AN: This is a short chapter but it's incredibly cute so enjoy

"Mr. Kelly, I really think you'd be more comfortable if you went with Mr. Pulitzer to the hotel."

"I'm fine here, thanks."

Pulitzer had already made his way back to the hotel for the night, but Jack, who was now sitting in the chair by Katherine's bed, was refusing to leave. This was causing the hospital staff plenty of irritation.

"You do realize that we don't normally allow visitors to stay here overnight?"

"Then how come I'm still here?"

Jack was finding it very odd that he found the nurses from the hospital in Manhattan much more pleasant than the ones here, considering people in Manhattan were not known for being nice.

"Mr. Kelly - "

"I ain't leaving. Last time I left her she got taken away, and that's not happening again, so I'm staying here."

"Alright, fine, you can stay, but just for this first night."

He managed a tired smile as the nurse left. He knew that he'd be spending every night in that room until they could leave.

oOo

Jack sat there for hours, watching Katherine sleep. He drifted back and forth between thinking about the events of the past few days and not thinking about anything at all. He didn't sleep. He was convinced that the second he closed his eyes, someone would take her again. So he just watched.

He didn't know what time it was when she opened her eyes. He just knew it had been a while, because as she woke up, he had to blink a few times to register what was happening. Once he did, he smiled at her.

"Hi, Ace."

She smiled back at him (she couldn't remember the last time she'd smiled). "Hi, Jack."

Jack winced inwardly at the hoarseness of her voice, but didn't let it show. "So, how're things?"

"They've been better."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Katherine reached for his hand and he took it, holding it firmly. They sat in silence for a few minutes, not knowing what to say.

"Talk to me." Katherine finally requested. "About anything except this."

Jack thought for a moment. "I ever tell you about the time Crutchie and me got lost in Brooklyn?"

"Before you became newsies?"

He shook his head. "About two years in."

Katherine laughed, ignoring the pain it caused in her ribs. "Jack!"

"It was all Crutchie's idea."

"I'm sure it was." 

Jack started telling her the story, absentmindedly rubbing circles on the back of her hand with his thumb, and she listened intently.

After a little over an hour, and three stories later, Katherine fell back to sleep, her hand still holding onto Jack's.