Freedom Cont. ((Hawkeye))

[Chase]

Chase looked at Ace again and knew in an instant she wasn't well. He nodded and stood up. He dressed and helped Ace up. When she was ready he walked with her outside. "Where can I find Hawkeye?" He asked her. He was not familiar with this part of New York. He looked around like a blind man. He needed to get her help, but he had no clue as to what kind of help she needed.

[Ace]

As they exited the lodging house, she leaned against him, her arm tight around his waist for support as she listened to him. "just follow me..."she muttered weakly as she lead the way toward the Harlem Lodging house. As they reached the door of the lodging house, a few of the younger boys recognized Ace immediately. "Ace are ya alright it's late shouldn't ya beh in Manhattan?"a young boy asked. She shook her head and looked down,"No I'm not ok....get Hawk quick...."she groaned as she found herself growing dizzy,Ace wasn't one to get ill often if ever at all, this worried her and she knew Hawk would know what to do. She looked up and watched the young boy rush up the staircase to Hawk's room and heard him knocking on the door urgently and hollering for the Harlem leader.

[Hawkeye]

((just a little side note, Harlem is over 10 miles from Queens... lol might have been easier on Ace to just have a queen's newsie run and get a doc))

Hawk groaned and rolled over. He'd not been able to sleep much the night before and was laying in bed trying to catch a few hours before the evening edition. He opened his eyes a little, immediately shutting them again against the bright setting sun. With a sigh he sat up and placed his bare feet on the ground, "I'm comin', I'm comin'," he called, rubbing his hands over his face to wake himself up. Duty calls... He thought, standing up groggily, and moving towards the door. Opening it he leaned against the frame, unable to get himself into leader mode despite the note of urgency in Plaid's voice.

The young newsie gave his report and then stood quietly, waiting for orders. "First, go find Flash, tell 'im to run and get Doc. Benson. Then get Mr. Peterson and let him know what's going on. ...If he doesn't already." The boy nodded and hurried off, as Hawk turned back into his room and grabbed his shirt off the floor. With it in hand, he made his way quickly down the stairs, all the while praying in his head, Not another attack... Please don't let this be another one.

He entered the main room and saw Ace laying Chase's arms and looking deathly pale. Hurrying over he set his shirt down, bare chest immediately forgotten, and crouched next to the pair. Mr. Peterson came in then from his office and hurried briskly into the kitchen, mumbling, "I'll get hot water and cloths..." Hawk felt Ace's forehead lightly and realizing it was a bit too hot to be normal called out "Get cold water too!" her eyes were closed and there was a light shimmer of sweat on her face. Her breathing was labored and she looked in no shape to talk. He looked at Chase and ordered simply: "Tell me what happened."

[Ace]

She could hear the commottion as Hawk came downstair and Mr.Peterson came over mummbling something about water and towels. She was extremely confused at this point and she managed to open her eyes to look up at Hawk when he had looked to Chase asking for an explaination. Of all the people in the world and all the explainations, she really did not want Chase opening his mouth and saying that it just happened right after they got intimate. She took in a deep breath and lie her hand over her stomach as she groaned.

Biting her bottom lip muffling the sound of her groans she tried to keep her breathing as constantly paced as possible as she met Hawk's eyes. "I dunno..."she breathed softly answering before Chase could say something stupid. "It just hurts....everywhere....my stomach...god.."she groaned and turned on her side as she rested her head in Chase's lap and wrapped her arms around herself as if holding herself together. She was burning up pretty bad and she felt as though her stomach was going to burst. She would have easily had another newsie go grab a doctor at Poet's place but nobody had been around at the time and Chase didn't know his way around yet. She closed her eyes cringing in pain as she brought her knees toward her body.

She felt awkward having Chase here now, it wasn't exactly a picnic for her to be in such pain and have the boy who loved her here ontop of the leader she happened to have feelings for, but she had no other choice and she was simply praying that Chase was smart enough to keep his mouth shut about it for now.

[Hawkeye]

Hawk ran a hand through his hair, wondering what the hell to do… As the leader, and one of the few leaders who wasn’t currently having problems or missing in action, a lot of responsibility fell on his shoulders. They looked to him to know what to do and when to do it. Now it appeared that even the newsies from other Burroughs were coming to him for help. Granted, Ace was a friend of his, but for her to travel all the way to Harlem in this condition rather than get help from where she was… he was beginning to get worried. “Jus’ breathe Ace. Ya gonna be fine.”

Mr. Peterson walked over then, a bowl of cold water in his hands and a couple cloths draped over his arm. Hawkeye knew the old man’s knees were bothering him, so he motioned to Kitten as she came down the stairs. There were other newsies behind her, no doubt come to see what all the commotion was about, and they crowded around the room as Kitten came forward. “Can ya make sure she stays cool ‘till the doc gets here?” He left her to it as he stood up and started pacing, waiting for the doctor.

A few agonizing minutes later, Flash burst through the door looking a little tired, with a wheezing and stumbling Doc. Benson in-tow. Hawk called for one of his newsies to get the doc a glass of water, then rushed over and explained the situation to him as the man rolled up his sleeves and opened his bag. “Right, well, first things first. Young man, would you please move the young lady to the couch?” He asked Chase. As the Manhattan newsboy did as he was asked. Kitten followed with the bowl of water.

Dr. Benson grabbed a wooden chair from the poker table and set it by the couch, taking a sip of the water Plaid brought him before sitting down. He applied pressure all over her stomach taking mental notes, Hawk guess, on where the pain worsened and then stuck a thermometer under her tongue. “Has she thrown up yet?” He asked, looking up at where the Harlem leader was leaning against a wall by the couch. Hawk gestured toward Chase, “He’d know better than I would.”


((if you want her to have appendicitis, say yes))

[Chase]

Chase immediately became gaurded at Hawk's questioning him. He looked down at Ace as she spoke. Her breathing was irregular. Chase looked at her like he was in pain as well. All he could do was sit there and hold her. The door of the House opened and Chase looked around quickly, trying his best not to move Ace.
The newsies that had been sent for a doctor had come back with one. Chase nodded when he was asked to move Ace. He couldn't talk. He picked her up carefully and slowely laid her down. He bent over and whispered, "I'm right here." He kissed her forhead and moved back. He took a deep breath before looking at Hawkeye. He was still slightly gaurded from earlier, but as he looked at Ace he let the walls down slightly. He had to help her. Chase began to shake his head, then stopped, remembering. "She told me to get her to you as soon as possible. Then, yes. She did." Chase himself felt sick to his stomach. He had no idea what was wrong with Ace. He looked away from the Harlem leader and looked at Ace. She was deathly pale and kept clutching at her sides.

[Ace]

As Chase moved her she cringed slightly and leaned against him before he set her down. She listened as he recalled her getting sick and she closed her eyes unable to keep them open much longer. She wondered what Hawk must think of her like this, did he think her stupid for seeking his help in this. She began to focus on her breathing, attempting to force it back to being regular but it wasn't working, with every in take of breath a sharp pain ran through her stomach. She could feel Kitten applying the wet cloth to her forehead but it wasn't doing much. Kitten looked over her shoulder at Hawk a look of worry before looking back at the doctor,"Is she going to be ok? I've never seen her like this before,"Kitten said worriedly.

Ace kept her hands wrapped around herself as she groaned at Kitten's concern,"Kit....jus' shut it ok....please.."she pleaded. She felt the urge to scream out in pain but refrained as she bit her bottom lip hard again. The pain was unbareable. She couldn't take it any more,"GOD, Someone please do something!" she practically screamed at this point, tears streaming down her pale face.

(Yeah that's fine Hawk)

[Hawkeye]

"She told me to get her to you as soon as possible. Then, yes. She did."

Hawk clicked his tongue as the doctor grimaced, wondering what that meant. Crossing his arms, he leaned against the wall once more and looked down at Ace. She screamed in pain and he winced inwardly before asking, “What’s wrong, Doc?” He hoped it was nothing too serious – maybe just dehydration or not eating enough – but judging by the way she was acting, this was very serious…

The doctor stood up quickly and looked over at the Harlem leader. “We need to get her to Mount Sinai Hospital,” he said, worry etched into his voice. “I have neither the tools nor the skill required.” Hawkeye pushed off the wall quickly and walked straight over to stand in front of Doc. Benson. “What. Does. She. Have?” His voice was steady, but the look in his eyes made it very clear there was a threat in his words. Dr. Benson stuttered a bit before replying, “Appendicitis, I’m afraid. Her appendix is inflamed and it needs to be removed before it ruptures. There is no time to loose.”

Hawk burst into action, fully awake now. “Irish and Hope, take everyone who’s sellin’ tonight to the distribution center. Kitten, you come with us.” He grabbed his shirt off the floor and put it on quickly, tucking it in only half way and leaving his suspenders to hang by his sides. Next he looked over at Chase, “It’s a three mile trek to the hospital and she’ll need to be carried. If you don’t think you’re up for it I’ll carry ‘er, but if ya are we need to get movin.”

[Ace]

Hearing the worry in Hawk's voice, just barely but she could tell, made her feel even worse inwardly, but she attempted to stay calm as she listened to Hawk and Doc. Benson exchange words and when she heard the diagnosis she was worried.She was worried most of all if something went wrong, Chase would be broken...Hawk would feel guilty, Kitten would be alone. She felt hot tears stream down her face, a mixture of physical pain and emotional pain all at once, she couldn't bare the thought of leaving them behind in this world. She heard Kitten move around as she listened to Hawk pick up his shirt and make his orders. Kitten looked at Hawk,"Hawk, I think you should probably carry her, she's probably a little bit bigger than Chase, he can't possibly carry her the whole way..."she said knowing her and Ace were just abit taller than Chase and him carrying her sister would cause complications.

Ace nodded in agreement vaguely as she opened her tear filled eyes to look over at Hawk and in an almost needy childlike manner, let go of her stomach to extend her arms toward him so he could come over and get her. Kitten looked at Chase and helped him to his feet absently,"C'mon Chase, just, we'll walk with them, she needs us..."Kitten mummbled to him as she looked over toward Ace sadly,"she'll be ok Chase...she's strong, and when she's got good people surrounding her, she's even stronger.."she reassured him as she ran a hand through her hair.

"Hawk do you need me to grab anything for you to bring with us?"she asked him quickly.

[Chase]

Chase tensed and his jaw locked when Ace screamed. His eyes darted between Hawk and the Doc. as they exchanged words. When the doctor said appendicitus he grimaced. He couldn't move and he was speechless when Hawk asked him to move Ace again. He couldn't cause her that kind of pain but she needed to be carried. He was half relieved and half annoyed when Kitten spoke up. He could carry Ace, but he was sort of glad he wouldn't be the one doing that to her. It seemed like a sort of torture to him.

Chase glanced at Kitten and nodded his head slightly. He moved closer to Hawkeye as he picked Ace up. He stood over by her head so he could talk to her if she needed him. Given that he found his voice by then.

[Hawkeye]

Hawk’s jaw tightened a bit as Ace reached out to him, wondering if she would get the wrong idea, and glanced quickly over at Hope. Ace needed him now more than she ever had before and this was no time to start second guessing everything. He moved towards the couch and quickly slipped one arm behind her shoulders and the other under her knees, allowing her arms to wrap around his neck. Lifting her up as gently as he could, Hawk tried to cause her as little pain as possible. “Be brave, Ace,” he whispered as they walked toward the door, in a way so that only she could hear.

[Ace]

When he picked her up she cringed slightly but quickly tried to hide the pained expression that had crossed her face. She held onto him and leaned her head against his shoulder as she closed her eyes and took in deep breaths trying to calm herself down as much as she could. At the sound of his voice she nodded,"Always Hawk...ya know meh,"she whispered back. She wasn't sure how long she could stay concious with all the pain surging through her stomach and her abs it was excrutiating and she could feel herself growing tired of fighting the pain, slipping in and out of focus, she could still hear everything around her, Kitten's worried voice mummbling to herself, Chase's almost panicked footsteps, Hawk's breathing. She tried to focus on all the sounds around her, and she took in Hawk's scent just to assure herself she was still concious, she had always apprecciated Hawk greatly, well more than greatly but not enough to let anyone really know, except for the small exception that she knew Haw was probably quite aware of what went on in her head, simply by the small things she did around him but nothing ever too obvious. She let everything sink in in her senses, his smell, the footsteps, Kitten's mummbling, his breathing, her thoughts but before she knew it, his scent had faded, she could no longer hear the mummbles, the footsteps, she was out cold.

[Chase]

CHase walked next to Hawkeye as they left the Lodging House. Hawk had muttered something to Ace, but he did not hear. He watched Ace as she leaned into Hawkeye. This did not bother him. What bothered him was her pain. It was so easy to see in her eyes it had almost taken Chase. If not for Kitten being so close to him, he would not have been able to go on. He swallowed hard as Ace slipped out of concioucness. He brought one shaky hand to her head and brushed the hair out of her face. "She'll be alright, won't she doc?" He asked, his voice shaky. "Stay with me, Liebste." He whispered.


(Liebste- love)

[Hawkeye]

((MOVED TO MOUNT SINAI HOSPITAL))