Chapter Text
Jack puts quarters into the basement vending machine and selects a cherry coke. He feels a gust of cold wind come through the hall, someone must have opened the door to the underground parking garage.
The school was emptying out now for winter break. Jack loves it, being practically alone in the Art building was relaxing and quiet and he really felt like he could get a lot of work done.
He just needed a little afternoon caffeine. He grabs his soda from the machine and is about to hit the stairs back to the studio when he hears someone's frustrated voice.
“You've got to be kidding me!” The exclamation comes from around the corner.
Curious, Jack stops and backs up to see what's the matter.
Looking into the short hall where the door to the garage is Jack doesn't see anyone but he does hear someone muttering. “Pick up...pick up...why aren't you picking up?”
The only other thing down the hallway was the alcove where the little elevator was. Jack had used it once when he had a bunch of gallon paint cans to get up to the second floor.
Jack walks down the hall, it got colder as he got closer to the door, there's been a foot of snow on the ground for weeks, it's starting to get slushy and gross now.
Jack hates the mess, he's not particularly fond of being cold or winter in general. Medda thinks that's why he paints so many sunny dry landscapes.
She's probably got a point.
Jack peaks his head into the alcove and finds the person he's been hearing.
He's young, maybe a freshman. Blond hair sticking up in different directions from under his knit hat. Jack can't help but think the pink of his cold cheeks and nose is cute.
He's on his phone but whoever he's calling isn't answering. When he hangs up the phone Jack decides to say something.
“Hey kid, everything alright?” He asks from the hallway. The boy jumps and turns. He must not have noticed Jack before, whoops.
The boy blinks at him and frowns “Just peachy...” He says sarcastically, the shine in his eyes gives away that he's actually getting pretty upset.
“Anything I can do?” Jack asks sincerely.
The boy looks at him skeptically. “I don't know you.”
“Ha, you sound like my pal Davey. I'm Jack, I'm a painting major, I like cherry coke...” Jack holds up his soda. “If there's something I can help with...” Jack leave it open ended. The boy looks him up and down like he's trying to decide if he should trust him or not.
The boy sighs. “The elevator was working last time I was here.” Jack looks now and sees that the elevator has an 'Out of Order' sign taped to it.
“They probably thought they could hold off fixing it seeing as most people have left campus now... the stairs are around the corner...” Jack turns to point them out and only then does he notice, to his utter embarrassment, that the boy has forearm crutches.
How did he miss that before? Pretty faces always have been a distraction for Jack.
“But you know that don't you...” Jack can feel his face heating up.
“Ha yeah...” the kid says tiredly. “of course the elevator's gonna be out on the last day the building is open and I've got to get this equipment to Film department on the third floor, they aren't answering their phone, gosh they's probably nobody up there and I'm not gonna get this turned in before break and they'll charge me every day it's late, how much is that bill gonna be, school is out for like three weeks, I don't have that kind of money...” The words come out all at once but Jack gets the gist.
“If you wants I could run it up for you.” Jack offers. The quick look of 'no chance in Hell' the other boy gives him, eyebrow raised and all, surprises Jack.
“This...” The boy gestures down to the big black case on the floor at his feet. “is a camera that costs more than I pay for three months rent. This isn't going anywhere without me.”
“Ok, ok...” Jack understands the feeling, he's got some professional grade Prussian blue paint that he never leaves unattended in the studio. “We could give maintenance a call and see if what's wrong with the elevator is something they can fix real quick.”
“I tried that number too and no one answered.” The kid looks dejected. It really isn't right, having the only elevator not working, Jack's sure that must be a violation of some law or something.
“Well, I could go to the Film equipment room for ya and explain the situation and see if they'll come down and get the camera.”
“They've got to scan my ID and I've got to sign it in.” The kid shakes his head.
“Well I could...” Jack starts to offer and gets that 'Hell will freeze over first look' again, Jack can't help but smile at the attitude.
The boy looks at the time on his phone. “I... I just have to wait here till my roommates get off work I guess. One of them should be able to come and help.”
“Are you sure, there's nothing I can do now?” Jack hates to see the kid stranded all cause the dumb elevator wasn't working.
“I don't want to take any more of your time.” The kid says sincerely.
“I'm just hanging out, till they kick me out of the building, It's not a problem.”
“Really?” The blond boy with the knit hat, crutches and a dark green scarf that was bringing out the colors in his eyes asks. “Even if I ask for you to carry this up the stairs for me while I walk up... it might take some time.”
“Sure, if that's your plan, I'll help.” Jack agrees, he's totally willing to help. He just hopes the kid will be ok on the stairs.
The kid nods like he's making the decision and psyching himself up to do it. “Ok, ok cool. This could work.”
“You got a name?” Jack realizes he hadn't heard it yet.
“Crutchie.” The boy says simply like it needs no explanation.
It's Jack's turn to give the other boy a look.
“That's what they call me.” The kid, Crutchie, shrugs.
“And you lets em?”
“Ha, it's better than some of the other things I's been called.”
“Sure, sure.” Jack supposes it is, it's kinda a cute nickname and definitely easy to remember. “Nice to met you Crutchie, how do you want to do this?”
“Well if you'd take the case, I'll follow you.” Crutchie shifts the case and holds the strap out to Jack.
Jack picks it up and puts the strap on his shoulder. “Geez this is pretty heavy, you must got some muscles on you lugging it in here.”
Crutchie laughs and looks a bit shy, at Jack's words. Jack's heart jumps just a little. “Yeah, it's only the one leg that don't work right.” Crutchie smiles and Jack finds the smile charming.
“Ok so this way...” Jack directs and Crutchie follows.
Jack has always appreciated that the stairs in this building aren't very steep when he's been carrying in his large canvases but he's never appreciated it as much as he does now.
They stand at the base of the stairs and Crutchie moves his right crutch over so he's holding both crutches in his left hand.
That alone makes Jack wary. “Can I... can I take that for you?” Crutchie shakes his head.
“No I'd rather keep it with me.”
“Sure sure...” Jack nods, not so sure.
Crutchie grabs the railing with his free hand and moves his left crutch up onto the first step.
“Do you, do you do this often?” Jack asks.
“Often enough, I got this.” Crutchie says confidently and then deftly steps up with his good leg and moves on to the next step.
Jack relaxes a little and starts up the steps himself, keeping the same pace as the kid. The steps are wide enough that they can walk up them together.
“It's terrible that the elevator is out. You should write a letter or something.” Jack suggests.
“Yeah, the school is definitely going to hear from me about it. I gotta say something. If I don't then it'll get over looked and maybe next time they leave it broke a kid in a wheelchair won't be able to get up the stairs and not be able to turn their stuff in or misses their exam or something... it's seriously not ok.” Crutchie keeps moving one step at a time. They make it to the first landing between the basement and the first floor.
“Absolutely, don't let em get away with shit.”
“No, but lets get the camera back. I'll totally call the Dean's office. They're still here tomorrow, right.” Crutchie asks and he maneuvers around to the next step.
“Yeah, admin offices are open till Friday. This your first year?”
“I'm a sophomore. What about you?”
“Junior.” Jack replies, slightly surprised that Crutchie is only a year behind him, but surprised in a good way.
“You have lots of classes in this building?”
“Yeah, nearly all of them.” The art building has practically been Jack's home away from home these passed couple of years. “So, what were you working on that you couldn't get the camera back before today?”
Crutchie doesn't miss a beat as he starts explaining the whole story. “I'm a journalism major and for the final in the one journalism class I got to take this semester we had to do a video report on a topic of our choosing. I wanted to do it right and make a good impression so I borrowed the camera. I had a great topic but the snow really messed up my plan and the timing and now it's probably all for nothing, my project was late and Professor Pulitzer wasn't impressed, he said I should have just changed my topic if it was a problem with the snow and all.” Crutchie looks down at his crutches, he looks frustrated Jack thinks. “but I promised the guys you know, I didn't want to let them down.
“Geez, Ole Joe's a real jerk.” Jack is never surprised about the stories he hears about the guy, he really seemed ruthless.
Crutchie looks over at Jack. “Have you taken Pulitzer's class?”
“Nah, but I know his daughter, Katherine.” Jack met her while trying to get a wet canvas down a crowded sidewalk. Katherine was very cool about... becoming a part of the art. “She's a journalism major too, have you met her? She's a senior this year.”
Crutchie shakes his head, “I didn't know Pulitzer had a daughter in the program.”
“Yeah she doesn't like to be associated with her dad too much. I think she even got out of taking his classes.”
Crutchie's eyebrows furrow. “That's got to be like nearly impossible, he's the head of the department and teaches like all of the important classes.”
“Yeah I don't know how she got around it, I can ask her for ya, iffen you wants to avoid good Ole Joe in the future.”
“Wow yeah that would be real good.” Crutchie smiles and then moves up another step and Jack smiles the goofiest grin a step behind. Now he has an excuse to ask for Crutchie's number and maybe even see him again.
Their slow climb upwards continues. Crutchie moves the crutch up first, shifts his weight to the crutch and the railing and then moves his good leg up. They clear the first floor and move on to the second.
“So what was your project on, the one that you had to go out in the snow for.” Jack looks at the kid's old boots and doesn't think they look like they would be very good for the snow. It's apparent between his boots and his coat that's definitely been patched in the back that Crutchie doesn't come from money.
“Well, I wasn't trying to go out in the snow but I needed to get across town to film the interviews and action shots and stuff. I, hum...” Crutchies voice suddenly gets very serious. “It was about a day in the life of kids in The System.” Crutchie explains.
Jack is surprised. “The System, like the state home and foster care system.” The surprise must come through in his voice because the next thing he sees is Crutchie's shoulders tense. He stops on a step two from the landing and turns to look at Jack.
“Yes that system, it's an important topic... even if Joe...I mean Professor Pulitzer can't see it. The kids, their stories, they needs exposure.” Crutchie is passionate about this, there's no doubt about that.
Jack holds up his hands. “Hey, hey I agree with you. You'll get no argument from me.”
Crutchie turns to continue. Jack can't help himself and his next question tumbles out of his mouth unchecked. “Were you in The System?”
Crutchie almost doesn't clear the step with his left foot because of Jack's sudden question. Jack's right behind him, his hand shoots out instinctively to catch the boy but it's not needed, Crutchie catches himself holding on to the crutch and the railing. He corrects himself, finds his balance and moves up one more step to the second floor landing.
Jack thinks, the kid's arms really must be strong.
The kid turns around to look at Jack as Jack follows him up onto the landing.
Jack stands in front of him awkwardly, unsure what to say. He's not sure if Crutchie's upset or offended. If he should apologize. Jack knows some people are real sensitive about it their past. Jack himself gets kinda particular about what he tells people sometimes. It is a real personal question, Jack knows he probably shouldn't have blurted it out, like that.
“I mean, you don't got to say, I was just curious... was all.” Jack's hand goes to the back of his neck, Davey calls it his 'tell' says its a nervous tick.
Crutchie balances on this good leg and one crutch, with the other awkwardly sticking out where he's holding both with his left hand and eyes Jack. When he speaks it's in a low tone that Jack can tell mean's business. “You don't need to have been in it to know The System's got issues that need to be called out.” Crutchie says. Then he gets a bit defensive. “And there's nothing wrong with being in The System, so what if I was?”
Jack smiles at the other boy, but it's got a hint of sadness in it. Crutchie narrows his eyes. Jack feels like he needs to explain. “I didn't mean nothing by it... I only asked cause I am an impulsive clod with no manners and well, I was in The System.”
“Really?” Crutchie blinks and his expression softens. “You wouldn't mess with me would you?”
“Ha...” Jack laughs dryly. “Not about something like this. Nah, I lost both my parents and got bounced around foster homes and state homes for years.”
“No kidding.” Crutchie shifts his weight back and forth from his leg to his crutch, fidgeting. “I, I never knew my parents, I stayed at the Lodging House here in the city through high school.”
Jack's mouth opens but no words come out. He stands in front of the boy in shock.
Crutchie who had started to open up tenses again at Jack reaction. “What?”
Jack snaps out of it. “You was at the Lodge, I was at the Lodge... I don't remember you.” Jack thinks he would have remember the hazel eyes in front of him.
“You're kidding.”
“No yeah, I was there, I was there in third grade and then back for hum, fifth, sixth, hum... until half way through Ninth grade and I got in trouble and they sent me to the Refuge.” Jack tries not to wince at the memory.
“Gosh really? That sucks. I guess I would have gotten there the next year.” Crutchie thinks about it. “I can't believe we just missed each other.”
“Yeah that's crazy.” Jack chuckles. “Small world.”
“Seriously.”
“One more flight to go.” Jack nods towards the last set of stairs.
“Ok, I'm ready.” Crutchie hops around to turn towards the stairs. He positions himself and starts to climb. Before Jack can follow Crutchie stops and turns back to look over his shoulder.
Jack stops in his tracks when he sees Crutchie looking intensely at him from the third step.
“You alright?” Jack asks unsure. “You's got a funny look on your face.”
Crutchie does, like he's just realized something. “You said, you were at the Lodging House and then you went the to Refuge.”
“Yeeahhh.” Jack draws.
“And you said that happen the year before I was there.”
“That's what we figured, yeah.” Jack isn't sure where Crutchie's going with this.
“And your name is Jack.”
“Yeah, that's what I said, what are we going over all this for??” Jack's starting to get self conscious. He didn't say anything that wasn't true.
The smile that crosses Crutchie's face is bright and excited and too pure for this world, Jack's not sure what's made him smile like that but he hopes it never stops.
“You, you're Jack Kelly!”