Okay. I know with two stories still in the works, I probably shouldn't even be doing this, but I am. And I know I told you guys I would write a Skyeward story, but I'm waiting for the next season to start before I do that, so I'm doing this instead. I told you guys I was obsessed with the musical, Newsies right? Well, I got so obsessed with it, I decided to start this new story about my new OTP (no offense to Skyeward but this is my mid-season replacement) Jackrine! Also known as, Jack Kelly/Katherine Plumber! I absolutely love this couple and I could not wait to get started on this. Plus I go back to school tomorrow so I figured this is my last night to post something new!

BTW, I'd like to give a big shout out to KnightNight7203, who has been the one who helped me (and is still helping me) figure out all the details and fluffy extras I could put on this story since I haven't officially seen Newsies yet. Thanks so much! And I seriously recommend you read her fanfic "Aftermath" if you like Newsies. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy the first chapter!

Blood. All he could see was her crimson blood, spreading across the sidewalk. It soaked through his shirt and pants as he cradled her head in his lap. Tears dripping from his face caused the smallest of ripples to appear in the ever growing pool of blood. Her face was whiter than a ghost's and it shattered his heart into a million pieces. "Come on, Ace." He pleaded through his sobs, "Stay with me." The only response he received was a small cough and gurgling as more blood spilled from her mouth and dripped onto her auburn curls. More tears fell from his eyes as her soft brown eyes flickered up to his. He gently ran his hand across her blood covered cheek.

"Jack," She whispered through the blood.

In one agonizing second that seemed to last an eternity, he watched the light drain from her eyes. "Katherine, please." The request came out as a chocked sob as the sparkle in her eyes he loved seeing died out.

Jack shot up from his bed with sweat running down his face and ragged breathing. He slowly took in his surroundings. He was still in his room. Ever since he started working for the Sun as a cartoonist in the afternoons and working at the docks in the morning (and sometimes evenings), he had been able to get an apartment with Davey and two of the dock workers, Bennett and Thomas. He ran a hand through his sweat soaked hair in an attempt to calm himself. Realizing how dry his throat was, he swung his legs over the bed and went into the kitchen for a drink.

As the cool water rushed down his throat, he replayed the events of his nightmare. This was the tenth time this had happened in almost three weeks. Even so, tonight's was the worst. All because of those lousy Delancies.

"Another nightmare?" He jumped all the way to Santa Fe at the sound of a voice from behind him. He turned to see Davey leaning against the wall, clothes wrinkled, so he obviously just got out of bed too. Jack simply nodded without looking at his friend. "Have you told Katherine about them?"

"I don't want her to worry about me." Jack insisted.

"She would only worry because she cares about you so much, you know that." Davey argued. "Just talk to her. She needs to know that you care enough to tell her stuff like this." He turned to go back to bed but added, "Plus even I can see how desperately you need her right now." With that, he left to his bedroom.

Jack sighed and ran a hand over his face. Davey was right. The images from his nightmare were still playing on loop in his head. He needed to see her without one of the Delancies on top of her or without blood covering her. Slipping on some shoes, he quietly left his shared apartment intent on his mission. Reaching the street, he let the New York night air cool the sweat from his restless sleep. He jogged, knowing the way to Katherine's by heart. After a few minutes, the huge mansion came into view.

He saw the lights on in the living room and a carriage out front, so he figured they had guests over. Doesn't matter. He couldn't go through the front door anyway. He wasn't exactly on ol' Joe's "good side." Darting quickly around the back, he saw the frame of the Pulitzer's fire escape leading up to the one lit window he was looking for.

Katherine pulled out a brush and started to work on her curls. She had been sent to her room straight after a late dinner because her parents had guests over. They were the parents of her "best friend" Annabelle. She was glad she wasn't down there. Annabelle was a spoiled brat and her parents were worse. Some of Katherine's favorite memories were sitting with her mother and complaining about the family. They always had the best time together. Most of her other favorite memories included the newsies and… Jack.

With that one thought, every single detail about Jack came rushing into her mind. His mess of brown hair tucked into his signature newsboy hat. His brown eyes sparkling with determination as he rallied the newsies. The way he bit the inside of his cheek whenever he was really focusing on sketching something or someone. His… a sharp knock on her window startled her out of her thoughts. Putting her brush down and crossing the room, she pulled the sash back to see the face she was thinking of not two seconds ago.

"Jack," She breathed with a smile on her face as he smiled back and she opened up the window. Then she remembered her parents, "What are you doing here? My parents are still awake and just downstairs." Suddenly, he cupped her face and brought his lips to hers. She was shocked for a moment before she quickly relaxed into his arms. He kissed her gently as if afraid that if he pressed too hard, he would break her.

When air became necessary, he pulled away slowly and lowered his hands. "I'm sorry." He apologized quietly, "I needed that."

"What do you mean?" As soon as the words left her mouth, he dropped his gaze to the iron fire escape floor, "Jack, what's wrong?"

"I don't wanna worry ya, Ace." He told her as he stood and leaned against the far railing.

She stepped through the window onto the fire escape so she could stand close enough to take both his hands in hers. "You'll worry me more if you don't tell me." He still looked reluctant. "Please."

He sighed and squeezed her hands gently. She could get him to confess to murder with those eyes of hers. "It's those stinkin' Delancies." He said through gritted teeth.

Katherine's worry instantly grew. "What did they do? Did they hurt you? Or one of the boys?"

Jack smiled slightly at her concern for him and his newsies. It felt good to have someone like her in his life. "It's more like what they said." Katherine cocked her hand to the side in confusion. "They've been threatenin' you."

"Threatening me?" Katherine repeated.

"They know how much you mean to me," Jack explained, "So every time they see me, they would threaten to beat and torture you while they made me watch." Katherine saw the pain he was experiencing just by saying what he was. "Then they got worse."

"Worse?"

"They've started threatenin' to…" Jack's voice cracked as he continued, "rape and murder you." Katherine was in too much shock to even respond. Jack ran a hand through his still slightly damp hair and looked anywhere but her as he said, "That's why I needed to kiss you. I needed to see you without the Delancies on top of you and hold you without blood covering you from head to foot."

"What?" Katherine stepped back from him. She was horrified that he would imagine something like that happening to her. She thought he cared about her. "What do you mean by that?"

Jack turned away from her towards the street. He didn't want to see her when he told her. "For the past couple weeks, I've been having nightmares. About the threats they've been makin'"

Katherine's face softened as she stepped forward to put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

He rested his hand on top of hers as he turned his head to look at her. "I thought they would go away." He explained, "But tonight's… tonight's was too much for me to handle."

"Jack, look at me." Katherine ordered quietly. When he obeyed, she gently sat him down on the fire escape and took a seat next to him. She snuggled into his chest as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

"I just needed to see you." He said after a moment of silence.

"Of course." She nodded.

"It's just…" He started, cringing at his words, "the images are burned into my head. They just stood there as I tried to get you to hold on to the last few moments of your life." Katherine couldn't imagine the pain he was experiencing just by talking about it. "But that's not the worst part. Neither was watching what they did or the blood or any of it."

Katherine sat up slightly to look at him, "Then what was the worst part?"

"Please don't make me…" Jack started, voice cracking slightly. Katherine gently turned his face to hers and leaned up to place a quick, loving kiss on his lips.

"It might make them go away if you talk about them." Katherine chided quietly.

Jack sighed. She was right. She was a reporter after all. No matter how painful, he knew she always got the answers she wanted. "It was the moment right before I woke up. It was right when that sparkle in your eyes that I love seeing so much flickered and died out."

Katherine smiled slightly at how that was the worst moment for him. "Don't worry about that happening for a long, long time." She reassured as he brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face.

"I know." He said. He pulled her closer and placed his chin on the top of her head. "It just felt so real. I almost expected to wake up with your blood staining my hands. And I never wanted that to be the reality. I just needed to know you were still with me."

Katherine clutched his shirt in her fists as she spoke gently to him, "I'll always be with you, Jack."

Jack laughed slightly, "Now, don't go promisin' stuff you can't control, Ace."

Katherine smiled at the laugh. Her Jack was back, "I'm not promising anything. I'm simply stating the facts."

Jack smiled and placed a soft kiss on the top of her head before they slipped into a comfortable silence. This was all he needed right now… and forever.

Back downstairs, Joseph and Elizabeth Pulitzer were bidding their guests, Nicholas and Isabelle Matthews, goodbye. "We simply must do this again." Isabelle chided as she and her husband walked to their carriage.

"Of course." Elizabeth lied. Truth be told, she was glad to be seeing them go. She shared her daughter's hatred of how they acted and treated people. Of course, she couldn't tell them that.

"Um…" Nicholas started, looking at the side of the building, "Joseph, I don't mean to alarm you, but I believe I see someone on your fire escape."

Joseph, Elizabeth and Isabelle followed Nicholas' finger to see shadows of someone at the window of the Pulitzer's esteemed daughter. Elizabeth looked at her husband. "That's Katherine's room." He spoke quietly.

The Pulitzers quickly said goodbye to their guests and rushed into their mansion. They practically ran up the stairs to Katherine's room, both slightly nervous as to who was at their daughter's window this late. Joseph pulled the key to her room out of his pocket as he knew she locked the door at night. He slammed the door open to see Katherine sitting on the fire escape in the arms of none other than Jack Kelly.

"Jack Kelly get your dirty hands off my daughter this instance or you won't have any hands!"

Ooooh! Caught in the act! What will happen next? What do you guys think of this story? Please review telling me what you think! Please be gentle as I still haven't seen Newsies yet. I will in March though. So, R&R please!

Quote of the Day: I still get nightmares. In fact, I get them so often, I should be used to them by now. I'm not. No one ever really gets used to nightmares –Mark Z. Danielewski

Song Suggestion: Love Story –Taylor Swift (I think you can see where I'm going with that)