Ruth ran to Morris with the switchblade and held his hand back. Soon Morris gutted her in her stomach. This time she was angry. She ran to him and kicked him in his back. He fell down head first. She grabbed the switch blade from his hand and screamed, "Let go of Specs!" But Morris who was knocked down grabbed her and put the blade to her neck. Specs got worried. He then gutted the Oscar who was holding him and he fell down holding his stomach. Morris holding Ruth said, "Take one more step and she's done for!" Specs didn't dare move. But Oscar got up quickly and took his knife and stabbed Specs in the back. Specs groaned and fell down. Ruth screamed, "You little bastards!" She then stomped on Morris' foot, grabbed the switch blade and leaned back against a wall. When Oscar went to get her she kicked high and hit his face. He fell back holding his chin. When Morris came she kneed him in his groin. She then went on top of Morris and held the knife to his throat. She said, "Oscar, if you come near me I am going to make you an only child! Ya here?!" Oscar looked around. He then ran for his life. Morris was lying still looking at her. He said, "Let me go miss, and I'll leave." She said, "How do I know I can trust you!?" He then kicked her off and he ran. She put the switchblade in her pocket.    She ran to Specs side. She said, "Specs are you all right?" He coughed and said, "Ruth, I need help." She said, "And you'll get help. I promise." He said, "I'm so sorry I didn't help you." She smiled and said, "It's all right sweetheart." He said, "I'm going to walk. I don't need no help like I thought I did." He slowly got up, but wobbled and almost fell, but Ruth caught him. She said, "Can you walk?" He nodded slowly. She said, "Come on, we're taking you to a hospital." He said, "No, to Kloppman. He can help me." She started crying a bit. He said, "Ruth, don't worry about me. Ya hear?" She said, "I can't help it...I love you." He bulged his eyes. She gasped and said, "I mean, no, I don't know." He said, "Ruth..." She said, "Don't. I'm sorry." He smiled and said, "I love you too." She said, "I'd kiss you right now and hold you but you need help." He said, "Not to a hospital, to Kloppman."    When they got back to the Newsies lodge house, Kloppman gasped and said, "What happened!?" Ruth explained to him. Kloppman than said, "Those bastards. Both of them!" he then continued, "Can you walk up Specs?" He tried, but didn't make it far. Ruth then smiled, picked him up, and carried him upstairs. Specs said, "Damnit Ruth that's supposed to be me taking you up there." She smiled and said, "I enjoy this better to tell you the truth." When she opened the door all the Newsie gasped and said, "What happened?!" Ruth explained to them. She then set Specs on a bottom part of the nearest bunk.    Kloppman came up and said, "All right you all, I need absolute quiet. Let me work on this boy." He then took off Specs shirt and pulled down the suspenders and turned him so his back was facing him. Ruth went to the other side and held Specs hands. She started crying even more. Specs said, "Don't cry, I'll be just fine." Then he groaned at the medicine put in his wound. He then pulled his hand up and wiped her tears away. He said, "I'll be better before you know it." and he smiled that great smile that made her melt.    She leaned down kissed him softly. Some of the other Newsies were upset, seeing this happen to Specs and his girlfriend Ruth. Specs then put her hand on his heart and said softly, "I love you Ruth, with all my heart." She smiled and said, "I love you too Specs." Soon Kloppman said, "Alright boy, get some rest." Specs said, "Can I lay on my back?" Kloppman nodded. Specs rolled on his back and went, "OW!" Then Kloppman said, "But I wouldn't recommend it." Specs turned to his side and then on his stomach. Kloppman then said, "You shouldn't be carrying heavy stuff. So no newsie business for a couple of weeks." Specs said, "Can I still soak some people?" Kloppman laughed and said, "Not for awhile sonny boy." Ruth smiled and said, "I'll be here to keep you company." Specs smiled and said, "I'd love that." Jack and them gathered around. Jack then said, "Specs, tomorrow. We's gonna soak the Delancy bruddahs for yas!" Specs said, "And I won't be there to help you!" Racetrack said, "OH believe me. When we're through with them there won't BE anything left to soak."    Everyday when Specs woke up, Ruth would take time off from cleaning to play cards with him or just talking to him about anything. One thing stumped her though. After knowing him for more than year, he never said his real name. The thought was going on and on in her mind while she was cleaning up after the Newsies. When Specs woke up she walked to him and said, "Hey how are you doing?" He was without a shirt showing his masculine but femine body. He smiled and said, "Eh, a little better." She said, "Great!" She then grabbed the chess board and set up chess. She knew that was his favorite game.    While doing so she said, "So, Specs, I've been curious about something." He said, "And what is that?" She smiled and said, "Tell me your real name." His eyes bulged. She said, "Oh come on! What's the big deal about your name?" He was silent for a few moments. By then he started moving his chess pieces as she was. He said, "I don't know. I've just been called Specs for almost all my life." She said, "And your point?" He smiled and said, "I'd rather not tell you that's all." She said, "Can I guess?" He said, "Sure, but I'd probably lie to you if you guess it right." She said, "You wouldn't lie to a woman would ya?" He laughed and said, "Come on, just guess." She smiled and said, "Francis?" "Nope." "Claude?" "Nope." "Ummm....Paul?" "Definetly not." "How about...........Eric?" "Nope.." "Hans?" "Checkmate!" "You mean I got it!?" "No..I just beat you." "Damnit!" She's always been bad at chess. He then laughed. "How about......John." He didn't say anything. She laughed and said, "Is it John?" He said, "More like Johnny...but I like Specs better." She smiled and said, "And your last name?" He said in a low voice, "Pickelinny." She burst out laughing and said, "Pickelinny!?" He said, "Now you know why I like Specs better." She said, "You know...Johhny Specs sounds kind of sexy." He said, "You think so?" She smiled and said, "Ah well...I'll always call you Specs." He then held her shoulders, then pulled her on the table and kissed her passionetly. She kissed back brushing her fingers through his brown hair. Suddenly he started kissing below her face and around her neck. He started un-dressing her in the back. She was too aroused to stop him. She wanted to lose it to him for awhile now. She then pulled down his suspenders and his pants slid down. He teased her by being slow in un-dressing her, but she started helping him. Soon they were standing there naked. He then leaned down and kissed her softly and caressing her back. To tease him she squeezed his tush. He then laughed and laid her on the bottom part of the bunk bed still kissing her and moved his hands in places she dared not imagine and did more than hand touching..    Kloppman was outside the door when he could hear them both giggling and soft moaning. He smiled to himself, being dumbfounded of what they were actually doing. He then shook his head and said, "I swear, those two have too much fun."    A lot of minutes later Specs laid down beside covering himself with a sheet, softly touching Ruth's face. She said, "Specs...did we just do what I think we did?" He laughed and nodded. She smiled and said, "You know, people say the first time hurts, but I didn't feel any pain, it felt right." She then leaned her head back and asked, "Was that your first time too?" He nodded and said, "Well, we love each other Ruth. That's what's great about us. I doubt there would be any pain between us." He then took her hand and kissed it softly. She laughed and said, "I swear...you're the true romantic." He then put his arms around her and pushed her closer to him, still keeping his arms around her he said, "I never want to move." She kissed his arm and said, "If only we could stay like this forever."    Then at that she fell asleep in his arms. He kissed her head and rested with her, forgetting that the other Newsies would be there any minute.