Since beginning this story in 2001, I've put work into it time and time again...but was never able to finish it. Now, 10 years after I first began it, I've decided to give it the ending that it deserves. Here's hoping I can find some old friendly reviewers and some new ones! Happy reading!

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

by Rhapsody

Chapter One: I Could Do Better

"Pap'es! Get ya pap'es right here!"

The sounds of the newsies resonated throughout the town square as the street vendors and townspeople milled around, buying last minute items as the work day wrapped up to a close. There was a slight chill in the air, with a bit of the breezy autumn that lingered in the air and a hint of the winter about to come. As several vendors closed up shop, a few newsies began to gather near the middle of the square, comparing their quantities of newspapers sold for that day, among other things.

"Boy, did you see 'at fancy carriage pull up heah? Nice stuff. I bet ya it was da mayor. Any one wanna bet me on it?"

A few moans and groans could be heard from the other newsies, who seemed to be quite familiar with Racetrack's daily bets.

"Put a lid on it, will ya? Who cares 'bout fancy cars? What about dat girl we saw today, Blink?" Mush whistled in approval as many of the newsies laughed.

"Oh, yea'. She was nice. A lil' outta ya league, though?" Blink retorted.

"Eh, shaddup...alright, prolly, but maybe not for Cowboy...hey, Cowboy!" Mush shouted. "Did youse see that girl today with the yella dress? Nice stuff, eh?"

A tall, handsome newsie with a bandana around his neck spun around to face Mush.

"Yea', I saw 'er."

"An'?" Mush asked.

He smiled. "I could do betta."

The other newsies laughed, as did Mush. "Ah, yes. Da great Jack Kelly. What girl can resist 'im?"

Jack smiled as some newsies began to depart. It was nearing on seven o' clock. Racetrack lingered around to walk with Jack.

"Selling good taday, Jack?" questioned Race.

"Yea', it was alright. You?"

"Doin' bettah. If that horse woulda come throu' though, man...I coulda doubled my profits today. You'll see. Speaking of, I think Blink owes me some money. Heya, Blink!"

With that, Racetrack hurried to catch up with Blink. Jack just laughed to himself, knowing that there would always be some hot tip that Racetrack would always bet on...and always lose money. He slipped his cowboy hat onto his head, which had been resting on his back. He began to take out his earnings for the day and count them, when he noticed an odd scenario taking place on a nearby corner.

"Stop it! Please, just let me go! You don't understand!"

"What'sa matta? Neva been wit' a man before?"

The Delancey brothers, notorious for causing trouble, seemed entertaining themselves with a young girl, who was furiously trying to get away. They had her cornered against the wall, and were steadily getting closer and closer to her. They were obviously very intoxicated.

"Let me go, you bastard!" she choked out, her voice wavering with fear.

"Oh no, not without som'fin to show fer it," said the younger of the two.

With that, he began to move into onto the girl, but she sent a swift kick right into his stomach. Instantly, his brother reacted, sending his fist straight across her face. He grabbed her, and with his brother's help, began to drag her down a nearby alley. Jack watched all of this, and ran over.

"'S'cuse me, boys. S'ere a problem?" he asked.

"Clear out, Kelly. This ain't your bus'ness."

"What if I make it my bus'ness, Oscar?

"Well, 'less you'd like a shina' to go wit dat ugly mug of yours?" he replied.

"Try me," Jack shot back.

With that, Oscar's right fist went flying towards Jack, who deftly ducked out of the way just at the right time. Jack's own fist returned with an uppercut to Oscar's face, which sent him reeling. Morris Delancey stepped up to help his brother up.

"Now, didn' youse just say I would be da one wit' the shina'?" said Jack.

"It ain't worth gettin' inta fights wit us over some bitch, Kelly. Youse best watch your back." Horace dragged his brother back down the alley and into the street. Jack watched them go, then turned back to the girl they left sitting up against the wall. He couldn't see much of her face in the dark, but he could tell that she would need attention for a few bruises.

"You alright?" he asked as he grabbed her hands and helped her up. Her hands were freezing and trembling. "Don't worry. Dey're gone for now."

She shook her head. "No, no. You don't understand. I wasn't running from them." Her brown eyes looked up at his with fear. Jack understood.

"Come on," he said and led her to the end of the alley. He pressed himself against the wall, and she did the same. They were close enough that Jack could feel her whole body trembling. Whoever was chasing her certainly had frightened her quite a bit.

"Now, look out there an' tell me if you see 'em."

The girl peaked around Jack, and he could now tell that she wore a hood on her head, which covered up most of her face, except for the few stray pieces of brown curly hair which whipped about her head. She scanned the square and suddenly turned back around.

"Shit!" she cried. "He's out there!"

Jack also looked around the corner to find a tall man with a mustache in a dark suit, with a very unpleasant look on his face. He was talking to some random passerbys.

"Come on, we'll go dis way," Jack said. He lead the girl further into the alley and turned the corner onto yet another alley. He turned a few more corners until he was sure they were well out of the vicinity of the town square. The girl had remained silent thus far. She walked behind him, constantly looking up and behind her to make sure she wasn't being followed. Jack decided to break the silence which had been pervading over them.

"So, who's followin' ya?" he asked.

"'Ats none of your concern," she answered curtly. Jack was surprised at the level of rudeness in her voice.

"Well, 'scuse me for trying ta start a conversation. I did just help ya out, you could at least give me a name or somethin'." He stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. Aside from the few bruises that she had collected on her face from the fight, Jack noticed that she was sorta pretty. Her dress was simple, a cream blouse and a brown skirt. The hood she had on her head covered the top, yet let her wavy brown hair flow behind.

"Sorry. I'm Kate." She began walking again. Intrigued, Jack walked on.

"Kate...? Do youse have a last name to go with your smart-mouth?"

"Not for someone as cocky as you," she shot back. Her rudeness amazed Jack.

"Well...dontcha wanna know my name?" he asked.

Jack got the opinion that she did not want to talk. Maybe he should have let the Delanceys have her after all.

"Well, I'm Jack. Jack Kelly."

"Pleased to meet you," she said sarcastically. For someone who had just saved her life, she didn't seem too grateful. Frusterated, Jack gave up any further attempts at conversation until they had walked for about 10 minutes.

"Ya know, you prolly should get those shinas check'd out. You got a place ta stay?"

"What makes you think I need one?" she shot back.

Jack grinned and stuck his hands in his pockets. "Well, unless you were plannin' on followin' me aroun' for another ten minutes, I kinda got the impression that you might need someplace ta go," he said, smirking.

Kate hesitated. "I don't need your help. I really don't, but it's late and the chances of me findin' a spot are prolly really low. Where's it at?"

It was Jack's turn to grin again. "We're already here," he said and turned and pointed to the Newsboy's Lodging House. "Follow me," he said.

He turned and opened the door to reveal the lobby of the Newsboys' Lodging House, where a crusty old man sat at a nearby desk, doing some paper work.

"Hey, Kloppman. This here's Kate. She's gonna be stayin' with us boys for a while, til some business clears up, if ya know what I mean," said Jack.

Kloppman turned to Kate to get a good look at her and said "Sure, sure. Take as much time as ya need."

"I won't be stayin' for long, tanks," she shot back.

Jack rolled his eyes and sighed. At least she didn't just fire smart comments at him.

"Don't worry, Kloppman. She doesn't seem ta favah me either."

Now it was Kate's turn to roll her eyes.

"Up here," said Jack, as he lead the way up a flight of stairs and into a hallway of beds and smaller bedrooms. Some newsies were already in bed, fast asleep. The others were probably downstairs joining in on Race's nightly poker game, mused Jack. He lead Kate into an ajoining room with four bunks and a nightstand.

"Dis here's my room. You can take the bottom bunk over deh'," he said, as he motioned to the respective bed. Kate quietly walked over to the bed and sat down.

"De'll be, um, breakfast early in da mornin'...with pap'es selling an all. You can tag along if ya want. You can join us down for poker right now if ya-

"No, I'm fine," interrupted Kate.

Well, that's it, thought Jack. That's all I'm gonna get outta her. Fine, if she wants to be that way, so be it.

"Fine! G'night then!" snapped Jack.

He sharply closed the door, leaving Kate alone in his room. She jumped at the slam of the door. As soon as the it was closed, she let out a deep sigh and silently undressed herself, leaving just a few undergarments on. She sat on her bed, peering out the window on the street below. She couldn't believe how close she came. Just one little slip and everything would go back to the way it was. She would never let that happen. I'm never going back there, she thought, never. I can't trust anyone but myself. As she lay back on her pillow, she sat staring at the night sky, her mind blurred by the nightmares that she not only dreamed, but experienced...