. The right hand clenched in a tight fist. As David's mouth worked him, he lost more and more control. His breathing became so irregular he thought he was gonna pass out. His chest rose and fell in time with it. He depended on the walls to help him stay upright. Jack's eyes were closed, but the image of Dave sucking him off stayed perfectly clear. It was ecstasy. He thrust his hips toward that mouth, trying to drive himself deeper.

David grabbed a hold of Jack's hipbones, limiting Jack to just how much he could move. He worked his tongue over and around Jack's member. Sucking on it like it was candy, for crying out loud. He knew Jack couldn't take much more, that he was close. He was almost pleased with himself for being able to make the cool and calm cowboy this crazed.

Jack's whole upper body squirmed. He grabbed at the wall, laid his head against it. He whimpered, moaned, gasped, anything. Anything to release the pleasure burning through his body. To release the fire coursing through his veins. He covered his mouth with his hand and moaned as he finally climaxed.

David reacted quick to the gush of fluid suddenly filling his mouth. He swallowed on instinct. It wasn't the tastiest thing in the world. It was certainly different; having a coppery taste, almost sour. He swallowed the last drops and let the now soft dick drop from his mouth. He licked his lips as he reached up, helping Jack slide down the wall into a sitting position.

Jack put himself away. He then concentrated on getting his breathing back to normal. David, kneeling inside Jack's open legs, leaned forward on all fours. He kissed Jack's neck while waiting. When Jack settled down, his hands cupped Dave's face and gave him a slow, sweet kiss. When it broke, they gazed at one another. Jack was the first to speak.

"I think youse repaid me a lil' too much."

"Oh, really?" David grinned knowingly.

"Yeah. Maybe I'se should even it up a bit." Jack leaned it for another kiss when a knock on the door and a voice interrupted.

"Boys, supper's ready!" Esther called. David gave a disappointed sigh and answered her.

"Coming!" He looked up at Jack.

"Guess dat really killed da moment, huh?" Jack half-smiled. David gave him a look.

"Having my mother's voice interrupt my most impure of thoughts? Naw, how could that ruin a moment?" He stood up and stretched, "Come on." Jack took David's hand and hauled himself up. They got dressed in a hurry and each checked the other, making sure they looked presentable. After that, they walked out with innocent faces.

Mayer had come home and was sitting in his chair at the table. He looked concerned. "Is everything all right, David?" Dave took a seat at the end and raised a brow.

"Yes, why wouldn't it be?"

"Well, you two had to talk privately. I just wondered if there was any problems."

"It's nuttin', Mistah Jacobs. Jus' business is all," Jack answered from his seat next to David. Les sat at his other side, Esther sat opposite David and Sarah sat next to her father. Mayer smiled, relieved that there was no trouble. The table was already set so Esther began to serve the food--potatoes and sausage. After a supper prayer, they all dug in. Les told his father how Jack taught him to lasso and that he "caught" David. Mayer chuckled then saw the look his wife was giving him. He coughed and looked away, but not before catching her smirk.

David ate his potatoes first. He loved them; they were probably his favorite food. Esther looked at his plate. "David, eat your sausage"

David rolled his eyes. She still thought of him as her baby sometimes. Jack grinned from ear to ear and nudged David with his elbow.

"Yeah, Dave, eat your sausage." David looked up in shock, his face turning a bright red. He turned to look at Jack's smug face and smirked himself. Dave stabbed the sausage with his fork, brought it to his mouth and bit down hard, showing his teeth as he did so. Jack visibly winced. The other members of the family all looked to one another to see if anyone else knew what the joke was. Jack and David glanced at their faces then to each other and softly giggled.

When supper ended, Jack thanked them as he got up to leave. Sarah gazed out the window just then and whistled. "Wow, it's coming down hard out there." Esther went to take a look herself. The snow was indeed coming down hard and the wind helped make it so you couldn't see three feet in front of you. She wasn't about to let the poor boy go outside in that.

"Jack, maybe you should stay here for tonight," she said. Both David and Jack stared at her.

"What?!" they said in unison. She glared back.

"I'm not about to send him out there to catch pneumonia!"

"Dat's really nice of youse, but I don't wanna be a bothah," Jack pointed around the room, "Besides, dere'd be nowheres ta sleep." Mayer got up a put a sturdy hand on his shoulder.

"You are never any bother to us, Jack." Esther smiled.

"Of course not," she said," And you can sleep in David's bed." This time both boy's jaws hit the floor. This was too good to be true. Jack started to think maybe he really passed out in the bedroom from hyperventilating and this was all a dream. David became nervous and stuttered.

"B-but where would Les sleep?"

"Les could sleep in my bed," Sarah piped up behind them. Jack looked at her and felt like laughing. If she only knew what she's helping to happen tonight...He nodded his head.

"Thanks, dis means a lot ta me." Esther smiled and kissed him on the forehead.

"Now that we've solved that, it's time to get ready for bed."

They all got changed into their night cloths. Les was in his pajamas, Sarah in her nightgown, and Jack and Davey in their undershirts and shorts. Sarah kissed Jack goodnight then went to stand by her bed. Les hugged his hero then did the same. Mayer and Esther came in the room.

"All right, time for our prayers," Mayer said softly. Everyone kneeled, but Jack just blinked a few times like an idiot before David pulled him violently down on his knees. Then Mayer lead them in an "Our Father", their eyes shut and their hands folded in prayer. Jack only listened. He brought a hand down to David's thigh and squeezed.

"And lead us not into tempTATION!" David yelled out. The family opened their eyes to glance at him for a moment then continued. After the "Amen", David punched Jack in the arm, hard. Jack only chuckled. They all climbed into their beds and Mayer and Esther went to their room.

Jack and David looked at each other before climbing in, trying to figure out how the hell this was going to work. When they finally did get settled in, it was anything but comfortable. Each slept on their sides on the very edge of the bed, backs facing, desperately trying not to touch. Neither one knew how long they were like that. Sleeping was near impossible so the only thing they could do was stare into the dark room, eyes adjusting to the lack of light.

Jack didn't so much look as he did listen. The wind blew outside the window by his head. The room itself made soft squeaks and thuds. And shallow breathing of people sleeping could be heard faintly. It was hard to tell if some of it was David's. He hoped it wasn't because he couldn't bare not at least touching him any more. Jack flipped over to his other side, facing David's well toned back.

He stared at it. The undershirt molded to his body like a second skin. Jack eyed the line that marked his shoulder blades, tracing them with imaginary fingers. He then traced the spine from the nape of the boy's neck to where the line disappeared into the sheets. His line of vision went back up to the nape. Neatly trimmed brown hair laid across it. Oh, how he'd love to suck on it until it turned a bright shade of pink. Jack bit his bottom lip, not able to wait any longer.

"David...you awake?" he whispered.

He got a mumbled answer at first then, "What do you think?" David turned over to face Jack. They gazed at each other silently for a while. Gorgeous blue eyes meeting intense dark ones. Jack brought his hand up to caress his partner's face. He rubbed his thumb over the cheekbone as his other four fingers slid through the dark curls. Then, lightly, he ran his hand down the face to the strong chin. Jack's eyes fell on hot lips. He brushed his thumb over them. David kissed his thumb, causing Jack to fall back into those eyes again.

Jack decided his thumb had had enough fun and it was time to share. He leaned in and kissed Dave, slow and deep. He tasted so great. Jack brought his hand down to Dave's hip and pulled them closer. David slid his arm around Jack's chest. Jack then turned on his back and pulled David halfway on top of him, never breaking the kiss once.

His right arm held Dave to him and his left slowly traced the length of the boy's side. They knew what was going to happen, but this time would be different. They would go slow. And not just because they didn't want to get caught, but because all those previous times were hurried and lust-filled. Now they had a chance to do it right. Besides, the risk factor made it exciting.

David lifted himself up and moved over to straddle the boy under him. He massaged the chest and ran his fingers over the ribs. Jack sat up, wrapping his arms around Dave's waist and kissed him again while David played with the hairs on the back of his neck. Then Jack let go of the kiss and began kissing the neck, starting with the hollow of the collarbone. David tilted his head back, his eyes closed in pleasure. Jack sucked on his neck, going up to lick his Adam's apple then nipping at the skin underneath his chin.

David pushed Jack back down, laying on top of him. He brought his legs inside the other's and began to thrust. They found each other's lips again. Each move, each feeling was ten times greater than before. Jack wrapped his legs around David. The more they touched and kissed, the more intimate it became. David's hands found their way under Jack's shirt and moved up to pinch a nipple. Jack gasped and squeezed his legs tighter, making Dave softly moan. They constantly had to fight the urge to just go at it wildly like animals and scream out their pleasure, having their cries echo through the night. Instead, they kept a slow and steady rhythm. The two kept going, the pleasure kept building. Their pulses were going so hard and strong that it sounded like a drum in their ears.

David roamed Jack's neck with his tongue, sweat drenching them both. He breathed in deep through his nose, smelling Jack's musky scent. His hips rolled slightly, rubbing both of them in just the right way. They were almost home. Jack forced David into an extremely deep kiss for a final time. Jack came with the biggest orgasm he'd ever had. David could feel the other's ejaculation hitting him through his cloths. Then he came, filling him with an indescribable feeling. It was so great that he forgot his own name. David couldn't help the loudly whispered "YEEeEeEeEEeSS!" that followed.

They laid there panting for a while, a small portion of the feeling never leaving their groins. Jack nuzzled David's neck, getting a kiss with a lot of tongue in it as a return. When it ended, David laid his head under Jack's neck and they laced fingers. Suddenly, sleep sounded better than anything on earth.

Jack was the first in the house to wake early the next morning. Good thing too, because he found himself spooned up against David's back, his face in Dave's neck. His arm was wrapped around the boy's waist and their fingers still laced together. Thoughts of last night filled his mind. He smiled slightly and kissed the nape, before turning over and scooting to the opposite side of the bed.

Okay, hold on a second, time out! Things have gone by pretty fast lately. Give it up for male hormones, but even to Jack this seemed rushed. He didn't even know what this is. He doubted Davey knew either. All Jack knew was when he was with David, he was complete. He felt relaxed and wanted. And that was before their new level of partnership. Now he still felt all this, only on a different scale.

Jack decided to get up and get ready for a new day. He could never get back to sleep now, and besides, he'd suddenly developed one killer headache.

So life went on, as it tends to do no matter how much you try to stop it once in a while. Jack had made a promise to himself to plan this out more--and with seeing David every day, knowing the many wonders he could do, this was no easy task. The damned strike seemed easier!

David worried about why Jack was suddenly breaking away and wanted to confront him about it. They were climbing the stairs to the Jacobs tenement, about to open the door when David spun around and leaned against it. What he was about to discuss was pathetic and embarrassing in his eyes already, so the one thought that ran over and over in his mind was, Please don't let the door collapse behind me, please don't let the door collapse behind me, please...

"Um, Jack?" he shuffled his feet while taking a look to see if anyone was around to hear. Especially Mrs. Hainsworth across the all. Nosey old bird. "Is everything still okay between us?"

Jack blinked at the question, "Yeah! Why wouldn't it be?"

"C'mon, you're afraid to even put a hand on my shoulder anymore. I can handle stopping what we've been doing lately," he paused to glare at Mrs. Hainsworth's door, daring it to open, "but I don't think I could handle not having you as a friend."

Jack's eyes softened and he immediately embraced his best friend, "God, I'm so sorry, Dave! We're always gonna be friends, remembah dat! I was jus' thinkin dat maybe we should slow down foah a bit. I dunno 'bout you, but right now I'm confused as hell about all this. Okay?"

David could have kicked himself, "Okay, Jack. Um, heh, now I feel really stupid."

"You? Mister Look-At-Me-I'm-Educated feels stupid? Well, THIS is a change!" Jack chuckled a bit, but David bit his bottom lip.

"Um...right, about that..."

"David?"

"Hmm?"

Jack leaned forward and captured Dave's mouth in a small kiss which grew once David caught on. They were so wrapped up in it they didn't see two familiar people stop short just ten feet from them.

"DAVID!"

It was then that the door decided to collapse behind him and Mrs. Hainsworth poked her head out from her tenement.

Now, in this life there is a Good Side and a Bad Side. The Good Side is the door didn't "collapse" exactly, the lock just decided to break causing the door to fling open, and also, Mrs. Hainsworth came out of her tenement a little too late to see anything besides David falling like a rock.

The Bad Side is David's new bruise from the fall, and the two people that caught them were Sarah and Brad.

Before Mrs. Hainsworth really got an ear-full, Jack dragged Sarah and a dumbfounded Brad into the tenement and shut the door, propping a chair against it.

"Would somebody mind explaining to me what I just saw?!"

David winced, "Sarah, calm down..."

"Calm down?! I just saw my boyfriend sucking the air out of my little brother's lungs!" Jack and Brad looked at each other from where they stood in the kitchen, smiled weakly, then turned their attention back to the siblings.

"Eh heh. There's actually a funny story behind that."

"Funny?! I'll bet! Just how long has this been going on?" By this time Sarah had her constipated, angry look plastered on her red face. Not that anyone could blame her, really.

"A little over a week," David whispered. If you speak too loud when you're arguing with your older sister, things tend to get worse.

"A week?" she turned to face Jack, who nearly jumped a mile, "You've been cheating on me with my brother for a week?"

"Cheating is such a strong word for what we just saw, Sar."

"You keep out of this, Bradly!" Brad shut his mouth and took a step away. It was Jack's turn to go on the offensive now.

"ME cheatin'?! Who da hell is dis den?!" He ignored Dave's frantic 'no' hand signals.

The whole room could have sworn they saw fire in Sarah's eyes, "This is my friend from downstairs! I've never dreamed of cheating on you!" David coughed and Sarah pinned him with a glare. He quickly glanced at the fire escape, trying to determine if he could make a run for it and live.

At the same time, Jack was pinning Brad with one of his own glares. Brad tried not to look afraid of who he knew was a street kid, but Jack stared him down anyway and soon had him scooting closer to the fire escape. Somehow the people who built the building knew it would be used for more than escaping fire.

"I still can't believe this. Do you know how wrong this is?"

Jack and David looked at each other and shrugged innocently before Dave spoke. "We were going to tell you..."

"We were?" Jack interrupted. Suddenly David wondered if it was all worth it. Ignoring his partner, he continued.

"I'm sorry, Sarah. We both are." He looked up at her with puppydog-eyes, asking for some response to let them know it was all okay. "Please?"

Sarah closed her eyes tightly. She was most upset that they didn't tell her earlier. The rest doesn't mean much, but her brother and the one she thought she loved had kept it all from her. She opened her eyes and sighed.

"I can't deal with this right now, David. When I leave make sure the door stays locked. I'm sure you wouldn't want anyone else to find out." Davey looked down at the floor. "Come on, Brad."

The boys watched Brad follow her out the door, glancing back once with a smirk before disappearing from sight.

"Well...dat wasn't so bad."

David buried his face in his hands. "Shut up, Jack."

Jack winced at the coldness of the remark. He was only trying to lighten the mood a little. He didn't know how to handle the situation right now and hoped Sarah had only left to think and not blab. No, she wouldn't talk. Not because she wanted to defend the boys' reputations, but because she'd be embarrassed as well. Jack figured the one he'd have to talk to would be that Brad guy.

David suddenly broke the silence, "How could you be so stupid?!"

At first, Jack thought he was talking to himself, but then he looked up to see David glaring at him. "Stupid? What?!"

"You kissed me right out in the open! You knew we couldn't do that!"

"Well, excuse me, but you were kissin' right back!" Jack barked. David fumbled for a response, mouth opening and closing like a fish.

"Yeah, well...you...You started it!" He turned around and mentally kicked himself for sounding like a two-year-old. Jack smirked grimly at him.

"Dat's real mature, Dave. Ya gonna say I started ev'rythin' from da beginin' too?"

"Unfortunately, no. I'm just as much to blame for what happened to start this. Boy, if I could go back and change one thing in my life that'd be it!"

The words had come out before he realized he was saying them. When it finally hit him, he looked up at Jack, shocked. The other looked like he'd just been hit in the face, then quickly his eyes went hard and unfeeling.

"Fine. Den maybe we should pretend it neva happened. Forget ev'rythin' that eva took place on dat day up til now."

"Sounds good to me. I'll talk to Sarah, tell her the truth, that it was all a big mistake and try to get her to forget also. After that, as far as I'm concerned, I was unconscious this past week." David's stomach felt like it was flipping and his chest ached. He was breathing way too slow for the rate

his heart was pounding, trying to hide any emotion except his anger. If he kept this up much longer he'd faint.

"Wonderful! You do dat! An maybe we'se should jus' stay away from each otha from now on! Wouldn't want any painful memories poppin' up, would we?" Jack was better at hiding his feelings. He could go like this all night...even if it would break his heart.

"Took the words right outta my mouth!"

Jack sneered and yanked open the door, kicking the chair across the room, "Fine!"

"Fine!" Davey stepped out of the chair's path. Jack swiftly walked out the door and saw Mrs. Hainsworth watching yet again.

"Aw, mind yer own business, ya old hag!" he threw over his shoulder, not catching her comical, astounded expression.

"And don't yell at my neighbors!" David said to him leaning over the railing. When Jack disappeared from his view, he glared over at the openmouthed woman. "You heard him, mind your own business for once! Maybe find out where your husband sneaks off to late at night."

Satisfied at seeing her wobble a bit off-balance, he walked back into his home, slamming the door. Mrs. Hainsworth stood there staring wide-eyed for hours afterwards.

After about an hour of venting to Brad about the whole situation, putting the blame mainly on the street cowboy but also knowing David's innocent 'perfect child' act had to wear off someday, Sarah all but stomped up the stairs of her tenement building. Brad had been very helpful just listening to her, even if he didn't understand some things she mumbled angrily about. He was even so kind as to throw in his own comments, including how she had every right to be angry and what the boys were doing was wrong and disgusting.

She started to wonder why she had fallen for Jack in the first place. She should have known something was wrong with him just by the way he dressed. I mean, really, it's like he's four years old and playing dress-up. How can David carry out long conversations with him anyway? I can hardly understand what he says most of the time! Nope, Sarah Jacobs sure wasn't going to fall for a street-rat again.

The young woman paused at her door to stare at Mrs. Hainsworth. For some odd reason the lady was white as a ghost, had her jaw dropped and her eyes wide, staring at the Jacobs' door. Sarah quickly gave the door a glance for anything suspicious then checked her dress and hair to make sure the odd expression wasn't caused by herself looking a total mess. When everything was in check, she turned to Mrs. Hainsworth once more before walking into her home. The old hag's finally lost her mind

When inside, she saw David staring into space with his leg hopping up and down nervously.

Oh please! She slammed the door behind her causing him to jump and almost fall out of the chair. He composed himself then stood up.

"Sarah..."

"David..." she mimicked. She walked around him and started to get supper ready so her mother would only have half the work when she arrived home. David just stood in the same place watching her.

"Sarah, we have to talk about earlier."

"I thought we already talked."

Dave glared, "No, that was a talk about you going nuts. This is a talk about you keeping your mouth shut." Sarah whirled around to sneer at him.

"You've got some nerve assuming I'd go so far as to spread the news around this whole island. Think, David! My reputation would go down with yours, if you still had one to speak of."

"This isn't funny!" He walked right into her personal space causing them to have a stare down. Neither flinched. "What you saw earlier meant nothing, an accident. You say or do anything that states otherwise and I don't care if you are my big sister, I'll make sure you regret it. Understand?"

She smirked, "Oh, I won't mention it ever again. Trust me, it ashames me as much as you say it does you." David's stone expression nearly faltered at that.

"Good. And Brad?"

"He won't utter a word, I'm sure. Why would he want to bring up such disturbing images?"

Dave bit his tongue. Oh God, stop me before I hit her!

"Home at last!" Les ran in through the now opened door with Esther in tow. The two oldest siblings broke their menacing stares to look at their mother. "Supper will be ready soon. I passed your father on the way home, he should be here shortly."

They glared at each other one more time before separating. No one had lost the standoff, but they weren't exactly sure if anyone had won either.

"Oh...and does anyone know what's wrong with Mrs. Hainsworth?"

Racetrack, Kid Blink and Mush stood watching Jack as he sat away from everyone else to read the morning's headlines.

"He's ticked off 'bout sumthin an' I'se don't think it's da news," Blink commented. Mush nodded next to him, the lack of Blink's smile making him nervous.

"He don't talk ta nobody unless it's ta yell at 'em. What gives?"

Race puffed on his ever-present cigar, "I'm bettin' some girl turned 'im down." Blink scooted closer out of curiosity.

"Oh yeah? How ya figah dat?"

"Well, when I'se get in da same mood as 'im, it's cuz I lost a bet. So sumthin must'a happened ta Jack that would hoit just as bad."

"What?"

The young gambler grinned knowingly, "He didn't get 'is own way." Blink and Mush looked at each other, finally getting it.

"Ohhhh!"

Jack looked up from the paper he was skimming, half expecting to see David coming to sell or talk to him or somthing. But then he kept thinking back to yesterday realizing what they agreed not to do. Oh yeah, they wouldn't be seeing much of each other for a while. Jack buried his head in the paper. Idiot " 'Ey, Jack! Looks like we got ourselves some fresh meat!"

He looked up at Skittery then followed his gaze to a new boy walking through the giant gates. Oh shit

"Oh shit."

Skitts and a few others gave Jack confused looks. The new boy came closer but stopped when Jack stood up. It was going to be one of those days.

"Well, well, look what we have here," the boy smiled. Jack restrained himself from knocking the look off his face.

"Hello ta you too, Brad. Now youse can turn right around an' go back ta bein' Sarah's lapdog. Don't let one 'a da gates swing loose and hit yer ass on da way out."

Brad's smile widened, "Nope, I'm here to earn a little extra money I need. Guess you're stuck with me."

"What?!" By this time, most of the boys were staring blankly at the scene before them.

"Oh, don't worry! It's not for long," he looked around, "I don't think I could stand too long a stay around here." Jack took a challenging step in his direction but was stopped by the jerk talking excitedly again. "Say, now I'm curious. Is everybody here like you and Sarah's brother, uh, whats-his-face?"

Before Jack could really use some words the youngest newsies would cry at, Snipeshooter stepped forward, "Oh we wish! Cowboy here's one 'a da best in all of New Yawk! An' Davey's really good at it now!"

Brad started chuckling loudly, "Oh really?"

Jack held his head in his hands, "Snipes, stop helping!"

"No-no, don't stop the kid, it was just getting good." Brad wiped invisible tears from his eyes and checked his pocket watch, "Aw shucks, I'd love to hear more but it's getting late. Excuse me." With that, he slipped through the crowd up to the distribution office window.

Jack glared at the back of his head for a moment before turning his attention to all the eyes focused on him and sighed, "Okay, go sell. If he comes up to ya, don't talk to 'im and definitely don't listen. Got it?" They all gave random nods of understanding. "Good. Now go on."

He stayed behind and watched everyone leave, he needed to have a 'chat' with Brad. When he finally walked by, they each nodded to the other with cocky grins on their faces. Just when Brad thought he was going to get by without a word, he was yanked back into the Distribution Center and slammed against a wall, his papers flying out of his hands.

"You open yer mouth an' blab about anything you saw or hoid yestaday and I'll shove all da papes ya jus' bought where da sun don't shine!"

Brad, quickly getting over his fear and shock, smirked, "You mean they all don't know?! You'd think with your name being Cowboy around here they would have thought something was a bit odd."

Jack growled and shook him, making his head hit the wall. "I'm serious. They'll have ta get ev'ry bull in dis city to pull me off youse." Brad rubbed the back of his head, wincing.

"Aw, that wouldn't be a come on, would it, Queer?"

He couldn't help himself, he needed to do this so much his hand itched. Jack punched Brad in the stomach as hard as he possibly could. Too bad I didn't hear anything break

Brad fell to the ground choking and gasping for air, his clothes getting wet from the snow under him. Jack looked satisfied watching him curl up into the fetal position. "I dunno, Asshole. Think dat was a love tap?" The boy on the ground violently shook his head. "So are ya gonna keep yer mouth shut around ev'ryone?" This time he nodded. "Very good."

"It's been nice seein' ya again, Bradly. It really has." Jack wore his first smile of the day as he walked off.