Newsies AU where Jack left before the strike ever happened and David, Les and Sarah got sent away to relatives instead of sent out to work
So they meet Jack on the train to Santa fe when they are forced to sit together because it's too cramped or something.
So they spend the next few days (I think??because it a long way to Santa Fe from New York, especially with the steam trains they used back then)
And they all have the time of their life but especially Davey and Jack who bond and share some special moments
it's David, Les and Sarah's stop and now they have to leave Jack and possibly never ever see him again because they aren't going to Santa Fe
And even though it's only been like two/three days Jack and Davey are crushed because they know they'll most certainly never see each other again
So they trade Jack's red bandana for David's tie right before they leave.
(and I'm not sure about this next part but let me try)
Some time passes (like 2-5 years maybe even more) and Jack has found work in Santa Fe, he works at a farm helping with the animals (mostly with horses, which reminds him of a certain cigar smoking newsie he used to know) and other physical tasks. There's even this kid at the farm who suffers from polio who he sometimes looks out for(which reminds him of someone else he used to know)
And everything Jack does reminds him of people from his past, people who he now can't even remember the faces of.
He even gets reminded of the boy he met on the train, the boy who changed him even for a little while. He has had a lot of flings but no one can compare to that boy who he will never meet again.
So why doesn't he return?
Because why would he, he has always longed for Santa Fe and even if it's not as he imagined he just needs to work for it, and what's the chances that all of his old friends are all still out there carrying the banner.
He is sad, miserable and depressed
Until, someone wearing a red thatred old bandana shows up at the farm.
jacobvanloon
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